By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
While River Forest voters made a clear declaration of their views on Election Day, April 1, the debate over term limits for the River Forest village board and village president may not be over.
The exact wording used in a citizen group’s petition that placed a referendum for the matter on Tuesday’s election ballot has since caused confusion about whether that referendum is binding or non-binding.
TERM LIMITS on pa ge 10
The yer has been condemned by all the candidates in the school board race
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
A flyer distributed on Election Day attacking one of the candidates for the District 200 Oak Park and River Forest High School Board has been condemned by all candidates
The flyer, reportedly distributed outside of the polling place at the main branch of the Oak Park Public Library on April 1, called D200 candidate Nate Mellman an “Israelfirst Zionist fanatic.” The flyer, which featured a black-and-white close up of his face, slammed Mellman’s involvement in the fil-
ing of a for mal complaint against OPRF last year alleging that the school had failed to protect students from antisemitism in the first months of the Israel-Hamas war and attacked his record as a judge within the Social Security Administration.
In text messages with Wednesday Journal, Mellman, who is Jewish, described the flyer in one word — “shocking.”
Mellman and his campaign partner Josh Gertz addressed the flyer in more detail in a statement on social media on April 3, saying the criticism crossed the line into overt antisemitism. The flyer used antisemitic tropes and “falsehoods” to attack Mellman, they said.
“Nate served for almost 30 years as a military officer, retiring as a colonel. Accusing Nate, or any other Jew, of being more loyal to Israel than this country is a classic example of antisemitism,” they said in the statement. “The close-up of Nate’s nose is problematic.
Yes, it’s big. Again though, it’s an antisemitic caricature of a Jew. We won’t delve into all the other falsehoods and examples of antisemitism in the flyer. But we will say the flyer in its totality is antisemitic for the simple fact that we were running for a simple local school board, not Cong ress or president where our position on foreign policy would have been at issue.”
The flyer featured the logo of the Democratic Socialists of America West Cook chapter, which is affiliated with the Chicago office of the national leftist organization. The DSA’s Chicago office responded to a request for comment saying that the flyer had not been authorized by the organization’s leadership.
“Chicago DSA did not issue any endorsements for or against candidates, take any actions, or issue any guidance in the April 1st elections,” the organization said in a statement. “All branches must approve these
See ELECTION FLYER on pa ge 11
By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter
The final makeup of a newly constituted school board at Oak Park and River Forest High School remains uncertain pending release of vote totals for David Schaafsma, a write-in candidate. This comes a week after the April 1 election.
What is clear is that District 200 incumbents Fred Arkin and Audrey WilliamsLee will be joined on the board by running mate Kathleen Odell. And absent an extraordinarily strong write in ef fort by Schaafsma, the fourth board seat will go to Joshua Gertz.
Gertz, in tandem with candidate Nathan Mellman, established a joint three-point campaign platform, distinguishing themselves from the four other candidates. The pair focused on safety, challenging all students academically and safeguarding tax dollars.
If he has, in fact, been elected to the school board, Gertz said on April 1 that he
thinks it will be important to have a critical viewpoint and an inde pendent voice on the board.
“I think there’s going to be more lively discussion and debate,” Gertz said. “We might evaluate different alter natives that we might not have otherwise evaluated, or we might find a more moderate compromise.”
On Aril 1 Mellman said voters had spoken, and the villages will see what happens
in the end.
When asked if his and Gertz’s messaging resonated with voters, Mellman said “well, not enough obviously.”
“It certainly resonated with some of them,” Mellman said. “I think it really was a factor of the Oak Park politicians and their races. It’s all about turnout, and with the trustee races, and the Oak Park village
WEDNESD AY
of Oak Park and River Forest
Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf
Digital Manager Stac y Coleman
Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan
Sta Repor ter Brendan He ernan
Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor
Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora
Contributing Editor Donna Greene
Columnists Marc Bleso , Jack Crowe, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger
Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck
Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead
Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea
Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza
Marketing & Adver tising Associate Ben Stumpe
Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls
Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan
Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
Operations Associate Susan Babin
Special Projects Manager Susan Walker
Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs
Senior Advisor Dan Haley
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair Eric Weinheimer | Treasurer Nile Wendor f Deb Abrahamson, Mary Cahillane, Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson Darnell Shields, Audra Wilson
By MICHAEL DRAKULICH Contributing Reporter
The Oak Park Public Library Board will have a significantly different makeup come May, following the April 1 election. The board will have four new members after incumbents Maya Ganguly and Matt Fruth were voted out in favor of newcomers Annie Wilkinson, Mika Yamamoto, Colin Bird-Martinez and Megan Butman. Fruth was the current board president and had served on the board for 20 years.
Wilkinson, Yamamoto and Bird-Martinez ran on a slate together.
Eight candidates were vying for four open seats, each of which was for a four-year term. Incumbents Fruth and Ganguly faced off against two slates of three candidates each. One slate consisted of Butman, Bruce Brigell, and Daniel Suber. This slate decided to run after for mer executive director Joslyn Bowling Dixon was fired in March 2024. The candidates believed Dixon wasn’t given due process before being fired and cited that as their main reason for running
The opposing slate that thought Bowling Dixon’s firing was justified consisted of Wilkinson, Bird-Martinez, and Yamamoto.
Theodore Foss and Madhurima Chakraborty, current members of the library board, did not run for re-election.
Butman said Election Night was bittersweet because her two fellow running mates weren’t also elected. But she was happy to have won her seat, being a librarian herself. She said she thought it was important for the board to have a librarian amongst its ranks
She also said she isn’t necessarily aligned with the other three candidates who were elected, but she will remain positive and find a way to work with them for the good of the library.
Butman and her running mates ran because they thought the previous executive director was fired without “due process.” Butman said Bowling Dixon should have been given an evaluation before being fired.
“The (executive director) is the board’s one employee and it should have managed that better,” she said.
Fruth wasn’t available for comment on Election Day. However, earlier in the month
he addressed the issue of wh board didn’t wait until after the election to hire a new executive director. El man was announced as the new ecutive director on March 27.
Fruth said he understands there may be criticism about the timing and that the hiring could have been p longer to get input from newly elected members. But he said the committee a process with search firm, Ko and collected input from the community and staff. The process was transparent, and if any of the board candidates were unhappy, they didn’t say so publicly, he said.
Fruth said if the board had waited until after the new board was seated in May, it’s likely a new director wouldn’t have been hired until July, and that could have meant losing out on potential candidates
“That wasn’t a hypothetical situation. We lost out on a candidate between the second and third rounds of interviews. It happened and the board lost a good candidate who took another position,” he said.
In defeat, Bruce Brigell said he will remain active as part of the community and floated the idea of putting together a library foundation that would raise money to buy new furniture and perhaps renovate the Veterans Room. He said he wanted to have a role in making the library more comfortable and welcoming.
The four new board members will be seated in May. Winners Yamamoto, Wilkinson and Bird-Martinez did not respond to calls for comment on Election Night.
Nanc
By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter
Two incumbents and one newcomer were elected to the District 97 Oak Park elementary school board in the April 1 election.
Nancy Ross Dribin, Becky Pere z and Venus Hurd Johnson garnered the most votes in a five-person race for three open seats on the school board.
According to the Cook County Clerk’s unofficial results, Dribin received 5,928 votes, or 25.58%; Pere z received 5,469 votes or 23.60%; and Hurd Johnson received 5,185 votes, or 22.37%.
Dribin and Hurd Johnson are both incumbents. Pere z is a newcomer to the board.
Currently a psychologist at Oak Park and River Forest High School, Pere z is a for mer district employee and a parent to a second grader and fourth grader at Washington Irving Elementary School. She holds a doctorate in school psycholo gy and a master’s de gree in educational psycholo gy from Indiana University.
Pere z previously told Wednesday Journal that her professional experience has earned her a deep understanding of early childhood literacy, an area she considers a key priority for the D97 board.
“I understand the principles of learning, from math to reading, to writing,” she said. “Oftentimes I am the person that’s helping solve how we are going to help our students achieve on an individual level and close gaps through special education. But I still understand the big systems that drive deci-
sion making when it comes to resources.”
Pere z said President Donald Trump’s rhetoric against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and funding for public education g alvanized her to run for the school board, with the hope that she could be part of the local ef fort to shield D97 from the new administration’s influence.
“I think I bring a lot of energy to revitalizing conversations that are being silenced nationally,” she said. “A lot of my research and my training was on English learners and immigrant populations and culturally responsive practices in both special education and school discipline.”
Dribin, who serves as the board’s vice president, was first elected in 2021. She has nearly three decades of experience in education research and resource development with a focus on science, technolo gy, engineering, arts and mathematics. Currently, she is pursuing a doctorate in information studies.
Hurd Johnson, who was also first elected to the board 2021, is an account executive for Vitas Healthcare.
At a District 97 school board election forum hosted by Growing Community Media in March, Dribin said she has made strong connections during her 12 years in the community and four years as a board member.
“I feel like I would be remiss to step of f now when we are just on the cusp of doing such amazing things for our students,” she said of her decision to run for re-election.
Echoing that sentiment, Hurd Johnson said that there’s still lots of work to be done.
“Our superintendent has got some really great ideas,” she said. “To make those ideas to come to fruition, she needs the support of a board that is seasoned and that believes in the vision and wants to move our community forward.”
Nineteenth Century Club • 178 Forest Ave. Oak Park, 9:30-11 am
April 10: Challenges Facing the LGBTQ+ Community in 2025. With John Becvar, co-chair of the Oak Park Area Lesbian & Gay Association
May 1: The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women went into effect in 1981. Where do things stand today? With Jane Ruby, president, LWV Chicago
Friendly Tap • 6733 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, 6:30-8 pm
April 17: Help Save the Planet and Save Money. With Pamela Tate, certified climate reality leader trained by Al Gore
May 15: State vs. Federal Law. With Steven D. Schwinn, professor and associate dean at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
All League programs are free and open to the public.
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
has been charged with first-de gree murder was shot dead near downtown Oak Park ning, according to local officials. esponded to reports of shots fired in the 600 block vard at 1:23 a.m. April 4, according to Oak esperson Dan Yopchick. Police arrived on the a man lying in the street suffering from a Yopchick said.
Fire Department transported the victim to rsity Medical Center in Maywood, where he was pronounced dead at 2 a.m., Yopchick said.
has b een identified as 54-year- old Core y Holland. In an i nterview with Chicago’s member of Gates told re por ters that he was a U. S. ar my veteran and who was the victim of a
r andom ca rj acking.
“All I had was murdered... and it’s devastating,” the victim’s twin sister Cathleen Gates told the television station. “It’s going to be devastating that he’s gone. He ain’t here no more because of some bums.”
Investigators believe that Chicago resident Jabari McGee is responsible for the killing, according to the village
A witness reported to law enforcement that they saw five people fleeing the scene of the killing on foot.
“A witness observed that approximately five male subjects wearing black clothing fled the scene on foot,” Yopchick said last week. “Five individuals matching those descriptions were observed running eastbound on Pleasant Street from Cuyler Avenue Those five individuals -- three juveniles and two adults -- were detained and transported to the Oak Park Police Department. No weapons have been recovered, and the investigation is ongoing with the assistance of the West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force.”
Police arrested McGee the following evening on April 5 at his home in the 5700 block of Superior Street in Chicago, according to a police activity report
All other suspects were released without charge except for McGee. McGee is being held for a bond hearing, according to the village.
The
structure was in a fully involved re when rst responders arrived
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
An Oak Park home was fully ablaze when firefighters arrived on the scene Sunday evening, according to the village.
The Oak Park Fire Department responded to a fully involved structure fire at a residence in the 200 block of South Kenilworth Avenue at approximately 6 p.m., April 6. There was no one in the home at the time the fire was reported and no injuries were reported, according to the village OPFD was assisted in fighting the fire by de par tments from Cicero, Berwyn, Forest Park, River Forest, Nor th Riverside and Maywood.
Investigators believe the fire star ted after the home’s electrical outlets had been overloaded, according to the village.
The house was deemed uninhabitable due to heavy fire damage sustained on the second and third floors. The residents were able to make accommodations to stay elsewhere, according to the village
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The language of the referendum question that asked residents to vote for or against ter m limits was specific:
“Shall the Village of River Forest, after the April 1, 2025, Consolidated Election, enact term limits for the elected offices of Village President, Village Clerk, and the six (6) Village Trustees for no more than two (2)
four-year (4-year) terms total as follows: for each of three (3) Trustees beginning with the April 3, 2027, Consolidated election, and for the Village President, Village Clerk, and three (3) Trustees starting with the April 6, 2029, Consolidated election?”
The Yes votes totaled 53.15%, compared to 46.8% for the No votes. Out of 8,541 registered voters, 2,016 votes were cast, according to the Suburban Cook County Election Results website. All results are unofficial until certified by the county
On Tuesday evening, following the results being posted, Wednesday Journal asked Village President Cathy Adduci, who won her
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Ffourth consecutive term, what next steps would be. She said the board will take up the referendum results at upcoming meetings.
“The question isn’t considered binding, and we will take it up at the village board meeting, and the question will be whether it will move forward,” she said.
The petition language, provided to Wednesday Journal by Village Administrator Matt Walsh, showed that while the title of the document stated, “Petition for River Forest Binding Referendum,” the language in the subsequent paragraph said that “the following advisory question of public policy be placed on the ballot and submitted to the
rankly, some of my best family discussions and happiest times occurred at the family dinner table both as a child, and as a parent. I believe family dinner helped forge a strong sibling bond with my brother that led to a harmonious settlement of my mother’s estate. Certainly, not every family dinner growing up was harmonious. There is one family dinner that goes down in Harney (my maiden name) family dinner history. The Spaghetti Dinner.
dumped it on my father’s head. There was a moment of silence and then my brother (who loved drama) began to laugh wildly while we all watched long pieces of spaghetti drip red sauce from all around my father’s prematurely bald head.
My parents later apologized to each other and to us kids. We were all back at the dinner table the next night. Luckily, that dinner drama was the exception, and most of my childhood family dinners were much more harmonious.
Family conflict is the biggest threat to successful estate planning. A strong bond between siblings cemented in their youth will help decades later to avoid family drama when settling their parent’s estate. Plus, family dinner provides parents the opportunity to gradually and continuously talk with their children about important subject matters like money and even death.
voters of River Forest for their approval or disapproval, by referendum at the Consolidated Election to be held on April 1, 2025.”
The next morning, referendum proponents immediately questioned Adduci’s assertion that the referendum was nonbinding.
Adduci wouldn’t comment Thursday afternoon, instead refer ring Wednesday Journal to village attorney Lance Malina of Chicago-based firm Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins Malina said there are two different ways for a referendum question to be placed on a ballot. One is through village board initiation, and the other a citizen petition.
Sin ce T uesd ay ’s referendum was the result of a citizen p etition, “the b oard ca n’ t change the effect of it. It is wh atever a c ourt would say it is, whether it is binding or advisor y.
“There is some ambiguity about what it was intended to be,” he added, “because of the wording in the petition.”
Could the matter go to court?
“I don’t know that,” Malina said. “It’s a matter if it is ever tested.”
Messages left Thursday and Friday for the Cook County clerk’s candidate service department for clarification on the matter weren’t retur ned
When I was growing up my family ate dinner at precisely 5:30 pm. No exceptions and no excuses. One night, to stretch a dollar, my hard-working homemaker mother made meatless spaghetti for our dinner entree. Nowadays, that popular dish is called Spaghetti Mariana. But it was not popular in my house. And certainly, not with my Irish father. He was a meat and potatoes man. A meatless meal was an insult to his manhood.
That night when my father sat down to dinner and he realized that the spaghetti sauce did not contain meat, he pushed his plate across the table and said to my mother, “What is this sh**?” My mother was not a feminist, but she was no shrinking violet either, particularly when it came to insults to a meal, she had spent the time making with three little kids under foot.
In response, my mother picked up the shoved plate of meatless spaghetti and
As a parent of four children, there is only one piece of advice I have for new parents. Family Dinner. There is a long list of benefits for family dinner as told by many researchers including a Harvardbased family dinner blog called The Family Dinner Project. Kids who eat family dinner do better in school, have higher self-esteem, a better sense of resilience, lower risk of harmful behaviors such as substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, obesity, and the list goes on. A regular mealtime has been found to be a more powerful predictor of high standardized testing than time in school or doing homework.
Why is family dinner so magical? It is the most reliable way for a family to connect. Family dinner provides a calm and comfortable environment for families to engage in conversation and focus on each other. This daily connection builds momentum to create stronger connections away from the table. Positive family connection helps to avoid family conflict and leads to a happier life.
A conversation about an allowance can over the years segue into topics like college tuition, charitable giving and inherited IRAs. Basic discussions during childhood of difficult subjects (like the death of a family pet) in the comfortable and safe environment of family dinner will serve as building blocks to support more adult conversations (such as a family member’s death and estate planning) as the family grows older.
The Spaghetti Dinner story is testament to the power of family dinner. Family dinner can endure the occasional dramatic incident because consistent family dinners create family connection, family resilience and, ultimately, lead to family harmony. Family harmony is an estate planners’ best friend. To pave the way for a harmonious and happy family both in our lifetime and beyond we need look no further than our kitchen table.
If this essay has led you to the belief that your family needs an estate plan, please contact me.
708-819-1580 www.theresaclancylaw.com theresa.clancy@theresaclancylaw.com
On Thursday, though, referendum proponents insisted that the voting results were clear, and final.
“The referendum question on ter m limits for River Forest president, trustees and clerk is binding,” said referendum supporter Deborah Borman in a statement provided to Wednesday Journal.
“Once the election results are certified by the county, term limits in River Forest will have the force of law,” she said. “We look forward to the village board memorializing the referendum into an ordinance in the village code.”
Bor man, an attor ney, said she crafted the language in the petition and said, “There is no ambiguity.” As far as the county goes, its only role is to certify the results, she said.
“When I voted, I understood the referendum question to be binding,” said another supporter, Trustee Katie Brennan. “This was based on the way the question was written. Also there was no suggestion in the question or its presentation about it being merely advisory, and something that if passed, would then be required to be taken up by the village board. The suggestion now that the question was advisory doesn’t make sense to me.
“I have not heard anything from the village president or village staff about the referendum question not being binding, or that the question’s binding status had changed
from page 3
activities through the chapter, and the chapter did not sanction or approve any activities mentioned in your article.”
The other slate of candidates in the election — Fred Arkin, Audrey Williams-Lee, Kathleen Odell and David Schaafsma — condemned the flyer in a statement provided to Wednesday Journal.
“The race for the D200 board was contested, and voters made their choices based upon differences in approaches and perspectives on equity, safety, and financial discipline,” they said. “We were appalled to learn of this flyer
from page 3
president race, that’s what generated the turnout, and the results speak for themselves.”
The largest number of votes were won by Odell, who will serve as a new member on the board.
and find it deeply offensive and inappropriate. While we wait for the final results, we condemn this personal attack on a fellow candidate.”
Arkin further condemned the flyer in a brief interview with Wednesday Journal.
“I think it’s filth, it’s disgusting and I would never be a part of something like that,” Arkin said. “It came as a complete shock to me.”
The final result of the election is still somewhat undetermined. The six candidates competed for four open seats, with Schaafsma running as a write-in candidate. Arkin, Williams-Lee and Odell were the top three vote-getters among the on-ballot candidates, but Schaafsma’s final tally has not yet been confirmed by Cook County
Last year, both Mellman and Gertz were
Odell expressed optimism about the work to come.
“I think our campaign has been really about equity and about continuing to make the improvements that the school has been making over the last several years to serve as many kids as possible, as well as possible,” Odell said. “So I think the support is really exciting. I think there’s lots of great work to be done. The big questions were around the freshmen curriculum and the
part of a cohort of community members accusing leaders at OPRF of tolerating antisemitism in the aftermath of the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. Mellman also submitted a complaint against OPRF to the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Attorney General’s office, calling for a for mal investigation into the school for allowing a “hostile antisemitic environment for Jewish students” to take root.
In January, Mellman said the complaint had yet to receive a response from either governmental body.
Over the course of the campaign, Schaafsma was also criticized for public views on the Israel-Hamas war. He was the subject of a social media post by the education policy wing of the pro-Israel media monitoring or-
approach to safety. Our coalition is equity minded and really committed to improving on the work that’s been done.”
Williams-Lee, the board vice president, was appointed in 2023 to fill a vacancy. She said the unofficial results had her feeling very excited and hopeful.
“We’ re just thrilled to see that our message got through to voters. That’s really gratifying,” Williams-Lee said.
She said that as a board member, she’s
ganization CAMERA, which drew attention to his profile on the social media and writing platform Substack, on which Schaafsma had liked and shared pro-Palestinian content the organization described as antisemitic.
The organization had posted a screenshot of Schaafsma’s repost of an interview with Holocaust scholar and Palestinian advocate Norman Finklestein, in which Finklestein said he would refuse to condemn Hamas Schaafsma’s slate-mates Arkin, Odell and Williams-Lee condemned the assertions that Schaafsma was antisemitic or supported the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
“Working closely with Dave and getting to know him and his family over the past several months, we know, of course, that this is not true,” they said in the statement.
looking forward to continuing the work that is already being done. This includes getting rid of disparities in the school’s discipline process and continuing to support the Honors for All freshman program.
“We’ve had so many people who have stepped up to volunteer to help out and it’s just really been humbling,” she said. “I’m very grateful.”
This will be Arkin’s third term on the OPRF board.
Two more grills are on their way to ease wait times
ABy RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter
venerable restaurant chain uses the motto “in sight, must be right,” that also easily applies to the hibachi grill room at New Star Restaurant, 7444 W. North Ave. in Elmwood Park. Sizzling meats, steaming noodles, crisp rice and sauteed veggies are prepared right in front of delighted diners.
Technically the cooking is done on teppanyaki grills, which translates as grilling on an iron plate. Hibachi refers to the use of an open flame. But throughout the U.S. – think Ron of Japan and Benihana – this dinner and a show is referred to as hibachi. Come hungry.
First, choose a protein. There are many options: chicken, steak, salmon, scallops, calamari – regular or teriyaki style. Shrimp is served straight from the grill, with garlic or golden with egg and cheese. Lobster is garlic or golden. Tofu grills up well too.
While you munch on salad, then slurp Japanese mushroom and onion soup, watch as the chef warms up the grill with an attention-getting burst of flames. The first
course from the grill is chicken fried rice. Here’s where the show gets, shall we say, dicey.
Spatulas and forks fly. Eggs balance and twirl, then disappear into the top of the chef’s hat only to return to the grill as a necessary component in the fried rice.
Getting hired as a hibachi cook at New Star is not an entry-level job.
“You have to have at least five years experience. And then when they come in, we’re training in our style, probably a few weeks,” said hibachi chef Johnny Mei. “It’s not that easy to cook in front of customers. You have to do a show, talk to customers and you have to make sure the food taste good.”
While the fried rice course is nibbled,
wheat noodles are warmed and sauced, preparing to support the main course. Plate side dipping sauces, including New Star’s special house made Yum Yum sauce, appears.
Hibachi is a community affair with each grill seating nine guests. It’s fun to ooh and ahh together over the antics each chef weaves into their more serious business. At one point a stack of onions is transformed into a flame-throwing volcano, then into a steaming train engine. Sometimes sound effects are thrown in using a toy train whistle.
“I like cooking for the families. It’s nice when they come out, when you can actually make people happy,” said Chef Mei. He works at New Star for another reason too, the owner Jinny Zhao. “She uses the best ingredients. And if there are problems, she fixes them right away.”
A seat at the grill is a hot property, not only from the heat shimmering off the surface, but also due to the popularity of this eating style. On weekends reservations are a must, but still people walk in and are willing to wait.
It’s just too good to pass up, said the Alvear family, who have eaten at New Star’s hibachi more than 20 times. They took advantage of a Tuesday afternoon during
spring break to dine, when they could more easily get seated.
When Zhao purchased New Star, the back room was a banquet space for large groups. She wanted to make it a destination, so she invested in the grills.
“We have eight tables now. We are going to add two more, because people are waiting too long,” said Zhao.
Back at the grill, chefs make the next move, sauteing a shrimp appetizer, then cooking each diner’s main dish protein. A mountain of sauteed vegetables accompanies the feast.
It’s more than most people could eat at once.
As appetites are sated, servers bring out take home boxes. But before the meal is done a scoop of vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream and a fortune cookie sweeten the deal.
I hope you wore your loose pants!
Know before you go:
newstarrestaurant.com
7444 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park
Hours: Monday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
We, members of this community, are deeply concerned by the recent spread of antisemitic hate speech and slander directed at individuals participating in our local school board election— particularly Nate Mellman and Josh Gertz, both dedicated parents and community members.
Let us be clear: personal attacks, false accusations, and antisemitic rhetoric have no place in civil discourse. Our community deserves better than rumor-mongering and division. We believe in healthy debate, not harassment. We stand against hate in all its forms.
This is a time to come together, not tear each other apart. We encourage everyone to focus on the real issues at hand—our schools, our students, and the future we are building together as a
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Sari Haro
community. Let’s engage with integrity, respect, and facts. We support candidates who run on ideas, solutions, and respectful dialogue. And we support a community that chooses truth over fear.
Now is the time to rise above division and come together—not just to defend one person, but to uphold the values that make this community worth living in. We believe in standing up for one another, listening with empathy, and building a space where every person—regardless of background, belief, or ballot—is treated with dignity.
We believe in a future built on understanding where kindness leads the way, and every neighbor stands for one another— because that’s how a real community grows.
Tamara & Harry Hicks
Gigi & Steve Hoke
Jackie & Brad Holland
Jenna Holzberg
Deborah & Jim Hopkinson
Nadine Horowitz
Cathleen & Kevin Hughes
John & Gerri Humbert
Laura & Todd Huseby
Jen & Drew Ierardi
Nicole Incandela Thies & Scott Thies
Allison Jack
Michael Jo e
Ray Johnson
Genevieve & Alex Jones
David Karrow & Candice Singh
Becca Kaufman & Peter Schonman
Megan Keskitalo & Glenn Eckstein
Nikki & Dan Kidd
Annemarie Kill
Megan & Tim Kinsella
Emily & Dan Kirschner
Kimberly Kramer & Mike Walker
Laura Lallos
Krista & Jim Lambe
Mary Lantero White
Kevin & Kristen Lee
Ste ani & John LeFevour
Tamar Levinson & Robert Drizin
Joy & Jon Lichterman
Hilarie Lieb & Morrie Goldman
Jane & Erik Lindberg
Ross & Susan Lissuzzo
Sara & Andrew Lisy
Lauren Litowsky Conway
Sarah Lopez
Melissa Lutz
Corinna Malin
Elena & James Martignon
Michelle Martinez
Megan & Brian McDonnell
Michelle McMinn Johnson
Matthew & Therese Menezes
Johanna & Aaron Metz
Janice & Jordan Mosko
Meredith & John Natale
Natasha Neal & Ron Lubelchek
Maurine Neiberg & Robert Sloan
Suzanne & Rich Neyenesch
Moira & Eric Nield
Jane Norrington
Bob O'Connell
Misty & Dan Olson
Kelly & Adam Oxer
Whitney Parchman
Amy Paris
Renee & Brian Pederson
Beth Peres
Ted & Lauren Perlstein
John & Amy Phelan
Dionna & Christopher Plywacz
Olga Poliakova
Olivia & Anthony Ponzio
Anna Poulin
Lindsay & Eric Rask
Mike & Ashley Reed
Roshni & Bryan Ricchetti
Christina Ricordati & Dave Kluskens
Ginger Riessen
Robin Rothbard
Lisa & David Rothkopf
Cindy Rubin & Nathan Frerichs
Phyllis Rubin
Janet Saeger
Susan & Tim Schi
Angie Seder
Monica & Jack Sheehan
Anna Shilov Sterk
Stephanie Sideman
Dave & Sendy Simon
Mary Beth & Tom Smedingho
Holly & Brandon Spurlock
Jennifer Staples
Adam Stern
Sally Sugg
Ginger & Alex Timchak
Maria Trograncic Ferro
Mike & Kim Trucco
Holly Utter
Jennifer Vogel Staples
Jenny & Chuck Vondrehle
Suzanne Wallman and Bruce Shabino
Jill Watts
Colleen Weiler
Sara Wienkes
Lailani Workman
Adam & Kaitlin Yaws
Robert & Mary Anne Zeh
Leslie Zimmerman
from page 4
pion values of diversity, equity and inclusion are among her top priorities for the next four years.
“Oak Park has shown the region, and the nation truly progressive community looks like,” she said in her vic tory speech. “We’ve shown that we embrace our differences to build a stronger, more united village as more values come forward from the national level. a strong front; I am most uniquely prepared to lead these attacks.”
Parakkat, an international business executi profit leader who won election to the village b challenged Scaman’s record on affordability, pa related to the village’s plan to renovate village struct a new police station.
He said he was proud of the work that he and his campaign volunteers did, and the trust that they put into his vision.
“I’ve run against an incumbent without many of the endorsements, but these people have been my endorsements, and my campaign couldn’t have been what it is without them,” he said.
In an interview shortly before the election Scaman said she felt one of the strongest aspects of her first term was the way she was able to help the board set its goals and pass legislation that progressively built towards those goals
Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman receives applause upon winning re-election.
was bring the board together for a far more thorough, inclusive goal setting process,” she said. “My leadership here has also been that I have that historical knowledge to know what had support in the past and what didn’t. What made it inevitable that you were going to need to regroup after eight years and how is it that we can create something that stands the test of time?”
Scaman took over as village president amid the COVID pandemic, and didn’t preside over her first in-person board meeting until well over a year into her tenure. She’d spent a term as village clerk before winning election in 2021 and said that
the job had given her a good perspective on what had driven onflict for the previous board and how she could help the new oup push forward.
“There were approaches in leadership styles that were just oil and water,” she said. “So to respond to that moment, I was that more collaborative, empathetic leadership style. Somedy who was going to be willing to listen to both sides of the aisle and find where we overlap.”
Scaman said that she will look to lean on relationships she’s built with other public and private leaders to help the village each its aspirations, particularly when it comes to sustainbility and economic vitality
“I didn’t enter office thinking that one of my big successes ould be reaching out regionally,” she said. “The reason I did that was because I’m a problem solver. If Oak Park is going to invest in sustainability the way that we now are, then that money goes that much further if we’re doing that. There’s still very practical side of me too that wants to see that greater ollective effort.”
While the majority of voters stood behind Scaman’s record, she said she will step forward from the campaign more intent than ever to weigh the perspectives of the entire community.
“I’m listening and I want to be able to respond to our community and reflect on what more I can do to share information when making these tough decisions,” she said. “The best pa rt about campaigning is that you get to talk to as many residents as you do. I’ve been thinking a lot about how we keep that up I’m also thinking a great deal about how we come back together as one community. Again, listening is key, valuing somebody’s differing opinion without judgment, but with respect and looking for what it is you can learn.”
“Enjoying life - making connections - maintaining independence”
Our beautiful 6-story building provides quality, a ordable, independent housing for seniors. We o er 75 studio and one-bedroom apartments. Amenities include an award winning interior landscaped atrium, central meeting room, library, laundry facilities, computer learning center, internet access, electronic key entry system, parking, onsite management, and 24/7 emergency maintenance service. e Oaks is funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development through HUD’s Multifamily Housing Program. Monthly rent is based on the resident’s income, with individuals paying approximately 30% of their monthly income toward rent.
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
Oak Park police arrested two men for unlawful use of a weapon in separate incidents last week, according to police activity re ports.
Police ar rested a 23-year- old Oak Pa rk man on charges of d omestic battery and unlawful use of a we apon j ust after 10:10 p. m ., April 1. Police had responded to a d omestic battery re po rt in the 100 block of Washington Boulevard when they found that the man had a loaded handgu n in his pocket, a ccording to the p olice activity re po rt
been made in connection with the incident, according to police activity re ports.
Police also ar rested a 34-year- old Chicago man on charges of unlawful use of a we apon and resisting ar rest in c onnection with an incident that o ccu rred in the 100 block of Austin Boulevard just after 7 a.m., March 31, according to police activity re ports.
An unknown suspect stole an Oak Park resident’s 2018 Hyundai Sonata that had been parked overnight in the 800 block of Euclid Avenue on April 3. The car was valued at over $12,000, according to police.
On April 2, police arrested a Chicago man on battery charges in connection with an incident that occurred in the 7100 block of Roosevelt Road. After his arrest, police re por tedly also learned that the man had not been in compliance with his mandated sex of fender re gistration.
On April 3, police arrested a Maywood woman on battery charges in connection with an incident in the 800 block of Oak Park Avenue.
On the morning of April 2, a man in his 60s re por tedly assaulted a Rolling Meadows resident in the bathroom of an Oak Park business in the 100 block of Madison Street. The victim told police that the man had shoved them in the chest after they told him he couldn’t be in the women’s restroom before he fled on foot. No arrest has
A Chicago man was robbed while walking in the 100 block of Maple Avenue in Oak Park. An unknown suspect pushed the man to the ground from behind and stole the victim’s state-issued cellphone then fled the scene, according to police. These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department re ports dated March 30-April 7 and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed a description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
Palm Sunday
Sunday, April 13th • Services at 8 am, 9:30 am, and 11 am
Maundy Thursday
Thursday, April 17th • 6:30 pm
Good Friday
Friday, April 18th • 7:30 am • Spoken Eucharist with the Rev. Canon Dr. Alonzo Prui
12:00 pm • Stations of the Cross 7:30 pm • Choral Eucharist
Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil
Saturday, April 19th • 7:30 pm
Easter Sunday
Sunday, April 20th • Services at 8 am, 9:30 am, and 11 am
Easter Egg hunts following the 9:30 am and 11:00 am services
Glorifying God, encouraging everyone to know and follow Jesus wholeheartedly! We LOVE our community, so we are praying for everyone in our community. God cares and he answers prayers. Please let us know how we can pray for you and your family! Either scan the QR code, call, or email us at prayer@forestparkbaptist.com.
Palm Sunday, April 13th
Family Egg Hunt 9:45 AM Worship Service 10:30 AM
Holy Thursday, April 17th Last Supper Prayer Service 7:00 PM
Good Friday, April 18th
The Seven Last Words of Jesus Service 7:00 PM
Easter Sunday, April 20th
Sunrise Blessing ( in the Ellen Cutter Garden ) 6:00 AM Resurrection Worship 10:30 am Family Egg Hunt 11:45 am Rev. Blade, Preaching; Dr. Pothier Music Dir ector Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church is a safe and inclusive congregation and is Euclid Ave. in Oak Park, Illinois, or
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By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter
The first item on the agenda for Oak Park’s March 27 Historic Preservation Commission was a certificate of appropriateness (COA) for a proposed development at 1035 South Boulevard. The proposal centered on a 10-story addition planned to be built behind the landmarked Boulevard Arcade Building at 1031 South Blvd. At a previous meeting on Jan. 9, the com-
mission had voted unanimously to deny the proposal.
The proposed building was back before the commission last week and was in the process of being introduced when architect John Schiess asked to address the commission and the members of the public who attended the meeting in hopes of voicing their thoughts on the building. Schiess announced his clients had requested that the meeting be rescheduled.
He noted that he just learned of the
change in plans that afternoon, precluding him from providing emailed notice to the commission. Schiess said, “I’ve been directed to take a look at the building and review all the functions, including the building height.”
Schiess said he hoped to be able to present any revisions at the next scheduled commission meeting but said he could not promise what date he would be prepared to present on the project. Noting that the team involved includes at least 10 consul-
tants, Schiess said, “turning a ship this big is not very easy. It’s not like designing townhomes.”
Schiess did not respond to further requests for comment from the Journal. Commission Chair Lou Garapolo was taken aback by the change in plans. “It was kind of a surprise announcement because it was on our agenda. I don’t recall this happening before,” he said.
See ARCADE BUILDING on pa ge 26
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.
Call Viewpoints editor
Ken Trainor at 613-3310
ktrainor@wjinc.com
Four years ago, you entrusted me with the responsibility of leading our village. I am proud of all that we have accomplished together as a community, through COVID-19 and a successful migrant response, to support a vibrant, growing community that continues to strive to be racially and socioeconomically diverse for all generations. I am honored to have been re-elected to serve you as your village president for a second term.
I take this responsibility very seriously. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and share my commitment to listening to diverse perspectives in my service to all of Oak Park. We have remained committed to our values, and it is that commitment that for ms the very fabric of who we are and who we strive to be. I am committed to listening to all and bringing our community to gether for this work
I am extremely grateful to everyone who worked on my campaign committee and to all those who volunteered in many ways. Special gratitude goes to my campaign mana ger, Sarah Corbin, and treasurer, Greg Kolar, both of whom believed in me from the very beginning. Sarah has many talents and shares them generously and with great passion for what she believes in. She is also heavily involved in PFLAG Oak Park Area. Thank you for all you do to better Oak Park, Sarah.
Greg serves on the Township, District 97, and District 200 finance committees. He is a tremendous resource to our community on budgeting practices and fiscal responsibility.
I am also blessed to have the ongoing support and mentorship of many for mer Oak Park trustees, namely Colette Lueck and Ray Johnson, and colleagues with extensive legislative experience whose ongoing partnership is invaluable.
I was grateful to receive endorsements from Senate President Don Harmon, the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Oak Park Firefighters Local 95, Sierra Club, Moms Demand Action Gun Sense candidate distinction, and support from our Realtors Association.
‘DTo despair or not to despair, that is the question
rse when our parents joined up as well, and Richard Nixon finally moved to end the war. Eight years ago, still a New York resident, I was again drawn to the protest movement, joining with millions across the nation in the Women’s March on the day before Donald Trump ’s first inauguration. We wore our pink “pussy hats,” carried signs (mine read “Benedict Trump”), made faces (and more) as we passed Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, and believed we could prevent the worst outcomes. I marched again on “not my president day,” and to protest immigrant deportations and, well, the list goes on. We were disturbed but believed our activism could — and did — make a differ-
ent out, I was amb alent. Oh, my aching feet! Not again! Can’t someone else do this? (I’ll send some money instead.) Where are the national leaders who are going to change things? (Republicans with a conscience?) And where were the young people? (Wasn’t, as President Kennedy said back in 1961, the torch passed to a new generation?)
But could I sit by passively and not participate? Could we collectively disturb the universe, or were things, in fact, hopeless? And what about my small granddaughters?
The antisemitic political flyer that turned up on Election Day in Oak Park in an attack on Nathan Mellman, a candidate for the school board at OPRF, was re pulsive. It must be condemned as fully unacceptable in these villages. And those responsible for its propagation should apolo gize or be actively excised from the political debate in Oak Park and River Forest going forward.
We cannot prosper as a community of activist, opinionated neighbors, if those from any extreme position figure out how to divide us and are allowed to do it.
We can only prove that we are better than the grotesque political assault we are enduring nationwide by being actively better than this. No passing words and tut-tutting. Allowing this rot into our local politics will be the ruin of what we have imperfectly built over time. Let it pass this time, especially in the coarsening rage of our national political leadership, and all future school board races and village board races will have this taint of hatred and othering.
These are hard times with issues that are complex and come with deep feelings. That’s OK. We can argue. We can debate. But we must, must listen better. And we cannot be divided by any entity which seeks to portray anyone in these villages as “lesser than.”
A notable majority of River Forest voters made clear on April 1 that they want term limits for elected village officials. And that majority will only grow if the elected officials about to begin their final terms of office under the new structure try to pull a fast one by claiming the ballot referendum was advisory and not binding.
It is time for grace, for accepting the will of your neighbors and then making the next four years productive and not an inter necine battle. And certainly not a court fight.
That’s our advice for Village President Cathy Adduci and for those village trustees now be ginning a third ter m or even entering a second ter m, which will take them up to the newly imposed limit.
We’ve seldom been fans of citizen referendums. Our view has been that elections are the time and the mechanism to make change in local gover nment. That said, we’ve also been troubled when, in River Forest and Forest Park, mayoralties or village presidencies extend to near life terms. Oak Park, without the benefit of any ordinance, has it right with an infor mal tradition that it is two ter ms and then time for your picture in the hallway. And we know of a couple of those village presidents who contemplated going for one more ter m and then thought better of it.
Adduci has been a good village president. Much has been accomplished under her leadership. We’re asking her to consider her legacy and not risk tarnishing it in a battle with her constituents
What were we saying, Saturday, with that gathering of so many souls and so many signs in so many spaces in this time that feels more like night than day? Were we saying that we oppose a president and his henchmen, who oppose everything we stand for and hold dear?
That we find hateful what they support, and that we support everything they hate, which is pretty much everything our founders risked their lives and liberty for, and that we hate what they are doing to the country we love — all without becoming hateful ourselves?
That we will take inventory of our courage and stand together as allies against those who are all lies, that we will forever be allies against those who are all lies?
And that we will resist their relentless negativity without being consumed by negativity ourselves? That we will do our best to prevent them from har ming those who are so easily har med and who do not deserve the cu ent efforts to punish them simply for being who they are?
That we will call out their crimes and injustices, just as the Declaratio of Independence did, in clear, plai language, condemning cannot condone?
That we will not be passi pacifism? That we obstruct their destructi ever and wherever
That it is a tall order to be at war with those who first declared war on us, and then on this countr and to defend our country without becoming warlike we will be disciplined and deter mined, nonetheless, in upholdin the values upon wh was founded, confident that those values are worth risking our li and liberty to defend
That we are dedicated to su ing their subversions because they are the reckless radicals and tives — conserving and preserving good about this country?
That we are the champions of emissaries of inequality, and against the disciples of cism and racism, po
That we may not have the whole truth, but we do know what this country has always stood for, even when it fails to live up to its creed — that everyone should be judged not by the color of their skin or their country of origin but by the content of their character? That all human beings have rights, unalienable rights, to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness — not the liberty to impose their will on us, not the liberty to pursue their happiness at the expense of everyone else’s happiness, but liberty instead for all, equality for all, a country for all, not just for some?
That we will never accept anything less than equality, and we will never support their core conviction that human beings are created unequal — and declare victions?
e sign says, ‘Hope is my Superpower.’ e face says, ‘It ain’t over yet.’
at we reject their New World Order because it is actually the Old ich leads inevitably because there is nothing new about authoritarianich has been tried for centuys ends in chaos and
at there is only one New World Order and that is equality, otherwise cy? democracy means rigging the system so they an wrangle enough votes to gain r? That we believe is based on something rful — the consent of ned? That we will never ned by those r through lies and ote, and we will r consent to a gover nment led , lying, bullying billionaires, r consent to being gover ned ho govern by
That we stand up for tr their lies, and we will find some wa insidious power that lies ha low citizens — with the full understanding that no one possesses the whole truth and nothing but the truth, even as we take a stand for what we believe to be true against what we know to be lies?
at silence is complicit and neutrality benefits the as the signs said on Saturday, and we are r be complicit, and that our the People by criminals and dismiss their “Second American belong to the First American Revolution.
And it ain’t over yet.
SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck
Last week’s local election result was not what I had hoped for — but it reminded me why I stepped into this race in the first place: to make a meaningful impact in people’s li Over the past four years as a trustee, and throughout the last six months on the campaign trail, I’m grateful to have had the chance to do just that.
I’m proud of the campaign we ran and the incredible people who made it possible. I’m glad I took this journey — it brought lifelong friendships, sparked important conversations, and offered a dif ferent vision for Oak Park. We raised awareness, shifted perspectives, and stayed true to our values.
I stand by every claim, every fact, every message, and every argument we put forward. Speaking up for what I believe in — honestly and directly — was never optional for me. I wouldn’t have done it any other way.
Financially, we raised roughly $22,500 and spent about $20,000. I wanted to run a cost-effective campaign to ensure local elections are about people, ideas and outcomes
for the community. While this one was not sucessful, I believe a successful local campaign for villa ge president is possible with this et.
the thousands of community members ho believed in me, supported the campaign, and contributed in countless ways — thank ou. I’m deeply appreciative of the oppor tunity to serve and to be part of your lives. I also want to thank everyone who ste pped up to run for of fice. I congratulate those who ned the opportunity to serve, and I wish them success as they work to shape Oak Park’s future.
Finally, to Amy and Reva, thank you for your love and patience, and thank you for putting up with my absence and distracted presence these past few months. I’ ll do my best to make it up to you in the weeks and months ahead.
Signing of f with much gratitude.
Ravi Parakk at Oak Park villa ge trustee
of Oak Park and River Forest
e goal of the Viewpoints section is to foster and facilitate a community conversation and respectful dialogue. Responsible community voices are vital to community journalism and we welcome them. Space is at a premium and readers’ attention is also limited, so we ask that Viewpoints submissions be brief. Our limit for letters to the editor is 350 words. For One View essays, the limit is 500 words. Shorter is better. If and when we have su cient space, we print longer submissions, but when space is limited — as it o en is — we may ask you to submit a shorter version or hold the piece until space allows us to print it.
We reser ve the right to edit submissions. We do not have time to allow the writer to review changes before publication. We also do not have time to do more than super cial fact-checking, and because of our national epidemic of misinformation and conspiracy theories, when writers include statistical evidence to support their opinions, we require them to include the source of that information, such as credible websites, print publications, titles of articles and dates published, etc. Be as speci c as possible so that we and our readers have some way of assessing the credibility of your claims. Links may also be included for the online version. We follow the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics: seek the truth and report it and minimize harm. As a result, we will do our best not to publish pieces that espouse doubtful or debunked theories, demonstrate harmful bias, or cross the line into incivility. While we will do our best not to engage in censorship, we also do not intend to be used as a platform for misinformation. Your sources for fact-checking are a critical step in keeping the discourse honest, decent and respectful.
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To expand on and respond to the follow-up article on the term limits campaign in River Forest (oakpark.com), volunteers obtained sufficient signatures to place a term limits referendum for the of fice of the village president on the November 2024 ballot so that term limits for the elected village board official would begin with the April 1, 2025, election. However, a citizen filed an objection, which sent the matter to an electoral board hearing. After defeating a signature challenge, we subsequently defended the term limits petition before an electoral board, comprising the village clerk, the longest-serving village trustee, and a retired judge who has openly disfavored term limits in judicial opinions. Our question did not make it onto the November 2024 ballot. Defending the petition cost citizens thousands of dollars.
Based on the number of residents interested in term limits and the great number of residents who signed the first petition, we requested that the village board discuss and place a referendum on the April 1 ballot. Initially, the village president refused to put the item on the Dec. 16 board agenda, but after calls, emails, and letter pleas from citizens, she eventually relented.
A 90-minute board discussion ensued, in which the village board decided that term limits should apply to all elected board officials, including all trustees and the village clerk. The board, however, voted 4-2 against drafting its own ballot question on term limits for the April 1 election.
With a looming deadline of Dec. 30, several residents rushed to draft a new question that included term limits on all village board offices, per the preference of the village board, and to circulate a new petition during Christmas week so that the referendum could meet the deadline to appear on the April 1, 2025 consolidated election ballot. In our haste to focus on the question so as not to encounter another objection, we overlooked the word “advisory” in the introductory paragraph. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the referendum question is binding and was intended to be binding.
■ The heading provides “Binding Referendum.” Our volunteers presented a petition for “Binding Referendum” to the signatories and to the public during the campaign.
■ The introductory language properly cites the correct statutory provision that provides for binding referenda.
■ The word “advisory” is a scrivener’s er ror. The intent of the document overrides that minor er ror.
■ No Illinois case law holds that an error in the introductory language defeats the intent of the petition.
■ The question met all of the criteria for a binding referendum on term limits under Illinois law.
■ The time to object to the petition was within the week of filing the petition.
■ No objection was filed.
A majority of River Forest citizens voted yes for ter m limits. Term limits for village board officials are now the law of River Forest.
Debbie Borman, Patty Henek, and Sue Foran River Forest
The results of the April 1 election are in, and Oak Park residents now wait to see what the future will bring.
Two major issues that dominated the recent election were the renovation or replacement of Oak Park Village Hall and the proposed construction of a new police station. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, village hall has been operating under lockdown, a policy that remains in effect today Visitors are met at the entrance by a teller station, much like a bank, where an employee asks the nature of their visit and then directs them to another station where they wait for a de partment member to ar rive. It’s puzzling that taxpayers are expected to fund the renovation of a building in which they can’t even step beyond the threshold — certainly not a welcoming place in this community.
T he current Village Hall Council Chamber has been criticized for its lack of proper accessibility. T he newly elected village board has a chance to think outside the box — why not hold board meetings at the Oak Pa rk Main Library? It’s fully accessible, offers plenty of space for attendees, and, like village hall, is funded by Oak Park taxpayers.
One proposed site for a new police station would eliminate the only public park and open space in southeast Oak Park, the “village green.” Created in the 1970s by a forward-thinking board, the green space is still recognized as a vital community asset per the “Envision Oak Park” comprehensive study, commissioned by the village 45 years later. If the new board chooses to proceed with building a police station, they should
select a site that preserves this crucial green space. More suitable alternatives include the gover nment-owned parking lot across from village hall on the north side of Madison Street, along with adjacent properties for sale — or the long-vacant H.J. Mohr & Sons site between Maple and Harlem.
Instead of constructing a new police station, a better option would be to make better use of the existing space within village hall by relocating some police operations from the lower to the upper levels. If board meetings were moved to the main library, the Council Chambers could be incorporated into this plan as well. This approach would not only save money but also set a strong example of collaboration between local governing bodies.
Southeast Oak Park has long been neglected by the village board, and removing the only park in the area for a new police station would be a glaring example of this disre gard. Another case in point is the controversial agreement between the village and the Park District of Oak Park (PDOP), which turned a residential neighborhood into a private parking lot for the Community Recreation Center. This decision has put the safety of children at risk by significantly increasing traffic volume and speed along a key walking route to school.
The decision now rests with the new village board, and I am confident they will prioritize the well-being and safety of children in southeast Oak Park while managing public funds responsibly.
Richard Willis is a former Oak Park Township Trustee and Community Mental Health Board member
Re: “Stocks tumble for second day,” Chicago Tribune, p. 1 (April 5)
With his executive order establishing huge tarif fs for every country in the world, Donald Trump has single-handedly destroyed the world economy. Our own economy is in a shambles, our retirement funds are drained, and whatever respect we had in the international theater was obliterated. Things will only get worse.
The primary intellectual basis for the idea of massive tariffs comes from White House Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing Peter Navarro, already known for his fictitious “voter fraud” claims [1] and a 4-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress [2]. He has written several books, and is fond of cit-
ing Ron Vara, an “economics expert,” to support his views.
It turns out that there is no such person, he was invented by Navarro as an anagram of his own name. So the world economy has been destroyed on the basis of advice from a fictitious expert!
It is high time that we invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the deranged megalomaniac, Donald Trump, from the presidency, before he does even more damage. In these few weeks of his second term he has destroyed everything that makes America a desirable place to live. When will the Re publicans in Cong ress grow a tiny backbone and stop this madness?
Tom DeCoursey Oak Park
from page 29
I unexpectedly had to brush tears from my eyes as I observed and absorbed the energy all around me.
I walked for a couple of blocks with a middle-aged woman, another veteran of past protests, who said we only have two years — until the mid-term elections — to get through. I asked her how she could be so optimistic that we could and would in fact get through it. She said she had no other choice but to believe
“No other choice” in fact sums it up for me and for many others. We have no other choice — apart from despair — but to work to save our democracy.
Indivisible, the organization, put it this way in its post-protest email:
cy
pated in and their frustration (despair?)
paign committee and all volunteers in this election cycle. Campaigns have many moving par ts that require dedicated volunteers to be successful. Volunteers made financial commitments to support election ef forts, hosted events in their homes and businesses, knocked on doors, called neighbors, shared their talents to communicate a strong campaign message, canvassed neighborhoods with campaign literature, volunteered in the cold on Election Day, and wrote letters to the editor.
I am grateful to my close friends and family for suppo rting me on this journey and to all Oak Parkers for contributing in so many ways to the vibrant, beautiful community that we hold dear.
I heard many dif fering perspectives that I will take to heart moving forward as one community.
It has been an honor to serve with Trustee Lucia Robinson. I would also like to thank Trustee Ravi Parakkat for his additional perspective and contributions
continue to lead with his heart and lo for Oak Park as he has for the last four years. I am looking forward to eng the entire board to advance our collecti shared goals.
Oak Park has a long history of to be inclusive of all people work, but we have shown again that this is wo munity wants to do.
committed to our values, and it is that commitment that for who we are and who committed to listening to all and bringing our community to gether for this Over the next four years I’ll be writing in re gularly to the Wednesd keeping you up to date on my thoughts and the work happening at the board tabl You can check for frequent updates at vickiscaman.substack.com.
Vicki Scaman is the ne la ge president of Oak Pa
“The Trump administration has spent its first 75 days in office trying to overwhelm us, to make us feel powerless, so that we will fall in line, accept the ransacking of our government, the raiding of our social safety net, and the dismantling of our democrac y.
“… Even more important than the messa ge we’v e sent to Trump, Musk, and MAGA is the signal we’ re sending to those who agree with us but have spent
I read with surprise the comments of some River Forest Village Board members to the results of the referendum in the April 2 edition of Wednesday Journal: (https://www oakpark.com/2025/04/01/river-forest-termlimit-referendum-result/)
I was especially puzzled by the comments of Trustee Lisa Gillis. She opposes term limits because with term limits “[The village] is going to run into a situation where we’re not going to have the caliber of people in office because we are not allowing folks to put the best people into the office.”
As far as day-to-day operations, we all know that the village operates almost as if by inertia. So I tried to remember the position of Ms. Gillis to unique, important decisions by the board in the last few years. Four of them came to mind. Placing traffic barriers on Clinton and Bonnie Brae, to which she voted enthusiastically Yes; changes in Zoning ordinance, again a resounding Yes; Lake & Ashland’s unfortunate razing, which she again approved without reservation; the TIF district, which she again approved with gusto.
Most of these decisions were poorly thought through and were either reversed or are still in limbo years later. But not before costing money and time to the residents So much for putting the best people in office.
Really, Ms. Gillis, nobody in River Forest can match your caliber? Given the examples above, I believe that any resident has better judgment than you.
I do not know what is greater: the delusions of grandeur of some board members, or their obtuse view of the village’s problems and residents’ expectations, their consistent ineptitude in decisions that affect the residents, their outstanding incompetence, or the level of inflation of their ego. Why should we not vote against your tenure on the board and the sequence of future bad decisions that we believe you will make? Do us a favor: Resign, and let residents with less arrogance and more common sense guide this village
Giuseppina Nucifora River Forest
Danice “Dani
Johanna Sher die on Thursday, March 27, 2025 after a prolonged 18-month battle with Stag IV gallbladder cancer. Born on Oct. 21, 1975, from the time she was a little gi she had a unique laugh. As a toddler, she stage at Disney Wo audience with an impromptu song-and dance routine. In elementary school, she was the class clown and was quick with jokes and eerily accurate imitations of characters from Saturday Night Live. Her delight in bringing joy to others made her a supportive and loving wife, friend, sister, mother, and daughter right until her very last moments
Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name.”
She was the creator and owner of Sparkle Aesthetics Med Spa in Oak Park. Her business, like her, was full of Sparkle, bright and happy. Armed with ultrasound techniques, she pioneered the use of this skill in the safe administration of facial fillers in the aesthetic industry, becoming an expert in the field who was invited to speak at conferences around the U.S. and abroad Dani is survived by her husband, Matt an; her children, the two brightest lights her life, Josephine and Emmett Ryan; her parents, Harvey and Patricia Sher; her sisters, Rachel Sher and Alyssa Creney; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, aws, and friends. She will be deeply missed.
Visitation was held at Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home, 7319 Madison St., ForPark, on April 4, followed by a celebration of life ceremony on April 5 at Cheney Mansion, 220 N. Euclid Ave., Oak Park
he actively participated in the Holy Name Society, Scouting, and was a Eucharist minister and Mass captain. He had a regular pew at early Sunday Mass
Bob is survived by Barbara (Carpentier) Creed, his wife of 50 years; his children, Robert E. Creed (companion Caroline), Charles Creed (Bonny), and Catherine Ludvigsen (Ron); his grandchildren, Raelynn, Noah, Daisy, and Will Creed, and Emily and Genevieve Ludvigsen; and by extended family, friends, and neighbors
Bob’s warmth, generosity, humor, and kindness touched many lives. Services were held at Ascension Catholic Church on April 3.
Inter ment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery will be private.
She attended The Bolles School where she was active in student gover nment and honed her theatrical chops. She majored in French Literature and Pre-Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, and developed her love of Improvisational Comedy with Mama’s Pot Roast Improv Troupe. She also studied for a semester at The Sorbonne in Paris. After graduation, she moved to Chicago to take classes and perform at Improv Olympics (iO) and was ultimately offered a job as a comedian at Boom Chicago Comedy Theatre in Amsterdam, where she lived and performed for nearly three years.
She returned from her lively Amsterdam era in 2005 ready to pursue her other passion, medicine. Attending Midwester n University, she earned her Physician Associate degree and worked in the Emergency departments in several of Chicago’s busiest hospitals where she was exceptionally quick on her feet and brilliant in her ability to diagnose and care for patients. In the initial frightening months of uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was bravely on the frontlines in overfilled and understaffed hospitals. Through it all, she continued to bring her quick wit and compassion to her co-workers and patients alike
She met the love of her life, Matt Ryan, in 2005. It was love at first sight when she saw him singing a karaoke version of Bon
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Camp Kesem, a nonprofit organization that provides ongoing support to children through and beyond a parent’s cancer diagnosis. Camp Kesem, 440 N. Barranca Ave., #2273, Covina, CA 91723 or online at www. Kesem.org for the national organization or Camp Kesem Notre Dame program.
Robert T. “Bob Creed, 74, of Forest Park, died af ter a long illness on March 24, 2025. Born on Oct. 30, 1950, in Jersey City, New Jersey, he and his family lived in Oak Park for many y home on Gunderson.
Bob enjoyed a long and successful career in the insurance industry, beginning as an underwriter with Royal-Globe in 1974. He retired after many years at The Hartford. His expertise and professionalism earned him the respect of colleagues and clients alike. Whether at work or in life, he took pride in his appearance and was known for being a dapper dresser.
His faith was a cornerstone. A devoted member of Ascension Church in Oak Park,
Real estate, boat captain, possible leprechaun
John Francis Sheehan Jr., “Jack,” 82 of Oak Park, died on Friday, March 28, 2025. Born Oct. 10, 1942, in Chicago to John and Grace Sheehan, he was a shining light for all who had the privile ge of knowing him. His journey was marked by love and compassion. A specialist in the U.S. Ar my Reserve, a real estate investor and manager, boat captain, husband, father, grandpa, friend, and possibly a leprechaun. His spirit will continue to uplift us and shine brightly in our hearts. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Brian; his brother, Francis; and his sister, Mary Grace.
Jack is survived by his beloved wife, Joan (“Joann”); his children, Ter ryl (Jim Lock), John (Sandy), Dirk (Carmen White), and Kevin (Kristy); his stepchildren, Michael Moran, Victoria Cohler (Jonathan), and Jason Moran (Jennifer); his grandchildren, Mary, Andrew, Katie, Casey, Ryan, Aoife, Jack, Mata, Rocky and Veronica; and his brothers, Timothy (Naizme “Tula”) and Robert.
The family is making plans for a memorial in the near future.
Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for Joann and the Sheehan family
By MELVIN Contributing
In front of a large and at the Fenwick Priory in Ri Park and River Forest High School team maintained its hot start with a 3-2 victory host Friars.
“It was super-exciting having all the fans there suppo ing us, and it really helped bring ener OPRF senior Malie Cassel. “It was a little ner playing on the side with and they were sitting so close to the field.”
“The atmosphere was Blazer said. “Two really good teams, and that’s exactly what you want: tons of fun.”
OPRF (7-1) notched the opening goal 6:15 into the first half when after a scramble Sofia Mrotzek passed to Cassel, whose shot got past Fenwick goalkeeper Mimi Carvalho.
“Téa [Dassinger] kic was able to get her head on and hit the ball over the goalie and defenders,” Cassel said. “Then I ran onto the ball and kicked it in. It felt really good to score on them first.”
OPRF senior Genevieve Simkowski (#13, in white) goes on the attack as Fenwick’s Lola Martinez (#17) and Kiera Kapsch (#29) defend during a girls soccer match, April 5. e Huskies defeated the Friars 3-2.
Fenwick (2-2-1) tied the match nearly 11 minutes later as Lila Gaddipati scored of f of a free kick just outside the box, beating OPRF goalkeeper Scarlett Simkowski. But OPRF went back ahead with 5:12 left in the half. Mrotzek was tripped inside the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Mrotzek rocketed her shot to the right side of the net past a diving Carvalho and in, giving the Huskies a lead they would never relinquish.
“That was a world-class shot,” OPRF coach Lauren Zallis said. “She’s a junior who’s already committed to [Loyola University Chicago].”
Early in the second half, OPRF seemed poised to start pulling away when Genevieve Simkowski picked up another loose ball in the box and found Maddy Vizzone, who beat Fenwick goalkee per Jackie Keller for a goal that gave the Huskies a 3-1 lead.
“Sometimes [with] those ugly goals, you’ re left shaking your head,” Blazer said. “[But] give a lot of credit to our team, they just ke pt fighting back.”
Indeed, Fenwick refused to yield and pulled back within a goal as Gaddipati scored again of f a free kick from 30 yards out. The freshman midfielder has a team-high six goals for the Friars.
“She’s terrific,” Blazer said. “We have other good players, but Lila did really well [today].”
Fenwick then cranked their intensity up and kept possession largely on the OPRF side of the pitch. But the Friars could never find the equalizer as Gaddipati’s bid for a hat trick sailed just over the OPRF net with about 16 minutes remaining in regulation time. The Huskies were able to gradually regain control of the match and largely kept Fenwick pinned in its own end as the final minutes melted away OPRF is of f to its best start in some time, and Zallis feels the veteran presence has been important to the Huskies’ early success.
“Honestly, it feels good to win,” Zallis said. “That helps with motivation. They’re starting to accumulate all these wins and see they’ re a team to be reckoned with.”
“Our team has such a special bond and we’re all superclose,” Cassel said. “I think that, especially, has helped us because we all want to win for each other, and at practice we all work hard together, which creates such a good community of support and competitiveness.”
Fenwick has dropped two consecutive matches: the Friars lost to visiting Loyola Academy 1-0 on April 3. But Blazer still has confidence and belief in his squad.
“Our [players] never give up and they’ve played good in every half so far this season,” he said. “We look forward to more quality games. … We’ll be all right (and) will learn from this.”
OPRF participates in the Plainfield North Classic this week, with g ames against Bartlett April 12, Downers Grove North April 14, and Plainfield North April 16. Fenwick has home g ames with IC Catholic Pr ep April 10 and Whitney Young April 14, with a match against Lincoln-Way Central in the BodyAr mor Series at Waukeg an Spor ts Park April 12.
By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
Despite losing eight players from last season due to graduation, the Oak Park and River Forest High School varsity boys volleyball team is off to a terrific start, winning its first eight matches this season. The latest Huskies’ victory occurred on April 5, 25-21, 25-9 at Car mel Catholic.
Among OPRF’s early season highlights are winning the Oswego Invitational March 29. The Huskies, who have dropped only two sets so far this season, defeated Geneva, Machesney Park Harlem, Rockton Hononegah, and Yorkville to win the tournament for the second consecutive season.
OPRF has seven returning players from last season’s 25-10 sectional finalists: sophomore outside hitter Jimmie “Trayce” Chrusfield III, junior middle hitter Wesley
Kochendorfer, junior defensive specialist Alex Lema, junior libero Gus Leman, junior setter Matthew Proskey, senior libero/defensive specialist Stuart Lippincott, and senior middle hitter Gavin Martin. The Huskies have a pair of promising junior newcomers: libero/defensive specialist Sander Adelstein and outside hitter David Diakite
Adelstein, Chrusfield, Diakite, Martin, and Proskey are on the Junior Volleyball Association’s watchlist for potential honors this season.
OPRF is in the midst of a five-game road stretch. Following a game at West Suburban Silver rival Lyons Township, April 8 (after deadline), the Huskies visit Marist, April 10, and end the trip at East Avenue neighbor Fenwick, April 14.
Fenwick opened the season with a 29-27, 16-25, 25-21 victory over visiting St. Rita, April 1. Senior setter Brian Riggs had 26 assists, senior middle/outside hitter Will
Griswold had nine kills, and junior middle hitter Conor Hanley had eight kills.
The victory is one that Fenwick head coach Kate Whitman, in her 19th year, hopes will lead to a much better season. Last year, the Friars struggled with a 5-16 record. But Whitman feels the experience gained will pay of f now.
“I’d say our early strength is experience,” she said. “Five players from last year’s starting rotation are returning, and three of them have been on varsity for three years.”
Riggs made the Chicago Catholic League White All-Conference team last season with a team-leading 178 assists and 18 aces. Griswold led Fenwick in blocks with 24 and was second in kills with 58, and senior libero Aidan Soule led in digs with 79.
Fenwick’s other returnees are Hanley, senior right hitter Dom Tortorello, junior defensive specialist Johnny Cox, and junior outside hitter Gael Jimenez. Freshman middle hitter Esteban Jimenez is expected to be the Friars’ top newcomer.
“We’ re trying out a new system this year so we’re working out some of the kinks,” Whitman said. “But I think that it’s something that will work for us once we get into a rhythm.”
Among the highlights of Fenwick’s schedule is a home match against OPRF, April 14, and the Fremd Tournament, May 9-10. Re garding the CCL White title race, Whitman feels it’s wide open.
“We lost a lot of very close games last year, so I think that the division title could be a good fight this year,” she said.
Whitman also hopes for better lineup consistency. The Friars were forced to play multiple lineups last year due to injuries and illness, and she hopes having better health leads to more re gular results.
“If we can stay consistent as a group, that will allow us to continue improving as the season goes on, rather than having to start over with every new lineup,” Whitman said.
Fenwick hosts Payton Prep, April 9, then visits Nazareth Academy, April 10.
By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
Oak Park and River Forest High School’s new varsity boys lacrosse head coach should be well known to fans
Dan Ganschow, who graduated from OPRF in 1993 and served as head coach for 14 seasons before stepping down, is back leading the Huskies. He returned last year to serve as an assistant to Justin Porter, who departed OPRF after two seasons. Ganschow likes how things are looking so far this spring.
“At this point, the team has worked hard to become a cohesive unit,” he said. “I believe this year’s coaching staf f has worked hard to implement the principles of our of fensive and defensive systems to become stronger at the fundamentals of lacrosse.”
“As a teacher, father, and coach, I want our players to not only have fun and learn about the sport, but to become good role models and community members,” he said.
OPRF, which returns 13 players from last season, is 3-0 this season, with victories over Riverside-Brookfield (16-1), Niles Notre Dame (10-0), and Mount Carmel (118). T he Huskies have received top ef forts from sophomore attacker Connor Ganschow (11 goals, 5 assists, 7 ground balls); junior midfielder Dylan Clarke (5 goals, 5 assists, 5 ground balls); junior face-off midfielder Ravi Mitchell-Chablani (64% success rate), and senior defender Luke Fougère, an Illinois Institute of Technolog y signee
Top newcomers for OPRF are freshman attacker T homas Carter, sophomore attacker Arlo Hungerford, and sophomore goalie Charlie Dawson.
“We’ve had eight dif ferent players score
Ganschow adds that the staf f’s methods are designed to help the players succeed both on and of f the field, believing the skills they develop will benefit them as they get older.
in our g ames and our defense has worked very well to g ether,” Ganschow said. “But it’s very early in the season, so we’re bound to have more standout play as we move through the schedule.”
Ganschow feels discipline and teamwork will determine how OPRF fares this season.
“When everyone in the lacrosse program is moving in the same direction to accomplish the same goals to be successful,” he said, “each member of the team will bring dignity to themselves, our program, and our school. By doing so, I believe our players will develop skills they can take with them through life, as well as the beginnings of lifelong friendships.”
OPRF visits Maine South, April 12, and begins West Suburban Silver play at York, April 15.
Connor Lamb, a 2016 OPRF graduate, is Fenwick’s new head coach. Lamb takes over from Daniel Applebaum, who led the
program the previous five years. Fenwick is of f to a 2-2 start this spring, with victories at Nazareth Academy (16-4) and Lane Tech (8-6) and losses to St. Ignatius and Kimberly, Wisconsin. In the victory over Nazareth, senior attacker Charles Bastedo and junior attacker Marco Litton each scored four goals, and junior midfielder Duffy Monahan went perfect in the face-off dot.
Bastedo, Litton, and Monahan are among 13 returning players for Fenwick, which went 12-8 last year. The others are sophomore defender Adam Chrastka, sophomore midfielder Luke Benton, junior defender Robert Ar royo, junior goalie Will Ristau, junior midfielder Truman Sabatino, senior attacker Jack Hardy, senior defender AJ Guercio, and senior midfielders Ninos Ameer, Sam Guercio, and Dylan Keith. Having plenty of experienced players should be of great help for Lamb. Fenwick hosts Providence Catholic, April 10 at Triton Colle ge, and has road matches at Hinsdale Central, April 12, and Brother Rice, April 15.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION
LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC
Plaintiff vs. CHRISTOPHER RAY ETHERTON AKA CHRISTOPHER ETHERTON; JEANNE ETHERTON AKA JEANNE STEARNS AKA JEANNE SCHEMONIA; VILLAGE OF MELROSE PARK; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS
Defendant 24 CH 2755
CALENDAR
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on May 5, 2025, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-03-413-007-0000. Commonly known as 1301 N. 12th Avenue, Melrose Park, IL 60160. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Suite 120, Naperville, IL 60563. (630) 453-6960. 6706-200451 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3263243
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION
WINTRUST MORTGAGE, A DIVISION OF BARRINGTON BANK & TRUST COMPANY, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.ARMANI GRIFFIN Defendants 24 CH 04949 2501 SOUTH 18TH AVENUE
BROADVIEW, IL 60155
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on February 10, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 13, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:
Commonly known as 2501 SOUTH 18TH AVENUE, BROADVIEW, IL 60155
Property Index No. 15-22-124015-0000
The real estate is improved with a single family residence.
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, 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 151701(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.
MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088. 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.
MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC
One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200
Chicago IL, 60602
312-346-9088
E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com
Attorney File No. 23-16277IL
Attorney Code. 61256
Case Number: 24 CH 04949
TJSC#: 45-520
NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
Case # 24 CH 04949
I3263630
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:
Fenwick – Priory Campus Water Main Loop Installation
This project consists of the following major work items: horizontal directional bore of 1,100 feet of 8” PVC C900 water main, valves, pavement rehabilitation and related items in the Village of River Forest.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at: www.vrf.us/bids
Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at:
Village Hall, 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.
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 April 9, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park ��Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302�� will receive electronic proposals until 10�00 a.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025 for Project: 24�11, Water and Sewer Improvements. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, the improvements consist of the installation of combined sewer mains including residential service lines, precast manholes, drainage structures and catch basin connections, replacement of watermain and water services, water valve replacements, combined sewer spot repairs, restoration of roadway including curb and gutter, sidewalks, driveways, parkways, pavement markings, curb bump-outs, hot-mix asphalt pavement, and all appurtenant work thereto.
Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at 10�00 a.m. Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/ budget-purchasing/requestsproposals or at www.questcdn. com under login using QuestCDN number 9604657 for a non-refundable charge of $64.00. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. No bid documents will be issued after 4�00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening.
The work to be performed pursuant to this proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq.
THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer
Published in Wednesday Journal April 9, 2025
Notice of Public Meeting
Proviso Township High School (PTHS) District 209, located at 8601 N. Roosevelt Rd, Forest Park, IL, will hold a “timely and meaningful consultation” virtual public meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private or parochial schools or are homeschooled within the district for the 2025-2026 school year. Parents of homeschooled students residing within the boundaries of PTHS District 209 who have been or may be identified with a disability are encouraged to attend. This meeting is being conducted in compliance with Illinois State Board of Education regulations. To receive a Microsoft TEAMS invitation to participate in the meeting, please email rfleming@ pths209.org. For questions or additional information, please contact: Ms. Ramonda Fleming, Ed.S District Coordinator (708) 497-4650
Published in Forest Park Review April 9, 16, 23, 30 and May 7, 2025
Submit events and see full calendar at oakpark.com/events
