Wednesday Journal 032118

W E D N E S D A Y

March 21, 2018 Vol. 36, No. 20 ONE DOLLAR

@oakpark @wednesdayjournal

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Election results online

Pages 17-20

An Oak Parker in Wakanda Mark Willis plays a Jabari warrior in $1 billion blockbuster

By MICHAEL ROMAIN

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Staff Reporter

ark Willis, a 27-year-old Oak Park native, has been to Wakanda, and at least part of it is in Atlanta – or more precisely, in some woods just outside of the southern metropolis. He knows, because he was in “Black Panther,” the $1 billion box office smash film that features the mythical African country.

Willis plays a Jabari warrior in the Marvel blockbuster, but when he first decided to audition for the role he didn’t know the phenomenon the movie would become.

“There was a posting online for a project called ‘Motherland,’” Willis said in a recent phone interview, referencing the film’s working title. “They said that they were looking for a black male who is tall, athletic, with a muscular build and handsome. I thought I was at least one of those.”

Willis, who played football on scholarship at the University of Wyoming, had been acting for roughly three years in productions like “Chicago Fire,” “Empire” and “Chicago P.D.” before landing the role.

When he arrived on set, Willis recalled, he was stunned by how many black actors, actresses and off-camera personnel were employed.

“I was so amazed, because I’m not used to seeing that on every set,” he said. The film’s main stars — such as Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o — in addition to its director and See MARK WILLIS on page 21

Citing costs, D97 weighs axing elementary school buses Cost savings could total more than $200K, officials say

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Submitted photo

WAKANDA FOREVER: Mark Willis, an Oak Park native, said he worked 12- to 14-hour days trying to learn the film’s various fight sequences.

In an attempt to control spending, the District 97 Board of Education is considering significant changes to its bus service, including the possibility of eliminating bus transportation for elementary school students or making families pay for the service. The changes would not apply to special education bus routes.

During a March 13 regular meeting, board members took up a staff recommendation to consider a series of options that district officials estimate could result in more than $200,000 a year in cost savings. That’s money, district officials argue, that could be redirected to better uses or added to the fund balance.

Currently, the district transports 535 elementary and 493 middle school students each day on 14 buses, although the daily count varies depending on the weather, according to officials. The students qualify for the service because they either live near any of 14 crossings See BUS on page 12

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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I N S I D E

R E P O R T

Dominican students get their head shaved for St. Baldrick’s

More than 200 Dominican University students and staff lined up to get their heads shaved at the school’s annual “DU Goes Bald” fundraiser on March 15, which raised $3,000 for the nonprofit St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which conducts research and raises toward childhood cancer.

During the three years the event has been held, Dominican has raised more

TIME FOR A CUT: Mark Carbonara, left, holds up a piece of hair cut from Esmeralda Montesinos last Thursday, during the annual St. Baldrick’s fundraising event in Lewis Hall at Dominican University in River Forest.

than $10,000 for cancer research, she said.

“The event itself is very moving, because everyone comes together for something that is much larger than any of us,” said Moira Kennedy, a senior at Dominican who helped organize the event. “We all want to see change, and that is why we do it.”

Nona Tepper

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Rush Oak Park gets mobile stroke unit

Oak Park mansion on the market for $2.5M

The impressive estate at the corner of Oak Park and Chicago avenues, known as Hales Mansion, is on the market for $2.15 million.

Wednesday Journal reported in 2016 that the building, designed by architect Henry G. Fiddelke, was completed in 1905 for Oak Park grain magnate Burton F. Hales and his wife.

Architecture aficionados who don’t have two million bucks to spare can get a peek at the Tudor Revival-style home at the Wright Plus Housewalk on May 19.

More information about the walk is available at www.flwright.org/wrightplus.

Timothy Inklebarger

Rush Oak Park Hospital has announced it will soon begin providing services to stroke victims via Rush University Medical Center’s mobile stroke unit.

The launch date of the unit is still pending, but the custom-built ambulance that will soon be cruising the streets of Oak Park offers a number of services from brain imaging technology to telemedicine technology and drug therapies.

Those suffering from strokes now must wait for an ambulance to take them to Rush Oak Park Hospital before receiving life-saving treatment. That can mean the difference between life and death, according to James Conners, director of Rush Comprehensive Stroke Center and the Rush Mobile Stroke Unit.

Rush aims to bring more stroke units to communities throughout the Chicago area, the hospital noted in a press release.

“The Rush Mobile Stroke Unit along with the state-of-the-art Telestroke technology we have available in our Emergency Department are examples

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

NEW ’DO: Esmeralda Montesinos, front, a junior studying sociology, gets her hair cut by Joanna Izydorczyk. of our commitment to saving lives and preventing devastating complications in people who are suffering strokes,” Bruce Elegant, president and CEO of Rush Oak Park Hospital said in a press release.

Timothy Inklebarger

708.383.9000 • forestagency.com

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

March 21 - 28

BIG WEEK ARTifact: 33-1/3

Through Friday, April 6, Oak Park Art League (OPAL): An innovative mash-up of art and music culture, OPAL presents a national juried exhibition of album cover art celebrating Columbia Record’s 70th anniversary of the first microgroove 33.3 rpm record and the current resurgence of vinyl. Tandem exhibit of local artists’ work honoring David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, and other notable music legends. Mondays through Fridays, 1 to 5 p.m., Saturdays, 1 to 4 p.m. More: oakparkartleague.org. 720 Chicago Ave.

Iconic Pop/Rock Album Covers with Mike Goldstein Thursday, March 22, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Oak Park Art League (OPAL): OPAL presents a lecture about the artists and stories behind popular album cover designs by the founder of the online Album Cover Hall of Fame. Goldstein will also present one-of-a-kind works from his private collection of cover design.

More: oakparkartleague.org. 720 Chicago Ave.

Learning Café: Prediabetes and Diabetes Prevention Tuesday, March 27, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Lower Level Classrooms A-D, West Suburban Medical Center: It is estimated that one in three American adults have prediabetes and 15 to 30 percent of those develop type 2 diabetes within five years, also putting them at higher risk for heart attack or stroke.

Join Joyce Keane, R.N. and Certified Diabetes Nurse Educator, learn about prediabetes and how to prevent diabetes type 2. Register: 844-794-4301. Free. 3 Erie Ct., Oak Park.

MNI WICONI, Solidarity with Standing Rock Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Fridays Noon to 3 p.m., Saturdays 1 to 4 p.m., Expressions Graphics: The fine art non-profit printmaking studio presents a group show through Mar. 31. Info: 708-447-9262. 29 Harrison St., Oak Park.

Poet Julia Alvarez Thursday, March 22, 7 p.m., Lund Auditorium, Dominican University: In the Fifth Annual Caesar and Patricia Tabet Poetry Reading, Alvarez will read selections from The Woman I Kept to Myself and The Homecoming (1984). Also a novelist, she received the National Medal of Arts from President Obama. A book signing follows. Books available for purchase. Inquire: rhartwinter@dom.edu.

7900 W. Division St., River Forest.

Monday Night Concert: Dee Alexander Monday, March 26, 7 p.m., Oak Park Arms: Hear a female vocalist whose talents span every music genre, with a focus on jazz. Free. More: 708386-4040, oakparkarms. com. 408 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park.

Transgender Day of Visibility Wednesday, March 28, 5 to 7 p.m., Veterans Room, Main Library: Speak out against transphobia and oppression through performance and visual art at this spoken-word freestyle open mic, part of the library’s More than a Month series. Info: oppl.org/ calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Art Unveiling: “Rennie In Rhapsody”

Voice and Violin Thursday, March 29, 7:30 p.m., Nineteenth Century Charitable Association: The violin and the human voice are often used in soloist expression. How did musical modernism change composers’ approaches to these “instruments”? Oak Park and River Forest natives Emily Dorian and Scott Daniel exploring this question, featuring works by Saint-Saëns, Schoenberg, VillaLobos and others. $10, requested donation. More: 708-386-2729, nineteenthcentury.org. 178 Forest Ave. Oak Park.

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.

Thursday, March 22, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Community Engagement Space, Main Library: The newest visual art acquisition by local artist Jesses Howard will be unveiled as it joins the Oak Park Public Library’s permanent art collection. Info: oppl.org/visit/art-library.

834 Lake St.

Town Hall Meeting – Navigating Managed Care Thursday, March 22, 2 to 4 p.m., Veterans Room, Main Library: Panel discussions on healthcare, focusing on seniors and people with disabilities who receive care through Managed Care Organizations, in a town hall format, will identify ideas to help strengthen healthcare. (Refrain from using scented products. ASL and Spanish language interpreters available.) Brought by Progress Center for Independent Living, a community-based, non-profit, service and advocacy organization, operated for people with disabilities, by people with disabilities. More/RSVP: 708-209-1500, ext. 24. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Maywood Fine Arts & Stairway of the Stars: Swan Lake Friday, March 23, 10 a.m., Saturday, March 24, 7 p.m., Trinity High School: A romantic fable of ill-fated passion, dreamlike transformation and forgiveness set to Tchaikovsky’s score. See a classical ballet with original music and choreography in a concise version that is child friendly. $15, $10, seniors, $5, children. Tickets at the door. More: 708- 681-2788, emma@maywoodfinearts. org, maywoodfinearts.org/?p=2461. 7574 Division St, River Forest.

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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ART BEAT

A story that’s even better than ‘Merkle’s Boner’

By FLOYD SULLIVAN

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Guest Author

s a lifelong Cub fan, I have always been interested in all things Cubs.

So when I first heard the story of the Merkle play of Sept. 23, 1908, while watching Ken Burns’ 1994 baseball documentary, I couldn’t believe that I had never before heard the story of that craziest of all baseball plays, especially since it led directly to the Cubs winning their last World Series until 2016. I became obsessed with the 1908 Cubs and that season in general. I began to research it with no other goal in mind than to learn as much as I could about the players and the 1908 pennant race.

One important figure quickly emerged as the most interesting character among a cast of colorful players, owners, umpires, ward healers, chorus girls, gamblers, prostitutes and other nefarious types: National League President Harry Pulliam. As I pieced together his story from newspaper accounts from the time, including his obituary, I immediately thought of both the writer Oscar Wilde and the composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, both of whom were gay and both of whom were made to suffer because of it. So what started as a rather raucous and at times hilarious story of the last Cubs World Series championship soon developed into a tragedy.

The original plan was to write Pulliam’s biography, but I came to the conclusion that a full bio would be almost impossible. I contacted several members of the extended Pulliam family, but could not locate any personal papers or diaries. His sister’s granddaughter was very helpful but could shed no light on Pulliam’s life. I traveled to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York but found little there. I contacted Major League Baseball, but they had no idea where league records from that long ago might be found. So I thought of E.L. Doctorow and historical novels in general and decided to follow that path.

The resulting novel, Called Out: A novel of base ball and America in 1908, is the story of the struggles of Harry Pulliam, a gay executive in a rough-and-tumble “man’s world,” and Lenore Caylor, league stenographer, as they fight the machinations of those who would exploit the game, often illegally, to further their own narrow interests.

The game of base ball (two words, as it was spelled in 1908) was clawing its way

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If you go “Called Out: A novel of base ball and America in 1908” is available at the Book Table in Oak Park and at Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore in Forest Park. See author Floyd Sullivan discussing the book on Thursday, April 12, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at The Nineteenth Century Club. Books will be available for purchase and a signing follows the discussion. $10, suggested donation to cover program costs. Questions: jangel@nineteenthcentury.org, 708-386-2729. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.

into the 20th century, trying desperately through the efforts of Pulliam and a few others to shed its image as being little better than a rat fight, marred by gambling, bribery, cheating scandals, and violence. In many ways it mirrored the growth of America in general and the often painful transition from an agrarian society into an urban civilization coming to terms with the modern industrial inventions that appeared in seemingly rapid succession, such as telephones, automobiles, movies, phonographs and airplanes.

My previous books include a Cubs memoir, Waiting for the Cubs, and a collection of essays and oral histories that I edited called Old Comiskey Park. I am retired but continue to work from time to time as a freelance photographer and writer, and I am on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame.

I grew up in Oak Park and graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1968, where I took my first creative writing course and worked on the yearbook. Our class is getting together this year for our 50th anniversary at the Nineteenth Century Club where, coincidentally, my presentation will take place on April 12.

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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The next Divvy? Not so fast

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dds and ends, some a bit odder than others: Bike surprise: Always good when a group I’ve pigeonholed offers up a contrarian view. An informal group of Oak Park advocates for improving conditions for biking and walking has urged village government to shelve plans to head straightaway into another bike-share program.

You’ll remember the Divvy bike program, all those handsome blue bikes standing at rest in their expensive docking stations around the village. Agree or disagree with the timing, but a narrow majority of the village board killed Divvy over the winter as costs were high and ridership was, at best, stagnant to falling.

Since that decision, it had been assumed that Oak Park would sign on to Bike Share 2.0 with another vendor who had hopefully figured out the fatal flaw(s) in the Divvy model.

Along comes Bike Walk Oak Park.

Remember, this is something of an ad hoc group. But the person speaking for it is Ron Burke. He’s an Oak Park fellow and director of the Active Transportation Alliance.

That’s a regional non-profit that advocates for bicyclists and often gets paid by municipalities to develop plans for bike routes and biking amenities in these towns.

In an e-mail last week he said this group wants village government to focus for now on building a proposed bike network – among other things that means designating and designing “low-stress bike routes” that will encourage people who don’t currently take a bike for a trip within the village to do so.

I’ve been a casual bike rider for several years and you couldn’t convince me to ride from Roosevelt to Lake along busy Oak Park Avenue. What’s my alternative?

That, I think, is the point of this group’s caution on focusing on a bike-share program when there is a lot of other work to be done to make Oak Park friendlier to bikers and walkers.

White flight: There’s a term we don’t hear much anymore. But a piece last

week in Crain’s noted a new nationwide academic study that looked at middle class census tracks which have lost white population over the past decade.

Of local interest are three south suburban towns – Lynwood, Matteson and Homewood – which have lost white residents as Hispanics and Asian Americans have begun to congregate.

Said the researcher, Samuel Kye, of Indiana University, “The pursuit of integrated neighborhoods is a fragile enterprise. There continue to be hurdles that make diversity difficult to achieve.”

These days everyone takes Oak Park’s diversity for granted. Worth remembering, we didn’t get to this place by accident or based on the munificence of the marketplace. Oak Park is diverse because of bold decisions made decades back and vigilance every day since.

SAY Connects: Today is the print debut of a new year-long series in the Journal called SAY Connects.

SAY is Success of All Youth, a nonprofit run out of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation, which focuses on connecting and maximizing existing services for young people.

This project, which includes a monthly print section as well as digital, video, social and events, is what in our industry is called a sponsored-content section. The Good Heart Work Smart Foundation is underwriting all these efforts.

It means the Journal is being paid to create compelling feature stories around specific themes chosen by SAY. This first effort focuses on the challenges for parents in lining up and paying for summer camp programs for their kids. I think it is a good and useful read.

The content is not coming out of our newsroom. Instead it is being written by longtime local freelance journalist Cassandra West. And it is labeled as sponsored content.

We’re excited about this new effort and appreciative of the support of the foundation.

DAN HALEY

Thursday, March 22, 2018 // 7:00 p.m.

Julia Alvarez

5TH ANNUAL CAESAR AND PATRICIA TABET POETRY READING LUND AUDITORIUM | Admission is FREE - advance registration encouraged

Award-winning poet, essayist and novelist whose works include In the Time of the Butterflies and How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents gives the fifth annual Tabet Poetry Reading, followed by a book signing.

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Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Illinois 60302 PHONE 708-524-8300 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com | www.RiverForest.com CIRCULATION Jill Wagner, 708-613-3340 circulation@oakpark.com DISPLAY ADVERTISING Dawn Ferencak, 708-613-3329 dawn@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal is published weekly by Wednesday Journal, Inc. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, Illinois (USPS No. 0010-138).

In-county subscription rate is $32 per year, $57 for two years. Annual out-of-county rate is $40. © 2018 Wednesday Journal, Inc.

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

OPRF makes noise at poetry competition The students took 2nd place

Community Meeting Wednesday, March 21

By MICHAEL ROMAIN

7pm at Cheney Mansion 220 North Euclid Avenue

Staff Reporter

Oak Park and River Forest High School students Kara Jackson, Levi Miller, Tamia Byrd, Maggie Farren, Morgan Varnado, Corina Robinson, Nicholas Berry, Kyla Strickler, along with student-coach Leah Kinder, finished as runners-up at Louder than a Bomb, the largest youth poetry festival in the world.

The team came in second place out of 108 participants at the event, which was held at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago over the weekend.

“We lost to an incredible team from Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep [from Chicago] and finished ahead of great teams from Whitney Young and Crane Medical Prep,” said OPRF teachers Peter Kahn and Adam Levin, who facilitate the OPRF Spoken Word Club.

Kahn and Levin said that the young poets were treated like Nobel laureates, with Young Chicago Authors, the competition’s sponsor, providing a stretch limbo for the students.

“That set the tone for the first-class treatment we received throughout the day and

Scoville Park

Submitted photo

WORDSMITHS: Members of the OPRF Spoken Word Club took home runner-up honors at the Louder than a Bomb poetry festival in downtown Chicago last week. evening,” they said. “We are extremely proud of how our team conducted themselves on and off the stage. They were simply remarkable.”

OPRF represented in other ways as well, with alumnus Langston Kerman appearing one of two special guest performers. The other one was hip-hop icon Rakim.

Oak Park residents are invited to attend a community meeting to review the master plan and provide input regarding the current and future use of Scoville Park. The overall objective of a site plan is to provide “a blueprint for future park renewal.” www.pdop.org In partnership with the community, we enrich lives by providing meaningful experiences through programs, parks, and facilities.

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Tested by disorder, teen overcomes through art Over $500,000 in unpaid parking tickets

Elise Robinson remembers always suffering from tactile defensiveness

Village approves payment plan for scofflaw motorists

By NONA TEPPER Staff Reporter

Growing up, Elise Robinson was confined to fleeces and slouchy clothes since she suffered from tactile defensiveness, a rare disorder that causes victims to suffer hyper-sensitivity to touch.

She would cut holes in her armpits because the seams of her tops felt like micro razors sawing into her skin. She would remove tags and labels.

But now, 17 years later, Robinson believes she has overcome the disorder, which caused her so much physical and emotional pain during her childhood in Oak Park. She credits the support of her family, friends and love of art for helping her overcome tactile defensiveness.

“It felt like a bunch of tiny little razors going into my skin, or sometimes the pain would just sit there and felt like something I needed to attend to, like a biting or scratching,” Robinson said.

Robinson realized something was unusual about her relationship with fabric when she was 4 years old, although her mother, Jackie, said she always had trouble with seatbelts as an infant.

She couldn’t articulate that something was wrong to her mother, but her parents recognized her sensitivity was out of the ordinary. After multiple visits to the pediatrician, and hours spent researching online, the Robinsons finally found Kids Unlimited in Oak Park, a physical therapist that specializes in diagnosing and treating such disorders.

Robinson started making weekly visits to the physical therapists office, and was advised to rub a brush with soft bristles 10 times against her skin before dressing and being forced to spend time in a jungle gym that had multiple types of fabrics inside.

Those practices helped momentarily, but by the time Robinson finished her hourlong visits and got back in the family’s car, she immediately felt like she couldn’t wear her clothes anymore.

Fed up, she decided to limit her wardrobe to the few items that she could tolerate, wearing them over and over again.

“I was tired of crying every morning about not being able to wear things,” she said.

But getting dressed in the morning was still a struggle. She would spend at least 40 minutes every morning trying to find something comfortable to wear, often wearing the same thing she had worn the day before, and arriving late to school, accumulating absences and tardies.

Administrators asked her what was wrong, but Robinson didn’t feel like ex-

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

ARTFUL: Elise Robinson, 17, says making art helped her come to terms with her rare disorder. plaining herself, feeling like she had no proof to justify her disorder.

“I remember my mom trying to convince me to wear normal clothes, because she was afraid people were going to bully me at school,” Robinson said. “I told her people were already bullying me.”

Robinson made her core group of friends at Horace Mann Elementary School, bonding over movies and the SpongeBob Squarepants TV show. But by the she got to Percy Julian Middle School, she was pressed with meeting new students who didn’t know about tactile defensiveness.

Classmates would come up to her and repeatedly tell her that her shirt was inside out, ask why she wore the same thing every day and wonder why her clothes had holes in them.

At first, Robinson took the time to explain her condition to her classmates. But eventually she got frustrated. She stopped explaining and tried to laugh off her disorder by pretending she had accidently put her clothes on inside out. Then, she would wait in the school bathroom until bullies passed.

She learned to keep her head down and blend in the crowd, taking out her frustration in her artwork at home.

By the time she got into seventh grade, Robinson felt fed up with being constantly approached about her clothes and whispered about. She started answering matterof-factly when classmates asked her about her pockmarked, inside-out clothes, leaving bullies with no recourse but to shrug their shoulders and walk away. She also made it a point to tune people out as she walked by them.

“My friends at the time helped a lot because they saw beyond what I put on on the outside,” Robinson said. “I was just like, ‘If they can see the real me, then I’m normal.’”

Robinson went on to study at the Chicago Academy of the Arts, a safe haven where no one cared about her clothes since all were united by a common love of expression. She flourished at the school, learning to ease her harsh, angry brush strokes with more fluid lines.

The newfound acceptance made her feel like she could tackle tactile defensiveness again. The summer after her freshman year, Robinson used a mind over matter approach to overcome the disorder, reminding herself that she was stronger than the clothes.

“I knew that if I really put my heart and mind to it that I could wear anything I wanted to wear, and that my body would just sort of adapt to it and listen,” Robinson said.

She started with jeans, and bought a soft pair to practice wearing for hours at a time.

After three weeks, she forgot she was wearing them.

By her sophomore year, she had refined her sense style to include jeans, T-shirts and dresses. Lace still irritates her skin, and hard denim still bothers the back of her knees. She still wears her socks inside out because the seam bothers her. But, she believes she has overcome her disorder, so making amends with the condition that she’s been able to start expressing it in her art.

“I never branched into using it in my art mainly because it was a dark memory in my past,” Robinson said. “But now that I have the skills to convey my ideas and not be angry with my piece while make it.”

Attend a free exhibit of Robinson’s work at 5 p.m. on March 23 at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, 1010 W. Chicago Ave. in Chicago CONTACT: ntepper@wjinc.com

Motorists who owe more than $500 in parking tickets and face having their vehicles booted got a bit of relief from the Oak Park Board of Trustees, which on March 19 approved an ordinance allowing then to enter into a payment plan.

The ordinance mirrors one approved by the city of Chicago, which aims to capture some of the fines before they’re sent to a collection agency and give relief to motorists who have a hard time paying.

Village Manager Cara Pavlicek said Oak Park has about 74,000 motorists who owe the village for various parking citations. That amounted to $565,652 by the end of 2017, according to a village memo.

The village issued 54,804 parking citations last year and collected $2.1 million. The village also booted 127 vehicles last year.

“I think the individuals that this payment program is of most interest to are people who have racked up five or more unpaid citations that are facing a vehicle boot,” Pavlicek said, adding that some of the unpaid tickets are from motorists who received a ticket in Oak Park but have no plan to return to the village and likely will never pay the ticket.

“That’s not all 74,000, but that’s some of them, so it’s hard to anticipate how much we can move the needle [in terms of collections], but certainly any dollars that we can have collected before they’re sent to the collection agency we retain 100 percent of that fine,” Pavlicek said.

Trustee Dan Moroney said he supports leniency for those unable to pay, but added that he hopes the ordinance also will increase the percentage of fines collected.

“I’m all for the kind of softer gloves handling for residents who have a harder time paying their outstanding tickets,” he said.

Pavlicek said that when unpaid tickets go to a collection agency, the village only receives 75 percent of the amount if the fines are ultimately collected.

Those participating in the new payment program would also pay a $2 fee each month of the payment plan, which can run from six to 12 months.

Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb asked village staff to work on establishing an online system to sign up for the payment plan. Under the existing system, those wanting to start the payment plan would have to visit Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison St., to sign up for the program.

He said allowing motorists to sign up for the plan online would make it easier on staff and those wanting to pay their tickets.

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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New condo building could be headed to Washington Blvd.

Nine units proposed to replace singlefamily home and coach house

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

The little red farmhouse-style building tucked between two apartment buildings in the 1000 block of Washington Boulevard in Oak Park is reminiscent of the building in the 2009 Pixar movie “Up” – minus the balloons that lift the structure away into the wild blue yonder.

But in this version of the tale, owners Rayman and Malini Patel are trying to convince the municipality to allow them to tear down the 119-year-old structure to make room for a five-story, nine-unit condominium building. The proposal also seeks to tear down a coach house in the backyard that is almost as large as the primary three-bedroom house.

It would be the first multi-unit structure built along the row of condos and apartment buildings on Washington Boulevard in recent memory.

The Patels are retired and say if the proposal is approved by the village, they’ll get to live in one of the condos as part of the deal.

Rayman Patel said in an interview last week that he and his family purchased the building in 1974, and they have lived there since 1979.

“This is a good neighborhood; it’s the best neighborhood in Oak Park in my opinion,” Rayman Patel said.

He said he’s been working with a developer and an architect on the proposal, which first must gain approval from

TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER/Staff

HOME SWEET HOME?: The owner of the farmhouse-style building in the 1000 block of Washington Boulevard wants to have the structure razed to make room for a 9-unit condo building. the Oak Park Zoning Board of Appeals and the Oak Park Board of Trustees.

The proposal must receive variances from the village zon-

ing code for height, number of dwellings allowed and how far the condo building would be set back from other buildings to the east and west.

The zoning code requires a 9,900-square-foot lot for a nineunit condo building; the lot is just over 8,000 square feet. The maximum height allowed is 45 feet, but the proposal asks for a height of 55 feet. Also, the side setbacks must be five feet, but the condo building plans for three feet.

The condo building design by River Forest-based architect Hague Architecture features yellow or red brick for three of the floors, a gray stone ground floor exterior, and a French gabled roof at the top. The units would each have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Nine parking spaces would be available to tenants in a lot behind the building to the north.

Jonathan Hague, principal of Hague Architecture, said in a letter to the Zoning Board of Appeals that “development and associated costs are projected slightly above $4 million, on the project at eight units the projected profit will be approximately $43,000; therefore, the request for the nine units.”

Hague said in a telephone interview that he and the developer are “willing to put money into the project, but we need variances to do that.”

He said infill multi-unit buildings don’t get built in Oak Park often, because there is so little available space and teardowns are infrequent “because the housing stock is all pretty good.”

The proposal will be presented to the Zoning Board of Appeals on April 4 at 7 p.m. in Oak Park Village Hall Council Chambers, 123 Madison St. CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

at Concordia University Chicago Music Concerts

The Collective Theater

Chamber Orchestra Concert April 8 at 7 p.m., Chapel Jazz Band Concert April 16 at 7 p.m., Chapel Spring Music Festival April 29 at 7 p.m., South Gym/Geiseman Auditorium Music Department Information: 708-209-3060

Man of La Mancha Book by Dale Wasserman, Music by Mitch Leigh, Lyrics by Joe Darion Directed by Stephanie Stroud | April 13 - 22 Madison Street Theatre, 1010 Madison St., Oak Park Tickets: ManchaCUC.brownpapertickets.com

Ferguson Art Gallery Graduating Senior Art Show | March 26 - May 5 Gallery hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Ferguson Gallery is located in Kretzmann Hall

Event details are subject to change.

Unless noted, all events take place at Concordia University Chicago, 7400 Augusta St., River Forest.

Visit CUChicago.edu

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

School walkouts carry same message, different tones

March 14 demonstrations lasted for 17 minutes

By MICHAEL ROMAIN and NONA TEPPER Staff Reporters

Students in Oak Park and River Forest joined their peers across the country in the National School Walkout, held March 14 at 10 a.m. The demonstrations were scheduled to last for 17-minutes to symbolize the 17 victims murdered at Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14.

While the protests converged around the common theme of raising awareness of gun violence, they each differed in tone, focus and intensity.

Students at Oak Park and River Forest High School amplified a walkout they staged last month, with Wednesday’s action much more of a community effort. A line of adults, for instance, formed an honor guard along Scoville Avenue as students streamed out of the main entrance and onto the streets.

Many area elementary school students were allowed to demonstrate inside of school buildings. Some parents of those young people recalled on Facebook their children’s individual stances.

Holly Spurlock, president of the Oak Park Elementary Schools District 97 Board of Education, wrote in her capacity as a D97 parent about her third-grader’s decision to “stand in silent protest against gun violence at her school.”

“We asked her to articulate why and she told us: ‘I don’t want any more guns and we need to tell Trump and other people that we

want to be safe,’” Spurlock stated.

At Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School in Oak Park, at least 200 students rallied outside of the main entrance for roughly 17 minutes, many bearing signs (“Protect Lives Not Guns”) and chanting (“Hey hey, ho ho, the NRA has got to go”).

The students who organized the Brooks demonstration decided to zero in on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s March 13 veto of a bill, sponsored by Oak Park state Sen. Don Harmon (38th), to require gun dealers to get licensed through the state.

“We wanted Bruce Rauner to sign SB 1567, which he vetoed yesterday, so he’s clearly shown that he cares more about (National Rifle Association) money for funding his campaign than the lives of children in his own state,” said Thaddeus Schultz, 13, who was one of the lead organizers of the Brooks demonstration.

“We want to pass on the message and convince state legislatures and people in Congress that this is not OK,” said Jordan Lockett, 13. “We need change. This is unacceptable.

Every day, somebody loses their lives.”

Meanwhile, about 350 students at Roosevelt Middle School in River Forest marched the four-block school perimeter, carrying homemade signs that said, “I want to be safe in my school” and “#Enough.” Mostly seventh and eighth graders attended the 17-minute march and about 20 parents joined the rally, beginning the protest with a moment of silence for the students and school administrators whose lives were lost in Parkland. Principal Larry Garstki said this is the first demonstration that’s ever occurred at the school.

“It was by the students, for the students,

WILLIAM CAMARGO/Contributor

UNITED FRONT: Roosevelt Middle School students Ava Jakovljevic, Josie Humbert and Elizabeth DePooter were among those marching around the River Forest school on March 14 to commemorate the 17 students killed exactly one month earlier in Parkland, Florida. and it went exceptionally well. It was a peaceful, respectful demonstration,” said Dawne Simmons, spokeswoman for River Forest District 90 schools.

Some 450 students of Trinity High School lined the block of Lathrop Street, participating in an administration-led prayerful protest for 17-minutes. After the demonstration, students provided information about how to contact representatives. They plan to

continue the conversation through Blazers Seeking Justice, a group that meets weekly and chooses issues to research and try and take action.

“While gun violence wasn’t one of the core issues, obviously it’s so relevant, the time to make a statement on common sense regulations on guns and things that we feel as a Catholic school is right now,” said student Xena Ault.

Harmon hopes to override gun licensing veto

Governor a ‘lap dog’ for the NRA, state senator says

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has vetoed a bill sponsored by Oak Park state Sen. Don Harmon to impose licensing on all gun dealers across the state, which recently passed both houses of the legislature. Harmon says he plans to lead an override attempt.

Harmon’s Gun Dealer Licensing Act passed the Illinois House of Representatives in late February by a 64-52 vote. The bill had already been approved last year in the senate by a 30-21 vote. Overriding the veto would require a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate.

“Assuming we receive [the vetoed bill from Rauner] by the time we return on April 10, I will move to override it, and I am hopeful that my colleagues will join me in making sure this common-sense measure becomes

law,” Harmon said in a press release.

The Chicago SunTimes reports that Rauner said the proposal would have created a new layer of bureaucracy and would not keep communities safer.

Harmon’s bill DON HARMON would have required State senator gun dealers to be licensed through the state, and employees would have to undergo training on conducting background checks and identifying straw purchasers who buy guns for those legally unable to do so.

Dealers also would have to maintain a record of all sales and install surveillance cameras at their businesses. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation would have been given the authority to conduct inspections of gun dealers’ businesses.

Harmon has been pushing the bill for the last 15 years.

Rauner told the Sun-Times the bill would do little to prevent gun crimes in the state.

Harmon responded in a press release, accusing him of BRUCE RAUNER playing politics on Governor the issue.

“The governor must be much more concerned about his immediate political prospects than we thought because he decided to be a lap dog for the NRA today rather than listen to the people he represents,” Harmon said in the press release, noting that 85 percent of Illinoisans support licensing gun dealers, and Rauner is on the wrong side of the issue.

“Tomorrow students across the country will stand up and beg elected officials to do their job and protect schools from gun vio-

lence,” Harmon said, referring to the school walkouts held on March 14. “By issuing this veto on the eve of those demonstrations, the governor is telling them that he has no intention to live up to that responsibility.”

State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-13th) also released a statement, calling the decision “unconscionable.”

“This is a personal issue for me,” Raoul said. “I have experienced gun violence just outside my front door on multiple occasions while my children were home, and I have close friends who lost children to gun violence within blocks of my home.”

Raoul noted that the state licenses “all sorts of professions” such as physicians, lawyers and pharmacists — “even dog groomers and barbers,” he added.

“It’s not an unreasonable request to license firearm dealers,” Raoul said. “The vast majority of voters support this measure on a bipartisan basis, and the governor turned his back on all of them today.”

CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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A second chapter for mother and son

From drugs to inspiration, Marian Hatcher and Maui Jones have a story to tell

By NONA TEPPER Staff Reporter

The last time Maui Jones saw his mother he had a gun to his head.

Jones, then-18 and living in River Forest, came downstairs to ask his mom for a ride to his first acting gig. When he walked reached the basement, he saw his mom, Marian Hatcher, hopped up on drugs. His stepdad put a gun to his head and told him: “Don’t you come back to this house. If you ever come back, I’ll kill you.”

Shortly after that, Hatcher disappeared.

Today, Marian Hatcher says she’s lived a life that most people make documentaries about (in fact, she’s featured on Oprah’s documentary series Prostitution: Leaving the Life). Former President Barack Obama awarded her the 2016 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) recently mentioned Hatcher in a speech for Black History Month. In the Congressional Record, Durbin brags: “Marian Hatcher is a sort of modern-day Moses. Like Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman, she knows the pain and despair that comes from being bought and sold like a commodity.”

Hatcher disappeared nearly 30 years ago, abandoning her children, husband and corporate job to prostitute herself on the streets in order to buy crack cocaine.

As a child, Hatcher was sexually abused.

She repressed the memory and graduated from Proviso East High School, went on to study finance at Loyola University, and later became a corporate accountant with

25 people working under her. But she was attracted to smart men with criminal tendencies. She married a member of the Vice Lords gang who beat her, and she used crack to ease the pain.

“When she disappeared, and when things went bad, they didn’t just go bad for her, it went bad for all of us,” said her son Maui Jones, 37, of Forest Park.

Jones grew up bouncing between suburbs, attending Emerson Elementary School in Maywood then attending Oak Park and River Forest High School. An Oak Park family, the Hennings, let Jones and his siblings stay with them during Jones’ high school years, bound by a connection through his grandmother’s church. Eventually Hatcher’s drug use got her kicked out of the Hennings’ basement, and Jones’ siblings moved back in with their grandpa George in Maywood.

Jones was allowed to stay with the Hennings so he could continue attending OPRF. “I was a pretty quiet kid growing up, passive, afraid of the world,” Jones said. “It was in that house in Oak Park that I learned to find my voice, to be outgoing, come out of my shell.”

Until junior year of high school, Jones said he had no friends. But after a year with the Hennings, Jones was suddenly popular.

He performed for his new friends, stopped attending school, started drinking and smoking weed, and wondered: “Does anything matter?”

His chaotic home life, combined with racial under-representation in school, caused his grades to fall. Eventually, behavioral issues led the Hennings to ask Jones to leave their home, too. He moved in with his mom in River Forest and had almost finished his senior year at OPRF when Hatcher’s husband put that gun to his head.

As Jones departed, he turned to his mom and said, “I can’t see you anymore.”

Jones inherited a love of theater from his mother but he abandoned his dreams of studying film in college and joined his siblings in Maywood, dropping out of OPRF and getting a full-time job to help support his family. He earned his GED and worked a series of dead-end jobs, struggling with depression.

“What must have been wrong with me that she doesn’t want to be here?” he wondered after his mother’s disappearance.

After Jones left, Hatcher abandoned the suburban home to live in rundown buildings and alleys. She was trafficked, and her pimp gave her extra crack on Mother’s Day because she cried so much for the children she left behind.

In 2004, Hatcher was arrested for violating probation related to a drug charge and sentenced to 120 days in the Cook County Jail’s Women’s Justice Services, which offered her mental health treatment and substance abuse recovery. When she entered the program, Hatcher didn’t think she was addicted. After graduating and reflecting on her childhood trauma, she felt renewed determination to stay clean and reconnect with her kids.

“I had to heal in terms of the trauma I experienced, and the loss of material possessions, trust of family,” Hatcher said. “I was elevated and empowered under the current sheriff [Tom Dart], and obviously he is in my heart forever. He gave me a second chance not only to be employable, but to be all I could be.”

For six months, Hatcher returned to the jail every day to volunteer with incarcerated women until the Sheriff ’s Department eventually hired her. When Jones saw her commit to her Narcotics Anonymous group, support other abused women, and keep her promises, he reached out to her, looking for advice.

One night, after an exhausting 13-hour

workday, he felt burned out and complained to her that he hated the long hours, but finding a normal, 9 to 5 gig would be nearly impossible for him since he lacked a high school diploma.

“Nearly impossible is different than impossible,” Hatcher replied.

Jones found a job as an interpretation coordinator, and followed his mother’s lead in getting more involved in Forest Park — spearheading the sanctuary city drive last year — and launching his own Oak Parkbased nonprofit Echo Theater, dedicated to social justice causes. Their production of Blues for Mister Charlie will debut on May 12.

“I struggled through adulthood for a long time, but seeing her come back and then redefine her life, and not just live it but thrive in it, that inspired my second chapter,” Jones said.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart also noticed Hatcher’s transformation. After a series of promotions, Dart named her senior project manager for the Office of Public Policy as well as the human trafficking coordinator. Hatcher now shares her story nationally as a way to raise awareness about the plight of human trafficking, supports victims, and helps craft national legislation. Jones and Hatcher will be together for a talk, “Second Chapters: An Evening with Rev. Dr. Marian Hatcher and Maui Jones” on March 29 at Live Café, 161 S. Oak Park Ave. “I’ve seen who she was, I’ve seen her at her lowest, I’ve seen her pick up her pieces and put it back together and change her action in quiet ways, like helping me out if I was in a bind,” Jones said. “So while I never got the movie mother-son moment, I realized I didn’t need that. She works her ass off every day to show how she’s changed. While I’m sometimes overflowing with words, she’s overflowing with action. You hold onto that.”

CONTACT: ntepper@wjinc.com

Lutheran Child and Family Services extends lease with RF

By NONA TEPPER Staff Reporter

River Forest village trustees unanimously approved a four-month lease to Lutheran Child and Family Services (LCFS) at a regular board meeting on March 12.

The village approved a $25,000 lease to the nonprofit child welfare agency for 7620 Madison Street, so they could have more time to finalize the lease for their new facility, which will not be located in River Forest, Sara LoCoco, director of marketing and communications, said in an email.

“Our decision to extend the lease here in River Forest isn’t in any way connected to agency funding,” LoCoco said. “It is solely based on needing additional time to finalize arrangements and contracts for our new office space.”

LCFS’ new lease starts March 15, ends July 15, and money the village earns from leasing the space will be deposited in the Madison Street Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. The village bought the building and surrounding area for $1 million in November 2017 from LCFS, loaning the money from its general fund to the Madison Street TIF to complete the purchase. Madison Street’s TIF was started in November 2016, and stretches from Thatcher Avenue to Lathrop Avenue. Tax funds generated from the TIF district will eventually be used to pay back the loan from the general fund.

LCFS put the building up for sale in August, asking buyers to “name their offer,” LoCoco told Wednesday Journal at the time.

After months of underfunding by legislators during the state’s two-year-long budget impasse, the nonprofit had been unloading

a number of buildings and consolidating its programs—closing nine programs across Illinois and selling at least four buildings.

LoCoCo said LCFS hopes to be out of River Forest by mid- June.

“For us, it’s not conducive to the staff size we have any more,” LoCoco then said of 7620 Madison Street, adding that maintenance to the old building was more trouble than it was worth.

River Forest trustees saw the building on the market and jumped on the opportunity to buy the space, with some community members saying they felt blindsided by the purchase. Village administrator Eric Palm said village trustees did not consult community members before finalizing the purchase.

“There’s, in my mind, a difference between acquiring a property, which we did, and looking at an event that would go in its place,” Palm said.

In thinking about new ideas for development, Palm said the village will look to the village’s comprehensive plan—which should be ready around late summer. He encouraged community members to contribute ideas through the village’s website, vrf.us. He said the village has not yet talked with any developers about the property.

But, “it’s in pretty bad shape in terms of the maintenance, so it’s probably not in the move in kind of category,” Village President Cathy Adduci said.

The LCFS building stretches 17,000 square feet. That portion of Madison Street is zoned for commercial use. Adduci previously told Wednesday Journal she thought townhomes could be a good fit for the space.

CONTACT: ntepper@wjinc.com

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

D97 hires 3 new administrators Two central office hires and Whittier principal round out crop of newcomers

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Elementary Schools District 97 school board recently approved the appointment of three new administrators. At a regular meeting on March 13, the board unanimously hired Paul Starck-Knight as the district’s new superintendent for finance and operations, Dr. Tawanda Lawrence as the new senior director of curriculum and Patrick Robinson as the new principal for Whittier Elementary.

Starck-Knight replaces Dr. Alicia Evans, who resigned in December to work as assistant superintendent of business operations in another school district. Starck-Knight comes from the ECHO Joint Agreement, a special education cooperative in the south suburbs where he worked for two years as director of finance and operations.

Before that, Starck-Knight was chief financial officer for Antioch Community Consolidate School District 34 for five years and business manager for Oak Grove School District 68 for two years. He also has experience as a math teacher.

Starck-Knight is working on his doctorate in educational leadership at Concordia University Chicago. He has a master’s degree in education leadership from National-Louis University and a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign. He received a 1-year contract for the 2018-19 school year, which included a base salary of $146,030.

Lawrence replaces Dr. Helen Dr. Helen Wei, who resigned last January. Lawrence comes from Country Club Hills School District 160, where she was director of curriculum, instruction and technology for three years, and director of curriculum and instruction for one year before serving in that position.

She was also the principal at A.O. Marshall Elementary School in Joliet for six years and assistant principal at Washington Jr. High School

Academy in Joliet for four years. Lawrence also has experience as a music teacher and dean of students.

She has a doctorate in educational leadership from DePaul University, a master’s degree in administraTAWANDA LAWRENCE tion and supervision from Roosevelt UniverSenior director of curriculum sity and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Eastern Illinois University. Lawrence signed a 1-year contract for the 2018-19 school year and will be paid a base salary of $130,175.

Robinson comes to the district from Urban Prep Academies PAUL STARK KING for Young Men in ChiSuperintendent for finance cago, where he was and operations principal for six years.

He has also been a director of curriculum and instruction for three years, a teacher induction coach for a year and an elementary school teacher for six years.

He earned a master’s degree in school leadPATRICK ROBINSON ership and a post-gradWhittier principal uate superintendent endorsement from Concordia University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Monmouth College.

Robinson replaces Keisha Warner, who resigned last July after three years in the position.

Scott Kasic and Jim Doyle had been serving as the school’s interim co-principals while the district worked on Warner’s replacement. Robinson signed a 1-year contract for the 2018-19 school year and will be paid a base salary of $120,871.

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

BUS

Big cost, low use from page 1 that were deemed hazardous 20 years ago or live more than 1.5 miles from their schools — a distance set by the state.

The district also transports students who may not be signed up for the service if there’s space available on the buses.

According to Alicia Evans, the district’s outgoing assistant superintendent for finance and operations, the district has spent $2 million over the last four years on regular bus service.

Throughout that time, the district has contracted with Bellwood-based Lakeview Bus Company.

This year, cost of the service increased by nearly 30 percent, going from $405,315 in 2017 to $522,386 in 2018.

In each of the two years prior to 2017, the costs averaged $537,141.

According to Edulog Consulting, an education transportation consulting firm that the board tapped to conduct a transportation audit, those costs could be reduced by at least half if the district eliminated elementary school buses.

The reduction would not be unique.

Neither District 90 in River Forest and nor Oak Park and River Forest High School provide bus service for students.

Busing for elementary school students is primarily the result of 14 hazardous crossings throughout Oak Park, which the district established in 1997.

According to Edulog’s analysis, those hazardous crossings have since been retrofitted with signal lights and clearly marked pedestrian walkways, and should no longer be considered hazardous.

“Without these hazards, no elementary school students would qualify for busing,” according to the Edulog audit. Some middle-school students, however, would still qualify for bus service due to living more than 1.5 miles from their schools.

Edulog estimated that if the district eliminated elementary busing, but

maintained eight buses for middleschool students while adjusting bell times, it would shave $224,000 off the roughly $522,000 it currently pays on transportation.

If the district also adjusted the middleschool boundaries, in addition to changing bell times, it could save $298,000 and would only need six buses for transporting middle-school students.

The idea of adjusting middle-school bell times was met with some confusion

by D97 Supt. Carol Kelley, who wasn’t immediately sold on the measure.

Evans added that if the district decided to continue busing elementary students, it should consider charging families for the service.

On March 13, board members said they would actively consider Evans’ recommendations, although they conceded they’re working under the gun. The district’s contract with Lakeview expires in June, so the board decided to start the bidding process on a new contract for the 2018-19 school year.

Completed bids should come before the board for approval next month. Board members grappled with how they would communicate their plans to the public, with Evans noting that she’s already been contacted by frustrated parents who have gotten wind of the possible cuts.

“I think we need to engage [the community] in the process and why this is the right thing to do,” said board member Rupa Datta. “We need to explain why this is the right thing to do.”

Evans said exploring the possible changes in transportation funding is part of a much larger effort by the district to exert more discipline in its spending practices.

“If the decision is that we’ll spend $500,000 in transportation this year, then it is what it is,” she said, “but next year, people should understand that we’re going to move forward with some changes.”

The school board could make a final decision about its transportation plan late next month after they’ve seen bids from different bus companies.

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

D97, teachers union cite progress in contract talks

New deal could be approved in May, officials say

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

The dialogue between the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education and the Oak Park Teachers’ Association about a new union contract has been “positive and productive,” according to a joint statement released by the two entities on March 13.

The board and OPTA have been talking since December, when the groups participated in joint training on bargaining from a federally certified mediator.

According to the statement, teams from the two sides met 10 times between January and March 13 to work on developing the new contract.

“In addition to these sessions, subcommittees composed of teachers, board members and administrators have met to draft contract language that is based on the consensus of the teams,” the statement read. “This language is then presented to the whole

group for review, discussion and finalization.”

As part of the negotiating process, the teams both worked on a list of “economic and non-economic issues to be bargained,” which included evaluations, leaves, school day length, salary and benefits and planning time, among other issues.

The statement explained that the negotiations will continue through weekly sessions, “with the goal of finalizing a new contract in May that rewards the dedication and hard work of our teachers, aligns with the district’s commitment to fiscal stewardship,

and will benefit our students, our schools and the village of Oak Park.”

The negotiations are the first since District 97 and the OPTA reached a contract agreement in 2015, one that both sides at the time called “transformative.”

The 2015 contract featured a compressed salary schedule comprising a system for measuring teacher effectiveness and replaced the traditional system of 25 steps and eight lanes of the previous contract, which has been common in public education.

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

13

River Forest names new deputy police chief

‘Officer of the Year’ receives award for the second time

By NONA TEPPER Staff Reporter

River Forest Clerk Katherine Brand-White swore in the village’s new deputy police chief, Daniel Dhooghe, at a village board meeting March 12. Dhooghe previously served as commander and succeeds Police Chief James O’Shea in the role, after O’Shea was promoted to chief in December.

Dhooghe is a 27-year veteran of the department, starting his police career in River Forest in July 1991. Prior to that, he spent time as a police officer for Triton College. He is married and has two sons. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bellevue University, and a master’s in public administration.

Szczensy repeats as top cop O’Shea announced Officer Daniel Szczesny as the “2017 Police Officer of the Year” at the March 12 village board meeting.

Fellow officers nominated Szczesny for the award in 2017, which he also received in 2016.

“He has a high-level of self-initiated activity, quality arrests, provides mentoring to other officers and takes on a leadership role,” Chief O’Shea said of Szczesny.

Szczesny started his career at the River Forest Police Department in October 2013. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, and is currently studying law at John Marshall Law School.

Additionally, he has been recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving the last three years for his enforcement efforts against impaired drivers.

CONTACT: ntepper@wjinc.com

NONA TEPPER/Staff

PROMOTED: Linda Dhooghe pins a new star on the uniform of her husband, Daniel Dhooghe, shortly after he was sworn in as River Forest’s new deputy police chief on March 12.

C R I M E

Teen wanted in River Forest killed in possible gang shooting A 16-year-old Chicago resident suspected

by River Forest police of being involved in a burglary and auto theft in January, was shot to death in the Austin neighborhood on March 8.

River Forest police said in a press release that the boy was one of three juveniles suspected of a burglary and motor vehicle theft in the 900 block of Franklin Street on Jan. 4.

The two other juveniles already were taken into custody; police were seeking the third.

Chicago police notified River Forest that the third suspect was shot multiple times in the 800 block of North Waller Avenue in Chicago last week.

Chicago police said JUSTIN GONZALEZ they believe the homicide was possibly gang related.

Two charged for River Forest burglaries On March 6, River Forest police charged Diego Perez, 21, and Justin Gonzalez, 23, both of Chicago, each with two counts of burglary for two residential break-ins on Dec. 12, 2017, in the 800 and 1200 blocks of

Monroe Street. Police said the two men forced open the rear doors of the residences and stole jewelry and electronics.

Both Perez and Gonzalez, who police say are self-admitted gang members, are in Cook County Jail awaiting an April court date.

Armed robbery A Berwyn man was robbed by a man brandishing a knife at about 1:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of South Oak Park Avenue on March 13.

Oak Park police reported that the offender displayed the knife and demanded the victim’s money. The victim handed over his walDIEGO PEREZ let, which contained credit and debit cards and a social security card.

The estimated loss is $30.

Theft ■ A white 2011 Chevy Malibu left running and unattended was stolen from the 300 block of Chicago Avenue at about 7:30 a.m. on March 16. It was recovered in the 700

block of North Leamington in Chicago.

■ A black 2013 Ford Focus, worth an estimated $16,000, was stolen from the 700 block of Garfield Street sometime between 9 p.m. on March 16 and 4:28 a.m. on March 17.

■ A woman’s purse left unattended in a shopping cart was stolen at the Jewel-Osco, 438 W. Madison St., sometime between 2 and 2:30 p.m. on March 17. The purse contained a red wallet, an iPhone 7, three credit cards, a debit card and sunglasses. The estimated loss is $500.

■ A man stole items from the Shell gas station, 1 Harrison St., at about 4:40 a.m. on March 15 and then damaged the door as he left. He fled southbound on Austin Boulevard. The estimated loss is $200.

■ A woman in her 40s stole a pair of yoga pants from Lively Running, 109 N. Oak Park Ave., at about 12:45 p.m. on March 16. The estimated loss is $59.

■ A vehicle that was left unattended and running was stolen from the BP gas station, 100 Chicago Ave., at about 4:45 p.m. on March 14. The estimated loss is $2,000.

Criminal damage to property ■ Someone fired a BB gun at the 10-by-10foot storefront window of the Animal Care League 2nd Chance Shop, 808 Harrison St. The incident happened sometime between 6:30 p.m. on March 15 and 5:41 p.m. on March 17.

■ Someone shattered the front window of Laury’s Bakery & Cake, 12 Madison St., sometime between 7 p.m. on March 16 and 4:30 a.m. on March 17. The damage is an estimated $1,500.

Burglary arrests ■ Michael Fisher, 47, of the 100 block of North Long in Chicago, was arrested in the 100 block of North Ridgeland at 2:43 p.m. on March 14, for burglaries to four motor vehicles dating back to March 10.

■ A male juvenile from Chicago was arrested on March 15 by Oak Park police in the 4900 block of West Cermak for a prior burglary in Oak Park. The victim was identified as an Oak Park resident, but no other information was given.

These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports, March 6-17, 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

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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Oak Park chef, author serious about spices Judson Allen out to prove healthy dishes can be flavorful

C

hef Judson Todd Allen, of Oak Park, jumped into the national spotlight as a competitor on season eight of “The Next Food Network Star” in 2012. The cooking show gave Allen, known as the Architect of Flavor, a national platform for his unique approach to healthy eating and weight management. And earlier this year the local chef released his new book called, “The Spice Diet.”

Growing up on Chicago’s South Side, Allen remembers his life as filled with ridicule and negative attention because of his weight.

“I learned later in life,” says Allen, “that I had a serious addiction to food at a very young age.”

The chef speaks candidly about how his intense childhood dreams about eating morphed into consuming four hamburgers in a single meal on a regular basis. The resulting weight gain left him the victim of bullying and led Allen to seek solace in greasy bags filled with French fries and burgers.

As much as he tried to comfort himself with food, he never felt fulfilled by eating.

Eventually, Allen’s distorted view of food and the vicious cycle of emotional eating left him in a lonely place.

But then he made a switch.

Fourteen years ago, Allen assessed his life and realized he had always been passionate about food, but his passion had turned into an addiction. This epiphany helped the

MELISSA ELSMO

Photo by Melissa Elsmo

MOUTH PARTY: Even without mayo, Judson Allen’s Ultimate Tuna Salad is rich. The dish is even better garnished with a batch of Chef Judson’s Sweet and Sour Dill Pickle Cashews. The cashew recipe and more than 70 others can be found in “The Spice Diet.”

budding chef see he could turn his passion into his purpose and led Allen to begin his weight-loss journey.

Ultimately, he shed 160 pounds and transformed his life by focusing on food from a healthy perspective and using a wide variety of spices to bring bold flavor to his recipes.

Allen’s lifestyle change helped him to fully appreciate the value of fresh, high-quality ingredients; along his weight-loss journey he became a chef.

Today, Allen is a chef first and works actively to dispel the myth healthy eating is lifeless and bland.

His book “The Spice Diet” seeks to inspire readers to think creatively about food by introducing spices to excite them about cooking. Additionally, Allen’s book is a call to remove salt, sugar and processed foods from meals and supports that healthy choice by specifically addressing how to battle inevitable cravings.

“I want people to remember ‘The Spice Diet’ was written by a real person, who had a real problem with food,’” says Allen gesturing at himself. “I’ve been in the trenches for years and I know I am not selling a hopeless dream.”

The Ultimate Tuna Salad Serves 4-6 Serving Size: 1 cup Calories per serving: 257

Ingredients 3 (5-ounce) cans albacore tuna in water, drained Half an English cucumber, diced 1 teaspoon capers, drained 2 avocados, pitted, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes 1 small red onion, thinly sliced into half moons 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley ½ teaspoon finely chopped fresh dill 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro ¾ cup sliced cherry tomatoes 2 teaspoons Bayou Cajun Spice Blend (recipe follows) 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions In a large serving bowl, combine the tuna, cucumber, capers, fresh dill, avocado, onion, fresh herbs, tomatoes and Cajun Spice Blend.

Add the lemon juice and olive oil and toss the salad.

Bayou Cajun Spice Blend Makes ¼ cup 2 teaspoons freshly ground white pepper 2 teaspoons garlic powder 2 teaspoons onion powder 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper 2 teaspoons paprika 1 tablespoon dried thyme 2 teaspoons ground black pepper ½ teaspoon mustard powder

Mix together all the ingredients in an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place away from heat and light.

Recipe reprinted from “The Spice Diet” with permission from Judson Allen.

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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15

Oak Park Eats goes live!

Restaurants, recipes, chefs and deals galore are all on the menu

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

Oak Park was once known as the place where the pubs stop and the steeples start – but over the last few years the village, and its neighbors in the western suburbs, have gained a reputation for being the place where brew pubs and restaurants abound.

That’s where Oak Park Eats comes in.

The new portal, launched by Wednesday Journal, is a local guide to restaurants, brew pubs, recipes, chefs, events, contests, drink specials – just about everything food related you can imagine.

The so-called vertical – that’s marketing speak for a venture that combines digital, social, events and print focused on a particular industry or market – launched quietly on March 16 and is quickly growing a loyal following. It includes food-related business stories you’d find in Wednesday Journal and restaurant coverage by the publication’s beloved longtime blogger, David Hammond – but that’s just the beginning of a veritable smorgasbord of food info you’ll find.

Food blogger and local restaurant maven, Melissa Elsmo, has taken the reins at Oak Park Eats and will be dishing out an insider’s look at the area food scene. We tracked Elsmo down at her Oak Park home, where she was – no surprise – preparing a 12-course meal for guests.

“I’m taking eggs out of the shell, so I can cook them and put them back in,” she said

with her perpetual exuberance.

The dish, known as the l’Arpege Egg, which incorporates maple, citrus, cayenne and cream, is inspired by the recipe of French master chef Alain Passard, she said.

Elsmo said she’s been cooking since she was a teenager and her passion for food has “morphed into a lifelong love of cooking and entertaining and connecting people through dining.”

“I’m excited to engage the community and connect readers with local restaurants and chefs and people who get excited about eating and talking about food,” she said.

Ultimately, it’s a celebration of the community’s shared love of breaking bread and sharing stories, according to Elsmo.

The new food portal is in its infancy, she said, so Oak Park Eats wants to hear from you, the reader, about all things food in the area. What are we doing right? What are we

Felony Franks to become Surf’s Up Restaurateur owns seafood shops in Maywood and South Shore

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER

Scratch on Lake burglarized

Owner mum on breakin, focused on new restaurant on Harrison Street

Staff Reporter

Felony Franks, the fast-food restaurant formerly owned by Deno Andrews, an Oak Park village trustee, will soon take on new life as Surf ’s Up, which specializes in soul food and seafood dishes of all kinds.

Andrews’ three-year run with Felony Franks, 6427 W. North Ave., ended last November. In addition to being owned by an elected official, Felony Franks had the distinction of hiring ex-offenders and giving quirky names like “Misdemeanor Wiener” to its menu items.

Oak Park resident Denise Roy, who co-owns two other Surf ’s Up locations in Maywood and South Shore with her husband, Eric Roy, said she had noticed that Felony Franks had been closed for several months and inquired about the space.

Roy said they opened the first location in Hillside in 2012, but the building was later demolished by the owner. The other two current locations opened in 2014.

Fried-green tomatoes, fried biscuits – Roy likened them to beignets – and fried catfish are among the menu items diners would be hard-pressed to find at other restaurants, Roy said.

She said the restaurant is ready to go, and all they need is to complete inspections of the facility.

missing? What would you like to see more of ? What are you looking for that you can’t find anywhere else?

See what’s cooking at Oak Park Eats on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/OakParkEats/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/ OakParkEats) and Instagram (https://www. instagram.com/oakparkeats/).

We’re getting hungry just thinking about it.

CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

Photo provided by Surf’s Up

BEYOND FRANKS: Surf ’s Up’s Ocean Salmon Burger topped with fried green tomato and fries.

“We could open up tomorrow if we had the license, because (Andrews) kept it in pristine condition,” Roy said.

She said Andrews “gave us a sweet deal” on the kitchen equipment still located in the shuttered establishment.

Andrews, who also runs the nonprofit Rescue Foundation, which works to encourage businesses to hire ex-offenders,

pitched Roy on hiring some of the former Felony Franks employees.

“We like his concept with exfelons and giving people a second chance,” she said.

Roy said she and her husband and a few other business partners are working to create Surf ’s Up franchises throughout the city and the rest of the country.

CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

Scratch On Lake, 733 Lake St., was burglarized in the early morning of March 13, sometime after employees had closed down the restaurant and bar from the night before.

Owner Patrick O’Brien, reached by telephone, acknowledged that the restaurant was burglarized between 12:30 and 10 a.m., when the Scratch staff returned to work – but he declined to discuss the break-in.

A report by Oak Park police notes that the burglar gained entry through an unsecured rear basement door and stole $1,800 from cash registers and envelopes.

O’Brien did write about the burglary on social media, posting photos of two cash registers that appear to have been pried open.

“Well this happened last night at our restaurant, we are very thankful this happened late at night and no one was injured,” O’Brien wrote, noting that the burglar made off with “a few thousand dollars” and urging patrons to “dine w us as we recover.”

O’Brien was more eager to discuss, via phone interview, the new restaurant he’s opening in the Oak Park Arts District.

District Kitchen and Tap – featuring made-to-order nachos and artisan pizzas, among other menu items – will be open for business in the 200 block of Harrison Street, in late April or early May, O’Brien said.

“Things are coming along very well,” he said, adding that kitchen equipment has been delivered and staff has been hired for the new venture.

In addition to Scratch On Lake and District Kitchen and Tap, O’Brien is the proprietor of Scratch Kitchen & Lounge, 7445 W. Madison St., in Forest Park.

He said the District Kitchen concept focuses on customization of dishes, allowing diners to build their own pizzas and other items on the menu. “(Menu items) are meant to be shared and have fun with,” he said, noting that the tagline for the restaurant is “phones down, bottoms up.”

O’Brien said he’s encouraged by the growth of new businesses in the Oak Park Arts District with restaurants like MORA Asian Fusion, 201 Harrison St., which aims to open in May. “The street is going to be so different next year,” O’Brien said.

“The whole area is about to pop.”

CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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RIVER FOREST MEDICAL CAMPUS

Are You Too Young To Get Breast Cancer?

No! A Free Event Uniquely For Younger Women!

Where: River Forest Medical Center Community Room When: Wednesday, April 4, 2018 5-6pm Who: Rabia Bhatti, MD, Medical Director Breast Program Breast cancer can strike women of all ages. Do you know your risk factors? How to perform self breast exams? Distinguish a “bad” lump from a “good” lump?

Join women your own age and learn how to protect your breast health to prevent cancer.

Enjoy appetizers, wine and beverages from Whole Foods as West Suburban Medical Center breast program medical director, Rabia Bhatti, MD, discusses genetics, key risk factors and answers questions.

Everyone who registers will receive a free bra fitting from Victoria’s Secret at the event, a care package including Whole Foods and Victoria’s Secret gift cards and products, raffles to win gift baskets and much more.

You Must Register To Attend This Event At (833) 274-0726!

The physician(s) featured in this publication is/are (an) independent member(s) in good standing with the medical staff at West Suburban Medical Center and is/ are neither (an) employee(s) nor (an) agent(s) of the hospital. As such, the hospital is not responsible for any actions that this/these physician(s) may take in his/ her/their medical practices. This/These physician(s) is/are (an) independent physician(s) who is/are a member(s) of the West Suburban Medical Center medical staff, and is/are not (an) employee(s), (an) agent(s) or (a) partner(s) of the hospital, and has/have not entered into joint ventures with the hospital.

www.rfcampus.com

SAY CONNECTS

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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17

A YEAR-LONG SERIES FOCUSING ON COMMUNICATING OUR PRIORITIES FOR CHILDREN

INTRODUCTION Linda Francis

Building connections

I

t is all about being connected.

A parent with their child.

That child to a friend. Each of our children to our community. That child’s connection might be to a neighbor who stops them for a chat on the block, a soccer coach who knows how to listen, a teacher who is a keen observer and an active connector.

Connection. Belonging. It is what our heart tells us is essential. And it is what the data tells us about our opportunity to grow Oak Park and River Forest into villages where every child is welcome and knows it.

We are SAY. Success of All Youth. We are a part of the Oak Park-River Community Foundation. Our tagline is “Community Care from Cradle to Career.” And our work over these past years has been to connect children and families to all the community partners already at work in our villages, to make sure that we know what’s most important in that work, that we use actual information (data) to set our priorities and to measure whether our shared efforts are working toward this single goal: Every child is empowered to reach her/his full potential.

That’s success.

Moving ahead, it is also clear that SAY needs to work harder to tell our stories to our villages. In partnership with Wednesday Journal and with financial support from the Good Heart Work Smart Foundation, SAY is launching a year-long project focusing on communicating

See INTRO on page 18

FILE

Kuumba Kids perform a dance titled All Ah We, during the 10th Annual Harambee Celebration at Longfellow Elementary School in Oak Park in 2016. Donna Callender (right) is the artistic director of Harambee, a cultural arts program she initiated.

A mom, advocating for her son, grows African American arts program

Harambee, now a Longfellow School staple, boosts belonging

By CASSANDRA WEST Contributing Reporter

H

asani Cannon was about to start first grade when his mother wanted to know whether Oak Park’s Longfellow School offered an African American history program.

In partnership with

When Donna Callender heard the answer—no—she decided to put on a program herself. Working with Longfellow’s Parents of African American Children (PAAC), she launched Night at the Museum, an annual Black History Month program that flourished for several years at the school, 715 Highland Ave.

Eventually, Callender rebranded the cultural arts program as Harambee, Swahili for “let’s pull together.”

“I wanted people to understand that we’re all in this together as one community of people,” Callender says in explaining the name change. “The only way of getting all of our children to being successful and getting the same

advantages despite their racial background is we all can do it as one body.”

A West African dance teacher and performer, Callender also started Kuumba Kids, a dance troupe that became a popular extracurricular program within Harambee.

See HARAMBEE on page 18

Sponsored by

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

Continued from page 17 our priorities for children.

Starting today, SAY Connects will be a multimedia communication campaign to help connect the dots, connect our community on issues of importance to ensure that all kids can be successful.

On the third Wednesday of each month, you’ll find this special section in the Journal. We’re committed to in-depth reporting and compelling story telling about the real challenges families face, the paths over and around obstacles, the successes and the stumbles we will make in seeking genuine change. And because we want this effort to be practical and real, we’ll offer up local resources families can latch on to and the data we’re looking at on the indicators of child/youth well-being that our community is tackling.

Watch for a new series of videos produced by the Journal on topics of connection and belonging. And four times this year, we’ll convene for a speakers series on topics most important to building strong and happy families.

This is a journey. We are asking all community members to join us on the journey. We do not have all the answers and we will, undoubtedly, fail from time to time. But we are committed to “failing forward” as we learn how to get it right. Join us.

SAYOPRF.ORG | OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Summer’s not created equal Enrichment is great. But it is costly and a challenge to navigate

By CASSANDRA WEST Contributing Reporter

N

ame a child who doesn’t look forward to a summer break from nine straight months of school? Parents, on the other hand, not so much.

For moms, and it’s usually moms, the search to find ways for kids to spend their summers begins almost right after (a much shorter) winter holiday break. It takes sharp investigative skills, patience and a checkbook. In today’s academically and socially competitive high-stakes educational world, parents send their kids “to camp.”

But these aren’t some rustic, bunk bed outfitted, spider-laden places in the woods. Today’s camps involve tinkering and coding and urban adventures: the kind of learning that doesn’t always fit into a conventional school year.

Parents’ circumstances are a big determinant of camp options that, in the Oak Park-River Forest area, can range from just under $100 per week for basic camps to nearly $1,000 per week for immersive STEM-type camps.

In 2014, according to The New York Times, parents reported that they would probably spend an average of $958 per child on summer expenses.

“It’s expensive,” says Carrie Summy, a River Forest mother of four who range in age from 7 to 14. Summy says she spends lots of time “collating information and sitting with lots of paper” that she prints out about “all the organizations I know exist.”

Although Summy explores cheaper options, final choices come down to

Continued from page 17

Linda Francis

Director Success of All Youth Our website is SAYoprf.org. And we’re on Facebook at Success of All Youth.

“I teach through the premise of arts through education,” which teaches students how to marry arts with their academics, Callender says of the afterschool program that starts in October and culminates with Longfellow’s Black History Month Harambee production.

This year, the three-hour production required an overflow room at the school. Hasani, 17, now an Oak Park and River Forest High School senior, grew up immersed in Harambee, playing drums for Kuumba (Swahili for creativity) Kids. Callender, 43, is the artis-

Students prepare to install zines they created in a summer arts program hosted by the Oak Park Education Foundation in 2015. The class installed the zines to give away for free on a pedestrian bridge on Home Avenue in Oak Park. (FILE) ones that match schedules and still getting to her job in a timely manner.

The running around in previous years “was insane,” getting from one park district location to the next. Luckily, she works in downtown Oak Park. And as her children get older, the scramble has gotten easier, she admits.

Last year, was “very piecemeal, a park district thing here, a sleep away YMCA camp in Wisconsin. You’re just

kind of building blocks of time over the summer, a little family vacation, time at a camp. And there’s the day camp stuff to cover because I’ve got to actually work.”

And the cost? “I don’t want to admit how much I spend…thousands of dollars,” says Summy. “A week of camp is $150 to $300.”

This summer, Summy plans to stick “pretty much with the River Forest

Park District,” which has a general day camp, “nothing super elaborate.” But she’s glad it’s an option where her kids “will know all their friends and they’re outside for the day.”

Oak Park resident Juanta Griffin, also a mother of four, ages 6 to 18, knows well the juggling act and the cost of summer activity options. As a part-time employee at Oak Park’s Hephzibah Children’s Association

tic director of the dance troupe.

Hasani, who plans on a career in the fine arts, says being involved with Kuumba Kids boosted his confidence as a performer and influenced his desire to continue studying African music. Twelve years ago, his mother simply was looking for a way for her young son to connect to his heritage and take pride in expressing it.

“He’s the reason I even wanted to do anything,” Callender says. “At the time, there was nothing for him to relate to” culturally. Hasani has gone through the program from elementary through high school.

Back in 2006, PAAC was looking at ideas to help bridge the cultural gap that often leaves children of color not feeling a part of the total school experience.

Studies on social emotional development consistently show that extracurricular activities are crucial to educational attainment and even earnings later in life. Such activities also engender a sense of belonging, which Success of All Youth (SAY) sees as the cornerstone of efforts to empower young people to reach their full potential.

Within Kuumba Kids, which is open

to all students, Callender sees students blossom. Initially introverted students have ended up getting involved with a variety of extracurricular activities such as CAST, the theater arts program at Percy Julian Middle School. “One mother thanked me, saying that Kuumba Kids gave her daughter confidence to try out,” Callender says.

“Parents embrace it because it’s definitely a one-of-a-kind program in Oak Park, a town where we are a minority. It offers those children of color something they can be proud of and look forward to.”

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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BASE Camp increases its scholarships

BASE Camp, the summer program of the Oak Park Education Foundation, will offer more than 55 camp options across the STEAM spectrum this year. And more kids will be able to take advantage of the specialty camps, thanks to funding that will allow the foundation to offer more scholarships to families who couldn’t otherwise afford an expense that could top $600 for four weeks.

“The whole idea around the scholarship program was born of the reality that there are two summers, depending on your economic circumstances,” says Tracy Dell’Angela Barber, executive director. “One is full of enrichment and full of different kinds of experiences and maybe a morning of learning and then an afternoon with a parent. The reality for other families who are working really hard to make ends meet is that their kids don’t necessarily access that kind of enrichment.”

A foundation funder stepped up who is intentionally focused on of “eliminating the summer enrichment gap,” says Dell’Angela.

The foundation also put more emphasis on getting out the word about scholarships. It developed stronger connections with social workers “so they help us advertise early on,” says who is also finishing a degree at Concordia University Chicago, Griffin has explored multiple options, but defaults to Hephzibah because it’s more affordable.

“For the summer, my kids go to Hephzibah,” she says. As a Hephzibah staff member she will pay a nominal amount for tuition.

Griffin’s older son used to attend a sports camp, but she and her husband couldn’t maintain it. “It was expensive,” hundreds of dollars that the family could not spare as they work to keep up with the other costs that come with living in Oak Park.

Griffin looks for summer scholarships, but for son in special education classes, those are hard to find, she says. “You have to be severely delayed. There’s

Lindsay Bruce, BASE Camp director.

“We also partnered with different community orgs like Strive for Success and Success for All Youth.”

Over the holiday season, postcards about BASE Camp scholarships were put in the food and gift baskets some families receive through the township.

Dell’Angela Barber says, “We used to have to hunt families and say, ‘Hey, do you want a scholarship?’ ” It was completely transformed this year.

Fifty percent of the (scholarship) spots were gone in five hours.”

BASE Camp registration opened Jan. 31 and by early March was about 90 percent full.

Ellie Edgeworth, 11, a rising fifth grader, received a scholarship last year and will get one this year, much to the delight of her mother, Lenita,

nothing for people who are kind of in the middle. Or you have to be really good at sports or instruments. What about kids who just want to be kids?”

Hephzibah does a good job of providing summer experiences for those kids but only until 6th grade, Griffin says.

“When you ask what I’m doing for the summer, I don’t know,” says Griffin.

“I’m going to try to make it work.”

For lots of families, out-of-school plans will always be a patchwork as parents must juggle their every option. “I also have a mom who helps out, the support of people of around me who help,” says Summy. “We do make it work. I know there’s plenty of people in community who don’t have that support.”

who quickly paid a $40 per family co-pay fee.

Edgeworth wasn’t aware of the scholarships until a school staffer urged her to see whether the family would qualify. She seemed to relish the experience as much as Ellie, who took a Lego engineering and coding session, did. “It’s not only a summer camp. It’s more an opportunity for children to get a feel for what they like over the summer without the pressure of [a standard] curriculum.”

Ellie will do the full four weeks of BASE Camp then finish up her summer at Hephzibah.

BASE Camp will run from June 11 to July 6 at Beye Elementary, 230 N. Cuyler Ave., and Percy Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland Ave.

Action Item SCHOLARSHIPS

• Families looking for scholarships to attend the BASE Camp program are invited to join a waiting list in the event an opening occurs.

Learn more at opef.org/basecamp/ • $75,000 in BASE Camp scholarships have been awarded so far this year. That covers 119 children.

• Scholarship amounts ranged from $300 to $1,000 per child.

• Scholarships for summer programs from the Park District of Oak Park are on the rise. In 2017, $65,300 in scholarships were redeemed.

That’s up from $30,700 the previous year. Learn more at pdop.org/camps • The YES Fund is another effort to fund scholarships for local youth looking for enrichment. Almost 60 students earned $20,000 in need-based scholarships in 2017. Scholarships are offered year-round. Find out more at oprfcf.org/for-students/ enrichment-grants

From basic to high tech Hephzibah Summer Day Care

Hephzibah, Oak Park’s oldest social service agency, will host a summer day care running from June 11 to Aug. 10 at Irving Elementary School, 1125 Cuyler Ave. The day runs from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. A new feature for 2018 are two-week Playshops that range from fashion design to adventures in engineering.

The summer program can accommodate 250 students from kindergarten through 5th grade. Participating families need to be working or in enrolled in school or training program. Fees are based on a sliding scale based on family income.

Learn more by e-mailing aanderson@hephzibahhome.org

HephEd Incredicamps

Incredicamps are weeklong, hands-on sessions centered on STEAM activities. Two camps are offered: Goop for kids 8 to12 and Sparks for ages 13 to 17. Goop focuses on 3D design and robotic fabrication. In the Sparks camp, participants build and pilot quadcopters and drones. Fees range from $900 (includes field trip fee) to $1,295 (includes materials). The day runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Camps are held at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest.

19

OP-RF Summer Camp Options

Hephzibah: Summer Hephzibah www.aanderson@hephzibahhome.org Oak Park Education Foundation (OPEF): BASE Camp www.opef.org/base-camp/ Oak Park Park District www.pdop.org/camps River Forest Park District www.rfparks.com/programs/ summer-camps/ West Cook YMCA www.westcookymca.org/main/ summer-camp/ River Forest Community Center www.rfcc.info/summer-camps/ CAST: Summer Arts Institute www.jprisching.wixsite.com/ castsummer/castsummer-arts-page CAST: Youth Arts Institute www.jprisching.wixsite.com/ castsummer/youth-arts-page Bravo: Frozen or Freaky Friday, Jr. Jr. Bravo: Jungle Books, Kids www.bravoperformingarts.org/ bravo-summer-academies/about Code Play Learn: Sports & Coding Camp www.codeplaylearn.com/ summer-2018-oak-park/ Oak Park Art League: Gallery + S.T.U.D.I.O. www. oakparkartleague.org Heph Ed Incredicamp: Goop 3D Adventure www.hephed.com/#goop2 Incredicamp: Sparks Quadcopter Adventure www.hephed.com/#sparks The Viola Project www.violaproject.org/oak-parkcamps-2018 Magical Minds: Harry Potter, Fashion & Trends, Pre-K www.magicalmindsstudio.com/ holidays-and-camps/ School of Rock www.oakpark-sor.pike13.com/ categories/16660 Dominican University: Summer Gifted and Talented Program www.educate.dom.edu/academics/ gifted-talented Steve and Kate’s Camp www.steveandkatescamp.com/ locations/oak-park-river-forest/ Oak Park Friends School www.opfs.org/summer-camp.html Alcuin Montessori: Camp Alcuin www.alcuin.org/summer-camp.html Camp Galileo: Innovation Camps for Kids www.galileo-camps.com/camp-galileo/ location/river-forest St. Luke: Summer Camp www.legacysportscamp.com/ summer/st-luke-summer-camp-2018

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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Just one adult Teacher, coach or neighbor, kids who connect find stronger path

By CASSANDRA WEST

tutoring program that she co-leads at the Oak Park Library, as an example of how the E-Team creates a “safe ll kids need just one person space” for students to ask for help. This who wants to find out what particular student has a very supportive their dream is in life and then family, she says, but didn’t connect with his teachers. It took him months help them get there.

Frances Kraft remembers to open up. “It’s not like it’s one (adult) hearing that sentence spoken by he’s got a relationship with, now it’s Ron Ferguson, an economist who several people. We’re trying to create researches the achievement gap, a family there.

In both Oak Park and River Forest, during a conference she attended at Harvard University in 2013. And it it’s a community norm for youth to now informs a lot of the work she does have more than one adult with whom they can talk about important things every day in Oak Park.

A teacher and education advocate in their life, the 2016 Illinois Youth who organized the student support Survey found. A solid majority of youth coalition called the E-Team, Kraft says in grades 8, 10 and 12 who took the survey said they have at Ferguson calls the statement least one adult with the “north star.” whom they can talk After she heard about life issues, Ferguson frame although the it that way, she percentages returned to “Excellence with Equity,” also drop for Oak Park known as the E-Team, just won a students and started $50,000 grant to grow the program. in higher a s k i n g The funding came from “The Big grades. teenagers, Idea,” a program of Entrepreneur Caring “ W h a t ’s Leaders in Philanthropy, a part of the the number n o n Oak Park-River Forest Community one thing parental Foundation. The money is you need in adults aren’t raised each year from some life?” By far, the always teachers.

40 local business teens told her that They can be people. they needed just one coaches or mentors, person, an adult, who even a neighbor. The roles wants to take time to find out they serve are invaluable. They what their dreams are. can give advice, ease anxieties about Using that insight, the E-Team works academics and other relationships, to build personal relationships with write recommendations, be that older the student, Kraft says. She points friend who possesses the wisdom to an OPRF freshman currently in the younger people have not gained.

Contributing Reporter

A

Action Item

Coach James Foster facilitates a skills practice at Oak Park and River Forest High School. His program, IMPACT basketball, focuses on developing the whole player. (FILE) Sports and arts activities are often the easiest routes through which young people encounter adults with whom they can develop comfortable and positive relationships.

James Foster, who has run the Impact Basketball program in Oak Park since 2000, does “mentorship through basketball.” About 200 kids a year go through the program, which also assists with tutoring and scholarships.

He subscribes to the “it takes a village” approach to inspire young people. “It takes more than just parents,” he says. “These days, it has to be a joint effort” that involves other

child’s life. committed adults.

“We know if someone Friends of the Children stays with a child for is an organization with a less than a year and a lot of Oak Park support half, that can actually do that will launch soon in more harm than good,” the Austin neighborhood. says Taal Hasak-Lowy, It takes a more intensive executive director for approach to connecting Friends of the Children’s adults and children. The Chicago Chapter. non-profit started in “Research has shown that Portland 25 years ago, Taal Hasak-Lowy the single most important and pairs at-risk kids starting in kindergarten with paid factor for building resiliency in children professional adult mentors, called who faced the highest risk is a longFriends, who make at least a three- term, consistent relationship with a year commitment to be involved in the caring adult.”

OUR GOAL 90% (or more) in 2022

In 2016, more

than 10% of our teens said they have NO adult (besides a

parent) who they can talk to about important things; highest for students of color.

who say they have “more than 1 adult” they can talk to 5% or less who say they have “NO adult” they can talk to.

Report that they have

“more than one adult” who they can talk to.

HOW

Remove barriers so that more kids connect to caring adults and peers through participation in activities and civic life.

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

21

MARK WILLIS

Opportunity knocks from page 1 Nyong’o — in addition to its director and screenwriters, are all black.

The experience, Willis said, was as grinding as it was awe-inspiring — from speeding to get to a 10 a.m. audition (he arrived with two minutes to spare), to having to suddenly change plans as he was en route to New York for a commercial shoot after getting the text that he was hired, to arriving in Atlanta to shoot the scene and meeting Boseman and Coogler.

“It was very intense,” he said. “We only had like two days to get every fight scene down. The first day we had to learn everything and the second day it was getting it perfect. I worked 12- and 14-hour days.”

Willis said that he saw the finished film, which was also shot in South Korea, at its Atlanta premiere.

“I got to reconnect with some of the people I met on set and we were all just amazed,” Willis said. “When we were on set, we were surrounded by blue screens, but when they put it all together it was a totally different world. I was like, ‘How did they do all of this?’”

The whole experience, Willis said, has been mind-blowing and encouraging. The Oak Park native, who attended Mann School, Percy Julian Middle School and Oak Park and River Forest High School, has been acting and modeling for fewer than five years.

Willis said that despite having access to CAST and BRAVO, District 97’s renowned performing arts programs, he didn’t think about acting until he came back to the Chicago area after college.

“I was really into sports growing up,” said Willis, who along with playing football was also a teammate of NBA player and Oak Park native Iman Shumpert on the OPRF basketball team.

Willis said that his interests turned to performing arts after his aunt encouraged him to audition for a role in a “Star Wars” film.

“She said, ‘You’re a character, you should audition for this,’” Willis recalled, laughing.

“When I got to the audition, the line was wrapped around the block for hours and hours. It was raining and cold. I get to the front and I learn that it’s been cut off.”

Fortunately, Willis said, he was able to audition online. Even though he didn’t land the job, he said, the experience was his initial immersion into what has now become a career.

In addition to landing roles in TV shows and films, Willis is also a commercial model. Currently, he said, he’s a brand model for Target.

And if his Wakanda experience is any indication, there’s nowhere for Willis, and his fellow actors and actresses of color, to go but up.

“I feel that Hollywood has to take notice now, because this has become a $1 billion movie,” Willis said. “I think it will lead to more opportunities for African Americans. This whole market seems so untapped right now. They’re opening people’s eyes with this thing.”

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Submitted photos

STILL MARVELING: Mark Willis, pictured above third from left, has only been acting for roughly three years, but he’s already landed parts in some iconic TV and film productions. In addition to “Black Panther,” he’s also played a part in the filming of “Empire,” which is shot in Chicago.

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March 21, 2018

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

Special Advertising Section

Hello! ¡ Hola! 您好！

A Note from Intercultural Montessori Language School

F • 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

or almost 30 years, Oak Park residents have been driving, biking, and walking by Intercultural Montessori on S. Ridgeland Avenue with smiles on their faces as they watch the children at play. But they might not be aware that Intercultural is the originator of our unique dual-language/Montessori approach to education, providing Spanish/English and Chinese Mandarin/English programs for children aged 3 to 6. It’s an approach that has been imitated but not reproduced, and it has gotten us a lot of positive attention with Montessori schools, teachers, and associations. That’s because it works, and I’m so happy to be a part of creating bilingual, bi-literate citizens of the world right here in Oak Park.

As my third year at Intercultural begins, I would like to state how proud I am of the work that the teachers perform on a daily basis. That is where the magic happens, and I’ve found that it is true that the teachers are the soul of the school. As an Intercultural parent, I appreciated how hard the teachers work, but now as an administrator I understand and recognize the many subtle skills the job requires.

For example: knowing how to observe constructively, and when, how, and how

much to intervene, is the key secret to a successful Montessori teacher. It’s a talent our teachers have acquired through their Montessori training and years of teaching at Intercultural. I would like to thank our teachers for their hard work, and congratulate them on the continued growth of our dual-language program.

As we grow, we continue to improve our school infrastructure at the Oak Park campus, including the installation of a new state-of-the-art security system. This week, the students harvested their first vegetables from our new organic garden!

And more upgrades are coming as this new school year begins.

It is extremely fulfilling to see Intercultural’s continued growth. To me it means that Oak Park recognizes the value of the unique dual-language education we are providing. From all of us on the Intercultural team, it is our pleasure to serve you, and the children of this vibrant community.

Thank you! ¡Gracias! 謝謝你！ Roderick Shaw, Oak Park Campus Manager Intercultural Montessori Language School 708-848-6626 rshaw@interculturalmontessori.org

Special Advertising Section

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

It’s Not Camp It’s Incredicamp

S

TEM? or STEAM? For the folks at HEPH ED INCREDICAMPS, the codeword is T.E.A.M.S., because teams really do make dreams work. HEPH ED INCREDICAMPS are immersive, 5-day summer tech programs for ages 7-18.

Campers walk away with a one of a kind, fun, tech-filled experience, and a sense of the cool, new career paths that await them in the future.

INCREDICAMPS provide an innovative take on the average STEM camp. Campers work on fun STEM projects, and also given an engaging impossible problem to solve!

Camps are full of fun, rigor and high energy group participation. All lead by enthusiastic counselors, subject matter experts and guest lifelines. If this sounds like a game, you’re headed in the right direction!

The night before camp starts campers (The Electus) are sent a mysterious message. The next day, they quickly find out that plans must be concocted, technology must be learned, teams must be made and fun must be had - a week-long journey that leaps beyond ordinary camp days.

HEPH ED CEO, Steve Conner has an opinion. “You don’t get to be Elon Musk or Pixar by just learning to push buttons and read a manual. You have to accomplish goals with your team and most importantly, build your own personal voice and mission.”

INCREDICAMPS are applied science adventures where students work in teams, use a mashup of VR, Arduino detection devices, Art, computers, cell phones, and critical thinking to solve a whodunnit. By camps end, students will have identified a personal interest in various STEM fields. Campers will also discover that they are the most important advocate on their pathway to success.

Recently, HEPH ED INCREDICAMPS successfully engaged classes at OPRF High School for an in-school TEAMS camp. 2018 INCREDICAMPS take place at Concordia University on June 18, July 16 and August 13.

HEPHED.COM EXPLORE. BUILD. LEARN.

Learn more and register for INCREDICAMP at HEPHED.com.

JUNE 18-22 | JULY 16-20 | AUGUST 13-17

PRE-K – 12TH GRADE

C

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WHY JUST STEM CAMP WHEN YOU CAN INCREDICAMP

Mathnasium Now Offers an Early Childhood Math Enrichment Class! oming in April, Mathnasium of Oak Park/ River Forest will be offering an exciting new program for preschoolers. “First Steps: A Saturday Morning Early Childhood Math Enrichment Class!” open to students starting at 4 years old, begins on Saturday, April 7. The classes are one hour long, from 9-10am, and will run for six weeks. The program focuses on foundational number sense, designed to give kids a solid base for a lifetime of math success.

Classes are fun and interactive with whole group instruction as well as differentiated stations and individual assessments. Since class size is limited to just ten students, interested families are encouraged to reach out as soon as possible.

Mathnasium, an industry leader in supplementary math education, operates on the philosophy that every child can become great at math. In addition to its new early childhood class, Mathnasium OPRF works with students from kindergarten through high school.

“We Make Math Make Sense,” explains owner, Jana Frank, “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.”

March 21, 2018

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

SAT, ACT & ISEE TEST PREP HOMEWORK HELP SUMMER PROGR

The staff at Mathnasium works to ensure students are not just learning, but enjoying what they are learning. “Even more important than the math is the attitude and confidence,” says Frank. “We want to make sure every student feels welcome and encouraged to try their best. for We will always adjust our teaching methods to find the one that works for each child.”

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, NOW OPEN IN and homework help.

LA GRANGE! Parents and students alike sing the praises of Mathnasium. A Hatch Elementary student says, Pre K - 12th Grade “At Mathnasium, I’ve learned that I actually Remediation to Enrichment WE ARE EXPERIENCED WE ARE EXPERIENCED EARLY REGISTRATION SPECIAL: LIKE math!” A Julian Middle Schooler says, MATH SPECIALISTS MATH SPECIALISTS FREE CONSULTATION CONSULTATION “I’ve learned how to understand why the solution Summer Slide Prevention 20% OFF ALLFREE Summer to a problem works instead of just memorizing An in-depth SAT/ACT look at how the An in-depth look at how the Prep Programs the Method works how to solve it.” a parent’s perspective, “It WEFrom TEACH ALL LEVELS WE TEACH ALL LEVELS during Mathnasium Method works Mathnasium & Geometry is a great pleasureOF for my children to be part of and howAlgebra we can meet your and how MATH ABILITY OF MATH ABILITY month of March we can meet your Mathnasium OPRF. The attention paid to their family’s needs. family’s needs.

Review/Preview needs is amazing.PROVEN It has changed the way that RESULTS PROVEN RESULTS they feel about school and greatly increased Mathnasium Oak Park/River Forest Mathnasium La Grange their confidence levels” 1101 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302 1½ S. Waiola Ave, La Grange, IL 60525 mathnasium.com/your web address Your Locationlagrange@mathnasium.com mathnasium.com/your web add Your Location oakparkriverforest@mathnasium.com Mathnasium OPRF is located at 1101 Chicago 123 Any Street Rd. 123 Any Street Rd. 800-123-4567 800-123-4567 mathnasium.com/oakparkriverforest mathnasium.com/lagrange Avenue in Oak Park. Learn more at mathnasium.

Any Town, ST 90000 Any Town, ST 90000 com/oakparkriverforest, or call 708.613.4007 to 708.613.4007 708.582.6593 mathnasium.com/your web address mathnasium.com/your web address schedule a FREE TRIAL SESSION.

We Make Math Make Sense

Now nrollinMath g WeEMake SumSense Make mer

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March 21, 2018

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

Special Advertising Section

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU! Extended Hours until 7 pm

HELPING YOUR CHILD BUILD A GREATER SENSE OF RELATIONSHIP, BELONGING, AND ACHIEVEMENT. Y-KIDS BEFORE & AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM K-8TH Monday-Friday Before-school program begins at 7 am After-school program ends at 7 pm • Follows District 97 school calendar • Includes half days and early release days • Homework time and tutoring available • Transportation available for some area schools • Flexible payment plans and scholarships available

NEW LOCATION

St. John’s Lutheran Church 305 Circle Ave., Forest Park OPENINGS AVAILABLE. REGISTER TODAY. Contact Lisa Gacki at 708-366-2764 or lgacki@westcookymca.org

EXTEND YOUR CHILD’S EXPERIENCE AND ADD ON SWIM LESSONS AND/OR SPORTS West Cook YMCA | 255 S. Marion St., Oak Park, IL 60532 | 708.383.5200 | www.westcookymca.org/ykids

Special Advertising Section

F

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

Learning from and Learning From and with other Witheach Each Other

March 21, 2018

Celebrating Over 55 Years of Montessori Excellence

ounded in 1961, Alcuin Montessori School offers a cross-curricular learning environment balancing academic and emotional intelligence. We partner with parents and provide students toolsAlcuin to become highly-skilled independent thinkers a passion8:30 for a.m. to • Junior and Seniorwith Elementary, ounded inthe 1961, Montessori knowledge.

Our programs are designed to help each3:15 childp.m. become confident, curious, selfSchool offers a cross-curricular learning disciplined and motivated. environment balancing academic and • Middle School, 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

At Alcuin, intelligence. classrooms operate on the emotional We partner withprinciple of freedom within limits. Children, under the • Before/After School Care guidance of provide a teacher, work atthe their own parents and students tools to pace with materials of their choosing. Each student may work alone or with others; different levels of ability • Art are expected and welcomed within become highly-skilled independent thinkers eachaclassroom. in multi-aged classrooms where children of various stages with passion for Education knowledge.occurs Our programs • Musical Theater of development learneach fromchild and become with each other. are designed to help • Spanish Our programs for ages 0-14 include: confi dent, curious, self-disciplined and * Parent/Infant - Fridays, 8:45 to 10:30 a.m. Families currently attending Alcuin come motivated. from Oak Park, as well as Berwyn, Broadview, Three to Five Day Toddler/Parent, a.m.

At* Alcuin, classrooms operate on the 8:30 to 11:30 Brookfield, Chicago, Cicero, Elmhurst, Forest principle of freedom * Primary, 8:30 towithin 11:30 limits. a.m. Children, Park, River Forest, Riverside, River Grove and under the guidance of a teacher, * Full-Day Kindergarten, 8:30 work a.m. at to their 3:00 p.m. more. own pace with materials of their choosing. * Junior and Senior Elementary, 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 Wep.m. welcome all prospective parents to join Each student may work alone or with others; * Middle School, 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. us for our monthly informational Coffees. We different levels of ability are expected and will start with some good coffee, a short video * Before/After School Care welcomed within each classroom. Education on Montessori education and then take an * Artin multi-aged classrooms where occurs in-depth look into all of our classrooms. At children of various stages of development * Musical Theater the end of the tour we hold a question and learn from and with each other. * Spanish answer session, and explain our admissions Our programs for ages 0-14Alcuin include: Families currently attending come from Oak Park, as wellare as held Berwyn, Broadview, process.

Tours throughout the school Brookfield, Chicago, Cicero, Elmhurst, Forest River Forest, Riverside, River a.m.)

Groveatand • Parent/Infant - Fridays, 8:45 to 10:30 a.m.Park, year on Thursdays (9:00-11:00 the more. main Alcuin campus. Visit Alcuin.org for tour • Three to Five Day Toddler/Parent, 8:30 to We11:30 welcome our monthly informational Coffees.

We our will To enroll in a tours please e-mail a.m.all prospective parents to join us for dates. start with some good coffee, a short video on Montessori and then take an in-depth Director education of Advancement at avalera@alcuin.org • Primary, 11:30 a.m.At the end of the tour we hold a question and answer session, look into all 8:30 of ourtoclassrooms. or call 708.366.1882. and explain Kindergarten, our admissions process.

Tours • Full-Day 8:30 a.m. to 3:00are 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 p.m. tours please e-mail our Director of Advancement at avalera@alcuin.org or call 708.366.1882.

F

Grace School Offers a FaithFilled Learning Environment

“W

e love our daughter’s school!” says the mother of a Grace Lutheran School fourth-grader.

“I can’t think of any other place we’d rather have our girl being lovingly taught about the world God created, the people we share it with, and the integration of faith and life she experiences there every day!”

In the elementary and junior high classrooms, a strong core curriculum challenges children academically. High expectations and appropriate supports help students achieve their best. The experienced faculty includes a full-time resource teacher and a part-time certified reading specialist.

Grace School students consistently perform above national averages on standardized tests.

Graduates succeed at competitive area high schools in the city and suburbs. Students of all ages participate in art, music and German classes. Band and orchestra lessons and ensembles are also available.

Grace students study God’s word daily, in a nurturing Christian setting. They live out their faith through service projects as well as in weekly chapel worship. Parents appreciate the feeling of community at Grace School and the

supportive family atmosphere.

After-school enrichment classes offer a variety of fun and creative learning experiences. Sports teams include basketball and volleyball teams for boys and girls in grades 5–8 and track and cross country teams open to students in grades 3–8.

Early childhood programs at Grace provide flexible options for families with children age 3 through 5. Three-year-old preschoolers attend morning classes two, three, or five days a week. Junior and senior kindergarten classes for students age four and five meet in the morning, Monday through Friday; students may also attend the optional afternoon program which runs until 3 p.m.

Extended care is available until 6 p.m. for children age four and up. Before-school care opens at 7 a.m.

Grace School is currently accepting applications for the 2018–19 school year.

For more information, call the school office (708-366-6900) or click on the Grace School tab at GraceRiverForest.org.

Grace

Come visit! Tour our school and meet the staff.

Call 708-366-6900!

Lutheran School . . . where children grow in faith, academics and character.

“You’re not sacrificing academics for a faith-based education.

Grace’s program is strong in both areas.” Grace School parent Early Childhood classrooms for children age 3 to 5 ▪︎ Half-day and full-day options

for 4- and 5-year-olds

Elementary grades 1–8 ▪︎ Challenging and engaging curriculum ▪︎ Support for individual learning needs ▪︎ Before and after-school care available Bill Koehne, principal 7300 Division St. ▪︎ River Forest, IL 60305 708-366-6900 ▪︎ www.GraceRiverForest.org

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

SPONSORED CONTENT

Getting Down To Business

with the Oak Park - River Forest Chamber of Commerce March 19th, 2018

GLIBQUAPS: NPOs Make Sense of the Chamber

By CATHY YEN Executive Director The business community is so often synonymous with capitalism - and all its baggage - that the nonprofit world tends to shy away from calling itself business.

Indeed, the notion of making a profit as a result of engaging in commerce is not typically the mission of nonprofit organizations (NPOs).

These entities are designed to achieve social mission or special purpose for the greater good, not for a positive bottom line distributed among shareholders or owners.

Their “capital structure” usually includes grants and donations provided by funders who support the social mission, funders whose return is the satisfaction of positive impact. Businesses, on the other hand, rely on investors who expect financial returns.

Significant differences to be sure. However, on an operational level, a nonprofit isn’t

DROP-IN HELP CENTER FOR NON PROFIT MEMBERS

too far away from a small business. Both engage in marketing. Both require financial management. Both comprise a human resource component, whether it be employed or volunteer. Both have overhead. Both provide services or products. Both depend on sound leadership for success. Both belong to the community.

It may not seem intuitive, but the Chamber of Commerce is a terrific resource for nonprofits and for-profits alike. The professional development, marketing opportunities and curated experiences are applicable across corporate organization type.

In addition, the Chamber provides unique opportunities for nonprofits to connect.

Engaged business leaders make terrific board members. Organizations seeking donations to silent auctions and ad books will find small businesses who treat those opportunities as important marketing tools.

Young professionals wanting to give back are asking the Chamber to help them connect to organizations in need.

Which brings us to GLIBQUAPS. Last month, our Chamber Young Professionals held a unique event at Wild Onion Tied House in which fifteen nonprofits gave lightening-fast presentations on their respective organizations. Each had 225 seconds and fifteen powerpoint slides to communicate their mission and needs.

Modeled after the international Pecha Kucha craze, our modified format was named “Giving Lots of Information By Quickly Using Auto-Advancing Powerpoint Slides.” A crazy name, but a creative opportunity. And a good example of how a business community association aligns with the nonprofit sector.

To see some of the GLIBQUAPS presentations, visit oprfchamber.org/ nonprofits

Please join us to learn and start taking advantage of your Chamber membership benefits We will focus on questions, ideas, issues, and major events to help our Non-Profit Members flourish in our community

When: Friday, March 23, 2018 9:30 - 11:00 AM Location: OPRF Historical Society 129 Lake Street Oak Park, IL

SPECIAL GUEST GERRY DOWNEY Linden Wealth Management Discussion on possible donor giving changes with the new tax code

See www.chamber.org/programs for more information.

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

OUT ABOUT Dominican University’s 38th Annual Trustee Benefit Concert and Gala

Brian Stokes Mitchell and Megan Hilty performing on the stage of Lund Auditorium

Dominican University’s 38th Annual Trustee Benefit Concert and Gala on Saturday, March 11 raised a record-breaking $600,000 for student scholarships. Chaired by River Forest residents Mary Jo Herseth, university board member, and Stephen Herseth, the event drew almost 700 people to a stunning performance by Broadway stars Megan Hilty and Brian Stokes Mitchell. In addition, the university presented Terry Mazany, former president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, with the Bravo Award for his philanthropic leadership and contributions to arts education in Chicago.

Stephen Herseth (River Forest); Dominican University President Donna Carroll (Oak Park); Terry Mazany, Bravo Award recipient; Mary Jo Herseth

Senator Don Harmon (Oak Park), Teri Harmon (Oak Park), Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb

Front row: Anneke Taglia (Oak Park), James Taglia (Oak Park), Mary Lou Noll (Oak Park), Martin Noll (Oak Park), Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb, Margi Abu-Taleb (Oak Park). Back row: Jean Meister (River Forest), John Meister (River Forest), Jean Kirk (River Forest), Dr. Scott Kirk (River Forest).

Eileen King Bower (River Forest), Mary Jo Schuler (Oak Park), River Forest Village President Catherine Adduci Front row: Karen Rosenwinkel (Oak Park), Mary Jo Schuler (Oak Park), Fred Jacobs (Oak Park), Patty Jacobs (Oak Park). Back row: John Gallo (Oak Park), Teri Harmon (Oak Park), Jeanne Gallo (Oak Park), Senator Don Harmon (Oak Park), Tom Abrahamson (Oak Park), Debbie Abrahamson (Oak Park)

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

2018 Church Guide

Easter Blessings St. Edmund Catholic Parish 188 South Oak Park Avenue • Oak Park, Illinois 60302 (708) 848-4417

Join us for Palm Sunday, The Sacred Triduum & Easter Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion March 25

Masses at 5:30 pm Saturday Sunday 9:00am, 11:00am & 5:30pm

Holy Thursday - March 29 7:30pm - Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper 9:30-11:45pm Adoration before blessed sacrament 11:45pm - Night Prayer

Good Friday - March 30

9:00am - Morning Prayer • 7:30pm - Service of the Lord’s Passion

Holy Saturday - March 31

9:00am - Morning Prayer 11:00am - Blessing of the First Easter Meal in Murphy Hall 7:30pm - Service of Light

Easter Sunday - April 1

The Resurrection of our Lord • Masses at 9:00am & 11:00am • No 5:30pm liturgy

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

ST. GILES PARISH INVITES YOU TO HOLY WEEK SERVICES TRIDUUM SERVICES Holy Thursday, March 29

Morning Prayer - 8:30 a.m.

Mass of the Lord’s Supper - 7:30 p.m.

Adoration until Midnight Night Prayer - 11:45 p.m.

Good Friday, March 30

Morning Prayer - 8:30 a.m.

Celebration of the Lord’s Passion - 3:00 p.m.

Living Stations of the Cross - 7:30 p.m.

Holy Saturday, March 31

Morning Prayer - 8:30 a.m.

Blessing of Easter Food - 11:00 a.m. in Church Easter Vigil and First Mass of Easter - 7:30 p.m.

Initiation of New Members, Reception following (No 4:30 p.m. Mass)

Easter Sunday Masses, April 1

Sunrise - 6:00 a.m. (Outdoors, Weather Permitting) 7:45, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. in Church 10:00 a.m. Family Mass in Gym (No 5:00 p.m. Mass)

Rev. Carl Morello, Pastor

1045 Columbian • Oak Park, IL 60302 • 708-383-3430 • www.stgilesparish.org Two blocks south of North Avenue - Three blocks east of Oak Park Avenue

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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Please join us for our Easter Celebration!

8:45 am Easter Breakfast 9:30 am Egg Hunt 10 am Our diverse andWorship dynamic congregation

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE St. Catherine—St. Lucy St. Catherine—St. Lucy

Palm Sunday—March 25 Palm Sunday—March 25

5:00 PM~ Saturday 5:00 PM~ Saturday 8:30 AM ~ Sunday 8:30 AM ~ Sunday 10:30AM ~ Procession of the Palms

10:30AM ~ Procession of the Palms

welcomes you on the journey of faith.

Reach Oak Park, River Forest & Forest Park with the Wednesday Religion Guide Call Mary Ellen at 708/ 613-3342

Holy Thursday—March 29 Holy Thursday—March 29

7:00 PM ~ Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7:00 PM ~ Mass of the Lord’s Supper �������� ���� ��������

�������� ���� ��������

Good Friday– March 30 Good Friday– March 30

12 Noon ~ Vigil at the Cross 12 Noon ~ Vigil at the Cross 7:00 PM ~ Liturgy of The Passion 7:00 PM ~ Liturgy of The Passion of The Lord

of The Lord

Holy Saturday– March 31 Holy Saturday– March 31

1:00 PM ~ Blessing of Easter 1:00 PM ~ Blessing of Easter Baskets Baskets 7:00 PM ~ The Great Easter Vigil Mass

7:00 PM ~ The Great Easter Vigil Mass

Easter Sunday —April 1 Easter Sunday —April 1

8:30 & 10:30 AM 8:30 & 10:30 AM

First United United Methodist First Methodist Church of Church ofOak OakPark Park 324 N. Avenue 324 N.Oak OakPark Park Ave. Oak Park, Oak Park,ILIL60302 60302 (708)383-4983 (708) 383-4983 www.firstUMCoakpark.org www.firstUMCoakpark.org

Rev. Young-Mee Park, Pastor

Sunday Worship 10:00 AM Rev. Dr. Katherine Paisley Sunday School for All Ages 9:00 AM

Come and join us for HOLY WEEK, as we

REMEMBER CHRIST’S PASSION & VICTORY.

He gave His life and yet He lives, so that we need not fear death or suffering.

Love crucified…arose!

First Congregational Church of Maywood

400 N. 5th Avenue (708)344-6150 Pastor Elliot Wimbush

Good Friday, at 7:00pm Tenebrae: Service of Shadows Easter Sunday, at 11:00am Morning Worship and Fellowship Hour

Need grace? Find it here…First.

St. Bernardine Church St. Bernardine Church

Easter is April 1!

It’s time to think about reaching out to the community this season and promoting your special services and activities

EASTER CHURCH GUIDE will run March 28th

2018 LENTEN & EASTER SCHEDULE Reconciliation, Wednesday, March 21, 7 p.m.

Stations of the Cross, Friday, March 23, 7 p.m.

Holy Week Palm Sunday, March 25 Saturday 5 p.m.

Sunday 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Weekdays: March 26, 27, 28 Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday Mass at 6:30 a.m.

Holy Thursday, March 29 Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m.

Foot Washing & Eucharistic Procession; Adoration until midnight Good Friday, March 30 Stations of the Cross at 3 p.m.

Confessions 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion at 7 p.m.

Holy Saturday, March 31 Blessing of food at 12 noon Easter Vigil at 8 p.m.

Easter Sunday, April 1 Masses at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

Do you have any special programs that you wish to promote?

Give us a call! 708-524-8300

7246 W. Harrison St. Forest Park, IL 60130 708-366-0839

30

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

COLDWELL BANKER Oak Park | 7/6 | $1,049,000 Open Sun 12-2 210 S Euclid Avenue

Oak Park | 4/3 | $949,000 219 Forest Avenue

Oak Park | 5/4 | $915,000 Open Sun 1-3 313 S Elmwood Ave.

Oak Park | 7/4 | $875,000 Open Sun 1-3 233 N Elmwood Ave.

River Forest | 3/3 | $829,000 532 River Oaks Drive

Fabulous renovation of spectacular Oak Park Victorian. 7 br, 5.5 ba, fin bsmt w/laundry.

Grand Italianate w/lrg double parlor, den, lrg dining rm, fplc, eat-in kit, 2.5-car gar.

Huge 2-flat! 1st flr unit - 3BRs, 1BA. 2nd unit - 4BRs, 2BAs - master ste duplexed up.

3 bedroom, 2.5 bath single-family home in a nice location. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Oak Park | 5/4 | $975,000 423 N. Kenilworth, Oak Park

Oak Park | 4/3 | $769,000 311 N Elmwood Avenue

Oak Park | 4/3 | $639,900 1213 Columbian Avenue

River Forest | 3/4 | $549,000 1023 Bonnie Brae Place

Elmwood Park | 4/4 | $459,900 1808 N 74th Court

Wonderful 5 br 3.5 ba house in FLW Historic District. Large lot, pool, close to schools and shopping.

Quintessential Oak Park home w/ expanded floor plan! 4 br, 2.5 ba.

Newer roof. Ideal loc!

Stylish 4 br, 2.5 ba home seamlessly blends vintage detail & contemporary cool. Back yard.

Sunny & spacious 3 br, 2+ ba 2-story brick home on generous lot. 2-car gar + extra prkg.

Spacious all-brick 4 br, 4 ba home.

Eat-in kit w/island. 2-sided fplc.

Fenced back yard.

Oak Park | 2/2 | $425,000 1005 S Boulevard 304

Oak Park | 2/2 | $299,000 515 N Harlem Avenue 201

Oak Park | 1/1 | $149,000 130 Home Avenue 3D

Oak Park | 1/2 | $130,000 922 N Boulevard 303

Oak Park | 1/1 | $129,000 242 1/2 South Maple Avenue 2S

Light & airy contemporary one-owner unit in Soho condo building. 2 br, 2 ba.

Garage prkg.

Lovely 2 br, 2 ba condo in unbeatable location! 2 prkg spaces: 1 in heated gar, 1 outside.

Park views & superb location make this fully updated 1 br vintage unit the absolute best!

Oak Park | 1/1 | $130,000 Open Sun 11-1 1118 Harrison Street 3 Lovely, sunny 1 br vintage condo w/ updated kitchen and bath. Near Blue Line, shopping.

1 br, 1.5 ba SW corner unit w/double closets in master. Bldg has pool & rooftop deck.

1 br condo facing west in wellmaintained building. Overlooks landscaped courtyard. W/d.

Elmwood Park | 4/5 | $699,900 1818 N 78th Avenue

Berwyn | 4/2 | $399,000 3434 Wenonah Avenue

Berwyn | 3/3 | $279,900 1421 Wisconsin Avenue

Westchester | 3/2 | $229,900 11036 Burns Avenue

North Riverside | 3/1 | $219,900 2247 Northgate Avenue

Hillside | 3/1 | $165,000 4443 Madison Street

Spectacular 4 br, 3+ ba home with a touch of elegance and the feel of endless space!

Well-maintained 2-flat just a few blocks from Metra station. 2 garages.

Extra-wide lot.

3 br, 2.5 ba brick 2-story w/2-car garage. Hdwd floors, large kit, stainless appl, fin LL.

Well-maintained 3 br ranch. Hardwood flrs, ceramic ba, newer c/a & windows, fenced yard.

Solid brick 3 br home w/generous room sizes! Liv rm w/pic window overlooking yard. Bsmt.

3 br gem nestled on a quiet tree-lined street. Wbfp, maple kit cabs, hdwd flrs & more.

Elmwood Park | 3/4 | $425,000 2201 N 77th Avenue

Berwyn | 4/3 | $334,900 3811 S Elmwood Avenue

Berwyn | 4/3 | $274,900 1646 Lombard Avenue

Hillside | 3/1 | $229,000 83 N Laverne Avenue

Westchester | 2/2 | $214,900 1358 Suffolk Avenue

River Forest | 2/1 | $119,000 7212 Oak Avenue 4SE

Huge 3 br, 2+ ba modern, contemporary masterpiece of a home. New construction! 2-car gar.

Tastefully rehabbed 4 br, 2.5 ba home w/stunning custom kit, highend appl, fin bsmt.

4 br, 3 ba home has modern feel w/a soul that is classic Berwyn. Bsmt.

Refin hdwd flrs.

Updated and ready to move into! Solid 3 br all-brick home w/full basement.

Updated ba.

2 bedroom, 1.5 bath single-family home in a nice location. Don’t miss this opportunity!

2 bedroom unit in a lovely location.

Don’t miss this opportunity!

5 br, 3.5 ba Victorian updated w/ curved front porch for outdoor living & curb appeal.

Oak Park | 5/4 | $779,000 Open Sun 1-3 202 S Harvey Ave.

5 br, 3.5 ba home situated on a beautifully landscaped corner lot on a quiet cul-de-sac.

River Forest | 4/2 | $448,800 Open Sun 11-1 842 N Harlem Ave.

Beautiful 4 br, 2 ba home completely remodeled w/designer finishes. Toprated schools!

COLDWELLBANKERHOMES.COM | VIEW ALL OF OUR OPEN HOUSES OAK PARK OFFICE 708.524.1100 | 114 N OAK PARK AVE The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor agents and are not employees of the Company. ©2018 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned

by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

Homes

NEED TO REACH US?

oakpark.com/real-estate email: buphues@wjinc.com

Teardown marketing To rehab or raze in River Forest?

By LACEY SIKORA

R

Contributing Reporter

iver Forest stands apart from Oak Park in that its local Historic Preservation ordinance does not prevent the tear down of homes, historic or otherwise.

Preservationists bemoan the lack of teeth in the ordinance when it comes to protecting homes such as the now-razed Mars Mansion and the unique Prairie Style homes on the 700 block of William Street.

But for developers and those looking to turn a quick profit, the ease of tearing down a property in River Forest can be a boon for business. Real estate agents often tag a listing as primed for tear down, but not all the homes marketed as such meet the wrecking ball.

See TEARDOWN on page 33

Photos by Alexa Rogals/Staff Photographer

RENEW OR JUST NEW? The home at 7902 Chicago Ave. (top), marketed as a possible teardown is under contract. Instead of razing the home at 1410 Clinton Place (above and left), a developer bought it for $400,000, did a major remodel and recently sold it for $1 million.

31

32

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

In The Village, Realtors® 189 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 386-1400 HomesintheVillage.com

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED PROPERTIES Harry Walsh, Managing Broker

Mike Becker

Oak Park • $725,000 3BR, 2.1BA Call Roz x112

Oak Park • $599,800 5BR, 3BA Call Kyra x145

Oak Park • $589,000 5BR, 3.1BA Call Elissa x192

Roz Byrne

Tom Byrne

Oak Park • $544,500 3BR, 2BA Call Jane x118

Oak Park • $479,800 3BR, 2BA Call Kyra x145

Oak Park • $479,800 3BR, 3BA Call Laurie x186

Oak Park • $569,000 3BR, 2.1BA Call Steve x121

528 WENONAH AVE OPEN SUN 1-3 PM

Joelle Venzera

Oak Park • $475,000 3BR, 2BA Call Steve x121

Kris Sagan

Home of The Week Laurie Christofano

Haydee Rosa

Oak Park • $399,000 3BR, 1BA Call Roz x112

Oak Park • 234,900 2BR, 1BA Call Jane X111

Marion Digre

Linda Rooney

526 Ashland Ave

Morgan Digre

Ed Goodwin

Oak Park • $140,000 1BR, 1BA Call Elissa x192

Joe Langley

Open Sun 1-3 pm River Forest • $1,350,000 4BR, 4BA

Oak Park • $129,900 1BR, 1BA Call Joe x117

Dan Linzing

Jane McClelland

Call Marion x111

Keri Meacham

Steve Nasralla

Karin Newburger

Kyra Pych

Elissa Palermo

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

33

TEARDOWN

Prairie-style home saved from page 31 In February, a John Van Bergen-designed Prairie home at 730 Clinton Place was marketed as a “great opportunity to start fresh and build a new home or rehab” by local agent Scott Berg of Berg Properties.

Berg, who grew up near the River Forest house, says the condition of the home led him to market it as a rehab or tear down candidate.

“It needed a lot of work,” he said. “I initially thought a builder might snap it up and rehab it, because a typical buyer might be put off by all the work that needed to be done. It was not a weekend warrior type of project.”

The stained tiles, cat issues in the basement, low ceilings and odd configuration of multiple enclosed porches all contributed to Berg’s assessment that the house required a lot more than cosmetic work.

Noting that he generally hires a professional to photograph homes in good condition to highlight their attributes, Berg says that with this listing, he took the photos himself to reflect that the home needed work.

He also did his homework on pricing. The home across the street recently sold to an LLC for $415,000, and Berg priced his listing comparatively at $425,000. He expected to sell it to a developer.

After 10 showings in two days, the house was under contract, but things didn’t end up as Berg predicted.

“I had a couple of builders walk through it,” Berg said. “Some thought the price was too much for a tear down. One builder said that to knock it down, he would buy it for $350,000.”

The builder speculated it would take between $500,000 and $700,000 to build a new house on the lot, and he told Berg he wasn’t sure the block could support a final ask-

Photos by Alexa Rogals/Staff Photographer

ONE SAVED, ONE RAZED: After being marketed as a teardown prospect, the Prairie-style home at 730 Clinton Place (below left) was bought by a couple who plan to restore it. But the buyer of a Dutch Colonial at 831 Forest Ave. (inset above) tore it down to make way for a new luxury home (above) now nearing completion. ing price of $1.2 million, which he thought would be an appropriate asking price at the end of the process.

At the end of a busy showing period, there was no need to consider a price reduction.

The house was snapped up in two days by a couple from the area who are downsizing and plan to do an historic rehab of the Prairie-style home.

Though it brought him an educated buyer, Berg said that the kind of marketing campaign he conducted for this property wouldn’t work in neighboring Oak Park.

“It’s much harder in Oak Park, because there are so many more protections there,” Berg said. “About 80 percent of the housing stock is historic and can’t be torn down.

Other recent teardown opportunities It’s not unusual to find homes in River Forest marketed as teardowns. Some are older homes that have not kept up with the times or suffer serious structural issues, and others just happen to be small homes situated on sizable lots where a larger house could garner a big sales price.

When 7902 Chicago Ave. was listed in August 2017 for $499,000, it was marketed as a rehab or tear down with emphasis on the big lot size. After a price reduction of $40,000, the home was contingent as of press time.

In 2016, 831 Forest Ave. was marketed with something of a warning: “Rehab, expand or tear down! ... Foundation issues, requires professional rehabber.”

Stating that the home had been in the same family for 57 years, the listing also noted that there were many teardowns in the area.

A developer closed on 831 Forest Ave. on May 16, 2016 for $400,000. The Dutch Colonial house built in 1919 was torn down to make way for a new construction home that is nearing completion.

A local realtor, who asked not to be named due to the sensitive nature of working with families whose homes might be teardown candidates, notes that it takes bad conditions to market a home as teardown.

“A lot of times, these homes have been neglected for years,” the realtor said. “It’s not just that it needs a new roof or painting. It’s at a point that it can’t be brought back. A lot

of times, the owners just can’t pay the taxes and keep up the work on the property.”

Not all homes that are advertised as teardown candidates end up meeting their demise. 1410 Clinton Place was marketed as a rehab or teardown with a note in the listing advising: “Buyer to do their due diligence as to teardown with the village of River Forest.”

Listed in December 2015 for $499,900, a developer bought the 1930s-era home in February 2016 for $400,000. After a significant remodel, the developer listed the house for $1,199,000 in July 2017. The transaction closed for $1,055,000 in January 2018.

Pricing in the $400,000s appears to be the going range for teardown-condition properties, but a recent listing at 1425 Ashland Ave. offers an opportunity for those with slightly deeper pockets.

Listed by Paragon Realty Services for $1,199,000, the 100-by-180 foot lot is currently occupied by a 1960s ranch. According to the listing, it is a unique teardown or build-up opportunity with “huge potential to build your dream mansion.”

And if tearing a house down just seems like too much work? There are a few vacant lots available in the village.

Margaret McSheehy of Oak Park’s Historic Homes Realty has a listing for an empty lot at 129 Park Ave. in River Forest. The lot has been vacant for at least five years; the original home was torn down by a previous owner. She is listing the lot on Park Avenue for $359,000, no teardown necessary.

34

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

NEW MODEL HOME OPEN 15 Forest Avenue, River Forest (Corner of Forest Ave & Madison St) Open Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-1PM or by appointment 29 new construction luxury townhomes Upscale finishes • Attached 2-car garage Blue ribbon award-winning schools Direct access to public transportation Lush maintenance-free landscaping Starting at $479,000

promenaderiverforest.com · 708.457.1400

Poster Contest

in Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of The Fair Housing Act

We invite all area youth to express “What Fair Housing Means to Me” Suggested Focus for Artwork

All posters will be displayed at the Oak Park Public Library and a winner from each age group will be honored at a reception on April 21, 2018. All contestants and their families are encouraged to attend.

Grades K-3: “I love my community because…”

Grades 4-8: “Fair Housing Means…”

Grades 9-12: “The Future of Fair Housing Looks Like…”

Deadline extended to April 13!

Call 708-386-0150 with any questions or email info@oakparkrealtors.org to receive registration instructions and contest rules.

All artwork will become the property of the Oak Park Area Association of REALTORS® Presented by The Oak Park Area Association of REALTORS® In partnership with The Oak Park Regional Housing Center, Oak Park Public Library, and the Oak Park - River Forest History Museum

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Your local Real Estate Professionals Since 1933.

FEATURED LISTING

822 Jackson Avenue, River Forest

$1,100,000

Captivating Burma built 4 bed, 2.1 bath home was lovingly updated and is ideal for entertaining and modern living. Welcoming expansive rooms, large kitchen with high-end appliances, breakfast room, new deck, new bathrooms upgraded, oversized (1500+ SF) finished basement and much more!

Sheila Price - ID# 09853307 NEW PRICE

Oak Park

$1,359,900

Catherine Simon-Vobornik - ID# 09833759

Chicago

$535,000

Space, comfort, character and superior finishes in 3 bed, 2.1 property on a cul de sac. Ample living areas throughout. Great spaces to entertain both indoors and out.

James Salazar - ID# 09883886

Homer Glen

Oak Park

$379,000

Details blend tastefully thru out this 3 BR, 1.1 BA. Built-ins, gas fireplace, custom galley kit, dishwasher, wine fridge, breakfast rm, newer half BA with heated flr.

Lisa Andreoli & Meredith Conn - ID# 09884839

River Forest

$269,900

2000 sq. ft. 3 BR, 2 BA condo, many upgrades! Hardwood floors throughout, upgraded kitchen with breakfast bar, remodeled guest bath with Jacuzzi, private deck and great storage space!

Ed Bellock – ID# 09880978

$505,000

3 BR, 2.1 BA ranch with open floor plan, fireplace, updated kit, baths and fam rm.

All newer: 20x25 party size deck, 2.5 car gar, windows, furnace, chimney, water htr.

Peggy Letchos – ID# 0985134

Oak Park

Oak Park

$355,000

4 BR, 2 BA side-entrance Bungalow!

Prairie details, sunroom, 1st fl full BA, whirlpool tub, multi-spray shower, heated fl, large rec rm, $5K Seller credit.

Bethanny Alexander - ID# 09870535

1133 W Chicago Ave, Oak Park

$240,000

Recently rehabbed 2 flat with spacious open concept units. Hardwood floors throughout, 2nd floor is vacant and easy to show. Live in one unit or rent it out for a great return.

Moe Pacheco – ID# 09886179

Oak Park

Oak Park

$458,000

4 BR, 2.1 BA, double master townhome!

Open flr plan feat 3rd flr master suite with vaulted ceiling, skylights, lower with mud room, and access to home’s grill patio!

Steve Scheuring - ID# 09837097

Patricia McGowan - ID# 09791512

$350,000

5 BR with wood-burning fireplace, enclosed porch. Separate DR, spacious eat-in kit, and full, unfinished basement, good ceiling height, bonus rooms.

Saretta Joyner – ID# 09883262

Oak Park

$189,000

Live large for less in this 3 BR unit with updated kitchen and bath. Kitchen opens to a roomy dining or family room area.

Stairs and large deck have been recently rebuilt. 2 car tandem parking space.

Vanessa Willey – ID # 098745653

$415,000

Impeccable 3 BR, 1.1 BA 4-Square in beautiful OP. Wood flrs, art-glass windows, updated BA, lower level rec, area, Cali closets, CA, and wired for sound!

Steve Scheuring - ID# 09885626

Oak Park

River Forest

$300,000

3 BR, 1.1 BA townhome, wood-burning frplc, partially fnshd, patio, deeded gar/pkg space, newer roof, updated mechanicals.

No HOA. Can be rented. Sold “As Is.” Cathy Yanda – ID# 09885096

$595,000

$134,900

Rise above it all in this 1 BR, 6th floor unit with large, south facing balcony and open floor plan. Indoor garage parking, convenient location and well managed elevator with low assessments and taxes.

Ann Keeney – ID # 09821863

Oak Park

Chicago

$399,900

Greystone 3-FLAT in East Garfield Park!

Live in one unit, the others pay your mortgage or rent all three for a great return. Rrenovated in the last 10 years.

Moe Pacheco – ID# 09884578

NEW PRICE

Forest Park

NEW LISTING

$299,900

3 BR, 3 BA bungalow with large master BR suite, eat in kitchen, large and clean basement. MANY recent improvements and is ready for new owners.

Patricia McGowan – ID# 09757090

Oak Lawn

$399,000

4 BR, 2.1 BA Farmhouse beautifully updated. Finished basement, fam room, rec room, full BA, fenced yard with patio and many more improvements!

Bethanny Alexander – ID# 09851583

NEW PRICE

Oak Park

$579,900

4 BR, 2.1 BA colonial features hdwd flrs, large eat-in kit, stand-alone island, wood burning fireplace, fam rm, NEW tear off roof in 2017! NEW boiler in 2016!

Kara Keller - ID# 09845539

NEW LISTING

OPEN HOUSE • SUN. 12-2pm 4115 W 98TH ST, UNIT B

NEW PRICE

Oak Park

NEW PRICE

Large 5 BR, 2.1 BA a must see! Large living space, open floor plan eat-in kit leads to deck, well tended yard. 3rd flr master suite retreat and many updates.

Patricia McGuinness - ID# 09841916

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

Oak Park

NEW PRICE

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

Oak Park

$620,000

Quality 6 bed, 3.1 bath with flexible floor plan allows choice of master bedroom.

Great finishes with view of fenced park like yard from many rooms in this home.

Lloyd Behrenbruch - ID# 09881483

$699,900

ECO-efficient and LEED Certified New Construction residence features tons of UPGRADES and is now ready for occupancy! Open & airy layout with large BRs with dual closets, and ample storage closets, enormous 38ft balcony accessed by MBR and great room, heated garage parking and Virtual doorman.

OPEN HOUSE • SUN. 12-2pm 515 CLINTON AVE

OPEN HOUSE • SUN. 12-2pm 413 WISCONSIN AVE, UNIT D

NEW LISTING

Chicago

$640,000

4 BR, 3 BA Amer Four Square in desirable FLW Historical district of OP. Formal DR, 2nd fl sleeping porch, 3rd fl with loft BR, and finished basement. Being sold as is.

Ed Bellock - ID# 09882380

NEW LISTING

OPEN HOUSE • SUN. 1-3pm 2738 N 74TH CT, UNIT 1

Elmwood Park

$789,000

4 bed, 3.1 bath estate, heated tile, office, and playroom. Chef’s kit, fam rm, marble gas fireplace, master spa suite, recreation/ game room, bar and much more!

Roman Lewis - ID# 09861076

NEW LISTING

$999,000

Beautiful 4 bed, 3.1 bath Victorian home was completely rehabbed in 2015. 4 floors of generous living space with wraparound porch, amazing architectural details, a spectacular gourmet kitchen, luxurious master suite with a decorative fireplace, master bath with heated floors & many more improvements.

Catherine Simon Vobornik – ID# 09883583

OPEN HOUSE • SUN. 1-3pm 1526 BONNIE BRAE PL

NEW LISTING

159 N Taylor Ave, Oak Park

OPEN HOUSE • SUN. 1-3pm 626 N KENILWORTH AVE

NEW PRICE

5 bed, 4.1 bath new construction in FLW District. Historic on the outside, new on the inside! Open kit/fam/DR, porch.

Finished open bsmnt! Top of the line!

FEATURED LISTING GRAND OPENING WITH NEW FURNISHED MODEL SUN 12-2PM

FEATURED LISTING

$129,900

Spacious 2 BR, 2 BA condo with open flr plan, hdwd flrs, formal DR, upgraded kitchen, master suite, freshly painted, New light fixtures, large balcony and 2 car tandem attached garage.

Jose Osuna – ID# 09882218

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

Chicago

$274,900

2 Flat, many improvements! Updated kit, BA, Jacuzzi. New windows including bsmnt, New roof, firewall, AC, tuck point, sep utlts. Good shape, sold as is.

Vivian Jones - ID# 09887030

OPEN HOUSE • SUN. 1-2:30pm 420 S KENILWORTH UNIT 7

Oak Park

$127,900

Freshly painted and recently updated 2 bedroom unit with all new blinds, kitchen backsplash, Corian counter-top and floor, stainless steel refrigerator and range and parking space.

Vivian Jones – ID# 09853263

35

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Realtor of the Year Award goes to

Spring Market is Blooming!

Come see these NEW LISTINGS this Sunday

A

person who gives service to others and is a hero to many.

He has courage, endurance and strength of character.

He is motivated, fair and committed.

TO U R !

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY • 12-3PM 731 Columbian Oak Park 4 BR 3.5 Bath $639,000 All the Room Your Family Needs!

3 D

Pat Cesario

Call Dave!

Affordably priced North Oak Park 4BR 3.5Bath Prairie-influenced 4-square in a great location! Easy walking distance to Mann, St Giles and OPRF High School! Large master suite w/ dressing room & large sunny spa bath. New 2nd floor bath and new rehabbed basement which features a possible 5th BR and full bath! Enjoy the open spaces and BBQ deck.

David Gullo, Managing Broker

708.567.1375

GulloAssociates@gmail.com

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY • 11AM-1PM 219 Gale, River Forest 3 BR 2.5 Bath • $609,000 Stylish Updated mid-century home! A modern feel, perfect for the savvy buyer. You will be impressed by the many updates--kitchen, baths, lighting, roof, plumbing and more. The unique tri-level layout creates a nice flow for entertaining, both inside and out. Situated on a large lot, this home has Call Laura! a HUGE back yard and a fantastic screened porch. Walk to Metra, Blue Line CTA and downtown Forest Park restaurants and shops.

LMaychruk@comcast.net

Mark Finger 708.990.8115

We are all privileged to look up to him as a role model, as a realtor and a great human being.

We are honored Pat is a member of Gagliardo Realty Associates.

CONGRATULATIONS Pat Cesario!

Laura Maychruk 708.205.7044

Margaret Jones 708.804.0368

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY • 1:30-3:30PM

Pat is successful because he has developed the capacity for delayed gratification, and models patience and persistence.

His ability to remain calm and composed, and yet focused, in challenging situations has earned him respect in the real estate industry. The current strength of the Oak Park area condo marketplace is a result of Pat’s hard work managing many condo associations. He is

successful as a property manager. He has come to the aide of many fellow Realtors who struggle with difficult situations and clients. His sensitivity to people and their problems in real estate strengthen the human infrastructure of our market.

It is in his nature to help others. He shows us all how, with determination, the mortgage, the contract and the deal are worth waiting for.

7375 West North Avenue 7375 W. North Ave., River Forest, Illinois 60305 708.771.8040

River Forest • www.gagliardorealty.com

LUXURY

UNDER CONTRACT

1142 FRANKLIN AVE, RIVER FOREST $1,395,000 :: 4 bed :: 4.5 bath

420 N EUCLID AVE, OAK PARK $1,385,000 :: 8 bed :: 4 full & 2 half baths

Custom modern 6000 sq. ft. home.

Dramatic design and unique detailing throughout.

Magnificent estate in the historic district of Oak Park.

Recently renovated – Beautiful!

NEW

NEW

119 KEYSTONE, RIVER FOREST $799,000 :: 4 bed :: 2.5 bath

1104 N ELMWOOD, OAK PARK $930,000 :: 4+ bed :: 3.5 bath

Awesome newer construction, newer designer kitchen and baths. Great location - walk to train.

Stylish brick English Tudor.

Beautifully designed.

824 S. Harvey, Oak Park 4 BR 2.5 Bath • $549,000 Vintage classic, nicely updated in the Oak Park Arts District! Deceivingly large home with family room and master suite addition. Kitchen recently updated with new cabinets and granite counter tops. Newer windows Call Laura! and mechanicals. 2nd floor laundry.

Basement has finished rec room and separate office. Tons of storage and thoughtful details throughout. Walk to CTA Blue line, schools, parks, library and the shops and restaurants in the Arts District!

Experience your 3D TOUR at GulloRealEstate.com!

905 South Lombard Ste. 2 Oak Park, IL 60304

Check out our incredible selection of LUXURY HOMES at:

W W W.G U L LO R E A L E S TAT E.CO M

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KATHY & TONY IWERSEN 708.772.8040 708.772.8041 tonyiwersen@atproperties.com

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Generations of Excellence since 1958

708.771.8040 • 7375 W. North Ave., River Forest DonnaAvenue Barnhisel Joe Cibula 7375 West North Peter Birmingham Don Citrano Dan Bogojevich Julie Cliggett Illinois 60305 Anne Brennan Alisa Coghill Karen Byrne Kay Costello 708.771.8040 Andy Gagliardo Kevin Calkins JoLyn Crawford

MANAGING River Forest, BROKER/OWNERS

Tom Carraher Pat Cesario

Tom Poulos

Maria Cullerton Julie Downey

Kurt Fielder Yvonne Fiszer-Steele Ramona Fox Chris Garvey Lisa Grimes Dan Halperin Sharon Halperin Greg Jaroszewski

Vee Jaroszewski Joanne Kelly Michael Kinnare Noa Klima Sherree Krisco Jack Lattner Susan Maienza Vince McFadden

Charlotte Messina David Miller Kathleen Minaghan Colleen Navigato John Pappas Sue Ponzio-Pappas Rosa Pitassi Michael Roche

Jenny Ruland Laurel Saltzman Laurie Shapiro Tom Sullivan Debbie Watts George Wohlford Nancy Wohlford

830 ASHLAND • RIVER FOREST

1333 MONROE • RIVER FOREST

555 MONROE • RIVER FOREST

1446 CLINTON PL • RIVER FOREST

N E W LISTI NG!

N EW LI S T I N G!

N EW LI S T I NG!

N E W L ISTIN G!

BEAUTIFUL RIVER FOREST ESTATE features a detailed stone and brick exterior leading to a timeless Interior. Two story marble foyer, spiral staircase, 5 fireplaces, banquet sized DR, Fam Rm, 2nd Floor Laundry, rear staircase. LL has an Exercise Room, Fam Rm. Large Landscaped Lot......................................................... $1,895,000

TIMELESSLY BEAUTIFUL AND COMPLETELY UPDATED! Move in ready, luxurious home features high end finishes and flawless design. Chef’s kitchen. Brick 2 story addition offers 1st FL family room, mud room, attached 2 car garage, master suite. Sun porch, attached two car garage .................................................... $1,049,000

MAKE THE MOVE to this house where beauty and functionality meet to make this the perfect home. Four bedrooms and a laundry room on the second floor, fireplaces, stunning screened porch, three car garage and beautifully landscaped back yard. .............................. ................................................................................................. $835,000

THIS IS YOUR PERFECT HOME! Brick, three generous sized bedroom Georgian on a corner lot. Updated kitchen with open floor plan, first floor family room, finished basement with bar and fireplace, and separate laundry/storage room. Fenced in yard. ......... .................................................................................................$609,000

7610 WASHINGTON • RIVER FOREST

213 N TAYLOR • OAK PARK OPEN SUNDAY 12-2

941 LATHROP • FOREST PARK OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

415 N HARVEY • OAK PARK

NE W LISTI NG!

N EW LI S T I N G!

N EW LI S T I NG!

N E W L ISTIN G!

CLASSIC, BRICK, SIDE ENTRANCE COLONIAL with deep in ground swimming pool. Formal LR w/ wood burning fireplace, formal dining room w/ bay window. Hardwood floors, leaded art glass windows, heated enclosed sun porch, 2 car garage w / 4 additional outside spaces. ....................................................................... $539,000

STUNNING & DISTINCTIVE QUEEN ANNE VICTORIAN will not disappoint. Exquisite woodwork and molding, pocket doors, sophisticated designer lighting, generous sized rooms, 1st fl family room, designer kitchen, 2nd fl laundry room. 3 car garage with walk-up loft area.................................................................... $920,000

WONDERFUL UPDATED HOME with all the amenities. This 3BR, 3BA home boasts a large foyer, hardwood floors, beautiful woodwork and high ceilings throughout. Eat-in kitchen, beautiful LR, DR and office complete the 1st FL. Upstairs includes 3 spacious BRs w/ wood beam ceilings. ...............................................................$387,000

CLASSIC AMERICAN FOUR SQUARE on large lot with lovely original detail that includes natural wood floors, trim, curved banister, dining room buffet, art glass, and a decorative fireplace. Third floor has expansion potential. Basement family room w/full bath. .. ................................................................................................. $499,900

RIVER FOREST HOMES

BURMA BUILT BUHRKE HOUSE combines Tudor revival & chateau style architecture elements. Gorgeous décor, impeccable attention to detail and care found in house and landscaped grounds, extends to in ground pool, patios. Perfect for entertaining..$2,399,000 LEGENDARY 1883 ITALIANATE VILLA on Keystone available for the first time in 37 years! One of a kind house with 7BRs, 3BAs, new hdwd flrs, custom stain glass windows, eat-in kitchen. Preserved original features AND unparalleled 2014 Guest House! .$1,550,000 EXPERT DESIGN RENOVATION! Very best in contemporary design, finishes and mechanicals alongside exquisitely restored leaded glass doors, gleaming hdwds create ideal blend of old and new. Massive rooms, high end craftsmanship. Oversized lot........$1,499,000 A REAL STUNNER! 4BR, 4 full, 1 half BA completely gutted, rehabbed in ‘10. First flr feat open floor plan, chef’s kitchen. BRs feature full walk in closets. Fabulous basement has an addl BR, full high end bath and rec room....................................................................$1,275,000 GRACIOUS FRENCH PROVINCIAL, four bedroom, 3.1 bath. Will not disappoint you! Beautiful kitchen, elegant, sun-drenched LR & DR, 1st fl fam rm and breakfast rm.

Finished LL, unfinished attic for further expansion. ..........................................................$999,000 HIGH QUALITY, HIGH DESIGN RENOVATION complete on this stunning home.

Features fine craftsmanship, meticulous attention to detail & custom quality finishes. Oak floors, walk-in pantry, mud room, bsmt & 2nd floor laundry, bsmt family room.....$980,000 UPDATED VICTORIAN 5 BRs, 4-1/2 BAs overlooking Thatcher Woods. Besides the first flr having space for everyone in the LR/DR/Parlour, there is a third level with BR, & full BA, LL has large fin rec rm. Porch, two story, 4 car gar..................................................................$885,000 ELEGANT, GRACIOUS HOME with 4 BRs, 2-1/2 BAs offers a large formal LR w/gas fireplace, spacious DR, hdwd flrs, molding, fam rm, eat-in kit, finished lower level, whole house generator. Outside includes back deck & 3 car gar................................................$799,000

ADDITIONAL OPEN HOUSES • SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2018 RIVER FOREST

1206 LATHROP • OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

749 JACKSON •OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

WONDERFUL BLOCK, four BR, two full BA faces the OP Tennis Club. Bright open LR, DR & den combo. Two frplcs, in LR, & master suite. Spacious yard, private with deck...$575,000

OAK PARK HOMES

WELL MAINTAINED three story 4-5 BR, 3-1/2 BA. Fam room, hdwd flrs, fireplace in LR, DR with built-in buffet. Deck off fam rm, two car gar + 3 extra outside pkg spaces. Landscaped yard.........................$595,000

AFFORDABLE two bedroom condo with parking, and one and a half bathrooms. Walking distance to “EL”, schools and restaurants. Why rent when you can afford to own?......................................................$167,500

UNPRECEDENTED ESTATE in the Wright Historical district of OP! Meticulously renovated 5 BR, 5 full / 2 half bath offers exquisite details and refined finishes that boast timeless materials and over the top custom millwork. This is a showcase home!..$1,875,000 SO MUCH TO SEE, LOVE & ADMIRE 4 bedroom, 1-1/2 bath home in Historic Oak Park! Expansive open front porch, leaded glass windows, French doors, beamed ceiling formal dining room, oversized lower level rec room, large backyard deck. .................$479,900 CLASSIC 4+ BEDROOM BUNGALOW across from Euclid Park! Hdwd flrs, crown molding in DR, built-in bookshelves, electric fireplace in LR. Updated full finished basement w/5th BR or home office. Outside is a two tiered deck and fenced in backyard. .......$449,000 PRICE REDUCED BEAUTIFUL BRICK TRI-LEVEL HOME nestled in the heart of the OP’s Gunderson Historic district. Great layout with 4 BRs and 2 full BAs. Fam rm in lower level plus Sub-basement. Beautiful new cherry wood floors . Two car garage..........$439,000 SWEET NORTH OAK PARK 3 BR / 2 BA. Lovely wd flrs, bright white kitchen, large family rm with huge deck for entertaining. Spacious BRs, brand new carpet and abundant closet space. Nicely updated bathrooms. Lots of basement living space.....................$380,000 CLASSIC THREE BEDROOM AMERICAN FOUR SQUARE located in the Arts District in Historic OP! Gleaming hdwd flrs, natural wood trim, leaded glass windows, formal DR, oak cabinet eat-in kitchen, bsmt rec room, garage and extra parking space.......$349,900

PRICE REDUCED VERY UNIQUE PRAIRIE HOME sits on beautiful corner lot. Suggestive of Tallmadge & Watson, fam rm that opens to kitchen. LR with fireplace.

Basement has 2nd half BA, storage. Nice size yard, brick patio & XL 2 car garage. ...$609,000

BEAUTIFUL 3 LEVEL SINGLE FAMILY 3800+ sq/ft of living! Open concept on first flr. Second flr feat four spacious BR, sunroom overlooking backyard. Third flr has great room w/sep guest BR, workout room. Finished bsmnt ..............................................................$600,000

METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED NEW CONSTRUCTION built in ‘06. Open floor plan features 10 foot ceilings, hdwd flrs, many custom details from crown molding to door handles. High end kitchen, four bedrooms, open basement ready to finish.....$464,000

PRICE REDUCED THIS HOME HAS IT ALL! Open floor plan, hdwd flooring, natural woodwork. High-end kitchen, first floor laundry area. Four large BRs. Large basement offers additional living space. 2-car attached garage. Tons of storage, natural light throughout. ......$869,000

RARE BRICK BURMA HOME with original coved moldings, leaded glass windows and wood floors accent well-built house. Enjoy sunroom view of park. 3-bdrm, 2-1/2 bath with large bonus room on 2nd fl, den on 1st fl. Authentic tile roof on house and two-car brick gar...$689,0000

OAK PARK

1000 N MARION • OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

THIS HOME HAS IT ALL! Bright, sunny north east lot located in Horace Mann School District. Freshly painted walls, refinished hardwood floors, over sized Master Bedroom with room for multiple seating arrangements. Beautiful gardening surrounds the home. .........$659,000

627 N RIDGELAND •OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

821 N EUCLID • OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

TRADITONAL AMERICAN FOUR SQUARE with three good sized bedrooms and a first flr fam rm addition. Great kitchen too! Stripped wood in entire house, gorgeous windows and many natural details. Third floor walk-up for storage. Well maintained throughout. ...........$565,000

333 S EAST UNIT 301 • OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

For more listings & photos go to GagliardoRealty.com

FOREST PARK HOMES

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Sunday, March 25, 2018

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

TOWNHOMES

CONDOS

ADDRESS

MULTIFAMILY

LISTING PRICE

TIME

8127 W. 26th St, North Riverside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $279,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:30-4 1150 S. Taylor Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beyond Properties Realty Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $369,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 941 Lathrop Ave, Forest Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $387,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1008 N. Humphrey Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $399,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 630 Lyman Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $399,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 514 S. Harvey Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beyond Properties Realty Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $409,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1:30 537 S. Oak Park Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $427,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1 636 S. East Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $435,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 1445 S. 4th Ave, Des Plaines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $440,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-3 842 N. Harlem Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coldwell Banker Residential. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $448,800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1 733 Lyman Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beyond Properties Realty Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $474,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 528 Wenonah Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re/Max In The Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $475,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1526 Bonnie Brae Pl, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $505,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 824 S Harvey, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gullo & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $549,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:30-3:30 821 N. Euclid Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $565,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 627 N. Ridgeland Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $595,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 545 S. Oak Park Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $598,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1 219 Gale, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gullo & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $609,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1 515 Clinton Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $620,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 731 Colombian, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gullo & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $639,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-3 626 N. Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $640,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1000 Marion St, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $659,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 749 Jackson Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $689,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1230 N. Grove Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beyond Properties Realty Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $725,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 730 N. Grove Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $750,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1:30 202 S. Harvey Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coldwell Banker Residential. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $779,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 219 S. Grove Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $835,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sat. 11-1 1206 Lathrop Ave, River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $869,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 313 S. Elmwood Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coldwell Banker Residential. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $915,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 213 N. Taylor Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $920,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 500 William St, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $929,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:30-1:30 618 Thatcher Ave, River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $995,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:30-3:30 210 S. Euclid Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coldwell Banker Residential. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,049,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 526 Ashland Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re/Max In The Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,350,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

REALTY CO.

LISTING PRICE

TIME

420 S. Kenilworth Ave. UNIT 7, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $127,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:30 4115 W. 98th St. UNIT B, Oak Lawn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $129,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 1118 Harrison St. UNIT 3, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coldwell Banker Residential. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $130,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1 1122 Washington Blvd. UNIT 3A, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $159,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 333 S. East Ave. UNIT 301, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $167,500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 428 Wesley Ave. UNIT G, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$190,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sat. 12-2 2738 N. 74th Court. UNIT 1, Elmwood Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $269,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 110 S. Marion St. UNIT 604, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $540,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1133 W. Chicago Ave. UNIT 2SW, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $699,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2

ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

LISTING PRICE

TIME

413 Wisconsin Ave. UNIT D, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $458,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 15 Forest Ave. UNIT 19, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $554,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1 15 Forest Ave. UNIT 19, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $554,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sat. 11-1

ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

LISTING PRICE

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Oak Park Fire Depart administers Narcan ment already roughly once a week

By TIMOTHY

INKLEBARGER

Staff Reporter

Oak Park police with an anti-opioi officers will soon be equipped can, confirmed d overdose drug known as Tony Ambrose. Oak Park Deputy NarParticipants Police Chief A state law wave at the that went crowd during dates that into effect WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff the annual Memorial in January all Illinois Photographer mancarrying police departme Day Parade the drug in nts begin in River Forest an effort from heroin on May 30. and opioid-bas to prevent overdoses For more photos, Ambrose ed prescripti said in a on drugs. page 10. telephone OPPD is working interview that the ment to receive with the Oak Park Fire training and Narcan program. grant fundingDepartfor the Oak Park Deputy Fire in a telephone

By TOM HOLMES Chief Peter to sunset, Pilafas said interview Contributing paramedi every day that fire Reporter cs have been for four weeks.

Nausheen departme can for some trained to nt sounds very Syed Mohuddin administe ator, to develop on Yom much like r NarKippur or times a monthtime and used it an a (a.k.a. Mohi) Jew patience, and his wife a Christian average of to perfect in Ahmed Lent when she Nausheen one’s character. gratitude and four Pilafas applied 2014 and 2015. during describes keeping the Akhter will a Muslim When fasting, what Muslims on May 20 month of begin are striving for during is supposed will cover for the 5. The River Ramadan 100 percent behavior, to be on their Ramadan “What people on June Forest residents avoid anger, program, . of the costs grant, which may ing without and it etc. Many bad language, best for the OPPD food or drink, will fast, go- “is that the purposenot know,” she said, people give He said now was approved three example up bad habits,lies, of Ramadan from sunrise bring you days police and will attend closer spiritually fire departme later. is to spection smoking. It is for a training nt officials to your Creand self-reflec a time of introofficers on seminar to instruct how tion on how police Earlier this to administer the to betdrug.

See RAMADA year, Oak Park Township N on page 12 SuperviSee NARCAN on page 13

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The great snowball fight meltdown DOOPer’s Memories, p. 44

I don’t know my country anymore

never have and never will understand my country’s obsession with guns, but I have some notions and opinions. Forgive me if they don’t flow. Pretend you’re watching the daily whack-a-mole that used to be the news.

If Sandy Hook didn’t change things, why get my hopes up that articulate high school kids can change things? As a result of their movement, Florida raised the age for buying guns a measly three years, but didn’t touch AR15s. I still mourn those babies who were shot to bits at Sandy Hook, and the sentient president who came the next day and shed tears. These days, we have a deficit of heroes.

And still nothing changes. We can hate the NRA, but we can’t blame the NRA. All the NRA does is give money to candidates and elected officials who block gun laws, and threaten to run a candidate against them if they go rogue. There is nothing preventing legislators from looking in the mirror as they shave or put on their lipstick and saying to themselves, “This is wrong. The worst that can happen to me is I lose, go home, write a book, become a lobbyist, or God forbid, spend some time with my family.”

But that won’t fulfill the lust for power.

I never imagined how obsessively important guns are to so many people. Apparently there are more guns than people in our country and about a third of us own guns. Why? The gun culture has a vise on our identity, ethics, spirit and common sense.

I see several threads in the gun culture: Gun owners will say it’s about protection and sport, but except for people in rural areas, it’s really about control.

Guns give people a sense that they’re in control. We all need to feel we’re in control, but as we grow older, we realize that control is limited. At any time we can be struck down by any number of things, real or imagined. Guns don’t protect against disease, broken hearts, fire or floods. They only do harm.

One of the weakest fixes suggested in response to gun violence is the empty promise to make sure guns don’t fall into the hands of the mentally ill. How will gun dealers know who’s mentally ill? The scariest thing about any mental illness list, card, tattoo, whatever, is that it reeks of fascism, something our current president fancies.

Besides, if everyone in Oak Park who is or has been treated for mental illness, or is taking medication for it, walked out of their houses, we’d have a village-wide block party.

There is evil in the world and there are evil people. I think all evil people are mentally ill, but not all mentally ill people are evil.

Take assault weapons. Please. Who the hell needs an assault weapon outside of the military and law enforcement? Think of the bodies of those children, the first-graders at Sandy Hook Elementary and the high school kids at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

By the way, it’s time to call out hunting as an obsolete sport. Why kill another living thing for sport? Joe Scarborough said on Morning Joe that he buys guns and will buy guns for his children to go hunting, “which is part of our culture.”

How about stepping outside your culture? Isn’t education the essence of stepping outside your culture? Isn’t growth the act of examining your culture with a critical eye — emulating the good and discarding the bad?

Joe, you quit the Republican Party. Why can’t you quit guns?

Photo by Lisa Mullen/Contributor

OUR LIVES ARE ON THE LINE: OPRF students walk out in solidarity on March 14.

MARY KAY O’GRADY

‘T

Showing up - The next step after walking out

esting, testing, testing.” A low whine fills the room.

Mic checks done, we head down to nervously greet the important people. Celine Woznica from Moms Demand Action, Sharon Fairley who is running for Attorney General, Anthony Clark who is running for the 7th Congressional District, Angela Burges from NAMI, 7th District state Rep. Chris Welch, and Aaron Goldstein running for Attorney General.

We lead them to the stage, let them sit where they please. Although the start of the event has been delayed, once we begin, it flows smoothly. No panelist is shy, and each is fierce in their support of gun control.

We listen to them speak for over an hour, soaking in their encouragement to not fail the next generation the way they feel they have failed us.

After Parkland, we both shrugged off the death of another 17 students. It happened. Again. Just another shooting. What more was there to say? This is what we have grown up with: violence in our schools. Since Columbine, there have been 208 school shootings, 25 of which have resulted in deaths. The majority of high school students were born in and after 2000 — after Columbine in 1999. We are a generation that has grown up with lockdown drills, armed guards, and metal detectors. We are more knowledgeable on what to do in the instance of an active shooter than on paying taxes. We can name more school shooters off the top of our heads than we can name capitals of states.

Protesting, specifically walking out, is important.

We are showing our solidarity and support for gun control. We are approaching, or have already reached, voting age, and will be the ones likely deciding any future changes in the political climate. It is important, however, to remember to take the next step: to make sure we, as students, are informed on the issues. The most important step is the first step out the door, but you cannot stop there.

The walkouts show solidarity, that we are the voices of those affected by gun violence, and that we will not stop protesting. However, legislators still need to change and policies need to be passed; how will these things happen if students are not making their voices heard by their representatives?

This is where forums and town halls come into play.

These events give voters a chance to listen to what their potential government officials plan to do and give the officials a chance to listen to what their voters want and need. While walkouts and other protests are incredibly important, it is sometimes a bit easier to miss 30 minutes of class for an invigorating speech than go to an hour-long panel in a hot auditorium.

Change is not easy, though. It takes walking out of school over and over and over again. It takes showing up to an hour-long panel in a hot auditorium. It takes grit and it takes effort. It takes showing up.

“So,” ask parents and students alike, “what can I do?”

We have this to ask of adults: Spread the word, support your children, and vote. This is a movement

EV BERGERWOLF & CASEY FORD One View

See WALK OUT on page 46

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

O U R

V I E W P O I N T S

A walk through the woods

V I E W S

Ambitious teacher contract

N

egotiations continue apace on a new contract with teachers in the District 97 Oak Park elementary schools. That according to a joint statement released last week by the district and the teachers union.

The release was a bit of PR mumbo jumbo. It states a goal of a contract that “rewards the dedication and hard work of our teachers, aligns with the district’s commitment to fiscal stewardship and that will benefit our students, our schools and the village of Oak Park.”

We’d expect nothing less.

But the release does suggest some substantive discussions as, working with a federal mediation facilitator from the start, the two sides are talking about length of the school day and work day, evaluations, planning time.

As the district and teachers continue to meet weekly with a goal of a May contract, we’d offer three hard reminders: ■ Equity. The school board and administration have baked the concept of equity into every strategic goal, public pronouncement and pep rally. The most foundational path to equity is through the contract with teachers.

■ Innovation. District 97 bent and broke the norm with its last teacher contract. Now is the time to build on those innovations in pay systems, methods of evaluation, paths to greater teacher leadership. This new contract cannot be a breather on the path to the future.

■ Costs. We read the PR speak about length of the school day and planning time as wanting more teaching time, wanting more ways to foster collaboration among teachers in how they reach out and take hold of the kids who struggle. We hope we’re right.

And we think that taxpayers will, within a narrow window, accept pay hikes to support that work. But one critical reality here is that a new contract cannot speed a tax hike referendum. Oak Parkers will not put up with that. They just won’t.

Keep talking. And bring us a contract that convinces us D97 is authentically focused on equity and taxpayers.

End busing Also last week, the District 97 school board took up a consultant’s report that raises the possibility, albeit (judging from the board discussion) faint, of eliminating the school bus program.

Seems dramatic. Also dramatic, as we look at paying for a salary hike for teachers, is the more than $500,000 in potential cost savings in dropping the buses.

We’d note D97 has not always bused kids to and fro within this pretty small piece of real estate we call Oak Park. Busing came to pass in the 1970s after two neighborhood schools, then called Emerson and Hawthorn, were converted into junior highs. Now they are called middle schools and have been rechristened as Percy Julian and Gwendolyn Brooks.

School officials argue the buses aren’t as needed as they had been in the past and that contracts with bus companies offer few ways to cut costs.

We gather the school board would like to avoid a notable parent backlash if this service is severely reduced or eliminated.

We know that various options and timelines are likely to be discussed.

We also know that avoiding/delaying a tax hike referendum is a priority even as a new teacher contract is being negotiated.

Tough choices are necessary. And we’d prefer to give up a short bus ride to being threatened with the loss of music, art or some less ambitious contract with faculty.

@ @OakParkSports

enting, “Spoil them with love?”

No, “lavish” with love.

A good word-seed, lavish. Spoil, not so much.

It always seemed very much, to me as a child, that I was living in a poem — that my life was the poem. When you’re in a very quiet place, when you’re remembering, when you’re savoring an image, when you’re allowing your mind calmly to leap from one thought to another — that’s a poem. That’s what a poem does.

O

Naomi Shihab Nye

n a beautiful, first-vestige-ofspring day last week, I headed out to Morton Arboretum, which is another world — or rather, a world in microcosm — and gave me the space inside my own microcosmic mind to wander and wonder and follow the trail through the woods there — as well as through my interior woods, thick with thoughts, that led to the following poem:

KEN

TRAINOR

“Gone to seed,” Euphemism for decay, Home stretch to life’s finish line, Echoed in my head as I took to the trail ’neath a cloudless sky, Warmed to the far side of 50 degrees, The northern hemisphere tilting to meet a stronger sun, Off-throwing the oppressions of winter.

No decay. Not yet.

No “Gone Seeding” sign in the window.

Going to seed, not gone.

Fecund first … and last.

Scattering generativity, A modern-day John Chapman, Super-seeder Johnny Appleseed, Evangelist of the prettiest of seeds.

Spreading the good news A mission of magnitude.

Before me, trees cast shadows, the sun’s pen-and-ink portraiture On the textured sunlit shag carpet of last year’s leaves, My backlit shadow among them.

Tree seeds differ dizzyingly, As do ours.

The Nazarene, master of metaphors, spread good seed indiscriminately.

Some sprouted. Much didn’t.

Falling in shadow, never seeing the light.

But seeds and metaphors endure And find alternate pathways to resurrection.

Some repurpose as food, or replenish the soil.

Seeding cedes control over results.

Birds defecate undigested, pre-fertilized seed back to earth for a second chance.

You never know what seeding will lead to.

“Don’t forget to tell someone you love ’em,” says WDCB’s Bruce Oscar, signing off another show.

Do love’s seeds generate, even those lost in shadow?

Seeds hide amid words, Good readers sift the excess, Separating wheat from chaff.

Seed-words find a way through.

“How did you put it?” a friend asks about grandpar-

Writers lavish with words, the world lavishes with seeds.

Soft, dark, moist soil offers a welcoming bed, lavished by intensifying March sunlight, Unfiltered by leafless limbs.

Winter overthrown, A new world awakens.

A bench by the trail spells CHANGE in metal letters, A setting that changes with each passing.

Seeds are symbols and symbols, seeds. That’s all ye know on earth and all ye need to know, That plus Keats’ truth and beauty.

Metaphors are truth, germinating beauty.

Springing forth from the soft, dark, loam of our inner soil When you least expect them.

It pays to pay attention.

A cluster of purple crocuses shudder in the breeze.

A charred field of pungent, still smoldering devastation reveals a burned blank slate, A new beginning for untouched roots below Eager to grow, Alongside seeds swept in by wind and wings.

Ashes to ashes, dust to soil, ceding to seeding, dying to resurrecting, Easter to eastering.

To earth we shall return.

To start anew.

Bird songs soften, rendering inner soil receptive, Whetted by wandering, Watered by wondering, Windswept with willingness, Going to seed.

Not gone, going.

Spring is here.

Easter is here.

Now is the time.

To get going.

Be ours a religion which, like sunshine, goes everywhere; its temple, all space; its shrine, the good heart; its creed, all truth; its ritual, works of love; its profession of faith, divine living.

Theodore Parker

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

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

W E D N E S D A Y

by Marc Stopeck

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Associate Publisher Dawn Ferencak Staff Reporters Michael Romain, Timothy Inklebarger, Nona Tepper Viewpoints Ken Trainor Sports/Staff reporter Marty Farmer Columnists Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, John Hubbuch, May Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West, Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley, Cassandra West, Doris Davenport Staff Photographer Alexa Rogals Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes Editorial Designers Jacquinete Baldwin, Javier Govea Business Manager Joyce Minich IT Manager/Web Developer Mike Risher 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, Bill Wossow Inside Sales Representative Mary Ellen Nelligan Event Coordinator Carmen Rivera Media Assistant Megan Dickel Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Distribution Coordinator David Oromaner Comptroller Edward Panschar Credit Manager Laurie Myers Front Desk Carolyn Henning, Maria Murzyn Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

Another time when we lost our moral compass

Attached is a short excerpt from a 1968 speech given

by Robert F. Kennedy at the University of Kansas during his campaign for the Democratic nomination for president. I’ve kept a copy for years and re-read it often as I believe it still describes — 50 years later — the faulty way our GDP is measured, leaving out important values that should be measured. It may be good for everyone to be reminded of these important values at this moment in history when we seem to have lost our moral compass.

University of Kansas, March 18, 1968: “Even if we act to erase material poverty, there is another greater task; it is to confront the poverty of satisfaction, purpose, and dignity that afflicts us all.

“Too much and for too long, we seem to have surrendered personal excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things. Our Gross National Product, now, is over $800 billion a year, but that Gross National Product — if we judge the United States of America by that — counts air pollution and cigarette advertising and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage.

“It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for the people who break them. It counts the destruction of the redwood and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl.

“It counts napalm and counts nuclear warheads and armored cars for the police to fight the riots in our cities. It counts Whitman’s rifle and Speck’s knife and the television programs which glorify vio-

About Viewpoints

Robert F. Kennedy

Harry Benson/Express/Getty Images

lence in order to sell toys to our children.

“Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials.

“It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country, it measures everything in short except that which makes life worthwhile.

“And it can tell us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans.

“If this is true here at home, so it is true elsewhere in world.”

Kathryn Jonas Oak Park

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.

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR ■ 250-word limit ■ Must include first and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)

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The great snowball fight meltdown

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hen I was a kid, the guys on Oak Park Avenue and the guys on Euclid Avenue had many snowball fights against each other every winter until I was in eighth grade. The contests would take place at the empty lot on the northeast corner of Oak Park and Chicago.

The fights were planned when Rich Schu from Oak Park Avenue would tell Eric Bourne from Euclid Avenue that the fight was on for the coming Saturday. The sides were evenly matched — Spitzer, Schu, Dunne and I from Oak Park Avenue, and Bourne, Merton, Parmelee and Dugan from Euclid Avenue.

The only rule was no throwing of either ice balls or dirty snow.

Three out of four guys on my side could throw well, but Dunne couldn’t throw for distance. On the Euclid side, Parmelee threw softly, and Dugan usually hung back and stockpiled snowballs.

Our side had one objective — to cut down the numbers of the opposition. We knew that once Dugan was hit, he would go home, but he was hard to hit because he hid behind a wood pile and threw only if a target was close to him.

During one exchange of snowballs, Schu hit Dugan in the shoulder with a snowball when Dugan popped up from behind the woodpile to see if there was an easy target.

When this happened, Dugan let out a yell and ran home.

Parmelee was a favorite target, too. He was big and lumbersome, so he was an easy target. Parmelee was respected by us because he would take a lot of hits and still be game and he never ran away from the fights.

Bourne and Merton were scrappers, but sometimes Merton would throw an iceball.

Once he hit Dunne in the neck with an ice-

ball, and our side cut Merton down in a hail of snowballs.

The fights usually ended with Dugan running away and Merton simply quitting.

Our side took hits but never quit.

Once, during a pitched battle, Bourne threw high and hit a Cadillac moving north on Oak Park Avenue. The driver slammed on the brakes, parked the car, jumped out and walked toward us.

He was a young guy, probably in his early 20s, and he looked tough.

He asked us who threw the snowball, and we said it was an accident and that we were sorry.

He said he was going to teach us a lesson, and that’s when he made a mistake. He pushed Dunne who stood well over six feet, and Dunne shoved him into a snow pile.

At this point the rest of us scattered because the guy started to chase us, but he left Dunne alone.

Two of the guys ran east, and I ran north to my house, cut east on the driveway, ran into the garage, grabbed a shovel and started shoveling snow by the garage.

I didn’t see the guy anywhere, so I felt he must have given up the chase. I walked to the front of the house and saw the guy arguing with a cop about the ticket he was being issued for parking in a no-parking zone.

After this close call, even though all of us got away from the guy, we agreed to pursue less perilous activities in the future.

So on an overcast day in March, 1953, our pitched snowball fights permanently ended.

John Stanger is a lifelong resident of Oak Park, a 1957 graduate of OPRF High School, married with three grown children and five grandchildren, and a retired English professor (Elmhurst College).

Living two miles from where he grew up, he hasn’t gotten far in 77 years.

JOHN

STANGER

Immigrant detainees and deportees

Remember the 127 immigrant detainees held at the Dodge, McHenry, Kenosha and Kankakee detention centers.

They are from Angola, Brazil, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopa, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Rus-

sia, Somalia, Tanzania and Venezuela.

Remember as well the seven who were deported this week.

May the outcomes be positive for them and their families.

Shirley Lundin

Unity Temple Unitarian-Universalist Congregation

V I E W P O I N T S

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Europeans criticize, then profit from us

When speaking to my Austrian cousins and their friends I am frequently asked how it is possible for gun-fueled massacres to occur in the U.S. if the vast majority of Americans want gun control. I must then go through the tedious process of explaining how a rich and disciplined minority can defeat the wishes of a large fragmented majority.

Despite my best efforts, they still shake their heads and mumble something about those crazy American cowboys.

You can imagine my chagrin when I recently learned that in 2016 foreign firms’ share of American firearms sales were about 33%. Of those sales, three-quarters of the 3.7 million imported handguns came from Europe.

Of those, the Austrian manufacturer of pistols sold us 1.3 million Glocks. In 2016 this same manufacturer contributed over $100,000 to the NRA to lobby against gun regulation.

Beretta of Italy relies on America for over half of its revenues. Over the years, Beretta has donated more than $1 million to NRA affiliates, and has earned from them the prestigious “ring of freedom” designation.

In 2016, Sig Sauer, the German-Swiss firearms manufacturer accounted for 12.3% of all U.S. pistol sales. FN Herstal, a Belgium small arms manufacturer has moved to South Carolina and is shifting production from rifles to pistols.

It seems that while Europeans bemoan the crazy American addiction to firearms, they don’t mind profiting from it.

Al Popowits

River Forest

45

The answers are still blowing in the wind

O

n Tuesday, Feb. 13, Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer was gunned down in the city’s Thompson Center. Instantly grief overwhelmed every law enforcement agency in the nation. The next day, Feb. 14, the school shooting in Parkland, Florida dominated the news. Within one day, even before funerals for the victims could be arranged, public outcry shrieked, “Stop the violence! We need more gun controls!”

I empathize with the grief of the victims’ families. I agree with the need to prevent gun misuse and the call to stop the violence. But I abhor the politicizing of the tragedies by special interest groups. The shootings brought the anti-gun faction to the forefront of the public arena. The NRA tightened its political hold. It’s a standoff. Cooperation between the various factions to explore ways to stop the carnage is not even mentioned.

Calls for more gun controls have been heard since the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963. Over time, increasingly stringent gun regulations have been instituted.

None have achieved their intended goals, and the numbers of shootings and victims have increased. There are no federal gun controls, and there is no uniformity of gun controls among the states. A person can purchase a firearm in a state with lax regulation and bring it back to a state with stringent controls. Misuse of a weapon, however, is a personal choice.

Coincidental with the Chicago and Florida shootings, the Chicago Tribune released the conclusion of a study that suggested gun controls don’t work. Not much notice was taken of the Tribune’s report. The study faded into obscurity, leaving the opposing gun-rights factions in a test of wills while

Helping our students succeed The NCCA (Nineteenth Century Charitable Association) just completed the interview and selection process for next year’s scholarship recipients. Four graduating seniors from OPRF each receive $2,000 a year for four years of college to use as they see fit. The qualifications are a 3.2 GPA, submission of their financial aid form, a short essay, two letters of recommendation and extracurricular/community service.

I’ve been on the scholarship committee for several years and I’m writing this for two reasons. First to thank Sharon Martinek and Pete Nixen for their hospitality, as well as for facilitating the students to get in all of their paperwork. There are literally reams of paper that they must sort to help the students get the opportunity to apply only for our scholarship, let alone all of the other various organizations needing their assistance. (Besides this, Sharon always makes sure we have home-baked treats on which to snack and she caters to our every need during two days of interviews.)

The other reason for writing my first viewpoint piece ever to any newspaper, is to let the community of Oak Park and River Forest know that the high school is chal-

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

children clamor to have their lives saved.

Significant differences between the perpetrators of the two shootings must be noted. Shomari Legghette, the murderer of Commander Bauer, is a lifelong recidivist criminal. He obtained his weapon in the underground market and circumvented background checks. The murderer showed he has no morality. He exemplifies lawlessness, a disregard for human life, and an opposition toward rules for civilized living.

Nikolas Cruz, the Florida shooter, exhibited symptoms of mental instability which were ignored by the FBI. He became destabilized by his mother’s death. Cruz bought his AR-15 rifle legally, before his emotional crisis. His background checks revealed no criminality and could not reveal his mental instability. Records of mental health problems and treatment are guarded by HIPAA privacy laws, and require a court order for disclosure. Laws protect the troubled from being stigmatized.

Therein lies the complexity of the two tragedies. One is the result of immorality, and the other of mental instability.

Both are beyond the reach of legislation. Both mandate new innovative responses.

Frustrated and disheartened, I ask, “What and where are the means and measures to prevent future tragedies? How is morality instilled in humans? How can a separation between right and wrong be assured in a deranged mind?”

I don’t know where the answers lie. Youthful creative minds and their ideals-inspired energy must be engaged in the search. The answers must not be left blowing in the wind, like Bob Dylan says in his song.

Fred Natkevi is a longtime resident of Oak Park.

FRED NATKEVI One View

lenging and preparing the students to succeed beyond high school. The students had a positive experience at OPRF and when something wasn’t quite right, they were able to correct it to make the high school an even better institution. To a person, the students felt encouraged and respected by their teachers.

Selecting only four students was difficult to say the least. I wish more people could have listened to the responses the applicants made during 15 minutes of questioning. No doubt OPRF students will succeed.

If only we had the resources to give out more scholarships to help further their education.

I teasingly told my son that he could have his daughter move in with me this fall so that she could have the opportunities available to all of the OPRF students. Our students in Oak Park and River Forest can grow to their potential at the high school.

All they have to do is be open to joining the many clubs that are available and seeing their teachers and counsellors as a means to getting the most out of their education.

Thanks for letting me have my say.

Mary Fran Gleason

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V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

T

Have the conversation

The organic trash talk against GMOs

he organics industry has a vested interest in consumers forgetting that it is just that: an industry — one that saw $43 billion in U.S. sales last year and $81.6 billion worldwide, a far cry from what the quaint farmhouses on the packaging would suggest. While there is certainly nothing unique about corporations putting forward a friendly face, organics is unparalleled in its position to profit off of the larger problem of anti-science fear-mongering. Namely, the crusade against Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs. In 2016, Congress passed a bill mandating GMO labeling on food and beverage products. The argument of corporations, such as Whole Foods Market and Kashi, who lobbied for the bill was simply that consumers had “the right to know.” This argument ignores the implication of danger that comes with labeling. Other information that companies are required to provide includes whether a product may contain peanut residue for consumers with severe allergies as well as calorie content for those who want to make informed decisions about their diet.

More than 3,000 studies and 280 leading scientific institutions agree: GMOs pose no risk to public health. Many of these studies were conducted by independent researchers and are available online at the Genetic Engineering Risk Atlas or GENERA, a website devoted specifically to fighting the public perception that research into GMOs is primarily funded by, and biased toward, GMO producers.

There is no need for consumers to be warned of the use of GMOs. The label only serves to perpetuate a misguided fear

and promote one industry’s products over another.

The “No GMO Movement” is but one head on the hydra that is anti-science rhetoric.

Recent buzz topics include the “anti-Vax” movement, which led to a resurgence of the measles virus in the U.S. and U.K. The campaign against GMOs presents a comparably senseless setback to the economy and the global fight against hunger. A survey conducted by the USDA found that organic farming produces significantly lower crop yields.

With all the contradictory messaging from advertisers and media outlets, many of us feel as though we have an incomplete understanding of modern science. The organics industry is well aware of this and funnels nearly $3 billion a year into 330-plus special interest groups with the collective goal of strangling GMOs out of the market with unnecessary regulations.

Our government should be intervening against such misleading advertising tactics rather than mandating them.

We should strive to be truly informed consumers by not falling for the proorganics myth.

The benefits will not only include a more science-friendly community but also a cheaper grocery bill: According to Consumer Reports, organic products are on average 47% more expensive. That is the kind of activism I believe we can all get behind.

Lily Blackman is an Oak Park resident currently attending Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. This piece was written for her Media Law and Ethics course.

LILY

BLACKMAN One View

Why do I need an AR-15?

Cowards and anarchy!

I was amazed reading “In the aftermath of a bloodbath” by Ray Heise [Viewpoints, March 14]. Normally, Mr. Heise is a proponent and preacher of gun control and trust in government.

Yet he made an excellent case for why citizens need an AR-15 — and why arming teachers is a great idea.

Cowards.

If the Browardly Lion shows up in an active shooter situation instead of a real sheriff, you bet I need an AR-15 to defend the children.

Furthermore, if I have a handgun, you

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

bet I will risk my life to save the children from a shooter with an AR-15!

Anarchy.

Forty-five home visits by the police and two very clear tips about a potential crazy shooter are blown off by the school, FBI, sheriff. This is not just blaming failure of the system; this is a failed system.

And a failed system is anarchy.

So yes, I need an AR-15 if cowardly police and failed government systems are all that protect me.

John Erickson Oak Park

Bobby Kennedy, in his speech announcing his candidacy for the presidency in 1968, said he wanted, among other things, to create policies to “close the gap between young and old.”

Fifty years later, we can still imagine ways to carry out his vision.

One critical way to close the gap between generations is to “Have the Conversation.”

Far too often family members have not talked about how the elderly members want to be treated when they can’t help themselves or to whom they want to leave their assets when they’re no longer with us.

A person’s wishes may be expressed in legally enforceable documents that can provide carefully considered guidance to other family members. One is a Power of Attorney for Health Care, in which the person can specify their preferences as to the level of care they want when the end is near and who is to act on their behalf. Without that document, everyone involved lacks the guidance they need. At already stressful moments, the situation only gets worse because no one seems to know what to do and the patient may well be unable to let them.

Another is a Power of Attorney for Property, in which the person indicates who they want to handle their affairs when they are un-

able to do so or to communicate their wishes.

And without the third, a Will, loved ones may have no idea who was supposed to get what and in what amount. In that case, the distribution of the person’s assets is governed by the scheme devised by the state of Illinois.

As a result, a person may get a great deal of property or other assets the deceased never intended them to have. Fights can still break out among family members even if there is a Will. But without one, family members and a court are left without any informed guidance as to the wishes of the deceased.

Families need to Have the Conversation, to talk with their loved ones about what they want. It’s not always easy to do so. After all, many simply don’t want to think about their own demise. But the planning doesn’t have to be done all in one conversation. There are a number of resources now available to help get the discussion underway. Just Google “Have the Conversation” and there are a wide variety of such resources identified. A lot of people and groups are now talking about Having the Conversation and that’s healthy. The elderly and their families will benefit. In the process, we can hopefully help close that gap.

Lance Taylor Oak Park

We thank the community

As the student organizers of the Oak Park and River Forest High School walkout on March 14, we want to thank the organizations and community members who supported our efforts. You helped make the walkout a success. In particular, thank you to Celine Woznica (Oak Park Moms Demand Action), Kelly O’Keefe (Oak Park Progressive Women), and John Gruber (Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence) for their advice and community outreach.

Thank you to M.G. Bertulfo and the Oak Park arts community for donating a spectac-

ular number of art supplies used for poster making workshops. Finally, thank you to those who donated to the Enough! OPRFHS GoFundMe campaign and to the community members who participated in the adult honor guard during the walkout.

Now that the March 14 walkout is over, we are working to sustain student activism so lawmakers continue to hear our voice. We are grateful to have so much of the community behind us as we press forward against gun violence.

WALKOUT

and get loud.

These are our lives on the line. We are the people who are being killed, over and over again. The right to have a hobby, the right to enjoy money and power should not be taking precedence over an innocent child’s right to live. Nobody deserves to watch their friends gunned down in front of them or to fear for their own lives. Not in the street, not in the home, and certainly not in school, a place where we should feel safe and thrive.

We will not stop walking out, we will not stop speaking to our representatives, not until we see that our voices are being heard, not until we see a change in the rate at which our classmates are being murdered.

Enough is enough!

Ev Berger-Wolf and Casey Ford are students at OPRF High School and principal organizers of the town hall on gun violence held on March 14, following the student walkout.

from page 41 targeting the rampant gun violence prevalent throughout the United States. The NRA has spread and set roots so deep into the GOP and its base that make it next to impossible to get any real changes to the policies. Many of us teenagers will not be able to vote this November, so keep that in mind when you cast votes that will ultimately affect us.

As for our peers and future generations, the same applies. Spread the word, show up to walkouts and town halls, and talk to your parents about how they plan to vote. Your voice is important, regardless of what anyone says. Speak for what you believe in and get involved. If you wait for an invitation to the movement, you will be waiting a long time. Find a megaphone, stand on a chair,

Enough! OPRFHS leaders

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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47

Giving, and feeling better for it I enjoyed your recent column on the moral dilemma we face when encountering panhandlers [‘Share’ity begins away from home, Ken Trainor, Viewpoints, March 14]. I solved that dilemma for myself a year ago after reading the following N.Y. Times editorial. Thanks to the Pope’s simple guidance, I frequently do not “simply drop a bill into a cup and walk away. [I] stop, look the person in the eyes, and touch his or her hands.” I also add some small words of encouragement.

Having previously been a persistent refuser (for reasons I no longer care to justify), I am now a regular giver — and feeling much better for it!

Dean Ennes

Former longtime Oak Park resident From the N.Y. Times Editorial Board, March 3, 2017: New Yorkers, if not city dwellers everywhere, might acknowledge a debt to Pope Francis this week. He has offered a concrete, permanently useful prescription for dealing with panhandlers.

It’s this: Give them the money, and don’t worry about it.

The pope’s advice, from an interview with a Milan magazine published just before the beginning of Lent, is startlingly simple. It’s scripturally sound, yet possibly confounding, even subversive.

Living in the city — especially in metropolises where homelessness is an unsolved, unending crisis — means that at some point in your day, or week, a person seeming (or claiming) to be homeless, or suffering with a disability, will ask you for help.

You probably already have a panhandler policy.

You keep walking, or not. You give, or not. Loose coins, a dollar, or just a shake of the head. Your rule may be blanket, or case-by-case.

If it’s case by case, that means you have your own on-the-spot, individualized benefits program, with a bit of means-testing, mental health and character assessment, and criminal-background check — to the extent that any of this is possible from a second or two of looking someone up and down.

Francis’ solution eliminates that effort. But it is by no means effortless.

Speaking to the magazine Scarp de’ Tenis, which means Tennis Shoes, a monthly for and about the homeless and marginalized, the pope said that giving something to someone in need is “always right.”

(We’re helped here by the translation in an article from Catholic News Service.)

But what if someone uses the money for, say, a glass of wine? (A perfectly Milanese question.) His answer: If “a glass of wine is the only happiness he has in life, that’s O.K. Instead, ask yourself, what do you do on the sly? What ‘happiness’ do you seek in secret?” Another way to look at it, he said, is to recognize how you are the “luckier” one, with a home, a spouse and children, and then ask why your responsibility to help should be pushed onto someone else.

Then he posed a greater challenge. He said the way of giving is as important as the gift. You should not simply drop a bill into a cup and walk away. You must stop, look the person in the eyes, and touch his or her hands.

The reason is to preserve dignity, to see another person not as a pa-

thology or a social condition, but as a human, with a life whose value is equal to your own. This message runs through Francis’ preaching and writings, which always seem to turn on the practical and personal, often citing the people he met and served as a parish priest in Argentina.

His teaching on divorced and remarried Catholics has infuriated some conservative critics who accuse him, unfairly, of elevating compassion over doctrine. His recent statements on refugees and immi-

grants are the global version of his panhandler remarks — a rebuke aimed directly at the rich nations of Europe and at the United States.

America is in the middle of a raging argument over poor outcasts.

The president speaks of building walls and repelling foreigners. That toxic mind-set can be opposed in Washington, but it can also be confronted on the sidewalk. You don’t know what that guy will do with your dollar. Maybe you’d disapprove of what he does. Maybe compassion is the right call.

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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O B I T U A R I E S

Paul Cozzi, 95

Robert Ginsberg was the son of the late David and late Lillian Modes Ginsberg. He and his wife, Gail Ginsberg, were married for 51 years. She survives him, as do their daughters, Deborah Ginsberg and Dana Ginsberg; their grandchildren, David Ginsberg and Aurora Buntain; his sister, Marion Levine; his brothers-in-law, Bruce Cohen and Irwin Muskat; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, close friends and former colleagues. He is predeceased by his sister, Margery Muskat.

Accountant, Ascension parishioner Paul A. Cozzi, 95, of Oak Park and Ascension Parish, died on March 14, 2018 surrounded by his family. Born on March 20, 1922, he was an accountant who owned Trade Recorders Bookkeeping Company in Chicago and Forest Park.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen. He was the father of Paula (Ed) Goedert, Bob (Kate), Peg, Barbara (Dennis) Hudson, Liz (Peter) Tarcha, Phil (Darlene), Nancy (Lou) Freda, and Larry, and the grandfather and great-grandfather of many.

Visitation was held on March 18 at Belmont Funeral Home/Gamboney & Son Funeral Directors, in Chicago. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on March 19 at Ascension Church, 808 S. East Ave., Oak Park, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

Robert Ginsberg, 73 Judge and legal scholar

The Honorable Robert E. Ginsberg, a noted scholar in the field of bankruptcy law, died on March 17, 2018, at the age of 73. He served as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Illinois from 1985 until his retirement in 2003.

Judge Ginsberg was a graduate of Brown University (B.A.), the American University Washington College of Law (J.D.), and Harvard Law School (LL.M).

Following his graduation from law school, Professor Ginsberg served as a trial attorney and special counsel with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Prior to his judicial appointment, he was a professor at DePaul University College of Law from 1974 to 1985, as well as a visiting professor at the University of Illinois Law School (1984). His academic areas of specialization included bankruptcy, corporations, and ethics. For many years, he was a member of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

Richard Ratcliff, 86

Former River Forest village attorney

ROBERT GINSBERG He also served as vice chair of the National Bankruptcy Review Commission from 1995 to 1997.

Loved and respected by his colleagues, both in the academy and on the bench, he served as chair of the Federal Judicial Center Committee on Bankruptcy Judge continuing education and as the Bankruptcy Judge representative to the U.S. Judicial Council. A member of the bar in the District of Columbia and the state of Illinois, he was admitted to practice before the Northern District of Illinois, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

He was the original author of “Ginsberg on Bankruptcy,” a leading treatise in the area of bankruptcy law, later known as “Ginsberg & Martin on Bankruptcy.”

In 1991, at the age of 46, Judge Ginsberg was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

For over a decade, he continued his professional practice, as well as golfing, skiing, and ice hockey as a goalie in the Chicago Park District masters program. His hockey prowess was featured in a Chicago Tribune article in 1992 titled, “Federal judge, 47, decides for hockey.”

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Richard S. Ratcliff died on March 6, 2018 in Holland, Michigan, just shy of his 87th birthday. His wife of 62 years, Patty Cullen Ratcliff, noted that it was just like Dick to figure out how to best exit this world: RICHARD RATCLIFF in his sleep, with Patty by his side.

A native of Oak Park and River Forest, he graduated from OPRF High School in 1948.

In high school, he developed his love of language and writing and excelled in athletic activity, winning an award his senior year for best defensive guard in Cook County.

He went to the University of Michigan on a football scholarship and stayed for seven years, earning a B.A. in Economics and a J.D. and developing what would become a lifelong dedication to the Wolverines.

Dick met Patty Cullen on spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They grew up three blocks from each other and were two years apart at OPRF, but did not meet until he was in law school and Patty was teaching in Indianapolis. They married on April 14, 1956. He served in the U.S. Army from 1956-1959, attaining the rank of 1st Lt. in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, and the newlyweds lived in Virginia and California during this time.

In 1959 they returned to their roots in the Chicago area, settling in Oak Park, and later River Forest. He joined the law firm of Keck, Chushman, Mahin & Cate and was made partner in 1968. His practice focused on general corporate law, with an emphasis on labor law. In the last years of his professional career he was the Village Attorney of River Forest.

Among his many civic activities, he served as president of the River Forest PTA, director of the River Forest Service Club, president of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Chest, and school board member of Oak Park and River Forest High School. The Ratcliffs were members of First United Church in Oak Park where he served as a Deacon.

They owned a home on Lake Michigan

near Macatawa, and moved there after retirement. For many years, they spent winters at their second home in Sarasota, Florida. In 2012 they moved to Freedom Village, a retirement home in Holland.

Dick Ratcliff was a thoughtful, intelligent, open minded and judicious person. He lived robustly, laughed heartily and loved deeply.

He had Alzheimer’s disease in the last years of his life and retained his sense of humor and love of music until the end.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Kathryn and Elwood Ratcliff, and his older brother Robert Ratcliff.

He is survived by his wife, Patty; their three children, Tom Ratcliff, Kate Ratcliff, and David Ratcliff; three grandchildren, Patrick Schneeweis, Michael Schneeweis, and Maxwell Ratcliff; and his sister, Sandra Caswell.

A memorial service will be held on April 14 at the Dykstra Funeral Home Mulder Chapel in Holland, Michigan. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. service.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in Dick’s memory are suggested to Hospice of Holland, 270 Hoover Blvd., Holland, MI 49423.

Frank Petrovic, 65 North Riverside Players actor, stage manager

Frank M. Petrovic, 65, of Oak Park and formerly of North Riverside, died peacefully on March 13, 2018 at Rush Oak Park Hospital.

Born on March 6, 1953, he was the only son of Frank and Lillian Petrovic. Mr. Petrovic graduated from Concordia College and was an avid fan of the theater who acted and stage-managed for the North Riverside Players.

He loved to cook, bake, and enjoyed making confections. Frank enjoyed spending time with his family and always loved playing games with his nieces and nephews.

He was also a monumental influence in his church. He loved to travel, had a great sense of humor, and was always there if needed.

Mr. Petrovic is survived by his sister, Carol Joy Harney (nee Petrovic); his nephew, Robert Harney; his nieces, Cynthia (nee Harney) and her husband, Robert Keene Jr. and Laura (nee Crane) and her husband, Frank Malfitano; and his great-nieces and nephews, Michael, John Ryan, Courtney, Kaelynn, Robert, Thomas, Brittney, Brandon and Brian.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, RoseMarie Crane (nee Petrovic); and his brother-in-law, Roger Harney.

Visitation is on Saturday, March 24 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St. in Brookfield. A funeral service is Sunday, March 25 at 2 p.m. at Unity Lutheran Church, 6720 31st St. in Berwyn. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery is private.

Memorials are appreciated to North Riverside Players, 2401 Desplaines Ave., North Riverside, 60546 or Unity Lutheran Church.

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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Religion Guide Methodist

Check First.

First United Methodist Church of Oak Park

First Congregational Church of Maywood

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

Refreshments and fellowship follow the service.

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

You’re Invited to A Church for All Nations A Church Without Walls SERVICE LOCATION Forest Park Plaza 7600 W. Roosevelt Road Forest Park, IL 60130

William S. Winston Pastor (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

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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

324 N. Oak Park Avenue 708-383-4983 www.firstUMCoakpark.org Sunday School for all Ages, 9am Sunday Worship, 10am Children’s Chapel during Worship Rev. Katherine Thomas Paisley, Pastor Professionally Staffed Nursery Fellowship Time after Worship Presbyterian

Lutheran—ELCA

United Lutheran Church

409 Greenfield Street (at Ridgeland Avenue) Oak Park Holy Communion with nursery care and children’s chapel each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. 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

Fair Oaks

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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

Child care available 9-11am

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

Celebrating Our Earth Family Day April 15

Join Oak Park Friends Meeting at the Oak Park Art League, 720 Chicago Ave. Worship 10am Potluck and intergenerational program to follow.

708-445-8201 www.oakparkfriends.org

Roman Catholic

Ascension Catholic Church

Lutheran-Missouri Synod

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church

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

St. Bernardine Catholic Church Harrison & Elgin, Forest Park

CELEBRATING OUR 107TH YEAR! Sat. Masses: 8:30am & 5:00pm SUNDAY MASSES: 8:00am & 10:30am 10:30 Mass-Daycare for all ages CCD Sun. 9am-10:15am Reconciliation: Sat. 9am & 4pm Weekday Masses: Monday–Friday 6:30am Church Office: 708-366-0839 CCD: 708-366-3553 www.stbern.com Pastor: Fr. Stanislaw Kuca

St. Giles Family Mass Community

We welcome all to attend Sunday Mass at 10 a.m. on the St. Giles Parish campus on the second floor of the school gym, the southernmost building in the school complex at 1034 North Linden Avenue.

Established in 1970, we are a laybased community within St. Giles Roman Catholic Parish.

Our Mass is family-friendly.

We encourage liturgically active toddlers. Children from 3 to 13 and young adults play meaningful parts in each Sunday liturgy.

Together with the parish, we offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based religious education program for children in grades K-8.

For more information, go to http://www.stgilesparish.org/ family-mass-community or call Bob Wielgos at 708-288-2196.

Traditional Catholic

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

Rev. James Hurlbert, Pastor

Roman Catholic

Your Church on Easter

Roman Catholic

St. Edmund Catholic Church

10AM Sunday Forum 11AM Service Rev. Colleen Vahey thirdunitarianchurch.org (773) 626-9385 301 N. Mayfield, Chicago Committed to justice, not to a creed Upcoming Religious Holidays

Mar 18–26 Ramayana 21 Equinox Norooz (New Year)

188 South Oak Park Ave.

Easter is here! Join us for our worship celebration April 1st at 11:30am. New Life Community Church in Brookfield’s purpose is to be a family of love that cooperates with God in making fully devoted fruitful followers of Christ.

Let us be your church family, you won’t be disappointed.

Children are most certainly welcome as well!

Sunday Masses: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m., 5:30 p.m.

Weekday Mass: 8:30 a.m. M–F

25

3801 Madison in Brookfield 708.277.9191 • newlifebrookfield.org

Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15 p.m.

26 28

(meeting at Faith Lutheran Church)

Saturday Mass: 5:30 p.m.

Holy Day Masses: As Announced

Parish Office: 708-848-4417 Religious Ed Phone: 708-848-7220

29

Hindu

Persian/ Zoroastrian Naw-Rúz (New Year) Baha’i Ostara - Mabon Wicca/Pagan Northern and Southern hemispheres Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Orthodox Christian Palm Sunday Christian Ramanavami Hindu Khordad Sal (Birth of Prophet Zaranthushtra) Zoroastrian Maundy Thursday Christian

49

50

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Early Childhood Resources Early Childhood Center and Camp

West Suburban Temple Har Zion 1040 N. Harlem Ave. River Forest, IL 60305 708.366.9000 www.wsthz.org 2-5 years old 7:30 am–6:00 pm M-Th 7:30 am–3:30 pm on Fri.

Preschool and kindergarten programs for three, four, and five-year-olds Call for an appointment.

7300 Division St. River Forest 708-366-6900 graceriverforest.org

Helping parents be successful since 1980 708/848-2227 www.parenthesis-info. org Find us on Facebook.

Early Childhood Education at

You’re just one click away from...

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

Pilgrim Community Nursery School Celebrating 50 years.

460 W. Lake St. Oak Park IL, 60302 Phone: 708-848-5869 www.pilgrimschool.net Accepting students ages 2–5 years old.

First United Church Nursery School More than Just a School 848 W. Lake St. 708-848-4910 Find us on Facebook and at www.firstunited school.com Call for a tour and info about summer camp.

The Day Nursery

1139 Randolph Street Oak Park, IL 60302 708.383.8211 Call to Schedule a Tour! oakparkdn@att.net www.oprfdaynursery.org

• Open 7 am–6 pm • Serving children 2½–6 years old • NAEYC Accredited

Raise your profile in the community.

Check the early childhood directory on oakpark.com for updated listings, maps, & current open house information.

Call Mary Ellen Nelligan for details: 708-613-3342

Collaboration for Early Childhood Strong Start, Bright Future

www.OakPark.com

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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

51

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) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

2018 SUMMER SEASONAL STUDENT EMPLOYMENT The Village of Oak Park has openings for the 2018 Summer Seasonal Student Employment. Opportunities are in the Engineering, Water & Sewer, Streets Division, and Fleet & Forestry Divisions. Interested applicants must be 18 years old and actively enrolled in a post-secondary academic program. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

BILLING & ADMIN SUPPORT Intermodal Logistics Company, located in central downtown Oak Park, seeking a full-time Billing and Administrative Support professional.

The ideal candidate must be detail oriented and possess a willingness to learn new skills in our growing organization.

LAND SURVEYING CAD TECH. Career opportunity for a Part or Full-Time Survey CAD Technician in River Forest. Minimum 5 years experience in all phases of land surveying; ALTA, boundary, topographic, as-built, construction plans, subdivision plats, legal descriptions, reviewing/understanding local/state ordinances. Strong mathematical and drafting skills, excellent verbal/ written communication skills. Ability to read, analyze and interpret civil/ architectural/utility plans and specs.

Must be a self-motivated team player. Contact Nadia Abrahamson at nadia@usandcs.com

AFTER-SCHOOL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST The Day Care Program of Hephzibah Children’s Association is accepting applications for warm, caring, nurturing individuals to provide care and supervision of 5-11-year-old children in the After School Day Care program on site at Oak Park public schools.

Plan and supervise arts and crafts, indoor & outdoor play, games, sports, homework help and more.

Mon–Fri from 2:30-6:00 PM and 1:30-6:00 PM on Wednesdays.

Requirements include: minimum of 6 semester hours in education, recreation, social work or related college courses previous experience working with children.

Contact Amy O’Rourke, Director of Day Care at aorourke@hephzibahhome.org Equal Opportunity Employer AUTO PARTS PART-TIME DRIVER & INVENTORY NAPA Auto Parts Stores looking for dependable and dedicated employees for part-time Driver and Inventory Worker openings. Most important is a friendly demeanor, good attitude, and ability to work with people. Availability right now.

If interested, call Cesar or Jim at 708-447-4980.

Wednesday Classified 3 Great Papers, 6 Communities To Place Your Ad, Call: 708/613-3333

Primary Responsibilities Include: * Ability to perform complex billing processes * Light phone work, filing, order supplies Proficiencies: * Microsoft Word & Excel Training will be provided. Logistics industry and /or Quick Books knowledge is a plus. Compensation is commensurate with experience.

Qualified candidates can email resume and cover letter to humanresources@icl-na.com Director, Attorney Talent sought by Axiom Global Inc. (Chicago, IL) to manage & direct Attorney Talent & Recruiting functions for the Midwest region. Reqs: JD deg or foreign equiv with 3 yrs of rltd exp in managing & directing attorney talents & recruitment including onboarding, relationship mgmt, performance mgmt, dvlpmt of strategic planning of attorney retention for a multinational corporation. Email resume Kerry.simon@axiomlaw.com. Must list Job No. 295 in subject line.

FARMERS’ MARKET MANAGER The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Part-time Farmers’ Market Assistant in the Health Department. This position will provide administrative support to the Farmers’ Market Manager to allow growers and producers of food to sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This position requires work in inclement weather conditions; some heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds; walking or standing for sustained periods of time. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http:// www.oak-park.us/ jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than April 11, 2018.

LANDSCAPE/LABORER Independant landscaper looking for landscape laborers for Oak Park area. 30-40 hrs a week. Mon-Fri. 708-547-9121 SAL’S POWER WASHING PART-TIME, FULL-TIME Seeking to fill 3-5 Fleet Washing positions. Positions Require: –Clean Appearance –Drug-Free –Valid Driver’s License –Clean Driving Record –Ability to Speak English CALL 708-351-5236 SCHAUER’S HARDWARE PART-TIME CASHIER 20-30 hours, weekends required. No experience necessary, but looking for positive energy people. Must be outgoing, able to work with customers, deal with money & problem solving.

Send resume to schauerhardware@att.net. or Apply In Person Schauer’s Hardware 7449 W Madison, Forest Park

ANNOUNCEMENTS 2nd Annual Autism Awareness Event Family Game Night April 14th 2018 2:00pm–4:00pm 115 S Pulaski Legler Library

Free entrance, snacks, games, prizes, information, resources.

Promoting awareness, inclusion and acceptance.

SUBURBAN REAL ESTATE

SUBURBAN RENTALS

NEW CONCEPT FOR MAYWOOD

2 BEDROOM FOREST PARK Updated 2 bed, 1 bath in Forest Park, 2 off street parking spots, close to trans well maintained $1250mo 1.5 mo sec.

Call 708-417-2650.

In this quiet residential neighborhood

902 S. 3RD AVENUE (2 blks W of 1st Ave & 1 blk N of Madison)

Reserve your own affordable 2 or 3 BR condo unit of 1000+ sq ft of living space being built on this historic site. You’ll benefit from a unique 12 year tax freeze and lower monthly living expenses from energy saving systems/appliances, and you can help design your own individual unit.

Plans also include building 5 new townhomes onsite. For details Call 708-383-9223.

SUBURBAN RENTALS 1 BEDROOM APT 1ST FLOOR 1 bedroom apt includes dishwasher, fridge, gas stove & small corner enclosed outdoor porch. Rent is $1,119 includes water & heat. Pets allowed! 8 min walk to Jewel Osco, 10 min walk to CTA Greenline, 10 min drive to downtown Oak Park & 12 min walk to the Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex Dog Park! On the first floor which makes moving a lot easier but not so near the ground where you have to worry about safety. Great place to call home!

Contact: Jesse Molina Phone: 708.289.2023 (call or text)

CITY RENTALS DELUXE 3BR APT 5955 W HURON First Floor. Near West Suburban Hospital. Near all public trans. $1150/mo. Call 773-637-8677 for appt, RENTERS OPEN HOUSE SAT 3/24 12PM TO 2PM

LOOK q Beautiful newly remodeled

apts located 933 N Leamington St., (2bdrm/ba); and 5250 W. Fulton St. (3bdrm/2ba & 2bdrm/1ba). All apts are located in quiet, well-maintained & professionally managed bldgs. $725.00 (Leamington); $850.00 & $1000.00 (Fulton).

Apts equipped w/many convenient amenities including central a/c and laundry and in pristine move-in condition.

I deal for seniors and mature adults. Tenant pays elect & gas.

Sec. dep. & app. fee for credit & background ck req’d. Sect. 8 Housing Vouchers welcomed!

Call 708-307-8178 for addt’l info & private showing.

OakPark.com | RiverForest.com

SUBURBAN RENTALS

M&M

property management, inc.

708-386-7355 • www.mmpropmgt.com 649 Madison Street, Oak Park Contact us for a complete list of available rentals throughout Oak Park and Forest Park.

Apartment listings updated daily at:

McAdam is Hiring!! We want to add valuable members to our team: McAdam Nursery and Garden Center Full-Time Seasonal Sales Associate: Previous garden center sales experience is essential—this individual must be well beyond green-thumb status. Some horticultural knowledge, including how to maintain plants, is necessary. Candidate should have strong communication skills and ability to follow instructions quickly and accurately, to operate a cash register, and to provide outstanding customer service overall.

Ideal for someone looking for summer experience in the Green industry.

Full-Time Seasonal Nursery Laborer: This garden assistant will provide watering, weeding, deadheading and other forms of plant care.

Seeking an individual who is reliable, has good communication skills, and is a solid team player.

www.mcadamlandscape.com

  

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

SPACE FOR RENT 4807 SQ FT In beautiful neighborhood in Oak Park. Varied uses possible for any kind of not-for-profit. Offices, community center, school, day care, etc.

Private Cell: 708-846-9776

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT OAK PARK Office Suites 2 to 4 rooms

RIVER FOREST

2 Offices 220 to 1100 sq. ft.

Store 1100 sq. ft.

Strand & Browne 708/488-0011

CHURCH FOR RENT OAK PARK CLASSIC CHURCH FOR RENT

RUMMAGE SALES LaGrange Park

RUMMAGE SALE BROOKPARK SCHOOL 30TH & RAYMOND SAT. 3/24 7AM-1PM

Boy Scout Troop 90.

Clothing, furniture, toys, computers, tools, & more!!!

GARAGE/YARD SALES Oak Park

GARAGE/ESTATE SALE 175 N RIDGELAND AVE SAT 3/24 & SUN 3/25 10AM TO 4PM

Sale is inside garage only. Access via alley at Ontario Street. All items must go. Furniture, Appliances, Clothing, Shoes, Vases, Dishes, Utensils, Pots, Pans, Knick Knacks, BBQ Grills and more.

ITEMS FOR SALE HOOVER VACUUM CLEANER Hoover power automatic drive vacuum cleaner.

Call 708-488-8755 LLADRO MOTHER & CHILD Lladro sculpture “Adoration” #12, mother & child. $1495. Call 708488-8755.

PICKARD CHINA 11 place settings, 5pcs each. Cream w/ platinum edge. $149 for set.

Serving pieces priced separately.

708-488-8755

WANTED TO BUY 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

LOST & FOUND FOUND IPAD Found: iPad in northeast Oak Park. Screen is cracked. Call 708-763-8511 (ext 1) to describe with SN or other identifying info.

Includes Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, Kitchen, Midweek Service/ Bible Study, Office Options.

708-848-9776

McAdam Landscaping Headquarters Full-time Office Receptionist: Must have at least two years of experience as a receptionist, with excellent problem-solving, customer service, telephone, computer, and overall communication skills.

Candidate should be adept at prioritizing tasks and working well in a team environment.

For all positions, submit your resume, work history and references to Lena at lena@mcadamlandscape.com. Please, no phone calls.

ROOMS FOR RENT

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.

Selling your home by owner?

Advertise in Wednesday Classified!

Call: 708-613-3342

You have jobs.

We have readers!

Find the best employees with Wednesday Classified!

Call 708-613-3342 to advertise.

52

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

CLASSIFIED PETS

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM

ELECTRICAL

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

cat calls

Oak Park’s Original Pet Care Service – Since 1986

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

524-1030

TAX SERVICES INCOME TAXES BY CPA. Inexpensive. Will travel. www.fiazeissa.com or 708-870-5006

CARPENTRY

Grosso Carpentry &

Home Remodeling Custom Carpentry, Decks Kichens, Baths, Basements licensed / bonded / insured

708-363-8379

gabegrosso@sbcglobal.net

CEMENT CONCRETE WORK Small Jobs Only

Ceiling Fans Installed

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

We make service calls!

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

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848

Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp | Servicing Oak Park and all surrounding suburbs

CLEANING HOUSEKEEPING & CLEANING Local housekeeping and cleaning residential only. Please call or text Sandra at 773-951-3478 Email: sandrariverside68@ gmail.com

Pam’s A+ Cleaning Service

Start Your New Year Clean with our service that cleans to your specifications. If your home is not becoming to you, you should be coming to us! 28 years in business with references.

For a free estimate please call 708-937-9110

ELECTRICAL– LOW VOLTAGE KINETIC KONCEPTS A division of Kinetic Energy Inc, is a local, residential low voltage specialist in home networking, smart TV installation and programming, landscape and under-cabinet lighting.

Call for free estimate.

(708) 639-5271

708-497-1217

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

CONCRETE

• Sidewalks • Stairs • Driveways Patios • Repair Foundations • Stamped & Colored Concrete • Exposed Aggregate

(773) 497-1217 Cell www.georgesconcrete.com Residential Only

HAULING

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

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

Selling?

Renting?

Hiring?

Wednesday Classified 708-613-3333

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

GARAGE/ GARAGE DOOR Our 71st Year

Garage Doors &

Electric Door Openers

Sales & Service Free Estimates

(708) 652-9415 www.forestdoor.com

HANDYMAN CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE 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

BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery. 708-848-9404

HEATING/ AIR CONDITIONING 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

Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

708.749.0011

CHURCH FOR RENT OAK PARK CLASSIC CHURCH FOR RENT

Includes Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, Kitchen, Midweek Service/ Bible Study, Office Options.

708-848-9776

PLASTERINGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; STUCCOING Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

LANDSCAPING BRUCE LAWN SERVICE

Spring Clean-Up Aerating, Slit Seeding Bush Trimming, Lawn Maintenance Senior Discount brucelawns.com

%,%#42)#!, (!.$9-!. 3%26)#%3 !LL 4YPES OF (OME 2EPAIRS 2EPAIRS )NSTALLATIONS 0ROFESSIONAL 1UALITY 7ORK !T 2EASONABLE 0RICES 0ROMPT 3ERVICE 3MALL *OBS A 3PECIALTY

708-243-0571

PAINTING & DECORATING

Mikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home Repair

708-296-2060

CLASSIC PAINTING

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

708-488-9411

Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Do

PAINTING & DECORATING

ALEX PAINTING &

DECORATING

Exterior and Interior All Work Guaranteed 35 Years Experience Call 708-567-4680

PLUMBING

McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co. 708/386-2951 t ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

TUCKPOINTING RITEWAY BRICK RESTORATION

Residential & Commercial

Tuckpointing / Masonry Work

~ Specializing in Chimneys - Rebuild - Repaired New Liner Installation Lintel Repairs & Stone Veneer 40 yrs. experience Fully insured

(including Workmans Comp)

708-354-2501 Ritewaybrickglobal.net

WINDOWS

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

LEGAL NOTICE

Chertkow and Chertkow (22019) Attorneys for Petitioner 1525 East 53rd Street Chicago, Illinois 60615

Chertkow and Chertkow (22019) Attorneys for Petitioner 1525 East 53rd Street Chicago, Illinois 60615

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of Johanna Obando, Petitioner and Mainor Manuel Obando Acosta Respondent, Case No. 2018D-001741.

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of Emeka Kingsley Ogbobegwu, Petitioner and Ccatherine Omolola Ogbobuegwu Respondent, Case No. 2018D-01513.

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.

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.

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, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before April 17, 2018, 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.

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, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before April 17, 2018, 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 A. BROWN, Clerk.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/14, 3/21, 3/28/2018

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/14, 3/21, 3/28/2018

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

Invitation to Bid Regular & Special Education Transportation

Chertkow and Chertkow (22019) Attorneys for Petitioner 1525 East 53rd Street Chicago, Illinois 60615

Oak Park Elementary School District #97 will receive sealed bids at the Board of Education Officeâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;260 West Madison Streetâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Oak Park, IL, (60302), until 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 9, 2018 for â&#x20AC;&#x153;REGULAR AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TRANSPORTATIONâ&#x20AC;?.

Only those bids complying with the provisions and specifications of the bid will be considered.

Specifications may be obtained from the Business Office at the above address, commencing Wednesday, March 28, 2018 after 9:00 a.m. The bid opening will be at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 9, 2018 and presented to the Board of Education for approval.

BROKEN SASH CORDS?

The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities, to reject any or all bids, or to accept any bid in whole or in part, which in its judgment is in the best interest of the Board of Education.

CALL THE WINDOW MAN!

Contracts awarded by the Board of Education require that bidders with the Prevailing Wage Act of the State of Illinois; and the general prevailing rate of wages shall be paid for each type of work required to execute the contract.

A-All American

FREE ESTIMATES Service in 1 Hour in Most Cases

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

There is a mandatory pre-bid meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.

PLUMBING

Plumbing & Sewer Service

PUBLIC NOTICES

FAST RELIABLE SERVICE

(708) 452-8929

Licensed

Insured

Ralph Grande Elmwood Park 708-452-8929

Alicia Evans Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations Board of Educationâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; Oak Park District #97 Published in Wednesday Journal 3/21/2018

Serving Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park & Riverside Since 1974

Lic. #0967

Lost & Found and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified.

To place your ad, call 708-613-3342

Attention! Home-improvement pros!

Reach the people making decisions.

Advertise here. Call 708/613-3342

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of Veronica Ramirez, Petitioner and Alvaro Magana Respondent, Case No. 2017D-010074.

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.

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, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before April 17, 2018, 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 A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/14, 3/21, 3/28/2018

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,â&#x20AC;? as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: D18153648 on February 26, 2018. Under the Assumed Business Name of MINDSET NEUROSCIENCE with the business located at: 112 HOME AVE APT 301, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: STEFANIE MOLICKI 112 HOME AVE APT 301 OAK PARK, IL 60302.

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/7, 3/14, 3/21/2018

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION DOCKET NUMBER: PC 18-05 (Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment) HEARING DATE: April 5, 2018 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits.

LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302 APPLICANT(S): Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 REQUEST: The Applicant has requested amendments to the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance: 1.) Article 2 (“Definitions and Rules of Measurement”), Section 2.3 (“Definitions”), to better define “Community Residence;” and 2.) Article 8 (“Uses”), Section 8.3 (“Use Restrictions”); Table 8-1 (“Use Matrix”) to make Community Residences a permitted use in all residential zoning districts without a resident count limitation; and 3.) Article 8 (“Uses”), Section 8.4 (“Principal Use Standards”), Subsection 8.4(E) (“Community Residence”) by adding “4. Requests

for reasonable accommodations will be reviewed and acted upon in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.”

Copies of the application and each of the applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at the Village of Oak Park Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof. Persons with disabilities planning to attend and needing accommodations should contact the ADA Coordinator at (708) 358-5430 or e-mail building@oak-park.us at least 48 hours before the scheduled hearing.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD. David Mann, Chairperson OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION, Sitting as a Zoning Commission Oak Park, Illinois 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/21/2018

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:

Notice is hereby given by the Presi- dent and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:

2018 Street Patching Program

2018 Curb and Sidewalk Replacement Program (Various Locations)

This project consists of the patching of approximately 2,350 square yards of existing, defective asphalt pavement at various locations throughout the Village, as designated by the Department of Public Works.

The bidding documents are available for download starting Monday, March 19, 2018 at: http://vrf.us/government/bids-a-rfps Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at: Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305 The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time.

Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.

No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.

This project consists of the installation of approximately 4,750 square feet of PCC sidewalk, 300 linear feet of PCC curb/gutter and other work incidental thereto.

The bidding documents are available for download starting Monday, March 19, 2018 at: http://vrf.us/government/bids-a-rfps Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at: Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305 The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time.

Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.

No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.

Bidders shall be prequalified by IDOT for: HMA Paving

Bidders shall be prequalified by IDOT for: Concrete Construction

The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.

The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/21/2018

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/21/2018

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION

DOCKET NUMBER: PC 18-02 Planned Development and Plat of Subdivision HEARING DATE: April 5, 2018 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits.

LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302 APPLICANT(S): Lexington Homes, LLC, 1731 North Marcey Street, Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60614 OWNERS OF RECORD: Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 SUBJECT PROPERTY ADDRESSES: 932-970 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois LEGAL DESCRIPTION: PARCEL 1: LOTS 13, 14, 15 AND THE SOUTH 10 FEET OF LOT 16 IN BLOCK 3 IN HERRICK & DUNLOP SUBDIVISION OF LOTS 12 TO 17, INCLUSIVE, IN GEORGE W. SCOVILLE’S SUBDIVISION OF THE EAST 49 ACRES OF THE WEST 129 ACRES (EXCEPT RAILROAD LANDS) OF THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. PARCEL 2: LOTS 11 AND 12 IN BLOCK 3 IN HERRICK’S AND DUNLAP’S SUBDIVISION OF LOTS 12 TO 17, INCLUSIVE, IN GEORGE W. SCOVILLE’S SUBDIVISION OF THE EAST 49 ACRES OF THE WEST 129 ACRES OF THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 (EXCEPT RAILROAD LANDS) OF SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. REQUESTS: The Applicant seeks approval of a Planned Development for twenty-one (21) attached single family townhomes within the MS – Madison Street Zoning Dis-

trict with the following allowances: 1.) Roof deck setback: Article 9 (“Site Development Standards”), Section 9.3 (“Accessory Structures and Uses”), Subsection 9.3(M) (2) (“Flat Roof Features”) (6 feet required – Zero feet proposed); 2.) Landscape buffer: Article 11 (“Landscape & Screening”), Section 11.8 (“Buffer Yard Requirements”), Subsection 11.8(B)(2)(a), (b), (d), (e) (landscaped rear setback buffer yard required – Zero proposed on eastern portion); 3.)

Street-side building setback: Article 5 (“Commercial Districts”), Section 5.3 (“Dimensional Standards”), Table 5-1 (“Commercial Districts Dimensional Standards”), Street Setback for MS District (build-to zone of 3-5 feet required – 15.5 feet proposed); 4.) Building height: Article 5 (“Commercial Districts”), Section 5.3 (“Dimensional Standards”), Table 5-1 (“Commercial Districts Dimensional Standards”), Maximum Building Height for MS District (35 feet allowed – 42.5 feet proposed). The Applicant is also requesting approval of a plat of subdivision.

Copies of the application and each of the applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Persons with disabilities planning to attend and needing special accommodations should contact the Village Clerk’s Office at 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, or call (708) 358-5670.

Published in RBLandmark 3/14, 3/21, 3/28/2018

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: D18153769 on March 9, 2018. Under the Assumed Business Name of ANSWERS 2 HAIRLOSS with the business located at: 2600 S. MICHIGAN SUITE 314, CHICAGO, IL 60616. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: MELVINA COX 2600 S. MICHIGAN AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60616.

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/21, 3/28, 4/4/2018

PUBLIC NOTICE The Village of River Forest has established a Tax Increment Financing (“TIF”) District Interested Parties Registry relative to the proposed North Avenue TIF District.

Residents of the Village and organizations active in the Village may register with the Village to receive information on any proposed designation of a TIF redevelopment project area or the approval of a TIF redevelopment plan, including, but not limited to, those for the proposed North Avenue TIF District, as well as information regarding any changes proposed for the redevelopment plan for the proposed North Avenue TIF District. Registration forms are available from the Village Administrator, at the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois 60305, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, except on holidays. Rules to implement the registration process have been adopted by the President and Board of Trustees and may be obtained at the same location.

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/21/2018

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THESE PROCEEDINGS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD. David Mann, Chairperson OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION, Sitting as a Zoning Commission Oak Park, Illinois 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/21/2018

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: D18153723 on March 6, 2018. Under the Assumed Business Name of MUSIC TOGETHER OF RIVERSIDE with the business located at: 116 BARRYPOINT ROAD, RIVERSIDE, IL 60546. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: ALEXANDRA BLOMGREN 135 AKENSIDE ROAD RIVERSIDE, IL 60546.

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE Riverside Township Budget and Appropriation Ordinance Notice is hereby given to the legal voters of Riverside Township that the Town Board has drafted a Tentative Budget and Appropriation Ordinance for the 2018 - 2019 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.

Liane J. Blauw Clerk, Riverside Township March 19, 2018 Published in RB Landmark 3/21/2018

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Publish your assumed name legal notice here.

Call 708/613-3342

LEGAL NOTICE Riverside Township Annual Town Meeting April 10, 2018 6:01 p.m.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Welcome Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Election of Moderator Oath of Moderator Approval of Minutes from the last Annual Town Meeting 7. New Business A) Climate Change Resolution 8. Township Reports 9. Setting the date for the next Annual Town Meeting 10. Adjournment Published in RB Landmark 3/21/2018

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION REVERSE M O RT G A G E SOLUTIONS, INC. Plaintiff, -v.DAVID J. CAHILL, TRUSTEE OF THE MARGARET M. CAHILL TRUST UNDER TRUST INSTRUMENT DATED APRIL 1, 1999, JOSEPH T. CAHILL, TRUSTEE OF THE MARGARET M. CAHILL TRUST UNDER TRUST INSTRUMENT DATED APRIL 1, 1999, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA–DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Defendants 2017 CH 9481 900 N HARVEY AVE OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 22, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 16, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 900 N HARVEY AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-122-0170000.

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 in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

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

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser

of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1).

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

For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-17-06384.

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

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-17-06384 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2017 CH 9481 TJSC#: 38-128 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.

I3075040 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.TERESA C. TRIPLETT, 1040 ONTARIO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION Defendants 2017 CH 12734 1040 W. ONTARIO STREET #2H OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 9, 2018, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 27, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1040 W. ONTARIO STREET #2H, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-07-113-0101012.

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 in certified funds/or wire

54

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • 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

transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

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

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

For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-17-13986.

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

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-17-13986 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2017 CH 12734 TJSC#: 38-474 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.

I3077285

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION CITIMORTGAGE, INC. Plaintiff, -v.WALTER PEEK, ERICA A.E. PEEK, JOI-NOMATHEMBA O. PEEK, EQUABLE ASCENT FINANCIAL, LLC, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2017 CH 10351 622 S TAYLOR AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 30, 2018, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 2, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 622 S TAYLOR AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-17-113-009.

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 in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building

and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-17-10412.

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

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-17-10412 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2017 CH 10351 TJSC#: 38-1155 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.

I3080041

party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. 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: Michael W. Debre, CHUHAK & TECSON, P.C., 30 S. WACKER DRIVE, STE. 2600, CHICAGO, IL 60606, (312) 4449300 Please refer to file number MWD 23638.57231.

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.

Michael W. Debre CHUHAK & TECSON, P.C. 30 S. WACKER DRIVE, STE. 2600 CHICAGO, IL 60606 (312) 444-9300 E-Mail: MDebre@chuhak.com Attorney File No. MWD 23638.57231 Attorney Code. 70693 Case Number: 12 CH 3947 TJSC#: 38-2190 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.

I3081252

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 14-16-03750.

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. 14-16-03750 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 16 CH 006285 TJSC#: 38-1765 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.

I3079186

WEDNESDAY CLASSIFIED:

3 Great papers, 6 Communities

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION SCHAUMBURG BANK & TRUST COMPANY, N.A, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, LEGAL SUCCESSOR AND RECEIVER FOR THE BANK OF COMMERCE Plaintiff, -v.CHICAGO TITLE LAND TRUST COMPANY, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO FIRSTAR BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE UNDER TRUST AGREEMENT DATED AUGUST 4, 2000 AND KNOWN AS TRUST NUMBER 7375, U.S. BANK, N.A. F/K/A FIRSTAR BANK, N.A. TRUST NUMBER 7375, SETTLER’S HOUSING SERVICE, INC., BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE ASTOR HOUSE II CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 12 CH 3947 1111 N. HARLEM AVE. (UNIT 1B and P-1) Oak Park, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 9, 2018, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 16, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1111 N. HARLEM AVE. (UNIT 1B and P-1), Oak Park, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-06-300-0511003.

The real estate is improved with a residential condominium.

The judgment amount was $166,648.30.

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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION DITECH FINANCIAL, LLC F/K/A GREEN TREE SERVICING LLC Plaintiff, -v.REYNALDO BAILON, ROSA MARIA BAILON Defendants 16 CH 006285 2713 REUTER STREET FRANKLIN PARK, IL 60131 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on July 19, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 3, 2018, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 2713 REUTER STREET, FRANKLIN PARK, IL 60131 Property Index No. 12-28-422-0060000.

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 in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. 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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE ACCREDITED MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2007-1 ASSET BACKED NOTES Plaintiff, vs.

SALLIE MAE ELLIS, GLORIA JEAN GAYDEN, MICHAEL KELLY, VILLAGE OF MAYWOOD, UNKNOWN OWNERS, GENERALLY, AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants, 17 CH 11835 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause on January 8, 2018 Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, April 9, 2018 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-14-315-010-0000.

Commonly known as 1931 S. 2nd Ave, Maywood, IL 60153.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a vacant.

Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds.

The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Mr. Anthony Porto at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Kluever & Platt, L.L.C., 150 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60601.

(312) 981-7385.

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3078617

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Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

55

Friars boast talent all over field Stellar senior class leads team intent on more winning

BY MARTY FARMER Sports Editor

Some of Fenwick High School head baseball coach Dave Hogan’s best moments have occurred in recent years.

Hogan, who surpassed 800 career wins at Fenwick last season, has guided the Friars to four straight regional titles and two sectional championships since 2014.

The Friars finished 24-13-1 with Chicago Catholic League White Division and regional titles last season. New Trier defeated Fenwick 8-2 in the Class 4A Lane Sectional final.

Despite that inauspicious ending in the playoffs, the Friars hope to continue their winning ways this spring.

The optimism appears justified considering Fenwick returns several terrific players, notably standout seniors like shortstop Alex Pup, first baseman/outfielder Jack Grace, catcher Mike Cerceo along with promising junior outfielder Lucas Kolovitz. Kolovitz, a three-sport athlete at Fenwick, can hit for average and power.

“Our bats will be very active this year,” said Cerceo, who committed to the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. “We have

a great crew of good hitters who will give opposing pitchers a hard time. Our fielding will be very well put together with a mix of returning starters and some new faces.”

Pup hit .345 with a .415 on-base percentage last season. Grace, who was called up to the varsity his sophomore year, has become a prolific hitter. The Creighton signee batted .375 with five home runs and a .661 slugging percentage.

“I am very excited for this upcoming season,” said Pup, who will attend the United States Air Force Academy. “We have a great group of guys and we all get along, which helps build team chemistry. We have talent all around the field so we expect to play well and win a good amount of games this year.”

Tim La, Fernando Flores and Jack Polston are capable middle infielders, while Polston and Charles Wood could see playing time at third base. Seniors Tommy Hogan, Sam Kure and sophomore Will Hendricks will contribute in the outfield.

Seniors Joe Runnells and KJ Slepicka are the team’s top pitchers. Runnells (DePauw commit) and Slepicka had a 2.78 and 2.81 earned run average, respectively, last season. Charles Wood, Danny Stein and Jim Groom lengthen the rotation.

Fenwick Friars File photo

Senior Mike Cerceo is one of the best catchers in the Chicago Catholic League.

“Pitching is always key,” Cerceo said. “Our big gun is Joe Runnells; he always brings it.

We will need lights out (performances) from all of our pitchers. When a fast inning happens defensively, the momentum will carry over to our bats.”

Head coach: Dave Hogan Record last year: 24-13-1; Lost to New Trier 8-2 in the Class 4A Lane Sectional final.

Top players: Jack Grace, 1B/OF, Sr.; Alex Pup, SS, Sr.; Mike Cerceo, C, Sr.; Joe Runnells, P, Sr.; KJ Slepicka, P, Sr. Outlook: The Friars will look to defend their CCL White title and continue their postseason success.

Friars have high hopes heading into softball season

Mix of veterans and newcomers has Fenwick looking for chemistry

Fenwick Friars Head coach: Mike Marrese (9th season at Fenwick) Record last year: 18-13-1 (4-8-1 in GCAC); Lostt to Montini in the St. Francis Sectional semifinals.

Top players: Alyssa Stramaglia, P, Jr.; Cassandra Lee, P, Jr.; Kayley Sherwood, C, Sr.; Rachel Martinez, 3B/ OF, Jr. Outlook: Stramaglia and Lee should stabilize the pitching rotation and the defense looks solid on paper. If the Friars can generate consistent offense, a solid showing in the GCAC and playoffs appears possible despite a difficult schedule.

BY MARTY FARMER Sports Editor

A strong returning group of players augmented by the influx of five promising sophomores elicits optimism among Fenwick High School softball players this season even though graduates Grace Tucek, Giselle Diaz and Natalie Cairo will be missed.

“I couldn’t ask for three better athletes with such a passion for the game,” Fenwick coach Mike Marrese said.

“Whether it was practice or a game, our three senior leaders came out every day wanting to work hard and do well. The other players fed off that energy.”

Nevertheless, the Friars welcome back enough talent to remain competitive.

Senior catcher Kayley Sherwood (.348 batting average, 4 HR, 18 RBI) and junior third baseman/outfielder Rachel Martinez (.316 avg., 4 HR, 20 RBI) lead the team offensively.

Juniors Alyssa Stramaglia (.415 avg., .500 on-base percentage, .638 slugging percentage) and Cassandra Lee (16 RBI, 27 runs) are other key contributors. Stramaglia and Lee also anchor the pitching rotation.

Along with Diaz and Cairo, Stramaglia earned all-conference honors in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference last year.

The top newcomers are all sophomores. Shortstop Elena Vaccaro; infielder/outfielder Ciara Herbert, outfielder/

Submitted photo

Junior Rachel Martinez, an Eastern Michigan University recruit, hit .316 in 2017. catcher; Tess LoGuidice, second baseman/outfielder; Ava Vaccaro; and utility player/pitcher Andrea Fuentes allow Marrese some fresh options across the diamond.

“We have solid defense and pitching,” he said. “We also have good contact hitters, one through nine, in our lineup.

Our short game needs improvement.”

Competing in the rugged GCAC, Fenwick will face very good teams like Bishop McNamara, Providence, Mother McAuley, Montini and Loyola.

In addition to competing in the GCAC’s toughest division,

the Friars have a bevy of excellent teams on the nonconference portion of their schedule. Class 4A two-time state champion OPRF, Class 3A fourth-place finisher Nazareth, Glenbard South, St. Viator, Carmel, York, Benet and Whitney Young all present a challenge.

Marrese is more focused on his own team.

“We will have great leadership from our seniors this year,” he said. “Our focus is to put the team above everything else and work hard to improve each and every day.”

Entering his ninth season at Fenwick overall and sixth as the head coach, Marrese has guided the Friars to regional championships in 2013, 2014 and 2017, plus a sectional title and supersectional appearance (both in 2013).

“My goals never change,” Marrese said. “We strive to win our conference and a state championship every season.”

56

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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S P O R T S

OPRF baseball embraces fresh start Return of Ledbetter and abundance of talented players bodes well for Huskies

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

57

OPRF Huskies Head coach: Chris Ledbetter (17th season, 443-170-2 record) Record last year: 24-11 (13-5 West Suburban Silver); Lost 5-2 to Maine West in Class 4A Niles North Regional semifinals Top players: Brian May, SS, Sr.; Luke Fitzgerald, C, Jr.; Nathan Diamond, P/1B, Jr.; Brendan Barrette, P/1B, Sr.; Griffin Holderfield, P/3B/DH; Mason Jai-Bailey, CF, Soph.

Outlook: With Ledbetter and a plethora of talented players, OPRF is primed for a successful season. The Huskies expect a deeper run in the playoffs this year.

Photos by Steven Talley

(Left) OPRF senior Brendan Barrette represents one of many power arms in the Huskies stacked rotation. (Below left) Junior catcher Luke Fitzgerald is a Creighton commit.

BY MELVIN TATE

S

Contributing Reporter

ince Chris Ledbetter was named the Oak Park and River Forest High School baseball head coach in 2001, he has maintained the standard of excellence set by his predecessor Jack Kaiser. From 2001 through 2016, the Huskies amassed five state final appearances, including runner-up finishes in 2001(AA) and 2008 (4A), a third-place showing in 2015 (4A), and a 4A championship in 2012.

Last year, however, was a deviation from the norm for OPRF. Ledbetter took a medical leave of absence and while the Huskies finished with a 24-11 record, they lost to Maine West in a regional semifinal.

“That was a bit of a surprise,” Ledbetter said. “I think it was a situation where a lot of things unexpectedly happened in that game. There were things that hadn’t happened to us during the season happen (against Maine West). But this is a new group of guys with a new focus.”

Not only has Ledbetter returned as head coach, there is plenty of good talent returning that could result in a deep postseason run. This spring represents a fresh start for the Huskies.

“I like to think that we are 0-34 every day at practice,” OPRF pitcher/first baseman

Brendan Barrette said. “I want our guys to practice like we have everything to prove, like everyone doubts us. Then when game time comes we should play like we are 34-0 and craving to stay undefeated.”

Teammate Nathan Diamond added, “I am so pumped for the 2018 season to get rolling.

We have such a great group of players and coaches. This is the year that so many of us

have been waiting for having grown up in Oak Park and playing with these boys over the years.”

The Huskies have plenty of good pitchers.

Barrette (Parkland recruit) and juniors Diamond (Pepperdine) and Griffin Holderfield (Creighton) are the headliners of a deep staff.

“Our main strength is our pitching be-

cause we will never run out of good arms,” Holderfield said. “On the field we need to back up the pitching, put the ball in play while hitting, and not make any base running mistakes.”

Other pitchers to keep an eye on are juniors Sam Guillot and Aaron Mishoulam.

“We also have two exceptional left-handers in Nathan Boyer and Henry Darrow,” Ledbetter said. “We feel we can put them in any conference game and not miss a beat,” OPRF is also strong up the middle. Junior catcher Luke Fitzgerald (Creighton), senior shortstop Brian May (DePauw), sophomore second baseman Dylan Whitney and sophomore centerfielder Mason Jai-Bailey solidify the team on offense and defense.

“Luke is a three-year starter at catcher,” Ledbetter said. “Brian is also a three-year varsity starter and one of our captains. Mason started in centerfield as a freshman last year. We’re pretty strong up the middle.”

Diamond will play first base when he isn’t pitching, as will Barrette and Darrow. Senior Andrew Neilson led OPRF with a .410 batting average last season and will play right field. Left field will be manned by junior Jake Greifelt, who missed 2017 due to a stress fracture. At third base, Jake Adams gets the call. He’s also the fourth outfielder.

Holderfield will be the designated hitter and play some third base when not on the mound. Tommy Cronin, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound power hitter, and Adam Landsman provide quality infield depth for the Huskies.

OPRF will battle defending champion Lyons Township, Hinsdale Central and perhaps York or Downers North for the West Suburban Silver title this spring.

“We’re starting with a clean slate,” Ledbetter said. “Last year’s over with, we want to create new memories with this group.”

58

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

S P O R T S

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OPRF Huskies Head Coach: Mel Kolbusz (26th season, 714-212-2 record) Record Last Year: 37-1 (12-0, West Suburban Silver). Defeated Lincoln-Way East 1-0 in Class 4A state title game.

Top Players: Maeve Nelson, SS, Sr.; Fiona Girardot, 2B, Jr.; Nellie Kamensita-Hale, CF, Jr.; Olivia Glass, C, Sr.; Taylor Divello, P; Annie Deamer-Nagle, RF, Sr. Outlook: While there’s no denying the Huskies will miss Harris, the return of Girardot and Nelson ensures the Huskies are considered strong title contenders. There’s plenty of promising new talent. How quickly it blends in with the returners will determine if OPRF is playing for a chance at a three-peat state title in June.

File photo

Senior second baseman Fiona Girardot is an impact player who hit .603 with 59 RBIs in 2017.

CHAMPS

Dynastic Dream from page 60 will also contribute from the pitching circle.

“We’ve had several All-State pitchers, and I usually don’t say things like this, but I can honestly say that Chardonnay is the best we’ve ever had,” Kolbusz said. “She was the Gatorade Player of the Year and is now pitching in a top 20 college program. She’s irreplaceable, but Cassie, Taylor and Zoe will certainly do their best.”

Besides Girardot and Nelson, who have committed to Wisconsin and Northwestern, respectively, the Huskies return other quality hitters in the lineup. Junior center fielder Nellie Kamenitsa-Hale made the allWest Suburban Conference Silver Division team last year, batting .464 and scoring 48 runs. Senior catcher Olivia Glass batted .356 with 4 homers and 36 RBIs. Senior right fielder Annie Deamer-Nagle hit .311 and scored 33 runs.

“Pitching and defense win softball games,” Girardot said. “We will have to focus on these two parts of the game to be successful. During the season we have to focus on each game and not think ahead.

We need to try to get better each game indi-

vidually and as a team.”

Freshman Maddie Grant will start at first base, with junior Mary Jones also seeing time there. Jones, who has orally committed to the University of Illinois-Chicago, can also play in the outfield and often will occupy the designated player spot in the lineup. Junior Carli Tucci takes over left field and will bat leadoff. Junior Maeve Ryan will be the starting third baseman, with Jaelyn Brown, Karly Cantrell, Megan Krikau, and Emily Soto providing valuable depth for OPRF. While OPRF is favored to defend its conference championship, Lyons Township, Downers Grove North and York should field competitive teams. Tough non-conference

Growing community.

games include Marist, Mother McAuley, Nazareth, Providence, Warren and Penn (one of Indiana’s top teams).

Kolbusz is well aware it’s a long season.

Winning conference, regional, sectional and supersectional titles are all on the agenda. Ultimately though, OPRF doesn’t want to let that feeling go of being the best in the state.

“In our first team meeting of the year, I put a big “3” on the chalkboard. That’s our goal this year,” he said about winning three straight state championships. “We’re capable of it but the key will be developing and getting better as the season progresses.

We’re going to accept the challenge.”

Off to a 2-1 start this spring, OPRF hosts Waubonsie Valley for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 24. The first game starts at 11 a.m.

“We’re going to get everyone’s best shot because we’re the two-time defending state champions,” Kolbusz said. “The kids were disappointed after losing to Fremd, but I told them that we’re probably going to lose a few more games this year. The last seven games (the state tournament) are the ones we need to win.”

Wednesday Journal, March 21, 2018

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OPRF baseball embraces fresh start 57

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SPORTS

Friars have high hopes heading into softball season 55

OPRF softball eyes three-peat Nelson and Girardot hope to lead Huskies to a third straight state title

BY MELVIN TATE

E File photo

Senior shortstop Maeve Nelson, a Northwestern signee, hopes to cap her career with a third consecutive state championship.

Let us know we’ll hold your paper!

Contributing Reporter

ntering his 26th season coaching the Oak Park and River Forest softball team, coach Mel Kolbusz has a glittering resume with 714 wins, 17 conference titles and 6 top-three finishes in the state playoffs.

Two of the three state championships were won the past two years. The goal is obvious if not simple this spring: earn a three-peat.

Last season may have been Kolbusz’s finest yet. Led by ace Chardonnay Harris (now pitching at Auburn) and star infielders Maeve Nelson and Fiona Girardot, the Huskies finished 37-1 with a Class 4A state title in 2017. The season culminated in thrilling fashion with a 1-0 victory over Lincoln-Way East in the 4A title game. Catcher Mariah Scott hit the game-winning homer in the ninth inning. 2017 graduates Harris, Scott

and Sydney Babbington will be missed.

“Winning back-to-back state titles is a tremendous accomplishment,” Girardot said. “It’s rare to be able to win consecutive championships. We’ll have that accomplishment with us for the rest of our lives.”

Girardot, who plays second base, and Nelson, a senior shortstop are both All-State and All-American players. The Huskies will need their leadership as much as their talent this season.

“Fiona and Maeve are our leaders,” Kolbusz said. “Whether it’s on or off the field or in the classroom, they’re terrific student-athletes. They are great hitters and defenders. I can’t say enough about them.”

Junior Taylor Divello is OPRF’s top returning pitcher. She was 5-0 with a 1.99 earned run average in 2017. Freshman Cassie Metzger and junior Zoe Prouty See CHAMPS on page 58

Road Trip on the Horizon?

Email: circulation@OakPark.com