Wednesday Journal 051023

of Oak Park and River Forest

Berwyn bar patrons face towing in Oak Park

New ordinance in the works to address violence, nuisance spilling into Oak Park

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

Almost one year has passed since a rolling shootout over Memorial Day weekend on Roosevelt Road caused much distress to Oak Park residents who lived nearby. The incident stemmed from an altercation at the popular bar Mike’s Place, 6319 Roosevelt Rd., in Berwyn, which shined a light on the propensity of bargoers to park on neighboring Oak Park streets, causing brawls, disturbances and public urination.

“It went from more of a nuisance to violence,” said Oak Park Police Chief Shatonya Johnson during a presentation at the village board’s May 8 meeting.

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, the Oak Park Police Department has proposed an ordinance to implement a tow zone in the Oak Park areas most affected by

Brooks teacher ‘leads with love’

Nichelle Stigger is the 2023 recipient of the Staszak Award

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Standing in the hallways of Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School in Oak Park, sixth-grade language and literature teacher Nichelle Stigger smiles and waves to students passing by, setting an example in what has become her mission to “lead with love.”

The recipient of the 2023 William Staszak Outstanding Educator of the Year Award, Stigger, 41, has created a re putation for herself in the halls of the middle school as someone dedicated to setting a tone of acceptance, fighting for equity, and encouraging students to believe in their dreams.

Though she always wanted to teach, she struggled with test taking in school, eventually following a different career path in sales and marketing. However, the itch didn’t go away and while planning to start a family, Stigger, then 36 years old, knew she needed to work in a field where she could make a difference in people’s lives, and ultimately decided to pursue teaching, earning her master’s de gree from Columbia Colle ge.

“Because I struggled as a student, I thought that I could offer that support from my own experiences as a student,” she said. Receiving extended time on tests helped her

flourish academically.

Stigger began her second career at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy, on the Oak Park side of Austin Boulevard, teaching math. During her time at the school, Stigger, now the mother of a 3-year-old, became concerned about her health and found herself having to advocate to be taken seriously, saying she felt it in her body that “something was wrong.”

Despite a PET scan revealing a nodule in her lung, doctors dismissed her concerns as she outwardly presented a healthy image.

“I was young. They were using all of these stereotypes of what a person should look like if they have cancer and shouldn’t,” she said. “They doubted that the mass in my lungs was cancer so that was a fight for me. I had to go back and for th.”

Stigger continued to advocate for herself, for her sake and as primary care giver for her son, who has a severe bleeding disorder.

“I am not just a mom but I have to be here to make sure I am taking care of my son’s health,” she said.

Six months after the original discovery of the nodule in her lung, a time Stigger recalls as a depressing period in her life, she underwent emergency surgery to remove the mass, which had continued to grow. After a biopsy, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and had her lower lobe removed.

Throughout this journey, Stigger held onto her passion for teaching, and upon being cleared from surgery knew she had to go back to work, for herself and for her son.

She was hired for her dream job at Brooks, 325 S. Kenilworth Ave. While the road wasn’t easy, she drew inspiration from her host teacher, leaning into teaching to get her through the dark times.

“The community I was in, I don’t even think they understood how much they have helped me these past seven years, transitioning from cancer to cancer-free,” Stigger said.

Not wanting to take a

minute for granted, she encourages her students to find themselves in the here and now.

“Don’t wait to be the person you want to be, to ask the questions you want to ask, to do the thing you want to do,” she said. “Don’t wait until someone in your family dies to rekindle that friendship, or until that thing has passed you by. Do it now.”

Pulling from her own life experiences, Stigger shows her students that sometimes things don’t come easy and labels aren’t what make you.

“We all have different points in which we learn,” she said. “It is all relative, and not to get hung up on titles, or classrooms that you are in, but seeing the work as something that is important and that you are passionate about. It is about putting yourself out there. Yes, it is hard but you have to keep going and keep growing.”

Her spirit and the ability to look at everything through a lens of love and equity is what sets her apar t from others, said April Capuder, principal at Brooks. Capuder also praised Stigger for her commitment to the school, saying she is involved in the planning and execution of Black History Month and other activities such as helping students form a cheer club, bringing a lively energy in the building and being a reliable adult in her students’ lives.

Stigger, who credits her students with teaching her about love, said she is amazed at how much her students give back to her every single day.

“Education, to me, means so much more than just this basic ‘I am just a teacher.’ It feels as if there is a reason I am here and that this place has given me this support in ways that help me move through my jour ney,” she said.

PROVIDED

Nichelle Stig ger, alongside her husband Aaron Stig ger and her son Parker Stig ger.

PROVIDED

Nichelle Stig ger has found her ‘dream job’ at Brooks Middle School

“Don’t wait to be the person you want to be, to ask the questions you want to ask, to do the thing you want to do.”

NICHELLE STIGGER

Jessamine Chan and Deborah Shapiro in Conversation

Saturday, May 13, 12-1 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

Conversation and Q&A with author Jessamine Chan, moderated by fellow writer Deborah Shapiro. Chan’s The School for Good Mothers introduces, in Frida, an ever ywoman for the ages, using dark wit to explore the pains and joys of the deepest ties that bind us, Shapiro’s third novel, Consolation, was published in October 2022. Co -sponsored by the Hemingway Foundation. Register now at oppl. org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

An A air to Remember: Mamah Borthwick & Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park

Tuesday, May 16, 6-7 p.m., virtually through Oak Park Public Library

Mamah Borthwick’s relationship with Frank Lloyd Wright is remembered chie y for its having ended in her tragic murder in Wisconsin in 1914. Much less is known about their a air during the previous decade in Oak Park. In this program, Mark Borthwick, a distant relative of Mamah’s, will draw on his new biography of her to reveal surprising facts about this pivotal period in her life and that of Frank Lloyd Wright. Co -sponsored by the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. Register now at oppl.org/calendar.

Adult Board Game & Lego Night

Wednesday, May 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

Experience open gaming with other board game and Lego enthusiasts. Some games and Lego sets will be provided, but bring a game and sets of your own to share or play with others. Register now at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

BIG WEEK

May 10-17

Los Perros Cubanos/Luna Blues Machine

Saturday, May 13, 8 p.m., Outta Space Hip-hop and salsa, coexisting in the same space on the same night? That is exac tly what’s going on here, as headliners Los Perros Cubanos features the music of Cuba’s Golden Age of the ‘40s and ‘ 50s. The Luna Blues Machine, contrary to their name, are not blues, but rather an “acoustic Latin hip-hop folk-soul” ac t, fronted by sisters Belinda and Maritza Cervantes.

$10, 6840 32nd St., Berw yn.

Creative Studio: Open Studio Hours

Wednesday, May 17, 1-5 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

Creative Connections

Saturday, May 13, 6-8 p.m., Satish Factory Art

This group exhibition features three talented artists: printmaker Rene Arceo, mixed media artist Satish Prabhu, and paper mache sculptor Phyllis Frick. 415 N. Marion St., Oak Park.

Illinois Libraries Present: On Being Fabulous With Jonathan Van Ness & Kristi Yamaguchi

Wednesday, May 17, 7-8 p.m., virtually through Illinois Libraries Present

Queer Eye and Getting Curious star and ice skating superfan, Jonathan Van Ness talks with his idol, Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi. They’ll chat gure skating, fabulous style, and whatever else comes up! With Jonathan, you never quite know what he’ll say next. Register now at bit.ly/OnBeingFabulous.

The Creative Studio allows patrons ages 14+ to come and work on self-directed projects using the Creative Studio space and resources. Children ages 13 and under may use the Creative Studio and work on projects together with an adult (18+) caregiver. Work spaces and materials are allocated on a rst-come, rst-served basis. Creative Technology sta will be on hand to assist with resources and access, but additional learning should be arranged separately via a Learning Lab appointment. Learn more at oppl.org/ calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Listing your event

Wednesday Jour nal welcomes notices about events that Oak Park and River Forest groups and businesses are planning. We’ ll work to get the word out if you let us know what’s happening by noon Wednesday a week before your news needs to be in the newspaper

■ Send details to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, 60302

■ Email calendar@wjinc.com

Fenwick’s new principal focuses on faith

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Fenwick High School, a Dominican Catholic College Preparatory School, 505 Washington Blvd, Oak Park, is welcoming its newest principal, Mark Rasar, who says he will work to maintain the school’s legacy when he assumes his position on July 1.

After a career in public education, Rasar is also looking forward to practicing and teach-

work alongside Partners in Mission, a fullservice consulting firm working to develop excellence in Catholic school ad and leadership. Rasar was contacted friend who believed he would be the perfect candidate for the position at Fenwick

“It was a unique experience at enal school that really drew me in to continu ing those conversations,” Rasar said.

Making the shift to private education learning curv he said, but is onfident in

Modern Music for Choir

Written by and for singers of Chicago Choral Artists

Composers

Shane Scott Cook

Michael D. Costello

Ed Frazier Davis

Mary Kurnat

Rami Levin

James A. Rogner

“In those lower grade levels, it is fun watching the little kids but there is just a difference in the professionalism of a high schooler as they are making their way into adulthood,” he said.

Rasar began serving in various administrative positions including as the associate principal for H.D Jacobs High School in Algonquin and as principal at Lincoln Junior High School in Skokie. Since 2019, he has been principal at Holmes Junior High School in Mount Prospect.

The Illinois Principals Association named him the 2022 North Cook Region-Middle School Principal of the Year.

To find its next principal, Fenwick for med a search committee in September 2022 to

opportunity for me to be able to share my faith and my moral grounds in a more open way.”

He is also looking forward to aiding Fenwick in their centennial campaign to help with capital improvements of the main building, along with maintaining strong enrollment, and working alongside faculty to ensure the proper resources are provided both for teachers as well as students

“We are there to serve and that is part of our mission,” Rasar said. “The number one thing for me is to serve our students and our families. I want to be able to have open lines of communication with our families and make sure we are delivering on our Catholic values for them.”

MARK RASAR

Lake and Lathrop lender les suit to recoup cash

Developer says construction continues this week

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

The future of the Lake and Lathrop condominium project in River Forest could be in doubt after Beverly Bank and Trust, which is financing the development, filed suit against the developer, Sedgwick Properties

Through the lawsuit filed last month in Cook County court, Wintrust-affiliated Beverly Bank and Trust is looking to claw back $4.2 million from the $20 million line of credit it issued in 2022. This story was first reported by The Real Deal, a real estate website

River Forest officials are tight-lipped regarding the lawsuit, issuing a statement acknowledging awareness of the legal action and indicating a willingness to work “with both parties to reach a resolution that is in the best interests of River Forest and its residents.”

The project has been on the drawing board since before the village board approved, in 2016, the proposal by Lake Lathrop Partners LLC to build a four-story, mixed-use development containing 22 condominium units and 14,000 square feet of retail space. Varia-

tions on the same project had lurched and lingered for a decade previously. The original project included another story and eight more units but was scaled back

In the lawsuit, the lender has reportedly cited several provisions in its loan agreement with Sedgwick af filiates that were violated including that the contract required the borrower to stay in compliance with local regulations and to stick to a tighter construction timeline.

In the village-issued statement, River Forest of ficials referred to compliance with local regulations

“As a general rule for all development projects, the village’s priorities are to monitor proper maintenance of worksites, in addition to the quality of construction, and timely completion of said projects,” the statement read. “Sedgwick has been found liable by the village for more than $36,000 in code violations over the duration of the project.”

Like the lender, some village residents have asserted in letters to the editor to Wednesday Journal or while speaking during the citizen comments portion of village board meetings that little or no work is being done at the site. Many of those com-

plaints came from residents of nearby condominium buildings

Mark McKinney, project manager for Sedgwick Properties, a partner in Lake Lathrop Partners, admitted previously that the project “got off to a slow start” but claimed the developer is making “consistent progress.”

This week, he said construction is “progressing well” and the upper parking deck “should be poured this week.”

McKinney acknowledged previously that construction will not be complete when the permit that was issued in February 2022 expires in August.

“The extension request will be made in a timely manner prior to the expiration date,” he said, adding that the target date for completion is now summer of 2024.

Permit extensions can only be granted by a vote of the village board after receiving a written request from the applicant. River Forest officials noted in the village-issued statement and verified that a for mal extension request from Sedgwick had not been received

The project has experienced a series of delays over the years, including environmental cleanup from a dry cleaner for merly on the site and a lawsuit involving a tenant who did not want to leave.

River Forest officials said in the villageissued statement that they “will continue to seek updates and information from the developer on the project’s progress and will continue to share this information with the public.”

Public Works, police range upgrades approved

Improvements to shooting range and parking lot resurfacing

By ROBERT J. LIFKA

Contributing Reporter

The River Forest Village Board invested in improvements to the public works garage parking lot and the police shooting range at the May 8 meeting, voting unanimously to spend a combined $144,469.50 for the upgrades

The majority of the expense, $115,022, will pay for resurfacing the parking lot of the public works garage, 45 Forest Ave., by Chicago-

land Paving Contractors Inc. of Lake Zurich, which submitted the only bid.

Jeff Loster, director of public works and development services, told board members the parking lot is in “deteriorated condition” and “takes a beating.” He added that the exact date when the parking lot was last resurfaced is not known but it has been at least 20 years.

He said Chicagoland Paving, which has done work for the village previously, will reconstruct the parking lot with a stone base and an asphalt wearing course replacing the existing asphalt driving surface. Chicagoland submitted an alternate bid to resurface the lot with concrete but the $195,571 was above the budgeted cost of $150,000.

Loster estimated the new surface would last 25 years and said the lifespan of the ex-

isting surface has been extended through annual patching and crack-sealing projects

He said he hopes work will start before the end of May and take 2-3 weeks, weather permitting.

Trustee Katie Brennan, recalling complaints from residents living near the public works garage when the gasoline pumps were moved several years ago, asked if neighbors will be infor med of the parking lot project.

“Absolutely,” Loster said, noting that mailings are “ready to go” once the board approved the project.

The board also approved a contract for improvements to the police shooting range with D5 Ranges of Union for $29,447.50, the lowest of three bids and below the budgeted amount of $33,477.

Police Chief Jim O’Shea said D5 Ranges is the only bidder based in Illinois, which will allow for quicker response to service needs and a more rapid turnaround of the initial installation of the new equipment. The equipment is of high quality and pricing was competitive with other vendor quotes, he added.

O’Shea explained that D5 Ranges will replace the 25-year-old target turners, which is just one feature of the shooting range. He said the improvement will eliminate the need for officers to manually turn the targets.

He said the project was scheduled to be completed in the last fiscal year but was delayed due in part to supply chain issues and extended lead times

TODD A. BANNOR

Lake & Lathrop condominium const ruction site in River Forest.

Preliminary plans emerge to develop Pieritz location

One Stop Comics, the last tenant, holds nal Free Comic Book Day

By LACEY SIKORA

Contributing Reporter

Rick Manzella has been a source for comic books in Oak Park since 1978, when he left his downtown job and opened One Stop Comics as a stall in a bookstore at Oak Park Avenue and South Boulevard.

He moved to his current location at 111 S. Ridgeland Ave., over 30 years ago, and has been an avid participant in Free Comic Book Day every year for over 20 years.

Last Saturday, May 6, he hosted his final event, at least in this location. Manzella says his lease with the building’s owner is now verbal and month to month.

“He’s in the process of selling the building to someone who wants to knock it down to build condos,” Manzella said.

Local architect John Schiess, who has been hired to guide the development process of a building most commonly associated with Pieritz Bros., the iconic office supply retailer at the corner of Ridgeland and South Blvd., issued a written statement on behalf of the owners:

“While we are open for discussions about possible development of the property at 401 South Boulevard, our plans are in the feasibility stage and many options are on the table. It is premature, at this time, to have meaningful discussions until we move forward with possible development options.”

According to Manzella, the owner infor med him in July 2022 that he was selling the building and that Manzella w ould need to move his shop. Manzella has been actively looking for a new space for his store.

Manzella, who considers himself an authority in the field of comics, has loved his time in the historic building with two stone gryphons overlooking Ridgeland Avenue at the CTA Green Line.

With notice that his time in the space is short, Manzella has been looking for other spots to house his shop and hopes that he might have find a good fit a block away

He states that if he is able to secure a lease, the new location will cost a lot more in rent for less than half the space, but he wants to remain the source of comics for the community.

“I’ve got over 1 million comics,” he said. “Now that I’m getting older, how can I move all of that?”

In spite of the looming move, Manzella says he looked forward to Free Comic Book Day.

“It’s a really nice day. Every year, it’s like the beginning of the year for comic books,” he said.

For him, the day is a way to showcase a

genre that continues to grow in popularity. Comic books gained traction in the 1930s and their demise was predicted with each new technology, from television to video games, but Manzella says the appeal of comics wins out.

“We have survived all of the trends, and now comics are at the top of everyone’s interest,” he said. “It’s family fun, and it’s entertaining.”

Do you have DIABETES?

If you do, you should know how important foot care is. Over time, diabetics risk developing foot complications. When the nerves are damaged from chronic high blood sugar, feet can become numb or painful with burning or tingling. is is called diabetic neuropathy. When diabetes a ects the arteries, circulation to the legs and feet may be compromised. Either of these conditions may lead to serious problems including ulceration, even amputation.

e key to prevention is early diagnosis of diabetes, and regular foot exams from a podiatrist. Diabetics who receive regular foot care, including paring of calluses and debridement of thick fungal toenails, are almost four times less likely

to undergo an amputation than those who do not seek treatment.

Medicare and some private insurances cover 1 pair of diabetic shoes and 3 pair of protective insoles each calendar year. Dr. Lambert has been a supplier of diabetic shoes since 2002. e shoes come in 30 di erent styles each for men and women. ese include boots, lightweight colorful athletic shoes, and dress shoes. Even patients who are not diabetic love the look and comfort of the footwear. Diabetic socks, slippers and compression hosiery are also available.

Protecting your feet with appropriate footgear is an important aspect of preventive care for diabetics.

Rick Manzella

Dr. Linda Lambert

At OPRF, ‘Tank was a transformative gure’

Coaches remember Tank Corner for his passion and connections

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

For almost 28 years until his untimely death on April 30, Jean “Tank” Corner was a popular figure in the halls at Oak Park and River Forest High School.

But Corner, who starred as a running back for the Huskies’ football team in the late 1980s, also had tight bonds with the athletic program. He coached OPRF’s inaugural girls flag football team last fall, and also served as a mentor to both student-athletes and coaches

To say Corner had an impact on the Huskies is an understatement.

“We are absolutely devastated by the loss of Tank,” said OPRF athletic director Nicole Ebsen. “Our hearts are heavy, but we know that we will forever be led by Coach Tank.”

Ebsen said it was Corner who encouraged her to start the girls’ flag football program.

“The first conversation he had with me was about getting girls flag football off the ground here at OPRF,” she said. “Every single con-

versation that I had with Tank he managed to work starting girls flag football into the conversation. I could not deny his passion and enthusiasm so of course I said, let’s figure out how to make this happen.

“Tank’s legacy will stretch far as we continue to grow the sport of girls flag football, and his motto ‘work hard … no excuses’ will forever be what guides our Huskies on and off the field,” Ebsen added.

Several current and for mer Huskies’ coaches also offered their thoughts to Wednesday Journal. Corner had an especially tight bond with the football program and was a great aid to current head coach John Hoerster when he started in 2011.

“Tank’s death is leaving a big hole in the community,” said Hoerster. “Tank had a huge impact when I came to OPRF; he put his arms around me and helped me out. He was a great resource to me and a big supporter.”

Corner was also involved in the boys basketball program, often riding the bus with the team for road games. Both current coach Phil Gary and for mer coach Matt Maloney spoke fondly of him.

“Since I moved to Oak Park, Tank has been that security guard who always laughed with us and built relationships with not just me, but my friends and players,” Gary said. “He was always that mentor we could go to and ask questions, whether it was about sports or life. It’s not going to be the same without Tank.”

“When you think about Huskie greats, Tank was a transformative figure,” said Maloney, a Class of 1993 alum. “It’s a cliche that people bleed orange and blue, but Tank cared so much about the school and everyone who went there, whether it was a star football or basketball player or a star student. He wanted nothing more than for the school to thrive and every student to achieve their full potential.”

But Corner displayed love and passion for all OPRF athletics. Former girls basketball and current softball coach J.P. Coughlin appreciated his support

“Tank was a constant presence around our athletes,” he said. “When I first started at OPRF, he was a huge supporter of female athletics, which was not the norm at the time. I’ll miss our playful trash talk and his positivity.”

Field hockey coach Kristin Wirtz, a Class of 2010 alum, feels the school won’t be the same without Cor ner’s presence.

“When you think of OPRF, you think of Tank,” she said. “Everybody knew who he was; he appeared to be a mean, intimidating guy, but he was like the biggest teddy bear. Tank was so passionate about everything and cared about all the kids, and I can’t believe he’s gone. It’s hard to think we’ll never see him in these halls again.”

OPRF’s school motto is “Those Things That Are Best.” Tank Corner was certainly one of those things, and his impact and legacy will be felt for a long time.

2023/24

TANK CORNER

Uptick in sophomores taking Honors classes at OPRF

Black students in Honors slowly rising, though ‘A’ grades decrease

By BOB SKOLNIK

Contributing Reporter

A few more sophomores at Oak Park and River Forest High School will be taking an Advanced Placement or Honors course next year compared to previous years. This year’s freshmen were the first class to participate in the new Honors for All curriculum in which 89 percent of all OPRF freshmen took Honors classes. Most of those students will continue to take at least one Honors or AP class next year.

As class registrations for next year are locked in, 66 percent of next year’s sophomores will be taking an honors or AP class compared to 59 percent this year and 56 percent the year before. One of the main goals of the Honors for All freshmen program is to get more Black and Hispanic students enrolled in Honors and AP classes.

In a memo to the school board Dr. Laurie Fiorenza, assistant superintendent for student learning, noted “a slight increase in freshmen to sophomore honors enrollment

compared to the past four years.”

“When this data is disaggregated by race, we see that the data indicates a slight increase compared to the last four years across all races,” Fiorenza noted

But as these freshmen become sophomores wide disparities in enrollment in Honors or AP classes will still exist next year. 41 percent of Black OPRF sophomores next year will be taking an Advanced Placement or Honors class compared to 60 percent of Hispanic sophomores, 77 percent of white sophomores and 85 percent of Asian or Pacific Islander sophomores

But the number of Black sophomores taking at least one AP or Honors class has been steadily increasing. The 41 percent of Black sophomores taking at least one Honors or AP class next year is an increase from the 36 percent of Black sophomores taking an Honors or AP class this year. In the 2020-21 school year only 26 percent of Black sophomores took an Honors or AP class. Only 22 percent of Black sophomores took an Honors or AP class in the 2019-20 school year

The number of sophomores taking higher level classes has increased across the board. In the 2019-20 school year 54 percent of all OPRF sophomores took an Honors or AP class compared to the 66 percent of cur-

rent freshman who have signed up for an Honors or AP class next year.

The grade distribution among freshmen in the third quarter remained in line with previous quarters. Overall there were slightly fewer A’s, B’s, D’s and F’s but more C’s. The number of A’s received by Black students dropped significantly compared to last year when fewer Black students were enrolled in Honors classes. In last year’s third quarter 25.7 percent of the grades earned by Black freshmen were A’s compared to 18.7 percent this y ear. The number of B’s earned by Black freshmen inched up from 28.4 percent last year to 29.8 percent this year. The number of C’s earned by Black freshmen jumped significantly from 22.6 percent of Black freshmen grades last year to 31.3 percent this year. D’s received by Black freshmen slightly increased to 11.3 percent this year compared to 9.1 percent last year while F’s fell significantly for Black freshmen dropping to 9.3 percent this year to 13.8 percent last year

The number of A’s earned by Black freshmen at OPRF has been decreasing as the current school year has progressed. In the first quarter of this year 25.4 percent of the grades received by Black freshmen were A’s. That percentage dropped to 20.9 percent in the second quarter and 18.7 percent in the

third quar ter. The percentage of A’s ear ned by white freshmen at OPRF has remained pretty constant this year with A’s accounting for 49.5 percent of grades earned by white freshmen in the first quarter and 49.6 percent in the third quar ter

Last year A’s accounted for 46.2 percent of all grades earned by white freshmen. Overall A’s accounted for 41.3 percent of all grades received by freshmen at OPRF in the third quarter compared to 42.7 percent last year.

“By and large, our students are passing classes with grades of C or better across all races,” Fiorenza wrote in her memo echoing language used in her report on first and second quarter grades. “Cur rently, the grade data does not indicate a significant cause for concer n.”

In a statement to Wednesday Journal, Fiorenza wrote, “We reco gnize that grades can fluctuate during a single school year and are particularly interested in ensuring more Black students and other students of color have access and are successful in our rigorous honors coursework. Our teachers are committed to monitoring student progress and adjusting their approaches throughout the year. Their ef for ts have produced some nice results this year and will continue into next year.”

Is Boykin back? Now eyeing run for State’s Attorney

Former county commissioner Boykin hosts town halls before deciding

By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter

Richard Boykin, who served as the 1st District Cook County commissioner from 2014 until 2018, before being unseated by Chicago’s Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, is considering running to re place Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. Last month, Foxx announced she will not seek a third ter m.

Boykin told the Austin Weekly News he “has talked to a lot of people” and heard very encouraging comments. Before announcing an official decision, Boykin plans on hosting town hall meetings across Cook County where he wants to hear from advocacy groups, residents and victims of violence.

“I believe the best form of democracy is a bottoms-up democracy,” he said, adding he plans to listen to county residents’ concer ns to “tailor” a platform that makes people feel safe.

While he is yet to determine his bid to be Cook County’s top prosecutor, Boykin said he believes it is key to “make sure that we hold criminals accountable for their actions and build bridges between the police and the community they ser ve.” He added it is important that of fenders who are arrested in a constitutional manner are promptly prosecuted, a concern he has heard from victims of violence and residents

“The main driving force in our county is that too many people feel unsafe,” Boykin said. “They’re afraid to go downtown,

they’re afraid to take the CT

He added he has heard from residents that if people rested on a chargeable to be guilty through be taken of f the streets

On May 12, Boykin town hall on Chicago’ to hear from the people in Cook County what they’d like to see in the next State’ Attorney,” he said. After hosting “as many town halls as possible” all around the county, Boykin believ position to announce his intentions

“I’m excited about look forward to the new County as it relates to the State’s Attor and making sure that our county is a safer place.”

Richard Boykin

Mental health board marks half-century of services

Township hosts an anniversar y celebration on May 24

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month, looking back and ahead on its mission of providing care for residents with mental health issues while working to lessen the lingering stigma.

To mark the occasion, the board is hosting a party May 24. The free event is open to anyone wishing to celebrate the health board’s long history of providing mental health support for the community — and its future.

“We’d love to have you there,” said Cheryl Potts, the mental health board’s executive director

The two-hour event kicks of f at 5 p.m., May 24, at the historic Cheney Mansion, 220

N. Euclid Ave. While members of the health board, its partner agencies and local officials will all be there, the event is strictly a casual celebration, not a fundraiser. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served, so raise a glass to the board’s continued efforts to improve access to mental health support.

The community mental health board is a branch of the township dedicated to filling the funding gaps for mental health services not covered by state and federal money, according to Potts. In its early years, the mental health board directly provided mental health services

“The board provided those services as an effort to help get people out of hospitals and institutions that were basically warehouses for people with a mental health disorder or developmental disorder,” said Potts

Once out of those facilities, the community mental health board helped those individuals reenter the community, while still providing care as they lived and worked in Oak Park

As time went on, other outside agencies began to take on that same mission, so the

community mental health board restructured to its current form of funding, advising and collaborating with non-profit mental health agencies.

“They’re also creative thought partners,” said Jenni Rook, executive director of Thrive Counseling Center. “It’s great to just sit and brainstorm, like, what does the community need? What can Thrive provide?”

Thrive receives financial support from the community mental health board as well. The board funds Thrive’s suicide prevention training at Oak Park and River Forest High School and it covers the costs of Thrive therapy services for uninsured Oak Park clients Therapy costs for uninsured clients amounts to roughly $50,000, according to Rook, who will be at the anniversary celebration.

“That’s been wonderful to have their support, but I think more importantly it’s their partnership in serving the community,”

The mental health board’s other partner agencies include the National Alliance of Mental Illness, which has its metro suburban drop-in center at 814 Harrison St. The NAMI drop-in center provides a safe and stigma-free

Day Nursery honors Economy Shop

Two organizations have a centur y- old relationship

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

In its first in-person event in three years, the Oak ParkRiver Forest Day Nursery is honoring the Economy Shop by awarding the organization with its Rocking Horse Award. The award goes to an individual or organization that has been of significant value to the non-profit daycare center.

“And this year, the feeling was that the Economy Shop has benefited multiple organizations including the Day Nursery, and that itself should be recognized,” said Nancy Clark, Day Nursery hosting committee member and for mer Day Nursery board member

The award will be for mally presented during the Day Nursery’s “Corks and Conversations” fundraising event on May 11 at Trattoria 225, 255 Harrison St. Wednesday Journal has reached out to Lisa Sorensen, Economy Shop president, for comment.

This is the first time the Day Nursery has honored the Economy Shop with the Rocking Horse Award, but the two organization have shared a partnership for over a century. A non-profit thrift store, the Economy Shop was established in

1919 by a group of local women who wished to benefit local charities through the sale of donated furnishings, clothing and other items.

The Day Nursery, founded in 1912, was one of the five original beneficiaries of the Economy Shop and remains a beneficiary to this day.

“It’s a wonderful example of the general community doin quiet good that maybe isn’t as well recognized as it should be,” said Clark.

The way the Economy Shop operates is unique compared to other charity resale shops. The organizations that the Economy Shop benefits each have a designated room in the shop itself, which is a three-floor home at 103 S. Grove Ave. that the Economy Shop purchased in 1924. Each beneficiary organization is tasked with voluntarily staffing their room during sales, of which there are about 30 a year. Regardless of which room makes the most sales, each beneficiary organization receives the same percentage of the proceeds.

Clark began volunteering with the Economy Shop by working in the Day Nursery’s room, after she completed her service as a member of the nursery’s board. She now serves as the chair of the Day Nursery’s Economy Shop room, making her a board member of the Economy Shop

Both the Day Nursery and the Economy Shop have persevered through some of the country’s toughest periods, from the Great Depression to the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown and the

space for adults, aged 18 and up, living with acute mental health conditions. There, those individuals can socialize, recover and build life skills at no cost. The community mental health board has been funding the drop-in center for roughly 20 years, according to Kimberly Knake, NAMI Metro Suburban executive director.

“The CMHB of Oak Park really plays an important part in prevention, which is really key to better mental health outcomes longter m,” said Knake.

The community mental health board has partnered with NAMI for close to 25 years of NAMI’s 30-year existence, working together to destigmatize mental health in Oak Park. Beyond funding the drop-in center, the mental health board supports the agency’s education efforts, teaching teenagers in local schools and their parents to identify symptoms of mental health conditions, as well as to build empathy and understanding.

“We’ve come a long way, and without the community mental health board’s support, I don’t think we’d be where we are,” said Knake, who will be at the May 24 event.

Economy Shop

subsequent months of safety restrictions. When the shop couldn’t hold any sales due to the restrictions, the Economy Shop still helped its beneficiaries by dipping into its reserves to provide grants. For its many years of service to the nursery and several other local organizations, Clark is thrilled the Economy Shop will be honored with the Rocking Horse Award.

“The Economy Shop is a special resource within the broader community and well deserving of the Day Nursery’s 2023 Rocking Horse Award,” she said.

HAIR REMOVAL

Real People, Real Results†: A. RAO, MD .

Before and after 3 treatments

Courtesy of Romeo & Juliette Laser Hair Removal

HAIR REMOVAL

Wishing you a Ha y Mo er’s Day

LASER SKIN TREATMENTS

· Laser Facial

· Wrinkle Reduction

· Rosacea

· Age and Sunspots

· Spider Veins

· Onychomycosis

· Wart Removal

LASER HAIR REMOVAL: all skin types

PRP: hair rejuvenation, natural ller

MICRONEEDLING: scar reduction,

For more information, www.cynosure.com

Before and after 3 treatments

Courtesy of R. Saluja, MD

INJECTABLES: Neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport etc), Fillers (Juvéderm, Voluma etc)

SUN DAMAGE

Before and after 4 treatments

Courtesy of E. Lach, MD

Intended for distribution † These before Cynosure’s Elite herein. The Elite as the Elite iQ results are expected. Like all medical the treatment. evaluating each informing those treatment, pre-and information. Individual © 2021 Cynosure, Reader are trademarks sure, LLC. Cynosure, Use of photography prohibited.

Open 12-8 pm

Sunday, May 14th, 2023

Make her Mother’s Day special by joining us for dinner

We will be o ering only a special Mother's Day Menu of dishes lovingly prepared by Executive Chef and owner Giovanni.

Complimentary Glass of Prosecco (One For all Mothers at the table)

Seating is limited

Call today to make your reservation 708-948-7576

1120 Pleasant St., Oak Park • 708-948-7576

FIND

the

MIKE’S PLACE

Patrons could be towed

from page 1

Berwyn bar patrons: the blocks of 1150 to 1200 South Cuyler, Highland, and Harvey Avenues.

“This is something that’s necessary for the quality of life,” Johnson said.

The ordinance would prohibit street parking between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. daily. Those who violate the ordinance would be towed at their own expense, meaning the ordinance would come not come at a cost for the village

“I’m 100% for this,” Stacey Hendricks, of the 1150 block of South Cuyler Avenue, told Wednesday Journal.

And the “vast majority” of Oak Parkers who live near the Berwyn border feel similarly, according to Hendricks, who spoke in favor of the ordinance at the board meeting.

The village board was also widely pleased with the proposed ordinance, with Trustee Ravi Parakkat stating, “I want to move as quickly as we possibly can.”

Hendricks and her neighbors have been pushing the village for months to do more about the disturbances caused by Mike’s Place patrons and other Berwyn bargoers, who park their cars in Oak Park and return to them, often inebriated, in the early hours of the morning. A physical fight broke out right outside Hendrick’s home last Thanksgiving weekend, as a group of 40-odd bargoers argued by their cars after leaving Mike’s Place. The incident was referenced by Johnson during the discussion of the tow ordinance.

“We ended the year with, where folks should be thankful and celebrating Thanksgiving, two officers being pretty much assaulted verbally by patrons of Mike’s Place,” said Johnson.

Since Mike’s Place is in Berwyn, the bar itself is out of the jurisdiction of Oak Park police who can only respond to incidents that occur in Oak Park, unless assisting the Berwyn Police Department.

The village gover nment has already implemented resident-only parking in the area, but without the penalty of towing, the move was not as effective as hoped. Over 2,000 tickets were generated, but only 36% were paid over the last year alone. A towed vehicle, however, cannot be ignored.

At a Feb. 1 meeting between affected Oak Parkers, Mike’s Place ownership, the police chief and police personnel led to the effective but temporary solution of stationing officers overnight on the blocks closest to the Berwyn

border That overtime detail was put into full effect last January.

Police continue to be stationed there while a permanent solution is being developed, according to Johnson, who said the temporary measure is unsustainable but effective. Hendricks shared how the increased police presence has impacted her neighborhood.

“It’s been wonderful,” she said. “You don’t have to worry about walking out your door. You don’t have to worry about being woken up in the middle of the night. You don’t have to worry about your kids coming home to a bunch of drunk people on your block.”

The village board is tentatively scheduled to vote on the tow ordinance at its May 15 meeting. If it passes, the police chief said she will work with Mike’s Place ownership to ensure the bar’s patrons are made aware of the change. Wednesday Journal could not reach Michael Lapinard, the bar’s owner, for comment.

“He’s open to communicating,” Johnson said. “I would encourage him to let his patrons know that there is now a tow ordinance in place.”

Once the ordinance goes into effect, Johnson expects there will be an increase in calls made to police as bargoers will like-

ly be upset that their cars have been towed. To counter this, police will be stationed in highly visible areas. Oak Park also got Berwyn police to patrol Roosevelt Road bars more re gularly, according to Johnson, so there will be a “multiplied force.” A speed table will be installed in the 1150 block of South Cuyler Avenue this summer to prevent high-speed driving.

Police will rely on vehicle re gistration, as well as guest parking permits, to confirm whether someone has parked in violation of the tow zone. Should a resident’s car or a permitted overnight guest’s car get

towed, they can appeal the citation.

Officers will monitor the area to measure the efficacy of the tow zone and patrol neighboring streets, so that Berwyn bargoers evade being towed by parking elsewhere in Oak Park. If the nuisance caused by bar patrons does spill into other parts of the village, Johnson encourages the public to contact police.

“Please notify us so that we can address it accordingly to make sure that it doesn’t grow into a 15-year problem before we put systems in place to restore the peace,” she said.

Sara Spivy, longtime OPRF board member, joins police and re commission

Sara Spivy, until last week a school board member at Oak Park and River Forest School, was appointed to Oak Park’s three-person Fire and Police Commission by the village board May 8. She will be filling the seat occupied by John Hedgeman, who retired after spending several terms on the commission.

Spivy spent 8 years on the D200 board. She had intended to seek a third term in

this past April’s election, filing her candidate petition on the last possible day, but exited the race at the end of January.

Outside of her school board work, Spivy is an attorney who has served as an assistant public defender, assistant state’s attor ney and general counsel for the Cook County Bureau of Technology.

— Stacey Sheridan

Mike’s Place, 6319 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwy n

Starship enterprise changes command with Oak Park owners

After 46 years, Laskowski and McKenna head into a new frontier: retirement

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

For 46 years the commanders of the Starship enterprise on Madison Street in Forest Park have been Henry Laskowski and Paul McKenna. Now they have announced that the iconic sub sandwich and catering shop at 7618 Madison St. will have new owners. The Kettlestrings Restaurant Group, headquartered in Oak Park, will be on the “bridge” directing the business into the future.

Laskowski and McKenna met while stocking shelves at a grocery store on the Northwest Side of Chicago and became friends. When they opened their sandwich shop in 1977, Laskowski was 19 and McKenna was 21. Armed with high school degrees, $7,000 in capital, and a load of youthful optimism, they pursued their vision of making a great sandwich at a reasonable price.

That goal, said McKenna, “and the prin ciple that the customer’s best interest is our best interest, are the two things that ha to success for over four decades.”

Changes are in the offing as new manders take charge of Starship. the restaurant will be open on Sund another all three new owners have Wil Greenwald is a teacher, Rob Guenther is a lawyer, and Pete Lisnic is a financial analyst.

The three for med the Kettlestrings rant Group, which owns a corner restaurant and bar (Kettlestrings Taver n), a high-end cocktail lounge (Kettlestrings Grov a pizza place (Betty’s Pizza and Pasta) all in Oak Park

Unlike McKenna and Laskowski, the ne trio of owners started their first of three Oak Park establishments more as a hobby than as a means of making a living, but Lisnic says

the restaurant business can be “addictive.”

McKenna and Laskowski can understand that addiction. From the start they built a trusting relationship as partners.

“We found out by working as stockboys,” Laskowski recalled, “that we worked very well together. We were in sync all the time from day one. We became best friends then and have stayed together all this time.”

They started out at their present location, previously a business named Custard’s Last Stand, by renting an ice machine and being given a slicer that had been in the garage of the father of one of their friends. Little by little they started buying more equipment, and eventually they bought the building.

Starting with a business model that might not work today, the young partners lear ned as they went along. Laskowski quipped, “We’ve been experimenting on the public ever since.”

Looking back, McKenna said, “We really didn’t have any money for advertising, so what we did was we sold everything really cheap — $1.30 for a sandwich, order of fries and a fountain pop. The word spread really fast.”

McKenna felt some panic upon learning that two other sub shops had opened up in

Forest Park about the same time. Then he realized “it didn’t matter what came around us. What mattered was that as long as we controlled our costs and took care of our customers, we had nothing to worry about.”

Looking back, they also believe that when owners take care of their employees, the employees are motivated to take care of the customers. “We’ve always respected our employees’ personal time,” said McKenna. “If they have a sick kid at home and they have to take off — that kind of nurturing has really served us well over the years.”

The two also respected their own personal time, which early on led them to the decision to not open on Sundays.

They acknowledged that the restaurant business is hard work, especially in the beginning. At first they paid themselves a salary of $50/week and after six months gave themselves a raise of $25 more.

At first they received a lot of help from their friends. One, for example, hand-painted their sandwiches on boards. They also received a boost 25 years ago from what was known as Main Street, the downtown business organization that set local business on a positive course. Art Jones, Don Of fermann and Tim Gillian were singled out as being especially helpful.

Both for mer owners are looking forward to retirement. “I had a few days off last week,” said Laskowski, “and I found plenty of things to do things around the house, playing more golf, picking up pickleball and taking more rides on my Harley.”

“What happens when you are self-employed,” McKenna added, “it’s not like a job where you punch out and you go home. What I think is nice about my future is that when I want to relax I can relax.”

Both said they’re looking forward to goin g out to lunch at another restaurant, something they’ve been unable to do for 46 years.

Although they spend many hours at their restaurants, Starship’s new owners will not be in-house as much as Laskowski and McKenna were, so their business model includes empowering lieutenants to keep the business moving forward while the owners are doing their day jobs or attending to one of the other sites

Starship’s for mer owners like the direction the new owners are taking the business. Laskowski said he would count the money with paper and pencil and commended the new entrepreneurs for taking the business digital.

Like Laskowski and McKenna, the Kettlestrings Restaurant Group does not do much traditional advertising to get the word out. “The advertising we do,” said Guenther, “tends to be more community support related. We sponsor little league teams and give money to local charities. Everything we’ve done is about being part of the community.”

The new owners also believe that treating employees with respect and care is foundational, like the for mer owners, they are concer ned about self-care.

“I think part of it is that we all have a lot of irons in the fire,” Guenther said, “but we also have clear boundaries.”

Co-owners Henr y Laskowski, le , and Paul McKenna at Starship on Madison Street in Forest Park

TODD A. BANNOR Starship Restaurant on Madison Street, Forest Park.

Mack defense to focus on mother’s mental health, alcohol use

Federal trial on Heather Mack’s role in the killing of her mother could start in July

By BILL DWYER Courtesy of Chronicle Media

Should Heather Mack’s criminal case for her alleged conspiracy to kill her mother go to trial on July 31, her defense team appears prepared to put Sheila von Wiese Mack on trial as well.

In a May 1 filing in response to a prosecution motion, Mack’s defense attorney Mike Leonard said he would delve into various aspects of Sheila von Wiese’s mental health, her use of alcohol and her relationship with her late husband, James Mack.

In a pair of April 17 motions, the prosecution asked the judge to allow prior acts of both fraud and violence by Heather Mack against her mother to be admitted under established exceptions to federal hearsay rules The motions, they said, were filed for the “… purposes of establishing defendant’s motive and intent to commit the (murder of von Wiese).”

Prosecutors also argued that besides her hatred of von Wiese and her desire to take her personal wealth, there is “… direct evidence that one of Mack’s several motives for killing her mother was the concern about getting caught” for her alle ged credit card fraud in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Leonard filed a response May 1, arguing against the gover nment’s requests, saying Mack’s alleged prior bad acts have nothing to do with the offenses with which she is charged, and would lead to “undue prejudice to Heather Mack and juror confusion.”

He also stated that the evidence will show that it was Tommy Schaefer, Mack’s boyfriend, and not Mack, who murdered von Wiese

Leonard specifically refuted the government’s contention that Heather Mack “hated” her mother. Rather, he said, the two “had an extremely complicated and troubled motherdaughter relationship.” Those complications, he said, stemmed from several underlying issues, including Sheila von Wiese’s and James Mack’s relationship, von Wiese’s “treatment of Mr. Mack” during the five-year period he was confined to a wheelchair following an accident, and “Ms. von Wiese’s own emotional and mental health issues, including with respect to the use of alcohol.”

Leonard also took a slap at von Wiese’s

An

PROVIDED

she was probably over the legal BAC limit to drive a car.”

Interviews with people who knew von Wiese in Chicago and Oak Park, dating back to the early 1980s, and several of Mack’s high school friends, indicate that the mother did drink to excess at times

Despite previous media accounts that von Wiese viewed her nursing of James Mack after his crippling injury as “the richest experience of my life,” the truth was in fact more complicated. Numerous interviews indicate that James Mack was frequently abusive to von Wiese. She told several people that James Mack “did not respect her,” and that he would verbally and also physically abuse her, often in Heather Mack’s presence.

Von Wiese told several friends that Heather Mack would tell her, “Well dad does it to you, so I can too.”

Mother Nature & Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday and with spring’s early arrival in April it’s time to set roots with new plantings almost as beautiful as mom herself. Annual flowers and accents, as well as organic soils and amendments – the time is now.

parenting practices, noting what he termed her “repeated and continual resort to local law enforcement as a means of ‘parenting’ and ‘discipline’ during Heather Mack’s high school years.”

A review of the 25 Oak Park police reports filed between January 2010 and March 2013, when Heather Mack attended Oak Park and River Forest High School, shows that 12 of those incidents involved actual physical harm to the mother or the explicit threat of harm to her by Mack, and six were regarding the theft of cash or jewelry, or credit card fraud by Mack. Six involved issues like breaking things and running away Mack was arrested on five occasions, was placed on one year of court supervision for battering her mother and was ordered hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation and treatment on at least three occasions.

Alcohol was mentioned in only one incident report, the last one filed in March 2013. Mack reportedly accused her mother of being drunk, and von Wiese reportedly told police she was “‘not drunk’ but admitted

The conflicted nature of von Wiese’s relationship with James Mack is suggested in court testimony for their civil lawsuit against a cruise line for his debilitating injury in 2000. Several pages of handwritten notes by von Wiese about James Mack’s’ injury were entered into the court record. In those notes, she wrote that trying to heal her husband’s wounds “provided me the richest experience of my life. Despite all the obstacles, we have persevered and remained a family bound together by our love of each other.”

However, her own testimony in court suggested she had mixed feelings about James.

“He had a lot of, I mean, in some ways, he felt like a burden to me,” she testified. “I was not an old woman, and I was reduced to caring for him.”

Several people recalled seeing significant bruising on von Wiese early in her marriage, and two people interviewed said they saw serious facial bruising on her in 1995, before she was married, while she was still pregnant with Heather.

After James Mack died in 2006, von Wiese’s friends and acquaintances reported seeing frequent bruising on her through the years, which von Wiese attributed to Heather Mack. Several of those people made repeated attempts to convince her to distance herself from Heather Mack after she turned 18, right up until days before they departed for Bali where von Wiese was murdered.

Whether you are looking to add some color to your patio, front porch, or balcony, or create a sweeping mass of color in your landscape, you’ll be sure to find landscape-grade annuals that are bigger, better, and more beautiful. But let’s not forget about other great options such as flowering shrubs, specimen ornamentals, and a plethora of perennials and flowers. With the incorporation of plants like coneflower, hyssop, beebalm, and butterfly weed, you’ll also be gifting Mother Nature with plants that promote our pollinators. After all, the more we can help our pollinators, the more beautiful our world!

A very happy Mother’s Day, to all moms out there, including the one sustaining the world around us. Our Garden Center hours for the spring are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. We look forward to seeing and serving you!

Oak Park police ev idence photo taken in April 2011, show ing bite marks and other bruising on Sheila von Wiese’s le arm and wrist, and her broken right arm protected by a brace.

Scott McAdam Jr.

Plan Commission denies neighbor request to rezone Rush Oak Park

Village board will get ultimate say on request

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

The residents near Rush Oak Park Hospital have long advocated for greater zoning restrictions to protect their homes from being encroached upon by the hospital’s growing campus. In recent months, neighbors switched to a more proactive and novel approach, filing a for mal request to see consistent zoning rules applied to both of Oak Park’s hospitals. Their request, however, was denied in a 7-2 vote by the Plan Commission on May 4.

“They can’t see that the system deeply advantages Rush and developers, who get to bake the cake and put icing on it, and then right before they bring out the cake, they let us choose where to put one of the candles,” said resident David Osta, who submitted the application for zoning changes alongside Ann Frueh, Bruno Graziano and Mike Weik.

The requested zoning changes would essentially require Rush Oak Park, 610 S. Maple Ave., to downzone by imposing upon

the hospital similar limitations to those imposed upon West Suburban Medical Center, 3 Erie St. This includes subjecting Rush Oak Park to a maximum height of 50 feet and applying a 50-foot limit to the east and west sides of neighborhood residences adjacent to or abutting Rush Oak Park Hospital’s campus.

The request is very unusual in that it was put for th by private citizens. Oak Park’s zoning ordinance does allow private citizens to apply for zoning changes, but it has never happened before. This particular request is the first and only of its kind, according to Village Planner Craig Failor. If the village board approves the application, it would likely set a precedent. This caused some commissioners to be concerned over the potential for private entities to take development rights from other private entities.

Rush leadership is against the r esidents’ application, believing such changes would threaten the hospital’s ability to provide quality care. The hospital at this time has filed no development plans with the village. Its previously approved plan to build a 64-foot-high parking garage on hospitalowned land on Wenonah Avenue has been paused indefinitely. The garage was pro-

posed under the hospital’s previous CEO, but paused by its current CEO, Dr. Dino Rumoro, which the commission took as a sign of the new leader’s willingness to work with neighbors.

The application did not receive the support of village staf f as the requested changes would apply to effectively all uses within both hospital districts. Staf f backed up that stance by referencing existing zoning intricacies that would be impacted by such changes, including having to change the definition of accessory uses and the setback required of them. These uses already have less of an effect on adjacent properties than principal uses, Failor said. Accessory uses include surface-level parking lots.

“If this provision were approved, as suggested by the applicants, any new surface parking lot would be severely restricted and set back to a point that it would diminish the ability for the hospitals to provide essential surface parking,” said Failor, adding that patients would have to rely more on street parking.

The residents’ request did have outside support The application was backed by the Center West Oak Park Neighborhood Association, as well as architect Linda

Searle and Dr. Rachel Caskey, who assists in matters of expansion for the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System. Commissioners Paul Beckwith and Nick Bridge also voted in the residents’ favor.

Making permanent changes to the zoning code falls under the purview of the Plan Commission, which is why the request did not go through the village’s zoning commission. Plan Commission Chair Iris Sims, whose spouse sits on Rush Oak Park’s board of directors, declined to recuse herself, despite a previously submitted for mal request and a subsequent vocal request to do so from the attorney re presenting the neighbors. Sims, as chair, has never recused herself from hearings related to Rush. She voted against this application.

The commission has not killed the application by not giving it its approval, but it does make it more difficult. The village board will get the final say, but no less than five village board members will have to vote in its favor for the application to be approved. Should the majority of village board members vote against the application, the decision can still be appealed through the court system.

Rep. Ford pushes bill to reduce tra c stops for minor infractions

By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter

A proposed state law would no longer allow police officers to stop vehicle owners for hanging items of f their rearview mirror while driving. Currently, state law bans items hanging from a vehicle’s rearview mirror while driving, such as air fresheners, rosaries or disability placards, as they could obstruct the driver’s vision.

Proponents of the bill said the current prohibition often serves as a pretext for racially motivated traffic stops for mi-

nor infractions. Changing the law would decrease “unnecessary encounters” between police officers and motorists over minor infractions, increasing safety for the public and law enforcement officials, bill proponents said.

Under the proposed bill (H-2389), sponsored by State Re p. La Shawn K. Ford (IL08) and proposed by Secretary of Stat e Alexis Giannoulias, police would no longer have the authority to stop drivers for hanging items of f their rearview mirror.

“Pulling someone over for merely having an air freshener attached to the rearview mirror is not only archaic, it’s

ridiculous,” Giannoulias said in a press release.

“Amending the law by prohibiting traffic stops that encourage discriminatory practices will ultimately make our streets safer for both motorists and police officers.”

T he bill would amend the Illinois Vehicle Code to state that no driver can be stopped by law enforcement solely on the basis of driving with an object hanging on the vehicle’s rearview mirror, windshields or side windows.

“We need to do everything we can to reduce the need for police interactions with

people for non-violent and non-threatening violations,” Ford said. “There is no reason for police to pull over a vehicle just because they have an air freshener on their mirror or for many other minor infractions

With this bill, Illinois joins several states and municipalities changing their vehicle codes to reduce pretextual stops, such as Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Fayetteville, North Carolina.

T he Illinois House passed the bill on March 24 and it is awaiting vote in the Senate. If passed, it will go to the governor’s of fice.

If passed, it will no longer be illegal to hang items o rearview mirror

Four juveniles arrested for armed carjacking

Four juvenile males from Chicago were arrested and charged in connection with the aggravated armed carjacking of a 66-year-old Chicago resident in Oak Park early May 3. The victim was out delivering newspapers at 4:18 a.m., May 3, in the 400 block of North Elmwood Avenue when he saw three males, all carrying handguns, approaching him. After commanding the victim to hand over his cell phone, one of the offenders then hit him in the head with a handgun, while the other two took the victim’s cash, wallet, cell phone and vehicle keys. The three offenders then fled in the victim’s 2021 Chevy Trailblazer

Oak Park police were able to track the Chevy using the vehicle’s security system, OnStar, and intercepted the vehicle at 5:44 a.m. near Harlem Avenue and Jackson Boulevard in Forest Park. Four individuals then exited the vehicle and fled on foot but were stopped by police and taken into custody. A gun was found in the vehicle and the victim’s credit cards were recovered from one of the juveniles

All four juveniles were processed and

turned over to the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, having all been charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

Burglary

A Black & Decker leaf blower, a Black & Decker weed whacker and batteries were removed from a storage room that had been broken into between 9:58 a.m., May 4, and 9:58 a.m., May 5, in the 100 block of South Humphrey Avenue. The estimated loss is $650.

Attempted burglar y

Someone tried to pry open the side service door of a residential garage in the 600 block of South East Avenue between noon and 4:45 p.m., May 3.

Motor vehicle theft and recovery

■ Someone removed an unlocked 2008

Celebrating Seniors Week

Have You Lived In Your Home For 30 Years Or More?

Would you like to get moving and make sure you prepare and price your home correctly? Retiree’s real estate specialist Roz Byrne has held the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation since 2006.

RSVP TO ONE OF ROZ’S UPCOMING SEMINARS:

Weds, May 10th • 10:30am

Ascension Living Resurrection, Chicago

Sat, May 13th • 10:30am

Brookdale Oak Park, Oak Park

Weds, May 17th • 10:30am

Ascension Casa Scalabrini, Northlake

RSVP to 708-370-7444

Mazda 5 parked in the 800 block of South Oak Park Avenue between 12:05 p.m. and 12:14 p.m., May 7.

■ A 1997 Infiniti was removed between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m., May 7, in the first block of Chicago Avenue.

■ A 2008 Pontiac G8 was taken from the parking lot of West Suburban Medical Center, 3 Erie Ct., between 4:30 a.m., April 29, and 9 a.m., May 2.

■ A 2017 Chrysler 300 was removed between 8:30 p.m., May 1, and 6 a.m., May 2, in the 1200 block of North Hayes Avenue.

■ A 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee was taken between 6 p.m., April 29, and 11:15 a.m., April 30, in the 300 block of South Humphrey Avenue.

Theft

■ The catalytic converter was cut from a 2007 Toyota Prius parked in the 1100 block of Ontario Street between 1 p.m., May 4, and 9 a.m., May 6.

■ The catalytic converter was cut from

a 1999 Ford F-450 dump truck between 12 p.m., April 30, and 2:15 p.m., May 4, in the 6800 block of North Avenue.

■ The catalytic converter was cut from a 2009 Honda Element between noon and 4:15 p.m., May 4, in the 400 block of Home Avenue.

■ Someone took a blue men’s Trek mountain bicycle after cutting the cable lock securing it to a bike rack in the 1000 block of Lake Street between 3:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., May 4. The estimated loss is $350.

These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department reports dated May 2-8 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest

Compiled by Stacey Sheridan

NEED TO REACH US?

email: buphues@wjinc.com

Homes

We have li o

Oak Park house raised o the ground during renovation

By LACEY SIKORA

Contributing Reporter

Plenty of Oak Park’s historic homes are in need of a face-lift when they are sold. Trends in kitchens, bathrooms and paint colors come and go, and most new owners like to put their own spin on a house

A house on Fair Oaks Avenue in Oak Park took the lift in a completely different direction recently.

Workers from Heritage Movers spent much of the afternoon on May 2 lifting the circa-1898 home several feet of f the ground in preparation for installing a deeper basement.

“There aren’t just house movers working in every suburb,” Sundling said.

Sundling explains that its fairly unusual to lift a house in order to excavate a taller basement.

“Many times, when a homeowner wants a deeper basement, we dig down beneath the existing floor, but this foundation wasn’t strong enough for that,” he said. “I thought, why don’t we lift it up to the height we need?”

Heritage installed two steel beams under-

See LIFTOFF on pa ge 22

General contractor Tom Sundling, of Thomas Patrick Homes, said that Heritage Movers came from Wisconsin to do the job.

PHOTO S BY TODD A. BANNOR

Tom Sundling of omas Patrick Homes and lead contractor stands under the raised house at 509 Fair Oaks Ave. on May 3.

LIFTOFF Interior

remodel

from page 21

neath the house and six crossbeams to support the house. These lay across four cribs constructed of wood, which were placed in holes dug to the depth of the new basement floor. Hydraulic jacks were used to lift the home 39 inches.

Once Nicor disconnects the gas line, a new concrete foundation will be poured and then the house will be lowered back down. Sundling states that the house will come back down to the exact same height.

“You won’t know the difference from the street,” he said. “It will just be deeper.”

It helps that the new owner of 509 Fair Oaks Ave. planned a complete rehabilitation of the home so most of the interior, including plaster walls, have been removed. Sundling says having the inside of the home already demolished removes a lot of the structural rigidity, making it easier to lift without damage

“The remodel happens after the house comes down,” Sundling said.

For the interior remodel, the homeowner turned to Oak Park architect Tom BassetDilley. With project manager Denny Burke,

Basset-Dilley is working to retrofit the house to make it a passive house

Burke says it’s the oldest property the firm has done a passive-house retrofit on, and said the homeowner wanted to see if they could maintain many of the historic aspects of the home while “taking it to a level of energy efficiency that we all need to aspire to.”

The firm ran an energy model and discovered that retrofitting the house to make it a passive house was possible with a few tweaks to their usual operations.

Typically, they are able to work with a home’s existing foundation but because of the condition of the original foundation, traditional under pinnings ouldn’t work Combined with the homeowner’s desire for a taller basement, they determined lifting the house to pour a new foundation made the most sense “The home had bunch of challenges to navigate, but when faced with those challenges, we were able to uncover new methods of insulation which will become part of our lexicon in the future,” Burke said.

A typical passive house project involves spray-foam insulation, but in this house, they are moving away from complete reliance on that petroleum-based product and instead are combining a smaller po rtion of spray foam for rigidity with cellulose insu-

lation. The combination will be added to a new wall system built within the house’s original frame

Burke notes that the wall thickness will increase from roughly 3.5 inches to 8 inches in this process, which he says is basically building a new house inside of an old house. The house will lose a bit of square footage on the inside, but with this method, they are able to maintain its historic exterior.

The plan is to salvage the existing siding on the home. New windows will have to be installed to meet passive-house standards, but all of the original art glass will be sal-

vaged and reinstalled on the interior of the house

Burke remarks that balancing the desires of the homeowner, passive-house standards and the guidelines of the Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission could be seen as a challenge, but he calls the ability to be able to make a historic home a passive house a wonderful learning process.

He notes that the practices they are using could help the owners of other historic homes make their homes more efficient.

“You don’t necessarily have to lift your house to do this,” Burke said.

TODD A. BANNOR

Workers adjust a hydraulic jack and steel suppor t beams under the house at 509 Fair Oaks Ave. in Oak Park on May 2.

PHOTO S BY TODD A. BANNOR

Workers prepare to install wooden shims between suppor t beams (le ) prior to raising house at 509 Fair Oaks Ave. on May 2 (center). A worker mans the controls of a hydraulic pump used to raise the house (right).

SPORTS

Kapsch hat trick fuels win over GCAC rival

Junior mid elder scores all three in sparkling second half display

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Fenwick junior midfielder Grace Kapsch is one of the fe returning players from last year’s soccer team that finished fourth in IHSA Class 2A for the program’s second state trophy.

Having lost 11 players from that squad, the Friars figured to be in for some bumpy times and they dropped their firs four matches. But Fenwick seems to be slowly rounding form, if a convincing 5-2 victory over Girls Catholic A Conference rival Providence Catholic on May 4 at the wick Priory in River Forest is any indication.

“I definitely think we’re starting to jell at the right time,” said Kapsch, who had a natural hat trick in the second half to break things open. “We started off a little slow, but picking it up We’ve tied some really good teams latel think we’re going to make a good state run.”

Despite missing a few players due to injuries, Fenwick 9-4) largely controlled the play, particularly in the first half when the Friars kept Providence (6-14-1) hemmed in on it side of the pitch. Celtics goalkeeper Janet Vinci stood tall early on and made a pair of nice saves.

But Fenwick finally broke through with the first the match coming in the 16th minute when junior defender and co-captain Maddie Rogowski fed a streaking Mia over the middle. The senior midfielder’s shot beat Vinci and gave the Friars a 1-0 lead.

Almost nine minutes later, Fenwick doubled its adv when junior midfielder Susy Shank picked up a loose and shot past Vinci’s right side.

“I had a breakaway in the middle, and I just decided to tak it down because I saw some open space,” Shank said. “I did a few moves around some defenders, and it was just me and the goalie. I knew that I could just kick it to one of the corners, and I just took the shot.”

Shank, who played her freshman season at Oak Park and River Forest High School, has felt welcome by the crosstown rival Friars. But she also appreciates spending time with both schools.

“Both programs are super strong and have great teams,” she said. “I have nothing bad to say about OPRF, and it was to see them again when we played earlier this year. It was nice to see familiar faces, and it was a good game.”

After deferring to the six seniors who started on Senior Day, Kapsch took over in the second half. In the 44th minute, junior midfielder Fiona Roche streaked down the right side and fed Kapsch in the middle of the box. Kapsch easily beat Vinci for a 3-0 Fenwick lead.

Just over five minutes later, Kapsch found a loose ball, danced around a couple of Providence defenders, and rocketed the ball in for a 4-0 Friars advantage.

Kapsch completed her hat trick in the 62nd minute when she took a feed from senior midfielder Katie Buckley and scored into the left side of the net. It was her second hat trick of the season as she scored all of Fenwick’s goals in a 3-0 victory March 30 at Chicago University High “It felt really good,” said Kapsch, who has a team-leading 12 goals this spring. “I thought in the first half I was a little slow. I was taking some bad touc hes, trying to get my senior

teammates to score. Then in the second half, I took my own shots, and it worked out.”

Shank feels Fenwick is prepared to have a good finish to the re gular season and carry the momentum into the playoffs.

“The thing we need to work on is holding it defensively while also building our of fense,” she said. “We have a real good back line, but we need to work on getting those goals in and getting wins instead of ties.”

Fenwick has its regular season finale against visiting Nazareth Academy on May 11.

SARA JANZ

Kiera Kapsch (in black, far right) looks for some space to run into dur ing a second half in which she scored three times against GCAC rival Prov idence in Fenw ick’s 5-2 win on May 4 at the Priory in River Forest.

Henderson, Garland, Smith all champs at WSC Silver track meet

OPRF eyes state meet bids at IHSA sectional this week

By BILL STONE and MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporters

Oak Park and River Forest freshman Alexis Henderson went from a new personal best in high jump all the way to a varsity West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet champion on May 5 at York Henderson cleared 1.54 meters/5 feet, 1 inch as one of four event champions for the Huskies, who finished fourth (81.5 points).

Before that meet, Henderson hadn’ t cleared higher than 4-11. At her last invite, her best height was 4-6.

“I definitely didn’t think I was going to win. I was a little nervous because I did

jump pretty bad last meet,” Henderson said. “I wanted to do better. I did a lot better.”

T he Huskies hope to continue the momentum at T he IHSA Class 3A St. Ignatius Sectional on May 11. Top-two finishers advance to state as well as entries that achieve state-qualifying standards at the sectional.

Senior Reese Garland, fifth at Class 3A state in discus in 2022, defended her WSC Silver titles. She won discus with a personal-best 41.64m/136-7.25, which ranks No. 3 in Illinois this season, and shot put (11.88m/38-11.75). Her outdoor-best 12.44m/40-9.75 April 28 ranks No 7 outdoors.

Garland became the sixth athlete to win at least two discus and shot titles in the 50-year history of the WSC Silver Meet.

“I was at 134 [in discus the last three invites]. I’ve got to break that of f. Still, I’m improving every year, which is what I like

to see,” Garland said.

Junior Taylor Smith won triple jump with a personal-best 11.29m/37-0.5 that shares No. 16 in Illinois. Smith also was fourth in long jump (5.34m/176.25).

“My goal was just to hit 11 meters because I’ve done it in practice. I did it and it felt good,” said Smith, seventh in triple jump last season.

Junior Brianne Davis was second in discus (38.07m/124-10.75) with a personalbest by 21 feet that ranks No. 20.

“I’m so happy. I think I’ve come close [in practice], but I just really wanted to actually throw it in a meet. Hopefully I can do it at sectionals,” Davis said.

Katherine Johnston was third in pole vault (2.75m/9-0). Bella Brauc (400 meters in personal-best 59.91) and the 800 relay (Rhea Richards, Maisie Hoerster, Chloe Ko zicki, Amelia Hammersley in 1:47.04) were four th.

Friars 6th, Blazers 7th at GC AC

Th e Fenwick and Trinity High School girls track and field teams competed in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division meet May 6 at St. Ignatius.

The Friars finished sixth in the standings with 41 points. Senior Bella Daley won the 3,200 meters with a time of 11 minutes, 40.78 seconds. Sophomore Mia Menendez took third in the 400 with a personal-best time of 1:00.62.

The 3,200 relay of senior Ava Martinez, junior Ireland Reynoso, freshman Kimberly Robles and Menendez took fifth in 10:35.75, while the 1,600 relay of Menendez, Daley, Martinez and freshman Romy Bergetz finished sixth in 4:26.82.

The Blazers came in seventh with 37 points. Senior Laura Murphy had Trinity’s best individual showing, placing fourth in the high jump with a height of 1.52 meters (4-11.75). Senior Amanda McGreal took sixth in the 800 in a personal-best time of 2:28.82.

The Blazers’ 1,600 relay of Murphy, McGreal, and seniors Jasmine Arzuaga and Myla Roy finished third in 4:22.63.

Both Fenwick and Trinity will compete in the IHSA Class 2A Ridgewood Sectional meet on May 10.

Fenwick boys rise up to take down top-seed Wolfpack

Freshman sets tone with 3 early goals to help lead Friars to water polo league title

By MELVIN TATE

Contributing

Reporter

Fenwick High School senior Chris Badja calls his water polo teammate Jack Posluszny one of the state’s top freshmen.

“He’s awesome,” said Badja, a co-captain. “He has the confidence to shoot the ball, and he’s also great on the defensive end.”

Posluszny made Badja’s words ring true during the Metro Catholic Aquatic Conference title match at Fenwick on May 6. He scored the match’s first three goals to set the tone in the F riars’ 13-9 victory over St. Ignatiu s.

“It was very important because we were playing a very good team that we lost to earlier this season,” said Posluszny of the f ast star t.

It’s rare for a freshman to be a major contributor on the varsity level in water polo. Yet, Posluszny has had a good debut, and he gives credit to his teammates, especially his older brother Alec, a senior who is out with an injury.

“He’s helped me a lot,” Jack said. “Unfor tunately, we haven’ t been able to play to g ether much, but we’ve been doing everything to g ether and it’s been so much fun.”

Posluszny scored his three goals in a span of 2:02 midway through the first quarter. T hen Finn Vahey and Badja scored eight seconds apar t in the minute to give Fenwick (21-9) a commanding 5-0 lead after the quar ter

“We’ve talked all season about starting

strong, and that first quarter settled everybody,” said Fenwick coach Kyle Perry. “From there, we just tried to keep rolling.”

The Friars led 6-3 at halftime, then looked poised to pull away when they scored the first three goals of the third quarter. But Ignatius, the MCAC re gular season champion and tournament’s top seed, tallied three goals of its own to cut Fenwick’s lead to 9-6 after three quarters.

Dean Maroida’s goal with 5:03 left in re gulation drew the Wolfpack to within two. But Posluszny scroed his fourth goal of the match 13 seconds later, and Vahey got his fourth goal 14 seconds after Posluszny to give the Friars needed breathing room.

“Anytime Ignatius made a little r un, we were able to respond back with a little run of our own,” Perry said. “We’d like to see what we can do defensively to stop those runs, but we felt confident on the offensive

end.”

Senior goalkeeper Sam Kulisek was another key to Fenwick’s victory. He posted 15 saves, including several big stops when Ignatius was making its push.

“Sam had his best game today,” Perry said. “That sets a great tone for us next week as we head into the playoffs.”

Fenwick is seeded second at this week’s IHSA York Sectional behind the host Dukes, who prevailed in last year’s sectional final meeting.

The Friars meet Prosser in a quarterfinal May 11 in Elmhurst. If the Friars win, either third seed Oak Park and River Forest or sixth seed Taft would be the semifinal opponent May 12.

Fenwick girls fall in GCAC nals

Annie McCarthy’s game-tying goal with 4:08 left seemed to give second seed

REESE GARLAND ALEXIS HENDERSON

TAYLOR SMITH

OPRF sends two doubles teams to state me et

Huskies place 1-2 at badminton sectionals to advance downstate

By MEVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School badminton team finished second in its own IHSA sectional May 4.

The Huskies, whose 9.5 points were three behind sectional champion Conant, advanced both of their doubles teams to the state meet and narrowly missed out on qualifying a singles player

Seniors Katherine DeHaan and Caroline Raducha defeated their teammates, junior Lilianna Jasinska and sophomore Annika Gupta, in three sets (13-21, 21-12, 22-20).

“It’s a huge pickup,” said OPRF coach Paul Wright. “We were seeded third coming into the sectional and to finish second is very nice.”

Wright said it had been some time since OPRF hosted a sectional, and he felt that gave his team a boost.

“There seemed to be more parents and fans attending than before COVID-19,” he said. “We had a nice turnout and that was great to see. With our balcony, you could see all the courts, and there was not a bad seat in the house.”

Fenwick the momentum against top seed Mother McAuley in the MCAC girls water polo title match May 6.

But 49 seconds later, the Mighty Macs were awarded a 5-meter penalty shot, and Ella Mulchrone made no mistake, beating Fenwick goalkeeper Emilia Novak. Mother McAuley scored again 50 seconds later to hand the Friars a 10-8 defeat.

“It’s not the outcome we wanted,” said Fenwick coach Elizabeth Timmons. “However, compared to where we’ve been, this is where we need to be right now. We’re excited and looking forward to build on this next week [at sectionals].”

Fenwick (13-15) trailed 7-3 a minute into the third quarter, but the Friars used good defense to go on a 5-1 run over the next nine minutes to even things.

The Huskies’ top two singles players, senior Olivia Lee and junior Ella Papandreou, each fell short of the placement matches

Papandreou lost her opening match to Quetzali Lara of Elgin Larkin 21-16, 16-21, and 17-21. In the consolation round, she defeated Jelani Tamayao of South Elgin 21-11, 21-6, then avenged her earlier defeat to Lara, prevailing 13-21, 22-20, 21-12.

But in the consolation semifinal, Papandreou lost to Haylay Giancaterino of St Charles North 21-12, 18-21, 12-21, falling a vic tory shy of the top four places that advanc to the state meet.

“Ella was almost there,” Wright said. “She gave it her all.”

Lee defeated Darlene Vorarath of Streamwood 21-9, 21-9 in her opening match, but lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champio Sruthi Sundar of Conant 21-23, 17-21. Sh then lost her consolation match 9-21, 4-21 to South Elgin’s Kailynn Pritchett.

The IHSA state meet takes place May 1113 at DeKalb High School. Wright feels hi doubles teams are peaking at the right time and hopes to advance them both to Saturda

“Every coach wants to have an upward trajectory, and it will be interesting to see where we’re placed,” he said. “It comes down to who we’re seeded against. I don’t foresee us being placed in the top 20 because there are a lot of returning [state-qualifying] doubles teams. We’ ll start chipping away and see what happens.”

“That’s one of the best things about this group: they will not stop,” Timmons said. “Even when it seems not well, they’re not going to stop fighting and trying to get back into it.”

Timmons also cited Novak’s play in goal as a reason for the Fenwick rally.

“Emilia’s been doing a real nice job for us,” she said. “We’ re working to play to our strengths, both in the goal as well as offensively and defensively We want to make sure we’re dictating and not having other teams do what they want us to do.”

Fenwick is the second seed in the York Sectional, opening play May 9, after Wednesday Journal’s print deadline, against Northside Prep. Assuming a win, Fenwick would face either third seed OPRF or sixth seed Morton in the semifinals May 12.

Fresh sushi is not far away: Inari Sushi delivers great taste

Traditional Japanese cuisine gives patrons plenty of options

Staff Reporter

If you are looking for fresh ingredients, an absolute must when it comes to achieving great tasting sushi, look no further than Inari Sushi, 7428 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park.

Taking pride in using elegant garnishments and nutritious ingredients, a way to maintain tradition and honor Japanese cuisine, Inari offers a wide variety of items on their menu for takeout as well as dinein, set in a modern restaurant environment, rivaling any of the pricier sushi restaurants in the Chicagoland area.

Inari, whose name pays homage to a type of kid’s sushi in Japan made with a ball of seasoned sushi rice and wrapped in sweet and salty deep-fried tofu in the form

of a pocket, offers traditional sushi ranging from Maki, referring to “rolled” sushi rice, traditionally rolled in dry seaweed, and sashimi, a Japanese delicacy of fresh raw fish sliced into thin pieces and often accompanied by soy sauce.

The freshness of the products used can be tasted in their delicious Mango Tango. Made with spicy shrimp, avocado, cucumber, tempura and topped with tuna, mango and sweet mayo sauce, the roll, which is cut up into eight pieces, is a burst of flavor, mixing the sweetness of the fresh mango perfectly with the remaining ingredients, transporting the eater to a seaside location where fresh fish and produce can be a daily occurrence and away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The Godzilla roll, available in traditional as well as a vegetarian option, also offers a delicious flavor combination using shrimp tempura, avocado, cream cheese, red tobiko, and sriracha sauce, topped with tempura crunch, wasabi mayo and sweet soy for a roll that is definitely worth its price. For those who might not be adventurous enough to dive into the realm of su-

shi, Inari offers a range of options that do not include raw fish. Soups and salads are available, as well as a list of appetizers to share with the table that included crab ravioli, gyoza, calamari, and steamed edamame, which was lightly dusted with sea salt and made the perfect start to the meal. Also on the menu are Poke Bowls, with your choice of either salmon and tuna or tempura tofu, Ramen, as well as bigger entrees such as chicken filet, garlic lobster tail, chicken teriyaki, and tempura udon, deep-fried shrimp and vegetable over Japanese noodle soup.

If you have room for dessert, the banana tempura, served with green tea ice cream, is the perfect palate cleanser to your meal.

Lunch specials are available daily from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., making Inari a great place for a work lunch or a quick midday friends catch-up. Inari Sushi is open Monday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Staff

Chicken teriyaki at Inari Sushi, served with a hearty portion on white rice and fresh vegetables.

Staff

The Godzilla and Mango Tango rolls are just some of the options for fresh sushi at Inari.

Pastas

Served with a side salad, bread & butter

Penne Alla Spizzico

With mushrooms, pancetta, & peas in our light cream sauce $14.49

Mussels Marinara

With plum tomatoes, fresh garlic, & parsley in extra virgin olive oilserved over linguine $17.99

Artichoke & Shrimp Angel Hair

In our special pesto sauce $15.99

Spinach Manicotti

(3) Stuffed with a 4-cheese spinach blend in our tomato cream sauce $13.49

Penne Alla Vodka

In our tomato vodka cream sauce $13.49

Fresh Vegetables with Angel Hair

Artichoke hearts, mushrooms, broccoli, onions, roasted red peppers, & fresh garlic in our homemade marinara sauce $13.49

Gnocchi Alla Spizzico

Potato dumplings, shrimp, black olives, & tomatoes in our special pesto cream sauce $15.99

Mostaccioli with Sundried Tomatoes

Andchopped marinated grilled chicken breast in our special pesto sauce $15.49

Linguine with Calamari

In our homemade marinara sauce $16.99

Gnocchi

Potato dumplings in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $12.49

Fettuccine Alfredo

In our homemade cheese sauce made fresh to order $14.49

Linguine Frutti Di Mare

Mussels, clams, squid, shrimp, fresh garlic, & parsley in our light plum tomato sauce $19.49

Rigatoni Primavera

Sautéed broccoli & fresh garlic in extra virgin olive oil $13.49

Lasagna

Layeredwith4 Italian cheeses topped with mozzarella, baked in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $13.49

Homemade Stuffed Shells

(5) Stuffed with a blend of 4 Italian cheeses in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $13.49

Pasta Aglio e Olio

Fresh garlic sautéed in extra virgin olive oil served over angel hair $12.49

Ravioli

Cheese or meat filled in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $13.49

Tortellini

Cheese or meat filled in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $13.49

Pasta Marinara

Your choice of mostaccioli, spaghetti, linguine, angel hair, rigatoni, or fettuccine in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $11.49

Pasta Parmigiano

Your choice of chicken, veal, or eggplant served over linguine topped with mozzarella, baked in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $16.49

Baked Cheese Rigatoni

With Ricotta & mozzarella, baked in our homemade marinara or meat $14.49

Linguine Alla Vongole

Fresh littleneck clams

Additions:

Marinated Grilled Chicken

Vegetables

Alfredo Sauce

Pizzas

like a pie with ingredients inside & topped with a thin crust & our special tomato sauce. Allow 45 min. bake time – cut upon request only.

Small 10” Cheese Serves 2-3 $15.39 Medium 12” Cheese Serves 3-4 $19.09

Large 14” Cheese Serves 4-5 $22.99, X-Large 16” Cheese Serves 5-6 $26.69

Ingredients

Anchovies, Artichoke Hearts, Bacon, Fresh Basil, Black Olives, CrumbledBlue Cheese, Bocconcini, Broccoli, Canadian Bacon, Capicola, Extra Cheese, Chorizo, Feta Cheese, Fresh Garlic, Hot Giardiniera, Green Olives, Green Pepper,Ground Beef, Jalapeño, Kalamata Olives, Mushroom, Onion, Pepperoni, Pineapple, Portobello Mushroom, Imported Provolone, Ricotta, Roasted Red Pepper, Sausage, Spinach, Sliced Tomato

Small +$1.59 Medium +$1.79 Large +$2.09 X-Large +$2.29, Family +$2.59 each

Double Dough, Marinated Grilled Chicken

Pastas

Served with a side salad, bread & butter

Penne Alla Spizzico

With mushrooms, pancetta, & peas in our light cream sauce $14.49

Mussels Marinara

With plum tomatoes, fresh garlic, & parsley in extra virgin olive oilserved over linguine $17.99

Artichoke & Shrimp Angel Hair

In our special pesto sauce $15.99

Spinach Manicotti

(3) Stuffed with a 4-cheese spinach blend in our tomato cream sauce $13.49

Penne Alla Vodka

In our tomato vodka cream sauce $13.49

Fresh Vegetables with Angel Hair

Artichoke hearts, mushrooms, broccoli, onions, roasted red peppers, & fresh garlic in our homemade marinara sauce $13.49

Gnocchi Alla Spizzico

Potato dumplings, pesto cream sauce $15.99

Mostaccioli with Andchopped marinated $15.49

Linguine with Calamari

In our homemade marinara

Gnocchi

Potato dumplings

Fettuccine Alfredo

In our homemade cheese sauce made fresh to order

Linguine Frutti Di Mussels, clams, squid, shrimp, fresh garlic, & parsley in our light plum tomato sauce $19.49

Rigatoni Primavera

Sautéed broccoli & fresh garlic in extra virgin olive oil $13.49

Lasagna

Layeredwith4 Italian cheeses topped with mozzarella, baked in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $13.49

Homemade Stuffed Shells

(5) Stuffed with a blend of 4 Italian cheeses in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $13.49

Pasta Aglio e Olio

Fresh garlic sautéed in extra virgin olive oil served over angel hair $12.49

Ravioli

Cheese or meat filled in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $13.49

Tortellini in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $13.49

Your choice of mostaccioli, spaghetti, linguine, angel hair, rigatoni, or fettuccine in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $11.49

choice of chicken, veal, or eggplant served over linguine topped with mozzarella, our homemade marinara or meat sauce $16.49

Baked Cheese Rigatoni

With Ricotta & mozzarella, baked in our homemade marinara or meat sauce $14.49

Linguine Alla Vongole in our homemade white clam sauce $17.99

Multi-Grain Penne +$1.00, Sausage +$4.00 Meatballs (1) $+2.50 (2) Grilled Chicken Breast +$4.79, Shrimp +$4.79 Grilled Tuna +$4.19 +$.79, Baked Mozzarella +$1.89 Baked Mozzarella & Ricotta +$3.25 +$3.25 Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Garlic +$1.89 Tomato Cream Sauce Vodka Sauce +$3.25 Substitute Soup for Salad +$1.89 Extra Bread & Butter +$.45 Extra Romano Cups +$.35

Check

Police-response taskforce les mental-health calls report

Findings scheduled to be made public in June

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

The Oak Park taskforce assembled to identify alternative response models for police calls related to mental health situations has turned in its report to the village manager. The taskforce’s findings will be presented to the public during a meeting of the village board tentatively scheduled for June 12.

“I think it’s important for them to actually report out publicly on the work they did,” said Village Manager Kevin Jackson.

The final report, which took roughly half a year to compile, was handed over to the village manager April 28. Jackson was unable to immediately provide any details into the report’s contents but said he was given an executive overview presentation.

“I was absolutely pleased at the level of thoughtfulness, the commitment from the community – and it really made me feel

proud,” said Jackson.

The taskforce was created at the recommendation of police consulting firm BerryDunn to identify how Oak Park might develop a better system for answering mental health-related service calls traditionally routed to the police department. The group of volunteer taskforce members studied different models used across the U.S, as well as the Oak Park Police Department’s current model of partnering with Thrive Counseling Center.

T he taskforce spent March and April meeting with people who have experienced mental health crises firsthand. T hey also met with a wide cross-section of the community, including students and police officers. In the last month, the taskforce had eight community input sessions, seven one-on-one meetings and met with 89 community members outside of the taskforce, according to taskforce cochair Cheryl Potts, executive director of the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township.

“It was really great to hear that feed-

back and it really infor med the final recommendations we put forward to Village Manager Jackson,” said Potts

Allison Davenport, CEO of Riveredg e Hospital in Forest Park, served with Potts as co-chair of the 30-person taskforce. Other taskforce members included re presentatives of Housing Forward, the township, Rush Oak Park Hospital, the local library and park district, as well as Thrive and other mental health agencies. The superintendents from Oak Park School Districts 200 and 97 also served on the voluntary taskforce. Jackson praised the taskforce members for sharing their time and donating their expertise for the benefit of the village

Without giving too much of the report away ahead of it being received by the village board, Potts told Wednesday Journal the taskforce’s recommendations were created to be reflective of the people who live in Oak Park, not just the people who work in the mental health field, which is “very white and very female.”

“We need to have a mental health response

that is culturally appropriate and that means race, ethnicity, age and that means level of expertise as well,” Potts said.

Another pillar of the recommendations, which will be revealed in greater detail once the re port is made public, is a method for post-crisis follow up and community education, so that it is more easily reco gnizable for the general public to identify when an individual is experiencing a crisis of mental health. Proper follow up could prevent future crises while an infor med public could prevent police involvement in mental health situations.

“If someone’s life is at risk, then you should call 911 immediately, but if that is not the case, you can call 988, which is a mental health crisis response,” said Potts.

Once the re port is presented, the next phase is putting the taskforce’s recommendations into action, according to the village manager. This will likely involve developing an implementation plan that will be executed in multiple phases, so that it is also reflective of mental health policies and initiatives happening at a state level.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor

Ken Trainor at 613-3310

ktrainor@wjinc.com

Business as usual for gun rights

Another week, another mass killing, this time in a mall in Allen, Texas. Fact: The U.S. has the highest rate of gun ownership in the world. Fact: The U.S. has the highest rate of homicides-by-firearms in the world. With less than 5% of the world’s population, the U.S. has 46% of the world’s civilian-owned guns. The U.S. ranks first in the world with the most guns per capita. First!

Naturally, gun rights advocates will argue that correlation does not necessarily mean causation.

VIEWPOINTS

Saying thanks to Jim Taglia

LOUISE MEZZATESTA

Those same gun rights advocates will also argue that the 2nd amendment guarantees them the right to bear ar ms. It reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Ar ms, shall not be infringed.” Interestingly enough, many historians feel that the primary purpose of the 2nd amendment was to “prevent the need for the U.S. to have a professional standing army.” But that was back in 1789 and here, in 2023, we not only have a professional standing ar my but police departments as well. And in 2023, most of us do not need to hunt for our food or protect ourselves from bears at our back doors.

Perhaps it is time to consider revoking the 2nd amendment.

OK, I know that one will never fly. But can we just all agree that the 2nd amendment does not preclude either the federal or state gover nments from enacting stricter gun regulation laws? That it says nothing about what kind of guns can be owned? That it says nothing about keeping guns out of the hands of mentally ill people and young children? That it says nothing about imposing waiting periods for gun purchases, background checks, or instituting a national gun registry?

Why would any honest gun owner, who is without criminal intent, object to having to pass a test and be licensed in order to own a gun? But many gun rights advocates will argue that they don’t want “Big Brother” aka “the government” in their business. You cannot drive on public roads in this country without passing a test in order to obtain a license to drive. If you own a car, you must register the car annually with the state and in most cases, with your town or village. If you own a home, you register ownership via a deed. What’s the difference? Isn’t the gover nment already “in your business”?

Those self-same people will argue that guns don’t kill

Moms are community builders

Inever really thought of my mother, a traditional homemaker, as being just about the house.

Our mom, and some of the other moms on our block in Berwyn, had this way of not just cooking in their kitchens, straightening up their living rooms, and managing their own kids, but of doing so in ways that projected their love into the neighborhood. In doing so, they reflected unspoken understanding that to a certain extent, our block, including the alley where we played, was an extension of those homes.

On a summer morning, or maybe after school, my mom might be sitting on one of the stoops alongside our bungalow’s steps, watching us as we played in front, but also talking with neighbors who might be out. And the women talked with each other from the porches, or while standing together on the sidewalks, forming a kind of monitoring and story-sharing network, without ever calling it that.

We, the kids, accepted that the other moms who might be out front or who might be gardening or hanging clothes in the back were, at least while we were out on the sidewalks or in the alleys, our moms,

too. Motherly care and watchfulness were the neighborhood effects of these devoted women, especially when we were preschool or g rade-school age.

That’s how things were in an era when men worked away from home and women with kids stayed home, managing the house and taking care of children. Moms served as the first line of vigilance beyond the boundaries of home, just by doing their jobs. On the weekends, or sometimes in the evenings, dads would be out there too as they played ball with us, mowed lawns or worked on their cars.

From the late ’80s and into the early years of the new century, Maureen and I had a very different mix of roles than those traditional arrangements of the ’50s and ’60s. We both worked, sometimes from home — she as a lawyer and law professor. Maureen brought the lawyer’s savvy into her role as mom, but also had something in common with those earlier mothers: her presence with the kids in and around the house, interacting with neighbors as she did, also nurtured

SCREENED-IN PORCH: (Le to right) Greg, Dave, Maureen and Tim Kordesh enjoy bonding time on the couch.

What’s next at Pieritz site?

While the one-story medical of fice building at Ridgeland and Chicago avenues could disappear tomorrow and not be missed, the commonly referred to “Pieritz Bros. building” at Ridgeland and South Boulevard is a treasure that deserves to be preserved.

Right now there is a public plan, not entirely well received by neighbors, by new owners to construct a five-story apartment house at Chicago and Ridgeland. Down the street at the Pieritz site there is currently a new owner and nothing but murkiness about what comes next.

That unnamed owner has hired John Schiess, a local architect and development whisperer, to try and smooth the way. Lately Schiess has been having conversations with the preservationminded in Oak Park but is pointedly not talking to Wednesday Jour nal. In response to a story this week about One Stop Comics, a longtime tenant in the building, being told he has to move out because the building may be demolished, Schiess issued to us this weak-tea statement: “While we are open for discussions about possible development at 401 South Blvd., our plans are in the feasibility stage and many options are on the table. It is premature, at this time, to have meaningful discussions until we move forward with possible development options.”

It is clear that sitting across the street from the Green Line, the new owner is going to want, and need, greater density for some sort of housing on the site. Also clear that the future of retail at that cor ner has passed.

Also past is the time frame for this awkward mix of private conversations and public stonewalling on a corner with genuine public interest.

Refusing to recuse

For a village that prides itself on open and transparent government, we do not understand why Iris Sims, the chair of Oak Park’s Plan Commission, is allowed to vote on matters related to Rush Oak Park Hospital which come before the commission. Ms. Sims’ husband is a member of the board of directors of the hospital.

In a matter before the commission last week where well-organized neighbors made a for mal request to rezone the hospital campus to limit aspects of future expansion, Sims was specifically asked by the attorney for the neighbors to recuse herself from the vote. She refused.

This seems a clear-cut ethical violation. An obvious conflict of interest.

The vote of the commission was lopsided, 7-2 in favor of the hospital’s position. Sims’ vote was not deter minative. Stepping away would have been the simple and proper decision. This is not the first time that Sims has declined to recuse herself

We would ask Village President Vicki Scaman to intervene here and work to get the chair of this powerful village commission on the right side of good gover nment.

May makes its case

This column first ran in 2014:

It’s difficult to say what time of year is best. January is the calm following the holiday hurricane, as daylight incrementally lengthens in the wake of the winter solstice. I relish the snugness of the February cocoon; the first brave protrusions of erupting crocuses in March, the sun setting, dead center on the western horizon, in perfect balance at the spring equinox; the sudden elongation of light into the evening upon the return of Daylight Saving Time; Easter, when the theological Resurrection enjoys an objective correlative in nature’s rebirth; the blossom bonanza in April; the leafing of trees in early May; the brilliant roses, perfumed linden blossoms and lingering daylight deep into a June night; the peak-summer sultriness of July and August; the hazy, mellow sunlight of September; the explosion of color in October; the moody darkness of Halloween; the inviting warmth of Thanksgiving; the starry wonder of the winter solstice and the luminous rebuttal of Christmas

Every time of year has something to recommend it, not the least being that each lasts so short a time — yet can be counted on to retur n again. Variety and continuity — not a bad deal this cycle of seasons

But May, when it’s right, would finish near the top of most lists

Johnny Cash composed his anthem to Ireland, “Forty Shades of Green,” in 1961 after an enchanting visit to the Emerald Isle. I thought of it, wandering the village last Sunday in the full glory of early May. There must be 40 shades of green in Oak Park and River Forest now.

The catalogue is unfolding, not all of it green: Tulips, daffodils, dandelions, rhododendrons, hyacinths, bleeding hearts, scilla siberica, spring beauty, magnolias, crabapple, ornamental pear, forsythia, redbud, dogwood — even lilacs and lilies of the valley are poised and ready to issue their intoxicating fragrance.

It’s touch-and-go for tree blossoms each spring. A blustery day at the wrong time can decimate these painted ladies. It was blustery last week and the week before, but somehow, spring perseveres.

The deciduous trees are also flowering right now. Though not as showy, maples bear a lighter shade of green, a lovely contrast to the deeper green of grass and tulip leaves.

The air is full of fragrance and pollen, which means my nose (newly reawakened from its wintry slumber) and eyes are full of it. Watering, itching and sneezing are how I relate to spring. Spring is nothing if not ironic. I worship what I’m allergic to, but suffer I must because this is the glorious time of year

Also the most unsettled, even turbulent, time. Maybe “dynamic” is the better term. Fertile to the point of fecundity. It’s all in how you look at things. I look, dazzled.

In Austin Gardens, the park district has posted small signs, close to the ground, identifying the various patches of wildflowers — rue anemone, trout lily, mayapple, red trillium — exotic names for unusual flowers that could easily be overlooked if you didn’t know there was a treasure trove at your feet in the wooded section of this hidden oasis. Spring is notoriously stingy in this part of the country, but May isn’t stingy when it peaks, with its wide ar ray of tulips (waning), irises, bridal veil, Korean spice viburnum, and heavy-headed peonies. Trees shed seeds by the truckload, and the streets fill with birds, darting to and fro, feasting on this re productive orgy while dodging the murderous fenders of passing autos

There is no spring delirium like the euphoria in the upper Midwest because we are accorded so few perfect days that, when they arrive, people are dazed by the grandeur of it all.

We shouldn’t set holidays by the calendar We should wait for perfect days and declare them holidays — by consensus

If only life could be so simple

Actually life is that simple, though we disguise it in complicated clothing, which is why we too often overlook what it of fers. We long for more when life is presenting its best right under (and currently in) our noses.

Unhappiness is the belief that life, in its current condition, isn’t good enough. I don’t mean man-made life with its poverty, injustice, and violence — all the nasty stuff we can’t seem to solve.

I mean life itself, being alive, a life worth living, those rare moments when you find yourself saying, “It doesn’t get any better than this.”

If that’s enough, you’re one of the lucky ones. If you keep asking, “Is that all there is?” then you’ve joined the ranks of the restless, spreading dissatisfaction.

I often find myself with a foot in each camp

Which may explain why satisfaction and dissatisfaction have little correlation with wealth or poverty, illness or health, success or failure. It may be due to body chemistry, but if there’s a secret to happiness, it’s not asking more of life than life is capable of giving.

Most of the year it’s either too hot or too cold around here, but when it’s right, nothing is more marvelous than May.

Get out and wander

Even if it makes you sneeze.

n Open Letter to River Forest Village President Cathy Adduci, and the Village Trustees:

Grateful for living in River Forest A

I find it dif ficult to write this “thank you” letter because I am overwhelmed with gratefulness and emotion. At the April 24 River Forest Village Board meeting, I received a handsome plaque containing a series of resolutions in my honor. This amazing tribute is especially meaningful to me because of the love and appreciation I have for River Forest. Indeed, it is this village that merits honoring.

HAUSMAN

I have often referred to our town as “an oasis of peace and natural beauty,” which I believe is an apt description. But there is much more to admire inside this oasis. Most of the residents are genuinely thoughtful folks, willing to help one another. The men and women of our police and fire departments, and those providing other services in the village are stellar examples of people-oriented, trained professionals Every town in our nation would appreciate public servants of this quality. Our emergency services are excellent, and their kind of help (even capturing the two raccoons and a squirrel that have invaded my home over the years) is extraordinary. I have also benefited from the village’s forestry specialist who has guided me on preserving my beautiful trees. Most importantly, I will be forever grateful to the River Forest police who found my lost dog nine years ago.

Village services provided during the pandemic is of

icular note. Also impressive was the reolunteers to the “call for ar ms.” anized to meet our urgent needs during this unprecedented time, they assisted many residents with sorely needed tasks These extraordinary ef for ts are unusual and unexpected, adding to the assets of our town. Additionally, new friendships grateful that some of olunteers have become dear

d be remiss not to acknowledge and laud the education fundamentals taught in our schools. This was the primary reason my husband and I decided to build our home here. In the early 1950s, we were living in Maywood. Our young son had only been enrolled in kindergarten a few weeks when his teacher called. She said our son seemed bored and distracted because he already knew how to read. She admonished me for teaching him to do so at his young age. She stressed that kindergarten is where children are to begin lear ning their primary reading skills. With that, my husband and I knew we needed to move to make our home in a village with a more progressive public school system. One visit to Willard School, and we were convinced River Forest was where our family belonged. We were very pleased with that decision as our two children, son Dan and daughter Barbara, thrived and excelled.

See HAUSMAN on pa ge 36

Jim Taglia has earned our thanks

I am writing to convey my deep appreciation for the exceptional service Jim Taglia provided during his six years as a village trustee. His dedication to collaboration and consensus-building has left an indelible mark on our community. Throughout Jim’s tenure, his capacity to collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders,with differing viewpoints served as a model for making policy decisions that selflessly prioritized the interests of our community.

Jim’s work on af fordable housing, public safety, protecting renters and seniors, and helping usher in an era of fiscal responsibility will benefit Oak Park residents for generations. His commitment to these

PROVIDED

issues and others has been instrumental in maintaining our community’s diversity, af fordability, and re putation as a village that truly cares about its residents

On a personal note, serving alongside Jim between 2017 and 2021 was an immense privile ge. His dedication to service and devotion to Oak Park were always an inspiration for me. Jim was not just a great trustee, he made us all better trustees.

I wanted to publicly thank Jim Taglia for his outstanding contributions to our community, his mentorship, and his friendship.

Deno J. Andrews Oak Park trustee 2017-2021

WEDNESD AY JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley

Senior Editor Bob Uphues

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Senior Repor ter Stacey Sheridan

Sta Reporters Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Big Week Editor James Porter

Columnists Marc Bleso , Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, Harriet Hausman, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designer Susan McKelvey

Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls, Kamil Brady

Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

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.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

■ 250-word limit

■ Must include rst and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for veri cation only)

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

■ 500-word limit

■ One-sentence footnote about yourself, your connection to the topic

■ Signature details as at left

Email Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com or mail to Wednesday Journal, Viewpoints, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

HOW TO REACH US

ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 ■ PHONE 708-524-8300

EMAIL Dan@OakPark.com ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com

Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $2.00.

A one-year subscription costs $48 within Cook County and $60 outside of Cook County Adver tising rates may be obtained by calling our o ce. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 10138). Postmaster, send address corrections to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. © 2023 Growing Community Media, NFP.

Former trustees Jim Taglia and Deno Andrews.

OPRF earns an F for Project 2 funding plan

On April 27, the District 200 school board voted unanimously to fund Imagine Project 2 with non-referendum debt certificates over twenty years. Reporting to the board, the Community Finance Committee (CFC) twice told the Board that debt certificates should be limited to 5 years and that funding for Project 2 should go to referendum. Several members of the CFC have actual bona fides in finance, including school funding. Why did the board choose to ignore the CFC?

In a letter published in this paper on May 2, board President Tom Cofsky said that “some community members, most of whom are ardently opposed to the pool project in general ...” This is absolutely false. The goal has always been a reasonable-size pool, not the oversized pool of the 2016 referendum nor the slightly smaller pool in Project 2. The board’s resistance to offer a pool that fits the footprint of this school has been a primary contributor to the delay in providing facilities improvement.

Cofsky wrote that is Illinois tax cap is 5% or CPI, whichever is less. From 2005 through 2017 spending increased by 3.7%

anks to the D200 board for putting students rst

while CPI was 2.1%. Twelve years without discipline, but now we have discipline? Why did D200 not reduce spending to match CPI during that time frame?

Cofsky also wrote that D200 is getting its financial house in order by doing the following: “Removing overly conservative assumptions that presumed worse-case scenarios.” Who defined “overly conservative”? What reasoning was used to come to that conclusion? What is D200’s plan for “worse-case scenarios”?

Also, “becoming disciplined with staffing recommendations, using the state’s Evidence-Based Funding model to help ensure that any new recommendations don’t drive up the district’s overall expenditures.” What gets cut to prevent driving up, overall expenditures?

Lack of action by previous boards going back decades is an emergency created by them. Now D200 wants the taxpayers to pay for the mistakes of the boards.

D200 gets an F on this project. It should be redone immediately.

Marty Bernstein

Oak Park

ank-you, D200 board, for moving us forward

I commend the District 200 school board members for their leadership and decision-making regarding the funding for the much-needed renovations of the physical education facilities at Oak Park and River Forest High School. They demonstrated fiscal responsibility and the prioritization of “those things that are best,” the school motto, as they considered the options available for funding this important next step.

Board President Tom Cofsky’s One View in last week’s Wednesday Journal Viewpoints section, “Why Option 2 was the best path for Project 2,” spells out the rationale for funding the project using debt certificates rather than referendum bonds. This decision allows D200 to “replace PE facilities built in 1928 with PE lear ning spaces that meet the needs of this century’s lear ners,” as Cofsky noted

Equally important, this decision allows D200 and the OPRF administration to now move past this multi-year decision-making process and shift attention to other improvements on which there is muchneeded focus. During the April 27 meeting,

board member Kebreab Henry challenged those of us who have been active as supporters or resistors of Project 2 to remain engaged and bring energy and commitment to the continued positive growth and development of the high school.

I welcome that challenge from Mr Henry, and I hope many others in the community will join me in collaborating with the high school as it tackles issues related to all aspects of equity, academic achievement, safety, gender-based harassment, and more. I also hope we can collectively move forward as a community by prioritizing the success of construction of Project 2 and the other phases of the Imagine Project and the success of our community youth as they progress through OPRF High School.

Once again, thank you to the D200 board for leaving a tangible and meaningful legacy while contributing its time, intellect, and open-mindedness to this “best” decision.

Alison Welch Oak Park resident & OPRF parent

Public single-use restrooms should be designated all-gender

Thank you to the District 200 Board of Education for voting to fund Project 2 with debt certificates, clearing the way for the critical work of Project 2 to move forward. We appreciate the hundreds of hours of work this volunteer board spent diligently reviewing information that led to this unanimous decision. Thank you for putting the children of our Oak Park and River Forest communities first in your thoughtful and delibe rate approach to this needed project for our high school.

Todd & Laura Huseby River Forest

In 2019, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law called the “Equitable Restrooms Act,” which requires that all single-occupancy restrooms “in a place of public accommodation or public building shall be “identified as all-gender and designated for use by no more than one person at a time or for family or assisted-use.” The law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

We believe that compliance with this law is an important and easy step in making public spaces more inclusive It helps to ensure the safety, convenience, and comfort of all, especially parents with different-sex children, all families, people who may need the assistance of a care giver, and trans or gender non-confor ming people.

We are writing to help raise aware-

ness about this law as we have noticed a number of establishments in the Oak Park area that haven’t yet changed their single-use occupancy bathroom signage. It’s easy to implement the new law — signage just needs to be updated to not indicate a specific gender. Please help us get the word out about the law and the importance of being inclusive in our community.

Interested in lear ning more about which businesses need to be in compliance? You can find a full list at //prideactiontank.org/aboutpublicact101-0165.

Betty Alzamora, Steve Angus, Amanda Auch, Sarah Avendaño, Holly Barnes, Christine Baumbach, Kelly and Ginger Bencola, Nina Brewer-Davis, Jackie Buckmaster, Jill Cohen Niewoehner, Sarah Abboreno

Corbin, Jim Corbin, Shannon Craig Straw,

Emily Culbertson, Jennifer Czajka, Jane Ditelberg, Barbara Dolan, Roxanne Dominis, Colleen Du y Cira, Christine Fenno, Carolina Fenske, Michele Freiburg, Laurie Freivogel, Kerri Gefeke, James Gibson, Paul Goyette, S ue Humphreys, Meghan Jane, Robin Kalish, Terrence Keleher, Cori Kim, Allison Kolarik, Phil and Kate Kroker, Laura Lallos, Michelle Major, Jennifer Quinlan, Lauren McKeand, Meghan Paulas, Lisa Pearson, Sheela Raja, Suzen Riley, Anna Ronney, Kimberly N. Ru n, Scott Sakiyama, Cas Scaman, Stephanie Sideman, Stacia Smith, Carollina Song, Brian Straw, Beth Streit, Dorothy Clare Tessman, Leah Textor, Lindsey Textor, Natalia Torres, Rachel Weaver Oak Park

We all need to become architecture snobs

As my fellow villagers unite against the Ridgeland-Chicago mid-rise [Neighbors band against Ridgeland-Chicago mid-rise, News, April 26], let’s briefly put aside their concer ns about the size and scale of the structure and instead consider this most pressing question: Where the hell is the design?

I have to assume the developers — and those of similarly unima ginative, style-free buildings popping up around town — still employ architects, but the only way any of them are continuing the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright is if they’re serial philanderers. Is it really that hard to create something original (asks the person who can barely crank out one lousy letter to the editor every three months)? I mean honestly, in a community of avowed architecture admirers, why does the village continue to greenlight structures at Ridgeland-Chicago, Oak Park Commons, 203 S. Marion, and wherever else that are completely indistinguishable from the eyesores they put up in Wadsworth or Oswe go? Now before you all go accusing me of being

a total architecture snob, allow me to clarify: I am a total architecture snob. Why the hell else would I have been willing to pay the ungodly taxes in this accursed town? It most certainly wasn’t because of the people with their neverending accusations of total architecture snobbery.

These designs’ lack of panache is clearly a cost-saving measure, which I’d be all for if any of the buildings were af fordable housing, which — surprise! — none are. They’re just buildin’ ugly to keep more money in their already overflowing pockets.

Moving forward, the new village board needs to ensure that every ef fort is made to erect structures that add to the town’s appeal instead of allowing the de gradation of our neighborhoods’ aesthetics to fur ther enrich a few lucky developers.

I’m Dan Stark, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s surviving mistresses approved this message.

Dan Stark Oak Park

Celebrate seniors, May 11-18

I am a volunteer driver for Oak Park Township Senior Services and am happy to be able to share their message to your readers.

The Celebrating Seniors Coalition is gearing up for events in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park between Thursday, May 11 and Thursday, May 18 that build on this year’s theme for Older Americans Month: Aging Unbound.

The Celebrating Seniors Coalition is a nonprofit group composed of citizens, social service agencies, local government leaders, and private industry leaders who serve older adults.

Its goal is to dispel outdated and inaccurate myths about seniors, while highlighting older adults’ vibrant and valuable role in the community. The group also raises money for some older adults in financial need — including those whose circumstances might slip through the cracks of traditional social safety nets.

About 50 events — nearly all free of charge — are scheduled throughout Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park. Join the coalition as it honors seniors. For more infor mation, visit CelebratingSeniors.net

Personally interacting with the people on my delivery route is a weekly affirmation of the humor, history and perspective that our “senior citizens” have to share. It lifts my spirits every time I speak with them.

Sara Buehler Oak Park

Letter to the Economic Development Commission

I am sharing a summary of my letter to the Economic Development Commission of River Forest, dated April 6, 2023, following their meeting on April 5, 2023, for public interest:

Dear Chair Brown and fellow EDC members, Thank you for your attention and patience during yesterday’s EDC meeting while my neighbors and I expressed our concerns and suggestions re garding the 7600 block of Madison Street development opportunities.

I am deeply appreciative that the commission decided to take more time to digest the commentary of the stakeholders who spoke up last night. After listening to your discussions and Mr. Houseal’s presentation, I have the following comments:

Is there empirical evidence that the commission can share showing that zoning changes as proposed triggered an influx of new interest and bids for development?

I believe the difficulty in attracting a developer is more complex and nuanced than what Mr. Houseal is portraying to the EDC and community. Economic conditions are very volatile and not in a good way. This condition may persist for some time. It also means that what was economically viable over the past decade may change dramatically. Thus,

taking more time to reimage with us what would be best to build seems like a pr udent undertaking while the economy settles out.

Even though Mr. Houseal re peated that changing the zoning codes to permit a 50-foot-tall building doesn’t necessarily mean that a 50-foot building would be proposed, you are explicitly inviting a 50-foot-tall development by amending the code in this manner. The community told you last night that a 50-foot building is unacceptable.

Lastly, I would like to directly address the comment from one of the commissioners who said that if we didn’t want to live in a busy commercial area, then we should not have bought a house near a busy commercial area: What an offensive, insulting and insensitive comment to make, and displayed conduct unbecoming of a person who sits in a position of power, tasked with serving the best interests of the entire community.

I look forward to a more collaborative process with the River Forest village and EDC as we work toward the manifestation of a wonderful new development for our end of town.

Renée N. Duba River Forest

Rush Oak Park Hospital needs to modernize

I came to Rush Oak Park Hospital in 2015 as the inaugural medical director of the breast imaging center. We now offer personalized breast care unparalleled in this region. Our team consists of specialists in breast radiology, and we work closely with other oncology specialists in breast cancer detection and treatment. We came from the top cancer programs in the nation — Rush, Northwestern, University of Chicago, NYU, Stanford and MD Anderson — to Oak Park to practice.

Women from our communities can receive the best breast care in the nation at Rush Oak Park Hospital. This is especially important as many women will not, or are unable to, travel for their preventive care and ongoing treatments. It is a community asset that cannot be taken for granted.

But we practice in antiquated facilities. The main hospital building at Rush Oak Park is 116 years old. Our space is so limited it leads to scheduling delays. I witness the very serious consequences of those delays. We need to have moder n facilities to provide the service our patients deserve.

But the modernization of our facilities would be impos-

Fighting irresponsible zoning changes

In multiple River Forest neighboring blocks in the Madison Street Corridor TIF district, residents are fighting a similar fight to that of Oak Park residents re garding zoning changes that allow for development of high-rise buildings which push boundaries beyond what fits in an old, established residential area.

The meetings in RF have been ongoing for months. Neighbors want development which is appropriate for the area. We welcome af fordable housing which can be implemented without over-burdening a compact area. Density, available parking, and traffic safety are real concerns, with the suggestion of a main street being closed of f.

Village consultant John Houseal, has, over many months, misstated current zoning laws and pushed for higher density and street barriers to the Madison Street-Ashland Avenue intersection. He recommends area zoning changes to the village board for a massive building (right next to the sidewalk) which is one to two additional stories in height, allowing for many studio apartments and inadequate parking. He suggests small first-floor retail spaces for businesses which appear to be too costly for local businesses.

sible if the proposed changes to the zoning rules that were before the Plan Commission last week had passed. These zoning changes aim to restrict growth on the Rush Oak Park campus. If passed by the village board, for example, the 50-foot building height they propose (for only Rush Oak Park Hospital) will prevent any new construction from being more than three stories in height, a highly inefficient health-care structure. The 50-foot setbacks that are proposed would largely foreclose the re-d evelopment of the Harlem Avenue frontage by reducing the potential space for modernization by over 50%. These zoning changes, if passed, will be har mful to the public’s health as they will preclude growth in needed medical services like breast cancer care

I urge the Oak Park Village Board, like the Plan Commission, to reject the proposed zoning changes and allow Rush Oak Park Hospital to moder nize under the framework of existing zoning re gulations. Our patients and community deserve it.

Paula Grabler, MD Oak Park

We do not want empty storefronts — a nationwide trend in these types of buildings. The Illinois House Bill 0202, the Vacancy Fraud Act, was introduced to help curb misuse of empty storefronts by building owners. Houseal’s proposed 40-unit buildings upon a small footprint of land, stories higher than adjacent ones, will be detrimental.

The long and short of it: The village of River Forest re ps are pushing an agenda that is in direct conflict with its own Village Comprehensive Plan and its core objectives. There are ways to bring in taxes and fulfill our role as a responsible village, with respect to adding af fordable housing, without overbuilding a compact area to the point that the livability of the neighborhoods is compromised.

As in Oak Park, there are concer ned citizens speaking out — local neighbors who want clear planning for the good of all. River Forest isn’t listening in its rush for income and a quick fix. It is shameful.

Kathy Corcos River Forest

Second thoughts on the Second Amendment

Truth is often stranger than fiction. Examples that amaze and delight us get a smile, even a laugh out loud. But other examples can confound us, pulling out of us an anguished groan. Imagine a teen boy who wants to play kickball with his buddies in the street outside his house during a block party. “Dad, can we?” His father says, “The street is blocked of f, so sure, go and play in the street.” It was raucous but safe, and a good time was had by all.

A few days later, the father sees the boys out in the street, playing just like before. He storms out and shouts, “Get out of the street! You wanna get killed?” His son says, “You said, sure, go and play in the street.” Dad says, “Don’t play games with me! Don’t quote back the part you wanted to hear and blow of f the rest. You’ re putting your lives at risk!” That’s a good, responsible parent.

That’s fiction. But here’s the ugly, even appalling truth: The Second Amendment stipulates that gun ownership is permitted for people who are or can be members of a “well-regulated militia.” In context, it was passed in colonial days, when our

nation was just getting org anized and had no standing ar my to face of f against the ar my of a hostile power.

Our context is totally different. So calling gun ownership and bearing arms a “God-given right” has allowed our society to descend into the great chaos we see daily. That demand flies in the face of the amendment’s purpose and intent — no matter that the Supreme Court blatantly ignores the historical context in which it was for mulated.

Give full and due consideration to the facts, le gislators at all levels of government, and pass laws that put stringent limits on who can possess these tools of mayhem and death and, in particular, forbid anyone outside our well-re gulated and disciplined military to have military-grade weapons like AR-17s in their hands.

Don’t allow this situation to continue to be the truth that is truly stranger than fiction … in the worst possible way.

Fred Reklau Oak Park

Aging Unbound: Celebrating Seniors is back!

From May 11 to 18, Celebrating Seniors Week is back in Oak Pa rk, River Forest and Forest Park

We are thrilled to be able to once again shine the spotlight on older adults in our community who have played an instrumental leadership role over so many years. And they’ re not done yet! This year’s theme, in conjunction with federal Older Americans Month, is Aging Unbound.

Brooks’ Open-air Learning Center moves ahead

Students in science teacher Laura Stamp’s class at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School have been working with me over the past school year on the design of a new Open-air Learning Center for the school’s courtyard. Their design ideas for flexibility and a natural environment for outdoor lear ning have been instrumental in the design that will now be implemented. Amenities include reuse of materials, a waterfall fountain, native Illinois wildflowers and grasses, the preservation of existing trees and gardens, and a healthy learning environment with a green footprint for outdoor lear ning in two outdoor classrooms with flexible setups and uses.

The students and teacher deserve commendation for their ideas and determination to have such a useful and pleasant amenity available to all teachers and students at Brooks. We hope it will be an inspiration to other schools to implement a custom design for their students. We hope to have the community’s support for the students as they move forward on their outdoor lear ning environment. I would be happy to assist other Oak Park schools to move forward on such a project on a pro-bono basis.

Richard Katz Oak Park architect

We are finally unbound from what was taken by the thief I call COVID. We are back seeing the ones we love, back at our houses of worship, and back at the library, the park district and the gym.

Our luncheon kicks it all off on Thursday, May 11 as the Concordia University Chicago Center for Gerontology graciously hosts. In addition to an inspiring keynote from Gail Zelitzky and Catherine Marienau, podcast hosts of Women Over 70: Aging will honor the past few years’ “Seniors Over 60” honorees. They oup that now has risen we have honored and celebrated since our 2011 inception.

One of the primary objectives of Celebrating Seniors Week is to create opportunities for socialization through nearly 50 ents in Oak Park, River rest Park. A Harvard study (check it out at https://tinyurl.com/Oldoy) found that socialization and war m the most impact on longevity — more so than career achievement, money, extra exercise, or even a

I invite people of all ages to join us at events. We hope it plays a role in your pursuit of a longer, happier , e-mail info@celebratingseniors.net or visit www.celebratingseniors.net and check out our Events page.

Jim Flanagan Chairman, Celebrating Seniors Coalition

MOMS

Community builders

from page 29

that unspoken, yet shared sense that these sidewalks and streets between our houses were home, too.

In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where our kids were born, some of the houses, including ours, were ar ranged around a cul-de-sac, an inviting space for kicking a ball or learning to ride a bike. We built and tended a large, terraced garden, 90 feet across, on the hill in our backyard, quite visible to the bordering neighbors’ properties. They occasionally came by and spoke to us about it. We talked landscaping and composting with them. Our gardened hill blended with their landscaping projects to add to the neighborhood’s identity.

In the 1990s when we moved to Oak Park, the inter net emerged explosively as a new space in which moms and dads needed to be present and watchful. The virtual “neighborhood” became defined by gaming groups and social media niches that the kids entered, not through the front doors of their domiciles, but through the computers sitting on their desks or resting in their laps.

Parents ventured into these online neighborhoods with their own interests, but also to be where the kids were, monitoring and learning about the new games and interactive sites they’d be entering. Some of these interactions built durable ties that lasted across stages of the lifespan.

We’re Facebook friends with some of our own kids’ childhood friends who are now adults, some raising their own children. A few we see when we’re out with our g randchildren in Oak Park playg rounds or parks, and we comment occasionally about recent posts about their kids. We’re their neighbors now in vir tual and geog raphic space, even when at home

Whether in the traditional sense of the stay-at-home caretaker, or in the contemporary sense that mixes work and home, moms collaborate with dads and other partners. They shape the small worlds outside their front doors that matter for their kids’ safety and development.

And they do so today as well in those vast, slippery and murky domains of the web, planting stakes for the values of their homes while there.

GUN RIGHTS

Can’t we all agree?

from page 29

people, people kill people. That we should ar m teachers. That if everyone had a gun, we’d all be safe. That criminals won’t observe the laws, so why put the laws into place? By that logic, we should have no laws because every single law on the books is broken by someone, somewhere. In my youth, I racked up a couple of speeding tickets. Oh and a few years ago I got a ticket for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. I’m not alone by any means in breaking traffic laws. Does that mean we should repeal all traffic laws?

The right to bear arms is not without restrictions and some restrictions have been upheld by none other than the Supreme Court of the U.S. Of course, as we are all too aware now in 2023, Supreme Court rulings have less to do with logic and precedent and more to do with the political leanings of the present court’s membership. Nonetheless, can’t we all agree that

common sense dictates that the rights granted to citizens by the 2nd amendment are not without limits?

Canada imposed a 28-day waiting period in response to a mass killing in 1989. Australia, only two weeks after a mass killing in 1996, passed sweeping legislation that included a buy-back program that took 650,000 guns off the street. Gun rights advocates frequently point to Israel where “everyone has a gun” because everyone is in the ar my. Not true. Yes, by law, most 18-year-olds are drafted into the ar my where they are psychologically tested and receive arms training. However, after being discharged from the service, for mer soldiers are subject to civilian gun laws which are quite strict.

I do not use the term “mass shooting.” I call it what it is, a mass killing because so far, every one of these weekly “events” has resulted in one or more deaths of innocent people just going about their everyday lives.

Oh well, another week, another mass killing

Business as usual.

Louise Mezzatesta is a River Forest resident.

OBITUARIES

Robert Batlivala, 83 Professor of economics, stor yteller

Robert B.D. Batlivala, 83, of River Forest, a philosophical thinker and world traveler, died on May 3, 2023. Born in 1940 of Zoroastrian-Persian ancestry, to Dinshaw and Gool “Rose” Batlivala in Bombay, India, he was a PhD graduate in business and economics from IIT and a post-doctoral fellow in economics at the University of Chicago. He retired as director of re gulatory economics and corporate strategic planning after he spearheaded the merger of Amoco and BP. He also took pride in participating as a strategic member of multiple boards. What he enjoyed most was the opportunity to lecture both in the classroom, as an adjunct professor of business and economics, and outside the classroom, sharing his never-ending thirst for knowledge. He loved to tell stories. He was a profound figure in many peoples’ lives and will be deeply missed.

Robert was the husband of Carole Feustel for 59 years, the father of Amy (Brian) McNeilly and Dina (Scott) Tresselt, and the grandfather of Alexander and Cyrus McNeilly Services will be private. In lieu of flowers please contribute to the educational fund or academic program of your choice.

HAUSMAN A peaceful oasis

from page 31

Dan graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School, tied for first with his best friend, Bob Hansen. He went on to receive honors at Harvard University. Barbara graduated from OPRF in the top 10 of her 900+ student senior class, and went on to graduate with honors from Stanford University.

Yes, I am very proud of my children’s scholastic accomplishments, but even more so I value that they are kind and considerate human beings and that they are strong proponents of equality and justice.

I thank River Forest for the education and stability this community provided.

I know this heartfelt and sincere “thank you” letter is lengthy. My hope is that it demonstrates how much your proclamation, in my honor, means to me.

Harriet Hausman, a vital 99-year-old, is the oldest re gular newspaper columnist in the United States, possibly the world.

Frank O’Hara, 84 St. Giles Community Mass member

Frank J. O’Hara, 84, of Oak Park, died on May 6, 2023. Born on June 23, 1938, he was a longtime parishioner of the St. Giles Community Mass, an active volunteer and scholar, a frequent visitor of the Morton Arboretum.

Frank was preceded in death by his first wife, Maria, and he is survived by his second wife, Anita. He is lovingly remembered by the O’Hara, Gallagher, Berlanga and Martine z families

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 11 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home, 7319 Madison St., Forest Park. Family and friends will meet on Friday, May 12 at 9:45 a.m. at St. Giles Catholic Church 1045 N. Columbian Ave., Oak Park, with Mass celebrated at 10 p.m., followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

CAT FRIENDLY

Brookfield neighborhood person needed for light housekeeping and probable future cat sitting

References a plus

Call 773-807-3402

SEASONAL FARMER’S MARKET ASSISTANT

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmer’s Market Assistant in the Health Department. This position will provide administrative support to the Farmer’s Market Manager to allow growers and producers of food to sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This position requires work in inclement weather conditions; some heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds; walking or standing for sustained periods of time. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

HIRING CLEANING TECHNICIANS FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN WESTCHESTER!

Awesome Cleaning & Janitorial Services is looking for experienced cleaning technicians that are energetic, hospitable, ready to work and AWESOME!

Pay starts at $20/hr

Must be available for weekends also.

Ready to work? Contact us by email at info@awesomecjs.com.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

LOCAL DELIVERY DRIVER

Full Time M-F

Must be able to lift 60 pounds. If interested call 708-209-1636 or email peg@berniesaw.com

Bernie’s Saw & Supply 1222 Circle Avenue Forest Park, Il. 60130

COLLECTIVE IMPACT MANAGER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Collective Impact Manager in the Village Manager’s Office. Under the general direction of the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, the Collective Impact Manager will be responsible for building and assessing racial equity impact needs and developing a strategic plan to support those needs. This includes driving the initiatives focused on the Racial Equity Action Plan through community assessments, community engagement, data functions, and overall internal and external functions. Applicants are encouraged to apply online at ht tps:/ /secure.entertimeonline. com/ta/6141780.careers?ApplyToJob=537117711 or visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www. oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

K Movers

Best prices in town! Dependable movers. Call 708-252-6354

MARKETPLACE

CARS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

Restored

Restored or Unrestored Cars & Vintage Motorcycles

Domestic / Import Cars:

Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

Collector James 630-201-8122

AUTO SERVICES

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the proposed Program Year (PY)

2020 Substantial Amendment to the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) Program Year (PY)

2020 Action Plan dated March 29, 2023, will no longer take place. The original proposal included additional funding allocations in the amount of $87,451 to be allocated for the following: 1) $78,166 for resurfacing, street lighting, and landscaping on Census Tract 8123.01 Block 2 and 2) $9,285 for alley improvements on Census Tract 8123 Block 1 and 8215.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 10, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208

TIMELY AND MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION FOR PARENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF PRIVATE AND HOME SCHOOLED CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

In accordance with the requirements of Section 612(a) (10) of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEA 2004”), Riverside Brookfield High School will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation on Friday, May 19, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Riverside Brookfield High School, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Il 60546 The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how students with disabilities, who attend private schools or are homeschooled within the district boundaries, will be served by District 208 during the 2023-24 school year

Parents and private school administrators who would like to attend should contact Kevin Baldus, Director of Special Education, at baldusk@rbhs208.net Zoom invitation will be forwarded prior to the meeting.

Published in RB Landmark May 10, 17, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE River Forest School District 90

(Required by the Illinois State Board of Education)

In accordance with the requirements of Section 612(a) (10) of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEA 2004”), the River Forest School District 90 will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. in the District 90 Administration Offices, 7776 Lake Street, River Forest, IL. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how students with disabilities who attend private schools or are homeschooled within the District boundaries will be served by District 90 during the 2022-2023 school year. Parents and private school administrators who would like to attend should contact Debbie Lubeck, Director of Student Services, at lubeckd@district90.org for additional information.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 10, 17, 2023

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC

LEGAL NOTICE

HEARING DATE: May 31, 2023

TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

CALENDAR NUMBER: 03-23-

DRC

APPLICANT: Christopher Bell

ADDRESS: 1128-1134 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301

REQUEST: The Community Design Commission will hold a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Christopher Bell, on behalf of Comedy Plex, seeking variances from the following sections of the Oak Park Sign Code relative to increasing the size of a projecting sign, allowing a portion of a projecting sign to be used as an electric sign and allowing two (2) projecting signs without public street frontage for the establishment at the premises commonly known as 1128-1134 Lake Street, Lower Level, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-07-119-015-0000

(“Subject Property”).

1. Section 7-7-15 (B) (1) (a), requiring that the maximum area of a projecting sign located within the Downtown Sign

Overlay District shall not exceed 24 square feet; whereas the proposal features a 50 square foot projecting sign on the south elevation of the building; and

2. Section 7-7-15 (B) (2), requiring one (1) projecting sign per ground floor establishment with frontage on a public street; whereas the proposal features two projecting signs with no frontage on a public street, respectively; and

3. Section 7-7-16 (3), requiring that electronic display screens are permitted as wall or window signs only, whereas the proposed electronic sign is a projecting sign at the premises commonly known as 1128-1134 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL. A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Commission to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereo

Published in Wednesday Journal, May 10, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of KARINA MONTOYA, Petitioner and EDER PACHECO, Respondent, Case No. 2023D003253.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before June 2, 2023, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

IRIS Y. MARTINEZ, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 3, 10, 17, 2023

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

LEGAL NOTICE

This is a revised public notice, hereby giving the details that the Village of Oak Park Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee (CDCAC) will be meeting for applicant presentations, a funding recommendations determination meeting and a public comment for the upcoming Program Year (PY) 2023 project proposals submitted to the Village for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant funds. PY 2023 will run from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. All meetings will be held at Village Hall—123 Madison— room 101 and are as follows: Presentations, 5:30 -9:00pm on April 18, April 20 and April 25; Meeting to determine funding recommendations, 6:00pm on May 9, 2023. There will be a public hearing May 30, 2023 at 6:00pm to receive public comment on proposed funding recommendations. All meetings are open to the public and reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons as needed. Meeting specifics are subject to change; please send a message to grants@ oak-park.us to confirm details.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 10, 2023

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby 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

Plaintiff, -v.UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF YVONNE ARROYO, DECEASED, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, VICTORIAN SQUARE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, CHARLES BIBB, CLARENCE AKBAR BIBB, MARIE LESTER, DOROTHY JEAN BIBB SINGH , THOMAS QUINN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO YVONNE ARROYO, DECEASED Defendants

2022 CH 08025 1135 SCHNEIDER AVENUE, UNIT 2B OAK PARK, IL 60302

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 11, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on June 1, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1135 SCHNEIDER AVENUE, UNIT 2B, OAK PARK, IL 60302

Property Index No. 16-06-316-0301004, 16-06-316-030-1017, AND 1606-316-030-1018

The real estate is improved with vacant land.

The judgment amount was $269,229.40.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driv-

er’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, ONE EAST WACKER, SUITE 1250, Chicago, IL, 60601 (312) 651-6700. Please refer to file number 22-026600.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-

SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC

ONE EAST WACKER, SUITE 1250 Chicago IL, 60601 312-651-6700

E-Mail: AMPS@manleydeas.com

Attorney File No. 22-026600

Attorney Code. 48928

Case Number: 2022 CH 08025

TJSC#: 43-1638

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2022 CH 08025 I3218771

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Plaintiff, -v.-

MELANIE MARTIN, 300 CHICAGO CONDOMINIUM, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF HAZEL J. ANTHONY, GERALD NORDGREN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR HAZEL J. ANTHONY (DECEASED)

Defendants 2022 CH 04036 300 CHICAGO AVE 4N OAK PARK, IL 60302

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIV-

EN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 17, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on June 13, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 300 CHICAGO AVE 4N, OAK PARK, IL 60302

Property Index No. 16-05-321-0341007

The real estate is improved with a condo/townhouse.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the

purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g) (1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 7949876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-22-03237

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2022 CH 04036

TJSC#: 43-1809

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2022 CH 04036 I3219832

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHAN-

CERY DIVISION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

ration, will at 10:30 AM on June 20, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 817 S. SCO-

VILLE AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304

Property Index No. 16-18-228-019000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $584,316.19.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650, Chicago, IL, 60602 (312) 541-9710. Please refer to file number 20 8287.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORA-

TION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-

SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC

30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650 Chicago IL, 60602 312-541-9710

E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com

Attorney File No. 20 8287

Attorney Code. 40342

Case Number: 2020 CH 07380

TJSC#: 43-1333

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2020 CH 07380 I3219657

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee of the SCIG Series III Trust;

Plaintiff, vs. GAD IKEANUMBA AKA GAD C. IKEANUMBA; 1030-32

NORTH AUSTIN CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION AKA 1030 -32 N. AUSTIN CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION AND HENRY SILVERMAN LIVING TRUST

U/A/D AUGUST 26, 1996;

Defendants, 11 CH 33740

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate:

P.I.N. 16-05-314-031-1001.

Commonly known as 1032 N. Austin Blvd., Unit 1N, Oak Park, IL 60302. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g)

(4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act

Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection

For information call Ms. Mary E. Spitz at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Sottile & Barile, LLC, 7530 Lucerne Drive, Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130. (440) 5721512. ILF1810025

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com

I3219409