Wednesday Journal 062123

A er 25 years, Keystone wins tax exemption, River Forest relents

Village won’t appeal state ruling, says administrator Matt Walsh

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

In a legal battle which has been fought since 1998, Keystone Montessori School has bested River Forest’s village government and been granted a nonprofit property tax exemption on its North Avenue facility by a state gover nment agency.

Most notably after years of appeals in multiple court venues and in front of state agencies, River Forest accepts the outcome and will not make any further ef for ts to collect property taxes from the school, according to Village Administrator Matt Walsh.

“The village is not planning to appeal the decision,” Walsh said. “We have accepted the recommendation from the ALJ. The

Kris Sagan Linda Rooney

Kyra Pych

Patti Sprafka-Wagner Harry Walsh

Villegas, Managing Broker/Owner Mike Becker Laurie Christofano Marion Digre Morgan Digre Leticia Cruz

Forest Park mayor applies for Cook County board vacancy

Hoskins among six candidates chosen as nalists

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

Fo rest Pa rk mayo r Ro ry Hoskins was one of the final six candidates to fill the Cook County Board vacancy left when 1st District Commissioner Brandon Johnson resigned to become mayor of Chicago.

T he committee made up of Democratic Party committeepersons re presenting Chicago Wards and suburban townships that f all within the 1st District chose Johnson’s successor on June 20, after this issue’s print deadline. But in a press release issued one day earlier, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-39th) announced the slate of the final six candidates, which included Hoskins. Committee spokesperson Tom Bowen said they were the final six candidates chosen after considering the resumes.

While Johnson had to give up his seat

because Chicago mayors can’ t hold other elected offices, nothing in the Cook County codes of ordinances explicitly bars suburban mayors from serving on the county board. Forest Park municipal code doesn’t have any provisions stopping mayors from holding other elected of fices, either

Each member of the selection committee held a vote equivalent to how much the total vote Johnson got in their township or ward during the 2022 county board election. Harmon, who serves as the Oak Park Township committeeperson, and County Clerk Karen Yarbrough, the Proviso Township committeeperson, collectively held 58.72% of the vote. Hoskins support-

ed both elected officials, and Yarbrough attended his swearing-in ceremony on May 8, after Hoskins won a second term by a comfortable margin.

Hoskins did not respond to a request for comment by deadline

If Hoskins were to resign the mayor’s office, Commissioner of Accounts & Finance Maria Maxham, a for mer Forest Park Review editor, will step in as interim mayor until the village council fills the vacancy by a simple majority vote.

The city members of the commission included Ald. Daniel LaSpata (1st), 2nd Ward Committeeperson Tim Egan, 26th Ward Committeeperson Angee Gonzalez Rodriguez,

Ald. Walter Burnett (27th), Ald. Jason Ervin (28th), Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) and Ald. Emma Mitts (37th).

The remaining finalists were mostly from the city portion of the district. That includes Rev. Ira J. Acree, co-chair of the Leaders Network, a faith-based West Side social justice group and pastor of Greater St. John Bible Church; for mer 29th Ward aldermanic candidate and Cook County Board president candidate Zerlina Smith-Members, for mer 37th Ward aldermanic candidate and education activist Tara Stamps, and activist Claiborne Wade, who is originally from Austin but currently lives in Forest Park.

The committee met at The Carleton of Oak Park Hotel’s Foxboro Room. 1110 Pleasant St. at 7 p.m. The meeting was open to the public

For update on results of the meeting, visit our website.

RORY HOSKINS

Mark Guarino: Country & Midwestern

Sunday, June 25, 3 p.m., Oak Park River Forest Museum

Author (and Oak Park native) Mark Guarino will be on hand to discuss his book Country & Midwestern, about the overlooked history of country music in the city of Chicago. He will be inter viewed by Mark Dvorak, a local folk singer who will also perform at the event. Autographed copies will be available. 129 Lake St., Oak Park.

Quizzer’s Delight: Hip-Hop Trivia

Thursday, June 22, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Oak Park Public Librar y, Main Library

All-ages hip-hop trivia par ty. Whether your generation partied to the Sugarhill Gang or Jay-Z, test your knowledge at this all-ages hip-hop trivia par ty. Prizes

BIG WEEK

June 21-28

Patriotic Pops Concert

Saturday, June 24, 6:30 p.m., Concordia University Chicago

The University Band of Concordia-Chicago merrily anticipates Independence Day with a concert centering around patriotic themes. Jean Harrison Bojes will provide commentary, introducing the repertoire and providing interesting facts on each piece. 7400 Augusta St., River Forest.

Listing your event

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

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

■ Email calendar@wjinc.com

Naomi In Space

Wednesday, June 28, 7:30 p.m., Outta Space

On the last Wednesday of every month, singer-songwriter Naomi Ashley collaborates with di erent musicians on “a melange of various musical projects, interests and experiments.” This month, she’ll be joined by Rachel Drew, John Williams, and John Symanski. $10, 6840 32nd St., Berwyn.

Ghalia Volt

Thursday, June 22, 8:30 p.m., FitzGerald’s Even though this blues singerguitarist has recorded with stellar musicians in Mississippi and Louisiana, for her solo shows, she does it busker-style, playing guitar and drums simultaneously. $15-20, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn.

Pride Shake, Rattle & Read

Tuesday, June 20, 10-10:30 a.m., Lindberg Park Special Pride celebration featuring books, songs, and play that celebrate identity, self-expression, and all things love. Recommended for families with kids from 0-5. 1150 S. Marion, Oak Park.

Oak Park Pride Party

Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Village Hall

Free family-oriented event celebrating Pride Month. Ice cream, a DJ, face painting, games, bounce house, a magician and more. Be sure to show up in your best rainbow-themed out t! 123 Madison St., Oak Park.

Your Journey Home: Black Homeownership With the Regional Housing Center

June 24, 2-4 p.m., Oak Park Public Librar y, Main Library our Journey Home” with the Oak Park Regional Housing Center. This event reedom Month by empowering BIPOC residents with the guidance and resources they need to become homeowners. All are welcome to join us for this hands-on, in-depth orientation on homebuying, foreclosure prevention, and homeownership stability in a post-pandemic housing market. Register now at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Dis-Story Lesson

Thursday, June 22, 3:30-5 p.m., Oak Park Public Librar y, Main Library Students in grades 6-12 will have a chance to write a dis song about one historical gure. The song must include facts based on the historical person and what they’ve done. This will give students a chance to research, learn, and express their feelings in a fun way. They also will learn a bit of history about where dis rap comes from. Learn more at oppl.org/hiphop-50.834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Uncorked

Friday, June 23, 6 - 8 p.m., Oak Park Conser vatory (Rubenstein Garden) Outdoor event featuring music and drinks. Admission includes two drink tickets and an appetizer. 21 and over. $20, 615 Gar eld St., Oak Park.

Austin’s Seth Warner House damaged in re

Owners pledge to restore home, again

By LACEY SIKORA

Contributing Reporter

In the early hours of June 15, one of Austin’s oldest houses, the Seth War ner House on the 600 North block of Central Avenue caught fire. The damage to the roof and third floor of the house was extensive, and one firefighter was sent to the hospital for observation. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Homeowners Jim Bowers and his wife Cynthia Weaver were home at the time of the fire and escaped without injury. The couple have lived in the house for more than 37 years, and in 2021 sought landmark status for the house, which is one of only 13 Chicago Landmarks predating the Chicago Fire of 1871.

Bowers and Weaver have spent the last several decades restoring the Italianate-style brick home. In the days following the fire, Bowers’ days have been spent meeting with fire and insurance inspectors and moving hundreds of boxes of belongings from the house.

He calls the entire experience “overwhelming,” noting, “We lost one third of the house.”

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Bowers says he has faith in the insurance company and states, “The house is going to be rebuilt.”

The Seth War ner House, built in 1869 at 631 N. Central Ave., was constructed as a gentleman’s farm on the prairie, became a hotel

during the 1893 Columbian Exposition, later served as a music school in the Austin community, and again became a single-family home in 1985.

At the time of the Landmark designation, Ward Miller, executive director of Preserva tion Chicago noted that the house was significant not only for its long history in the city but also because of War ner himself and his role in Chicago industry and the abolitionist movement.

In 2021, Miller said, “It’s really one of those beautiful stories that’s so layered that we call it lasagna history. It’s a touchstone to the city and its history, that despite its warts and bumps and politics is still a beautiful and vibrant place — a city that we all very much love The story of Seth War ner, his legacy, and his home takes your breath away.”

In 1837, the year Chicago was incorporated, Seth War ner moved to the city at the age of 27. In the early 1840s he opened a blacksmith shop on Randolph Street near Clark Street.

This work led to a connection with Charles M. Gray, who co-founded the McCormick Reaper Works with Cyrus McCormick. Warner was commissioned to manufacture the company’s Virginia Reaper, which revolutionized the grain industry and established Chicago as an industrial power.

War ner decamped to California during the Gold Rush years and returned to Chicago in 1851. At that time, he was wealthy enough to establish a music hall, War ner Hall, near his blacksmith shop. War ner was an active abolitionist, and in 1853 welcomed Frederick Douglass to speak at War ner Hall at a state convention of African Americans

Live Free Illinois comes to Oak Park in search of equity

Community of Congregations invites group to tell its stor y

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

Throughout Rev. Alan Taylor’s 18-year tenure as the senior minister at Unity Temple, he was eng aged with wh was going down in the neighborhoods east of Austin Boulevard as well as in Oak Park

A year and a half after stepping down from that position in 2021, Taylor became the donor org anizer for an organization called Live Free Illinois(LFI), which was founded by Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlain in 2017.

Taylor had worked with a nonprofit called United Power for Action and Justice for most of his almost two-decadelong ministry at Unity Temple and respected the work they were doing. “Live Free,” he explained, “uses a similar model to organizing as United Power, an approach which is based on Saul Alinsky’s methods to build power through expanding networks.

“I would characterize the approach Live Free Illinois uses,” he added, “as Alinsky with love.”

Live Free’s website declares that the Black community is facing an “urgent crisis.” “In Chicago and Illinois, two core issues have an outsized impact on Black communities: public safety and criminal justice. … Too often, the response from our local and state governments is insufficient and downright harmful.”

Live Free Illinois presented its vision for change to the Community of Cong re gations May 30 meeting at Oak Park Temple. Artinese Myrick, LFI’s lead org anizer and one of the speakers at the meeting, described Black neighborhoods on Chicago’s West and South sides as suffering from a power vacuum.

Power, she said, is not necessarily a bad thing. I was impacted by the carceral system, and wanted to become a solutionist to the troubles I saw my family go through. Due to this I went to school for social work and tried to make a mark the best way I could.

When people organize, she added, they acquire power

for change in a good sense, power to “create the kind of community we want to be.”

According to the LFI website, “Live Free Illinois is a state chapter of Live Free USA that works to end this moral crisis by mobilizing Black churches — the most powerful organizing institution within our communities — to improve public safety and transform our criminal justice system.”

They are unapologetically religious in their approach to transforming society. “As a faith-based organizing force, Live Free Illinois seeks to grow the chorus of voices advocating for policies that transform Black communities, save lives, and actualize God’s grace in our justice system.”

Myrick clarified that Live Free is not about providing social services and advocacy itself but in recruiting and training others to do it.

“We center the identification and development of leaders within communities who can strengthen their cong regations/neighborhoods and move them to address racism and poverty and to mobilize them to dismantle practices and policies that are destructive to people of color. We provide trainings to help assist individuals with learning the fundamentals of organizing as well as teach-ins to educate communities on the issues that are relevant in their neighborhoods.”

David McCall is LFI’s systems-impact leader. His job is “to build relations with our communities and educate them on public safety. It is getting our faith-based leaders

to advocate for change in the criminal justice system.”

His story illustrates both the meaning of “restorative justice” and how the current justice system needs to be transformed. He seemed to have everything going for him — football scholarships to several universities, minister of music at his church, a good job — until he made a mistake, got ar rested and was incarcerated.

Instead of feeling sorry for himself or wallowing in anger, he took advantage of almost every opportunity to advance that the prison system of fered. When he got out of prison, he volunteered with Bridge to Freedom, got a job as a dispatch manager at a moving company and eventually started his own business, Mac Movers Inc.

A friend introduced McCall to Live Free and the rest is history. He now feels called to “ensure that our voices are not only being heard but that policies that will change the narrative of returning citizens are accelerated, too.”

Several people in the audience responded positively to what they heard from the LFI presenters. Cynthia Breunlin, for example, is part of a working group called Congregations Networking for Social Justice (CNSJ). Following the meeting she said, “CNSJ is pleased to feature Live Free in our summer newsletter. Several cong re gations are considering how to support them and become more involved.”

Bishop Re ginald Saffo, chair of the Proviso Township Ministerial Association Network, said he was “intrigued.”

“I am hopeful,” he added, “to get them to share at one of our PTMAN meetings.”

Rev. Alan Taylor dur ing a prayer vigil at Pilgrim Church on L ake Street in Oak Park in 2017.

Heather Mack pleads guilty to her role in mother’s murder

Sentencing set for December

By BILL DWYER Courtesy of Cook County Chronicle

For mer Oak Park resident Heather Lois Mack pleaded guilty Friday morning, June 16, to conspiring to kill her mother Sheila von Wiese.

In an hour-long hearing, Judge Matthew F. Kennelly accepted Mack’s guilty plea, and set sentencing for Dec. 18. Mack, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, but with no handcuffs, answered Kennelly’s question in a clear voice.

One of her defense attorneys, Jeff Steinback, told the court that Mack “had a hand” in asking for certain things to be considered by the gover nment. Chief among those requests were that the judge consider her seven years’ time served in a jail in Indonesia as counting for “time served” off her sentence.

Mack has made previous statements that she has served nearly 10 years and, “I felt that I had done my time, so I was gung-ho for trial.”

When Mack is sentenced in December, she will automatically have 25 months taken off her sentence for the 25 months she has served in federal custody since her retur n from Indonesia. While it seems highly unlikely she will get credit for the time served in Bali, that decision will be solely up to Kennelly.

Regarding the plea agreement sentencing range, Kennelly noted that he will “have to consider the range, but I will not be bound by it,” or any other terms in the deal between the defense and prosecution.

If Kennelly sentences Mack to prison for 28 years or less, Mack will have to accept the sentence, with no right to appeal. If the judge settles on a sentence higher than the plea range, Mack will have the right to withdraw her plea and either re-negotiate the terms or undergo a trial.

Kennelly emphasized the outlines of the agreement, telling Mack, “Let me say it again. So, if I agree with the cap (of 28 years), you won’t be able to appeal. If I don’t agree with the cap, I will tell you that and you’ll be able to withdraw your plea deal and go to trial.”

When Kennelly asked Mack if she understood all that he’d said, and if she wanted to enter a plea, Mack said clearly, “I plead guilty, your honor.”

Kennelly said he found Mack competent to make the plea and pronounced her guilty of conspiring to murder her mother, adding, “I’m accepting the guilty plea, but not the plea agreement yet,” he said.

Besides von Wiese’s brother Bill Wiese and sister Debbi Curran, Kia Walker, the mother of Mack’s for mer boyfriend and co-defendant, Tommy Schaefer, was present in the courtroom gallery.

Mack’s primary defense attorney, Mike Leonard, noted that “The terms of the plea go from zero to a 28-year cap, but the judge would have to agree with the 28-year cap.”

“We’re hopeful that he accepts the cap, but if he doesn’t, we’ ll sort of be back to square one, and be back to a trial track.”

Leonard added that the plea agreement does not contain any type of cooperation clause that would require Mack to testify against Schaefer

Wiese, accompanied by his sister Debbi and wife Caroline, made a brief statement to the media afterword, but took no questions. He said both he and Curran “are in agreement with the plea agreement.”

And he expressed a sense of relief

“After almost nine years, we are very relieved that the mastermind of Sheila’s murder has pleaded guilty today,” Bill Wiese said.

SKETCH BY L.D CHUKMAN

Mack, in a pr ison jumpsuit, appears before Judge Matthew F. Kennelly to enter her guilty plea.

Galewood residents urge Johnson to take action on local librar y

Petition launched by U.S. Bank developer

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

As negotiations over the possibility of a neighborhood library moving into the redeveloped U.S. Bank building at 6700 W. North Ave. drag on, the developer is hoping that a petition from Galewood residents would spur the city and the recently inaugurated Mayor Brandon Johnson into action.

Ever since the Chicago Public Library system moved the Galewood branch library to a room at the Rutherford-Sayre fieldhouse, 6871 W. Belden Ave., in 2010, residents have been clamoring for a larger space. There have been several plans to accomplish that. Most recently, Viktor Jakovljevic, developer of the for mer U.S. Bank building, agreed to set aside space on the first floor which the library district would purchase, condo-style, and build out into a library. But negotiations have stalled as the two sides are trying to settle on a purchase price.

Last week, Galewood Neighbors and The North Avenue District launched a petition urging the city to get back on track. Galewood Neighbors president Steve Green told this newspaper that Jakovljevic suggested that a show of support from the community might help. While the developer is still interested in having the library in his building, there is only so long he can live with the indecision before deciding to lease or sell the space to someone else.

At 12,000 square feet, the new space would be a significant improvement over the 400-square-foot room in the park district fieldhouse, which was closed for much of the pandemic simply because its dimensions made social distancing impossible. Jakovljevic deliberately built out the library space to comply with the code requirements for a branch library. In 2019, State Rep. Camille Lilly (78th) and now-State Sen. President Don Harmon (39th) put $600,000 for either building a new Galewood library or building out/renovating the existing building. The deadline to spend that money has been pushed back several times since then.

While Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), whose ward includes all of Galewood, has been sup-

portive of the project, the library district insisted the U.S. Bank building was just one of the several possible sites. In the past, they also brought up the issue of funding the larger library’s operations The most recent sticking point hinges on the value of the space.

During his May 27 community meeting, Taliaferro said the city sent an appraiser, and the price the appraiser came up with was too low for Jakovljevic. After some back and forth, the library system agreed the price was probably too low, so it’s sending a different appraiser. Taliaferro said that this may take another “3 to 4 months.”

He subsequently told this newspaper that, as of June 7, there hasn’t been any progress.

In a recent interview, Green said that Jakovljevic suggested that a petition showing that the community “still wants the library” wouldn’t hurt. They decided to time it until after the election was over and Johnson had a few weeks to settle in. But the new mayor’s approval, Green said, was vital for the project to get any traction.

Chicago’s library system is governed by a board of directors appointed by Chicago mayors. Furthermore, the library system works with the city on its capital projects, since it doesn’t have its own capital budget.

“It’s gone on for over 10 years, and left a lot of people frustrated, because Galewood residents wanted their own library,” Green said. “It seems like the closest we’ve been in a long time, there’s actually a place for it, the developer actually designed that first floor especially for the library, it’s perfect, it’s ready to go, it’s ready to be built out. So, to be so close and to have it fall through would’ve been very disappointing. We felt [the petition] would help to make a positive statement, to reinforce that people want a library.”

Judith Alexander of the North Avenue District said her organization agreed to help with the petition because they might be able to reach people Galewood Neighbors can’t.

“A library has never been more wanted anywhere than in Galewood,” she said. “They need a real library, and it will be used, absolutely no doubt about that. And the North Avenue location is absolutely a good one, because of the convenience. It’s on a couple of bus lines [CTA Route 72/North Avenue and Pace route 311], and there’s ample parking.”

To sign the petition, go to https://forms.gle/ EAZygeev882VQUJN8

d across the West Side

This year, more than 70,000 projects were proposed and Kinney’s project was one of the 15 finalists. Her project: to install Narcan newsstands in areas with high rates of opioid overdoses to increase the access to and availability of naloxone

By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter

The West Side of Chicago now has 21 newsstands distributing naloxone, commonly known as “Narcan,” which will be available for free. The newsstands were installed in local medical centers, community organizations, churches and other sites that volunteered to house them and keep them stocked with life-saving medication.

The newsstands come as part of a project by the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force in partnership with healthcare insurance company Cigna. Ashley Kinney, a Cigna employee and Illinois native, proposed the project as part of a yearly company-wide employ-

ee contest to select community ambassadors. Every year, Cigna selects up to 15 employees to launch a program of their choice to improve the health and well-being of people.

“I just have a lot of people in my family who passed away from opioid overdoses,” Kinney said. She lost her mother, who also lost her parents to opioid overdoses. “We’ve lost several friends that we grew up with, so it’s been something that’s really close to me and that’s why I chose that project.”

She partnered with the West Side Heroin/ Opioid Task Force, an organization that does “work near and dear to her heart” to bring 21 newsstands to the West Side. The project is a great way to extend the harm reduction work that the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force already does, said director Lee Rusch. Every month, the task force distributes up to 1,500 doses of free naloxone in areas with high rates of overdoses on the West Side

Each newsstand can hold up to 100 boxes of Narcan, with each box containing 2 doses. Local partners who volunteered to house them will keep them stocked going forward thanks

to the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Access Narcan program, which provides naloxone at no cost to community organizations, hospitals and clinics.

When fully stocked, the 21 newsstands will help distribute 4,200 doses of free naloxone Stickers placed on the newsstands explain how to recognize an overdose and instructions to safely administer naloxone. On the newsstands, there is also a QR-code link to a video tutorial to administer naloxone and to the Illinois Helpline, where people who use drugs can find support, including Medicine-Assisted Recovery. To reach the Illinois Helpline, call 833-234-6343 or text “HELP” to 833234.

The newsstands will be installed at sites run by organizations spanning the West Side, such as Prevention Partnership, Inc., Lawndale Christian Health Center, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, Thresholds Health, Phoenix Recovery Services, Chicago Recovering Communities Coalition, Rush University Medical Center, Community Outreach Intervention Program (COIP), Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center and A Safe Haven.

To prevent fatal overdoses, free naloxone will be available at 21 locations including churches, businesses and local orgs

FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ

Up to 100 boxes of Narcan, the equivalent of 200 doses of naloxone, can be stored in each newsstand .

OPRF summer project targets hunger and food deserts

Hydroponics is easy to learn and helps reduce shor tages

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Growing local and sustainable might not be such a reach as many think, thanks to hydroponics and a group of recent graduates from Oak Park and River Forest High School, who, along with their teacher, are working to bring more awareness to how you too can grow your own produce.

Environmental Science teacher Michelle Zhang said the primary goal of the project is producing fresh fruits and ve getables to increase the supply of locally grown produce this summer.

“We live in Oak Park, very urban, close proximity to Chicago, so fresh fruit and ve getables are not necessarily equally accessible to everybody,” Zhang said. “Growing the food, using the lab resources we already have in place is important to us to help with food deserts and making sure ev-

The team, which consists of Zhang and six OPRF students, are using hydroponic and aquaponic farming to produce their food, which will be donated to Beyond Hunger, the local food pantry, which provides hunger-relief services to areas in Cook County, including Oak Park Hydroponics is a type of horticulture that involves growing plants or crops without soil using water-based nutrients. Aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics along with fish and other aquatic animals that produce waste, which will be converted into nutrients for the plants to grow, while their roots clean and filter the water for the fish to live in.

“Our second goal is to educate people about what hydroponics is and how you can do it on a small scale at home or with a class, anything that is more feasible for individuals,” Zhang said, noting that part of the education includes speaking about sustainability and how hydroponics can be part of the solution while addressing disparities in food equity

The project grew out of the interest of

tions of the program.

Recent graduate Eli Landsman, 17, said the great thing about hydroponics is the ability to control the environment in which the plants and produce are being grown,

“You can manage all of your inputs very easily and that helps you stay very controlled in the process, which allows you to do it almost anywhere since you can control what you need and what you have,” Landsman said.

Currently, they are growing basil, cucumbers, tomatoes, cilantro, and lettuce while working toward growing spinach, strawberries, and flowers.

Aside from donating food to Beyond Hunger, Landsman said they are working on educating the community not only on the benefits of hydroponics but also how community members can do it as well, providing another source for food into the community.

Ella Suchomel, 18, another recent graduate, said they have a few BASE Camp tours lined up through the Oak Park Education Foundation, which will allow children to come through the lab where the food is being grown and lear n about the process.

Suchomel said they will show students

along for

eat to educate people on a way that they can produce something healthy for themselves and others,” Landsman said, by providing people with information that can lead to the development and spread of healthy habits.

Zhang said they plan to set up a stand for educational purposes at the Oak Park Far mers Market on Saturday, July 15.

“We will be there to invite people to look at how hydroponics works,” Zhang said, “give them a quick rundown of how you can potentially do this at home so community members see it and have their interest sparked.”

Annelise Dusterberg, 18, who will be attending Colorado State University in the fall, said her interest was piqued after learning about hydroponics in class and loved the idea of contributing to the community.

“It really is not that difficult to do,” Dusterberg said. “It is pretty straightforward and easy for anyone and there is really no downside to it. Not only does it help the environment, but it provides healthy food for people to eat.”

“We have the resources in Oak Park and we want to share that with really anybody who is interested,” said Zhang.

PROVIDED

Environmental Science teacher Michelle Zhang harvests basil to bring to Beyond Hunger.

PROVIDED

Eli Landsman, recent OPRF graduate, measures the elec trical conductiv ity of the water, in which plants are grow ing.

Pritzker announces statewide partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Children 5 and under can receive free, high- quality books

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Legendary country music artist Dolly Par ton is putting in overtime after her “9 to 5,” partnering with the state of Illinois through her Imagination Library program to give free books to children from birth to age five.

The announcement of the $1.6 million partnership came from Governor J.B. Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton during their visit to Maplewood School in Cahokia Heights, near the Missouri border on Tuesday, June 13.

“Imagination Libraries are already working their magic at a few dozen loca-

tions around the state, and the teamwork of my administration and the Dollywood Foundation will make it possible to bring Dolly to every doorste p,” said Pritzker in the press release.

Dolly Par ton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program launched in 1995 that mails “free, high-quality books” to children from birth to age five re gardless of a family’s income. After its launch, the program expanded and by 2003, the Imagination Library had mailed one million books. The program has also expanded into Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Re public of Ireland following the success in the States. The Imagination Library is supported by The Dollywood Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Par ton in 1988.

While Par ton’s foundation has already partnered with a few cities and school districts, the new deal will take the program across the entire state of Illinois.

“As a longtime early childhood advocate, I’m incredibly excited for what’s to come,” said Pritzker in a press release. “These are some of the most crucial years for learning of a person’s lifetime, and this initiative will connect low-income families to re sources their children will need for lifelong success.”

“Every child deserves the opportunity to discover worlds beyond their imagination,” said Stretton in the press release. “Thanks to Dolly Par ton’s Imagination Library, children in every corner of Illinois can receive free books mailed directly to their home.”

Along with the announcement of the expansion of the program, Pritzker announced the state’s investments in early childhood education and care. Additionally, $250 million in funding for the Smart Start Illinois Plan, which includes the following, was also announced:

■ $75 million increase for the Early Child-

hood Block Grant, which creates 5,000 new preschool seats for next year

■ $130 million to support the creation of the Childcare Workforce Compensation Contracts, which will increase wages for childcare workers

■ $40 million to increase Early Intervention and help provide access to therapeutic services for children 3 and under who are, or are at risk, or developmental delay of disability

■ $5 million to expand the Home Visiting program

DOLLY PA RTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY

7400 Augusta Street | River Forest, IL 60305 CUChicago.edu/arts

More pork jowls, please!

By DAVID HAMMOND Oak Park Eats Blog

Years ago, in confir mation class at Bethel Church in Elmhurst, Harold McGee, a classmate of mine, would frequently burst into the room doing an impersonation of Granny C lampett from the popular sit-com The Be ve rl y Hillbillies

McGee would say something li ke, “What you need, Je d, are some hog jowls and possum tails.”

Years later, he became an i nternationally acclaimed author of the landmark On Food and C ooking: The S cience and Lo re of the Kitchen. Me, I j ust recently started having a new appreciation for ho g jowls

A few weeks ag o, we we re tr aveling through Italy. In Rome, we we re all in the mood for po rk , ideally something fatty we c ould fry up for breakfast with eg gs or for dinner with p asta. We happened to be walking around the city that day, and we stopped by the Pantheon. As we we re leaving, I spotted this ancient looking building with huge hams hanging in the d oorway. It was a salumeria, a cure d meat shop that was selling many thing s, including fatty pork

times had — and greatly enjoyed — lardo, cured pork fatback, usually smeared on toast: it’s unctuous and smooth, with good flavor, though I can see how the texture of nothing-but-fat might tur n of f many.

T he cured po rk jowl, or g uanciale (gwan-cha-lay), we b ought in Rome was i mmediately de ployed in a simple p asta that b eautifully framed the umami-rich fl avors of the fatty po rk . Li ke truf fles and cavia r, a little bit of g uanciale g oes a long way: i ts fl avor permeated the p asta, a dding a silky texture and de ep po rk i ness.

Back in Oak Park, we were still hankering for pork jowl. I knew I could g et it at Carnivore, where they cure the jowls from whole pigs that come into the shop This being springtime, there’s asparagus at many local markets, so I made an appetizer of asparagus wrapped with guanciale. Of course, you could use bacon to wrap the asparagus, but with a bottle of Sicilian white wine from Anfora, we were trying to relive our golden moments in Italy.

W hen you buy g uanciale from Ca rn ivo re (you do n’ t need a lot, maybe a halfp ound), the skillful butchers b ehind the c ounter will c ut it ve ry thin for you, wh ich is wh at you want. T hen wrap each asparagus stalk with g uanciale, p ut the asparagus on a c ookie rack on a c ooki e sheet, and c ook it for about 10-12 minutes at 350 de grees, or until the g uanciale starts browning. By the time the g uanciale is d one, the asparagus will also be d one

Guanciale-wrapped asparagus is d elicious: the sweetness of the s pring ve getable c omplements the fattiness of the po rk , and it ’s a ve ry g ood start to dinner. Pairing wine with asparagus is challenging, though the fatty meat helps; next time I make g uanciale-wrapped asparagu s, I’ll ser ve a drink I also learned to appreciate in Rome: an Ap erol s pritz (simply the bright red Aperol with a splash of Prosecco and sparkling water).

Travel broadens. The waistline.

DAVID HAMMOND

DAVID HAMMOND

Antica Salumeria in Rome .

Laramie Bank project sheds one partner but Housing Center promises progress

Real estate developer put in receivership. New par tner being vetted

By IGOR STUDENKOV and MELODY MERCADO Austin Weekly News and Block Club Chica go

The effective shuttering of Heartland Housing, Heartland Alliance’s affordable housing unit, will slow down, but not stop, the redevelopment of the historic Laramie State Bank property, 5200 W. Chicago Ave., said Athena Williams, executive director of the Oak Park Regional Housing Center, a lead partner on the INVEST South/West project.

In 2021, the Austin United development team spearheaded by Williams’ organization and Heartland Alliance, a long-time Chicago immigrant assistance and anti-poverty organization, was picked as the winning bidder for the Laramie State Bank in Austin under the city’s INVEST South/West Program. That development broke ground in November with $47.7 million in city funds pledged to the conversion. But Heartland Housing ran into financial trouble during the pandemic, and in late May, the Cook County Circuit Court appointed Habitat Company as a receiver, taking over management of its affordable housing buildings

Williams told this newspaper that the Austin United development team is currently working to choose another real estate development firm, and they expect to make a final selection by June 24. The Housing Center still hopes to begin construction this fall, and they expect it to finish up within another 18 months.

Austin United plans to turn the historic bank building into office space, retail and a bank branch, and build a brand-new 78-unit, six-story apartment building with a public plaza on vacant land west of the bank. Williams said that they will build the housing

first and begin renovating the bank buildin around 3 to 4 months later.

On May 11, the city of Chicago filed a motion in Cook County Circuit Court to appoint a receiver for Heartland Housing’s 14 affordable housing properties across the city, and a judge granted the motion four days later. That effectively took day-to-day control of those buildings from Heartland Housing and turned it over to The Habitat Company, a prominent Chicago real estate firm that manages a wide range of properties, from public housing to high-rent luxury buildings

A receiver is a court-appointed officer that acts as a neutral party to manage assets or properties when they are not being properly maintained or fall into legal or financial trouble. In its motion asking the court to appoint a receiver for the Heartland buildings, the city cited unpaid utility and trash bills, building code violations and the expected loss of its property insurance.

The lapse in insurance coverage could potentially impact low-income tenants by putting gover nment subsidies at risk, the city stated in court filings. Those subsidies help keep rents affordable for the tenants in more than 800 units in those buildings.

“Heartland Housing is no longer able to manage its Chicago properties … as of May 31, 2023,” the city’s motion said.

Heartland Housing’s properties included Mae Suites, 148 N. Mayfield Ave. in Austin, and two North Lawndale apartment buildings at 1235 S. Sawyer Ave. and 1251 S. Sawyer Ave.

In a written statement, Ed Stellon, Heartland Alliance’s chief external affairs officer, stated that economic conditions coming out of the pandemic made it difficult for the agency to sustain the properties

“During the pandemic, federal mandates limited our ability to pursue rent collection and at the same time, rising inflation dramatically escalated our operating costs,” he stated. “We’ve also experienced the same staffing crisis as everyone else. In the end, de-

spite our best efforts, these challenges proved too much for Heartland Housing to overcome financially.”

Heartland Alliance’s plan to sell Heartland Housing didn’t pan out, leading to its properties being placed in receivership, Stellon said.

Williams said she wasn’t aware of Heartland’s issues until January, shortly after Austin United got a building permit for the Laramie Bank project. Austin United was doing some due diligence, and city officials started to express concerns about Heartland Housing’s financial status and its impact on the Laramie Bank project, according to emails obtained by Block Club Chicago.

In an email to a city De partment of Housing official, Earl Chase, executive director of Heartland Housing, disclosed that his agency was parting ways with Heartland Alliance, the organization’s sole financial backer. Heartland Housing was in the process of being purchased by another “not-forprofit affordable housing provider,” Chase wrote.

“Subject to all required consents from lenders, partners, and other parties, closing is projected to take place later this year,” he added.

Chase’s message was shared with other top city officials, including Maurice Cox, commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development, and Samir Mayekar, then a deputy mayor overseeing economic development. A city lawyer said that Heartland’s shaky status could threaten the financing for the bank project.

“The entire deal’s credit underwriting is directly implicated with this news,” said Adam Walker, assistant corporation coun-

sel for the city.

In a statement, officials with the city’s Department of Planning and Development said a changed partnership structure for the Laramie Bank project is under review “with Heartland Housing being re placed by an experienced residential developer.”

“Partnership details are expected to be finalized for a City Council introduction this summer,” officials said.

Ald. Emma Mitts (37th), whose ward includes the Laramie Bank site and who has been supportive of Austin United’s plans, said she still has confidence in the project.

“I am a firm believer in working with our city and community partners to assist people and build pathways that ensure every Chicagoan has affordable housing information, convenient retail resources, and diverse business opportunities to help them generate economic sustainability and generational wealth for the future,” she said.

Williams described the situation as a small stumbling block.

“We are moving forward. Nothing is stopping this train,” she said, adding that they had to “pause it for a while” as Heartland tried to sell its housing unit and went through the court process.

Williams said that, once the new real estate developer is selected, it shouldn’t take long for the process to restart again.

“They’d just to have to go through underwriting with the city and the lenders, and they’d have to go through 2 to 6 weeks,” she said. “I’m a believer that when there’s a will, there’s a way. The city has been very supportive. I’m now looking at the new partner and I’m hoping for continued support in the community and support from the funders.”

PROVIDED

Rendering for the proposed redevelopment of the Laramie State Bank in Austin

KEYSTONE Village gives up the ght

from page 1

village does not want to keep re peating the same battles and the decision was pretty clear. I don’t think we were confident that we would be able to overturn that decision.”

More than four years after Keystone took its case for a real estate tax exemption before the Illinois Department of Revenue, that re gulatory body found the school is entitled to receive a 100% real estate tax exemption.

On May 12, 2023, the determination made by the department also reinforced judgments from the Cook County Circuit Court as well as the Illinois Appellate Court, finding Keystone is entitled to the exemption at its cur rent location, 7415 W. North Ave.

Katie Shea, Keystone head of school, told Wednesday Journal she was relieved about the determination and felt validated.

“It wasn’t just for Keystone, it was for Montessori and all private schools in Illinois,” Shea said. “It is nice going forward. We have a very good relationship with the other schools in the area and it is nice to just be counted among them officially now and be validated.”

According to Richard Baker of Mauck & Baker, Keystone’s law firm, after both the Cook County Circuit Court and the Appellate Court ruled against the village in re gard to its original ag reement with Keystone, the village re grouped and argued that Keystone Montessori School was primarily a “pre-school” and therefore should not be exempt under state law.

“Specifically, River Forest argued that the mandated school age in Illinois for kindergarten is 5 years old. Since Montessori Primary Classes include 3 and 4 year olds, River Forest argued that a significant portion of the school is really a pre-school and therefore it was not entitled to an exemption,” read the press release.

The Department of Revenue found Keystone was reco gnized by the Illinois Board of Education as a non-public elementary school using the Montessori method and qualified as a school.

Currently, Keystone has 70 children enrolled from infancy to eighth grade.

“This was very unusual, what River Forest did. This is not the norm,” Baker said, adding the Department of Revenue has always viewed Keystone as a school. “They used quite novel theories in their attempt

to continue the taxation of the property. … if the Department of Revenue had gone along with what River Forest was trying to do, it would threaten Montessori schools and other schools that have preschools.”

Village President Cathy Adduci did not respond to requests for comment and asked that questions be addressed to Village Administrator Matt Walsh.

Walsh told Wednesday Journal the village would not be appealing the May 12 decision.

The school began having issues with the village following its move in 1998 into the for mer site of Margie’s Bridal Salon on North Avenue. The large commercial building had been vacant for five years. In hopes of developing the space to fit their curriculum needs, Shea said Keystone began renovations and opened its school year on Sept. 8, 1998. According to information left by late-founder Victoria Shea, in October 1998, Keystone met with the Village of River Forest which presented them with a tax ag reement in which Keystone would promise to not claim their property tax exemption as a school.

Keystone had been allowed to move into a building not zoned for a school and while the village re zoned the area to accommodate a school, the village claimed Keystone should continue to generate property taxes and would not approve its final occupancy permit, despite classes already being in progress. Keystone ag reed to the arrangement to not lose the building and the money already invested in the remodeling.

“They did it with the understanding that they would revisit the subject and apply for tax relief,” said Katie Shea. “They did that several times.”

According to Keystone, it approached the village asking for tax relief in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, and 2011. All requests were denied.

In March 2018, Keystone filed a lawsuit against the village government in Cook County Circuit Court claiming the original ag reement re garding the property taxes was unconstitutional and illegal. In December 2018, the Illinois Department of Revenue granted Keystone a property tax exemption but the ruling was appealed by the village

Hoping to now move forward, Walsh said the village wants an amicable relationship with Keystone.

“Both sides had their opinions and a decision was made. It is always the village’s intent to be amicable with any business or institution in town,” Walsh said. “We are past this point. We would like to move forward with that amicable relationship.”

Despite the final ruling, Keystone is not aware if it will be entitled to re payment of taxes it has paid to the village over many years.

“Right now, we are just happy we don’t have to worry about the looming threat of the financial burden the taxes have brought to us,” Shea said.

Mauck said while there are possibilities to go back to request reimbursement, that is a decision that has not been made yet, but the financial responsibility of reimbursement would not fall solely on the village as property taxes are shared among multiple local taxing bodies.

Walsh said there was no information at the moment on whether or not Keystone would receive any reimbursement.

CO DY CHAPMAN

Keystone Montessor i School in River Forest nally won their longstanding dispute with the village of River Forest over their taxexempt status.

Gun pulled on Oak Park resident

An unknown person pointed a gun at an Oak Park resident during an incident of road rage at 6:55 a.m., June 12. The offender pulled up alongside the victim in a white Chevrolet Equinox then pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the Oak Park resident in the 800 block of Washington Boulevard. No injuries were re ported.

Reckless discharge of a rearm

Two 45 caliber rounds were discharged in the 1100 block of South Lyman Avenue at 12:01 p.m., June 13. An Oak Park detective has been assigned to investigate. No injuries or damage re ported.

Burglary

■ Two pairs of soccer cleats, a pair of goalie gloves, socks and cash were taken from an unlocked 2017 Honda Civic in the 100 block of North Humphrey Avenue between 8:45 p.m., June 15, and 8:15 a.m., June 16. The estimated loss is $635.

■ Someone broke into a home through an unlocked rear basement door then removed a white Xbox console, a blue controller, two external hard drives and an HDMI cord from the residence between midnight and 8:30 a.m., June 14, in the 600 block of Highland Avenue. The estimated loss is $580.

■ A gray MacBook Pro laptop computer was taken from an unlocked 2021 Toyota sports utility vehicle between 7 p.m., June 11, and 11 p.m., June 12, in the 400 block of North Maple Avenue.

Motor vehicle theft

■ A 2018 Toyota Highlander was taken between 10:30 p.m., June 14, and 6:30 a.m., June 15, in the 900 block of Ontario Street.

■ A 2014 Hyundai Elantra was removed between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., June 16, in the 800 block of Washington Boulevard

■ A 2017 Ford Escape was stolen in the 200 block of South Taylor Avenue between 11:15 a.m. and 11:55 a.m., June 17.

■ A 2017 Kia Sportage was taken between 6:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., June 18, in the 200

PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE

Oak Park Avenue / Hemingway District Streetscape Improvement

Tuesday, June 27 6pm–8pm

Oak Park Township Senior Center 130 S Oak Park Avenue

block of Nor th Euclid Avenue.

■ A 2020 Honda CR-V was stolen in the 100 block of South East Avenue between 9:30 a.m. and 11:09 a.m., June 14.

Attempted motor vehicle theft

An Oak Park resident saw two males near his 2014 Kia Soul, which had its rear passenger’s side window broken, at 7:33 p.m., June 16, in the 200 block of South Cuyler Avenue. The two offenders fled on foot and the victim noticed his vehicle’s steering column had been peeled.

Theft

■ The catalytic converter, oxyg en sensor and muffler were removed from a 2007 Honda Element between 9 p.m., June 14, and 9 a.m., June 15.

■ The catalytic converter was removed from a 2020 Nissan NV200 between 9 a.m., June 10, and 9 a.m., June 15, in the 100 block of North Austin Boulevard

These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department re ports, June 15-20, re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Stacey Sheridan

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

Join

Park Avenue Streetscape Project which is currently in the planning process.

The streetscape project is looking at replacing the sidewalks, roadways, lighting, and amenities in the business district as well as creating new public spaces to replace deteriorated infrastructure and enhance the area. A presentation will take place at 6:45 pm.

The Village of Oak Park is planning a future streetscaping and utility project in the Hemingway Business District along Oak Park Avenue between Pleasant Street and Ontario Street. The Village is seeking community input for the proposed streetscaping project which is planned for construction in 2025.

For more information about the project and the public open house please visit the project’s website at RenewTheAvenue.com

Sawa’s Old Warsaw

Funeral procession shooting spurs petition urging village action

2nd Annual Classic Car Show

Feeling unsafe on Oak Park streets is common refrain

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

Oak Parkers are calling on the village board to take fir m action agai nst rowdy funeral processions in the aftermath of a particularly disorderly June 10 procession that left four people wounded from gunfire on Madison Street.

An online petition requesting immediate action from the Village of Oak Park to address dangerous funeral processions has been racking up signatures, already over halfway to its goal of 2,000 signatories. Just under 40 comments have been left on the MoveOn.org petition and all share a similar theme of feeling unsafe in the community during funeral processions.

who was fatally shot May 23, according to the Chicago T ribune. Goings was re portedly connected to the Guttaville faction of the Gangsters Disciples

Resident Kathleen O’Malley created the petition just four days after the procession. She, her husband and their two children found themselves stuck in the middle of the procession as it passed through Oak Park via Madison Street.

“I’ve really had enough,” O’Malley said.

Since moving to Oak Park 11 years ago, she and her husband have seen several dangerous processions come through the village. While they were living on Ridgeland Avenue, funeral corteg es would often pass right outside their home, prompting them to move to a different part of the village, according to O’Malley

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

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“It feels like OP leadership is waiting for a local child to become a mar tyr before acting, just a real failure of imagination,” wrote signee James K. “The rights to assemble for a funeral procession end when they overlap with the rights of everyone around them to be safe.”

O’Malley wants to see the Oak Park Police Department take greater initiative to prevent similar violent instances by enforcing traffic laws against such behaviors as drinking and driving, speeding, driving erratically and disturbing the peace.

While she does not think a full-on ban on funeral processions is possible, she plans to speak at the village board’s June 20 meeting to request they put new parameters in place re garding processions.

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.

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OF OUR CALEDONIA STAFF IS VACCINATED

T he June 10 funeral procession was held for Jamal Goings, a 33-year-old man from Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood

“I know that the most powerful thing you can do is use your voice if you want change,” she said.

Homes

L’Arche Chicago breaks ground on rst Oak Park home

Residence will o er shared living for people with and without intellectual disabilities

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

On May 31, L’Arche Chicago broke ground on the group’s first new-construction home. Construction on the house at 1111 S. East Ave. in Oak Park is expected to take about 13 months, and once completed, the residence will house four L’Arche core members and three to four assistants.

Founded in 1964 in France, L’Arche is a worldwide organization dedicated to creating intentional communities made up of homes where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together as peers.

In 1999 after L’Arche founder Jean Vanier spoke at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, a benefactor donated a house, allowing the group to open their first home in the Chicago area. Today, the organization owns three homes in the Chicago area -- two in Forest Park and one in Austin.

Core members with disabilities are welcome in their L’Arche homes for life, and many join L’Arche homes when they are in their 20s. Core members and assistants have a shared-living situation, with assistants offering support in day-to-day tasks.

L’Arche’s Chicago Executive Director Mic Altena says the inspiration to build a home from the ground up came from some of their existing core members’ need s.

“As we were realizing that we had additional mobility issues amongst our existing core members, we thought about new construction, because it’s just so hard to retrofit a 100-year-old home,” he said.

The group began to look for a vacant lot or teardown that was near their existing three homes, close to the CTA Blue Line in the western suburbs. Through word of mouth, they found the vacant lot on East Avenue.

Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman and Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce President Darien Marion Burton (above) donned sashes and sheltered under an umbrella as rain started to fall during a groundbreaking ceremony at L’Arche Chicago’s property on South East Avenue on May 31. At le , a rendering of the home t w ill be constructed on the site.

“We always look for homes near community resources,” Altena said. “Here, we have restaurants on Roosevelt, Rehm Pool and Park, the Oak Park Conservatory and the Blue Line.”

He is also excited to be building the first L’Arche home in Oak Park and calls the community with its pride in civic eng agement and inte gration a great fit.

At the groundbreaking, L’Arche Chicago board member Kim Bryze emphasized the need for the new home.

“There are over 7,000 people in Illinois waiting for housing like this, so this is important,” Bryze said. “It’ s family. Once someone is in L’Arche, they’re in for life.”

Altena stresses that L’Arche cannot begin to meet the need in the community and notes that Illinois is ranked 44th out of the 50 states for funding disability services. He also notes that L’Arche is not state-funded but is supported by fundraising.

Luckily, when L’Arche first identified the vacant lot as a potential building site, they had enough money saved to purchase the lot. The nonprofit organization worked with a consultant to create an estimate of roughly $2 million to construct the house and embarked on a one-year capital

See L’ARCHE on pa ge 18

TODD A. BANNOR

Oak Park Commons Cohousing

• National Green Build Rating “Silver”.

• Five story contemporary condo.

• Low carbon footprint construction.

• High efficiency air conditioning

• Building wide water heating.

• Tight thermal building wrap.

• Energy Star Plumbing.

• LED Lighting.

• Air exchangers keep air fresh & clean.

• 1200sf Roof Garden reduces runoff.

• Electric charging stations in garage.

• Residents embrace sustainable living.

Oak Park Commons Cohousing info@oakparkcohousing.com oakparkcommons.com

708-772-8817

Interior and exte rior render ings of L’Arche Chicago’s new-build project in Oak Park shows how the design is meant to prov ide a f ully accessible, shared-liv ing space where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together as peers.

L’ARCHE 13-month project

from page 17

campaign to raise funds to build it.

As of 3 p.m. on the day of the groundbreaking, the entire $2 million goal had been funded. Because of increased costs postpandemic, Altena will still need to borrow roughly $500,000 to cover the increased construction expenses.

L’Arche is working with Oak Park architect Bill Scholtens of Elements Architectural Group and contactor Jeremy Lew of Northbrook to construct the accessible home, which will include an elevator, a mudroom, and accessible bedrooms and bathrooms for

core members and assistants, as well as a large kitchen and dining room for the group meals that bring residents together every day.

The hope is that the building will be complete in 13 months. Three existing core members who have physical limitations will move into the house, along with one new member. L’Arche will identify three new core members to move into the spots left vacant in the existing homes.

Altena points out that for every spot they have available, L’Arche typically receives more than 300 applications

“There’s a need for more accessible homes within Chicago and within L’Arche, but we are going to do this right and are being slow and deliberate,” Altena said.

“We want to design homes that are smaller than the average Illinois group home to provide a higher quality of life.”

SCREENSHOTS/COURTESY OF L’ARCHE CHICAGO

Oak Park home sells for $1,600,000

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

Construction & Dev Llc Bauer Joseph M

932 S Maple Ave $270,000 Macoun Marilyn Sue Tr Mceiherner Emma 140 N Ridgeland Ave $270,000 Laubach William Busch Aidan C

1050 N Humphrey Ave $275,000 Santoro Patrick L Tr Rebb Reginald 108 Madison St $279,000 Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 2608 Wu Hui

710 N Taylor Ave $280,000 Hubbard Mary Jane Tr Allard Mark Raymond

632 S Kenilworth Ave $287,000 Flannery Jeanne Burhrke Eric

430 S Taylor Ave $290,000 Solid Solutions Llc Barrow Janelli

304 N Grove Ave $306,500 Cabrera Philip R Tr Evans Ian E Tr

310 S Austin Blvd $320,000 310-312 S Austin Llc Greenplan 310 Austin Llc

549 Madison St $321,000 Magre Llc Cinbrejo Prop Llc

622 Belleforte Ave $325,000 Aldous Michael J Tr Sr Mason Samuel

848 N Ridgeland Ave $325,000 Us Bk Trust Na Tr Sobotka Christopher

1035 N Lombard Ave $333,000 Rodriguez Pedro Enrique Ireland Timothy J

841 Hayes Ave $354,500

ADDRESS PRICE SELLER BUYER RIVER FOREST

ADDRESS PRICE SELLER BUYER

FOREST P ARK

SPORTS

In- ux Friars up and down at RBHS Shootout

Fenwick basketball shorthanded after three transfer

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

The Fenwick High School boys basketball team went 2-2 on June 17-18 at the 20th Annual Riverside-Brookfield Summer Shootout.

Coach David Fergerson, filling in for Tony Young, was satisfied with how the Friars played.

“I thought it was pretty good,” he said. “The guys fought hard and played good defense. We’re young, and we’ve got to keep building, but overall I’m pleased with the direction we’re heading in.”

Fenwick won its opening game 52-49 on June 17 over Lake Forest. Rising junior Ty Macariola led the Friars with 13 points,

while incoming freshman Jake Thies added 10 points, rising junior Kam Hogan nine and rising junior Machi Nelson eight.

In the nightcap against Hinsdale South, Nelson had a team-high 15 points, rising junior Makai Mandley and Thies nine each, rising junior Caleb Burgins eight and Hogan seven. But it wasn’t enough as the Friars fell to the Hornets 63-57.

Fenwick re peated the pattern the following day. The Friars defeated Clark 45-40 in the opener as Nelson scored a team-high 12 points and rising junior Dominick Ducree added 11.

Then in its second game, Fenwick was in a back-and-for th af fair with Chicago Catholic League rival Brother Rice. Despite having four players score in double figures (Ducree 16, Burgins 11, Hogan and Thies apiece), the Friars were edged out by the Crusaders 59-57.

“I thought we permed pretty well,” Macariola said. “We ve to get better on defense, and that’s what need to focus on in practice. We also need to get better with our rebounding and boxing out.”

Fergerson was especially impressed with how the newcomers, Nelson and Thies, fared in their first taste of facing high-caliber competition.

“Jake is big-time. He’s going to be a really big piece to what we’ve got going on,” he said. “So will Machi.”

On the downside,

Fenwick saw three players transfer from last year’s 21-13 team, which fell in the Class 3A sectional finals to St. Ignatius. Rising senior Darshan Thomas will be at Marist next season, rising junior J.T. Pettigrew at Bolingbrook and rising junior Zion Young at Schaumburg.

The Friars also played without rising junior Nate Marshall, who was away on a football recruiting visit to the University of Alabama. In addition, Macariola was in street clothes on June 18 after suffering an injury the previous day.

“We’ve got some good pieces,” Fergerson said. “We’ re trying to change the culture and get guys to play the right way. When we get our full team back, we’ll be OK. I’m not disappointed at all.”

Macariola believes the experience of the returning players will greatly help the

newcomers.

“We try to help the younger kids,” he said. “We know we have to take charge of the team.”

Fenwick, along with Oak Park and River Forest High School, will participate in the Romeoville Shootout on June 23-25 at the Romeoville Athletic and Event Center.

OPRF’S KOCH named All-American

Oak Park and River Forest High School lacrosse player Grace Koch, who graduated earlier this month, has been named to the USA Lacrosse All-American team.

A U.S. Naval Academy recruit, she tallied 60 goals and 36 assists for the Huskies this year.

STEVE JOHNSTON

Fenw ick’s Kam Hogan (center) gets fouled trying to split the Michele Clark defense during the Friars’ 45-40 win at the Riverside-Brook eld Summer Shootout on June 18 in Riverside.

STEVE JOHNSTON Incoming Fenwick freshman Jake ies (le ) drives to the basket past Michele Clark’s Kashawan Smith during the RBHS Summer Shootout.

Another season to

The Oak Park and River Forest High School softball team’s 2-1 victory over Barrington on June 10 in the IHSA Class 4A third-place game brings an end to the 2022-23 high school sports season. Although there were no state champions produced by OPRF, Fenwick and Trinity this year, there were plenty of good stories. That said, in the tradition of the ESPY Awards on ESPN, this week’s Tate’s Take column offers a few honors. I call them the Tatesies:

Male Team of the Year: Fenwick boys basketball. Not much was expected from the sophomoreladen Friars entering the season, but second-year coach Tony Young led them to 21 wins, more than doubling the previous year’s total of nine, and the final of the IHSA Class 3A De La Salle Sectional, where they dropped a hard-fought ame to St. Ignatius. With all but yer retur ning, this coming season has the potential to be really ood for Fenwick

emale Team of the Year: OPRF softball. Last season, the were eliminated in the ich was unusual for the traditional power-

However, this year OPRF bounced back with vengeance, winning 31 games, the West Suburban Silver championship, and the aforementioned third-place finish in Class 4A

Coach of the Year (male team): Tony Young, Fenwick boys basketball. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association named Young its District Seven Coach of the Year He got the best from his young roster this season during practices and games.

“It always feels good to be recognized after the season,” Young told Wednesday Jour nal after winning the award. “But the reward goes to my boys. If they don’t win games and take care of business, nobody’s thinking about me right now.”

Coach of the Year (female team): J.P. Coughlin, OPRF softball. It isn’t easy taking over a program as successful as OPRF, for there are bound to be some early lumps. Coughlin, a longtime assistant under legendary coach Mel Kolbusz, took over after Kolbusz’s retirement in 2021 and struggled with a young roster last season. But this year, the Huskies bounced back in a big way, and Coughlin’s wisdom and experience played a role in the renaissance.

Game of the Year: Fenwick vs. Trinity girls basketball, IHSA Class 3A Trinity Sectional final. The Blazers had their way with the Friars during the regular season,

winning both games convincingly.

But when the two teams met Feb. 23 in River Forest with the sectional title at stake, it was an intense defensive struggl e. Sophomore Keira Kapsch’s 3-pointer with 1:20 left in re gulation broke a tie and paved the way to a 34-28 victory that gave Fenwick back-to-back sectional championships.

“Once it left her hands, I knew it was going in,” said junior Grace Kapsch, Keira’s sister.

It also marked a signature win for rookie head coach Lenae Fergerson, who took over for retired le gend Dave Power.

“I told the girls they beat us twice this year, but the third time is ours,” she said. “I said we have nothing to lose. … I just want you to give it all you got, and I know if you do that we’re going to come out on top.”

Conversely, it was a hear tbreaking loss for Trinity, which saw its season ended for the second consecutive year by the Friars in the sectional final.

“It’s hard to beat a team three times, but we knew that,” said Blazers’ coach Kim Coleman. “Hat’s of f to Fenwick.”

Moment of the Year: Of course, being a big football guy, I’ve got to get this in. On Aug. 27, OPRF and Fenwick

met in football for the first time since 1989.

Although the game was played at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, fans and students from both schools turned out in large numbers

The Friars were defending IHSA Class 5A champions, but the Huskies came out and dominated. Jack Gooch threw for two touchdown passes and ran for a third while Khalil Nichols had three interceptions as OPRF cruised to a 35-7 victory.

“We had so many guys going both ways,” said OPRF coach John Hoerster. “They were ironmen that did some amazing things and never complained. Everyone cherished their roles, and I’m really proud of them.”

Fenwick coach Matt Battaglia, on the other hand, lamented the er rors his team made.

“We didn’t play a good brand of football today,” he said. “We had too many missed [defensive] alignments and mental mistakes. A lot of it goes to the veteran presence [OPRF] had, and we’ve got a lot of guys still learning how to play varsity football.”

Both coaches felt the game was great for the community and hoped it would continue. And they got their wish: the Huskies and Friars will meet again on the gridiron Aug. 26 in Week 1 at Triton Colle ge.

e Fenw ick High School girls’ basketball team poses with the IHSA Class 3A Trinity Sectional title. e Friars defeated the host Blazers 34-28 to claim their 11th sectional championship in program history.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor

Ken Trainor at 613-3310

ktrainor@wjinc.com

Prosecutors should ride with police unit s

Considering the recent brutal murder of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee, the release of the video, and the overwhelming acknowledgment that this was well beyond standard police procedure and training, showing a lack of pure humanity, I’m calling for state and district attor neys nationwide to ride with specialized units that enforce the law at the street level.

Several Memphis, Tennessee, officers involved in this incident worked aged in specialized units. So, as the months go on, I am sure reports will surface that these specialized units had prior complaints that here.

I am calling for expanding the prosecutor’s fice and having attorneys ride with officers on these specialized tactical units, search warrant , and street crime suppression units to ensure they act within the law’s confines. This comes as a problematic suggestion , in the past, I was highly critical of prosecutors in general, and I still am on many issues onetheless, I am calling for this at a national el. It is, without a doubt, time for a radical change like this, and if you cannot see that after the George Floyd murder and this incident in Memphis, then you are not dealing with reality. Also, while Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn J. Davis did everything she could to get this situation into the public eye quickly and was open and transparent, there must be more decisive leadership.

Every responsible police executive knows that the tone and culture of the police department are set by the chief, superintendent, sheriff, and command staff members. There is no doubt or debate in this situation. Every leadership training school, whether military, civilian, or otherwise, emphasizes that the chief leads the way. This incident is 100% a leadership failure, and she must go.

That video shows a complete disregard for human life. In some sequences, backup officers arrive and purposely turn their bodies away from the situation so the camera does not catch what is happening. They wanted to avoid getting involved. Holding leadership accountable is the only way to ensure this never happens again. The officers were ter minated and criminally charged; the chief must be held to the same standard and replaced

An ivory-tower chief is no longer acceptable. The police chief or police executive needs to be hands-on, attend roll calls, and mentor their officers. They need to demonstrate day-to-day how the department should respond to situations compassionately.

The chief, director, sheriff, or superintendent can let other commandlevel people run daily administrative tasks in police headquarters. Police leaders must spend time with their officers, or these situations will recur.

Thomas Weitzel is the retired Riverside Police Department chief of police. He is an OPRF High School graduate. You can follow Chief Weitzel on Twitter @chiefweitzel.

Second in a series of re ports on Oak Park’s Farmers Market:

‘Where are the strawberries and corn?” a Far mers Market shopper asked recently. And the answer to that question can be found in the requirements that the far mer vendors ag ree to.

Colleen McNichols, the market manager, explained that Oak Park Far mers Market is a “Producer Only Market — with the exception of bread vendors, all products sold at the market must be grown or raised by that vendor and must be grown or raised within the five-state re gion of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michig an and Wisconsin. Purchasing from a wholesaler and reselling is not allowed under any circumstances.”

Did you know that because one far mer didn’t follow the Producer-Only guidelines, there was

national publicity, a court case and lots of drama? It was called the “cauliflower caper” and happened in 1986 when 12-inch yellow cauliflowers were sold at a J une Far mers Market. Cauliflower is usually a cool weather crop and harvested in the fall. Since the produce didn’t appear to be grown locally, of ficials inspected the farm and couldn’t find the produce growing there.

Hearings took place before the Oak Park Farmers Market Commission. When the far mer was bar red from the market, he sued the village of Oak Park, and the case went to court. Though the judge ruled against the far mer, because of appeals, the case was eventually settled out of court. This story was covered by local and national media, including Channel 7, the Chicago Tribune, and the Wall Street Journal.

Maximum light and longing … and frozen yogurt Keystone wins, River Forest loses

It only took 25 years, and River Forest getting clocked upside the head for the umpteenth time, but the long and weird battle to get a nonprofit Montessori school to pay property taxes in the village has ended — with the village government finally accepting abject rejection, this time from a state agency that re gulates property tax exemptions.

Keystone Montessori, a respected Montessori school, moved into a long-vacant commercial property — Margie’s Bridal Salon — on North Avenue in 1998. The village changed its zoning to allow the non-traditional use. But once renovations were well underway, the village presented the small school with an ag reement demanding it pay property taxes on the parcel. Under duress — no occupancy permit without a signature — the school caved, promising to challenge the agreement in the future.

The school maintained, obviously correctly, that expecting a nonprofit school to pay property taxes was unconstitutional. And since 2002, Keystone has taken a range of approaches to convince the village gover nment to back of f. Eventually the school brought suit against River Forest in Cook County courts. They won. The village appealed and lost in the Illinois Appellate Courts. Meanwhile the Illinois Department of Revenue granted Keystone its tax exemption in 2018. The village, of course, appealed that ruling.

Finally in May 2023 the state again sided with Keystone. And this time the village is conceding defeat. Elected leaders sent Matt Walsh, the new village administrator, out to wave the white flag. “The village is not planning to appeal the decision,” said Walsh.

We have never understood this fight. Once the village allowed Keystone to begin renovations on a commercial building, it should have been plain as day that the property would go off the tax rolls. Just like Dominican University, Concordia University, St. Luke School, St. Vincent Ferrer School. Heck, half of River Forest is off the tax rolls. Has been for a century. Just changing the rules isn’t allowed.

This has always felt like a power play that began in the administration of Village President Frank Paris. David vs. Goliath is an apt reference. Why President Cathy Adduci felt the need to keep up the fight is a mystery.

Two questions we plan to get an answer to. How much money has River Forest foolishly spent fighting this legal battle over 25 years? And when will Keystone get its tax reimbursement check? A reimbursement to Keystone is a cost that will need to be shared proportionately with the other taxing bodies that have benefitted from the money collected over these years. That will fall heavily on the two school districts, which take a large majority of every local property tax dollar. Why school leaders didn’t put their foot down years back to stop this futile and unfair fight is also unclear.

It took way too long but the right outcome has been achieved.

To celebrate the solstice, a couple of confections, combined, dating all the way back to 1999:

Here in our “urban forest,” visually cut off from the horizon (unless you live in one of several high-rises), the best ground-level vantage point to watch sunsets is along the Eisenhower Expressway, aka “the canyon,” the widest swath that cuts through town. As a contemplative teen, I watched many a sunset from the East Avenue bridge

Sunsets have always stirred something in me, but when I was 18, it was more than the sunset. I also watched the traffic coming from the big city, flowing west, heading toward what I imagined to be my future’s more tantalizing possibilities. The sun seemed to be leading all those travelsome, restless souls somewhere, suggesting a destiny worth shooting for.

Decades later, I know more about the narrowing (or the focusing) of life’s possibilities.

The thing about “watching” a sunset is that you don’t actually look at the sun (not good for the eyes). You look around it, and what you frequently end up seeing is life as it goes about its business — commuters returning from work, swimmers crossing the bridge heading home from Rehm Pool, strolling couples and singles out for their evening constitutional.

Most of us are content to put our heads down and be part of that parade, but sunset romantics stop and look around

On this summer solstice, I wander out on the bridge and find a rose-colored orb burning through a bank of horizon haze.

Sunset is a slow-motion event. You have to be willing to wait. It’s not dramatic — unless the sun exploits openings in the intermediate clouds to create a light show. I still call them “God rays.”

The setting sun angles down toward its furthest reach along the northwest horizon on this, the day of maximum light — a day you’d think would be celebrated more than it is in our society. But we have grown indifferent to the cycles of our celestial surroundings

Sunset is also more than the moment it disappears. The afterglow follows, and the best place to view it all is probably in front of the Rehm Park fire station. There’s a bench, but it faces the wrong direction, and the tree in front of the conservatory blocks the view. So here is where I set up, leaning against the metal railing, overlooking the railroad tracks and the de-

tritus in the canyon below, which on this day includes a shopping cart from Pan’s grocery store on Oak Park Avenue

Down on the CTA platform, a young couple waiting for the train stands close, wrapped up in each other, paying no attention whatsoever to the setting sun, though they have the required spirit for appreciating it

There is romance in a sunset. You can’t watch one without feeling the longing — a deeper yearning, Robert Browning’s grasp that always eludes reach. When I was young, my reach was entirely forward. I still reach in that direction, but on this, the shortest night, I also find myself reaching back, toward that boy on this bridge who was, once upon a time without knowing it, reaching toward me.

We still don’t quite touch.

Which is why we keep reaching. ***

As the afterglow fades, I make my way over to Hole in the Wall, 901½ S. Oak Park Ave., a grand summer tradition among south-side Oak Parkers. The name refers to the nar row, half-storefront that houses this cramped, seasonal ice cream shop, which once specialized in what was called “fro zen custard,” then “soft-serve ice cream,” and now “frozen yo gurt.” Or maybe it’s all of the above.

There’s almost always a line snaking south down the sidewalk outside the shop, which creates its own mini-theater. This evening, three pre-adolescent girls in front of me are lost in animated discussion until one realizes, “We don’t have any money!” They spy an adult from the neighborhood and wave cheerily, perhaps sensing a loan in the of fing.

Parents and kids hang out on the corner, flush with the pleasure of sweet slush on the tongue, until the whole group aggregates and moves off toward home, imprinting sweet memories no doubt, available for future withdrawal, with interest, when needed in some low-ebb stretch in their future — rising to the rescue when least expected

I return home by a different route. When the cicadas finally take a breather, the void is filled with the more refined and seductive call of crickets. Where corner parkway gardens tower with Queen Anne’s lace and purple coneflowers, the prairie’s testament to high summer

Dusk congeals under a canopy of old survivor elms

The yogurt is mere memory.

The evening’s treat, however, lingers.

KEN TRAINOR

4 decades

Since George Konstatos came to Chicago at the age of 17, he has worked in restaurants. Cutting his teeth at a few restaurants in Chicago, he started as a dishwasher, then a bus boy, then a cook, and a server be-

fore taking a leap and becoming co-owner of George’s Restaurant at 147 S. Oak Park Ave. with Chris Alexander in 1984. The new owner would do everything, including work the grill. Pam, who still is working the re gister and serving, “came with the restaurant,” and has been serving customers for over 40 years.

— Jill Wagner

Ban rowdy funeral processions

Oak Park needs to ban funeral processions. These activities serve no benefit to the public, as all funeral attendees arrived at the ceremony individually and will leave from it in the same way.

These activities do nothing but support for-profit funeral homes and have become a community risk. The

traffic-disrupting caravans only exist to make things efficient for these businesses. There is no reason our village should allow them.

Don Anderson Oak Park

WEDNESD AY

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley

Senior Editor Bob Uphues

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Senior Repor ter Stacey Sheridan

Sta Reporters Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Big Week Editor James Porter

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

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designer Susan McKelvey

Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls, Kamil Brady

Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

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

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

About Viewpoints

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

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

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

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

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‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

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

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Illinois needs access to medical aid in dying

What do you want your end-of-life experience to look like? If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. You risk not having your wishes carried out.

My nursing career re garding end of life was impacted by meeting Dr. Elizabeth Kubler Ross as a student. She was passionate about people being physically comfortable and emotionally supported during their last days. Witnessing peaceful transitions was more kind than seeing a patient connected to tubes and having someone pounding on their chest when the outcome was still death.

Hospice and palliative care are wonderful options to help those at end of life, yet the majority still think that hospice means “giving up” or is for just the last day or two of life

For the few for whom hospice is not enough to relieve their suffering, medical aid in dying is available in 10 states and Washington D.C. for mentally capable, terminally ill adults. Currently, Illinois is not one of those states. Medical aid in dying is an elective for those

Big Macs are not the answer

I’m a frequent commuter at the corner of Ridgeland and North, and I read with disappointment that a new McDonald’s is being considered for the old Walgreens site in Galewood.

who have been told by two health-care providers that they have less than 6 months to live. T hey can request a prescription through their provider. T hey must be able to self-ingest the medication to peacefully end their suffering. It is a private and personal decision made with the support of one’s healthcare provider and loved ones

Please let your re presentatives know that you support medical aid in dying as an option for ter minal Illinoisans. In my many years as a nurse, I have seen too many people who do not plan or don’ t plan well. Please don’ t be one of them. It’s a gift to your loved ones to educate yourself about end-of-life issues, decide what you want and talk to your doctors and your f amily so they can carry out your wishes Information about resources and tools for the whole spectrum of endof-life plans can be found at www.compassionandchoices.or g

Maureen A. Rafa, BS, RN, PMHBC Forest Park

Wright-Sized? Ironies abound

The first time I saw one of the Oak Parkers for Wright-Sized Development signs, I was on my daily bike ride through town. I was on the north side of town and let out a loud “Ha” as I noted the irony of the sign in front of a very large house with a prodigious lawn. The Wright-Sized group for med in opposition to the proposed development at Chicago and Ridgeland avenues.

Situational and verbal ironies abound with this group and the placement of their signage. I can only dream of living in a Wright-Sized property. I have only seen two lawns sporting a Wright-Sized sign that resemble the size and scale of a majority of homes in Oak Park. I’ve only seen one sign south of Lake Street. Where were these people and their movement when American House was proposed and

built? How about the Pete’s proposal across from American House on Madison? Belmont Village? The RUSH Oak Park Hospital expansion? 435 Madison? I guess those weren’ t in the Frank Lloyd Wright district’s neighborhood. My neighborhood has been wracked by development and “traffic calming” on Madison with not a peep from any other quarter in the village. When the Plan Commission rejects this project, like they did with the 435 Madison St. building, and then the board also rejects this project, as they are likely to, given the make-up of the opposition, all of us living between South and Jackson boulevards will know that we have been, and continue to be, expendable in terms of development in this village.

Lisa Hoelscher Oak Park

North Avenue is currently experiencing a surge of interesting development, including a future Rush Outpatient facility, apartments, and grocery store on the for mer Sears site East of Oak Park Avenue, new apartments are under construction, and down the road a new credit union has moved into the U.S. Bank facility.

There is reason to think this momentum will continue to generate housing and other

positive development along this busy arterial avenue. Fast food need not apply. Already over-represented on many of our streets, fast food may generate revenue, but it also intensifies congestion, noise, and trash. Drive-thrus require extensive paving and curb cuts that limit trees and green space and dumb down the streetscape.

Anyone desperate for a McDonald’s will find several within easy driving distance.

Let’s expect bigger things than a Big Mac for our urban spaces.

Karen Heller Oak Park

Birder takes wing, heads to Eastman

For several years, a group of birders now numbering about 90 people has participated in bird walks in Oak Park, at Columbus Park, at Thatcher Woods and other locations during the spring and fall avian migration seasons. Each walk has up to 15 people Henry Griffin, of Oak Park, started the walks 10 years ago at age 13. When Henry went off to college in 2018-2019, three other birders took the walks over, leaving space for Henry to retur n each season for about a week.

We have just completed our Spring 2023 season, with Henry taking the last week of walks He has graduated with honors from Manhattan School of Music, with a degree in Vocal Performance, and heads off to Europe for summer singing engagements, then to the Eastman School of Music to pursue graduate studies in

Vocal Performance and Conducting.

This fall Oak Parker Ed O’Brien and Berwyn resident Lisa Spellman will lead the walks, which are organized and managed by yours truly The following is the thank-you that we sent to Henry on his impending departure to Rochester, New York:

“Thanks to Henry Griffin for his Travellerspoint blog postings about his many birding activities, but most for the photos he’s posted on the Oak Park Migration Bird Walks. You can find Henry’s blog postings about our Spring 2023 walks at https://worldbirding.travellerspoint.com/archive/062023.

“Thanks, Henry! And we wish you the best at Eastman for grad school! We hope we see you for at least one day in the fall.”

Ed McDevitt, Ri ver Forest

from page 23

To answer the shopper’s question about corn and strawberries, usually corn is not ready until at least mid-July, but shoppers can buy strawberries now. You may wonder how Midwestern strawberries can be ripe now. While most traditional strawberries are not usually ripe until later in the season, a number of vendors are selling early strawberries. Brad Baser, a second-generation Bar ry’s Berries farmer, explained that early strawberries are a newer way of growing strawberries. They are grown between layers of plastic with a drip line for water. The plastic is like a greenhouse and the strawberries grow throughout the winter. After the risk of frost is over, the top layer of

plastic is removed, and the strawberries ripen. Chad Nichols, of Nichols Farms, explained that they grow their June-bearing strawberries between layers of straw in the cold weather

My family recently conducted a taste test of store-bought strawberries and Oak Park Farmers Market strawberries and it was unanimously decided that the local Far mers Market strawberries were superior.

The Oak Park Far mers Market is open through October 28 at the Pilgrim Church parking lot, 460 Lake St., one block west of Ridgeland Avenue in Oak Park, each Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Happy local produce shopping!

Joy Aaronson is an Oak Park resident, regular Oak Park Farmers Market shopper, and volunteer at the market. Joy has contributed to Chicago Parent and written the Kids’ World column for the former Logan Square Free Press.

Neal McNish, 75 Army veteran, active volunteer

Neal McNish, 75, died at home in Oak Pa rk on May 12, 2023. Born on Aug. 19, 1947, He graduated from Two Rivers High School in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1965; East Tennessee State University, cum laude, 1969; and subsequently served three years in the U.S. Ar my after graduating with honors from the Infantry Officer Candidate Class at Fort Benning, Georgia. His civilian career spanned decades working in sales for various national book publishers.

He enjoyed volunteering in his community, working in a local food co-op and at the Oak Park Public Library. He loved reading, playing bridge, following the Chicago Cubs, and walking daily.

Neal is survived by his daughter, Kathryn “Katie” McNish, and his son, John “Jack” McNish; his brother, Kent (Ellen) McNish; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He leaves behind his loving companion of the last 6½ years. He is also survived by his former spouse and his children’s mother, Kathryn Heavey.

Neal recently traveled with Mary Kathryn

OBITUARIES

to 16 states, four foreign countries, numerous national and state parks, museums, botanical gardens, and various family weddings and events. He was anticipating with great joy the upcoming wedding of his daughter, Katie.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sarah, and C.O. “Chic” McNish.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 24 at Donelson Heights United Methodist Church, 84 Fairway Dr., Donelson, TN with a private spreading of ashes.

Please direct any memorials to Oak Park Public Library (oppl.org) or ENCORE Ministry, Nashville, TN (encoreministry.org).

Arrangements were handled by Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home, 7319 Madison St., Forest Park, IL 60130.

Betty Cullen, 99 Accountant, o ce manager

Betty L. Cullen, 99, of Chicago, who lived in Oak Park for the last 2.5 years, died on May 13, 2023. Born on April 8, 1924, she grew up on Carroll Avenue near Garfield Park, in a close-knit neighborhood where many people found their lifelong loves, and she would later marry Mart, the boy next door. She attended

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 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.

Mundelein College for two years, on an academic scholarship and used her earnings as the accountant and office manager at Packinghouse Byproducts, to buy her father the first TV in the neighborhood, after he was paralyzed by a stroke, and supported her mother and sister after his passing.

After a successful 20-year career, she was happy to turn her energy and organization to her life with Mart. They were older parents ahead of their time, saddened by the loss of their first daughter, Mary, at birth, but thrilled by the birth of their second, Carolyn. She was wonderful about driving cousins and neighbors to school for years and volunteering at St. John Bosco School. She cared for her own mother until the end, and selflessly helped aunts with doctor appointments and daily tasks. A devoted Catholic, she set an admirable example by helping others, attending Mass, and loved praying the Rosary until the end

Betty was the wife of the late Martin J. Cullen. Preceded in death by her parents Daniel and Irene (Nickelsen) Clifford, she was the mother of Carolyn (Bill McLaughlin) and Mary (stillborn); the grandmother of Clare and Mary; sister of the late Pat (Bill) Burke and Alice Mae (died, age 2); aunt to Tom, Jim (Laurie Cooker), Bob, Dan (Patty) and Margie (Steve Wohlfrom); and sister-in-law to the extended Cullen clan.

Visitation was held on May 18 at Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home, 7319 Madison St., Forest Park. Funeral Mass was celebrated on May 19 at Ascension Catholic Church, followed by interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (http://macular.org), or just follow the advice of the bumper sticker on Mart’s Vista Cruiser station wagon, “Have You Hugged Your Kid Today?”

Dan Foley

St. Giles Family Mass member

Daniel James Foley, of Oak Park, died peacefully at Northwestern Memorial Hospital on June 14, 2023, after a quick but furtive struggle against kidney and heart issues. Forceful until the very end

He would insist that we mention that he

was a proud wick Friar (’57), graduate of University where he his degr spending time in the Air working Airport American.

Never to himself as a stoc vestment advisor,” spending his career helping individuals invest their funds and assets. He loved his work right up to the very end; indeed, last week he went to a business lunch at the University Club (his favorite) and then drove himself to Northwestern Hospital. The patron saint of client service and career dedication has been notified.

He worked at Chicago Title, Bacon Whipple, Stifel Nicolaus, the Chicago Corporation and, finally, the Royal Bank of Canada.

His engagements with his career led to associations with the Chicago Real Estate Council, the Economic Club of Chicago, and the Bond of Club of Chicago, where he served as president during its later years.

A lifelong devoted Catholic, he loved and supported all the social and educational ministries of the Church. He was a longtime member of the St. Giles Family Mass Community, along with the Catholic Theological Union on the South Side of Chicago.

Dan and Kathleen were for tunate to have a home in Palisades Park, Michig an near South Haven. They spent as much time in Palisades as they could; very much enjoying the beauty of the fall and winter. Many a happy dinner was enjoyed there with family and friends.

The son of the late Daniel A. Foley and Katharine G. Jennings, Dan was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen R. Foley, with whom he had two children, Daniel (Erin) and Claire Hansen. He was the grandfather of Connor, William, and Paul and was preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy F. Re gan, and her husband, Daniel T. Re gan. Family and friends will gather from 4 till 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20, at the Elms Funeral Home, 7600 W. Grand Avenue in Elmwood Park. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21 at St. Giles Church, 1045 Columbian Ave., in Oak Park. Interment will be private

Please consider a donation to one of the following organizations that Dan supported: Fenwick High School, The Night Ministry, The Catholic Theological Union, The Aquinas Institute at St. Louis University.

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.

Level I Bond Traders (2) sought by Millennium Advisors, LLC for the Chicago, IL loc. Candidates must have a Master ’s deg in Fin’l Mathematics, Quantitative Finance, or Computational Finance. Master’s deg coursework must incl: Computing for Finance/Computational Finance, Risk Mgmt, Stochastic Calculus, Options, Fin’l Time Series, Machine Learning & Mkt Microstructure. Must submit resume & transcripts. Respond to: Attn: Debbie Hickey, 11605 North Community House Rd., Ste 550, Charlotte, NC 28277 or apply online at https://www.millenniumadvisors. com/#openpositions

Software Engineer sought by Enova Financial Holdings LLC in Chicago, IL to take ownership of the devlpment of our systms and apps. Telecommuting permitted. Apply at jobpostingtoday.com Ref# 20930.

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

1400 MARENGO AVE, FOREST PARK

SATURDAY, JUNE 24TH

SUNDAY JUNE 25TH

8 AM – 4 PM

Items for sale:

Everything from A - Z. Includes garage & Housewares, furniture, books, jewelry, much more. Cash only

PORCH SALE

748 S GROVE

(GROVE & VAN BUREN)

SATURDAY, 6/24

9 AM – 2 PM

Furniture - antique and new, mirrors, doll swing, 8x11 oriental rugs, serving ware.

GARAGE SALE, MULTI-FAMILY RIVER FOREST EVERYTHING MUST GO!

1300 BLOCK MONROE AVE.

SATURDAY,

JUNE 24

8 AM – 1 PM

We have it all Sporting good items, furniture, gardening items, household items, vases, holiday decorations, boys and girls clothes and shoes, Strollers, Baby supplies & much much more. There are a wide variety of items all in good shape. This is multifamily so a wide variety of items for all ages. Everything must go!

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

708-386-7355

WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS:

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

CARS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

Restored or Unrestored

Cars & Vintage Motorcycles

HOME SERVICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

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: 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

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

refinishing of wood and fiberglass since 1977. Includes doors, woodwork, windows, staircases and new woodwork etc. All work done by hand. NO sanders. Your unfinished project my specialty!

Terry Seamans at 630-379-7148 or terryseamans@yahoo.com

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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

field High School website (www. rbhs208.net).

Published in RB Landmark June 21, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice is hereby given to all persons concerned that on the 14th day of June, 2023, the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the Village of Brookfield, Illinois, voted to amend its Rules and Regulations. Printed copies of the Rules and Regulations, as amended, may be obtained from the Village Manager’s Office, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513. The Rules and Regulations shall be operable as of July 1, 2023, or 10 days from the date of publication of this Notice (June 21, 2023), whichever date is later.

Published in RB Landmark June 21, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE VILLAGE COMMONS PARKING LOTS – PERMEABLE PAVER INSTALLATION MWRD GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

PUBLIC NOTICES

D. All Proposals must be accompanied by a Bank Cashier’s Check, Bank Draft, Certified Check, or Bid Bond for not less than five percent (5%) of the total amount of the Bid, or as provided in the applicable sections of the “Standard Specifications”.

E. No Bid may be withdrawn after opening of Proposals without the consent of the Owner for a period of forty-five (45) days after the scheduled time of opening of Bids.

F The Contractor will be required to furnish a labor and material “Performance Bond” in the full amount of the Contract.

G. The Contractor will be required to pay Prevailing Wages in accordance with all applicable laws.

IV. REJECTION OF BIDS: The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals, to waive technicalities, and to accept the Proposal deemed to be most favorable to the Owner.

BY ORDER OF: VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE PRESIDENT & BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Kathy Ranieri (s) Village Clerk

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.

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of Availability of Audit Report of the Park District of Oak Park

The Park District of Oak Park hereby provides public notice that an audit of its funds for the period January 1 through December 31, 2022 has been made by Lauterbach and Amen, and that a report of such audit dated May 22nd, 2023 has been filed with the County Clerk of Cook County, in accordance with 30 ILCS 15/0.01 et seq. The full report of the audit is available for public inspection at 218 Madison Street, Oak Park, during regular business hours, 8:30 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday, except for holidays.

Dated: June 21st, 2023

By: Commissioner David Wick Treasurer, Board of Commissioners Park District of Oak Park

Published in Wednesday Journal June 21, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF 2023-2024 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING DATES FOR RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 9, 2023, a resolution was passed establishing that the 20232024 meetings of the Board of Education, Township High School District 208, Cook County, Illinois, will be held in Room 201 at the hour of 7:00 p.m. in the Riverside Brookfield High School building, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, IL 60546. The Regular Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month. The Committee of the Whole Meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of September, October, January, February, April, and May. Meeting dates can be found on the Riverside Brook-

I. TIME AND PLACE OF OPENING OF BIDS: Sealed Proposals for the improvement described herein will be received at the office of the Village Clerk, Village of North Riverside, 2401 S. Des Plaines Avenue, North Riverside, IL 60546, until 2:00 p.m., July 6, 2023, and will be publicly opened and read at that time.

II. DESCRIPTION OF WORK: Consists of the reconstruction of existing parking lots at the North Riverside Village Commons Campus improvements including HMA surface removal; earth excavation; underdrain system installation; aggregate base course and subbase installation; heavy-duty permeable paver and heavy-duty permeable paver pavement markings installation; surface patching; crack filling; seal coating; brick paver installation; curb & gutter removal & replacement; sidewalk removal & replacement; drainage structure adjustments; and topsoil & sod restoration.

III. INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS:

A. All applicable work will be in conformance with the “Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction”, dated January 1, 2022.

B. Proposal forms are available for download only from QuestCDN via the Novotny Engineering website, http://novotnyengineering.com, “Bidding” tab, for a non-refundable charge of $40.00. Please contact Novotny Engineering (630-887-8640) to obtain the QuestCDN password. Proposal forms are non-transferable. Only those Proposals that have been obtained from, and with the approval of, Novotny Engineering will be accepted at the bid opening.

C. Only qualified Contractors who can furnish satisfactory proof that they have performed work of similar nature as Contractors will be entitled to receive bid documents and submit Proposals. To meet this requirement, at the request of the Engineer, bidders will be required to submit a “Statement of Experience” consisting of a list of previous projects of similar nature in order to receive bid documents. The Owner reserves the right to issue Bid Documents only to those Contractors deemed qualified.

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.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Village of Oak Park Program Year (PY) 2023 Draft Action Plan is available for public review and comment during business hours Monday-Friday, effective June 21 to July 24, 2023 at the Oak Park Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street; on the Village HousingGrants webpage; and at the Public Library, Main Branch, 834 Lake Street. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons, as needed.

Comprising year 4 of the Village PY 2020-24 Consolidated Plan for Housing & Community Development (Con Plan), the

Draft PY 2023 Action Plan contains goals and objectives for implementing the Village’s 20202024 Consolidated Plan, as well as a description of proposed projects to be undertaken in PY 2023 as part of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Program for the period October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. Any comments concerning the Draft PY 2023 Action Plan can be submitted in writing to Vanessa Matheny, Grants Supervisor, at grants@oak-park.us, including at the draft Action Plan Public Hearing to be held at Village Hall room 101 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. on July 24, 2023.

Published in Wednesday Journal, June 21, 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

at Dominican 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