Wednesday Journal 042424

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River

Oak Park alum brings ‘Mamma Mia!’ home

Show will run from April 30 through May 17

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Mamma Mia, here he goes again.

Oak Parker and OPRF alum Grant Reynolds, 25, will be rocking the stage in his Broadway in Chicago debut at the Nederlander Theatre in the loop as Sky Rymand in the hit Broadway musical “Mamma Mia!”

Getting his start in BRAVO, an “extracurricular, awardwinning, nationally reco gnized” performing arts program at Brooks Middle School, Reynolds said the D97 program helped propel him forward in his acting.

“We are so blessed to have such a strong community theater foundation here,” Reynolds said, adding he began participating in BRAVO “religiously.”

See MAMMA MIA on pa ge 15

Madison Street a ordable housing development in the works

The ideal timeline to open is 2026

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Housing Forward is partnering with Interfaith Housing Development Corporation to open an af fordable housing development on Madison Street called “Keystone Apartments.”

The goal is to open in 2026.

The apar tments will be located at 1106 Madison St., which is now the location of Fellowship Christian Church. IHDC President Perry Vietti said the development is planned to have five stories and 36 units, 12 of which would be studios. The rest are expected to be onebedroom apartments.

Housing Forward is a social services organization that provides programs including homelessness prevention, medical respite, interim housing, emergency overnight shelter and wraparound services.

See AFFORDABLE HOUSING on pa ge 13

Grant Reynolds and Alisa Melendez, who plays Sophie Sheridan in “Mamma Mia!”

PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS

OPRF Principal Lynda Parker will retire in 2028

This permits 6% annual raises for her and spokeswoman Karin Sullivan, who joins her

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Two of the top employees at Oak Park and River Forest High School announced they’ll be retiring in four years.

On March 7, the District 200 Board of Education approved the notices from Principal Lynda Parker and Executive Director of Communications and Community Relations Karin Sullivan effective June 30, 2028.

Why put in for retirement a little more than four years from now?

Because at OPRF, administrators are allowed to take advantage of a provision in the faculty contract, which does not cover administrators. It permits educators who put in an ir revocable written notice of their retirement by March 1 up to four years before retirement to get 6% raises during those final years of their career.

Those above-average raises boost the pension that the retiring employee will receive because Illinois Teacher Retirement System pensions are based on the average of a worker’s highest paid years. The so-called “pension spike” is limited to 6% by the state.

Pension spikes are common in teachers’

contracts. School districts generally li them because they provide an incenti highly paid veteran teachers to retire school district can then re place the paid retiring teachers with younger, cheaper teachers. Because the increased pension costs are covered by TRS and taxp the school district pays the higher raises only during the final four years of an employee’s career.

A similar provision exists in the tract for Oak Pa rk District 97 teacher School board President Tom Cofsky said that the board permits this ar ment because there are similarities be tween administrators and teachers.

“An administrator has a number of the rights and privileg es of a teacher,” Cofsky said. “They ’re subject to same pension group.”

Three OPRF staffers retiring this year have received the 6% bump in salary. Next year, one will. But in 2026, the numbers swell to 13. For 2027, it’s 14 and for 2027, it’s 15.

One reason for the jump is that teachers retiring in 2027 who are receiving the 6% raises had to ag ree to have their salary frozen for the 2021-22 school, and those getting the bump in 2028 ag reed to have their salaries frozen for two years.

Parker’s salary is $185,610.20. Next year, she will earn $196,746.81. With the 6% raises compounded over four years, her final salary is calculated to be $234,339.95. She’ll be 56. Usually, TRS employee hired before 2011 must have worked 35 years and be at least 55 years old.

Parker said that she has not yet thought about what she will do in retirement.

“I love what I do,” Parker said.

As for Sullivan, she earns $130,402.83. OPRF pays for Sullivan’s employee pension contribution. But because Sullivan is not a certified staf f member, she is not covered by TRS and instead is covered by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, which covers mainly those who work for local government. IMRF workers pay into and receive Social Security. Sullivan will be 62 when she retires, and will receive a discounted IMRF pension. Under IMRF rules, employees are eligible to retire at 67 to receive a full pension. Sullivan has worked for OPRF since 2012 and worked for River Forest District 90 two years before that.

“Twelve years in and I still love my job,”

Sullivan said. “But it’s feasible for me to go out at 62 and there are things I want to do and I’m going to do it.”

“I feel for tunate to have a pension,” Sullivan said. “That’s a retirement benefit of the past in most instances.”

Parker said that giving notice of her intent to retire four years in advance gives the district a long time to plan to re place her

“I feel it’s important that we plan and make moves so that we’re prepared for the continued flourishing of our school,” Parker said. “So, I reco gnize that there’s young talent and individuals who probably have great ideas so I want to make sure that we’re preparing the way for that to happen.”

Shakespeare Movie Fest: ‘Coriolanus’

Tuesday, April 30, 2 - 4 p.m, Oak Park Public Library

Join in a celebration of Shakespeare’s work at this weekly lm series. Each week will feature a di erent lm based on a Shakespeare play. Come to all or any of the series. This event is intended for adult audiences. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ bddkfdva. 834 Lake St., Oak Park

Trash to Treasure: Ar tist Talk & Discussion

Wednesday, May 1, 6 - 7 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

Join Cody Norman, a local artist and designer who uses an industrial robot and custom tools to turn recycled plastic into functional art pieces inspired by nature (and whose sculpture pictured you have probably walked by right in downtown Oak Park). Dive into his creative process and hear how he promotes environmental awareness through a unique approach to art. A Q & A will follow the presentation. This event is intended for adult participants. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ u8r8rj78. 834 Lake St., Oak Park

Barrie Park R ibbon Cutting

Saturday, April 27, 10:30 a.m., Barrie Park Free community event. The Park District is hosting a ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Barrie Park. We’re inviting the community to celebrate with us, enjoy the park, and participate in some crafts and activities too. For more info, visit pdop.org. 127 Gar eld St., Oak Park

BIG WEEK

April 24 - May 1

Basic Oil Painting

Thursday, April 25, 6 p.m., Oak Park Art League Students will explore the fundamentals of oil painting with an introduction to materials and by practicing skills of observation, methods of drawing, explorations of color theor y, and techniques of brushwork. Advanced registration is required for this event. Register at https://tinyurl. com/4sa4y5j3. 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park

Tablet Time

Monday, April 29, 4 - 5 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

It’s Tablet Time in the Children’s Services Area. Tr y apps for drawing, music, and video creation, puzzles and games, coding, science, and more. Registration for this event will close on April 29 @ 4 p.m. Register at https://tinyurl. com/4n33beyz. 834 Lake St., Oak Park

Animal Care League’s 27th Annual Spring for the Animals Luncheon

Sunday, April 28, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Oak Park Country Club

Join us for this time-honored spring tradition. Enjoy lunch and mimosas, peruse our silent auction, bid on our live auction, and of course, mingle with ACL adoptables. As we kick o the busy season at the shelter, proceeds will go straight to work supporting the many puppies, kittens and other homeless animals who will need our help when the warm weather begins. Can’t make it? Donations to the event will also be matched up to $4,000. Get tickets, see more info, and donate at  aclspring2024.givesmar t.com. 2001 Thatcher Ave., River Grove

Listing your event in the calendar

Wednesday Jour nal welcomes notices about events that Oak Park and River Forest community groups and businesses are planning. We’ ll work to get the word out if

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Autism & Disability Pride Storytime

Wednesday, April 24, 3:30 - 4 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

Join us for a special storytime to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month. We will share books by and about autistic and disabled people, with a schedule to support participant success. Sensory supports like lap weights and dget toys are also available to help children be successful. Best for all kids 3+, with and without autism or a disability, with a caregiver. Register now at //oppl. org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park

Compiled by Brooke Duncan

ABC7’s Roz Varon opens up about life on the air

River Forest’s Varon retired earlier this month.

See what’s beyond the camera for her

By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter

Longtime River Forest resident Roz ron has helped Chicagoans reach their destinations safely and efficiently during rush hour since 1989.

Yet after an impressive and trailblazing 35-year career at ABC7 Chicago, Varon tired from her role as a traffic/transportation anchor earlier this month.

She was Chicago’s first broadcast television traffic anchor and one of the original team members at “ABC 7 Eyewitness News This Morning,” which debuted in April 1989. “So, the anniversary of the morning show is also my personal anniversary the show,” Varon said.

Varon grew up in Niles and attended Co lumbia College Chicago, where she graduated in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast communications. Before joinin the team at ABC7, she worked as a radio traf fic reporter in the Chicagoland area for nine years. When Varon learned that WLS-Channel 7 was planning on starting a morning newscast that would incorporate a traffic anchor, she set her sights on working in television. She auditioned – but was disappointed to learn that she did not land the role.

“Everybody, including myself, who auditioned for this came from radio,” Varon said. “We were all terrible. None of us had ever done a green screen. We were all awkward and stiff.”

Varon decided to give it another shot.

With a better idea of what they were looking for, she set out to make a second audition tape. It included a segment where she confidently stood on a bridge above an expressway, re porting on the traffic below. Not long after submitting her new tape, Varon was thrilled to learn that her determination and persistence had paid of f. She got the job, and has been a fixture on ABC 7’s morning news ever since.

When she first arrived at Channel 7’s studio at 190 N. State St., the team had Varon shadow anchor Alan Krashesky for a w eek before she started to learn how to become a television reporter.

“The traffic, I knew. The re porting, I didn’t,” Varon said. “So, they said ‘as long as you’re going to be anchoring traffic for the morning news, we’re going to teach you to be a TV news re porter and transportation will be your beat.’”

In addition to her role as the morning traffic anchor, Varon did extensive transportation coverage during her 35-year career at ABC7. She also produced a series on nearby driving destinations – a mini vacation you can get to on a tank of gas – called “Roz Varon’s 1 Tank Trips.”

Varon said one of her favorite “1 Tank Trips” was to Indiana Dunes National Park.

“That’s one that stands out,” she said. “Everybody, especially my daughter, reminds me of the fact that when the instructor was teaching me how to kayak and he pushed me off the first thing I did was flip over.”

Despite that rough start, Varon said she

carried on and had a great time during the experience.

“If you can’t make fun of yourself then, well, give it up,” she said.

Another significant contribution that Varon made during her time at ABC7 was her “Weekender” re port, a weekly roundup of metro Chicago events.

“I spent more time producing ‘Weekender’ than I did with my traffic stuf f,” she said. “It got to the point where people really were looking forward to that so they could plan what they were going to do.”

Throughout her career, Varon has won multiple Emmy Awards in traffic re porting, specialty progr amming, spot news and features. She has also been honored with several Peter Lisagor Awards. The Girl Scouts reco gnized her as a role model with their Girl Scouts of the USA Thanks Badge and she has also won the Illinois

Broadcasters Association’s Silver Dome Award for her breast cancer special, “Faces of Inspiration.”

A cancer survivor, Varon has used her platform to help heighten cancer prevention and awareness ever since she received a stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis in 2006.

“I consider myself a conduit,” she said.

“I mean, at the time, I had a platform. I still have a platform. I’m still all over social media, so I take that responsibility very seriously. As long as I have that platform, it gives me an opportunity to help people.”

Now that Varon has retired, she said she will miss her co-workers, but she’s happy to no longer wake up at 1:30 a.m. each morning for work

“The only plan that I have right now is to visit my daughter Sara in Albuquerque as often as I can,” she said. “And I need to get on a re gular sleep schedule.”

River Forest resident Roz Varon

He didn’t win a trophy, but Oak Park’s Go-Kart kid is still a champ

Pierce Joy didn’t place in the in junior U.S. championship, but he honed his need for speed

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

While a first-place trophy was not in the cards for Oak Park Go-Kart racer Pierce Joy, the Lincoln Elementary fourth grader nevertheless wants to stay in the fast lane. Earl ier this month, Pierce Joy went head-to-head with other top racers from across the c ountry as they c ompeted in the i naugural 2024 Junior U. S. C hampionship for K1 Speed Go-Ka rt Racing, a go-kar t franchise

Pierce, who had b een looking forwar d to the big race since he q ualified to re present I llinois in Januar y, finished 35 out of 40.

The race was held in Ontario, California, April 14. According to K1, the race welcomed 40 “of the fastest junior racers in the country” who came out to participate.

The drivers came from 18 states and 23 K1 Speed centers.

To qualify for the big race, drivers had to place in the Top 3 of their state championship.

During the 2023 Junior League season, Pierce finished in first place with a total of 111 points for the year.

Pierce began racing this season for the 2024 Junior League at K1 in Addison, Illinois, in January. He is in third place with 41 points, only 12 behind the first-place racer. At the championship, racers were divided into four randomized groups to run their qualifying races, where the kids raced to get a fast lap as it determined the racing order, said Kerri Joy, Pierce’s mother. While he didn’t snag a win, he did drive fast laps, according to his mother.

“So, his qualifying laps were not as fast as his final race lap, but if you look at the whole day for all the kids, his final lap kind of showed that he was able to post the second fastest lap of the day,” she said.

“I think there was a lot of nerves and a lot of excitement because this is kind of unknown territory to us, the world on what you would call competitive racing at this age and at this level,” she added. “I think we learned a lot.”

Being around other serious racers has given Pierce the confidence and motivation to move onto gas karts, which he said he hopes he can try soon said his father, Branden Joy.

For now, the Joy family said, they are trying to move in a way that keeps Pierce’s best interest in mind.

Under the guidance of his parents, Pierce has set up an Instagram account, @theracer p, where he shares his racing journey.

“We have had so much really p ositive suppo rt from the c ommunity and f amily and friend s, ” Joy said. “We ke ep saying, and p eople ke ep telling us, that they really f eel li ke this is the starting point. This is the beginning. Th at is wh at we are really f eeling wh ich is why there is the pressure that we f eel to d etermine

wh at is the right next ste p. ”

Pierce said he was a little disappointed in his finish, but he added that the overall experience was fun and taught him that he wants to be fully immersed in the racing world.

“Next — I definitely want to keep racing,” Pierce said.

But racing is a big commitment, and Pierce’s parents are not taking it lightly.

“It’s a time commitment, it’s a f amily commitment, it’s a financial commitment,” his mother said. “But I think Pierce has some natural talent, which we have heard from a lot of people, and we are just trying to figure out how to potentially make the next step happen. We want to make sure he’s prepared for it and that is safe for him. ”

Full programming returns to Oak Park Education Foundation

This marks the rst time it has run ‘full mode’ since the pandemic

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

T he Oak Park Education Foundatio n will be able to r un the majority of it’s progr ams for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are essentially up and running and in full mode of planning to start the fall,” said Executive Director Latonia Baker Baker said in the few years following the pandemic, the foundation worked with local

schools and artists to try to have as many programs up and running, but like with almost everything else, complications from the pandemic made it harder to bring in outside help, which limited some programs

But she said they are looking forward to having a full schedule again.

The foundation is a local nonprofit organization that works with the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 to help provide year-round activities in the STEAM and STEM realm for students K-8.

Baker said it was their mission to bring hands-on STEAM progr ams to children in D97.

“We want to help them find a lifelong love of learning in fun innovative projects,” she said.

While most of the programming is free throughout the year at the D97 schools, the foundation also runs a summer BASE Camp, open to any student from any school to help “build a summer education.” The camp offers various activities including

summer of sweets, where campers look at the science behind sugar while they make candy, biking adventures through Thatcher Woods and experiment stations amongst other activities.

Adam Bautista, a second-grade teacher at Irving Elementary School, helps run the BASE camp during the summer.

“It is not like summer school, where it’s a recommended cur riculum. They allow us

PROVIDED

Pierce Joy

Math competition will be held on Sunday, May 5

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Math can be fun. That is what the Percy Julian Middle School Math Club hopes to show District 97 fifth-graders through its new math competition designed just for them.

“We enjoyed the thrill of going to a competition and meeting other students,” said Anna Forshtay, a seventh grader. “I think that would be nice for fifth graders, so they can meet future peers.”

She and Xander Carroll were some of the brains behind the competition the math club designed for the elementary students They hope the event also promotes the math club and encourages students to join when they get to middle school.

The math club created individual tests and a team test for participating students. They will also run the entire Percy Julian Math Competition and give tours of the middle school to the participating students

“I am excited to see the enjoyment of the fifth graders,” Anna said. “Kinda seeing how we might look when we are at our own competitions.”

The club modeled this event after the competitions they’ve attended, such as the Fenwick Junior High School Math Contest, Illinois Math and Science Academy Junior High Mathematics Contest, and the Latin School of Chicago Mathematics Contest.

“We are the only public school that placed at Latin,” Brooks said. “It is a big deal.”

“We enjoyed going to them so much so we want to let other people have that experience,” Zander added.

And the fifth-grade competition was born To participate, teachers at the elementary schools in the district must form their own math teams, said Christina Welchko, Julian’s math club sponsor.

“We have had a lot of interest, definitely a lot of questions, and a lot of interest,” Welchko said.

Jack Carroll, a seventh grader, is spreading the word out about how much fun math club can be through various social media pages including their Instagram @pjmsmathteam.

“Part of it was that we wanted to get the word out about the competition and the other part is that we are teenagers,” Xander, Jack’s brother, said. “We think it’s fun.”

As for whether they think the tests at the 5th grade competitions will be easy, that depends who you ask.

Lily Zort, a seventh grader at Percy Julian, helped design the individual test and said she tried to ensure participants would have a range of questions that would be both fun and challenging. Clubmate Anna agreed.

“It can be math they already know up to seventh grade math,” Anna said. “They definitely challenge the brain to go to another level.”

T he competition will be open to all D97 elementary schools, not just those zoned for Julian.

The competition will be held Sunday, Ma 5 at Percy Julian Middle School. For mor information and to register, parents can contact their student’s homeroom teacher

‘Fair Maps’ referendum on Oak Park’s November ballot

Voters can support an independent commission drawing fair district maps

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Residents of Oak Park will have the opportunity to answer a non-binding referendum question on their November ballots: Should the state of Illinois adopt an independent citizens’ commission for federal and state redistricting process?

The referendum question was added to the ballot at the April 9 Oak Park Township meeting after CHANGE Illinois, a nonprofit, nonpartisan governmental reform advocacy group, received more than the required 15 signatures. Citizens at the meeting then voted in favor of adding it.

“We [CHANGE Illinois] work to end … ger rymandering in the state of Illinois,” said DuShaun Branch Pollard, community organizing director for CHANGE Illinois. “We also work on ethics and efficiency in gover nment.”

Gerrymandering is when politicians intentionally draw electoral districts in a way that benefits one political party over another, and often creates confusing boundaries. The consequence of this, according to CHANGE Illinois, is that politicians can choose certain voters and exclude others,

limiting their voting power. If many districts are defined by gerrymandering, the voters’ re presentatives could fail to match the true majority’s political party.

In 2021, for example, Illinois Democrats used a supermajority to redraw district lines and put Re publican voters and re presentatives into smaller districts, The Washington Post re ported. The result was the addition of one new Democratic seat in the legislature and the loss of two Re publican ones.

At the time, for mer U.S. Re p. Adam Kinzinger, a Re publican who criticized for mer U.S. President Donald Trump, quit after Illinois Democrats redrew the lines for his district, according to 2020 Census data. The result would have pit him against Darin LaHood, a Trump loyalist.

U.S. Re p. Rodney Davis, another moderate Re publican, fought to stay in his seat, but lost to Re p. Mary Miller, who closely aligned herself with Trump.

The Illinois Constitution requires lawmakers to redraw district lines every 10 years, after the U.S. Census is taken. Gerrymandering is often heard and talked about in the southern states, but it affects others, including Illinois, Branch Pollard said.

“It impacts a lot of people in so many different ways,” Branch Pollard said. “In the state of Illinois, the way the maps are drawn just make it really hard for a lot of different communities to eng age with their politician.”

But the common effect is that it’s harder to hold politicians accountable, harder for residents to run and win election races and harder for community members to have a voice, Branch Pollard said.

If residents vote in favor of the referendum, they will be saying they support an independent commission drawing “fair maps” for Illinois.

T he commission will do this, Branch Pollard said, by working with map makers and using census data to build maps that more accurately reflect the community. T he commission would also likely seek public input, allowing community members to give opinions and have a say in the design of districts.

Nothing will change immediately, Branch Pollard said, but if communities such as Oak Park and others vote in favor of the referendum, CHANGE Illinois will take that information to state representatives as an enti c ement for changing the maps.

“It’s a ve ry hard and long road to ge t the maps changed,” she said. “It’s not imp ossible … Our g oal is j ust to go townshi p by townshi p, ga in more suppo rt , ga in more interest.”

Over the summer, CHANGE Illinois plans outreach and education in the communities that will have this referendum question on their ballots, including Oak Park

“A lot of people aren’t f amiliar with how the maps are drawn,” she said. “We want people to be able to vote and share their opinion.”

When Branch Pollard lived in Chicago, she said the person living across the street had a different state re presentative than she did. That prevented her from working with those neighbors to talk to a mutual state re presentative about issues facing their community.

“It’s important for maps to reflect the communities that people live in,” she said. “It [cur rent maps] just makes it harder to govern, but also to hold the elected officials accountable.”

Voters in Proviso and Rock Island will also have this question on their ballot in the November election.

Oak Park Farmers Market season starts in May

The market will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. ever y Saturday from May 18 to Oct. 26

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Far mers Market will be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday from May 18 to Oct. 26 at the Pilgrim Congregational Church parking lot located at 460 Lake St.

“Since 1976, the Oak Park Far mers Market in Illinois has provided access to healthy, locally grown food & other products in a community setting, while celebrating social connections & building cooperation between urban & rural,” according to the market Facebook page.

The vendor application for the 2024 market is closed. 2024 vendors include:

■ Barry’s Berries

■ Breadman Baking

■ Brian Severson Grains

■ Baked Cheese Haus/Brunkow Cheese

■ Chanticlare Farm

■ Chao Farm

■ Ellis Family Farms

■ Finn’s Ranch

■ Geneva Lakes Produce

■ Hardin Farms

■ Hook Point Fisheries

■ Jake’s Country Meats

■ J2K Capraio Far mstead Dairy & Artisan Creamery

■ Johanson’s Apple World

■ Katich Breads

■ Khang’s Fresh Farm

■ Lyman Ave Bread

■ Nichols Farm & Orchard

■ Old Gaffer’s Garden

■ River Valley Ranch

■ Sharpening by Dave

■ Skibbe Farms

■ R Smits & Sons aka “The Fa rm”

■ Smits Organics

■ Stover’s Farm Market

■ Three Bees Free parking is available during market hours, according to the Facebook page

Local non-profit organizations can arrange to have a bake sale for fundraising purposes, according to the village website. Bake sale applications are due May 1. There are re gulations for bake sales, including what items can be sold, packaging, labeling and sanitation requirements. These can all

be found online.

This is the 49th season of the Oak Park Far mers Market, according to Dan Yopchick, the village’s chief communications officer. “Go Green Days,” which highlight sustainability ef forts, are scheduled for the opening day on May 18 and the following week, on May 25.

“Stone Soup” day, which features free soup from far mers’ donations, will be on the last day of the market on Oct. 26. The “Corn Roast,” where locals can try freshroasted corn, will be Aug. 10 and the pie bake-of f will be Sept. 7.

According to the Facebook page, Pilgrim Cong re gational Church is also looking for groups to partner with the church to make donuts at this summer’s market.

Rep. La Sh Ford spotli opioid crisis Harm Reduc Solidarity

Future e or ts to prevent o include opening over sites and continuing to destigmatiz substance use disor

By JESSICA MORD Staff Reporter

Illinois Re p. La Shawn Ford against the opioid crisis by pushing to create overdose prevention sites and declaring a new Harm Reduction Solidarity Week.

Ford, whose district includes Austin, Oak Park and Forest Park, has long been a drug-treatment advocate. In late 2022, for example, he proposed House Bill 0002, which proposes the opening of pilot overdose prevention sites in Illinois.

Earlier this year, Ford filed House Resolution 665, which, when it passed, declared April 14 through April 20 Illinois’ first Harm Reduction Solidarity Week.

At a news conference in Springfield April 17, Ford was joined by the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Sameer Vohra, and the Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Coalition, along with other advocates, to spotlight the crisis and ef for ts to stop it and to save lives.

“We we re educating the Springfield member s, and all those that listen, about how important it is to have wh at you c all harm reduction tools in our community,” Fo rd said.

The numbers tell the stark truth about the crisis

In 2022, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office reported 2,000 deaths from opioid overdose, more than 1,800 of which were fentanyl-related. And 56% of those deaths were Black people, although African Americans made up less than a quarter of the county population that year, according to Illinois census estimations.

“Not only are we fighting the heroin epidemic, there’s a new, more potent, pure fentanyl that’s killing people with overdoses,” Ford said.

A 2022 Chicago Sun-Times re port showed that, the year before, deaths from overdoses were concentrated on the

West Side, with most occurring in West Garfield Park, South Austin and East Garfield Park. The suburbs were not immune. Seventeen deaths were re ported in Oak Park, and 25 in Cicero.

As for ambulance calls for overdoses, the re port showed they were concentrated on the West Side, too: 608 calls in Austin, 458 in West Garfield Park and 367 in Humboldt, records show. Other neighborhoods, like Pullman, experienced six overdose calls

According to Ford, harm reduction ef for ts in Chicago have included dispersing clean needles to help stop the spread of hepatitis and HIV, plus Narcan to assist someone experiencing an overdose. T here are also progr ams that connect those who use drugs to medical-assisted recovery, where they can meet with behavioral health counselors and have access to prescription drugs that help curb cravings.

But Ford and other Illinois politicians are hoping for more. T heir most recent ef fort is to create overdose prevention sites in Illinois with House Bill 0002, which Ford hopes passes before the end of May.

Overdose prevention sites are places where those who use drugs can go for supervised consumption and access to behavioral health exper ts

New York City opened the first of these overdose prevention sites in the country at the end of 2021. T he first year that two sites were open, they experienced 48,533 visits and only intervened 636 times to prevent over-

doses. No overdoses occurred at either site. T hese sites connected about 75% of visitors to other harm reduction and medical services.

“The only people that would really go to an overdose prevention site are people who are looking for help,” Ford said. “And there’s no place for people to go like that in Illinois where they could be accepted for who they are and move towards recovery when they’re ready.”

The idea, however, could be a tough sell. Critics say such sites promote drug use and perpetuate crime.

Beyond creating overdose prevention sites in Illinois, politicians and organizers aim to end the stigma against those who use drugs.

“A s we c onfront this challeng e, we reco gnize a c once rn ing pattern where progr ess is hindered by stigm a towards p eople who use drug s, ” said Aces L ira, AID S Foundation Chicago’s p oli cy and a dvo ca cy manage r, in a statement. “We stand united with harm reductio n a dvo cates statewide, who c ourageously share their pe rsonal stories with le gislators. ”

“We have to educate people on how to help their families when they are struggling with a substance user. We have to help law enforcement understand the difference between a criminal and a person that’s living with a substance use disorder,” Ford said. “We’ve got to end the stigma and having people believe that people who are struggling with a substance use disorder are bad people.”

COURTESY OF LA SH AW N FORD

Rep. La Shaw n Ford speaks at a press conference in Sp ring eld April 17.

Toni Hagins, mother of late Oak Park and River Forest baseball alum Andrew Hagins, delivers a speech dur ing the pregame ceremony on Andrew Hagins Day, April 20, with the current OPRF varsity baseball team watching in the back ing the ceremony.

OPRF baseball gives Hagins a grand slam sendo

Huskies victorious on Andrew Hagins Day

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

April 20 was Andrew Hagins Day as the Oak Park and River Forest High School varsity baseball team conducted a pregame ceremony for the class of 2006 graduate who died suddenly last December.

Before a large crowd at OPRF’s new baseball field, Toni Hagins delivered an emotional speech that emphasized how much her son loved Huskies’ baseball and what it stands for — brotherhood, community, and family. Several of Hagins’ teammates were present, and Mrs. Hagins threw out a ceremonial first pitch to the roar of the crowd.

The ceremony lit a fire in the OPRF team, and they honored Hagins in a way he surely would have approved, routing visiting Hinsdale South 13-2 in five innings.

“We obviously knew Andrew was a great baseball player,” said OPRF coach Kevin Campbell. “But what OPRF meant to Andrew, and what Andrew meant to OPRF baseball, was just inspiring. That was the message we sent to our guys throughout the entire week, and obviously by the outcome of the game, they really took that message and ran with it.”

After starting pitcher Johnny Nelson escaped a jam in

e Oak Park and River Forest High School varsit y baseball team poses with Mike and Toni Hagins, Andrew Hagins’s parents, a er a 13-2 victor y over Hinsdale South on Andrew Hagins Day, April 20.

the top half of the first inning, OPRF (9-10) went to work in the bottom half. Ethan Moore led of f with a walk, and back-to-back balks by Hinsdale South pitcher Leydon Spang moved him to third. Timmy Leark and Mason Phillips drew walks to load the bases, then Brady Green unloaded them with a grand slam to left.

“I just stepped in the box trying to have fun,” said Green. “[Spang] just threw an elevated fastball, and I put a good swing on it. The wind helped a lot.”

“One of the things we teach our guys in that situation is hunt the fastball,” Campbell said. “Brady did exactly that, and we built off that energy the rest of the game.”

The Huskies added a fifth run in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Slade. In the second inning, an er ror by Moore, followed by consecutive walks put Nelson in a tricky situation with no outs. But he was able to limit the damage to two runs, and OPRF got one of them back in the bottom

Oak Park and River Forest’s Brady Green connects for a grand slam dur ing the rst inning against Hinsdale South, April 20. e Huskies rolled to a 13-2 victor y.

half when Moore scored on a wild pitch

“Johnny’s a high-projection arm for us,” Campbell said. “He pitches with a lot of intensity, and we think he’s going to play a really big role for us going forward.”

Leading 6-2, the Huskies put things away with a sevenrun fourth inning. Moore hit a two-run homer down the right-field line. Joe Leshnock got an RBI on a fielder’s choice, Slade had a two-run double, and Anderson Koch delivered a two-run single.

Peter Farren relieved Nelson and allowed two hits over three innings.

“Peter’s been one of our best arms out of the pen all year,” Campbell said.

OPRF entered the Hinsdale South game having lost seven of the previous nine, but the Huskies feel confident things are about to turn around.

“After a day like today and what this meant not only for our team, school, and community, I think this is the turning point of the season,” Campbell said.

“We needed today very bad,” Green said. “It helped put us in the right direction as a team. Our boys are ready to go.”

C AROL DUNNING

PHOTO BY MELVIN TATE

C AROL DUNNING

Yummy Food Tours highlights Oak Park scene

Tours help foodies learn about the village

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

There’s a new tour in town. This one touches not only on the history of Oak Park, but also the flavors too.

Yummy Food Tours launched this spring with the goal of introducing tourists and locals alike to the variety and quality of foods available in various neighborhoods.

T hese walking tours take groups of no more than 10 people to locations in the Hemingway District, Harrison Street Arts District, Pleasant District or Downtown Oak Pa rk

Karina Silvestre and Ryan Gonzale z started their food careers wo rk ing in Oak Pa rk restaurants. A few years on, the entrep reneurs opened a mobile ba r, catering to co rp orate and special events, bu t something about dining in Oak Pa rk ke pt them thinking

“We realized there’s so many good restaurants here in Oak Park and we would notice a lot of tourists that would come to Oak Park,” Silvestre said. “And when it came time to eat, they almost looked a little bit confused and we know there’s good food culture here. We realized there was a gap

in the market.”

“We like to travel as well. Every time we traveled some place new we would always do a food tour. Getting to know the area and g etting to know the culture,” Gonzale z added.

Now they are bringing that experience to town.

On a recent Wednesday, the pair led a tour through the Hemmingway District starting in front of the library with a quick overview of the history of Oak Park Gonzalez talked about Scoville Park and its first white inhabitants, the Kettlestrings; Percy Julian’s contributions; and Unity Temple and Frank Lloyd Wright.

“We’re going to walk a little bit to drum up some hunger,” Gonzalez said. “Kind of break things up in between and talk about the history, culture and landmarks.”

For the first course, the group gathered at the corner of Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue at Mulatta. Appetizers for this fourcourse meal were empanadas and Pão de Queijo – Brazilian cheese bread.

The next stop was a twist: dessert second! At Candycopia, a flight of chocolates from around the world tickled the palate. And each person walked away with a tin of candies selected from their extensive jar bar.

The next stop was across Lake Street at Hoja Santa Bar y Cocina. The group sat down to ceviche and birria pizza, beef

shank and short ribs, scallions, cilantro, and cheese, elegantly topped with watermelon radishes.

The last stop was more than a block away to work up more appetite. At Cucina Paradiso on North Boulevard, the treats were bacon wrapped dates and rigatoni Bolognese. Cocktails are not part of the packaged tour, but diners were able to order ones that they paid for individually.

The tour’s operators have gotten a good response from restaurants they’ve reached out to be a part of the action.

“A lot of them have wanted to participate. And they all want to serve a ton of food. Because they’re excited. But because we’re making many stops, we keep it limited,” Silvestre said.

As their business expands, they hope to ow the number of partners. “We’re still building relationships with more business owners,” Silvestre noted.

Prices will fluctuate for the tours based on the number of stops and the restaurants. The Hemingway District tour was $100 per person.

“Our tour gives people a chance to come and see a place that maybe they’ve walked by in the past,” Gonzalez said. “They can try it on our tour then maybe come back once they’ve had a taste.”

Silvestre concurred.

“This is a small town, but there’s lots of delicious food!”

As the weather warms, Silvestre and Gonzalez said they hope that tourists will find them via their website, yummyfoodtours.biz, and Trip Advisor’s marketplace for travel experiences – Viator. They also hope that word of mouth spreads in town too. They feel the tour would be perfect for entertaining guests, a friend-group outing, or just exploring your own hometown.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Yummy Food Tours ow ners Ryan Gonzalez and Karina Silvestre

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

D200’s message to the community: We cellence’

Supt. Greg Johnson holds his third community addr

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Last year, an Oak Park and Ri High School consultant’s repo residents who don’t have children attend ing the school have a less favo the it than parents do

OPRF officials concluded that they needed to do a better job reaching out to the community. So, this year, Supt. Gr son has been making the round

During his third appearance last Johnson appeared before 24 munity of Congregations ev fellowship hall of United L in Oak Park

Most of those in crowd had had graduated from OPRF were eager to hear about wh is like now.

In a 20-minute presentation follo an hourlong question-and-ans Johnson said that the school is committed to equity and excellence.

“It is a school that is committed to equity and excellence in all the different ways that we go about that work and I will tell you that both of those things are challenging,” Johnson said. “So, none of the work we do at the high school is easy and we stumble along the way, and do our best to stare ourselves in the face when we stumble and course correct and move forward.”

T he most pointed questions came from Ross Lissuzzo, an OPRF parent, who pointed out that the achievement gap between Black and white students at OPRF has grown in recent years and that absolute academic achievement, as measured by the Illinois State Record Card, has gone down in recent years.

OPRF Superintendent Greg Johnson

“It is a school that is committed to equity and excellence in all the di erent ways that we go about that work and I will tell you that both of those things are challenging.”

SUPT. GREG JOHNSON

“What we’re doing is not working from an academic perspective,” Lissuzzo said.

Johnson did not dispute Lissuzzo’s characterization of the data.

“That’s exactly right,” Johnson said.

He said that it has not been possible to track academic growth of students in recent years because the COVID pandemic has disrupted testing. The school re port card is based on the SAT exam, which all public high school students are mandated to take as juniors, and each class is different. Closing the achievement gap has been a

Johnson also fielded questions about the on behavior education and e practices instead of punitive ve prompted in part by new

One questioner noted that OPRF has always been a different experience for those in the honors tract than for those who took gular level classes. Johnson noted the lasses of fered at OPRF, but said that the school has been trying to get consistency in its classes so that the same class taught by different teachers r the same content. Johnson said that OPRF has traditionally given teachers a lot of autonomy to develop their classes on consistency and some uniity among classes may have caused umbling among some teachers. of those who came out on the rainy ening to listen to Johnson said they were glad to learn more about what is going on

Myia Riley, a 2014 graduate of OPRF, said that she was concerned by the drop in academic performance at the school, noting that last year it was ranked last year in the public high schools in Illinois. She said it was ranked in the top 10% of high schools when she attended.

BOB SKOLNIK

main focus at OPRF

“There are no quick fixes to this challenge; they don’t exist,” Johnson said. “Post-COVI D, you see an expansion of some of our gaps and that’s a fact.”

“What really is key to the quality of the school,” Johnson added, “is what happens during sophomore, junior and senior years.

He said that it is too early to tell how effective the school’s Honors for All approach has been, noting that next year’s junior class is the first class that was impacted by it. Their performance on the SAT next year will yield important data.

“It’s an important year for us, without a doubt,” Johnson said.

Johnson pointed out that administrators have not found evidence that the new Honors for All curriculum is causing harm.

“There’s no clear sign that what we’re doing here is causing harm,” Johnson said.

“There’s some things that I think are good but I have noticed kind of the decline in the academics since I was there,” Riley said after the event.

Tony Graefe, whose daughter graduated from OPRF several years ago, said that closing the achievement gap is a big task.

“There’s so much to be done closing the gap that’s it very difficult to do,” Graefe said. “Closing the gap it’s also the elementary schools, the feeder schools, it’s not just the high school. There’s so much involved in it, it’s a monumental issue.”

C ORRECTION

An article titled “OPRF IRDI students win big in science symposiums” published April 17, er roneously contained material attributed to a student named in the ar ticl e. That material has since been removed. We apolo gize for the er ror.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Low-income opportunities

from page 1

“How do we create opportunities for people of very low incomes to stay in the community that they were raised in?” asked Lynda Schueler, chief executive officer at Housing Forward.

Developments like this one could be part of the answer.

IHDC typically develops af fordable rental housing for persons earning 30% or less of the area median income. That’s who Keystone Apartments will serve, Vietti said, as a location of permanent supportive housing. Today, a qualifying income in the Chicago metro area would be $23,550 a year, according to Erin Hebert, a developer at IHDC

To be eligible for housing at Keystone, Schueler said, the individual must also have a disability. That could be a physical disability, mental health concern, history of long-term substance abuse, AIDS/HIV or a developmental disability, she said. Housing Forward will provide case management services to lend support for tenants, Schueler said.

There’s no limitation to how long residents can stay at Keystone, either. Once they sign a lease, as long as they don’t violate it, they can stay, Schueler said. The apar tment will also have a front desk, Vietti said, with 24/7 coverage

Housing as health care

The emergency shelter, interim housing program and medical respite will likely all be feeders into this new development, Schueler said.

“It’s really a situation where housing is healthcare,” Vietti said. “The best way

FOUNDATION

from page 6

to create our own programs,” he said. “It’s really cool that they give us the creativity.”

Bautista has created a CSI class, as well as a Hot Wheels class, both of which he said are popular with campers.

to keep people healthy is to have them housed.”

Housing Forward will decide who will live at Keystone through an application process, Schueler said. With other organizations IDHC has worked with, Vietti said, there is typically a process of first determining an individual’s need for permanent housing, and then their “readiness.”

“A lot of people need housing,” he said. “But some folks may not be ready for independent living.”

The project is still in the fundraising stage, he said. For this kind of development, there needs to be money for acquisition and renovation, operating expenses and social services, Schueler said.

In January, the IHDC applied to the Illinois Housing Development Authority for additional funding for this project, Vietti said. By the end of April, the developers should know the outcome, he said.

Housing Forward intends to apply for other grants to help finance this project including IDHA operating suppo rt programs and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care

“We try to do programs that support the district and the teachers throughout the year,” Baker said.

Baker said the foundation will be leaning into STEM because they saw a greater interest toward in those areas. She added that they received a grant from the Donnelly foundation to bring coding and robotics classes to elementary school kids from under re presented populations

About 50% of students participating in

cars, Vietti pointed out.

“If you can af ford to live in the building and meet the income targets, you cannot afford to have a car,” he said.

If approved, the IHDC would build a smaller amount of parking spaces for Keystone, something like one space per six units, Vietti said. But, if the parking requirement stands, Vietti said the IHDC has met with the RUSH Oak Park Hospital president to discuss utilizing the hospital’s parking garage to meet that stipulation. The hospital is across the street from where Keystone would be built.

Third is height restriction. Zoning ordinances would require the building to be no more than 50 feet tall. Keystone is expected to be 56 feet and 4 inches tall, according to a document from Hebert.

program.

Out of the 36 units planned for Keystone, 20 of them will have a rental subsidy paid by a BlueCross BlueShield grant for five years. Those 20 individuals will also need to be Medicaid eligible and served by Housing Forward, Vietti said. Tenants are then expected to pay 30% of their gross income.

Rental subsidies for the other 16 units could come from housing choice vouchers or IDHA funding, Schueler said.

Parking and zoning

Next, the developers will have to get certain zoning releases approved before starting construction. There are four restrictions Keystone needs bent, and the IHDC is scheduled to meet with Oak Park’s plan commission in June to discuss relief in those areas.

The first is a requirement to set the building back 3 to 5 feet. IHDC plans to ask to not have to set the building back any feet.

Second is the requirement to have one parking spot per unit. Most of the individuals living at Keystone will likely not have

the STEM-focused coding program at Beye Elementary School are on scholarship.

Arts programs will continue, she said.

As the district works through its “Portrait of an 8th Grade Graduate,” Baker said the foundation will be working to align with those ef forts.

Eboney Lofton, the chief learning innovation officer at D97, said the foundation has been a “vital partner in creating innovative, engaging learning opportunities

Last is a density requirement. The zoning requirement states there must be 750 square feet per dwelling unit. The IHDC wants to ask for 248 square feet per dwelling unit.

If approved, construction would ideally start in 2025, with the building hopefully opening in 2026. But it could take longer.

The IHDC was also responsible for developing Grove Apartments, af fordable housing located above the Sugar Beet Food CoOp at 812 Madison St. Some residents were concerned property values would decrease in the neighborhood because of this development, along with other concerns that did not come to fruition, according to an opinion article Vietti wrote in 2016.

“We said it [Grove Apartments] would cause no problems to the community,” Vietti said in an interview with Wednesday Journal. “In fact, it would add value and pay property taxes and it’s done all those things.”

In the past, Schueler said Housing Forward has had scattered site arrangements with private landlords to get clients in permanent housing. But this development paves the way for lower-income individuals to stay in Oak Park, if that’s what they want, Schueler said.

both in and out of D97 classrooms.”

The foundation will be hosting its annual Bingo Bash fundraiser to bolster its programming support. The 2024 Staszak Educator of the Year, D97 multilingual teacher Jennifer Jaros from Holmes Elementary also will be honored at the event.

The Bingo Fundraiser will be held on Friday, May 10 at the Nineteenth Century Club. Tickets can be bought online.

GOOGLE MAPS Fellowship Christian Church, 1106 Madison St. Oak Park

OPCAN partners with village to provide climate coaching

Peer exper ts aim to help with access to resources and technical suppor t

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Oak Park Climate Action Network has partnered with the Village of Oak Park to provide climate coaching to community members interested in going green.

OPCAN is a volunteer group of Oak Park residents, according to its website, that is working to eliminate local contributions to the climate crisis and advocates for the goals of Climate Ready Oak

Park. Some of the goals of Climate R Oak Park include decreasing community greenhouse g as emissions by 60% by and reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

Most of Oak Pa rk ’s greenhouse emissions c ome from heating and c homes and buildings, a ccording to vil lage of ficials

“Reducing those emissions not only benefits the environment, it also makes our homes and workplaces healthier and more comfor table, while lowering energy costs,” according to village of ficials.

In this free coaching progr am, peer experts from OPCAN can help Oak Parkers g et access to the necessary resources and technical support to make their properties more climate friendly, according to

the village website. Residents can request a coach online.

The coaches are not meant to be a substitute for full-time paid labor, but rather an advisory stepping stone to receive recommendations on how to make a property or home climate friendly

Adjustments might include reducing greenhouse g as emissions, installing in-

sulation or heat pumps, looking into solar systems or purchasing an electric vehicle instead of a g as-powered car, according to the village.

T he OPCAN website has resources available for residents including information on decarbonizing their homes or transportation, electrification, energy efficiency and renewable energy access.

MAMA MIA

Return engagement

from page 1

“That has sustained me until today honestly,” he said.

At Oak Park and River Forest High School, Reynolds ke pt that momentum going through various musical ensembles and a few shows.

Reynolds is a “true triple threat,” said Performing Arts Department Chair and Director of T heatre Michelle Bayer, who directed him in three productions at OPRF: “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Anything Goes,” and “Little Shop of Hor rors.”

Bayer recalled her “highlight” moment with Reynolds, “Little Shop of Hor rors,” which they perfor med at the Illinois High School T heatre Festival at Illinois Stat e University. Reynolds portrayed “Audrey II” [ the plant] and was “amazing,” Bayer said.

“It is very difficult to play this sort of role because you don’ t have your body to communicate, everything is done with your voice,” she said. “Grant created the

detailed character of the plant so well that he was approached at Festival to audition for the All-State production the next year.”

That audition landed him the titular role in the Illinois T heatre Association’s All State Production of “Sweeney Todd: T he Demon Barber of F leet Street,” which he said solidified that acting was his dream.

“When I got it, I was honestly very surprised and very shocked. I didn’t think that was something that could be realistic for me,” Reynolds said. “As I was doing the show, it could not have been more clear that that was where I wanted my life to go.”

2021 with a bachelor’s de gree in fine arts and drama.

Reynolds said he loved that it was a small program, calling it “musical theater heaven.”

“That school, it felt like we were all superheroes coming from these different areas trying to train and hone in on our talent,” Reynolds said.

Before his big move to New York City, Reynolds was cast as Otis in “Anything is Possible,” a Gen-Z coming of age story directed by Billy Porter and written by Ximena Garcia Lecuona.

the role of Sky Rymand in “Mamma Mia!”

“I heard of ‘Mamma Mia!’ of course, but I had never seen it; I had never seen the movie,” Reynolds said.

But Reynolds familiarized himself with the show, and despite what he called a “terrible” audition, he got a call back. He then gave what he called the “best audition he ever had” and was booked.

“I was in shock honestly,” he said. “It all happened at once … I was just so nervous. I have never been in a principal-lead contract, on a Broadway tour let alone … It was my biggest dream come true,” he said.

T he transition from doing community theater to a bigger stage gave Reynolds a hint of what the future held for him.

“It was one of the biggest preparations for what I am doing right now,” Reynolds said.

After his high school graduation in 2017, Reynolds attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, graduating in

In the Big Apple, Reynolds began auditioning while supporting himself as a nanny, which gave him the opportunity to work with kids again.

“I love teaching kids. I think kids are easier to manage than adults,” Reynolds said.

Before “Mamma Mia!” Reynolds also performed at The Muny, the oldest and largest outdoor amphitheater in St. Louis, performing in “Sweeney Todd” and “The Color Purple.”

In March 2023, Reynolds auditioned for

Sponsored Content

When the show comes to Chicago, he plans to soak it up, and has already scheduled time with family and friends. He’s also making sure he hits up all the good food spots — he wants his Portillos, he said.

Despite the twinges of homesickness — he misses his mom sometimes — his future could not be clearer, he said. He is an actor.

“I am so luc ky to get to do a sho w that is so full of joy and something where we are actively injecting joy into the audience,” Reynolds said. “I wake up for work and I am happy every single day.”

“Mamma Mia!” opens in Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre April 30 and runs through May 19.

NRebozo Celebrates Two Years in Forest Park

By Risé Sanders-Weir

For anyone who has ever eaten at Chef Paco’s restaurant, you know good food is on the way when you hear his catchphrase, “Oh my God!” The Chef is still going strong as NRebozo’s celebrates its second year in Forest Park.

Speaking his signature mix of English, Spanish and pure enthusiasm, Chef Paco greets customers in the location that has become a new home at 7403 Madison Street. Paco was elated that moving his restaurant went so smoothly. “Two years! I am super happy. I say thank you to all my family, my team, my employees, my customers. I love my customers. Forest Park? Oh my God. Very nice. Received me as family.”

The move to Forest Park allowed Chef Paco to buy the building that houses his restaurant and prepare for another generation of ownership. That’s also the reason for the name shift from New Rebozo to NRebozo.

“When I changed the name, the people confused. What happened?” Paco was often asked.

After 30 years, Chef Paco didn’t think it was “new” anymore. And he wanted to make a path for other family members to continue his legacy. Paco’s son Jose Manuel Lopez and nephew Saul Hernandez work at the restaurant with the chef and his wife. A grandson works weekends, while studying to be a pastry chef. When new customers encounter him, “They say, ‘Are you the waiter or are you the bus boy? Or you the chef?’ I laugh. I am everything, everything you see.”

He does contemplate future, “One year, two years, three years. My future, I don’t know. Period. Paco is supposed to be retired. I’m not retired because the people say no.”

The flagship dish on the menu remains the Fiesta Mole. Paco and his team make 40 different versions. The dish features 6 of them at a time, many of which are his own creations, such as sweet potato mole and white chocolate mole.

A new exploration for the chef is vegan offerings. He wants customers who order these to have the same reaction that he gets from his other dishes, “One example is

cauliflower al pastor. When you eat you say, ‘Oh my God! No meat? This is cauliflower?’”

If you can’t get enough of the uplifting experience of being around Chef Paco, you can now cook with him. In the afternoon, you can book a 4-hour cooking experience at the restaurant from noon to 4 P.M. For $130 you get to make dishes with Chef Paco and enjoy an open bar. Dancing is encouraged. Chef Paco promises, “You forget your problems. For four hours, mucho tequila. Mucho happy. And I told everybody when you’re going for cooking classes, you need Uber. You need Uber because I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Current chef-favorite dishes include a plantain cake appetizer with mild cascabel peppers and cheese. Eating the cake with chips includes many textures. Paco says, “It’s very important when you eat crunchy and sweet and crunchy and soft together.”

Fish tacos are a traditional, yet elevated dish. Paco sources his tilapia from Columbia, preferring the quality that comes from that region.

Sweet, spicy, sour, crunchy, soft – those are the watch words of Chef Paco’s cooking. He also says that life comes in those five varieties as well. And that a full life will have all those elements.

When asked how he would describe the flavor profile of his food, Chef Paco responded that it’s all the regions of Mexico, mixed with his French cuisine training and passed through his imagination. Mostly though he wants, “To hear customers say, ‘My God, this is so delicious.’ This makes me super happy. For me this is I think this is perfect.”

Know Before You Go:

Website: www.newrebozos.com

Reservations: via their website

• 7403 Madison St, Forest Park

• 708-445-0370

GRANT RE YNOLDS

N Rebozo owner, Chef Paco

Someone stole a brick saw from the front yard of a residence on April 19 on the 900 block of North Elmwood Avenue. The individual then fled to a Subaru Hatchback that was waiting. The victim, a Chicago resident, ran after the individual. The driver of the Subaru pointed a firearm at the victim. The estimated loss is $500.

Reckless discharge of rearm

A man shot a firearm toward a group of four individuals on April 18 on the 7000 block of Roosevelt Road. He and the group fled the area. It is not clear whether charges were filed.

Motor vehicle theft

Someone stole an Oak Park resident’s white 2011 Kia Soul between April 15 and April 16 on the 300 block of Wisconsin Avenue. The estimated loss is $9,000.

Theft

Someone broke into a Norridge resi-

dent’s 2003 trailer and stole five pieces of landscaping equipment on April 13 on the 600 block of South Oak Park Avenue. The estimated loss is $5,500.

Catalytic converter theft

■ Someone stole the catalytic converter from an Oak Park resident’s 2011 Ford Edge between April 18 and April 20 on the 600 block of North Lombard Avenue. The estimated loss is $2,200.

■ Two men stole the catalytic converter from an Oak Park resident’s Volkswagen Jetta on April 19 on the 200 block of South Austin Boulevard. The men fled in a black Dodge Charger with tinted windows and no rear registration. The estimated loss is $1,000.

■ Someone stole the catalytic converter from a River Forest resident’s 2010 Kia Forte between April 18 and April 19 on the 400 block of South Kenilworth Avenue. The estimated loss is $2,000.

Burglary to motor vehicle

■ Someone broke into a Chicago resident’s

2017 grey Hyundai Tucson April 15 on the 7100 block of North Avenue. The individual stole a Dell laptop and a voltage meter. The estimated loss is $1,400.

■ Someone broke into an Addison resident’s 2002 Dodge Ram April 16 on the 600 block of North Boulevard. The individual stole a driver’s license, money and an iPhone 15. The estimated loss is $1,260.

Arrests

■ A 20-year-old Chicago man was arrested for domestic battery against another Chicago resident April 15 on the 100 block of Madison Street.

■ A 29-year-old Oak Park man was arrested for domestic battery against another Oak Park resident on April 15 the 900 block of South Euclid Avenue.

■ A 26-year-old Cicero man was arrested for driving under the influence after being in a traffic crash on April 17 the 400 block of Harrison Street. He was also cited for not having a valid driver’s license or insurance, leaving the scene of an accident and not reducing his speed

■ A 27-year-old Oak Park man was arrested for domestic battery against an Oak Park resident April 18 on the 0 – 100 block of Division Street.

■ A 54-year-old Chicago woman was ar rested for criminal trespass April 20 at RUSH Oak Park Hospital located at 520 S. Maple Ave. She also had an active warrant from Cook County for disorderly conduct.

■ A 47-year-old woman from Amboy, Ill., was arrested for battery to an Oak Park resident April 21 on 400 block of North Oak Park Avenue.

These items were obtained from Oak Pa rk Police Department re ports dated April 15-22, 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 physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

20 years of OPRF historical society’s annual

spring housewalk:

‘Tales Our Houses Tell’ Homes

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest Historical Society welcomes spring with its annual Housewalk “South of the Tracks,” which features five private homes in River Forest south of the Metra tracks.

House walk chair Linda Marcangelo said that this is the 20th year of the historical society housewalk, and the enduring tradition has been a favorite way for locals and visitors to learn more about the historic architecture and people in Oak Park and River Forest. This year’s theme is “Tales Our Houses Tell.”

Four of the houses are on Gale Avenue and one on Keystone. The homes were built between 1890 and 1910, and each has details that shine a light on the history of home building at the time

An American Four-Square home on the walk also has some markers of the early Prairie Style. Marcangelo said the home has an expansive front porch with removable screens, which allow the space to become an expansion of the living room during the warmer months. When large oak trees on the property had to be cut down, the present owner made furniture for the house from the trees. See

COURTESY OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIET Y OF OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST

HOUSEWALK

20th anniversary

from page 17

A Craftsman Style home was first owned by John Steen. He emigrated to the United States alone at the age of 13, and his family joined him 7 years later. Steen owned a varnish company that he sold to Sears, Roebuck and Co. when he retired. The house was listed for sale during the Depression for $8,500, and when it didn’t sell, the bank rented it out for $60 a month.

A rectilinear Queen Anne Style home has been restored by the current owners inside and out. They removed the stucco and recreated the exterior using a photo they found at the Historical Society. The present owners also built a new garage that matches the house. Marcangelo shares a fun fact that the first owner of the home installed a marble ice chest that could hold 800 pounds of ice.

A Shingle Style home was built in 1898. According to an article in the Oak Park Vindicator, it was built for two “lady” superintendents of Chicago Public Schools. The house was featured in the 2009 television series The Beast, star ring Patrick Swayze. The final home is a Queen Anne Style home that has been restored by the present owners. In 2018 their paint job of the exterior, which features dark blue siding and crisp white trim, won a Painted Lady Award. The home was owned by Amelia and Charles Gabriel in 1908. Charles was a noted composer and lyricist.

Although Historical Society volunteers are busy researching the homes’ pasts, they will be on hand inside and outside to share stories during the walk. Many of the homes have had a number of owners and were rented out during the De pression.

Before You Go

“Tales Our Houses Tell,” will take place Sunday, May 5 from 1 to 5 p.m.

Tickets are $30 each or $25 for members and may be purchased in the Historical Society’s online store or at Oak Park River Forest Museum, 129 Lake St., Oak Park, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday.

Tickets will cost $35 on the day of the walk at River Forest Community Center, 8020 Madison St., which will also be the site of ticket pick-up after 12:30 p.m. for advanced sales. Advanced ticket purchasers must come to the pick-up location to get their program book featuring a map with addresses, photos, and a history of each house. There is a parking lot at the River Forest Community Center and street parking around each home. The walk is also located a few blocks south of the River Forest Metra station for those traveling on public transpor tation.

For questions, call 708-848-6755.

Marcangelo said that this year’s walk is very walkable and said that walk organizers wanted to make sure participants could make it to all five houses easily. “You can park once and just walk everywhere,” she said. That closeness is reflective of the neighborhood itself. Marcangelo remarks, “All of the people seem to know each other here. It’s a community in itself.”

COURTESY OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIET Y OF OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST

PHOTO S BY COURTESY OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIET Y OF OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST

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Smelt at Papaspiros

Every spring, for most of the 20th century, all along Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, amateur smelt fishermen would set up 55-gallon steel drums filled with scrap wood, which they’d burn throughout the night. The fishermen were there to catch smelt, a small fish with a funny name that was once abundant — much like perch and other species — in Lake Michig an.

DAVID HAMMOND

Local Dining & Food Blogger

Growing up on Chicago’s Northwest Side, I remember guys walking home, proudly car rying buckets of smelt to feed their families. Now smelt are shipped in from places like Lake Superior and the Atlantic Coast. We would sometimes have smelt at home; my parents were very fond of them. In the mid1940s, when my father returned home from World War II after fighting fascists in Africa and Italy, he romanced my mother over a platter of smelt.

Smelt are small fish, found in lakes and oceans. Oddly, it wasn’t until 1912 that smelt appeared in the Great Lakes, having escaped from a Michigan lake where they’d been stocked as forage. Smelt, like salmon and striped bass, are anadromous: born in fresh water, smelt may spend most of their lives in salt water before retur ning to fresh water to spawn. Their flexibility to live in both fresh and saltwater enables smelt to populate many different bodies of water all over the globe. Today, smelt are found in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as lakes and streams in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Fgrocery store, and a fun place to shop. Their website describes them as a “quaint market selling high-end meat & seafood, plus sandwiches, lunch plates & gourmet ingredients.”

Before they opened Carnivore in 2014, co-owners Brad Knaub and Erik Williams had been cooks and chefs for decades. Both lived near Oak Park and had many conversations where they dreamed of “building a shop that was focused on sustainable, local and natural products.” They thought this would fit in well with the Oak Park community’s shared values.

Erik told me, “I also wanted to make the world a better place for my son and have access to food that was fit

vibe of friendly fun. It reminds me of Pike Place Fish Co. in Seattle where the workers playfully toss fish to each other before they sell it to customers. And while I’ve never seen the butchers at Car nivore toss chicken legs or slabs of ribs to each other, there is an air of camaraderie there. When I shared the “fish story” with Brad, he told me that when they hire people at Car nivore, they are not necessarily looking for a butcher skill set, but “affable people who can involve the customers.”

I recently watched a series on Netflix called You Are What You Eat, which showed filthy, crowded conditions

A CUT ABOVE: Brad Knaub, Joy Aaronson, and Erik Williams at Carnivore.

PHOTO DAVID HAMMOND

A remade Madison Street

We have watched with wonder and enthusiasm the wholesale remaking of Madison Street from Austin Boulevard to Harlem Avenue over the past decade. It is a model of strong village government vision and leadership, a motivated and welcomed private sector, ambitious investments by multiple local gover nments and nonprofits, and a burst of entrepreneurial zest.

This comeback follows 40 years of intensive floundering. As auto dealers abandoned Madison Street’s auto row starting in the 1960s the street became purposeless. The village was of no help beyond overpaying to assemble parcels at Madison and Oak Park, which then sat empty for well more than a decade.

This week we re port on a new collaboration between the Interfaith Housing Development Corporation and Housing Forward that will re place a storefront church (and one-time funeral home) with a new af fordable housing development. Five stories and 36 units intended for low-income people with some level of disability, could be a physical disability, mental health concern, HIV/AIDS, substance-abuse history or developmental disability. Housing Forward will provide case management services

Actively finding ways to offer housing to those with very scarce options is a genuine victory for Oak Pa rk. And to have par tners with the track record of Housing Forward and Interfaith Housing is encouraging.

We credit former Oak Pa rk Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb for his vision of a new Madison Street. He worked tirelessly on this complex project.

Here are developments we cheer: the park district’s Community Recreation Center, new apar tments already built and still coming between Elmwood and Scoville, Infant Welfare’s bold investment in a nondescript small of fice building at Humphrey, Whirlwind Coffee, new Oak Park Bank branch at Ridgeland, American House senior housing, upscale apar tments at Lyman and Madison, new co-op housing planned for an under used Walg reens parking lot, townhouses on the site of the horrible old District 97 HQ at Home Avenue and the handsome D97 HQ at Har vey, Tacos 76, Oak Park Music School, Rush Oak Park’s new ER, renovations at the small Jewel, remaking of a long empty 7-Eleven.

T he stalwarts, including Madison Street Theatre, Sears Pharmacy, Laury’s Bakery, Al’s Grill, Mama Thai, the world’s busiest Dunkin at Har vey, good old village hall (don’t knock it down!) and Belmont Village

Oppor tunities remain: Two underwhelming car rental locations, the actively ugly D97 maintenance facility, currency exchanges bookending the street at Harlem and Austin, the still vacant New Rebozo, an unappealing and declining strip mall at Wenonah.

T he ele phant on the street: When on earth is Pete’s Fresh Market going to break ground on the giant parcel from Oak Park Avenue to Wesley? Village gover nment claims it is turning the screws on Pete’s. We’re going to need some bigger screws and heftier fines. Excuses will no longer fly.

A di erent cease re resolution to consider

On April 9, a group of local residents attended the Oak Park Village Board meeting and asked the president and trustees to consider approving the wording of a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Gaza. As you may have heard, the proceedings quickly got tense and testy

I’m not sure where all that stands now, but I support the idea of having our village, by way of the village board, take a position on this issue — even though feelings are running raw on all sides. A resolution needs to be fair, but it also needs to take a stand. My attempt will not satisfy everyone, or maybe anyone, but it’s wor th a try. So here goes:

A resolution

KEN TRAINOR

The current Israel-Gaza crisis has deep roots in history, but the most immediate causes of the ongoing humanitarian crisis are the following:

* The attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7 led to many civilian deaths and injuries and the taking of many Israeli hostages.

* The counter-attack by the Israeli military has led to many more civilian casualties, displacement of the population, and general destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, as part of the Israeli gover nment’s effort to eliminate Hamas altogether

* Hamas uses Gazan civilians as human shields and essential infrastructure to hide their system of tunnels.

* Israel’s military operation has prevented adequate humanitarian assistance from reaching the Gazan population.

* U.S. military assistance to Israel is being used to further death and destruction in Gaza. That assistance is funded by American taxpayers, which means we all have a stake in what happens there.

* Other countries in the surrounding region, which are hostile to Israel and oppose its existence, sponsor and support terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

Consideration of these causes leads to the following conclusions:

* We believe that resorting to violent acts of terrorism, no matter the circumstances, even in the face of oppression, is intolerable.

* We believe Israel has a right to defend itself, but a clear distinction must be drawn between defense and retaliation. We do not believe that the Israeli government has a right to retaliate in a way that creates a widespread humanitarian crisis with many thousands of civilian casualties, including many children.

* We believe when the Israeli military uses weapons that we pay for, we are entitled to a say in the matter and that U.S. military assistance to Israel must be conditioned on a responsible use of that assistance.

* We believe the endless cycle of warfare in this region must stop

Therefore,

* We call for an immediate, per manent ceasefire in Gaza to stop the death and destruction, to allow humanitarian assistance to reach the Gazan population, to facilitate an international intervention for the release of all Israeli hostages and the release of all Palestinians held without charge in Israeli prisons, the peaceful surrender of Hamas militants, and to begin an inter national effort to rebuild Gaza. But the first ste p is to halt the bloodshed, and for that to happen a ceasefire must take place.

* To that end, we are joining more than 100 municipalities in this country who have called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas

* We also call on the Biden Administration to significantly ramp up its efforts, along with those of our allies, to make this ceasefire a reality.

* We support Israel’s right to exist as an independent, sovereign nation. Israel has a right to defend itself. The people of Israel did not deserve what was inflicted upon them on Oct. 7.

* We support a Palestinian state’s right to exist as an independent, sovereign nation. That Palestinian state also has a right to defend itself. The Palestinian people do not deserve what has been inflicted upon them since Oct. 7.

* What Hamas did to Israel is unjustifiable. What Israel is doing to Gaza is unjustifiable. We cannot immediately resolve the longstanding issues at the heart of this conflict, but we can call for an immediate per manent ceasefire to allow the long journey to a just peace for both Palestine and Israel to begin.

* We care deeply about the people in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank — and their respective supporters here in our community — and we pray for an end to these protracted and deadly hostilities

That’s my draft, which I hope both sides can live with and the village board might be willing to approve in the name of the entire village. No doubt people on both sides will say it goes too far or not far enough. It’s not perfect. But it just might fly.

Maybe you have a better version. For the wording of the resolution previously submitted to the village board, go to: https://www.change.org/OakParkCeasefireResolution.

For existing wording elsewhere, check out https:// www thenation.com/article/activism/at-least-100-american-communities-have-called-for-a-gaza-cease-fire, which includes the statement: “This conflict will not be resolved militarily; rather, it will be resolved diplomatically when wise, courageous and visionary leaders on both sides replace the current leaders in charge today.”

That’s something with which we can all agree.

SHRUB TO

WN

by Marc Stopeck

Parenting for peace, love, understanding

I’ve been giving much thought to the Thrive Talk I’ll be delivering on May 9 at the Main Library Veterans Room from 7 to 8:30 p.m. It’s one thing to find a topic that will offer people something useful and meaningful. Trying to come up with a title that immediately captures the attention of people to set aside time to attend is something else.

STEVEN PARKER

One View

I came up with “Parenting to Create Peace, Love and Understanding – In Your Family and Our World.” I’ve decided to offer this talk because of how I see the world today. The present cultural narrative is that of fear, mistrust, hatred, indecency, vulgarity, the dehumanizing of the other, and a sense of hopelessness. What needs to be done is so overwhelming that one doesn’t have a clue where to begin or what to do. We can all feel insignificant. I’ll be talking about some very concrete things you can do to start making a difference immediately. And you won’t have to go far. It all begins in the family, which is the seed of all communities. It’s the first community that we all live in

If you view the family from an anthropological perspective, you will see that all families are a culture unto themselves. It’s a micro-society that family members together create and live in. After working with families for over 45 years, I can very clearly see the interactive dynamics that foster struggle, conflict, and disharmony

as well as those that foster peace, love and understanding.

I see how families struggle. I see the way people treat each other when upset, angry, hurt, disappointed, etc. I see the way people struggle to re gain trust. I see how people behave when they want to be heard but feel ignored, judged or dismissed. I see what people do when they know they are right and the other is wrong The healthiest of families struggle with all of this. It has become so clear to me how these dynamics of family struggle are very much characteristic of the struggles we see in our society. The most important takeaway from this talk will be to live with a more conscious awareness of your role in creating a more peaceful world. A key focus is reco gnizing that who we are as a family will have impact on who we are as a culture. We need to recognize more clearly that what happens in families is what happens in the world. We’re talking about generational change that be gins with our generation. By creating a peaceful family, you will be contributing to a better world.

For more information contact: Amanda Lopez, Alopez@thrivecc.org

Steve Parker, LMFT, is a licensed marria ge and family therapist in Oak Park and a member of the program development committee for Thri ve community mental health center.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Judy Gre n Treasurer Nile Wendorf

Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards

Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

About Viewpoints

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

In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for ling.

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

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

Pro les in courage Not alone

The onl y thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke (1)

Then-Senator John Kennedy wrote the book Profiles in Courage (2) to praise U.S. senators who stood up for their beliefs despite severe criticism from their voters. I believe that if President Scaman and the Oak Park Board of Trustees stand up to the advocates of a ceasefire resolution, then they too are deserving of a profile in courage

The April 9 village board meeting saw residents advocating for a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war. These residents made outrageous statements. One high school student claimed that Israel has committed “six months of genocide.” Another resident, who grew up in Gaza, claimed that IDF forces have committed “deliberate starvation, targeting of doctors, workers, jour nalists, and civilians.” Moreover, a resident supporting the resolution decided to insult and interrupt President Scaman by demanding a voice vote. This act of political intimidation by pro-ceasefire supporters was not surprising, yet it was disgraceful to the democratic process

The gas-lighting surrounding the war is typical among the progressive left.

Hamas is the cause of this war because the atrocities they committed against innocent Israeli civilians on Oct.7, 2023. How do we know? The United Nations re port says that the Hamas attacks left 1,200 dead, several thousand wounded, and 253 taken hostage. ¶ 43. (3) The same UN re port concluded “there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflictrelated sexual violence occurred during the 7 October attacks in multiple locations across the Gaza periphery, including rape and gang rape, in at least three locations.” ¶ 12 (4) Hamas’ founding Charter in 1988 says, “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.” (5)

I was taught during school to never forget the horrors of the Holocaust. You would expect progressives to support Israel since they claim

to support individuals’ freedoms. Yet these same progressives have turned their backs on Jewish people’s freedom to live. I did not hear a single pro-ceasefire advocate even acknowledge that more Jews were killed on Oct. 7 than on any other day since the Holocaust. Therefore, Hamas must be defeated.

I ask that President Scaman and the Oak Park board reject the ceasefire resolution. You all face a moral crossroad: you can either cave in to the demands or stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself.

Finally, if Oak Park wishes to have a resolution on the Israel-Gaza war, they can use this. “Oak Pa rk will stand with any democratic nation defending its sovereignty from ter rorists intending to destroy its people and its right to exist.”

(1) Edmund Burke quote https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/ronaldreaganshannonairport.htm

(2) Summary of Profiles in Courage by Senator John F. Kennedy.

https://www jfklibrary.org/events-andawards/profile-in-courage-award/about-the-book

(3) U.N. report showing Hamas killed 1200, wounded several thousand and abducted 253 on October 7, 2023, https://www un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ report/mission-report-official-visit-of-the-officeof-the-srsg-svc-to-israel-and-the-occupied-westbank-29-january-14-february-2024/20240304-Israel-oWB-CRSV-repor t.pdf, found at Page 12, ¶ 43.

4) From the same UN Re port https://www un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/wp-content/ uploads/2024/03/re port/mission-re port-official-visit-of-the-office-of-the-srsg-svc-to-israeland-the-occupied-west-bank-29-january-14-february-2024/20240304-Israel-oWB-CRSV-report.

pdf Found at Page 4, ¶ 12.

(5) Hamas 1988 Charter: “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.” https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/ hamas-covenant-full-text

Jonathan Panton River Forest

What it will cost seniors

In response to the April 17 article, “Contentious Oak Park meeting reflects global tensions over IsraelHamas war”:

I am a Jew. I do not feel “frightened and alone.” F rightened and alone describes children in Gaza who have lost f amily and limbs. I feel accompanied by multitudes in the movement for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, including many Jewish people, especially our youth, and our Palestinian siblings

What shatters me is the horrific assault on the people of Gaza being funded by my tax dollars. What shatters me is that, despite opposition by so many Americans to the use of U.S. dollars to inflict misery, our elected re presentatives at the federal level are doing nothing to stop the slaughter

This is why I turn to my local re presentatives, our village trustees, to pass a ceasefire resolution and take the moral position lacking at higher levels of government. I want my local re presentatives to voice my opposition to the abhor rent killing and star-

vation of the people of Gaza.

One hundred and forty-one communities have already passed resolutions for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid (1). Sixty-seven percent of U.S. voters support the call for a per manent ceasefire (2) We are a majority.

To anyone in the Jewish community who is feeling alone, join us in this movement, connect with our Jewish youth, 54% of whom support a ceasefire (3) and who are showing courage and clarity in rejecting the idea that bombarding a civilian population can play any role in bringing peace, justice and equality. Tikkun Olam. Please take time to read the resolution and sign on. Let’s get Oak Park on the list of communities demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

https://www.change.org/OakParkCeasefireResolution

(1) The U.S. Municipal Ceasefire Tracker

(2) Data for Progress, Feb. 27 poll.

(3) Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, Feb. 12

Deborah Adelman Oak Park

Commend board for standing up to hecklers

placed the board in violation of state law. (This requirement might have been obscure if the village attorney hadn’t explained it for everyone.) The law requires advance notice of certain board actions in the interest of preserving a healthy deliberative process.

I am confident the hecklers believe sincerely in the justice of their cause. But they disgraced themselves, and the kind of behavior they exhibited cannot be tolerated in a democracy.

I have read all the letters you printed from homeowners about bagging leaves, but not one about what it would cost senior citizens. Seniors who can’t mow and rake, who have to pay for lawn service. Seniors will have to pay for bags, and lawn service will cost them more. This hurts families who don’t make as much as the village president and the trustees and the public works director … and he doesn’t even live in Oak Park.

Jackie Lewandowski Oak Park resident for over 45 years

In the April 9 meeting of the Oak Park Board of Trustees, a small group of hecklers attempted to shout down President Vicki Scaman and other board members as they conducted board business. If that weren’t enough, their contempt extended beyond our elected representatives to the general public: During public comment, the self-described peace activists turned against their own neighbors, attempting to shout over them as well and yelling nasty things at them when they dared to disagree. The hecklers’ declared goal was to win hearts and minds on a topic that has nothing to do with any area within board responsibility (in this case, foreign policy). Further, they demanded a vote on an improperly noticed resolution — something that would have

Especially in these times, the board should be commended for standing up to attacks on the democratic process, pluralism, and the rule of law and in support of the right of all members of the community to express their views.

Gregory Shill Oak Park

Urgent message to all Oak Parkers: Our tax dollars are providing most of the funding for Israel’s war on Gaza. The Oak Park portion is significant. Make no mistake, these are not defensive weapons; they are of fensive. All states can defend themselves, but no state can commit genocide.

World opinion is calling for a ceasefire, release of all hostages, and humanitarian aid in Gaza.

All people of good conscience have the duty to call for an end to the killing, destruction and starvation. The current six-month siege must end so all hostages can be released, aid can be provided, and a peace process can begin.

In support of a cease re resolution Village board meeting disruption overblow n

The April 17 edition of the Wednesday Jour nal re por ts that the recent meeting at the Village Board re garding a Gaza war ceasefire resolution “erupted in anger” [Contentious Oak Park meeting reflects global tensions over Israel-Hamas war]. This is a sensationalistic account. In fact, two people at the meeting, who were not affiliated with the pro-ceasefire group, were disruptive. Everyone else, on both sides of the issue, behaved with respect and decorum.

WJ unfairly opines that the proceasefire group naively insisted on a trustees vote, contrary to the Illinois Open Meetings Act. But before any public comment, Trustee President Vicki Scaman announced that the village board had already confer red and had decided to deny the resolution. The trustees’ back-room conference arguably violated the Open Meetings Act. So for transparency and to cor rect the board’s er ror, as a Jewish attendee, I asked that each board member publicly announce their position on the resolution.

Lastly, a letter to WJ opposing the ceasefire resolution, mistakenly stated that the resolution only applies to

Our Oak Park trustees can send a powerful message to President Biden and Congress to stop funding genocide and move peace forward. Send a message to our trustees to support a resolution for a per manent ceasefire, hostage release, and humanitarian aid now. Email board@oak-park.us

Please sign the petition below calling for a ceasefire:

https://www.change.org/p/pass-anoak-park-permanent-ceasefire-resolution-to-save-lives

Dean Christ

Oak Park

Math is stealing our children!

We go through a lot as parents when we choose to take on the task of nur turing another life, calling that life our child, and loving them through the good times and bad. Then they leave.

Oak Park and River Forest has been a great place to raise a child and I hope it remains that way for future generations. Although there is silent racism here as with many communities, there is also a desire for equity once that racism is addressed. The desire appears genuine.

That is what “the jour ney is about”: a commitment to being better in every way, generation after generation. The landscape and community of Oak Park and even River Forest is experiencing subtle metamorphoses that are meant to improve our world and community.

I attribute this to math. Let’s calculate the positives and ne gatives of math on a 10-point scale. I will add and take away points based on positive and negative influences

Math is the reason we want to make sure these towns are equitable. We assess the demographic by math and decide if we are a diverseenough community based on those numbers.

Currently, Tutortastic, NFP, which my daughter founded, just celebrated its one-year anniversary. As I volunteer at the Oak Park Public Library, I observe the kids talking about math. For example, Sebastien and Marianna and her siblings, receive help at Tutor tastic weekly. This has helped both to excel in math, basic algebra, and helped Marianna participate in a math competition as a fourth-grader. I will add back a point for math because children excelling at algebra at any age is a good thing

Increasing the number of girls who enter math and science fields is a goal that will advance our society in too many ways to name in one essay. So I will take away 7 points for math because this op-ed has a word limit, causing me to leave some thoughts out.

Speaking of girls in STEM, my daughter, who has a love hate relationship with math as any good scientist does but does well in it, may inspire other future scientists to apply their math skills in ways that help humanity. So I will add back 2 points for math.

Israel and not to Hamas. Actually, the resolution’s purpose applies to all combatants. This same letter misguidedly states that a ceasefire would leave Hamas intact, thereby enabling Hamas to someday again attack Israel. Hamas, although murderously brutal and religiously fundamentalist, does nevertheless draw on Palestinians’ rightful and long-held desire for self-deter mination. That desire cannot be militarily extinguished. To quote Aluf Benn, editor-in-chief of Haaretz, “to live in peace, Israel will have to finally come to terms with the Palestinians ... continuing the occupation, expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank, laying siege to Gaza, and refusing to make any territorial compromise (or even reco gnize Palestinian rights) will not bring the country lasting security. ... [Israel must] chart a path to peace and dignified coexistence with the Palestinians.”

A permanent ceasefire is a necessary first ste p, which will be advanced by the ceasefire resolution.

See //foreignaffairs.com/israel/ israels-netanyahu-self-destruction.

Jim Poznak Oak Park

Currently, Oak Park is white, 63.08%; Black or African American, 19.03%; two or more races, 9%; Asian, 5.9% (World Population Review, 2024). OK, so we have a bit of work to do in re gard to that math. So that’s minus 4 points for math.

What about our landscape? As of 2024, new buildings in Oak Park must be all electric according to a new ordinance (#23-53). This will reduce the number of greenhouse gases Oak Park makes. This is currently 70%, just in the building sector for Oak Park. Climate change mitigation is a good thing and promotes our future as a human race. Our children need a good future, so I will add back 2 points for math.

But, the more math Peera does and the better she gets in her field, the less li kely it is that she’ll come home, since her career will take her elsewhere. And the more children become STEM majors, the less we parents get to see them.

So let’s see. Calculating minus 4 points for math because it caused my daughter to leave Oak Park, and minus 7 points for Marianna because she is only in fourth grade yet is on her way out of here … that leads to the conclusion that math is stealing our children. Despite its benefits, math is -5 points on a 10-point scale.

I think I have made myself clear.

El Serumaga is a resident of River Forest and this op-ed is satirical.

oughts about Ridgeland and Washington

As a frequent walker at Ridgeland and Washington, I ag ree with Nicole Chavez that automatic “Walk” at stoplights is a great idea. Cars roar by, jockey for turns, and stack up as pedestrians nervously step out. Ridgeland is a main artery, not very wide, and drivers seem especially impatient these days. It’s only right to give pedestrians a fighting chance.

I also ag ree with Mark Schlosser, who questions turning Ridgeland into a dedicated bike

route that could eliminate street parking. Oak Park is for tunate to have a network of lowspeed, quiet streets for local biking. With so many lightly travelled roads, why complicate an already over-burdened artery like Ridgeland, especially when a dedicated bike lane would come to a screeching halt at our north and south boundaries?

Karen Heller Oak Park

Great turnout for librar y’s migrant program

On Sunday, April 14, it was standing room only in the Oak Park Main Library’s Veterans Room during “Oak Park Area’s Response to Migrants,” a program sponsored by Congregations Networking for Social Justice

Dr. Kathleen Arnold, director of Refugees and Forced Migration Studies at DePaul University, gave keynote remarks that outlined the backdrop of dangerous conditions in Venezuela. There was personal testimony of a migrant who explained why he had to leave his country after shots were fired at his house for exposing corruption.

Annie Gomberg explained the response by the city of Chicago and the police precincts.

Betty Alzamora highlighted the work of the Oak Park Community Resettlement Mission and suggested there is a “butterfly effect” when small actions somewhere create positive results elsewhere.

Lynda Schueler described the ongoing successes of Housing Forward in housing those who are chronically unhoused.

The major religions of the world hold a similar tenet of “welcoming the stranger,” which has been demonstrat-

DAVID HAMMOND

from page 21

When I spotted smelt on the menu at Papaspiros on Lake Street, I immediately knew what I was having for dinner. Smelt are usually breaded and fried, easy to eat with the fingers, and that’s how they were prepared at Papaspiros. All they need is a squirt of lemon to cut and balance the fried-ness With a glass of white wine (recommended: retsina) — delightful.

At Papaspiros, smelt are served with horta, wild greens (many times dandelion greens) that are simply boiled. Much like spinach, horta can have a slight bitter ness that complements smelt. At about $18, a deal.

Although smelt in Lake Michigan and other lakes have been found to

ed by the hundreds of volunteers in our cong re gations and community who have ste pped up to donate clothing, make meals, drive families to health care, or search for housing

More help will be needed this summer as the number of new arrivals is increasing. Explore volunteer opportunities with Oak Park Community Migrant Resettlement Mission (https://opmigrantresettlementmission.com/) and the Migrant Ministry at Centro San Edmundo (the for mer St. Edmund School) https://www stgilesparish.org/migrant-ministry. Congregations Networking for Social Justice sponsors 2-3 public educational events per year. The group was for med in 2022 when representatives of four local congregations, who were doing the work of anti-racism, advocacy, and organizing around an array of social justice issues, said, “We need to know each other.” Now more than 17 congregations are represented on a robust email list. People who sign-up for the email list will receive a quarterly newsletter, which shares information about events of interest and resources. For more information and/ or to be added to the email list, email: justicenetwork.op@gmail.com.

K arin Grimes, Oak Park

contain high levels of potentially toxic compounds, Papaspiros sources smelt from the Atlantic, and these little fish provide many health benefits; for instance, they’re rich in ome ga-3 fatty acids, which helps prevent hear t disease and, like many fish, they contain significant levels of protein.

In early spring 2011, I was taping a se gment for Chicago Public Radio about the annual smelt festival at Montrose harbor. This traditional gathering of smelt fishers, g rilling their catch and drinking a little, was perhaps the last of its kind. After throwing in nets for hours, our catch was a bunch of seaweed, a few bobbers, a flat tire and, as I recall, one smelt. Fortunately, Shaw’s Crab House was kind enough to bring a few big aluminum pans of fried smelt for us to eat on that chilly night.

Alas, smelt are rarely found on restaurant menus … so if you’re g ame to try them, get thee to Papaspiros

Violet is smiling

For those who watch the TV show Call the Midwife, a recent episode showed Violet running for mayor — against all men. In a way it was shocking to see that visual of her with all those men. We were reminded of the very difficult path of those early women who tried to break through male-dominated politics and business. Thanks to her skills, honesty, and willingness to help all of Poplar, she won. Whoo hoo!

Fast forward to the April 3 front-page article by Jessica Mackinnon, “Making history,” highlighting four powerful women leaders in our communities: Vicki Scaman, Oak Park village president; Cathy Adduci, River Forest’s first female village president; Shatonya Johnson, Oak Park’s first female police chief; and Kenya Thomas, Oak Park postmaster What a delight to read this article and to celebrate our wonderful local women leaders.

The beautifully written piece highlights the powerful, smart, skilled, creative and compassionate styles of feminine leadership. We each have aspects of feminine and masculine energy within. It was so encouraging to get to know these women who have a successful and beautiful balance of feminine and masculine qualities for successful cutting-edge leadership.

Some of these qualities overlap, and others are purely from the feminine space. These traits are: skilled, strong, grounded, tough, open, creative at problem solving, getting things done, caring, experienced. They are emotionally intelligent, transformational, forward-thinking, and inclusive They have a servant leadership style, confidence, resilience, an ability to handle problems and criticism. These women connect with spiritual guidance, family, girlfriends and nature; they take some vacation time and have a fine sense of humor

This successful style may be summarized by a quote from Cathy Adduci: “Women do the work We show up consistently and that’s half the battle. We made a commitment to our roles, and we give it our all. The pushback doesn’t deflate us, it motivates us.”

I feel so proud to live in here and be a woman witnessing this shift in leadership style

Thanks. Brava!

Violet is smiling.

Gina Orlando Former longtime Oak Park er

JOY AARONSON

from page 21

and subsequently brought small-far m prices up about 45%. Since that pricing surge, we’ve seen a steady decline in day-to-day business. Our sales actually doubled in 2020, but now have come back down 50% to 2019 levels

“The refrain in food service today is: our operating costs have nearly doubled. It is a troubling and challenging time to be in busi-

What’s next?

Oak Park is seemingly roiling with controversy First, whatever that was that the library officials/staff did regarding a Palestinian cultural event has now resulted in much handwringing. I have yet to understand what the library did or did not do in this matter However, does the fact that it had something to do with Palestine — rather than, say, pay homage to Hemingway or Wright (safe subject matter) — get some people’s shorts in knots? Ongoing story

Then there’s the leaf-bagging issue Leaves fall. Each fall. Ma Nature is indif ferent to we humans and our penchant to find fault in even the most inexorable aspects of life. We just love to fight over this and that. The leaves! The tragedy of the leaves! Developing story ...

Breaking news! The most headscratching recent kerfuffle has to do not with leaves, but another of nature’s of ferings: cotton. As in bags of it. Used in an apparent Oak Park classroom lesson on Eli Whitney and his cotton mill. The teacher provided small bags of cotton for the young minds to consider up close and personal. The cotton bags were given not just as a pass-around and re-g athering of said white fluffy stuf f. Kids took the bags home. White cotton. From a white teacher Red fla g! Answers demanded. How insensitive! The brazen ef frontery! The unmiti gated g all!

Palestine Fallen leave s. Bags of c otton. Oak Pa rk , a village on the edge What c ould p ossibly be next to rile the locals? I’ ll j ust have to wait until the next Jour nals hi t the stand s.

Joe Harrington Oak Park

ness We’re just holding on and looking at this year as an opportunity to really streamline some of the things we lear ned when we were bonkers busy.”

Carnivore plans to schedule a tour of the farms in Fairbury, Illinois, where much of their meat comes from. A list and description of the farmers they partner with, and other information is available on their website.

Joy Aaronson is an Oak Park resident who previously contributed to Chicago Parent and wrote the Kids’ World column for the former Logan Square Free Press

OBITUARIES

Mary Phillips, 86 Owned Mary’s Place Restaurant

Mary E. Phillips, 86, of River Forest, died peacefully on March 21, 2024 at Rush Medical Center after a brief illness. Born on Aug. 29, 1937, she was the owner of the for mer Mary’s Place restaurant in Oak Park Prior to that, she worked for more than 20 years in the restaurant industry, both for Stouffer’s Restaurants and Golden Bear Family Restaurants She was devoted to her faith, her f amily, and her friends, and was a 66-year member of St. Giles Parish. She loved being with her f amily and spending time with all her nieces, nephews and great-nieces and -nephews, especially during summers at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. And she treasured her time at her condo in Venice, F lorida. She loved hosting dinners and having pa rties, and was often the ca talyst for many memorable f amily events. She had a wide variety of friends, including her neighbors in Centennial House and Brookwood, her F lorida neighbors in Bella Costa, her golf buddies at Country

Club Estates, Abbey Springs, and Venice Lakes golf courses, and her for mer coworkers at Elmcrest Banquets. She had a g enerous nature and was always willing to offer help to others. She loved golf and achieved the distinction of two holes-inone in her lifetime. She loved to travel and visited most of the countries in the world. She was loved by her f amily and friends and will be missed by all who knew her

Mary was the daughter of the late Walter and Lucille; the sister of Luanne (the late Douglas) Peterson and Margaret (the late J. T homas) Kenny; the aunt of Scott Peterson, Craig (Heather) Peterson, Mary (Kevin) Gibbons, Anne Sullivan, Timothy (Jamee) Kenny, and Kevin Kenny; the great-aunt of Joe, Sean, and Colin Sullivan, Clare, Patrick, Timothy, and Eddie Gibbons, Grace, T homas, Matthew, Ryan, and Owen Peterson, and Hunter, Oliver, and River Kenny; the aunt and great-aunt of Yvonne and T ristan LeBourhis and David, Ainsley and Alec Edstrom; the cousin of Jim McGuire; and the neighbor and friend of many.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to St Giles School in her memory would be appreciated (St. Giles School, Development Office, 1034 Linden Ave., Oak Park IL 60302 in memory of Mary Phillips).

Visitation was held on April 8 at St Giles Church in Oak Park followed by Mass. Interment graveside took place at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.

Mary T Small, 91

Keebler elf, lived on Mary T Way

Mary T Small, 91, of Elmhurst and for mer longtime resident of Rive Forest, died on April 4, 2024.

Mary T was full of drive and energy in everything she did and devoted her life to her f amily, career, community and friends. As the daughter of Irish immigrants, she inherited the Irish gift of gab and the ability to connect with almost everyone, leading to numerous friendships throughout her life. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, she graduated from Visitation High School and St. Xavier Colle ge, as the first colle ge graduate in her f amily. After several years working in consumer marketing research, in 1961 she married Jer ry Small and they were to g ether for over 35 years until his passing in 1996.

loved her community and served many years as a board member for the River Forest Public Library and was an active village volunteer. In 2013, the village honored her service by designating her street as Mary T Small Way.

She was passionate about educatio n and lifelong learning, serving on the board of her alma mater, St. Xavier, and volunteering for many years with the Illinois Montessori Society. She also had a successful career as a marketing research executive, including as the chie f marketing research “elf” for the Keebler Cookie Company.

An avid traveler, she visited all 50 states and had many trips abroad with her f amily, grandchildren, friends and the Road Scholars org anization.

In 2014, she became a resident of Park Place in Elmhurst. She enjoyed her new community and made many friends. Consistent with her approach through life, she was active in Park Place community, serving on the Welcoming and Food committees

from page 21

for cows and pigs and have been thinking about where the meat and poultry I routinely eat come from.

Brad said Carnivore buys directly “from small, family-owned and -operated farms. This keeps money in domestic ag riculture and ensures accountability in expectations and practices. It’s also the tastiest meat. Many of the heirloom breeds were developed when people grew livestock for flavor and quality, rather than yield and profitability.”

Currently, there are nine people

working at Ca rnivore, including owners, managers, clerks, dishwashers, and cooks. The shop is in an area of Oak Park that has a dense population. Five highrise apar tments have been built withi n walking distance since Carnivore opened 10 years ago.

Sadly, many businesses closed during COVID, but Carnivore thr ived. They limited the number of customers who could be in the store and put up plastic bar riers in front of the meat counters. Brad told me he helped many customers, who had never taken Home Ec in school and had rarely cooked before, to learn tricks in planning and preparing their meats.

I have personally benefitted from Carnivore’s teaching and sharing. One time I asked about the in gredients in one of the prepared soups I wanted to serve

She loved spending time with her f amily, and later her grandchildren, in the f amily house in River Forest where she lived for over 50 years, hosting holidays with friends and neighbors. She also

for a guest with food sensitivities, and the Carnivore staf f took out a loose-leaf notebook with stained recipes to show me the ingredients.

I love their prepared g azpacho, a cold soup of blended ve g etables that I first tasted when I was studying in Spain.

When I went to Carnivore several weeks after buying their g azpacho and found there was none in the cooler, the staf f got the recipe book out and let me take a screenshot. I made the soup by myself one time but, honestly, the Carnivore version was much better.

When I asked how business is now, Erik told me “We were absolutely inundated from 2020 until August 2022, when suddenly commodity prices essentially doubled and subsequently brought small-farm prices up about 45%. Since

Mary T is survived by her children, Andy (Sue), Martha and David, and her grandchildren, Sarah and Madeline Small. She was preceded in death by husband Jerry, her parents T homas and Nora Galligan, her Aunt Mary Galligan and her brother Thomas

A celebration of Mary T Small’s life will be held at a future date in May.

that pricing surge, we’ve seen a steady decline in day-to-day business. Our sales actually doubled in 2020, but now have come back down 50% to 2019 levels.

“The refrain in food service today is: our operating costs have nearly doubled. It is a troubling and challenging time to be in business. We’re just holding on and looking at this year as an opportunity to really streamline some of the things we lear ned when we were bonkers busy.”

Carnivore plans to schedule a tour of the farms in Fairbury, Illinois, where much of their meat comes from. A list and description of the farmers they partner with, and other information is available on their website.

Joy Aaronson is an Oak Park resident who previously contributed to Chicago Pa rent and wrote the Kids’ World column for th e former Logan Squa re Free Press

MARY PHILLIPS

MARY T SMALL

SPORTS

Marshall to be a Michigan man

Rising Fenwick senior commits to play football for the Wolverines

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

High School junior Nate Marshall, one the state’s top colle ge football prospects in the 2025, has received numerous offers from rsitie s.

ppears the recruiting process is wrapping up riars’ defensive lineman/tight end because pril 22 he announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he has made an oral commitment to the University of he 6-4, 270-pound Marshall selected the over schools like Alabama, Auburn, IlMiami (Florida), and Ohio State, all of whom had made scholarship offers

“Extremely blessed and thankful for this opportunity,” Marshall said in his X post. “All glory to

Game, set, and match for Sullivan

Longtime Fenwick tennis coach to retire after this season

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Years ago, the late singer/actor Kenny Ro gers sang the theme song for his movie, The Gambler . T he first line of the chorus begins, “You’ve gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away …”

Walking away is what longtime Fenwick High School tennis coach Gerard Sullivan is doing after a long, successful career At the conclusion of the current season, he’ll retire and pass the reins of the boys and girls progr ams to Ron Ro g ala.

“It’s time,” said Sullivan, who will continue to teach at Fenwick. “It’s been a lot of seasons, and it’s time for me to taper down. But I’d like to keep teaching for as long as I can. That’s my real job; it’s why I’m there.”

Sullivan has coached Fenwick’s boys

the man above. I’m home. Go Blue!”

Last season, Marshall was named the Chicag o Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic C onference Orange Division Defensive Playe r of the Year, re gistering 38 tackles (16 for loss), six sacks, 13 q uar terback hits, four forced f umbles, and four blocke d kick s. Of f ensive ly, he c aught four touchdown p asses. He was also named to the Chicag o S un-Times All-Area First Team.

Marshall is Illinois’ #1 prospect in the class of 2025 in the Rivals recruiting rankings; he’s also the top prospect nationally at strong-side defensive end and the #21 overall prospect in the country.

In the 247Sports recruiting rankings, Marshall is the state’s #2 prospect, behind Edwardsville defensive lineman Iose Epenesa. Moreover, he’s the #11 defensive lineman and #73 overall prospect nationally.

team since 1992, and has been the only head coach in the girls progr am, which star ted in the fall of 1992 when the school turned coed. He guided the girls to a third-place finish in the 2021 IHSA Class 1A state tournament, then won the state championship in 2022.

Sullivan said he’s most fond of how his players developed under his guidance.

“Any time you have a kid overachieve or do something nice for him or herself, those are the great memories,” he said.

“It’s great when you have a team that clicks and works well to g ether. T here are also great individual moments that make [coaching] wor thwhile.”

Sullivan admitted he’ll miss coaching because of the way it helps make the school year go by f aster. Sports also help student-athletes see the bigger picture in high school.

“It’s great being able to provide that,”

he said.

While he doesn’t know Ro g ala personally, he credits Fenwick athletic director Scott Thies for conducting a thoroug coaching search.

“I’ve heard great things about g ala],” he said. “He’s very qualified and experienced, and I know Scott would fin a good re placement. He’s very good hiring quality coaches, and that was one reason I was confident in stepping down. I made the decision in November, and tha gave Scott plenty of time.”

Meanwhile, Sullivan’s focus is on developing a young F riars team, which lost 10 players from last year due to graduation.

“It’s a smaller group of kids with experience,” he said. “They ’re really improving, and I feel good about that. T hey’re showing a lot of good energy.”

While it would make a fine ending if Fenwick makes noise in the Chicago

PROVIDED

Catholic League and IHSA tournaments, Sullivan says he’s not focused on that.

“That’d be great, but it’s not something I’m expecting,” he said. “We’ re focusing on one week at a time, one match at a time, and if we g et better, I’m glad. But there’s no pressure.”

Gerard Sullivan

C AROL DUNNING

Nate Marshall

STUDENT ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Trejo sets example for Fenwick girls water polo

Four-year varsity member gives Friars plenty of experience

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

This week’s featured female studentathlete profile highlights Fenwick High School senior Xiomara Trejo, who has been a starter for the Friars’ varsity girls water polo team all four years. She likes ho Fenwick’s young has developed this season.

“The team is wo hard both in and out of the water,” Trejo said. “We star ted a little rock losing some games, but tried our best to stay positive We also focus on what we accomplished in the water and wh can improve on for next game.

“Individually, I try to push myself as hard as I can during practice and make sure everyone is having a good time,” she added. “We have a lot of new girls on the team and it’s possible to work hard and have fun at the same time.”

Colle ge plans: “I plan to major in psychology. I am currently stuck between two schools, both of which I intend to play water polo.”

In her free time: “I love spending time with friends, family, and my dog. Currently, my weekends usually consist of me spending time with my boyfriend. In the summer, I go out with my siblings a lot.”

Favorite food: “Sushi.”

Favorite music and TV show: “I listen to all kinds of music, except coun-

try. My favorite song is “Stolen Dance” by Milky Chance. My favorite show is The Office.”

Here are some other thoughts Trejo shared with us.

Most memorable water polo moment: “Sophomore year, we bonded when going over to a teammate’s house. We went on the trampoline to completely vent and be vulnerable with one another. That same year, we won sectionals and went to state. It really showed me how having a strong bond with your team is important.”

Lesson learned as a student-athlete: “Fenwick has taught me to prioritize my time with school, work, and other extracurricular activities.”

Famous person she’d like to meet: “I don’t have a specific person I look up to, but it would be cool to meet one.”

Bigg est issues facing teens: “Thinking for yourself rather than others. I know parents push kids to do a lot re gardless if they really want to do it or are even really interested in it. Also, adults not realizing that teens also have their own issues and struggles and just because they’re not adults, it doesn’t mean tha t makes them any less impor tant.”

Three things that describe Trejo: “Genuine, open, and funny.”

STUDENT ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Bozarth leads the way fo OPRF bo

Senior is con

By MELVIN TA Contributing Reporter

going to work harder in practice than er worked in order to get to the final game [at state] and get that [win].”

Here’s what else Bo zarth said: On colle ge plans: “I’m going to St Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New rsey, right across the Hudson Ri New York City. They’re a [NCAA] Division III program that won the national championship last year and are in the semifinals this year. I haven’t decided [on a major] yet, but I think I’m going to do environmental engineering. I’ve always lo ence and engineering is a nice of both.”

In his free time: “I am a photo have a camera and I just go out wher take pictures. I’ve taken photography classes at OPRF, which helps.”

Favorite food: “It’s a tough one, but I’m going to have to go with Portillo’s chocolate cake. We get it for my birthday every year, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted in my life.”

Favorite music: “I like all kinds of music, except for country. I like rap before a g ame, I think it gets me into the mood to play. I also

cause of it. Our generation is more anxious and depressed than any previous, and I think that’s an issue that’s important to me. I’m not sure exactly how to fix it, but it’s vital that people in power do something to help us out because it’s tough.”

Three words that describe him: “Caring, witty, and competitive.”

PROVIDED

Xiomara Trejo

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The Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, located at 201 N. Scoville will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation Meeting which will take place remotely via video/telephone conference on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 10:00am. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private/ parochial schools and who are home schooled within the district for the 2024-25 school year. If you are the parent of a home-schooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability and you reside within the boundaries of Oak Park & River Forest High School District 200, you are urged to attend. If you would like to join the meeting, please contact Shdata Redmond at sredmond@oprfhs.org or call (708) 434-3121 to request the Zoom Link information.

Published in Wednesday Journal April 17, 24, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICE

On Monday, May 06, 2024 at 8:30 a.m., Oak Park Elementary School District 97 will be conducting a “timely and meaningful consultation” meeting to discuss plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private/parochial schools and who are home-schooled within the district for the 2024-2025 school year. The meeting will be held at our Central Office located at 260 Madison Street.

If you are a parent/guardian of a home-schooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability, and you reside within the boundaries of Oak Park Elementary School District 97, you are urged to attend. If you have further questions about this meeting, please contact District 97’s Department of Student Services at 708-524-3030.

Published in Wednesday Journal April 17,

9:00

conducted by

Township

School (PTHS) District 209. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private schools and students homeschooled within the district for the 2024-2025 school year. As a parent of a homeschooled student who has been or may be identified

Case Number 24-0004

Public Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) of the Village of River Forest, County of Cook, State of Illinois, on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Community Room of the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois on the following matter:

Mosaic Montessori Academy is seeking a Special Use Permit to establish a Child Daycare Center in the C-3 Commercial District, in the existing building at 7777 Lake Street, in River Forest, Illinois.

Section 10-18-4 of the Village Code provides the Zoning Board jurisdiction to hold public hearings and offer recommendations to the Village Board concerning applications for a Special Use Permit. The legal description of the property at 7777 Lake Street is as follows:

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

addition to stump removal and area restoration.

The bidding documents are available for download starting Monday, April 22, 2024 at: www.vrf.us/bids

Bids must be submitted by Friday, May 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at: Public Works Department, 2nd Floor

LOT 14 (EXCEPT THE EAST 27.5 FEET THEREOF) AND LOT 15 (EXCEPT THE SOUTH 20 FEET OF THE) EAST 27.5 FEET AND EXCEPT THE NORTH 30 FEET OF THE EAST 15 FEET THEREOF) ALSO LOT 16 (EXCEPT THE EAST 15 FEET THEREOF) IN BLOCK 4 IN LATHROP’S RESUBDIVISION OF LATHROP AND SEAVERN’S ADDITION TO RIVER FOREST, BEING A RESUBDIVISION OF THAT PART LYING EAST OF PARK AVENUE TOGETHER WITH THE EAST 3/5 OF BLOCK 15 IN LATHROP AND SEAVERN’S ADDITION IN THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 12, TOWNSHIP 39 NORCH, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, (EXCEPT FROM SAID PREMISES THE WEST 72 FEET OF LOTS 15 AND 16 AFOERSAID CONVEYED BY BOAG BUILDING CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TO ROSANA CENTRUM CORPORATION BY DOCUMENT NUMBER 9934913 RECORDED FEB. 23, 1928), IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. For public comments to be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Village Board of Trustees in their decision, they must be included as part of the public hearing record Interested persons can learn more about how to participate in the hearing by visiting www.vrf.us/guides/ guide/DevelopmentGuide.

Sincerely, Clifford

Radatz Secretary,

Zoning Board of Appeals

Published in Wednesday Journal April 24, 2024

All interested parties are invited to attend and provide input at the public hearing. Written comments may also be submitted to the Community Development Department prior to the hearing at the following address:

Development Department

of North Riverside 2401 Desplaines Ave Riverside, IL 60546

For further information, please contact the Community Development office at (708) 447-4211.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

all bids. Published

If you’re noticing changes, it could be Alzheimer’s. Talk about visiting a doctor together. adapt together, as a family.”

If you’re noticing changes, it could be Alzheimer’s. Talk about visiting a doctor together. “ Early detection gave us time to adapt together, as a family.”

ALZ.org/TimeToTalk

ALZ.org/TimeToTalk

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