Wednesday Journal 051723

Oak Park may restructure OPEDC out of business

Major reorganization at village hall might bring development role entirely in-house

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

Oak Park Village Manager Kevin Jackson has proposed a significant restructuring of village staff with the impending retirement of department director Tammie Grossman, who oversees the village’s commercial development and housing, as well as parking and permitting. Breaking up Grossman’s vast division, currently called the Development Customer Services Department, is logical but complicated – and if approved, Jackson’s plan puts the future of a major village partner agency at risk.

D97 moves toward future with three new senior leaders

District undergoes administrative rearrangement

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Oak Park’s District 97 public elementary schools filled three new senior administrative positions for the 2023-2024 school year as it began to lay the groundwork for its community-driven vision of an ideal graduate

The district announced new hires: Dr. Luis Fernando De Leon as the assistant superintendent of middle schools, Luis Rodriguez as the new chief legal and equity officer, and Patrick Robinson as the new assistant superintendent of elementary schools beginning with the new school year.

The three new hires are part of how D97 is rearranging its organization at the adult level to enhance student experiences in a more positive and equitable way, said Supt. Dr. Ushma Shah.

“One of the things we need to start doing is not be stuck in how districts have always been laid out and start to put things together in ways that make sense and in ways that are going to change our students’ experiences,” Shah said.

The new hires will be key figures as the district hopes to begin painting the “Portrait of a Graduate,” a well-rounded, high-achieving student that represents the district’s vision for the skills, character traits, as well as social-emotional abilities students would need to success in their future. According to Shah, the portrait is still in the early development stages.

De Leon, who comes to the district from School District U-46 in Elgin, has years of experience at the middle school level, serving as principal of Tefft Middle school for the last six years. De Leon’s diverse

career background has allowed him to spend time serving often underrepresented and marginalized communities of color, having taught as an ESL adult education instructor at Elgin Community College and a bilingual teacher

“Through meaningful collaboration, we can learn and grow together, addressing the inequities of systems and ensuring that all our students have access to rigorous, culturally responsive learning and instruction,” said De Leon in a press release.

De Leon will begin his new role come July 1st, overseeing Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, 325 S. Kenilworth Ave., and Percy Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland Ave.

Patrick Robinson, current principal at Whittier Elementary School, 715 N. Harvey Ave., has been appointed as assistant superintendent of elementary schools beginning in July, leaving Whittier after his fifth year as principal.

Coming to the district in 2018 from Urban Prep Academies for Young Men in Chicago, where he served as principal for three years, Robinson brought with him a long history of elementary education stemming back to teaching at schools in Galesburg and Chicago, along with being a new teacher induction coach at New Teacher Center.

“It has been a privilege to lead a school community of resilient students, a dedicated staff, and a supportive family community,” said Robinson in a press release. “We have collaboratively achieved many outstanding things as a community that positively impact the lives of all our Whittier Wildcats. I am honored and incredibly excited to continue to work in my new role, serving

all students, staff, and families of District 97.”

The district is currently searching for Whittier’s next principal.

Also hailing from the Elgin educational community, Luis Rodriguez, who recently served as the deputy general counsel for Elgin Community College, has accepted the position of chief legal and equity officer, a new role in the district.

Shah said the district, which has long been vocal regarding their intentions to put equity in the forefront of their decisions, created this role in reference to board policy 7:12 Ensuring Racial and Educational Equity, which references a position of a senior leader who would report directly to the superintendent to support equity work

“That is important because this role fulfills that expectation that we do have senior leadership that is reflecting that equity work as opposed to the equity work being tucked inside the organization,” Shah said.

Having someone on staff regarding legal work will also help build the district’s capacity, said Shah.

“Having a person on staff to make sure that we are doing that work in a manner that reflects policy and law and also our commitments to equity and treating people fairly, that is the intersection that we are trying to get to,” Shah said.

Rodriguez will be fully stepping into his role later in May.

“This is one position in the midst of many different changes happening in the district,” Shah said. “One of the big ideas is that we need to come together differently. We need

to build our collaborative focus to make the changes needed.”

While the whole portrait of a graduate is in the early stages of development, Shah said they are excited to engage with the community as well as potential community partners when ready. However, Shah did say inter nal conversations have already begun happening as they had faculty input through voluntary staff meetings, with a purpose of understanding staff perspectives.

“I will tell you that even as we onboard these roles, the voices of our teachers, our principals, and our staff closest to our students is continuously shaping my understanding of how we need to position these roles and how I need to support them to come on board and be successful,” Shah said.

Student engagement has been an increasingly important part of how the district is looking to do their work, said Shah, adding they want to know what it would look like for the “students fingerprints to be on the district.”

This can be seen as the district seeks a new principal for Whittier, already having arranged meetings with families, staff, and students for their insight in the principal selection process.

“It was such an engaging session,” said Shah. “Together we engaged with the students around what their hopes and visions are for the next principal but also in terms of the district and what hopes they had.”

Seeking input from all members of the district is a value Shah said they hope they can see more of as a practice in place across the district.

“One of the things we need to start doing is not be stuck in how districts have always been laid out and start to put things together in ways that make sense and in ways that are going to change our students’ experiences.”

USHMA SHAH D97 supt.

“

Through meaningful collaboration, we can learn and grow together, addressing the inequities of systems and ensuring that all our students have access to rigorous, culturally responsive learning and instruction.”

LUIS FERNANDO DE LEON D97 assistant superintendent

LUIS FERNANDO DE LEON LUIS RODRIGUEZ PATRICK ROBINSON

Dis-Story Lesson

Thursday, May 18, 3:30-5 pm, Oak Park Public Library Students in grades ve a chance to write a dis song about one historical

The song must include facts based on the historical person and what they’ve done. This will give students a chance to research, learn, and express their feelings in a fun way. Students also will learn a bit of history from where dis rap comes from. Part of the Collections of Culture: 50 Years of Hip Hop Inside Libraries, Museums and Archives, made possible in par t by the Institute of Museum and Librar y Ser vices. Learn more at oppl. org/hip-hop-50. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Jam Grass Project

Friday, May 19, 8:30 p.m., Friendly Tap Miguel Gonzales and his band explores the midpoint between jam bands and the bluegrass sound. 67316733 Roosevelt Road, Berw yn.

BIG WEEK May 17-24

What ’s Blooming on Harrison

Saturday, May 20, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Harrison Arts District

What ’s Blooming on Harrison is a day of community building featuring live music, dance performances, maker experiences, a kiddie carnival, local food and drink and an art fair with guest artists and local crafts people. It’s guaranteed fun for all ages. After Party at the Beer Garden at 9 p.m. Harrison Street between Humphrey and Highland, Oak Park.

The ca se for reparations

Sunday, May 21, 9:45 a.m., First United Church of Oak Park

Symphony Spring Concert

Sunday, May 21, 4 p.m., Concordia University Violinist Bea Sjostrom, a sophomore at Oak Park and River Forest High School, will play the works of Wagner, Saint-Saens and Schumann with the Symphony of Oak Park & River rest. Music director: Jay Friedman. $27, 7400 Augusta St., River Forest.

The Nick Adams Stories

y 19, 7 - 9 p.m., Birthplace Museum

ussionist Josh Graham will be performing a work written for solo marimba by Gri en Candey. The performance will include readings from the works of Ernest Hemingway. There will also be a Q&A session with the performer and composer. $10, 339 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park.

Concert Film Screening: Delmark Re cords

70th Anniversary Blues Revue

Oak Park Public Library

This afternoon of celebration will feature activities for children and intergenerational families, the reading and signing of books by Asian Paci c Islander Desi American authors, music by local bands, and per formances by local groups. Bring a dish or drink to share at the potluck. Register now at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

The Adult Education team at First United Church will host a presentation on the reparations experience in Evanston, the rst city in the countr y to implement such a program. This is a topic that should be of interest to a broad swath of residents in Oak Park and surrounding neighborhoods. Professor Kari Lydersen of Northwestern University’s journalism school has followed this stor y closely and covered it in a comprehensive piece in The New Republic. We also hope to include one or more of the Evanston leaders of the initiative, such as Robin Rue Simmons, the former city council member who launched the initiative. May 21: Implementation - Revitalizing, preserving and stabilizing Black/African-American, owner-occupied homes.

Space Weekend

Saturday, May 20; Sunday, May 21, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Wonder Works Children’s Museum

This weekend, you can blast o into the lunar stratosphere with this special event The museum will be open as usual, with the space exhibit included in the regular price of admission. $13, 6445 W. Nor th Ave., Oak Park.

Tuesday, May 23, 8:30 p.m., FitzGerald’s Delmark Records is probably the oldest-lasting record label in Chicago, keeping the sounds of blues and jazz alive and kicking. This lm features live performances by Dave Weld & the Imperial Flames, Mike Wheeler, Demetria Taylor, Jimmy Burns, and Dave Spec ter. $10, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berw yn.

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

A network for good, not for pro t

Volunteer legal group gives lawyers a good name

By JESSIC A MACKINNON Contributing Reporter

Lawyers are not always portrayed par ticularly altruistic in movies and vision, but Oak Park-based Pro Bono work is defying that often misguided reotype by connecting attor neys interested in volunteering their le gal exper tise individuals who need assistance the most — and can af ford the least.

Pro Bono Network (PBN) was founded in 2011 by a small group of local attor who were taking career breaks to be at-home moms. Gathered around the kitchen table of Oak Park attor ney Donna P the women were interested in using their le gal exper tise to give back to their community but didn’t know how to go about doing it. PBN was launched to create infrastructure to support attor neys want to donate their services to help nerable clients, including low-income niors, survivors of domestic violence, the disabled, veterans and children.

The need for pro bono attor neys is great. According to a 2022 re port by the Le gal Services Cor poration, low-income Americans do not get le gal assistance for 92% of their non-criminal le gal problems, a statistic driven by growing income and racial disparities in our country

“Pro Bono Network provides the training, malpractice insurance, project management and subject matter exper ts that allows us to leverage the untapped resources of volunteer attor neys. It’s really a win/ win situation — for the attor neys as well as the clients,” said Linda Rio, PBN executive director

Since 2011, PBN has worked with 20 partner agencies, including Le gal Aid Chicago, Prairie State Le gal Services, Sarah’s Inn, and Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, on cases involving domestic violence, divorce, immigration and the expungement of criminal record s.

“We partner with overstretched legal aid agencies to identify service gaps and then we develop projects to help close those gaps in le gal re presentation,” said Rio, a for mer attor ney with the Chicago Bar Association and Foundation.

In 12 short years, PBN has swelled to 450 attor neys, providing more than 29,000 vol-

unteer hours and serving more than 5,000 clients. Their work re presents almost $7.5 million in free le gal services. The organization’s volunteers now include retired attor neys and those working part-time as well as those, like the founders, who are on career breaks to raise families. There is no minimum commitment for the participating attor neys, so they can work around other responsibilities

River Forest resident Marisa Green was drawn to PBN’s mission as well as its flexibility. She left DLA Piper, one of the largest law fir ms in the world, where she worked on commercial litigation and medical malpractice, when she had her second child.

“It became increasingly dif ficult to manage a busy trial schedule with family responsibilities. You can’t tell a client that you can’t make a court date because you’ve got to pick up a kid,” Green said.

She stayed home with her children for several years and was active in the PTOs at Roosevelt Middle School and Willard Elementary. Once her children were in high school, she was looking for ways to use her le gal background to help others when she

heard about PBN She eventually became project manager for PBN’s Senior Le gal Clinic.

The clinic, which par tners with the Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL), provides assistance on a range of le gal issues, including drafting advanced health-care directives, property powers of attor ney, simple wills and other end-of-life documents

Judy Smith recently took over from Green as project manager for the clinic A for mer corporate attor ney specializing in finance, security fraud, and mergers and acquisitions, Smith’s work with the clinic motivated her to get a master’s de gree in gerontology from Concordia University.

“I witnessed my dad struggle as he got older and I saw firsthand the big disconnect between the resources that are available for seniors and their knowledge of them, especially in a crisis situation. It’s impor tant to advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves. The seniors are so dee ply appreciative of our assistance,” Smith said.

Patti Marino has been involved with PBN

since 2012. A retired teacher and lawyer, Marino has spent much of her life advocating for at-risk children and their mothers. She served for many years as a teacher at youth residential facilities operated by the De par tment of Children and Family Services (DCFS). As an attor ney, she also re presented incarcerated mothers needing help maintaining contact with their children. She also has served as a hearing of ficer for the Illinois State Board of Education and a mediator for the nonprofit Center for Conflict Resolution.

“It’s a rare occasion when someone can make a living doing what they love Helping kids has been my passion. And by helping their mothers, I felt that I was helping kids,” said Marino, a proud grandmother of eight.

One of Marino’s favorite projects is Lawyers in the Classroom, which brings attor neys into underserved schools to teach students about the U.S. Constitution, the American le gal system and careers in law. Marino has been discussing with students at St. Catherine-St. Lucy (SCSL) School such issues as the First Amendment, hate speech, the Fourth Amendment, and search and seizure cases, as well as how jurists are selected for specific trials

“The Pro Bono Network attor neys are very well prepared and enthusiastic and engaged with kids The kids pick up on that and it makes them enthusiastic too. The lawyers see how bright our kids are and they challenge them,” said Mike Kennedy, a seventh-grade social studies and language ar ts teacher at SCSL

“The first time I visited the class,” Marino said, “the kids all told me they wanted to be lawyers and make a lot of money because that’s what they saw on TV. I told them that the lawyers who make a lot of money work more than 80 hours a week. It’s impor tant that they know the reality of the le gal profession — the good and the bad — and that it’s very dif ferent from what they see on TV.”

PBN is primarily suppor ted by individual donations. Its annual fundraiser will be held on June 1 at Katherine Le gge Memorial Lodge in Hinsdale, with music provided by the Oak Park-based band, “The Island of Misfit Toys.” For more information, visit pro-bono-network.org.

SARA JANZ

Patti Marino, Judi Smith, and Marisa are Green are among the 450 attorneys who provide pro bono legal assistance to those in need .

OPRF passes torch, keeps focus as school board shi s members

Three new members sworn in

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Three new members of the school board at Oak Park and River Forest High School were sworn in last week. Tim Brandhorst, Graham Brisben and Jonathan Livingston took their nearly 5-minute-long oath of office on May 11 as the school board bid adieu to Gina Harris, Ralph Martire and Sara Dixon Spivy.

Brandhorst took the oath of office remotely over Zoom. He, along with Brisben and Livingston, were elected in the April election in a 4-candidate race defeating Brian Souders. They ran as a team and were supported by Spivy who sat behind Brisben and Livingston as they took their oaths in the board room at OPRF

“I want to thank the voters of Oak Park and River Forest for the confidence they placed in me and I look forward to rolling up the sleeves and working with the students, faculty and staf f, the administration and fellow board members toward the best interests of our 3,400 students,” said Brisben when he was invited to make a few remarks before taking the oath of office and being seated at the board table.

Livingston, who was recently hired to be the lead director for data and evaluation for the Urban Initiatives organization in Chicago, thanked Spivy for her support and thanked incumbent school board member Kebreab Henry for encouraging him to run.

Brandhorst thanked the outgoing school board members for their service.

The departure of Spivy and Harris from the board leaves the OPRF school board with only one female member, Mary Anne Mohanraj. Henry is now the only Black

member of the school board.

Once the new school board members were seated the first order of business was to select officers. There was no contest any of the posts. By acclamation Tom Cofsky will remain as school board president while Fred Arkin was named as vice-president and Livingston will serve as board secretary.

The departure of Harris, Martire, and Spivy, none of whom ran reelection, leaves OPRF with only two members, Cofsky Arkin, who have served longer than two years on the school board although Brisben served on the Oak Park Elementary District 97 Board of Education for four years from 2013 until 2017.

In their final minutes before they left the board table Harris, Martire, and Spivy received compliments from fellow board members and made their farewell remarks.

Harris, a culture and climate coach for District 97, an adjunct professor at Roosevelt University and a graduate of OPRF, was recently elected secretary/ treasurer of the Illinois Education Association, the statewide umbrella teachers union. Harris is also a director of the National Education Association. Harris was praised by fellow board members for her passion for equity and her student focus. She led OPRF’s culture, climate and behavior committee and was an advocate for student voice.

“I’m definitely walking away feeling like we made changes that are lasting,” said Harris during her nearly 7-minute-long farewell remarks. “There are procedures in place to really look at the things we need to look at.”

Martire and Harris served only four

years on the OPRF board but Martire served on the River Forest District 90 school board for eight years before being elected to the OPRF school board in 2019. He said that 12 years of school board service was enough. Brandhorst noted that Martire has impacted the education of a senior from River Forest since that student was in first grade.

Martire, a confident, articulate and forceful speaker, brought formidable intelligence and deep knowledge to the school board. In his day job he serves as the executive director of the liberal leaning Center for Budget and Tax Accountability as well as serving as a professor of public policy at Roosevelt University. Martire is an expert on fiscal matters and he played a key role in writing the bill that established the state’s evidencebased funding model. On the OPRF board he focused on establishing policies for many areas but especially in the area of budgeting and equity

“We have the resources to eliminate any kind of discrepancy in outcome by race, gender, ethnicity or anything else,” said Martire during his final remarks that lasted for more than 8 minutes. “I ran because I believe that Oak Park should be the example for the state and nation on how you create

a well-functioning, equitable school district that takes its resources and invests them wisely in creating an educational and academic atmosphere where all children can reach their potential.”

Cofsky told Martire that his influence on the school board will be apparent even a decade from now.

Spivy served on the OPRF school board for eight years, including a 2-year stint as board president from 2019 until 2021. Her board colleagues praised her for her steady leadership throughout the height of the COVID pandemic. Spivy was well connected to OPRF parents and the broader OPRF community. She persuaded Martire to run for the school board four years ago and played an important role in this year’s campaign.

Spivy choked up and was tearful during her brief farewell comments.

“It’s about the faculty, the staff and the school and our kids,” Spivy said.

None of the departing board members specifically remarked on what might be their most lasting contribution to the school, their role in approving the nearly $102 million Project 2 reconstruction of the much of the school’s physical education spaces which will include the construction of a new swimming pool.

BOB SKOLNIK

Jonathan Livingston and Graham Br isben, in person, and Tim Brandhorst, via Zoom, are swor n in as D200 board members, with outgoing member Sara Spivy looking on.

“I look for ward to rolling up the sleeves and working with the students, faculty and sta , the administration and fellow board members toward the best interests of our 3,400 students.”

GRAHAM BRISBEN

New D200 board member

Former OPRF board members talk, reluctantly, about threats Harris,

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

When you’re a member of a school board you can expect to hear from angry people sometimes. But two years ago when Gina Harris and Ralph Martire were members of the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education, they got some disturbing and angry messages that were way out of the ordinary. At a school board meeting last month Martire, in an offhand way, briefly referred to messages he and Har ris received as “death threats.” Harris and Martire left the board last week when their terms expired as neither chose to run for a second term.

“Death threats” may have been a bit of an overstatement but the messages were so disturbing that Harris re ported them to the Oak Park Police Department and even the FBI briefly got involved. At the end of April 2021, according to an Oak Park police re port Wednesday Journal obtained

Mar tire received threats after right-wing media attention

through a public records request, Harris received an email and a letter with disturbing content. The email attached a derogatory article concerning Harris and Martire that was originally published in the West Cook News and was making the rounds of some conservative or right-wing media outlets In the body of the email the writer said to Harris “will you two just die,” presumably refer ring to her and Martire, and “die soon maggot” according to the police report

Around the same time Harris also received an anonymous letter with no return address, but a Grand Rapids, Michig an postmark, that called her “a useless piece of s--t.” According to the police re port this caused Harris to become “alarmed and disturbed.”

There were no direct threats of violence in the messages and, according to the police re port, a Cook County State’s Attorney said he did not believe that Harris was in any immediate danger.

Around the same time Martire received

a letter which he characterized as a death threat. He told fellow school board members last month that it was written using cut out letters from a newspaper like you see in old movies. But Martire did not repor t the threats he received to the police.

Neither Harris nor Martire would ag ree to an interview with Wednesday Journal for this story saying they do not want to talk about the threats.

The messages were apparently inspired by a story in West Cook News, a right-wing publication with political funding that often publishes misinformation. In 2021 West Cook News published a story based on a conversation between Martire and Harris that was broadcast over Zoom during the Feb. 26, 2021 OPRF school board meeting. The conversation apparently occurred during a break in the meeting but was captured on the meeting audio feed. Martire and Harris both teach part time at Roosevelt University and Martire asked Harris if she was teaching at Roosevelt that

semester. She said she was. Martire told Harris that he loved Roosevelt University. Harris responded that she did too. Martire told Harris that she fit in so well with Roosevelt’s philosophy. Har ris ag reed.

“I mean it’s all social justice, all day every day,” Harris responded. “I get to talk about all the things I love.”’

“All day, every day,” Martire responded

West Cook News took this exchange and branded Harris and Martire as Marxist professors who were bent on indoctrinating their students. Other outlets in the conservative media world including Fox News Channel, the Christian Broadcasting Network, Law Enforcement News and others picked up the story. West Cook News is a product of Local Gover nment Information Services, (LGIS) which is overseen by conservative businessman and for mer River Forest resident Brian Timpone. It’s publications, which look like regular newspapers, typically push conservative talking points and use dubious journalistic practices

Oak Park OKs limits on microplastics in restaurants

Two-par t ordinance puts expiration date on Styrofoam to-go containers

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

The Village of Oak Park has gotten serious in recent years about addressing climate change and lowering its carbon footprint through its Climate Ready Oak Park plan. For that effort, the village was awarded the 2023 Regional Excellence Award from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, but that was not the only sustainability-related item on the village board’s May 15 agenda. The board passed an ordinance that will limit the use of microplastics in local food establishments

The ordinance has two components: requiring restaurants and self-service stations to provide single-use plastic cutlery only upon customer request and a total ban on polystyrene food service containers. The new regulations were recommended for adoption by the village’s Environment and Energy Commission.

The two new restrictions have staggered effective dates. The section of the ordinance related to plastic silverware goes into effect

Board briefs

Oak Park’s village board tackled a lengthy agenda May 15, voting on several items. Here are some highlights:

Comedy Club

One of the more entertaining items was the board’s unanimous approval of a comedy club in the cellar space of 1128 Lake St. The new club, called Comedy Plex, previously received a total stamp of approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

If a little booze makes you gigglier, the club has you covered there too. The village board also approved the club’s liquor license application. The club is tentatively set to soft open in mid-July and will feature a variety of professional comedians, as well as host open mic nights. A little

June 1, 2023. The prohibition on polystyrene, commonly known by the brand name Styrofoam, will take effect on the first of next year Smaller restaurants with an annual gross income of under $500,000 must comply with the ban by 2025. The use of plastic straws is exempt from the ordinance due to their being a necessity for many people with disabilities.

The effective date of the ban caused some minor discord within the village board. One of the village board’s biggest sustainability proponents, Trustee Ravi Parakkat shared a desire to see the ban pushed back to Jan. 1, 2025. Parakkat, whose non-profit Takeout 25 works directly in support of local restaurants, wished to make 2024 a transition year, allowing restaurants time to see out longterm contracts and develop new agreements with suppliers.

“Most of our restaurant owners want to

liquid courage might come in handy for people trying their hand at standup.

Towing at Mi ke’s Place

Oak Park residents who live along the Berwyn border near Mike’s Place, a Berwyn bar, got a win. After years of putting up with bargoers parking on their streets, urinating in public and engaging in drunken brawls, the village board approved an ordinance to establish tow zones in the 11001150 blocks of South Cuyler, Highland and Harvey Avenues

To prevent pushing the parking problem onto other neighboring streets, the board added the 1100-1150 blocks of South Ridgeland Avenue to the tow ordinance at the suggestion of Trustee Lucia Robinson.

The residents who live along these swaths of Oak Park have long pushed for the village to enact such a measure to curb the

do the right thing in terms of going down this path. They are committed to that,” he said. “Let’s not be punitive in terms of our enforcement.”

Enforcement of the ban is already nonpunitive, as Trustee Brian Straw countered The disciplinary process for violating the ordinance begins with a complaint, followed by a warning and a timeline for the restaurant to come into compliance, according to Straw. That, plus the approximate six months remaining before the start of 2024, Straw believed was ample time for restaurants to transition.

Parakkat, however, viewed the ban on polystyrene as less of an issue for individual restaurants and their ability to buy an alternate product. Rather, he believes the ban requires collective action by the restaurants to procure alternatives.

“That is the point I am making,” he said. “It is not to push the problem into the future.”

Polystyrene is difficult to biodegrade, a fact that Trustee Susan Buchanan said restaurants have known about for about “50 years.” Like Straw, she was against giving restaurants a full year to transition to different containers.

An effective date of 2025 for the ban was supported by Trustee Lucia Robinson, however, as village staff’s community engage-

nuisance presented by Berwyn bargoers, which escalated last Memorial Day weekend into a full-blown shootout.

Aside from the safety issue, residents will no longer be routinely woken up by loud music coming from the bar patrons’ cars

“It is a continuous thing where you are up at 12 or 1 [a.m.], listening to someone’s soundtrack all night,” said Trustee Chibuike Enyia. “I didn’t know who it was this night, but last week it was the best of [Young] Jeezy.”

Pete’s and utility poles

One area of the village that has not seen much headway made is the new Pete’s Fresh Market, 640 Madison St. Construction crews broke ground in December 2021, but the project has been slow going ever since.

Pete’s project manager, Eugene Grzynko-

ment was “specific to that date.”

“As a board we have prioritized community engagement and I don’t think we can compromise the integrity of that engagement by saying, ‘We’re going to give you a certain set of facts, you give us responses based on those facts, and then we’re going to go ahead and move forward with a different set of facts,” she said.

Doing so, Robinson said, would nullify the engagement. She also did not want staff to have to redo the community engagement regarding this issue.

While acknowledging Parakkat’s relationship with local eateries, Village President Vicki Scaman indirectly scolded him for bringing his concerns to the village board table instead of discussing them ahead of time with village staff, board members and commissioners. The item was originally a part of the consent agenda and not up for discussion, but it was moved to the regular agenda at the request of Parakkat. Scaman called it “frustrating” that the board was now “redoing a commission’s work.”

“We are not the experts and should not be coming to the board table as if we are the experts,” Scaman said.

Ultimately Parakkat’s concerns held no sway among his fellow board members. He cast the sole vote against passing the ordinance.

wicz, stopped by the village board meeting to give an update on the progress. According to Grzynkowicz, the project is in the final stage of relocating utilities from the property. The primary utilities on Euclid Avenue have been successfully moved, but an underground pole tied to ComEd still needs to be relocated

The pole, the board was told, has not yet been moved as ComEd is currently occupied by another project in Oak Park. Grzynkowicz said he and representatives from the electric company planned to meet Tuesday to discuss when the pole might be removed.

“ComEd – every day is a new adventure with them,” said Grzynkowicz.

The project is about a month and a half behind schedule due to ComEd, according to the project manager, but Pete’s is “still in good shape” to open next June.

— Stacey Sheridan

Lathrop House scratched at the end of April

Owner is focusing on Scratch restaurants in Forest Park, Oak Park

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

Lathrop House Café, the latest in a series of restaurants to occupy the first floor of the house at 26 Lathrop Ave., has closed as of April 30.

Owner Patrick O’Brien didn’t respond to calls seeking comment by deadline, but a post on the café’s official Facebook page stated that he wanted to focus on his two other, more successful, restaurants — Forest Park’s Scratch Kitchen and Lounge (SKL), 7505 Madison St., and Oak Park’s Scratch on Lake, 733 Lake St

O’Brien’s sister owns the building, so anything that happens to the space going forward is in her hands. While the house was built as a residential home, it is zoned as B-1 Neighborhood Shopping District, which limits residential units to the second floor or higher and allows commercial uses, including restaurant uses, on the first floor.

It also happened to be the house where O’Brien started his career as a restaurateur. He and his sister, Bridget Pettinger, bought it in 1995 to take advantage of the zoning. They built

a commercial kitchen on the property and dded a large closed porch to increase dining spac taurant Lathrop House and of wiches, along with special menu the restaurant.

Three years later, he sold his share of worked as a chef at Alehouse. Lathrop House becoming the Blue Max Café in 2005. After that May 2019, O’Brien 17, 2020.

The new café the Scratch gredients in-house

O’Brie pandemi

District Kitchen and p in pril 2021, and he closed SKL for 10 months in 2022.

In April, O’Brien moved SKL from its original location at 7445 Madison St. to the for mer Slainte Irish Pub, which came with a full-fledged kitchen and a second-floor event space.

The statement on Lathrop House’s Facebook page indicated that this was one of the things O’Brien intended to focus on going forward.

“Our business model has shifted, and we will focus on the development and growth of our flagship concept [Scratch

Kitchen],” it stated. “Going strong in Oak Park, and our newly opened Public House in Forest Park has hit the ground running. Please stop by and continue to enjoy the same level of food and service as you’ve experienced at our café.”

According to Cook County records, Pettinger still owns the building. The zoning gives her some latitude about what happens next. Aside from restaurant uses, B-1 zoning allows most retail uses, bakeries (only so long as the goods are sold on site), hair salons, dry cleaners and laundry services. It can’t be used as a hotel or anything that is allowed in industrial districts.

FACEBOOK Lathrop House Café

OPEDC Bringing it

in-house?

from page 1

In a proposal discussed with Oak Park’s village board on May 8, village funding of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation would be “paused.” Its role in attracting new development and retaining businesses would be shifted to within village hall. It is unclear if the 49-year-old OPEDC would survive with other funding sources or if it would be closed down.

The plan was developed by the village manager with the input and assistance of Kira Tchang, its human resources director. Of the more logical aspects, the plan splits Grossman’s department into two with the creation of the Neighborhood Services Department. That new department will focus solely on housing and neighborhoodbased education, engagement and support. The Development Customer Services Department will be renamed Development Services and focus exclusively on development and building.

Unrelated to Grossman’s department but part of the overall restructuring plan is to integrate the Community Relations Department into the village’s office of diversity, equity and inclusion. The plan also calls for the formation of a transportation engineering division.

The restructuring includes creating four new full-time positions, the reallocation of funding for one full-time position and the elimination of one budgeted full-time position. The plan is budget-neutral, meaning the village would rearrange existing funds to offset economic impacts without creating additional burden on taxpayers. To do this, village staf f have recommended pausing funding for OPEDC, which is the more complicated part of the plan.

OPEDC is solely funded by the Village of Oak Park in a yearly contract valued at $571,500, so pausing that funding could result in the economic development corporation having to seek alternative funding sources or possibly a dissolution of the entire agency. The amount budgeted for the

agency has stayed the same for multiple years, with the exception of 2021, when the contract was lessened to $521,500; the full amount was reinstated the following year. Those funds go toward compensating the corporation’s three staf f members: its executive director, its economic development manager and its of fice manager.

The economic development corporation works on behalf of and with the village to facilitate commercial real estate projects, bring in new investment and support and attract small businesses. The partnership has been successful, especially in recent years, with the construction of several high-rise apar tment complexes and the resurgence of economic growth on Madison Street.

John Lynch, OPEDC executive director, announced last month that he was leaving the agency in May to return to the private sector, but the agency’s payroll still includes Eric Mazelis and Allie Moore, the economic development manager and office manager, respectively. If the entire restructuring plan gets approved, the village must give the OPEDC and its board of directors a notice of 90 days.

“That notice has not been given yet and our understanding is that there is still more discussion to be had re garding the proposed reorganization,” said Mazelis.

That discussion may be had sooner than later. Jackson told Wednesday Journal the village board is tentatively scheduled to vote on the restructuring plan in full at its May 22 meeting. The village board previously discussed reorganization May 8, where Trustee Cory Wesley expressed hesitation in fully defunding the partner agency.

Wesley gave up his position as OPEDC board president to ser ve on the village board as the village president and Trustee Susan Buchanan were already serving on the partner agency’s board of directors. If Wesley remained on the OPEDC board, that would have violated the Open Meetings Act. The village president and trustee are not voting members, nor is the village manager, who also sits on the OPEDC board.

With the departure of Lynch, the po-

tential pause in funding puts the voting members of the OPEDC board in limbo re garding finding a new executive director. The voting members are all private citizens who volunteer their time to the organization. Whether the board of directors moves forward with the hiring process is undetermined at present moment. The ultimate decision will be impacted by how the village board votes on the restructuring plan, according to Aaron Johnson, OPEDC president.

“There is no perfect solution because we’re losing talent from both organizations,” Johnson. “It’s not something you can rush into.”

If the restructuring plan goes through, the village w inter nalize the economic de velopment duties curr entrusted to its partner agenc The reasoning behind doing so, according to Jackson, is the restructuring presents an opportunity to “formulate a new strateg y and vision” for Oak Park economic development.

As for whether he believes OPEDC has run its course, Jackson said he could not “conclusively say.” He did, however, acknowledge that the village now has fewer available parcels of land in need of developing, which is a large part of what the economic development corporation does in its present form

JOHN LYNCH

“The current model, I think was more consistent with previous conditions,” the village manager said. Should the village board approve the restructuring plan, the OPEDC board of directors will have to determine the agency’s course of action. They could try to acquire new sources of funding or they could move to dissolve the organization. A dissolution would leave the agency’s economic development manager, its office manager and its executive director, if Lynch is re placed, without a job. It’s too early to say what will become of the economic development corporation, according to its board president.

“We still want to recr uit new businesses based upon a defined strateg y that matches and complements our community,” the village manager said.

“It’s a question that’s out of my hands,” said Johnson. “The point of the OPEDC is to assist the village in attracting development, so we’re an extension and we’re here to help.”

Oak Park Village Hall

“

We still want to recruit new businesses based upon a de ned strategy that matches and complements our community.”

KEVIN JACKSON Oak Park village manager

Oak Park, moving on equity assessment, chooses UIC research institute for project

First such assessment in Oak Park history

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

The village of Oak Park has selected a university research institute rather than a consulting fir m to conduct its first ever racial equity assessment. The village board all but unanimously approved the contract with the Great Cities Institute of the University of Illinois Chicago. Trustee Susan Buchanan, who is an employee of the university, recused herself from the May 8 vote

Conducting such an assessment feeds into the village board’s goal set in 2021 to promote racial equity throughout the village. The intent of this assessment, which

was discussed last January, is to determine where the village currently stands re garding racial equity. The results of the assessment will then be used as the foundation of the village’s planned overarching racial equity plan.

The Greater Cities Institute of UIC beat out 17 other organizations that submitted proposals. Unlike BerryDunn, which conducted an equity assessment of the Oak Park Police Department and has recently been reengaged to implement some of its equity recommendations, the Greater Cities Institute

is not a consulting firm. Rather, it is a university-wide, i nterdisciplinar y research institute located within the university’s Colle ge of Urban Planning and Public Affairs

The institute’s mission is to link academic resources with different partners to address “urban issues” through research, policy analysis and program development, according to its proposal. Dr. Kathleen Yang-Clayton, UIC professor and Greater Cities Institute senior faculty fellow, is serving as the project manager and prime investigator for the

Oak Park assessment. Yang-Clayton is also associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion of the Colle ge of Urban Planning and Public Af fairs at UIC. The rest of the team includes Thea Crum, who will be working alongside Yang-Clayton as coprime investigator, as well as Adam Slade and Katherine Faydash, both serving as researchers on the assessment.

The four-person team will be working directly with Dr. Danielle Walker, Oak Park’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. The assessment is expected to be a very data-driven project that will take place over the course of several months with an anticipated completion date of September. The village will be paying a total of $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act federal funding for the assessment, paid in half across fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

DR. KATHLEEN YANG-CL AY TO N

DR. DANIELLE WALKER

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Judge denies Mack motion to dismiss murder conspiracy charge

Will face most serious charge in coming trial

By BILL DWYER Courtesy of Chronicle Media

Heather Mack must face trial for conspiracy to murder her mother, a judge ruled May 10. The ruling denying a defense motion to dismiss count 2 of the indictment, Conspiracy to Murder, means Mack will stand trial for the most serious charge, which carries a sentence of between 40 years to life in prison upon conviction.

Pre-concert Conversation with David Leehey at 3pm. Free parking in the garage located at 1124 N. Bonnie Brae Place (one block west of Harlem Avenue between Division and Thomas Streets) in River Forest. Chapel just west of garage exit.

Please join us for a reception after the concert.

Purchase ticket online for $27 and save $3 a ticket!

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Or use this QR code to purchase tickets.

Mack also faces two lesser charges related to her attempt to hide evidence of the August 2014 crime in Bali, Indonesia.

Mack’s attorney, Michael Leonard filed the motion to dismiss in February. He argued, among other things, that the gover nment failed to demonstrate that it obtained approval of the U.S. Attorney General to prosecute her for the foreign murder of Sheila von Wiese Mack, as required under Section 1119 of the U.S. Criminal Code.

That section bars the prosecution of a defendant in the United States where the defendant was previously prosecuted by a foreign country. Mack was convicted in Indonesia

in April 2015 of aiding in the murder of her mother, with boyfriend Tommy Schafer. He remains imprisoned in Indonesia serving an 18-year sentence.

Mack was paroled by Indonesia and deported to the United States in November 2021 after serving just over seven years of a 10-year prison sentence.

In response to Mack’s motion to dismiss, the gover nment argued that the limitations of section 1119 do not apply because while section 1119 was mentioned in the indictment, Mack is for mally charged with violating section 1117, not section 1119.

“The court agrees with the gover nment,” Judge Matthew F. Kennelly wrote after summarizing the defense and prosecution arguments in his ruling

“While the gover nment had mentioned Section 1119 in the indictment, it explicitly cited Section 1117 as the governing law in its indictment,” Kennelly wrote. Section 1117, the judge noted, “prohibits conspiracy to commit various for ms of murder, full stop.”

The defense had also argued for dismissal on constitutional grounds related to wording in Section 1119. However, the judge said his ruling that Section 1117 gover ned the terms of the indictment made it “unnecessary for the court to delve further into the parties’ constitutional arguments.”

L.D CHUKMAN ILLUSTRATION

Judge Matthew Kennelly addresses Heather Mack dur ing a court appearance in 2022.

BEATRICE SJOSTROM

JAY FRIEDMAN

Feds indict two Oak Parkers for straw rearms purchase

One is a convicted felon

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

A 49-year-old Oak Park woman was charged in federal court with conspiring to straw purchase 18 firear ms out of state on behalf of a convicted felon. The felon, a man from Oak Park previously convicted for murder, was charged for possessing illegal firear ms

The woman, Sonya Brown, traveled to Wisconsin and purchased the weapons from licensed dealers at stores and gun shows earlier this year. Brown then falsely certified on federal for ms that she was a Wisconsin resident and the actual buyer of the guns, according to a release issued May 9 by the U.S. Attor ney’s Office for the Norther n District of Illinois.

Brown is alleged to have actually purchased the firear ms on behalf of 49-year-old Simone Dunn, with whom she lives in Oak

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Park. Dunn was out on parole from the mur der conviction at the time the firear ms were purchased. He has also been previously convicted of other felonies His status as a convicted felon bars him from legally owning a firear m.

Dunn and Brown were both arrested May 8. The charges were announced by Morris Pasqual, acting U.S. Attor ney for the Norther n District of Illinois, with Christopher Amon, special agent-in-charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firear ms and Explosives.

“Straw purchasers enable the unlawful possession of firear ms and the violence that too often follows,” Pasqual said in the re lease. “Our office is committed to stopping the flow of guns to individuals who cannot legally possess them.”

If convicted on the conspiracy charge, Brown could spend as many as five years in federal prison. The unlawful possession charge against Dunn is punishable by a maximum sentence of up to 10 years.

ART BEAT

City Voices blend with Bocelli this Saturday

Local choral group per forms Emily Dickinson on Friday and Sunday

By KELLY POLLOCK Contributing Reporter

This weekend, City Voices will be singing with Andrea Bocelli — on Saturday at Allstate Arena.

Founded in 2009, City Voices is an Oak Park-based amateur community chorus that is an outreach project of the professional a cappella group T he Oriana Singers. Directed by Bill Chin, City Voices is a medium-sized chamber chorus of about 30 singer s.

Each year, they perform four sets of concerts. T he two constants are the holiday concert, Sing We Joyous, and joining the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest Chorus. T he other two progr ams are City Voices on their own or in collaboration with another group

“It’s great because being in this one group, you g et a small ensemble experience and you g et the experience of being in a big symphonic chorus. Then you also do this wacky holiday thing,” said Chin

On F riday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 21, at 4 p.m., City Voices will perform at First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake St. T he concert, titled, “Musicians Wrestle Everywhere,” is a prog ram of poetry set to music.

“We could do a progr am based on poetry every year for years and years and not exhaust the possibilities. T here’s a lot of great music that’s been inspired by poetry,” said Chin

T he concert includes 10 pieces and begins with Elliott Carter’s setting of Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Musicians Wrestle Everywhere.”

“It’s the catchiest title ever, so of course we had to use it,” said Chin. In addition to the sung pieces, there will be people reciting the poetry as well.

“It will be a multi-sensory experience. I wanted to offer a mix of things. T here are pieces that are old, like an excerpt from Four Saints in Three Acts , an opera by 20th-century American composer Virgil T homson,” he said. T he librettist for T homson’s work is Gertrude Stein.

“She just liked the sounds of words. She

didn’t really care if they meant anything It’s random and really kind of cool. And because it’s Gertrude Stein, there are more than four saints and because it’s Virgil T homson there are more than three acts,” Chin laughed.

“We’ re also doing some more contemporary, things including Latvian composer Ē riks

Ešenvald’s ‘Only In Sleep’ from the poem by Sara Teasdale. T he first line reads, ‘Only in sleep I see their faces.’ She is writing about friends of hers from when she was a child. It’s nostalgic and is the most beautiful music ever,” said Chin, who loves performing at First United Church of Oak Park. “It’s a great space for music performances. T here’s a bit of reverberation, but it’s pretty clean acoustically. It has room for sound to bloom. And of course, there are great instruments, including a Casavant pipe organ and a 9-foot Steinway grand piano. It’s also a large space that seats about 750 people. I’d be hard-pressed to think of many other venues in Oak Park that have that kind of capacity.”

On Saturday, May 20, at 8 p.m., City Voices will be performing at Allstate Arena with world-famous tenor Andrea Bocelli

“Two years ago, I got a call to put tog ether a 60-voice chorus to sing backup

for him. It was a total ball and I was asked to do the same thing for his concert thi year,” said Chin

“Last time was an experience unli any other that a typical choral singer is going to do. It’s so unique to play this arena with 8,000 people there. We often use the word ‘deafening’ in a casual wa it really hurt your ears to hear ev cheering. It was really something.”

Chin added that City Voices will be holding auditions later in the summer fo anyone who is interested in singing with them.

“We are an amateur group that aspires to perform like professionals so we high standards. I listen to people and make a judgment about what their tial is to sing at the level of eve else. We’re interested in performing music that is interesting and challenging and in doing it well.” ■

Tickets for the Friday and Sunday concerts are available at www. cityvoiceschicago.org or at the door. The cost is $25 and children 18 and under are free. Tick ets for Andrea Bocelli’s Satu concert are available at www.ticketmaster. com. Email auditions@cityvoiceschicago org to set up an audition with City Voices.

Andrea Bocelli

Oak Park massage parlor owner charged with prostitution

The owner of LX Sunflower Spa, 1145 Garfield St., was charged with prostitution and conducting massages without a license in a sting operation. An employee of the massage parlor was also arrested for conducting massages without a license.

The sting was jointly carried out May 11 by the Cook County Sherif f’s Police Department and the Oak Park Police Department. An undercover officer from the sherif f’s department entered LX Sunflower spa for a massage and was re por tedly solicited for various sexual acts by the establishment’s owner, a 47-year-old woman from Chicago. A second female worker, a 36-year-old New York resident, was found inside the business giving a massage without being licensed to do so. The two women were taken into custody then released on bond.

Aggravated robbery

Two male offenders robbed Walgreens, 6412 Roosevelt Road, at 9:34 p.m., May 8. Both approached the clerk and one, who implied he had a gun, demanded the money in the cash re gister. Once the money was handed over, the two men fled the store and a witness saw them drive away in a gray hatchback sedan traveling southbound on Ridgeland Avenue. The total loss is $100.

Motor vehicle theft and recovery

■ A gray 2014 Infiniti Q50 parked in the 500 block of South Ridgeland Avenue was removed between 8 p.m., May 12, and 8:50 a.m., May 13.

■ Someone removed a gray 2014 Kia Soul parked in the 900 block of South Oak Park Avenue between 10 p.m., May 13, and 5:47 a.m., May 14. Chicago police later recovered the vehicle in the 5100 block of West Monroe Street, Chicago.

■ A 2013 Hyundai Elantra was stolen between 6:30 p.m. and 9:28 p.m., May 10, in the 900 block of Mapleton Avenue. Chicago police later recovered the vehicle in the 600 block of North Long Avenue, Chicago. Multiple people were seen exiting the vehicle, but no apprehensions were made.

■ A 2018 Kia Sportage was removed between 8:30 a.m. and 4:39 p.m., May 8, in the 300 block of South Maple Avenue. Chicago police recovered the vehicle at 12:55 a.m., May 10, in the 200 block of North Wolcott Avenue in Chicago.

Attempted motor vehicle theft

Someone broke the rear passenger’s side window of a 2019 Kia Soul and peeled the vehicle’s steering wheel between 6 p.m., May 8, and 6:30 a.m., May 9, in the 100 block of North Humphrey Avenue.

Theft

An unsecured red Cannondale Quick bicycle was taken from outside a residence in the 100 block of North Lombard Avenue between 8 p.m., May 9, and 9 a.m., May 10.

Criminal proper ty damage

■ Someone broke the rear passenger’s side window of a 2015 Hyundai Sonata parked in the 1100 block of South Taylor Avenue between 7 p.m., May 8, and 5:17 p.m., May 9.

■ Someone damaged the front windshield and exterior driver’s side mirror of a 2005 Toyota Camry parked in an alley in the 700 block of North Austin Boulevard between 6:30 p.m., May 8, and 6:55 a.m., May 9.

These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department re ports, May 9-15, and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Stacey Sheridan

Built as ‘game changer,’ Rec Center focuses on youth

Fully electric building opens Monday with track, gym and child care

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

The Park District of Oak Park is gearing up for the grand opening of its Community Recreation Center. The ribbon will be cut this Sunday, May 21, in a community ceremony, with an official opening date of 5:30 a.m., Monday, May 22. Ahead of the festivities, Wednesday Journal toured the 42,000-square-foot, net-zero facility at 229 Madison St

The fully electric recreation center is intended to be a safe space for children and teenagers, while also serving as a space dedicated to promoting wellness and engagement for the entire Oak Park community. Homework help, free after-school programming, as well as safe and supervised areas to exert energy are just some of what the center has to offer young people

“Teens need safe places to go after school and so we’re thrilled to be able to provide not only staff members to assist with that, but also a space that will be welcoming, inviting and accessible,” said Jan Arnold, the park district’s executive director.

Several hundred people have already signed up for membership and registration is currently open for the free afterschool program, which begins this fall, according to Arnold, who said the park district has

received great support from the community regarding the center

“I read someone say the other day that this is a game changer for them, because they have middle school and high school kids,” said Arnold. “And she’s a single mom, so to know that there’s a safe place for her kids after school, which again, is exactly the reason we built the building.”

The facility is replete with amenities, some of which require a paid membership, but others come at no cost to use, such as the indoor walking track on the third floor. Below the track lies the gymnasium, which has 12 basketball hoops. The lines on the gymnasium floor are designed to accommodate games of pickleball, badminton and volleyball. Nets for these sports will be up throughout the day.

There are also several exercise machines, including treadmills, ellipticals and stair climbers. The exercise machines are in a second-floor room just off of the gymnasium. Free weights, mats and a stretching table can also be found in that room. On the other side of the second floor sits the exercise studio, a room lined with windows and ballet barres where instructors will teach classes

Next to the studio is the new office of the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, where people can readily seek mental health support. A park district social worker will also be on the premises. Having mental health services near a gym is an opportunity to promote wellness of body and mind, according to Cheryl Potts, mental health board executive director

“I’m a person living with a mental health disorder and for me, physical activity as well as my mental health care have always gone hand-in-hand, and I think this is a great opportunity for us to bring that to the community,” said Potts.

On the first floor, there is a childcare room and a video game room, also called the “esports room.” Both those areas feature murals painted by local artists. Nearby is the multi-purpose room, which can be rented for birthday parties. It will also be the area in which kids can receive free homework help. Further down are the gender-neutral and ac-

cessible restrooms and locker rooms. Within the locker rooms are individual and accessible showers, two of which have a toilet inside and one has an adult changing table.

One thing the center does not have is a vending machine.

The park district broke ground on the project on March 19, 2022, following a capital campaign undertaken by the Parks Foundation of Oak Park, a non-profit entity that supports the park district through fundraising efforts. The cost of the facility comes in at a little under $22 million with about $15.5 million donated by individuals, foundations and grants; the remaining $6 million came out of the park district’s capital improvement plan, according to Arnold

The parks foundation and the park district have previously received criticism for a lack of transparency by both agencies’ refusal to release a complete financial overview of the project.

The park district secured an additional $2.2 million to ensure net-zero status for the building. It received a grant of $1.8 million from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation and $400,000 from the Village of Oak Park’s sustainability fund

The community recreation center project is split in two phases, the first of which was the funding, construction and opening of the center itself. The second phase is much smaller in scope, consisting only of putting in an indoor pool, but that may not happen for some years.

PARK DISTRICT OF OAK PARK

New gy m in the Park District of Oak Park’s Community Recreation Center.

PARK DISTRICT OF OAK PARK

CRC’s new child care (le ) and media center.

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WRIGHTPLUS 2023

Housewalk 2023 a mix of Wright and his contemporaries

Hundreds to tour eight Oak Park homes during sold- out event

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

The annual Wright Plus housewalk is back May 20 and will feature eight private homes, including a few that have never been shared on Wright Plus in the past. The Dale and Eva Bumstead House was designed by Tallmadge and Watson in 1909. The Prairie Style home has an interesting history according to Joan Pantsios, co-chair of this year’s walk.

“The Bumsteads’ son went to school with Ernest Hemingway, and they were big game hunters,” Pantsios said. “They decorated the home with a lot of trophies from their hunting.”

When it was built, there were large oak trees all around the house, and they were used as a theme in the home’s stained glass.

See WRIGHT PLUS on pa ge 26

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST/JAMES CAULFIELD

Arthur and Grace Heurtley House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1902)

WRIGHT PL US 2023

RIGHT PLUS

from page 25

The Edward and Annie Cronwall House was designed in 1909 by Jeremiah KierSue Blaine, co-chair of the walk, notes that the house is a good example of the different types of architecture that at the same time the Prairie Style was becoming favored by other arShe calls the house’s style French

“The Cronwalls were very, very wealthy,” Blaine said. “There were servant living ry floor, and an apar tment rage for additional help.” is the home’s first time on Wright Plus, and Blaine and Pantsios think attendees will enjoy seeing the woodwork as well touches like a kitchen that is respectful to the past and hand-painted “wallpaper” in the entry.

The Rollin and Elizabeth Furbeck Home Lloyd Wright in 1897. Blaine says this house is fun to view in connection to Wright’s Home and Studio, which he designed in the Shingle Style in 1889, the Thomas and Laura Gale House, which he designed in 1892 and the Heurtley House, which he designed in 1902.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST/JAMES CAULFIELD omas and Laura Gale House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1892)

Rollin and Elizabeth Furbeck House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1897)

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST/JAMES CAULFIELD

Edward and Annie Cronwall House (James K. Cady, 1909)

WRIGHT PL US 2023

“One of those things that is fun about the Wrights is that you can see how he progresses,” Blaine said.

She points out that Wright experiments with cantilevering in the house, and he included a bit of an inglenook in the home as well.

“The house has a verticality to it that we don’t really associate with Wright, but you can see the horizontality coming into play,” Pantsios said.

The Thomas and Laura Gale House was designed by Wright in 1892. Blaine says the house shows the beginning of Wright’s transition from a very traditional style to his Prairie Style. He began to experiment with a more open floor plan.

Like all of the homes on the walk, the kitchens and baths here are the rooms most altered from the original. Blaine notes that the original kitchen is now a family room, and a new kitchen is very sympathetic to Wright’s style while being much more functional for how people live today

The Arthur and Grace Heurtley House is considered one of Wright’s earliest Prai-

rie Style designs, from 1902. The Heurtleys lived in the home until they sold it in 1920 to Andrew Porter and Jane Porter, who was Frank Lloyd Wright’s sister.

In 1935, the home was converted to a twoflat. Later owners included anthropology professor Jack Prost who purchased the home for $90,000 in 1973 and lamented not making enough money to maintain the home and the property taxes. He sold the home in 1997 for $750,000 to a young couple who restored the home back to its singlefamily status

Longtime Frank Lloyd Wright Trust volunteer Jack Lesniak is a house captain and researcher for the home and has volunteered in the home on Wright Plus housewalks in 1978, 1998 and 2002.

His research was aided by Allen Heurtley, great grandson of the original owners, who shared many photographs and stories of the home and who will be attending this year’s walk.

See WRIGHT PLUS on pa ge 28

2

OAK PARK

This light filled house has it all! Completely renovated and expanded in 2018!

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Maurice and Lillian Lowrey House (Architect unknown, 1891)

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ken.vansanten@bairdwarner.com

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WRIGHT PL US 2023

WRIGHT PLUS

from page 27

The Maurice and Lillian Lowrey House is believed to have been built around 1891. The Queen Anne Style house is making its Wright Plus debut. The architect of the home is unknown, but Blaine and Pantsios note that Lowrey was a contractor, and it is possible he designed the home himself.

The home was built as a single-family residence, but the Lowreys never moved in. They rented the house before selling it. The home then became an apartment house and a boarding house. Previous owners returned the home to a single-family residence, keeping the second-floor kitchen cabinetry and reusing it as bedroom storage.

The home of architect E.E. Roberts and his wife Rossie, built in 1870 and remodeled by Roberts in 1911, is another example of work done in the area by a Wright contemporary. Blaine and Pantsios state that while Robert’s work on the home from the front is hard to discern, it is easy to see an addition from the rear.

Blaine calls Roberts’ woodwork on the interior fabulous and says it’s nice to juxtapose the interior of this house with works by Wright around the same time.

Roberts also designed the 1908 Charles and Alma Schwerin House. The house has

many Prairie elements with its overhanging eaves, hipped roof and ribbon windows. There are 88 stained-glass windows in the home.

Pantsios recalls a story that she calls “serendipitous.” The current owners have two Bernese mountain dogs. Through a photo of their dogs taken on their front porch in a newsletter dedicated to the breed, they were connected to the grandchild of the Schwerins, who returned the dining room’s original light fixture to the couple. It now hangs in the dining room

Blaine notes that this year’s houses are a good glimpse into the thought process that goes into Wright Plus every year.

“We start with the Frank Lloyd Wright houses, and then we see what architectural note is in the same geographical vicinity,” Blaine said. “Then, we think about the story we want to tell.

“This year, we had a fair amount of Prairie, and then we looked at what else was popular at the time that Wright was working, and how, or if, Wright influenced the work of others.”

Tickets, including Fast Pass, Ultimate Plus Saturday and Ultimate Plus Weekend are completely sold out.

Tickets for Wright Plus 2024, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust and the 135th anniversary of the Home and Studio building will be available to the public in early 2024.

E.E. and Rossie Roberts House (E.E. Roberts House, 1911)

Kris Sagan Linda Rooney Kyra Pych

Erika Villegas, Managing Broker/Owner Mike Becker Laurie Christofano Marion Digre Morgan Digre Leticia Cruz Oak Park $139,000 1BR, 1BA Call Marion

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1041 N Lombard Ave Oak Park $350,000 3BR, 1.1BA Call Laurie 614 N New England Ave Chicago $275,000 2BR, 1BA Call Jane Oak Park $200,000 1BR, 1BA Call Linda

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Not just historic home owners, but stewards

Thoughtful restorations a common theme in Wright Plus homes

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

Wright Plus co-chairs Sue Blaine and Joan Pantsios say that beyond being good stewards of tural le Plus go ab reno their homes sympathetic to the original house.

Often this r form of removing paint. In the Bumstead House, that the original been painted ov ple worked for se strip the paint of the beauty of the homeowners also turned to the original plans house to restore shelvin and woodwork fireplace.

The owners of the Sc in House took restore their home’s woodwork and dows utilizing ov paint stripper and 1,000 steel pads.

At the Cronwall House, the removed a giant fish tank that had been added to the home and library to match the originals

The original light fixtures were missing from the Furbeck Home, so the owners turned to other Wright designs to create their own. The dining room fixture was inspired by the patter n in the original art glass windows in the home.

They used the décor of Browne’s Bookstore in Chicago to inform their library light designs, and the kitchen light design was pulled from Wright’s Dana Thomas House

The owners of the Gale House did paint analyses to determine what the original colors were in Wright’s design. In a second-floor bedroom that was likely a nursery, they decorat-

example of restoration.”

The previous owners, the Baehrends, returned the house to single-family status after it had been converted to a two-flat. They used birch wood to match the wood used by Wright in designing a new kitchen and hid the appliances behind cabinet fronts so that they wouldn’t stand out.

The couple also removed a bathroom that a 1950s-era owner had created out of a second-floor terrace. In its place, they created a primary suite bathroom out of an adjacent bedroom, and they sourced a vintage bird-cage

shower for the room.

“They are all wonderful stewards,” Blaine said. Blaine and Pantsios said that the spirit of restoration is very evident in Wright’s Home and Studio as well. Converted at one time into six apar tments, the house was in disrepair when the Home and Studio Foundation was for med in 1974 to restore and preserve the house.

Lesniak, who has been with the organization now known as the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust since that time, says the group, headed by architect John Thorpe, wrote the book on historic preservation.

‘The Home and Studio was a unique situation,” Lesniak said. “John Thorpe was the chair of the restoration committee. People did what he said. When you have five or six architects trying to work together, sometimes you need a leader.”

The group created a restoration plan in book form, and Lesniak said it became the pattern for how restorations could be down across the country.

PHOTOS BY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST/JAMES CAULFIELD rles and Alma Schwerin House (E.E. Roberts, 1908), nd Eva Bumstead House (Tallmadge & Watson, 1909)

WRIGHT PL US 2023

PROPER TY TR ANSFERS

Oak Park home sells for $1,070,000

The following property transfers were re ported by the Cook County Clerk from February 2023. Where addresses appear incomplete, for instance where a unit number appears missing, that information was not provided by the clerk.

RIVER FOREST

Thomas A

Andrew J Gamez Maryjane

Ronald K Allen Jason

Title Land Trust Co Tr 1250 Gw 104 Oak Pk Llc

FOREST P ARK

Caroline M Kusper Rachael A

Colin Fitt Trust

R Demarais Trust Dick Evan

Sean Patrick Retterer Mark N

Richarp L Gramke Davip

Theodore W Tr Mckay Jonathan

Craig H Tr Schmiedeskamp Jay

Rebecca W Mccormick

SPORTS

York ends Fenwick’s 20-year water polo state nals run

Girls and boys teams both fall in sectional nal to Dukes

By MELVIN TATE

Contributing Reporter

With a combined 30 state championships (20 boys, 10 girls), the Fenwick High School water polo program has long been the gold standard in Illinois.

But this year, and for the first time since the IHSA sanctioned water polo as a sport beginning in 2002 (and outside of the 2020 and 2021 COVID seasons), neither the boys nor girls teams will be represented at the state finals, which features the eight sectional champions.

“Quite a run,” said Fenwick boys coach Kyle Perry. “Looking forward to the next run.”

At the IHSA York Sectional finals May 13, the host and top seed Dukes ensured this by defeating second-seeded Fenwick in both matches

In the girls’ title match, York’s Rose Jensen was a machine, scoring 12 goals and adding four assists to lead the Dukes to a 21-9 victory.

“She’s somebody I’ve played with since I was about 10 years old,” said Fenwick senior Annie McCarthy of Jensen, a San Jose State University recruit. “I have nothing but love and respect for her.”

“We worked in some defenses and shut her down in some instances,” said Fenwick girls coach Elizabeth Timmons. “But [Jensen] is a gamer and she was ready to play today.”

Fenwick (15-16) began the game on a solid note, scoring two of the first three goals. But York (27-3) tallied the last two goals of the first quarter as part of a 5-0 run that carried over into the second quarter

The Friars allowed two more big scoring runs as the Dukes tallied the final three goals of the first half, then scored four consecutive goals late in the third quarter to essentially put things away.

“We came out strong in the beginning, but seemed to lose it a bit,” McCarthy said. “It was a tough day.”

Xiomara Trejo had three goals to lead Fenwick, which last missed the state finals in 2003.

On May 12 in the sectional semifinals, Trejo had four goals and Audrey Mason added three in the Friars’ 13-4 victory over Oak Park and River Forest High School. Becca Dee, Tori Evans, Amanda Lane, and Cara Walicki each scored for the Huskies (9-16).

Fenwick boys falls to York 10-8

Fenwick’s boys water polo team made several good pushes during the second half against York in the boys’ title match, but the Dukes were able to hold on for a 10-8 victory, ending the Friars’ season in the sectional final for the second consecutive year.

“York’s a really good team and I thought we played a solid game,” Perry said. “At

the beginning of the season, a lot of people thought we weren’ t going to be strong, but we demonstrated that we are and will be a top team moving forward.”

Trailing 6-3 in the thi rd quarter, Fenwick (23-10) got a boost from Tommy Helt, whose back-to-back goals brought the Friars to within one. But York (24-6) scored the final two goals of the quarter, then took a 9-5 lead with 4:46 remaining in regulation.

However, Fenwick made another charge as Finn Vahey and Tim Fischer scored about 35 seconds apart. But Nick Kamenica’s tally with 3:48 left gave the Dukes breathing room again.

The Friars made a final push as Alec Posluszny scored with 1:28 remaining. After Fenwick forced a turnover, York goalie Aiden Reidy juggled a save and Chris Badja put in the loose ball with 58 seconds left. But

the officials ruled that the Dukes had called timeout before the goal, although it was unclear if Reidy had maintained possession.

“We had game-planned for being down by one in the final minute,” Perry said. “It was a 50-50 opportunity there, but unfortunately it didn’t go our way.”

Helt had three goals and Sam Kulisek made six saves for Fenwick, which loses six seniors to graduation.

In the semifinal May 12, Fenwick scored seven goals in the first quarter en route to a 15-9 victory over OPRF. Badja had five goals, while Brady Sorg had four goals for the Huskies (21-9).

“Fenwick’s counterattack was very good and we had a few turnovers in the first quarter,” said OPRF coach Bailey Wendt. “The kids dug deep and fought for the next three quarters, which was good to see.”

OPRF badminton closes out season 21st at state meet

Boys track wins WSC Silver championships

By MELVIN

TATE

Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School badminton team finished in a tie for 21st with 3 points at the IHSA state tournament in DeKalb May 11-13.

Junior Lilianna Jasinska and sophomore Annika Gupta dropped their opening match to Rachele Cameli and Maria Jiao of Hins-

dale Central 5-21, 13-21. But the duo then won three consecutive matches in the consolation bracket: 21-9, 21-15 over Joliet Central’s Analiese Gudeman and Audrey Rodriguez; 21-8, 21-19 over Christina Ukkan and Ashley Smith of Prospect; and 21-17, 21-18 over Lyons Township’s Aggie Driscoll and Elle Ownby.

Jasinska and Gupta were defeated in the fourth consolation round by Yilin Liu and Cynthia Zhang of Neuqua Valley 7-21, 10-21. Seniors Katherine DeHaan and Caroline Raducha defeated Buffalo Grove’s Julia

See SPORTS ROUNDUP on pa ge 34

SARA JANZ

Fenw ick senior Annie McCarthy looks to pass the ball to a teammate during the Friars’ loss to York in the IHSA Sectional nals against the host Dukes.

OPRF baseball rallies late to sink Friars

Both starting pitchers shine in crosstown matchup

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

In a game that featured clutch pitching on both sides, the Oak Park and River Forest High School baseball team used some late small ball to notch a 3-0 victory over crosstown rival Fenwick on May 10 at Concordia University.

“No matter how good or bad each team is doing, it’s always going to be a close game,” said OPRF coach Kevin Campbell. “That’s why we love playing it.”

“Oak Park has always been solid; they’re very disciplined and well-coached,” said Fenwick coach Kyle Kmiecik. “They execute when they need to and they have guys step up. We’re going to build from this and be more confident moving forward.”

OPRF (12-17) had a golden opportunity to score in the bottom of the fourth inning. A double by Mason Phillips was followed by Ezra Moore’s bunt single and a walk to Patrick Carmody to load the bases. But Fenwick starting pitcher Mike Sosna escaped by striking out Brady Green and inducing Carlo Lissuzzo to hit into a force out.

“Mike did a really good job,” Kmiecik said. “He executed his pitches and attacked the zone.”

But OPRF starting pitcher Dylan Wipf was equally tough as he tossed five scoreless innings with three hits allowed to go with seven strikeouts and two walks.

“Dylan stepped up in a big moment for us,” Campbell said. “He originally began as a starter this year but went to the bullpen to help out. It was the right time to give the senior the big game.”

In the bottom of the sixth, the Huskies finally broke through against Sosna. Kevin Cortez led off with a walk and was sacrificed

to second by Phillips. Ezra Moore (2-for-3) then took an outside pitch and drilled it down the right field line for an RBI double and a 1-0 OPRF lead

“My approach was thinking middle and away,” Moore said. “I had to wait for my pitch, and when it came my way, I swung.”

Carmody walked, and both runners advanced on a passed ball by Fenwick catcher Finnlay Koch. Green hit a sacrifice fly to right that Friars’ outfielder Andrew Henderson made a sliding catch on.

But on the next fly ball hit to him by Lissuzzo, Henderson, battling the sun, dropped the ball for an error, allowing Carmody to score and raise the lead to 3-0.

Fenwick (12-14) had a final shot in the seventh when two-out walks to Koch and Luke Hickey along with Henderson being hit by a pitch loaded the bases. But OPRF reliever and winning pitcher Drew Koenig (two innings, one hit) got Josh Wicker to ground out to Moore at second, ending the game

“When you play teams like OPRF, you’ve got to take advantage because you know it’s going to be a tight game,” Kmiecik said. “We had runners on, but we need to step up and execute.”

Sosna, who retired the Huskies’ first 10 batters to start the game, went six innings for the Friars, allowing three runs (two unearned) on three hits to go with five strikeouts and three walks. Ben Jar necke had two of Fenwick’s four hits, including a double.

Both OPRF and Fenwick will look to build momentum with the state tournament looming. The Huskies are seeded 10th in the IHSA Class 4A Mount Carmel Sectional, while the Friars, a sectional host in Class 3A, are a No 2 seed

“Our record doesn’t show how much we’ve improved,” Kmiecik said. “We’ve battled some injuries, but we’ve had guys we didn’t anticipate step up. We’re confident that by playing the teams we have, we’re prepared to build momentum heading into the playoffs.”

OPRF girls track wins sectional title, advances 11 events

Reese Garland doubles up in shot and discus; two qualify for state in high jump

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School girls track and field team won the IHSA Class 3A St. Ignatius Sectional on May 11 with 140 points, qualifying one relay and 11 individuals for the state meet, which takes place May 18-20 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

Senior Reese Garland won two events, the shot put (12.43 meters/40 feet, 9 inches) and

the discus (43.93m/144-2). Other individual winners for the Huskies were sophomore Julia Brown in the 400 meters (personal-best 1:00.99); freshman Alexis Henderson and sophomore Bella Brauc in the high jump -both part of a three-way tie for first (1.57m/52); and junior Hannah Franke in the pole vault (3.28m/10-9).

OPRF’s other individual qualifiers were Brauc in the 200 meters (2nd, 1:01.24); senior Natalie Quinn in the 1,600 (3rd, 5:07.15); senior Avery Minnis in the 3,200 (2nd, personal-best 11.28.63); junior Katherine Johnston in the pole vault (2nd, 2.70m/8-10); and junior Taylor Smith in the triple jump (2nd, 11.18m/36-8).

The Huskies’ 800 relay of Rhea Richards, Maisie Hoerster, Chloe Kozick and Amelia

Hammersley qualified with a second-place time of 1:47.87.

Fenwick

At the IHSA Class 2A Ridgewood Sectional on May 10, Fenwick High School finished 11th with 19 points. The Friars qualified two individuals for the state meet. Sophomore Mia Menendez won the 800 meters in a time of 2:16.78, while senior Bella Daley finished fourth in the 3,200 (11:41).

Trinity

Trinity High School came in 12th at the Ridgewood Sectional with 13 points. The

Blazers’ 3,200 relay of Jasmine Arzuaga, Amanda McGreal, Jade Moreli and Myla Roy qualified for the state meet with a second-place time of 10:12.91.

“If you asked me three days before the sectional [if we would qualify], I’d have said probably not,” said Trinity coach Johann Gonzalez. “But I told the girls if they executed, they’d have a shot. It’s most certainly a pleasant surprise.”

Gonzalez said this is the first time in program history the 3,200 relay has run under the qualifying standard before the state meet.

“The mentality right now is that we’re not just happy being there,” he said. “We want to make the most of this opportunity and give ourselves the best chance to do well at Charleston.”

Continued from page 33

SPORTS ROUNDUP 21-14 in their first consolation match, DeHaan and Raducha fell to Geneva’s Lisa Colin and Annabelle Karch 21-15, 6-21, 15-21.

Barnett and Jenna Pulle ga 21-14, 16-21, 2119 in their opening match, but lost in the second round 22-20, 12-21, 16-21 to Anjana Viswanathan and Sri Lakshmi Battula of Metea Valley.

After beating Christina Paxhia and Jillian Rothenbergher of Maine South 21-19,

OPRF boys track

The OPRF boys track and field team rolled to the West Suburban Silver championship May 13 at Glenbard West with 136 points.

Junior Kaden Garland won a pair of

events for the Huskies. He took the shot put with a distance of 17.67 meters (57 feet, 11.6 inches) and the discus with 48.72 meters (159-11).

Senior Josh Meister won the pole vault with a height of 4.62 meters (15-2), and sophomore Kwabena Osei-Yeboah took the long jump with a personal-best distance of 7.05 meters (23-2).

OPRF will participate in the IHSA Class 3A Sectional at Proviso East on May 17.

Fenwick boys track

At the Chicago Catholic League Championship meet at St. Ignatius on May 12, Fenwick High School senior Grayden Rill won the 1,600 meters in a time of 4:22.06.

The Friars placed seventh in the team standings with 50.33 points and compete in the Class 2A sectional at Glenbard South on May 17.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor

Ken Trainor at 613-3310

ktrainor@wjinc.com

OPRF & groupthink: A dull path forward

Aquick Google search retur ned the following definition of groupthink: “the practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages creativity or individual responsibility.”

Listening to OPRF High School board members “vote their conscience” on how best to finance Project 2 should not make us mad However, it should make us sad. Sad for our community and sad for the soul of OPRF High School. Groupthink and conformity continue to permeate our schools, crushing creativity and limiting critical thought.

It was clear that, in the past, at least two board members believed that some form of referendum financing is the best long-term solution for our community. However, when asked to stand up for our community, our families, and in what they believe, they suddenly chose to go along with the crowd.

For other board members, the slow grip of groupthink was gradual. Some “expert” members decided to try the dramatic TV lawyer bit, bringing up emotional pleas at the 11th hour to trick themselves into believing it was OK “this time.” It did not trick the critical thinking of Oak Park and River Forest community members.

Speaking of critically-thinking citizens, our board leader suggested we don’t understand this complicated school financing stuff and actually said, “Everyday taxpayers don’t understand the workings of the finances.” Maybe our board should have taken the issue to a referendum, a process that promotes transparency and further discovery, to help us simpletons better understand. This “we know better than the folks we represent” is not a good look when we are your neighbors and friends.

Over the last several years, our board members and school leaders have acted as if they believe our taxpayer-funded schools belong to them and not us. Some will say, “Hey, they won the election so they must represent the community”. Well, our voter turnout is unfortunately low, and Trump won an election too (yes, only one), and thank goodness there are guardrails in place. Schools have no such guardrails, particularly when administration and board members are in “perfect” alignment.

Please note, the recent board vote was not about the actual Project 2 work, as the scope was already approved. All of us believe our kids deserve better spaces than past leaders have provided. The recent vote was about community, the future and sound financing principles. Our board failed to stand up for future community members for the sake of wanting to belong. To belong to what?

As a kid, when I would make poor decisions (and there were plenty) I would say, “but Mom, all the kids were doing it.” And she would say, “OK, but if the kids were about to walk of f a bridge, would you follow them?” That lesson always stuck with me. Succumbing to groupthink and not thinking critically has long-term consequences.

Go Huskies

Oak Park Far mers Market is opening on Saturday, May 20, and I’m beyond excited. The market, which will run through Oct. 28, is one of my favorite parts of spring, summer, and fall. The Far mers Market takes place at the Pilg rim Church parking lot at 460 Lake St., one block west of Ridgeland Avenue in Oak Park each Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

As a volunteer Friend of the Market and a re gular Saturday shopper, I have delighted in the intersecting connections of food, music and community that make up this weekly event. For me, it is like gathering in a town square and visiting with old friends, people watching, and buying produce that tastes so much better than anything that I can buy at the super market. To fall aslee p, some people count the alphabet or U.S. cities and states. For me, to fall asleep at night, I sometimes count items at the Far mers Market and where they are located: asparagus/apples, berries/broccoli, corn/cauliflower, donuts/delicata squash, eggs/e ggplants, flowers, and I’m of f to dreamland.

In 2022 there were 25 vendors at the market. Colleen McNichols, the market manager, expects even more vendors this year.

When the Oak Park Far mers Market started in 1976, it was playfully called the Far mer Market, as there was only one vendor far mer.

The Oak Park Far mers Market is popular with people from Oak Park and nearby communities. According to Sara Semelka, public health education manager from the village of Oak Park Health Department, the “number of shoppers varies each week; the average in 2022 was about 3,700 shoppers per week, sometimes reaching as high as 5,000 at the height of the season. Using the weekly average, we would estimate about 88,800 total shoppers, though many of those, of course, were re peat customers who came multiple times throughout the season.”

During the Far mers Market season, I plan to share with you some behind-the-scenes stories about the market — how did the donut sale start and who are the donut makers, more about the bluegrass band, and of course, the vendors.

Joy Aaronson is an Oak Park resident and re gular Oak Park Farmers Market shopper. She has been a Friend of the Market and looks forward to volunteering at the mark et this season. Joy has contributed to Chica go Pa rent and written the Kids’ World column for the former Logan Square Free Press.

Ross Lissuzzo is an Oak Park native and current River Forest resident.

It’s here, it’s here, that market time of year

Tow zone for Mike’s Place

It is a bold, well-targeted initiative that elevates the le gitimate frustrations of Oak Parkers living along Roosevelt Road between Ridgeland and Harvey. With its passage Monday night, Oak Park’s village board approved a plan driven by the police department and village staff to start towing the cars of any nonresidents parking after 10 p.m. on the 1000 and 1150 blocks of those streets

Why? To protect the safety, the well-being and the sense of community of Oak Parkers who have long put up with late-night rowdies spilling out of Mike’s Place, a Berwyn bar, and into Oak Park where they park their cars.

Neighbors have been upset and frustrated by the profane hollering, the urinating, the trash and even sometimes the brawling of Mike’s overserved and under-mannered patrons. But when in the past year this escalated into gunfire, neighbors were outraged and that got the attention of the chief of police and some members of the village board.

“It went from more of a nuisance to violence,” Chief Shatonya Johnson told the village board on May 8.

Inter mediate interventions have been attempted. Police talked to Michael Lapinard, owner of the bar. He expressed concern about the incidents but offered no solutions. Berwyn police, who have jurisdiction over the south side of Roosevelt Road, nodded their heads and said they were unable to respond forcefully. Easy for them to say since most entry points into Berwyn off Roosevelt are blocked by cul-desacs. Oak Park handed out 2,000 parking tickets to illegal parkers on those blocks. Only a third got paid and it had no impact on the traffic

Finally in January, Oak Park police took the bold but unsustainable step of stationing officers on the blocks adjacent to Roosevelt every night. That worked but, on a force short of officers, was not an ultimate solution.

Now we have an ordinance that will tow the cars of every nonresident parked on those blocks after 10 p.m. 7 nights a week. The financial wallop and extreme inconvenience of having your car towed ought to break through the fog of even the most buzzed Mike’s Place guest.

Good for Oak Park for putting its residents first and for being willing to invent an entirely new solution.

Celebrating mental health

Congratulations and thanks to the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township as it marks its 50th anniversary. This early focus on mental health is another indicator of Oak Park’s overall understanding of the widespread nature of mental health conditions, the need to address it directly and the necessity of working against the chronic stigma around these issues.

A book about Oak Park … and true community KEN TRAINOR

My new book is out. Birthing a book is an infrequent occurrence, but it happens (this is my third in 16 years). Our Town Oak Park – Walk with Me, in Search of True Community is based on columns I’ve written about our town over the past 30 years. River Forest and Forest Park make guest appearances, but it’s mostly focused on Oak Park. Mac Robinet, one of my treasured “previewers,” said reading this book was “like finding love letters at the bottom of a sock drawer.” It is, to be sure, one long love letter to the village I was born into, the town that for med me, launched me, and drew me back like a magnet, proving that you really can go home again.

What do I love about Oak Park? The short list includes: A Day in Our Village, block parties, Far mers Market, the high school’s spring musical, the Fourth of July Parade and sitting in the football stadium at dusk watching the fireworks, Unity Temple, Austin Gardens, Festival Theatre, the Lake Theatre, Scoville Park, the Maze Branch Library, youth baseball (especially the non-organized variety), Percy Julian, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Tarzan (who knew?), Stephanie Clemens’ Momenta dance troupe (grace under pressure), Ernest Hemingway (the man as well as his writing), Frank Lloyd Wright’s breathtaking architecture, house walks and garden walks, our urban forest of course, lawn signs, St. Edmund’s church bells (currently on hiatus), the Violano Virtuoso at Pleasant Home (now with a brand new floor!), Hole in the Wall and Petersen’s for ice cream, memories of Rick Mee gan’s newspaper stand, Pieritz Brothers, Erik’s Deli, May Madness, Project Unity, the VMA, Magic Tree Bookstore, and other places and people who helped make us the village we are now. All of these and much more are in the book.

Fifteen chapters consisting of 92 refreshed, combined and/or repurposed columns in 344 pages, covering three decades. If that sounds a bit hefty, consider yourselves lucky. This is the condensed version. I cut over 100 pages. Many are mentioned in this book but many more didn’t make the cut. I feel guilty about the omissions and apologize to anyone who isn’t in here. You should be. It turns out there are just too many interesting people in this town. We have more quality

people in Oak Park than dogs … and, believe me, that’s saying something Calling the book Our Town Oak Park was an intentional allusion to Thor nton Wilder’s play, Our Town, which provides another lens for viewing Oak Park — and every other community. Paul Newman, who played the Stage Manager in a production of Our Town 20 years ago, said then, “I would like to know what that play would look like today, if Wilder were writing today about the average American experience in a small town. I have no idea where that would go now. It would certainly be something different.” I think it would look a lot like Oak Park A case can be made that Oak Park is Our Town for the 21st century. In my opinion, Our Town, is the great American play because it gets to the heart of our living, loving and dying. Grover’s Cor ners, New Hampshire is unique, yet universal. Wilder said his intent was to “find a value, above all price, for the smallest events in our daily life.” That’s my aim for Our Town Oak Park as well.

The cover, from a poster by artist Mitchell Markovitz, is set on Elizabeth Cour t, one of my favorite blocks, and shows two people ambling at night with a backdrop of warm, welcoming houselights and an iconic Oak Park streetlight with its familiar thor ny crown. The subtitle doubles as an invitation, “Walk with Me, in Search of True Community.”

For three decades, my beat has been the extraordinary ordinary, mining meaning from the everyday, in a village where the unique meets the universal. I have become a student of community. A collector of community moments. A witness. I get paid to pay attention … then bring what I find to the reader’s attention. I call it my attention surplus disorder.

As Oak Parkers, we live at the intersection of independence and interdependence, autonomy and interconnection, change and continuity. The tension between those dichotomies makes us who we are. We are a welcoming, inclusive, diverse, eco-friendly, equity-aspiring, ever-evolving community. We still have a long way to go but it’s the right path, and we need to keep going. True community is not a destination. It’s a long walk that never ends.

Headway is being made even as worries over depression and anxiety spread in our society. That we see these issues ever more clearly is a tribute to the work of pioneering agencies such as our mental health board. See NEXT PAGE

Join me on an adventure … a virtual ride to downtown Chicago, often called the “Loop” because the train encircles it. Let’s hop on the “el,” the Lake Street elevated Green Line train, and away we go!

From my childhood to the present, it’s always been fascinating for me to see “the world” from a window seat of the train. The drumming wheel song plays as we rumble down the tracks to what was once the old Marshall Field building, now Macy’s; and the old Chicago Library, now the Cultural Center

An ‘el’ of a train ride HAUSMAN

stone homes remain, and are now refurbished. It is here that sweet nostalgia comes rtress-like homes remind andmother’s apartment on Dougvard. “Bubby,” we called her, lived on the second floor of a 2-flat building that erhang covering the entrance. As crawl on our bellies out the living onto the creaky metal top of erhang. It was dangerous, but we loved being in our “castle” lookout. Some of the refurbished buildings now have actual patios where our precious lookout once stood.

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

In truth, this outing is a study in sociology and urban development, or lack thereof. It is also a visual depiction of segregation. Within a mere dozen miles, there’s a discernible picture of societal and physical changes of life outside the el window. Leaving Oak Park, we see a variety of apartments, old and new. We see stores, restaurants, and some elegant old homes with trees and flower gardens. Also, the streets and sidewalks are well-kept, and we can catch a glimpse of Unity Temple, a Frank Lloyd Wright gem. There is an interesting intermingling of handsome churches and new high-rises in our little old Oak Park.

As we travel through the Austin community, we see older residences, some stores, and a few scattered restaurants. The older buildings show the wear and tear from years of neglect. Many of the buildings are abandoned and have advertisements slapped on their sides. Others are covered with graffiti, most of which is ugly, but also interspersed with community-generated artwork that is quite beautiful. If these dilapidated structures could emote, they would be crying, remembering their once-lovely construction … someone’s architectural dream, now shattered. We are approaching Garfield Park and the Conservatory where the scene improves markedly.

Next, from our train window we see the rebuilt United Center where nearby once stood the old Chicago Stadium. New buildings have been constructed along with a multitude of parking lots. Some of the 100-year-old+

You could say that true community is our immunity — against polarized divisiveness. Community is Oak Park’s super power.

I wrote this book because I feel very lucky to have grown up here — and to be able to retur n, after spending 20 years elsewhere, to live and work in my hometown … which I did not really know … but came to know and love. Consider this book, then, a retur n on my community’s investment in me

The book is available at Book Table, the Historical Society of Oak Park & River Forest (which hosted my book launch last week), online through Amazon, Bar nes & Noble, and other sites, and if all else fails, I’ ll drive over and sell it to you out of my trunk.

Thanks to Kevin Theis and Paul Stroili of Ft. Raphael Publishing for designing the book and cover

Next we see the University of Illinois Chicago, along with the sprawling medical campus. Rush Hospital, located on this campus and voted one of the 10 best hospitals in the country, is also known for its architectural uniqueness

Soon we reach our destination in the entertainment and business area of downtown Chicago. After we leave the elevated platform and walk down the 29 steps to ground level at Macy’s entrance, the fun continues. Viewing each floor, we take the escalator to the 7th floor for lunch in the Walnut Room. Nostalgia hits me again as I devour the Marshall Field special sandwich and frango mint ice cream for dessert, fortunately still served by Macy’s.

The other destination of our outing is to visit the galleries at the Chicago Cultural Center and see the stunning Tiffany glass ceiling windows. We then stroll through the gardens and greenery of Millennium Park, having fully enjoyed our leisurely day. On the ride home, I feel pangs of guilt as I appreciate my good fortune to have such a pleasant afternoon. Our country claims to be the richest nation in the world. If this is true, then indeed there should be equal opportunity for all to have a day like we had today

Poverty and racism are not partisan issues and, hopefully, wise leadership will guide us in a better direction. Harriet Hausman, a longtime River Forest resident, is, at 99, likely the oldest weekly newspaper columnist in the U.S. if not the world.

and helping me navigate self-publishing. Thanks also to Dan Haley at Growing Community Media for giving me the job that made me a better writer and, hopefully, eventually, a better person, and providing the platform that led to this book — also for introducing me to the notion of “g rowing community.”

The other reason I wrote this book is that I think Oak Parkers need a morale boost right now. There is much to celebrate and appreciate here, even as we strive to be better than we already are.

So if you see someone whose resolve is flagging, who is grousing too much or too often about parking and taxes, please tell them about this book.

Hopefully it will widen their lens on our town Oak Park

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

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

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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.

D200 committed more nancial ‘sins’ to fund Project 2

As this chapter in the OPRF High School “pool saga” closes, I expected to encounter magnanimous celebratory comments from OPRF folks. Instead, in his public comments and letter to this paper, OPRF Board President Tom Cofsky made some odd rationalizations and characterized Project 2 referendum proponents like me and the Wednesday Journal as spreading “misinformation.”

Let’s talk misinformation.

Mr. Cofsky implies the OPRF Community Finance Committee (CFC), made up of experts in school finance, supported debt certificate financing. Several CFC members, in fact, said this was inappropriate for Project 2.

Cofsky and supporters implied referendum funding would be added to tax bills. Yes, taxpayers would have seen another line on their bill, but the amount they paid for D200 would have been basically the same if the board simply reduced its operating taxes by the same amount. The CFC objected more than once to district documents presenting the referendum option as a tax increase; they were never cor rected

Cofsky said the plan would not put an additional burden on the taxpayers.

Board members contended Project 2 was just too urgent to wait a year for voters to weigh in, yet they had the Imagine Project 2 plan since 2018. There were at least a half-d ozen opportunities to put the project on the ballot since then and they did not.

Cofsky says those of us who advocated a Project 2 referendum are disingenuous because we criticized the 2002 referendum. No one I’ve ever encountered had a problem with the school asking for more taxes in 2002 to operate and getting them. Like many residents (and the Wednesday Journal), we objected to OPRF using a loophole in that referendum in 2005 to take millions more in taxes than voters approved — overtaxing that OPRF on its own website says led to “high tax levels in our villages and eroded community trust.” OPRF’s exploitation of this loophole was so bad, the state legislature changed the law to prevent others from doing it.

Cofsky ag ain says that not taking the maximum taxes allowed by law each year

demonstrates OPRF’s sensitivity to high taxes. This doesn’t make sense.

His most incredible contention is that the school had to use debt certificates to prevent growth of the reserve — in other words, they needed to spend more to keep up with the amount they were taxing the community. Surely, Cofsky and the board know it’s possible to reduce revenues — our taxes — to stay in line with expenses and not build a reserve? They choose their revenue level every year.

Many suppor ters of not going to a referendum for Project 2 argued that we elected our board members to make this decision. Then why does referendum financing exist at all? Because Illinois (and most other states) believe that schools should get explicit permission from taxpayers to spend large sums. Some schools don’t have a choice whether to go to referendum to fund major projects. OPRF could bypass this requirement because it used a nowclosed loophole to take more taxes than it needed year-after-year for almost 20 y and our communities neve

Your lawn can ght climate change

In Climate Ready Oak Park, the village’s community climate action plan approved by the village board last year, we committed to a 60% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030. To reach this critically important goal; we must not only reduce our emissions through more stringent building codes; electrifying transportation; expanding composting; retrofitting our homes with electric heating, cooling and cooking; and switching to rooftop or community solar; but also sequester or otherwise reduce carbon dioxide that is already in the atmosphere.

In other words, we need to reduce emissions going up into the atmosphere while at the same time increasing the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere. We cannot reach our goal without doing both. Trees, grasses, and other plants in gardens, farms, and wetlands are essential to fighting climate change because they absorb atmospheric CO2.

In Oak Park, we can expand our green spaces; plant and nur ture more trees, native grasses and flowers; and improve the quality of our soil by not tilling our gardens. Our lawns can help, too: they’ll sequester more carbon dioxide and reduce flooding if we let

them grow higher. This allows more CO2 to be ke pt in the soil and more insects and birds to find the food they need in longer grasses and native plants. Nectarproducing wildflowers, such as violets and white clover, are important for pollinators.

So set your mower high to spare the flowers when you mow, and have a “slow-mow summer” rather than a “no-mow May,” which stresses grass when it gets cut short after growing unimpeded for a full month.

Currently, Oak Park requires that the grass in our lawns be ke pt no more than 8 inches high, but we need to change that rule before next spring. Our lawns don’t need to look like manicured golf courses!

We also need to “leave the leaves” in the fall. Covered soil retains more CO2, plus leaves provide essential food and shelter for those insects and birds over the winter. Far mers do the same thing when they plant cover crops to protect soil in the of f season, part of the practice of what’s known as re generative ag riculture.

Let’s help to re generate and re-g reen Oak Park this summer and in years to come.

Pamela Tate Oak Park Climate Action Network

strongly enough that they stop.

Voter approval of Project 2 or Project 2 plus, a package accelerating other building improvements, would have gone a long way to remedying these sins of the past and simplified its financial structure. Instead, OPRF and the board committed more sins

I don’t think anyone — even the most ardent pool supporters — would disag ree that debt certificates were never about reserves or future fiscal discipline or urgency. OPRF was not confident it could convince 50% + 1 voters to approve Project 2, so it used every legal means necessary to move forward. Were the tax sur pluses over the past decade another facility funding scheme to bypass voters?

OPRF has three new board members, and from our campaign interactions, I’m confident all three are good people. I hope they will be strong advocates for greater transparency, honesty, keeping promises, actual fiscal responsibility and a greater respect for the community Good luck to them.

Brian Souders is an Oak Park resident

reading the needle on restaurant row

VENITA

Eating or walking, what are sidewalks for?

I enjoy and appreciate outdoor dining. Howeve r the village has forgotten what sidewalks are for — pedestrians.

Venita Philbrick Oak Park

PHILBRICK

Restore local government tax revenue fund

As the 2023 Spring Legislative Session draws to a close, legislators have the opportunity to make a big difference in communities throughout the state. With the state’s finances continuing to remain stable, now is the time for the state to restore the Local Gover nment Distributive Fund (LGDF) to its promised level.

LGDF was established to give 10% of the state’s total income tax revenue to Illinois municipalities to pay for services like mandated pension benefits, critical infrastructure repairs, public safety and other important programs. LGDF revenues have been routinely cut in recent years as policy makers cited the state’s budget woes. Our leaders

have said that our state is no longer on the edge of the financial abyss, and it is now time to do right by our communities and reverse these cuts

Currently, local gover nments receive just 6.16% of individual income tax collections and 6.845% of corporate income tax collections. This lack of funding comes at a time when the state continues to impose unfunded mandates on municipalities, adding to existing budget pressures. By not keeping the promise of 10%, we lose out on much-needed revenue to help keep fees and property taxes down as we strive to provide the best services possible for our community

In River Forest, the village has lost over $8

million in LGDF revenue since the cuts were put in place in 2011. This money could have been spent on improving alleys, addressing lead service lines, or providing our first responders with the best equipment.

In Broadview, the village has lost over $5.7 million in LGDF revenue since cuts were made in 2011. This funding would have gone to support capital projects, assist with unfunded mandates and improve equipment necessary for our public safety teams.

The village of Oak Park has lost $40 million since 2011, due to LGDF cuts. This funding would have assisted with expanding alley improvements and other capital projects, supporting sustainability, and furthering an

economic development plan inclusive of all our business districts, and affordable housing goals

Lawmakers must make increasing LGDF funding a priority as they finalize the budget. Our community and many others across Illinois are relying on their support

Catherine Adduci River Forest Village President President of Illinois Municipal League

Katrina Thompson Broadview Mayor President of West Central Municipal Conference

Vicki Scaman Oak Park Villa ge President

Celebrating Seniors Week is worth your support

Celebrating Seniors Week comes to an end, Thursday, May 18. Fifty events, honoring those who have helped build our community. The schedule of events can be found at https://celebratingseniors.net/events

Launched in May 2011, Celebrating Seniors is dedicated to honoring, recognizing and serving seniors in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park The organization concentrates on four main objectives:

■ Collaboration: fostering business, gov-

ernmental and nonprofit agency collaboration in support of seniors

■ Awareness: raising public awareness of issues affecting seniors

■ Promotion: promoting senior groups and organizations that serve persons 60 and older

■ Fundraising: generating funds to support at-risk and vulnerable elders.

You can support Celebrating Seniors as a volunteer, sponsor or by posting a yard sign via the website https://celebratingseniors.

anks for holding safe and secure gun storage event

We applaud the village of Oak Park Health and Police departments for teaming up to host a community event on May 13, aimed at helping residents safely store firearms.

Safe and secure storage of guns saves lives and is one of the most important practices gun owners can do to protect their family members and the community at large. Safe and secure storage in our homes and our cars can prevent unintentional gun injuries, homicides, suicides, and mass shootings, as well as thefts of guns that will likely be used in crimes.

We are thankful for the initiative of a gun-lock giveaway and the inclusion on the event website of the Be SMART campaign with a link to https://besmartforkids.org.

The essential message of Be SMART is: “By

Securing all firearms,

Modeling responsible behavior,

Asking about unsecured firearms in friends’ and family members’ homes, Recognizing the role of firearms in suicide and

Telling others about these strategies, We can prevent gun deaths and injuries in our community.”

By the time this letter is printed, the event will be over. Hopefully, all feel it was a successful event in promoting gun safety, and that attendees are committed to practicing Be SMART!

Lois Thiessen Love Oak Park

net/contact.

I thank the dedicated volunteers who make Celebrating Seniors happen and the sponsors who support this effort. The money raised through sponsorships primarily goes to

short-term assistance for local, low-income seniors, frequently in an emergency where other programs are not available.

Valerie Lester Oak Park

Caveat emptor, AI users

I’m grateful that Wednesday Journal still has a hardcopy edition available to the public — especially those of us who see the digital colonization of life as foe more than friend. The AI invasion is the latest layer of the 21st century’s seeming surrender to such “advancement.” Science fiction, from Philip K. Dick to James Cameron, saw the future back when. They, and other prescient creators of novels and cinema dealing with Man vs Machine narratives, are now all the more entitled to an “I told you so” attitude.

I’m sure many aspects of life have been made easier because of computer science — although I cannot think of a worthy example to support that assertion. Self-checkout kiosks at the supermarket? Digital customer service entities that ask how they can help the caller, then make a connection to an actual human being, is a test of one’s patience. Press “O” or ask for

anks and a caveat from Tank Corner’s family

We would like to thank everyone for their prayers, love, words of encouragement, and all other shows of kindness that helped us through this trying time of sorrow and grief. May God truly bless each and every one of you.

The Go Fund Me page, however, was not set up by Tank’s family All who made a donation may go to the Go Fund Me site and request a refund.

Mary Corner Tank’s mother

an “agent.” Good luck with that. Siri. Alexi. Chat box (fall in love and mar ry that chatty Cathy of Chuckie!).

Dick Tracy had his version of a smart watch on his wrist stating in 1946. It helped him catch Chicago gangsters (paging Brandon Johnson). Today, we have Fitbits and Apple watches that reveal heart rates and blood oxyg en saturation, among other vitals. No need for expensive blood labs, huh? Ten thousand steps a day? Do it! Saves one from simply counting their steps per minute after noting what time that morning walk started and ended. Who wants to do math other than those math majors?

We are tracked by our phones or Fitbit. Data. Algorithms. Try not think about it. You’ll excuse me, I have to contact my AI intimate. I think this one is finally the real deal for me.

Joe Harrington Oak Park

OBITUARIES

George Yanos, 76 Helped invent the internet

George Peter Yanos left us on the morning of Friday, May 12, 2023. Born on Nov. 22, 1946 to a nurse carpenter in Yonkers New he developed a sense of through his relationship with his grandfather that guided the rest of his life. Married to Jan Hagan on Dec. 27, 1967, they move cago and then Oak Pa rk. Professionally he landed Computer Center at the Uni Chicago. Over the next se ported Jan in becoming a lo fessor of Social Work, move had their only child, Nora. He for the rest of his career, doing everything from managing the punch cards (of which he has several thousand in the basement) to the installation of a supercomputer. Being humble, he would not say this but he didn’t argue with others when they pointed out that he truly did help invent the internet. After parting ways with the Computer Center, and

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.

after a short stint as a high school mathematics teacher, he began ing with his friend at the UrTransportation Center. While he delighted in helping his colleagues and derived great satisfaction by mentoring graduate students.

He and his wife lived for the rest of their almost-50-year mar riage in Park. He dedicated himself to ing through problems, always learning called it being curious), loved growing tomatoes and making sketti sauce for his family He was the person you would take great pride in making laugh, and he would only tease the people he truly cared for. He was the one you would go to when you needed something, though he didn’t reco gnize that in himself. George is survived by his daughter and best friend Nora (Scott); his grandchildren, Belle, Ryan and Julia; his dogs, Dashi and Kechi; and the family of his brothers John and Paul, his nieces and nephews.

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

Frank J. O’Hara, 84, of Oak rk, 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 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 Thursd ay, 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 inter ment 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.

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?ApplyTo-

Job=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.

IT Specialist for Key Tower LLC (Chicago, IL). Review diagnostics & assess the functionality & efficiency of sts. Implement security measures. Monitor security certs & company compliance of reqs. Offer tech support to company staff & troubleshoot comp problems. Install & update company soft & hardware as needed. Anticipate and reprt the cost of replacing or updating comp items. Design and implement new systems & solutions. Bachelor degree, Polish language + 2yrs exp req. by email: MILOSZ.NOWICKI@KEYTOWERLLC.COM

Project Manager sought by Crystal Equation Corp. (Chicago, IL). B.S in Business Admin., Project Mgmt. or closely related field plus 3 years of project mgmt. and strategic planning exp. Alternatively, will accept M.S in Business Admin., Project Mgmt. or closely related field plus 1 year of project mgmt. and strategic planning exp. CSM Certification. Work assignments may be in various unanticipated work locations in the US. Telecommuting permitted. Please apply Job #37334 by sending resume to apply@crystalequation.com

Software Development Engineer sought by Chowbus, Inc. in Chicago, IL to research, dsgn, & dvlp scalable, distributed s/ware systems that support core business. Reqs: Master’s Deg in Chem Engg, Comp Sci, or rltd field & 1 yr exp in job offd or in QA Engineer role. Must have course work or work exp/Ruby, Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, React, Vue, Capybara, Engineering process control, Mathematical modeling & techniques, & System theory. Apply online at: https://www.chowbus.com/careers

Sr. IT Database Systems Analyst (Chicago, IL) Support data partners & d/base admin & integration efforts that utilize org’s ETL platforms & rltd source d/bases. Work in collaboration w/ other data analysts, dvlprs, & key business stakeholders, both internally & externally, to ensure data quality & introduce d/base innovations that support co.’s business operations in the insurance, claims, underwriting industries, etc. Perform data profiling & analysis on d/base systems & enterprise data warehouses. Use SQL or similar tools to query d/bases for testing & analysis using understating of data flows & relational architecture. Master’s in Data Analytics, Comp Sci, Comp & Industrial Engg, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or Industrial Pharmacy & 4 yrs exp in job or 4 yrs as lead data processing & business analyst for claims processing w/in insurance industry. Mail resumes to: Starr Insurance Holdings, Inc. Attn: Maria Fernandez, 3353 Peachtree Rd, NE, Ste 1000, Atlanta, GA 30326

CASHIER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Cashier in the Finance Department. This position will perform all clerical tasks related to the cash receipt function. Collect, process, and deposit payments made to the Village received directly from customers, via mail, lockbox, or from other internal departments. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/human-resources-department. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. This position is open until filled, first review of applications will be on May 23, 2023.

The Oak Park Residence Corporation (OPRC) is looking to hire talented and experienced individuals for the following positions. OPRC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We provide competitive compensation and a generous benefits package.

JOB OPENINGS

SENIOR PROPERTY MANAGER, HOUSING PROGRAMS – Provides oversight in the management of three housing communities in Oak ParkMills Park Tower, The Oaks, and The Farrelly-Muriello Apartments.

ROSS PROGRAM SERVICE COORDINATOR (RPSC) – MILLS

PARK TOWER – Develops and coordinates service programs that promote self-sufficiency and independent living for Mills Park Tower residents.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/ PROGRAM SUPPORT – MILLS

PARK TOWER - Provides administrative and clerical support to Mills Park Tower Property Manager and Assistant Property Manager.

HCV PROGRAMS CASE MANAGER(S) – Provides case management to Oak Park Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher participants.

PROPERTY MANAGER, MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL –Manages multiple market-rate buildings throughout Oak Park. In collaboration with leasing and maintenance teams, provides excellent customer services to residents.

For a complete job description for each of these positions and information about how to apply, please visit our website at https://oakparkrc.com/ about-us/work-for-oprc/ OR Send Cover letter and resume to bswaggerty@oakparkrc.com

SALE

MARKETPLACE

WOODWORK

On-site refinishing of wood and fiberglass since 1977. Includes doors, woodwork, windows, staircases and new woodwork etc. All work done by hand. NO sanders. Your unfinished project my specialty! References available. Contact Terry Seamans at 630-379-7148 or terryseamans@yahoo.com

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

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

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

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

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

The Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, located at 201 N. Scoville will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation Meeting which will take place remotely via video/telephone conference on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 9:00am. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private/parochial schools and who are home schooled within the district for the 2023-24 school year. If you are the parent of a homeschooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability and you reside within the boundaries of Oak Park & River Forest High School District 200, you are urged to attend. If you would like to join the meeting, please contact Kiara Colas at kcolas@oprfhs.org or call (708) 434-3706 to request the Zoom Link information.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 24, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: YY23010544 on May 9, 2023

Under the Assumed Business Name of NOTHING MATTERS with the business located at: 3938 N CALIFORNIA AVE APT 1E, CHICAGO, IL 60618. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: CLAUDIA LICETH CRUZ 3938 N CALIFORNIA AVE APT 1E CHICAGO, IL 60618, USA

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 24, 31, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.

Request of Nathan Christopher Gonzales Case Number 2023CONC000747

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Nathan Christopher Gonzales to the new name of: Nathan Ace Pietri

The court date will be held: On 08/10/2023 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 24, 31, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE ENTRY LEVEL APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE OF THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS

The Entry Level Appointment Committee of the Village of Oak Park, Illinois adopted Rules and Regulations for Fire Department entry level appointments on May 8, 2023. The Rules and Regulations may be obtained at the Human Resources Department, Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 during the regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Rules and Regulations shall take effect ten (10) days from the date of publication of this notice.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS OF THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS

The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the Village of Oak Park, Illinois adopted amendments to the Rules and Regulations for appointments to the Police Department on May 8, 2023. The amendments to the Rules and Regulations may be obtained at the Human Resources Department, Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 during the regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The amendments to the Rules and Regulations shall take effect ten (10) days from the date of publication of this notice.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION

DOCKET NUMBER: PC 2301 (Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment-Adaptive Reuse Permit)

HEARING DATE: June 1, 2023

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

LOCATION OF HEARING: Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street (Room 201 - Council Chambers) Oak Park, IL 60302

PETITIONER: Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302

REQUEST: The Petitioner seeks text amendments to the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance as follows: (1) an amendment to Article 2 (“Definitions & Rules of Measurement”) by adding a definition of a “Teaching and Learning Center” and “Live Performance Venue – Limited”; (2) an amendment to Article 8 (“Uses”) by adding Teaching

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

CERY DIVISION

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC

Plaintiff, -v.-

and Learning Center and Live Performance Venue - Limited to the list of uses; and (3) an amendment to Article 14 (“Zoning Approvals”) by adding a new Section 14.10 (“Adaptive Reuse Permit”).

A copy of the proposed text amendment is on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION Oak Park, Illinois 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal, May 17, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER: 09-23-Z

HEARING DATE: June 7, 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

APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on a special use permit application filed by the Applicant, Chetranda Grey, to operate a reception/ banquet facility pursuant to Section 8.3 (“Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the property located at 6435 North Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-06-206-008-0000 in the NA North Avenue Zoning District. A copy of the application and

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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 GIV-

EN 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.

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.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal, May 17, 2023

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) 236SALE

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 GIVEN 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) 236-

SALE

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

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C.

15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-22-03237

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 - CHANCERY DIVISION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF14 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-FF14 Plaintiff, -v.-

JUANITA J. LACOURT, CHARLES T. GRANT, WELLS FARGO BANK N.A.

Defendants 2020 CH 07380 817 S. SCOVILLE AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIV-

EN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 16, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corpo-

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. SCOVILLE AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304

Property Index No. 16-18-228-019-

000

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 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. 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

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Riveredge Hospital is here to help any member of your family.

This month, make your mental health a priority. We offer specialized inpatient and outpatient services for children, teens and adults.

Did you know?

The average delay between the onset of symptoms of a mental health issue and the start of treatment is 11 years.

- National Library of Medicine