Wednesday Journal
OPRF CLASS OF 2021
June 9, 2021
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June 9, 2021 Vol. 41, No. 23 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
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June 9, 2021
OPRF CLASS OF 2021
Wednesday Journal
You made it. We know a thing or two about milestones. After all, we’ve been helping people celebrate and adapt to them for more than 60 years. Since our founding in Oak Park in 1957, we’ve provided generations of Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Parkers with best-in-class in coverage, trusted guidance, and personalized service that adjusts throughout every stage of life. From home and auto, to business and commercial, we provide superior insurance products that deliver better value, better outcomes, and greater peace of mind. Whether shopping multiple companies, advising you on coverages, or guiding you through claims, we’re with you every step of the way. From graduation and beyond.
Congratulations Class of 2021 from the Forest Insurance family
708 383 9000
forestinsured.com
Chubb | Cincinnati | Hanover | Hartford | Liberty Mutual | MetLife Auto & Home | Nationwide Private Client | Progressive | Safeco | Travelers
OPRF CLASS OF 2021
Wednesday Journal
Produced in partnership with Oak Park and River Forest High School. Special thanks to Karin Sullivan and Jackie McGoey. Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designers Javier Govea, Mark Moroney Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich HOW TO REACH US 141 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Pak, IL 60302 Phone 708 524 8300 Fax 708 467 9066 Online www.OakPark.com. www.RiverForest.com @OakPark Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2021 Growing Community Media NFP.
To the Oak Park and River Forest High School Class of 2021, Wow, you did it! You have all accomplished one of the major early milestones of your life: high school graduation, and to think you did so in the midst of a global pandemic. The fact that you are here today is a major step in your journey of life. One that should be recognized for its immense significance. You are survivors. You have survived three levels of learning in the past 15 months: remote, hybrid, and in-person. You have survived mask wearing, social distancing, emotional ups and downs, and yet, through it all, you persevered. E.E. Cummings said, “It takes courage to grow and become who you really are.” Moreover, by that courage you have shown that you are not only survivors . . . you are
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warriors! You are tougher than anything life throws your way. Please never doubt that!
interview table and through our racial equity policy and more. You are leaving a legacy.
I say to the parents, family members, faculty, and friends that before us sits a legacy of young people who have shown not only self-confidence, determination, and grit, but also perseverance and resiliency when faced with adversity. They looked it in the eye and took it on.
In closing, you have seen and survived so much, and you have responded with grit and determination. I challenge you now to take the reality you were given and turn it into something better. Class of 2021, as you look back on the past four years, you will be amazed at how much change has taken place within you. Your perspectives, your expectations, what drives you, and the realization of just how far you have come. Now is your time!
To the graduates, thank you. Over the past four years, you were diligent in having your voices heard so that the students to come could benefit. You told us and we listened, and you are leaving a legacy. I believe that every student who walks through our doors leaves a mark on our school for those students who have yet to walk through our halls. The impact and the power your voices have had on the changes here at Oak Park and River Forest High School goes without saying. Graduates, because of you, we now have safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students; in December, a new Student Resource Center, a place where our Black and Brown students can feel a sense of belonging and are not judged by their hair or the clothes that they wear. A place where access and opportunity are the norm. Your voice resounds at the
A quote from an unknown author states: “Today you will close the door to the past and open the door to the future. Take a deep breath, step on through and start the next chapter of your journey. Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” I have been honored to serve as your superintendent for the past five years and I am even more honored to share this moment with you as you embark upon the next phase of your journey and me upon mine. Thank you. Dr. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams Superintendent
Celebrating what we’ve lost, too Surviving high school. We’ve all got a story, or dozen, around that theme.
DAN HALEY
But the Class of 2021 will win all future debates about just what it took to get to graduation in the heavy weather of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an excerpt of her graduation day speech above, Supt. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams rightly pulls out the descriptors: grit, perseverance, resilience. She may have overlooked moxie.
All true. And the superintendent correctly extends the credit beyond students to include their parents and certainly to faculty. But for all the resilience we’d not be telling the full story unless we referenced the abiding pain, isolation, failure and doubt that were also the stressed out lives of so many of our kids and those families across the past 15 months. Pretty much unfathomable what we have all come through. And what some of us haven’t entirely come through.
It is a moment certainly to celebrate. And the nature of the celebration, in person, with family, was closer to normal than any of us would have expected just a few months ago. Credit our public health sacrifices. Credit the science which brought us the vaccines so quickly. Nothing wrong though to note the losses endured. The shared theater performances in the OPRF auditorium. The breakthrough moments in a school lab. The camaraderie of that final year when the hometowns were most everything, where the friendships abiding since elementary school turn toward consideration of a much wider world. We’ve all given up a lot to make it through the only pandemic we will hopefully ever face. This makes the Class of ’21 altogether unique and remarkable. Launched through a shower of meteors. Launched through a crucible of pain and possibility. And now on to what is next for each of you. Dan Haley Editor and Publisher Wednesday Journal
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OPRF CLASS OF 2021
June 9, 2021
Wednesday Journal
Congratulations to the Class of 2021 and their families! My, how time flies! Family Friendly & Family Centered
Comprehensive healthcare to everyone, from newborns to seniors. • Women’s health (including PAP smears, IUD placement)
• Chronic Disease Management
• Adult & Pediatric Care
• COVID 19 VACCINES are now available to all patients 12 years and older.
• Well child, school, sport and camp physicals • Vaccinations • On site laboratory/phlebotomy (HealthLab)
• Same Day Sick Visits Available
• Telehealth appointments by phone now available
We are pleased to welcome Kathryn VanBuskirk, DO who is accepting NEW patients and is innetwork with most insurance plans.
Lake Street F A M I LY
P H Y S I C I A N S
1010 W. Lake Street, Suite 301, Oak Park, IL 60301 708-524-8600 • 708-524-8147 fax • www.LakeStreetFamilyPhysicians.com
OPRF CLASS OF 2021
Wednesday Journal
A Donovan Aceron Amparo Katalina Acevedo Marcelo Javier Acevedo Zitlaly Acosta Kaliya Adams Landon Shaw Adelstein Jazmin Jamila Adkins Meredith Ann Agnew
June 9, 2021
Sivan Aharon
Katheryn Baillie Anderson
Angelina Aranda
Jeremy Glyn Bates
Charmir J Akins
Sophia Anne Andrews
Santiago Arenas
Krys Baumgart
Michael Robert Allen
Kathryn Grace Andries
Molly May Stenglei Armbruster
Dylan Baus
Nina Ruby Allread
Danielle Michaela Angeles
Owen Alexander Arnold
Zion Beckam
Sammy Abdul Allah Ammra
Leo Angelini
Jaya Raja Ashrafi
Talib Becktemba-Goss
Sarai Micaela Anaya
Julia Anton
Harrison Ashton
Makaylah Lashay Beckworth
Lucas V Ancieta
Grace Marie Anzaldi
Nadia Akofa Ayeva
Evan Michael Bell
Luca Andersen
Nyla Patrice Apollo Avery John Aquino
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Jamie Harrison Bell
Jontasia Myriana Anderson
Mark R Bach-Muench Lauren Backes Deon Anthony Badejo Olivia Baig Annaliese Simone Baker Isabella Cecilia Baker Owen Andrew Baker Safiya Baker Maxwell Irwin Banghart William Bryan Bankes Nuri Michael Banks Jacob Barnard Olivia Denise Barnes Maggie Rose Baron Zachary Baron Jalen Michael Bates
ALEX ROGALS/Staff photographer
OPRF2021
GRADUATES
Christopher Bonk
Violet Evelyn Bell
Aidan Alexander Bonomo
Maya Iwalani Bennett
Victoria Borchardt
Emma Joselin Benno
Rashid Kamal Bounds Jr
Samuel Benzkofer
George Spiros Bourgikos
Julian A Berry
Tyler Nathan Bracey
Sophie Bessell
Tyler Nichols Bradley
Eric William Bezaire
Micaela Lynn Bragg
Nathaniel Billadeau
Daniel Martin Branand
Jake Richard Birmingham
Benjamin Andrew Brandt
Jackson Bishop
Emma Marie Brandt
Jonah Austin Black
Paige Braun
Benjamin Bliss
Sofia K Bravo
Gretchen Alida Block
Ava Margaret Brennan
Megan Catherine Blum
Ryan Kelly-Tellez Brennan
Abigail Margaret Bockus
Mary Brenneman
Austin Bohlmann
Ruby Brice
Genevieve P Bolino
You Don’t Need a
GREEN Live a Green Life? CAR... Give your car a Green TuneUp!
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Congrats to the class of 2021
We are the first eco-friendly auto repair facility in the area, offering complete repair and maintenance services for all types of vehicles.
to get a GREEN Tune-Up! We are the first eco-friendly repair facility in the area, offering complete repair and maintenance services for all types of vehicles.
435 Madison St., Oak Park IL 60302 7222 Madison St., ourplanetauto.com Forest Park, IL 60130 (behind FatDuck) 708-383-0053
708-383-0053 • ourplanetauto.com
Eco-Friendly Auto Repair In Your Neighborhood
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OPRF CLASS OF 2021
June 9, 2021
OPRF2021
GRADUATES
Evan Robert Burnham
Anthony Michael Chrisp
Maya Angela Cribbin
Terrence D Burns Jr
Julia Charlotte Christopher
Nicolai Avi Cronin
Grey Aleksandr Burton Lucia Perez Butler
Anna Sofia Chulos Saarinen
Andrew Cronin-Barron Nicholas Cronin-Barron
Reagan Elizabeth Butler
Maya Elizabeth Chung
Owen Griffin Cunningham
Morgan Walsh Culliton
Gennis Lorenzo Buttitta
Kaleigh Clarke
Jack Edward Brisben
Sofia Charlotte Buy
Ryan Potter Clarkson
Kathryn Rose Curtin
Savannah Renee Broderick
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Shiri R Clay
Mabel Olivia Czajka
Samuel Degen Bromley
Delilah Jabri Clemons
Maximus Decimus Cagnina
Vaughn Evelyn Clissold
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Brianna Patrice Campbell
Glen Darius Cobb
Shamarah Dalley
Richard Edward Campbell
Anthony M Coleman
Ruby Dalton
Sean Carey
Maurice Steven Coleman Jr
John Peter Carlson
Layla Ashaki Conner
Gregory Liam Carmichael
Alex Contreras
Ezra Broughton
Stephon Carr
Mason Bennett Coplan
Jaiden Isaiah Brown
Evan Michael Carter
Olivia Rose Cordes
Scout Angelina Brown
Tehrae Diva Carter
Chance Browning Cornell
Corey Brown Jr
Santiago Castro
Kaylin Corotis
Kasey T Brown Jr
Eamon Cavanaugh
Jared James Cortez
Nina Browne
Sunita Bipan Chand
Molly Courtois
Elizabeth Marie Bronaugh Jovon Bronson George Mcamar Brooks-Slauter Nora Elizabeth Brooks-Slauter
Astrid Isobel Perkins Brunk Aalayiah Faith Brunner Nahlyee Bryant Zachary J Buchta Ethan Burdin
Daniella Kat Chapman-Rienstra Benjamin William Charkow Maria Chavez
William Scott Cozzi Evelyn Anne Crane Emmanuel Vernon Crawford Jalen Alphonso Crawford
Wednesday Journal
Mary Katherine Dambrogio Alexandria Lynn Davis Aliyah Mahogoni Davis Iriel Mylana Davis-Conley
ALEX ROGALS/Staff photographer
Emma Ann Devitt
Abigail Jordan Doyle
William Coleman Edwards
Rachelle Nicole Erving
Joshua Franklin Diamond
Simon James Doyle
Wren Edwards
Elijah Miller Evans
Penelope Louise Dinou
Natalie Larsen Drane
Elizabeth Meyer Eggert
Isabel Hayek Evans
Caroline Grace Diskin
John Kill Duffy
Alexander Eismueller
Isabela Ames Evanson
John Constantine Delis
Neil Dombrowski
John Joseph Duffy Jr
Julie Charlotte Delisi
Ethan Robert Domenz
William James Duncan
Evelyn Rose Dellegrazie
Abigail Suzanne Donarski
Sophia An Desai
Maria Grace Donlin
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Julio Desir
Nina Louise Donlin
Emma Ramirez Dean Katherine Morgan Debeers Sofiamarie Vargas Dela Cruz
Sophia Lee Donnellan
Amelie Sophia el Mahmoud
Terra Elizabeth Evenson
Graham James Eldred
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Abigail Elkes
Kevin Ryan Fahey
Ava Isabella Eckman
Lauren Evelyn Elkes
Kees A Falconer
Darion Edwards
Zachary Isaac Elkes
Jack Harley Farrar
Congratulations Class of 2021!
Wednesday Journal
OPRF CLASS OF 2021
7324 w. madison street forest park, il 60130
June 9, 2021
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OPRF CLASS OF 2021
June 9, 2021
Wednesday Journal
ALEX ROGALS/Staff photographer
Nina Baisi Gallagher
Arthur Gudel
Rory Gwen Higgins-Urban
Camila Anahi Gamboa
Benjamin Guerrero
Kyle Hill
Malachi Troy Gant
Jonathan N Guerrero
Keshia Brianna Hinds
Aaliyah J Garcia
Danielle Guralnick
Hunter C Hogan
Cecilio Benjamin Garcia
Mitchell Steven Gusloff
Grant William Holderfield
Diego Alberto Garcia
Sol Stewart Guthrie
Mekylah Holloway
Gabriella Maria Ferrante
Paul Garcia
Rigoberto Guzman Jr
Samuel Houseal
Sofia Patricia Ferraro
Rami S Gardenier
Najda Hadi-Stjohn
Carolina Figueroa
Kamiya Garland
Zachary Dylan Fine
Rebekah Gaskill
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Malik Finley
Tyrell Gaylord
Liam Finn
Lily Genovese
Lily Finn
Finnegan Lee George
Gia Eve Fisher
Abigail Elizabeth Gibbs
Justin Nathaniel Fitzpatrick
Molly Margaret Gibbs
OPRF2021
GRADUATES
Father’s Day Sale! 4 -$10 LUSTRE wash for $31 4 - $8 ULTIMATE wash for $23 4 - $7 DELUXE wash for $19
ENDS 6/20/21!
John Flanagan Joseph Michael Patric Flatley Adam Thomas Fleischer
UNDERCARRIAGE SPRAY ON ALL WASHES!!
The Difference is TOUCHLESS! This is the ONLY TOUCHLESS Car Wash in Town! Durashield Total Body Surface Protectant on the Lustre Wash!
Spotless Carwash • 7802 Madison St. & 7343 Roosevelt in Forest Park 708-771-2945 • We Accept All Major Credit Cards
You can purchase tokens from an attendant weekdays from Noon to 5pm or Sat. & Sun. 9-11am & 11:30-4pm. OR YOU CAN BUY THEM ONLINE AT:
spotlessautowash.com
WASH HOURS: 7AM THRU 10PM DAILY!
Quinn Flemming Soren Fliegel Isabela Flores Kaius Dane Floyd Nathaniel Folker
Jackson Bradley Giemza Chloe Elizabeth Gill Kianna Rose Gill Tameron Gill Sasha Elize Gillett Isabella Gillingham Ethan Julius Glossa Helena Zoe Godellas Samuel John Gonzaga Deyro
Trenyce Folsom
Lindsay Ann Gooch
Maximo Font
Taylor Ann Goodwater
Antione Lamar Ford
Lucy Bean Goodwin
Miika Elizabeth Forsyth
Claire Gora
Mark Henry Fortunato
Francesca Elizabeth Gore
Ethan K France
Abigail Govea
Sarah Frickx Jonah Friedmann Jeremia Frimpong Maya Ruby Funk
G Ethan Gale Olivia Rose Star Galic
Madelyn Taylor Grant Amaya Serenity Lacie Gray Malcolm Demetrius Gray Holden Nicholas Green Langford Green Rebecca Kaitlyn Green Jack Greenwald
Tiahna M Haggar Salem Hallab Sadie Xuan Lisa Halvorsen
DeAnthony William Howard Madeleine Jane Howe Evan Huber Emmanuel Deandre Hudson
Hope Elizabeth Hamilton
Reece William Hughes
Quinn Hanley
Parker Hulen
Elliot Hann
Olivia Noelle Hunsberger
Zoe Yongmei Haralambidis
Evelyn Layla Hunt
Anton Harris
Jontavion E Hunt
Ava Earl Hart
Alfred Lamont Hunter Jr
Rachel Hartman
Lauren Elena Hyman
Simon Miles Hartrich
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Isaiah Lee Hartsfield Shawn Harvey John Hedrich Molly Kathleen Heflin Alexandra Heidkamp-Pimentel
Caroline Iocca Wells Jacob Carter Ipema Alayna Mykael Irby Matthew John Irving Gabrielle Isaac
Ayush Hemmady-Wright
Benjamin T Issel
Asa Malik Henfield
Anya Elizabeth Ivey
Leo Aime Joseph Ma Henry
Michael Asuka Iwashima
Lucille Stewart Henry
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Kohl Francis Henssler Anne Coyle Herbst Nicole Hernandez Ruben Julian Hernandez Andrew Henry Hess Maia Rose Hess Owen Theodore Hess Zachary Collin Heyer
Natalie Jaimes Davion Ashaun James Izabela Wanda Jedrzejczyk Samantha Marie Jenkins Luke Jenks Olive Monette Jenkyns Elijah Peter
Wednesday Journal
OPRF CLASS OF 2021
June 9, 2021
“ K I D , Y O U ' L L M O V E M O U N T A I N S . ” ― DR. SEUSS, "OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!"
H A P P Y G R A D U A T I O N T O O U R H I G H S C H O O L V O L U N T E E R S Landon Adelstein Lucy Butler Maria Donlin Nina Donlin Terra Evenson Kees Falconer Olivia Galic Nina Gallagher Molly Gibbs
Chloe Gill Amaya Gray Olivia Hunsberger Sarah Katz Azmer Khan Rachael Kindler Irene Maychruk Rosemary McNulty Phoebe Olszowka
www.hephzibahhome.org
Ella Renner Sydney Ross Ella Sorensen Devin Sturtevant Vivian Summy Ella Taira Ruby Wolff Suzy Wysockey Amelia Yu Elliot Zubkus
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OPRF CLASS OF 2021
June 9, 2021
Hanna Jennison
William Kouris
Gabriel Manske
Alexander Johnson
Harrison Walter Kratz
Talia Halie Marcus
Alicha Rachel Johnson
Aidan Anthony Krupp
Quincy James Martin
Breanna Johnson
Francis Krusinski
William R Martin
Hayden Mathew Johnson
Lucille Kryger
Jalen Elijah Marx
Kayla Jean Johnson
Emilia Jean Kucharz
Patrick Michael Marzec
Natalie Faith Johnson
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Samin Nazanin Massoumi
Nora Cristina Johnson Shannon Johnson Zora Jendayi Johnson Andrew Johnson-Cheeks Amarion Jones Bailey Steven Jones Ethan Richard Jones Jada M Jordan Lucy Violet Jordan
Alexander Michele Lacava John Kenneth Landis Maximilian Emile Laporte Josephine Rose Lappe Maximillian Connerty Lau Eli Lauger Jack Layden Luke Jacob Lazarczyk
Ella Matarazzo Makenzie Paige Matas Graydon William Mattes Irene Caroline Maychruk Avery Lowe McConnell Isabella Rose McCullough Ayanna McDaniel Zaideh Jane Rische McDermott
OPRF2021
GRADUATES
Tremayne D Moore Jacob Isaiah Morales Megan Sheridan Moroney Holden Jack Morris Taylor Elizabeth Morris Earlondon J Mosley Jonathan D Mueller-Nussenbaum Mia Rose Mueller-Nussenbaum
Chloe Jennifer Leach
Ingrid McEachen
Nathaniel Coughlin Lee
Ryan Kristofer McFadden
Vincent Xavier Lee
Samuel Keith McFarland
John Lee Jr
John Patrick McGillen
Lily Anne Leman
Bodie Kahlow
Adelind Claire McGoldrick
Maarten Lempia
Lucy Kallista
Samuel McIntosh
Kimberly Leppe
Sophia Jolie Kanga
Hannah McKee
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Claire Danielle Levis
Aidan Charles McKelvey
Connor Nagela
Caroline Kansa
Teagan Samantha Levy
Stellan M Karim
Johnson Lewis
Lillian Sophia Katz
Nolan Li
Ammar Terrell McLeod
Braiden Jean Neubecker
Sarah Yael Katz
Gideon Myer Lichterman
Owen Alexander McMillan
Brady Nevara
Richard Liebermann
Henry Finn McMullen
Sirikon Lena Limplatya
Rosemary McNulty
Esteban J Linarez Jr
Luke Alexander Medland
Alexandra Marie Nicholson
Maya Mella Meiners
Hannah Grace Nicholson
K Cyrus Nicholls Kaczkowski Samuel Jacob Kahan-Harth
John Andrew Kaufman Bryce Ellis Kayser Yana Keane Isabel Michaela Keidan Samuel Keidan
Danielle Schroetter Lindsay
Nicolas Lawrence McKelvey
David William Meister
Abbey Jane Mullen Mira Nicole Mundt Matthew Henry Murphy James Murphy Jr Shameille Mya Myrick
Amalia Sofia Najera
Martha Newman Michelle Nguyen
Megan Kathleen Nickel
Maya Lynn Loewenthal
Kelsey Anne Kemper
Jaylen Lofgren
Emma Jean Meister Bresnahan
Emma Lily Keneipp
Zion Elijah Long
Jocelyn Meraz
Margaret Anne Kennedy
Nicholas Lubertozzi
Maja Metcalf
Kaniya Amani Khaaliq
Jeremy Joseph Lulu
Hannah Sylvester Metric
Azmer Khan
Colby James Lundak
Cassidy Melissa Metzger
Jack Hayden Kiefer
Beverly J Lundeen
Matthew D Meyering
Emma Katherine Luptak
Elizabeth N Milan
Aiyanna Brianne King
Abigail Erin Lynch
Ian Michael Miller
O
Miles Beeler Kirk
Elena Cristina Lynch
Mary Evelyn Miller
Andrew Kitzman
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Aiden P Klass Kate Margaret Klinger Sarah Elizabeth Kluger Erik Endre Kocs-Washburn Hannah Koe Madeleine Grace Koetke Jessica Elise Kohlenberger Sarah G Kohout Logan Stone Komar Tatiana Viktoria Kopecka Adeline Louise Kosterman
ALEX ROGALS/Staff photographer
Ahkil Nalls
Devon Nicholas Keller
Rachael Kindler
Wednesday Journal
Lia Ingrid Nickson Conor Fogarty Nield Joseph Nieslawski
Genevieve Frances Overmyer
Emma Jacqueline Perisho
Stella Rafter
Richter-Stewart
Jonathan Perkins
Benjamin Raisbeck
Cooper Ricks
Cynaiah Overstreet
Katherine Perkins
Izaiah Ryan Ramos
Hasan Nicholas Rinaldi
Jacqueline Renee Owen
Emmett Perry
Jade Malika Ramsey
Jyleen Jelisa Rios
Noah Oxer
Ruth B Petrick
Holden Alexander Ranker
Giacomo Antonio Rizzo
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Ryan Thomas Phung
Addison Bandari Rao
Kyla Mae Robateau
Benjamin David Piech
Dox Raskin
Oliver Francis Robbins
Luke Samuel Pilditch
John Reinhard Ratz
Calvin Robinson
Jayla Pillow
Joseph Robert Ratz
Kyle Pacheco Adrian Palmares Athanasios Robe Pantazopoulos
Salome Joanne Pintado-Vertner
Kennedy Latrece Redman
Emmanuel James Robinson
Aidan Jonathan Redmond
Maya Louise Robinson
Elise Houle Pope
Colin Reed
Oliver Torsten Nicast Roloff
Nathan S Potter
Evelyn Lauren Reese
Vanessa Roman
Evan Powell
Zoe Paster Regenstein
Wilken Rose
Nyle Shawn Pascascio
Jessalyn Bicknese Powell
Elizabeth Reichert-Powell
Sydney Ross
Maya Patel
Leo Powers
Kyle James O’Brien
Julia Genevieve Patston
Maeve Powers
Seth Garrison Miller
Ania Elise Ocasio
Jasmine Paulk
Jiana Prete
Enrique Rendon
Taylor Imelda Miller
Cait Dolores O’Ddonnell
Mary Katherine Pavlicek
Alejandra Prouty
Isabella Anne Reniva
Emma Ruizvelasco-Biddle
Madeline Grace Macek
John Minich
Tiara R Ogunsanya
Ophelia Mary Puccinelli
Ella Ann Renner
Hannah Rule
Damarius Mackerl
Aniya R Payton
Samuel Mistak
Solana Maria Oliver
Sofia Rutkowski
Henry Olson
Logan Dylan Pedraza
Lindsey Clarice Reppe
Megan Rutman
Terrell Magett Jr
Nathan Saunders Mitzenmacher
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Nina Reposh
Kate Walsh Madden
Timothy Pecenka
Mateo Girard Reyes
Anders Duncan Ryan
Zane A Maggio
Kelly Mizenburg
Thorsten Oakes Mahler
Ellaiza Mae Monakil
Nakayla Mahone
Benjamin Montanez
Anna Marie Majka
Daniel Monty
Emily Ann Maldonado
Eryn M Moore
Israel Mangren
Lilian Moore
Olivia Anne Manola
Takaiya Moore
Ana Vesna Nikolic
Diego Stitziel Pareja
Livia Maria Nitsche
Brigid Parker
Sophia Carlota Nitsche Anastaja Nicole Nunez
Phoebe Olszowka Alessa Marie Oltman
Joseph Benjamin Pascarella
Payton Tynea Antoinet Peebles
Sean Patrick O’Neill
Shioto Pelton-Saito
Raghav Opal
Benjamin Peppler
Kelsey Anne Oshea
Evelyn Peppler
Kaelen Margaret Osta Smith
Kyla M’adeline Pereles Esteban Agustin Perez
Mary Grace Quinlan Aaron Hastings Quinn
R Jacques A Rachal Jr Semina Radoncic Adam Lee Raducha Abbe Kate Radzinski
Charles William Edward Reid
Charlotte Zhao Ke Reynders Andrew Reynolds Mia Geraldine Richardson Sophie Alexis Richardson Annabelle Helen Richert Victoria Blai
Joseph Thomas Roucka Jocelynn Onyinye Dee Rowe
Benjamin Henry Ryan Colin Ryan
OPRF CLASS OF 2021
Wednesday Journal
June 9, 2021
Congratulations 0 2 0 2 f o s s a l C s n o gratulati of 2021 ConClass You Did It!!! You Did It! Generations of Excellence since 1958
708.771.8040 • 7375 W. North Ave., River Forest 7375 West North Avenue River Forest, Illinois 60305
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OPRF CLASS OF 2021
Congratulations Class of 2021!! Be proud of how far you’ve come and best wishes for a bright future!
ND
ER FORE RIV ST
YOUTH SERVICES
SHIPS WN TO
A
June 9, 2021
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If you would like more information on Township programs and services, please call: Prevention Services (708) 383-8005
Youth Services (708) 445-2727
Community Mental Health Board (CMHB) (708) 358-8855
Wednesday Journal
OPRF CLASS OF 2021
Wednesday Journal Hai Chang Jonah Semanik
Ella K Sorensen
Michael Stanley Sensat
Connor Sorg
Liam Patrick Sersen
Juliana M Sosa
Zachariah Vincent Shack
Abigail Pyne Spencer
Samuel Shafiro
Sarah Elisabeth Spencer
Lila Katherine Shea
Sara Spielman
Angelina Noelle Shera
Meghann Spillane
James Shorney
Jacob Staggs
Willa Marie Sagal
Elena Short
Michael John Stamm
Emma Alice Sage
Alex Shrader
Lyla Stanislaw
OPRF2021
GRADUATES
S Remick Saler Crystal S B Salmon
Robert Cameron Shunmugam
Natalie L Saltzman
Isabel Sichlau
Jonathan Fattori Steketee
John Ryan Sanford
Eleanor Indigo Sigel
Nicolo Anthony Stella
Londynn Devani Santos
Olivia Ruth Sigunick
Zavien Jacobi Stewart
Gabriella Tristen Saracco
Victor Andrew Sikorski
Brandon Ross Stiffic
Owen Richard Saranecki
Shawnese Silmon
Maxwell A Stolfa
Morgan Rose Sarsany
David Nicholas Silva
Lea Futao Stolz
Julian Nicholas Saucedo
Carter Gabriel Simmons
Lucas Gabriel Stowe
Estriana X Saunders
Nathaniel Benjamin Singer
Ava Marion Strokosch
Olivia Rose Saville
Miles Granger Slaten
Devin Sturtevant
Anna Therese Savramis
Omari Ikechi Sloan
Audrey Stutz
Maxim Schemmel
Estelle Beatrice Slocum
Maia Serenity Sullivan
Sam Schenkelberg Isaac Mark Schiff-Lewin Ty Schirmer Imogen Schneller Samuel Schottler Charles William Schumacher Nya Yaling Schwartz Emma Kathryn Sculles Michael Anthony Selvage
Hayden Christopher Smeaton Audrey Smith Jackson Smith McKenzie Zuri Smith Meshiya A Smith Lawrence Elliott Smith Jr Jemari Lavell Smith-Payton Spencer Soodan
Isabella Marie Staples Campbell Schueler Steele
Vivian Summy Megan Nicole Sutor Brady E Svehla Nevin J Sykes Emmet John Szewczyk Catherine Ford Szpila
June 9, 2021
T Ella Janet Taira John Lawrence Talluto Jackson Dillard Tanner Alex Reed Taranowski Marina Tarassenko
Congratulations to all 2021 graduates! Dr. Brann, Maddie, Olivia and Michelle
Ninah Simone Tendrick Gwendolyn Theis Anastasia Wilshere Theys Charlie Davis Thies Alanah Simone Thomas Dylan A Thomas Jahaira Selassie Thomas Ii Chase Thompson McKale Thompson Cole Patrick Thorpe James Richard Tikkanen Sophia Katherine Tillotson Francis Peter Tirone Nathan Anthony Tirone Mateo R Tobin Brooke Alexis Toliver Ryan Jon Tomaso Monet Isyss Tramel Brynn M Cassioppi Tran Abigail Rose Travis
Learn more at
www.brannspeechtherapy.com
Katharine Trevino Rashaad Trice Mark Tan Trinka Jacob Tristano
Need a helping of
Caroline Susan Turner Josiah Turner
Call Jill at (708) 524-8300 or visit OakPark.com/subscribe
ALEX ROGALS/Staff photographer
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OPRF CLASS OF 2021
June 9, 2021
Wednesday Journal
OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING SCHOLARS 2021
Michael Allen
Maggie Rose Baron
George Bourgikos
Katherine deBeers
(Scholarship Cup) Northwestern University
(Scholarship Cup) Georgia Institute of Technology
(Scholarship Cup) University of Maryland – College Park
Amelie el Mahmoud
Gia Fisher
Kianna Gill
(Scholarship Cup) Reed College
(Scholarship Cup) University of Chicago
(Scholarship Cup) California Polytechnic State University
Isabel Keidan
Kelsey Kemper
Maria Donlin
Sophia Donnellan
(Scholarship Cup) University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
(Scholarship Cup) University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign
Sadie Halvorsen
John Hedrich
Olivia Hunsberger
(Scholarship Cup) Purdue University
(Scholarship Cup) Seattle University
(Scholarship Cup) Indiana University Bloomington
(Scholarship Cup) University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign
Colby Lundak
Beverly Lundeen
Emma Luptak
Avery McConnell
(Scholarship Cup) University of Chicago
(Scholarship Cup) University of Virginia
(Scholarship Cup) University of Wisconsin – Madison
(Scholarship Cup) University of California – Santa Barbara
(Scholarship Cup) University of Pittsburgh
(Scholarship Cup) University of Wisconsin – Madison
Cassidy Metzger
John Minich
Jonathan Perkins
Emmett Perry
Dox Raskin
Eleanor Sigel
(Scholarship Cup) Washington University in St. Louis
(Scholarship Cup) Boston College
(Scholarship Cup) Northwestern University
(Scholarship Cup) Wesleyan University
(Scholarship Cup, National Merit Scholarship) University of Southern California
(Scholarship Cup, National Merit Scholarship) University of Southern California
Devin Sturtevant
Catherine Szpila
Jackson Tanner
Anastasia Theys
Abigail Travis
(Scholarship Cup) Wesleyan University
(Scholarship Cup) University of Vermont
(Scholarship Cup, National Merit Scholarship) University of Texas at Austin
(Scholarship Cup) Triton College, then University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign
Samuel Warzecha
(Scholarship Cup) University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
(Scholarship Cup) University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign
Nicholas Woods (Scholarship Cup) University of California – Los Angeles
NOTE: The Scholarship Cup is awarded to those students who have the highest grade point average at the end of their seventh semester using the high school’s weighted grade point index. To be eligible, students must have attended OPRFHS at least five of the previous seven semesters.
NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS
NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS
Maggie Rose Baron Nathaniel Lee Jonathan MuellerNussenbaum Emmett Perry Dox Raskin Eleanor Sigel Devin Sturtevant Jackson Tanner Nicholas Woods
Maggie Rose Baron Camille Grant Nathaniel Lee Jonathan Mueller-Nussenbaum Emmett Perry Dox Raskin Eleanor Sigel Devin Sturtevant Jackson Tanner Nicholas Woods
NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED Ethan France Ethan Gale Lindsay Gooch Rory HigginsUrban Isabel Keidan Margaret Kennedy Maximillian Lau Maarten Lempia Beverly Lundeen
Zane Maggio John Minich Nathan Mitzenmacher Noah Oxer Jasmine Paulk Jonathan Perkins Adam Raducha Samuel Shafiro Isabella Staples
John Ratz Zoe Regenstein Charlotte Reynders Sophie Richardson Annabelle Richert Victoria Richter-Stewart Joseph Roucka Benjamin Ryan Willa Sagal Emma Sage Gabriella Saracco Olivia Saville Isaac Schiff-Lewin Imogen Schneller Zachariah Shack Samuel Shafiro Lila Shea Alex Shrader Isabel Sichlau
Eleanor Sigel Carter Simmons Nathaniel Singer Estelle Slocum Hayden Smeaton Meghann Spillane Lyla Stanislaw Isabella Staples Nicolo Stella Devin Sturtevant Audrey Stutz Megan Sutor Catherine Szpila Ella Taira Marina Tarassenko Anastasia Theys Dylan Thomas McKale Thompson Sophia Tillotson
Isabella Baker Evan Bell Jonah Black Austin Bohlmann George Bourgikos Nicolai Cronin Katherine deBeers Elizabeth Eggert Gia Fisher
Megan Sutor Catherine Szpila Anastasia Theys Dylan Thomas Samuel Warzecha Jasmine Wood Elliot Zubkus
2020-2021 ILLINOIS STATE SCHOLARS
Based on a formula using ACT or SAT score and unweighted grade point average. Overall, approximately 10 percent of graduating seniors in Illinois qualify as State Scholars, compared to 25 percent at OPRF.
Landon Adelstein Michael Allen Lucas Ancieta Luca Andersen Leo Angelini Molly Armbruster Owen Arnold Jaya Ashrafi Isabella Baker Maggie Rose Baron Jeremy Bates Evan Bell Nathaniel Billadeau Jonah Black Benjamin Bliss Gretchen Block Austin Bohlmann Aidan Bonomo George Bourgikos
Sofia Bravo Ava Brennan Mary Brenneman Ruby Brice Astrid Brunk Grey Burton Sofia Buy Brianna Campbell Gregory Carmichael Eamon Cavanaugh Daniella ChapmanRienstra Ryan Clarkson Vaughn Clissold Nicolai Cronin Morgan Culliton Katherine deBeers Evelyn Dellegrazie Julio Desir Abigail Donarski
Maria Donlin Sophia Donnellan Simon Doyle John Duffy Elizabeth Eggert Amelie el Mahmoud Elijah Evans Kees Falconer Gia Fisher John Flanagan Soren Fliegel Nathaniel Folker Ethan France Maya Funk Ethan Gale Kianna Gill Helena Godellas Lindsay Gooch Camille Grant
Madelyn Grant Langford Green Benjamin Guerrero Najda Hadi-St. John Salem Hallab Sadie Halvorsen Zoe Haralambidis Rachel Hartman John Hedrich Dylan Hendrixson Ruben Hernandez Zachary Heyer Rory Higgins-Urban Maia Huang Olivia Hunsberger Lauren Hyman Gabrielle Isaac Elijah Jennison Samuel Kahan-Harth
Sophia Kanga Caroline Kansa Isabel Keidan Kelsey Kemper Margaret Kennedy Andrew Kitzman Aiden Klass Erik Kocs-Washburn Aidan Krupp Maximilian La Porte Maximillian Lau Nathaniel Lee Vincent Lee Maarten Lempia Johnson Lewis Maya Loewenthal Jaylen Lofgren Colby Lundak Beverly Lundeen
Phoebe Olszowka Emma Luptak Raghav Opal Elena Lynch Noah Oxer Madeline Macek Athanasios Zane Maggio Pantazopoulos Anna Majka Diego Pareja Olivia Manola Brigid Parker Irene Maychruk Joseph Pascarella Avery McConnell Jasmine Paulk Ingrid McEachen Timothy Pecenka David Meister Jonathan Perkins Maja Metcalf Katherine Perkins Hannah Metric Emmett Perry Cassidy Metzger Luke Pilditch Matthew Meyering Salome Pintado-Vertner Mary Miller Aaron Quinn John Minich Adam Raducha Nathan Mitzenmacher Mia Mueller-Nussenbaum Benjamin Raisbeck Addison Rao Tiara Ogunsanya Dox Raskin
Abigail Travis Caroline Turner Mirabella Valle Clara Wahlfeldt Samuel Warzecha Natalie Weissburg Eleanor White Anika Wilsnack Kendall Wilson Gwendolyn Wolski Danielle Wolven Jasmine Wood Nicholas Woods Matthew Wunsch Mariko Yamashita Amelia Yu Olivia Zimbler Jon Elliot Zubkus
OPRF CLASS OF 2021
Wednesday Journal
June 9, 2021
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CUM LAUDE SOCIETY Membership in the Cum Laude Society, OPRFHS’s honor society, represents a high scholastic honor. Juniors who rank in the top 5% of their class scholastically and seniors who rank in the top 15% of their class scholastically and who possess consistently high academic achievement are eligible for Cum Laude induction. Graduating members are: Michael Allen * Lucas Ancieta Luca Andersen Molly Armbruster Jaya Ashrafi Maggie Rose Baron * Evan Bell Samuel Benzkofer Sophie Bessell Jonah Black Benjamin Bliss Gretchen Block George Bourgikos * Ava Brennan
Astrid Brunk Brianna Campbell Daniella ChapmanRienstra Vaughn Clissold * Morgan Culliton Katherine deBeers * Evelyn Dellegrazie Abigail Donarski * Maria Donlin * Nina Donlin Sophia Donnellan * Elizabeth Eggert
Amelie el Mahmoud * Elijah Evans Gia Fisher * Soren Fliegel * Maya Funk * Ethan Gale * Nina Gallagher Chloe Gill Kianna Gill * Lindsay Gooch Abigail Govea Madelyn Grant Najda Hadi-St. John
Sadie Halvorsen * Zoe Haralambidis Rachel Hartman John Hedrich * Ruben Hernandez Rory Higgins-Urban Olivia Hunsberger * Gabrielle Isaac Sophia Kanga Sarah Katz Isabel Keidan * Kelsey Kemper * Margaret Kennedy Azmer Khan
Rachael Kindler Miles Kirk Aiden Klass Tatiana Kopecka Aidan Krupp Maximilian La Porte Maximillian Lau Nathaniel Lee Vincent Lee Jaylen Lofgren * Maya Loewenthal * Colby Lundak * Beverly Lundeen * Emma Luptak *
Madeline Macek * Zane Maggio Olivia Manola Irene Maychruk Avery McConnell * David Meister Maja Metcalf Cassidy Metzger * Mary Miller John Minich Jonathan MuellerNussenbaum Tiara Ogunsanya Solana Oliver
Phoebe Olszowka Raghav Opal Athanasios Pantazopoulos Joseph Pascarella Jonathan Perkins * Emmett Perry * Luke Pilditch Salome PintadoVertner Aaron Quinn * Addison Rao Dox Raskin * John Ratz *
Charlotte Reynders Victoria RichterStewart * Joseph Roucka * Sofia Rutkowski Willa Sagal Gabriella Saracco Olivia Saville Imogen Schneller Zachariah Shack Samuel Shafiro Lila Shea Alex Shrader Eleanor Sigel *
Nathaniel Singer Estelle Slocum Hayden Smeaton Lyla Stanislaw Isabella Staples Devin Sturtevant * Audrey Stutz * Catherine Szpila * Ella Taira Jackson Tanner * Anastasia Theys * Dylan Thomas Abigail Travis * Caroline Turner
Mirabella Valle * Charles Vietzen Clara Wahlfeldt Samuel Warzecha * Grace Werthmann Anika Wilsnack Nora Wollen Danielle Wolven Jasmine Wood Nicholas Woods * Mariko Yamashita * Amelia Yu Olivia Zimbler Jon Elliot Zubkus
* denotes members who were inducted during their junior year.
2021 SCHOLARSHIP & AWARD RECIPIENTS
Many graduating seniors in the Class of 2021 have received merit-based scholarships from their colleges and universities and from corporate programs, foundations, and other organizations. These scholarships—combined with $241,200 given locally through the generosity of the OPRFHS Scholarship Foundation, the Community Foundation of Oak Park and River Forest, and individual community, civic, and alumni groups—have provided $13.7 million to the 2021 graduating class. Below is a list of scholarships reported to OPRFHS to date and verified. A.P.P.L.E. - S.E.E.D. Scholarship Talib Becktemba-Goss, Quincy Martin Kyla Pereles, Chase Thompson American University - Dean’s Scholarship Mira Mundt Bangor University - Dean’s Scholarship Isabella Staples Baylor University - Founders Scholarship Hope Hamilton Beloit College - Dean’s Award Sophia Nitsche Berklee College of Music Berklee World Tour Scholarship Scout Brown Boise State University - Treasure Scholarship Genevieve Overmyer Bradley University - Presidential Excellence Scholarship Justin Fitzpatrick Bradley University - Presidential Scholarship Kaleigh Clarke Bradley University - The University Scholarship Dylan Baus Butler University - Academic Scholarship Paige Braun, Samuel Keidan, Colin Reed Calvin University - Legacy Award Emmanuel Robinson Calvin University - Mosaic Award Emmanuel Robinson Carthage College - Academic Honors Scholarship Anna Savramis Carthage College - Endowed Scholarship Anna Savramis Carthage College - Tuition Exchange Scholarship Nora Johnson Case Western Reserve University - University Scholarship Esteban Linarez, Raghav Opal Colorado School of Mines - President’s Scholarship Ava Brennan Columbia College - Columbia Scholar Award Aidan McKelvey, Nicolas McKelvey, Jocelynn Rowe Columbia College - Dean’s Scholarship Elizabeth Bronaugh, Aidan McKelvey, Nicolas McKelvey, Jocelynn Rowe Columbia College - Faculty Recognition Award (Illustration Department) Aidan McKelvey Columbia College - Faculty Recognition Award (Animation Department) Nicolas McKelvey Cornell College - Art Award Kathryn Andries Cornell College - Dean’s Scholarship Kathryn Andries Cornell College - Legacy Award Kathryn Andries Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. - Muriel Watkins Scholarship Award Jocelynn Rowe Denison University - Alumni Award Scholarship Maarten Lempia DePaul University - Dean’s Scholarship Emma Keneipp DePaul University - Presidential Scholarship Nathaniel Billadeau, Olivia Galic, Maia Hess, Lilian Moore, Sophie Richardson DePaul University - St. Vincent De Paul Scholarship Sarah Kohout DePaul University - Vincentian Award Samuel Bromley, Matthew Irving DePauw University - Alumni Legacy Award James Shorney DePauw University - Athletic Scholarship (Swimming) James Shorney DePauw University - University Merit Award James Shorney Dominican University - Dean’s Scholarship Alex Taranowski Dominican University - Presidential Scholarship Isabela Flores Drake University - Presidential Scholarship William Bankes, Vaughn Clissold, Caroline Kansa Drake University - Trustee Scholarship Vaughn Clissold Earlham College - Faculty Scholarship Oliver Robbins
Elon University - Presidential Scholarship Aidan Bonomo Emerson College - Expression Scholarship Annaliese Baker Emerson College - Trailblazer Scholarship Annaliese Baker Fordham University - Jogues Scholarship Caroline Turner Fordham University - Tuition Award Caroline Turner Garden Club of Oak Park/River Forest Scholarship Ava Brennan, Evan Burnham Gonzaga University - Dean’s Scholarship Ethan France Gonzaga University - Dussault Scholarship Bodie Kahlow Grinnell College - Laurel Scholarship Kyla Pereles Hope College - Presidential Scholarship Hannah McKee Hope College - Road to Hope Award Hannah McKee Howard University - Achievers Scholarship McKenzie Smith Howard University - Leadership Scholarship Chase Thompson Illinois State University - Honors First-Year Scholarship Sarah Spencer Illinois State University - Legacy Scholarship Sarah Spencer Illinois State University - Redbird Academic Scholarship Jade Ramsey, Sarah Spencer Illinois Wesleyan University - Alumni Scholarship Abigail Spencer, Taylor Wipf Indiana University (Jacobs School of Music) - Premier Young Artist Award Ella Renner Indiana University - Athletic Scholarship (Baseball) Grant Holderfield Indiana University - Dean’s Scholarship Ryan Clarkson, Jack Kiefer, Grace Werthmann, Kendall Wilson Indiana University - Direct Admit Education Scholarship Grace Werthmann Indiana University - Hutton Honors College Scholarship Grace Werthmann Iowa State University - Expedition Award Jack Farrar, Sarah Frickx, John McGillen Iowa State University - Journey Award John McGillen Iowa State University - Quest Award Jack Farrar, Sarah Frickx Iowa Western Community College - Athletic Scholarship (Football) Amarion Jones James Eitrheim Award for Excellence in Dramatic Arts Mary Kate D’Ambrogio, Mira Mundt Kyle O’Brien, Victoria Richter-Stewart Kansas State University - Ad Astra Award Hannah Koe Kansas State University - Midwest Student Exchange Program Award Hannah Koe Kent State University - Oscar Ritchie Memorial Scholarship Gabrielle Isaac Kent State University - President’s Achievement Award Gabrielle Isaac Knox College - Knox Art Scholarship Astrid Brunk Knox College - Knox Founders Scholarship Astrid Brunk, Reagan Butler, Zachariah Shack Knox College - Trustees Distinguished Scholarship Astrid Brunk, Zachariah Shack Knox College - Trustees Scholarship Reagan Butler Lake Forest College - Presidential Scholarship Samantha Jenkins Lawrence University - Lawrentian Award Adam Fleischer, Jonah Friedmann Lawrence University - Light! More Light! Scholarship Adam Fleischer, Jonah Friedmann Lawrence University - Main Hall Green Award Jonah Friedmann Loyola Marymount University - LMU Achievement Award Isabel Evans, Kaelen Osta Smith Loyola Marymount University - University Music Grant (Violin) Isabel Evans Loyola University Chicago - Athletic Scholarship (Track) Nora Wollen Loyola University Chicago - Dean’s Scholarship Olivia Sigunick Loyola University Chicago - Director’s Scholarship John Ratz
Loyola University Chicago - Presidential Scholarship Sofia Buy, John Ratz, Ruby Wolff Loyola University Chicago - Trustee Scholarship Nathan Mitzenmacher Loyola University New Orleans - Crescent City Scholarship Adelind McGoldrick Loyola University New Orleans - Recognition Scholarship Adelind McGoldrick Marquette University - Pere Marquette Scholarship Nina Gallagher, Alexandra Heidkamp-Pimentel Madeline Macek, Makenzie Matas Marymount Manhattan College - Recognition Award Mary Kate D’Ambrogio McKendree University - Presidential Scholarship Deshawn Willis Miami University Ohio - Athletic Scholarship (Swimming/Diving) Diego Pareja Miami University Ohio - RedHawk Excellence Scholarship Santiago Arenas, Zachary Heyer, Eli Lauger Jack Lewis, Diego Pareja, Morgan Sarsany Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design - Board of Trustees Scholarship Sarah Winans Missouri University of Science and Technology - Groundbreaker Scholarship Eric Bezaire Montana State University - Achievement Award Elise Pope Mount Holyoke - Leadership Award Violet Bell, Estelle Slocum National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship Dox Raskin, Eleanor Sigel National Merit Scholarship Jackson Tanner National Merit Scholarship Finalist Maggie Rose Baron, Nathaniel Lee Jonathan Mueller-Nussenbaum Emmett Perry, Dox Raskin, Eleanor Sigel, Devin Sturtevant, Jackson Tanner, Nicholas Woods Northern Illinois University - Freshman Merit Scholarship Carolina Figueroa, Evan Huber Northern Illinois University - Huskie Legacy Award Evan Huber Oak Park Area Arts Council - Fine Arts Scholarship Zoe Haralambidis, Margaret Kennedy Talia Marcus, Cynaiah Overstreet, Samuel Terrianne Theis Oak Park Area Arts Council - Leslie Ann Jones Memorial Art Scholarship Taylor Morris Oak Park Area Arts Council - Russell C. Lissuzzo Scholarship Josiah Turner Oberlin College - Commitment Scholarship Maximilian La Porte, Ania Ocasio Oberlin College - John Frederick Oberlin Scholarship Maximilian La Porte, Ania Ocasio Ohio State University - National Buckeye Scholarship Emma Brandt, John Duffy Isabella Gillingham, Andrew Kitzman, Cait O’Donnell Ohio State University - Provost Scholarship Emma Brandt Ohio State University - Trustees Scholarship Andrew Kitzman Ohio University - Ohio Admission Promise Award Martha Newman Ohio University - Ohio Excellence Scholarship Martha Newman Ohio University - Ohio Trustee Award Martha Newman OPRF COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS Allan O. Baldwin Memorial Scholarship Rebecca Green Bernard “Duke” Gawne Memorial Scholarship Cait O’Donnell Bolin Cooper Scholarship Grey Burton Braley Family/Wood Memorial Scholarship Amaya Gray Carlos Baldoceda Memorial Scholarship Patrick Marzec Elizabeth Snow Memorial Scholarship Megan Sutor Kathy McMahon Adams Scholarship Joseph Roucka Muehrcke Scholarly Athlete Scholarship Diego Pareja Nineteenth Century Club Scholarship Talib Becktemba-Goss, Kaleigh Clarke Danielle Guralnick, Ruben Hernandez Rotary Club Community Service Award Talib Becktemba-Goss, Jake Birmingham John Hedrich, Cait O’Donnell, Jackson Tanner Shepard Family Memorial Scholarship McKenzie Smith William & Joyce Wartmann Scholarship Wren Edwards, Sarah Winans
OPRFHS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS Ann Monaco Memorial Scholarship Emma Perisho Anne P. Bekermeier Scholarship Rashaad Trice Applause Performing Arts Scholarship Emma Perisho Brenda Schnede Grusecki Legacy Scholarship Lila Shea Brian Davis Memorial Scholarship Nathaniel Billadeau, Tyler Bracey Gregory Carmichael, Alex Taranowski Carl Krafft Arts Scholarship – Music Shiri Clay Carl Krafft Arts Scholarship - Speech Arts/Drama Samuel Terrianne Theis Carl Krafft Arts Scholarship - Visual Art Wren Edwards, Zoe Haralambidis, Sarah Winans Carol Shield Memorial Scholarship Sophia Kanga Catherine Deam Memorial Scholarship Sophia Tillotson Charles Mead Scholarship Lily Genovese Directors Scholarship Ayanna McDaniel, Lila Shea Don Deia “Heart of the Plate” Scholarship Lucy Goodwin, Cassidy Metzger Donohue History Scholarship Devin Sturtevant Douglas Memorial Scholarship Justin Fitzpatrick Dr. Gerald L. Clay Scholarship Stephon Carr Eric Brightfield Digital Media Scholarship Emma Keneipp Ernest Hemingway Writer’s Scholarship Allen White Gary F. Olson Scholarship Mary Kate D’Ambrogio Gerald Greer History Scholarship Isaac Schiff-Lewin, Estelle Slocum Hotchkiss Memorial Scholarship Emma Dean, Maia Sullivan Ishma Stewart Memorial Scholarship Kyla Pereles Jack Tavolacci Memorial Scholarship Lindsey Reppe Josh Davis Memorial Scholarship Ava Brennan LLKA Scholarship in Honor of Andrew Cheeks Stephon Carr Michael Campbell Memorial Scholarship Sofia Bravo, Aaron Quinn Miller, Cooke, Wood Theatre Scholarship Danielle Guralnick Offermann Excellence in English Scholarship Talib Becktemba-Goss OPRF Retirees - DOOPER Scholarship Nina Browne, Ruben Hernandez OPRF Retirees - Ferguson Memorial Scholarship George Bourgikos Patrick J. Luby Memorial Scholarship Isabella Staples Peter Quinn Swimming and Diving Scholarship Jasmine Wood R.J. Mike Nielsen Scholarship Alessa Oltman Richard Daniel Orchestra Scholarship William Edwards Robert Gauger Memorial Scholarship Jack Lewis Roberta L. Raymond Scholarship Payton Peebles Seabury Foundation Scholarship Talib Becktemba-Goss, Beverly Lundeen Tiara Ogunsanya, Joseph Roucka SGS Model UN Scholarship Gia Fisher Spoken World Club/Black Lives Matter Scholarship Allen White Teri Race Educational Technology Scholarship Jackson Tanner TNH - Stephen A. Henry Scholarship Olivia Zimbler Trofimuk Memorial Scholarship Maeve Wojcik Willa Schaffer Memorial Scholarship Safiya Baker Zussman-Amato Memorial Scholarship Ingrid McEachen OPRFHS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION AWARDS Class of 1940 History Writing David Meister Dr. A. Schmidt Outstanding Award in English Annaliese Baker John R. Gerhardt Award for Physics Sophia Donnellan, Zane Maggio Louise Hay Math Award Lucia Butler, Sophia Donnellan, Charlotte Reynders Virginia Moe Environmental Studies Meredith Agnew OPUS Scholarship for Fine & Performing Arts Education Emma Perisho Ping! - Donna D’Oro Anderson Fund for Life Long Music Scholarship Kaleigh Clarke
Posse Foundation Merit Scholarship for Trinity College Tiara Ogunsanya Pratt Institute - Presidential Scholarship Wren Edwards, Margaret Kennedy Pratt MWP College of Art and Design - Merit Scholarship Samin Massoumi Savannah College of Art and Design - Academic Honors Scholarship Ruby Brice Savannah College of Art and Design - Academic Honors Scholarship On Campus Ruby Brice School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Creative Honors Scholarship Kyla Robateau School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Distinguished Scholar Scholarship Logan Pedraza Seattle University - Academic Achievement Scholarship Sadie Halvorsen, Imogen Schneller Sewanee-The University of the South - Hippocrates Fellowship Joseph Pascarella Soul 2 Seoul Scholarship Gia Fisher Southern Illinois University Carbondale - Athletic Scholarship (Football) Jalen Bates St. Louis University - Athletic Scholarship (Softball) Sydney Ross St. Louis University - Billiken Award Alexandria Davis St. Louis University - Presidential Finalist Scholarship Mateo Reyes St. Louis University - Vice Presidents’ Scholarship Molly Armbruster, Maja Metcalf, Mateo Reyes, Sydney Ross St. Olaf College - Academic Scholarship Hannah Metric St. Olaf College - Christiansen Music Scholarship Mary Miller St. Olaf College - Dean’s Scholarship Gretchen Block, Mary Miller Stony Brook University - Presidential Merit Scholarship Salome Pintado-Vertner Stony Brook University - Women In Science And Engineering (WISE) Honors Program Salome Pintado-Vertner Syracuse University - Dean’s Scholarship Joseph Flatley Syracuse University - School Of Education - Leadership Scholar Award Rosemary McNulty Taylor University - Faculty Scholarship Emma Benno The Illinois Scholarship for the University of Illinois at Chicago Rebekah Gaskill Triton College - Triton Scholars Program Scholarship Chloe Leach, Claire Levis, Ella Matarazzo, Lindsey Reppe Triton College - Trustee Honors Program Scholarship Francesca Gore Tulane University - Founders Award Sophia Tillotson Tuskegee University - Distinguished Presidential Scholarship Ahkil Nalls United States Air Force Academy - Congressional Appointment Benjamin Brandt University of Arizona - Arizona Excellence Award Helena Godellas University of Chicago - Viola K. Bower Memorial Scholarship Gia Fisher, Colby Lundak University of Colorado Boulder - Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship Adam Raducha, Nicolo Stella, Audrey Stutz University of Dayton - Father Chaminade Scholarship Ryan Tomaso University of Denver - Athletic Scholarship (Swimming/Diving) Francis Tirone University of Denver - Provost Scholarship Hayden Smeaton University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Aerospace Visionary Scholarship Ruben Hernandez University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Campus Honors Program - Chancellor’s Scholar Olivia Hunsberger University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - College of Engineering - Engineering Excellence Scholarship Sophia Donnellan University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - College Of Engineering - Engineering Freshmen Scholarship Ruben Hernandez, Olivia Hunsberger University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - College of Engineering - Nuclear Engineering Education Scholarship Olivia Hunsberger University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Gies College of Business - Honors Program Scholarship Sofia Bravo
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - President’s Award Program Honors Program Scholarship Ruben Hernandez, Elena Lynch University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - President’s Award Program Scholarship Joaquin Acevedo, Sofia Bravo, Emma Dean, Sophia Donnellan Diego Garcia, Ayanna McDaniel University of Iowa - National Scholars Award Samuel Kahan-Harth University of Kansas - KU Distinction Scholarship Yana Keane University of Kansas - KU Excellence Scholarship Owen McMillan, Kelsey O’Shea University of Louisville - Athletic Scholarship (Softball) Madelyn Grant University of Louisville - Competitive Scholarship Award Enhancement Madelyn Grant University of Louisville - Regional Scholars Award Madelyn Grant University of Maryland - President’s Scholarship Katherine deBeers University of Minnesota Twin Cities - CLA Schatzlein/ Maltz Scholarship Talia Marcus University of Minnesota Twin Cities - National Scholarship Mary Pavlicek, Anika Wilsnack University of Minnesota Twin Cities - Presidential Scholarship Talia Marcus University of Missouri Columbia - Border State Scholars Duncan Weir University of Missouri Columbia - Cherng/Panda Express Scholarship Alex Shrader University of Missouri Columbia - Diversity Award Evelyn Crane University of Missouri Columbia - Mark Twain Scholarship Holden Green, Sarah Kluger, Alex Shrader University of Notre Dame - Athletic Scholarship (Baseball) Aidan Krupp University of Oklahoma - Sower Award Annabelle Wicklow University of Oregon - Summit Scholarship Adeline Kosterman University of Pittsburgh - The University Scholarship Isabel Keidan University of San Francisco - Presidential Scholarship Genevieve Bolino University of South Florida - Green and Gold Presidential Scholarship Olive Jenkyns University of Southern California - Presidential Scholarship Eleanor Sigel University of Southern California - Tuition Exchange Scholarship Eleanor Sigel, Allen White University of Southern California - University Scholarship Eleanor Sigel University of St. Thomas - Music Major Scholarship Luke Pilditch University of St. Thomas - St. Thomas Scholarship Luke Pilditch University of Tampa - Dean’s Scholarship Benjamin Piech University of Tampa - Prestige Scholarship Benjamin Piech University of Vermont - Presidential Scholarship Catherine Szpila University of Wisconsin-Madison - Director’s Scholarship Alexandra Nicholson University of Wisconsin-Stout - Promising Student Scholarship Marcelo Acevedo Valparaiso University - Athletic Scholarship (Football) Jake Birmingham Valparaiso University - College of Business Scholarship Jake Birmingham Valparaiso University - Presidential Scholarship Jake Birmingham West Suburban Medical Center - Beverly Memorial Award Kyle Pacheco Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation - Chick Evans Scholarship for Caddies Charles Vietzen Western Michigan University - Athletic Scholarship (Football) Nahlyee Bryant Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Presidential Scholarship Michael Sensat Xavier University - Trustee Scholarship Olivia Zimbler Xavier University of Louisiana - Academic Scholarship Payton Peebles
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OPRF CLASS OF 2021
June 9, 2021
OPRF2021
GRADUATES
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Maclaine Katherine Watson
Maeve Jane Wojcik
Talheyah Essence Webb
Claudia Jeane Wolfe
Jacob Weinberg
Ruby Katherine Wolff
Samuel Weinberg
Nora Garrett Wollen
Zachary Weinberg
Gwendolyn Ann Wolski
Duncan Sanders Weir
Marianne Robin Wolter
Natalie Raine Weissburg
Danielle Nina Wolven
Grace Werthmann
Jasmine Africa Wood
Mirabella A Valle
Allen James White
Yasmin Vernestine Wooden
Jordan Kyle Vanblaricom
Eleanor Rose White
Nicholas Woods
Samay Velegar
Annabelle Wicklow
Shon D Wooten
Ashley Marie Velez
Grace Susan Willard
Malik Wright
Sabiano Henry Vietti
Megan Kathleen Willard
Matthew Wunsch
Charles Richard Vietzen Iii
Caleb Mark Williams
Susan Breese Wysockey
W
Gracian Leemay Williams
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Clara Casey Wahlfeldt Alyssa Marie Waith Jordan R Walker Joseph Michael Mayo Walsh
Liah Gabrielle Williams Tyler Williams Chiari Marie Willis Deshawn Willis Jr Dylan Bernard Willis-Frank
Stephen T Waltower Jr Aaliyah Ward Samuel Warzecha Mykal Waters Kitana Lee Watson
Anika Halina Wilsnack
Rowan Skylar Zdziarski-West Jackson Robinson Zeilmann Olivia Jane Zimbler Jon Elliot Zubkus Jack Zylstra
Mariko Ann Yamashita
Proud of our OPRF 2021 Graduates!
Olyvea Mackenzie Yambrovich Javion Young Amelia Chen Yu
Simon
Kendall Katherine Wilson
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Kwame Renault Wilson Jr
Julian Alojzy Zadlo
Sarah Anne Winans
Afsheen Amin Zafaranian
Taylor Justina Wipf
Eliza Zamudio
Wednesday Journal
ALEX ROGALS/Staff photographer
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Congratulations 2021 Graduates.
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Enjoy 15% off for the Months of June & July with student ID.
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Proud of our Proud OPRF 2021of our Graduates! OPRF 2021
Graduates!
OPRF CLASS OF 2021
Wednesday Journal
June 9, 2021
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Oak Park & River Forest High School Scholarship Foundation 2021 Award/Scholarship Recipients In 2021, 67 awards/scholarships were given totaling $160,500 Meredith Agnew
Virginia Moe Environmental Studies Award
Annaliese Baker
Dr. Alexander Schmidt Memorial Scholarship
Safiya Baker
Willa Schaffer Memorial Scholarship
Talib Becktemba-Goss
Offerman Excellence in English Scholarship Seabury Foundation Scholarship
Nathaniel Billadeau
Brian Davis Memorial Scholarship
George Bourgikos
Thomas Ferguson Memorial Scholarship
Tyler Bracey
Brian Davis Memorial Scholarship
Sofia Bravo
Michael Campbell Memorial Scholarship
Ava Brennan
Josh Davis Memorial Scholarship Garden Club of OP/RF Scholarship
Nina Browne
OPRFHS Retirees -- DOOPER Scholarship
Evan Burnham
Garden Club of OP/RF Scholarship
Lucia Butler
Louise Hay Memorial Scholarship
Gregory Carmichael
Brian Davis Memorial Scholarship
Stephon Carr
“LLKA” Scholarship in Honor of Andrew Cheeks Dr. Gerald L. Clay Scholarship
Sophia Kanga
Carol Shields Memorial Scholarship
Emma Keneipp
Shiri Clay
Eric Brightfield Memorial Digital Media Scholarship
Mary Dambrogio
Robert Gauger Memorial Scholarship
Carl Krafft Memorial Music Scholarship Gary F. Olson Scholarship
Emma Dean
Hotchkiss Memorial Scholarship
Sophia Donnellan
Louise Hay Math Scholarship Gerhardt AP Physics Award
Johnson Lewis
Jack Tavolacci Memorial Scholarship
Chuck Mead Scholarship
Lucy Goodwin
Don Deia “Heart of the Plate” Scholarship
Danielle Guralnick
Miller, Cooke, Wood Theatre Scholarship
Zoe Haralambidis
Carl Krafft Memorial Art Scholarship
Carl Krafft Memorial Speech/Dance/ TV Scholarship
Sophia Tillotson Rashaad Trice
Lindsey Reppe
Ann P. Bekermeier Scholarship
Allen White
Ingrid McEachen
Joseph Roucka
Spoken Word Club/Black Lives Matter Scholarship Ernest Hemingway Writer’s Scholarship
Isaac Schiff-Lewin
Carl Krafft Memorial Art Scholarship
Gia Fisher
Lily Genovese
Sam Terrianne Theis
Charlotte Reynders
Cassidy Metzger
Douglas Scholarship
Brian Davis Memorial Scholarship
OPRFHS Scholarship Foundation Directors Scholarship
Wren Edwards
Justin Fitzpatrick
Alex Taranowski
Catherine Deam Memorial Scholarship
Ayanna McDaniel
Seabury Foundation Scholarship
David Meister
SGS Model UN Scholarship
Aaron Quinn
Beverly Lundeen
Georg Ann Zussman-Amato Memorial Scholarship
Carl Krafft Memorial Art Scholarship
Ann R. Monaco Music Scholarship APPLAUSE! Performing Arts Scholarship OPUS: Alumni Association Scholarship Michael Campbell Memorial Scholarship
William Edwards
Richard Daniel Orchestra Scholarship
Emma Perisho
Class of 1940 Writing Award Don Deia “Heart of the Plate” Scholarship
Tiara Ogunsanya
Seabury Foundation Scholarship
Alessa Oltman
R.J. Mike Nielsen Scholarship
Kyle Pacheco
Dr. Bert Beverly Memorial Award (West Suburban)
Payton Peebles
Roberta L. Raymond Scholarship
Kyla Pereles
Ishma Stewart Memorial Scholarship
Ruben Hernandez
Louise Hay Math Scholarship Seabury Foundation Scholarship Gerald L. Greer History Scholarship
Lila Shea
Sarah Winans
Maeve Wojcik
Tony Trofimuk Scholarship
Brenda Schnede Grusecki Legacy Scholarship OPRFHS Scholarship Foundation Directors Scholarship
Jasmine Wood
Estelle Slocum
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June 9, 2021 Vol. 41, No. 45 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Sale of Dominican’s Priory Campus a possibility River Forest says site will remain green and open By DAN HALEY Editor and Publisher
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
FLYING HIGH: A dad and daughter celebrate warm weather and eased COVID restrictions as the Rehm Pool reopened.
Leadership program expands reach Community Foundation seeks fellows from West Side, west suburbs By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation’s Leadership Lab is now accepting applications for its 2021-22 program, but this most recent cohort will be a lot different from the past, the Lab’s organizers said. “We’ve really wanted to expand the experience,” said Jenny
Yang, Leadership Lab coordinator. This year, Yang explained, the program is looking to recruit fellows from beyond Oak Park and River Forest, including communities on Chicago’s West Side and in suburbs located throughout western Cook County. During the program, participants meet once a month over 10 months for personal and professional coaching and skills development. This year, the sessions will be offered both virtually and in-person. The deadline to apply is June 30 or until spots are filled. See LEADERSHIP on page 16
Dominican University is exploring the sale of its 7-acre Priory Campus just off Division Street at Harlem Avenue. The River Forest university purchased the property in 2002 from the Dominican Friars religious order. At the time, it planned to use the campus to consolidate its growing graduate degree programs. Circumstances have changed and the property is now little used, said Donna Carroll, president of the university. The Priory Campus is surrounded on four sides by athletic fields long leased by Fenwick High School from the Dominican Friars. The effect, said Carroll, is that the university portion of the 20-acre site is “like an egg on a pedestal.” Which makes selling the property potentially challenging. Also limiting sales options is the clear position being taken by the village of River Forest that it does not want to rezone the site to get it onto the property tax rolls. The property is currently zoned for non-taxable public and recreational uses. Village President Cathy Adduci said Monday that is unlikely to change. Speaking for her board, Adduci said, “We are not interested in turning it into residential or commercial uses. We appreciate the green space and believe [the Priory] is a significant building.” Carroll, in a Monday interview, said that was the clearest statement she has heard from Adduci but See PRIORY on page 16
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Mayor Lightfoot, journalists of color want to cover you. Here’s how we can.
once the carcass of the Chicago Tribune is uring an interview last week, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot explained her conlicked clean by the hungry, vulture capitalist troversial decision to grant interviews private equity firm Alden Global Capital. exclusively to journalists of color on the I regularly consume and donate to Chicago occasion of the 2-year anniversary of her Public Square and have benefited monetarily inauguration. from Baim’s CIMA collaborative. “By doing what I did, it started this important I see my own small suburban publication in conversation about the lack of diversity in the the Cicero Independiente and have deep respect mainstream press,” she told me. for its founders. “I’m hoping something really good and powBetween all of these entities I’ve mentioned erful comes from that,” the mayor continued. “I (along with many I haven’t), there’s a small know that I’ve talked to a number of Black jourarmy of people willing and able to cover City nalists, in particular, who … are really taking it Hall — from staff reporters and freelancers to to the mainstream media and really picking up citizen journalists (such as City Bureau’s Docuthe baton, if you will, and running with it to say, menters, who are trained to cover all kinds of Commentary ‘You’ve got to diversify your newsrooms.’ That government meetings) and students at the high is a demand that’s got to be addressed.” school and college level. I see things a bit differently. Those of us who are the All we need are the credentials and the funding to future of institutional media in Chicago have long abancompensate our labor. I asked Mayor Lightfoot about the doned attempts to break into and change legacy news former last week. outlets. We don’t want to diversify traditionally white “What if I said, ‘Look, tomorrow, I want to be a City Hall newsrooms like the Sun-Times, the Tribune and Crain’s — beat reporter and automatically increase the diversity in we want to build newsrooms of our own. We don’t want to that room,’ what’s the process?” I asked. be included. We want equity. “That’s it,” she said. “You get credentials, you’re in. Talk While Mayor Lightfoot’s scathing and accurate critique to our press office.” focused on these traditional white media institutions, it I’d go one step further. What if philanthropies, busiunfortunately ignored the many non-traditional neighbornesses and individuals in Chicago and the suburbs pooled hood outlets where journalists of color are more likely to money into a single fund designed to pay for City Hall have positions of seniority and autonomy — and that we’re coverage by non-traditional, neighborhood media outlets, much more likely to own. particularly those owned by people of color? I’m the editor of Austin Weekly News and the publisher City Bureau, for instance, is already experimenting with of my own weekly newspaper in my hometown of Maywire reporting similar to what the Associated Press or wood, Village Free Press, and I would not trade what I do Reuters provides, but CB’s reporting is done by journalists to be a City Hall beat reporter at any of those institutions rooted in an equity lens and who are more attuned to the Lightfoot rightly castigated — not even for higher pay. lived needs of people in marginalized communities. There are many other journalists and publishers of color Austin Weekly News regularly publishes Block Club who feel the way I do. The Cicero Independiente, the TriChicago reporting in our print papers and online, just as a iBe, the South Side Weekly, the Crusader, the Citizen, the major daily would publish an AP report. Defender — all are well-respected local media institutions If Mayor Lightfoot wants more journalists of color in her either founded or helmed by journalists of color. City Hall press conferences, she can do more than presAnd there are many other non-traditional media entisure a legacy media establishment that, for all intents and ties that are less rooted in the hierarchical, top-down and purposes, is a shadow of its former self. profit-hungry context of corporate news than in the decenShe and the City Council should use their considerable tralized, people-first and bottom-up context of community leverage in the philanthropic and business community to journalism. These non-traditional players are founded and/or helmed push for an infusion of financial support into local journalism. The city (and, quite frankly, local governments across by people of all of income levels (well, not all), ethnicities, cultures, sexualities and gender identities — from Injustice the state) can also explore the following measures: Convene a meeting with representatives from media Watch, Block Club Chicago, City Bureau and AustinTalks entities like the ones I just mentioned, civic leaders and to Oak Parker Charlie Meyerson’s Chicago Public Square business executives in order to explore the concept of and Reader co-publisher Tracy Baim’s invention of the establishing and funding an immediate pool of money Chicago Independent Media Alliance (of which Growing designed exclusively to pay for City Hall reporting done by Community Media is a proud member). non-traditional, neighborhood-centered and marginalized I’ve collaborated at some point or another with virtumedia entities (regardless of race or ethnicity). And there ally all of these entities and based on my experiences, for should be a framework designed to institute safeguards for the most part, they’re rooted in an ethos of collaboration protecting this coverage from any undue outside influence. and interrelatedness that seemed eerily absent among The City Council should consider creating a Local JourChicago’s civic powers when it came to trying to save the nalism Task Force similar to the one that’s being created Tribune. at the state level with the passage of Sen. Steve StadelThrough a fellowship with City Bureau, an innovative man’s critical HB 134. Call it the Chicago Area Journalism South Side-based journalism lab that is sometimes known Task Force and it would explore the crisis of journalism as the journalism school of the streets, I worked with a in Chicago and the suburbs, as well as come up with local team of reporters that covered the 2019 election from the solutions that would reinforce and enhance the solutions perspective of the people most affected by the winning explored at the state level. politicians’ decisions. Mayor Lightfoot should also establish a regular pipeline And Austin Weekly News currently co-produces a biweekly email newsletter with Block Club Chicago, the between her administration and non-legacy media outlets, rising digital news site that is positioning itself to fill the where journalists of color are often concentrated. Her void that will inevitably be left in the local media landscape people can start by compiling a comprehensive database of
MICHAEL ROMAIN
these non-legacy establishments and doing more to attract our attention, because often we’re covering things that are happening on the street level, miles away from the Fifth Floor of City Hall. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t impressed that I got a 15-minute interview with the mayor on the event of her 2-year anniversary in office (and it took a while to even get that). And ethnic media roundtables do not suffice, either. If the mayor wants more journalists of color in front of her more often, she should first acknowledge the places where we exist. To her credit, the mayor seemed pretty receptive to some of these ideas, particularly the establishment of a funding mechanism for integrating marginalized journalists into her City Hall press conferences. “I believe there would be interest on the part of the philanthropic community, which is involved in a conversation now around journalism in the media,” she said. “I could talk to a couple people I’ve had these conversations with and really float your idea, which I think is a great idea. And if they’re interested, I would put you together.” With all due respect, though, I’m not waiting for that meeting to push these ideas out and to call on people to act. We can start now. If you’re reading this column and would like to see more City Hall coverage done by journalists of color and journalists (regardless of race or ethnicity) from non-legacy outlets and/or associations like Austin Weekly News, AustinTalks, the TriiBe, Block Club Chicago, City Bureau, South Side Weekly, Injustice Watch, Chicago Public Square, any entities affiliated with CIMA and countless others I’ve not mentioned, you can do something about it. Email me at michael@austinweeklynews.com or michael@oakpark.com, and/or call me at (708) 359-9148 and indicate your willingness to either donate and/or lend your time and skills to a fund that would make this kind of journalism possible before the year is out, because the crisis of local journalism is not just for one politician or group of philanthropists or legacy newsrooms to solve. All of us own this and it’s going to take all of us to fix it.
CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
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Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Letting Go of the Past
Side Yard Sounds
Saturday, June 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Online with Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago In this workshop, Gen Gomlam, resident teacher of KMC Madison, Wisconsin, gives practical instruction and guides meditations to help let go of painful events of the past that affect how one lives life now. Move forward with greater clarity, insight and confidence. A recording is available for 72 hours following the live session. $30. Register/more: meditateinchicago.org/event-details/letting-go-of-the-past-1
Friday, June 11, 7 to 9 p.m., Compound Yellow See Norman W. Long perform a live mix of electronics and urban field recordings he has gathered from his Chicago neighborhood of South Deering. The performance is a meditation on the practice of mindful breathing, walking and listening in the face of COVID-19, and the murder of George Floyd and the killing of Black men walking like Elijah McClain. Next up - Friday, June 18, Oui Ennui. $15. Tickets/more (or pay with cash or card at the door): facebook.com/compoundyellow. 244 Lake St., Oak Park.
The Healthy Chef Challenge Home Edition Register now. Cook June 11 through 13. Vote June 15 through 24. Join Beyond Hunger and spread awareness about good nutrition. New this year — community members, including kids/teens and amateur adults, can get creative in the kitchen along with local chefs battling to make a 5-star entrée with food pantry ingredients. Free. Register/more: gobeyondhunger.org/events/healthychef-challenge-home-edition-0
Year of the Butterfly: Butterflies & Moths Saturday, June 12, 10 a.m. to Noon Oak Park Conservatory Showroom The Year of the Butterfly is a regional effort to bring awareness to community members about how they can help support a healthy habitat for butterflies and other pollinators. Brought by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory and Oak Park Public Library. Next up – July 10, Bees, Flies and Wasps; Aug. 14, Bats and other Pollinators. Free. Register: pdop.org.
BIG WEEK June 9-16 Thursday Night Out June 10 through Sept. 9, 5 to 8 p.m., Downtown Oak Park (DTOP) More than 20 restaurants offer a variety of drinks, appetizers, entrees and desserts, available through ticket purchases and special menus. Diners may eat inside, take carry out, or dine al fresco. four dine-around tickets per $20 booklet. Each dinearound ticket buys one Thursday Night Out (TNO) menu item. Buy two ticket booklets, receive a $5 DTOP gift certificate for participating shops on any TNO. Booklets available at the tent on Lake and Marion.
James Baldwin: His Impact on the Theater Then, Now, & in the Future: A Fireside Chat with Eddie Glaude Jr. Tuesday, June 15, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Virtually with Oak Park Festival Theatre and partners Join a night of conversation, community and thoughtful leadership about one of history’s greatest writers, James Baldwin, featuring best-selling author Eddie Glaude Jr. Panelists include stage and screen actor Ron OJ Parsons and Director of the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship Saudia Davis. Ages 12+. Free. Register: oakparkfestival.com/glaudebaldwin/
“In the Heights” Friday, June 11, 7 p.m., Lake Theatre See the movie edition of the Broadway show with original music by Lin-Manual Miranda. Includes beer and wine raffles and pre-movie Trivia. Proceeds benefit the Bravo Scholarship fund and future programming. Sponsored by the Bravo Advisory Board. Tickets: tinyurl.com/intheheightsmovie. 1022 Lake St., Oak Park.
Artist Studio Tour View Anytime Take a virtual tour inside Oak Park artist Margot McMahon’s studio. Margot shows some of her pieces and explains her artistic progress. Brought by Nineteenth Century Charitable Association. Free. More on McMahon: margotmcmahon.com. View the tour: https://youtu.be/6z_Eh52Ob8Y
Concert on the Green with The Redmonds Thursday, June 10, 7 p.m., Ascension Parish Green Join in a benefit for Ascension School’s Teach the Children Scholarship fund while hearing music from Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash to Civil Wars and the Lumineers. Bring food, non-alcoholic beverages; beer and wine packages available for pre-purchase. $15, lawn seats; $25pp, table of six. 21+. Tickets/more: https://one. bidpal.net/concertonthegreen/welcome. 601 Van Buren St., Oak Park.
Pride Stitching Monday, June 14, 3 to 4 p.m. Zoom with Oak Park Public Library June is Pride Month and to celebrate, show love and support of LGBTQIA+, all students grade 3 through 9 are invited to join in this crafting event. Those needing cross stitch kits can pick them up from the library. Register: oppl.org/calendar
“Songs of Peace and Justice” View Anytime Hear the 150-member Sounds Good Choir for older adults and Good Memories Choir perform their spring concert, including “Woke Up This Morning,”“Turn! Turn! Turn!” and “Lean on Me/We Shall Overcome.” The program includes background on the music. Free. View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnoMdMFQxeM
Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Police oversight committee finds three instances of minor misconduct Out of 10 complaints reviewed in seven months
confirmed that the majority of those serving in the Oak Park Police Department are male and white. The race of the accused officers was overwhelmingly white and male – 92 percent of By STACEY SHERIDAN accused officers were white and 87 percent Staff Reporter were male. Out of the complainants, 50 percent were The Citizen Police Oversight Committee 40 percent were Black, and 10 percent white, (CPOC) reviewed 10 complaints of alleged misconduct made against officers of the were Latinx, according to the report. The gender of the complainants was 70 percent Oak Park Police Department male. between October 2020 and Recommendations by CPOC April 2021 according to the were included in the report. committee’s bi-annual report Pepper told the village board which was presented to the that CPOC wanted to increase village board at its June 7 the public’s awareness of the meeting. committee by creating a fo“We reviewed 10 complaints rum to engage and educate from the public. This was residents. down from 13 complaints the In light of developments year prior in 2019,” CPOC to reform law enforcement, Chair Donovan Pepper said. CPOC recommended the vilThe complaints involved ARTI WALKERPEDDAKOTLA lage board review the overabout 20 rule violations Trustee sight model used by the comagainst 13 police officers. The mittee. names of the 13 officers were “What’s the true model of ciomitted from the report. vilian oversight of police and The rules the officers were how best can we utilize our accused of violating ranged from lacking courtesy, demonstrating unbe- role as an entity that makes recommendacoming conduct and unsatisfactory perfor- tions to you, the village board,” said Pepper. CPOC’s recommendations included that mance, as well as dishonesty for violating “current and ongoing list” of the departthe prohibition of bias-based policing. Each complaint is investigated by the Oak mental rules that “comprise potential ofPark Police Department either through its ficer violations” be made available to the internal affairs division or a watch com- committee. “The committee is of the belief that we mander, which Trustee Arti Walker-Peddakotla summed up as “the police department need the full scope of the different rules,” reviews complaints against the police de- said Pepper. “We’d like to see the larger list partment and finds whether the police de- to make sure that we are comprehensively understanding what is being presented durpartment did anything wrong.” Out of the 10 complaints mentioned in the ing the review process.” These recommendations were supported report, only three were substantiated. CPOC by Walker-Peddakotla, who has advocated sustained the results of each investigation. for giving CPOC greater oversight authority. “All of them were upheld unanimously by “CPOC doesn’t have the independent the police oversite committee,” Pepper said. The three substantiated complaints indicat- oversight ability that it should have over the ed that the involved officers violated the rules police,” she said. To “give a little perspective,” Trustee Jim related to satisfactory performance, courtesy and “obedience to laws, rules and regulations, Taglia told the board that the three sustained complaints represented .0001 percent of the policies, procedures and directives.” 28,600 calls for service covered in the report. The report breaks down the gender and “Obviously any complaints are too many racial demographics of both the accused officers and the complainant. The report also complaints,” said Taglia. “But it is a very small amount.”
“The CPOC doesn’t have the independent oversight ability that it should have over the police.”
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Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
Oak Park Village Board expresses support for Slow Streets program
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Greenways plan gains traction
By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
A silver lining of the pandemic year was the increased number of people enjoying the outdoors. Now Bike Walk Oak Park (BWOP) is pushing the village to do more to make streets safer for recreation — this summer and thereafter. “People overwhelmingly like the Slow Streets program, so we’re looking to do it a second time,” said BWOP’s Jenna Holzberg. “But really, at the end of the day, what we want to see is full implementation of the Greenways plan.” Slow Streets, which debuted last August on a pilot basis at the request of BWOP, was a pared down, temporary version of the greater Greenways program that BWOP has been lobbying the village board to implement since 2015. To make it safer for pedestrians, cyclists and skaters, the board last year limited vehicular traffic in certain parts of the village through the Slow Streets pilot. The Greenways program calls for a much larger network of low-traffic residential streets designated as safe areas for outdoor recreation. Results from the Slow Streets pilot survey indicated that 60 percent of the 915 people who responded to the survey support the program, but those results were never presented to the village board. BWOP only obtained the results through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, as did Wednesday Journal. Slow Streets offers a chance to evaluate Greenways more closely, according to Holzberg. Last year the village nixed one of the streets in BWOP’s proposal, believing it unsafe for outdoor recreation. The same street was also included in the Greenways proposal.
“It allows the opportunity to test out routes to see if those routes are appropriate for Greenways,” she said. With the new village board in place, it appears Greenways is finally gaining some momentum. Trustee Arti Walker-Peddakotla requested that the village board include the execution of the program among its list of 2021 goals. “Last budget cycle, we had to fight just to get a very small portion of the Greenways project in this capital improvement plan,” Walker-Peddakotla told Wednesday Journal. Under the leadership of Mayor Anan AbuTaleb, the previous village board bumped the project up from lowest priority to second-lowest priority in the capital improvement plan in the 2020 budget. It also helps that the current village board has a number of members who are avid cyclists and runners. Along with Walker-Peddakotla, BWOP has been in communication with Trustees Susan Buchanan and Chibuike Enyia regarding Greenways. “I’m in full support because what they’re asking for is not unreasonable,” said Walker-Peddakotla. In a proposal sent May 10 to the Transportation Commission and village staff, BWOP asked that the Slow Streets program return this summer and last through fall. The proposal also called for a full review and analysis of the Slow Streets pilot program survey results by the village board and use the results to inform the development of Slow Streets and Greenways. “I’d be interested to see the results of that survey,” said Enyia, who noted that he often used Slow Streets last summer to take his children on bike rides. Village President Vicki Scaman told Wednesday Journal she wanted to hear from the Transportation Commission before throwing her support behind the return of Slow Streets. Scaman said she is a regular cyclist. Within the May 10 proposal, BWOP laid out how it would like to see the village proceed with Greenways.
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SLOW ROLL: A family takes advantage of the 2020 Slow Street program at Ridgeland Avenue and Van Buren. “We want it funded through the capital improvement budget,” said Holzberg. “We want a reoccurring line item every year that commits to building out and then maintaining the full network of streets.” In the 2020 budget, financing for Greenways was to come from the village’s sustainability fund instead of money set aside for capital improvement projects. Using the sustainability fund for that purpose was unpopular with Walker-Peddakotla and Buchanan, as well as BWOP, all of whom would like Greenways funding to come out of the capital improvement budget. “The problem I have with it coming from the sustainability fund is we are trying to work really hard on a long-term plan to miti-
gate climate change,” said Buchanan. While Greenways could encourage more people to walk or bike rather than drive, many believe the program falls more under the umbrella of transportation, not sustainability. Whether the village finally gets around to implementing Greenways in full, Buchanan has some thoughts on how to improve on what was done during the Slow Streets pilot. The barricades used to cordon off the streets she found unattractive, as well as possibly confusing to those unfamiliar with the concept of limiting traffic for increased recreation space. “If we decided to go forward with something permanent, we could definitely make them more aesthetically pleasing.”
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Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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Leslie Jones scholarship awarded to rising star
The recipient to study musical theater at Columbia College Chicago By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
The late Leslie Ann Jones knew that art is finest when enjoyed by all and she lived by that value until the end of her life. Just as a painter leaves a new mark with every brush stroke, Jones made a lasting impression on Oak Park with every piece of art she helped bring to the village. “I hope that I honor her in the best way that I can,” said Taylor Elizabeth Morris, the inaugural recipient of the Leslie Ann Jones Scholarship. Jones’s life was cut short in April 2020, when she and her husband Thomas Johnson were found brutally murdered in their home on Fair Oaks Avenue. The commemorative scholarship was created by their sons, in partnership with the Oak Park Area Arts Council (OPAAC). Jones served on the Council’s board for many years. “The world was a better place when [Jones and Johnson] were in it,” said OPAAC Executive Director Camille Wilson White. Since Jones championed the work of multicultural artists during her life, the Council decided that the $1,000 annual scholarship in her name would go to an African American woman planning to study some form of art in college. Morris was awarded the very first scholarship just a month after the 1-year anniversary of their deaths, which remains under investigation, according to the Oak Park Police Department.
A budding star of the stage who will be studying musical theater at Columbia College Chicago, Morris was chosen from a pool of applicants by the OPAAC scholarship committee. “That kid is determined. She is going to make it and she is going to be fabulous,” said Wilson White of Morris, whom she called a “delightful young woman.” Morris grew up watching such movie musicals as “The Wiz” and “Hairspray” with her mother and grandmother, but her love of performing began when she was cast as a background dancer in a production of “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” at Percy Julian Middle School. She continued acting in high school, landing a role in “Hairspray” her freshman year at Oak Park and River Forest High School. Morris has grown as an artist with every musical she has been in. Without ever having had any formal training, she landed a spot in Columbia’s musical theater program. Morris is looking forward to honing her craft in college. “There aren’t any musical theater classes in high school and I just want to go deeper into the business and see how everything works,” said Morris. Jones and Johnson’s son Jake Johnson, who declined to be interviewed, helped choose the recipient of his mother’s scholarship. His participation on the OPAAC scholarship committee Wilson White called “tremendous.” “It was really wonderful to have him on the panel,” she said. Both Jones and Johnson had impressive legal careers. Jones even drafted Oak Park’s public art ordinance. Jake Johnson is following in his parents’ footsteps and studying law.
Taylor Elizabeth Morris Despite his busy law school schedule, Jake Johnson was entirely engaged throughout the scholarship selection process and made great strides to connect with each candidate, said Wilson White. “He was just very gracious,” she recalled. While the heartbreaking loss of Jones and Johnson is still acutely felt, Wilson White believes Jones would “absolutely love” that the OPAAC scholarship program had been expanded to include one specifically created to support young African American women pursuing careers in art — a cause that was dear to her during life. “To have a scholarship in her honor and to have it go to a student who will really benefit from it, I think she would be thrilled,” Wilson White said.
Car rolls into the Onion Roll No one injured in early morning accident By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
Beginning the work week is hard enough, but it was extra hard for the staff of the Onion Roll. A car crashed into the deli, located at 6935 W. North Ave., around 6:30 a.m., Monday morning. “We have a gate at the front of the restaurant and [the driver] just ripped off the gate and crashed into the brick wall, but thank God they didn’t go through the doors,” said Frankie Billicana, who manages the Onion Roll. No staff members or customers were injured as the crash occurred before the deli had opened for the day, according Billicana, so the building was empty. Oak Park spokesman David Powers told Wednesday Journal the vehicle also hit a tree and a parking meter. Billicana said that some of the glass on the car was shattered in the collision and tire marks were left on the street.
“Maybe he was just driving too fast because [people] tend to drive really fast on the street,” said Billicana. A second vehicle was involved in the accident, according to Powers. The car that may have caused the collision was not at the scene. “The driver, who was traveling east on North Avenue, told officers the car had been struck on the driver’s side, forcing it off the roadway and causing the accident,” said Powers. “Damage to the vehicle that struck the building appeared consistent with the victim’s explanation.” The damage to the Onion Roll, per Billicana’s estimation, will cost “a few thousand” dollars to fix. The property inspectors from the village of Oak Park will inspect the building, per Powers. Police are also investigating the incident. Despite the crash, the deli was able to open as usual, serving plenty people. “It’s been a really crazy day,” Billicana said. “We’ve been very, very busy.” Billicana invites all hungry people to swing by the Onion Roll as the crash hasn’t impacted the quality of the dishes. “Feel free to stop by, so you can try our wonderful, amazing food that we have here.”
Photo provided by WGN-TV
NEAR DISASTER: An early morning car crash occurred at The Onion Roll on North Ave. on June 7.
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Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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Oak Park library trustee applicant process underway The window to submit closes June 15 By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
Want to serve in an elected capacity without running for public office? If you live in Oak Park, now is your chance. The Oak Park Public Library has begun accepting applications for the open board trustee seat. Half a dozen people have already submitted themselves for consideration, according to Matt Fruth, who was recently re-elected library board president. The application was kept purposely simple. Candidates need only provide a home address and birthdate to satisfy legalities. Cover letters and resumes are entirely optional. “The only real requirements that we can demand of people is that they are a resident of Oak Park and of age,” said Fruth. The trustee seat was vacated by Saria Lofton, who won it in the April 6 election but effectively resigned by not taking the oath of office, requiring the library board to appoint a replacement. Whomever the library appoints will serve a two-year term — half the length of those elected as trustee. When
the appointed trustee’s term ends in 2023, there will be a special election to fill the seat for another two years. After that, the seat will revert to a four-year term. The application was posted on the library’s website May 26. Interested people have until June 15 to apply. The narrow window was intentional, according to Fruth. “There’s not a benefit to dragging it out,”
he said. “We’d like to get it behind us because we would like in July to start doing our strategic planning discussions.” Strategic planning includes establishing the library’s budget, which the library board typically passes in October. By appointing someone quickly, there is time to acclimate the new trustee to the board before entering into budgetary discussion.
A June 15 deadline allows the library board time to review any supporting documents submitted by candidates prior to the board’s meeting on Tuesday, June 22. Those who have applied for the appointment are invited to make a statement during that meeting via Zoom and each applicant’s name will appear in the meeting agenda. “We’d like to get as far into this process as we can and hopefully come to a decision at that meeting,” said Fruth. Fruth told Wednesday Journal it is not yet clear if board members will have the opportunity to interview applicants during the June 22 meeting, as it is greatly dependent on the number of people who apply. Time will also factor into the decision to have or not have a question-answer period. “If we end up with a dozen people and if we give them 10 minutes each, that’s two hours,” said Fruth. The board could decide to have a special meeting for the sole purpose of interviewing, or it could find the statements made by applicants during the June 22 meeting sufficient. Fruth believes the best route to take will become clearer as the deadline nears. “By the day after the deadline, we’ll have a sense of what definitive process we’re going to have.”
Race, equity issues spur student input at Fenwick
Wider talk among Catholic schools eye opening By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter
When Vivian Nguyen hosted a dialogue around the racism that she and other Asian American students faced, especially amid the pandemic, she remembered only a couple people showed up. Nguyen, co-founder and former president of the Asian American Association at Fenwick High School, said the event was open to all her peers, not just those who identified as Asian Americans. The lack of attendance stuck with Nguyen, who graduated from Fenwick last month. She said she noticed that another event her club held, which included food and an origami activity, saw more than a dozen students. “That goes to show that people really don’t want to care or are too afraid of doing the serious things,” she said, adding the association was a fairly new organization compared to the other minority student clubs at Fenwick. Nguyen said she sought to create a space for young Asian Americans like herself and other classmates, spreading the message that being Asian American is more than anime and bubble tea. Nguyen was one of a handful of Fenwick students who actively took part in pushing the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) mission forward. Joining Nguyen as DEI Friars are Jasmine Davis and Vaughn-Regan Bledsoe, who recalled their own experiences at Fenwick and the reasons why they decided to step up and take hold of the initiative. Davis, an incoming senior, transferred to Fenwick from
Oak Park and River Forest High School during her sophomore year. Davis recalled feeling lonely, especially as she was one of the few Black students at school. She also remembered dealing with microaggressions from her fellow classmates, some of whom would touch her hair without her permission. Those encounters were “weird,” she said. “It’s just different,” Davis said. “When you have people who look like you, you feel more included and you feel like you’re being heard more. The lack of Black students and Black staff also impacted me versus [at] OPRF, which is a very diverse school.” Bledsoe, a recent Fenwick graduate and former president of the Black Student Union, spoke more about the racial comments other students often confided to her. Bledsoe said she just grew tired of hearing students of color continue to experience racial discrimination and felt something needed to change. Making those changes are a constant work in progress, said Raymond Moland, Fenwick’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion. Last summer, an ongoing wave of civil unrest triggered the nation and the rest of the world. The protests held were sparked by the deaths of unarmed Black men and women, peeling back the layers of racism and police violence on top of a global pandemic. “It really continues to open my eyes on bigger conversations that need to take place,” Moland said. “It’s a shame that our students, all around this country – period – have been thrown into this type of conversation. They never had a chance to really just enjoy high school, you know. “I think a lot of what we’ve seen going on over the past five years or so [is] it’s emboldening people to just say things
that before were frowned upon.” At Fenwick, Moland spoke more about the efforts planned to continue prioritizing the school’s DEI initiative. Changing the hiring policy to include more staff of color and curating monthly events to talk through those tough conversations around race and equity are a couple of examples, he said. This past April, Davis and Claire Woods, another recent Fenwick graduate and member of the SAFE Club, represented their school at RISE: Catholic Students RISE for Racial Equity. The event brought together over 20 area Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago and sought to provide a place for teens to address racial inequities. The program–which was held online–was done in partnership with DePaul University. It was an eye-opening experience, Davis and Woods said. Davis said talking to the other students from different schools, listening to their challenges and hearing some of the solutions they came up with were helpful and inspired her to think of other ways to make Fenwick more inclusive. With the school year now closed, Davis and Nguyen reflected on the work they have done so far and the work that’s to come. Like Moland, they recognized that these conversations are ongoing and will continue beyond the walls of a classroom, and it’s up to them to keep it moving. “My hope is that our students of color – like people of color in general – we own our culture and our skin,” Nguyen said. “Hoping for an end to racism is not going to happen any time soon. There’s always going to be some prejudice lingering. “I really hope that everyone can be proud of who they are and not feel like they have to submit to being like everybody else. Being the same as everyone is not cool in any way.”
Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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Back to the classroom this fall for D90 students, faculty River Forest lays out safety plan for in-person learning By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter
As River Forest School District 90 commits to reopening its buildings for full-time in-person learning next fall, school officials presented a whole host of safety protocols to the Board of Education during a meeting held June 1. Dawne Simmons, communications and community outreach director, led the presentation and shared with board members that the district’s plan is grounded in four guiding principles. Aside from following safety mitigations put in place by state and local public health officials, D90 also looks to maintain its mission of equity, focus on students’ social-emotional and physical wellness, and provide high-quality instruction. When it comes to creating a safe environment, the district relies on the Illinois Department of Public Health, Cook County Public Health Department, Illinois State Board of Education and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for direction. While those guidelines may change before students return to school in August, the district anticipates maintaining some of its practices, including requiring staff and students – vaccinated or not – to wear masks. While many staff and middle schoolers may be vaccinated by fall, D90’s youngest learners “probably won’t be,” Simmons said. At this point, the COVID-19 vaccine is available to people 12 years and older. “That’s why we’re going to have to continue the many safety protocols that we started this year,” Simmons said. Among other efforts, plexiglass dividers and social distancing signs will also remain on display in the buildings. Daily cleaning and disinfecting common areas such as classrooms and bathrooms will also continue, said Simmons. Simmons also provided an overview of what classes will look like in the fall for students. She said students can expect to have assigned seating, which lends to meeting social distancing requirements. Lunch and recess will be staggered, and core classes such as math, social studies and science will take place at established times. Special classes such as gym, art, music and STEM will be determined by respective school principals, Simmons said. During the meeting, Simmons and Superintendent Ed Condon discussed the state board of education’s definition of remote learning and what it means for district families. At this time, remote learning is only for students who are not eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and under quarantine order by a local public health department. The student must meet both of those requirements to receive remote instruction, which includes five hours of online learning, Condon said. He went on to say that the state board’s definition poses a challenge for the district since students ages 3 to 11 years old cannot get the vaccine.
“What would that system look like? How can we ensure that [the remote learning] is as high quality as possible?” Condon said. “We really need to think that through.” In a separate interview, Simmons and Condon clarified that students who are not able to attend school outside of COVID-19-related reasons will not have access to remote learning. Those students will be considered absent from school. “It’s going to be a process for parents to readjust mentally,” board member Stacey Williams said. “Remote instruction has become an alternative if, let’s say, a child wakes up with a headache or they need a mental
health day, or if they’ve been traveling.” Condon agreed with Williams and other board members who voiced the same concern and added that this was something they needed to address and communicate with families. Also at the meeting, Simmons said the district created a social emotional advisory panel during the pandemic. That panel, which was made up of community members, health officials and parents, has narrowed down five key areas of focus to meet students’ social-emotional needs. Moving forward into the 2021-22 school year, the district looks to build a better relationship
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among staff, students and families and offer a host of resources and support for trauma. Closing out the presentation, Simmons gave a couple reminders. Whenever staff members and students feel sick, they should stay home. And, with summer just around the corner, Simmons advised faculty and families to follow the district’s travel guidelines, which closely align with the state and county’s public health officials. “We are working to return our students to their rightful place, and their rightful place is in the classroom, along with their peers in front of dedicated teachers who provide high-quality instruction,” Simmons said.
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Daycares grow with grant-funded gardens By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter
Growing up, Dailela Williams thought worms were yucky. She would squirm at the sight of their soft, pink bodies burrowing into the soil. Williams, now an adult, found herself holding onto those childish feelings, as she and her young students recently watched dozens of composting worms find their way through pounds of dirt, making a home out of a newly built garden bed. “It’s like oh my god!” exclaimed Williams, laughing, her voice flickering from excitement. Williams is the co-founder of Future Leaders’ Learning Center, 6139 W. North Ave. in Oak Park, and her daycare center was one of 11 early childhood programs selected for a grant project by the Collaboration for Early Childhood. The collaboration, an Oak Park-based nonprofit that works to provide resources for families and children under 5 years old, received an $8,120 grant from the Albrecht-Poss Family Foundation to install raised garden beds at several local daycare centers and schools. The funding offered centers and schools supplies such as soil, composting pods and worms, as well as additional money to purchase seeds and plants. The River Forest Community Center, Concordia University Early Childhood Education Center, Oak Park and River
Forest Day Nursery and St. CatherineSt. Lucy School are just a few of the other recipients. A full list of the grant recipients can be found on the collaboration’s site at collab4kids.org. The raised beds – which are 8 feet by 4 feet and made out of cedarwood – were installed last month. The collaboration partnered with other local businesses and organizations such as The Backyard Farmer, Deep Roots Project and Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm to supply the materials. The idea behind the project was simple: it’s about giving children the chance to learn through gardening, said Rebecca Streit, chair of the collaboration’s board of directors. Planting allows children to see the circle of life before their eyes, grabbing onto lessons beyond science. “There’s just a really, really rich foundation for just all kinds of stuff,” Streit said, adding that there are so many questions that can crop up from planting such as what food do you like to eat? Or what kind of flowers attract pollinating insects? “It’s a really great way to be sneaky about instruction.” Those thoughts rang true for Williams, who said some of the families don’t have access to green spaces because they live in apartment buildings. For Williams, having this garden bed within her reach means she is now able to give her students a real hands-on experience. They can play with the dirt,
see all the worms sliding in and out of the soil and see their seedlings grow, she said. Gingi Lahera, teacher and creative director at the Arts Language Music Alliance in Forest Park, is another one of the collaboration’s grant recipients. Lahera, who converted a part of her home into a multi-purpose classroom, sees her garden bed as a stepping stone to create this “natural paradise” for her and her students. Ever since it was placed, Lahera said she started hanging outside more, breaking apart clumps of dirt she saw in planting beds and around her backyard. She let her imagination run wild, thinking of the types of flowers and plants she wanted in her space, including lilacs, hydrangeas and maybe even a fruit tree. Over at the Future Leaders’ Learning Center, Williams’ students have already picked out some marigolds and morning glories for their garden. They were drawn to the flowers’ bright colors, the hues of yellow and blues popping from the bed, she said. “It means a lot,” Williams said about being part of the grant initiative. “Not only are they learning, but I’m learning how to garden as well. I’m learning so much about the work [to grow the plants], how important the soil is for things to grow. … It means the world to me that they’re getting that experience.”
Photo Submitted
GROWING UP: Students from St. Catherine-St. Lucy School water the strawberry plants in their newly installed garden beds, which were funded by a grant from the Albrecht-Poss Family Foundation.
Rehm Pool opens with limits ... and masks
Some frustrated by mask requirements outside pool By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
The pool at Rehm Park offered much needed respite from the stifling heat, as temperatures rose up to 93 degrees last weekend. “With the weather, we were expecting a fair amount of visitors, but there was a lot too that had never been to the pool before,” said Ann Marie Buczek, communications manager of the Park District of Oak Park. The luxury of plunging into cold water on a sunny day was denied to many last year, as COVID-19 prevented the park district from opening the pools. The pandemic situation is brighter this summer, allowing for the return of Oak Park’s public pools – and the reopening is going swimmingly, according to the park district. “Everyone seems happy and glad that the
pools are back,” said Kayla Lindgren, the park district aquatics manager. There will be plenty more opportunities for Oak Parkers to submerge themselves in cold, chlorinated water this summer. The pool at Ridgeland Common opens Friday, June 11, coinciding with the last day of school. Regular pool hours will begin on that Friday as well. Rehm pool has been operating with partial hours since opening Memorial Day weekend. The capacity at each pool will still be limited for safety purposes. Under these limits, Ridgeland Common pool can accommodate 250 people and Rehm pool 350 people at one time. Swimmers expressed some level of frustration on social media with strictly enforced mask mandates for visitors at any time they were out of the pool. “We understand the frustration around having to wear a face covering while at the pool,” said Buczek. “Our pool staff and lifeguards can certainly relate to how visitors
feel as they too are required to wear face coverings when not in the pool.” The Park District of Oak Park follows the health guidance released by the state of Illinois, as well as that of the village of Oak Park’s Department of Public Health. The mask requirement came straight from the Illinois Public Health Department (IDPH). “Operators, employees, and customers should wear face coverings that completely cover their noses and mouths when not engaged in swimming activities,” the IDPH’s swimming facility guidelines read. Buczek told Wednesday Journal that the park district has reached out to IDPH, as well as the village health department, to determine how safety regulations will be impacted as the state continues to reopen. Lindgren told Wednesday Journal that Rehm pool would have reached its regular maximum capacity last weekend had it not been for COVID-19. “Normally we hit our real capacities on 90-degree weekends,” she said. “But we still served a lot of people and a lot of people got
to swim.” With the return of full pool hours comes the return of adult swim hours, during which only people aged 18 and up can use the pool. Once every two weeks, the West Suburban Special Recreation Association will reserve pool time for its clientele. Swimming lessons start up next week. The park district provides lessons for every age, beginning with students as young as six months. Lessons are available for adults too. The demand for swimming lessons has been higher than in past years, said Lindgren. “That has been a huge, hot commodity this summer,” she said. “They filled up really fast.” The park district has had the good fortune to have of its entire pool leadership staff return after the year-long hiatus. Lindgren estimated that 20 to 30 percent of lifeguards have returned as well. “Most pools don’t have that opportunity,” she said. “Most pools are trying to hire pool managers that they’ve never worked with before.”
Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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New data maps transit’s racial inequities Scores show access, race, income connection By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
During his regular commute on the Blue Line, Al Bell often notices a rather striking disparity as the CTA train pulls out of the Forest Park station and travels east into Oak Park before going into the city. On Monday, Bell praised the Blue Line stations in Oak Park and the one in Austin, which is close to the Oak Park border, before lamenting that the quality quickly drops as he travels through the West Side. “I feel like the CTA should show the same care and concern for every station,” Bell said. “It’s the same transit for everyone.” That may be the ideal, but the reality plays out much differently, as designer and data analyst Dale Wunderlich recently illustrated in a series of maps and visualizations he published online in May. Wunderlich pulled the Walk Score and Bike Score ratings generated by Redfin, the popular real estate brokerage, and ranked CTA el stations. What he found was not a surprise: There’s a strong correlation between the wealth and whiteness of an area surrounding a station and its bike-friendli-
ness and walkability. “Redfin’s Walk Score uses block length and density features, such as [the presence of grocery stores], and so it ends up reinforcing the food desert situations and all of the other things we’re concerned about, particularly in Austin,” Wunderlich said during a recent interview. According to Wunderlich’s data, there were only a handful of el stations in majority white neighborhoods that received below average walk and bike scores. And the difference is particularly stark between el stations that are just a few miles apart, as Bell observed.
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For instance, the Harlem-Green Line stop at the Oak Park-Forest Park border, where the adjacent population is roughly 70 percent white, has a Green Accessibility Score (the sum of its bike and walk scores) of 155 while the Austin-Green Line el station, located less than two miles east in an area that is roughly 30 percent white, has a Green Accessibility Score of just 136. For commuters who have to travel through these areas, those low bike and walk scores are more than just numbers. They translate into very real complications, such as safety concerns that are exacerbated in transit areas that lack density of people and development.
Marie Watts, who grew up in the West Side and currently lives in Maywood, regularly commutes on the Blue Line and said she’s been satisfied with the line’s service frequency and the station’s condition, but said she’d like to see more CTA workers at the Cicero station during the evening. “People get their purses snatched,” she said. “They get beat up and thrown off the platform and onto the tracks.” Nicole Smith, who lives in Austin and works on the South Side, was standing outside of the Cicero Green Line station waiting for the 54 bus. “They could use a lot more buses out here,” she said. “They’re supposed to come every 15 minutes, but sometimes, the wait is a lot longer.” Wunderlich said he hopes his data visualization leads to more awareness about the issue of transit equity and that perhaps the data can lead to concrete changes. “I was interested in providing this to people in the neighborhoods who care about transit and perhaps the information can be used in discussions with the [city officials from agencies responsible for transit, such as Chicago Department of Transportation],” he said. You can access Wunderlich’s data visualization at: https://tabsoft.co/34YEGCO.
CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
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Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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S P O N S O R E D
C O N T E N T
The inside scoop on Massa Café Italiano
From indulgent gelato to new delivery services the Elmwood Park eatery keeps things fresh Massa Café Italiano co-owner Giovanna Lollino and her chef, husband and business partner Angelo are eager to embrace the return of summer weather and a sense of normalcy at their decades old Italian eatery located at 7434 W. North Ave. in Elmwood Park. “It is so nice to stand next to a stranger again and not feel uncomfortable,” said GiovanFood Writer na Lollino. “It is wonderful to see people coming together and creating that important sense of community at Massa. It is natural to want to be near people.” Café goers are proving her right. They have quickly returned to the summer tradition of patio dining at Massa -- the cheery café is a natural gathering place and vibrant destination on Elmwood Park’s bustling restaurant row. On a recent weekday children sat at a table scarfing down Sicilian style pizza next a group of elderly men sipping coffee while ladies sat nearby dining on colorful and healthy salads. Nothing at the café is frozen or pre-made and the Lollinos prioritize sourcing the
MELISSA ELSMO
freshest ingredients available. In addition to serving up a wide variety of authentic house-made Italian dishes, the quaint eatery peddles 10 distinctive entrée salads. In addition to classic Caprese and Caesar options, Massa offers a colorful Mandalay salad brimming with toasted walnuts, mandarin oranges, strawberries and gorgonzola cheese and tossed in a light raspberry vinaigrette. Massa also enhances the already abundant salad options with weekly specials like a shrimp salad boasting fresh basil and tomatoes on mixed greens dressed with white balsamic vinaigrette. Any savvy summer diner knows the benefits of selecting a light salad -- making a healthy choice means it is that much simpler to leave plenty of room for a summer dessert. Massa’s award-winning gelato and fresh sorbettos are made fresh daily using time-honored Italian techniques. The flavors shift with the growing season, but Chicago Pothole, akin to rocky road is a perennially popular gelato choice while watermelon sorbet is a summer highlight among Massa customers. Despite the undeniably joyful feeling returning to some sense of normalcy has brought to the café owners, Lollino was quick to point out Massa continued to grow during the pandemic. While things were quieter at the café, Angelo was diligently working on getting Massa’s pizza, gelato and coffee to the masses. “Our home delivery program and nationwide shipping had been in the works for a while,” said Lollino proudly, “The pandemic
Select a light entrée salad to ensure you have room for dessert
Things are returning to normal at Massa Café Italiano in Elmwood Park. Stop by Massa for a cup or cone of award-winning gelato or order a pint for home delivery
Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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brought the idea into focus, and we were able to make it a reality.” Hungry locals can now visit virovia.net to order a limited array of Massa’s most popular products for local hand delivery in Oak Park and River Forest. Sold by the pint, customers can select from 16 gelato flavors including strawberry cheesecake, caffe macchiato and banana bon. Eight varieties of coffee are available as well as five types of take and bake Sicilian style pizza includ-
ing spicy soppressata and roasted vegetable varieties. Vero Party boxes, also available for local delivery, are specially curated to combine products. Additionally, Massa’s products are expanding into retail environments and can be shipped nationwide. Whether you are looking for a sunny sidewalk salad or home-delivered gelato, Massa Café Italiano is prepared to meet your needs. All photos, Melissa Elsmo
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Oak Park Eats positively encourages readers to think about the food and beverages they consume and seek our unique and memorable beer drinking experience while celebrating Kinslagher’s local partnerships with Carnivore, Opportunity Knocks, Daly Bagels, and Darr-B-Q. - Keith Huizinga, Kinslagher
Sip more at Kinslahger.com/ Keith Huizinga, Kinslagher Photo provided
Five varieties of Massa’s Sicilian style pizzas are available for home delivery in Oak Park and River Forest via virovia.net.
Discover more culinary delights at OakPark.com
Keep up with Melissa Elsmo and what she’s cooking up at:
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ART BEAT
Beye builds creative hive of COVID-year memories By MICHELLE DYBAL Arts Editor
Beye Elementary students, teachers and staff were busy bees creating the Beye Hive mural, contributing more than 300 painted hexagons. The individual works of art were assembled to form a honeycomb installation on the school’s Cuyler Avenue side of the building. The project, which launched in February, went up during Memorial Day weekend. According to the Beye Hive Art Concept, it “symbolizes the beauty of our collective perseverance and commitment to working together over this past year. Additionally, it will be a physical reminder that while all students may not have been present in the school building this year, they are all a part of the school and that each of us has something unique to contribute.” The hexagon and assembled honeycomb shape are symbolic, too, representing harmony and balance. The art concept also references the insects known for creating their own art in this shape. “Bees live in colonies, where each plays a vital role, with a single goal of ensuring their colony or community’s survival. Bees are also essential to the growth of so many living things and for ensuring balance in our ecosystem. This year, we persevered through many changes to ensure our community’s survival and reimagining what it takes to build a community where all members can thrive. As a school community and as individuals, we’ve acknowledged our interdependence in new ways and risen (and are still rising) to the challenge of finding a new balance.” Indeed, a community of individuals buzzed around to pull off the sweet project. Tanya Fischer, Beye School PTO cochair of Inclusion and Diversity; Jocelyne Adkins, program director of By Discovery; By Discovery’s Stacey Grieff and Kim Becker, also a Beye parent; Andrew MacGregor, prin-
cipal at Accend Construction and a Beye parent; and his father Steve McGregor, architect; were all key contributors. There were additional volunteers -- parents and grandparents, community members, as well as District 97 and Beye staff who aided in hexagon creation in each classroom and assisted during the installation weekend. According to Fischer, “an anonymous donation to each of D97’s PTOs funded this project.”
Adkins hosted Zoom sessions to train classroom facilitators. When it came time to paint, more than 20 volunteer facilitators Zoomed with individual classrooms. Students were supplied with paint strips in the shape of a hexagon, brushes and a choice in their creations. “As a classroom group, we reflected on the past year and how we all had to work together, albeit separately, to keep ourselves and our community safe,” Fischer said. “The first suggestion we presented to students was to create their hexagons based on what brought them joy during this time. You will see a wide range of hexagons illustrating everything from dance, art, yoga, and music to video games, sports, Legos and many pets. Another option was for students to design a hexagon any way they liked, representing that each of us has something unique and beautiful to contribute to our community. You will see colorful geometric designs and other abstract representations.” Adkins said Fischer was “a force of nature and spent many, many hours leading and managing this project start to finish.” Fischer sought out approval from the PTO board, Beye School principal and Beye buildings and grounds director. She worked with construction and architecture professionals regarding mounting the mural, scheduled volunteers, ordered and distributed supplies and collected hexagons after they were painted. Besides facilitating training for classroom volunteers, the By Discovery team created the design concept for the painted hexagons and assisted in the installation. Fischer pointed out that “this was very much a collaborative effort” and that the By Discovery team and Adkins in particular “put her whole heart, and lots of expertise, into this project and dedicated countless hours to ensuring it took flight.” Buzz on by 230 N. Cuyler Ave., Oak Park, to view the Beye Hive, a honey of an artwork.
Live from Compound Yellow: Side Yard Sounds By KATIE POWERS Contributing Reporter
Live music has returned to Compound Yellow, Oak Park’s nonprofit experimental arts space on Lake Street. The Side Yard Sound Series, which kicked off last weekend, is a new venture for the Compound Yellow team. Each event will safely bring the Oak Park community together in the house’s eclectic and welcoming side yard and will feature a “bevy of creative musical artists who traverse diverse forms, from the intriguing waters of experimentalism and the avant-garde to forward-reaching jazz, according to Compound Yellow’s website. The program kicked off on Memorial Day weekend with a performance by jazz musician Paul Ashford. Compound Yellow founder Laura Shaeffer said in an email that the concert series is supported by a grant from Hyde Park Art
Center (HPAC), which will allow the organization to pay each artist what they deserve. She hopes each artist’s experience will be made even more meaningful by playing to a sizable audience. Children and pets are welcome at each event. Cold drinks are available and patrons are welcome to BYOB. According to their website, Compound Yellow, 244 Lake St., has long been a venue for visual art exhibitions of all kinds and places emphasis on, “the artist as a protagonist who incites our impulses to challenge the status quo, and considers brighter alternatives, reminds all that taking risks and new steps are what keeps our arts and social circles truly alive.” Over the years, its programming has included workshops, book clubs, film series, readings, discussions and performative lectures. Shaeffer said the lineup for the Side Yard Sound series was chosen to “encourage audiences [to] expand their vision of music both in and out of Chi-
cago.” On Saturday, June 4, futuristic jazz group Sistazz of Tha Nitty Gritty performed at the Side Yard, after their May 28 performance was rescheduled due to inclement weather. Although they have performed together virtually over the past few months, Saturday evening marked the trio’s first live event where they played to a crowd of 39 people. Featuring Black American traditional music composer Angel Bat Dawid on clarinet and vocals, Brooklynn Skye Scott on bass and Anaiet Sivad on piano and vocals, the trio took the Compound Yellow audience on a sonic journey to another dimension as they performed ethereal songs exploring themes of spirituality, healing and the preservation of Black music. Each musician commanded their instrument and each song’s intricate improvisations with prowess and passion. But while the performance permitted listeners to “get lost in the sauce” as Dawid put
it, it was also a reminder of the unifying experience of enjoying live music in the presence of others, and what a loss it has been to experience a year where it was impossible to do so safely. “Music is about community,” Dawid told the crowd at one point. Throughout the performance, she encouraged the audience to vocalize their emotions and sing along to their powerful melodies. At one point, they even passed out instruments so listeners could join in on the sound. The next performance in the series, from artist and composer Norman W. Long, will take place on Friday, June 11, at 7 p.m. With the funds from each ticket purchase, Shaeffer and the team at Compound Yellow hope to sustain the series into 2022. Each event will be live streamed on Facebook for those who can’t make it to the events. Learn more about the concert series and purchase tickets: com-poundyellow.com/even ts?category=Side+Yard+Sounds
Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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D97 human resources director resigns
By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter
Another Oak Park Elementary School District 97 employee has resigned. Gina Herrmann, a senior director of human resources, recently announced plans to leave the district for a new position at HinsdaleClarendon Hills Elementary District 181, according to a news release issued May 27 by the district. Herrmann’s resignation came shortly after Beye Elementary School Principal Jennifer Schemidt announced her departure
from the district after a single year last month. The Board of Education is expected to approve Herrmann’s resignation at the June 8 meeting, the release stated. Schemidt and Herrmann’s final days with the district is June 30. Herrmann has served as the district’s senior director of human resources for the past two years and will take on the role of assistant superintendent of human resources at Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills. Schemidt became principal of Beye in 2020, after longtime principal Jonathan Ellwanger retired. Schmedit, a former employee of Naperville
Unit School District 203, looks to return to Naperville for a school psychologist position. In the news release, Herrmann shared her gratitude toward the district and having the chance to work alongside “the exceptional leadership” of D97 staff and board members. “This was not an easy decision, but one that allows me to work closer to home and continue to grow professionally,” Herrmann said. The district plans to fill Herrmann’s and Schemidt’s position and will update the community on those hiring efforts, the release stated.
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Interim Superintendent Patricia Wernet and Board President Jung Kim offered their thoughts on Herrmann’s departure. They acknowledged Herrmann’s dedication, expertise and leadership, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “The board of education is sad to see Gina Herrmann leave our district,” Kim said. “She has worked tirelessly since her arrival, and her leadership has been particularly vital during this difficult and challenging year. We wish her the absolute best in her new position. She will be difficult to replace.”
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Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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declining, negating another longtime use of the Priory Campus. She acknowledged the Priory building needs significant investment for whatever its future use might be. The university has hired Jones Lang LaSalle, a commercial real estate firm, to assess its options and to put a price tag on the property. Asked if the property was actively on the market, Carroll said the real estate firm “is describing it as a quiet offering, not an open sale.” She said the firm is having discussions with possible buyers or collaborators for the site. An initial appraisal of the site by Jones Lang LaSalle put an $8 million price tag on the property, she said. But the market will determine its value. Carroll described four options for the university, its board and its incoming president who will arrive this summer as Carroll retires after 27 years: “We could mothball it. Essentially what we are doing now. Dominican could repurpose it. We could lease it. We could sell it. We’ve given ourselves permission to explore options.” She noted there are always discussions between Dominican and Fenwick, and she would welcome Trinity High School into that conversation to see if there might be a collaborative concept among “the Dominican siblings that would make a comfortable transition and allowing the property to stay in the family.” Adduci said it was unlikely the village government would consider buying the property. “Not at this time. I couldn’t see
“One of our key objectives is to expand our reach,” Yang said. “We want to talk to fellows, give them leadership experience and provide them with a personal journal and help them curate that journey. “You don’t have to be a mayor or in some high position in a company to be a leader. We know anyone can be a leader and we
File photo
Tony Martinez, president and CEO of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation, wants Leadership Lab to reflect the villages’ interconnectedness with neighboring communities.
Greenfield St.
Harlem Ave.
said she was not surprised by the position. “The green space is beautiful,” said Carroll who noted the Priory building — constructed originally in 1924 and added on to in 1964 — is not registered as a historic building, “but we’re not looking to have it knocked down.” Both the village and the university are taking the long view here. Adduci said the zoning on the property aligns fully with the village’s Comprehensive Plan which was updated in 2017. That plan focuses upgrades to commercial development on North Avenue, Lake Street and Madison Street. “We are all wanting more green space,” she added. Carroll said discussions about the future of the Priory Campus have long been underway and the university is not rushing any decisions. She said the recession of 2009 diminished demand for graduate course work. Now graduate enrollment is again on the rise, she said, but increasingly courses are taught online, making the Priory space unnecessary. Graduate programs have been shifted to the main campus west on Division Street. Carroll also said demand for on-campus student housing for undergrads is also
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William St.
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Dominican University Priory Campus
Division St. GOOGLE MAPS
EGG ON A PEDESTAL: Dominican University owns 7 acres at the center of the 20 acres once owned by the Dominican Friars religious order. Dominican’s president Donna Carroll has described the parcel as an “egg on a pedestal. A beautiful egg, though.” it,” she said. Asked if the River Forest Park District might consider it, she said the price would likely exceed the district’s bonding capacity but “it could be possible. It would be a nice park.”
Carroll said this is a long and open-ended process for Dominican. The university has consulted with neighbors, she said, and the discussions are part of the school’s strategic planning process and facility audit process.
want to make sure we meet them where they are because the skills we’ll offer are applicable wherever they want to serve.” Yang said the program has evolved since its inception, adding that the Lab is “much more approachable, more actionable and more flexible” than in the past, when participants were largely drawn from Oak Park and River Forest. “When this was started, it was really designed between the Community Foundation and Dominican University to be a leadership program that helped people become defined as community leaders and it was focused on the Oak Park and River Forest area,” said Cathy Yen, a longtime nonprofit executive and a Leadership Lab facilitator who has also completed the program herself. “The program has come a long way since then,” Yen said, adding that the program is focused on “a bunch of C’s,” including competencies, coaching, context and COVID. Yen said, for those looking to apply, “your demonstrated commitment to the greater good is more important than your resume.” She said the program typically attracts midcareer professionals looking to strengthen their core competencies and sharpen their core values. DeRondal Bevly, a Leadership Lab mentor, said the program is particularly necessary in today’s fraught political climate. “If you look at the energy that was kicked up as a result of the 2020 election, people were looking for an outlet to do something but just didn’t have the skills, the toolkit and
the networks to be agents of change,” Bevly said. “This program really fits the times to help those people who know they’re leaders and have the potential, but don’t quite know how to pull it out themselves.” Yang said Leadership Lab fellows who complete the program get access to a resource library that’s available to all Lab participants and alumni. They also get to tap into a network of more than 200 Lab alumni. Yen said Leadership Lab’s desire to expand its reach beyond two suburbs is consistent with an expanding definition of community, one rooted less in one particular municipal boundary than in a much larger geographic region. That regionalism is also consistent with the Community Foundation’s evolving mission, said Antonio Martinez Jr., the Foundation’s president and CEO. “The big thing is that we realize the interconnectedness that we share with our surrounding neighbors and communities,” he said. “We know that what affects us affects others and vice versa, so it’s important for us, when we take a look at this leadership program, to look at west Cook County, the city of Chicago, and, in particular, Austin, and do our part to help people in those communities increase their leadership capacity.” For more information on Leadership Lab and/or to apply, visit: oprfcf.org/leadershiplab.
CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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Food writers unite for one epic outdoor meal Hammond and Elsmo experience smoked meat madness at Babygold Barbecue
MELISSA ELSMO
DAVID HAMMOND
Oak Park Eats
B
abygold Barbecue, 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd., helmed by notable Chicago chef and Berwyn resident John Manion opened to the public in early May. Folks in the area appear to be thrilled to have chef-driven fare on the Veltway in Berwyn. Heck, the Chicago Tribune just named FitzGerald’s “patio with live music and mouthwatering brisket” among the 45 patios “tailored to meet your outdoor dining needs.” As a longtime south Oak Park resident, I share the enthusiasm surrounding the arrival of Babygold Barbecue — it is valuable to have buzzworthy fare in the neighborhood. Eager to share the love, I met up with food writer, David Hammond to experience Chef Manion’s unfussy fare at Babygold. What ensued was nothing short of smoked meat madness — you name it we ate it! Here’s what we thought of our #berwynstyle meal.
John Manion’s tips for the home BBQ chef John Manion, the chef at Berwyn’s Babygold Barbecue, is well-known for his open-fire cooking. We’d dined several times at his La Sirena Clandestina in Fulton Market (now closed) and at El Che (still going strong), so we were eager to sample what he’s serving at FitzGerald’s. We were knocked out by his smoked meat, and so I asked him to offer some tips for home BBQ chefs and other amateurs (such as myself) who smoke meat at home for friends and family. HAMMOND: What is a key guideline that you’d offer the BBQ amateur? MANION: Get good meat. It’s that simple. Choice grade meat is fine; you don’t need Prime, but I wouldn’t get Select [usually the lowest grade of meat commercially available]. And you don’t have to shop at expensive places and spend a lot of money. I’ve purchased some great meat from Carnivore, but Prime is sometimes unnecessary. You can always get your meat from the world’s largest butcher, Costco; the quality is good, and they turn it over fast. What you want to avoid is supermarket meat that’s sitting around shrink-wrapped and all grey and sad. HAMMOND: Gas or Charcoal? MANION: I would go with charcoal. With my smoker, I get it going with charcoal and then I just feed it chunks of dry wood. I don’t soak the wood or the wood chips because that steams the meat, and when the meat is steaming you don’t get that good bark [the highly desirable, super tasty, darker, and chewier exterior that’s usually sought after by BBQ enthusiasts]. Bark production will usually
be better with charcoal; as a side-by-side test, if you cook meat over charcoal and cook meat on a gas grill and compare the two, the bark will be better on the meat you cooked over charcoal. HAMMOND: Lighter fluid or a chimney? MANION: A chimney [cylindrical canister, stuffed with paper in the bottom and charcoal on top, designed to help get charcoal started]. Lighter fluid has a nasty chemical smell, and I know it’s going to burn off, but I always still taste it on the meat. I don’t like it and I don’t trust it. HAMMOND: Does it matter what kind of wood you use? MANION: The kind of wood you use does matter because wood imparts flavor. A wood like hickory can overwhelm the subtle taste of fish. A fruit wood has a sweetness that goes great with pork. I use mostly oak, which has a somewhat neutral flavor and imparts the right amount of smokiness to our food. HAMMOND: Many barbecue enthusiasts put sauce on the side but don’t add it to the meat before serving. So, to sauce or not to sauce? MANION: It is 100% personal preference, though there’s certainly a popular philosophy that it’s all about the smoke and that sauce goes on the side; that’s a very Texas way of thinking about BBQ. If the sauce is on the side, though, it’s a condiment, and I think it should be an integral part of the experience. For me, I like a saucy rib, that’s the Chicago way, and the commingling of rendered pork fat and sauce is magic.
Photo by Melissa Elsmo
TIPS ON DIPS: David Hammond and his wife Carolyn listen to Chef Manion dish on dips at Babygold Barbecue. The Appetizers: Char-grilled oysters, smoked shrimp and a trio of dips “With oysters, I usually prefer to go commando, raw, without sauces or even lemon squeezes,” said Hammond. “At a restaurant like Babygold, however, and in the hands of a more-than-capable chef like John Manion, a cooked oyster can be a beautiful thing.” Hammond’s feedback validated my opinion. Raw oysters are culinary kryptonite for me, but Babygold’s char-grilled offering makes for pretty perfect patio fare. Fun fact --Will Duncan, owner of FitzGerald’s, has these morsels on the menu because his wife, Jessica King, counts them among her favorite foods. I love peel-and-eat smoked shrimp to the point where it can be hard for me to stop eating it. Calumet Fisheries in Chicago holds a little piece of my heart thanks to their shrimp smoking prowess, but Babygold is running a very close second. Hammond agreed with me saying, “the shrimp at Babygold are gently caressed by the smoke, so that the flavor of both crustacean and burning wood are balanced, and the shrimps remain juicy…succulent, even.” The entrees: Turkey, wings, brisket, pork belly, cauliflower and more A platter full of smoked turkey and chicken wings proved to be a highlight for both of us. Manion considers Babygold’s thick-sliced smoked turkey to be a “menu workhorse.” Thanks to its subtlety, lighter feel and Thanksgiving vibe, the turkey was my favorite protein on the menu. However, Hammond commented, “the deliciousness of the turkey was slightly eclipsed by the uber-deliciousness of the chicken wings.” And Hammond was clear he almost never orders wings but would gladly order them at Babygold again and again. From there we cracked a couple of Babygold beers produced for the restaurant by Kinslahgher in Oak Park and the protein parade continued with ribs, pork belly,
and brisket. Both Hammond and I felt the chopped brisket and pulled pork got lost in the shuffle of assertively seasoned smoked meats, but both were well prepared. Though some of the meats came sauced, Hammond and I agreed they were not being used to cover up cooking errors and served to enhance the eating experience. Babygold partners with Whittingham Meats which sources top quality Creekstone Farms black angus brisket. Hammond liked it sliced because the fat was so “luscious and velvety.” For the same reason, I picked the Babygold Pork Belly as the standout among the bolder meats. Heavily seasoned, crisp and tender, the indulgent offering was made all the more enjoyable thanks to a smattering of mustard spiked sauce. A combination of BBQ spiced cauliflower, potato salad and coleslaw make for a memorable vegetarian offering on an otherwise meat-heavy menu. “The roasted, sauced cauliflower will get the meatless members of your group in the mood,” said Hammond who noted the dish shares similar flavors with many of the meats on the menu. There is a lot of local chatter about the exceptional onion rings at Babygold and they more than lived up to the hype. They were so crispy and crunchy they brought an instant smile to my face and Hammond chimed in to say they were “the best examples of this side we could remember eating.” I was also a fan of the piquant collard greens for the ability to cut through the smoke and richness of entrees. Hammond appreciated the potato chip topped mac n’ cheese because Manion used rotini rather than elbows saying, “the corkscrew pasta holds the cheese very well.” We rounded out our meal with a duo of hyper-local Spilt Milk pies and a cup of soft serve ice cream before our buttons popped and we rolled out onto Roosevelt Road. If we are ever hungry again, we’ll head right back to FitzGerald’s for a Babygold burger!
Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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Anfora anniversary feels like a grand opening One year old wine shop still waiting to be discovered By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor
Last weekend, Anfora Wine Merchants, 128 S. Marion St., celebrated its first anniversary. Musicians played streetside, customers enjoyed a complimentary glass of prosecco on the patio and the shop hosted a vendor curated wine tasting for the first time since opening. “We used the pandemic to our advantage,” said Adrian Weisell, owner of Anfora Wine Merchants. “It gave us some breathing room to take things bit-by-bit. We really view our one-year anniversary as our grand opening.” Anfora, a wine shop and education center inspired by Italian enotecas, represents Weisell’s first foray into the retail wine business. And he opened at a curious time. The shop, focused primarily on wines made from native Italian grapes, opened in late May of 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when all non-essential businesses were shuttered. From the communal tasting table to group focused classes, nearly every aspect of Anfora was designed to promote shared wine drinking experiences, but the shop entered the community at a time when people could not fathom sitting at a table with 12 strangers. Undeterred, Weisell swiftly developed a curbside packaged wine program at price points that appealed to budget conscious wine-lovers and wine collectors alike. He morphed indoor classes into online offerings and began offering in-person, outdoor classes at Cheney Mansion and Pleasant Home to ensure proper social distancing. The pandemic even made finishing the shop interior challenging. “We didn’t have access to the materials we needed to finish projects,” said Weisell. “They either vanished or were very expen-
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
TOGETHER WITH WINE: (Above) Folks enjoy a bottle of wine outside of Anfora Wine Merchants. (Right) Jassem el Mahmoud examines a bottle of wine inside the market. sive.” With materials suddenly out of budget for the young shop it has taken patience for Anfora to take on the look Weisell had envisioned. In fact, permanent stone counter tops only recently replaced temporary wood sheets installed in the shop when materials were scarce. Weisell, however, believes his patience and flexibility will pay off. “I think we’ve been able to connect with our customers despite all of this,” said Weisell. “But our anniversary weekend really set the tone for what we want summer to be at Anfora.” Weisell wants the shop to be a festive gathering space where people come to enjoy a bottle of wine on the patio with friends. They have a limited number of wines avail-
able by the glass, but Weisell is quick to point out the entire shop is available to be enjoyed for a very modest corkage fee. He also considers the close bond between Anfora and Carnivore, the artisan butcher shop located around the corner at 1042 Pleasant St., to be one of the best kept secrets in Oak Park. “People don’t realize they can get a chefdriven steak prepared at Carnivore while they are drinking wine at Anfora,” said Weisell. “We have a few bar snacks here, but the entire Carnivore menu is available to our customers.” Anfora is waiting to be discovered by the local community and Weisell is eager to unveil the full plan for the shop. In addition to inviting wine makers in for meet and greet events with customers and hosting
structured wine classes, he is clamoring to educate walk in shoppers about the array of honest wines he has available at Anfora. The shop exists to highlight small and historical wine makers who are making wine the “right way.” More than 90% of wines sold at Anfora are organic and all offerings have an environmental focus. “We are looking forward to connecting with the broader community,” said Weisell. “No one is doing something this focused, and we have a shop worth traveling to visit.” Anfora recently expanded its summer hours. The shop is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 12 to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday 12 to 8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 6 p.m.
Thursday Night Out returns By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor
Hungry locals looking for a dandy deal will be thrilled to learn Thursday Night Out is returning to Oak Park on June 10 with delicious dinner options and thoughtful modifications. “We’re very excited Thursday Night Out is back,” said Shannon Williams, executive director of Downtown Oak Park. “This event provides a really unique way for the community to support local eateries with a special curated dine-around menu. Above
all, we’re really looking forward to seeing familiar faces again on Thursdays.” In an effort to avoid crowds, musical performances and alcohol tents will not be part of Thursday Night Out events in 2021, but a menu of more than 60 diverse dishes from a growing list of 19 participating restaurants will bring a festive energy to the weekly event. Each $20 ticket booklet sold on Thursday nights from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Downtown Oak Park ticket tent located on the corner of Marion and Lake streets contains four “dine-around tickets.” One dine-around ticket is good for one item included on the
Thursday Night Out menu. The menu includes an array of distinctive appetizer, entree and drink options that may change or evolve over the course of the summer. Wise Cup, 1018 Lake St., is offering samosa chaat, a garbanzo bean soup with crispy potato samosa, while Poke Burrito, 1025 Lake St., plans to offer small crab or chicken bowls with rice. Guests taking the turn onto Marion Street will find chocolate and toffee domes available from Sugar Fixe Patisserie, 119 Marion St., and a duo of smoked meat sliders and hushpuppies from Q BBQ, 124 N. Marion St. Boss Burrito, 1110
Westgate, plans to peddle junior burritos filled with chicken, beef or pork. Food items are available for dine-in or carry-out and limited outdoor seating will be available on Marion Street for folks looking to dine al fresco. Tables will be professionally cleaned between uses and alcohol is not permitted inside the outdoor dining area. “While Thursday Night Out hasn’t returned yet to the traditional pre-Covid format, we’re excited for the community to experience the menu,” said Williams. Thursday Night Out will be held weekly from June 10 through Sept. 9.
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C R I M E
Rainbow Pride flags stolen, damaged June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, but rainbow flags have been ripped from flagpoles outside three Oak Park homes, two of which happened in the 300 block of South Taylor Avenue within roughly the same timeframe. The first reported incident was captured on video surveillance; an unknown person was recorded damaging the rainbow flag outside a home at 4:48 a.m., June 5. The second occurred sometime between 11 p.m., June 4 and 7 a.m., June 5, when someone removed another home’s rainbow flag and bent the flagpole attached to the front porch. The rainbow flag outside a home in the 200 block of South Ridgeland Avenue was targeted in the early morning of June 5 as well. At 4:35 a.m., an unknown person was observed via Ring video surveillance walking up to the front porch of the home and forcibly ripping down the 3-by-5-foot Pride flag that was hanging outside.
Aggravated assault A man with a knife approached someone seated in the passenger side of a vehicle and attempted to strike the victim through the window at 10:55 a.m., June 2 in the 100 block of Madison Street. The offender then damaged the passenger side of the vehicle.
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Burglary ■ Someone stole a cellphone from the center console of a 2017 Ford Escape left unlocked and running in the 900 block of South Oak Park Avenue between 10:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., May 27. The estimated loss is $1,050. ■ Someone took a Trek bicycle out of an open garage in the 200 block of Marion Street between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m., May 30. ■ A Trek bicycle was taken from a garage. The door was pried open between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., May 30, in the 200 block of South Taylor Avenue. ■ A lawnmower was taken from an unlocked garage in the 500 block of North Cuyler Avenue between 5 p.m., May 30 and 11:16 a.m., June 1. The estimated loss is $650.
Motor vehicle theft ■ A 2016 Buick Encore was removed from the 6100 block of West North Avenue between 12:55 and 1 p.m., May 31. Estimated loss is $30,000. Maywood police recovered the vehicle early the next morning in the 100 block of 14th Avenue in Maywood at 1:59 a.m. ■ Someone used a key fob to remove a 2014
Hyundai Sonata between 11 p.m., June 6 and 1:16 a.m., June 7 in the 700 block of South Maple Avenue. The estimated loss is $7,500.
Theft ■ Someone cut the catalytic converter from a 2005 Toyota Prius in the 1200 block of Edmer Avenue between noon, May 24 and 7 p.m., May 26. ■ After breaking its security lock, someone removed a bicycle from the 200 block of Chicago Avenue between 3 p.m., May 29 and 9 a.m., May 30. The estimated loss is $1,500. ■ The catalytic converter was cut from a Toyota Prius parked in the rear driveway of a residence in the 200 block of Randolph Street around 5:47 a.m., June 3. ■ A package containing a Graco Pack ’n’ Play was taken from the front porch of a residence in the 1000 block of Linden Avenue about 6:30 p.m., June 2. The estimated loss is $75.
Criminal property damage ■ Someone threw two bricks into the windows of a residence in the 300 block of South Ridgeland Avenue between 4:57 and 5:01 a.m., May 31. The estimated damage is $300.
■ A concrete picnic bench belonging to the Park District of Oak Park was damaged between 7 p.m., June 1 and 7:30 a.m., June 2 at 167 Forest Ave. The estimated damage is $1,000. ■ The rear window, front windshield and both side mirrors of a vehicle were broken between 10:30 a.m., May 27 and 4 p.m., May 28 in the 500 block of North Humphrey Avenue. The estimated damage is $2,000. ■ Someone shattered the front and rear windshields of a Chevy Malibu and scratched its driver and passenger side windows between 1:30 and 7:19 a.m., June 3 in the first block of Iowa Street. The estimated damage is $1,000. ■ These items, obtained from the Oak Park Police Department, came from reports May 29-June 7 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
Compiled by Stacey Sheridan
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Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
Homes
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Architecture tours return to Austin this summer
Chicago Architecture Center launches monthly walk series By LACEY SIKORA
J
Contributing Reporter
ust in time for summer, the Chicago Architecture Center is reopening its doors with all-new and updated exhibits which include 10,000 square feet of gallery space full of scale models and building designs. The CAC has already kicked off the season with the launch of several walking tours, including a monthly tour in the Austin neighborhood. Visitors on the monthly Austin tours will walk through Austin’s historic Midway Park and surrounding neighborhood and learn about late 19th and early 20th century houses, schools and store fronts. Notable architects featured on the tour include Frederick Schock, William Drummond and Dwight Perkins. In addition, Austin community members will share their stories of the ongoing work to revitalize the neighborhood after a long history of discriminatory housing policies, disinvestment and other challenges. CAC docent and Austin resident Karen Clapp is excited to bring architectural tours back to the neighborhood she calls home. “We’re building on the legacy of tours that happened here back in the late seventies and eighties,” Clapp said. Called the Austin House Tours and sponsored by the Austin Schock Neighborhood Association, the tours in the 1970s and 1980s took place in the neighborhood named after the noted architect Frederick Schock who lived and designed in Austin. Since those tours, there was an occasional special tour of Austin, but the CAC, then known as the Chicago Architecture Foundation, did not have a set tour in the area for years. In 2018, the CAC’s Open House Chicago
Photo by Zachary Whittenburg
SHOW TIME: The Beeson House (above), designed in 1892 by Frederick Schock on Midway Park Parkway, is one of four by the architect in Austin designated a national landmark. Another, the Marie Schock House, is owned by Jerry Ehernberger (at right), displaying renderings and floor plans of his home. event included a few buildings in Austin, and Clapp noticed a large number of people coming into the neighborhood. “I turned to my husband and said, ‘It’s great that there are people here today, but I want more people to come here more regu-
Before you go The Chicago Architecture Center’s tours of Austin take place one Sunday a month at 2 p.m. and last about two hours. Upcoming dates include June 90, July, 18, August 22, September 19 and October 24. All tours are led by docents, and each tour will feature one homeowner who will speak about their house. Tours are outside. Due to current COVID restrictions, tours are currently limited to 12 people. Masks are required. Tickets cost $30 for the general public, $15 for CAC Basic Members and are free to Donor-Level Members. Tours leave from the fountain at the east end of Midway Park, 5701 Midway Park. More information and online ticket sales can be found at: architecture.org/tours/ detail/historic-austin
larly,’” Clapp said. “I felt our arts institutions in the city needed to have more of a permanent presence on the West Side.” Clapp, who has been a docent with the CAC for roughly 20 years, began to design a tour of the neighborhood, and says it took almost two years to put together. Completed just before the pandemic halted tours last year, the Austin tours are finally finding an audience this summer. The Austin area is architecturally rich, and Clapp says that the name Schock has particular significance. “Much like Frank Lloyd Wright lived in Oak Park and designed a lot of homes in Oak Park, and George Maher lived in Kenilworth and designed a lot of homes there, Frederick Schock lived in Austin and designed a lot of homes and public buildings there,” Clapp said. See AUSTIN TOURS on page 22
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AUSTIN TOUR
Numerous landmarks from page 21 Tour participants will see Schock-designed buildings as well as works by noted architect Dwight Perkins, who Clapp says designed a lot of schools in Chicago. They will also see a building designed by architect Alfred Alschuler, who designed the K.A.M Isaiah Israel Temple in Hyde Park and the now-demolished Chicago Mercantile Exchange Building. Clapp says that there are numerous layers to unfold. Four of the Schock houses are national landmarks, there are two national historic districts in Austin and many of the individual homes have been designated as significant. “From an architectural and historical perspective, this little pocket of West Austin is actually pretty rich,” Clapp said. Beyond architecture, the tour will cover the history of the Austin neighborhood, from its development to its annexation into Chicago to the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, which saw red-lining and block-busting in the area. Clapp notes that the history is important but so is the current state of the neighborhood. “There’s a lot of great, wonderful things happening here now, and we’ll talk about
Photo provided
FINER POINTS: Jerry Ehernberger, the owner of a Frederick Schock-designed home on Midway Park in Austin points out the significance of Schock’s designs in the neighborhood during a Chicago Architecture Center tour in May. that as well,” she said. After living in Austin for 20 years and raising her family there, Clapp is eager to showcase all the things that make the com-
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SPORTS
Third time’s the charm for OPRF in softball regionals
Huskies defeat Lyons Township after losing twice during regular season
regional title for the program, with 13 coming under coach Bob Osborne. Trinity (14-12) broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth on a RBI single by Kendall Hynes. In the top of the sixth, the Bandits loaded the bases with no out. But Blazers’ pitcher Danielle Hoffman escaped the jam with no runs allowed, getting a pop up and a soft liner to shortstop Meagan Murphy for the first two outs. Then Murphy made what Osborne called the “play of the game” when she leaped in the air to snag a hard liner that likely would have given Resurrection the lead. “Meagan leaped at her highest point to snag that ball,” said Osborne. “That was the game. It’s one of the best plays I’ve ever seen.” Trinity catcher Linea Drever subsequently put the game away by tripling in two runs, then coming home on a throwing error. The Blazers faced Montini -- the top-seeded team in Class 3A Sectional 3 – on June 8 after Wednesday Journal’s press time. Trinity split a pair of games with the Broncos during the regular season.
By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
Oak Park and River Forest High School softball coach Mel Kolbusz kept emphasizing to his team that it’s hard for one opponent to beat the other three times in a season. The Huskies lost to West Suburban Silver rival Lyons Township High School twice in the regular season. But when it mattered most – in the IHSA Class 4A regional title game June 2 in Western Springs -- OPRF rose to the occasion and knocked off the Lions 6-3. “We just wanted it a little bit more today,” said Kolbusz. “Even after the two losses, I told the kids we have the better team, and we had to prove it on the field.” Sydney Ross belted a three-run homer in the top of the third inning to give the Huskies (16-6) a 3-0 lead. Then in the sixth, aided by a pair of LTHS errors, OPRF used small ball to tack on three more runs and take a 6-1 advantage. “We bunted and put a little pressure on [the LTHS defense]. It seemed to work,” Kolbusz said. The Lions rallied in the bottom of the seventh for two runs and brought the tying run to the plate. But OPRF’s Cassie Metzger struck out Tess Meyer to end the game. The senior ace allowed three runs on six hits with 12 strikeouts. “Cassie was outstanding,” said Kolbusz.
Friars exit in regional final round ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
EASY OUT: OPRF infielder Ella Kuenster throws to first to record an out during the Huskies’ regional final victory over Lyons Township High School on June 3 in Western Springs. “She’s not the greatest pitcher I’ve ever had, but she’s a bulldog. Cassie always fights and battles.” The win advanced the Huskies into the IHSA sectional semifinal on June 8, after Wednesday Journal’s press time, at Marist. The Redhawks entered that game ranked as
the state’s top team.
Trinity takes IHSA regional title Trinity High School defeated Resurrection 6-2 on June 5 at Triton College to win the IHSA Class 3A regional title. It’s the 14th
A 5-0 loss at Montini on June 3 in the Class 3A regional final round ended a challenging season for the Fenwick High School softball team, which finished with a 3-19 record. A young squad, Fenwick started four sophomores and the Friars’ offense struggled all season. “Our younger girls seemed intimidated by varsity pitching,” said Fenwick coach Sarah James. “We actually grew a lot, but it didn’t show in the scores and record.”
OPRF girls score upsets to reach soccer sectionals No. 12 Huskies down No. 4 Downers North in regional finals By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
Despite having a 5-7 record entering the IHSA Class 3A girls soccer tournament, Oak Park and River Forest High School coach Christie Johnston felt her team was capable of making noise in the Morton Sectional. That belief was rewarded as the Huskies recorded backto-back road upsets last week to claim their first regional title since 2011. After a 2-0 shutout at fifth-seeded Whitney Young June 2, No. 12 OPRF knocked off West Suburban Silver rival and No. 4-seeded Downers Grove North 2-1 on June 4. “It’s incredible,” Johnston said. “I always say at the start
of the playoffs, everyone’s 0-0, and that motivation has helped us so far.” The Huskies (7-7) fell behind early in the first half against Downers North but maintained their poise and took the lead late on goals by junior midfielder Katherine Hoffman and junior forward Julia Daun. Then OPRF locked down on defense in the second half to secure the victory. “[Senior defender] Audrey Stutz is the anchor of our defense. She holds things down in the back,” Johnston said. “Audrey denied every opportunity [Downers Grove North] had and played incredible.” Not only is this the Huskies’ first regional championship in 10 years, it’s the first of Johnston’s career. And it’s something she’ll always be grateful for, especially given the circumstances of the last two years. “It’s been hard keeping things together with COVID-19 issues,” she said. “But the seniors have stepped up and led this team with tenacity. It’s been an awesome ride so far, and
I’m incredibly proud of the team. They’ve come together when it matters the most.” OPRF faced a stern test in sectional semifinal on June 8, after Wednesday Journal’s press time, at top-seeded Benet Academy in Lisle. The Redwings, currently ranked third in the state and the 2A champions in 2019, figure to be a difficult opponent for the Huskies. “I think we’ll give [Benet] a game for sure,” she said. “We’re ready to take them on and we’ll see what we can do.”
Fenwick falls in regional final The Friars’ season came to an end June 5 as Downers Grove South scored a pair of second-half goals to prevail 2-0 for a 3A regional title. “It’s always disappointing to lose to end the season,” Fenwick coach Craig Blazer said. “But this team accomplished See SOCCER on page 28
Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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27
Welin leads OPRF girls to 2nd at track sectionals Fenwick qualifies 4 relays, 10 individuals for Class 2A state meet By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
Oak Park and River Forest High School junior distance runner Josephine Welin continued her dominance on June 3 at the IHSA 3A girls’ track and field sectional at Lyons Township, setting a pair of new personal records while winning the 1,600-meter (4 minutes, 44.52 seconds) and 3,200-meter (10:19.68) races. Welin has been so dominant this year, she’s used to running alone in races. While that was the case in the 3,200 where she finished nearly 40 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, she appreciated being pushed in the 1,600 by Lyons Township’s Kate Dickman, who crossed the finish line about two seconds behind. “I heard her footsteps behind me and I was trying to not let her pass,” said Welin. “It was really nice to have her push me.” OPRF coach Nick Michalek had just two words to describe Welin’s sectional performance: “absolutely fantastic.” “It’s awesome to see Josephine at the last meet before the state finals to be able to blossom like this,” Michalek said. Overall, OPRF finished second at the LTHS sectional with 87 points, behind West Suburban Silver champion Downers Grove North. The Huskies advanced its 800 meter relay team (Evelyn Dellegrazie, Rhea Richards, Darnesha Fraley, Ayanna Townsend) and five individuals to the Class 3A state finals, scheduled for June 12. Those heading with Welin to the state finals as individuals include senior Sophia Rutkowski in the high jump, Ogunsanya Tiara in discus and Danielle Chap-
man-Rienstra in pole vault.
Fenwick girls cruise to sectional win The Fenwick girls track and field team easily cruised to the Class 2A Ridgewood Sectional title on June 4 with 154 points. The Friars advanced all four relays along with 10 individuals to the 2A state finals, scheduled for June 11. Senior Delaney Seligmann was victorious in three events, the high jump (1.55 meters), the long jump (5.25 meters), and the triple jump (10.74 meters). Other winners for the Friars were sophomore Bella Daley in the 1,600 (5:29.97), senior Katie Cahill in the 3,200 (12:11.08) and junior Sonia Kuchinic in the 300-meter hurdles (50.78 seconds). Also qualifying for the state meet as individuals were Maria Quinn in the 400 meters, Maggie O’Malley in the 1,600 meters, Katie Bartlett in the shot put and Maureen Moore in the high jump. Qualifying in the 400- and 800-meter relays were Jordan Van Santen, Moore, Allie Heyer and Flynn Monahan. Also heading to state is the Friars’ 1,600 relay of Heyer, Daley, McKenzie McClear and Monahan and the 3,200 relay of Daley, Quinn, Camille Nourie, Mikaela Burns.
Trinity advances 2 relays, hurdler to state Trinity High School finished in a tie for second with Lindblom at the Class 2A Ridgewood Sectional with 69 points. Trinity was victorious in two relays. The 1,600 relay team of Laura Murphy, Amanda McGreal, Myla Roy and Mary Jacobs won with a time of 4:27.33, while the 3,200 relay team of Murphy, Sylvia Ritzler, Roy and Ella Miller won with a time of 10:30.17. Moreover, by finishing second in each of the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdle races, Jacobs will compete in those events at the 2A state finals on June 11.
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
OFF TO STATE: OPRF junior Darnesha Fraley crosses the finish line to finish second in the 800-meter relay at the IHSA sectional meet on June 3 at Lyons Township High School. The relay team will head to compete in this weekend’s state meet.
Late homer bails out Huskies to keep state hopes alive
Huskies edge Von Steuben to take regional title By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
Oak Park and River Forest High School’s Jack Flagg stepped to the plate in the sixth inning June 7 with two outs and a man on third. The second-seeded Huskies were trailing seventh-seeded Von Steuben in the IHSA Class 4A regional finals by a run, and Flagg took a simple approach to his at-bat. “I was looking for the right pitch,” he said. “Coach [Joe] Parenti said look for a perfect pitch and don’t do too much.” Flagg’s strategy paid off as he belted a go-ahead two-run homer that proved to be decisive as the Huskies slipped past the Panthers 8-7 to claim the regional title and advance to face No. 3-seed Evanston in the IHSA sectional semifinal round on June 9 at
4:30 p.m. at Triton College. “Both teams absolutely battled,” said Parenti. “Von Steuben didn’t go away and kept fighting. It’s a well-coached team with a lot of great players, and they’ve got a bright future ahead.” Von Steuben scored three runs in the top of the third inning to break a scoreless tie, but OPRF struck back in the bottom half with three runs of their own. Ethan Glossa’s triple scored Jared Cortez and Josh Diamond, then Glossa scored when the relay throw got away. The Huskies (16-7) then staged a two-out rally with no one on base to take a 6-3 lead in the fourth. Flagg doubled in Quinn Flemming and Dan Michaud, then came home on a single by Gio Pamias. Von Steuben wouldn’t quit, however, and the Panthers got two runs in the fifth on a single and a RBI groundout. Then Von Steuben took a 7-6 lead in the sixth on a RBI single by Joe Gonzalez and a sacrifice fly by Eduardo Letamendi.
In OPRF’s half of the inning, Diamond doubled to lead off and Glossa reached on an error by Gonzalez to put runners on first and third. Michaud then bounced into a double play, but Diamond stayed at third base. However, Flagg bailed out the Huskies with his clutch home run to center off Panthers’ reliever Jakob Sfikas. “We had a bit of a hiccup in the sixth,” Parenti said. “We needed someone to step up big, and did Jack deliver. You can’t get any better than that.” Flagg went 3-for-4 with four RBI on the day for OPRF, while Glossa, Michaud, and Pamias each had two hits. Cole Shamhart, who started the game playing third base, pitched the final 1.2 innings to gain the victory for the Huskies. “I was looking to throw first-pitch strikes,” said Shamhart. “I used a variety of pitches and attacked the zone.” The Huskies opened postseason play June 4 with a 10-0 rout of visiting Proviso East in six innings.
Shamhart pitched a one-hit shutout for OPRF, striking out 11 with no walks. Michaud went 3-for-4 and had four RBI. Glossa tripled twice and drove in two runs, while Diamond and Flagg each had two hits.
Montini no-hits Friars in season finale Fenwick High School’s baseball team had its season ended June 7 in the IHSA Class 3A regional title game as two Montini pitchers combined for a no-hitter, leading the Broncos to 5-0 win The loss gave the Friars a final record of 6-17-1. In the postseason opener on June 4, the Friars held off Bulls Prep 10-8 at the Priory in River Forest. Pearse Gorman’s two-run RBI single in the fifth inning broke a 7-7 tie and put Fenwick ahead to stay. Gorman and Luke Mockler each went 2-for-3, while Will Mazzocchi drove in two runs for the Friars.
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Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
OPRF boys edge Glenbard West for 4th straight title Bryant’s come-from-behind victory in 200 one of many key factors By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Oak Park and River Forest High School senior Naahlyee Bryant battled for a late, come-from-behind victory in the 200-meter dash at the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet on June 2 at Proviso West. “I really liked how I finished because halfway through the race I was losing,” Bryant said. Little did Bryant know that the comeback would play a key factor in an even bigger and historic victory for the Huskies. Many key performances helped the Huskies capture their fourth straight West Suburban Silver Meet by just three points over Glenbard West 115-112. Bryant’s victory by .08 seconds over Glenbard West senior and three-event champion Sean Hopkins (22.13 to 22.21) meant a four-point swing in the team standings. “I would say the first 50 meters in that race it was quite some distance,” Bryant said. “Just to come back the last section, really the last one or two seconds of the race to win really means a lot, not just for me but for my team because without that win, you don’t know what was going to happen.” By .05, Bryant was a second to Hopkins in the 100 (10.84 to 10.89). According to WSC records since boys outdoor track and field was first contested in 1924, OPRF had won only three conference titles (19 meters81, 1986, 1987) before this current streak. A varsity standout since freshman year, Bryant has been part of three, and most likely a fourth if the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t cancel all 2020 spring sports. “I actually didn’t know [OPRF’s WSC history]. It’s especially kind of cool. It shows how much work we’ve been putting in as a team through the years, not just the current year, to get to this point, this consistency,” Bryant said. Bryant also was the anchor for the winning 400 relay (42.12) and 800 relay (1:32.17) with seniors Ryan McFadden and D.J. Willis and freshman Liam Moroney. Senior Thano Pantazopoulos won pole vault by clearing 14 feet, 2 inches. In another close fourth-point swing, Willis pulled out third in 100 by .07 seconds over Glenbard West’s Matt Travers (11.05 to 11.12). McFadden was fourth in the 200 (22.51). Glenbard West, which hasn’t won a conference title since 1978, has finished second the past three times. The Hilltoppers dropped the baton in the 800 relay and were disqualified. “It means everything [to win]. It’s a big accomplishment we made, especially with the whole pandemic,” Willis said. Freshman Kaden Garland was second in shot put (13.53 meters/44 feet, 4.5 inches converted) and fifth in discus
SOCCER from page 26 a lot and I’m really proud of them.” Blazer felt the hallmark win of the year came on June 1 when the Friars upset Hinsdale Central 2-1 (4-3 on penalty kicks) in the regional semifinal. “For us, that speaks volumes of the quality of competitiveness we had this year,” he said. “We led most of the game, then [Hin-
Photo provided
FOUR-PEAT: OPRF senior Naahlyee Bryant (above, front) won the 200-meter dash in come-from-behind fashion to help the Huskies to their fourth straight West Suburban Silver conference title at Proviso West on June 3. (36.19m/118-8¾). In his first meet back from injury, junior Ian Kelley had a false start as the top seed in the 110 high hurdles but later finished third in the 300 intermediate hurdles (42.13). Also taking third were senior Wells Ipema (5-8 in high jump), the 3,200 relay (senior Eamon Cavanaugh, sophomore Owen Augustine, senior Ben Brandt, junior Lou Delano in 8:00.93) and the 1,600 relay (senior Emmett Perry, junior Leo Rooney, Augustine, Brandt in 3:28.24) by 1.01 ahead of Glenbard West. Finishing 4-5 were Perry (51.91) and Rooney (53.76) in the 800 and juniors Derek Isom (16.52) and Patrick Diakite (16.62) in the 110 high hurdles. Delano (1,600 in 4:24.00) and sophomores Cole Roberson (13.41m/43-11 3/4 in shot) and Joshua Meister (12-2 in pole vault) also were fourth. OPRF competes at the Class 3A Lane Sectional Wednesday. Top-two sectional finishers and entries that achieve state-qualifying standards at the sectional regardless of
sdale Central] scored near the end and we could’ve folded. But we didn’t, and that says a lot.” Senior forward Julianna Giuffre led Fenwick (8-3-2) with 11 goals for the year, while junior forward Kate Henige added 10. Giuffre is among eight seniors that the Friars lose to graduation. But Henige, junior goalkeeper Audrey Hinrichs, and junior defender Abbie Rogowski will lead an experienced roster for next season, and Blazer is looking forward to what lies ahead.
place advance to the state meet June 19 in Charleston.
Fenwick boys 4th at CCL meet The Fenwick High School boys track and field team scored 58 points at the Chicago Catholic League meet on June 4 at Loyola Academy, good for a tie for fourth with Brother Rice. Fenwick’s top performances included juniors Jacque Walls and Stephen Brown placing second and third respectively in the 100 meters, while sophomore Grayden Rill finished second and junior Lee O’Bryan fourth in the 1,600. Junior Zac Daley placed third in the 3,200 meters, sophomore Will Shannon set a personal record in the triple jump while finishing third and the 400 relay of Brown, Max Reese, Joey Schultz and Walls came in second. The Friars will compete in a Class 2A sectionals at Glenbard South on June 10. Melvin Tate contributed to this report.
“Our future is bright,” he said. “We can’t wait to get going.”
Blazers stopped short by Pritzker Trinity High School’s soccer team fell to host Pritzker College Prep 8-1 in the 2A regional final June 2, ending a difficult season as Trinity went winless in head coach Roberto Cianci’s debut. “It was tough,” Cianci said. “We were coming off a year in which we didn’t play, and we didn’t have as many players out for
the team. And we were also in a difficult conference [Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red]. I can only thank those who showed up, and we worked with them the best we could.” Trinity’s 21-player roster had only six seniors, so 15 players will return having gained some experience with Cianci’s system. “That’s the upside,” said Cianci of the large group of returnees. “Our younger players got a lot of varsity experience under their belts this year, and that should help with their development.”
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M. Call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 ktrainor@wjinc.com
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Lt. Bill Henry bids adieu p. 33
A G I N G
Hours of angst
was just this side of asleep, lying in bed, early morning, remembering my just-waking thoughts. I had realized two really good points regarding a thorny concept I’d been pondering for weeks. It was a breakthrough, a really good fit and very clarifying for me. Even at that early hour, I was pleased with myself. As I lay there with my eyes closed but my thoughts clear, I was thinking “maybe I should write this down before I lose it, before it’s gone.” But they were such clear and meaningful ideas, how could I possibly forget them? Just as I made the conscious decision to not write them down with the pen and journal that were right next to my bed, a third idea popped into my mind that was a nice complement to the first two. What couldn’t have been more than a minute later, I rolled out of bed, only to realize that I didn’t remember those two ideas of which I was so proud. I sat quietly on the edge of the bed and focused, but they were gone, very gone. I was pissed off at myself for not writing them down. In a matter of seconds, I’d forgotten what had been so clear and memorable. I didn’t linger on the pissed off, as I tried to focus on what I’d forgotten. Then I became concerned. Was there something wrong with me? My wife rolled over, asked me what was going on, and I explained. She was understanding, comforting and reassuring. The harder I tried to remember them, the more gone those two lovely ideas became. I had never forgotten something so completely and so quickly. Then I got scared. Is this the beginning of the inexorable decline? Am I on the downhill slide? Is this the beginning of the end? And then scared became really scared. I hadn’t felt this anxious before. The closest I could remember was when I had to force myself to walk into the courtroom to deliver the closing argument in my first murder trial. But even that was not like this scared and lost feeling. I felt, with my toe, the edge overlooking a precipice of degenerative dementia. I sat with it as I worried. I learned from it while I was scared. I remembered Viktor Frankl’s space between stimulus and response. Then I tried to calm myself by thinking how it’s harder on the people who love a person with dementia. That didn’t work at all. I was still scared. I remembered my wife’s advice to relax, let it go and eventually the thoughts would return. But so far, they were completely gone. It was difficult to relax. To me, in those moments, dementia was no longer a theoretical concept. I could feel it in my stomach. In the end, my wife was right. The next day, after hours of angst, I remembered ever-so-lightly that third complementary thought, and an hour or so later my two breakthrough ideas popped full-blown back into my consciousness. Intense. Sobering. Educational. Humbling.
MARC BLESOFF
COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/PUBLIC DOMAIN
THE MAKING OF A MASSACRE: A truck on a street near the Litan Hotel in Tulsa carrying white soldiers and African Americans during the 1921 Greenwood Massacre.
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Coming to terms with our connection to Tulsa
ur Unitarian faith tradition has a horrifying historical connection to the Tulsa Race Massacre. Frank Lloyd Wright, as many know, comes from a renowned Unitarian family. His uncle, Rev. Jenkins Lloyd Jones, spread progressive Unitarianism in the Midwest with his newspaper and served All Souls Unitarian Church of Chicago (formerly Fourth Unitarian). Richard Lloyd Jones, his son, moved to Tulsa and founded two things: the Tulsa Tribune (1919) and All Souls Unitarian Church (1921). When a young black man was falsely accused of sexually assaulting a white woman a century ago, Richard Lloyd Jones published a story titled, “Nab Negro for Attacking Girl in an Elevator.” His editorial was titled, “To Lynch Negro Tonight.” In response, several Black WWI veterans armed themselves to protect the young man who was unjustly targeted. Several hundred white people gathered. When someone fired a shot, the mayor RICHARD LLOYD JONES deputized a hundred white
people — and armed them. The massacre wasn’t carried out by some random mob of hateful racists but people with government authority behind them. Most historians agree that Jones played a primary role in fomenting the violence. As many as 300 people were killed by violence and fire. Thirty-five city blocks were burned to the ground, including eight doctors’ offices, 30 restaurants, 12 churches, two dozen grocery stores, and a library. Many of the 1,100 homes destroyed by fire were first looted by whites. Afterward, insurance firms refused to compensate the victims, so a generation of Black wealth was obliterated. The city’s white pastors blamed the massacre’s victims for the devastation and even applauded the white men who led the violence, as did the local white papers. Postcards were created showing the destruction and the dead — and these postcards were displayed as trophies in town and mailed across America. Richard Lloyd Jones later wrote, “The KKK of Tulsa has promised to do the American thing in the American way.” Even as Jones worked to build a religiously liberal church in Tulsa, he watered the seeds of white supremacy, which included a collective amnesia of those
REV. ALAN TAYLOR One View
See TAYLOR on page 34
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RF likes its green space
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n baseball the cliché about a surprising outcome is, “That’s why we play the games.” In reporting the equivalent is, “That’s why we make the calls.” As we reported out a story this week on discussions Dominican University is having about the possible eventual sale of its Priory Campus at Harlem and Division, we anticipated a specific response from the River Forest village government. The expected shorthand was something along the lines of “Yippee!” River Forest has long groaned under the amount of non-taxable property two private universities put on its rolls. There’s Concordia. There’s Dominican’s main campus. And then there is the 20 acres of the old Dominican Priory property, which 20 years ago was partially sold to the university (7 acres), to the park district and leased to Fenwick for athletic fields. But Cathy Adduci, village president, was clear and candid in a Monday interview that River Forest has no intention of changing the current zoning on the Priory property to allow either residential or commercial development. The village and its residents, she said, like the current green space and think the somewhat decrepit Priory building is “significant.” And she said, the current zoning and the village’s recently updated Comprehensive Plan are aligned on how that very large parcel should be treated. New commercial development in River Forest, she said, will be limited to North Avenue, Lake Street and Madison Street. Of course, effectively taking private developers out of the mix for a possible sale of the Dominican share of the site strongly limits the school’s sales options. For its part, Dominican’s outgoing president, Donna Carroll, said the school is not surprised by the village’s stance. And she said the discussions about the future of the Priory Campus have been underway for a long while as the school’s need for classroom space and student housing have shifted. There is, she said, no rush to come to a resolution. An interesting contrast between Oak Park and River Forest here. In recent years Oak Park has pushed hard to develop most every available parcel, to put land back on the tax rolls and to allow fairly dense residential uses. River Forest, always with a different vibe than Oak Park, seems clear in its priorities and in the desires of its residents to not crowd the village.
Slow Streets has advocates Elections have consequences. Oak Park is going to watch as the impact of its newly elected village board begins to show on a range of issues. Here’s an early indicator: This board will make climate and sustainability a priority. Trustees Susan Buchanan and Arti WalkerPeddakotla chafed on the last board as climate initiatives were given short shrift. Recently elected Trustee Ravi Parakkat served on the village’s sustainability commission. The return and possible expansion of last summer’s Slow Streets program is back on the table. This was a hastily rolled out project designating specific streets which were focused on allowing outdoor recreation with limited auto traffic. Now its main proponents, the Bike Walk Oak Park advocacy group, is pushing its return and the implementation of the full Greenways initiative that has been discussed since 2015. There’s going to be push and pull, but a turn toward making Oak Park more walkable, more cyclable, less auto-focused is underway.
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Beauty always finds us
n May 29 at 3 p.m., I went for a walk. I know the time because of the tolling in the St. Edmund bell tower across the street. Immediately after that, I heard the strains of Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance,” a lovely piece of music, when removed from its usual context. In its usual context, it borders on cliché because it is played so often at graduation ceremonies. No doubt this rendition wafted from Oak Park Stadium, marking the commencement of the Class of 2021 Commencement. Pleasant and Grove is a far cry from East and Lake, but it sounded near and clear and lovely. No doubt this can be explained by a good sound system and a bell-clear day and blue-dome sky that allows sound to carry. It was still perfectly audible as I reached Pleasant Home, which is even further afield from the Oak Park Stadium field. I wondered how far the sound carried to all points of the circled radius, which I figured took in a good portion of the village, since Oak Park and River Forest High School is centrally located. Other Oak Parkers might have wondered at that very moment where this lovely music was coming from, perhaps making the high school connection, perhaps not. The graduates themselves, row upon row on the football field, were probably unaware of how many village residents were “eavesdropping” on their ceremony. Well, if they’re reading this, now they know. It made me think about the word “commencement.” Just when you think something is coming to an end, they tell you it’s the beginning. Ready, set, live! The beginning of the rest of your life. Which happens every minute of every day for the rest of your life, when you think about it. If you think about it. I thought about it and decided to make this my commencement too. Memorial Day weekend is a week from my birthday after all, and the first week of June always feels like a commencement — a bright, new season — more than some long-ago anniversary of my arrival on the planet. Listening to the music, I decided the theme of this year’s commencement would be: Beauty always find us. But you have to pay attention. So I paid attention. The next day I attended a breakfast at FitzGerald’s, the beginning of a long goodbye for Rev. Alan Taylor, senior minister of Unity Temple Unitarian-Universalist congregation, which has grown considerably over the past 18 years under his leadership. He has decided to take the road less traveled, wherever that may lead. Our birthdays fall on the same day (not the same year), so we are twin sons of the Zodiac as well as kindred spirits. The weather was beautiful and spirits were buoyant. There is no happiness quite like a bunch of Unitarians gathered in-person for the first time in over a year. Among the scribbled messages on cards to be placed in Alan’s scrapbook, I wrote:
You welcomed me where I was on my life’s journey, You invited me to come as I am, You put love at the top of our spiritual agenda, You built a bridge with West Side ministers You helped ease the pain of those at the Rio Grande. Thank you for practicing what you preached. I have another birthday buddy, Fr. Jim O’Connor, who grew up in Oak Park, was co-pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress in Europe in 1944, joined New Melleray Abbey in 1949, a Trappist Cistercian Monastery in Iowa, and is still there, though much diminished by the absence of short-term memory and hearing, but still filled with a joy that can neither be explained nor dismissed. Born in 1924, on my birthdate and the same year my dad was born, Jim just turned 97. I wish we could talk like the old days as he played hooky from Compline, the last chapel gathering of the day, but I know what he’d say if we were together, in that lilting, musical voice: “Well anyway … Ken, I think you and I play for the same team.” We also have the same favorite philosophy, Existential Phenomenology, which basically answers the question: If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? The existential phenomenologist would answer, “It doesn’t matter unless someone is there to listen.” Which has some profound implications — beauty, for instance. Is beauty only ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer in the eye of the beholder? Is it merely subjective? I think the universe is beautiful in and of itself but has just been waiting for human beings who are receptive to beauty to come along and appreciate it. Do we seek out beauty or does beauty find us? A little of both. I learned this from my walking partner, Marty Swisher, who believes beauty is proof of, and connection to, the divine. Prayer, she says, makes her more receptive to beauty. And she brings beauty to others, usually in the form of music, but in other ways, too. She is, as Fr. Jim O’Connor would say, “a beautiful person” (it’s beautiful the way he says it). “I’ll take your word for it,” Marty replies, skeptically. I say she must because we are existential phenomenologists. I am lucky to have so many people of beauty in my life. Like Bill Burke, a rarity among priests. When he preaches, he makes you believe. Of course, you have to want to believe, but his preaching makes you want to believe. He lives in a retirement facility in the far south suburbs and has become their de facto chaplain. At lunch last week, he tells me he loves the parable of the sower and the seeds. Some seed fell on rocky ground or was choked by weeds. But some fell on fertile soil. I spent much of my life wanting to be the one who sows seeds. Not anymore. I want to be fertile soil. I want to be receptive when beauty finds me. And beauty always finds us.
KEN
TRAINOR
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What corn can teach us about growing community
used to work with plant breeders, who spent their days pushing male and female corn genetics in opposite directions. When combined, the offspring were vigorous and produced high yields for farmers. It feels a lot like people are pushing in opposite directions these days, and unlike the common understanding among these breeders, the measure of what is better seems eerily absent from the debate. In genetics, the principle is called “heterosis”. In securing close human relationship, it is referred to as “tension of the opposites”. There is a human understanding, even an evolutionary theory, that strength comes from combining dissimilarity, and it even seems reflected in the system of government laid out by our founding fathers. They are called “inbreds” in the corn seed business. Driving the Midwest, you likely have seen a field where male and female inbreds are being used to produce hybrid seed that eventually will be sold to farmers. Think of these fields as a man-made system where productivity is entirely dependent on combining dissimilarity. Corn has an imperfect flower, meaning male and female flower parts are distinctly separate on the plant. Male pollen is made by the tassel on top. Silks emerge at the tip of the ear, with each silk connected to an embryo at the base of the kernel. Fertilization happens when wind or gravity bring pollen to silk, and yes, most of the embryos are left on your face after eating sweet corn. This “imperfection” is not just valuable, it is essential to creating a productive result. You notice a hybrid seed production field because it lacks uniformity. There is a single row of plants used as males — the pollen donors — that are taller and left intact. On either side are four rows used as the inbred females, the plants receiving the male pollen and ultimately harvested for their hybrid seed. The pollen-producing tassels are removed from female plants to avoid self-pollination, or further inbreeding. The pattern of one tall male row, bound
on either side by four shorter female rows, continues across the field. It is even more noticeable after pollination when male rows are removed to prevent their stunted self-pollinated seeds from mixing with vigorous hybrid seeds. It took thousands of years of cultivating teosinte into corn to learn this system, how best to use dissimilarity, and then only 80 years to increase yields 10-fold. Before the 1930s, farmers planted back some of the corn they had harvested for grain. By now, you might see how this practice was inherently limited by inbreeding; these seeds had pollinated themselves. As such, yields were limited to about 30 bushels per acre, and weather, pests and nutrients were the biggest predictors of success. Interestingly, corn genetic diversity has declined over 80 years, while yields have skyrocketed. The national average corn yield regularly exceeds a staggering 180 bushels per acre, and a farmer in Virginia recently produced over 500 bushels. That farmer must have optimized every variable under his control. Still, the factor that explains most of his 500-bushel success, is not the amount of genetic diversity, but a system designed to combine dissimilarity. Locally, we have witnessed tampering with, and corruption of, our man-made systems. Individuals have actively prevented the combining of dissimilar ideas, and the evidence suggests these one-sided seeds are lowering community yield. Beyond government, schools, and institutions, it is also affecting our neighborhoods. Who wants to track yard signs and voting records when we could be making new friends, sharing recipes, and becoming better through our combined differences? Like the farmer, we must assess our resources, consider all options, and make difficult choices in cultivating a more vigorous community. My hope is we can farm more like the guy in Virginia. We can forget about national averages, separate ourselves from national influence, and circle around a law of nature that says: We are better together.
STEVE LEFKO
Many with compost bins aren’t using them While I don’t question the statement that 20% of Oak Park households pay for curbside composting pickup, I take issue with the assertion that 20% of households participate in the program. Participation means actual usage. Do what I’ve done — select a few alleys at random, walk through them shortly before the Waste Management truck arrives, and peek inside the compost bins to see how many actually contain compostable material. Fewer than a third of them, in my experience. You would think that people who are paying for compost bins would actually use them, but far too
Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
W E D N E S D A Y
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Equity Editor/Ombudsman Michael Romain Staff Reporters Stacey Sheridan, Maria Maxham, F. Amanda Tugade Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Arts Editor Michelle Dybal Digital Strategist James Kay Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designers Mark Moroney, Javier Govea Business Manager Joyce Minich Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs
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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, fire you to action. In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing. Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay. If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@ wjinc.com.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
many apparently don’t. I suggest that the lowhanging fruit is motivating the folks who already demonstrated interest in composting, by signing up for it, to actually do it. Leadership by example matters. People pay attention when their friends and neighbors demonstrate by action that something is valuable to them. People also pay attention when their friends and neighbors demonstrate by their loss of interest that something is not valuable to them.
Bob Stigger Oak Park
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Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Hephzibah stepped A session Michael Madigan would be proud of up during COVID Hephzibah has been a life-saver for us during this crazy year.
Oak Park Parent
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he past year has been crazy and stressful for us all, but one group significantly affected by skyrocketing stress levels has been parents with school-age children. With schools suddenly closing their doors and switching to remote learning, many parents scrambled to adjust and help their children learn and feel safe. Some couldn’t stay home with their children, some stayed home but couldn’t supervise e-learning, and some found that their children were struggling with learning from home. In stepped Hephzibah Children’s Association, which has provided invaluable support to Oak Park families by expanding its daycare program from a safe after-school haven to an all-day education and enrichment powerhouse, available to all elementary school children in Oak Park’s public school system. To make this contribution to the community in a time of crisis, Hephzibah increased its full-time daycare program staff to nearly seven times its normal level in just three weeks, purchased PPE and sanitizing supplies, found money for e-learning equipment, and quickly trained all staff to guide kids through e-learning and ensure a safe, healthy environment for everyone during the pandemic. If launching this new program was difficult and expensive, maintaining it was even harder. As Oak Park schools were constantly forced to adjust to ever-changing circumstances and government guidance, Hephzibah had to pivot quickly to follow changing school schedules and safety guidelines. This necessitated a complete retooling of the program on a regular basis, continual adjustments to staff levels and training, and searches for safe new learning spaces. Hephzibah met every challenge and, through hard work and determination, ensured that the children in its program participated in e-learning, stayed safe, and enjoyed afterlearning enrichment each day. In addition, Hephzibah forged new relationships with other organizations in the community, an astonishing accomplishment for an organization that was already an Oak Park institution. One such partnership, with United Lutheran Church, provided learning space for Hephzibah children and will continue into the future. Hephzibah’s efforts to support the community during the pandemic have been nothing short of heroic. The expansion of its daycare program is just one example of how Hephzibah has worked to carry children and families through the COVID-19 crisis. It is, unfortunately, an expensive example. Because Hephzibah refused to increase pay rates for parents, the organization has taken on a nearly $1,000,000 budget deficit in this program. Individuals and foundations generously donated to help cover a portion of Hephzibah’s additional expenses and the agency worked quickly to obtain a PPP loan to cover the remainder. Although it was a significant investment in every way, it didn’t stop Hephzibah from stepping up and caring for children and families in our community when they needed help. Anyone interested in learning more about Hephzibah Children’s Association can visit its website at: https:// www.hephzibahhome.org. Beth Cannon is a member of Hephzibah’s Oak Park Auxiliary Board.
BETH
CANNON One View
Illinois is one of three states to lose a congressional seat (people fleeing the state) in the last census. What to do? Gerrymander districts to eliminate opposition and for good measure change the Supreme Court districts for the first time in 60 years, propose an Illinois constitutional amendment making unionizing a right in the state,
have an elected school board in Chicago against the Mayor’s wishes. Doubling down on failed policies will not stem the tide of people leaving this once great state.
Sean O’Malley Oak Park
Thanks for showing support for Palestinians Thank you for reporting on the May 17 Scoville Park rally, protesting the violence in the Middle East. It is important for our community to gather and amplify our voices, pleading for the Israeli government to invest in working with Palestinians instead of working to evict them from homes, neighborhoods, and the entire land of Israel/Palestine. As a citizen of the world, and as a Christian, I believe we are called to bear witness to the suffering and trauma experienced by Palestinian families. While the Hamas military has also instigated terrible violence against Israelis, our U.S. foreign policy/funding bears responsibility for creating a wildly asymmetrical power imbalance,
as well as ignoring heinous human rights abuses by the Israeli government. As Christians, we follow the ministry of Jesus, whose focus was consistently on caring for and uplifting those who are suffering, marginalized, and oppressed. We are called to that same focus, uniting our voices for our sisters and brothers in Israel and Palestine. Thank you, Oak Park and River Forest folks, for showing up, and for all who honked horns in support. And thank you to the Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine (CJPIP) for organizing the event.
Tara Meyer Dull Oak Park
All our youth have access to summer programs
As life moves toward whatever normal will be, opportunities for our youth are opening up. These programs can be fun and enriching. I am grateful all our youth can have access; I just want to make sure the word gets out that assistance is available for those families who need it. The Park District of Oak Park, Oak Park and River Forest High School, and Oak Park & River Forest Townships offer financial assistance to enable community youth to participate in activities and/or programs they are financially unable to access. This can ensure that summer programs and camps are available to all families (not just the privileged).
For more information: ■ Park District of Oak Park: http://www.pdop.org/registration/scholarships/ ■ OPRF High School Summer Sports Camps: contact Courtney Sakellaris 708-434-3500 ■ Oak Park/River Forest Townships (through the agency offering the program): https://oakparktownship.org/? wpdmdl=7426&ind=1620069287569 The wealth of opportunities in our communities are why families want to live here and should be accessible to all.
Valerie Lester Oak Park
Simple ransomware prevention
Email phishing malware attacks won’t work if a separate computer is used for just email and dubious websites. If the criminals download malware, just do a factory reset of the dedicated email computer and reload your email software. There are many options for email-only computers: Kindle 2019 Fire $50; Renewed Chromebooks $106; old cellphones or computers or laptops with wi-fi. This should work for individuals and families. Businesses, government and industries are as secure as
their most careless and easily fooled employee. An external email computer makes the organization much safer. We keep our mailboxes outside of our houses. Why not keep our email boxes outside of our computers? In 2020, American ransomware robbery totaled $350 million. Manufacturers can easily add a simple, email computer along with the main computer into our future cyber devices.
Emailed every Friday morning!
Robert Sullivan Oak Park
V I E W P O I N T S
Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
33 PHOTO BY PAUL SEQUEIRA
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
FRED HAMPTON
PHOTO BY JOE KREML
Lt. Bill Henry (left front)
No better career or community to serve
I am writing to say goodbye and thank you to Oak Park. After 31 years of service to the village, I’m retiring from the Fire Department. We’ve had our share of fires, but it’s the unusual calls for service that I’ve enjoyed most. From the squirrel in the fireplace to the cat in the duct work, from the girl stuck in her seat at the Lake Theatre to the countless calls involving strange sounds and odors,
these calls and others like them kept things interesting for more than three decades. I’ve had my heart broken on some ambulance calls. I’ve also been lucky enough to assist with four births in the field, including one in an elevator that stopped on every floor. I will miss the camaraderie and compassion of the department. I will miss all our friends from Ascension, our family’s par-
ish and school for many years. My back hurts, my knees creak, and some incidents continue to keep me up at night. Still, I cannot think of a better career or a better community to serve. Thanks for all the stories. Take care of each other. In gratitude,
Lieutenant Bill Henry
Oak Park Fire Department
Navigating the chaos of COVID to a new school
I
n January of 2020, I decided “deliberate” would be my word of the year. In other words, I wanted to be fully present with my decision-making and direct my actions toward things that would really fulfill me. Like most New Year’s resolutions, this declaration was gradually forgotten as the everyday minutiae carried on and I got distracted by life. Then came March. Everyone’s “everyday life” got turned on its head. Quarantine meant there was nothing to do but sit with our thoughts. Big ones too. We worried about the devastating toll the pandemic was taking on people all over the world. About the safety of our friends and family. We wondered about how we prioritized life pre-pandemic. I knew that going forward I wanted a few things to change. In June of 2020, though not consciously thinking of it as a commitment to my word of the year, I started the college transfer process and made a decision that would prove to be one of my most deliberate acts thus far. My freshman and sophomore years at Boston College could only be described as “blah.” I found it difficult to adjust to the “cold” nature of the East coast. It was hard to feel “seen” in many of my classes, and difficult to be part of such a competitive environment at all times. Mostly, I knew it wasn’t fulfilling me the way I would like it to and, simply put, it wasn’t the right fit. That did not make the decision to transfer any less daunting. Google searches provided simple listicles about transfer credits
and acceptance rates, but the questions I had were deeper. How hard was it going to be to meet new people? Would it be possible to find the sense of community I was missing at BC? Would I even be able to go to school in-person? Likely, at the root of all these was a fear about what I would do if my second go at college was still not what I was hoping for. Many of these questions were unknowables and uncontrollables. A few months into the pandemic, this was something with which I was familiar. At the time I had to make my decision, we had been completely out of control of the world around us for a few months and would be for months to come. While things were rough, we were still OK. Maybe the same could be said for a huge life change and a switch to a new school. That was some comfort in all of the chaos. Being deliberate in this process did not mean I had all the answers. It meant I deliberately decided to trust in my ability to do hard things and ultimately ended up somewhere that was a much better place for me. I decided to transfer to Kenyon College, a tiny liberal arts school in the middle-of-nowhere Ohio. Campus is beautiful, coffee is delicious, and people have made it feel like home. Some days still prompt uncertainty, but if the past year has taught me anything it is that sometimes that leads to the most meaningful transitions. Mary Hester is serving an internship at Wednesday Journal this summer and will be writing a regular column during that time.
MARY HESTER
Taking Fred Hampton’s words to heart “If you’re not prepared to die, you’re not prepared to live.” That was the arresting last line of Fred Hampton’s talk to me and all in the circle. The others were younger wives and mothers, members of a women’s group at St. John Lutheran in Wheaton, hosted one evening in the living room of a member. After some thought, leaders of the group had agreed when I proposed inviting the charismatic, courageous, eloquent, and very youthful chairman of Maywood’s Black Panther Party to a monthly meeting. As the (quite youthful) co-pastor, I believed they, as disciples seeking to follow Jesus, needed to face honestly the bad as well as the good in our society. So there they were, about a dozen in the circle, transfixed. Though only about 15 miles separated the communities, they were given a brief glimpse of how their life experience in Wheaton was worlds apart from his. He was a young Black man on the rise who soon afterward, on Dec. 4, 1969, was killed with a fusillade of bullets in a lawless nighttime raid by men who did not deserve to be called “lawmen.” The way his presence filled that room is etched in my memory. I can still feel his eyes boring into mine as he locked eyes with each of us, slowly, one by one, after he said that last word. He had spoken about his total, unconditional love and his willingness even to die for his people. He and his group were providing free breakfasts and medical care for deprived people, and promoting none of the violence and anarchy that those in authority — including especially J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI — accused them of as Black Panthers. In the cadences of a gifted Black preacher, he proclaimed his core commitment. They are still haunting, deeply challenging words — words we all would do well to take to heart.
Fred Reklau
Retired pastor, Oak Park
34
V I E W P O I N T S
Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
TAYLOR
Reparations an imperative from page 29 actions until just recently. My colleague, Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, has served All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa for the past 20 years, when this horrific forgotten chapter of Tulsa history was brought to the awareness of city leaders. He has pursued racial reconciliation and co-led the effort to provide reparations to the families who lost loved ones and property. I agree with Lavanhar that “countless lives — our lives — are
still shaped by the racist actions and attitudes of American citizens. So we remember.” The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre reveals how sensationalized, inaccurate stories, combined with underlying racist attitudes, can result in tremendous destruction. Black churches have time and time again said, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The graciousness of the Black church in America has been astonishing. Black people have never risen up in an intifada; instead, many attend Black churches that affirm the profound suffering of their people, teach the reality of grace, and call forth human dignity to hold out hope for a better day. White churches, including my faith tradi-
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tion, must have a reckoning on how we responded or failed to respond, just as we need a reckoning on our involvement with slavery, Jim Crow, and far too often our silence on civil rights. White churches must stop contributing to collective amnesia. What has the school system in Tulsa taught about this horrific chapter until recently? Nothing. The erasure from memory of this horrific event among the dominant culture demonstrates that white supremacy has infiltrated all aspects of society. The media, the courts, the school system all conspired together to cover up this chapter of sheer brutality toward American citizens. The only thing the city of Tulsa has ever given those who lost their homes was a green
protection card, which Black people had to pin to their clothes if they didn’t want to get hassled or beaten by the police. The Tulsa authorities overnight created three detention centers and 7,500 green protection cards. Was the Tulsa Race Massacre not a random act? The Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa was rebuilt but later destroyed by urban renewal. Almost all of the blocks of the Greenwood community are now under the freeway or purchased by the university. The takeover of Greenwood was complete. Stories like this one have persuaded me that reparations are a moral imperative. Rev. Alan Taylor is a senior minister at the Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Oak Park.
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35
O B I T U A R I E S
Edward Maroney, 60 Conrad Terry, 73 Forest Park Middle School teacher
Air Force vet, financial adviser
Edward J. Maroney Jr., 60, died on May 26, 2021. Born in Chicago, he grew up in Oak Park and lived in Forest Park. He attended St. Giles Elementary and Oak Park and River Forest High School. He received a B.S. degree in Communications-Radio/TV/Film from Northern Illinois University and his MEd from Dominican University. Upon graduating from NIU, he began a career in Chicago advertising, editing television commercials for Editor’s Choice and Swell Pictures. He spent many years not only establishing an impressive portfolio, but also building long-lasting friendships with his colleagues. At the age of 45, he decided to pursue his unrealized dream of becoming a teacher. For the past 13 years, he taught math and language arts at St. Procopius Catholic School and Forest Park Middle School. He never lost his love of editing, and while at Forest Park Middle School, it was not uncommon for the students and teachers to see him in their classrooms and hallways with a video camera, collecting footage for a unique film that he would edit and present to each eighthgrade graduating class. In addition to film and education, he took every opportunity he could to enjoy the game of golf. He and his wife April were members of the Riverside Golf Club, where when he wasn’t on the course swinging a club, he could be seen on the patio enjoying a cocktail with one of his many golf buddies. Of the many gifts he gave to those who loved him, perhaps the most poignant was his example of strength, courage and unwavering grit that saw him through 43 years of illness and suffering, with little complaint or concession. Ed Maroney was preceded in death by his parents, Edward J. Maroney Sr. and Margaret (nee Freiman) Maroney. He is survived by April his wife of 28 years (nee Paul) and their adorable dog and steadfast companion, Max; his 10 siblings, Mark, Susan, William, Kathleen (Gary) Lorenz, Patricia, Margaret (Thomas) Wilkinson, Elizabeth (Timothy) Carey, Mary (James) Houser, Judith (William) Jordan and Colleen (A. Marc) Gilardi; 18 nieces and nephews, one great-niece, a brother-in-law Rodney (David) Paul-Jones, and his childhood best friends, Ted Hans and Rich Trofimuk. While the family uses this time to remember Ed privately, a Celebration of Life event will be planned for a later date. Donations in Ed’s memory can be made to the Greater Chicago Food Depository at Chicagosfoodbank. org/maroneymemorial.
Conrad Martin Terry Jr., 73, of Oak Park, died on Wednesday, June 02, 2021. Born on Aug. 11, 1947, in Washington D.C. to the late Lois Viola Neblett and Conrad Martin Terry, he had a rich educational and employment background that spanned 52 years and included a tour with the U.S. Air Force where he served from 1965-1973. He served a tour in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. He also worked in the banking industry, with United Airlines, and as a Federal Fraud Examiner with the Securities and Exchange Commission, from which he retired in 2012. His passion aligned with helping others and assisting them in increasing their knowledge and capacity around financial savviness, and to this extent, he came out of retirement, founded and operated the nonprofit Financial Understanding Now (FUN) LLC, in 2017. Conrad Terry is survived by the love of his life, Georgia Terry; his son, Chris Terry (Marshae); three grandchildren, Christopher Michael, Tyler Nicole, and Jorhan Christian; one great-granddaughter, Alex, whom he never had the opportunity to meet; two brothers, Hugh Morgan (Gwen) and Donald Nathaniel; a number of brothersand sisters-in-law and a host of friends who are more like family.
Annette Schultz, 79 Loved the color purple
Annette M. Schultz, 79, of Vulcan, Michigan, died on June 1, 2021 at home. Born on Jan. 20, 1942, in Chicago, to the late Louis and Rita (Wollacheid) Schultz, she grew up in Chicago and was a graduate of St. Josephat High School in Chicago. She worked as a secretary in Chicago, retiring in August of 1990. Following retirement, she moved to Vulcan, Michigan. She refused to drive in Chicago, so she didn’t receive her driver’s license until the age of 48 when she moved to Vulcan. She enjoyed teaching her grandchildren arts and crafts, going to her grandson’s hockey games, watching the Chicago Black Hawks and the Minnesota Vikings, going fishing and boating, and attending garage sales. She loved the color purple, which fit
her well, and going on long walks by the lake with her grandchildren and teaching them to fish. Survivors include one son, John (Susie) Schultz, of Oak Park; one brother, Louis Schultz Jr.; two grandchildren, Michael and Kate Schultz; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by the love of her life, Big John Hoglin, who died in 1992, and two brothers, Paul and Tom Schultz. In accordance with her wishes, private family services will be held. You may leave a condolence or tribute for Annette’s family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com. The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Michigan, to honor Annette’s legacy of life.
Ronald Stark, 77 Air Force vet, mail carrier
Ronald Walter Stark, 77, of Plainfield, formerly of River Forest, died peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family on June 4, 2021. He grew up in Chicago and attended Lutheran schools,
graduating from Luther North High School in 1961. He served proudly in the U.S. Air Force 1964-68. After being discharged, he returned to work at the U.S. Post Office as a letter carrier in River Forest until his retirement in 2003. Proud of his career, he made many friends both at work and outside of it. As a lifelong Cubs fan he was overjoyed when the Cubs won the World Series in 2016. A Green Bay Packers fan, he enjoyed watching them beat the Chicago Bears over the years! He was a passionate bowler and the thrill of his bowling career was when he bowled in a NABA Pro-Am tournament with Earl Anthony his bowling idol. He also loved playing bocce ball with his Carillon friends, collecting memorabilia sport cards, and volunteering his time coaching and umpiring girls softball, but spending time with his grandchildren and family was what made him truly happy. Ron Stark was the husband of Margo (nee Mueller); the father of Christina (Andre) Zabrodsky, Ron (Kim), Heather (late Joe) Bruntmyer, and Brian (Danylle); the grandfather of Abby, Max, Natalie, Nolan, Gus, Henry, Anna, Jack, Declan, Molly and Hayden; the brother of Glenn (Barb); the brother-in-law of Ann (Jamie) King, Phyllis (Bob) Braun, Karen (the late J.P.) Dellow, Jeannette (Paul) Colombi, and the late Betty (Rudy) Hoeft; the uncle, cousin and friend of many. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to your favorite charity in his name. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until time of service, 7 p.m., at Peterson-Bassi Chapels 6938 W. North Ave.
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36
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Let the sun shine in...
Public Notice: Your right to know In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year OakPark.com | RiverForest.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com
Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.
HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI
BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM PUBLIC NOTICES
PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 for the following: Village of Oak Park South Pumping Station HVAC Upgrade Project Number: 21-129
Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours. Published in Wednesday Journal June 9, 2021
PUBLIC NOTICE OAK PARK TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF SPECIAL BOARD MEETING Please join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://global.gotomeeting.com/ join/372094229 You can also dial in using your phone. (For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.) United States: +1 (872) 240-3212 – One-touch: tel:+18722403212,,372094229# Access Code: 372-094-229 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the legal voters, residents of the Township of Oak Park, County of Cook, and State of Illinois, that a special Meeting of said Township, will take place on Sunday, June 13, 2021 from the hour of 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., for a retreat, orientation and strategic planning of the business of the Township. All interested citizens, groups, senior citizens and organizations representing the interests of senior citizens are encouraged to attend either in person at Oak Park Township Senior Services, 130 S. Oak Park Avenue, or virtually via the online link listed above. Oral or written comments are welcome. Oak Park Township does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in the admission or access to, or employment in its programs or activities. Those needing special accommodations are asked to provide 48 hours notice. Given under my hand in the Town of Oak Park, County of Cook, State of Illinois, this 7th day of June, 2021. Gregory P. White Oak Park Township Clerk Published in Wednesday Journal June 9, 2021
On Monday, June 14, 2021 at 9:00 a.m., a meeting conducted by Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District 95 will be taking place at S.E. Gross Middle School, 3524 Maple Ave. in Brookfield, in the 2nd Floor Conference room. The meeting will also be available for viewing via Zoom (https://district95-org.zoom. us/j/88152961513). The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the District’s plans for providing special education services to students (who reside within the boundaries of Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District #95) with disabilities who attend private and home-schools within the District for the 2021-22 school year. If you have further questions pertaining to this meeting, please contact Dean Pappas, Director of Student Services, at 708-588-8863 or dpappas@district95.org Published in RB Landmark June 9, 2021
PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD Notice of Public Hearing Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission June 24, 2021 at 7:00 PM NOTICE is hearby given that a public hearing will be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Brookfield on Thursday, June 24, 2021, at 7:00 PM in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois to consider an application for a variation from the Village Zoning Ordinance for property located at 8845 Burlington Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513 (PINs 15-34-433-0010000; 15-34-433-002-0000; 15-34433-003-0000). The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/or written comments. Please check the following webpage one week before the meeting for more information: https://brookfieldil.gov/ meeting-packets/ The variance application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the meeting to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Kendra Kuehlem, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 and at kkuehlem@brookfieldil.gov.
PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.
PUBLIC NOTICES
PUBLIC NOTICES
PUBLIC NOTICES
NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed separate bids will be received by the Oak Park Public Library (“Library”) for the following project:
No bids shall be withdrawn, cancelled or modified after the time for opening of bids without the Library’s consent for a period of ninety (90) days after the scheduled time of bid opening.
tory requirements regarding labor, including Equal Employment Opportunity Laws.
In re the marriage of BRUNILDA OTERO, Petitioner and IYAD ANWAR MOH’D MUSTAFA,
OAK PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY SECURITY RENOVATIONS MAIN AND MAZE BRANCH LOCATIONS OAK PARK, IL 60301
Respondent, Case No. 2021D003027.
BID GROUP 1 – ELECTRICAL and ACCESS CONTROLS
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.
Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m. CST on Friday June 11th, 2021 at the Main Branch Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301, and will be publicly opened and read at 2:00 p.m. CST on that date. Bids shall be submitted in an opaque sealed envelope clearly marked:
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 July 6, 2021, 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.
Oak Park Public Library Security Renovations 834 Lake Street Oak Park, IL 60301 Attention: Bulley & Andrews Project: MAIN AND MAZE BRANCH SECURITY WORK
DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk. Published in Wednesday Journal June 2, June 9, June 16, 2021
PUBLIC NOTICE Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) is proposing to build a 33-foot light pole telecommunications facility in the vicinity of 632 Forest Ave, River Forest, Cook County, IL 60305. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Project 6121003485- TC c/o EBI Consulting, 6876 Susquehanna Trail South, York, PA 17403, mbowman@ ebiconsulting.com, or via telephone at (617) 909-9035. Published in Wednesday Journal June 9, 2021
Scope of work for Bid Group 1 generally includes, but is not limited to: electrical, power, distribution, low voltage cabling, and access control. All bids must be submitted in accordance with the bidding instructions contained in the Bidding Documents for the project. Bid security in the form of a bid bond in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the base bid amount shall be submitted with the bid. Should a bid bond be submitted, the bond shall be payable to the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301. All documents and information required by the bidding instructions contained in the Bidding Documents for the project shall be submitted with the bid. Incomplete, late or non-conforming bids may not be accepted.
By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman. Published in RB Landmark June 9, 2021
h t t p s : / / b u l l e y a n d r e w s - m y. sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/ btruty_bulley_com/Ep4N77OJkwtJt67lPDVsuggBHBgpHS8IJ0T1ffDzQA1PWg?e=DxkMYA A site visit/walk through is scheduled for 8 AM on Wednesday June 2nd. It will take place first at the Main Branch Library then move to the Maze Branch at 9 AM. The Library reserves the right to reject any or all bids or parts thereof, or waive any irregularities or informalities, and to make an award that in the Board’s sole opinion is in the best interest of the District. The site will be available for visits by appointment to be coordinated with Bulley & Andrews, LLC. Interested parties may inspect the existing conditions. Schedule an appointment with Bill Truty of Bulley & Andrews in advance if you wish to visit the sites. All bidders must comply with applicable Illinois Law requiring the payment of prevailing wages by all Contractors working on public works. If during the time period of work, the prevailing wage rates change, the contractor shall be responsible for additional costs without any change to the contract amount. All bidders must comply with the Illinois Statu-
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Dated: 5/20/2021 Bill Truty Bulley & Andrews, LLC Published in Wednesday Journal May 26, June 2, June 9, 2021
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF 2021-2022 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING DATES FOR RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 4, 2021, a resolution was passed establishing that the 20212022 meetings of the Board of Education, Township High School District 208, Cook County, Illinois, will be held in the Alumni Lounge at the hour of 7:00 p.m. in the Riverside Brookfield High School building, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, IL 60546. The Regular Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month. The Committee of the Whole Meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month with the exception of June, July, August, November, and December. Meeting dates can be found on the Riverside Brookfield High School website (www.rbhs208.net). Published in RB Landmark June 9, 2021
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal-opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-6699777.
Wednesday Journal • Landmark • Forest Park Review
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Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in any meeting may contact the Village of Brookfield at (708) 4857344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (south) entrance of Village Hall. Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
The Bidding Documents for the project (which include the bidding instructions for the project and other related documents) will be available Monday May 24th, 2021 and are available for viewing/download online without cost or purchase on the Bulley & Andrews, LLC One Drive, located at the following link. No username or password is required.
For additional information on the project, contact Bill Truty of Bulley & Andrews, LLC at btruty@bulley.com or 773-645-2086.
PUBLIC NOTICES
Place an ad on Wednesday Classified’s Local Online Job Board. Go to OakPark.com/classified today!
local employees . . . happy employees!
Contact Mary Ellen Nelligan for more information. (708) 613-3342 • maryellen@oakpark.com
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Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
CLASSIFIED
(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM HELP WANTED HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED BAND SAW WELDER TECH, GENL LABORER OPENINGS Local sharpening service has two openings: Band Saw Welder Technician and General Laborer position. Apply at 1233 Circle Ave. Forest Park, IL 708-209-1636
ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER Must have own transportation. For more information CALL 708-738-3848 River Forest Public Schools District 90
District 90 is seeking qualified and experienced applicants for the following positions: English Language Learners Teacher (Full-time at Roosevelt Middle School and Part-time FTE 0.50 at Lincoln Elementary School) Social Worker (Roosevelt Middle School) Physical Education Teachers, ( Full-time at Roosevelt Middle School and Part-time FTE 0.77 at Willard Elementary School) STEM Teacher, Grades 6-8 (Roosevelt Middle School) Instructional Specialist (Roosevelt Middle School) For detailed qualifications requirements and job duties, please visit our website at https://www.district90.org/about/employment for our complete list of employment opportunities. General Qualifications: Valid Illinois Professional Education License with endorsement in field of study, a Master’s Degree is preferred and successful teaching experience with students in a classroom setting is preferred. General Duties: Provide excellence in education by developing and implementing activities that encourage students to be life-long learners. Possesses knowledge of District policies and regulations relating to areas of responsibilities. Create an environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to the developmental maturity and interests of each student. Application: Apply online at www.district90.org. Application Procedure: Interested candidates should complete the online application available at district90.org. Please do not send hard copies of supporting documentation, i.e. cover letters, resumes, licensure, etc. to River Forest Schools District 90; instead, upload these materials onto the online job application system for proper processing.
CAREGIVER WANTED MCKINLEY AREA Looking for a caregiver (PA) to work nights 11p-7a and days 7a-4p, days needed will be discussed, to care for adult female with special needs. Training by mother approved by DHS HSP. Contact Maria 312 282-5760. FINANCE Group One Trading in Chicago, IL seeks Trading Analysts to support trading staff in high-pressure environment. BS math., econ., comp. sci. or rltd., + 3-month job/internship as analyst in options industry. Resumes to HRRecruit@group1.com.
P/T SHAMPOO ASSISTANT Part-time Shampoo assistant salary plus tips please apply in person Anthony Lullo’s Hair Designs 721 South Blvd. 708 848 4455
ACCOUNTING CLERK
Responsibilities: • Accounting duties • Process invoices accurately and timely • Check the accuracy of business transactions • Perform data entry and administrative duties • Preparation of payable checks • Posting of checks and ACH payments • Create, edit and update spreadsheets in excel • Daily, weekly and monthly reporting
Qualifications:
• Previous experience in account-ing, finance, or other related fields • High level of accuracy in data entry skills • Ability to prioritize and multitask • Strong organizational skills
• Deadline and detail-oriented • Proficient in Microsoft Excel • Proficient in QuickBooks
Benefits: Medical, Vision, Dental, Life Insurance, Short-term and Long-term disability and retirement plans, transportation subsidy provided.
Office located in Chicago. Candidates will be tested on all skill sets. Qualified Candidates should send their resumes and salary requirements to humanresources@icl-na.com
OFFICE COORDINATOR IT The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Office Coordinator in Information Technology. This position will perform a variety of responsible and complex administrative duties for the IT Department; provide information and assistance to Village staff regarding requests for service; and provide administrative support to the IT Director and the IT staff. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www. oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than June 16, 2021.
We are hiring Relationship Bankers in Oak Park, IL. Visit the link below to check out this opportunity to join a great team!
You can also learn about other career opportunities nearby.
(BTWN WISCONSIN AND HOME, S OF WASHINGTON BLVD)
SAT JUN 12, 9AM-2PM
Several families are setting up to lighten the load! Something for everyone. Tons of vintage household, kitchen, cookbooks and huge selection of brand new 1980s earrings from ebay seller inventory. Furniture includes a set of four Lowenstein Padova chairs and a cool Japanese Tansu step cabinet. River Forest
North Riverside
ROOMS FOR RENT
Apartment listings updated daily at:
Small 1BR apartment in DTOP. Renovated and freshly painted. Harwood floors. Walking distance to El. No pets. $850/mo, utilities included.
DOWNTOWN OAK PARK 1BR 708-657-4226
Large Sunny Room with fridge, microwave. Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $125.00. New Mgmt. 312-212-1212
OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT
OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT
Best Selection & Service
708-386-7355
MMpropMgmt.com
GARAGE SALE 9026 W 22ND PLACE (1 BLK S OF CERMAK BTWN 13TH AVE AND 14TH AVE)
SUBURBAN RENTALS
OAK PARK & FOREST PARK
BLOCK SALE 800 BLOCK WILLIAM ST SAT 6/12 8AM TO NOON
Antiques, collectibles, jewelry, clothes, toys, tools, books andeverything else!
SUBURBAN RENTALS
STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR
GARAGE/YARD SALES Oak Park
MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALES 400 BLK OF PENNSYLVANIA WAY
R E N TA L S & R E A L E S TAT E
RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. * 1116 sq. ft. * 1400 sq. ft. Dental Office RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. * 960 sq. ft. OAK PARK–6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. * 3 & 5 room office suites FOREST PARK–7736 Madison St. *2500 sq. ft. unit Strand & & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011
MARKETPLACE
https://wintrust.taleo.net/careersection/2/ jobdetail.ftl?job=2100424&lang=en
RESIDENTIAL COUNSELOR Hephzibah Children’s Association is a social services agency in Oak Park, IL that helps children thrive and families flourish. We offer a variety of programs including residential group homes for children, family-based services (foster care and intact), and after school and summer day care. We are hiring for a full time Residential Counselor to provide physically and emotionally nurturing care for the children in the Residence, a structured environment that provides consistency and predictability in a community-based setting. This position will work weekdays (four 10-hour shifts) noon - 10:00 PM and every third Saturday. Flexibility to work other shifts is desired. Requirements include: • Bachelor’s degree • Experience working with special needs children. • Must be at least 21 years old. •Valid IL driver’s license and good driving record • Experience with Medicaid documentation a plus Hephzibah Children’s Association is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply. We embrace a respectful, multicultural, and inclusive environment for employees and the clients we serve.
Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue. Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION FOREST PARK HIGHLY VISIBLE OFFICE/STORE AVAILABLE FOR LEASE 1350 SF w/ AC & HIGHLY VISIBLE MADISON STREET EXPOSURE. 7607 Madison Street. Village parking lot next door. Bright, clean office. Great Madison Street exposure! Call Francis 708-3838574. OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT THERAPY OFFICE OAK PARK Free wifi; flexible leasing, and offices nicely furnished right down to the Kleenex. Secure building & friendly colleagues, often giving referrals to other office mates. Shared Waiting room, Conference room & option to join Peer Supervision Group. Ideal for new practice or 2nd location. 708-383-0729
THU – FRI – SAT 6/10 – 6/11 – 6/12 8AM TO 4PM
Victorian lamps, paintings, books, movies, car seats, strollers, toys, household items, clothes, decorations and more!
ITEMS FOR SALE AREA RUG 8 FT X 9.5 FT very beautiful area rug. Design of natural figures in earth tones. $60. 708-488-8755 OAK TV STAND Oak TV stand with w/ 2 cabinet doors, 1 shelf. 32”h x 27”w x 18”d. $25.00 708-488-8755 ELECTRIC YARD TOOLS Electric Leaf Blower $25 Electric Hedge Trimmer $25 708-488-8755 CHAIRS Small bedroom arm chair with plaid slip cover. $25.00. Comfortable upholstered chair with matching footstool from Pier1. Very light green. $60.00. 708-488-8755 KING SIZE MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS King size, nearly new firm memory foam mattress. (Used only 2 nights) Mattress only. $500 obo. 708-642-1408
WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400 Lost & Found, Items for Sale, and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-334
BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNIT YMEDIA.ORG
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
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Wednesday Journal, June 9, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM