Wednesday Journal 063021

W E D N E S D A Y

June 30, 2021 Vol. 41, No. 47 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Oak Park police chief in line for U.S. Marshal Sens. Durbin and Duckworth sponsor Reynolds for federal post

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

ALWAYS THERE: Debbie Ryan, an Oak Parker, was a top volunteer for Oak Park’s public health department as it sponsored vaccine clinics and other COVID-related projects over many months.

Tireless volunteer put in major work during COVID clinics

Debbie Ryan volunteered over 150 hours to COVID-19 response efforts

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

More than 200 active volunteers put in more than 3,100 hours of their personal time to help the Oak Park Health Department directly administer 12,000-plus COVID-19 vaccines,

according to the village of Oak Park, but one particular volunteer’s tireless efforts extend far beyond the vaccination clinics.

Debbie Ryan has spent over a full calendar year assisting the health department in its COVID-response, giving over 150 hours of her personal time to the cause as a member of the Medical Reserve Corps.

“I just wanted to do my part, so that once this is over, I could say at least I did something,” Ryan told Wednesday Journal.

See RYAN on page 14

Oak Park will likely be in need of not only a new village manager but a new police chief as well. Chief LaDon Reynolds is in line to become U.S. Marshal of the Northern District of Illinois.

“It’s a distinguished honor to even be thought of but at this time, my focus continues to be the with Oak Park Police Department and the citizens of Oak Park,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds’ nomination was given to the Biden administration by U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), majority whip, and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), according to a June 23 press release from Durbin’s office. Wednesday Journal has reached out to the offices of Durbin and Duckworth, for comment.

As it is just the beginning of the process, Reynolds did not have much to share regarding the nomination.

He is also unclear as to how long the process will take.

Given Reynolds’ law enforcement experience, Village President Vicki Scaman told Wednesday Journal she wasn’t surprised that he is up for U.S. Marshal.

“We would definitely miss him if that opportunity comes to fruition,” Scaman said.

She said she has not yet had a chance to discuss the possibility of Reynolds leaving with village staff nor did she know whether the recommendation was merely a formality necessary to carry out before officially naming Reynolds U.S Marshal.

“It is my understanding that it is not a done deal,” Scaman said.

Regardless, the village president called the opportunity “amazing” and “an honor.”

See REYNOLDS on page 14

JUNE 10 TO SEPTEMBER 9 / 5PM TO 8PM DINE-AROUND MENU & MORE DETAILS AT THURSDAYNIGHTOUT.COM

2

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

SPONSORED CONTENT

Advanced joint care — we make it personal Is hip or knee pain keeping you from leading a full, active life?

U.S. News & World Report ranked Rush University Medical Center No. 5 in the nation and best in Illinois for orthopedics.

At Rush, we want you to know that you don’t have to live with the pain.

Orthopedic surgeon Vasili Karas, MD, MS, offers a full range of treatment options for hip and knee arthritis, including robotic joint replacement surgery, at Rush Oak Park Hospital. So you can get world-class joint care, customized for you, close to home.

To schedule an appointment for an initial consultation or second opinion, call (312) 432-2598.

Learn more about hip or knee replacement Join Dr. Karas for these free webinars: • Knee replacement: July 6, 5 – 6 p.m.

Register at rsh.md/knee-2 • Hip replacement: July 20, 5 – 6 p.m.

Register at rsh.md/hip-2

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

I

3

Why the Declaration didn’t make ‘us’ free

n Declaration of Independence: A Global Hisfame of your fathers to cover your indolence. you thinking that only wealthy white men can be patriots. tory, David Armitage writes that the main Sydney Smith tells us that men seldom euloAnd to remind ourselves of this reality — that “power purpose of that esteemed document was to gize the wisdom and virtues of their fathers, concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it announce, before the “Opinions of Mankind” but to excuse some folly or wickedness of never will,” as Douglass famously said — is not to diminthat the united colonies, or “united States” their own. This truth is not a doubtful one. ish our collective Independence Day commemoration. It (as there was no such thing as the United States, There are illustrations of it near and remote, enhances our collective understanding of what it takes to yet), were legitimately independent of the Britancient and modern. It was fashionable, hunachieve real liberation (from domination, from fear, from ish Empire. dreds of years ago, for the children of Jacob to hatred, from racism, from want, etc.). Freedom isn’t a Armitage demonstrates that, from the perspecboast, we have ‘Abraham to our father,’ when birthright; it’s a constant struggle, one often fought within tives of the signatories and international men of they had long lost Abraham’s faith and spirit. ourselves. opinion (both for and against American indepenThat people contented themselves under the With that, Happy Fourth of July. dence), men like Thomas Jefferson, this docushadow of Abraham’s great name, while they CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com ment was more of a procedural gesture than a repudiated the deeds which manifesto of either individual rights or perceived made his name great. Need wrongs.

I remind you that a similar Commentary It was a foreign policy statement — a press thing is being done all over release if you will — with global reverberations. this country to-day?”

And its iconic second paragraph (“We hold these truths to In his brilliant 2014 essay in the be self-evident, that all men are created equal”) was meant Atlantic, “The Case for Reparations,” to play a mere supporting role to the first (“When in the Ta-Nehisi Coates channeled the spirit of Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one Douglass’ 1852 critique when he wrote: People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connect“One cannot escape the question [of ed them with another …”). how to recompense blacks for being In other words, the Declaration of Independence was not terrorized for more than 200 years] by necessarily a proclamation of human rights — if it were, hand-waving at the past, disavowing the you’d think that its hallowed tenets of self-evident equality acts of one’s ancestors, nor by citing a would apply to slaves and Indians and women and people recent date of ancestral immigration. who didn’t own property and the like, but it didn’t.

The last slaveholder has been dead for a The Declaration of Independence was an announcement very long time. The last soldier to endure directed at other nations, particularly global powers such Valley Forge has been dead much longer. as France, so that they would recognize the united colonies To proudly claim the veteran and disown as a force, independent of Great Britain, to be reckoned the slaveholder is patriotism à la carte. with (and worthy of credit to finance the fight for indepen“A nation outlives its generations. We dence that would come later). were not there when Washington crossed One “People” refers to the wealthy white male Anglothe Delaware, but Emanuel Gottlieb Saxon Protestant landowners, men like Jefferson, who conLeutze’s rendering has meaning to us. trolled the colonies’ political affairs. It didn’t apply to “us” We were not there when Woodrow Wilson (i.e., the majority of the population who weren’t wealthy took us into World War I, but we are still white male Anglo-Saxon Protestant landowners). paying out the pensions. If Thomas JefThis was the reality less than 80 years later when Fredferson’s genius matters, then so does his erick Douglass delivered his brilliant July 5, 1852 oration, taking of Sally Hemings’ body. If George “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” and it is what Washington crossing the Delaware matprompted his highly intentional irony that had to make at ters, so must his ruthless pursuit of the least a few white people in the audience at Corinthian Hall [runaway slave] Oney Judge.” a little squirmy.

There has always been this undercurAfter heaping due deference and fervent praise on the rent of tragedy and darkness running heroic and selfless actions of early patriots such as Jefferagainst the naive, hot-dogs-and-fireworks son and Washington and Madison and Hamilton, Douglass version of American history, the former launched into a scathing jeremiad that anticipates some of to which only the most brutalized and the most penchant criticisms of American self-righteousignored Americans, or those who empaness lodged by everyone from James Baldwin and William thize with them, are attuned.

Appleman Williams more than 50 years ago to Andrew J. Throughout this nation’s history, Bacevich and Ta-Nehisi Coates today. critics like Douglass have been jailed, After Douglass wondered aloud before his Rochester murdered, dismissed, denounced and audience, who may have been relatively comfortable up to defamed. this point, whether or not it was mockery to have a Black But every once in a while, some aspect man, an escaped slave, speak at a ceremony marking the of their message breaks through, hacks Fourth of July, he said this: the ‘freedom-justice-equality-and-liberty“But, your fathers, who had not adopted the fashionable for-all’ optimism to which our brains are idea of this day, of the infallibility of government, and programmed from childhood. Their negathe absolute character of its acts, presumed to differ from tive, pessimistic critiques are taken serithe home government in respect to the wisdom and the ously from time to time. Their aggression justice of some of those burdens and restraints. They went and impatience seriously confronted. so far in their excitement as to pronounce the measures For most of us, what semblance of of government unjust, unreasonable, and oppressive, and DIFFERENT PATRIOTISMS: Top, “Washington Crossing the Delaware,” liberty and freedom we have (secured altogether such as ought not to be quietly submitted to. I the 1851 oil painting by German-American artist Emanuel Leutze. The through the 13th, 14th and 15th amendscarcely need say, fellow-citizens, that my opinion of those original painting has inspired many appropriations. Middle, “George ments; Women’s Suffrage; the Civil measures fully accords with that of your fathers. Such a Washington Carver Crossing the Delaware: Page From an American HisRights and Voting Rights acts; the labor declaration of agreement on my part would not be worth tory Textbook,” a 1975 acrylic on canvas painting by the African-American movement; etc.) has only ever been much to anybody. It would, certainly, prove nothing, as to achieved after battling with the received what part I might have taken, had I lived during the great painter Robert Colescott. Bottom, “Shimomura Crossing the Delaware,” a controversy of 1776. […] patriotism that we’ve been taught since 2010 acrylic on canvas by Asian-American painter Roger Shimomura.

“You have no right to wear out and waste the hard-earned childhood, a patriotism that would have

MICHAEL ROMAIN

4

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

BIGJuneWEEK 30-July 7 Cheney Mansion self-guided tour Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays through Sept. 6, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Cheney Mansion Tour the local historic home and lush gardens. Optional $2 donation or non-perishable food item supports Beyond Hunger. 230 N. Euclid, Oak Park.Thursday, June 24, 7 p.m., Virtually through Illinois Libraries

School Supply Collection

Storytimes in the Park

Story Garden

Fit/Lit Challenge

Weekdays through Aug. 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oak Park Township Office Donate to students in need so they are prepared for the 2021-2022 school year. New supplies, such as paper, notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, markers and folders, are accepted in a donation box at the Township Office. Or order and ship from an Amazon wish list: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ ls/71PY5B4P85VL?ref_=wl_share. Coordinated by Youth Services. Questions: 708-445-2727, mgale@oakparktownship.org. 105 S. Oak Park Ave.

Wednesdays through Aug. 18, 10 to 10:30 a.m.

Various Oak Park Parks The Oak Park Public Library is partnering with the Park District of Oak Park to bring books, songs and more to neighborhoods this summer. For families with kids 0-5.

Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Bring your own blanket and hand sanitizer. Limited to 12 families, with masks. Weather permitting. More: oppl.org June 30 - Euclid Square Park, 705 W. Fillmore July 7 - Lindberg Park, 1151 N. Marion St. July 14 - Taylor Park, 400 W. Division St.

Mondays through Aug. 15, River Forest Public Library Visit the front garden anytime for a self-guided story tour. New books are put out Monday mornings. All ages.

735 Lathrop Ave.

Through Saturday, Sept. 4, Zoom Discord Channel and various sites with the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Here is a way to combine physical fitness with reading this summer. Join weekly socially-distanced outings to places like the Eugene Field Memorial in the Lincoln Park Zoo or the Gwendolyn Brooks statue in Brooks Park. Let others know about your own outings (and invite others if you feel comfortable). Once, every other week, typically Sunday evenings, join Zoom sessions to talk about what’s been seen and read. Free; donation optional. More/ register: chicagoliteraryhof.org/events_entry/summer2021-fit-lit

Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia Caregiver Support Wednesday, June 30, 4 to 5 p.m., Zoom with Oak Park Public Library “Dementia 101” is an introduction to Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Learn about risk factors, common symptoms and available resources. Q&A follows. Presented by dementia experts at Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center. (Este evento se ofrecerá en español el 14 de julio, 10-11 a.m.) Register: oppl.org/calendar

Outdoor Storytime Mondays and Thursdays through Aug. 19, 10 to 10:30 a.m., River Forest Public Library Come to the front garden for a socially-distanced story time for children, birth to age 5. No registration required.

Weather permitting. 735 Lathrop Ave.

Reading Colors Your World Sign up and start now, with the Oak Park Public Library Kids ages 3 through rising ninth-graders can participate in the summer reading program. The goal is to find joy everywhere – in books, in mind and body, in art, in music, in science and nature, and in the world. There are prizes and beads for completing categories. Track participation through Beanstack. Younger children can join the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. Sign up/more: oppl.org/category/news-events/kids

Thursday Night Out Through Sept. 9, 5 to 8 p.m Downtown Oak Park (DTOP) More than 20 restaurants offer a variety of drinks, appetizers, entrees and desserts, available through ticket purchases and special menus. Diners may eat inside, take carry out, or dine al fresco. Four dinearound tickets per $20 booklet. Each dine-around ticket buys one Thursday Night Out (TNO) menu item. Buy two ticket booklets, receive a $5 DTOP gift certificate for participating shops on any TNO. Booklets available at the tent on Lake and Marion.

Tie Dye Friday, July 2, 2 to 4 p.m.

River Forest Public Library Bring a clothing item to tie dye and learn tips on how to make the best designs with the vibrant colors provided. Held outside, weather permitting. All ages.

Register for a 30-minute slot: riverforestlibrary. librarymarket.com/events/ month/2021/07. 735 Lathrop Ave.

Idea Box: Pride Through Tuesday, July 13, Main Library Celebrate Pride Month with an Idea Box window display.

Learn about the Pride flag and its evolving design representative of people’s different identities, test trivia knowledge with Kahoot and explore book recommendations. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

5

No Oak Park Fourth of July parade, nor fireworks

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The village of Oak Park will not be hosting its annual Fourth of July parade for the second year in a row. The parade was called off last year due to COVID-19. Despite the state being reopened, a lack of preparedness due to the uncertainty of the pandemic has similarly caused this year’s parade to not go forward as well.

“Nobody had a crystal ball,” said Village President Vicki Scaman.

Planning for the parade usually begins in January. Last January, no one could pinpoint when the state would allow large gatherings to resume and the vaccination effort was still in its early stages.

The Community Relations Commission (CRC) typically handles the planning alongside the village’s Community Relations Department. In July of last year, six out of seven commissioners resigned, leaving Glenn Brewer the CRC’s sole member. Had the CRC been fully manned, planning would have still been difficult as most commissions were not meeting due to COVID-19.

Only two members of village staff comprise the Community Relations Department, Scaman said. A large-scale event such as an Independence Day celebration would be difficult enough for two people to plan, the village president believes, even if the department had not been busy with COVID-19

File photo

ON HOLD: Members of the TranscenDance Studios perform during the Fourth of July parade which was last held in 2019. Oak Parkers will have to wait another year for a parade. response.

“They had a lot going on,” she said.

The Community Relations Department has been creating COVID-19 awareness educational tools, Scaman noted, including a playlist of YouTube videos ranging in topics from the importance of masks to the vaccination clinics led by the village’s health department.

Multiple groups, many with young members, also have participated in the parade in previous years, including the Percy Julian Middle School Marching Band. Schools were primarily remote this past school year, giving the young musicians little to no opportunity for practicing a parade routine.

“To ask them to plan for participating in the Fourth of July parade when they

weren’t meeting all year — that’s a lot,” said Scaman.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only authorized the vaccination of 12-year-olds in May, but parade attendance is largely made up of young children and their parents. While adults can easily get the COVID-19 vaccination, kids under age 12 cannot.

“It’s those young people who are going to be shoulder-to-shoulder watching the parade,” said Scaman.

With 40 percent of Oak Park’s population still unvaccinated, the village president noted that many residents who live along the parade route might not feel comfortable having people congregate outside their homes and along nearby sidewalks.

Oak Park won’t have a fireworks display either this year. Fireworks are paid for by community sponsors, not the village of Oak Park. Community Bank, now Byline, and Wednesday Journal contributed to the displays in previous years. Byline Bank representatives did not respond to Wednesday Journal’s request for comment.

“We have sponsors who are willing to step up next year, but we didn’t have one in place for this year,” said Scaman.

Next year, Oak Park can expect the return of the parade as well as fireworks, according to Scaman, who added that Juneteenth will receive the same amount of village attention and funding as Independence Day.

Strong Leaders Who Define Excellence Thank you to Bruce Elegant, MPH, for 23 years of leadership as president and CEO of Rush Oak Park Hospital. Your Rush family will be forever grateful for the countless contributions you’ve made to improve and shape the care we provide to this community. We wish you well in your retirement.

Rush also welcomes Dino Rumoro, DO, MPH, as the new president and CEO of Rush Oak Park Hospital. He is a visionary leader who helped establish and transform Rush University Medical Center’s emergency department into the stateof-the-art center it is today. We know Rush Oak Park Hospital will continue its legacy as a premier community hospital under his leadership.

Excellence is just the beginning.

6

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

New Rush Oak Park CEO wants to engage in community Dr. Dino Rumoro wants healthier relationships, patients and processes

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Rush Oak Park Hospital doesn’t have the healthiest relationship with its neighbors, but the hospital’s incoming CEO Dr. Dino Rumoro hopes to begin healing past sore spots come July 1, when he officially assumes the role.

“There should be open discussions about how we can find a way to coexist,” said Rumoro, a trained emergency medicine physician. “If there’s any gaps in that, I’d like to take care of that.”

The new CEO plans to be proactive in opening the line of communication with the public. Rumoro is already trying to plan an event in late summer to give members of the community a chance to talk with him and ask questions.

“There’s probably a breakdown of what the different concerns are. And I think we should do an inventory of what that is,” said Rumoro. “I could address those in public meetings and different types of community sessions.”

The souring of relations with neighbors coincided with the hospital’s years-long growth period under Rumoro’s predecessor Bruce Elegant, which included the opening of the hospital’s 55,000-square-feet emergency department in 2019. As its campus and patient-base grew, so did the traffic in and out of the hospital facilities. Parking became an issue, as the available spaces on campus could no longer accommodate the number of hospital visitors, leading many to park along nearby residential streets.

“That’s always frustrating,” said Rumoro.

Rush Oak Park is in the process of converting four hospital-owned properties on Maple Street into a surface parking lot, according to Rumoro. The houses that used to sit on the properties have already been leveled. He believes the surface lot will allow for 80 patient parking spots. The hospital, part of the Rush University System for Health, is also working on funding to build the multi-story parking garage approved by the village government for Wenonah Avenue – and the primary source of neighbor concerns.

To safeguard against any further issues on the hospital campus and in surrounding neighborhoods, Rumoro hopes to do a deeper dive into parking.

“I’d like to see a parking study done,” he said. “I’d like to make sure that there’s not leakage of staff parking into the streets, into the community neighborhood.”

Rumoro understands the frustrations of neighbors who feel as though the Rush Oak Park is encroaching on their homes. He has seen similar changes where he lives in Winfield, with the expansion of Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital.

“I’ve watched that campus grow and just gobble up our entire downtown,” Rumoro said.

He has no current plans to leave Winfield to live in Oak Park but is already familiar with the village as his son and his cousin both serve in the Oak Park Police Department.

Rumoro also understands and shares the desire for a master plan that lays out any future plans for expansion of Rush Oak Park Hospital. The hospital does not have any such plan currently.

“Where’s our master plan? It’d be nice to know what it is, and I think we owe one to the community,” Rumoro said. “I definitely want one for myself and my team.”

The wider Rush University System for Health, under includes Rush Oak Park, is in the process of hiring a master planning consultant, according to Rumoro. He requested to have Rush Oak Park included in that master planning process.

Rumoro already has a successful track record of facilitating growth. As chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Rush University Medical Center, Rumoro oversaw major renovations to the center’s campus to increase patient care and experience, as well as supervised the creation of the Rush system’s emergency medicine residency program.

His expansion philosophy for Rush Oak Park is less to do with growing the physical campus, snapping up properties and building additions. Rather, he wants to renovate hospital as it already exists, so that the physical hospital mirrors the quality of care provided.

“My focus over the next three to five years is really just to upgrade current facilities,” he said.

Dino Rumoro Rumoro also hopes to identify which services could be moved to outpatient centers and establish those outpatient centers closer to where residents live, so that Rush Oak Park can grow the more specialized services it provides.

He’s already made progress in that particular goal as the hospital now plans to build an arrythmia center complete with electrophysiology lab to service patients with complex heart conditions. The center will not interfere with the neighborhood, as it will be built underneath the emergency department.

During his six-month transition period, Rumoro has already done some strategic planning himself to determine other areas for growth and whether the hospital should grow those areas on or off campus. When asked if he planned to share any future or impending plans with the community, he said he’d “love to.”

“There’s nothing to hide,” Rumoro said. “I’m very transparent.”

D200 updates public on equity policy procedures

By EBONY ELLIS Contributing Reporter

During a regular meeting on June 24, Oak Park River Forest High School District 200 officials provided an update on the implementation of the district’s racial equity policy.

The updates provided by the board were statuses of implementation for all 12 sections mentioned in the original 7:12 policy.

According to the procedure implementation update, six out the 12 sections of the racial equity policy have been fully implemented.

One of the sections that have only been partially implemented is “equity analysis.”

In coordination with policy 7:12, equity analysis is used to “help decision makers

consider racial equity when assessing policies, procedures, professional development and other practices.”

It is also supposed to help school employees choose options that will lessen the risk of racial inequity, implicit bias, and other related consequences.

The update states that next steps will include the expansion of the institutional use of the equity analysis tool for decision making. This means that Dr. Patrick Hardy, the incoming equity director, will provide professional learning on how to use the tool for the Board of Education, executive cabinet, the transformative education leadership team and the district equity leadership team.

Another section that has only been partially implemented is “resource allocation.”

This section is meant to produce a fair allocation of resources that cultivate high levels of student support and academic performance.

So far an evidence based funding model was presented. The next steps are to close the opportunity gaps. This can be done by measuring the impact of grants and contracts applied for by the district to improve student outcomes and assessing which student groups benefit from grant funded programs.

During the meeting, Mary Ann Mohanaj, an OPRFHS board member, made a comment concerning the section “welcoming school environment.” In her comment, she expressed her desires to see LGBTQ issues more explicitly stated in the racial equity policy.

“We developed a specific policy that’s also aligned to policy 7:12 which is the equal education opportunities policy that is specifically focused on our LGBTQ students and they are factored into this procedure as well,” said outgoing D200 Supt. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams. “Maybe we should be a little more specific on how those are aligned.”

Other board members expressed concerns about how district resources will be allocated to ensure that the racial equity policy is being adequately incorporated into the board’s decision-making.

Dr. LeVar Ammons, the outgoing equity director, said that the district has established a “clear process to identify” areas where funds need to be allocated.

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

7

Experienced Piano Teacher (All levels and styles)

Our Community Needs Community Journalism It’s not just about crime reports and board meetings. We also need inspiring, funny, heartwarming and, at times, heartbreaking stories about our friends, neighbors and children. Perhaps now, more than ever.

Let's build community!

Read and Support Wednesday Journal.

Call Dr. Harry Steckman (708) 533-0969 Bring Home a Taste of Some of your Favorite Moments

RibFest Every Day! Mickey’s is the place!

Mickey’s Rib Special 1/2 Slab Dinner Full Slab Dinner B.B.Q. RIBS & CHICKEN BURGERS & HOT DOGS

$11.99

$17.99

includes fries or baked potato, coleslaw and garlic bread

525 N Harlem Ave, Oak Park (708) 848-3333 11am - 9pm Daily

3 Vienna Hot Dogs w/ Fries $ .49

8

Italian Beef Sandwich w/ Fries $ .49

8

Wednesday

Gyros Plate Dinner 1 lb meat, 2 pita breads, fries & 3 cups sauce $10.99

Every day Special!

Gyros with fries $7.99

1/4 Lb Double Cheeseburger

Big Mickey! $ .99

2

Partner with us.

Donate at GrowingCommunityMedia.org

Growing Community Media NFP is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization

advertise • 708-524-8300 • www.OakPark.cOm

8

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Trinity’s plans for enclosed courtyard approved

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

Trinity High School in River Forest will undertake a $2.8 million building project after being given a green light by the village board, June 28.

Village trustees voted unanimously to grant a major amendment to the existing Planned Development permit, which will allow school officials to construct an enclosed walkway between the academic building and the gymnasium and construct an enclosed courtyard along the east side of the school. The link will include an elevator to access all floors in the academic building. The Planned Development permit was granted in July 2002 when school officials constructed the gymnasium.

Asked on June 28 when school officials hope to start construction, Laura Curley, Trinity president, said, “Tomorrow.”

Construction is expected to begin in July with the target for completion the school’s Christmas break in December.

School officials said the courtyard will be a place for students to be outside in a secured area with landscaping and seating for educational use and enjoyment. It will be protected by a wrought-iron fence. The addition will allow students to walk from their classes in the academic building to physical education classes in the athletic center within an enclosed secure building rather than walking outside, which is the current situation.

The one-story enclosed walkway will be topped with a green roof and the courtyard will be constructed with permeable pavers. Curley noted that the elevator will replace one that dates back to the 1920s.

According to Curley, construction is not expected to have an impact on the neighborhood, which is residential. She said an area in the school parking lot has been designated for construction materials and parking for construction

workers. She assured elected officials that the school parking lot has sufficient space for faculty/staff, student and visitor parking and that parking on neighborhood streets will not occur. She indicated that those living on the neighboring streets are in the habit of calling the school office when they see students parking there.

The project will require the removal of three mature trees.

School officials plan to replace them with three new trees but the village requires trees to be replaced on a caliper-by-caliper basis or an in-lieu fee will be charged. Curley explained that the campus does not have sufficient space to allow additional new tree plantings and said the school will make a donation to the fund the village uses to plant new trees.

Curley’s presentation was generally well-received by elected officials with Trustee Lisa Gillis expressing pleasure with the environmentally-friendly components of a green roof and permeable pavers.

River Forest extends communications firm

Vicarious Multimedia to expand its services

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

Vicarious Multimedia will continue to assist River Forest staff members with the village’s beefed-up communications program for three more months following action by the village board on June 28.

Since March, Vicarious, based in Arlington Heights, has been assisting with the village’s website; Facebook and Instagram channels; the weekly E-newsletter; and the monthly full community E-newsletter that includes information from other taxing bodies. With administrative staff shorthanded since Eric Palm left his village administrator post in February, the decision was made to hire a third-party consultant to assist with communications work, using funds that had been budgeted for salary/ benefits in the administration department, which were within the spending authority of Lisa Scheiner, the acting village administrator. However, Scheiner’s spending authority for this engagement has been exhausted, requiring approval of the village board to continue using Vicarious’ services, which was given unanimously June 28.

The contract will cost $17,600 for the threemonth period.

In a memo to the village board, Jonathan Pape, assistant to the village administrator, and Sara Phyfer, management analyst/ deputy clerk, explained that the quantity of communications the village produced throughout 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic had increased to keep pace with the changing circumstances and in recognition of the village’s position as a trusted source of information. Although the necessary

frequency of the communications has decreased since the height of the pandemic, staff members have realized the benefits of distributing briefer, more frequent communications.

A request for proposals for communication services was distributed in December, and Vicarious was one of three firms interviewed, ultimately being engaged for an initial term of three months, March, April and May. The contract was subsequently extended for an additional month. The village has paid Vicarious $19,999 for four months of services.

H-O-R-S-E Erik Osterkil, left, of Oak Park, and Tafesse Jenks, of Atlanta, play a game of HORSE at the Stevenson Park basketball courts on Lake Street in Oak Park.

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

A presentation, June 28, by Melanie Santostefano, founder and president of Vicarious, was generally well-received by elected officials. In her presentation, Santostefano explained that Vicarious, which she founded in 2004, has experience with municipalities, currently serving five in the Chicago area. In addition to working with local government, the multifaceted communications firm works with closely-held businesses, nonprofits and professional associations.

Since March, Vicarious migrated the village’s E-newsletter format to Constant Contact and assisted in the creation of a

robust social media content schedule. As a result, the E-newsletter subscriber list has increased 3.4 percent and the social media engagement has increased 13.3 percent.

Based on recommendations by Vicarious staff members, the village plans to redesign the monthly full community E-newsletter and launch Nextdoor as an additional social media communications channel. The redesigned E-newsletter would be an eight-page digital-only publication with the first issue appearing in August. Nextdoor is a hyperlocal social networking service that focuses on neighborhoods.

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

9

‘I’m the first, but I don’t want to be the last,’ Welch says

State’s first Black House Speaker says his position allows young Black kids to see themselves in the role

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Equity Editor

Sworn into office in January, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, who lives in Hillside, said life has changed markedly since ascending to his new position.

Welch said during an interview on June 28, that he had to fend off 3,000 text messages that began as soon as people realized he was the front-runner for the position. Once sworn in, the calls came.

“I’ve gotten calls from Gov. Pritzker and Willie Brown, the first Black speaker of the California General Assembly and former mayor of San Francisco,” Welch said. “Nancy Pelosi called me out of the blue. I didn’t answer her call, because it was an unrecognized number.”

Welch said he didn’t imagine that on Jan. 8, while driving down to Springfield, he would be the new speaker less than a week later. His mind was set on helping re-elect Mike Madigan, the longest-serving leader of a state or federal legislative body in U.S. history.

But things began to snowball quickly when even Madigan himself realized that he wouldn’t get the required 60 votes to keep his job.

Welch said he was going through security

Photo by Michael Romain

MR. SPEAKER: Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch in front of his district offices in Westchester. He’s expanded his office complex since becoming house speaker. at the Bank of Springfield Center, where the General Assembly had been meeting during the pandemic, and he saw another unrecognized number.

“I normally wouldn’t answer, but I did and it’s Speaker Madigan,” Welch said. “I asked him to hold for a second so I could put my bags down. He says, ‘I’m calling to let you know I’m suspending my campaign for speaker. I think it’s time to allow someone else an opportunity to get the 60 votes.’

And then he says, ‘Chris, do you want to be speaker?’”

Welch said Madigan gave him some advice. Secure the backing of the Illinois House Black Caucus and the Latino Caucus.

“And he goes, ‘I should’ve started here — call your wife,’” Welch recalled, adding that the moment was so overwhelming he could barely compose himself while on the phone with his better half.

“By the time I called ShawnTe, I was a

mess,” he said.

What was the moment that really prompted him to realize the significance of what had happened?

“The time that it sunk in was on Martin Luther King Day,” Welch said. “I’m at home.

I hadn’t slept in a week, so I finally got some sleep and I’m having breakfast with ShawnTe and the kids and my son Tyler says out of the blue, just out of the blue, ‘Daddy, when was Illinois founded?’ I said, ‘1818.’

“And I can see his face doing the calculation. He said, ‘That was over 200 years ago and you’re the first Black person to have your job?’ I said, ‘Yeah, son,’ and that’s what King was fighting for. For us to have those opportunities. I wish I had a photo of his face or a video at that point, because his face was what really hit me. He realized what a big moment it was for our family, for me, for the state. That’s what got me.”

Life’s changed for Welch personally, he said. In the hours and days following the Jan. 6 Insurrection in Washington, D.C., there was security assigned to protect his home 24/7.

“Here was my Black face on every newspaper cover in the state,” Welch said, explaining the heightened risk he and government officials around the country faced during that time.

But there’s a positive flip side to the exposure, he said.

“I’m the first Black speaker, but I definitely don’t want to be the last,” Welch said.

“Now, Black kids across the state can say, ‘I can be that, because I can see that.’”

Read the full story at oakpark.com.

New map shows stark Oak Park-Austin digital divide The National Telecommunications and Information Administration published the interactive map in June

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Equity Editor

Earlier this month, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released an interactive map that starkly illustrates the geographic, economic and racial disparities in broadband access across the country.

The map takes a range of public and private data — including speed tests, percentage of downloads and census data relating to households that have internet access — and applies it to census blocks.

Oak Park and Austin are separated by one street, Austin Boulevard, but the digital divide is wide.

None of the four census tracts in Oak Park along Austin Boulevard, between North Avenue and the Eisenhower Expressway, dip below 18% of households without internet ac-

cess.

Meanwhile, the percentage of households without internet access in the five census tracts in Austin along Austin Boulevard, between North Avenue and Eisenhower, ranges from a low of 22% without access in the tract closest to North Avenue to a high of 49% without access in the census tract between South Boulevard and Madison Street.

The most connected census tract in Oak Park, according to the map, is roughly bounded by Division Street, Ridgeland Avenue, South Boulevard and Kenilworth. Here, less than 1% of households lack internet access and virtually none lack devices for connecting to the internet.

According to censusreporter.org, the tract’s median age is 43, per capita income is $90,803 and median household income is $206,184. The tract is 81% white, 6% Asian, 5% Black and 3% Hispanic. Four percent of residents are below the poverty line.

The least connected census tract in Oak Park, according to the NTIA map, is located between South Boulevard, Austin Boulevard, Madison Street and Ridgeland. Here, roughly 18% of households are without internet access and 11% are without a computer, smartphone or tablet.

The tract’s median age is 39, per capita income is $48,286 and median household income is $59,808, according to cen-

susreporter.org. The tract is 54% white, 28% Black, 9% Hispanic and 6% Asian. Twelve percent of residents are below the poverty line.

In the past, local governmental bodies in Oak Park have sought to mitigate this digital divide. For instance, District 97 launched its Internet for All program, which provides free home internet service to D97 students in kindergarten through eighth grades, in 2017.

And last year, as students learned from home, Oak Park and River Forest High School offered free Wi-Fi hotspots to any students who needed them.

Nationally, the digital equity divide has been a focus of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan, which allocates $65 billion for investing in universal broadband.

In the meantime, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) offers up to $50 a month discounts on broadband service and related equipment rentals, along with a onetime discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet or desktop computer. For more information on the program, visit: https://getemergencybroadband.org/.

You can view the NTIA’s interactive map online at: https:// bit.ly/3x921OM.

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

10

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Oak Park approves consultant review of police records Changes to include creation of interactive reports

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Village Board approved a request from the Oak Park Police Department to hire a consulting firm to conduct a review of the department’s current record management system. The work will allow the department to respond faster to the increasing number of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, according to Chief LaDon Reynolds.

“We don’t have the technology on board to facilitate answering those FOIA requests, so we can provide that information timely,” said Reynolds, during the board’s June 28 meeting.

The $35,240 contract with CISYNC LLC, a firm specializing in public safety visualizations and data mining, lasts one year with the option to renew for two additional oneyear periods.

CISYNC is tasked with creating “an interactive library of records management system reports customizable to the needs” of the police department, according to the professional services agreement. The firm will also analyze current system configurations

and automate certain processes, as well as create interactive citizen-facing reports and dashboards.

“This is just furthering my efforts in the police department to be more transparent, more agile in being able to respond to the myriad of requests we’ve received in the past several years,” said Reynolds, who added that the FOIA requests are also coming from the state’s attorney and defense attorneys, as well as citizens.

The agenda item was on the June 24 meeting agenda but tabled until the June 28 meeting as Trustee Arti Walker-Peddakotla, who pulled it from the consent agenda for discussion, was unable to attend the previous meeting, held on a Thursday due to prior village internet complications.

Trustee Susan Buchanan read a statement from Walker-Peddakotla, June 24, wherein the absent trustee referenced criminal law professors who have spoken out against using crime statistics to justify growth in policing.

“Instead of reporting crime stats, we need to start talking about racial profiling and disproportionate stops,” Buchanan read on behalf of Walker-Peddakotla.

During the June 28 meeting, Walker-Peddakotla explained her reasoning for pulling the item from the consent agenda was a desire to have the proposal sent to the Citizen Police Oversight Committee (CPOC) for examination.

she was “happy” to let the “I would like CPOC to just review the proposal and see proposal go to a vote. if, in their opinion, this is “I will be voting no, just something that we should given the fact that we don’t engage with, and then bring have commission input on that recommendation back this issue,” she said. to the village board,” WalkOther board members were er-Peddakotla said. “I do puzzled as to why Walkerwant CPOC’s voice in this.”

Peddakotla, who has conCPOC is a citizen-based sistently called for greater advisory commission that ARTI WALKERPEDDAKOTLA transparency from the poevaluates complaints made lice department during her Village trustee against police regarding time as trustee, would want conduct, as well as interperto vote against an initiative sonal and community relathat would make records tions issues. Trustee Jim more accessible.

Taglia reminded the board Ravi Parakkat understood Walker-Peddathat the ordinance under which the commitkotla’s concerns about crime statistics but tee operates does not include reviewing conviewed the proposal as a move forward in tracts related to law enforcement.

“I understand Arti’s point, but CPOC’s en- creating more visibility for outsiders into abling ordinance does not give it the author- the police department.

“I don’t see the harm in this,” Parakkat ity to review this,” Taglia said. said.

“It seems like a step in the right direcWalker-Peddakotla was undeterred by the limitations of the ordinance. Rather, she tion for transparency.”

Village President Vicki Scaman was also parlayed them into an opportunity to call for ordinance revision, stating she believed confused, which she told Walker-Peddakotit should be within the committee’s author- la.

“This is about software, not about our poity to review the proposal.

“It’s a really clear example to me of CPOC, licing policies in anyway,” the village presias it is, is not an oversight body that we need dent said.

The board approved the services agreeit to be,” she said.

Nevertheless, Walker-Peddakotla stated ment in a 6-1 vote.

“Instead of reporting crime stats, we need to start talking about racial profiling and disproportionate stops.”

Do you want to keep your public officials accountable?

Support Community Journalism.

Buy a subscription.

Call 708.524.8300

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

11

Oak Parker’s film explores Tibetans in exile ‘Others Before Self’ streams virtually through Siskel Film Center, July 2

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Equity Editor

How does a culture survive while under threat from a dominant power? That’s a theme flowing through much of Oak Park filmmaker Seth McClellan’s work. His 2017 documentary, Little Wound’s Warriors, profiled high school students on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota as they try to maintain their Lakota heritage amid a suicide epidemic.

McClellan’s most recent film, “Others Before Self,” is an intimate portrait of life in the Tibetan Children’s Village, a boarding school for young refugees from Tibet that’s located in Dharamsala, India. The school was founded by the Dalai Lama in 1960, in order to care for young people who had been orphaned or separated from their parents after the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950. The Dalai Lama be gan his permanent exile in 1959.

But while McClellan’s latest film continues his exploration of cultural resilience, its existence was far from preconceived. In fact, he got the idea after a chance encounter in early 2019 at Beer Shop in Downtown Oak Park. That’s where he met Mark Fredisdorf, a fellow Holmes parent and former school superintendent who has worked extensively with Tibetans in exile.

“Who else would be in a bar at 1:30 in the afternoon, in the middle of the week, except for parents waiting for their kids to get out of school?” Fredisdorf said.

“Seth is an amazing guy and has this incredible perception. One thing led to another and he told me about being a filmmaker and the work he’s done with indigenous populations, and I mentioned that, during my career, I’ve worked with Tibetans in exile.”

Fredisdorf said McClellan, a tenured instructor of mass communication at Triton College, “just started drilling me with these intense questions about the whole situation.”

The conversation turned into an invitation for McClellan to learn more about exiled Tibetans and their history with Communist China, which ultimately turned into an hourlong documentary that McClellan shot in the summer of 2019, right before the pandemic hit.

“My last movie, Little Wound’s Warriors, engaged with how young people, particularly young people in a vulnerable, traumatized community, regain their cultural identity — that’s a really interesting question,” McClellan said.

“Amid climate change and geopolitical realignments in the next decades, it looks like the question of how cultures keep a sense of cohesiveness in the midst of upheaval may be one of the great questions of our time.”

In the film, students in the Tibetan Children’s Village recount their harrowing experiences fleeing Chinese persecution. Parents are killed, jailed or disappeared. China has even banned any image of the Dalai Lama from being displayed in Tibet.

According to the Tibetan government in exile, more than 1 million Tibetans have been killed since the start of the Chinese occupation.

“The film focuses on the perspective of these children who have experienced terrible trauma in their lives and who are served by these villages that turn them into compassionate, productive citizens,” said Fredisdorf, who first became

Seth McClellan acquainted with Tibetans in exile when he was working as an administrator at the American Embassy School in New Delhi, India. He said Tibetans in exile had visited the school in an effort to modernize their own educational processes while maintaining their rich cultural integrity.

McClellan said everyone, particularly Americans, can learn a lot from the example set by Tibetans in exile.

“We have to get back to the principles of Martin Luther King, the Dalai Lama and Gandhi — and those are the principles of non-violence and compassion,” McClellan said.

Others Before Self will start streaming via rental at the Gene Siskel Film Center’s virtual screening, from July 2 through Aug. 5.

For more information on “Others Before Self,” visit: facebook.com/othersbeforeselfmovie or siskelfilmcenter.org.

Riveredge CEO resigns to start private practice

By MARIA MAXHAM Staff reporter

Carey Carlock has resigned as CEO of Riveredge Psychiatric Hospital in Forest Park after 13 years in that capacity. Her resignation letter to coworkers and staff was more like a love letter than a resignation letter, she said, and she plans to stay connected and involved; she’s still on the board of UHS, the parent organization overseeing Riveredge.

“My position at Riveredge has been the privilege and responsibility of my career, but it’s time,” Carlock said. “The team is in a good place, and I will stay connected.”

Her plans now include starting a private therapy practice, featuring what she calls “care navigation,” a sorely needed service for families dealing with mental illness.

Construction will begin in July on her new office space in the Oak Park Arts District, and Carlock expects Mosaic Counseling and Wellness to open early in 2022.

“A mosaic is created when lots of broken pieces come together to create something beautiful,” Carlock said about the name.

The focus of her practice will be “wellness, not illness,” she explained, “care that’s infused with hope because treatment works.”

Many people who try to access mental health care discover it’s not as easy as it

should be. There’s no roadmap said. Part of that is providing to mental and emotional wellresources. If someone comes to being, and even the starting Mosaic needing help that Carlock point isn’t always clear. Where can’t provide, like intensive outpado you find a therapist? How do tient services or care for an eating you know if they’re any good? disorder, the treatment team at Will they take your insurance?

Mosaic will provide recommendaMany therapists don’t have tions on where the individual will openings for weeks, sometimes best be served. months, especially if you’re Mosaic will serve people of all looking for a child specialist. ages and include family and group CAREY CARLOCK Med management is generally counseling. Family therapy will done through a psychiatrist, be available not just for family who is seen separately, and patients have to units having trouble in their relationships, sign releases so that doctor can talk to the but also because the mental health of one therapist and vice versa for dose adjust- family member can affect an entire housements. But communication isn’t always ef- hold, and parents, for example, might need fective or efficient. And, of course, there’s advice on helping their child.

“It’s about how to partner with a loved one the stigma of mental health in general.

“People are struggling,” Carlock said. even if there is no family conflict,” Carlock “Compassionate care is out there, but said.

Group therapy will be available at Mosaic, there’s not enough timely, safe, culturally appropriate access to care. That’s why I’m too, and the setting of the arts district in Oak Park lends itself to that well as with doing this.”

Carlock’s idea of care navigation means plans to integrate art therapy such as muMosaic will be a one-stop-shop for mental sic, drama and dance into her practice.

“Some people aren’t as open to talk-therahealth care. The practice will have a psychiatrist and therapists on staff, so med man- py,” said Carlock, who admits to having “an agement can be done in one place by profes- unbridled bias toward creative arts.”

At Riveredge, there’s a robust program of sionals working together.

“I want to make accessing the mental art therapy, and that’s something she plans health system more welcoming,” Carlock to implement at Mosaic as well. She recalled

a boys’ group that began each session with a drum circle. The participants listened to each other and focused on staying on beat with one another, and that helped them gel as a team, which facilitates talking and communication later.

She herself recently participated in an improve-for-therapists class, and she said it’s something she’s considering using in a social anxiety group at her new practice.

During her time at Riveredge, Carlock talked often about ending the stigma attached to mental illness, and that’s still her bigger mission as she embarks on her new path.

“What other illness would you have where you’d suffer silently?” she asked. “It’s courageous to ask for help. We need to change the narrative. We need to suffer less.”

Over the past 13 years at Riveredge, she said, the hospital itself has gone through changes.

“Riveredge has participated in its own recovery, in a way,” Carlock said. When she arrived, she realized the importance of creating bonds within the community so that Riveredge wasn’t just a hospital sitting alone on Roosevelt Road. She worked hard to establish relationships with village officials, the Chamber of Commerce, and other businesses.

12

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

ART BEAT

I

‘Brain Dance’ chronicles second chances

t could happen to anyone.

One misty October Sunday afternoon in 2005, I was returning to my Oak Park home after a visit to a Chicago gym. Relaxed and listening to music while waiting at a red light on Austin, I caught a glimpse of a car approaching from the left that was traveling too fast.

Before I could comprehend what was happening, the car slammed into mine, and my life would never be the same.

Fast forward to April 2021 and the release of my memoir, Brain Dance: My Journey with Invisible Illness, Second Chances, and the Wonders Guest Columnist of Applied Neuroscience, which became an Amazon number-one bestseller in both neuroscience and Buddhism that same week. I believe in the power of human stories, my husband and I are beyond thrilled.

A moderate concussion, which became an illness I couldn’t see, wasn’t easily recognized by medical professionals, and once recognized, no one would talk about, impacted my life every single day.

Brain Dance tracks my journey through several goofy situations when I was injured and my brain wouldn’t let me know it, how it felt to lose my sense of self, seeking neurofeedback treatment from Dr. Elsa Baehr, a pioneer in the field, feeling called to become a neurotherapist when I still

DIANE GRIMARD WILSON

couldn’t drive our car and, eventually, a tearful account of attempting the three-hour board certification exam to become a neurofeedback practitioner.

But Brain Dance isn’t all science, treatment and recovery.

It includes vignettes of train rides with Eckhart Tolle; a Rocky Mountain retreat with the venerable Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh — a life-changing experience; the joy of taking up singing with the Unity Temple choir; and an exciting venture into day-trading stocks from my husband’s retirement account.

I recount the trepidation and humor of my trek to Boston in 2019. I presented my medical memoir book idea to a ballroom packed with doctors and publishing professionals at the annual Harvard Medical School Writing and Publishing Conference for Health Care Professionals.

One outcome was Harvard’s Dr. Inna Khazan agreeing to be a pre-publication reviewer. She described Brain Dance as, “beautifully written, entertaining, engaging, humorous and informative. … It reads like a novel.”

But there’s more to Brain Dance than my accident, recovery and the happenings along the way. It has a mission.

I wrote it because I felt my story was one people need to hear. I’m one of the lucky ones. I have made a full recovery.

There are many others who have suffered a brain injury that seemed minor, but it changed their lives dramatically and no one understood — not them, their families, friends or caretakers. Even early head injuries can have an impact later when untreated.

I have seen this in my coaching practice with people who feel they can never quite execute on what they need to do or stop themselves from impulsive behaviors that get them

in trouble. They suffer immensely. Recent research found a high level of head injury among females in the prison system and, I suspect, injury and the resulting impairment is high among those who experience homelessness and perhaps even addictions.

We want to blame individuals for life circumstances that likely have to do with brain health. But brain injuries can happen to anyone without notice or permission.

The human brain is magnificent and one of the most powerful parts of us. Yet we know little about it and how things like concussion, trauma and even minor head bumps can impact a life. But we are learning and becoming more aware. Brain awareness is the mission of Brain Dance.

We all deserve a second chance to create a life we feel proud of, to meet our goals and even to dance.

Diane Grimard Wilson is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Board Certified in Neurofeedback. She also hosts the podcast, “Genius: Sciencing Our Human Potential” (GeniusPodcast.us).

Purchase “Brain Dance” at the Book Table and BrainDanceBook.com

Road Trip on the Horizon?

Let us know we’ll hold your paper!

Email: circulation@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

13

Harvest Market raises $670K in radiothon donations

Youth led produce market in Austin to build storefront

By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

Just one year ago, Rodney Williams, director of entrepreneurship and development at By the Hand Club for Kids, 415 N. Laramie, was sitting in a peace circle with a group of frustrated youth. In the wake of George Floyd’s murder area protests led to some violent unrest in Austin and left participants in By the Hand’s afterschool program concerned for their community.

“They were voicing frustration,” said Williams. “They were seeing unrest in their community and were also grappling with COVID-19 lockdowns and virtual learning, but it was clear these kids were committed to building their community the right way.”

In fact, a liquor store located directly across the street from By the Hand had been looted and burned during a night of rioting.

By the Hand purchased the property and tore down the building within six weeks of taking ownership. The frustrated students saw this as an opportunity to change their community from within and raised the idea of hosting a pop-up produce market on the vacant lot left behind after the liquor store was demolished.

“Austin has a population of 97,000,” said Williams. “We had 17 liquor stores and just 3 grocery stores. This is a food desert and the kids wanted to do something about that.”

Initially the entrepreneurial experiment was supposed to last just 12 weeks, but the community responded favorably to Harvest Market, 423 N. Laramie, and plans for a second season evolved naturally.

Last week, Harvest Market, with support

Photo by Melissa Elsmo

VIBE BOUQUET: Azariah Baker (left) and Neveah Hester customize a “vibe bouquet” with yarrow and roses based on their impression of a customer looking to brighten their home with fresh flowers. from Sam Acho, a former Chicago Bear, and Athletes for Justice, received word that a WSCR-AM radiothon hosted by talk host Danny Parkins, generated more than $670,000 in donations to help build a permanent home for the pop-up market.

“We are not going anywhere,” said Azariah Baker, Harvest Market student-employee.

“A roof is the best way to show that.”

They may be peddling produce at afford-

able prices, but Williams is clear the primary focus of the program is developing entrepreneurs. Students earn a stipend for their work at Harvest Market and oversee everything from bookkeeping and purchasing to uniform design and furniture construction.

They manage partnerships with Jewel Osco and Flowers for Dreams to keep the market stocked. They worked closely with contractors to design the forthcoming brick and

mortar building that will eventually house Harvest Market.

“Nothing gets done without their approval,” said Williams. “School is their top priority of course, but I am here to work with students and their families to make sure this effort is 100% student led.”

The building should be completed by the end of 2021 and has been designed to maintain an open-air market feel. Plans included retractable walls and expanded refrigeration as well as a stage for local musicians to utilize. The space will also be used to host community events like pumpkin decorating in the fall and other holiday events throughout the year.

“You can only dream what you see,” said Williams. “Some of the kids in our program have never been to Oak Park. They live in Chicago but have never seen the Bean. But this market shows them what is possible in their own community. The best thing people can do is come out to shop and encourage the kids” Williams hopes the success of Harvest Market will serve as a template for other organizations to their do their part to improve their communities “the right way.”

Harvest Market will temporarily relocate across the street while construction is underway, but the market will continue to operate at 423 N. Laramie on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. until they break ground.

Success for Taste the Town 3 despite service hiccup

Partial refunds being offered to cover the cost of unexpected food shortage

By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

Take Out 25 Oak Park, the online community dedicated to supporting local restaurants, hosted its third Taste the Town event on June 24. The event raised more than $25, 000 for New Moms and five Austin and Galewood area restaurants.

Two hundred tickets were sold, and funds raised through ticket sales were dispersed through a predetermined formula. New Moms earned more than $5,000 in donations and took $10 of each $85 dollar bag sold. Ben’s Bar Be Cue, Catering Out of the Box, Schweet Foods and Wild Fish and Beef are each expected to earn $3,100 for their participation in the fundraiser.

Last minute challenges prevented Butter and Brown Bis-

tro from participating in the event and their offerings were not included in the bag. Austin Schramer, licensed environmental health practitioner with the Oak Park Health Department, was on site and determined the food delivered by Butter and Brown Bistro did not meet temperature requirements for safe service. All participants were made aware of strict temperature requirements prior to the event.

“While it was unfortunate it played out this way, we couldn’t have made a different choice; the decision was made with safety and community health in mind,” said Ravi Parakkat, Takeout 25 founder and a village trustee. “I want to reassure the restaurant owner that there will be money coming their way to cover their food costs.”

Parakkat indicated that Lanell Brown, co-owner of Butter and Brown Bistro, was disappointed the food he prepared could not be included in the Taste the Town bag. As a result, Brown is offering a 10% discount to any Taste the Town participant who did not take the refund option. Brown has a list of people qualified for the discount. He looks forward to welcoming guests into his restaurant at 420 Austin Blvd. in Oak Park.

Parakkat admits they had a difficult time getting the word out about the change in food quantity leading to frustration among some participants. In an apologetic post to Facebook, Taste the Town organizers expressed appreciation for members’ patience, understanding and support and offered a $15 refund to account for the unexpected shortage.

The response to the post has been overwhelmingly positive with many people showing support for New Moms, Takeout 25, and Butter and Brown Bistro specifically. Commenters noted “these things happen” and declared the meal “delicious” and one reminded people to have “compassion” for the restaurant.

“There have been a few refund requests, but I do not expect it will be so much that Butter and Brown will not be able to cover their costs,” said Parakkat.

Both Wild Fish and Beef and Ben’s Bar Be Cue built an overage into their contributions allowing organizers to add extra food to many of the bags later in the evening.

Though Parakkat knows he and the Takeout 25 team will learn and grow from this experience he is undeterred and aims to host another Taste the Town event in late summer.

14

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

REYNOLDS

village manager. However, the village board and the community will have the opportunity to provide input into the decision, according to Scaman.

Reynolds is one of several consecutive Oak Park police officers to become chief of the department. Scaman would like to see that trend continue should Reynolds step down from page 1 as chief.

The United States Marshal Service is the United States’ “Do I doubt that there isn’t someone in our own departoldest federal law enforcement agency, formed during the ment that is ready for the leadership? No, I would not doubt presidency of George Washington through the Judiciary that at all,” she said.

Act of 1789. Some of the duties required of U.S. Marshals Scaman also said she would be very supportive of havinclude protection for the federal judiing a female law enforcement official ciary, as well as operating the U.S. Fednamed police chief. Shatonya Johnson eral Witness Protection Agency. U.S. currently serves as one of the departMarshals are also tasked with executment’s two deputy chiefs.

“I’m a big fan of women leadership,” ing federal arrest warrants, among Scaman said. other responsibilities.

Reynolds’ name was among four Reynolds has served on the Oak Park names sent to Biden by Durbin and police force since 1994. After rising Duckworth for consideration of three through the ranks of sergeant, comU.S Marshal positions in the northern mander, deputy chief and even interim district, central district and southchief, he became chief in 2018. He also ern district of Illinois. Durbin and VICKI SCAMAN serves on the Illinois Law Enforcement Duckworth recommended that former Village president Training and Standards Board, as well Bloomington police chief Brendan as the Illinois Commission on DiscrimHeffner continue serving as U.S. Marination and Hate Crimes. Reynolds has shal of the central district, a role he’s also taught criminal justice classes as held since 2018.

For the southern disan adjunct professor at Triton College trict, Durbin and Duckworth put forth and MacCormac College.

Air Force veteran Brad Maxwell, who Should he be named U.S. Marshal, was appointed marshal of the district in 2018, and Deputy that would leave the village without a police chief or soon U.S. Marshal David Davis. a village manager. Village Manager Cara Pavlicek will deDurbin and Duckworth created three screening commitpart in August to assume the role of village manager of tees comprised of members of the Illinois legal and law Northbrook. The village board only has the power to hire enforcement communities to review potential candidates, or remove the village manager. It does not have the power to whose professional records and qualifications were evaluname a new police chief. That responsibility belongs to the

New U.S. Marshal?

“Do I doubt that there isn’t someone in our own department that is ready for the leadership?

No, I would not doubt that at all.”

RYAN

Top volunteer from page 1 Her COVID-19 volunteer work began in May 2020, taking the temperatures of village employees. When the farmers market started up later last summer, Ryan continued taking temperatures of employees while also making sure that everyone complied with the mask requirement.

In January 2021, the Oak Park Health Department started hosting vaccination clinics. Ryan was a fixture during all phases of the vaccination rollout, traveling to different places in the village for each clinic, including nursing homes and schools.

“Debbie was definitely one of those faces that were at almost every single clinic we had,” said Gaurav Goankar, the village’s former emergency preparedness response coordinator. “She was there so much that almost all of our staff knew her by name.”

Ryan took on a multitude of different jobs at the clinics but spent most of her time registering patients. At one point, she even directed traffic, which she found rather enjoyable. Ryan often took double shifts and helped train new volunteers.

“There were times when I was on my feet the whole time,” she said. “We worked in

“We were doing the right thing.

Everybody had the same focus, which was just helping people.”

DEBBIE RYAN Volunteer

the cold and in the heat and in the rain and there were times when I wondered if I was going to make it through my shift.”

On certain clinic days, she saw “hundreds and hundreds” getting inoculated. The vil-

LaDon Reynolds ated by the committees. The committees also conducted interviews with candidates and contacted references. The two senators interviewed the finalists, as well as reviewed their records and consulted with each other to determine whose names to send to the president.

Biden will submit nominations to the U.S. Senate. Each nomination will be reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Durbin chairs. Following committee approval of each nomination, the U.S. Senate will vote on the nominee.

lage of Oak Park has reported that about 60 percent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated.

During patient registration, Ryan had to ask people to share if they had any underlying medical conditions. She saw many people who were HIV-positive or receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

“They’ve got to worry about chemo and now they’ve got to worry about this horrible disease. How do you do that?” she said. “I was overwhelmed for them.”

No matter how heartbreaking the situation, Ryan never once felt like quitting. She found fulfillment by helping others to protect themselves from the virus and would do it all again in a heartbeat.

“We were doing the right thing,” she said.

“Everybody had the same focus, which was just helping people.”

At times, Ryan encountered patients who were frightened by the prospect of receiving the vaccine. She remembers a particular incident during a clinic at one of the senior facilities with an elderly woman who was terrified.

“She was in her 90s and she was crying, saying, ‘Are you going to hurt me?’” Ryan recalled.

Ryan explained to the woman that no one was going to hurt her, that they were only giving her a shot to prevent her from catching the virus.

“But she was just so afraid,” Ryan said.

For the most part, people were mostly relieved and joyous to receive their vaccinations though, said Ryan. Many took pictures to mark the occasion. She considered documenting her experiences but felt a little uneasy taking pictures given all the suffering caused by COVID-19.

“I was happy when I saw people that were taking pictures, proud that they got their vaccine,” she said. “I think that probably encouraged a lot of people.”

Having put in considerable time and energy into seeing people vaccinated, Ryan’s contribution to the response effort did not go unnoticed by Goankar, who credits her for contributing to its overall success.

“She definitely played a very large part in why these clinics were so successful,” he said.

Ryan, however, is quick to point out that she was just one of a large number of people who assisted in the response, including those who sent meals to healthcare workers, which she said she wasn’t able to do. Nurses and doctors came out of retirement to volunteer at the clinics. Some volunteers would come directly from work. Others would sacrifice family time to be there.

“Maybe I put in more hours,” Ryan said.

“But that doesn’t make me any more special than the people who were there while their kids were in school or could only come once a week.”

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

15

C R I M E

Uber driver carjacked on Highland parked in the 500 block of South Humphrey Avenue between noon and 10:38 p.m., June 20.

■ The front license plate was removed from a 2004 Chevy Impala while the vehicle was parked in the 300 Block of North Lombard Avenue at 3:20 p.m., June 18. The estimated loss is $25.

■ A package containing bleach and Glade Plugins was taken from the front lobby of a building in the 900 block of North Austin Boulevard around 10:45 a.m., June 18. The estimated loss is $50.

An Uber driver was carjacked June 21 by an armed passenger. The driver, a Chicago resident, picked up the male passenger, who was wearing shorts but no shirt, at 7:31 p.m. in the 500 block of Highland Avenue. The shirtless man then pointed a handgun and demanded the Uber driver exit the vehicle. Once the driver exited, the offender hopped into the driver’s seat and fled the scene in the victim’s 2017 Hyundai Sonata, which was last seen traveling eastbound on Madison Street from Highland Avenue.

The estimated loss of the vehicle is $10,000.

Burglary ■ Someone was observed breaking into an unlocked and unattended 2016 Nissan Rogue and taking a bag, containing a cell phone and cosmetic products, from inside the vehicle at 8:10 a.m., June 21 in the 400 block of West Madison Street.

The estimated loss is $1,200.

■ A bicycle was taken from a garage with an unlocked side service door in the 400 block of South Humphrey Avenue around 11 p.m., June 19. The estimated loss of the bicycle is $280.

■ Someone broke into a 2010 Toyota Camry by shattering the front driver’s side window then took cash out of the vehicle and ransacked its interior and trunk between 4:30 p.m., June 20 and 7:10 a.m., June 21 in the 200 block of South Austin Boulevard. The estimated loss is $201.

■ A pressure washer and a welding machine were taken from an unlocked garage in the 6200 block of Roosevelt Road between 1:20 a.m. and 7 a.m., June 23. The estimated loss is $3,300.

■ A sweater, a sweatshirt, two pairs of prescription eyeglasses and a first aid kit were taken from an unlocked 2015 Chevrolet Equinox parked in the rear of a residence in the 200 block of North Kenilworth Avenue between 9 p.m., June 21 and 5:45 a.m., June 22. The estimated loss is $75.

■ A knife, pouch organizer and a flashlight were taken from an unlocked 2014 Hyundai hatchback parked in the rear of a residence in the 100 block of South Harvey Avenue between 2 p.m., June 21 and 8:15 a.m., June 22. The estimated loss is $484.

Theft

■ The catalytic converter was cut from a 2008 Toyota Prius parked in the 800 block of North Harvey Avenue between 11 a.m. and 2:24 p.m., June 18.

■ Someone took the passenger side mirror and the chrome from the rear driver’s side window of a 2016 Infiniti QX70 parked in the 400 block of North Taylor Avenue between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., June 18. The estimated loss is $2,500.

■ The catalytic converter was cut from a 2006 Toyota Prius

Sawa’s Old Warsaw Come Celebrate early from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. • Banquet Rooms Restaurant • Lounge

Sawa’s Old Warsaw

Criminal property damage Someone threw a piece of concrete at a window, breaking it and damaging a glass art panel between 6 p.m., June 18 and 9:20 a.m., June 20 in the 300 block of North Oak Park Avenue. The estimated value of the damage is $200.

Someone used a brick to break the rear window of a 2020 Subaru Forester parked in the 1000 block of South Maple Avenue between 6 p.m. and 8:20 p.m., June 21. The damage is estimated at $350.

■ These items, obtained from the Oak Park Police Department, came from reports June 21 through June 25 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded.

Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Stacey Sheridan

RESIDENTIAL — COMMERCIAL — RETAIL — CHURCHES — SCHOOLS

Y A D S ’ E ENTIN

T E F F REOPENING U B ST A F K A E BR OUR BUFFET

VAL

JULY 6              

Texas Style French Toast Apple wood Bacon Scrambled Eggs Potato Pancakes Kiszka (Polish Sausage) Sliced Ham Pork Sausage Links Apple Crepes Apricot Crepes Blueberry Crepes Cheese Crepes Fresh Fruit Raisin Bread English Muffins

Bloody Mary

Hours: 11am-4pm or Mimosa onlySaturday $6 Tuesday through All that plus Apple Juice, Orange Juice, Milk or Coffee... $15 per person

For only $9 per person!

Reservations recommended

Lunch ~ Noodles ‘n Ham Dinner ~ BBQ Pork Ribs 9200 W. Cermak Rd, Broadview 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

708-343-9040 $9 per person $13 per person

www.SawasOldWarsaw.com Smorgasbord • Lounge • Banquets • Carry Out • Catering & Delivery 9200 W. Cermak Road • Broadview, IL

www.SawasOldWarsaw.com

SERVING OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST SINCE 1976

16

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

BairdWarner.com

It’s easier here.®

935 N Grove Ave Oak Park | $969,000 Hughes Home Team

901 N Oak Park Ave Oak Park | $775,000 Keller Group Chicago

1126 Hayes Ave Oak Park | $679,000 Ann Keeney

192 N Marion St Oak Park | $659,000 Patricia McGowan

147 N Euclid Ave, Unit 406 Oak Park | $649,000 Hughes Home Team

531 S Ridgeland Ave Oak Park | $599,000 Keller Group Chicago

834 N Marion St Oak Park | $540,000 Catherine Simon-Vobornik

713 N Marion St Oak Park | $529,999 Patricia McGowan

325 N Grove Ave Oak Park | $496,500 Bobbi Eastman

1020 Madison St Oak Park | $495,000 Patricia McGowan

116 S Grove Ave, Unit D Oak Park | $469,000 Saretta Joyner

1029 Baldwin Ln Oak Park | $434,900 Swati Saxena

320 S Maple Ave, Unit D Oak Park | $429,000 Liz O’Connell

708 Highland Ave Oak Park | $419,000 Keller Group Chicago

3029 Maple Ave Berwyn | $399,000 The Dita Group

821 N Harlem Ave Oak Park | $329,000 Keller Group Chicago

426 S Lombard Ave, Unit 306 Oak Park | $219,000 Cathy Yanda

204 N Kenilworth Ave, # 1N Oak Park | $190,000 Catherine Simon-Vobornik

7346 Lake St, Unit GW River Forest | $139,000 Steve Green

828 N Austin Blvd, #3SW Oak Park | $110,000 Swati Saxena

1037 Chicago Ave. Oak Park, IL | 708.697.5900 | oakpark.bairdwarner.com Source: BrokerMetrics® LLC, 1/1/2019 - 12/ 31/2019Detached and Attached only. Chicagoland PMSA

17

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

NEED TO REACH US?

oakpark.com/real-estate email: buphues@wjinc.com

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Homes

A love letter to more than bricks and mortar

20 years later, it’s farewell to the backdrop of a family’s treasured memories

By E.C. DISKIN Guest Contributor

For my family, the pandemic inspired a lot of introspection and big decisions. One decision — to sell our house — led to this letter. I’m sharing not because my perspective is unique, but because I believe many of us feel romantic about the place we call home. I hope you enjoy.

W

hen I first saw you, your beautiful front door drew me in, as did the little front balcony above it, but I also noticed that someone had painted your beautiful copper gutters white and covered your beadboard soffits with aluminum.

Stepping inside, the charm of your age made me smile — like the 1920s mosaic flooring of the outer entry and powder room, the original mail slot built into the brick, the hardwood floors, arched entries, French doors, and 1920s hardware.

But 1970s carpet covered the stairs and the entire second floor. Decades-old wallpaper, intercoms and a tiny kitchen fitted with more ’70s soffits made it feel even smaller.

There was only one bathroom upstairs and no air-conditioning. But I knew we could be happy living inside your walls.

You were lovely and solid, an interesting mix of architectural influences, and you were across from a big park. I was pregnant with our first child, longing for more space and fewer stairs than our Wrigleyville townhome. I didn’t know a lot about Oak Park back then, but what I knew, I liked — its proximity to the city, diversity and varied historic architecture.

We made an offer — it was the first day you were on the market and we’d seen enough to know you wouldn’t last long enough to weigh the pros, cons or costs of renovation.

I thought you might be our five- to sevenyear house. After all, I loved renovation and design, and I assumed we’d fix you up and move on to the next.

Frankly, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere longer than that. I’d lived in Maryland, Texas, Virginia, New York and Chicago. I’ve always welcomed change and had a bit of wanderlust.

But here we are, 20 years later. As it turns out, you were all we needed. Yes, the kids’ bedrooms aren’t huge, but it meant our kids spent a lot of time outside of them. Yes, the

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

THEN AND NOW: By the time the Diskins bought their Elmwood Avenue home in Oak Park (above), it had long since lost its early 20th century charm. After much renovation it now looks much the same as it did in the 1930s (at right, center). lot, typical of Oak Park, wasn’t big like the half-acre suburban lots of my childhood, but it meant we spread out beyond its borders.

What I never appreciated before coming to Oak Park was that when homes are close, so, too, become the neighbors. I’d never grown up with block parties. Here, community takes on new meaning. Summers, and even some falls, meant parties in the street with everyone who cared to join the fun.

Our kids could not only run back and See LOVE LETTER on page 18

18

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

LOVE LETTER

Uncovering history from page 17 forth in pajamas on Christmas morning to the neighbor’s house, but our dogs (thanks to a little doggie door we built into the fence) could have their own playdates and secondary homes to enjoy too.

We added baths and central air, renovated everything, expanded the kitchen, stripped away the ’70s remnants, and ripped off that aluminum from your soffits. And every time we considered moving, when the ebbs and flows of life and finances made us wonder if it was time to sell you, our best investment, we could never do it.

We always ended up feeling lucky to have you — living within a short walk to the elementary school that was perfect for our kids and where we all made lifelong friends; living by Taylor Park, with its meandering sidewalks where I strolled our babies and walked dogs, where our toddlers played on the playground, and our teens hung out with friends; and where we had neighbors we treasured — next-door, across the street, behind the alley and down the road.

Over the years I learned a little about your history. I found a real estate listing from your youth, discovering that, in 1935, your “coal room” in the basement was a selling feature and your price tag was $15,000.

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM I learned that the first owners were the builder and his bride who celebrated their wedding here, and the bride threw her bouquet of flowers from the front balcony toward a sea of friends in the yard. They had five kids and left when the Depression struck. I know these details because that man’s daughter paid us a visit and his grandchild lives up the street.

You have been our shelter and protector, silently comforting us when life knocked us down. You’ve been a host to countless parties, the dining room becoming a dance floor for my husband’s 40th birthday party, the entire first floor filling each winter for our progressive euchre tournament with neighborhood friends. Your backyard has hosted birthday parties, happy hours and graduation celebrations.

Well, the time has finally come. Our kids are grown. Our next chapter and adventure beckons.

But leaving you is more emotional than I ever thought it could be. The laughs, tears, highs and lows of our family have happened inside your walls. You are the backdrop to our most treasured family memories.

You are not a house. You are layers of growth, change, heartbreak, laughter and love. But like Toy Story’s Woody, you are meant for kids and I know that our time here is just a chapter in your life story. Thank you for taking care of us all these years. We will miss you.

P.S. Don’t be alarmed if every so often we drive by to say hello.

DON’T MISS IT!

House Hunting?

Find a Realtor.

Find a home.

Get a list of Open Houses.

Every week, every day in

ASSISTED LIVING • SHELTERED CARE • MEMORY CARE • SKILLED NURSING

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

A safe & smart choice.

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.

139 S GROVE, OAK PARK :: $1,235,000 :: 6 BED :: 4.5 BATH Majestic Victorian in central Oak Park Historic District.

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

KATHY & TONY IWERSEN 708.772.8040 708.772.8041 tonyiwersen@atproperties.com

CONTACT US FOR AN OUTDOOR VISIT 2800 Des Plaines Avenue, North Riverside, IL 60546 (708) 477-5092 | CaledoniaSeniorLiving.org

Limited availability!

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

This Weekend

This Directory brought to you by mrgloans.com

Providing financing for homes in Oak Park and surrounding communities since 1989.

Conventional, FHA, and Jumbo mortgages Free Pre-approvals

7544 W. North Avenue Elmwood Park, IL 708.452.5151

Mortgage Resource Group is an Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee.

NMLS # 207793 License # 1031

19

20

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

SPORTS

Regular season cellar dwellers face off for league title

Dark Knights, Landlords turn standings on their head

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Sometimes, how a sports team performs in the regular season is not an indicator of how it will perform in the playoffs.

A prime example of this took place this season in Oak Park Youth Baseball and Softball’s Pinto League, where the Dark Knights and Landlords finished at the bottom of the league in the regular season.

But then in the playoffs, the teams defeated higher seeds and wound up meeting in the championship game on June 21, which the Dark Knights won 15-8.

“I really don’t know how it happened,” said Dark Knights coach Tim Kalita. “We were not a real strong team at the beginning of the year, but the kids just got a lot better. It goes to show that you can improve if you work hard.”

Landlords coach Jason Gerace also didn’t have an explanation for his team’s sudden postseason success. But he knew the Landlords were competitive during the majority of the season, losing six one-run games.

“The kids wanted to keep getting better and wanting to win,” he said. “They worked hard and kept fighting. Anything can happen in a single-elimination tournament, especially with eight-year old kids.”

Kalita believes that the lesson to be learned is that one should never assume anything in sports.

“It’s not set in stone on day one that some teams are better than others,” he said. “It comes See BASEBALL on page 21

Photo provided

CHAMPS: The Dark Knights, who turned out to be the Oak Park Youth Baseball Pinto League dark horse team this summer, celebrate their championship game win June 21 over the Landlords.

OPRF boys tennis team road warriors this season MELVIN TATE

Contributing Reporter

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a challenge this school year for all high school athletic programs in Illinois, with cancelations and rescheduling happening quite often.

But not only did the Oak Park and River Forest High School boys’ tennis team have to cope with the pandemic this spring, it had to practice and play all its matches on the road due to construction on campus that rendered the courts unplayable.

“Playing all of our matches on the road was a huge disadvantage,” said OPRF coach John Morlidge. “When you have a home match, you have time to stretch and warmup before the other team arrives. [But for] away matches, you get off the bus, hurry to the washroom, and then get a 10-minute warmup. Your home courts are your advantage because you

practice there every day and know the conditions.”

In spite of the circumstances, the Huskies were able to put together a solid season, placing third in the West Suburban Silver Conference and fourth at the IHSA Class 2A Maine South sectional.

While OPRF didn’t advance anyone to the state finals, Morlidge was pleased with how the team performed. Moreover, his players enjoyed being around each other after last season was canceled due to the pandemic.

“Every kid was so happy and grateful to be able to participate,” Morlidge said. “I had some great senior leadership, which set the tone.”

“Playing and practicing in less than optimal conditions helped strengthen our bond, and being on the road was actually fun for me,” added recently graduated Patrick Marzec. “Not having the home-court advantage was a good experience.”

Marzec and Aiden Klass were OPRF’s top singles players for the season, while Mark Trinka/Luca Lissuzzo and Dante

and Ezra Stukel were the top doubles teams. Other notable players for the Huskies were Salem Halab, Ben Piech and Trevor Wilson.

“We treated our young guys with respect and they gave it back to us,” Marzec said. “Because of that, we were able to have productive practices and got better as a whole. I think that contributed to our success.”

OPRF displayed plenty of perseverance in this challenging season, and Morlidge thought it was one of his favorite years.

“I couldn’t be any more proud of a group of young men,” he said. “The boys came to work every day and pushed each other to reach their potential.”

Marzec, who will attend the Berkeley School of Music in Boston this fall, won’t play in college. However, he feels that this season’s experience will serve him well for the future.

“Overcoming adverse situations can lead to greater things and will make you stronger,” he said.

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

@ @OakPark

21

Girls wrestling will have state championships next year

Five of seven OPRF wrestlers earn all-state recognition at June 21 meet

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Girls wrestling is a sport that has seen a significant increase in participation over the last few years in Illinois, so much that the Illinois High School Association has approved a state series that begins next year.

It’s the culmination of hard work by the steering committee of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA), of which Oak Park and River Forest High School girls wrestling coach Fred Arkin is a co-chairman.

“We’ve been working for several years to convince the IHSA to recognize girls wrestling as a sport,” said Arkin. “There were about 350 girls participating four or five years ago. Next year, we expect to be close to 2,000.”

Arkin is amazed at not only how fast girls wrestling in Illinois has grown in recent years, but also the competitiveness being shown.

“The skill level of the girls has come way up,” he said. “Some of them are incredibly accomplished.”

This year’s high school wrestling season this year was one of an unusual nature. It was abbreviated and moved to the spring due to COVID-19. Arkin said as a result,

BASEBALL

‘Absolutely successful’ from page 20 down to who’s going to improve, who’s going to focus and who’s going to hone their skills. That’s what I told the kids, and they listened.”

Despite losing the title game, Gerace feels the Landlords had a good year.

“For us, it was an absolutely successful season,” he said. “They got to play and be together as a team. They got to experience the ups and downs, and kept working hard to develop as young players.”

Like most coaches, Gerace likes winning.

But he also believes that is not the most important thing for 7 and 8 year olds in the Pinto League. Instead, camaraderie and enjoyment are valued the most.

“We told our team that baseball is a game that you play with your friends to have

File photo

PINNED DOWN: OPRF’s Tiffany White will be among those helping lead the Huskies through the team’s first IHSA-sanctioned girls wrestling state tournament next year.

OPRF’s numbers were down. There were just 10 girls on the roster, compared to 16 last season.

“We had expected about 20 to 25, but no-

fun,” Gerace said. “Yeah, you want to win and compete, but that’s not what it’s about; we’re grateful to play, and that’s all there is to it.”

Kalita was pleased that the Pinto League was able to play a season after last year was canceled by COVID-19.

“It was nice to get back to playing baseball,” he said. “It was fun, and I think the kids really liked it too. We had a couple of new kids join us this year, and hopefully new friendships come out from it.”

Here are the players for the Dark Knights and Landlords, in alphabetical order: Dark Knights: Ross Bales, Maxwell Kalita, Jonah Kastelic-Shapiro, Nathan Lawrence, Owen McBlaine, Jeff McCall, Abram McFarland, Connor Merrill, Roman Perez and Jack Roskos.

Landlords: Finn Belmont, Dashiell Carr, Brooks Gerace, Hank Goodrich, Connor Kennelly, Roger Kiley, Seamus McCormick, Maccabee McEachen, Elliott Mason, Bob Moroney, Charlie Tybor and Hank Walton.

body was in the building and we couldn’t recruit,” he said.

However, Arkin is optimistic the turnout will improve for the Huskies next season

if full, in-person instruction is allowed this fall. He’s also hopeful that the school will hire a female coach.

OPRF’s girls didn’t wrestle competitively until June 21 at the IWCOA meet in Springfield. Even so, the Huskies fared relatively well as five of their seven participants merited all-state honors, including Bentley Hills and Camila Neuman at 101 pounds, Maria Diaz at 126, Trinity White at 160 and Tiffany White at 170. In addition, Keydy Perleta and Bella Tyma competed at 138 pounds.

Tiffany and Trinity White are the younger siblings of Isaiah White -- a three-time state champion for OPRF and a two-time NCAA All-American at Nebraska. They placed second in their respective weight classes.

“Tiffany is a top-caliber competitor,” said Arkin. “Trinity came out this year as a freshman with no prior experience and was able to beat some very seasoned wrestlers on her way to the finals.”

Neuman also competed on the Huskies’ boys team at 106 pounds and Arkin believes that experience will only help her next year.

“Camila has shown incredible growth,” he said. “She’s been a dedicated worker and worked out every day during the pandemic.”

Arkin plans to keep his wrestlers active this summer by participating in camps, workouts and invitationals. The hope is that the hard work being done now will pay off in February, when the state finals take place in Bloomington.

“The girls have been working hard,” Arkin said. “They want to win the state title next year.”

Photo provided

RUNNERS UP: The Landlords rose from the bottom of the league during the regular season to the title game of the Pinto League playoffs, falling in the championship game against the Dark Knights.

22

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

HOME SERVICES CEMENT

CEMENT

MAGANA

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N “QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION” ESTABLISHED IN 1987

COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL

708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 )281'$7,216 3$7,26 67(36 &85% *877(56 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est.

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining.

Low prices, insured.

Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

BASEMENT CLEANING

BRUCE LAWN SERVICE

AIR CONDITIONING AIR CONDITIONING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT

773-637-0692 Ask for John

Mike’s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

708-296-2060

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

Air Conditioning Automotive A/C Refrigerators Ranges • Ovens Washer • Dryers Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

Spring Clean-Up Aerating, Slit Seeding Bush Trimming, Lawn Maintenance brucelawns.com

708-243-0571

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING

Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

708.749.0011

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

Public Notice: Your right to know • In print

708-488-9411

YOUR WEEKLY AD

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

LANDSCAPING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

HANDYMAN

HANDYMAN

HAULING

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES:

OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST,FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

• Online • Available to you 24/7/365

PublicNoticeIllinois.com

De-Clutter.

Advertise your garage sale for just $25 in Wednesday Journal, Forest Park Review and Riverside-Brookfield Landmark

Call Mary Ellen at 708.613.3342

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M. Call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 ktrainor@wjinc.com

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

VIEWPOINTS

23

A change agents tour p. 25

Don’t defund the police, defund District 97

W

hat do public officials believe, but are too afraid to say? The truth is revealed after a trove of hacked emails detailing the inner workings of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration were published.

One adviser’s email commented on the current crises facing Chicago neighborhoods: “I actually agree with the idea of reforming these communities. God knows values such as intact families, education, work ethic, religion, etc. are the building blocks of success in all societies. As young people, we think this is old fashioned.

As we mature, we see it is not only true but that the alternatives lead to chaos.”

Oak Park voters overwhelmingly rejected an April referendum to defund the village’s police department — No 68%, Yes 32%. Oak Park residents already pay higher homeowner and vehicle insurance premiums than other suburbs and have an additional burden of maintaining home security systems. Any measure that affects current village policing won’t go unnoticed by the insurance companies. A “holdover” village trustee believes the new board will reject the voters’ “will” and defund the police. The village board could levy fines on criminals to support the police budget while reducing the local tax burden — judging by Wednesday Journal’s weekly police blotter, most citations and arrests were not Oak Park residents.

Accolades to Oak Park parochial schools who remained open the entire school year. What will be the real cost to Oak Park public school students who were out of the classroom until the last few weeks of this school year? Illinois teacher unions called for a boycott of the federally required in-person standardized assessments after the Biden Administration refused to grant a waiver. What truths are they attempting to trample?

“School Choice,” a movement that empowers parental choice, is gaining traction while rebuffing the teacher unions’ control of the Illinois public school system.

Oak Park Elementary School District 97 has hired not one, but two interim superintendents after receiving advice to do so from a lobbyist who represents school boards. Is this a rejection of the remaining district’s principals and teachers?

Anyone would make an excellent superintendent, provide continuity, and won’t add to the district’s revolving door.

There is no need to look nationally when we have local talent.

A letter will accompany my second real estate installment to the Cook County Treasurer with a request that no portion of the payment be passed on to District 97. A week doesn’t go by that D97 announces new hires — none of which enhance student education. If enough Oak Park taxpayers request the same, perhaps the district will realize they do not have carte blanche and will again make education a focus.

A D97 Golden Apple-winning teacher with roughly two decades of experience was not given a contract for the upcoming school year. Is the environment in the district so toxic that a teacher could not request two days off for international travel so their experience could be shared with students?

Richard Willis is a former Oak Park Township trustee and Community Mental Health Board member.

RICHARD WILLIS One View

FILE

I

Now is the time to act on police reform

n Steven Spielberg’s 2002 sci-fi movie, Minority Report, the sentry for the prison cautions Chief John Anderton, played

by Tom Cruise, as he proceeds to access crime archives: “Careful, Chief. You dig up the past, all you get is dirty.” That pretty much sums up my discovery with the village of Oak Park as to how the majority of police misconduct complaints in Oak Park have evaporated quietly.

In my letter to the editor,* published in Wednesday Journal on April 7 [Asian discrimination must end, Viewpoints], one issue was about my experience with the Oak Park Police Department (OPPD) and the Citizen Police Oversight Committee (CPOC), which is supposed to “monitor and evaluate the processing of all citizen complaints regarding police misconduct.” I’ve since uncovered the pitfalls of the process by delving into real data from March 2018 to August 2020.** 1. The glove that doesn’t fit According to CPOC, OPPD investigations into alleged police misconduct complaints are conducted by a watch commander or the Internal Affairs division. In my opinion, the objectivity of self-assessments is questionable. The document further states that “[OPPD] Internal investigations include a review of the complaint to determine any rule violations.” While on the surface the procedure may sound logical, in reality OPPD has the luxury to classify complaints based on whether they intend to let the officers off the hook.

For example, in my incident, I was up against a white female resident, and I specifically spelled out that the officer handled the matter with racial bias. However,

rather than classifying my complaint under “General Order 2.17 Prohibition of Bias Based Policing” rule violation, OPPD assigned “Rule #26 Courtesy to the General Public” and “Rule #4 Abuse of Authority” and conveniently rejected my claim. How would they determine whether the officer violated any of the rules and regulations that govern their conduct if they are not measured by the relevant rules? This reminds me of that infamous quote, “If the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”

2. The rubber stamp During that period, 12 out of 14 CPOC meetings (86%) ushered in unanimous (or unanimous with 1 abstaining) votes on the outcomes of OPPD internal investigations. Overall, 90% of OPPD conclusions were “upheld”

by CPOC with the remaining 10% labeled “sent to board.” Essentially CPOC operates more like an echo chamber than an oversight body, which shouldn’t be a surprise, given that CPOC members are appointees of the village president.

3. The runaway jury One might assume that CPOC doesn’t just vote on OPPD conclusions; they probably also review the investigations which they claim they do. A village official insisted that police-complaint-related work is conducted in the “executive session” portion of the CPOC meeting, and declined my request for information. This request was later blocked by a village attorney, despite the fact that I was advised by the village official to go the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) route. Based on available CPOC data, which clearly recorded time

YENPU CHEN One View

See CHEN on page 26

24

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

O U R

I

V I E W S

Now let’s talk policing

t’s not a done deal. We’ll stipulate that LaDon Reynolds, currently the police chief of Oak Park, Illinois, is not already the U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois.

But he has been nominated for the job by Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, the two Democratic senators from Illinois. The nomination has been received by the Biden administration. And while things have been known to go haywire in D.C., Reynolds is too well qualified and too far down the political food chain to have this upended.

That means Oak Park is soon going to have an opening for a new police chief. There will also be an opening for a new village manager as Cara Pavlicek departs mid-August for Northbrook, or, as Neil Steinberg, Sun-Times’ columnist and resident of said burg calls it, “the leafy suburban paradise.”

Add in the new and more progressive village president and board Oak Parkers chose in April and we have an interesting and complicated situation.

When does Reynolds go on the federal payroll? Before or after Pavlicek departs? Who appoints an interim police chief or, maybe from within, a permanent police chief ? When does the village board appoint an interim village manager? Hard to see an interim manager picking the next police chief.

Somewhere in this tangle, there are going to be conversations about policing in Oak Park, about the need for a national search for the next chief. This conversation is so long overdue, and now the three fundamental impediments to having a bold, pragmatic and aspirational talk about public safety are gone or going. Anan Abu-Taleb, the past village president, was allergic to this topic. Not entirely sure why but he was. Pavlicek, taking her cue from Abu-Taleb, or too inside, having appointed the last two top cops from inside the department, was not going to lead on this one.

And then there is Chief Reynolds. This man has an intellectual and philosophical take on policing that is vast and fascinating. It is why he has been appointed to important state tribunals on policing. It is why he was on Durbin and Duckworth’s radar for the federal post. But on his home turf, Reynolds got quieter and quieter on issues of policing.

He should have been a leader on this. He decided not to be. And now he is leaving.

The challenge for Village President Vicki Scaman is to set the order of the conversation, the promised audit of the department, and create a timeline that allows for voices to be heard while not leaving this critical department too long without a rudder.

Carlock brought Riveredge back Here’s another departure that hurts. Carey Carlock, an Oak Parker, has resigned as head of Riveredge Hospital, a mental health provider, after 13 years. She arrived at a broken and isolated institution, which had a hard week on the front page of the Chicago Tribune, was cut off from admissions from state agencies, and had no connection or a negative connection to its local communities.

Riveredge Hospital shouted, “Stigma!”

Carlock has changed that by working with intention and generosity, determined to integrate the Roosevelt Road facility into Forest Park, Oak Park and other neighbors. People were welcomed into the handsome facility for events and had their eyes opened by the staff members they met.

Carlock also became a leader in the growing space of mental health advocacy in these villages. The shared message of open talk and compassion rather than silence and denial is reducing the stigma that has long permeated attitudes on mental health.

Carey Carlock will open a private practice in Oak Park, first of the year. Called Mosaic, its inclusive and radiant approach reflect that this is something she has long thought about creating. We’re grateful she will still have connections at Riveredge and will be fully invested in this worthy project.

My favorite flag

A

t first glance, this was one of my least favorite flags. It has been flying over Mickey’s fast food-ery on the Oak Park side of Harlem Avenue for the longest time, possibly years.

So long that I think even Mickey’s has forgotten about it. I would look at it every time I waited in the McDonald’s drive-thru on the River Forest side across the street. It looked neglected. Ignored.

Maybe it was the pandemic, but the more I looked at that beat-up flag the more it grew on me, the more it represented my complicated feelings about a country in crisis. And why not? After all, the flag Francis Scott Key wrote about in “The Star-Spangled Banner,” during the bombardment of Ft. McHenry in Baltimore Harbor in 1814, probably looked pretty beat up, too.

To honor July 4th, here is a song of praise for my favorite flag:

KEN

TRAINOR

It yet waves Unfurled by a stiff wind This flag flies Full staff Over Harlem Avenue, Mutual boundary, Connector of villages.

Does that banner, Spangled with stars, striped with bars, Flailing and fraying on its long edge Yet wave O’er the land of fast food And the home of the hungry, Celebrating patriotic commerce As we await change and a drink At windows 1 and 2 Of McDonald’s drive-thru, Which helps the mobile masses Keep body and soul together The state of our union From the seat of our dissolution Behind wheel and dashboard, Windshield and rear-view mirror, Our big-screen view of the world?

Yes, this flag yet waves 24/7/365 Like a weathered, worn dish towel Ready for the rag bin Soaked in grime and time And “the thousand natural shocks” Cloth is heir to, A symbol of disrepair But not despair.

PHOTO BY KEN TRAINOR

Over this avenue of exhaust And exhaustion Flayed, frayed and filleted It waves Over broadsides and undersides Overlords and underclass Over slow-motion dying Aspirations and asphyxiations Knees on the necks Of unrealized ideals.

No pristine, antiseptic emblem But this most real of flags Under guard With liberty and justice For some It yet waves Like a fringed, dingy jacket Hanging on for dear life.

Yes, it waves The very answer to Key’s key question It waves over all Who consent to be governed And those who don’t Taxpayers and tax cheats Liars and those who swallow lies Truth-tellers and those who punish them.

It waves O’er the land of the free market And the home of indigenous bravery Over migrant manifest destiny Over grifters, drifters And uplifters.

This most real of flags waves From dawn’s early light Through gleaming twilight And into the darkest of nights.

Yes

Long after red-glared rockets And bombs air-bursting In battles of yore This flag yet waves Over the battles of everyone’s everyday.

Heroically it waves

It yet waves Over who we hope to be And who we actually are.

Could any flag be more real than this flag? May they never take it down.

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

PROVIDED

RADICAL ROW: The author leads a tour of Forest Home Cemetery, which includes the Haymarket Martyrs Monument.

Visiting people who changed the world

T

he best “classrooms” in Forest Park are our sprawling cemeteries. So when middle-school teacher Joseph Almaoui asked me to lead his students on a tour of Forest Home Cemetery (FHC), I was delighted. Mr. Almaoui was joined by colleagues Steven Elfinger and Joy Kibir and about a dozen eighth-graders.

We met at Forest Park Middle School and walked to FHC. We first visited the Roma graves and discussed their practice of leaving gifts on the graves of loved ones. One grave had two cans of beer and a bottle of whiskey.

We then strolled down Radical Row, armed with literature about FHC, including “The Day Will Come” a book honoring working-class heroes, by Mark Rogovin. The first working-class hero we encountered was Eddie Balchowsky.

Eddie was a concert pianist who fought against the fascists in the Spanish Civil War. Although he lost his right arm, he continued to enjoy a successful career as a pianist. The students didn’t know about the Spanish Civil War, nor did they recognize the band Eddie played with, The Mamas and The Papas. They were also distracted by a fawn that was scampering among the headstones. FHC isn’t just rich in history, it has flora and fauna and fawns.

We continued down Radical Row and lingered at the Haymarket Martyrs Monument to talk about the struggle for the eight-hour workday. The students were shocked that the martyrs had been branded as terrorists. It showed them that FHC will accept anyone for interment.

The students admired the monument and were equally impressed by the tiny headstone of Lucy Parsons, who was the driving force behind the monument’s creation.

She was the African-American widow of Haymarket martyr Albert Parsons and carried on his work.

We discussed other prominent African Americans buried in Forest Home, like Professor Joseph Corbin, who founded the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

On a sadder note, we discussed a 13-year-old girl named Schanna Gayden, who was killed by a stray bullet in 2007. Schanna’s mom couldn’t afford a funeral, so FHC paid for everything. The cemetery also created a shrine to Schanna with the inscription, “In memory of all the loved ones who have been lost to violent crime.”

The students wanted to see Schanna’s shrine but I couldn’t find it. We did locate the grave of a little girl named May, for whom Maywood was named. We also visited the grave of Ferdinand Haase, the founder of Forest Park and described how the site had originally been a Native-American village and burial ground until the Potawatomi were forcibly removed to a reservation.

We found the headstone of Edward Roos, and I had difficulty explaining what a hope chest is. We also viewed the monument honoring Frank Troost. If nothing else, the students learned why we have streets named Ferdinand, Hannah and Troost. They also learned the town was originally called Harlem and combined the names of two neighboring suburbs, River Forest and Oak Park, to become Forest Park.

Our final stop was the Druid monument. Some students were familiar with the figure of Merlin from stories about King Arthur. They didn’t know the Druids originated Halloween and that their idea of a “trick” involved human sacrifice.

The tour took two hours and we walked over four miles. No one complained. Teachers and students alike felt liberated after a year of confinement. We proposed doing more tours in the fall. There are so many more landmarks to see.

The students later sent me a thoughtful card. One thanked me for telling him everything about Forest Park and the people who changed the world.

John Rice grew up in Oak Park and now lives in Forest Park, where he writes a weekly column for our sister publication, the Forest Park Review.

JOHN RICE

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Equity Editor/Ombudsman Michael Romain Staff Reporters Stacey Sheridan, Maria Maxham, F. Amanda Tugade Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Arts Editor Michelle Dybal Digital Strategist James Kay Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designers Mark Moroney, Javier Govea Business Manager Joyce Minich Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

Growing Community Media BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, 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, fire you to action.

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

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

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

■ 250-word limit

■ 500-word limit

■ Must include first and last names,

■ One-sentence footnote about yourself,

municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)

■ Signature details as at left

your connection to the topic

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

H O W

T O

R E A C H

U S

ADDRESS 141 S Oak Park Ave., Oak ParkIL 60302 ■ PHONE 708-5248300 EMAIL Dan@OakPark.com ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00.

A one-year subscription costs $41 within Cook County and $51 outside of Cook County.

Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 10138). Postmaster, send address corrections to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Il 60302. © 2021 Growing Community Media, NFP.

25

26

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

Discussing the Black experience in Oak Park

W

hat is life like for Black residents living in Oak Park today?

Join the Oak Park Public Library on Tuesday, July 13, 6:307:45 p.m., for the virtual program “The Black Experience Today in Oak Park and Beyond,” a conversation with a group of Black residents on their varying experiences living in Oak Park today.

We’ll talk about the connections and understanding inherent in the Black experience.

Black residents are not a monolith, and we’ll hear different opinions and perspectives throughout the evening. Among the differences, some of the panelists are raising families. Two own businesses. Two have run for local office. And one is an immigrant.

Our wide-ranging conversation will explore the impact of intersecting identities, raising kids in the Oak Park school system, working as a community activist, the reasons for staying in or leaving Oak Park, and more.

This virtual program, held over Zoom, is designed to be an honest discussion that centers Black experiences and honors Black lives. All are welcome to attend. To register, visit oppl.org/calendar.

Panelists include: Darien Marion-Burton, owner of the marketing design firm D.M. Burton; Jacques Shalo, owner of Kribi Coffee; Juanta Griffin, community organizer and 2021 village trustee candidate; and Saria Lofton, parent and former Oak Park resident and 2021 Library Trustee candidate. The discussion will be moderated by former Library Trustee Christian Harris from the community organization Walk the Walk.

This program is being held as part of a series. In April, the library and Walk the Walk hosted the discussion, “The History of Early Black Residents in Oak Park & Its Importance Today,” featuring Stan West, author of Suburban Promised Land, about the rarely told history of Black residents of Oak Park beginning as early as 1880. Before Percy Julian moved to Oak Park in 1950, Black Oak Parkers lived here, held jobs, owned businesses, and raised families. While many moved here for opportunity, discrimination also led many to leave.

The rich and complex experiences of Black residents of Oak Park continue today. Join us.

Tatiana Swancy is the Restorative Practices Coordinator at the Oak Park Public Library. Learn more at oppl.org/anti-racism.

TATIANA SWANCY One View

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Fly the flag at Keystone Park

Is the flag at Keystone Park in River Forest a hostage of Platform Tennis’ expansion or the victim of hostile anti-American sentiment?

It’s very, very simple. Retire the flag at dusk or shine a light on the flag until daybreak.

The River Forest Park District decided to take a different path. They just removed the flag entirely.

I’ve offered to personally raise and lower the flag on Memorial Day and Flag Day. I’ve submitted low-cost, solar-powered lighting options to the River Forest Park District commissioners. Their only response was “we’ll address it when we decide where the flag pole will be relocated.”

Does this signal that the platform tennis expansion is a given? Who knows? Is it odd that the park district is considering hiring a Platform Tennis supervisor but can’t raise/lower or light our flag?

Just strange.

I don’t think many of us believe the Park District commissioners are intending to subvert American values and traditions, but it’s obvious they aren’t interested in promoting them either.

As baseball and softball seasons wind down and playoff games ensue. Please bring flags to the games and let the commissioners know we love our flag!

A treatment for racism Found online: Treat racism like COVID-19

1) 2) 3) 4)

Assume you have it.

Listen to experts about it.

Don’t spread it.

Be willing to change your life to end it.

Kwame Salter

Mindy Credi

Oak Park

River Forest

The bipartisan pipe dream Recent opinion pieces by Joe McDonald and Harriet Hausman bespeak our current political picture, writ light- and heavyhearted, respectively. Joe wonders if he could be a “frenemy” of Mitch McConnell.

You know, Mitch, aka “The Grim Reaper.”

Harriet hopes for a public outcry for bipartisanship in Congress.

First, McDonald’s piece [Love your enemy?

Viewpoints, June 16] invokes religious beliefs and historical episodes of bloodshed due to competing faiths. His conflict with religion’s apparent “do as I say, not as I do” is clear. I say one’s faith is best kept to oneself to prevent further divinely directed mayhem. Political parties are a form of religion, no? McDonald’s using McConnell as some

kind of acid test for “loving one’s enemy” seems quite the challenge. Mitch himself embraces that “grim reaper” moniker.

McDonald tries to humanize McConnell by noting he attended Biden’s son’s funeral and named a cancer research bill after the deceased. Really? Mitch is a form of cancer disguised as a human being. But Joe Biden and Mitch go waaaay back. So what? His obstructionism on countless compassionately designed pieces of legislation has undoubtedly meant hardships for millions in need. Maybe even early death.

Ms. Hausman laments the insurrection on Jan. 6, the Big Lie that propelled that dark day, and the ongoing residual political sewage that has been dredged up, over the

past several years especially. It’s an ugly, vile and vicious cabal of anti-democratic, racist, fascist-minded elected (The Reaper, again) and civilian zealots out there.

Harriet ends her piece [The 15th Amendment, under attack, Viewpoints, June 16], seeking a bi-partisan response to We the People demanding such. Dream on. The people spoke on Nov. 6. They got the Democrats in control of the Senate, House and Oval office. Control? Technically, maybe.

But somehow Mitch and his lapdogs seem to be calling the shots. Seem? No, they are.

So much for bipartisanship, a persistent pipedream at best.

Joe Harrington Oak Park

CHEN

Why we need reform from page 23 stamps, some of these executive sessions lasted from 1 to 3 minutes. It is not humanly possible for any responsible committees to review and cast vote on cases within that length of time.

Case in point: On Feb. 4, 2020, a total of 13 rule violations were supposedly reviewed in the executive session which reconvened at 9:15 p.m. and adjourned at 9:16 p.m. You do the math.

4. The born supremacy, of white females CPOC data depicts that police complaints filed by white females enjoy the highest rate of success; rule violations associated with white female complainants deemed “sustained” are 74% higher than all other race-gender combined. I guess that explains why the officer I complained about treated me the way he did.

Real data shows that for Oak Park police, accountability is optional, equality is theo-

IMAGE BY YEN-PU CHEN

retical, and preferential treatment is real.

If you think you would be treated fairly by the police because Oak Park touts itself as a progressive community, think again. You could be the next victim of police misconduct that gets shushed by OPPD and CPOC. Now that I have your attention, if you are not a white female and have never made

your voice heard loud and clear about police reform, now is the time to act. * https://www.oakpark.com/2021/04/06/ asian-discrimination-must-end/ ** Raw data was either provided by the village of Oak Park or available online.

Yen-Pu Chen Oak Park

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

27

O B I T U A R I E S

Angela Madden, 63

Loved transistor radios, had a 6th sense Novotny, Mary Frances (Mike) Angela Madden, 63, a longtime Pokrzywinski and Padraic Madresident and native of Oak Park den; a brother-in-law, William and more recently a resident of Stepan; and many nieces and the Ray Graham Community, nephews. died on June 14 in Elmhurst She was preceded in death by Hospital. Her favorite things her father, Dr. Frank J. Madden, included blue kitties, barrettes, and siblings Terence Madden and transistor radios, Country Time Kathleen Stepan.

Lemonade, Nestle’s Quick and Visitation was held on June 18 Kentucky Fried Chicken. She at Conboy’s Westchester Funeral had a sixth sense that no one ANGELA MADDEN Home; a funeral Mass was celecould fully understand and that brated the following day at St. Giles no one would deny. She will be Church in Oak Park, followed by interment at missed by those who knew and loved her.

Angela is survived by her mother, Virgin- Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.

Arrangements were handled by Peter B. ia Madden; her siblings, Madonna (Daniel) Conway, Michael (Laura) Madden, Johanna Kennedy & Co., Funeral Directors.

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

To run an obituary

When life throws you a financial challenge, you’ve proven you have what it takes to ace it.

Now it’s time to tackle your retirement savings at AceYourRetirement.org

Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com, before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.

Oak Park Eats positively encourages readers to think about the food and beverages they consume and seek our unique and memorable beer drinking experience while celebrating Kinslagher’s local partnerships with Carnivore, Opportunity Knocks, Daly Bagels, and Darr-B-Q.

When life throws you a financial challenge, you’ve proven you have what it takes to ace it. Now it’s time to tackle your retirement savings at AceYourRetirement.org

- Keith Huizinga, Kinslagher

Sip more at Kinslahger.com/ Keith Huizinga, Kinslagher

Keep up with Melissa Elsmo and what she’s cooking up at:

OakParkEats.com

28

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

V I E W P O I N T S

Put the ‘Fair Tax’ back on the ballot Both Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch have announced they oppose putting the graduated income tax amendment that failed in 2020 on the ballot during the 2022 election (proponents of this amendment have branded it the “Fair Tax Amendment”).

I support the amendment and believe the Illinois General Assembly (which Harmon and Welch lead) has an obligation to put the amendment on the ballot.

The state of Illinois is in debt to retirees and future retirees. In public, Democrats say that Illinois will honor its pension obligations. Privately, a smart, connected person told me the plan is to keep procrastinating until the Illinois Supreme Court allows the government to renege on the pension clause in the Illinois Constitution.

Basically, the Illinois General Assembly wants to either pressure the voters to amend the Constitution or pressure the Supreme Court to allow the government to impose a “haircut” on retirees.

What the Illinois General Assembly wants to avoid is raising taxes on people who are rich enough to dump $100,000 and more into ousting incumbents.

The obligation to put the amendment on the ballot in 2022 comes from a simple idea: The people campaigning for the “Fair

Wonder Works Children's Museum 6445 W North Ave Oak Park (708) 383-4815

Tax” in 2020 said that if it didn’t pass there would be consequences, tax increases and significant cuts.

The Illinois General Assembly is now done with the spring session of 2021 and there were no big tax increases and no big service cuts. The Democrats have created their own problem. If they wait to put the “Fair Tax” on the ballot in 2024, the “if you don’t vote for this there will be consequences” argument comes up against ... there weren’t consequences last time (and, BTW, taxing the rich is still an option).

It sucks that Illinois is in debt. It sucks that some elected officials are probably going to get voted out on the way to fixing this. Actually, that doesn’t suck. What sucks is the people getting voted out aren’t going to be the ones who created the problem.

Having the requirement of a “flat tax” in the Illinois Constitution was a bad idea.

But it was part of the bargain that got the Illinois Constitution ratified.

The “flat tax” part of the Illinois Constitution should be fixed. And it can’t be fixed unless the Illinois General Assembly puts the amendment on the ballot and the people vote to ratify the amendment.

Carl Nyberg

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Tax bills delayed at least a month

For the last nine years, Cook County’s second installment property tax bills have been sent on time, with tax bills hitting mailboxes in late June and due around Aug. 1. In 2021, however, the nine-year streak of on-time tax bills in Cook County is coming to an end. It is more likely that second installment tax bills this year will be due on Sept. 1.

There are a number of steps that must take place before second installment tax bills can be calculated and mailed, the most important of which is that all Cook County tax appeals must be resolved.

Once the appeals are resolved, it typically takes state and county agencies about two months to do all the calculations and printing necessary to mail out bills.

Last year, the final tax appeals were resolved on May 5, and tax bills were mailed around July 1. This year, however, pandemic-related issues slowed the processing of appeals, with the result that the current year’s appeals were not resolved until June 10.

If the agencies that calculate and print tax bills can work faster than they did last year, tax bills will be mailed at the end of July and will be due Sept. 1. But there is no guarantee that they will be able to finish their work so quickly. If the agencies take longer to complete their work, the due date for second installment tax bills will be after Sept. 1.

Ali ElSaffar

Oak Park Township Assessor

Emailed every Friday morning!

Chicago

Wonder Works has reopened!

Visit wonder-works.org to book your play time!

Among the Celebrants: Don Harmon & Eileen Lynch, Illinois State Senate; Vicki Scaman & Cam Davis, Village of Oak Park; Elizabeth Chadri & Carrie Summy, OPRF Community Foundation; Sam Yousif, Fuller Health Group; Susie Goldschmidt, Byline Bank; Jake Bucher, Dominican University; Judith Alexander, The North Avenue District; Eric Mazelis, OPEDC; Bob Stelletello, Right at Home Oak Park/Hinsdale/Chicago; Carla Taylor, Baird & Warner; Cliff Osborn, Jack Carpenter Realtors; Tom Gallagher & Leah dela Cruz, Old Second; Lee Owens, Name on Anything; Sarah Najera, MOMENTA Dance; John Borrero & Azucena Galvez, Collaboration for ECE; Julianne Nery, Sara Yount, Rachel For your own ribbon cutting contact us on oprfchamber.org Rettberg, & Wonder Works' staff, board members, & supporters. Photos: Todd Bannor, Bannor & Bannor; Alex Rogals, Wednesday Journal

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

29

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year OakPark.com | RiverForest.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed Bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 15, 2021 for the following: Village of Oak Park 2021 CDBG Water Service Replacement Program Bid Number: 21-131 Bid forms may be obtained from the Village of Oak Park website, http://www.oak-park.us/bid.

Bid documents may be viewed at the Public Works Customer Service Center at 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Information is also available from the contact person, Water and Sewer Project Manager, James Eggen, jeggen@oak-park. us .

All bidders will be required to submit Bid Security in the form of a Certified Check, a Cashier’s Check or a Bid Bond in the amount of Ten percent (10%) of the Base Bid, payable to the Village of Oak Park.

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

For more information call the Public Works Service Center at 708.358.5700.

Published in Wednesday Journal June 30, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES

Notice of Invitation to Bid to Visit Oak Park Visit Oak Park will receive Bids from qualified vendors until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 16, 2021 for the following: Public Relations Services Visit Oak Park will receive proposals from responsible vendors to provide public relations services for the Bureau.

A full copy of the RFP is available by contacting Eric Wagner at eric@visitoakpark.com.

Visit Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. For more information, call Visit Oak Park at 708-524-7800.

Published in Wednesday Journal June 30, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING e-Learning Program

LEGAL NOTICE LAW OFFICE OF LINDA EPSTEIN Attorney for Petitioner 722 W. Diversey Parkway Ste. 101B Chicago, IL 60614

PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE

The Board of Education of Oak Park School District 97 will hold a Public Hearing on July 13, 2021, at 7:30 PM, virtually via Zoom during the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting. Click here to access the Zoom link and the eLearning plan information (https://bit.ly/D97ELearning).

The purpose of said hearing will be to receive public comment on the proposed e-Learning Program which, if approved, will permit students’ instruction to be received electronically while students are not physically present in lieu of the district’s scheduled emergency days.

This program is allowed under Section 10-20.56 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/10-20.56]. Notification of this hearing is provided to families and is posted in the newspaper more than 10 days prior to the scheduled Public Hearing.

If approved, the e-Learning Program will be implemented for a three year term.

BOARD OF EDUCATION, Oak Park School District 97.

Published in Wednesday Journal June 30, 2021

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed proposals from qualified architectural firms at the Public Works Service Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, until 10:00 a.m. local time on Friday, July 16th, 2021 for the following: Village of Oak Park South Fire Station Restroom, Locker Room and Bunk Room Renovations Project Proposal Number: 21-714 There will be a pre-bid meeting on Wednesday, July 7th, 2021 at 9:00 AM at the south fire station located at 900 S. East Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302.

Bid forms may be obtained from the Public Works Customer Service Center by calling 708358-5700 or by e-mailing vics@ oak-park.us between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. M-F. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified.

No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Published in Wednesday Journal June 30, 2021

   

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: Y21007190 on June 14, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of GEEK WRANGLER with the business located at: 3130 KENILWORTH AVENUE, BERWYN, IL 60402, PO BOX 510 OAK PARK, IL 60303. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: DAVID SCHAEFER 3130 KENILWORTH AVENUE, BERWYN, IL 60402, USA. Published in Wednesday Journal June 23, 30 and July 7, 2021

LEGAL NOTICE State of Illinois County of Cook PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing on the adoption of the proposed Annual Budget and Appropriations Ordinance of the Park District of Forest Park, County of Cook, Illinois for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2021 and ending April 30, 2022 will be held at the Administration Building, 7501 Harrison Street, Forest Park, IL 60130 on July 15, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.

Jackie Iovinelli Park District Board Secretary Dated this June 22, 2021 Published in Forest Park Review June 30, 2021

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

In re the marriage of Bridgette Thatch-Nixon, Petitioner and Cedric Nixon, Respondent, Case No. 2021 D 004962.

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

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, on or before July 14, 2021, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal June 16, June 23, June 30, 2021

Find Help Wanted & Marketplace listings on the next page!

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF THE PROPOSED APPROPRIATION FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AND OF HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING THEREIN Notice is hereby given that copies of the Proposed Appropriation for the Village of North Riverside for the Fiscal Year commencing May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022 are available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Village Commons, 2401 South DesPlaines Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois or on the Village’s website at: www. northriverside-il.org.

Notice is hereby given that a Public Appropriation Hearing shall be held by the Mayor and the Board of Trustees for the Village of North Riverside: Date: Monday, July 12, 2021 Time: 6:00 PM Place: Village Commons 2401 South DesPlaines Avenue North Riverside, Illinois All interested persons may attend the meeting and shall have the right to present oral and written comments and suggestions regarding the proposed appropriation. After the public hearing and before final action is taken on the proposed annual appropriation ordinance, the Mayor and Board of Trustees may revise, alter, increase, or decrease any line item contained in the proposed annual appropriation ordinance.

Final action on the proposed annual appropriation ordinance will occur on July 26, 2021.

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

GET IT. community news. calendar. high school sports. weekend events. restaurant reviews. real estate resources. local schools. shopping. police reports. opinions.

OAKPARK.COM

KATHY RANIERI VILLAGE CLERK NORTH RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS Published in RB Landmark June 30, 2021

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

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

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal-opportunity basis.

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

Wednesday Journal • Landmark • Forest Park Review

Let the sun shine in..

Public Notice: Your right to know In print • Online Available to you 24 / 7 / 365

OAKPARK.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com

30

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

CLASSIFIED

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

MARKETPLACE HELP WANTED

ITEMS FOR SALE KING SIZE MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS King size, nearly new firm memory foam mattress. (Used only 2 nights) Mattress only. $500 obo.

708-642-1408

River Forest Public Schools District 90

District 90 is seeking qualified and experienced applicants for the following positions:

• English Language Learners Teacher (Full-time at Roosevelt Middle School and Part-time FTE 0.50 at Lincoln Elementary School) • Social Worker (Roosevelt Middle School)

BLACK LEATHER COAT Beautiful black leather coat purchased at Saks 5th Avenue. Excellent condition. Size 6. $40.

708-488-8755

• STEM Teacher, Grades 6-8 (Roosevelt Middle School)

NEW AUDIX SPEAKERS PH-3S video shielded power speakers. $100 for both obo. Cash only.

708-383-7892

• Physical Education Teachers, ( Full-time at Roosevelt Middle School and Part-time FTE 0.77 at Willard Elementary School) • Instructional Specialist (Roosevelt Middle School)

• Kindergarten Teacher Part-time FTE 0.50 (Willard Elementary School) For detailed qualifications requirements and job duties, please visit our website at https://www.district90.org/about/ employment for our complete list of employment opportunities.

We are hiring Relationship Bankers in Oak Park, IL.

General Duties: Provide excellence in education by developing and implementing activities that encourage students to be life-long learners. Possesses knowledge of District policies and regulations relating to areas of responsibilities. Create an environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to the developmental maturity and interests of each student.

Visit the link below to check out this opportunity to join a great team!

General Qualifications: Valid Illinois Professional Education License with endorsement in field of study, a Master’s Degree is preferred and successful teaching experience with students in a classroom setting is preferred.

Application: Apply online at www.district90.org. Application Procedure: Interested candidates should complete the online application available at district90.org. Please do not send hard copies of supporting documentation, i.e. cover letters, resumes, licensure, etc. to River Forest Schools District 90; instead, upload these materials onto the online job application system for proper processing.

HUMAN RESOURCE COORDINATOR The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Human Resource Coordinator in the Human Resources Department. The ideal candidate will have a high level of customer service skills, Will provide routine to complex office, clerical, and administrative tasks. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. This position is open until filled. Applications will be accepted until July 1, 2021.

GRANTS SUPERVISOR The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Grants Supervisor in the Development Customer Services Department. This position will perform a variety of responsible for developing. Administering and coordinating activities related to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and other grant-funded programs for the Village. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/ jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than July 16, 2021.

BAND SAW WELDER TECH, GENL LABORER OPENINGS Local sharpening service has two openings: Band Saw Welder Technician and General Laborer position. Apply at 1233 Circle Ave. Forest Park, IL 708-209-1636

HEALTH DEPARTMENT SANITARIAN The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Sanitarian in the Health Department. This position will perform a variety of duties including education and enforcement activities for the promotion and protection of the public health environment. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than Until position filled.

CASHIER—FINANCE DEPARTMENT The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Cashier in the Finance Department. This position will perform all clerical tasks related to the cash receipt function. Collect process and deposit payments made to the Village received directly from customers, via mail, or lockbox or from other internal departments.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than July 6, 2021.

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 http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications will be July 7, 2021.

https://wintrust.taleo.net/careersection/2/ jobdetail.ftl?job=2100424&lang=en You can also learn about other career opportunities nearby.

CHERRY WOOD CHAIRS 2 new cherry wood chairs with leather seat cushions. $70 each obo.

Cash only.

708-383-7892 NEW STUDENT DESK New student desk. Cherry stain. 48w x 26d x 28.75h. $199 obo.

Cash only.

708-383-7892 AREA RUG 8 FT X 9.5 FT very beautiful area rug. Design of natural figures in earth tones. $60.

708-488-8755 OAK TV STAND Oak TV stand with w/ 2 cabinet doors, 1 shelf. 32”h x 27”w x 18”d. $25.00 708-488-8755 ELECTRIC YARD TOOLS Electric Leaf Blower $25 Electric Hedge Trimmer $25 708-488-8755 CHAIRS Small bedroom arm chair with plaid slip cover. $25.00.

Comfortable upholstered chair with matching footstool from Pier1.

Very light green. $60.00.

708-488-8755

WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400 Lost & Found, Items for Sale, and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-334

P/T SHAMPOO ASSISTANT Part-time Shampoo assistant salary plus tips please apply in person Anthony Lullo’s Hair Designs 721 South Blvd.

708 848 4455

CAREGIVER SERVICES WANTED CAREGIVER WANTED MCKINLEY AREA Looking for a caregiver (PA) to work nights 11p-7a and days 7a-4p, days needed will be discussed, to care for adult female with special needs. Training by mother approved by DHS HSP. Contact Maria 312 282-5760.

HOME HEALTH ASSISTANCE River Forest family seeking overnight in-home healthcare assistance. Nursing students, Respiratory Therapists, CNAs, LPNs, RNs, etc. welcome. For more information, contact kpatterson10@gmail.com.

local employees . . . happy employees!

Hire Local.

Place an ad on Wednesday Classified’s Local Online Job Board.

Go to OakPark.com/classified today!

Contact Mary Ellen Nelligan for more information.

(708) 613-3342 • maryellen@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

CLASSIFIED

31

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM R E N TA L S & R E A L E S TAT E

SUBURBAN RENTALS

SUBURBAN RENTALS

ROOMS FOR RENT

DOWNTOWN OAK PARK 1BR

Apartment listings updated daily at:

Small 1BR apartment in DTOP. Renovated and freshly painted. Harwood floors. Walking distance to El. No pets. $850/mo, utilities included.

Large Sunny Room with fridge, microwave. Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $125.00. New Mgmt.

312-212-1212

708-657-4226

SUBURBAN REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue.

Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.

STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR Best Selection & Service

OAK PARK & FOREST PARK

708-386-7355

MMpropMgmt.com

RIVERSIDE 3 FLAT FSBO Three above grade 2BR apts. Unfinished basement w/ laundry & 1/2 BA. 4 car brick garage. Zoned for residential and office, if desired. Well maintained. $529,000

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 708-446-1324

OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. * 1116 sq. ft. * 1400 sq. ft. Dental Office RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. * 960 sq. ft.

OAK PARK–6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. * 3 & 5 room office suites FOREST PARK–7736 Madison St. *2500 sq. ft. unit Strand & & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

COMMERCIAL/RETAIL RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT A RETAIL SPACE FOR LEASE IN SHOPPING CENTER! 315-325 S. Harlem Ave. Forest Park, IL. 1,000 sq ft. Good cond. *Recently Updated. Heavy Business/Traffic Area. (Min. Monthly Rent in the area: $17.50 sq ft.)

OUR PRICE-NEGOTIABLE! TEXT, EMAIL or CALL Mr. B.(708)828-6491 If leave a message: Include Your Name, #, and Type of Business.

OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION FOREST PARK HIGHLY VISIBLE OFFICE/STORE AVAILABLE FOR LEASE 1350 SF w/ AC & HIGHLY VISIBLE MADISON STREET EXPOSURE. 7607 Madison Street. Village parking lot next door. Bright, clean office. Great Madison Street exposure! Call Francis 708-3838574.

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT THERAPY OFFICE OAK PARK Free wifi; flexible leasing, and offices nicely furnished right down to the Kleenex. Secure building & friendly colleagues, often giving referrals to other office mates. Shared Waiting room, Conference room & option to join Peer Supervision Group. Ideal for new practice or 2nd location.

708-383-0729

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 equalopportunity basis.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-6699777.

Wednesday Journal • Landmark • Forest Park Review

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNIT YMEDIA.ORG

S W NE

!

H S A FL

You can get local news delivered right to your email in-box.

Sign up for FREE at OakPark.com

32

Wednesday Journal, June 30, 2021

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY