Wednesday Journal 070622

W E D N E S D A Y

July 6, 2022 Vol. 42, No. 49 ONE DOLLAR @wednesdayjournalinc

@wednesdayjournal

JOURNAL @oakpark

of Oak Park and River Forest

Fourth of July Parade Page 10

Church leaders’ message: ‘Turn yourself in’ Following murder of Jailyn LoganBledsoe, $6,000 reward offered

By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

SEEKING JUSTICE: Rev. Ira Acree, with Deborah Williams-Thurman, youth advisor, Westside NAACP, speaks during a press conference outside the Oak Park Police Department, July 1, regarding the murder of Jailyn Logan-Bledsoe.

A group of church leaders from Oak Park and Chicago’s West Side is offering a reward for anyone with information leading to an arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the murder of Oak Parker Jailyn Logan-Bledsoe.

Logan-Bledsoe, 18, was shot and killed June 22 in the parking of a BP gas station at 100 Chicago Ave. in Oak Park.

A witness previously told police two men approached the young woman and shot her. They then stole items from her, taking off in her dark Chrysler vehicle. Police found Logan-Bledsoe unresponsive and transported her to Loyola University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

No suspects are in custody, but police are making progress in their investigation, village spokesperson Erik Jacobsen told Wednesday Journal via email. Detectives are following multiple leads and continue to partner with the West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, the Illinois State Police, the Cook County Sheriff ’s Police, the FBI and the Cook County State Attorney’s office, Jacobsen said.

The Leaders Network, a group featuring faith leaders and activists from the West Side and Oak Park, gathered July 1 in front of the Oak Park Police Department and anSee REWARD on page 15

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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River Forest trustees OK host of infrastructure projects Majority of $3million going to green alleys

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

Summer infrastructure improvement projects will be in full swing soon in River Forest following action by the village board June 27.

By a 5-0 vote, the board approved spending more than $3 million in infrastructure construction contracts, including more than $2 million to construct green alleys. Trustee Ken Johnson did not attend the June 27 meeting.

The majority of the cost of the green alley contracts, $2.1 million to Copenhaver Construction Inc., is for construction with the remainder, $116,648 to Thomas Engineering Group, for engineering services related to the project.

Contracts for other infrastructure improvement projects include $503,290 to Schroeder Asphalt Services Inc. for the 2022

street improvement project, $213,687 to VisuSewer of Illinois LLC for the 2022 sewerlining project and $80,262 to David Concrete Construction Co. for the 2022 curb and sidewalk replacement program.

The village also awarded a $79,758 contract to Chicagoland Paving for the 2022 street patching program, $54,410 to Denler Inc. for the 2022 asphalt pavement crack sealing project and $46,800 to Denler for the 2022 pavement preservation project.

Although the village typically reconstructs one alley per year, under the accelerated alley improvement program, four alleys were reconstructed last year and three already this year with plans to reconstruct 11 more alleys before the middle of 2023.

Plans call for three alleys to be reconstructed in June and July, six in July through November and the final two in April and May 2023. The remaining alleys are all south of Chicago Avenue and east of Park Avenue.

Alleys to be reconstructed in June and July are between Monroe Avenue and William Street from Chicago Avenue to Oak Avenue; between Lake Street and Holly Court

from William to Bonnie Brae Place; and between Holly and Quick Avenue from Clinton Place to Bonnie Brae.

Alleys to be reconstructed July through November are between Monroe and Jackson Avenue from Chicago to Oak; between Monroe and William from Oak to Quick; between Lathrop Avenue and Ashland Avenue from Hawthorne Avenue and Linden Street; horseshoe alley between Central Avenue and Lake off Lathrop; T-alley between Vine Street and Madison Street and between Ashland and Lathrop; and T-alley between Madison and Vine and between Park Avenue and Franklin Avenue.

Alleys to be reconstructed in April and May 2023 are the T-alley between Madison and Vine and between Ashland and Franklin and the curved alley between Franklin and Park and between Vine and Washington Boulevard.

Some of these remaining alleys experience storm water issues and some have pavement in poor condition. Most consist of asphalt pavement, with a few having concrete pavement. Their reconstruction is

intended to provide for a better driving surface and increased storm water mitigation.

According to information provided by the village, the typical green alley cross section involves reconstruction with concrete pavement, sloped inward toward an approximately three-foot wide strip of permeable pavers.

The pavers allow storm water runoff to be conveyed to a stone reservoir underneath the pavement to help reduce flooding. There is also a perforated pipe within the stone reservoir which helps convey storm water away from the alley during periods of excessive rainfall.

Streets to be resurfaced under the street improvement program are Iowa Street from Park Avenue to Harlem Avenue; Monroe Avenue from Chicago Avenue to Augusta Street; William Street from Chicago to Augusta; and Augusta from Monroe to William.

The village has been relining sewers since 1994 using a process known as cured-in-place pipe, according to Peter Puljic, staff engineer, in a memo.

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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Land of those free to harm, home of those brave enough to go out in public

ireworks displays in Oak Park, Forest Park and a litany of other Chicago suburbs were canceled after a gunman opened fire on people during a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Monday afternoon, killing at least six, injuring at least 30 and traumatizing millions.

Hundreds of thousands watched Chicago Sun-Times Reporter Lynn Sweet transform from relaxed parade-goer to on-the-clock reporter the moment her innocent cellphone video capturing the sounds of the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band playing on a flatbed truck that drove slowly along Central Avenue got assaulted by the sounds of gunfire.

I know viscerally how Sweet must have felt. In 2017, I was also suddenly turned into the subject of a breaking news story I had to report when a drive-by shooting happened in the middle of an interview I was conducting inside a corner grocery store in Austin.

A young Black man in his early 20s — about the age of 21-year-old Robert Crimo III, the person of interest in Monday’s Fourth of July massacre — walked into the store to purchase a few things while I spoke to a store employee for a human interest profile I was working on. As soon as the young man walked out the door, he was met by bullets coming from a van that sped south on Central Avenue.

If it weren’t for the grocery store’s apparently bulletproof windows, I and three other people with me that day — two students from Northwestern’s Medill journalism school and a former Growing Community Media staff photographer — may have been among the casualties (six injured and one dead).

Seconds after the shooting, when things had settled down a bit, I walked out of the store and nearly stepped on the body of the young man who had just been inside making a purchase. His name was Byron McKinney Jr. and he was breathing his last breaths as a crowd of onlookers stood stressfully around him.

Unlike in Highland Park, the Chicago police, who had not been far from the

scene of the shooting, converged on the corner not as good guys with guns come to escort traumatized bystanders to safety, but as an occupying force who handled everyone in the crowd like rodents. They bullied us, cursed us, shoved us away and treated us with scorn and contempt.

I reported on that shooting in Austin. I reported on McKinney’s funeral and on a peace rally attended by his mother, and on the press conference that happened at the corner the day after the shooting.

Monday’s shooting in Highland Park forced me to relive that trauma — of a placid sunny day suddenly vandalized by violence seemingly without rhyme or reason. Later reports revealed that McKinney had gotten into a beef with rivals on Facebook. Crimo was a YouTube rapper and apparent Trump fan who littered social media with content praising public murder.

We were all terrorized and traumatized Monday and that, I’m starting to believe, is disgustingly the point of Crimo’s coconspirators — the white supremacists, Christian theocrats, corporate fascists, free market fundamentalists and milquetoast moderates who enable this kind of terrorism by effectively handcuffing government’s ability to do anything about it.

MICHAEL ROMAIN

A case in point On June 23, the conservative supermajority of the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a law in New York that requires anyone seeking a concealed carry license to demonstrate a special need for it that goes beyond self-defense.

Later that day, Nancy Rotering, a candidate running for a seat on the Illinois Supreme Court, tweeted: “The U.S. Supreme Court conservative supermajority is stepping over and reversing legislative efforts to keep our country safe from overwhelming gun violence.”

Less than two weeks later, Rotering, who is also the mayor Highland Park, shared another tweet, this one informing people

about the dreadful mass shooting that took place during her city’s Fourth of July parade.

Within hours of the shooting, as police were still searching for the suspect and as at least six people lay dead, a Twitter account (who knows if it’s an actual person) replied to Mayor Rotering’s tweet about the shooting.

The Twitter user attacked the mayor for her role in passing a local ordinance that bans the possession, sale or manufacture of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.

Highland Park had passed the measure in the wake of the gruesome Sandy Hook mass shooting in 2012, in which 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot and killed 26 people — 20 of them children under 8 years old.

Gun lobbyists with the Illinois State Rifle Association sued Highland Park, accusing the city of violating the rights of the individual plaintiff named in the lawsuit, Arie S. Friedman, a Highland Park man who wanted to keep the locally banned weapons in his home for self-defense.

A district court upheld Highland Park’s ban, finding it constitutional and within the parameters of previous Supreme Court decisions related to gun control laws, namely the 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller case, in which what was then merely a conservative majority decided 5-4 that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to possess firearms outside of serving in a militia. It does not, but the constitution is what judges interpret it to be — nothing more or less.

The gun lobbyists and Friedman appealed the district court’s decision to the Seventh Circuit appeals court, which also upheld Highland Park’s ban. Finally, they appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which basically refused to hear the case. That was in 2015, when Ruth Bader Ginsburg was still alive, when there were just two outright zany thugs in robes on the court, Justices Thomas and Scalia, and before the current theocratic and corporately owned supermajority took over.

Had the gun lobbyists gotten luckier with their timing and brought their lawsuit before this current conservative supermajority, another angle to Monday’s mass shooting might well have been the

Supreme Court’s invalidation of Highland Park’s local assault weapons ban nearly a decade earlier.

Indeed, as I write this, there are probably lobbyists and lawyers working on ensuring that the highest court in the land revisit the matter of Arie Friedman, et. al. v. City of Highland Park, just as these pencil-pushing terrorists of jurisprudence effectively persuaded their theocratic, fascistic ideological allies on the high court to “revisit” the matter of Roe v. Wade.

Legal scholars, journalists and court watchers across the country have for decades sounded the alarm about the very real dangers posed by right-wing Christian and free market fundamentalism — movements that have effectively interpreted the constitution and conceptions of liberty, capitalism, freedom and patriotism in their favor in order to monopolize power and profits.

Monday’s Fourth of July Massacre is the logical endpoint of a roughly halfcentury crusade by the right wing to gut the government’s ability to carry out its responsibility to protect the common good while coddling the elite interests of those with the power and wherewithal to do the greatest harm.

The right to be free from the fear of going to a Fourth of July parade without getting gunned down means nothing if it cannot be enforced in court and if lawmakers are denied the opportunity to govern democratically and in the interest of actual human lives over delusions and objects.

“The current Supreme Court is likely to build a nation where conservatives, and only conservatives, have the opportunity to govern,” a prominent legal journalist warns us.

Monday gave us a sampling of what that looks like. Do not allow the tragedy porn that’s currently being served up by our entertainment news complex to distract you from this existential threat. We know why this keeps happening and we have the power to stop it.

For the full column, visit online at oakpark.com

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

Dungeons & Dragons Summer Bootcamp - Adventurer Training (Grades 6-12) Tuesday, July 12 & Thursday, July 14, 3-5 p.m., Oak Park Public LIbrary (Main Library Book Discussion Room) This two-day workshop explores the basics of Dungeons & Dragons. You can play a practice game, create a character of your own, and be invited to an adventure later in the month. No experience necessary; dice will be provided! Register now for any two-day workshop at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Show Out! Teen Talent Showcase Informational Meeting Wednesday, July 6, 4-5:30 p.m., Oak Park Public Library (Main Library Small Meeting Room) This talent showcase allows teenagers a forum to do what they do, by teens for other teens. Details on how to be a performer will be discussed here.

Register now at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

BIG WEEK July 6-13

Graphic Novel Club Tuesday, July 12, 4-5 p.m., Oak Park Public Library (Main Library Storytime Room) The club takes a look at all the new graphic novels that have been released in the last month. You can also share recommendations, get crafty, and celebrate visual storytelling! No pre-reading required; just bring your love of comics and graphic novels. Recommended for ages 7+. Register now at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Thursday, July 7, 8:30 p.m., FitzGerald’s Chris Ligon and Heather McAdams are back with clips from their extensive collection of film reels, ranging from vintage rock, country, jazz and other musical performances, to crazy TV commercials, plus the odd movie trailer or two. DVDs? Ha ha! $15, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn.

Drag Storytime & Craft, Starring Tooth Saturday, July 9, 1-2 p.m., Oak Park Public Library (Main Library Storytime Room) A few of your favorite librarians plus a special guest star will get together for an energetic storytime and craft. This variety hour will feature books, songs, dancing, and a creative hour of fun. Recommended for ages 2+. Register now at oppl.org/ calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Second Saturdays

Cash Box Kings Tuesday, July 12, 7 p.m., FitzGerald’s Part of WDCB DJ Tom Marker’s “Bluesday Tuesday.” Harmonica player Joe Nosek and singer Oscar Wilson, along with an all-star cast, bring back traditional blues the way it should be played, with all of the swing and swagger and none of the pretense. Besides, any band that mentions Johnnie’s Italian Beef restaurant on North Avenue has got to be good. 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn,

Chris & Heather’s 16mm Film Festival with musical guests Chris Ligon & Sharon Rutledge

Saturday, July 9, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Berwyn shops This array of pop-up vendors will line the Berwyn corridor, selling their goods in the summer sunshine while various art exhibits and musical performances are happening. 6931 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn.

Film Screening: Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Friday, July 8, 1-3 p.m., Oak Park Public Library (Main Library Veterans Room) This movie documents a series of New York City concerts during the summer of ‘69, showcasing the finest in Black and Latin talent: Sly & the Family Stone, Ray Barretto, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Gladys Knight & the Pips and others. History you can dance to. Register now at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

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

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

Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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Librarian to poet, Jim Madigan invents his retirement Longtime deputy at Oak Park library, Madigan nears master’s degree

By JESSICA MACKINNON Contributing Reporter

Jim Madigan is proof that it’s never too late to write a new chapter in life — and, as such, he serves as an inspiration to others unwilling to rest on their laurels in retirement. Since retiring in 2019 as deputy director of the Oak Park Public Library, Madigan has been working toward a master’s degree in creative writing at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). In late April, he was recognized with the inaugural 2022 Michael Anania Poetry Prize, a juried prize for graduate students in UIC’s English Department.

“When I learned that I was going to receive an award, I told my family that I might be getting the Oldest Student Award or something,” Madigan laughed.

Launching a new later-in-life career, especially one in which the odds of success are so slim, takes an extraordinary amount of courage. That fortitude is further tested when your classmates are half your age. But Madigan considered his age as an advantage. He has a lifetime of experiences to draw upon.

Madigan embarked on his literary career just days after retiring from the library, when he accompanied his partner, Deborah Adelman, to Ireland, where she was chaperoning a college study abroad program at Carlow CollegeSt. Patrick’s, an hour south of Dublin. He sat in on a poetry class and something about it just clicked. It helped that his poetry instructor was encouraging.

Madigan accompanied his nervous poetry instructor to the first public reading of his first book. During the open mic following the reading, the instructor invited Madigan to read from his own poetry. Madigan discovered that he enjoyed the experience and, since then, has read at more than 50 public readings.

“When you’re over 40, you make people say no to you — you don’t say no to yourself,” Madigan said, summing up the philosophy that has guided his career.

Following a short stint as a corporate banker in the 1980s, Madigan took a job managing the video collection at Chicago’s revered Facets Multimedia, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and presenting independent films. He

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

A NEW NICHE: Jim Madigan, former librarian, is now writing the books. eventually became assistant director to founder Milos seeing the move to temporary quarters at the former Pep Stehlik. He then worked for three years as executive direc- Boys building on Harlem Avenue. He also served as the project manager for the renovation of the Maze branch tor of an Easter Seals center in Oak Park.

While researching job opportunities for a friend, Madi- library at Gunderson and Harrison, which focused on gan saw a job notice from the Oak Park Public Library that adding an elevator to improve accessibility. Both projects, involved financial planning, budgeting and community which were somewhat contentious, benefitted from Madigan’s ability to work with a variety of passionoutreach. During his interview, he showed the ate people holding conflicting opinions. committee a book about fundraising ideas for One of the projects of which he is most public libraries — which included a chapter on proud was the 2016 One Book/One Oak Park, the Friends of the Oak Park Public Library’s which revolved around Kevin Coval’s poetry annual book fair. Although the book was in collection, “A People’s History of Chicago.” the library’s collection, none of the committee To connect the book to Oak Park, library staff members had ever seen it. Madigan got the job read poems at sites throughout the commu— and stayed with the library for 25 years. nity that were relevant to Coval’s book. For During his retirement party, now former example, a poem about racial justice was read Executive Director David Seleb referred to Maoutside the Percy Julian home. Outside Ridgedigan as the “conscience of the library.” For land Common, they read a poem about Fred more than two decades, Madigan led a number Hampton because he organized to open a pool of initiatives that positioned the library as the in Maywood for Blacks who were denied entry heart of Oak Park’s uniquely diverse and soJIM MADIGAN to Oak Park and Chicago pools. cially progressive community.

Madigan plans to publish a book of his own One of his first projects focused on the open poetry after finishing his master’s degree this housing movement in Oak Park during the fall. Nineteen of his poems have already been 1960s, as reflected in the personal stories of published or accepted for publication. leaders including Roberta L. Raymond, Sher“Retirement is an opportunity to reinvent yourself. After lynn Reid, Harriette Gillem Robinet and others.

In the early 2000s, Madigan was intimately involved in 25 years at the library, I know that I’m strongly identified the planning of the new main library on Lake Street, talk- with the library. But you can’t coast on that reputation. I ing with more than 40 community groups to get a referen- wanted to explore other opportunities,” Madigan said.

Obviously, Madigan is enjoying writing his next chapter. dum passed, meeting with building contractors, and over-

“Retirement is an opportunity to reinvent yourself. I wanted to explore other opportunities.”

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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Fenwick High School principal to step down, staff changes to follow After a decade, Peter Groom returns to teaching at Fenwick

By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter

A Catholic high school principal is stepping down to take on the role of a teacher at the same school. Peter Groom, who joined Fenwick High School in 1995 first as a teacher and as principal beginning in 2011, plans to return to the classroom next fall, according to a recent schoolwide email sent

by Fenwick president the Rev. Richard Peddicord.

Groom will rejoin Fenwick as a teacher and faculty member starting July 1 and teach Spanish and history for the 2022-23 school year, Peddicord wrote in the email sent June 27.

School officials have yet to confirm with Wednesday Journal whether the staffing

“As with any institution that has stood the test of time and thrived, Fenwick High School will always change and evolve.”

improving!) the high academchanges are related to the ic standards and excellent investigation of longtime teaching.” teacher John Quinn, who was “He has also been a valuaccused in recent months by able partner to me, the senior at least two former students administration of Fenwick, of sexual misconduct and hathe board, the faculty, the rassment. Quinn was placed parent community, and most on paid administrative leave importantly, the students,” in March, pending a thirdPeddicord said about Groom. party investigation. The inThe email noted the school vestigation is still ongoing, will be searching for a princischool officials told Wednespal. In the meaning, Terrence day Journal earlier this month. Groom was not avail- REV. RICHARD PEDDICORD O’Rourke, director of student Fenwick President services, will become the inable for immediate comment. terim principal, and Charly In the June 27 email, PedIeremia, who serves as the dicord praised Groom for his dean of students, will replace commitment to Fenwick and guiding the Oak Park-based school through O’Rourke. Both are set to take on their new “many challenges while maintaining (and positions July 1.

PETER GROOM Peddicord, in the email, also commended O’Rourke and Ieremia for “stepping up to these new responsibilities.”

“As with any institution that has stood the test of time and thrived (93 years and counting!), Fenwick High School will always change and evolve,” Peddicord wrote.

“We welcome these ‘transition times’ as opportunities for further improvement and growth.”

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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OPRF to mark 150th anniversary with memories and public service 70,000+ graduates since founding in 1873, celebration set for 2023

By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter

“What do you celebrate when you celebrate 150 years?”

That’s the question top of mind for Don Vogel, a former Oak Park and River Forest High School teacher and principal who remains tied to the school and has been tasked to help honor the school’s 150th anniversary set to take place in 2023.

“There’s the building, the championships – all sorts of things out there,” said Vogel, who carved out a 30-plus year career as an educator at OPRF and is now one of about nine members of the Sesquicentennial Steering Committee. “But to me, Oak Park has always been about the people who have worked there and who’ve gone to school there, the families that have been touched, the community that’s been touched by what the graduates have done.”

The committee, which is made up of OPRF alumni, school employees and local leaders, is still in its planning stages and looking for volunteers who may have ideas on how to display the public high school’s long history.

An online form for people interested in participating and planning activities around the anniversary is on the school website at www. oprfhs.org.

OPRF was founded in 1873, and its first batch of high school students shared classrooms with young children from Central School, an elementary school located at Lake Street and Forest Avenue, according to the site. Decades later, in 1892, a building designated for only high school students was constructed on the southwest corner of Lake Street and East Avenue. Soon after, in 1905, school officials eyed and purchased land between East and Scoville avenues, constructing a larger building, the site stated.

Since then, OPRF, which remains at 201 N. Scoville Ave., has expanded, drawing in thousands of students from Oak Park and River

Forest.

In the online form, volunteers can choose to help with plans for community outreach, launch events, collect stories from alumni or coordinate anniversary merchandise and swag. Vogel also came up with an idea to record 150,000 hours of community service; for that one, Vogel said he’s looking for graduates around the world to share, promote and document their service hours that would hopefully reach that whopping number.

“It’s a really ambitious goal, but it’s such a cool idea,” Karin Sullivan, OPRF’s spokesperson, told Wednesday Journal. “If we can get alumni – no matter where they are in the world – to do even one hour of service wherever they live in their local community, that’s a really powerful effort.”

But Vogel knows OPRF will step up to the challenge. It already has in the past.

“I’ve always described OPRF as a tapestry where you blend together all of the stories of these 70,000-plus graduates, along with staff and faculty that have worked there, and you have an amazing story to tell,” he added. “...

There’s lots of people who have done lots of things. There’s been the scientists at the Smithsonian, and there’s ballerinas, and there’s been state legislators and congressmen and whatever, each making an impact in a different way.”

As Vogel and Sullivan look ahead to the coming months and building a larger team to home in on next year’s festivities, the two spoke of excitement – and at times pressure – to create something memorable. Vogel, who joined OPRF as a teacher soon after graduating college in 1974, said he came to the school around its centennial anniversary and recalled there wasn’t much of a celebration.

Now, he’s excited to have the chance to do something.

“It’s not all about how great we are or what we do or whatever. There’s been challenges; there’s been ups and downs. There’s been times when things happen that we probably shouldn’t be very proud of. But like in any family, you accept the good and the bad, and you have to tell the whole story,” Vogel said.

“You recognize all those different parts and pieces. Oak Park High School was clearly a reflection of the changing community.”

“It’s a story worth telling,” he said.

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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Davis narrowly wins primary against progressive Kina Collins Congressman beats Kina Collins 52-45 in his closest congressional race since 1996

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

On Tuesday, Congressman Danny K. Davis (7th) emerged from a conference room inside of the National Association of Letter Carriers building in Chicago, where his election night party was taking place, with the face of an exhausted heavyweight champion fighter surprised that the match went so long.

About a half-hour earlier, the longtime congressman’s campaign party had been rather muted, with some staffers nervously whispering into cell phones and volunteers looking anxiously at a projector screen showing a local TV news anchor process election data.

When the Chicago Sun-Times projected a victory for the congressman — who as of 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday was leading his closest challenger, gun control advocate Kina Collins, 52% to 45% — the room of several dozen supporters exhaled and cheered before shouting, “Danny! Danny! Danny!”

Davis said Tuesday’s election was his narrowest margin of victory since he first ran for Congress nearly 30 years ago in 1996.

“I think the first race I ran, I got 32% of the vote, but of course it was five or six of us in that race,” he said.

Allen Evans, an activist with the Peacemaker Coalition, a group of community groups focusing on addressing violence in Austin, said he’s known Davis since he was a Chicago alderman and has volunteered on his campaigns since that first congressional race in 1996. Evans said he didn’t think this most recent election would be so close.

“Usually, young people don’t vote,” he

said. “So, I thought the senior citizens would have brought him in. I thought there would have been a much greater gap.”

Chicago Treasurer Melissa ConyearsErvin said she was confident that Davis would win, but added that the low voter turnout affected his margin of victory.

“It was just a very low turnout today and just about every race has been affected, because of that,” she said. “Because Congressman Davis is such a household name, he’s going to be fine, but this low voter turnout was tough.”

In addition to Collins, Davis faced a challenge from Denarvis Mendenhall, an Air Force veteran and compliance officer for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Mendenhall had garnered about 2% of the vote, as of midnight Tuesday.

Collins, who also ran for the 7th District congressional seat in 2020, was backed by a range of national organizations, includ-

SHANEL ROMAIN/Contributor

Congressman Danny K. Davis at his election night headquarters in Chicago on June 28. ing Indivisible, Justice Democrats and the very happy to see Nancy Pelosi, but her National Organization for Women. comment was, ‘I’m surprised she doesn’t Davis secured endorsements from na- have anything better to do than be here.’” tional politicians including President Joe Tumia Rumero, Congressman Davis’s Biden and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pe- chief of staff said she wasn’t surprised losi, but Collins outspent him that the election was so close, by nearly $140,000, according given the low turnout. She to campaign finance data said internal polling had the from the Federal Elections congressman besting Collins Commission. by 20%, “but that was based As with her campaign meson a higher turnout.” sage last year, Collins ran She added that the low as a fresh, more progressive turnout may have been due, alternative to the veteran in part, to state officials Davis. pushing the election date Forest Park Mayor Rory back from March 15 to June Hoskins, a Davis supporter 28.

DANNY DAVIS who was at the congress“People thought that may7th District Congressman man’s election night party, be they had already had the said he was discouraged primary,” Rumero said. about the response of some In his remarks to supportconstituents to Davis’s camers, Davis said he looks forpaign. ward to helping Democrats “A lot of people in Forest stave off Republicans in the Park, they don’t say anyNovember midterm electhing about Nancy Pelosi being in senior- tions and is focusing on the Jan. 6 Commisity,” he said. “She’s the congressman’s age sion investigation and the aftermath of and she’s been in Congress longer, but they the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. want Davis to go.

Wade, among other issues.

“I took a friend of mine from Forest Park “It’s been a hard fight, but the victory is who supported Kina Collins to see Nancy sweet,” he said.

Pelosi, when she came to see the congressman months ago. And this woman was CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

“It’s been a hard fight, but the victory is sweet.”

PAUL GOYETTE/Contributor

Kina Collins came close in her second race against Davis.

Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

9

Taliaferro, Chicago alderman, loses race for judge

West Side alderman will run for reelection to city council

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

Attorney Aileen Bhandari is projected to win 11th Subcircuit judge race against Chicago Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) based on the preliminary results from Chicago Board of Elections and the Office of Cook County Clerk.

While Taliaferro led in the city portion of the subcircuit – which includes about half his ward – Bhandari did better in the suburbs, and the alderman’s lead in the city narrowed as the results came in. With no Republican or Independent opponents running for the seat, the victory in the June 28 primary amounts to a victory in general election.

Throughout the race, Taliaferro had the advantage in fundraising and received endorsements from several state Democratic party officials, while Bhandari touted two decades of legal experience. If her victory is confirmed, she will become the first Asian judge

to be elected in the 11th subcircuit. Bhandari said Wednesday morning she wasn’t ready to declare victory until the final results are released, but if the current projections hold, she hopes that her qualifications were what AILEEN BHANDARI made the difference.

As the results from the city came in Taliaferro was leading. The suburban results were delayed because some of the polling places opened late and had to stay open until 8 p.m., but, as the suburban results came in, Bhandari emerged as a clear leader. Meanwhile, Taliaferro’s edge in the city narrowed throughout the night. According to the preliminary results, Bhandari beat the alderman by 1,451 votes.

Bhandari said she was pleased with the way campaign panned out, describing Taliaferro as a “class act.”

“But the final results [do show I won], I’d say that I’m excited and thrilled to win the election,” Bhandari said. “I spoke to Ald. Taliaferro this morning. He ran a good cam-

paign, and I wish him all best in his future endeavors.”

Taliaferro said that he conceded the race.

“Aileen ran a good race, and I congratulated her,” he said. “I think she’ll make a fine judge.”

Taliaferro confirmed CHRIS TALIAFERRO that he planned to run for re-election as a Chicago alderman next year. The 2022 remap largely kept his ward intact, so he would be facing similar constituents.

Bhandari worked for the Office of the Cook County State’s Attorney for the past 20 years.

She started out with child support cases. After working in the Domestic Violence division, she went on to prosecute misdemeanor cases before going into Felony Review, serving as one of the legal professionals who decides whether a felony case has enough evidence to go to trial.

The 11th subcircuit includes Galewood and other parts of Austin north of North Avenue, the Chicago neighborhoods further North, the entirety of Oak Park and about half of

Proviso Township, including most of Maywood, and portions of several northwestern suburbs.

Bhandari unsuccessfully ran for one of the at-large seats in 2020. She reflected that she underestimated just how large Cook County was, and she thought running for a subcircuit seat would be more manageable. The reality proved to be a bit more challenging.

“It just seems like a shorter time frame and a lot more to cover,” she said.

This newspaper caught up with Bhandari as she was passing out her campaign literature in front of the polling place in the Oak Park Public Library’s main branch, 834 Lake St. She said she was impressed by how informed Oak Park voters were.

Brandon Askew said he lives in the South Side’s Englewood neighborhood, but he got involved because his mother runs Tabitha House, an Austin addiction recovery facility, 500 N. Pine. As the day wore on, he joked with the voters and directed them to the polling place at Oak Park Township building “I love the energy, campaigning here,” Askew said. “I get to talk to people and get paid. [that person] can relate to me and I can relate to him.

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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May the Fourth be with you

Oak Park’s Fourth of July Parade returned after a two-year pandemic hiatus. Musicians marched, OPALGA sprouted wings, kids were prolifically candied, and Ridgeland Avenue was lined with onlookers.

ALEX ROGALS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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11

Building a preservation culture is goal of new Oak Park group First meeting drew mix of preservation advocates

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission, an entity within the village government’s commission structure, is no longer the only group concerned with protecting the village’s historic architecture. Preservation Oak Park is a new and independent organization of individuals concerned with maintaining and building a preservation culture.

“We’re trying to maintain the historic culture, the overall feel of Oak Park, which in recent years has been somewhat damaged we feel,” said founding member Frank Heitzman, a local architect who describes the group as “quasi-political.”

The newly formed group is something of an education and advocacy collective, focusing on several issues of preservation facing the village of Oak Park, an area celebrated for its historic architecture. That architecture is one of, if not the, biggest tourist draws in the village.

Preservation Oak Park seeks not only to restore antiquated structures that have fallen into disrepair but also to inform people of the many historic sites that exist outside the confines of the village’s three historic districts.

The group might also go to bat for buildings on the brink of demolition.

Heitzman is an architect specializing in preservation.

Frank Lipo, another co-founder is a local historian and executive director of the Oak Park River Forest Museum.

Both were involved in efforts to preserve the now-flattened Foley-Rice building on Madison Street. Lipo was unavailable for comment. Chris Payne, also an architect, rounds out the group’s triumvirate of founders.

In part, the group wants to get ahead of the curve before such projects as the Madison Street Pete’s Fresh Market make their way through the village’s planned development process. Despite presenting the village and Pete’s with an alternative plan that would have salvaged the façade of the long vacant auto dealership building, the Pete’s construc-

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

PRESERVERS: Frank Lipo, left, and Frank Heitzman, in front of the Foley-Rice building on Madison Street which was torn down to make way for Pete’s Market. tion plans were approved, and the historic structure was demolished. The grocery store did commit to saving the building’s distinguishing grotesques, but that did little to lessen many people’s disappointment.

“We’re typically behind the eight ball when it comes to preserving things,” said Payne, who formerly served as a volunteer at the Pleasant Home Foundation.

Preservation Oak Park came together after Payne began a Facebook group. He would share local news articles about preservation projects but also technical pieces informing people how to take care of historic homes, of which there are many in Oak Park.

Knowing that Heitzman and Lipo had been very involved in efforts to save the Foley-Rice building, Payne reached out to them to gauge an interest in having an inperson gathering with like-minded people. The group is not about nimbyism, Payne was quick to clarify.

The first meeting was held June 21 at the Oak Park River Forest Museum and had a sizable number of attendees considering the event was rather short notice.

Out of about 30 people invited, 20 showed up.

“We’re not about just one thing,” said Payne. “I thought that was heartening that people were coming from a lot of places.”

Some guests came from local preservation foundations such as Unity Temple and Pleasant Home. Some were just long-time Oak Parkers who wanted to see their village’s character retained. Others were looking for advice on how to preserve their own historic homes. A hand-

ful were architects, and a few people were interested in retrofitting historic architecture for sustainability purposes, as well as preservation.

“We all agree that sustainability is an integral part of historic preservation, because, as they say, the greenest building is the one that already exists,” said Heitzman.

Preservation Oak Park intends to monitor the Historic Preservation Commission, according to Heitzman, who spent 14 years on the commission and about eight as its chair.

“I know how hard it is for the commission to try to make decisions that are not in the best interest of the village board, which tends to look at these [issues] a little bit differently than people who are advocates for preservation,” he said. “Each board has always been very economic development-driven.”

The group plans to meet again in September. A date and time have not been determined as of yet, but that information will eventually be posted on the Preservation Oak Park Facebook group page. For those that do not have Facebook, Payne says to reach out to him, Lipo or Heitzman directly.

In the meantime, the group is in the process of putting together a list of important historic buildings outside of the historic districts that deserve the attention of the Historic Preservation Commission.

“We have a treasure trove of wonderful historic buildings that just don’t get enough attention by people,” said Heitzman.

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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Ambitious Oak Park climate plan reaches village board Focus on cutting greenhouse emissions 60 percent in 8 years

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

With the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions crippled by the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling, the country’s response to the climate crisis remains uneven at best.

The Village of Oak Park, however, is continuing its work to address the increasingly urgent situation through its climate action plan.

Oak Park Sustainability Coordinator Marcella Bondie Keenan walked Wednesday Journal through the plan’s final draft, which details the strategies to achieve a 60% reduction in the village’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

The plan has been in development since last September. Engineering and consulting firm GRAEF was contracted to help devise it.

The village board could approve the finalized plan as early as this summer.

“We would like to get the plan back to the board for a vote before they break for August,” Bondie Keenan said.

The plan includes projected expenses associated with lowering emissions and reaching net-zero status. It will take the village roughly $79.2 million to reach its 2030 goal, but taxpayers will not be footing the cost entirely.

The village plans to use grant money and loans, as well as revenue from the plastic bag fee and the motor fuel tax to finance a range of projects. Public benefit funds, bonds, energy performance saving contracts, loan-loss reserve funds will also help contribute to paying for the sustainability expenditures.

CREDIT: VILLAGE OF OAK PARK

For 2030 and beyond, the overall cost to reach net-zero community-wide is estimated at $695.9 million.

“The community number is sort of like, ‘OK, so if everybody was going to make their house more energy efficient by 10% or switch to an electric vehicle, what could that cost?’” said Bondie Keenan.

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There are ways to offset the financial impact on each household or resident for making more sustainable investments. The state of Illinois is offering rebates of up to $4,000 for switching to an electric car. ComEd has discounts and rebates available for making energy reducing improvements and buying energy efficient products.

The climate action plan goes beyond making building improvements and lowering energy use. It is also concerned with protecting and enhancing the village’s biodiversity, calling for increased plant and tree coverage and more green spaces, as well as the prioritization of native species.

“Because biodiversity is also really affected by climate change, we are going to try to conserve 30% of the community land for biodiversity,” she said.

That could take the form of rain gardens and native plant gardens, both of which will serve to support the urban wildlife that exists in Oak Park. Urban agriculture projects can help to bring greater access to nutritious foods to everyone in Oak Park, not just those that live close to grocery stores.

“Another commitment is that for the village’s public dollars that we spend on climate and sustainability to host stuff in this plan, 40% of that will be directed to vulnerable and impacted communities,” Bondie Keenan said.

The village will also be rolling out new policies and programs to implement the climate action plan, which will involve partnering with community members and frontline service organizations. Such organizations could include Housing Forward and Beyond Hunger.

“Or other groups that really work with folks who use different kinds of assistance programs through the village,” said Bondie Keenan.

The village will execute the plan over a period of years. When the plan goes back to the village board, according to Bondie Keenan, village staff and GRAEF will provide a short-term sequence of the events, so that the board and the public will understand when the first round of changes will take place.

Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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Cross-community Food Aid Festival hopes to stock local pantries and fill public fridges

Austin and Oak Park partner in two-day event highlighting local musicians

By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

in Chicago, where The O’My’s with Wyatt Waddell and Kara Jackson are slated to take the stage.

“Friday’s event will have a more traditional structure,” said Biggins who is also owner of Golden Dagger in Chicago and the former head of music at FitzGerald’s Nightclub in Berwyn. “Kara Jackson is an artist from the Oak Park community, and it is a real honor to have them be part of the show.”

Jackson, an OPRF graduate, is an activist, author, and singer-songwriter who

Music lovers unite! WBEZ, Suburban Unity Alliance, and Harmonica Dunn have joined forces to sponsor the first annual Food Aid Festival to benefit the Oak Park Community Fridge, Beyond Hunger, A House in Austin, Austin Coming Together, Best of Proviso Township and the Westchester Food Pantry. Scheduled for July 22 and 23, the event features a duo of locations and multiple musical acts.

“As we continue to grow and work our evolves, addressing food insecurity has become core to our mission,” said Clark, Founder and Director of Suburban Unity Alliance. “When families reach out to us it is generally related to food. Issues of equity are all interconnected and we want this event to support organizations doing wonderful work in our communities.”

Clark and Donnie Biggins, founder and talent buyer for Harmonica Dunn, hope to maximize concert attendance by keeping the PROVIDED event accessible both geo- FURY, standing for “finally understanding the real you” graphically and financially. will bring her socially conscious themes to the stage As such, they are offering shows at two locations, one in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood and the served as the third National Youth Poet other in Oak Park. Tickets for each day are Laureate from 2019-2020. Their performance at the Food Aid Festival’s Friday affordably priced at $25.

Clark and Biggins, both OPRF graduates show comes in advance of dropping their have music in common and have worked to debut album this fall. In 2020, Chicago ensure the Food Aid Festival will highlight Reader’s Gossip Wolf said Jackson’s “strikartists from the communities the event ing acoustic guitar melodies and tender impacts most. Day one of the festival will singing go straight for the gut.” Notable bring ticket holders to the Kehrein Cen- Chicago based artists, The O’My’s and Wyter for the Arts, 5628 W. Washington Blvd att Wydell will round out the evening with

R&B sounds and meaningful melodies.

Day two ticket holders will be welcomed into School of Rock Oak Park, 219 Lake St, Oak Park, IL, for a freer flowing afternoon and evening of live music. Artists including Mary Lane, FURY, Mikey Everything, Since96ix, Yomí, Trichomes and The School of Rock show team will perform between 3pm and 10pm on Saturday July 23. Taylor’s Tacos

Kara Jackson will be at School of Rock on Saturday serving up their “street tocos for the soul.”

“I said yes right away, and I am excited to partner with the Kehrein Center for the Arts,” said Amy Renzulli, owner of School of Rock Oak Park. “When it comes to using music, art and food to help the community I am always going to raise my hand.”

Eighty-six-year-old headliner, Mary Lane, is a member of the Chicago Blues

13

Hall of Fame and her first solo album in two decades, Travelin’ Woman, released in 2019 helped her earn recognition as “comeback artist of the year” by Living Blues Magazine. Lane was the recipient of the prestigious Koko Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Jus Blues Music Foundation last year. Expect her soulful and timeless voice to connect with the audience.

“We are excited and truly honored to host legendary blues singer Mary Lane,” said Renzulli. “We owe our rock and roll roots to groundbreaking musicians like her and her fellow blues musicians. We look forward to seeing the incredible line up of music and giving back to the community at a time when resources are stretched thin.”

The Saturday concert also boasts hyperlocal flair with performances by hip-hop artist, Oak Park native and LGBTQ activist, Mikey Everything and Austin based rapper, FURY. Sure to be a draw, FURY, standing for “finally understanding the real you” will bring her socially conscious themes to the stage; an artist and activist, she is focused on revitalizing Chicago’s west side—her passion for community dovetails PROVIDED nicely with Food Aid’s mission.

Clark established Suburban Unity Alliance in 2016 and over the years addressing food insecurity has evolved to become a core issue the equity focused organization aims to address. Both he and Biggins hope Food Aid will become an important funding source for interconnected community organizations dedicated to hunger relief efforts this year and for years to come.

To snag your tickets visit foodaidfestival. com

14

Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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Oak Park’s longtime public works director retires

John Wielebnicki saw the village through some of its biggest projects

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

After 19 years leading public works for the village of Oak Park, John Wielebnicki has retired. Always congenial and knowledgeable, Wielebnicki took a hands-on approach to public works, leading by example and picking up slack during tight times.

“In his time with the village, he built an incredible leadership team and set high expectations for the level of service provided to residents,” said Interim Public Works Director Rob Sproule, who worked under Wielebnicki both as Oak Park’s forestry superintendent and, most recently, assistant public works director.

Wielebnicki’s final day on the job was June 24, but his contributions – and there are many – to the village will last for years to come. During his tenure, Wielebnicki oversaw several large-scale capital improvement projects, from the construction of the Public Works Center on South Boulevard in 2000 and the rebuilding of Lake Street, the latter of which coincided with COVID-19 shelter-in-place directives. He also oversaw the streetscaping of North Avenue, Chicago Avenue, Marion Street and Roosevelt Road.

“John was an outstanding public servant and amazing leader,” said Sproule.

During his tenure, Wielebnicki saw that more than 35 billion gallons of clean and safe drinking water was delivered to the community and supervised the installation of over 16 miles of new water mains, 14 miles of new sewer mains and repaving of 300 alleys. The village resurfaced more than 60 miles of streets and laid down roughly 40,000 sidewalk squares under Wielebnicki’s leadership.

He does not consider any of those notable feats his biggest achievement. Those are “just part of the job” for Wielebnicki.

What he is most proud of cannot be quantified in miles, gallons, metric tons or any other unit of measurement.

“My favorite project has been helping develop my staff as professionals,” he said.

“That’s been the most rewarding.”

Wielebnicki knows that the success of

a public works department is not only dependent on large infrastructure improvements. He never let slide such day-to-day responsibilities as coordinating leaf pickups and working with waste haulers. And he still found the time to readily and happily talk with residents and reporters alike.

Despite his department’s large list of duties, he was also known to offer a bit of cheeky advice now and then, like last September when West Nile virus claimed the lives of many birds in Oak Park. The Public Works Department is not responsible for the removal of animal carcasses found on private properties. Wielebnicki found something of a loophole and directed Wednesday Journal readers to safely nudge the deceased beast onto public ground.

“I’m not going to split hairs here. We try to help people,” he said at the time. “If you get it out to the street or the alley, we’ll pick it up.”

That hands-on approach defined Wielebnicki’s time as public works director. He did not just delegate but worked alongside his staff, even taking part in some of the department’s more unsavory tasks.

When Waste Management truck drivers went on strike in 2003, the year Wielebnicki became Oak Park’s public works director, public works managers emptied residents’ trash cans. Wielebnicki FILE too.

Oak Park’s public works center “Yeah, I picked up garbage,” he recalled with a laugh.

The strike lasted about a week and half, Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and is a statebut through the duration, he never asked registered professional engineer, as well as the non-managerial public works staffers a LEED accredited professional with the to help out with trash collection out of pro- Green Buildings Certification Institute. He also holds an Illinois Class-C Public Water fessional and personal regard.

“Because we respect our unions to ob- Supply Operator License and served as serve other strikes, we didn’t make them past president of the Suburban Branch of the Chicago Metropolitan Chapter of the go pick up trash,” he said.

Oak Park Sustainability Coordinator American Public Works Association.

Before he was hired as the head of Oak Marcella Bondie Keenan had the pleasure of working with Wielebnicki as a consul- Park’s public works department, Wielebtant on the Rain Ready Oak Park project nicki had worked in several different pubbefore she joined village staff. She praised lic works roles in the Village of Elmhurst, him for being so forward-thinking and rising to the rank of public works director there. communicative.

In Wielebnicki’s 19 years in Oak Park, “He’s really an expert in this field and will definitely be very missed,” Bondie there have been several changes in leadership. Village Manager Kevin Jackson is Keenan said.

Wielebnicki could fill a suitcase with the fourth first-time village manager to be his qualifications. He received a degree in hired during Wielebnicki’s time as public works director. civil engineering from the University of

FILE

John Wielebnicki “I don’t even remember how many village presidents, but a lot,” he said.

And many village trustees too. All, he said, have been supportive of the public works department and great colleagues.

Throughout his long career, Wielebnicki’s favorite memories were spent in Oak Park, fishing wedding rings out of storm drains and camping out in his office during snowstorms because conditions were too dangerous to drive in. He compared it to sleeping on an old ship.

In his retirement, he plans to spend a lot more time on actual ships. Well, boats.

Wielebnicki just bought a second kayak.

He looks forward to kayaking with his wife up in Wisconsin. Fishing is also on the agenda, as is riding his bicycle and spending time with his grandchildren.

“I have a long list of plans,” he said. “My kids told me I have way too many hobbies.”

The reins of the public works department have been handed over to Sproule, whom Wielebnicki has mentored and coached. Whether Sproule will get the position permanently is a decision for the village manager, but Wielebnicki is confident he is leaving the department in more than capable hands.

“It’s a great gig,” he said of being Oak Park’s public works director. “I’m going to miss the people.”

Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

REWARD

A call to confess from page 1 nounced a $5,000 reward for anyone with tips or information that could help solve Logan-Bledsoe’s case. The reward has since increased to $6,000 through a donation from a community resident.

“Jailyn’s life means so much to us. She has impacted two communities,” said the Rev. Ira Acree, co-chair of the Leaders Network who led the brief press conference outside the police department on Madison Street.

Acree, pastor of Greater St. John Bible Church in Austin, spoke of the pain of losing Logan-Bledsoe, an Oak Park and River Forest High School student whose family’s history was rooted in activism.

Phyllis Logan, Logan-Bledsoe’s grandmother, is vice president of the Westside Branch NAACP and has dedicated her life to fighting for people’s rights, he said.

The college-bound teen, herself, was also a member of the NAACP’s youth council and a former member of the student-led organization Revolutionary Oak Park Youth Action League (ROYAL). This summer, Lo-

15

gan-Bledsoe had plans to travel ard University in the fall and to a conference in New Jersey recently scored a summer and represent the NAACP. internship with a congress“I have no mercy at all for man, said Edgerton, presimurderers, and I am praying dent of the Community of – and we are also demanding – Congregations, an organizafrom this police department to tion that works closely with give a full-scale investigation bethe Leaders Network and cause we want these killers off connects faith leaders from the streets,” Acree said.

Oak Park and River Forest.

Congressman Danny Davis Williams-Thurmond, who (7th) and other members of served as a youth advisor in the Leaders Network and the the local NAACP chapter, Westside NAACP joined Acree, said her daughter and Loganpleading with the community Bledsoe were close friends for more help. During the press and considered Logan-Bledconference, the Rev. Cy Fields soe like one of her own.

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer and the Rev. John Edgerton sent “We got to feel safe coming a message directly to Logan- Congressman Danny Davis, (right) and community members in and out of Oak Park ...”

Bledsoe’s assailants and asked attend the press conference seeking answers to the recent murder said an emotional Williamsthem to come forward. in Oak Park.

Thurmond.

“I just don’t un“You who pulled the trigger, if derstand what’s going on. there’s any measure of humanup in the morning and go about your daily ity in you, any conscious, any value, turn tasks knowing that you have ended the life Can somebody please help?”

The West Suburban Major Crimes Task yourself in,” said Fields, who co-chairs the of someone precious?”

Force is assisting the Oak Park Police DeLeaders Network with Acree and is pastor Edgerton, pastor of First United Church partment in the investigation. Anyone of the New Landmark Missionary Baptist of Oak Park, and Deborah Williams-ThurChurch in East Garfield Park. mond, a member of the Westside NAACP, with information should contact the police Recalling a Bible verse from Scripture, also took a moment to remember Logan- department at 708-386-3800. Those interested in providing information anonymously Fields added: “Confess your faults, one to Bledsoe. another. You’ve done great harm. How can Logan-Bledsoe, who was part of OPRF’s can do so by going to oak-park.us/crimetip you live with yourself ? How can you wake Class of 2022, planned on attending How- or calling 708-434-1636.

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C R I M E

Chicago man charged with armed robbery, carjacking, unlawful use of weapon Chicago resident Dameko Newsome, 18, was arrested on felony charges of aggravated vehicular hijacking, armed robbery and unlawful use of a weapon at 9:58 a.m., June 27 after being positively identified as the offender who aimed a gray handgun through an open window at a woman’s head while she sat in a car at 7:46 a.m. that morning in the 400 block of South Oak Park Avenue.

Newsome reportedly got into the vehicle after the woman exited but could not start the engine as the woman did not have the keys, as she was using a friend’s car for a smoke break.

When the victim’s coworker entered the parking lot, Newsome fled on foot northbound on Oak Park Avenue. He was later stopped by officers and positively identified. He was found with a fully loaded 9 mm in his waist band.

Aggravated vehicular hijacking A ride service driver was carjacked by three passengers, two of whom were armed, at 11:47 p.m., June 30 at their destination in the 800 block of Lyman Avenue.

The driver was ordered out of the vehicle by one offender armed with a handgun and another wielding a knife. The passengers subsequently battered the driver and took his wallet and iPhone and then fled in the victim’s blue Toyota RAV4, where they were last seen traveling eastbound on Jackson Boulevard. The estimated loss is $30,080.

Attempted carjacking An Oak Park resident was getting into the driver’s seat of her Prius when an unknown man sat down in the passenger’s seat and demanded she turn over her vehicle to him, but the carjacking was thwarted when the woman opened her door and began screaming for help at 11:21 a.m., July 1 in the 200 block of Home Avenue. The offender exited the vehicle.

SERVING OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST SINCE 1976

RESIDENTIAL — COMMERCIAL — RETAIL — CHURCHES — SCHOOLS

Home invasion After meeting a man through a social media app, the victim invited the man to the victim’s residence, where the man then told the victim he had a firearm and proceeded to take the victim’s property and the victim’s blue 2016 Chrysler Town & Country vehicle between 11:33 p.m., June 25 and 5 a.m., June 26 in the 400 block of South

Humphrey Avenue. The loss is estimated at $18,955.

Aggravated robbery An Evanston resident was robbed in the 300 in the block of Chicago Avenue, when a man came up from behind and placed a heavy object against the victim’s back and demanded the victim’s property at 6:33 p.m., July 3. The man and his female accomplice took cash from the victim’s wallet then fled from the scene and entered a building in the 400 block of North Ridgeland Avenue.

The estimated loss is $840.

Burglary ■ Someone removed a Schwinn bicycle, a bicycle lock, a pressure washer, extension cord, leaf blower, miter saw, two box fans, a retro fan and garden tools from an unlocked garage in the 500 block of Clarence Avenue between 7 p.m., June 27 and 7 a.m., June 28. The estimated loss is $940. Two vehicles parked in the garage had their interiors ransacked.

■ After breaking the security lock, someone removed a smart television, cable wires and a box of miscellaneous items from a storage unit in the first block of South Boulevard between 10:20 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., June 20.

Criminal property damage Someone damaged all four tires and the front and rear windshields of a white 2012 Hyundai Sonata, as well as dented the vehicle’s body, while it was parked in the first block of Berkshire Street between 10 p.m., June 29 and 3:29 a.m., June 30. The estimated damage is $6,000.

These items, obtained from the Oak Park Police Department, came from reports, June 28 to July 5, 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

Homes

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

17

Architect steps out from under Wright’s shadow George W. Maher Society Grows out of the Pleasant Home Foundation

By LACEY SIKORA

T

Contributing Reporter

he Pleasant Home in Oak Park is perhaps the most notable of a handful of homes in the village designed by architect George W. Maher. The architect, who was a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright, is finally getting some recognition of his own with the launching of the George Maher Society by Pleasant Home Foundation.

Pleasant Home, also known as the John Farson House, sits at the corner of GEORGE W. MAHER Pleasant and Home avenues in Oak Park. Long-owned by the Park District of Oak Park, the house is one of the earliest examples of Maher’s interpretation of the Prairie Style. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.

COURTESY OF PLEASANT HOME FOUNDATION

Pleasant Home in Oak Park (exterior above, interior at left) is a National Historic Landmark and one of the few buildings in the village designed by George W. Maher.

But the Pleasant Home Foundation hopes to create wider appreciation for the architect’s work by creating the George Maher Society.

COURTESY OF PLEASANT HOME FOUNDATION

Maher was born in West Virginia in 1864, and his family moved to Chicago in the late 1870s. Shortly after that move, as a teenager, Maher began to work as an architectural apprentice. In the late 1880s, he joined the firm of Joseph Silsbee and worked there as a draftsman. For three years, he worked with another young draftsman, Frank Lloyd Wright.

In the 1890s Maher built his own home in north suburban Kenilworth, where many of his home designs still stand. Wright built his home in Oak Park. In 1897, Maher was com-

missioned to design Pleasant Home.

Maher died by suicide in the 1920s, so his career was not as long as Wright’s but Kevin Brown, director of programming and marketing for the Pleasant Home Foundation, notes the two architects had lives of parallel significance.

“They were both at the forefront of inventing the same type of architecture -- the Prairie Style,” Brown said. “They ran in the same circles, were in the same clubs See MAHER on page 19

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19

MAHER

Work in progress from page 19 and wrote papers on their field.”

Sarah Brown, executive director of the Pleasant Home Foundation, says the society is part of the foundation’s strategic plan and has roots going back to the foundation’s beginning.

The establishment of a George Maher Society dedicated to the architect’s work goes back years, according to Kevin Brown.

REDFIN.COM

Maher built his own home in north suburban Kenilworth, where several of his designs still stand, including the Sutton Home (above), which he designed in 1907. It has recently been listed for sale for $3.4 million.

“It’s always been an objective of the Pleasant Home Foundation to educate people about George Maher,” he said. “It took a long time to bring this arm of the foundation together.”

While the society is still a work in progress, Kevin Brown says there are some basic tenets. The society is funded by memberships, donations and sponsorships.

COURTESY OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST

Another Maher design in Oak Park is the Herman Mallen House (above), built in 1905 in the Prairie style. It features poppy pattern art-glass windows. The home was featured on the Wright Plus housewalk in 2018.

“We feel comfortable putting this out there, but it’s not in finished form and probably won’t be for years,” he said. “It’s good to start now.”

Noting that some will choose to support the society because they are neighbors of the Pleasant Home or other Maher homes, he says that he believes many early members will be people with an interest in Maher or people who, like he and wife Sarah, own a Maher-designed home.

Brown plans to cultivate a combination of educational and social events for the Society.

So far, he has already shared a few photo shoots of Maher designs on the society’s Facebook page, including an Itasca home that is undergoing restoration. He says that using photo shoots has been a popular way to share different architectural elements of Maher’s work.

He points out the importance of sharing all of Maher’s work and styles, emphasizing, “Maher was not just a Prairie School architect.”

In the future, Brown plans to expand his documentation of Maher designs from photography to videos.

When it comes to the social side of the George Maher Society, Brown envisions meet-ups and evening events in Maher homes with tours, presentations on the his-

tory of the homes, cocktails and shared stories of the homes’ owners.

Brown and his wife hosted the first such event at their own Maher home in Blue Island, and he is excited that several other Maher home owners have reached out to express interest in hosting similar gatherings.

Brown says there are at least four Maher houses still standing in Oak Park. One across the street from Pleasant Home was torn down years ago to make way for an apartment building. He hopes the Oak Park homeowners will join the society and says it will welcome those in other communities.

He has already travelled to Wausau, Wisconsin, where he photographed three Maher homes and is hoping to travel to Minnesota this summer where he has identified three to four homes near Minneapolis and Winona.

The website, GeorgeMaher.org serves as a digital hub for the new society and will continue to be filled with information on Maher and his career, as well as photographs and stories of his work around the country.

Different membership tiers are available (Hot link: https://georgemaher.org/maherhomeowners-club) and the society also features a Maher Homeowners Club with special benefits and discounts on ticketed events. (Hot link https://georgemaher.org/ maher-homeowners-club)

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

SPORTS Oak Park teams excel at the ‘Ultimate’ game OPRF, Julian clubs soar at state Ultimate Frisbee competitions

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Ultimate Frisbee is a sport that has seen its popularity increase in recent years thanks to the exciting style of play offered.

“Chasing and then laying out for a disc to make a catch is a huge adrenaline rush, as well as ‘hucking’ a huge throw across the field to a running teammate and then ‘skying’ your opponent with a huge catch up in the air,” said Andrew Seymour, head coach of the Ultimate Club at Julian Middle School in Oak Park.

Ultimate Frisbee (more commonly referred to simply as “Ultimate”) is a combination of basketball, football and soccer

with a disc instead of a ball. It’s a 7-on-7 game and is self-officiated. As a result, all players must know and understand the rules, the most important being that the person holding the disc can’t move at all. Points are scored when one team catches the disc in the opposing team’s end zone.

A unique component of Ultimate is a concept called “spirit.” It’s enforced on all levels of the sport and calls for high competition; respect for self, teammates and opponents; rules knowledge; communication; and respectful conflict resolution.

Bridget Doherty and Evan Tarshish are the coaches of the Ultimate Club at Oak Park and River Forest High School, which recently concluded a successful season.

“We believe that having these two grounding principles and goals for our team is what makes it successful,” Tarshish said. “The best part of Ultimate is that our players have embodied an attitude where, yes, they want to go out and play their best. But they also just want to have fun with everyone else

PROVIDED

Oak Park and River Forest High School’s varsity Ultimate Frisbee squad finished second in the state, beating three opponents in the championships before falling to Edwardsville in the final.

PROVIDED

The Julian Middle School Ultimate Frisbee Alpha team with the Illinois Ultimate championship banner and trophy after the title win. on the field.”

This spring, OPRF took first place in the spirit category and second overall at the Reavis Rams Classic and was the top club in Chicago Ultimate Juniors Organization’s Sunday league.

The Huskies finished second in the state tournament, with wins over Elmhurst Evolution, Metea Valley and Fox Valley Fusion (the tournament’s top seed) before falling to Edwardsville in the championship match 13-10.

Moreover, OPRF’s junior varsity club took first in the Spirit category at the Neuqua Knockout Tournament in April.

“It’s been huge to end this season with many successes, but for us we are so proud to say that players who play in our program leave with a lifelong love and respect for the sport and other people and become strong leaders,” Doherty said.

Seymour founded the OPRF club in 2010, then created a club at Julian two years later.

This year, there were more than 130 students in the club, and the large turnout allowed Julian to field seven teams at each of three tournaments.

The top eighth-grade team, Julian Alpha, took first place in the state tournament. And Julian Delta, the first-ever predominantly girls team in Ultimate, went 4-0 in the developmental division.

“We’ve come such a long way from the early days of scrounging up eight to 10 players at OPRF,” he said. “We have some real momentum and it’s by far the fastest growing sport in Oak Park and one of the fastest growing in Illinois.”

Seymour serves on the Illinois Ultimate Board of Directors and he and Tarshish would like to see Ultimate become sanctioned by the Illinois High School Association. Seymour says it’s in the process of gaining “emerging sport” status as programs grow at both the high school and middle school levels around the state.

“Our players train for Ultimate,” Tarshish said. “They balance schoolwork and play competitively against other teams. Illinois Ultimate and Oak Park and River Forest Youth Ultimate are actively working to make Ultimate an IHSA sport.”

OPRFYU is an organization that all three coaches credit for helping to grow interest in Ultimate on a local level. President Stacy Fifer spearheads a group of dedicated individuals that create camps and clinics across the area.

Since Ultimate is a no-cut sport, the growing numbers present a challenge. In order to keep all of the programs open for everyone, volunteers are needed. Those who are interested can contact Fifer at stacy.fifer@gmail. com.

Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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

VIEWPOINTS

21

About that Taliaferro endorsement...

p. 24

Our not-so-Supreme Court turns back the clock

O

ur so-called Supreme Court ruled this week on several issues that turn the pages of time back more than 50 years.

The Republican Justices (6 of the 9) obviously do not observe the non-partisan oath to support our Constitution and civil rights in their decision-making. The reversal of Roe v. Wade will now cause women to suffer loss of health care and reproductive rights. Women are obliged to carry a fetus to term even if the pregnancy is caused by rape or incest.

It seems that our country is about to return to the days of women dying due to mutilation and lack of medical care. A few of the states have even gone so far as to either threaten imprisonment or fine women for seeking abortions. This is also a civil liberties matter.

As you and I know, wealthy women will be able to obtain professional care whether or not they live in a state where abortion is legal.

No such recourse is available to the poor in our country.

While turning back the clock on this issue again, our not-so-Supreme Court has made another decision that opens the door on gun rights that had been safely closed in New York for over 100 years (since 1913). I have apprehension concerning allowing loaded guns carried in public. This decision makes no sense, whatsoever (except to please the NRA and gun manufacturers). This ruling allows for more gun use while at the same time our President, Joe Biden, has just signed a gun-regulation bill.

So, my dear feminist sisters, my first suggestion is to change from fashionable dress and casual attire to reflect our new political status.

Let us wear loose-fitting black cloaks. This outfit must be designed to allow us to tote our AR-57 rifles like everyone else will no doubt be carrying in public. We women must return to the dark ages, suppress our education, our intelligence, and of course, any of our needs. This should satisfy our macho males who can now make decisions for us lowly subjects. In other words, we women are to be chattel to these Trump males — that is, if we allow it!

What can we do? We must determinedly revolt! First we vote against Trump Republicans who are politically influencing court decisions. We must also pledge to pay more attention to voting for our state officials who are making arbitrary rulings that go along with the not-so-Supreme-Court. We must peacefully march in protest. We must pester, annoy, call, and write the courts and Congress. We are part of a democracy, and we must demonstrate to our leaders that people can change political decisions, even those made by the not-soSupreme Court.

Note: As an ugly reminder, these justices have lifetime tenure.

HARRIET HAUSMAN

The new logo for Oak Park Farmers Market

Farmers Market logos, then and now

T

he Oak Park Farmers Market is excited about refreshing its look with a brand-new logo. After reviewing design proposals from several artists earlier this year, the Farmers Market Commission selected a logo design from Oak Park-born designer Judith Mayer, featuring a farm scene inspired by the Frank Lloyd Wright design aesthetic.

According to the artist, “I created a logo that puts a stylish twist on the Prairie style, emphasizing artisanship and simplicity like a Frank Lloyd Wright design, while still feeling contemporary.

“It employs diagonals for energy, a monoline for sleekness, rounded ends for a touch of softness and hand-drawn lettering to fit the words perfectly in a rectangular block. The logomark and the logotype components can be used in many different configurations for flexibility.”

The new logo will debut on T-shirts, tote bags, and stickers available for sale at the market starting June 25.

living in Vermont. She lived in Oak Park from 1983 to 1997 where she had three daughters, Erin, Maggie, and Mo. She now lives in a country village in southern Vermont. “I design playful embroidery panels for stitchers and teach textile arts through inperson and online workshops. My newest design is called ‘Oak Park’ featuring yet another pink house, a recurring nod to our beloved pink Victorian on South Taylor.”

When asked what inspired her to create the familiar market design, she said, “We loved the Farmers Market! Donuts, music, friends, food! All the visual imagery!

JILL O’MAHONY STEWART One View

See LOGOS on page 27

Looking back As we prepare to unveil our new logo, we thought it would be fun to visit with the artist who created the original well-known logo that represented the market for the past 26 years.

Charlotte Lyons is a textile artist and teacher now

The old Oak Park Farmers Market logo

22

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

O U R

I

V I E W S

Progressive preservation

t’s good news that Oak Park now has an activist organization focused on historic preservation. A community with a story as deep and game-changing as Oak Park’s in regard to its architecture and history needs a strong voice for its preservation and its celebration.

That Frank Heitzman, an architect focused on preservation; Frank Lipo, director of the Oak Park River Forest Museum; and Chris Payne, another architect, are the core of the new Preservation Oak Park is not surprising and only right.

Heitzman and Lipo have been strong voices for both architectural preservation and truthtelling about local history.

In Stacey Sheridan’s report today on the first meeting of the new group, she quotes Heitzman saying the effort will be to become more pro-active in speaking up for notable and endangered buildings before decay or development, or a combination of the two, makes them vulnerable.

The intersection of decay and development in Oak Park’s recent history was the old Studebaker auto dealership on Madison Street. A handsome building dating back a century, there was no question that this was a building worth preserving. It was also functionally obsolete, had sat vacant and neglected for over a decade and was smack dab in the middle of the most crucial development site in the village.

After multiple local entities diligently studied reuse of the auto dealership and found it impossible, the venerable building went into limbo. At that point the best-case scenario was a sincere effort to save the façade and build a new Pete’s Fresh Market within its walls.

But the will to do that did not exist. The culture of preservation was not strong enough within Oak Park Village Hall, its economic development team was not fully focused on how to find funding to save the façade, and the community, as this critical multi-block development deal came together, was not energized.

We support a progressive preservation culture that also celebrates change, accepts that adding density has value on several fronts, seeks creative compromises, and straight-out rejects the sort of NIMBYism that opposes, for instance, an affordable housing project at Oak Park Avenue and Van Buren, the site of a long-vacant gas station.

This is the sort of activism Oak Park needs.

Setting the stage abortion for dialogue “No woman wants an abortion as she wants an ice-cream cone or a Porsche. She wants an abortion as an animal caught in a trap wants to gnaw off its own leg.

Some have suggested that overturning Roe might lead to dialogue. That may take a while, but if it ever happens, this column from January of 2016 could serve as a starting point:

P

Frederica Mathewes-Green

olls indicate that the majority of Americans are in favor of keeping abortion legal, but with limits. That would suggest we are not so absolute on this divisive issue and that there is room in the middle for discussion.

But we never seem to get around to that discussion. Politically, we’re hunkered down in our respective moral trenches, re-enacting the Maginot Line from WWI. It didn’t get them anywhere then and it’s not getting us anywhere now.

A couple of years ago, my favorite radio interview show, On Being, showed what a more nuanced discussion sounds like during its July 25, 2013 broadcast, “Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, Pro-Dialogue,” with David Gushee, professor of Christian Ethics and director of the Center for Theology and Public Life at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia (books include A New Evangelical Manifesto and The Sacredness of Human Life) and Frances Kissling, president of the Center for Health, Ethics and Social Policy and president of Catholics for Choice (1982 to 2007).

You can visit OnBeing.org and listen to the episode or read the transcript, but here’s a sample of what authentic dialogue sounds like: “Abortion very late in pregnancy, abortion of disabled fetuses, these to me are very, very complicated questions.

Even though I don’t think fetuses have an absolute right to life, I think fetuses have value. And I don’t think you can make the fetus invisible.” (Frances Kissling) “What the main activists in the pro-life or anti-abortion community want is an overturn of Roe vs. Wade. I am not at all convinced if that were to actually happen that they would like the world they would see on the other side.” (David Gushee) Another media source I frequently mention in this column — and strongly recommend — is Sun magazine, which in the December issue, ran a page of quotes about abortion, representing a variety of perspectives that form a virtual dialogue forum. Here’s a sample: “We are not here to advocate abortion. We do not ask this Court to rule that abortion is good or desirable in any particular situation. We are here to advocate that the decision as to whether or not a particular woman will continue to carry or will terminate a pregnancy is a decision that should be made by that individual.”

KEN

“You can’t win. Either you have the baby and wear your pain on the outside, or you don’t have the baby, and you keep that ache in you forever. I know I didn’t do the wrong thing. But I don’t feel like I did the right thing either.”

Jodi Picoult

“Handle with Care” “Being pro-choice is not being pro-abortion. Being pro-choice is trusting the individual to make the right decision for herself and her family, and not entrusting that decision to anyone wearing the authority of government.”

TRAINOR

Sarah Weddington

Lead prosecuting attorney in Roe v. Wade, 1972 “I certainly supported a woman’s right to choose, but to my mind the time to choose was before, not after the fact.”

Ann Ross

“Miss Julia Throws a Wedding”

Hillary Clinton

“I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.”

Ronald Reagan

“In my world, you don’t get to call yourself ‘pro-life’ and be against common-sense gun control. … You don’t get to call yourself ‘pro-life’ and want to shut down the Environmental Protection Agency. … You don’t get to call yourself ‘pro-life’ and oppose programs like Head Start that provide basic education, health and nutrition for the most disadvantaged children. … The term ‘pro-life’ should be shorthand for respect for the sanctity of life.

But I will not let that label apply to people for whom sanctity of life begins at conception and ends at birth.”

Thomas Friedman

“I am politically pro-choice but personally pro-life. I have my faith but refuse to force it on the world at large — especially this world, so brutal and unjust. I cannot make these wrenching personal life-and-death decisions for others — nor do I believe they should be made by a Church run by childless men.”

Julianna Baggott

“Society does not need more children; but it does need more loved children. Quite literally, we cannot afford unloved children, but we pay heavily for them every day. … All society should rise up in alarm when it hears that a baby that is not wanted is about to be born.”

Garrett Hardin

My own feeling is that pro-life issue #1 is global climate change. Pro-life issue #2 is gun violence. Pro-life issue #3 is encouraging the use of contraception.

But I’m willing to dialogue about abortion with anyone who isn’t blindered by absolute certainty. I am anything but certain on this issue, and I find it refreshing — and hopeful — whenever I encounter others who aren’t certain about it either. Humility is a prerequisite to dialogue. Having the courage to experience the vulnerability of uncertainty makes dialogue possible.

We need to surrender our certainty so we can talk — and then, together, we will be able to more fully embrace the sanctity of life.

V I E W P O I N T S D O O P E R ’ S

D

W E D N E S D A Y

M E M O R I E S

JOURNAL

Sun-struck leads to sunstroke

uring my adolescent years, I was badly sun burned twice. The first time was the summer when I was 17 and visiting friends who had a home on the Indiana Dunes. The home was right on Lake Michigan, so my friend Mike and I spent far too much time swimming in the lake, and of course I did not protect myself with suntan lotion.

I realized I was in trouble on the drive home to Oak Park because I was very warm and then chilled. Within a few hours, I was miserable, so I applied cold cream to my face, arms, legs, and torso, and my mother put the cold cream on my back.

It wasn’t long before the pain and itching began, and the only thing I could do to get relief was to lie in a tub filled with cold water. This helped, but when I got out of the tub, the pain and itching quickly resumed.

I realized I would have to bite the bullet and live with the discomfort until the healing process began. It took 10 days before my skin returned to normal.

Did I learn a lesson from this? No, I didn’t learn a thing.

The next time I spent too much time in the sun and received a serious burn, I was 20. My friend Milton Van Welde and I went to Lake Geneva on a hot July Saturday, rented a row boat and slowly rowed around in the lake for two hours. This time

of Oak Park and River Forest

I wore a T-shirt, but I failed to cover my legs with either lotion or long pants.

When the day ended and we drove back to Oak Park, I knew that my legs, especially the left one, were seriously burned. I went through the same pain, itching, and blistering as I had experienced with the burns I received three years earlier, but this time, I discovered that my left leg had been burned so badly that about four inches of skin on my lower leg had turned very dark. It looked like the area had been charbroiled, and whenever I tried to walk, the pain shooting up my leg was excruciating.

I knew I had to see the doctor. Fortunately, I was able to see Dr. Traut the same day I called his office.

He examined my leg, told me how foolish I had been, and gave me some kind of smelly lotion that I was told to apply every four hours to alleviate the pain. I was also told to return in three days.

When I returned to Dr. Traut’s office, he carefully examined the leg and told me that it was healing but that I had nerve damage that would take weeks to heal. He then gave me a prescription for another topical ointment, which he said would lubricate the skin on my leg.

Within three weeks, my skin was back to normal, I had no pain in my left leg, and, yes, I finally learned my lesson by limiting my exposure to the sun and staying on the shady side.

JOHN

STANGER

Premature pool cheerleading The past few weeks, this opinion section has included several letters from people imploring us to support OPRF High School’s “Project 2” pool/gym renovation.

And I don’t get it. That’s because Project 2 isn’t even defined yet and there is no vote on this in front of the school board.

In a private meeting a few weeks ago, Superintendent Greg Johnson told me that they are still working with the architecture firm to determine what this next pool-focused project will include and cost. And the most recent D200 Board Highlights emails publicly confirm this. Then they need to figure out how to pay for whatever it ends up being.

One letter writer (a former Imagine-eer!) said it’s important for us to support this project because of how inadequate and dated the field house is — except the field house is in Phase 3 of the Imagine plan and its modernization is not currently being considered!

As someone who’s followed the pool saga closely,

Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

here’s what I would tell Oak Park and River Forest residents: ignore these coordinated public relations pieces and wait to see what that final Project 2 plan will include and what it will cost us. Then start asking what the plans are for Imagine Phases 3, 4 and 5 — modernization of the field house (which is used much more than the pools), classrooms, performing arts spaces, labs, and more.

What I think we’ll find is that once the ribbon cutting for the pool-stadium, locker rooms, and handful of gyms is done in 2024, so will be the modernization push. The Imagine scheme will have done its job, the PR consultants will close their OPRF files, the letter writers will abandon their keyboards, OPRF will still take more taxes from us than it needs and we won’t see meaningful upgrades to the school for a generation.

But we will always have the pool.

Brian Souders

Oak Park

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Michael Romain Senior Editor Bob Uphues Digital Publishing and Technology Manager Briana Higgins Staff Reporters Stacey Sheridan, F. Amanda Tugade Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Big Week Editor James Porter Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, Harriet Hausman, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls, Kamil Brady Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Development & Sales Coordinator Stacy Coleman Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Special Projects Manager Susan Walker Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

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.

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

Gun control from an immigrant’s perspective

H

aving a daughter in high school the past few years, unfortunately, calls forth a constant nagging in the back of my mind that another student might shoot up the school before she left. Although Oak Park and River Forest have kept students safe from outside threats like shooters for so many years, when I was in school, shootings were “not a thing.”

In today’s system there is always that lurking fear in the back of a parent’s mind. For her school, police show up even for a school fight. They are there within 30 seconds. Oak Park and River Forest can afford it. But what about towns that can’t? What about towns that have ill-prepared officers, as seen in the Uvalde school shooting?

Recently, my daughter’s school had a school-shooting threat and not only was the suspect apprehended before he even got in the building, but the school immediately had meetings to do a risk assessment about whether their approaches were adequate.

This is commendable.

Honestly, I don’t understand why America’s government is not more protective of its youth. I don’t understand because I was born on the brink of a revolution and lost a parent in one.

My mother at the time was 18 and pregnant with me. The first school massacre, and the last one she witnessed, was when a dictator’s minions poured into a school that my mother attended and where an older friend of hers was a pregnant teacher, and massacred people in the building, ripping my mother’s friend’s baby out of her womb. In a war-torn country like Uganda (at the time) where a terrible dictator named Idi Amin controlled the country and ordered such massacres, it is consistent with the narrative. But honestly, in America? I did not expect to have this covert anxiety about her making it through school without being shot or making it to any public establishment or venue without being shot at in this of all countries. That, I thought, was beyond the American standard.

The United Kingdom is made up of individuals from vastly different backgrounds yet after the 1996 Dunblane massacre, where a gunman attacked a primary school in the Scottish town, it immediately led to a push for stricter gun laws and gun reform. The public outcry made this the last school shooting in the UK. We have people crying out. Every time this happens, the parents who are victims by losing their children “cry out.” Outraged citizens “cry out.” Celebrities “cry out.” Public figures “cry out.” Even some government officials “cry out.” Yet not enough is happening. The U.S. is approaching war-torn country level shooting incidents, with more shootings than there are days in a year. My relatives abroad in what’s considered “third world” countries, reach out with pity every time they hear of a school shooting. They express concern for America and ask if we are OK. We have to ask; if there are so many crying out, who is making the decision to not listen and continuing to support access to guns? Who are the ones not listening? Who are the ones with so much power in this decision, they are overpowering those of us who know it does not make sense for citizens to have such easy access to guns? How much further do we need to push when it’s taken this long to get a bare minimum bill through the Senate?

EL Serumaga Ecovici is an Oak Park resident.

EL SERUMAGA ECOVICI One View

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With endorsements like this …

I wish to direct the attention of your readers to the current election for Circuit Court Judge of the 11th SubCircuit. I’ve received several mailers from Chris Taliaferro with endorsements from the various political Democratic Party luminaries (24!). His second mailer also asks us explicitly to join “bar associations” in supporting his candidacy. To my count, however (I had to search as no bar associations are actually listed on his mailers), 8 out of 12 bar associations see Taliaferro as unqualified or do not recommend him for this job. The professional organizations we look to, to make sense of the mess of voting for judges, are 2/3 not in favor of him (his opponent has unanimous approval but I’m not talking about her). To be fair, it could be that Taliaferro earned his “not recommended” because he never bothered to subject himself to collegial scrutiny.

So we have the Democratic Party establishment with our own Senator Don Harmon and Village Prez Vicki Scaman, all political suburban and Chicago Council comrades, taking photos and signing their name to this 2/3 not-qualified candidate. How are we to adjudicate among political endorsements when the professional endorsements suggest another candidate?

To make this easier for me, but complicating things perhaps, Taliaferro is a retired Chicago police sergeant. A former police officer can be nothing but a conflict of interest as a judge. The notion that a judge who has had a career as police officer, currently collects a pension from that role in the carceral system, is still essentially represented by the FOP, actively courts police associations for political endorsements, and lacks professional endorsement from his actual legal peers can hear any case with an impartiality is a joke.

However, police as judges is my philosophical problem. (You should consider it, though!) How do we make sense of the Dem establishment? They, like Taliaferro, are left with no credibility: why so forcefully endorse this candidate for a job he is 2/3 not qualified for?

Lenin said, “There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience.”

Arab American Bar Association | Not recommended Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area | Not recommended Black Women Lawyers Association | Recommended Chicago Bar Association | Not recommended Chicago Council of Lawyers | Not qualified Cook County Bar Association | Recommended Decalogue Society of Lawyers | Not recommended Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois | Recommended Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois | Not qualified Illinois State Bar Association | Not qualified LAGBAC-Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association | Not recommended Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois | Recommended Women’s Bar Association of Illinois | Not recommended The Chicago Bar Association said in their assessment that Taliaferro is “hardworking and possesses a fine demeanor” but lacks “the depth and breadth of legal knowledge and practice experience” to be a judge.

Adam Paradis Oak Park

Grateful to our school and library It was 20 years ago when I concluded my time as a student at Irving School. I left with lots of good memories. I think of enjoyable art projects with Ms. Johnson; learning about Croatia from Mrs. Zivko, my Croatian fourth-grade teacher; and Opera for the Young. Ms. Brown, who just retired, made fifth-grade science class fun.

I got a great start to my time at Irving 25 years ago with the longtime kindergarten teacher Ms. Gullo, who is truly legendary in the Irving community. She made learning an enjoyable experience. I have fond memories of starting my studies of Spanish with her, the Friday activity stations, and the celebration of the 100th day of the school year. Toward the end of the school

year, we went on a field trip to the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Public Library (OPPL), where we learned about the library and got our first library cards.

That library card opened up whole new worlds for me, giving me access to books that led me to lifelong enjoyment of reading. The children’s summer reading program especially made reading fun. OPPL continued to provide character-building opportunities when I volunteered as a teen, and later when I worked there while launching my MLIS career.

I am grateful for the ways these institutions, and their people, shaped me as a person.

Paul Rubio Oak Park

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Post-adulthood: an old-age adolescence?

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s I began writing down ideas for this column, one of my kids synchronously texted me a recent quote from Jeff Bridges in a New York Times interview: “There’s a thing, and I don’t know what to term it — old-age adolescence? A thing that we’re going through, that we’ve never gone through.”

Yes, exactly! Over the last 125 years, our species has added more longevity than all of previous civilization combined. We’ve not seen this lifespan or health-span before.

Human beings are, yet again, in a new phase.

For example, in the United States, prior to the 20th century, there was no “adolescence” — people were children until they were adults.

As society shifted from agrarian toward industrial, and as demographics shifted as well, humans began to understand a new life stage called adolescence. One aspect of this development was that the standards for children did not apply to adolescents. Similarly, today, the standards for adults do not apply to us older people. I suspect adolescence existed before people actually started to use that term. Likewise, our post-adulthood phase already exists even though we don’t yet have a name for it.

In post-adulthood, you can call us chicken soup, just don’t call us older adults.

It used to be that people lived until retirement and then wound down for three or four years. Today, those three or four years are closer to 30 or 40 years. One term, whether older adult or senior, cannot accurately describe a 30- or 40-year age range.

The term older adult actually fosters prejudice because it implies that those of us in our last third of life are merely older versions of our adult selves — it promotes the ageist view that young is good, old is bad. It inappropriately uses the standards of adulthood to judge our new post-adulthood phase. Please don’t compare us to our younger selves; compare us to ourselves.

Have you ever heard anybody ask, “When does adolescence start?” or “Does adolescence start on the same date for all of us?” Probably not. Adolescence has general characteristics, the particulars of which differ for individuals. The same is true of our currently unfolding post-adulthood phase.

Yes, we don’t yet have the right words to describe us, but the words we do use matter.

If we get to live long enough, our adulthood standards and judgments can change. How might these standards evolve? Perhaps solitude becomes more attractive. Perhaps we experience an increased feeling of affinity with past generations. Perhaps what’s really important to us changes as we age into post-adulthood.

This transition can be made more difficult because of ageism. In our present ageist culture, where young is good and old is bad, who really wants to get old? Many of us look at aging as just making the best of a bad situation. Becoming aware of our postadulthood can help us to re-frame aging and to live with more intention.

MARC BLESOFF

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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Putin’s quest to exterminate Ukraine In the fourth week of the war in Ukraine, there was a brief note in the Western press about Ukrainian civilians being forcibly transported by the Russians from Eastern Ukraine to Russia.

The report was quickly overshadowed by the more graphic news coverage of Ukrainian civilians targeted in the cities.

A few days later, it seems the relocation of Ukrainians was forgotten.

The number of deported Ukrainian civilians was small in comparison to the number of their peers in the cities who were under daily bombardment by rocket and artillery fire. But the capture and deportation of civilians must not go unnoted or ignored.

On May 17, about 1,700 Ukrainian fighters surrendered in Mariupol. More than 100,000 Ukrainian civilians also became imperiled by Russian captivity and imminent deportation to Russia.

Putin revived a tactic from Stalin’s era, a form of ethnic cleansing, a campaign to denationalize a region, and to exterminate a nation. It is an atrocity against humanity, and a war crime.

The forcible relocation of Ukrainian civilians to Russia revived a recollection from my childhood under Stalin’s tyranny.

It was in the spring of 1940, in the seventh year of my life. Lithuania had fallen prey to Stalin’s Soviet occupation. Russian oppressors deported many of my neighbors and my relatives to Siberia. It was Stalin’s effort to denationalize my homeland.

My parents and I lived on a farm that was my grandfather’s ancestral home.

Our farm was seven kilometers from a small city called Marijampole. A road to town passed on the boundary of our farm, a short distance from our orchard. There, hidden out of sight, I watched the traffic on the road, and witnessed the deportations.

Almost daily, a truck with Russian soldiers drove past our farm transporting our neighbors and relatives to the railroad station to be deported to Siberia.

Each time a truck drove by, women in the nearby fields, paused their work, kneeled, and prayed, as if a funeral was passing. Once the passing truck was not covered. I saw a couple of children my age cling to their parents. The Russian soldiers pointed their weapons at them and motioned to them to sit down. I trembled with fright. I knew that soon one of those trucks would come for me and my parents.

My mind transfers the vision of the family in the Russian truck to the current crisis in Ukraine. I envision the scene replayed thousands of times, and I’m outraged. I feel compelled to cry out.

Many deported Lithuanians did not survive to return to their homeland after the break-up of the Soviet Union.

As for the return of the relocated Ukrainians, their chances are poor. If Putin is victorious, no questions about their disappearance will ever be raised. After the war, Putin or his successors, will deny their existence. Only their friends and relatives will remember them and grieve, as I still do, for those I loved.

Fred Natkevi Oak Park

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

O B I T U A R I E S Havens, Kayri Mealy, Kathy Lamkey, Hal Baim, Pat Benson, and Kay Thompson.

Ann was preceded in death by her sister, Jean Simpson Sheets; her brother, David Kim Simpson; and her dogs, Kerrie and Marilyn.

A memorial service will be held in Oak Park, Illinois TBA.

Joseph Bonfield, 70

Teamster, drummer, record collector

Ann Shalla, 84

Actor, record-holder for laughing Ann Shalla, 84, died peacefully in her sleep on June 25, 2022 in Green Valley Arizona, after enduring several years of dementia. Born in New York, New York on April 10, 1938, the second of six children to Ray Hamill and Donna (Blake) Simpson, she lived in Champaign, Illinois, and attended University High School, where she graduated in 1955. In 1957, she married Theodore Shalla and moved to Chicago, where she had two sons, then divorced and pursued an acting career, including a performance on the television show Matlock. She also won a world-record for laughing (4 hours, 6 minutes on the David Frost special) and worked for Actor’s Equity in Chicago from which she retired in 2009. She lived in Franklin Park, Chicago, and Oak Park, Illinois; South Pasadena, Hollywood, and North Hollywood, California; and since 2009, in Green Valley, Arizona.

She had a lifelong love of all forms

of creativity, including acting, comedy, performance, architecture, interior design, sewing and fine arts, as well as music and cooking. She loved people and made friends all over the world with her exuberant and friendly personality, and made some of them through her bedand-breakfast business (Ann’s Laff Inn).

She was always the life of the party, and brought her infectious laughter with her.

She was a passionate supporter of women’s rights, and the rights of marginalized people.

Ann is survived by her two sons, Quintin and Kevin (Tory Ferrera); her brothers Jim Simpson (Teri), Bob Simpson (Betty Anderson), and Frank Simpson (Suzan); her nieces and nephews, Kathy Kramer (Suzzy McCafferty), Justin Simpson, Josh Simpson (Natalie Baxter), Larkin O’Leary (Peter), and Harriet Hollingsworth (Ben); former sister-in-law, Kris Simpson; and her dear friends Sally

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Joseph Bonfield, 70, died on May 31, 2022. Born in Oak Park to parents Peggy and Edward Bonfield on Sept. 17, 1951. He attended Ascension and St. Giles and graduated from Fenwick High School, where he ran cross country. He was a Teamster and truck driver who ran routes in the city and suburbs for 20 years. A drummer and avid record collector, he was especially passionate about music. The world was blessed with a kind, funny, authentic and cool human being.

Joey Bonfield is survived by his siblings, Eddie, Sally, Peggy, Michael, Katie, and Tom; his nieces and nephews, Adam, Erin, Molly, Heidi, Claire, Jim, Sean, Colin, Robert, and Michael; and his many friends, including Maureen, Timothy, Eileen, Jenny D., Jenny M., Carlisa, Kirk, Debra Lee, the Koch family, the Prine family, and the Asproyerakas family.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local library or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

A memorial for Joe will be held at Zimmer-

man-Harnett Funeral Home (7319 Madison St., Forest Park) on Saturday, July 16 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Corinne Blackman, 97

A great bowler into her 90s Corinne A. Blackman, 97, died peacefully on June 29, 2022, at Mercy Circle Home in Chicago. Born on Oct. 1, 1924, to parents Otto and Alma Stoll in Riverside, growing up in the heart of the Depression. She was a 1942 graduate of Riverside Brookfield High School, then worked for Wieboldt’s in Oak Park as an executive secretary for the vice-president of the store, where she excelled in her duties, particularly typing. That skill would serve her well when she assisted in typing her children’s high school and college term papers and when she re-entered the work force in her 50s as a secretary at Schreiber Construction in Forest Park.

The greatest joy of Corinne’s life began when she and her girlfriends met a group of sailors at a local carnival in Melrose Park. In an effort to coax the girls to join them, Corinne was given the first choice of who to stroll with. She surprised them all by selecting a 6-foot-tall, 140-pound, sailor who was shyly standing off to the side of the group. Three years later, after numerous wartime correspondence and meet-

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O B I T U A R I E S ings, Corinne married this sailor from southeast Texas and spent the next 63 years married to the man of her dreams.

After their marriage, the newlyweds moved to River Forest, where the family lived from 1948 to 1977 and became a lifelong member of St. Luke Parish in River Forest. She was a den mother for the Cub Scouts and Brownies, and a member and secretary of the Women’s Guild. She also helped by driving the nuns (who were not allowed to drive in the 1950s and ’60s) on their ministerial duties throughout the parish. Usually afterward she would coax them into Petersen’s Ice Cream Parlor for a treat.

She continued to assist St. Luke Church by working as a sacristan — which involved cleaning the altar and vestments — until she was physically unable to do so, in her early 80s, and then by singing in the Resurrection Choir.

She was a lifelong bowler, starting from her high school days. At the Senior Bowl Club at Circle Lanes, in her early 90s, she bowled a 180-game. She was often the best bowler in the Senior League, even among members who were 20 to 30 years younger. She was also a longtime blood donor, giving over 2 gallons of blood from her 50s to her early 70s. She drove until the age of 93, assisting and visiting fellow seniors who lived in the area.

She had two great sorrows. The first was the birth of Joan Mary, her last child, who was born with hydrocepha-

lia with severe disabilities and was bedridden her entire life. Joan was supposed to live for only 5 or 6 years, but lived to the age of 25, every one of which was cherished by Corinne. The second was the death of her beloved husband, Charles Sr., at the age of 86, after suffering five years from Lewy Body disease.

In 2018, at the age of 94, she left St. Luke and the town of River Forest and lived at Mercy Circle Assisted Living on the Southwest Side of Chicago.

Though her final years were difficult, she retained her keen intellect and social skills.

Corinne was the wife of the late Charles E. Blackman Sr. for 63 years; mother of Charles Jr. (Luanne Ellison), Mark (Jane), Nancy (Steve) Lukasik, and Joan Mary Blackman (deceased); the sister of the late Robert and Roger Stoll and aunt of Victoria Bentley; the grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of five, and aunt to numerous nieces and nephews of the Blackman family in southeast Texas.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 8, 2022 at St. Luke Church, 7600 Lake St., River Forest from 10 a.m. until the funeral Mass at 11 a.m., with interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Misericordia Home (www. misericordia.com) or St. Luke Church (www.stlstbparish.org).

Arrangements were handled by Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home.

LOGOS

Beye School designs, Lyons also screenprinted shirts for Hatch, Holmes, Mann, Longfellow, CAST productions, Orchesis, Day in Our Village, and small businesses.

Reflecting on her time here in Oak Park, Charlotte said, “We are so grateful for our time in Oak Park. Absolutely cherished as the magic years in our family story! ... [I’m] excited to see the new design and to visit the village again sometime.”

Reach Charlotte Lyons through her website, Instagram and Etsy sites. Her website includes her newsletter. https://housewrenstudio.com instagram.com/housewrenstudio etsy.com/shop/charlottelyons Visit Judith Mayer’s site at https://judithmayer.com Jill O’Mahony Stewart is an Oak Park Farmers Market commissioner.

A fresh look from page 21 “The current logo is actually the second one I designed for the market.

The first was in 1994 — a colorful paper cutting of vegetables, flowers, and fruit.

At the time I was designing and printing shirts for schools as fundraisers, beginning with my ‘Beye School, So Cool’ shirt that I created when my children went there. I still remember that first Farmers Market pitch to the committee at village hall and how nervous I was. The second and current design was also a paper cutting I did in my home studio. It was and still is such a favorite for me.”

In addition to the Farmers Market and

Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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Unsettling George Will, Part II

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his One View submission is sympathetically prompted by a column in Wednesday Journal last March by Ken Trainor titled, “George Will and his comfort zone.”

Under no illusion that the conservative political critic, Mr. Will (Ivy League PhD in Political Science), can be unsettled (certainly not by me), the effort is nevertheless potentially useful and clarifying. Besides constraining democracy in perverse ways, conservatives also revel in sowing ideological confusion.

George Will has been wrong on major public policy issues during his lifetime, including (along with the onetime overt racist, William F. Buckley Jr.) the righteousness of the Civil Rights Movement (which Will has acknowledged), global warming, the free market’s capacity to deliver health care, and the merits of the U.S. automobile industry bailout during the Obama administration. (Will was, however, a stern critic of Mitch McConnell’s handling of the Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland and he has been a true neverTrumper from the outset; referring, appropriately, to the supporters of that buffoonish gangster as “Vichy Republicans.”)

But the target of this “One View” submission is Will’s conservatism itself, as a defensible ideology. The argument is that conservatism is inferior to liberalism because it is less harmonious with balanced human nature.

But first, “liberalism” is understood here from the standpoint of favoring a more equitable distribution of this country’s material riches among its citizens and residents as best illustrated by (1) the welfare state agendas of presidents FDR and LBJ, and (2) the theoretical grounding offered by John Rawls in his A Theory of Justice. (This contemporary liberalism contrasts with classic European “liberalism” and its emphasis on inviolate private property rights as the cornerstone of “freedom.”)

Liberalism seeks greater equality. Not the pure material equality under socialism, but a level of substantially greater equality that acknowledges this is not the land of equal opportunity, that individuals are not the true masters of their own destiny (“luck” is the primary variable, weakening the smugly asserted private property-right claim), and that the rich, being the greater benefactors,

owe, through taxes, far more than the disposessed for the maintenance of our social arrangements.

In contrast, conservatism seeks maximum inequality that is the inevitable product of unrestrained, unmitigated capitalism; hence, conservatism’s natural affinity with racism and the other unprovoked bigotries that engender further inequality and a temptation toward anti-American authoritarianism that is inherently hostile to the central ethos of this country: that we are “all … equal …endowed … with … unalienable Rights” (Declaration of Independence) “secure[d]” by our federal government (U.S. Constitution).

An ideology that is most in harmony with balanced human nature is, self-evidently, the theoretical design most efficacious.

Starting with the identification of the features of human nature that are politically salient, apart from fear of death, there are the competing impulses of “self-regard” (hyperindividualism) and “other-regard” (empathy).

Drawing bright lines, the agenda of liberalism balances “self-regard” with “otherregard,” recognizing both tendencies in the balanced personality. In contrast, socialism discards “self-regard” entirely (humans as angels). Conservatism discards “other-regard” (humans as reptilian primates).

Now, as it turns out, the matching of these ideological differences with personality traits is perfectly captured in George Will’s useful three-word formulation of what liberals seek: “capitalism without casualties.” From that, one can further observe that the socialist strikes “capitalism” from the formula (humans are angelically selfless), while conservatives strike “without casualties” (humans are exclusively selfish). In this way liberals stand against the “right” and the true “left.”

Senator Elizabeth Warren, for example, is a centrist (so screw you, Karl Rove and Frank Luntz).

While Will’s three-word description is a useful wide angle view of our political divisions, it doesn’t cover everything (e.g., abortion, gun rights, and foreign policy). But it addresses the primary one that has existed throughout this country’s history, in its darkest and noblest moments. George Will is to be commended for intellectual coherence, but condemned for political misjudgment.

Gregg Mumm is an Oak Park resident.

GREGG MUMM One View

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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12. Assemble, test, and install network, telecommunication and data equipment and cabling.

13. Participate in research and recommendation of technology solutions.

Other important responsibilities and duties 1. Train users in the area of existing, new or modified computer systems and procedures.

2. Participate in the preparation of various activity reports.

3. Travel and support remote facilities and partner agencies.

4. Operate, administer and manage the Village and Public Safety computer systems, including E-911 center, in-vehicle computer systems.

5. Prepare clear and logical reports and program documentation of procedures, processes, and configurations.

6. Complete projects on a timely and efficient manner.

7. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

8. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

9. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: Principals and procedures of computer systems, such as, data communication, hierarchical structure, backups, testing and critical analysis.

Hardware and software configuration of. computers, servers and mobile devices, including computing environment of Windows Server and Desktop OS and applications, Unix/Linux OS, VMware, iOS/Android.

Network protocols, security, configuration and administration, including firewalls, routers, switches and wireless technology.

Cabling and wiring, including CAT5/6, fiber network, telephone, serial communication, termination, and punch-down.

Telecommunications theory and technology, including VoiP, serial communication, wireless protocols, PBX, analog, fax, voicemail and auto-attendant.

Principles and methods of computer programming, coding and testing, including power shell, command scripting, macros, and

VB scripts.

Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Technical writing, office productivity tools and database packages.

Ability to: Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following: - Walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time - Operating assigned equipment - Lift 50 pounds of equipment, supplies, and materials without assistance - Working in and around computer equipped vehicles Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for: - Making observations - Communicating with others - Reading and writing - Operating assigned equipment and vehicles Maintain mental capacity allowing for effective interaction and communication with others.

Maintain reasonable and predictable attendance.

Work overtime as operations require.

Experience and Training Guidelines Experience: Three years of network/system administration in the public or private sector, maintaining a minimum of 75 Client Workstation computers. AND Training: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in computer science or a related field. Certifications in Microsoft Server Administration, Networking, Applications and Cisco Networking.

Possession of a valid Illinois Driver License is required at the time of appointment.

Vaccination against COVID-19 strongly preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS Work in a computer environment; sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time; continuous exposure to computer screens; work in and around computerized vehicles outdoor and garage facility; lifting heavy equipment, communication cabling and wiring into walls and ceilings.

OAK PARK & FOREST PARK

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Animal Control Officer in the Health Department. This position will perform a variety of duties involved in enforcing Village ordinances governing the care and keeping of animals in the Village; and to impound, care for and assist with redemption of animals as appropriate. Applicants are encouraged to apply using the following link: https://secure.entertimeonline.com/ta/6141780.careers?ApplyToJob=218333253. For additional information on the position please visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

This position is open until filled.

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Parking Enforcement Officer in the Police Department Field Services Division. This position will perform a variety of duties and responsibilities involved in the enforcement of Village parking regulations; and to provide general information and assistance to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

SEASONAL FARMERS’ MARKET ASSISTANT

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmers’ Market Assistant in the Health Department. This position will provide administrative support to the Farmers’ Market Manager to allow growers and producers of food to sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This position requires work in inclement weather conditions; some heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds; walking or standing for sustained periods of time. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOREST PARK, IL

The Forest Park Police Department is seeking Part-Time Parking Enforcement Officer(s); Shifts to be filled are 8:00pm – Midnight or Midnight – 6:00am. The position is a rotating schedule assigned by the Supervisor – 4 days on and 4 days off which includes weekends and some holidays. Eligible candidates will be required to pass an aptitude test and an extensive background check.

Qualifications include high school di-

ploma (or equivalent), a valid driver’s license, knowledge of basic parking regulations, and good verbal and written skills.

Open until filled. Applications are available at Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Ave. or at www.forestpark. net and should be returned Attn: Vanessa Moritz, Village Clerk, Village of Forest Park, 517 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130. Email: vmoritz@forestpark.net.

PARK DISTRICT OF OAK PARK LANDSCAPE SPECIALIST

Small 1 bdr apt in Forest Park. Water and heat included. No parking. Available May 1. $750/month.

708-227-7007

OFFICE/RETAIL FOR RENT OAK PARK THERAPY OFFICES:

Therapy offices available on North Avenue. Parking; Flexible leasing; Nicely furnished; Waiting Room; Conference Room.

Ideal for new practice or 2nd location.

708.383.0729 Call for an appt.

The Park District of Oak Park is hiring a Part-time Landscape Specialist with an hourly pay rate of $15.00. To view the full job description and apply online please click the following link: https://www.paycomonline.net/v4 /ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=66642 &clientkey=41D830018490 6117978771C10E755DC6

MARKETPLACE

GARAGE SALES Oak Park

RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. * 1116 sq. ft. * 1400 sq. ft. Dental Office RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. * 960 sq. ft.

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

MARKETPLACE

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

GARAGE SALE 1131 S. EUCLID SAT 7/9 9AM TO 12PM RAIN OR SHINE!

CARS WANTED

Video games, Legos, books, clothes, weight bench, board games and more.

Oak Park

YARD SALE 1122 N HAYES SAT 7/9 11AM TO 2PM

Items included: Decorative Pillow, wall pictures, 2 night stands, radiator cover, clothing, table nook/w chairs day bed trundle, glass table, chairs, etc.

Oak Park

MOVING SALE 629 FAIR OAKS (ALLEY) SAT 7/9 8AM TO 3PM EVERYTHING MUST GO!

Household and miscellaneous items Twin Bunk Beds/Can be single Some other small furniture Oak Park

MULTI-FAMILY COMMUNITY YARD SALE 600 BLOCK N HARVEY AVE SATURDAY JULY 9 8AM - 2PM

No early birds

CLASSICS WANTED CLASSICS WANTED Restored or Unrestored

or Unrestored Cars &Restored Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Cars & Vintage Motorcycles Import Cars: Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette,Cars: Ferrari’s, Domestic / Import Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, $$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

Ferrari’s, James Jaguars,• 630-201-8122 Muscle Cars, Collector Mustang & Mopars

$$ TopGARAGE $$ allSALES makes, Etc. CLASSICS WANTED Collector James

Restored or Unrestored MULTI-FAMILY ALLEY SALE 200 N TAYLOR AVE 630-201-8122 Cars & SAT Vintage Motorcycles 7/9 • 9AM-3PM Furniture, lamps, housewares, toys, Vintage toys, luggage, books, jewelry, Domestic / Import Cars: Artwork and frames, clothing, Christmas and much more!

Oak Park

Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

CLASSIFIED

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

HOME SERVICES

A/C AIR CONDITIONING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Air Conditioning Install & Repair Refrigerators Ranges • Ovens Washer • Dryers Hot Water Heaters Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT. 708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

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

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

CEMENT

PUBLIC NOTICES

CEMENT

MAGANA

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

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.

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848

HANDYMAN

HAULING

LANDSCAPING

Mike’s Home Repair

BASEMENT CLEANING

BRUCE LAWN SERVICE

708-296-2060

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Vance Clark Jr. to the new name of: Lavance Williams

“QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION” ESTABLISHED IN 1987

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

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

708-243-0571

PAINTING

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

CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/ Plaster Repair Low Cost • 708.749.0011

Free estimates Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

NOVENAS PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (NEVER KNOWN TO FAIL) Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to suc cor in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times).

Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and publish; your request will be granted. CAC

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N

Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

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

PUBLIC NOTICES

Request of Vance 2022CONC000446.

Ceiling Fans Installed

29

Clark

Jr.

The court date will be held: On August 11, 2022 at 10am Via Zoom ZOOM MEETING ID:986 9592 1385 ZOOM PASSWORD: 539505 CALL IN: 3126266799 Published in Wednesday Journal June 29, July 6, 13, 2022

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: Y22009340 on June 28, 2022 Under the Assumed Business Name of SHE SPEAKS THE WORD with the business located at: 318 N. SALEM AVE APT !A, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: SHE SPEAKS THE WORD, 318 N. SALEM AVE APT !A, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60005 Published in Wednesday Journal July 6, 13 & 20, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Maylee Cruz Case Number 20224003032 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Maylee Cruz to the new name of: Roxas Amajiki The court date will be held: On August 30, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at 1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, Cook County in Courtroom # 0112 Published in Forest Park Review July 6, 13 & 20

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION DOCKET NUMBER: PC 22-02 (Special Use Permit) HEARING DATE: July 21, 2022 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits.

LOCATION OF HEARING: The Plan Commission will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video.

The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT Uverse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7 (e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined that an inperson public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Written testimony or comments regarding the application may be provided prior to the public hearing by email to planning@oak-park.us.

The individual’s name and a reasonable part of their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. If email is not an option, written testimony or comment can be dropped off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the south entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 21, 2022. All written testimony and comments will be distributed to the Plan Commission and made a part of the official hearing record.

Those wishing to provide public testimony at the hearing shall contact the Village Planner at planning@ oak-park.us for instructions on attending the live Zoom meeting by 5:00 PM the day of the hearing. Interested persons may also participate in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by emailing the cross-examination form to clerk@oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to sign up. Individuals who sign up to participate in this manner will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the meeting online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone. Questions regarding written testimony or comment can be directed to 708-358.5420 or email to planning@oak-park.us.

SUBJECT PROPERTY ADDRESS: 501 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 (Between East Ave. and Scoville Ave.) ZONING DISTRICT: OS – Open Space Zoning District LEGAL DESCRIPTION: SOUTH

TRACT; PARCEL 6: LOTS 1 TO 14, INCLUSIVE AND THE VACATED ALLEY LYING WITHIN (ACCORDING TO VACATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 0020721601), ALL IN BLOCK 41 IN RIDGELAND, A SUBDIVISION OF THE EAST HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF SECTION 7, AND THE NORTHWEST QUARTER AND THE WEST HALF OF THE WEST HALF OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 8, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. PARCEL 7: ALL OF VACATED NORTH BOULEVARD LYING SOUTH OF AND ADJOINING LOTS 8 THROUGH 14 INCLUSIVE (ACCORDING TO VACATION DOCUMENT NUMBERS 25791828, 86377477, AND 0020721601), ALL IN BLOCK 41 IN VILLAGE OF RIDGELAND, A SUBDIVISION OF THE EAST HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF SECTION 7, AND THE NORTHWEST QUARTER AND THE WEST HALF OF THE WEST HALF OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 8, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. THE ABOVE TWO PARCELS BEING BOUNDED AS FOLLOWS: LOTS 1 TO 14, INCLUSIVE AND THE VACATED ALLEY LYING WITHIN (ACCORDING TO VACATION DOCUMENT NUMBER 0020721601) ALL IN BLOCK 41 IN RIDGELAND, A SUBDIVISION OF THE EAST HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF SECTION 7, AND THE NORTHWEST QUARTER AND THE WEST HALF OF THE WEST HALF OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 8 ACCORDING TO THE PLAT RECORDED MARCH 2, 1872, AS DOCUMENT NUMBER 16125; AND ALL OF VACATED NORTH BOULEVARD (ACCORDING TO THE VACATION DOCUMENT NUMBERS 25791828, 86377477, AND 0020721601) LYING SOUTH OF LOTS 8 THROUGH 14 INCLUSIVE IN BLOCK 41 IN SAID RIDGELAND SUBDIVISION, LYING NORTH OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD, LYING EAST OF EAST AVENUE AND LYING WEST OF SCOVILLE AVENUE, ALL IN TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST, OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, BEING BOUNDED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE NORTHEASTERN CORNER OF LOT 1 IN BLOCK 41 OF SAID RIDGELAND SUBDIVISION; THENCE SOUTH 01 DEGREES 32 MINUTES 11 SECONDS EAST (ASSUMED BEARINGS) ALONG THE EASTERN LINE OF LOT 1 AND LOT 14 AND ITS SOUTHERLY EXTENSION 362.40 FEET TO THE SOUTHEASTERN CORNER OF THE VACATED NORTH BOULEVARD PER DOCUMENT NUMBER 25791828; THENCE SOUTH 88 DEGREES 38 MINUTES 33 SECONDS WEST ALONG THE SOUTHPublished in Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

ERN LINE OF VACATED NORTH BOULEVARD PER DOCUMENT NUMBERS 25791828, 86377477, AND 0020721601 A DISTANCE OF 366.41 FEET TO THE SOUTHWESTERN CORNER OF VACATED NORTH BOULEVARD PER DOCUMENT NUMBER 0020721601; THENCE NORTH 01 DEGREES 38 MINUTES 05 SECONDS WEST ALONG THE WESTERN LINE OF THE VACATED NORTH BOULEVARD PER SAID DOCUMENT NUMBER 0020721601 AND ALONG THE WESTERN LINE OF LOT 8 AND LOT 7 IN BLOCK 41 OF SAID RIDGELAND SUBDIVISION 384.78 FEET TO THE NORTHWESTERN CORNER OF SAID LOT 7; THENCE SOUTH 87 DEGREES 52 MINUTES 12 SECONDS EAST ALONG THE NORTHERN LINES OF LOTS 7 THROUGH 1 INCLUSIVE IN BLOCK 41 OF SAID RIDGELAND SUBDIVISION 367.82 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, CONTAINING 137,004 SQUARE FEET OR 3.145 ACRES, MORE OR LESS P.I.N.: 16-07-226-014-0000 PETITIONER: Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, 201 N. Scoville Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302 PROPERTY OWNER: Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, 201 N. Scoville Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302 REQUEST: The Petitioner is requesting a Special Use Permit for relief from Article 9: Site Development Standards, Section 9.2 (E) 3 of the Village of Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, to permit light standards taller than otherwise allowed. The property is zoned OS – Open Space Zoning District with a lighting standards maximum height allowed at 35 feet. The Petitioner proposes to replace four – 98-foot-tall light standards approved under Ordinance 2002-O-52 with 6 light standards (4 at 80 feet tall and 2 at 90 feet tall) surrounding the athletic field located on the South Tract on the south side of Lake Street between East Avenue and Scoville Avenue.

A copy of the application and each of the applicable documents are on the Village Website at www. oak-park.us and also on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during current business hours, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

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

30

Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE SECTION 00 11 13 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Notice is hereby given that the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, hereinafter known as Owner, is seeking bids for the D97 Mann Utility Improvements project located in Oak Park, Illinois.

Lump Sum Bids will be publicly opened and read at the District Office of Oak Park Elementary School District 97, 260 W. Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, at 1:00 p.m., on Wednesday, July 27th, 2022. Bids received after designated time and date of bid opening will not be considered. Bidders must comply with all of the requirements set forth in the Project Manual.

Bid security, in the form of a bid bond or certified check, in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the base bid shall be submitted with the bid. Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds and Certificate of Insurance, as required by the Owner, will be required from the successful bidder.

The Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 reserves the right to reject any and all bids or parts thereof, to waive any irregularities or informalities in bidding procedures and to award the contract in a manner best serving the interest of the Owner All bidders must comply with applicable Illinois Law requiring the payment of prevailing rate of wage to all laborers, workmen and mechanics working on public funded projects. If during the time period of work, these rate changes, the contractor shall be responsible for additional costs without any change to the contract amount.

The proposed contract is subject to the requirements of the Equal Employment Practices Commission and the Illinois Human Rights Act (HRA) Illinois Revised Statues, Ch. 68, Par. 1-101, et. seg.”(Including the requirement that every party to a public contract shall have adopted written sexual harassment policies, P.A. 87-1257).

Bidding Documents will be available on June 29th, 2022. To view and obtain bidding documents please visit Best Imaging Solutions’ planroom at www.drawingdepot.com.

Bidders are strongly encouraged to attend a pre-bid conference on Wednesday July 13, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. as detailed in the Project Manual.

Board of Education Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Published in Wednesday Journal July 6, 2022

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

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Riverside will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the business of the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit, in the Riverside Township Hall, Room 4, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, to consider proposed text amendments to the Village of Riverside Zoning Ordinance and to the Village Code of the Village of Riverside relative to the incorporation of concepts related to transit-oriented development best practices and to make certain other changes. The proposed text amendments have been reviewed and shaped by a Steering Committee consisting of Village staff, Village stakeholders and representatives from local mass transit agencies, and are, among other things, designed to promote transit-oriented development and transit-friendly design for purposes of enhancing accessibility, safety and accommodations for pedestrians, bicyclists and mass-transit users. The changes address a number of subjects, including the purpose and intent of zoning, development standards in residential and business districts, definition of terms, and signage.

Application No.: PZ 22-09 Petitioner: Village of Riverside Proposed Text Amendments: Various changes to the Village of Riverside Zoning Ordinance regulations and sign regulations. Affected sections include, but may not be limited to, Section 10-3-1 (Establishment of Zoning Districts), Section 10-4 (Residential Districts), Section 10-5 (Business Districts), Section 10-7-3 (Accessory Structures and Uses), Section 10-8 (Off Street Parking) of the Riverside Zoning Ordinance and Title 4 Chapter 3 (Signs) of the Village Code of the Village of Riverside.

Among the potential changes being considered are changes relative to the provisions regarding addition of a new business sub-district type (B-1 TOD - Transit-Oriented Development Subdistrict), bulk, height, and use regulations in residential and business districts, including the proposed B-1 TOD subdistrict), exceptions to encroachments, parking standards for business districts and standards for electric vehicle parking, updated graphics and updated sign regulations.

The above application and proposed text amendments are available for inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546. The proposed text amendments may be added to or otherwise revised as a result of the public hearing. During the Public Hearing the Planning and Zoning Commission will hear testimony from and consider any evidence presented by persons interested to speak on these matters. Persons wishing to appear at this hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representative and may speak for or against the proposed text amendments. Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed at such hearing or with the Planning & Zoning Commission in advance by submission to Assistant Village Manager Ashley Monroe via email at amonroe@riverside.il.us or delivered to the attention of Assistant Village Manager Ashley Monroe at the Village Offices at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois prior to 4:00

PUBLIC NOTICES p.m. on the day of the public hearing.

The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The proposed amendments may be added to, revised, altered or eliminated as a result of the Public Hearing and prior to final action by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Riverside.

Dated this 6th day of July, 2022.

Jill Mateo, Chairperson Planning & Zoning Commission Published in RB Landmark July 6, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Riverside will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the business of the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit, in Room 4 of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, to consider an application from Riverside Presbyterian Church for a Variation to allow regular use of a temporary membrane structure or canopy tent for a period in excess of thirty (30) continuous days and/or in excess of forty-five (45) total days annually, in the R1-AA Zoning District for the property located at 116 Barrypoint Road.

Application No.: PZ22-008 Petitioner: Riverside Presbyterian Church Property Commonly Known As: 116 Barrypoint Road PINs: 15-35-418-044-0000 Variation: The application for variation is to allow use of a temporary membrane structure or canopy tent for a period in excess of thirty (30) continuous days and/or in excess of forty-five 45 days annually, in the R1AA Zoning District. Subsection 10-73(N) of the Riverside Village Zoning Ordinance reads, “(N) Temporary Membrane Structures/Temporary Storage Tents And Canopies: Temporary membrane structures and temporary storage tents and canopies are allowed to be erected in side or rear yards only and must be located at least three feet (3’) from any lot line. Temporary membrane structures and temporary storage tents and canopies shall not be erected for a period in excess of thirty (30) consecutive days. In no case shall a temporary membrane structure exist within a side or rear yard for a total of more than forty five (45) total days in a calendar year.”

The above application is available for inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546. During the Public Hearing the Planning and Zoning Commission will hear testimony from and consider any evidence presented by persons interested to speak on these matters. Persons wishing to appear at this hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representative and may speak for or against the proposed variations. Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed at such hearing or with the Planning and Zoning Commission in advance by submission to Assistant Village Manager Ashley Monroe via email at amonroe@riverside.il.us or delivered to the attention of Assistant Village

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

Manager Ashley Monroe at the Village Offices at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois prior to 4:00 p.m. on the day of the public hearing.

writing in relation thereto may be filed at such hearing or with the Planning and Zoning Commission in advance by submission to Assistant Village Manager Ashley Monroe via email at amonroe@riverside.il.us or delivered to the attention of Assistant Village Manager Ashley Monroe at the Village Offices at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois prior to 4:00 p.m. on the day of the public hearing.

The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The proposal and zoning relief sought may be added to, revised, altered or eliminated as a result of the Public Hearing and prior to final action by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Riverside.

Dated this 6th day of July, 2022.

Jill Mateo, Chairperson Planning and Zoning Commission Published in RB Landmark July 6, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Riverside will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the business of the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit, in the Riverside Township Hall, Room 4, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, to consider an application for a variation from Section 10-7-3(F) (Accessory Structures and Uses) of the Village of Riverside Zoning Ordinance to replace a length of approximately 149 feet of wrought iron fencing at four (4’) feet in height, with wooden privacy fencing, six (6’) feet in height, along the eastern property line of 92 Repton Road. Fencing at six (6’) feet in height is proposed to begin at twenty-two (22’) feet from the front building line, instead of the required forty (40’) feet.

Application No.: PZ22-07 Petitioner: Riverside School District 96 Property Commonly Known As: 86 Southcote Road, 92 Repton Road and 443 Loudon Road, Riverside, Illinois PINS: PINS: 15-25-303-019, 15-25303-020, 15-25-303-021, 15-25-303004, 15-25-303-005 Variations: The variation sought includes, but may not be limited to, a variation from the following section of the Riverside Zoning Ordinance: A variation from Section 10-7-3(F) (Accessory Structures and Uses) of the Riverside Zoning Ordinance, which states that all fences and walls shall be a maximum height of four feet (4’) for a distance of forty feet (40’) as measured from the front building line, or to the rear of the principal building on the lot, whichever is less. After the first forty feet (40’) as measured from the front building line, or past the rear of the principal building on the lot, whichever is less, a maximum height of six feet (6’) is allowed.

The above application is available for inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546. During the Public Hearing the Planning and Zoning Commission will hear testimony from and consider any evidence presented by persons interested to speak on these matters. Persons wishing to appear at this hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representative and may speak for or against the proposed variations. Communications in

The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The proposal and zoning relief sought may be added to, revised, altered or eliminated as a result of the Public Hearing and prior to final action by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Riverside.

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

Starting a New Business?

Dated this 6th day of July, 2022.

Jill Mateo, Chairperson Planning and Zoning Commission Published in RB Landmark July 6, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y22009334 on June 24, 2022 Under the Assumed Business Name of HELPFUL TECH MEDIC with the business located at: 805 LAKE ST PMB 401, OAK PARK, IL 60301.

The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: MELVENA L SANDERS 805 LAKE ST PMB 401 OAK PARK, IL 60301, USA Published in Wednesday Journal July 6, 13, 20, 2022

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

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

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

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice in • Austin Weekly News Wednesday Journal • Forest Park Review • Riverside/ Brookfield Landmark Call the Experts Before You Place Your Legal Ad! Call Stacy for details: 773/626-6332

Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

CLASSIFIED

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

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION CITIZENS BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION F/K/A RBS CITIZENS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO CHARTER ONE BANK, F.S.B SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HINSDALE FEDERAL BANK FOR SAVINGS Plaintiff, -v.CARL T. GROESBECK, LEIGHTON HOLDINGS, LTD., UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Defendants 16 CH 009347 331 N. TAYLOR AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 19, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 18, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 331 N. TAYLOR AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-109-0110000 The real estate is improved with a residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by

the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor,

Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-16-08522 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 16 CH 009347 TJSC#: 42-2162 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 16 CH 009347 I3196890

partment at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. F19120231 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3197556

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION TVC FUNDING IV, LLC; Plaintiff, vs.

NETWORK CONNECTION, LLC; BOBBY JONES; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 20 CH 2792 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-08-104-004-0000.

Commonly known as 53 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois 60302.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call The Sales De-

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION MILLENNIUM TRUST COMPANY, LLC AS CUSTODIAN FBO PRIME MERIDIAN NPL, LLC; Plaintiff, vs.

52ND AVE., LLC - 841 LOMBARD LLC, AN ILLINOIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; FOSTER CHAMBERS; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 21 CH 4618 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-05-303-023-0000.

Commonly known as 841 N. LOMBARD AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Mr. Ira T. Nevel at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 3571125. 21-02137 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3197560

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Wednesday Journal, July 6, 2022

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