Wednesday Journal 061423

Oak Park and River Forest

Heritage of neglect

Special section

Add crisis workers to police force, report urges

Task force says cops not best rst response to mental-health crises

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

T he final re port of an Oak Park village task force on policing and mental health concluded that sending police officers as first responders to a mental health crisis was not the right policy. Instead the 30-member committee urged the Oak Park village board to hire trained crisis workers and social workers to the police depar tment staf f.

The re port, which included 47 key recommendations, was well received Monday night by the Oak Park village board which praised its thoroughness and thoughtfulness. The re port was received by the board June 12 for See TASK FORCE on pa ge 14

TODD A. BANNOR

Senior residents Betty Co ey, Rita Arring ton and Irma Baker have allegedly endured substandard conditions from poor management at the pr ivately ow ned Heritage House. Report by Stacey Sheridan, page 13

Irving crossing guard pulls student to safety a er shooting

Miss Stac y reacts quickly during Memorial Day weekend incident

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

A crossing guard rescued a child on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. Stacy Walton was on duty outside Washington Irving Elementary School, 1125 S. Cuyler Ave., when gunshots rang out nearby in the area of South Cuyler Avenue, Ridgeland Avenue and Garfield Street around 3:10 p.m.

Unaware of the chaos surroundin him, one student at tempted to cross the street as one of the cars involved in the shooting sped past the school, fleeing but Walton immediately snatched him out of the vehicle’ way.

“I just grabbe the baby out of the street,” Walton said. “I grabbed him just before he ran out there.”

Known as Miss Stacy to the students, Walton told Wednesday Journal she could hear the car coming from the alley, then saw it turn really fast out of the alley and hit the gas right before almost hitting the young student, whose name is being withheld for reasons of privacy Wednesday Journal has reached out to the child’s family through the school.

Six to nine rounds were fired from a black sports utility vehicle during the shooting, according to Oak Park police, which is investigating the incident.

Walton heard the shots, believing them to have come from two different shooters. Just after yanking the boy to safety, she was not able to let go of him in the immediate after-

math.

“My next thought was is another one coming?” she recalled.

Walton held the boy on the the coast was clear. Everyone around, includ ing she and the student, wept

“We were all crying,” she said.

She didn’t even have time to license plates. She said it all happened so quickly it blew her mind. Walton even tell if it was a man or a woman drivin the car, its windows were so tinted. counted the entire experience through tear

“I thank God for protecting the and myself on this journey to ser said.

Walton hasn’t had a chance to speak to the parents of the child she saved. She hopes, with their permission, to take a picture with the boy, but understands if the parents may not be comfortable with putting him in the spotlight, given the traumatic nature of what took place.

When the kids returned to school from the holiday weekend, the boy thanked her

“He was just like, ‘Thank you, Miss Stacy, for saving my life,” Walton said. “My heart just melted.”

Walton has been a crossing guard on and off for about 13 years, working throughout some of the coldest winters in recent history. Her employer is Andy Frain Services, a security company. Over the years, she has been stationed at every public Oak Park public school at one time or another. While she was a crossing guard at Hatch Elementary School in 2013, Walton was named a community hero by the second graders.

She has only been at Washington Irving for roughly four or five months, but in that short time, her dedication to seeing people safely

across the street has earned her the appreciation of students’ parents and school faculty alike A group of parents, grateful for her efforts that fateful Friday afternoon, banded together and purchased her a floral arrangement, plus a little extra cash to treat herself

The card attached to the flowers reads: “Dear Ms. Stacy, the parents of Irving wanted to show their appreciation for what you do. We know our kids will be safe walking to school because of you and we hope to see you for years to come. You are loved. You are a hero!”

The floral arrangement featured colorful delphiniums and gerbera daisies from Westgate Flower & Plant Shop, 841 S. Oak Park Ave. The bouquet was made extra special by the florists, who were moved by Walton’s selfless act.

“We gotta pay good actions forward,” said Adam Szetela, co-owner of the local flower shop.

The intersection of Cuyler Avenue and Harvard Street, where Walton crosses children each morning and afternoon, is partic-

ularly busy, according to Aaron Stigger, who organized the group gift from the parents The traffic presents a danger to pedestrians of all ages

“We’ve had multiple parents over the past few years that have been hit by cars because there’s too much traffic and it depends on the crossing guard’s ability to get cars stopped,” said Stigger, who has a third-grader at Irving.

Not every crossing guard the elementary school has had is of the same quality as Walton, in Stigger’s experience.

“She’s been fantastic and has brought a lot of comfort to parents,” Stigger said.

Each school day morning, Walton shows up at least 15 minutes early to her 7:30 a.m. shift, in case parents need to drop their kids off at school early, then hangs around a little after her after noon shift ends, on the of f chance anyone is running late.

“I always tell them go straight home and, no matter what, be safe,” she said.

TODD A. BANNOR

Crossing guard Stacy Walton on the job at the intersec tion of Harvard Street & Cuyler Avenue on June 8.

TODD A. BANNOR Stacy Walton

“I just grabbed the baby out of the street. I grabbed him just before he ran out there.”

STAC Y WA LTON

Crossing guard

BIG WEEK

June 14-21

Live Music in the Librar y: Hungr ytown

Saturday, June 17, 2-3:30 p.m., River Forest Public Library

Folk music duo Hungrytown has received worldwide radio airplay and been featured on television shows such as The Daily Show and Portlandia. This event will be held on the second oor by the nor th replace. 735 Lathrop Ave., River Forest.

Beginner Chess Class

Tuesday, June 20 or 23, 3:30-5 p.m., Oak Park Public Librar y, Main Library

New to chess? This beginners class with instructor Luis Tubens is for you. B est for kids in grades K-5, who have not played chess before. Register now at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Chicago A Capella: Cabaret Night!

Thursday, June 15, 7 p.m., FitzGerald’s

The members of Chicago a capella will feature their stark singing voices in a special show devoted to Broadway, cabaret and jazz standards, accompanied by Paul Langford. All proceeds from this special fundraising event will bene t the artistic and education programs of Chicago a capella. $45-$75, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berw yn.

Seniors Senior Prom

Friday, June 16, 6-8 p.m., Oak Park Arms

The Oak Park Arms Senior Living Community will hold their own version of a Senior Prom that is open to the public. A King and Queen will be crowned, and live big-band music will be provided by the Swing Set, playing music from the ‘40s to the ‘60s. RSVP required. 408 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park.

Juneteenth Parade & Community Cookout

Sunday, June 18, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Taylor

Park

The cookout will be preceded by a special parade that star ts at 11 a.m. from Longfellow Park near Jackson Blvd. and march north on Ridgeland Avenue to Augusta Boulevard. The cookout itself will feature a DJ, live entertainment, games, free food and drinks, and more. The winners of the Juneteenth Youth Ar ts Contest will also be announced.

400 Division St., Oak Park.

The Taylor Family Celebrates Eddie Taylor ’s 100th Birthday

Sunday, June 18, 7 p.m., FitzGerald’s Eddie Taylor (1923-1985) was an in uential blues singer and guitarist on the Chicago blues scene. He also raised one of the most talented musical dynasties this side of the Neville Brothers. His sons Larry and Tim, along with daughters Brenda, Edna and Demetria, will be performing songs from their new CD, Generations Of Blues. $20, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berw yn.

Anne Thompson Band

Wednesday, June 14, 7 p.m., Dominican University

This quintet performs a wide variety of soul and soulin uenced songs, from Aretha Franklin to Eurythmics. Part of Dominican University’s Summer Sounds series. 7900 W. Division St., Oak Park.

Adult Coloring Club

Monday, June 19, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., River Forest Public Library Coloring isn’t just for kids! Studies have shown that coloring has mental health bene ts for adults. We provide coloring sheets and colored pencils, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer. 735 Lathrop Avenue, River Forest.

Listing your event

Juneteenth Flag-Raising Ceremony

Wednesday, June 14, 6-8 p.m., Village Hall

The village of Oak Park is hosting a Juneteenth agraising ceremony in the village hall courtyard. The event will include music, food, remarks from distinguished guests and more. 123 Madison St., Oak Park.

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

■ Send details to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, 60302 ■ Email calendar@wjinc.com

Journal wins top weekly honor from IPA

Wednesday Journal was honored as the best large-circulation weekly paper in the state last week at the 2023 Illinois Press Association awards held June 8 in downstate Bloomington.

The paper took the top spot in the category of General Excellence. Judges from the Iowa Press Association wrote, “This publication has it all, from news to opinion, sports to education news, a beautiful Christmas church guide to a vibrant real estate section -- definitely something for everyone, and very well done.”

The Forest Park Review, a sister publication also owned by the nonprofit Growing Community Media, took the same honor in the small circulation category.

The Journal took other prizes, too.

The paper’s Viewpoints section, edited by Ken Trainor, took first place for opinion sections. The judges wrote: “A clear winner. There are a good variety of topics for each section and some pointed commentary. I liked how your ‘One View’ stories gave community leaders a chance to expand on topics they are involved with. Well done!”

Trainor also took the top spot for original column. Michael Romain, a for mer Journal colleague, took third place in column writing.

Senior Re porter Stacey Sheridan took first place in feature writing for her profile of for mer Oak Park village trustee Jim Taglia. Her obituary for Betty White took second place in that category. And Jessica Mackinnon’s obit for Barbara Ballinger, long-time head librarian in Oak Park, took third place.

The Journal took first place in news reporting series for coverage of charges of sexual harassment by a now for mer teacher at Fenwick. Those stories were re ported by Amanda Tugade and Andy Viano.

The Journal also won several top prizes in the advertising contest including for the Betty White Centennial section and the annual Eats guide.

Four injured in funeral procession shooting

No bystanders injured along Madison Street

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

Four Chicago men were shot during a funeral procession through Oak Park, Saturday afternoon. Two were transported to Loyola Medical Center, where one is in critical condition and the other in stable but critical condition. The other two victims received non-life-threatening injuries. No bystanders were injured.

Oak Park police are investigating the incident, which occurred in the 900 block of Madison Street at roughly 1 p.m., June 10. The funeral procession is believed to have been traveling westbound on Madison from Chicago to All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines when passengers in a white pickup truck pulled up alongside one of the vehicles in the procession, according to The passengers in the pickup truck edly then opened fire, striking two people

Two people riding in another vehicle in the procession were also shot, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. Both checked into Rush Oak Park Hospital for treatment.

Police found multiple shell casings at the scene That area of Madison Street was closed to traffic due to the investigation.

The police department is describing the incident as aggravated battery with a firearm but could not provide any new details regarding the investigation.

In an opinion editorial submitted to Wednesday Jour nal, Oak Park resident Frank Stachyra recounted how he’d been standing at the corner of Madison and Home Avenue with another pedestrian when the shooting broke out.

“I realized that, had I not had the presence of mind to quickly react and run when I saw the smoke and heard the gunshots, the two cars speeding toward me in the curb lane would have reached me, standing a few feet from the curb, in no more than five seconds, and someone in one of them would have been close enough to have shot me, at point

et turned violent Saturday a ernoon.

“But virtually all of them were directing their attention to pedestrians on the sidewalk, who gave every appearance of being part of the funeral caravan, some of whom were engaged in the most violently angry shouting at each other,” he wrote Residents who live near the site of the shooting told Stachyra they heard between 30 or 40 shots, according to his editorial.

(See page 38 of Viewpoints to read his full story.)

blank range,” Stachyra wrote

The funeral procession was held for Jamal Goings, a 33-year-old man from Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood who was fatally shot May 23, according to the Chicago Tribune. Goings was reportedly connected to the Guttaville faction of the Gangsters Disciples

In the aftermath of the shooting, Stachyra described seeing police officers interact with members of the cortege where Madison intersects with Clinton Avenue and how he attempted to report what he witnessed to officers.

Standard protocol calls for funeral homes to notify law enforcement agencies along the route of “potentially high-risk” processions, so police can assist with safety and traffic, but no such alert was provided in this case, according to the village of Oak Park.

“While there is no indication of any further threat to the community stemming from this incident, any act of gun violence such as this does great harm to our collective sense of safety,” Police Chief Shatonya Johnson said in a village news release.

“Our job as law enforcement officials is to bring the individual or individuals responsible for this crime to justice to make clear that senseless gun violence has no place in our community or any community for that matter.”

VIDEO SCREENSHOT

PROVIDED

Windows were shot out and doors punctured by g un re.

Security chief at OPRF resigns a er 1 year in post

Safety concerns remain an issue at the high school

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

The director of Campus Safety at Oak Pa and River Forest High School has resigned after only one year in the position. The r nation of Cherylynn Jones-McLeod was pa the personnel report approved by a 6-1 une 8 meeting of the OPRF Distric 200 Board of Education. Fred Arkin, a school oard member, cast the only vote against proving the personnel report but Arkin de to say why he voted against accepting rt, saying it relates to something disussed in closed session.

Cofsky, president of the OPRF school oard, told Wednesday Journal, “I know that she is resigning for personal reasons.”

It was a challenging year for campus safeOPRF. There seemed to be more fights than normal, or at least more publicity about fall a group of security guards told the school board they did not feel apprehigher ups at the school. During the ouple of teachers told the school oard they have concerns about safety at OPRF and the school board authorized hiring dditional security guards for OPRF after Lynda Parker initially requested ampus safety officers. In April, the administration also hosted a community conrsation about safety at OPRF ones-McLeod declined, through Karin Sulan, the school spokesperson, an interview request from Wednesday Journal.

howed@district90.org

708-771-8282

www.district90.org

708-771-8282

708-771-8282

www.district90.org

www.district90.org

ones-McLeod worked as the assistant director of campus safety at OPRF from July 2019 until January 2021 and then worked for a year at OPRF as a trauma-informed interventionist before briefly leaving OPRF in Febru-

ary 2022 to take a job at READI CHICAGO, a gun violence prevention program sponsored by the Heartland Alliance. She returned to OPRF five months later to become the director of Campus Safety last summer.

“Cherylynn has been completely committed to making safety a top priority for everyone in the building, and she will definitely be missed,” Parker said in a comment emailed to Wednesday Journal by Sullivan.

Before coming to OPRF in 2019 JonesMcLeod worked for one year as the dean of students at Chicago Academy High School on the Northwest Side of Chicago. Before coming to Chicago, she worked for nearly five years in the Baltimore City Public Schools Before going to Baltimore, she worked for almost three years as the assistant director of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago.

Jones-McLeod declined to disclose her future plans. Her resignation becomes effective June 23.

Jonathan Silver, an OPRF dean, has also resigned. A 16-year veteran of OPRF, Silver served as a dean for 11 years. He also declined, through Sullivan, to be interviewed by Wednesday Journal.

Buildings and grounds director dies

Fred Pruess, who had been the director of Buildings and Grounds at OPRF since 2015, died on June 5 succumbing to cancer.

“He was a man who absolutely loved this building,” said OPRF Superintendent Greg Johnson at the June 8 school board meeting. “He took great pride in

how it looked and in fact one of his last comments to me was ‘take care of my building.’”

Pruess was 60 years old and lived in Westchester with his wife Tif fany. Before coming to OPRF in 2015, he worked for nearly 16 years in field services for Amsco Engineering.

St. Giles launches summer with Rocket Day

The event highlights hands-on STEM learning

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Looking for a fun way to celebrate the last days of school and incorporate STEM, St. Giles School hosted its second annual Rocket Day, where students launched their selfmade “rockets,” and then themselves, into summer.

Hosted on Thursday, June 8, at Taylor Park, Rocket Day allows students at St. Giles, 1034 Linden Ave., Oak Park, to spend time outside, enjoying pizza, and working on building rockets using paper rolls and other items.

Brandon Wuest, a parent of three students at St. Giles was involved in the creation of “Rocket Day,” after moving from California, where he participated in a similar event.

“I thought it was a good tie into STEM learning,” Wuest said. “It was something that we used as a back-to-school event and a lot of teachers used it to tie certain aspects of the curriculum. We found out there was a big appetite [for it] at St. Giles.”

Following the popularity of the event last year, St. Giles decided to host it once again.

“One of the things I appreciate about St. Giles is the very

social, active community,” he said. “There is a desire to bring families together, parents and kids. Any additional enrichment or activity that we could do for the kids. Getting into STEM activities, it was well received.”

Wuest also said by incorporating the rocket launchers

into these types of activities it opens the door for students to be curious about how things work and further their interest in STEM.

“I think they are incorporating science and technology and engineering,” he said. “We can tie the things they are learning in school into a more fun application.”

Wuest said the younger participants love being able to decorate the launchers, while the older kids get more creative and experiment in how they build the launchers and what materials they use to get the best results. Kids built rockets out of paper tube rolls, tape, index cards, Easter egg shells, and were also able to decorate them before launching them in the park.

“Any time we can find opportunities to get kids excited in these areas, it’s really positive,” he said.

Rosemary Kufta, fifth-grade science teacher at St. Giles, said being able to have students be hands-on allows them to explore and learn about trial and error, furthering their knowledge and interest in science.

“I like Rocket Day because you get to build your own rocket and it’s fun to see how far your rocket can go,” said fifth-grader Jimmy Schurer. “You can modify your rocket and try it again. You can make changes if it doesn’t go right. Rocket Day feels like you’re launching your rocket at the same time as you’re launching off into summer, and it feels really cool.”

TODD A. BANNOR

(Le to Right) Mike Spreng, Oliver Spreng, and Sean Donnelly work on their rockets during St. Giles Rocket Day

Water’s Vital Role in Landscape Health

As you may have noticed, spring hasn’t been so normal this year. Coming on the heels of the seconddriest May in Chicago weather history, June has continued the trend of almost non-existent rainfall, leading to an everworsening drought.

Given the lack of natural moisture, this is your reminder to water, water, water! As the landscape shows signs of drought stress, irrigating effectively will help you limit the negative impacts of this abnormally dry spring.

On the cusp of our 45th time around the sun helping customers navigate their summer landscapes, here are a few recommendations to keep yours healthy and happy:

For Turf: Water twice a week (every 3�4 days) for 45�60 minutes per area/ irrigation zone. This deep saturation promotes healthy turf growth.

For Perennials: Water once a week for 45 minutes per area.

For Trees: Place hose at the base of the tree on a very slow trickle for a couple hours once or twice a week to saturate the soils surrounding the tree’s roots.

For Seasonal Plantings: Water at least every other day. When the temps are above 80 degrees, with no rainfall, water annuals every day.

student l festival on the silver screen

Jaden Mathews looking to take the festival to lar audiences

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

After a successful first showing of the first ever Oak Pa rk and Rive r Fo rest High School S tudent Film Festival, the shor t films are headed to the silver screen, giving everyone in the c ommunity a second chance to see local talent.

Jaden Mathews, 17, who org anized the event as a way for students to have a creat ive outlet for storytelling, said the firs t viewing, held on May 7 in an OPRF lecture hall, had 50 attendees who watched the submitted student films, r angin g across many genres

Mathews gr aduated this month.

“Each of them are ve ry different,” Mathews said. “Some are shot black and wh i te with one actor, some are hor ro r, mystery…we have some we ird c ool stuf f from every side.”

A lthough Mathews had set a g oal of receiving 15 film submissions for the f estival, he said he was ve ry proud of the turnout and q uality of the 14 submissions they did rece ive.

“Getting 14 was a great number,” Mathews said. “Especially from the stud ents who I wasn’t expecting. Going to OPRF, there is a whole c ommunity I do n’t see, and I was beginning to notice it as I was going through the short films.”

Sh ow ing suppo rt for the student, the Oak Pa rk Rive r Fo rest High School A lumni A ssociation d onated $500 towards the prize f und. A dditionally, Mathews decid-

ed to r un his own f undraiser and managed to ga r ner an a dditional $1,500 from c ommunity supporter s, p utting the priz e p ot at $2,000. F irst p lace winner s, Joshua Bonds and Sion Cl ay ’s “Nous De Ro is,” rece ived $500. Second p lace rece ived $300, and the third-place winner rece ived $200.

Mathews said the remaining students who submitted films rece ived $50 as a “thank you” for being pa rt of the event’s first year

T he remainder of the money was allocated to the second screening of the event, wh ich will be held at the La ke T heatre in downtown Oak Pa rk . Out of the 14 films, 10 of them have b een chosen to be showcased for the second screening.

“It will hopefully p ut the student shor t films more on the map and give them a chance to be well rece ived on a larger scale,” Mathews said. “E ve ryone was amazed at how high q uality and top notch the films we re. T hese short films c ame out as powe rful moving pieces of ar t. ”

Wi th a second showing, Mathews hopes to make the f estival more inclusive of the Oak Pa rk c ommunity, not j ust stud ents. Mathews, who said he love d the involvement from students, also said he f elt the f estival was a little too remove d from the c ommunity, especially after the o riginal showing location, wh ich was intended to be held at Austin Gardens, had

to be sw apped out for a lecture hall at the high school d ue to technical i ssues. If Mathews succeeds in grow ing c ommunity involvement, he hopes that would p ush the f estival to take of f on a larger scale, hoping to outg row the halls of OPRF.

“I f elt that is the way these things really grow,” Mathews said. “There is only so far an event c an grow within the high schools’ parameter s. T here are only a ce rtain number of students who will submit, only so many parents and family who are willing to attend but if I c ould p ost thi s event towards the c ommunity more, we c an give it the space for it to grow to something much larger than ourselves.”

T he second showing will be held at La ke T heatre, 1022 La ke St., Oak Pa rk , on Mond ay, June 26 at 6 p. m. Movie g oer s are encouraged to g et a ticket through Eventbrite (Scan QR code b elow) but ca n also g et a ticket at the d oor. Tickets will be free.

PHOTO CREDIT

Jaden Mathews (holding the clapboard) and students from OPRF who submitted lms for the rst ever OPRF Student Film Festival.

Scott McAdam Jr.

Surowitz’s adventurous life is made for the stage

Child of hippies, mom to 2 boys, Realtor in real life is once again onstage

By JESSICA MACKINNON Contributing Reporter

Molly Surowitz’s life has been such an adventure that she just had to write about it. Her journey as a precocious child raised by tie-dyed in the wool hippies in communal home in Detroit to her role as a culturally Jewish mother raising two biracial sons in Oak Park is explored in her autobiographical solo show, “Bubbles Boxes.” The autobio graphical show will be presented at the Madison Street Theater, 1010 Madison St., the weekends of June 1618 and June 23-25.

“I didn’t set out to write this play. I thought that I would write something quirky funny about what it’s like to date using all these new dating apps. But this show is entirely different. I felt like I was channeled into writing this emotional show about experience with white privilege and the realization that I didn’t know much about what it is like to be different than myself,” Surowitz said.

Surowitz was raised in a neighborhood in Detroit that, through blockbusting and redlining, gradually became predominantly Black.

“We were the strange white folks who never left the neighborhood,” she said. “It gave me the opportunity to grow up in a place where I was a minority.”

Her father, Marvin, was a political and global peace activist who had trained to be a rabbi. An outspoken proponent of gay marriage and the legalization of marijuana, he served as an official taster for the High Times Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam. He also was one of the founders of the Detroit Erotic Poetry Fest and the creator of the PARTIE (People’s Alliance to Reform, Transfor m and Improve Everything) Party. When he died in April 2021, he was intentionally buried on 4/20 in an eco-friendly ceremony in a Jewish cemetery in Detroit.

According to Surowitz, her mother, Eden Winter, is equally alternative. A true Renaissance figure and Earth woman, Winter was a tai chi instructor, midwife and folk musician who cleaned houses to pay the bills. Raised

Catholic, she once considered becoming a nun but is now a Unitarian Universalist.

“My parents were radical for their time. Our house was like an ashram for beautiful lost souls — some stayed for a night, some never left. There was body painting, dancing, swimming in the nude in the pool in the backyard, artists’ retreats, kids’ camps and community gatherings,” said Surowitz, who insists she was a square compared to her free-thinking parents and she rebelled by being hyper-organized, super responsible and an overachiever. A self-proclaimed “hippie whisperer,” she managed the household and told all the Woodstock survivors what to do

“I could have had as much sex and done as many drugs as I wanted to as a young person but instead I was a straight-A student, vice president of my class, president of the Drama Club, and starred in every play,” Surowitz said.

After graduating from the University of Michigan, where she majored in drama and

anthropology, Surowitz toured Europe with the American Drama Group’s presentation of Beth Henley’s “Crimes of the Heart.” As Lenny McGrath, a pivotal character, she performed in eight shows a week for one year and loved it.

Surowitz moved to Chicago in 1991 because of its reputation as a great theater town. She performed with several theater groups, studied with noted acting coach Steven Ivcich, and wrote a feminist play while waitressing to pay the bills. She eventually got a job as a project manager with Landmark, a worldwide organization offering transformational personal development programs based on Wer ner Erhard’s est (Erhard Seminars Training).

She transitioned to real estate after having two sons in the late 1990s and took a break from writing and acting to focus on raising them. She and her husband decided to move to Oak Park in 2003 because of its proximity to the city, good public schools,

abundant parks and diverse environment. Her current play depicts some intense moments in her family’s life in Oak Park — not all of which were positive She describes an incident in which one of her sons was stopped by three police cars in the middle of the afternoon while coming home from an ppointment with the dermatologist. really, really, really love Oak Park — I ouldn’t want to live anywhere else. But not everything that I thought it was. It’s hard to be critical about a place that you love so much but I felt that Oak Park would be a place to show it because we’re open to ovement,” she said.

Surowitz, who is the managing broker for Baird & War ner’s local real estate office, was riting her play before “America to Me,” e James’ 2018 documentary about Oak and River Forest High School, came The TV series rang true with her and with her sons.

“My boys dealt with a lot of misconceptions at OPRF. They were two of the few Blacks in AP and honors classes and felt that they had to prove they belonged there,” she said.

Because she is white and her ex-husband is from Africa, Surowitz is convinced that she and her children really live in two different worlds. She reveals that she had to have “the talk” (about navigating the world as Black males) with her boys when they were very young, before they could really understand what she was saying.

“You have to prepare them that the world is going to see them differently. They’re just being their own free spirits and you have to think how you shield them from the world because you don’t want them to be killed. As a white woman, I didn’t always know what to do or say, but I was just trying to make my way through it as best I could.”

Surowitz’s life has been a long, strange trip but she shares it with poignancy and good humor

She will be performing her play with two other actors/writers — RC Riley and Sarah Ruthless, both of whom depict their experiences with sexuality and spirituality. For more information, visit https://Voices-unboxed.eventbrite.com

SARA JANZ

Molly Surowitz has an autobiographical solo stage show at Madison Street eater the next two weekends.

‘Normal kids with amazing OPRF teachers

Nady

Spring Break with her on March

est High School senior around dinner to decisions.

she had Unive her fa on going to school in her mother and thought she had been acce

About an hour later, Dhillon status of had already and V only I be another to Harvard aged her to and told her it grandmother happ the decision, she was shoc accep

“It was definitely a surpris Wednesd tervie

Dhillon and two other members of class of Enger ing to Harvard Colle

Having three students from one OPRF graduating lass going to

“This is a relatively unusual number for us; some years we don’t have any,” said Karin Sullivan, OPRF’s chief spokesperson in an email.

Seven members of the OPRF Class of 2023 are headed to Ivy League schools. Two will go to Columbia University in New York City and two more to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York

Getting into Harvard is, of course, notoriously not easy

This past year the college received 56,937 applications and only accepted 1,942 students, a rate of only 3.41 percent, which was the second-lowest acceptance in the school’s history.

“It’s such a small, slim chance of getting in, I didn’t really expect this would happen

grandparents as a kid, the lure of Harvard was too much to refuse

“I’m, like, super-excited,” said Dhillon, who did not submit SAT scores to Harvard

“It’s definitely not what I was planning on doing, of course. I was always set on going to California. … It was hard to say no to UCLA.”

Enger and Wells are also excited about going to Harvard

Enger, who was editor in chief of the OPRF literary magazine, Crest, ended up picking Harvard over another Ivy League school, Brown.

“Brown was my dream school for a really long time,” Enger said.

She was initially a little unsure about going to Harvard even after getting accepted. But her cello teacher told her there are only

attend Harvard will be about $3,500. Beginning with the class of 2027, Harvard offers enough financial aid to completely cover tuition, room and board, and all required fees for all students coming from families with an annual income under a set level. Enger also received a couple of small scholarships that will defray some costs.

A voracious reader who taught herself to read before ever attending school and whose favorite magazine is the New Yorker, Enger wants to go to law school. She has a strong interest in history, literature and social-justice issues.

“Eventually I want to get a law degree,” she said, “not necessarily to be a lawyer but it seems like a good foundation for what I want to do.”

hoosing the instruBeye School and ello through PING, Providing Generation, which ailable to los, she has een tutoring elementary school students in ing with a fifth-grader he also has studied ballet ance at the ement & Music in Oak Park, their resident Harvard, Wells anderbilt, ull tuition scholaranderbilt,” ame down to anderbilt, Brown, thwestern. hanged his opens up a lot of doors, et anywhere standing it,” Wells eople. I think that also very

enerous financial

He says his outwill be about id package was betetter than DartWells, who wants to study economics and environmental ut ideally I want to eal with environmental or sustainable technology,” he said.

Wells was a state champion in Earth Science at the Illinois Science Olympiad and finished in the top 7 three other times.

Wells spent part of his childhood living in China while his parents taught English there. Five years ago, he launched a snow removal and lawn care company that has grown to 70 clients. He also has participated in a number of leadership and philanthropic activities. In 2021, he and a friend twice walked 50 miles — 100,000 steps — to raise money for Thrive Counseling Center of Oak Park and NAMI Metro Suburban, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of those with mental illness

PROVIDED

(Le to right) Ezekial Wells, Nadya Dhillon, and Heidi Enger. See

ResCorp gives student tenants college scholarships

Residence Corporation wants apar tments to be regarded as homes

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

When some think of a home, an apartment might not be what comes to mind. But the Oak Park Residence Corporation, the nonprofit that owns many apartment buildings in Oak Park, is working to change that perception and give their residents opportunities for continued success. That is especially true for student tenants thanks to the ResCorp Resident High School Graduate Scholarship, which is awarded each year to two students

The scholarship program began three years ago when Wayne Pierce, chair of the board of the Oak Park Residence Corporation, had the idea to provide an opportunity for children of tenants to receive a scholarship for their education expenses following high school.

Nancy Leavy, a ResCorp board member, along with other members began identifying families who had children between the ages of 16 and 19 to provide information about the scholarship.

“It was a wonderful experience and I think it helped deepen the understanding of the board regarding some of our applicants,” said Leavy, a for mer District 200 school board member

A takeaway from building the relationships between the board and tenants was the realization that many had lived in the buildings for the entire length of their children’s academic careers in Oak Park, oftentimes choosing to relocate to ensure their children could attend Oak Park school districts.

“These are not transitory residents,” Leavy said. “We have many who are raising a family and they have applied for our scholarship, who have been long term tenants in our building.”

The idea of honoring their graduating students provides a small look into how ResCorp hopes to continue to boost the morale of their tenants and instill that their apartment buildings are a home just like any single-family home in Oak Park. ResCorp, which owns and manages many multi-family buildings, also

helps provide affordable housing, with each building having at least 20 percent of housing choice voucher occupants in partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“People think of Oak Park and think ‘we are all homeowners,’ but no, half of us live in apartments,” said Leavy.

This year’s recipients were Oak Park and River Forest High School students Cimya Love and Saadiq Muhammad, who each received $2,000 from ResCorp for their postsecondary educational expenses

Love, 17, a recent graduate of OPRF, said she was thrilled to be one of the recipients of this year’s scholarship. Love found out about the scholarship during her junior year through her mom, who saw it posted on a flier.

“My mom wanted me to keep it in mind, like ‘oh this apartment offers scholarships, maybe we can keep it in mind for next year,’ and that is exactly what I did,” Love said, adding she applied as soon as she could when she became a senior.

Love and her mom moved to Oak Park in December 2022 from the Austin neighborhood, making her mom’s dream of moving back to Oak Park a reality.

“It is a quiet neighborhood,” Love said, adding she appreciates its close proximity to OPRF, which allows her to walk or ride her bike. “I can also walk my dog, feeling safe.”

For Love, being a recipient of a scholarship meant a lot as she said she was worried about how to financially pay for college

“Wanting to go to college, I didn’t know how much it actually cost,” Love said. “This scholarship can go towards my college needs or anything school wise, so I am very grateful.”

Love will be attending the University of Illinois Chicago and will be majoring in business

Muhammad plans to study engineering at the University of Cincinnati, according to the press release by OPRC.

Scholarships are also renewable as long as the student remains in good standing with their school.

“It does not require any grade point average but they do have to stay off of academic probation,” Leavy said. “So far, our two previous year recipients have all been able to renew their scholarships. It makes it something that they can count on.”

The scholarship has also raised morale amongst tenants, who join in celebrating the recipients each year as ResCorp publicizes the names of the recipients

“It has been positive for, we think, the whole climate in the building,” Leavy said.

To help students whose plans do not include a traditional four-year college, Leavy said the scholarship can also be applied to trade schools, adding a past recipient is cur-

PROVIDED

rently using their scholarship at Triton College

“If somebody wanted to go to culinary ar ts at Triton … it still costs money to go to Triton,” Leavy said. “I am so proud of all these kids and we are so happy to have been able to help them. Whether they go to state school or a trade school, we have a student who applied to go to a historically black college, we help them.”

Le to Right: David Pope, ResCorp president; Cimya Love; Wayne Pierce, ResCorp chair; Saadiq Muhammad and Marge Greenwald, a ResCorp board member.

Her expertise has been invaluable for Oak Park and she will be greatly missed.

714 PARK AVE, RIVER FOREST $745,000 :: 4 BED :: 2 BATH Brick Colonial - Awesome front porch & big yard - great block

UNDER CONTRACT 7927 CORTLAND PKWY, ELMWOOD PARK

St. Edmund might reopen late October a er storm repairs

Archdiocese has hired engineering rm to assess damage from April storm

HISTORIC BEAUTY $749,900 : 3 BED : 2 BATH Sensational, newly renovated, 3 bedroom/2 bath ranch

SOLD

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

The Archdiocese of Chicago has hired an architectural engineering firm to assess the interior and exterior damage St. Edmund Catholic Church sustained during a severe windstorm April 4. The assessment is expected to be completed by the end of this month, while re pairs and restoration are estimated to be finished in late October.

Parishioners learned the news in a church newsletter emailed June 7. The email announced a group of church leaders met with the archdiocese’s chief of parish and school operations last week regarding re pairing the church which is currently closed.

Debris from wind damage on south side of St. Edmund Church, on April 5.

contractor bids in a process the church anticipates will extend through the week of July 24.

Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.

Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus. 139 S GROVE AVE, OAK PARK $1,179,000 : 6 BED :: 4.5 BATH Majestic Victorian in central Oak Park Historic District

A safe & smart choice.

A safe & smart choice.

A safe & smart choice.

Once the engineering firm’s assessment is complete, construction documents will be prepared, and the church will go out to bid for contractor firms. Archdiocese policy requires the church to request multiple

HARVARD Heading to the Yard

from page 10

After that, the archdiocese will then analyze bids, select a contractor and sign a contract within a period of three weeks, according to the email. The church predicts this phase will be completed by the week of Aug. 14.

The church estimates the actual construction will take 12 weeks with a targeted date of completion of the week of Oct. 30.

Harvard-bound OPRF students, all residents of Oak Park although Dhillon used to live in River Forest, will at least know two other members of their freshmen class when they arrive at the Harvard campus this fall.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more important.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.

We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.

We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.

99% OF OUR CALEDONIA STAFF IS VACCINATED

Immediate availability in our Memory Care Assisted Living Small House

Wells has also participated in and is now a board member and marketing director for the Bayar Fellowship, a program to encourage low-income high school students to develop an understanding of business as they commit themselves to public service.

Despite all their accomplishments, Enger and Wells, like Dhillon, were rejected or waitlisted by a few schools before getting into Harvard. They were both rejected by Yale. Enger was rejected by Amherst and Tufts and waitlisted by Swarthmore and Boston University. Wells, who applied to 27 schools, was rejected by six schools: Stanford, as was Dhillon, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Northeastern University in Boston.

None of that matters now. As they enjoy their last summer before college, the three

“I’m going in without being completely isolated from everybody,” Enger said.

But they don’t think they’re extraordinary.

“I don’t think being a Harvard student makes us all that special,” Wells said. “I think people go to Harvard and they do a whole variety of things.”

Enger agreed

“The three of us are just normal kids,” she said.

But they are three kids who received a top flight education at OPRF and the other schools they attended

“We are three normal kids who had amazing teachers at OPRF,” Wells said. “Your odds at getting into Harvard if you’re born in Oak Park versus being born two blocks east of where I live are so dramatically different that it’s impossible to ignore.”

TODD A. BANNOR

Senior-citizen building racks up code violations

Heritage House residents face raft of maintenance issues

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

The senior residents of Heritage House are a vibrant, socia group. They have parties, play Bingo and have potlucks together, making the midrise apartment building at Lake Street and Lombard generally a fun place to live. But residents be lieve their quality of life has deteriorated due to the building’ poor management.

Bedbugs, roaches, poor ventilation, toilets not flushing water damage and unprotected electrical outlets near water sources were among hundreds of building standards violations Heritage House received during inspections conducted by the village of Oak Park this year

Those inspections were accelerated by the village after Jim Taglia, then a village trustee, met with residents last winter and reported his observations to village staff.

“No one should have to live in those conditions, with bed bugs, mold and freezing temperatures being common complaints,” Taglia told Wednesday Journal.

“It has really gone down from when I moved here,” said Irma Baker, a Heritage House resident. “When I first moved in, oh my goodness, it was beautiful.”

Baker moved into Heritage House in 2007, but before that, she had looked forward to becoming a resident of the apartment complex, located at 201 Lake St. She remembers talking about it with her girlfriend during their many walks around the neighborhood

“I used to tell my girlfriend, ‘I want to live in that building right there,’” she recalled to Wednesday Journal. “Finally, I got up in here, and the manager back then, she cared about us She cared about the people in here.”

Heritage House is a privately owned 200-unit apartment complex specifically for residents aged 62 and over, capable of living independently but of limited means. Those who live in Heritage House receive assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which pays a rental subsidy to tenants. The tenants in turn pay 30% of their adjusted gross income to live in the apartments, according to HUD, which has not inspected the building yet this year.

“HUD pays the money. Why is it that HUD won’t do something about what’s going on in this building?” said Rita Arrington, president of the residents’ association.

Since Baker and Arrington have been living in Heritage House, the building has been managed by Pacific Properties Management, whose representatives did not respond to requests for comment. The management company shares a Chicago office address with Heritage House Apartments LLC, the entity which owns the building. Heritage House Apartments LLC is owned by Wellness America Inc., the president of which could not be reached for comment.

The Pacific Properties employees stationed at the property have changed over the years. This change has resulted in the

building’s decline, according to residents, who said that the management company only has two employees assigned to Heritage House, responsible for overseeing the building and its residents

“It seems like they don’t care about seniors,” said Baker, who also serves on the residents association.

Residents have lodged several complaints to management over the years, without seeing the problems rectified. The first floor has two bathrooms, both single occupancy. Both used to be available to residents, according to Arrington. One is available to residents and guests, while the other is kept locked, only for employee use

The management company has since limited the hours in which residents can do laundry, which has made it difficult given that not all washers and driers work. Four laundry machines were apparently broken when Wednesday Journal visited. The residents also had to fight for a table to be put in the laundry room, according to Arrington, and the vending machine has been out of order for roughly six months

“It’s always excuses with management,” said Arrington. At times, the elevators have stopped working, causing the senior citizen residents to climb the stairs to reach their apartments. That may not be so bad for those on the first or second floor, but it’s quite a trek for those who live on the upper floors of the 14-floor building. And sometimes the lights go out.

Betty Coffey, assistant president of the residents’ association, had to wait about four months to get the carpet removed in her two-bedroom unit. Her husband was diagnosed with respiratory issues, which the doctor said could be aggravated by carpeting. The carpeting in their unit was old and in disrepair.

“We didn’t know what kind of impurities could be in there,” she said. “And he was living with it for months.”

esidents credit Taglia, for mer Oak Park village trustee, etting the village to inspect Heritage House, prompting management to begin addressing the long list of violations hen serving on the village board, Taglia attended a meeting tenants last winter and was “shocked” by what he lear ned “HUD and the Pacific management company turned a blind e on these seniors for years,” Taglia said.

he village of Oak Park has a tiered inspection system ased on the number of violations a building receives. Up unrecently, Heritage House was considered to be “gold” tier, the highest designation, which meant that it had few violations. The village only inspects “gold” buildings once every years. Heritage House was last inspected in 2018 and should have been inspected again in 2022, but the village’s inspection schedule was pushed back due to COVID-19.

Once Taglia made village staf f aware of conditions at HeriHouse an inspection was scheduled. The entire building inspected by the village twice in both January and Feby. The village inspector returned three times in May for ollow up inspection. A HUD spokesperson said the agency was not notified of the village’s inspections

The village was not expecting Heritage House to perform so poorly in its 2023 inspections, the reports from which had pages full of violations. Wednesday Journal received copies of the inspection reports through a Freedom of Information Act request.

“It was a surprise to us that this building didn’t continue with what had historically been their practice of being a high performing building,” said Tammie Grossman, Oak Park development and customer services director.

Village staff will be paying more attention to Heritage House going forward. A follow-up inspection is scheduled for the week of June 26. The village is working with the building owners to see all the violations are properly addressed. The owners have been cooperative, according to Grossman. Some changes have already been made. The carpeting was replaced on the first-floor common areas. Plants sit in the lobby by black sofas and armchairs. The exercise machines were replaced, so the track on the treadmill no longer unfurls while someone is using it, and the library has some new furniture.

“All of it is refurbished, but it’s better than what we had,” said Arrington.

Heritage House tenants fall under HUD’s Project-Based Section 8 assistance. It differs, however, from other Section 8 housing in that the federal agency has a contract with the owner of the building to provide “decent, safe and sanitary housing” for senior citizens, but to receive rental assistance, tenants have to live in the building.

This is unlike the perhaps better-known Section 8 voucher program, which is used to help people of low income rent any privately-owned home that meets program guidelines.

If tenants were to move out of Heritage House, they could not transfer HUD support to their new place of residence. They would have to apply for the voucher program through the Oak Park Housing Authority, if applications are being accepted, or they could apply for another Project-Based Section 8 development, according to a HUD spokesperson. Heritage House is fully occupied with a wait list of qualified tenants

TODD A. BANNOR

View looking up at skylight in Heritage House atrium which leaks, according to residents.

Berwyn resident punched by unknown man in Oak Park

A Berwyn resident sustained a cut chin after being punched in the face by an unknown man in the 1100 block of South Maple Avenue at 2:17 p.m., June 9. The man hit the resident with closed fists, following a verbal altercation, according to Oak Park police

Attempted motor vehicle theft

■ Someone broke the rear passenger’s side window of a 2012 Hyundai Tucson then damaged the vehicle’s steering wheel between 12:30 p.m., June 4, and 7:35 p.m., June 5, in the 700 block of North Taylor Avenue.

■ A 2015 Kia Soul had one of its rear windows broken and the bottom of its steering column ripped of f between 10 p.m., June 4, and 10 a.m., June 5, in the 800 block of North Humphrey Avenue.

■ Someone broke a rear window belonging to a 2019 Hyundai Accent and removed the plastic steering wheel covering be-

TASK FORCE

from page 1

discussion. Any action on specific recommendations will come at future meetings.

Trustee Susan Buchanan called the report “really remarkable,” while Trustee Corey Wesley praised its thoroughness.

“It’s so thorough that it’s a struggle for me to think of any questions,” said Wesley. Village President Vicki Scaman, recovering from a car accident, was absent from the June 12 meeting.

The task force was organized by Village Manager Kevin Jackson to study options for alternative responses to sending police and fire personnel when a mental health crisis call is received.

“We take great pride in the work that was done and the recommendations that were advanced to us,” Jackson told the board.

Co-chaired by Cheryl Potts of the Community Mental Health Board and Riveredge Hospital CEO Allison Davenport, the task force worked over several months to gather information and assemble its report. The task force included officials of local taxing bodies and mental health pro-

tween 9 p.m., June 4, and 1:23 p.m., June 5, in the first block of Thomas Street.

Burglary

■ Someone broke into a home via an unlocked rear door and then ransacked the victim’s bedroom between 8:40 a.m. and 12:20 p.m., June 7, in the 1100 block of South Lombard Avenue. No loss was re ported.

■ Someone broke into a residence and removed the water meter from the basement between noon, Feb. 9, and noon, May 19, in the 200 block of South Harvey Avenue. The estimated loss is $900.

Motor vehicle theft and recovery

A 2017 Kia Sportage was taken from the north parking lot of West Suburban Medical Center, 3 Erie Ct., between 8:55 a.m. and 7:50 p.m., June 7.

Theft

■ The catalytic converter was cut from a 2008 Toyota Prius between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., June 10, in the 700 block of North Humphrey Avenue.

■ T he catalytic converter was cut from a 2008 Toyota Prius between 12:55 p.m. and 1:05 p.m., June 11, in the 600 block of South Cuyler Avenue

■ Someone removed the rear license plate from a 2019 Toyota Camry parked in the 1000 block of Pleasant Place between 9:30 a.m. and 1:50 p.m., June 8.

■ T he catalytic converter was cut from a 2007 Honda CR-V parked in the 500 block of South Harvey Avenue between midnight, May 24, and 10:30 a.m., June 6.

■ Someone removed a red Radio Flyer M88 electric bicycle from a parking garage in the 500 block of North Harlem Avenue between 2:18 a.m. and 1:47 p.m., June 6. T he estimated loss is $2,000.

Criminal damage to property

Someone threw green paint on two flags hanging outside a residence in the 1000 block of South East Avenue between 7:30 p.m., June 6, and 7 a.m., June 7.

These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department re ports, June 6-12, and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect onl y 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 ar rest

Compiled by Stacey Sheridan

fessionals. Police Chief Shatonya Jackson and Fire Chief Ronald Kobyleski both actively collaborated with the task force and have expressed support for the recommendations.

“The task force does firmly believe that police are not always the appropriate first responders in most mental health crises,” said Davenport. “The presence of police can sometimes exacerbate a mental health crisis.”

Task force members were given the opportunity to vote on each individual recommendation within the re port before handing it over to Jackson on April 28.

“We are proud to share that 100% of our task force members did vote,” Davenport told the board.

Out of the 47 key recommendations, 41 reflected 97-100% support; three reflected 93% support; one reflected 90% support; one at 86% and one at 83%, according to Davenport.

The conclusions and recommendations of the re port were in line with what Wednesday Journal has previously reported. This includes prompt responses to mental health crises, post-incident followup, community education and engage-

ment, monitoring and improving policies and procedures, and valuing diversity and inclusion.

To do the latter, the task force recommends requiring training for first responders in diversity, equity and inclusion. Diversity, like equity and inclusion, are a common theme throughout the re port, but Trustee Lucia Robinson wanted staf f to “elevate” it while assessing the recommendations

“It needs to be centered in a really special way,” Robinson said, suggesting staf f engage with bilingual mental health professionals.

If the village board adopts the task force’s recommendations, mental health professionals will play an even bigger role in the village’s new response model. The village has long partnered with Oak Park-based Thrive Counseling Center, but the task force recommends expanding upon that by staffing an interdisciplinary team of mental health crisis workers, police, firefighters and paramedics.

Dispatching mental health crisis workers over police and fire personnel should be prioritized, according to the task force. Police and firefighters should only be dis-

patched when necessary for safety. Within this recommendation, the task force calls for the hiring of clinically trained crisis workers and social workers, contracted with the village and embedded within the police department, and prioritizing lived experience.

The task force also endorsed the development of clear and non-competing policies and procedures for mental health crisis responses that are in compliance with legal statutes re garding confidentiality and protected health information.

It also recommended improving workplace culture within the Oak Park Police Department by treating disabilities, including mental health crises, as the rule and not the exception. Within this, the task force suggested the police department continue training officers in crisis intervention, as well as requiring first responders undergo training in trauma-informed practices and human-centered and disability-sensitive approaches. The police department is over halfway to its goal of having all officers trained in crisis intervention; 60% of Oak Park police officers have received training so far, according to Potts.

Once village staf f has evaluated recommendations based on the village board’s input, for malized recommendations will come before the board again for consideration.

Concerns about mental-health calls

“

The presence of police can sometimes exacerbate a mentalhealth crisis.”

ALLISON DAVENPOR T

Riveredge Hospital CEO

Broadview celebrates Black culture and freedom

Juneteenth Festival of Freedom will be hosted June 16-18

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

“Black history is part of American history,” said Broadview Mayor Katrina R. Thompson, as she talked about the importance of the upcoming Juneteenth Festival of Freedom celebration.

The celebration starts on Friday June 16 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the Broadview Resident Meet and Greet, giving the feel of a traditional family reunion, said Thompson. On Saturday, June 17, the village will have its Festival of Freedom from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with headliner West End 40, a band with a diverse blend of R&B, jazz, gospel and more. West End 40 will be taking the stage at around 5 p.m.

And on Sunday, the village will celebrate the 50 years of hip-hop, which includes a firework show and a performance from Soul to the Bone.

“June is Black Music Month,” Thompson said. “I love hip-hop music but it is not just hip-hop music that is going to be played. It is going to be all the songs that have been played throughout for African Americans and that is exciting because now we get to hear the Motown, or blues, or jazz.”

Sunday will also host a morning worship outside, which Thompson said will be a lot of fun for participants.

“It brings joy to my heart that we can celebrate something through music,” Thompson said.

Celebration is really the theme of the event, as dads will be able to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday and enjoy a cigar and

whiskey tent at the event.

For Thompson, hosting the Juneteenth Festival is a way of acknowledging the Black culture and the contributions their history has on American history.

“It’s important that we educate and in-

Malcolm X. College celebrates Junete

Includes scholarship reception, panels, family enter tainment

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ and IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporters

Malcolm X. Colle ge, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd., will hold a two-day Juneteenth celebration this weekend.

Now in its third year, the festival is organized by a group of Cook County commissioners, state and federal re presentatives and aldermen that mostly re present the South and West sides of Chicago, including Commissioner Dennis Deer (2nd), Alds. Monique Scott (24th) and Walter Burnett (27th) and Cong. Danny Davis (D-7).

On the evening of June 16, Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson will speak at the Juneteenth Scholarship Reception at the 540 W. Madison St. building rooftop. The evening’s program includes a showcase of youth leadership in the arts with African dance, a drumline, soulful music, the annual “Divine 9 roll call,” and great food.

On June 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the colle ge will host panel discussions, a resource fair and a blood drive. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will give opening remarks, followed by panels on health equity, criminal justice reform, Black en-

form and bring awareness to the Black community,” Thompson said. “We have a culture too and we should honor that and respect that space.”

As a Black leader, T hompson said it was important to her to continue to carry on the conversations relating to things that impact the Black community, including their culture and support for one another.

“As we look at how we recycle our own dollars in the Black community, how we embrace with love and kindness, how we support each other, not just in local business but for each other,” T hompson said. “In gover nment, in our education system. We should be talking about these things.”

T hompson, who will be at the event, said she is looking forward to supporting the local vendors and small businesses which will be participating in the festivities

“Entrepreneurship and economic development is a big deal and how we get our homebased businesses or our small business to the next level, we should be highlighting that,” Thompson said. “I am excited for that.”

Celebrations for the 3rd Annual Juneteenth Festival will take place at Schroeder Park with free parking available on the west side of the Target Store in Broadview Village Square.

trepreneurship and investing. A family entertainment event will kick at 3 p.m. with performances Kells the Artist, Bobbi Ponder, Sean Black, D’Moment and others.

The events are free and open to the public, but pre-re gistration is encouraged.

For more information, visit www.JuneteenthIllinois.com

g. A ick off s by er, d

Broadv iew Mayor Katrina ompson, Broadview Clerk Kevin McGrier and village trustees look on as Broadv iew rst responders raise the Juneteenth ag above Broadv iew Village Hall in 2022.

National and local talent to perform at Juneteenth Village Fest

It Takes A Village and community par tners bring free celebration to Anna and Frederick Douglass Park

By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter

On June 18, North Lawndale residents will see the local Anna and Frederick Douglass Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Dr., become a space to celebrate freedom culture, f amily and tradition. For its second year, T he Juneteenth Village Fest, org anized by It Takes A Village Family of Schools with support of several sponsors, brings performances, f amily-friendly fun and a celebration of culture for local residents.

“We want everybody to really think of this as a f amily reunion that we look forward to do in Douglass Park every single year,” said Nakisha Harris Hobbs, CEO of It Takes A Village Family of Schools

T he lineup of performers includes national and local talent who span g enres, from hip hop to gospel to R&B and drumming, so all f amily members can find something they’ ll enjoy.

“On the local talent side, I would really urge everybody to be there to see Bella Bahhs,” Harris Hobbs said. Bahhs is a local hip hop artist, activist and educator from the West Side of Chicago.

“She just really embodies the spirit and energy of this festival, in terms of us as Black people really appreciat-

ing our culture, lifting up our culture and also reco gnizing the responsibility that we have to always be acting in the best interest of our community,” she said.

All participating artists will bring amazing performances, including Angie Stone, Marsha Ambrosius, BJ T he Chicago Kid, Kindred Family Soul, DJ Wayne Williams, South Shore Drill Team, Jesse White Tumblers, DJ Marka Flava, Redd’s Angelz, A-List Dance Team, Darius Parker & Vee Armstrong, Soul Children, Spellbinder Magician, DJ Marco, Muntu Drummers & Dancers and Libations Kamau Rashid.

“Talib Kweli has been an underground hip hop artist for the last 25 to 30 years,” Harris Hobbs said. “He always makes music that is a reflection of the current condition and possibilities for Black people and communities of color.”

T he festival’s location is also a significant part of this celebration. Two years ago, Village Leadership Academy students, one of the schools in It Takes A Village Family of Schools, campaigned to change the name of the park from one honoring a slaveholding f amily to that of renowned abolitionists, Anna & Frederick Douglass.

“This Juneteenth Festival is really for us not only to pay homage to our history but also to pay homage to Village Leadership Academy who led the campaign to rename the Anna and Frederick Douglass Park,” Harris Hobbs said. Village Leadership Academy students will also have a perfor mance at the event.

T he festival includes several activities for children and youth, including a petting zoo, a carnival area, inflatables, a youth DJ, face painting, g ames and a magic show. Social

service providers will also be at the event to connect families to resources, empower residents through education and information and perform health screenings, among other activities. T he event’s sponsors include State Re p. La Shawn K. Ford (8 th), Ald. Monique Scott (24th), the Illinois Department of Commerce, Amazon and Riot Fest, among others.

“We’ re proud to be a part of a community-based team that really is organizing a festival in Douglass Park that is for the local residents of Douglass Park,” Harris Hobbs said, adding the festival was org anized to provide a highquality experience for community members.

Local vendors participated at last year’s Juneteenth Village Fest.

PROVIDED/IT TAKES A VILL AG E FAMILY OF SCHOOLS Hip-hop artist Talib Kweli w ill per form at Douglass Park on June 18.

Forest Park’s pione ering Juneteenth Pool Party marks 14th year

Hoskins happy village embraced it from the get-go

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

When then-village commissioner Rory Hoskins launched the Juneteenth Pool Party in 2009, many Forest Parkers and west suburbanites in general had no idea what Juneteenth even was – but he said it was embraced pretty early on.

“A lot of the old families in Forest Park that didn’t necessarily know this tradition were very accepting,” Hoskins, now the mayor, said.

He grew up in Galveston, Texas, where on June 19, 1865, Union ar my general Gordon Granger announced that all those who had been enslaved were now free. In a 2021 documentary released by the Forest Park

Juneteenth Committee, the mayor recalled, growing up, he didn’t think much about the holiday. But after he moved away from Texas and started raising a family of his own, Hoskins realized it was something he wanted to share with his children.

He decided to hold the party at the Forest Park Aquatic Center, 7501 Harrison St., because public pools were some of the last public spaces to be integrated.

Hoskins recalled he got support from the Park District of Forest Park, Forest Park School District 91, Forest Park Bank officials and other elected officials, including fellow village commissioners. Cong. Danny Davis (D-7), who, having grown up in Arkansas, was familiar with the holiday, supported Hoskins bringing it to Forest Park.

“I think he was surprised to see it take root in Forest Park,” Hoskins said.

Since then, the pool party has become an annual tradition that only got inter rupted

in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the party took place on June 10 starting at 6:45 p.m. The party featured music and free hot dogs and chips.

Hoskins said he was proud the pool party was reco gnized as the longest-running Juneteenth celebration in the western suburbs. He reflected that it was something that he wanted everyone in Forest Park to

embrace and take part in.

“It appeals that the community really embraced this tradition, and I think it means something to kids in this community, and to the parents,” Hoskins said. “Kids from all backgrounds can take part in this tradition that may be new to the [west suburban] re gion, but an old tradition in the country. It’s very beautiful. Very special.”

YourPassion1st celebrated Juneteenth early this year. Last Saturday, the Oak Park-based nonprofit held its fourth annual “Let’s Grow Together Holistic Wellness and Juneteenth Festival” in Melrose Park

The free festival was attended by Mayor Rory Hoskins of Forest Park, who took a turn in the dunk tank, as did Ana

Garcia Doyle, director of One Earth Film Festival. Oak Park Village President came to enjoy the festivities. Those who went to the festival were treated to music, performances, exercise classes and meditation and yoga sessions, while kids exerted some energy in inflatable bounce houses

— Stacey Sheridan

Kids play in the pool dur ing the Forest Park Juneteenth Pool party at the Forest Park Aquatic Center in 2022.

PHOTO S BY TODD A. BANNOR

Organizers Chuck Carter, Joshua Easter, Chris omas, Kathleen Brennan, Marjorie Adam Clark, Michelle Major, Caitlin Ry ndak, Cody Cotton, James Turner & Julius Spates at the Let’s Grow Together Holistic Wellness & Juneteenth Festival.

Oak Park Juneteenth still a community event

Village’s involvement has not overtaken community organizers

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

For the past six years, Oak Park has had a Juneteenth celebration because of Anthony Clark and Juanta Griffin. The two remain committed to seeing Oak Park celebrate the event but this year is slightly different as the Village of Oak Park has taken a more direct role in helping to plan the parade and community cookout.

“We want the village to come in and take responsibility for it so that it can be sustainable,” Griffin told Wednesday Journal.

The important tradition of celebrating Juneteenth should be maintained annually but the responsibility of planning such a major event for the entire community can lead to burn out if left to only two primary organizers, according to Griffin. Clark declined to comment. Having municipal involvement increases access to resources, so the celebration can continue being free to

the community.

For the 2023 parade and cookout this Sunday, Griffin and Clark worked directly with Dr. Danielle Walker, the village’s diversity, equity and inclusion officer. The village is also having a flag raising ceremony Wednesday at village hall. Together, Griffin said, the three struck up a balance between community involvement and gover nment support

“We wanted it to be an inclusive process where community members are involved in the planning and feel like there’s some ownership,” said Griffin. “We wanted to keep that.”

It was also important that no one felt left out of the process, particularly those community members that have volunteered their time to Juneteenth planning and celebrations over the years.

Inclusivity extends beyond the planning of Juneteenth. Griffin was adamant that the celebration is not just for Black Americans but for all people.

“As a nation we celebrate freedom,” she

said. “This is for everyone.”

The parade steps off at 11 a.m., Saturday morning, from Longfellow Park near Jackson Boulevard and will march on through Ridgeland Avenue to Augusta Street. The community cookout begins at 5 p.m. in Taylor Park, 400 Division St

Oak Park Juneteenth celebration sponsors:

Good Heart Work Smart Foundation

The Nova Collective Byline Bank

Race Conscious Dialogues

One Ear th Film Festival

Oak Park Climate Ac tion Network  Climate Ready Community Outreach

LifeSpan Counseling & Psychological Ser vices  Wintrust

JUNETEENTH EVENT S

Here’s Growing Community Media most complete list of Juneteenth celebrations across the Greater West Side. If missed your event this year tell us at Park.com’s Pitch Us a Story feature.

AUSTIN

Front Porch Art Center celebration

The celebration will be held at Columbus Park. 500 S. Central Ave., on June 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This fun, family-friendly event will feature music, food, dancing and a Juneteenth Art Exhibit, along with family art-making activities.

Trunk par ty for college-bound seniors

Graduating, college-bound seniors only. Must bring college acceptance letter. Party will be held at 304 N. Parkside Ave. on J une 19, noon to 5 p.m.

BROADVIE W

3rd Annual Festival of Freedom

Broadview is holding its 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration all weekend at Schroeder Park, 2600 S. 13th Ave. It will kick o on the evening of June 16 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the raising of the Juneteenth ag, followed by a community meetand-greet. The main event will take place on June 17 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on June 18 from noon to 9 p.m. The festival will feature music, food and local vendors, as well as cultural exhibits chronicling Black history and struggles. The festivities will wrap up with a Sunday reworks show.

EAST GARFIELD PARK Music and Culture Celebration

Now in its fourth year, the annual Music and Culture Celebration will be held at 345 Ar t Galler y, 345 N. Kedzie Ave., on June 18 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The celebration will feature local music acts, performance by poet Poetry Soulchild, wine curated by P. Michelle, the Music in My Soul art exhibit and local vendors. $10 cover, all proceeds go to the ar t center

OA K PARK

Juneteenth Father ’s Day Festival

Organized by Chicago’s Welcome to Fatherhood and Oak Park ’s King’s Kidz [sic] Academy, the par ty will take place in Oak Park at 847 Madison St. on June 17 from 11 a.m. It will feature food and drinks, games for kids and adults and vendor tables.

Juneteenth parade and cookout

tions, and businesses. Festivities star t on June 16 at Gar eld Park Gold Dome, 100 N. Central Park, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for an invite- only Military Honors ceremony to honor veterans. Community members can nominate veterans to receive a special award. On June 17 and June 18, join cultural activities for families, workshops, live music and performances at Gar eld Park Music Cour t Circle from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Sunday, there will be a Father ’s Day Grill O to celebrate Father ’s Day.

FOREST PARK

Liberated: A Juneteenth Celebration

I Am Black Ar t organization will be at Forest Park Public Librar y’s Austin room, 7555 Jackson Blvd., on June 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature a writing circle, children’s books, arts and crafts, and re ec tion/open mic segment towards the end of the program. Oak Park ’s Chicago Chicken and Wa es will provide food, and there will be local vendors.

HILLSIDE

Juneteenth & Father ’s Day Festival

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is holding his annual Juneteenth and Father ’s Day Festi-

MAY WOOD

Juneteenth celebration and honorary street designation

Join the honorary street designation ceremony in honor of the late Mrs. Nor thica Hillery Stone, former CEO of the nonpro t Operation Uplift, on June 17, at 1 p.m., followed by a family-friendly Juneteenth celebration. The ceremony is taking place at Operation Uplift, at the intersection of S. 5th Ave. and St. Charles Road. The annual Juneteenth celebration features food, music and activities for all ages.

NORTH LAWNDALE

Celebrate Juneteenth with UCAN

Held at UCAN campus, 3605 W. Filmore St., on June 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., this year ’s celebration will feature vendors from the Black Wall Street on Roosevelt summer market, as well as performers, games, and food.

Juneteenth Freedom Party

Organized by Light Up Lawndale and sponsored by the Chicago Histor y Museum, the par ty will take place on June 19 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Douglass Park. The family-friendly celebration will feature music, fun and activities.

oin the Village of Oak Park in celebrating Juneteenth with a ceremonial ag raising, parade and community ookout. Come to the courtyard of Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison St., at 6 p.m., June 14, for the ag raising. he celebration continues at 11 a.m., June 18 with the annual parade, which steps o from Longfellow Park near Jackson Boulevard and then on to Ridgeland Avenue to Augusta Street. Following the parade, stop by the cookout at 5 p.m. in Taylor Park, 400 Division St.

RIVER FOREST Flag raising ceremony

River Forest marked Juneteenth with a ag raising ceremony on June 12. River Forest Public Librar y, 735 Lathrop Ave. Check out the Juneteenth traveling museum inside the librar y.

VIRTUAL

A Conversation on Health Equity with Dr. Ngozi Ezike

United Way of Chicago is holding a vir tual conversation with Dr. Ngozi Ezike on June 19 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Ezike is the rst Black woman president and CEO of Sinai Chicago hospital system and immediate past director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, where she helped the entire state navigate COVID-19. Ezike will re ect on her experiences and o er paths towards greater health equity for all Chicago neighborhoods. Visit https://liveunitedchicago. org/ to register for login information.

Compiled by Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez, Stacey Sheridan and Igor Studenkov

Homes

Annual walk highlights

8 gardens in Oak Park, River Forest

Popular tour of local green oases returns June 25

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

The 29th Annual Oak Park & River Forest Garden Walk is back on Sunday, June 25. Sponsored by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory (FOPCON) and the Garden Club of Oak Park and River Forest, the walk will feature eight Oak Park and River Forest gardens, as well as one community garden.

Torrence O’Haire and Drew Davis share their Oak Pa rk garden on the walk. The pair have affectionately nicknamed their garden “The Continental,” because the Continental Divide slopes across their backyard.

After moving into the home two years ago, they removed a failing mulberry tree and got to work to create an urban oasis. Antique roses commingle in the yard with a culi-

nary garden that is rife with antique and heirloom varieties of apples, herbs, mushrooms and tomatoes. Birds and bugs have made themselves at home, and the owners say their kitchen and freezer are filled year-round with the fruits of their labors.

On Superior Street, homeowners Ana Boyer and Chad Davis have a home with an interesting past. Their residence began life as a barn and was relocated from Forest Avenue

in 1890. In 1910, it was converted into a squash court, garage and hen house. Another conversion followed in 1921, when the building became a single-family home.

When they purchased the home in 2016, the garden was overgrown and filled with weeds. The entire yard is shaded by an ancient bur oak tree, so the couple set about creating

SARA JANZ

Torrence O’Haire (above) and Drew Dav is nicknamed their garden (below) “ e Continental” because the Continental Div ide runs through it. ey’ve created an urban oasis where antique roses comming le with edible plants.

NEW! SPACIOUS & GRACIOUS!

1023 N. Elmwood, Oak Park 3BR/1.5BA ,STUNNING big brick home ideal setting. Hrwd floors and molding. 1st floor addition & updated kitchen. ................$715,000

Sara Faust | 708-772-7910 sara.faust@cbexchange.com

SOLD!

824 Ferdinand Ave, Forest Park Charming 3 BR, 1.1 BA home includes separate dining room, large living room with office nook & hardwood floors. Blocks from Roos Rec Center, Blue Line & I-290. Make this home yours!

Stephanie Eiger | 708-557-0779

Stephanie.eiger@cbexchange.com

Sandi

Looking to Buy or Sell?

13605

Andrea

SOLD!

1037 Dunlop Ave, Forest Park

This charming bungalow received multiple offers and sold above the asking price! Want results? Give me a call to find out how I can help you achieve top dollar for your home. ................$341,000

Shea Kiessling | 708-710-5952 shea@cbexchange.com

Laurie Shapiro

708-203-3614 Laurie.shapiro@cbrealty.com

GREAT RENTAL.... $2600/mo.

7243 Madison St., #223, Forest Park Large 2 BR/2BA condo for lease near at all in Forest Park! Plenty of storage. In unit W/D. Deck. One indoor garage space.

Sara Faust | 708-772-7910 sara.faust@cbexchange.com

1232 N Oak Park

Value priced 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath home with big rooms.

Bonus! Screened porch with jalousie-styled windows. ....... ................$495,000

Stephanie Eiger 708-557-0779 Stephanie.eiger@cbexchange.com Sara

3407 N. Nottingham Ave, Chicago Terrific 3+ BR, 3 BA home in the Dunning Neighborhood. You will be amazed at the amount of space! Hardwood floors, 2nd floor family room, tons of storage! .........................$420,000

Lisa Grimes I 708-205-9518 lisa.grimes@cbrealty.com

205 S Humphrey, Oak Park Helped my sellers get the terms they wanted. Properties that are priced well are selling fast! Call me if you have questions about this unusual market.

Deborah Wess 708-212-1122 deborahsellsoakpark4u@gmail.com

GARDEN WALK

Nominate for next year

from page 23

the ultimate shade garden. They for med a rounded path throughout the yard from 400 brick pavers they found buried at the base of their fence.

“Ana is an artist and has a good eye,” Sue Boyer, co-chair of the Garden Walk and no relation to Ana. “It’s a great example of a shade garden.”

On Clarence Avenue, Susan and Richard Katz’s home and garden were a blank slate when they moved in 40 years ago. Slowly and deliberately, they set about realizing their dream of surrounding the home with an inviting garden,

When their daughter Rachel was in third grade, she brought home a seedling tree in a plastic bag on Arbor Day. That tree is now a towering white pine in their garden. The Katzes say their garden is a Japanese style garden, designed with the intent that visitors move slowly through the space in peace and tranquility.

Boyer says the walk also includes a garden on Clinton Avenue, where the home was once a two-flat. The owners converted it back into a single-family home. Now that they are empty nesters, they’ve turned the second floor into a B&B space and have created a unique patio in their garden.

A house in River Forest has a spacious garden with a large front yard devoted to planned plantings and an area set aside for the owners’ grandchildren, and on Elizabeth

Before you go

The Oak Park & River Forest Garden Walk takes place on Sunday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $18 in advance and $23 after 5 p.m. on June 24.

Tickets can be ordered online at FOPCON.org or GCOPRF.org. Children 12 and under are free, but no strollers are permitted in the gardens

The day of the walk, tickets will be available for purchase by cash, check or credit card, and advanced ticket purchasers can pick up their garden guides at two locations: the Oak Park Conservatory at 615 Garfield St. and the Cheney Mansion at 220 N. Euclid Ave.

Day-of tickets can be purchased and garden guides picked up between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on June 25.

Restrooms will be available at both pickup sites. The walk will not be cancelled due to inclement weather.

Court, the owner was inspired by his late wife to create a for mal Zen garden.

Boyer states that all of the gardeners have put enormous effort and time into tending their yards.

“All of these people are just very hardworking gardeners,” Boyer said.

The garden of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is the public garden on this year’s walk. During a 2018 renovation following a fir much of the church eas and destroyed. Member

gether to agine the gar-

Two Eagle Scout focused on remediation. One placed a French drain on the north side of the church and incorporated water-loving native plants. The other laid the front lawn with sod. Dig Right In designed and planted a tiered garden at the main entrance. Deep Roots, a church neighbor, provided mulch and dirt.

A Memorial Garden is a place to inter the ashes of members and friends. In all, more

than 100 volunteers came together to create the garden.

The Garden Club and FOPCON are always on the lookout for gardens to feature on the annual walk and often need to start looking for the next year’s features when gardens are at their peak, just after the walk for the current year wraps up.

Boyer says that this year’s walk participants will be able to nominate future gardens while on the walk.

“We are always looking for suggestions from the community,” Boyer said. “They end up being great. We hear so much through word of mouth.”

PHOTO S SAR A JANZ

Chad Davis (above) and Ana Boyer transformed an overgrown yard into the ultimate shade garden (below) featuring a path made from 400 brick pavers found on the property

Frenchdrainon

OPRF so ball claims 3rd in state a er wild semi nal

Huskies rebound to edge Barrington after 13-inning heartbreaker

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School softball team came one strike from advancing to the IHSA Class 4A state championship game in Peoria.

After a two-out, two-run bloop single gave Yorkville a 4-3 walk-of f victory in a 13-inning semifinal on June 9 -- the longest game in Class 4A state tournament history – the Huskies returned to their hotel dejected.

“That was probably one of the best games I’ve played in. It’s great to even be a part of that,” senior left fielder Kelly Cortez said. “After that heartbreaker, we had our quiet time but at the end of the day, we came together and we’re like, ‘We really want to win (our final game).’”

Scouting the other semifinal, OPRF coach J.P. Coughlin messaged his players about trying to lift spirits.

Their response was overwhelming: ice cream.

“I said, ‘What kind?’ Big mistake. I bought 15 different kinds,” Coughlin said.

The Huskies (31-8) finished with a truly sweet victory.

On June 10, they defeated Barrington 2-1 in the third-place game to complete their phenomenal turnaround season on a winning note.

“We weren’ t here to get fourth. We had an amazing season and we wanted to end on a very good high,” senior center field Anna Stine said.

“After all of the tears and crying, we said

all we can do is control whether third or fourth,” said junior catcher Tyler Brock.

The Huskies proved much, reaching their first state finals since 2017 and after a 10-17 record in 2022.

Before nearly beating Yorkville (36-3), the Huskies had won 13 straight and 18 of 19, capturing the West Suburban Conference Silv Earning all-conference la Morales and Stine; juniors oto, Rachel Buchta and Brock; and sophomores Maura Carmody and Elyssa (team-high 45 RBI and 14 homers).

“It was a tremendous year and the culture of this team was top-notch,” Coughlin said.

Top-rated Marist (37-2) defeated Yorkville 9-1 for the championshi p. Barrington (35-7) finished fourth for the second straight year. Buchta was greeted Saturday morning with balloons and decorations for her 17th birthday.

“I would say this is probably the most memorable season of softball I’ve ever played. It wasn’t just winning. I just love my entire team,” Buchta said.

The Huskies greeted Barrington with both of their runs in the top of the first on singles by Stine and Brock and run-scoring singles from Buchta and sophomore Anna Topel. Brock finished 2 for 3 and Cortez and Hasapis also had singles.

The Fillies scored in the bottom of the first with two walks, an infield single and hit batter against junior starting pitcher Aria Hammerschmidt.

Coming from right field to relieve, Alioto got a double play and strikeout to end the first. Alioto allowed just two singles the rest of the way with three strikeouts and one walk.

With the tying run on third, the game

ended with a flyout to Stine.

“It was a big emotional feeling, being my last game,” Stine said. “I was so proud of everyone in that moment.”

During the winter, Alioto seriously considered not pitching in her return to varsity. Before the third-place game, Alioto (4-0) only had pitched 25 innings.

“This is one of the best [outings] for sure because I went the full game basically,” Alioto said. “I feel like I haven’t done that all season so it was amazing. I was really happy.”

Morales (12-5), who threw 171 pitches in the semifinals, could have relieved but said there was no need. Alioto was in control.

“Jordan was just terrific,” Coughlin added. “So proud of her. That kid’s grown so much in one year.”

Both OPRF and Yorkville scored in the fifth. Stine’s two-out double scored sopho-

more Gloria Hronek, who singled.

In the top of the 13th, the Huskies had a runner thrown out at home, but Buchta’s two-out single scored Brock and Alioto doubled to score Buchta for a 3-1 lead.

The Foxes had four of 12 hits in the 13th. The third hit, which deflected off Morales’ leg with two outs, made the score 3-2. After a walk loaded the bases came the gamewinner to short left field.

OPRF’s eight hits were two each by Stine, Hasapis, who also doubled, Buchta and Hronek. Yorkville had five er rors

“I’m kind of frustrated because they weren’ t super crazy hard hits. They were bloopy ones. That made it all the more disappointing than if it was an out-of-the-park hit,” Morales said. “It would have been nice to get to that championship game, but softball happens and I’m so glad to be here at this point.”

VISUAL IMAG E PHOTOGRAPHY Oak Park and River Forest High School so ball players celebrate their third-place nish at the IHSA Class 4A state championships a er recording the nal out against Barring ton on June 10 in Peoria.

OPRF grad makes his MMA pro debut June 16

Former football player, wrestler signs with Bellator

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Since graduating from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 2015, Max Metzgar’s life has taken some twists and turns

But thanks to his perseverance, he’ ke pt r unning his race, and his journey brings him home this week. On June 16 the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Metzgar makes his professional debut as a fighter on the Bellator MMA Tour.

To say he’s excited is an understatement.

“It’s a dream come true for me,” said Metzgar in a phone interview with Wednesday Journal. “Before I got signed with Bellator, I was constantly praying to let me make my pro debut in Chicago. I visualized that dream every day, and somehow Bellator books a show there and signs me to it. It’s just so sur real.”

While at OPRF, Metzgar played football and was one of the captains for the Huskies’ 2015 IHSA Class 3A wrestling championship team that also won a national title, the first school in Illinois history to g et that honor.

Upon graduation, Metzgar went to State University. He almost joined the wrestling team as a walk-on, but reali he needed to save up money to function in the world, and instead became a dishwasher in one of the school’s dining halls

Metzgar originally declared business as his major. But it didn’t take him long to realize that he didn’t want to sit behind desk all day for a living.

“When I was a kid, I was diagnosed with ADHD [Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder],” he said. “I’ve always been a high-energy and creative person, and I realized I didn’t want to be in the business school.”

Metzgar changed majors from business to communications and wound up taking classes with several members of the OSU football team. He was on the honor roll and interned with Big 10 Network, ESPN and Fox Sports.

But after he received his de gree in December of 2019, Metzgar saw his options dry up as potential job opportunities never came to fruition.

“I thought I was going to be in a good

graduated, I felt the whole world came crashing down on me.”

Just when things seemed so uncertain, the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020. While opportunities dried up for many, Metzgar found a potential career door opening for him.

“When the pandemic hit, I had a moment of clarity,” he said. “The whole world stopped, and this was my opportunity to pivot. I took a step back and said my life isn’ t going the way I want it to, so what am I going to do about it?”

T he answer? Mixed martial arts. Metzgar had a friend in Columbus, Ohio, who introduced him to the sport at a local gym, and he became interested.

“I decided to move back to Columbus and go all-in on becoming a professional MMA fighter,” said Metzgar. “I got a job working in a factory doing 12-hour shifts four days a week, and I was training fulltime outside of that.”

Metzgar then took a job at a restaurant with flexible hours and better pay. That him more training time, and he ted his MMA career as an amateur.

Metzgar defeated Clinton Ewing by unanimous decision in his debut on Jan. 30, 2021. He won his first seven fights without dropping a round and became the topranked lightweight in the Midwest.

Last month, Bellator signed Metzgar to his first professional contract. As he makes his pro debut this week, he’s feelry confident.

PROVIDED

A er earning his degree in communications at Ohio State University, 2015 Oak Park and River Forest High School graduate Max Metzgar shi ed his career gears dur ing the pandemic, moving to Columbus, Ohio, and training to become an MMA ghter.

A er compiling a 7-0 record as an amateur, Metzgar signed a pro contract w ith Bellator MMA and will appear in his rst professional bout in Chicago on June 16.

position to g et a job offer,” he said. “But when I graduated, that just wasn’t the case, and I ended up having to move back into my father’s basement. I pretty much felt like a failure.”

Needing to make a living, Metzgar worked three jobs, at O’Hare International Airport driving freight to the cargo

planes, as a cleaner at offices and as a promotion salesperson for Sprint, working outside in downtown Chicago.

“It was such a crazy pivot point,” he said. “I was on top of the world my senior year [at OSU]. I was a cool kid on campus r unning around with the football team and working for Big 10 Network, and when

very strategic and diligent in my training,” he said. “I’m taking the same approach that I took being an honor roll student at OSU. … I’ve been telling people I’m g etting my Ph.D. in MMA. I study the sport intellectually as much as possible. You can be a brute, but that’s only going to take you so far. My strateg y and tactics are what separate me from other guys; I try to dissect them like a surg eon.”

Metzgar fights David McKinney in the opening bout of the Bellator card at 5 p.m. It will be available to stream for free on YouTube. Type in “Bellator MMA” in the search bar to gain access

If you want to see the action in person, tickets are available from Ticketmaster as well as from Metzgar’s website at madmaxmetzgar.com. Type in the code MAX.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Village of Oak Park, Illinois

Annual Treasurer’s Report of Cash Receipts and Disbursements

For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2022

Published in compliance with Chapter 65, Section 5/3.1-35-65 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes

COOK COUNTY - WEST NILE VIRUS GRANT ; Grant Revenue 9,187; TOTAL 9,187

IDPH - CITIES READINESS INITIATIVE; Grant Revenue 33,351; TOTAL 33,351

CDBG - FARMERS MARKET INCENTIVES ; Grant Revenue 18,513; TOTAL 18,513

SHAWNASH - DOUBLE COUPON ; Grant Revenue 3,782; TOTAL 3,782

IDPH - BODY ART; Grant Revenue 3,400; TOTAL 3,400

IDHS - FAMILY CASE MANAGEMENT ; Grant Revenue 1,547; TOTAL 1,547

PHIMC - REGION 8 HIV PREVENTION;

Grant Revenue 16,404; TOTAL 16,404

COVID-19 MASS VACCINATION GRANT; Grant Revenue 251,201; TOTAL 251,201

COVID-19 RESPONSE GRANT; Grant Revenue 90,639; TOTAL 90,639

COVID-19 CRISIS GRANT; Grant Revenue 47,501; TOTAL 47,501

INFLUENZA VACCINE PROMOTION; Grant Revenue 13,272; TOTAL 13,272

COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING; Grant Revenue 28,124; TOTAL 28,124

IDPH -VECTOR SURVEILLANCE & CONTROL; Grant Revenue 5,404; TOTAL 5,404

IDPH-LEAD CASE MANAGEMENT; Grant Revenue 24,959; TOTAL 24,959

IDPH - LOCAL HEALTH PROTECTION ; Grant Revenue 64,187; TOTAL 64,187

IDPH - MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS; Grant Revenue 14; TOTAL 14

IDPH-NARCAN; Grant Revenue 2,430; TOTAL 2,430

IDPH - PUBLIC HLTH EMRGNCY PREPAREDNESS; Grant Revenue 34,260; TOTAL 34,260

IDPH - ILLINOIS TOBACCO-FREE COMMUNITIES; Grant Revenue 21,696; TOTAL 21,696

Bullet Proof Vest Grant; Grant Revenue 3,832; TOTAL 3,832

JAG GRANT; Grant Revenue 4,149; TOTAL 4,149

Tobacco Enforcement Program; Grant Revenue 2,879; TOTAL 2,879

IL DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION GRNT; Grant Revenue 3,173; TOTAL 3,173

Police Youth Basketball Camp; Grant Revenue 1,933; TOTAL 1,933

Sustainability Fund; Energy Efficiency

Meter Collections 607,480; Garage

Revenue 38,794; PARKING ROW OBSTRUCTION FEES 69,949; Miscellaneous Revenue 117; Recovered Damages 4,494; Interest Revenue 42,267; Transfer From General Fund 40,000; TRANSFER FROM ARP FUND 2,632,423; TOTAL 7,739,130

Self Insured Retention Fund; Interest Revenue 27,950; Transfer From General Fund 700,000; Transfer From Water Fund 670,000; Transfer From Parking Fund 300,000; TOTAL 1,697,950 Health Insurance Fund; METLAW LEGAL PREMIUMS WITHHELD -3; HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS WITHHELD

1,018,352; DEMNTAL INSURANCE PREMIUMS WITHHELD -43,019; VISION INSURANCE PREMIUMS WITHHELD -8,031; EMPLOYER LIFE INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION 28,217; Pensioneer Premium Payments 919,170; Outside Agencies Prem Payments 12,597; EMPLOYER HEALTH INSURANCE

CONTRIBUTIONS 5,901,550; Interest Revenue

19,542; TOTAL 7,848,375

Police Pension Fund; Property Tax Levy 7,205,753; Pension Payroll Deductions 1,105,679; Interest Revenue 1,491,004; Net Change In FV of Invest -19,409,405; TOTAL -9,606,969

FIREFGHTERS’ PENSION FUND; Property Tax Levy 6,814,029; Pension Payroll Deductions 694,290; Interest Revenue 377,640; Net Change In FV of Invest -10,224,016; TOTAL -2,338,057 PAYROLL: 0.01 TO 24,999.99

AGNEW, MARYNDA; AMANDES, NICHOLAS; BELLE, MICHAEL ; BUCHANAN, SUSAN; CAMERON, DAVID; CARBONNEAU, THOMAS;

CARTAGENA, TATYANA; CILEK, TIMOTHY; CLANCY, ANDREW; COFFEL, MICHELLE ; CONTE, PHILIPP; COTE II, JEROME; DEVINE PORFIRIO, ALANA; DORRIS, SHONTAE; DUNBAR, ALPHONSO; ENYIA, CHIBUIKE; FARMER, BRENDAN; FLAGG, JADE; GLOODT, JACOB; GRAFF, ROBERT; GREDENIUS, NICOLE; HARGROVE, JACQUELINE ; HOLDMAN, NATHAN; JOAQUIN, ANTHONY; JOHNSON-HARPER, LUWANDA; KEENAN, CHRISTOPHER; KOHLER, MATTHEW; KUBALA, PERRY; L’HEUREUX, MICHAEL; LAFLEUR, GARRETT; LEIN, ANTHONY; LING, DAVID; LOGAN, MILICA; MANCE, LONDEN; MARINIER, RYAN; MARINO, EUGENE; MARTINEZ, ANTHONY; MCINERNEY, DANIEL; MCNABB, JOSHUA; MEIER, NICHOLAS; MENESES, DEBORAH; MERCADO, BRETT; MEYER, DOUGLAS; MORONEY, COLLEEN ; MUENCH, LUCA; MURPHY, ROBERT; MYSLIWIEC, JOSHUA; NATIONS, STEVEN; NICHOLS, TEDDY; ORTEGA, JAZMIN; OSAZUWA, BRIGHT; OSBACK, EMILY; OSTRAND, GREGORY; PALECZNY, BRIAN; PARAKKAT, RAVI; PENDERGRASS, MICHAEL; POLIDORO, ISABELLA; REDKVA, CINTHYA; REHSE, ROBERT; ROBINSON, LUCIA; RODRIGUEZ, DELIA ; RUSSELL, CAMERON ; SABOR, BRIDGET; SADLER, DUSTYN; SAFFORD, CHARO; SCHICK, MELISSA; SHANKLIN, HALSTON; SIMON, JACOB; SMITH, ADAM; STEFFEN, TIMOTHY; TAGLIA, JAMES; TOTH, ROBERT; TURAGA, SHRUTHI; WALKERPEDDAKOTLA, ARTI; WATKINS, VALERIE; WEIDNER, JOHN; WESLEY, CORY; WHITE, MARK; WILLIAMS, DEARRA; WILSON, JOHNATHAN; WOLF, SUSAN; YOPCHICK, DANIEL; ZIEGLER, JASON PAYROLL: 25,000.00 TO 49,999.99

ADAMS, SEAN ; BAHENA, ANITA; BENNETT, GIA; BOSTON, DE ANGELA; BRINKMAN, SCOTT; CASSIDY, KEVIN; CASTANEDA, JOEL; CRICHLOW, MIZPAH; DE JESUSVASQUEZ, MELISSA ; DEBERRY, CHARLES; DIAZ, NOEMY; HELMS, ERICA; HENDRICKS, CAMERON; HORALEWSKYJ, TARAS; KASMIERSKI, JACOB; KENNY, CHARLOTTE; MACIAS, JOSE; MALINSKI, LOREEN; MCCLINTON, VIVICA ; MCDONALD, CATHY; MCFARLAND, KIMBERLY; MEAD, BRAD; MONTINO, MICHAEL; MONTY, KATHLEEN; MUSSER, JILLIAN; NAJERA, CLARISSA; NOONAN, CASSANDRA; OUCHERIAH, PAIGE; PALJETAK, PAUL; PAULS III, ARTHUR; PEARSON III, IVORY; PEREZ, JUAN; RAYA, DAISY; ROJAS, JORDAN; ROKNICH, CASSANDRA; SCAMAN, VICTORIA; SHORTY, TARSHANDA; SILVA, DANIEL; SKODA, DAWN; STOKES, HOWARD; THOMPSON, TAKESHI; TONGUE, CHRISTOPHER; TWOREK, KENNETH; WALKER, DANIELLE; WHEATEN, KEISHA; WILEY, RICKEITA; WILLIAMS, CHARLOTTE; WOOLFORD, KEYWANE; WRIGHT-SIMMONS, DORIS; YOUNG, NICOLE PAYROLL: 50,000.00 TO 74,999.99 ACEVEDO, ANGELA ; ADEDIRAN, CASSANDRA; AVGOUSTAKIS, ELAINE; AVINGER, MARY; BONIN, KATHLEEN; BRELAND, DERRICK; BROWN, TINA; BRYANT, VINCENT; CURRY, KARLOS; DENNIS, JOSHUA; DEVILLER, LINDA; DIAZ, NANCY; DILLARD, JEWEL; DOMINGUEZ, RITA; DURR, JACQUELINE; FINLEY, AARON; FREELAIN, RASUL; GHOLSTON, DIANNA; GORDON, DONALD ; GORTOWSKI, SHAYLEEN; HANSEN, CYNTHIA; HARDAWAY, ALEJANDRO; HEDRICH, GINGER; JACKSON, SEMAJ; JACOB, KATHLEEN; JOHNSON, TRENIA; JOHNSON JR, DENNIS; KIM, CHRISTOPHER; KINDRED, MARY; LAMOTHE, MALIK; LANCASTER, ANNIE; LEWIS, KEITH; MANCE, ANDREA;

MARCHESE, KORTNEY; MCSHEFFREY, NEIL; MICHAELS, MARILYN; MILLER, CHARLES; MONTERUBIO, KENNETH; MUENCH, ANNA; NAQVI, RIDA; NESBITT, RACHEL; NIEMAS, TOBIASZ; PATTERSON-MOSS, TINESHIA; PAULENAS, ANDRIUS; PEDRAZA, ARLENE ; PERRY, HEATHER; PETERSON, ANJALI; POWERS, DAVID; PRATHER-RODGERS, JAMES; PRIMER, SAMUEL; RANDALL, CHRISTINE; REBELES, BRIAN; ROBINSON, DANIELLE; ROZHON, HENRY; RYAN, STANA; SCHAEFFER, RUTH; SCHELL, ANGELA; SOCHACKI, JASON; STANISLAVSKI, DIANE; SUDKAMP, MARILYN; TREXLER, SUSAN; URIOSTEGUI, ELIDA; VAZQUEZ, ABNER; WILLIAMS, SHAWNYA; WILLIAMS, ANGELA; YONG, SUSANNAH

PAYROLL: 75,000.000 TO 99,999.99 ALMONACI, ROCIO; BELLINI, GIORGIO; BILLS, MICHAEL; BLANKENSHIP, BENNETT; BOBADILLA, DIANA; BONDIE, MARCELLA; BROWN, DAVID; BROWN, JAMARRO; BRUCE, MICHAEL; CAMPAGNA, DANIEL ; CHERVINKO, STEVEN; DE LA MORA, VANESSA; DEXTER, STACY; FULTON, THOMAS; GIGELE, MICHAEL ; GLENN, THOMAS; GOLUBEVA, OLGA; GUTIERREZ, ALFREDO; HANLEY, DANIEL ; HARGROVE, QUINN; HARTL JR., OTTO; JACOBSEN, ERIK; JONES, GRANT; JULIANO, JILL; KAMYKOWSKI, GLENN; KARLOVITZ, JEFFREY; KEANE, SEAN; KILIKEVICIUS, TOMAS; KORNATOWSKI, SUZANNE; KREML, JOSEPH; LAGIOIA, VINCENT; LOGAN, VANETTA; MATHENY, VANESSA ; MURPHY, KELLIE; OTTO, ERIC; PHA, TOU; REYNOLDS, LADON; RODRIGUEZ, JESUS; RUSSELL, CAMERON ; SABALIAUSKAS, VICTOR; SCHICK, MELISSA; SCHWAB, RONALD; SCULLY, MICHAEL; SEAT, KEITH; SEMELKA, SARA ; SOMERVILLE, MACEO; STURDIVANT, PAUL; TAMAS-ORLANDEA, DELIA; THOMPSON, MARK ; WATERS, CHRISTINA; YOUSUF, MOIN

PAYROLL: 100,000.000 TO 124,999.99 AGHAJAN, ROBERT; ALONSO, ASHLEY; ALVAREZ, ANDRES; ANDERSON, ROBERT; BARRIENTOS, VICTORIO; BRUESCH, BRIAN; BRUNO, STANISLAO; BYINGTON, ZACHARY; CARVER, DAWN; CROWLEY, KEN; CUNZALO JR, LEONARD; DAWSON, ELLIOT; DOELL, ZACKARY; DULSKI, MICHAEL; DUNN, WILLIAM; DURAJ, CONRAD; FAILOR, CRAIG; FAILOR, GRAHAM; FARNON, WILLIAM; FENSKE, MICHAEL; FERRIER, ZACHARY; FLORES, ALEJANDRO; FRANK, LOGAN; GHANMA, DANIEL; GUY, STEVEN; GUZA, TIMOTHY; HERNANDEZ, ERIC; HOWELL, KAITLIN; HUSKA, DANIEL; JACKSON, RASHEDA; JIMENEZ JR, JAVIER; JORDAN, KYLE; JUDAH, JADEER; KASS, ANTHONY; KERLEY, PAUL; KIM, MARGARET; KIM, LEE; KRAMER, JOHN; KURASZ, MICHAEL; L’HEUREUX, MICHAEL; LAFLEUR, GARRETT; LAMBERT, MICHAEL; LARSON, JONATHON; LEINER, DANIEL; LEMMENES, JONATHAN; LOCKE, ERIC; LYNG, SCOTT; MACKEY, CAMERON ; MARINO, EUGENE; MAYER, PATRICK; MCCARTHY, KEVIN; MCNABB, JOSHUA; MELTON, CEDRIC; MERCADO, BRETT; MOONEY-SIMKUS, CHRISTINE; MORRIS, JONATHAN; MURGUIA, RUBEN; MURPHY, RAPHAEL; NASH, JOSEPH; OSTRAND, GREGORY; PADILLA JR, PABLO; PASSARELLA, RICKY; POSHEK, JEFFREY; PRIOR, JEFFREY; RADTKE, TONI; REDDINS, ALLAN; RICCHIO, ANTHONY; RUMORO, JOHN; RUMORO, MICHAEL; SADLER, DUSTYN; SANCHEZ, MATEO; SANCHEZ, PATRICK; SCHAUER, CHRISTOPHER; STANFORD, ALVIN; STEFANIK, DAVID; STEFFEN, TIMOTHY; THOMAS, KORRY; TROIK, DUSTIN; VAUGHAN, ANDREW;

continued on next page

VELASQUEZ, ORLANDO; VERGE II, DERRICK; VIVO, VICTOR; WIELEBNICKI, JOHN

PAYROLL: 125,000.000 AND OVER ANTOS, RANDALL; AUSMANN, STEVE; BARRERA, MIGUEL; BAUDO, PAUL; BERTELS, JOSHUA; BRIMMER, JESSICA; BURGESS, COLIN; CAMERON, DAVID; CARBONNEAU, THOMAS; CHAPPLE, THERESA; CILEK, TIMOTHY; COLLINS, KEVIN; CONTE, PHILIPP; COOK, KRISTIN; COTE II, JEROME; CURTIN, JOHN; CUTAIA, STEVEN; DAVIS, CAMERON; DEUCHLER, SAMANTHA; DONAIRE, LEONARD; DRANSOFF, THOMAS; DRAZNER, STEVEN; EPISCOPO, ANGELO; EURKAITIS, CHRISTOPHER; FADDEN, KEVIN; FOYTIK, RONALD; FRYE, JONATHAN; GLOODT, JACOB; GRABOWSKI, JAKE; GREET, MICHAEL; GROSSMAN, TAMMIE; HAAG, JACOB; HARTLEY, BRETT; HARVEY, ANTHONY; HENKELMAN, MICHAEL; HERZOG, JEFFREY; HOLDMAN, NATHAN; HUMMONS, JOHN; JACKSON, KEVIN; JACOBSON, DAVE; JOHNSON, SHATONYA; KANE, PAUL; KANIECKI, BRIAN; KEENAN, CHRISTOPHER; KELLY, MICHAEL; KOBYLESKI, RONALD; KOHLER, MATTHEW; LEIN, ANTHONY; LEITL, NATHANIEL; LINGENFELTER, STEVEN; LOVE, TRACCYE; MARINIER, RYAN; MASON, BRENT; MAZUR, THOMAS; MCINERNEY, DANIEL; MCKENNA, WILLIAM; MCKENNA, JOHN; MCVEY, CHARLES; MILLER, IAN; MILOSOVIC, JOE; MONTY, ROBERT; MORAN, JOSEPH; MURPHY, ROBERT; MURPHY, MICHAEL; NEPOMUCENO, ALVIN; NG, BENZ; NIKISCHER, JOHN; O’CONNOR, MICHAEL; PANTALEO JR, JOSEPH; PENDERGRASS, MICHAEL; RALLIDIS, MICHAEL; REHSE, ROBERT; RUIZ JR., MANUEL; SCHEJBAL, JOSEPH; SCHICKER, MICHAEL; SCHROCK, MATTHEW; SHELLEY, LISA; SMITH, THEODORE; SMITH, ADAM; SPAGNOLI, DAVID; SPROULE, ROBERT; STEPHANIDES, PAUL; STEWART, SCHONELLA; SUTAITE, KAMILE; TCHANG, KIRA; TERRY, JOSEPH; TOTH, ROBERT; TOWLER, WILLIAM; UNZICKER, TIMOTHY; VALENTINE, JAMES; VELEZ, NICHOLAS; WEIDNER, JOHN; ZAYYAD, AHMAD

TOTAL PAYROLL: 34,156,142.88

LIABILITY

AUTOMOBILE MECHANICS LOCAL 701

8,864; DEBT PAID UPFRONT BY VILLAGE 366; EFTPS 6,026,043; FIRE FIGHTERS

LOCAL 95 75,348; FIREMEN PENSION

693,921; FIRSTMARK SERVICES 135;

FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE LODGE #8 86,765; ICMA 1,317,315; ILLINOIS

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE 421;

ILLINOIS F.O.P. 3,432; ILLINOIS STATE

DISBURSEMENT UNIT 77,344; ILLINOIS

STATE TAXES 1,366,443; IRS ACS SUPPORT

1,768; LOCAL UNION #9 IBEW 1,408; LOCAL

UNION NO. 705 5,925; NATIONWIDE IAFF 457 26,850; NCPERS-GROUP LIFE INS. 960;

PEP FIRE CONTRIBUTION 48,844; POLICE

PEHP 17,569; POLICE PENSION 1,104,759;

SEIU LOCAL 73 21,950; WAGE LEVY UNIT IL

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE 5,631; TOTAL 10,892,062

EXPENDITURES AND EXPENSES

100 FOREST PLACE APTS 6,387; 29:11

INVESTMENTS CORP. 5,000; 3M COMPANY

3,331; 4 IMPRINT 2,768; 7 WOLVES

CONSULTING, LLC 3,650; A & B

LANDSCAPING & TREE SERVICE IN 267,245; AA RENTAL CENTER 4,751; ABIGAIL

PRESCOTT AND HAYDEN PRESCOT 3,500; ABT ELECTRONICS & APPLIANCES 9,135; ACS ENTERPRISES 11,560; ADDISON ELECTRIC INC 10,010; ADVANCE SWEEPING SERVICES, INC. 11,666; ADVANCED

SECURITY SOLUTIONS 711,019; AECOM

PUBLIC NOTICE

Village of Oak Park, Illinois

Payments ≥ $2,500 in the Aggregate For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2022

TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. 63,385;

AFTERMATH, INC. 5,025; AHW LLC - ELBURN

4,504; AILERON COMMUNICATIONS, INC

4,000; AIMCO - 100 FOREST PLACE 4,950; AIR ONE EQUIPMENT INC. 69,123; AIRE-DEB CORP. 3,236; AIRGAS USA LLC 3,376; AJILON

PROFESSIONAL STAFFING 37,406; AL

PIEMONTE FORD 13,378; ALAN TAYLOR

7,358; ALARM DETECTION SYSTEMS INC.

38,181; ALISON AND JUSTIN JUREK 3,500;

ALLIANCE CONTRACTORS, INC. 12,573;

ALLIED GARAGE DOOR INC. 25,400; ALTAMANU, INC. 4,555; ALTORFER INDUSTRIES, INC. 16,004; AMALGAMATED

BANK OF CHICAGO 8,584,424; AMAZON. COM 72,437; AMERICAN FAMILY MUTUAL INSURANCE CO 4,327; AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION 3,529; AMERICAN LEGAL PUBLISHING 4,989; AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION 3,018; ANDERSON ELEVATOR CO 33,254; ANDY FRAIN SERVICES 311,047; ANGELA SCHELL 3,439; ANIMAL CARE

LEAGUE 144,078; ANNUVIA 2,591; ANTHONY

CREED 9,203; ANTHONY’S COLLISION

CENTER 3,419; APWA - AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOC. 3,050; AQUA BACKFLOW INC 13,085; AQUA FIORI INC. 29,236;

ARAMARK 4,755; ASHLEY DODD 3,500;

ASSURANT FIRE PROTECTION 10,845; AT&T

MIDWEST 44,370; AUTO ZONE 3,767;

AUTO-CHLOR SYSTEM 2,640; AUTOMATIC CONTROL SERVICES 21,292; AVALON

PETROLEUM 201,959;

BACKGROUNDCHECKS.COM, LLC 2,678; BAR CODE INTEGRATORS, INC. 4,928;

BARRICADE LITES INC. 10,600; BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS 7,970; BAXTER & WOODMAN, INC. 218,979; BECCA MARTIN

3,500; BEN & EMILY KUBASAK 2,825; BENTLEY SYSTEMS, INC. 3,260; BERRY

DUNN 108,513; BEYOND HUNGER 123,063; BILCO COMPANY 3,396; BLU PETROLEUM, INC. 20,227; BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD

ILLINOIS 4,326; BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD OF ILLINOIS 8,124,787; BMC SOFTWARE, INC. 3,778; BOARD OF EDUCATION 56,223; BOB BARKER COMPANY, INC. 2,667;

BOTANY BAY CHEMICAL COMPANY 9,999; BRAHAM KETCHAM AND ANNA M TIMMERMAN 3,500; BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGIES, LLC 9,090; BRIAN LEE

3,500; BRIAN PORTER 26,547; BRIAN R.

PORTER 2,835; BRISTOL HOSE & FITTING

3,828; BROTHERS ASPHALT PAVING, INC.

522,514; BROWN EQUIPMENT COMPANY

138,228; BRUNNER, SUSAN 26,621; BS&A SOFTWARE 52,925; BUZZ CAFE, INC. 2,500;

C & J HOME IMPROVEMENTS 34,650; C.D.E

BODY SHOP II, INC 20,488; CALL ONE 9,841; CALUMET CITY PLUMBING & HEATING CO

1,069,086; CALVARY MEMORIAL CHURCH

3,000; CAMERON ANN GEAREN 7,320;

CANON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. 9,965;

CARA & BENJAMIN BRYAN 3,500;

CARAHSOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP 10,626; CARBON DAY AUTOMOTIVE 13,374;

CARDINAL COLORGROUP 26,218;

CARNIVORE, INC. 2,500; CAROL & RONALD

ROGALA 3,500; CASE LOTS INC. 29,545;

CASSIDY OLSON 3,975; CDS OFFICE

TECHNOLOGIES 3,785; CDW GOVERNMENT, INC. 58,089; CELLTECH, LLC 5,500; CENTRE

PHYSICAL THERAPY 2,500; CENTURY

FENCE COMPANY OF ILLINOIS 7,200; CERNIGLIA CO 374,866; CFA SOFTWARE

2,995; CHANG-MING HSIEH 3,500; CHARLENE AND CARLOS ORTUNO 3,500; CHASTAIN & ASSOCIATES, LLC 180,576;

CHEM-WISE ECOLOGICAL PEST MNGMNT

9,485; CHEN SITE DESIGN STUDIO, LLC

7,485; CHICAGO AREA PLUMBING, INC. 60,375; CHICAGO COMMUNICATIONS, LLC

3,348; CHICAGO DRONE LIGHT SHOWS INC.

14,000; CHICAGO PARTS & SOUND LLC

20,091; CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT

4,772; CHICAGO TACO BROTHERS LLC

5,000; CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF OAK PARK

2,589; CHRIS GLADFELTER 10,000; CHRISTINE GRAVES 5,040; CHRISTOPHER B BURKE ENGINEERING LTD 167,167; CHRISTOPHER MEGLAN 10,000; CHRISTOPHER SMITH 3,500; CINTAS #769

9,416; CISYNC, LLC 35,413; CITRON HYGIENE US CORP 3,461; CITY ESCAPE GARDEN & DESIGN LLC 222,066; CITY OF CHICAGO 7,170,440; CLARK BAIRD SMITH LLP 60,766; CLARK DIETZ, INC. 12,631; CLARK STREET REAL ESTATE, LLC 32,542; CLASSIC GRAPHICS INDUSTRIES 14,020; CLEARVIEW PLUMBING & SEWER INC

3,000; CLEARVIEW PLUMBING & SEWER, INC. 7,500; COLLEGE OF DUPAGE 3,267; COMCAST 14,850; COMCAST BUSINESS

4,860; COMED (6111) 86,189; COMED (6112) 339,897; COMMERCIAL TIRE SERVICES INC.

24,976; COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES

8,111; COMPASS MINERALS 112,261; CONNEXION 6,817; CONSTRUCTION BY CAMCO 195,216; CONSULTING ENGINEERING, INC 17,490; COOK COUNTY COLLECTOR 175,255; COOK COUNTY TREASURER 46,184; CORE & MAIN LP

19,324; COSTCO WHOLESALE

MEMBERSHIP 7,027; COTG 6,470; CRE PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT LLC 2,808; CROSS FUNCTION, LLC 2,500; CROSSFIT SPERO 2,500; CUMMINS INC. 4,239; CUMMINS SALES AND SERVICE 25,620; CURRIE MOTORS FRANKFORT, INC.

208,243; DANIEL BECKER & FRANCES FIGG

10,000; DANIEL KROUT 10,000; DARLEY & CO, W. S. 18,846; DATASOURCE, INC./ GLOBAL PARTNERS, L 5,685; DAVID CORCHIN AND JESSICA CORCHIN 3,500; DAVID OSTA AND AMANDA OSTA 3,500; DAVIS BANCORP, INC. 22,224; DAVIS TREE CARE & LANDSCAPE INC. 252,876; DCG ROOFING SOLUTIONS, INC 4,240; DEBORAH LEVINE AND KIMBERLY BECKER 8,363; DELL MARKETING LP (USA) 27,078; DELTA DENTAL-RISK 255,195; DEREK EDER 10,000; DIRECTIONAL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES 5,000; DOMBOS SIGN, INC. 2,751; DORNER COMPANY 17,691; DOWNTOWN OAK PARK 760,687; DR. FRANK ORLAND 5,800; DRESSEL’S ACE HARDWARE 3,088; DTN, LLC 3,120; DYE HARD YAMS, LLC 5,000; EASTGATE CAFE 6,000; EDWARD GOODRICH 10,000; EDWIN HANCOCK ENGINEERING COMPANY 710,352; EGGEN CONSULTING GROUP, INC. 145,602; EJ EQUIPMENT 4,339; ELINEUP LLC 2,599; ELITE RECOGNITION SERVICES 3,965; ELIZABETH KANNENBERG 3,500; ELMHURST CHICAGO STONE 8,133; ELMWOOD REALTY GROUP, LLC. 5,220; ELROD FRIEDMAN, LLP 15,681; EMBOSSED SIGN SERVICE 3,511; ENGLER, CALLAWAY, BAASTEN & SRAGA, 14,185; ENRIQUE’S ROOFING 5,000; ENVIROPLUS, INC 43,750; EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT CO. 37,246; ERIC WORRINGER 10,000; ERIK JACOBSEN 3,500; ERNEST HEMINGWAY FOUNDATION 140,000; ESO SOLUTIONS, INC. 9,109; ESRI INC. 8,613; ESTEBAN LINAREZ 5,750; EVANSTON WOMAN MAGAZINE 8,980; EVEREST SNOW MANAGEMENT, INC 49,348; EXQUUISITE MOVEMENTS 5,000; F.E. MORAN INC, MECHANICAL SERVICES

13,156; FACTORY MOTOR PARTS CO.

11,274; FEDERAL EXPRESS 3,070; FERGUSON WATERWORKS #2516 1,990,982; FINN’S RANCH 5,168; FIRE CATT 3,862; FIRE SERVICE, INC. 19,282; FIRST RESPONDERS WELLNESS CENTER 17,775; FIRSTCOMM

4,781; FIS 26,233; FISH TRANSPORTATION GROUP 8,400; FLEET SAFETY SUPPLY 49,944; FLOCK SAFETY 14,050; FLOOD TESTING LABORATORIES 9,999; FOREST PRINTING 4,504; FOUNTAIN PROS, LLC

13,340; FRANCZEK, RADELET 3,120; FRANK HEITZMAN 4,608; FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT

TRUST 185,074; FRIEDMAN AND SOLMON, LTD 7,831; FULLIFE SAFETY, LLC 5,416; G & M TRUCKING, INC 22,898; G.A. PAVING CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. 248,779; GALLAGHER MATERIALS, INC. 28,677; GARCIA PROPERTY MAINTENANCE INC

3,000; GARCIA PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, INC 5,432; GASAWAY DISTRIBUTORS INC.

2,579; GENE LOUISE ROWE 10,000; GENEVA LAKES PRODUCE 4,503; GEORGE FLANNICK 3,500; GERALDINE MCLAUCHLAN

5,000; GIAMMONA, JOSEPH 7,264; GILBERT

J. GROSSI 30,601; GILLESPIE FORD 37,648; GINO’S HEATING & PLUMBING INC 16,929; GIS CONSORTIUM 2,614; GLOBAL A COM, INC. 69,290; GLOBAL MAINTENANCE SOLUTIONS LLC 698,635; GOOD LIFE MEDIA

PRODUCTIONS 4,000; GOVHR USA, LLC

46,455; GOVTEMPSUSA LLC 18,711; GRAEF

78,044; GRAF TREE CARE 17,135; GRAINGER 32,898; GRANICUS, INC. 33,353; GRANITE TELECOMMUNCATIONS, LLC

18,246; GREAT LAKES CONCRETE, LLC

5,645; GREENPLAN MANAGEMENT 9,875; GREG SUTOR 4,240; GREGORY E KULIS & GREGORY E KULIS & 9,700; GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA, NFP 37,218; GUGLY, INC. 19,725; GWENDOLYN INGRAM 5,950; H & H ELECTRIC CO. 52,871; HARRIS COMPUTER SYSTEMS 193,481; HASTINGS

AIR ENERGY CONTROL 2,552; HAWK CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP 10,895; HEALTH INSPECTION PROFESSIONALS 60,925; HEALY ASPHALT COMPANY, LLC. 6,839; HELM SERVICE 22,040; HENRY SCHEIN, INC. 25,776; HEPHZIBAH CHILDREN’S ASSOCIATION 555,268; HERITAGE TILE OF OAK PARK 4,506; HERITAGE-CRYSTAL CLEAN, LLC 2,665; HERVAS, CONDON & BERSANI, P.C. 36,804; HFS BUREAU OF FISCAL OPERATION-GEMT 832,626; HILTON HOTELS & RESORTS 2,885; HINCKLEY SPRINGS 18,633; HOME DEPOT (BROADVIEW) 10,235; HOME DEPOT CREDIT SERVICES 3,380; HOUSING FORWARD 593,635; HR GREEN, INC. 824,376; HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK 146,515; IAN WILLIAMS AND DARA COHEN 3,500; IDES 16,850; IHC CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES, LLC 23,718; ILLINOIS ARBORIST ASSOCIATION 2,620; ILLINOIS COMMUNITY CHOICE 30,781; ILLINOIS DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH 13,061; ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENC 13,777; ILLINOIS FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION 4,600; ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE 4,500; ILLINOIS STATE POLICE 3,671; ILLINOIS STATE TREASURER 3,510; ILLINOIS WORKERS COMPENSATION COMMI 5,987; IMRF 2,011,014; INDUSTRIAL/ ORGANIZATIONAL SOLUTIONS 53,600; INTEGRATED CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES

20,641; INTERIORS FOR BUSINESS, INC.

9,675; INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL

6,889; INTERSTATE BATTERIES OF NORTH CHGO 15,008; INTERSTATE BILLING SERVICE, INC. 7,293; INTRINSIC LANDSCAPING 17,152; IRON MOUNTAIN

5,642; IT SAVVY LLC 33,086; J.G. UNIFORMS

4,828; JAMES ENLOW 10,000; JAMES RATNER 3,500; JAR BROOKS, LLC 9,870; JARRETT DAVIS 3,500; JASON BAKER 3,955; JASON ROSENTHAL AND LEA ROSENTHAL

2,924; JATHEON TECHNOLOGIES 11,322; JAY’S BARBERSHOP 5,000; JEFFERY GRIFFIN 3,500; JESSICA TODD AND RUDI BUSKIRK 3,500; JEWEL OSCO 11,148; JLJ CONTRACTING, INC. 80,050; JOAN SLANINA

3,500; JOHN CASSEL 3,500; JONATHAN BUS

6,975; JORDAN & DANIEL HASAK 10,000; JORDAN POWELL 3,500; JOSEPH & JANE BARABE 3,500; JOSEPH AND KELSEY THOMPSON 9,285; JOSEPH BRADY 3,500; JUAN MARTINEZ 4,884; JULIA MARSHALL 5,320; JULIE, INC. 5,778; JUSTIN & MEGAN LEWIS 3,500; K.V. STOVER & SONS 6,614;

KALAMATA GREEK CUISINE, INC. 5,000; KANDIAH KANAGANDRAM 3,500; KATHARINE MCCORMICK 6,898; KATHLEEN MONTY 52,500; KATIC BREADS, LLC 3,406; KATS HEATING & COOLING 9,594; KELLER HEARTT CO INC. 4,181; KELLI AND CARLY CLARK 9,928; KENNETH KLEMM 8,476; KENNETH LEHMAN 3,500; KENNETH TROY KOCH 2,829; KEVIN JACKSON 109,013; K-FIVE CONSTRUCTION 61,629; KIMBALL AND MELISSA INGRAM 10,000; KING TRANSMISSION COMPANY 5,332; KLEIN, THORPE & JENKINS 54,066; KNICKERBOCKER ROOFING & PAVING CO. 24,750; KNOWBE4, INC. 2,944; KRONOS SAASHR, INC. 44,568; KRONOS, INC. 21,181; KUMON MATH AND READING 5,000; LA NOTTE RISTORANTE 5,500; LAKESHORE RECYCLING SYSTEMS 1,650,220; LAN ELECTRIC, INC. 2,726; LANDMARK MEDIA SOLUTIONS, LLC 16,826; LANDS’ END BUSINESS OUTFITTERS 3,137; LANER MUCHIN LTD. 3,375; LAUTERBACH & AMEN, LLP 10,750; LAW OFFICES OF ADAM J. ZAYED, P.C. 200,000; LEADING HEALTHY FUTURES, INC. 47,000; LEADSONLINE 8,886; LEFTA SYSTEMS 8,879; LEXIPOL 4,640; LEXIPOL, LLC 36,394; LEXISNEXIS /RELX, INC 5,784; LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE 6,921; LILIES & SPIKES KIDS HAIR SALON 4,500; LINDAHL BROTHERS, INC. 22,146; LINDCO EQUIPMENT SALES, INC. 5,124; LISA KILBRIDGE 5,947; LISA WISTER 3,500; LJC DEVELOPMENT 5,000; LOW-LEVEL ACCESS LLC 14,843; LUCKYPRINTS CUSTOM GOODS 2,668; LUDWIG SPEAKS, LLC 11,865; LUX FOOD SERVICES , LLC 2,500; LY NAXI 2 ST., INC 5,000; LYONS ELECTRIC 3,023; LYONS-PINNER ELECTRIC CO 7,487; M. E. SIMPSON CO, INC. 28,243; M. Q. CONSTRUCTION COMPANY 2,540,190; MABAS DIV. XI 10,000; MADD 2,500; MAINMICRO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION 12,391; MARCO MORALES 3,500; MARK EDWARDS 3,400; MARY LOFTON 3,500; MARY PIKUL 7,408; MASTER DESIGN BUILD, LLC 9,654; MATHEW THAMBI 6,050; MATTHEW EADE 13,500; MATTHEW FRUTH 3,500; MAURICE & SHERYL SOLODKY 6,350; MC SQUARED ENERGY 79,074; MCADAM 66,929; MCCAFFREY GROUP, DBA POLISHED NAILS 2,500; MCREF OAK PARK, LLC 35,465; MEADE ELECTRIC COMPANY INC. 21,980; MEG REYNOLDS 3,500; MEGAN & TRAVONNE JACKSON 3,500; MELISSA MASON 10,000; MENARDS-MELROSE PARK 14,982; MESIROW INSURANCE SERVICES INC. 684,406; METRO MORTUARY TRANSPORT, INC. 18,170; METRO STRATEGIES, INC. 11,980; METROPOLITAN MAYORS CAUCUS 4,791; MEV OAK PARK LLC 20,041; MGP, INC 104,193; MICHAEL BARON 7,700; MICHAEL L’HEUREUX 3,865; MICROSOFT CORPORATION 5,752; MID AMERICAN WATER INC. 46,488; MIDWEST ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING 2,814; MIDWEST METER INC. 7,225; MIDWEST PAVING EQUIPMENT, INC. 34,748; MIDWEST SERVICES & DEVELOPMENT CORP 498,096; MILBURN DEMOLITION 2,876; MINUTEMAN PRESS 8,486; MOLLY FRANK-STEWART 3,338; MONIQUE FIELDS 10,000; MONSTER WORLDWIDE, INC. 4,604; MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC. 4,722; MRM THREE, LLC (SPLIT MILK) 2,500; MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY SERVICES 38,033; MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY SVCS 21,416; MUTUAL OF OMAHA 127,816; MYS INC. 81,170; NACOLE 2,705; NAMI - METRO SUBURBAN INC. 11,000; NATALIE AND MATTHEW CALLONE 7,555; NATHANIEL C. LIM, DDS, PC 2,500; NATIONAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSO 3,545; NATIONAL POWER RODDING 3,000; NATIONAL POWER RODDING CORP. 103,961; NEHER ELECTRIC SUPPLY, INC.

continued on next page

5,000; NETRIX, LLC 3,965; NEW MOMS, INC. 51,592; NEWCASTLE ELECTRIC, INC. 3,950; NG PLUMBING

2,500; NICHOLS FARM & ORCHARD 4,913; NICOR GAS 7,240; NILAX PATEL 21,000; NINJA DE-ICER 5,938; NIPSTA 3,421; NORTH EAST MULTI-REGIONAL 14,165; NORTH LAWNDALE HIVE, LLC 2,810; NORTH WEST HOUSING PARTNERSHIP 6,125; NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY 10,755; NYHAN, BAMBRICK,KINZIE & LOWRY, P.C 65,506; OAK PARK AREA ARTS COUNCIL

412,467; OAK PARK ARTS DISTRICT 2,683; OAK PARK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. 555,409; OAK PARK FRIENDS SCHOOL 2,629; OAK PARK HOUSING AUTHORITY 70,000; OAK PARK LAND II, LLC 2,657; OAK PARK LIBRARY 537,251; OAK PARK PROSTHEDONTICS

2,500; OAK PARK REGIONAL HOUSING CTR 482,149; OAK PARK RESIDENCE CORPORATION 51,250; OAK PARK RIVER FOREST CHAMBER OF CO 11,000; OAK PARK RIVER FOREST INFANT 23,629; O’BRIEN, MAUREEN 3,000; OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CENTERS

43,393; OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING & SUPPLY, INC

3,470; OFFICER SURVIVAL SOLUTIONS 7,355; O’HARE

TOWING SERVICE 9,381; OKLO IKAYA LLC 45,000; OLD

DOMINION BRUSH 3,050; OLSON’S ACE HARDWARE

5,503; OLUWATOBI OJO 3,500; ON TIME EMBROIDERY

26,036; OPRF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 6,100; OPTIMA

CONSTRUCTION & ABATEMENT 16,365; O’REILLY AUTO

PARTS 14,780; ORSON MORRISON 10,000; OSBURN

ASSOCIATES, INC 6,900; P&P LTD. 2,500; PACE SYSTEMS, INC. 7,400; PACKEY WEBB FORD 64,085; PAMELA EURING 3,200; PARK DISTRICT OF OAK PARK

1,401,286; PASSPORT LABS, INC. 36,581; PATRICE

STEURER 83,963; PAUL JACOBSON 3,500; PCC

COMMUNITY WELLNESS CENTER 16,363; PEERLESS NETWORK 127,764; PENTEGRA SYSTEMS 18,744;

PERMIDT ENGINEERING LTD. 3,000; PERSPECTIVES, LTD. 6,804; PEST MANAGEMENT SERVICES 29,798; PETER MANIKOWSKI 10,000; PETER PROKOPOWICZ

10,000; PETE’S FRESH MARKET 7,205; PJD

ELECTRICAL SALES, INC. 40,503; PMA COMPANIES, INC. 753,053; POLCO 25,357; PORTER LEE CORP. 2,568; POWER EQUIPMENT LEASING CO 2,779; POWERDMS, INC. 9,687; QUADIENT LEASING USA, INC 7,786; QUADIENT LEASING USA, INC. 2,595; R. E. WALSH & ASSOCIATES, INC 23,563; R. SMITS & SONS FARM, LLC

3,773; R. W. DUNTEMAN CO. 1,465,325; RASENICK’S

2,660; RAVE WIRELESS, INC. 7,350; RAY O’HERRON CO. INC. 5,940; REDICO, LLC 203,682; RELADYNE

2,774; RELIABLE FIRE EQUIPMENT CO. 3,157; REVCON TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC. 82,865; RHONDA SALLEE RAMOS 13,141; RICHARD BARKER 10,000; RICHARD DELEWSKY 3,500; RICHARD KUJOTH 10,000; RIVER VALLEY RANCH 2,784; RNL ELECTRIC, LLC 34,700; ROBERT & JENNIFER SABATINO 3,500; ROBYN DIPMAN 7,136; ROGUE FITNESS 6,790; ROMEOVILLE FIRE ACADEMY 7,425; RON SMITH & ASSOCIATES, INC. 19,500; ROSALEE GENTILE 10,000; ROYAL PIPE & SUPPLY CO. 4,039; ROZALADO & CO. 150,748; RUDOLPH KOENIG 2,600; RUMORO,JOHN

4,400; RUSSO’S POWER EQUIPMENT 5,570; RYAN GALLANTE AND LINDSAY GALLANTE 3,500;

PUBLIC NOTICE

Village of Oak Park, Illinois

Payments ≥ $2,500 in the Aggregate For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2022

RYAN THOMPSON AND MEAGAN LUHRS 10,000; S & G BENDER, LLC 5,000; S & H REMODELING, INC. 27,909; S.B. FRIEDMAN & COMPANY 15,483; SAFARILAND (FORENSICS SOURCE) 2,986; SAMANTHA LOTTI 10,000; SANSA SOLUTIONS 4,179; SARAH’S INN 12,000; SCHROEDER & SCHROEDER, INC. 74,938; SCHROEDER ASPHALT SERVICES, INC. 10,380; SECRETARY OF STATE-DEPT OF POLICE

3,951; SECURITAS SECURITY SERVICES USA 7,687; SEPS, INC 4,779; SERVICE SPRING 5,824; SHI INTERNATIONAL CORP. 34,420; SIEMENS BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES INC. 15,480; SIEVERT ELECTRIC

4,508; SIKICH LLP 60,455; SIMON,MCCLOSKY, BASSALI & PARTIPILO 4,000; SITE DESIGN GROUP, LTD 36,543; SKIBBE FARMS 2,628; SMITH ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS INC 8,462; SNI SOLUTIONS 23,481; SOLEDAD CAMPOS 2,500; SORAYA ASADI 10,000; SOUTHERN COMPUTER WAREHOUSE 19,180; SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO 2,956; SP PLUS CORPORATION 38,265; SPARK HIRE, INC 5,089; SRS FIN SVS, INC. 5,000; ST CATHERINE OF SIENA SCHOOL 3,000; STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES, INC. 11,576; STENSTROM PETROLEUM SALES & SERVICE 3,950; STEVEN KVAAL & DEBORAH NELSON 3,528; STOKES, HOWARD 48,000; STREICHER’S 8,908; STRYKER MEDICAL 3,282; STRYKER SALES CORPORATION 109,799; STUDIO GC, INC. 32,173; SUBSURFACE SOLUTIONS 7,992; SUBURBAN ACCENTS 6,400; SUBURBAN LABORATORIES 11,432; SUBURBAN TREE

CONSORTIUM 158,741; SUN VALLEY INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 2,500; SURE-CLOSE INC. 3,510; SURMIN, RONALD 28,639; SUSANNA PAGLIARO & DANIEL GALLAGHER 10,355; SWALLOW CONSTRUCTION CORP. 290,787; T & J PLUMBING 10,536; TAPCO 3,524; TARGET SOLUTIONS LEARNING INC 8,484; TECHNICAL DESIGN

SERVICES, INC 7,025; TELCOM INNOVATIONS GROUP, LLC 17,485; TERMINAL SUPPLY CO 9,664; TERRA ENGINEERING LTD 79,549; THE BLUE LINE 3,873; THE DAVEY TREE EXPERT COMPANY 8,400; THE F.A. BARTLETT TREE EXPERT CO. 4,229; THE HEATING & COOLING WORKS 8,000; THEODORE VOEGELI 10,000; THIRD MILLENNIUM 24,189; THOMAS AND MARIAN GARRIGAN 3,376; THOMAS DEMAS AND KATHLEEN DEMAS 3,500; THOMAS ENGINEERING GROUP 27,654; THOMPSON ELEVATOR INSPECTION 24,351; THOMSON REUTERS - WEST PAYMENT CENT 6,568; THRIVE COUNSELING CENTER 158,600; TIMOTHY DALY 3,500; TIMOTHY O’MALLEY 3,500; TITANIUM SUPPLY 6,523; TITANIUM SUPPLY CO. 45,194; TKB ASSOCIATES, INC 17,004; TOM BASSETT-DILLEY 10,000; TOP FITNESS STORE 8,298; TOTAL PARKING SOLUTIONS 500,906; TRAFFIC CONTROL & PROTECTION 17,261; TRAFFIC CONTROL CORPORATION 42,818; TRAFFIC LOGIX INC. 32,080; TRANSMART, INC 18,946; TRANSPARENCY MATTERS 4,573; TRANSYSTEMS CORPORATION 392,463; TREASURER, STATE OF ILLINOIS (IDOT 927,322; TREESTUFF.COM 4,486; TRIGGI CONSTRUCTION 1,255,780; TRIMARK MARLINN

7,507; TRINE CONSTRUCTION 1,286,500; TRUE NORTH CONSULTANTS 5,135; TSI INCORPORATED

12,919; TUMMY VISION ULTRASOUND LLC 2,500; U.S. UPFITTERS 3,532; UCP SEGUIN OF GREATER CHICAGO 55,584; ULINE 7,286; UNDERGROUND

PIPE & VALVE CO. 21,229; UNILAB, INC. 4,360; UNIQUE PLUMBING CO. 2,790; UNITED RADIO COMMUNICATIONS 3,308; UNITED STATES ALLIANCE FIRE 5,094; UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

19,957; UNITY TEMPLE RESTORATION FOUNDATION

95,000; USA BLUE BOOK 18,058; USPS - MAIL PERMIT #1894 20,078; USPS - MAIL PERMIT #26 22,223; V3

Village of Oak Park, Illinois

COMPANIES 293,670; VEHICLE SERVICE GROUP, LLC 45,620; VELAN SOLUTIONS, LLC 2,688; VERIZON NETWORK REVEL 18,309; VERIZON WIRELESS 105,707; VERONICA GONZALEZ 10,000; VERONICA STANTON 3,938; VILLAGE OF OAK PARK (WATER BILLING) 115,936; VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ECC 355,288; VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PETTY CASH 3,199; VISION SERVICE PLAN (IL) 48,850; VISIT OAK PARK 271,000; VISTA NATIONAL INSURANCE GROUP 35,333; VISTEEN PLUMBING, INC 4,350; VULCAN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, LLC 13,732; WALKER RESTORATION CONSULTANTS 12,880; WAREHOUSE DIRECT 25,128; WARREN OIL CO, INC. 263,045; WASHINGTON,CARRIE BELLE 25,939; WASTE MANAGEMENT - METRO 4648

1,425,473; WATER PRODUCTS COMPANY OF AURORA, I 37,564; WAY BACK INN 13,698; WEIGHTS & MEASURES, INC. 8,710; WENDY AND JESSE COFFELT 3,500; WEST CENTRAL MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE 25,818; WEST COOK COUNTY SOLID WASTE AGENCY 473,507; WEST COOK YMCA 14,268; WEST SIDE TRACTOR SALES

3,602; WEST SUBURBAN CONSOLIDATED DISPATCH

1,822,293; WEST SUBURBAN MAJOR CRIMES TASK FOR 2,750; WESTERN UTILITY CONTRACTORS, INC.

386,895; WIGHT & COMPANY 10,380; WORLD KARATE DO MIURA DOJO 6,000; XEROX FINANCIAL SERVICES

22,171; YOUR MEMBERSHIP.COM, INC. 3,652; ZACHARY & HEATHER HIMELHOCH 3,500; ZACHARY LAZAR

10,000; ZEIGLER FORD OF NORTH RIVERSIDE 7,576; ZOLL MEDICAL CORPORATION GPO 60,956; ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 5,069; ZYNNOVATION LLC 2,621; EXPENSE DISBURSEMENTS UNDER 2,500.00

783,241

TOTAL: 72,034,275

Annual Financial Summary For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2022

Note: Data reported is subject to adjustment

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor

Ken Trainor at 613-3310

ktrainor@wjinc.com

Callin … to defend

Approximately 85 y ceeding in their ef nations. Although know the extent of the inhumane and horrible acts wreaked upon people living ther gripped with fear.

Many here very existence of democra the time … impressionabl my country.

Where reparations rubber hits the road

HAUSMAN

Needless to sa Trump year

cratic values and principles articulated in that class. The “trifecta” of e thinking are: hate, fear, and

I urge our present-day teachers to ha 14-year-olds write essays about America. I belie by the students’ enthusiasm for this country and how much brighter than we we

Social media, in both good and bad ways, emphasizes news and cu aware of wh celebrities, sports figures, and pop-and-rock musicians are now intertwined with the news. The serious caveat to this ultra-exposure centers around the type of

Instead, Evanston decided to own its historical discriminatory behavior and re pay Blacks for one of

Evanston’s reparations ‘balloons’ are now tethered to a real-life program. DALE

A shrub grows on Harlem Vision on poli cing

For many years we have said that Oak Park has a betterthan-average police department. And then we’ve always asked why it doesn’t aspire to have an extraordinary police department, which actively eng ages around the foundational truth that public safety and progressive community policing ought to be fully joined.

There is no dichotomy between having a village that is safe for all of its members and guests and having a police force that is engaged, respectful and respected by those it serves.

We are hope-filled that, with continued intentional leadership from this village board, Village Manager Kevin Jackson and Police Chief Shatonya Johnson, Oak Park has chosen to aim higher.

The most recent evidence of that came Monday when the village board received a 47-point re port from the village manager’s task force on how Oak Park can create alternate public safety responses when a crisis of mental health requires intervention.

The re port, crafted over months by a 30-member task force of public of ficials, mental health professionals, and others of goodwill, was plain in stating that sending cops and firefighters as the initial responders to a mental-health crisis is the wrong response.

“The presence of police can sometimes exacerbate a mental health crisis,” said Allison Davenport, the CEO of Forest Parkbased Riveredge Hospital, and co-chair with Cheryl Potts of the Community Mental Health Board, from the task force.

The re port, which was war mly received, first by Jackson and now the village board, offered an ar ray of actionable steps. At the top of the list is hiring trained clinical crisis workers and social workers and embedding them within the police department. Their roles would be not only the first responders when a 911 call presents as a mental-health issue but also to work internally to continue to change the culture of the department to embrace new thinking on engagement with mental-health issues.

It should be noted that this department has been a leader over two decades in taking early ste ps to reco gnize the unique responses necessary in a mental-health crisis. Past chiefs Tony Ambrose and Rick Tanksley get credit for seeing this issue early and taking action.

However, the proposals here go much further, are more ambitious and visionary. We hope and expect that having a police chief whose early career has roots in social work will speed the implementation of the recommendations. We also expect that, as staff works to turn the ideas of the task force into next steps, it will hear the urging of Trustee Lucia Robinson that it “elevates” a core focus on diversity, equity and inclusion into the new policies.

On that topic, we await a second task force of similar talent and vision to work from the strong BerryDunn consultant’s re port on village policing and focus on issues of community engagement, racial equity and progressive change in our village’s view of policing.

The momentum here is real. Let’s keep moving actively fo rward to build the best police department in America.

Metaphors turn up in the strangest places. There is a bush, or maybe a tree, growing out of the concrete divider at the edge of the overpass at Harlem Avenue and North Boulevard right on the dividing line between Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park — our tri-village axis, adjacent to the CTA Green Line terminus.

The Harlem underpass is one of the most unsightly and decrepit looking examples of municipal infrastructure in any of these three villages. Rusted metal, curling at the edges, marking a place almost entirely devoid of direct sunlight. A no-man’s, and nomeaning, land for sure. I’m not even sure the graffiti artists bother with it. All three villages would dearly love to see this pass-through renovated, but they haven’t been able to convince federal and/or state authorities to help fund it. Their grant applications keep getting turned down. Competition for such funding is fierce, but all they really need to do is get someone who makes such funding decisions to look at this aging undergirding, and the grant would be granted licketysplit.

And it is here, if you find yourself waiting for the left-turn arrow on Harlem, facing south, that you’ll see a remarkably welldeveloped bush (or maybe tree) directly beneath the helpful sign that directs motorists to go around this barrier to the right as if IDOT feared we might all, left to our own devices and shortsightedness, drive straight into this impediment — or even more distressing, maybe enough people have done just that, so they felt a helpful hint might be necessary.

If this bush gets much taller, it will obscure even this helpful hint.

Nevertheless, I’m hoping no one will notice this peculiar situation and that the bush is allowed to keep growing. Somehow a seed found its way into some crevice in the concrete, germinated, and took root. What a long shot. A minor horticultural miracle. Some might be tempted to dismiss this undistinguished plant as a “weed,” but I see it as a sign of hope in difficult times It is the vegetational equivalent of the pendant light hanging over the entrance to St. Edmund Church, which has been closed and fenced off for several months now after a powerful wind toppled a gargoyle that crashed through the roof into the church, silencing the bell tower, which I miss, and locking the doors while the archdiocese dithers over what to do with Oak

Park’s first Catholic Church

That light could serve as a sign to the faithful that this is not an empty shell but a living sanctuary.

As you can see, I am a metaphor collector, searching for tangible signs of hope, upon which we can hang our longings and attach our belief that better times will come.

On Saturday, the light over the St. Ed entry was lit, which made me feel hopeful because this was the church where, in 1949, my parents were married, an extremely meaningful connection for me. But the next day, the light was dark.

There is nothing so depressing as a dead church. Who is the patron saint of long shots?

This bush may be the ultimate long shot, green and growing in spite of its inhospitable concrete base, in spite of auto exhaust pollution day and night. I’m rooting for it (so to speak). It is beautiful in its vulnerability. Granted, its competition on the beauty front is limited, but it brightens up the surrounding desolation. And it demonstrates that life will not be denied. If it can wriggle through such an impressive array of obstacles and find the sun, then who are we to complain about the obstacles in our path?

The bush has plenty of company, of course. Each summer, every crack in sidewalks and streets is adorned by growth. By August, the man-made world will be a veritable greenhouse of curiously persistent greenery. Even our urban landscape, steeped in sterility, attracts more and more wildlife, it seems, each year — coyote, deer, fox, hawks, turkey vultures, possums, raccoons — as if Nature were trying to tell us: Not so fast. You can’t secede from the web of life.

Nature finds a way. And it finds a way to remind us: Watch out or I’ll send another strong wind and kill another church

Nature has a way of consecrating our desolations — and desolating our consecrations

Maybe it’s telling us we’re already living in a cathedral. We just need to look around and pay attention. But the same windstorm that shut down St. Edmund also bowled over several beautiful older trees in my favorite natural cathedral, Austin Gardens

So for now, I’m left with this curious shrub, a plant pioneer, in its concrete home at the base of the Harlem Avenue viaduct, serving as my metaphor for defying the odds — and also the power of resilience.

These same sources say that passing more restrictive gun laws wouldn’t work They would take the guns from law-abiding citizens but wouldn’t stop bad guys from getting them. It would also start us on a slippery slope. Before long, the government would seize all of our guns.

There is one civilized country, though, where tough gun laws appear to be working — Germany. According to an article in the Tribune, it took only two school shootings for the Ger man people to say, “Enough!” After the deaths of 31 in mass shootings, Germany passed the most restrictive gun laws on the books.

Keep in mind, Germany is a gun-happy nation. Over five million guns belong to about two million owners. But in the wake of those massacres, 200,000 owners voluntarily turned in their weapons. Those who ke pt their guns were required to re gister them. Germany is the only country that requires purchasers under 25 to pass a psychiatric exam before applying for a permit. They also have to ace a safety test and give a sound reason why they need a gun. The applicant then has to wait a year before getting permission to purchase the gun.

Unlike here, there was no hand-wringing about infringing on the rights of hunters. In fact, if these experienced gun owners get a DUI, or are guilty of other anti-social behavior, they are required to undergo psychological testing. Cops are also entitled to visit a gun owner’s home at any time, to make sure

us more at risk. I was telling a responsible gun owner about Ger many’s laws. He said surprise visits from the police was already a deal-breaker for him.

It’s easy to scof f at the gun laws in other countries. They don’t seem workable here. But the majority of Americans now favor some baby steps toward sensible gun laws. In the meantime, we can’t even restrict the sale of assault weapons.

I realize I’m preaching to the choir about the need for sensible gun laws. During a stroll through the area, we passed many homes with signs advocating for more restrictive gun laws. How can anyone in the Chicago area not be concerned about gun violence? We even have a shrine to victims of gun violence here in Forest Home Cemetery.

We were more complacent about gun violence when it was mostly restricted to neighborhoods on the South and West sides. Now it has spread everywhere. We used to love exploring our world-class city. Now we’re more wary. The news re ports amplifying the violence aren’t helping. A French citizen I know observed that our news media is trying to scare us to death.

I realize we lack the political will to pass commonsense gun laws like Ger many.

I just want us to enjoy our normal 4th of July celebration this year.

John Rice grew up in Oak Park and lives in Forest Park. He writes a weekly column in our sister publication, the Forest Park Re view

WEDNESD AY JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley

Senior Editor Bob Uphues

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Senior Repor ter Stacey Sheridan

Reporters Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Big Week Editor James Porter

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

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designer Susan McKelvey

Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls, Kamil Brady

Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

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

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Judy Gre n Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

About Viewpoints

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

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

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

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

■ 250-word limit

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

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

■ 500-word limit

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

■ Signature details as at left

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

HOW TO REACH US

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

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

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

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

A total Oak Park immersion experience

Today I finished Ken Trainor’s new book, Our Town Oak Park – Walk with Me, in Search of True Community. It was a total immersion experience into Ken’s wit, wisdom, and unwavering love of Oak Park

I’ve lived in Oak Park for 39 years and even after all that time, this book gave me a de eper understanding of the history and the people who made our town what it is today

My favorite piece in the book, if having a favorite is possible, was “Turning Inward” about the month of November with its “ripeness and sadness.” It began with a quote from the Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters, an author I admire and a series I’ve read. Ken’s writing is full of literary connections.

I’d like to thank Ken for his incomparable writing, insight, depth, sense of wonder, honoring of history, breadth of knowledge and profound love of Our Town.

Elaine D. Johnson Oak Park

Sims should have recused herself

The neighbors near Rush Oak Park Hospital have every right to ask for re zoning of the hospital to prevent encroachment. The trustees who voted to not accept the Plan Commission’s denial of their request understood that neighborhoods matter.

As any commission override would require a super majority, the study session by the board may be another opportunity for the citizens to frame the discussion in a more palatable way for the board.

As for Plan Commission Chair Iris Sims … the appearance of a conflict of interest is valid. Because her husband is on the hospital’s board, albeit unpaid, they must talk about this re zoning situation. To say otherwise is disingenuous. It’s a hospital insider and the chair of a commission who are able to discuss this … outside of meetings. That provides the perception of a conflict of interest, and that’s enough to recuse oneself

It appears Ms. Sims considers residents the enemy. She needs to learn to step back and recuse herself from this issue. In addition, it seems she has taken the citizens’ actions personally.

I commend Village President Vicki Scaman for stopping Sims from attempting to attack the integrity of the residents.

Robert Milstein Oak Park

Do you have DIABETES?

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

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

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

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

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

7351 Lake St. (Just west of Panera Bread)

Dr. Linda Lambert 708.366.FOOT (3668)

Imagine an American nightmare

Graduations are a time to hear inspirational stories of dreaming big and working hard to overcome adversity. However, the OPRF graduation is not the place for a woke school board member to indoctrinate others. In an incoherent stream of consciousness, Mary Anne Mohranaj has suggested abolishing borders, abolishing prisons, free school, and no school.

Her vision is people aiming toward socalled “bigger changes” that question the status quo. She asked who is excluded by our country’s immigration laws and should we have borders at all? Her words implicitly pushed an anti-American agenda to our graduates, suggesting America has a xenophobic immigration policy and that those graduates should support open borders. However, she failed to mention: that illegal border crossings hit their highest recorded level in history last year; or that fentanyl is pouring through our Souther n border.

Mohanraj then argues that larger questions can be obscured. She proposed maybe we’ ll abolish prisons and seriously reconsider what led us to set up those prisons in the first place. I believe that the increase in America’s homicide rate may provide a clue behind America’s need to incarcerate murderers.

She posited that maybe society should invest in education and that society will pay for any class you want to take at any point in your life. This view ignores the unfair ness of people without college degrees bankrolling someone else’s degree.

Later, Mohanraj proposed that maybe we should get rid of school altogether and find a new way to educate everyone. Her statements about no tuition and no school are contradictory. The only thing those positions share in common are that they’re both ridiculous.

Our high school graduates deserve a

speech full of hope, not delusions. Mohanraj’s dreams for our graduates are actually an American nightmare.

Join longtime Wednesday Journal columnist Ken Trainor for a conversation on community, celebrating the release of his new book, “Our Town Oak Park – Walk with Me, in Search of True Community,” at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 23 at Unity Temple, 875 Lake St., Oak Park. The evening will include readings, a Q&A moderated by Chicago Public Square’s Charlie Meyerson, and, of course, sweets and wine.

The book chronicles life in our dynamic, ever-evolving village where the unique meets the universal and the unifying thread is true community, discovering it in the extraordinary ordinary, in the day-to-day, the face-to-face, moments of beauty and, as Thornton Wilder said of his play, “Our Town,” nding “a value above all price for the smallest events in our daily life.”

The event is co-sponsored by the Unity Temple congregation and the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation. Please join us as we celebrate our town, a community not quite like any other.

The book is available at The Book Table, the Oak Park River Forest History Museum, or online via Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Jonathan Panton Oak Park and River Forest High School Class of 2017

SCREENSHOT

Mary Anne Mohanraj speaking at Oak Park and River Forest High School’s 2023 graduation ceremony.

e greatest of these is Love

Ifind myself thinking about love lately in the manner of sacrifice, tolerance and commitment. With so much to unpack in life every day, it’s easy to lose “that loving feeling” (Righteous Brothers, 1964) about our community at large. But what is love anyway? Is it love that made me come to this community, in order to leave for greener grasses, and then come back and fall in love with it again? Is it love that makes me care about this community? Is it love that makes me care about what other people experience in this community whether it be good or bad?

We are bombarded by issues that not only affect our local community but our nation in general. Present life in our communities can be at times like rolling around in a ball pit, and we are the children. It looks fun although each ball is a community or societal issue that needs dealing with. We roll around in it, unsuspecting the piss and bacteria lurking on those balls (issues), ready to infect us with a common cold and derail plans for the week or the month. For now, that ball pit looks interesting and tempting to dive into and just roll around in, having fun, not thinking about the perils of being oblivious.

What then do you do with so many world and community issues that each of them are like these balls in a ball pit? How do you begin to participate in cleaning some of this up? I spoke to a friend recently who used to live in Portland, Oregon. Portland went through a period where the homelessness issues, drug issues,

mental illness, and crime spilled over into the streets so much that what was once a peaceful and balanced community became increasingly threatening and dystopian.

So many for mer Portlanders had moved away because of this, lamenting the past glory of Portland. In her recent visit, she re por ted back how much positive change has occur red because people who love and care about Portland began to turn their love into action to save the city. The result is that Portland is on the mend after many watching its demise thought this was how it was going to end for their beloved city. This tur n-around happened because of love; love of community, to be exact. When all your strategies and motivation don’ t inspire a call to action in communities or in the world in general, let your love swell to motivate us and others. Love causes us to find a “cause.” Love causes us to be deliberate and mindful, and care about positive outcomes in our communities. Applying love to the things we think about and do is like that missing ingredient Grandma taught you to put into your baking recipe. The cornbread tastes “off” because it’s missing sugar. A simple oversight.

As so many balls in the ball pits exist, I am finding that the only thing that can motivate me to care is good old-fashioned love. Love is patient. Love is kind.

According to the Bible, “The greatest of these is love.”

EL Seruma ga is a resident of Ri ver Forest.

Grow with Growing Community Media

We’re looking to hire an enthusiastic and experienced marketing/advertising representative who understands the power of local markets and the strength of community journalism to reach those markets.

• Work with businesses across GCM’s five flags to create marketing opportunities building o our digital, print and event platforms.

• Be the lead on targeted special sections and products.

• Work collaboratively within our nonprofit news organization as we build a new model for community journalism.

• Bring an enthusiastic and creative approach to marketing and a sense of fun and energy to our work.

GCM publishes five newspapers and websites serving 15 villages and neighborhoods.

Wednesday Journal of Oak Park & River Forest, Austin Weekly News, Forest Park Review, Riverside-Brookfield Landmark and Village Free Press.

The position is full time with medical and 401K. Send your resume and a cover letter to Dan Haley, the publisher at dhaley@wjinc.com

e funeral that could have been mine

Isaw the shooting Saturday on Madison Street. The Oak Park police later put out a statement that the event was “amongst members of the [funeral] procession without any impact to any bystanders.” Given that the funeral was “only” passing through Oak Park, that seems to me to convey a tone of: Don’t worry; it was between “others,” and doesn’t pertain to any of “us.” I beg to differ. Since I failed in my ef for ts to make known to the police what I saw, I will relate it here.

I happened to be walking south on Home Avenue, approaching Madison, a path I have followed on foot well over half of the days in the 48 years I have lived in Oak Park. When I arrived at the cor ner, a host of cars moving briskly, at least the speed limit, west on Madison, proceeded through the Home Avenue intersection against a red light, as part of a funeral. Having seen many of these before, I looked east, as I stood on the curb, to see how much longer I would have to wait to cross, and saw cars with headlights and orange “funeral” stickers as far as I could see toward Oak Park Avenue. The moving cars were all in the single driving lane.

A white or light grey sedan in the corte ge cleared the parked cars beyond Clinton, and then pulled into the vacant curb lane between it and me, and quickly accelerated to pass other cars in front of it in the caravan. Then a black car ahead of it began to angle toward the curb lane as if to head it of f, but it was too late

This did not look good to me, as they were f ast approaching where I was standing on the curb, and I instinctively backed up a ste p. Suddenly I saw either two or three puffs of smoke burst between the two cars, and I heard a “poof, poof” sound (even though I was wearing pretty effective noise-canceling headphones). It was either two or three shots, and I don’t know if they all were in one direction or not.

I shouted that those were gunshots, and the other pedestrian and I turned and ran a short way north on the Home Avenue sidewalk, and then turned east into the driveway behind the apar tment buildings on the nor th side of Madison. I

immediately saw a car ahead of me (east) pass that same driveway, going north through the alley and away from Madison, and I turned back to see a car speed north on Home Avenue, probably at least one of them, if not both, from the funeral corte ge, as if they, too, were fleeing the gunfire. I did not see either of the two cars apparently involved in the shooting; I conclude that it is almost certain that they sped west on Madison, probably making good an escape: at least one from the law, and perhaps one from the other From the time I saw the gun smoke, it had been probably no more than about 5 seconds.

After a minute it seemed it was over, and I very slowly made my way back to the corner to verify it was safe. As I did, I called 911 to re port the shooting, and, after being transfer red about four times, had great difficulty conveying anything of what I had seen, or even giving my name and contact information.

After a few minutes I noticed flashing lights in the distance. After a few more minutes, police cars screamed past me from the west on Madison, first from River Forest, and then from Oak Park, all proceeding to Clinton Avenue where the lanes were blocked by the remaining cars from the funeral caravan. There was a lot of commotion, and when I felt it was safe, I approached Clinton to try to make myself available to the police, as I thought nobody else had likely seen what I had. But virtually all of them were directing their attention to pedestrians on the sidewalk who gave every appearance of being part of the funeral caravan, some of them engaged in the most violently ang ry shouting at each other, and I was unable to even get the attention of any Oak Park police. Eventually I did see a River Forest policeman seated in a squad car, approached him and narrated what I had seen, as well as my belief that it was unlikely anybody had seen more, and gave him my contact info rmation, which he said he would forward. I have yet to hear from anybody inquiring about it. After that, I proceeded south on foot about half a block on Clinton, where I encountered a neighborhood couple on their front steps. One told me he had been sitting in his backyard between Clinton and Kenilworth, and had heard what tur ned out to be gunshots coming from the north toward Kenilworth, and had gone to see

if it was fireworks. On the sidewalk on Madison near Kenilworth, he had seen somebody on the sidewalk with blood. He left when he observed the apparently violently angry pedestrians nearby, perhaps the same ones I had seen.

When I asked him how many shots he had heard, I was shocked to hear “30 or 40,” and that they sounded as if some were in response to others: i.e., shooting back and forth.

It all happened so fast that it was impossible to get anything like a license plate. I concluded both that it is highly unlikely that any bystanders would be able to provide any information that would lead to the solving of these crimes, and if they are to be solved, it would have to be from information from those in the caravan, such as those who were shot, publicly re ported to be four.

Reflecting later on these events, I realized had I not had the presence of mind to quickly react and run when I saw the smoke and heard the gunshots, the two cars speeding toward me in the curb lane would have reached me, standing a few feet from the curb, in no more than 5 seconds, and someone in one of them would have been close enough to have shot me, at point blank range. There was no apparent reason for them to exchange gunshots either, but apparently at least one, if not both, did so anyway).

No, Oak Park Police Department, it is not true that the shooting was “without any impact to any bystanders.” At least one of them was absolutely terrorized.

Never in my wildest dreams, when I first moved into Oak Park almost 50 years ago, would I have imagined that I would ever find myself in Oak Park, running for my life, from a hail of gunfire that occur red about 50-70 yards from where I stood, coming from a car or cars that would have passed within 5-10 feet from the spot where I was standing, within so short a time that it was almost impossible to avoid, but for a for tunate instinctive reaction, which would not even have occur red, had I not for tuitously been looking directly at the shooting at the precise moment when it happened. I was ter rorized.

For the citizens of Oak Park who think they live beyond the avenues of such terror as I have witnessed, think again.

Frank Stachyra is a longtime Oak Park resident.

DEMOCRAC Y

Counting on our youth

from page 31

information and influence that our teens are absorbing. Truthful media and wise, knowledgeable educators must prevail in dispensing news and differentiate between what is fact and what is opinion.

Some extreme right-wing leaders, such as Florida’s Governor DeSantis, are desperately trying to rewrite current events and history, and minimize what the younger generation should know. DeSantis has withdrawn state funds for schools that do not use his version of history, his censorship of books, and his approved general educational materials. To further his distor ted plan, many of his like-minded followers have been elected to serve on school and library boards and others continue to campaign for these elected positions. DeSantis recently shared some of his frightening rhetoric when he announced his candidacy for the Re publican nomination for the presidency. It seems that he is trying to “out-evil” Trump For example, he stated he’d pardon many of the January 6th insur rectionists and possibly even pardon Trump for any crimes of which he might be charged. Does DeSantis realize he would be allowing those who committed sedition and treasonous acts to walk free and possibly commit further acts harming our democracy? How could he consider pardoning such actions?

My dear mom had an expression she’d use when she wanted us to be extremely cautious in making a choice: “Don’t jump out of the frying pan into the fire.” When choosing a Re publican candidate for the presidency, the choice between Trump and DeSantis is the frying pan and the fire. Perhaps our young people will see these two men vying for this all-important position for what they are … the least qualified most dangerous, anti-Americans.

I have faith in today’s teens. I believe that with our encouragement, they will make the good and measured choices for our nation. May we all be ever alert to subversion of our nation’s leadership.

Harriet Hausman is a longtime River Forest resident and a spry 99-year-old, is likely the oldest weekly newspaper columnist in the U.S., if not the world.

REPARATIONS

Evanston leads the way

from page 31

first payments. No one denies that this was a modest first step for a community with 11,000 Black residents, but no other community in the country has yet taken it.

Evanston has pledged $10 million over 10 years. Of course, the sticking point for most government initiatives is funding. Where would the money come from? Given that the reparations program was unfolding just as recreational cannabis became legal in Illinois, the city council committed revenues from a local 5% tax on cannabis sales to fund re parations. This seemed appropriate because Blacks have long contended that they were unintended victims of federal and state drug wars. But because Evanston has only one dispensary, the modest sum generated by cannabis taxes has constrained the rollout of re parations.

The end goal was to put money in the hands of Black residents adversely affected by local racial housing policies. In January 2022, each of first 16 Black citizens received $25,000. But this was not a blank check, and some have questioned why the recipients were compelled to use it only for housing pur poses — home re pair, mortgage payment or down payment on a home purchase.

Claire Barber, an attorney and citizen member of the Re parations Committee, explained that Evanston’s legal team was determined to deter

legal contests. Namely, opponents of re parations might sue to block unrestricted cash payments if they were not closely tied to the harm done to Blacks (loss of housing value due to restrictive zoning). For those counting, the total re parations payments in 2022 were $400,000, from a local government with a $400 million budget.

This re parations program is the culmination of a long, painstaking community initiative. After the city council first implicitly blessed the concept of re parations in 2002 (yes, 2002), there followed two decades of historical research to document the damage done to the Black population, community discussion after community discussion to collect diverse views, and a willingness to start modestly.

No moss is growing on this program. A year after the start-up, the city council and its Re parations Committee are working to endorse “cash payments” (for any purpose, including but not limited to home expenses) and have found an additional revenue source in the transfer taxes imposed on the sale of homes over $1.5 million.

Evanston’s re parations program is a rich resource of infor mation for other communities interested in reparations. Admittedly, Evanston is hardly a representative community, given the wealth and decidedly liberal persuasion of its citizens. But only fools will rush in without at least paying attention to what the citiz ens on the North Shore did.

Celebrate “Our Town Oak Park” with author Ken Trainor

Join longtime Wednesday Journal columnist Ken Trainor for a conversation on community, celebrating the release of his new book, “Our Town Oak Park – Walk with Me, in Search of True Community,” at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 23 at Unity Temple, 875 Lake St., Oak Park. The evening will include readings, a Q&A moderated by Chicago Public Square’s Charlie Meyerson, and, of course, sweets and wine.

The book chronicles life in our dynamic, ever-evolving village where the unique meets the universal and the unifying thread is true community, discovering it in the extraordinary ordinary, in the day-to-day, the faceto-face, moments of beauty and, as Thornton Wilder said of his play, “Our Town,” nding “a value above all price for the smallest events in our daily life.”

The event is co-sponsored by the Unity Temple congregation and the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation. Please join us as we celebrate our town, a community not quite like any other.

Dale Sorenson is a 40-year resident of Oak Park and a member of First United Church of Oak Park.

OBITUARIES

Joe Vojacek, 82

English teacher at Malcolm X College

J oseph

Roger “Joe” Vojacek, 82, a resident of Oak Park and lifelong cool dude, died on April 24, 2022. A lifetime resident of the Chicago area, he was born in the city, and later moved with his parents to the west suburbs, where he graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School (1958). He began post-high school studies in English at North Central Colle ge Naperville, before transferring to the University of Chicago in Hyde Park where he graduated with a B.A. de gree in English and went on to complete an M.A. de gr English Literature in 1964. He and Marti, a longtime Hyde Park resident, married in 1983; their household included Marti’s three daughters from a previous mar riage He made a long career of teaching, predominantly at the Malcolm X Colle ge campus of the City Colleges of Chicago. He earned tenure as a professor of English, and later in his career especially enjoyed teaching Humanities courses, where he blended literature, film, music, graphic arts and other cultural re presentations into wide-ranging understandings of contemporary society. In 1975 he enrolled in the PhD program in English at Loyola University Chicago, but after completing his coursework, he made the decision to withdraw from the program, opting instead to pursue a new-found passion for antiquing. While continuing to teach at Malcom X, and often accompanied by Marti, he traveled the Midwest in search of antique Americana — furniture, advertising artifacts, ephemera, arcade machines, and all things related to the history and practice of stage magic.

After retiring from teaching in 2000, the couple moved from Hyde Park to Oak Park, close to Marti’s youngest daughter from a previous mar riage, Lisa (Ben Weinberg) and grandsons Eli and Leo, who knew their Grammie’s husband as “Hon.” In addition to spending time with the grandsons, he spent many happy hours absorbed in pursuing his longtime interests in antiquing, music, poetry, art, film and video, photography, and more, through the digital lens

and tools of his iPad.

The only child of Joseph Vojacek Jr. (d. 2000) and Camille Sima Vojacek (d. 1998), beloved ne phew of Ella Sima (d. 2002), and husband of Martha “Marti” Mor rowVojacek (m. 1983, d. 2021), Joe is survived by his stepdaughters, Deborah Mor row, Rebecca Morrow, and Elisabeth Mor row and spouse, and step-grandsons Elias Weinberg and Leo Weinberg.

Donald Kalec, 87

Helped preser ve the Wright Home & Studio

G. Kalec, 87, Emeritus Professor of the School of the Art InstiChicago, died in Florida near his immedifamily on May 26, 2023. In 2006, he ed the Landmarks Illinois Lifetime Achievement Award, reco gnizing his contributions to historic preservation and education.

He was instrumental in the preservation and restoration of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, part of the small group that sought to buy the property from the Nooker family and one of five people who for med the first Restoration Committee. He served as author, with John Thorpe, of the master plan for the property’s restoration to its 1909 condition, published as “The Plan for Restoration and Adaptive Use of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio” in 1978. In addition, he wrote The Home and Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park, Illinois, 1889-1911, published in 1982. In the 1980s, he served as the staf f restoration architect, overseeing the work that earned an American Institute of Architects’ National Merit Award in 1987. He continued on the Restoration Committee (Frank Lloyd Wright Trust), advising on the restoration of the Frederick C. Robie House, Chicago.

Mr. Kalec returned to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago after his leave of absence where he proposed a new curriculum that combined preservation theory and practical experience. In 1993, the school adopted Kalec’s plan for a Master of Science in Historic Preservation de gree. Since its inception, hundreds of students have been trained.

Born on June 18, 1935, he received his BA

from Auburn University, Alabama in 1957, and his BArch from the University of F lorida, Gainesville in 1963. His life-changing opportunity came as an apprentice, 1965-69, with the Taliesin Fellowship of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation at two locations: Taliesin, Wisconsin and Taliesin West, Arizona. This education in Wright’s principles was the foundation behind Kalec’s expertise in Wright architecture when he first came to Oak Park.

He was a masterful architectural photographer, creating about 100,000 images. These and his collected papers form the Donald G. Kalec Collection of the Organic Architecture and Design Archives in Chicago.

Dick Carey, 87

A salesman who loved his calling

Richard

“Dick” Carey, 87, died peacefully at surrounded his family on May 25, 2023. He was raised and d most of his life in River Forest (with seven special years in St. Louis), attending St. Luke Grade School, Campion High School, and serving in the U.S. He had a more than 50-year career in industrial food ingredient sales. A true salesman who loved his calling, as his hundreds of customers, brokers and fellow salesmen would attest, he was loyal, tough, and loved his family. He will be remembered for his distinctive, booming voice and his lifelong friendships.

Dick was married to the love of his life, Mary Jo (nee McCauley) Carey, for 60 years. Together, they had three children, James “Rocky” (Anne) Carey, Maureen (Dan) Donahue, and Bridget (Mike) Krafton; nine grandchildren, John Richard “Jack” (fiancé Kelly Monahan) Carey, Claire Carey, Daniel Donahue, Margaret “Maggie” Donahue, Kevin Donahue, Mary Bridget “MB” Donahue, Katherine “Katie” Krafton, Meaghan Krafton and Michael Krafton. He was the son of the late Dorothy (nee Dunne), and late Dr. Clair Carey, is survived by his siblings, Dan (JoAnne) Carey, Kathy (Tony) Allitto and Mary Claire (the late Bob) Hachmeister and his cousin Don-

na (Cliff) Pierce, and was preceded in death by his sisters, Patricia Carey and Sharon (the late Jay) Ostrander.

Visitation was held at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester on May 31. Funeral Mass was celebrated on June 1 at St. Luke Church, 7600 W. Lake St., River Forest.

Private interment took place at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Memorials to Trinity High School are deeply appreciated.

Arrangements were handled by Peter B. Kennedy & Co., Funeral Directors.

Brendan McNulty, 61

Owner of McNulty Plastering

Brendan G. McNulty, 61, a native of Oak Park, died on June 9, 2023. Born on March 11, 1962, he attended Ascension Catholic School, St. Patrick High School, and Loyola University where he was a member of the Alpha Delta Gamma Fraternity. He worked part-time with his father in the family plastering business, beginning at the age of 8. He joined his father full-time in 1983 and eventually took over as owner/operator of McNulty and Sons Plastering Company, where he established his re putation and his talent was in great demand.

Brendan was the husband of Susan (nee Kvasnicka); the father of William and Connie; the youngest son of the late William (“Bill”) and Elizabeth (“Betty,” nee Hallissey) McNulty; the brother of Thomas (Catherine), William (Colleen), Barbara (Joseph) Heneghan, Kevin (Mai), the late Roberta, and Sharon (Eoin) Moriarty; the son-in-law of the late Connie Kvasnicka; brother-in-law of Charles (Sharon), Richard (Karen), James, and Laura (the late Pat) McNulty; and the uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at 10 a.m., followed by the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 17 at St Bernardine’s Church in Forest Park

Arrangements were handled through Zimmerman Harnett Funeral Home in Forest Park

HELP WANTED

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE COORDINATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator in the Health Department/Village Manager’s Office. This position will coordinate disaster response, crisis management and medical countermeasure dispensing/ distribution activities for the Village of Oak Park, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies, hazardous materials spills, biological releases) or disasters. This single class position is also responsible for the complex administrative duties required for state, federal and local response processes and grant management. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website https:// www.oak-park.us/your-government/ human-resources-department.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications will be June 19, 2023.

SYSTEMS ANALYST

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Systems Analyst in the Information Technology Department. The ideal candidate will perform a variety of complex technical duties in design, application programming and development, PC configuration and support, testing and maintenance of the Village’s computer application systems and perform a variety of technical duties as required. Knowledge of a wide variety of computer programming languages and systems, such as, City View Permit, License & Inspection Suite, Laserfiche, ESRI ArcGIS, MS-SQL, Reporting Tools, Java and HTML is wanted. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application by visiting the website https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/human-resources-department. This position is open until filled.

Lead Software Engineer sought by Enova Financial Holdings LLC. in Chicago, IL. Telecommuting permitted. Apply at jobpostingtoday.com Ref# 74412.

Bookkeeper sought by Biz Inc in Chicago, IL to cmpt, clsfy, & rcrd fincl data to compl & keep fincl rcrds complt. Reqs BS in Accounting, Math, or rltd field & 1 yr exp in rltd ocptn. Mst hv perm auth to wrk in US. Snd rsm & cvr lttr to 5051 N Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60656.

STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR OAK PARK & FOREST PARK

708-386-7355

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN II

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Engineering Technician II in the Public Works Department. The employee performs layout, draft and design drawings from field survey information and field notes for various engineering and planning projects including existing improvements, right-of-way and various utilities and performs a variety of field inspections. 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.

IT OFFICE COORDINATOR

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 https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/human-resources-department. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications will be June 21, 2023.

PART-TIME ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER

Call for more info. 708-738-3848

NOVENAS

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

(NEVER KNOWN TO FAIL)

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to suc cor in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and publish; your request will be granted. C.C.

MARKETPLACE

GARAGE SALES

GARAGE SALE, OAK PARK

EVERYTHING MUST GO!

208-210 S. TAYLOR Ave. (use alley)

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

8 AM – 2 PM

Occasional Furniture, 4 Kitchen Chairs, Printer, new Hisense Freezer, Wood Pantry Shelf System (w. hrdware), Mini Travel CPAP used 1x, Rice Cooker, Toaster, Ice Cream Blender,Coffee Machine, Sm Paper Shredder, Baby Furnniture & Supplies – Crib, High Chair, Changing Table, Co-Sleeper,Kids Bikes, Helmets, Baseball Bats & Gloves, Exercise Gear, Conair Mini, Baby supplies & Furniture – Crib, High Chair, Changing Table, co-sleeper, etc, GARAGE SALE

WE ARE MOVING. EVERYTHING MUST GO!

827 Clinton Ave, Oak Park

Save the date: Friday, June 16th & Saturday, June 17th

9 AM – 5 PM

Garage sale items: furniture, house decors, dishes, pic frames, vases, Christmas decorations, girls clothes, girls shoes, women shoes, kids toys and more. Everything will be setting in our garage and whole backyard. They are all in good condition!

If you need to see items before garage sale dates, message me privately at 708.269.4433 or email at gomd1.yy.lucky7@gmail.com

WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS:

Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

CARS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

Restored or

HOME SERVICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

FLOORS

KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured. Call: 773-671-4996 • www. klisflooring.com

PUBLIC NOTICES

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y23010635 on May 31, 2023

Under the Assumed Business Name of LOUIS CO with the business located at:203 COSMAN RD, ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL 60007. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: PHILIP SCHUBITZ

Published in Wednesday Journal June 7, 14, 21

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y23010646 on May 31, 2023

Under the Assumed Business Name of SISTERS OF LIGHT & LEGACY with the business located at: 6604 OLD PLANK BLVD., MATTESON, IL 60443. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: MICHELLE WILLIAMS-SLATEN 6604 OLD PLANK BLVD. MATTESON, IL 60443

WOODWORK

Published in Wednesday Journal June 7, 14, 21, 2023

HELP WANTED RIVERSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY INTERIOR ALTERATIONS

PROJ. NO. 20030A

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS 001113 - 1 JUNE 13, 2023

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

YARD SERVICES

FAST DELIVERY

Mulch & Topsoil

Premium Shredded Hardwood �������������������������$28/yd

Dyed Red���������������������������$35/yd

Dyed Brown $35/yd

Playmat $35/yd

Premium Blend Dark $38/yd

Blonde Cedar $54/yd

• Spreading Available! • Topsoil, Garden Mix, Mushroom, Firewood, Compost, Gravel, Sand

SureGreenLandscape�com

847-888-9999

• 630-876-0111

the opinion of the Owner, to be in the best interest of the Riverside Public Library.

This Contract is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/1 et seq.).

QUALIFICATION: Each Bidder must satisfactorily complete the qualification process described in Section 004395 -General Requirements of the Project Manual, by providing the required Qualification Documents. The required Qualification Documents must be delivered along with the Bidder ’s sealed bid at the same place and time required for the bid. Contents of each Bidder’s Qualification Documents will be available for public review. The Qualification Documents will be reviewed by the Owner and Architect to determine the lowest responsible Bidder. Bidding documents are on file and are available on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Bid documents can be obtained electronically and reproduced at the contractor’s expense from the following: Cross Rhodes Reprographics, 30 Eisenhower Lane North, Lombard, IL 60148; Phone: 630-9634700

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed Bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2023 for the following:

Village of Oak Park CDBG Water Service Replacement Program - 2023 Bid Number: 23-114

Bid forms may be obtained from the Village of Oak Park website, http://www.oak-park.us/bid. Bid documents may be viewed at the Public Works Customer Service Center at 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Information is also available from the contact person, Water and Sewer Project Manager, James Eggen, jeggen@oak-park.us

Check or a Bid Bond in the amount of Ten percent (10%) of the Base Bid, payable to the Village of Oak Park.

SECTION 001113 – ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for Maker Space Renovation at the Riverside Public Library will be received by the Riverside Public Library located at 1 Burling Road, Riverside, IL 60546 until 10:00 a.m. prevailing time on July 7th, 2023. Lump Sum bid proposals will be received for this project at the scheduled time of receipt of bids and will be publicly opened and read aloud at the above stated time and place.

Each bid must be accompanied by a Bid Guarantee in the form of a Bid Bond, Certified Check or Bank Draft in an amount equal to and not less than ten percent (10%) of the bid and made payable to the Board of Trustees, Riverside Public Library. No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days after the bid opening date without the consent of the Owner. Checks or drafts of unsuccessful Bidders will be returned as soon as practical, after opening and checking the bids. Successful Bidder must provide a Performance Bond and a Labor and Material Payment Bond in the full amount of the Contract, acceptable to the Owner.

Bids shall be submitted in an opaque sealed envelope clearly marked as SEALED BID and addressed to: Janice Foley Library Director Riverside Public Library 1 Burling Road Riverside, IL 60546

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any or all bids or parts thereof, or waive any irregularities or informalities in bidding, that are in

A pre-bid meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., prevailing time, on June 22, 2023 at the Riverside Public Library located at 1 Burling Road, Riverside, IL 60546. Prospective bidders are encouraged to attend. After the pre-bid meeting, everyone is invited to visit the site, gather additional information, and ask further questions. Bidders not attending the pre-bid meeting can make a site visit on their own time during the library’s regular hours. Visitors are asked to sign in at the circulation desk. If the bidder requires access to a staff area, the bidder shall contact the Architect prior to the visit, to make arrangements for access.

Board of Trustees

Riverside Public Library Riverside, Cook County, Illinois

END OF SECTION 001113

Published in RB Landmark June 14, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

Request for Bid - 2WD, Regular Cab, Standard Bed Pickup Truck.

Sealed written bids for the River Forest Park District’s 2WD, Regular Cab, Standard Bed, Pickup Truck Purchase, shall be received until 10:00 a.m. local time, June 29, 2023, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Specifications are available at www. rfparks.com starting June 8.

Published in Wednesday Journal June 14, 2023

All bidders will be required to submit Bid Security in the form of a Certified Check, a Cashier’s

The successful bidder will be required to post performance security and to provide a certificate of insurance as set forth in the bid package. This contract shall be subject to the provisions of the Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS130/1 et seq.) to the extent required by law. This is a Federallyfunded project, funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and is thus subject to all applicable Federal rules, regulations and guidelines, including DavisBacon and Related Acts. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. For more information call the Public Works Service Center at 708.358.5700.

Published in Wednesday Journal, June 14, 2023

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

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

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

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, July 5, 2023 for the following: Village of Oak Park SCADA Cabinet Replacement Project Number: 23-119

Interested contractors may obtain bid documents from the Village’s Senior Pumping Station Operator, Orlando Velasquez, at (708) 358-5700 or OVelasquez@Oak-Park.US. For questions, contact Orlando Velasquez during the above hours.

Published in Wednesday Journal June 14, 2023

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

SUITE 1250, Chicago, IL, 60601 (312) 651-6700. Please refer to file number 19-030291. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORA-

TION

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

SALE

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

MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC

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

E-Mail: AMPS@manleydeas.com

Attorney File No. 19-030291

Attorney Code. 48928

Case Number: 2022 CH 11588

TJSC#: 43-934

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST;

Plaintiff,

vs. ALAN SIMKOWSKI; AUSTIN BANK OF CHICAGO; KELLY SIMKOWSKI; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS;

Defendants,

22 CH 10656

NOTICE OF SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Judicial Sales

ration, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 1820 SOUTH

3RD AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153

Property Index No. 15-14-305-022-

0000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $50,404.15.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

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

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

For information, contact MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, ONE EAST WACKER,

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

Case # 2022 CH 11588

I3221473

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST;

Plaintiff, vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF VINCENT DENARDO

AKA VINCENT J. DENARDO JR.;

413 SOUTH HOME AVENUE CONDOMINIUM INC.; JASON DENARDO; KAREN DOHERTY; SAM DENARDO; THOMAS QUINN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR VINCENT J. DENARDO

JR.; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS;

Defendants, 22 CH 9109

NOTICE OF SALE

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

P.I.N. 16-07-323-047-1001.

Commonly known as 413 Home Ave, Unit 1A , Oak Park, IL 60302.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g)

(4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act

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

For information call The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. 1446185825

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com

I3221634

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIV-

EN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate:

P.I.N. 16-08-106-001-0000.

Commonly known as 330 N. Ridgeland Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act.

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

For information call The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. 1496188556

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com

I3221639

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

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

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

LEVEL UP YOUR GAME YMCA ESPORTS

University

The West Cook YMCA is launching a new program, ESPORTS. A collection of competitive sports played through a video game requiring the use of strategy, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills to achieve individual or team success. It’s bigger than ‘just gaming’. Esports allows youth to be engaged in a nontraditional sports program.

ESPORTS at the Y welcomes youth to be who they are, excel at what they love, and develop the social, strategic, and problem-solving skills necessary to grow into thriving adults all in a safe, moderated, and inclusive environment.

The West Cook YMCA wants you to Level up your game!

Multi-platform gaming including HP Omen Gaming Desktop and Nintendo Switch.

SEASON: June 26-August 4

> Play for 3 or 6 weeks

DIVISIONS: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 4th-6th grades play 10:00 am-12:00 pm

7th-8th grade play 8:00 am-10:00 am

FEES:

> $180 for 3 weeks

> $360 for 8 weeks

ESPORTS AT THE Y PROMOTES

June 14, 2023

AU S TIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2023 QUARTER 2

THE AU S TIN COMMUNITY PUBLISHED ITS FIRST QU ALITY-OF-LIFE PLAN CALLED AU STIN FO RWARD. TOGETHER. (AFT) IN 2018. THIS QU ARTERLY PUBLICATION DESCRIBES HOW AU S TIN COMING TOGETHER (ACT) IS SUPPORTING THE C OMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT AFT AND OTHER EFF OR TS .

UNITING AU STIN

How redeveloping Central Avenue will connect Austin neighborhoods

THE AVENUE TO SUC CES S PA GE 3 | CENTRAL AVENUE: CONNECTING YOU TO AU S TIN’S BES T PA GE 4 INITIAL REC OMMENDATIONS FOR CENTRAL AVENUE PA GE 7

Special thanks to these Austin Forward. Together. quality-of-life plan legacy investors:

Since 2010, Austin Coming Together (ACT) has facilitated collaboration to improve education and economic development outcomes in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Today, we serve a network of 50+ organizations committed to improving the quality of life in the Austin community. Our strategic plan is called Thrive 2025 and outlines how we will mobilize our resources to achieve four impact goals by the year 2025: Quality Early Learning, Safe Neighborhoods, Living Wage Careers, and Stable Housing Markets.

ACT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Officers

CHAIR

Larry Williams

Broker, State Farm Insurance

SECRETARY

Bradly Johnson

Chief Community Officer, BUILD Inc.

TREASURER

LaDarius Curtis

Senior Director of Community Engagement & Health, West Side United

ACT STAFF

Leadership

Darnell Shields

Executive Director

Andrew Born

Strategic Advisor

Operations

Deirdre Bates*

Director of Operations

EXECUTIVE DIRECT OR Darnell Shields Austin Coming Together

Directors

Sharon Morgan Director of Graduate Support & Community Outreach, Catalyst Schools

Reverend Reginald E. Bachus Pastor, Friendship Baptist Church

Tenisha Jones

Vice President of Community & Government Engagement, Catholic Charities

Dearra Williams

Executive Operations Lead/ Assistant to the CEO

Strategic Initiatives

Sandra Diaz*

Service Delivery Enhancement Manager, Austin Community Hub

Janelle Martin

Austin Community Hub Specialist

ACT MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

A House in Austin

Academy of Scholastic Achievement

Austin Childcare Providers

Network

Austin Community Family Center

Austin Weekly News (Growing Community Media)

Be Strong Families

Beat the Streets Chicago

Bethel New Life

Reginald Little

Business Development Specialist, Great Lakes Credit Union

Dawn Ferencak

Senior Marketing Strategist, Chicago Parent

Deborah Williams-Thurmond

Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist, Habilitative Systems, Inc.

Ruth Kimble

Founder & CEO, Austin Childcare Providers Network

Jerrod Williams

Law Clerk, Illinois Appellate Court

Max Komnenich

Associate Principal, Lamar Johnson Collaborative

In Memoriam

BOARD OF DIRECT ORS

Jack Macnamara

1937–2020

FOUNDING BOARD CHAIR

Mildred Wiley

1955–2019

Beyond Hunger

BUILD Inc.

By The Hand Club For Kids

Cara

Catholic Charities

Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures

Chicago Community Loan Fund

City of Refuge

Defy Ventures Illinois

Erikson Institute

Emone Moore Engagement Coordinator, Austin Community Hub

Dollie Sherman Engagement Specialist, Austin Community Hub

JeVon D. Moore*

Planning & Investment Manager, Austin Forward. Together.

Ethan Ramsay

Lead Organizer, Austin Forward. Together.

Friends of the Children

Friendship Community Development Corp. of Austin

Greater West Town Community

Development Project

Housing Forward

i.c. stars

IFF

Institute for Nonviolence

Chicago

Grace Cooper

Project Specialist, Austin Forward. Together.

Natalie Goodin

Micro Market Recovery

Program Coordinator

Nicholas Galassini

Micro Market Recovery

Program Intern

Jane Addams Resource Corporation

Kids First Chicago

KRA Westside American Job Center

Learning Edge Tutoring (fka Cluster Tutoring)

Legal Aid Chicago (fka LAF)

Manufacturing Renaissance

Mary Shyrese Daycare

Maryville Academy

Mercy Housing Lakefront New Moms

Marketing & Development

Alicia Plomin*

Director of Marketing & Development

Scott Prywitch

Marketing & Development Coordinator

*Also part of the ACT Leadership Team

OAI, Inc.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center

Open Books

PCC Community Wellness Center

Project Exploration

Renaissance Social Services, Inc.

Sarah’s Inn

South Austin Neighborhood Association

St. Joseph Services

St. Leonard’s Ministries

Stone Community Development Corporation

The Catalyst Schools

The Journey Forward

The North Avenue District, Inc.

Towers of Excellence

UIC Jane Addams College of Social Work

VOCEL

Westside Health Authority

West Side Forward

Worldvision

Youth Guidance

The Avenue to Success: A key focal project driven by the community

By Darnell Shields Executive Director, Austin Coming Together

Central Avenue represents a unifying and supportive spine through Austin. It connects the neighborhoods and districts that together make up our community, from Galewood Crossing in the north, through shopping near Midway Park and Austin’s historic downtown, past Columbus Park, and on to The Island in the south. Some of these neighborhood areas appear on o cial city maps and some do not, but all are important to us.

When discussing Austin’s main thoroughfares, many people think of our east-west corridors: Madison and Lake Streets, Chicago, and North Avenues, and the Eisenhower Expressway. These have become paths that often help people navigate through Austin on their way to Oak Park or the Loop, instead of encouraging them to spend time in our community. However, local leaders are working to revitalize Austin’s main corridors and renew them as vibrant commercial districts.

Despite being a unifier of Austin, Central Avenue currently does not illustrate a picture of an inviting cityscape. Empty storefronts, underutilized buildings, and a prominent lack of grocery stores and retail businesses are our present reality. But for all that Central Avenue doesn’t have, it is important to remember what it does have. Between

Harambee Community Garden, Austin Town Hall, and the Frank Lloyd Wright House, Central Avenue traverses the heart of Austin and has vast potential to be more than a simple pass-through.

We propose that Central Avenue can complement existing e orts in the community by becoming Austin’s Main Street, connecting some of our community’s strongest assets. A healthy Central Avenue Corridor consistently branded from the north to the south will support and embody a thriving and united Austin.

The Central Avenue Corridor is a key project outlined in the Austin Forward. Together. (AFT) quality-of-life plan and has the ability to address four of its seven issue areas:

COMMUNITY NARRATIVE

Rewriting the community narrative will happen by revitalizing the image and spirit of Austin. By building on what Austin already has—its history, its people, and its energy— we can ensure that our community is a place where everyone can thrive and enjoy all that our city has to o er.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Strengthening new and existing local businesses, entrepreneurs, and the workforce, while also attracting new investment will build a stronger, more dynamic local economy, a critical piece of a thriving community.

HOUSING

Reimagining housing in a way that is supportive of new commercial development without displacement of existing residents will be accomplished by incorporating community engagement so that those who

live, work, or have a historic connection to Austin and its physical spaces are able to participate in its rebirth.

PUBLIC SAFETY

The Central Avenue Corridor will help reclaim the physical space so residents can feel a stronger attraction to their streets, and an improved sense of safety and community that has long been sought after.

Read specific recommendations made

In April, ACT sta met with the Urban Land Institute of Chicago and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to facilitate conversations with Austin stakeholders to discuss recommendations for revitalizing the Central Avenue Corridor

Central Avenue: Connecting you to Austin’s best

As the connecting spine of Austin, the Central Avenue Corridor will integrate the other commercial corridors throughout the community and hopefully serve as something more than a main thoroughfare. These corridors include the Soul City Corridor along Chicago Avenue, the Arts, Culture, and Town Center along Lake Street, the Anchor for Commercial and Economic Revitalization along Madison Street, and the Austin Gateway at Interstate 29 0.

LOCAL SHOPPING CORRIDOR Soul City on Chicago Avenue

The Soul City Corridor will revitalize a 1.6-milelong stretch along Chicago Avenue in the Austin community and focuses on guiding the development of underutilized land. Its main goals are to promote Black culture, arts, and entertainment, as well as heighten economic development, job creation, and new development that serves neighborhood residents. Many nearby community assets, such as Forty Acres Fresh Market, Laramie State Bank, many thriving businesses, and available CTA options will help to enhance the unifying character of the Central Avenue project. The Austin African-American Business Networking Association (AAABNA) is leading the charge in the Soul City Corridor Noted for its more intimate, small business ecosystem, Soul City aims to attract people from Central Avenue with a variety of local shopping options.

ARTS, CULTURE, AND TOWN CENTER Lake Street

With what is likely the central-most location, the Arts, Culture, and Town Center corridor at Lake and Central will help illuminate many of the historic landmarks, artistic riches, green spaces, and architectural marvels that have long stood in the community. Namely, Austin Town Hall Park (which is the only Town Hall in the City and has been a youth-led safe zone), the Austin Branch Chicago Public Library, Austin High School, Fraternite Notre Dame Church, and Levin (John) Park are on that list. And with the Green Line train running along Lake Street, commuters that pass by get the chance to see what’s happening in Austin.

Austin Town Hall Park and Cultural Center at 5610 W. Lake St. sits on 3.69 acres and o ers outdoor basketball courts, an auditorium, fitness/dance studio, programming through the Park District, and more. It is also the site of the Austin Town Hall City Market, an outdoor farmers market accepting Snap/Link that runs on Thursdays in June through October

Madison Street

The location at Madison and Central is an especially unique piece of the Central Avenue Corridor and the revitalization of the Austin community as a whole. Nearby assets like the Kehrein Center for the Arts, the Walser House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Columbus Park, and countless businesses help amplify the many commercial and economic development opportunities surrounding the area. Yet compared to other community corridors like Soul City, Madison Street is notable for a wider range of commercial activity. Larger businesses, big box stores, and other commercial endeavors are what can attract people from Central Avenue. Beyond that, the intersection of Madison and Central is home to one of the most prominent development projects in the community: The ASPIRE Center for Workforce Innovation. The Center will repurpose the former Emmet Elementary School into an anchor for commercial revitalization and a destination for top-notch workforce training. An inspiring feat of community organizing, the Center was largely made possible by the firm commitment of Austin residents who stepped up and donated their own money to the cause. Anticipated to open in 2024, the Aspire Center will represent a deep transformation in Austin.

THE AUSTIN GATEWAY Interstate 290

When driving into Austin from Interstate 290, enue Corridor will serve an important role as the Austin Gateway. With nearby assets such as Columbus Park, Loretto Hospital, and CTA Blue Line, the gateway aims welcome people into the neighborhood as nture up Central Avenue and connect the other destinations.

A rendering of the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation at the corner of Central and Madison, which will house a variety of workforce training programs and resources.

Columbus Park is one of Austin’s most prominent features with its beautiful green spaces, lagoon, playing fields, playgrounds, gardens, golf course, and more.

By serving as the main vein of Austin, we hope Central Ave maximizes connectivity all throughout our community, especially with the work of the other community projects in motion

MALCOLM CRAWFORD, AUSTIN AFRICAN AMERIC AN BUSINESS NETWORKING ASSOCIATION

Economic Development

Plan Leaders

Community Narrative

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Briana Shields

Briana Janeé Arts

Kenneth Varner Healthy Schools

Campaign

Dearra Williams

Austin Coming Together

Education

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Housing

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Public Safety

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Youth Empowerment

Civic Engagement

S TRATE GY LEAD S

Lasondra Kern

Community Resident

Suzanne McBride

Austin Talks

Michael Romain

Community Stakeholder

Alicia Plomin

Austin Coming Together

Cindy Gray

Schneider

Spaces-n-Places

Rosondunnii

Marshall

Artesian Collaborative

Jai Jones

PSPC, The Chicago

Community Trust and Community Member

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Jerrod Williams

South Austin

Neighborhood Association

Heather Sattler

Community Development Consultant

S TRATE GY LEAD S

Erica Staley

Manufacturing Renaissance

Emily Peters

Jane Addams Resource Corporation

Tina Augustus Chicago West Side Chamber of Commerce

Roxanne Charles West Side Forward

Melissa O’Dell

Defy Ventures

Fanya Berry

Community Resident

Crystal Bell

Ella Flagg Young

Elementary School (retired)

Charles Anderson

Michele Clark High School

S TRATE GY LEAD S

Ruth Kimble

Austin Childcare

Providers Network

Madelyn James

Austin Childcare

Providers Network

Pam Price Chicago Public Schools

Cata Truss

Community Resident

Sean Schindl Kids First Chicago

Athena Williams

West Cook

Homeownership Center

Allison McGowan

Community Resident

S TRATE GY LEAD S

Shirley Fields

Community Resident

Rosie Dawson Westside Health Authority

Athena Williams

West Cook Homeownership Center

Bradly Johnson BUILD Inc.

Marilyn Pitchford

Heartland Alliance

S TRATE GY LEAD S

Adam Alonso BUILD Inc.

Edwina Hamilton BUILD Inc.

Gina Young

Catholic Charities

Bertha Purnell Mothers OnA Mission28

Jose Abonce The Policing Project

Ruby Taylor Taproots, Inc.

TA SK FORCE CHAIRS

D’elegance Lane

Community Stakeholder

S TRATE GY LEAD S

Deonna Hart BUILD Inc.

Gina Young Catholic Charities

Aisha Oliver

Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Helen Slade

Territory NFP

Dollie Sherman

Austin Coming Together

Chris Thomas YourPassion1st

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Deborah Williams-Thurmond

Habilitative Systems Inc.

S TRATE GY LEAD S

Arnold Bearden

South Austin Neighborhood Association (SANA)

Crystal Gardner

Protest to the Polls

Sharif Walker

Bethel New Life

Initial Recommendations for Central Avenue

By Scott Prywitch Marketing & Development Coordinator, Austin Coming Together

Given the enormity that is the Central Avenue Corridor Project, it is vital to recognize its distinct e orts in the conception, planning, and implementation processes.

Currently, the community is situated within the pre-planning stage, which mainly comprises engagement and research aspects. Lasting approximately 18 months, this phase will allow the community to identify leaders who can guide and steward the vision of the project.

On May 23rd, Austin Coming Together (ACT) joined forces with the Urban Land Institute Chicago District Council (ULI Chicago) and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) at the Kehrein Center for the Arts to present initial recommendations on the Central Avenue Corridor. Attendees had the chance to ask questions and provide feedback for the recommendations.

This public presentation came after a series of group interviews and conversations with Austin stakeholders to determine how best to redevelop the corridor. By connecting with stakeholders directly, the panel was able to hear some of the community’s most glaring concerns with regard to Central Avenue. Some of these include the unmet demand for services and amenities, physical barriers, walkability, development conditions, high unemployment, limited skills-building opportunities, public safety, and negative perceptions.

ULI Chicago formed a Technical Assistance Panel composed of 12 professionals representing urban design, economic development, and real estate. The panel found it imperative to be guided by the following principles when creating recommendations based on community engagements:

• Connect Austin residents to the existing spaces, landmarks, and public assets within Austin.

• Foster a sense of community pride and community awareness.

• Enhance connectivity between major east-west corridors and north-south corridors

• Recapture economic power and activity within Austin.

• Coordinate planning between community stakeholders and public sector.

PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS

STREETSCAPES AND PUBLIC SPACES

• Establish Central Avenue as a spine of destination hubs that are reinforced through a variety of open spaces, civic assets, and historic sites.

• Amplify Austin’s cultural spaces & celebrate Austin’s historic sites by implementing wayfinding tools, visitor signs, key entry points, engaging landscapes, public art installations, and more.

• Enhance connectivity of the Central Avenue Corridor by altering tra c patterns that improve the pedestrian experience.

• Establish Central and Lake as the main destination hub through gateway infrastructure opportunities, establishing flex streets, linking green spaces, and defining Town Hall as a celebrated community anchor.

DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• Create a town center / main destination hub at Central and Lake that will address public safety, implement streetscape and public space improvements, and support food-oriented businesses.

• Build human capital by enhancing the “upskilling” cluster and providing training and resources in many industries.

• Support the residential ecosystem through the support of existing homeowners and enhancement of multifamily properties around Washington Avenue.

• Connect to commercial corridors that continue to focus on and support Chicago Avenue and Madison Street commercial development, attract people to Chicago and Madison, and enhance walkability and bike connections to local community assets.

PARTNERSHIPS AND IMPLEMENTATION

• Focus on alignment with local and city government and continue research into viable financing options.

• Leverage the organizing strength of ACT to create more cohesive planning and investment across public sector actors and create a “master plan” for Austin.

• Coordinate with Westside Health Authority to expand Special Service Area #72 to include Cicero/Chicago/Austin/Madison to generate more revenue and more cohesive governance and use of resources.

Source: Urban Land Institute Chicago Technical Assistance Panel

Looking ahead, the panel also recommends that a “sister agency” task force be established to leverage financial, planning, and other resources. ACT is excited about the potential of the Central Avenue Corridor and is looking forward to building meaningful connections with Austin stakeholders and community partners to set the project in motion.

Though ACT is leading the charge in this e ort along with the aid of ULI Chicago and CMAP, it is important to remember that the project is community-driven. As previously mentioned, the recommendations made during this presentation were inspired by community input, and all future recommendations will be as well. ULI Chicago stresses that the recommendations are merely recommendations, and no o cial planning measures have been taken to implement them. They have come about solely during the initial engagement phase with the community. In the coming months, these recommendations will be subject to evolve per the community’s continued input and will culminate in the release of a formal plan for the corridor which could be ready in late 2024.