Wednesday Journal 071724

July 17, 2024

Vol. 45, No. 3

$2.00

of Oak Park and River Forest

ry Mastrantonio appears (on screen) at the Oak Park Film Festival Page 9

River Forest Public Library increases security amid safety threats

The River Forest Tennis Club and residents also threatened

By KATHERINE FRAZER Contributing Reporter

The River Forest Public Library has increased security amid ongoing threats and safety concerns. Library staf f said they no longer feel that it is safe to remain open without additional security after threats and harassment targeted toward Director Emily Compton-Dzak and local police escalated. Threatening letters also have been sent to the River Forest Tennis Club and other River Forest residents. The nature of the threats were not immediately available.

A private security was hired by the library and took post on Wednesday. Library Director Emily Compton-Dzak said that a guard is positioned inside the library during its operating hours to en-

Monday night’s storm damaged this house on the 700 block of South Euclid, not to mention the sidewalk. Straight line winds also toppled trees along Jackson Boulevard and Madison Street. For more, see page 18. See LIBRARY SAFETY on pa ge 7

June 6 - August 29 | 5pm-9pm

TODD BANNOR

Electric-vehicle drivers will soon pay charging fees in OP

The village board approves a fee of 25 cents per kilowatt-hour

By LU

Electric vehicle users choosing to po up in Oak Park to do so.

In a 4-2 vote Ju proved charging a 25-cents-pe hour user fee, the market rate and staf f’s recommendation.

lage-owned public Buchanan was absent from the meeting.

These stations had been free. Users used to pay only for when applicable T he new reve opment Services would of fset maintenance tricity fees, and also help expand the vil lage ’s charging network. said they anticipate about $14,000 in re nue from the implemented user fe other options presented in Ma a 15 cents per kWh kWh fe e, would ha r un a deficit

Village officials say more than 25% of greenhouse gas emissions in Oak Park come from cars and trucks, making it the second largest driver of climate change. The Climate Ready Oak Park plan lays out the goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2030 and reach net-zero levels by 2050. Access to more electric vehicle charging stations may help the village reach that goal.

Egan also said that Sean Keene, the village’s parking and mobility services manager, has determined that there’s been about a 35% increase in electric vehicles in Oak Park compared with last year. So, the need for charging stations is increasing.

The board voted to waive the second reading of the ordinance and approved it July 9. Egan said the fee could be implemented as early as August and village staf f will monitor usage and revenue for the remainder of the year.

The fee will be reviewed annually and can be changed. That was an important factor for Trustees Ravi Parakkat and Cory Wesley, who each voted against the

fee. Wesley said he doesn’t think the fee is enough and wants to see more profit. At the May 14 board meeting, Wesley said he wanted to see Oak Pa rk follow a model like River Forest, which charges $10 per hour to use the station for more than two hours.

T he typical demo graphic of those who own electric vehicles, Wesley said, are folks with moderate- to high-incomes, and therefore can af ford higher fees to of fset parking costs for others. T he revenue from the fee will go into the parking enter prise fund

“If we can charge more and have a tax that lands predominately on folks that can af ford it more than everyone else in the village, I think that is also a good thing,” he said.

Parakkat ag reed that testing higher prices now would be beneficial.

Trustee Brian Straw, however, disag reed. He said the village should stick with the market rate before electric vehicle users decide not to use Oak Park’s charging stations at all, meaning no revenue would

come in.

The total annual expenses to increase access to charging station infrastructure are estimated at around $46,000. Since revenue is projected to be about $60,000, the $14,000 leftover will go into the parking enterprise fund, which the board directed. This fund has a deficit, according to village officials, due to capital improvement expenses and debt service obligations associated with village parking lots and structures.

The revenue from this fee for fiscal year 2024 is projected to be about $25,000, according to village officials.

Expecting municipalities to provide electric vehicle charging for free is not sustainable, Buchanan later told Wednesday Journal. So, anything that makes a transition to more electric vehicles in the village more feasible, she said she’ll support

“I talked to a lot of EV owners about [the] issue and across the board, people understood that it was reasonable to have to pay for their charging and they were willing to do it,” she said.

WEDNESD

AY

of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor Erika Hobbs

Digital Manager Stac y Coleman

Sta Reporters Amaris E. Rodriguez, Luzane Draughon

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan

Columnists Marc Bleso , Jack Crowe, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger

Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe

Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

Publisher Dan Haley

ADOBE STOCK

Mural Makers

Thursday, July 18, 2-3:30 p.m., Oak Park Public Library - Main Library

A monthly locker decorating program designed to transform the second- oor lockers in our high school space into vibrant and inspiring murals. Students will have the opportunity to unleash their creativity, express themselves, and leave a lasting mark on our library environment.  834 Lake St., Oak Park

Seussical the Musical!

Saturday, July 20, 7:30 p.m., Julian Middle School

CASTSummer presents Seussical the Musical!; a contemporar y re -imagining of Dr. Seuss, which weaves many of his most famous stories and characters in unexpected ways. Additional showtimes: Friday, July 19, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 21, 3:30 p.m. 416 S Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park

Monthly Curated Fair

Sunday, July 21, 12-4 p.m., Sugar Beet Food Co -op

Discover a world of creativity and craftsmanship at the Sugar Beet Food Co -op’s monthly curated fair, where local artists, makers, and producers come together to showcase their exceptional creations. Food and beverages to ne ar t, crafts, ceramics, sculpture, photography, jewelr y, cosmetics, wellness products, housewares, decor, and beyond – our market is a celebration of diverse talents and unique o erings. 812 Madison St., Oak Park

Insect Fest

Thursday, July 18, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Forest Preser ve of Cook County, Cummings Square

Join us for this all-things-insect event. Go on a bug hunt, experience an insect petting zoo, explore bugs through yoga and movement, and create your own insec t. 536 N Harlem Ave., River Forest

BIG WEEK

July 17-24

Teen Take ‘n’ Makes

Monday, July 22, All Day, River Forest Public Library

Hemingway Bir thday Weekend Celebration

Saturday, July 20, 7 - 9 p.m., Hemingway Bir thplace Museum

Join us for a porch concer t featuring Nora O’Connor and Steve Dawson. We’ll celebrate Hemingway ’s 125th birthda y, introduce our new Writer in Residence, and acknowledge student scholarship recipients. General lawn seating is available; bring your own lawn chair. Refreshments pro vided . Pur chase tickets at https:// tinyurl.com/r8ddkbyk, 339 N Oak Park Ave ., Oak Park

Teen Gaming at Maze

Wednesday, July 24, 3-5 p.m., Oak Park - Maze Branch Library - Meeting Room

Join us here at the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Public Library for a round of board games, video games, and card games. All teens, 13-18, are welcome to attend, and we also encourage par ticipants to stick around afterward for a Dungeons and Dragons session star ting at 4 p.m. Feel free to bring a friend. 845 Gunderson Ave., Oak Park

Listing your event in the calendar

events that Oak Park and River Forest community groups and businesses are planning. We’ ll work to get the word out if

P ick up a pr ogram in a bag kit to enjoy at home . B ags will be different each week of the summer and include craft/activity supplies . Av ailable on a first- c ome, first-ser v ed basis. Grades 5-12. 735 Lathrop Av e ., Riv er Fo r est

Read to a Dog

Tuesday, July 23, 6-7 p.m., River Forest Public Library - Community Room Join library sta and Therapaws for a reading ses-

grades kindergar ten to 4th grade. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ ypk4swrn , 735 Lathrop Ave., River Forest

Dominican University Summer Sounds

Wednesday, July 24, 7 p.m., Dominican University Quad

Fr ee C oncer t in the Quad: T he Af ro -C aribbean Jazz C ollectiv e. T his multicultural band pays homage to the roots of Af ro -C aribbean music while embracing the contemporar y flair of jazz and w orld music.Summer Sounds is Dominican Univ ersit y’s series of FREE concerts in the Quad on Wednesda y nights at 7 p.m. from June 12–August 14. Bring a blank et or chair, a picnic dinner, and some friends and enjoy music from a variety of local bands . 7900 Division St ., Riv er Fo r est

Compiled by Brooke Duncan

Illinois, local politicians react to attempte d assassination of former President Donald Trump

It is not yet clear how Saturday’s events will a ect August’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago or the polls in November

By ERIKA HOBBS Editor & LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

As information continues to come from investigators over the assassination attempt of for mer President Donald Trump, the GOP’s candidate for the 2024 presidential election, Illinois lawmakers and politicians are weighing in on Saturday’s shooting

“I want to make it clear that political violence is never acce ptable. I wish for mer President Trump a swift recovery. In our democracy, differences should be settled through dialogue and mutual respect, not through acts of violence,” Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, said in a statement.

Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, in a post on X, said “political violence is never acce ptable.”

“I’m keeping the for mer president, the bystander who was tragically killed, and all who were injured or whose safety was threatened in my thoughts,” he said.

Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman said she is thankful Trump is recovering, that she mourns the loss of life and is keeping those injured in her thoughts. She said she hopes individuals can work harder to “to listen to each other with empathy and eng age in respectful dialogue.”

“As a community, we are deeply disturbed by the attempted assassination of for mer President Trump,” Scaman wrote. “Our democracy is intended to support healthy debate on differing policy agendas and never is it acce ptable to resort to violent acts.”

And Illinois Re publican Chairperson Elect Kathy Salvi on X said: “The Re publicans of Illinois are united and stand with President Trump. We express our full support for President Trump and his family We appreciate the prompt response by law

enforcement and the Secret Service.”

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon said “There’s no place in America for this kind of violence. I wish the for mer president a swift recovery, and my sympathy goes out to those injured and the family and friends of the person killed in this senseless tragedy.”

Oak Park Trustee Chibuike Enyia told Wednesday Journal the incident was an “attack on our democracy” and that it “threatens the future of American politics.” He said his thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the individual that lost their life, the two who remain in critical condition and to Trump

“There is no room for these acts of violence in our country,” he wrote. “There is much more that should be bringing us together than dividing us.”

Other area leaders did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.

It is not yet clear how Saturday’s event, which comes amid deep divisions among the nation’s political parties, will affect August’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, authorities said. The region’s delegates include State Rep. LaShawn Ford, Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins and Chicago Alderperson Emma Mitts of the 37th Ward

It is also not yet clear whether or how Saturday’s attempted assassination will affect polls in November.

The Democratic Party of Illinois issued a statement late Saturday.

“We are shocked and saddened by the events at the rally in PA. Political violence has no place in our society. We pray for the safety of all attendees and condemn violence in the strongest terms. Thank you to the first responders and Secret Service for their swift response.”

The FBI is investigating an attempted assassination on Trump Saturday at a political rally in Pennsylvania. He appeared to be shot in the ear and was determined to be otherwise in good health.

The suspect, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Butler, Pennsylvania was shot and killed by law enforcement agents, authorities said. They said he fired an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, purchased by his father.

Gunfire also killed a 50-year-old Pennsylvania man and wounded two others.

Oak Park village attorney leaves for Glen Ellyn

Paul Stephanides will begin his new role July 22

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Oak Park Village Attorney Paul Stephanides is leaving his position to serve as the village attorney for Glen Ellyn starting July 22.

Stephanides has been in his role in Oak Park for more than 10 years, during which time he has provided legal counsel to the village Notable experiences for Stephanides include writing contracts and coordinating with local and state entities during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout the migrant crisis. He has more than 34 years of legal expertise, according to Glen Ellyn officials

“Glen Ellyn was seeking an experienced attorney to work closely with the village board and management team to assist with a wide variety of community projects,” said Mark Franz, Glen Ellyn’s village man-

ager, in a statement. “Paul is very excited about working with this experienced team, continuing the success of Glen Ellyn and contributing to its growth.”

Stephanides was hired to work at Oak Park in 2013 following former village attorney Ray Heise’s retirement after almost 30 years in the role.

“The Village of Oak Park is grateful for the decade-plus that Paul Stephanides has served as our village attorney,” Oak Park Manager Kevin Jackson said in a statement. “His depth of knowledge and range of experience have been a tremendous benefit to the Oak Park community and we all wish him well in his next endeavor.”

He said he’s sad to be leavin g, and he’ll miss working in Oak Park. Serving as village attorney has been a great opportunity to serve the community he loves, Stephanides said.

Stephanides’ last day at Oak Park is July 19, but he said he has no plans to move out of the village. He will still be a part of the community, and look for local gigs for his band, Nickel and Steel.

pushed for a ceasefire resolution. The village is also working to recruit a second assistant village attor ney.

The soon-to-be for mer Oak Park village attorney said he grew up in Glen Ellyn and has friends and family there. He sees this as an opportunity to do a lot of the same work, but at a different pace that fits where he is in life now.

In a statement, Kevin Jackson said that a search for the village attorney’s re placement is underway. In the meantime, legal coverage may include “temporary outside legal guidance,” and help from assistant village attorneys, particularly during village board meetings.

Rasheda Jackson, who is not related to Kevin Jackson, is one assistant village attorney, and has stepped in at board meetings before, such as the contentious April 9 meeting when some community members

Stephanides will step into his new position after a swearing-in at a Glen Ellyn village board meeting. He is taking over for Greg Mathews, who retired after 10 years as Glen Ellyn’s village attorney, according to officials St ep hanides was previously an attorney and partner at Ro bbin s, Schwartz, Nicholas, L ifton & Taylor, Ltd., a law firm in Chicag o. According to Oak Pa rk officials, his areas of expertise include c ounseling for local gove r nment b oards, labor and employment law, election law, land use and zoning, real estate, c onstruction law and liti gation.

Stephanides has a law de gree from DePaul University. He is the re gional vice president of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, president of the Illinois Local Governmental Lawyers Association, and chair of the Illinois Municipal League Home Rule Attorneys Committee, according to Glen Ellyn.

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Monday & Friday 9am-5pm

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LIBRARY SAFET Y reatening

sure staff and patron safety while the alleged perpetrator is facing the court system.

“The threats are being processed through the court system, and we’re hoping that there will be some consequences,” Compton-Dzak said.

A statement issued on the library website said that the threats are believed to be made by a person who was banned from the library in April for violating policy Recent content in the letters and online threats naming staff members and making general threats to the library increased safety concerns.

“The Library no longer feels that it is safe to remain open without additional security and has hired a private security firm to be onsite during all operatin g hours until the situation is resolved, officials said in the statement. “We feel that the added security will ensure the safety of our patrons and staf f.”

In response to the security concerns earlier in the week, the library amended their operating hours on Monday and Tuesday,

remaining closed for much of those days.

The River Forest Police Department provided security from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Moday. Typically, the library is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on those days.

Compton-Dzak applauded the bravery of library staf f members amid ongoing security threats. Library staf f have been offered paid mental health days and a counselor will be available to staf f members to talk about what is going on.

“It’s hard to think of what to do these situations,” Compton-Dzak said. “But just a lot of communication and trying to get people whatever resources we can get for them.”

She said that patrons have been very supportive and encouraging towards the library this week, even as threats were made towards River Forest residents.

“In this last week, he was leaving letter around at residences, so I think that was ve upsetting for people,” Compton-Dzak said. “They were disturbed to read that, but the response to that, in terms of the library, was still very supportive. People were very help ful reporting it to the police and then just letting us know that they did and that they kind of wish us the best and hope this goes away

The library anticipates the additional security to be on the premises until the concerns are resolved.

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Leaf collection credit fails on tie vote

The proposed one-time $29.04 credit would have equaled about 58 landscape bags

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Kids:

Get

that,” he said.

voted in favor of it

Out! It’s Good for You

As a child, I was immersed in nature. Now, as a father of two, I want my children to have and appreciate the same experience.

We can all positively impact a child’s first five years of crucial development by looking no further than the outdoors, which provide many physical and mental health benefits. Whether they play with dirt, interact with bugs and insects, or “ground” themselves by walking barefoot, children’s connection to nature will continue to deepen. Here are some easy ways to help them immerse and engage:

- Create a Vegetable Garden: a great way to connect them to their food and understand how to nurture, grow, and harvest what they eat.

- Visit or create Pollinator Gardens: they will be able to see the diversity of plants and pollinators, while also becoming educated on this crucially symbiotic relationship.

- Take Field Trips: visit parks, nature preserves, or botanic gardens— many are only a short drive away! Every time my children point out a bug, ask to see baby birds in a nest, or want to go outside barefoot, I’m constantly reminded of nature’s vital importance. Nurturing their connection to our surroundings will help grow their appreciation of nature and understanding of the importance of why it’s worth protecting.

2001 Des Plaines Ave. Forest Park • 708-771-2299

www.mcadamlandscape.com

A move to give a one-time credit of $29.04 to participants in the refuse collection program failed to pass Oak Park’s village board July 9.

The move, designed to assuage cost concerns, still could pass, however. The motion tied 3-3, with Trustee Susan Buchanan absent because of a death in her family. The board has six trustees and one president who vote, meaning when all members are present, ties do not typically happen. The proposed credit, according to village officials, would have been equal to 12 months of the fee residents pay for the fall leaf pr equivalent of 58 landscape bags

At the lage board meeting trustees decided the requirement leaves would mo in the loud public about physical bagging decision ended the longtime practice of raking lea piles on the streets

Trustee Chibuike Enyia, who also voted against the credit, agreed with Straw, saying he’d rather see the money go toward the most impacted populations. The extra $29.04 wouldn’t be of much use for him, he said, but the need could be stronger for others.

“If you’re more impacted than me, I’d much rather have you have the ability to get access to those dollars if you needed them,” he said.

Not everyone was on the same page, however. Trustee Lucia Robinson was supportive of the one-time credit and calling it “ridiculous” and “unfortunate” that the board could not agree. would for resients to acquire the needed supplies to with leaf bagollection. But that’s not the only esidents eal with their all. They ompost them in collect es in a rigid ontainer, such as an garbage

The proposed credit would have applied to the final quarterly water bill of 2024. Public Works Director Rob Sproule said this would return the funds to refuse-collection participants, ensuring vulnerable communities get equal benefits, rather than, for example, benefitting only those with resources to get village-provided bags.

But some trustees felt that the one-time credit wouldn’t do much.

“Doing a flat return of funds to all singlefamily homeowners is regressive,” Trustee Brian Straw said.

Straw, who voted against the credit, said he would rather address concerns for the vulnerable populations, such as older individuals or those with fewer funds to cover the additional expense, more directly. T he $29.04 won’ t target the need that the board has created, he said.

“We can and should do better than

ounter idea that arose during the board discussion was that the village should buy such bins for residents, instead of giving out a one-time credit The cost would likely be similar, but the container could be used yearly.

But Robinson said not everyone wants a village-provided bin or has space for it. With the one-time credit, residents can use it how they see fit, she said.

“I just don’t think we should be micromanaging how people spend this rebate,” she said. “I just feel like it’s very Big Brother-ish to assume that we, sitting here, know what the benefit is, what the burden is, what the capability is for every single household.”

“In fairness, we’re micromanaging leaves,” Trustee Cory Wesley responded, who said he liked the idea of buying reusable bins but did vote in favor of the one-time credit

Trustee Ravi Parakkat voted against the credit and Village President Vicki Scaman

The vote tied in Buchanan’s absence. But she later told Wednesday Journal that her gut reaction would be to vote in favor of the credit to help make the leaf collection transition successful, but added that it’s hard to make a definitive decision without listening to the discussion. She also said she’d be open to the idea of buying bins instead of the onetime credit

“The pushback we have received has been overwhelming, overwhelmingly depressing,” she said. “I’m sick of it.”

And she’s not alone. Wesley also said at the July 9 meeting that he’s “not talking about leaves again at this board table,” adding that he “will recuse [himself], on the grounds that this is dumb.”

The amount, $29.04, is based on the $2.42 collected per customer by the village for fall leaf collection, multiplied by 12 months. The total cost for the village would have been $325,248 to reimburse residents, according to village officials. That cost would have been covered by the environmental services enterprise fund, which covers unexpected costs If the credit had been approved, this fund would have fewer dollars available to respond to extreme weather events or other unknown issues. But Sproule said there’s enough money to go around

Some trustees also said they felt there are better ways to spend village money. Interim Chief Financial Officer Donna Gayden, did confirm, however, that it’s illegal to move money from the enterprise funds to the general operating fund. If the revenue in that fund exceeds expenditures by a certain percentage, the board could have that percentage used for something else, though.

According to Village Manager Kevin Jackson, the qualified uses for the environmental services enterprise fund, however, do include things like refuse and recycling services.

In terms of the physical burden, village officials said they’re working to engage with community partners and groups to ensure adequate assistance for those who need it Other plans to lessen the burden on residents this fall include the village buying some materials like bags to help seek compliance and rolling out the senior assistance program, as well as a volunteer portal. Since the vote tied, the discussion about ways to lessen the financial burden on leaf-bagging residents will come back

Scott McAdam Jr.

Oak Park Film Festival now accepting submissions

The

festival will take place Sept. 12 and 14

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

An upcoming film festival, which will showcase films with connections to Oak Park, is accepting submissions through July 31.

The connection to Oak Park could be a variety of things: a member of the cast or crew, shooting location or subject matter, according to a news release. Categories include narrative shorts, features, documentaries, animation, music videos and young filmmakers, meaning those aged 18 and under.

“Oak Park is known around the world as a leader not only in the arts, but in diversity,” festival org anizers wrote. “It is our hope that the festival will reflect this by re presenting both traditional and nontraditional filmmakers and projects.”

The early bird deadline for submissions was June 30, but submissions are still accepted through the end of July. Submis-

MARY ELIZABETH MASTRANTONIO

sions can be made online, and no individual can submit more than two entries. Entries can be made in any year.

This first-time event will feature film screenings, Q&A’s, a panel, a guest speaker, food and an awards ceremony, featuring categories like best director.

The two-day festival will be Sept. 12 and 14. The opening night, including a red-car-

pet gala and pre-film talk, will be Cinemas Lake Theatre at 1022 La That night, a Hollywood film called “The Abyss” starring Mary Elizabeth tonio, an Oak Park native, will be shown, according to film festival org anizers trantonio is an Oak Park and Ri High School alumna, according to Oak Park officials, and co-stars with Ed Harris. The science fiction film was written and directed by James Cameron.

The all-day event Sept. 14 will be Madison Street Theater at 1010 Madison St. Local talent can see their films on-screen starting at 10 a.m. Tickets will be in August.

“Oak Park, Illinois has ser backdrop and inspiration for nificant film projects and has been home to many notable industry figures,” festival organizers wrote. “This rich cinematic heritage provides the perfect for our festival.”

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

All Oak Park residents who own or lease a car are required to purchase a local license by July 15 of each year, or fees increase.

The license fee for passenger cars was $74, but all rates have increased by $20 since the deadline passed, so now it’s $94.

Drivers found not complying are at risk of a $78 ticket, in addition to still having to purchase the license.

The local license used to be displayed in Oak Park as a sticker on the windshield.

In 2019, the village opted for an electronic method instead. Since then, parking enforcement officers have used license plate reco gnition technology to scan plates.

Officers do not re gularly scan to see if vehicle owners have a local license, according to the Oak Park Police Department. But if a car is found to not have one, the officer can decide to cite them.

Residents have 14 days to appeal a vehicle license citation, by indicating the date of purchase, according to the village

According to Village Manager Kevin Jackson’s weekly re port, the village has sold 5,750 licenses from May 1, when residents can start to renew, to June 25 this

year. Last year, 10,908 licenses were sold. Residents who had an active license in the past three years should have received a renewal notice, according to the re port.

New residents in Oak Park have 30 days to show proof of residency and a copy of their car’s registration for approval for a local vehicle license. Proof of residency must show the resident moved in the last 30 days and could include a utility bill, voter registration card or rental lease agreement.

Newly purchased cars also have to be re gistered within that 30-day window. If a resident no longer owns a vehicle, by not renewing the license it will be removed from the database.

Rates for the licenses do vary. Senior citizens, those 65 and older, and disabled individuals, with a handicap plate or placard, can purchase a license for a discounted rate of $63.

Antique vehicle owners can purchase a license for $41. The fee for motorcycles is $62 and for mopeds it’s $54. Other prices, including for buses, recreational vehicles and trucks, can be found online.

Cars owned or leased by businesses, but stored in Oak Park overnight and on weekends, must also have a license. All licenses have to be renewed annually.

OP trustee claps back a er village president reprimands board

Vicki Scaman says the board did not “necessarily come prepared” July 9, but Trustee Cory Wesley disagreed on Facebook

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman said the village is losing staf f because of long board meetings with lots of questions and occasional “off-track” comments that can cause agenda items to be delayed.

At the July 9 finance committee meeting, only one of two items on the main agend a were discussed: the village’s proposed property tax levy policy. But a presentation on American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to the village had to be delayed, because the first item took the full hour allotted for both.

The village board does not shy away from robust discussions that go late into Tuesday evenings and sometimes to the early hours of Wednesday mornings. But it appears some village staf f might be exhausted by unfinished discussions and delayed action.

“We are losing staf f because we have five-hour meetings,” Scaman said. “It is not fair to keep them here.”

The village board must vote to extend meetings beyond 10 p.m. They frequently do.

stay on task at the board table. She emphasized the need to listen to other board members and make a collective decision.

“You’ re not learning at the board table,” she said, addressing her colleagues. “You’re the ones making the decisions.”

“I’m not inclined to table the next agenda item, but I’m very tempted to because we’re holding of f people who’ve been working 14 hours today to have their li quor license approved tonight,” Scaman said, referencing an upcoming item on the re gular board meeting agenda following the finance committee meeting. “Because we didn’t necessarily come prepared for the agenda as presented.”

No board members addressed Scaman’s comments at the meeting.

But in a Facebook group called Polite Politics Oak Park, Trustee Cory Wesley wrote “I resent the accusation that I’ve ever shown up to any aspect of this job unprepared – I don’t have that privilege.”

The comments were made from his “Oak Park Trustee Cory J. Wesley” Facebook page, which Wesley uses to make posts and comment about issues related to his official duties, making it a public forum.

nity members frequently speak during public comment, both at the time for non-agenda comments and before agenda items

But he also wrote “I will no longer vote to extend out meetings nor will I participate in any that extend beyond 10 p. unless the item in question is judged, by me, to be something of paramount importance.”

CO RY WESLE Y Trustee “We are losing sta because we have ve-hour meetings. It is not fair to keep them here.”

VICKI SCAMA N Village president

Scaman, at the end of the July 9 finance committee meeting, asked board members to email and call staf f ahead of time to get answers to their questions and therefore

Wesley goes on in the comment to explain that as a Black man in a majority white community, who worked hard to be elected, he calls out biases when necessary, and proposes “radical solutions,” with evidence and logic to back him up.

“I. AM. NEVER. UNPREPARED.” Wesley wrote.

“No one likes long meetings,” he later continued. “But my job is to push for the best decisions possible for The People of Oak Park.”

Wesley wrote that he has voted for meetings to go beyond 10 p.m. out of respect for those who show up to participate. Commu-

Wesley wrote that he is a busy member of the community, active not only in local government but with his family and day job. He said he puts in time and ef fort to understand agenda items by talking to colleagues and coming up with new ideas.

harsh” and that they were unto direct at the entire board. She said she trusts all members are well prepared.

“More often than not I believe our conversations are incredibly thoughtful and demonstrate that this is a hard working board with diverse perspectives that benefit the community at e,” she wrote in an email.

“I. AM. NEVER. UNPREPARED.”

“I don’t stay beyond 10 p.m. because I find it fun or because I have the privilege of free time,” he wrote. “I do it because I volunteered for this job and I consider it my duty to do it well.”

Wesley declined to comment fur ther at Wednesday Journal’s request. Scaman told Wednesday Journal that her comments were “over generalized and

However, each trustee prepares differently, she said. She said she encourages board members to reach out to staf f before meetings so that discussions can revolve more around hearing from the public and others at the table. Rather than reiterating information, she said in an email, seeking “lengthy” clarification or “questioning our staf f in a manner that appears as if we are challenging their professional opinions when as elected individuals we can simply and respectfully disagree.”

“Trustee Wesley is a valued member of the Village Board and a Trustee that I respect immensely,” she also wrote.

OPRF continues partnership with West40

The nonpro t will continue to work with at-risk students at the high school

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

OPRF High School will c ontinue to partner with a nonprofit to provide additional services and intervention programs for at-risk students.

The partnership with West40, a nonprofit intermediate service center serving school districts and co-ops in West Cook County, will continue as the Board of Education on June 20 approved an intergovernmental ag reement for alternative learning opportunities program.

“OPRF, like any other school, [has] students who are in need of services beyond what can be provided in the traditional setting,” said Joe Gage, senior director of student programs at West40. “This allows students to receive more targeted support for their needs.”

T he partnership be g an in 2014 to offer an Alternative Learning Opportunities Progr am within the high school’s Multi-tiered Systems of Support. MTSS is a “cohesive continuum” of instruction and responsive sup port for students.

The program brings two student advocates from West40 to help serve up to 64 students on campus. During the 202324 school year, West40 served 31 OPRF students who were referred to the program due to academic, attendance or social-emotional needs.

These “push-in” services help support students at OPRF’s campus, Gage said.

West40 currently helps provide similar services to 40 schools throughout the districts in West Cook County.

According to district officials, out of the 31 students served this past school year, 66% are Black/African American, 16% are multi-racial, 9% are White, and 9% are Hispanic.

In addition, 45% were seniors, 35% were juniors, 16% sophomores and 3% freshmen.

LaTonya Applewhite, executive director of equity and student success at OPRF, said this “highly intensive collaborative support” is crucial to help kids who are most at risk for dropping out of school.

Applewhite said the district uses other programs to support students along with early war ning data to ensure students are placed with the right support. Included in these conversations are counselors, social workers and deans.

Early warning data includes attendance, grades and a student’s social emotional support, said Applewhite.

“It is all data driven,” Applewhite said.

This allows for the whole child to be seen “holistically,” Applewhite said.

According to Gage, students can stay in an ALOP program for up to two years, but it can be extended if a student needs additional support.

“It is not intended to re place any other existing intervention that the school has in place,” Gage said. “We are not supplanting any other interventions. We are there to be a

layer of support to the interventions that are currently in place at the school.”

Providing these programs on campus allows for continued growth in an environment promoting a “level of comfortability,” Applewhite said.

“It is always a last resort to remove a child from our building,” she said. “We have had very few instances where we have had to actually use those parts of West40, where we have to remove a child.”

The partnership allows the district to provide these services at a “very low cost,” Gage said.

“It’s a win-win,” he said.

According to the agreement, West40 will use evidencebased funding to fund the ALOP program and the district will continue to provide space and cover the cost of utilities

T he partnership with West40 also c omes with additional service o pportunities should the needs a ris e.

T hese include:

■ Re gional Safe School Programs to help serve students who are suspended or expulsion eligible

■ High N eeds A lternative L earning O pportunities

Pr ogr am for students who need an i ntensive academi c

pr ogr am and mental health suppo rt services. This ca n be onsite at West40’s alternative school, in Maywood , or remotely.

■ West40 ALOP, Senior Plus for senior students who did not graduate due to credit deficiency. This allows them to complete credits at Triton Colle ge while being enrolled in Triton colle ge courses.

The goal is to help students succeed both in school and once they graduate,” Applewhite said.

“We try not to keep students in the progr am long term, but we want to build relationships with them so that they know if they are continuing to struggl e, they are able to come back and discuss and work on these strategies,” she said.

The program has been successful, but it isn’t always able to be measured in numbers

“You may not see a change in their grades or a chang e in their attendance right away,” she said. “Howeve r, what you will notice is that the student is remarkably different from when they first entered the progr am, which now puts the student in a place to change their grades, to change their attendance.”

New shaved-ice food truck will be cooling o the western suburbs

Oak Park and Forest park will be able to indulge in the sweet treats

By SAM TUCKER Contributing Reporter

What began as a second-hand plumber’s truck and a need to make use of extra ice and free time, Cool Truck Treats, a shaved-ice food truck, is now a new west suburban business.

Cool Truck Treats, by way of Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures, is a mobile food-truck with a menu full of frozen treats and shaved-ice delights. The truck mainly operates in the Oak Park and Forest Park area, bringing its cool treats to block parties, community events, and private festivities.

Max Barajas, the owner of Cool Truck Treats, began the business from a want to make use of extra supplies at Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures, one of the largest ice sculpture operations in the Midwest. He also is the owner of Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures. Barajas wanted to take advantage of the summer lull for his ice sculpture business, as well as an extra delivery truck, and his background in culinary arts

“So, I have this truck and I have pretty much an endless supply of ice, and what I decided to do was just open up a shaved ice company,” Barajas said.

The truck has shaved ice in both the Hawaiian style, which includes sweetened condensed milk, and New Orleans style, which has multiple syrup flavors in one cone. Other frozen treats suited for the summer heat include

PURE ICE: Max Barajas, ow ner of Cool Truck Treats and Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures, shows the large tubs where an ice block begins its jour ney at the ice sculpture workshop in Forest Park. Puri ed water is slowly frozen to produce a high qualit y, crystal-clear block of ice.

chocolate-dipped bananas and chocolate-covered cheesecake bars. All of the chocolate is supplied by their business partner, Fill My Jar, a Brookfield-based chocolatier.

Since getting his LLC at the end of June, Barajas has set up the truck around town and is getting the word out. He said his schedule is filling up with events in the Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest areas.

On Sundays, Barajas will be at Scoville Park during “Concerts in the Park,” a summer-long program of live music events in Oak Park. He expects to operate the truck until mid-October, but said it is weather-dependent.

After buying the truck earlier this year, Barajas said he worried it was not going to be used until the busy winter season of the ice-sculpture business.

In April, Barajas said, the current Cool Truck Treats food truck was a rusty second-hand plumbers truck. Since then, he has gutted the interior and placed in coolers, a station and a serving window, then gave the outside of the truck a fresh, igloo-themed paint job. After the summer season is over, he’ll convert it back to a delivery truck.

“It was more of a passion project of what I was going to do with my time, and I ended up creating a whole other business out of it,” Barajas said.

All of Cool Truck Treat’s shaved ice comes from the Nadeau Ice Sculptures workshop in Forest Park. At the “ice house,” large tubs are filled with purified water, then they are slowly frozen to create a clear, crystal-like block of ice. The ice blocks can weigh hundreds of pounds, and are carved and shaved into unique sculptures. Some are

created with photos and flower petals suspended in the ice.

Over their 44 years of ice sculpting, Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures has created works for large Chicago-based organizations, including the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Lincoln Park Zoo.

The excess ice blocks from the sculpture carving process are what Barajas uses to serve high-quality shaved ice, which has an almost snowflake-like appearance. Comparing it to kosher salt, Barajas said the flatter surface of the shaved ice soaks up flavored syrups better than crushed ice.

Laurie Kokenes, executive director of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce and Development, said operating the food truck in the community is a great addition to Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures.

“Cool Truck Treats is a perfect, portable extension of Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures. It’s great to see local businesses grow their customer base and drive customers to their brick-and-mortar business by participating in local events,” Kokenes said.

With bookings filling his schedule, Barajas is now not so worried about the food truck sitting in their workshop’s parking lot all summer long.

“I love food, and I wanted to offer something different for my town. Forest Park has amazing ice cream, as do a lot of the surrounding areas … I happen to not enjoy ice cream as much as shaved ice, so I wanted to open something with a different style,” Barajas said.

Find out more information about booking and where the truck is setting up shop on the business’s Facebook page.

SAM TUCKER

SAM TUCKER

Freshly shaved ice lls a cup, ready for the 11 di erent avors of sy rup Cool Truck Treats o ers.

Man robs kid at gunpoint on Lake Stre et

A man met with a kid to purchase some clothing July 9 on the 700 block of Lake Street. The man then displayed a firearm and stole the youth’s property and money. The estimated loss is $2,250.

Burglary

A man entered a Chicago resident’s trailer July 9 on the 800 block of Highland Avenue and stole an Echo leaf blower. He then fled in a Chevrolet Malibu. The estimated loss is $700.

Battery

On July 10, a man entered the Mobil gas station at 622 Madison St. and demanded a refund. He then threw an assortment of candies on the ground and pushed a Skokie resident in the chest. He fled in a gray Honda CR-V. The estimated damage is $50.

Theft

■ Someone stole an Oak Park resident’s package that contained an Abbott medical device between June 29 and July 10 on the 800 block of Fair Oaks Avenue. The estimated loss is $3,500.

■ On July 8, three women stole makeup and beauty care products from the Se phora at 1145 Lake St. T hey then fled in a Chevrolet Equinox. T he estimated loss is $4,341.

Criminal damage to proper ty

S omeone used a large landscaping brick to break out the sunroof of an Oak Pa rk resid ent’s 2012 Infiniti G37X between Ju ly 8 and 9 on the 800 block of S outh Euclid Avenue. T he estimated loss is $3,000.

Motor vehicle theft

Someone stole an Oak Park resident’s 2020 Hyundai Tucson between July 8 and 9 on the 200 block of South Maple Avenue. The estimated loss is $25,000.

Arrests

■ A 36-year-old Oak Park man was arrested for battery and criminal trespass to property on July 9 on the 200 block of North Kenilworth Avenue.

■ A 39-year-old Chicago woman was arrested for battery and criminal damage to property July 9 on the 800 block of Lake Street. She also had an active Metra warrant for criminal trespass.

■ A 61-year-old Oak Park man was arrested for violation of an order of protection July 9 on the 1100 block of South Harvey Avenue. He was also charged for an-

other violation of an order of protection that occurred March 31.

■ A 42-year-old Melrose Park man was arrested for driving under the influence after being in an accident July 12 on the 300 block of Randolph Street.

■ A 58-year-old Berwyn man was arrested July 12 on the 1100 block of South Ridgeland Avenue for disorderly conduct. He was cited and released at the RUSH Oak Park Hospital.

■ A 31-year- old Oak Pa rk man was stopped Ju ly 12 on the firs t block of Erie C ourt as a “suspicious person.” He gave a f alse ID and was charged with obstructing identification. He was found to have two outside war r ants fo r “dangerous drugs” and for retail theft. He was transported to b ond hearings

■ A 49-year- old Chicago man was ar r ested for battery Ju ly 14 on the 400 b lock of S outh Gr ove

Avenue after he gr abbed, struc k and kicked an Oak Pa rk r esid ent seve r al times. He was issued a notice to a ppear citation and released

These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department reports dated July 8 – 15 and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect 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 Luzane Draughon

Complaint claims OPRF fosters a ‘hostile antisemitic environmen

The complaint cites social media posts and a T-shir t sold at a fundraiser as evidence of antisemitism

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

More than 100 people filed for mal complaints with the state against Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 and three of its teachers claiming they created a “hostile antisemitic environment for Jewish students” and that administrators have done little to address the issues

T he complaint was filed with the Illinois State Board of Education along with the I llinois Attorney General’s of fice on June 30. Those who signed it called for the three teachers to be held a ccountable.

The signers, led by Oak Park parent Nate Mellman, alle ged that the three named teachers “demonstrated unprofessional conduct as well as promoted and condoned antisemitic statements and/ or acts.” They pointed to one teacher’s social media accounts, where they said posts containing antisemitic comments were published along with those that promoted “antisemitic falsehoods.”

Eastern and North Africa Club Advisor stating they have “endorsed the October 7 ter rorist attack on Israel” and promoted a “a one-sided viewpoint” in the classroom, posted “antisemitic” posts on social media, and sold T-shirts that “depicted the outline of Israel next to the word tine,’ symbolizing the elimination of the State of Israel.”

This “le gitimized” the promotion of antisemitism at OPRF, the complaint said.

Supt. Greg Johnson addressed the complaint during the July 11 special board meeting with an official statement from the district.

The statement says the district acknowledges the conflict in the Middle East has “challenged the policies and practices” of academic institutions across the country.

“There have been a number of students who have complained to administrators and nothing has been done.”

NATE MELLMAN Oak Park parent

“I’m feeling like many of my ‘friends,’ & colleagues that currently sit silently &/or directly support the genocide of Palestinians would have sat silently &/or directly benefited from Black enslavement & genocide,” one of the teacher’s post said.

The signers said that because of the district’s inaction to address these posts, the teacher “has been free to up the ante on his hate speech.”

The complaint also listed the Middle

However, the district also has said they remained “steadfast” in ef for ts to balance the rights of all by seeking both advice from community and religious leaders, as well as legal counsel.

According to Johnson, the district has been consulting with their attorneys for months to ensure district policies are being followed.

He also said attorneys have suggested “enhancements” to the support for school community members affected by the events.

“We will share those actions with the school community once we finalize the details before the coming school year,” Johnson said.

According to the complaint, on March 14, Tom Cofsky, board president, responded to a letter addressed Feb. 27 and said he was “aware” of Instagram posts, but added that “creating an environment where our diverse perspectives can coexist and where students and adults can feel safe expressing those perspectives is our pathway toward ensuring an inclusive and diverse environment for all.”

Cofsky was not able to be reached for comment.

According to the complaint, community members said they attended multiple board of education meetings, including the one on Feb. 8, to re port incidents and to follow up with the district. They said “virtually no remedial action” was taken.

“We therefore turn to you to ensure that District 200 is a safe and welcoming place for Jewish students,” they wrote

Mellman said the climate at the high school has made students fearful.

“The students are afraid and they have complained,” Mellman told Wednesday Journal. “There have been a number of students who have complained to administrators and nothing has been done.”

Mellman said despite public comments, letters, and various complaints, the district has not addressed the issues, and instead have “silenced” and “gaslighted” a part of the OPRF community.

“If this was a complaint for any other reason, any other basis, weather its gender or sexual harassment something would have been done,” Mellman said. “But because they are complaining about antisemitism nothing is being done.”

OPRF’s statement said that administra-

tors, including Johnson, have met with dozens of OPRF community members, students and staf f with different identities and points of view.

“Across the board, re gardless of their identities, they have shared personal stories of pain, anger, fear, and despair,” they said. “We want them to know we see them, we hear them, and we are committed to ensuring we have a safe and healthy environment.”

Officials also said they did not tolerate harassment, citing a section of its policy:

“The District will not tolerate harassment, intimidating conduct, or bullying whether verbal, physical, sexual, or visual, that affects the tangible benefits of education, that unreasonably interferes with a student’s educational performance, or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment.”

Mellman said the last thing those who signed the complaint wanted to do was paint the school in a bad light but felt there was no other option due to the lack of action from the district.

“You never want to take your business outside so to speak but at some point we had to do it.” Mellman said. “That is what it’s come to.”

D97 creates new blueprint for 8th-grade graduate success

‘Por trait of a graduate’ will be used to align standards inside and outside the classroom

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

What skills should an eighth-grader in Oak Park ideally graduate with?

Officials have finally decided.

In a reinvention of the district’s approach, officials put together a “portrait” of an eighth-grade graduate made up of eight “dimensions,” or core competencies, for students to achieve. They are aligned, as they have been, with state standards. They are:

■ Global Connector

■ Powered by Literacy

■ Creative Dreamer

■ Holistically Well

■ Digital Navigator

■ Financially Savvy

■ Career Explorer

■ Change Agent

“There isn’t a blueprint for universal student achievement,” said Supt. Ushma Shah. “We are trying to do something that hasn’t been done before, using our community-driven Portrait as a roadmap. We’re excited to collaborate with our community partners, our families and staff to design a path forward that is innovative, inclusive, and reflective of our collective aspirations and values.”

Amanda Siegfried, senior director of communications and eng agement, and Eboney Lofton, chief learning and innovation officer, said the dimensions were established after months of collecting more than 2,600 data points over 16 community-wide eng agement sessions held in the spring. Of ficials also collected info rmation from parents and staff through surveys

“Our teacher design team really worked hard to make sure that the wording of each of these were powerful and really kind of resonated with the community and reflected what they said to us,” Lofton said. Each dimension has clearly outlined standards that were honed throughout the process, they said. For example, “powered by literacy” originally focused solely on reading, but the final dimension also incorporated writing: “Graduates will apply research-based practices to read, analyze, evaluate and articulate information in order to make sense of, question and challenge the world around them.”

Lofton said writing was the “expression of students” being able to understand information and “share it with the world.”

A ccording to Siegfried, the district realized being “academically prepared” was embedded throughout all of the dimensions and was viewed as “a foundational concept” for the portrait

“While many portraits are aspirational, ours is entirely academic,” Siegfried said. “Student mastery of the portrait dimensions will be defined by the Illinois Learning Standards, which establish expectations for what all students should know and be able to do in each subject at each grade.”

mentation, Siegfried said.

For the first year, the district will work with community partners to address student programming and also align “out-ofschool” learning, such as clubs, to the established dimensions across all grade levels.

“We are trying to do something that hasn’t been done before, using our community-driven Portrait as a roadmap.”

USHMA SHAH D97 superintendent

This summer, the district will work on ensuring the portrait’s dimensions align with the Illinois Learning Standards, along with developing a “Year 1” plan for imple-

The district will also develop resources for families to continue to support learning outside of the classroom.

“It is also important to add that the portrait, we are thinking about it as something starting outside of school,” Shah said.

Shah added that looking at the “standards and learning experiences” outside of school allows more clarity inside the classroom because it “creates conversation and a framework” for eng agement.

“It is not something to be implemented in the way we think of implementing

something in schools like ‘how are you going to roll it out,” Shah said. “To level the playing field in terms of access to opportunity and in terms of leveling the playing field to learning we need to start to leverage more strategically out of school times, because that is where the inequities actually star t.”

Board Vice President Nancy Ross Dribin said the dimensions are “g reat aspects of a graduate,” but added that the district needs to express how dimensions will be use d to look at district standards

“A s you are rolling it out, g etting across ‘ these are great. What are we using these for?’ How is this organizing wh at we are doing,” D ribin said. “You have already articulated that in pieces so I think making sure you have a c ohesive picture of wh at this looks li ke is going to be one of the ke y points.”

New structures could potentially form as the portrait becomes a “beginning framework” to figure out what the “next steps look like,” Shah said.

Strong winds cause damage around Oak Park

Residents woke up to power outages, downed trees and closed streets

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

At about 9:30 p.m. Monday, a tornado warning blared on Oak Park resident phones, telling them to shelter in place until 10 p.m.

Tornado warnings were in effect throughout parts of Illinois at the same time, including portions of Will, Kendall, Grundy, northern DuPage and Cook County and in Chicago, according to the National Weather Service Chicago.

“Multiple tornadoes have been re ported along this line of storms moving through the Chicago metro!” The NWS Chicago X account warned locals.

As the extreme weather moved through Oak Park, trees were brought down into the residential areas including at locals’ houses and on streets. Destructive winds and flooding were possible, too. By Tuesday morning, Oak Park public works officials indicated the area between Interstate 290 and Madison Street sustained the most damage.

Jackson Boulevard was closed in a few places, including between Lyman Avenue and Taylor Avenue and at Oak Park Avenue. Village officials said there’s six public works crews and two contracted crews

clearing streets and sidewalks of brokendown tree limbs and power lines.

“Officials anticipate that the total cleanup ef fort to take several days,” village officials wrote.

One resident told Wednesday Journal a branch from their elm tree came down in the back yard. Another, Ava Watts, said a pergola came into her backyard on South Euclid Avenue. Watts also said a gas leak occurred

Residents with “brush from trees” on private property will not see village clean-up crews, however. Small amounts of brush can be bundled with a green yard waste sticker and set to dispose of in re gular collection areas. The bundles must be smaller than two feet in diameter, four feet in length and be less than 50 pounds. Larger amounts can be handled by tree care or landscape maintenance contractors.

Village officials said that as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, ComEd re ported more than 4,900 outages in the network. That affects more than 200,000 clients, and officials said about 750 in Oak Park were affected at that time. ComEd’s power outage map is updated online. ComEd and Nicor crews are working to restore services, village of ficials said.

Weather officials said Tuesday they are still investigating where tornadoes might have touched down.

TODD BANNOR

Workers clear a tree toppled by last nigh t’s severe storm from the roof of the house at 704 S Euclid on July 16.

YDIA SHARP

More storm damage seen in Oak Park a er strong winds brought down trees and branches.

Downtown, Hemingway team up for Shop Outdoor Sale

By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter

From July 18 through the 21, Downtown Oak Park and the Hemingway District are teaming up to host their annual Shop Outdoor Sale. Shoppers can take advantage of special discounts as businesses clear out goods at the end of the summer season.

One weekend, three sales in Oak Park

By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter

Three Oak Park business districts will be hosting sidewalk sales this week. Downtown Oak Park and the Hemingway District are partnering in their annual Shop Outdoor Sale from July 18 to 21. On July 20, the Oak Park Arts District will be having its own sidewalk sale on Harrison Street. Adding to the festivities, the Hemingway District and Ernest Hemingway Foundation will be partnering to celebrate “Hemingway’s Birthday Fête” from July 19 to 21.

Downtown Oak Park and the Hemingway District collaborate yearly for the Shop Outdoor Sale. However it was just a “happy accident” that these three events will occur at the same time, said Wendy Giardina, community engagement coordinator at the Collaboration for Early Childhood and secretary for the Hemingway District Association.

“We’re hoping that means people will stay in town because people in Oak Park like to go places during the summer,” she said. “If they look and see, ‘Hey there’s a lot going on this weekend, I think I want to have a staycation and enjoy all the free things that are happening all over the place.’”

Businesses in the Downtown and Hemingway districts will be offering discounts all weekend at the Sidewalk Sale, while the Hemingway District and Hemingway Foundation are partnering

for a weekend of activities to honor the writer’s local legacy. As festivities continue all weekend in central Oak Park, a short drive down to Harrison Street on Saturday will reveal a different side of the village. Customers can shop from vendors on the sidewalk, stop into cafes and restaurants for drinks and treats, and experience the vibrant community of the Arts District.

For local businesses, events during the summer months can be an exciting and fun way to gain visibility and community presence before the busy fall and winter months, or to clear out stock for the new season. For shoppers, the weekend is an opportunity to experience Oak Park’s diverse shopping districts and to pos sibly visit a new corner of the village.

“The more the merrier,” said Moses Valdez, co-owner of Selleria Veneta and president of the Hemingway District Association. Oak Park businesses have a culture of promoting each other, both within and between different districts. Perhaps this weekend will open the door to more collaboration in the future as more business districts grow and gain visibility.

“We’re always open to more collaboration,” said Valdez.

The weekend will begin with the weekly Thursday Night Out on Marion Street. July 18 will be “Art Night,” showcasing works from local artists in a pop-up market.

During Shop Outdoor Sale, nearly 30 businesses in Downtown Oak Park and the Hemingway District will be offering discounts up to 70% off. Billy Bricks will have a pop-up ice cream shop, Cafe Cubano (which just opened this spring) will host a sangria tasting, and the Coffee Shop will be selling “Betty” Flat Whites. The Oak Park Public Library will also be having a Summer Pop-Up Shop with 10% off merchandise at the Main Library. For a list of all participating businesses, visit downtownoakpark.net/event/ shop-outdoor-sale/.

“We love a sidewalk sale,” said Alena Gamboney, manager of Jayne Oak Park. “We bring in merchandise for it, discounts as low as they can go.”

“Oak Park, to me, is about the diversity and all the beautiful things,” said Valdez. “We’re like a mosaic. … This is what makes Oak Park so amazing, is that we have all these different events going on at once.”

Jayne will have clothing starting at $10 and offer additional special discounts all weekend.

“It’s always such a good time. It really brings in a good, fun vibe. … It’s a great time to see what’s left over from the summer or see what we brought in specifically for fall and winter,” said Erin Van Buskirk, vice president of e-commerce at Jayne.

On July 20, shoppers can also participate in the Sip and Shop raffle. Participants can visit any of the 14 participating businesses for a free drink and bingo card and then collect stamps from each location. Cards that complete a “bingo” can be entered in a raffle to win prizes provided by 16 Suitcases, Cafe Cubano, Color Me Bad, Candycopia, Jayne, Manouche, R. Titus Designs, Scratch N’Sniff, Selleria Veneta, Ten Thousand Villages and YogaSix.

The sidewalk sale is an annual collaboration between Downtown Oak Park and the Hemingway District. “We want to be very grateful, and we’re very thankful to Downtown Oak Park for involving the Hemingway District,” said Moses Valdez, co-owner of Selleria Veneta and president of the Hemingway District Association. “What we wanted to do was just make it bigger fun and more fun, and have people see what we can do as two districts, that we can work together.”

Don’t forget Ernie, the district’s namesake

By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter

The Hemingway Foundation and Hemingway District will be celebrating Ernest Hemingway’s birthday from July 19 to 21. The weekend will be full of events for families and people of all ages. “There’s something fun for every person this weekend,” said Wendy Giardina, community engagement coordinator at the Collaboration for Early Childhood and secretary for the Hemingway District Association.

On Friday, festivities will begin with a series of readings from writer and professor Karolis Gintaras Zukauskas. This series will take place at three different locations in the Hemingway District — Selleria Veneta at 6 p.m., R Titus Designs at 7 p.m., and Yoga Loft Studios at 8 p.m. — and will feature readings from three of Hemingway’s works — “A Movable Feast,” “A Farewell to Arms,” and “The Snows of Kilimanjaro.”

Inspired by Pamplona’s running of the bulls, Oak Park will have its own family friendly “Running with the Bulls Kid Race” on July 20 at Scoville Park at 10 a.m. At the event, sponsored by the Collaboration for Early Childhood, the Hemingway Foundation, and Lively, children will build and decorate “bull” boxes to race around the park.

Later on Saturday, the Hemingway Birthplace Museum will host a porch concert from 7 to 9 p.m. featuring musicians Nora O’Connor and Steve Dawson. Tickets are available at hemingwaybirthplace.com and will support the Hemingway Foundation’s student scholarship endowment. General lawn seating will be available, or audience members can bring their own lawn chairs. The foundation will also introduce its new

Writer in Residence and acknowledge its student scholarship recipients.

The weekend will also include a Hemingway scavenger hunt in the Hemingway District sponsored by Visit Oak Park. Participants will collect points by answering questions, completing activities, and visiting different businesses. On Sunday, the Hemingway District will award prizes to the top three places. The weekend will finish on July 21 with a free concert by alternative band Echo Track in Scoville Park from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Hemingway District will sponsor a celebratory wheel to spin with prizes and gift cards. The Collaboration for Early Childhood will have activity bags for children during the concert. At 5:55, the crowd will sing Happy Birthday to Ernest Hemingway.

This collaboration between the Hemingway Foundation and local businesses will work to not only celebrate Hemingway’s artistry and local impact, but also to support Oak Park’s community members, businesses, and artists of today. Updated information about the fest is available on the event’s Facebook page.

oakparkartsdistrict.com

Arts District hosts Sizzling Summer sale

By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park Arts District will be hosting its third annual Sizzling Summer Sidewalk Sale Soiree on July 20. Businesses will be selling goods outside on the Harrison Street sidewalk between Austin Boulevard and Ridgeland Avenue from around 11a.m. to 5 p.m., but different businesses will have different hours. For updates and specific information about the times, visit the event’s Facebook page.

The sidewalk sale is just one of the many events the Arts District hosts every year. “The Sizzling Summer Sidewalk Soiree was something to spin off from the What’s Blooming (on Harrison Street),” said Marcia Brown Jackson, event organizer and owner of Studio 144 Boutique. “Let’s do something on the sidewalk to keep people coming back.”

During the July 20 event, customers can take advantage of special discounts from shops including G&G Home, Studio 144 Boutique, and Elevate Creative or explore art installations and meet artists at Purple Sun Arts, Dancing Krow Studio and Art Gallery, and Fat Cat Art Gallery. Some businesses that don’t sell physical products will host pop-up vendors outside their shops, including Laura Maychruk Real Estate which is hosting artist Alex N Crafts. At Dye Hard Yarns,

new and experienced fiber artists can celebrate the kickoff of the 2024 Chicago Yarn Crawl.

The Arts District is known for its diverse range of classes and opportunities to learn. During the sidewalk sale, Fifty First Street will host a parent and child workshop to create farmer’s market bags using produce as a stamp from 12 to 1:30 p.m.

There is also a variety of restaurants in the Arts District to check out during the event. Happy Apple Pie will be selling pie with ice cream and hosting pop-up vendor Kool Karma Bracelets. Just next door, Taco Mucho will host jewelry and accessory vendor Tawanda Brown of Paparazzi Accessories. Publican Quality Bread, Trattoria 25, Buzz Cafe by Kribi Coffee, and Mora Asian Kitchen will be offering refreshments to enjoy at indoor or outdoor seating.

“When you walk through the Arts District, just take it all in. There’s art hanging from the posts. It’s not just inside the stores,” said Jackson. The Arts District is a just short drive from the business districts in central and north Oak Park, but the neighborhood has a distinct feel. “The Oak Park Arts District is an experience,” said Jackson.

To learn more about the Arts District experience and to access a calendar of events, visit oakparkartsdistrict.com.

Thursday, July 18, 20% o all jewelry* Friday, July 19, 10% o entire store*

Saturday, July 20, 10% o one sale item, 20% o two sale items, 30% o three sale items!*

Sunday, July 21, the sale continues AND we're o ering 20% o your kids' shoe purchase!*

West Cook Wild Ones Native Garden Tour returns

Birds, Bees & Butter ies takes place July 27

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

West Cook Wild Ones is bringing its native garden walk to Oak Park and Berwyn Saturday, July 27. The annual walk will feature nine, color-filled gardens that showcase the beauty and utility of native plants.

This year’s lineup of gardens includes three types: mature gardens, young gardens and gardens with a mix of natives and ornamentals. Homeowners and gardeners will be on hand during the walk to answer questions. In Oak Park, Barbara Rose worked with professionals and designed some areas of her garden herself to maximize its potential. With experience as a volunteer doing

restorative work in county forest preserves, she said her gardening style tends to be less formal.

Rose got involved in native ga ing gradually, first attending some Ones meetings.

“I heard Doug Tallamy speak Ones conference years ago, and I was so mo by what I heard. I went all on board,” she said, ferring to the well-known entomologist, ecologist and conservationist who has written widely about native gardens.

One of the benefits of native gardening is that it attracts a lot of wildlife.

“I like looking out my windows and seeing something that

created a native garden. She is slowly transforming her back yard with native plants, as well. It was once purely

See NATIVE GARDEN on pa ge 25

Paul Ford’s Oak Park native garden designated as a West Cook Wild Ones garden.

*AnnualPercentageYield(APY)accurateasofOctober26,2023andissubjecttochange. Aminimumof $10,000isrequiredtoopentheaccountandtoobtainthestatedAPY.Feesmayreduceearningsonthe account. Apenaltymaybeimposedforearlywithdrawal.Offerisfornewmoneyonly.

*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) accurate as of May 22, 2024 and is subject to change. A minimumof$10,000is requiredtoopentheaccountandtoobtainthestatedAPY.Feesmay reduceearningsontheaccount.Apenaltymaybeimposedforearlywithdrawal.Offerisfor newmoneyonly.

NATIVE GARDEN

Nature’s friends

from page 23

ornamental; she estimates it is now 80% native plants.

Rose said there are three distinct areas to her garden, which she hopes will provide something of interest to all attendees.

“It’s always evolving, which is exciting,” she said.

Also in Oak Park, Paul Ford said he has been working on his garden for some time. “I’m not 100% sure how and when this really happened,” he said about his yard’s transformation to a native garden.

When he brought the property 25 years ago, he said he wanted to put in native trees. Inspired by his mother’s gardening style and the fact that he spent a lot of time in the woods while growing up in southern Indiana, he looked to plant trees that belonged in the area.

“At the time, I wasn’t part of a group. I naively go into this without realizing there was a whole movement afoot.”

He soon became acquainted with Tallamy’s books and appreciated his idea of creating a “national park” of people’s backyards that is hospitable to insects and native birds.

Ford said he realized there was more to

Before you go

“Birds, Bees & Butterflies: A Native Garden Walk” takes place from 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday, July 27.

The native garden walk costs $12 for members of West Cook Wild Ones and $15 for non-members. Children attend for free

Re gister for the walk at http://westcook.wildones.org. Ticket holders will receive a tour map two days before the event.

tree that he estimated is more than 200 years old.

“We have the privilege of living next to it,” he said, adding, “it’s really neat to be living by a denizen of the forest that used to be here.”

While Oak Park yards come in a variety of sizes, Berwyn, with its rows of classic bungalows, has city-sized lots. Walk attendees will get to see how gardeners use native plants to enhance lots of all sizes.

native gardening than hickory trees and began to experiment with more native prairie plants in his garden.

“I don’t have a big plan,” he said. “I just see what survives.”

He’s found that some plants, like milkweed, do incredibly well, and others, like

Prairie Smoke, don’t.

He remove d two invasive, woody plants and noted that if you c an prove to West C ook Wi ld Ones that you p ulled out an invasive p lant, they’ll give you a new, native plant.

In front of Ford’s home there’s an oak

During the walk, attendees also will learn about West Cook Wild Ones’ fall native tree and shrub sale, and can join the West Cook Wildlife Corridor, a venture in which more than 800 gardeners in the near west suburbs have pledged to grow native plants to give a boost to local birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife

TODD BANNOR

Paul Ford and his Oak Park native garden on Friday June 28, 2024

TODD BANNOR

Paul Ford’s Oak Park native garden, featuring a Viburnum bush at le .

TODD BANNOR

Paul Ford’s native Oak Park garden, here featuring a Culver’s root plant at right.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor

Ken Trainor at 613-3310

ktrainor@wjinc.com

On leaf-bagging, trustees aren’t representative

Oak Park is supposed to have a representative form of village gover nment. Citizens elect trustees to the village board to represent citizens. Yet despite a petition with close to 2,000 signatures and a flurry of letters to Wednesday Jour nal in opposition to bagging of leaves, the board has now twice voted to mandate leaf-bagging this fall.

Four of seven trustees continue to ignore citizen protests and insist on a switch to leaf-bagging. Within a mere three months, they have upended a leaf collection practice that has been in place in Oak Park for at least 54 years. Eschewing community input, they also have refused to put the question up for a referendum vote

MARK WALLACE

One View

A ruckus over leaf-bagging can seem like a silly, trivial thing. There are much bigger issues facing our community and our country, of course. But leaf collection is a basic service that most homeowners value Don’t take my word for it. Just review the list below of 35 letters written in the last three months to Viewpoints by 45 Oak Parkers in opposition to the new leaf-bagging mandate.

In contrast, WJ has published only a few letters that do not oppose leaf-bagging, and most of those letters are not in loud acclaim for lining our streets with regiments of yard waste bags. Instead, they promote the ecological benefits of mulching leaves or leaving the leaves on the ground or garden beds. Mulching and spreading leaves on garden beds may be a good solution for some people and for a portion of the leaves, ideas that are worth educating the community about, but these strategies will not eliminate the need for a robust municipal fall leaf-collection program.

If you are looking forward to all the new costs and exercise of leaf-bagging, you may want to send a thank-you note to the 4 out of 7 trustees who continue to insist on mandating leaf-bagging: Susan Buchanan, Lucia Robinson, Brian Straw, and Cory Wesley. If you’re not too pleased by it, next time their names are on the ballot, you might want to vote instead for candidates who actually represent citizens.

Letters against leaf-bagging:

Leaf-bagging debacle, Bruce Martin, 7/3

Leaf-bagging petition update, Robert Parks, 7/3

The village isn’t listening, Melinda Murray, 7/3

VIEWPOINTS

IIs the Democratic Party self-destructing?

am finding it painful and frightening to watch the growing divide among Democrats between those supporting President Biden’s candidacy and those calling for him to step down. His age and incidents of misspeaking or not having a ready response to a question have become the focus of increasing anxiety, culminating with the debate on June 27.

Rather than focus on Trump’s bullying and insulting the president, his evasion of moderators’ questions, and incoherent ranting, the spotlight landed on Biden’s moments of struggling for words. Who would not be thrown off by such an onslaught of lies and attacks?

Looking at the content of the debate, it was clear that Biden spoke facts and truth and prospects for a continuing progressive program in his next ter m, while Trump offered nothing but aggressive bluster. Who was the winner? The loser?

What is going on among Democrats now reminds me of the anxious reactivity of a family when they see a decline in an older generation family leader. There is a projection process which starts with just one or a few family members worrying about what will happen if this strong person, on whom the family depends, shows signs of frailty

A smart family will be objective about the actual extent of the decline and not over-react while respectfully supporting the leader. The more anxious family will focus

more on the deficits, putting the leader in the position of defending himself or herself. The process grows as more family members join in the anxious focus, further undermining the functioning of the leader

Family systems scholar, Kathleen Kerr describes the projection process as operating automatically, out-of-awareness, and involving the entire family:

“The aim of the process is to dissipate anxiety in the system as a whole, not to decrease functioning in the person who is the object of the focus. This is a side effect of the process With the best of intentions, a family can ‘do in’ its own and be deeply troubled by the end product of its own process.”

This looks like what is happening now on a societal level with an anxiety-driven splintering taking place among Democrats. Meanwhile, even as he is getting pressure to step down as the party’s candidate, President Biden just hosted a NATO summit at the White House, showing leadership based on knowledge of inter national affairs and years of experience in diplomatic, cooperative relationships between nations

His ability to keep up a daunting schedule of travel and campaign events while also doing his job at the White House looks to me like he has the mileage needed physi-

STEPHANIE FERRERA

D97 paints a ‘portrait’

For too long, too many of us have sought to measure the successes and shortcomings of our public school students through standardized test scores

Yes, those scores are one indicator, a moment’s snapshot of student learning. But they are inadequate to the charge we place on our school districts to raise up young people ready to take on, join in, and even lead in our increasingly complex world.

Oak Park’s District 97 public elementary schools have been diligently working to craft a substantially more robust and nuanced view of the academic skills, critical thinking, and life lessons it wants to instill in every student who graduates from the district’s two middle schools

This multi-year effort has involved quite remarkable outreach to families, staff and community to gather input on what we collectively believe as a community are the qualities we want to see in these graduates.

The district calls the outcome a “Portrait of an 8th Grade Graduate.” We admire both the process that brought the district to this place and the outcome we see to this point.

The portrait focuses on eight “dimensions” of learning the district plans to inculcate in our kids. Such a thoughtful and ambitious list. Among them are how to live in a global community, how to navigate the digital world without losing yourself, how to be savvy financially, how to create change, how to be holistically well.

This is a blend of academic, real-life skills and social-emotional well-being that every parent would endorse

The district is plain in saying this will need to be a collaborative effort with families, with community support partners, and with students. These goals will not all be achieved in a school setting. Oak Park needs to buy into these values and work to collectively lift up our young students.

Credit to Supt. Ushma Shah who has championed this effort

The implementation is just beginning. The opportunity is ahead

Stephanides’ steady hand

Village attor neys don’t get much attention until something goes sideways in municipal gover nment. And then they are called on to sort out often bad options and craft a solution. But a good municipal attorney has enor mous sway in a complex bureaucracy. And it is always worth keeping an eye out for the ways that person uses their influence, shares historical perspective, steers outcomes that accomplish the goals of elected leaders while keeping the community in bounds on legal consequences.

Paul Stephanides has been Oak Park’s village attorney for better than 10 years. He is leaving this week to take up the same post in west suburban Glen Ellyn. This will be a loss for Oak Park as Stephanides has been a quiet but steady hand in our complicated and ambitious village

In a comment to the Jour nal, Stephanides said he would be doing much the same work in Glen Ellyn but at a different pace than in Oak Park. A fair assessment of Oak Park’s intensity.

We wish him well and are glad to hear he intends to remain an Oak Parker

Mr. Trump, my thoughts and prayers are with you. It might surprise you to hear that from someone who holds you in near total contempt. I say “thoughts and prayers” partly because I want you to experience firsthand how lame and empty that sentiment sounds, how phony and hypocritical, especially coming from politicians like you who oppose common-sense gun re gulation that would protect us from attacks like you just experienced

But I’m also sincere. My thoughts and prayers truly are with you, though not perhaps very consoling

oughts and prayers for Donald Trump KEN TRAINOR

Here are my thoughts:

Now you know how it feels. And the only price you had to pay was a small chunk of your ear Perhaps now you can begin to imagine how parents of the first-graders at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut felt when they saw their beloved first-graders ripped apart (literally) on the floor of their classroom by an assault weapon that you and your supporters at the rally Saturday and nearly every Republican member of Congress fiercely opposes doing anything to protect us from. Now at least you know what it’s like to have some crazy, hate-filled person use you as target practice. By my calculations, you were less than an inch from being killed

Now you also know what your fellow countrymen go through every day. If you’re feeling vulnerable, then you’re beginning to understand our predicament — wondering if we’ll be the next victims of a mass murderer. You don’t seem to care one bit, but maybe you’ll care a little more after this brush with death.

My next thought is that getting shot in the ear is a perfect metaphor for your inability to listen to us — those of us who have been shouting that we’re sick and tired of being sitting ducks. We’re fed up with our loved ones and our fellow Americans getting picked off by serial killers carrying high-capacity assault weapons or sniper rifles or semiautomatic weapons tur ned into machine guns using bump stocks. Maybe every time you look at your mangled ear, it will serve as a reminder that you need to listen better to the people you will allegedly represent as president should, God forbid, you get another crack at it. In fact, you have a perfect platform in Milwaukee this week at your convention to begin changing hearts and minds on this issue, your own heart and mind first and foremost.

Another thought is I’m glad you didn’t die. Gun violence is never the answer, and political violence is abhorrent and infectious. Now that you’ve been on the receiving end of it, I hope you will renounce political violence in all your rhetoric — no more incitement

to violent insurrection, no more calls for retribution against your “enemies.” I don’t want you to become a casualty of the very violence and hatred you so casually espouse and which your policies promote and perpetuate

You didn’t deserve to be shot, but you do deserve to be defeated at the polls in November, and I don’t want you to die because I want you to experience that defeat It’s the only way to kill (if you’ll excuse that violent phrasing) the authoritarian, anti-democratic movement you represent. Killing a person doesn’t kill off an ideology, even one as reprehensible as yours. The polarization you have deepened and exploited for political gain came home to roost last Saturday. If you live by extremism and divisiveness you may also die by it. You very nearly did. You were incredibly lucky. I hope you learned a lesson from your close call. You have been given a second chance. Don’t waste it. It is not too late to become a decent person.

Those are my thoughts. Here are my prayers: I pray that no one kills you between now and November so that you can once again taste the bitterness of defeat that your anti-democratic movement so richly deserves.

I pray that this brush with death makes you a better, wiser, more humane, less self-centered human being.

I pray that you and the party you represent alter their unreasonable, irrational, inhumane opposition to common-sense gun regulation.

I pray that you are moved by this experience to meet with the parents of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre and other mass shootings and that you really listen to what they have to say.

I pray that this close call shocks you into becoming a truth-teller instead of the compulsive liar you have been for so long. You can start by being honest with yourself about all the damage you’ve done and suffering you’ve caused

I pray that you become an effective advocate for reducing gun violence and that you stand up to the gun lobby which prevents such progress

I pray that this experience makes you a more empathic person who understands what average Americans are going through, especially on the issue of gun violence.

I pray that you undergo a deep personal conversion and transformation that leads you to support more humane policies.

And I pray that, after Nov. 5, you have a long, happy and safe retirement at your golf club in Florida, shanking shots and three-putting every hole

SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck

FAV ORITE THINGS – THURSD AY NIGHT OUT

A street fair with local fare on ursday nights

Thursday Night Out is one of my favorite things about Oak Park in the summer. It is a combination street fair and town square, evenings filled with food, music, and an opportunity for people- and dog-watching.

JOY AARONSON

On Thursday nights, through August 29, Marion Street is closed to car traffic between Lake Street and North Boulevard and is filled with people of all ages, from babies to older adults, in addition to wellbehaved dogs on leashes. There are often two sets of music, the first from 5 to 7 p.m. and the second from 7 to 9 p.m. The music includes rock, folk, blues, reggae, Latin and country. A schedule of the musical acts can be found at https://thursdaynightout.com/music.

One View

food directly from an area restaurant and bring it back to your table. I often call and order while I’m listening to the music instead of waiting for the food to be prepared at the restaurant. You can also order food from, and sit at, outside tables at Q BBQ, Munch, or Kyuramen. This year all restaurants participating in Thursday Night Out are using compostable containers.

WEDNESD AY

of Oak Park and River Forest

Viewpoints Guidelines

e goal of the Viewpoints section is to foster and facilitate a community conversation and respectful dialogue. Responsible community voices are vital to community journalism and we welcome them. Space is at a premium and readers’ attention is also limited, so we ask that Viewpoints submissions be brief. Our limit for letters to the editor is 350 words. For One View essays, the limit is 500 words. Shorter is better. If and when we have su cient space, we print longer submissions, but when space is limited — as it o en is — we may ask you to submit a shorter version or hold the piece until space allows us to print it.

We reser ve the right to edit submissions. We do not have time to allow the writer to review changes before publication. We also do not have time to do more than super cial fact-checking, and because of our national epidemic of misinformation and conspiracy theories, when writers include statistical evidence to support their opinions, we require them to include the source of that information, such as credible websites, print publications, titles of articles and dates published, etc. Be as speci c as possible so that we and our readers have some way of assessing the credibility of your claims. Links may also be included for the online version. We follow the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics: seek the truth and report it and minimize harm. As a result, we will do our best not to publish pieces that espouse doubtful or debunked theories, demonstrate harmful bias, or cross the line into incivility. While we will do our best not to engage in censorship, we also do not intend to be used as a platform for misinformation. Your sources for fact-checking are a critical step in keeping the discourse honest, decent and respectful.

All submissions must include your rst and last name and the municipality in which you live, plus a phone number (for veri cation only). We do not publish anonymous letters. One View essays should include a sentence at the end about who you are.

The music is punctuated by the sound of trains — the el, freight and Metra. When my granddaughter was a toddler, she was often more excited by train sightings than the music. Some of the participants at Thursday Night Out come directly from work on trains and are more dressed up than the majority of casually dressed participants

Children’s activities, like balloon making and art activities, abound. Especially if the weather is hot, younger kids frolic in the fountain.

There are various food and drink options. The first is a 4-ticket dine-around booklet for $25, featuring specials from 26 restaurants and stores. Another option is to order

Marion Street is filled with round tables and chairs. Many of the tables are occupied unless you ar rive near the beginning of the evening. I’ve enjoyed sitting at tables with people I know and people I don’t know. Now I often bring my own lawn chair. This allows me to move to different locations and get to Thursday Night Out later in the evening and still get a seat.

For those who are driving, the parking lot on North Boulevard between Marion Street and Forest Avenue, has been closed this summer. Street parking (be sure to look at parking signs to avoid getting a ticket) and nearby parking garages are available. Upcoming themes include Art Night on July 18 with a pop-up market featuring local artists and a Health and Wellness event on Aug. 15.

Joy Aaronson is an Oak Park resident who previously contributed to Chicago Parent and wrote the Kids’ World column for the former Logan Square Free Press.

If we receive your submission by 5 p.m. on Sunday, you can expect your opinion to be included in that week’s paper (and online), space permitting.

Pieces can be submitted through our online form at oakpark.com or directly to Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor, ktrainor@wjinc.com. For the latter, we prefer attached Word les or plain tex t included in the email.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

■ 350-word limit

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

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

■ 500-word limit

■ One-sentence footnote about yourself and/or your connection to the topic

■ Signature details as at left

Housing Center is a community need

As a college student in the late ’70s, I traveled to Oak Park to research their programs promoting intentional and stable residential integration, including a one-on-one meeting with the village attorney. Impressed with the community’s vision, I moved to Oak Park in 1984 with the help of the Oak Park Regional Housing Center, which connected me to an apartment on the 100 block of North Humphrey. After 40 years, I remain a resident of east Oak Park

The June 26 Wednesday Jour nal article, “Village may cease funding for OP Regional Housing Center,” highlights the strained relationship between the village and the Housing

Center. This tension has persisted through several budget cycles

The Housing Center is a vital part of this community and, as a nonprofit, it lacks the resources available to the village. The village board must take the first step in resolving this strained relationship. In the past, the village has dedicated staff and financial resources to address many community issues, including the recent migrant situation.

The closure of the Housing Center would not benefit Oak Park

Richard

Willis Past Oak Park Township Trustee Community Mental Health Board Member

How Biden could use his ‘immunity’

I appreciate Frank Stachyra’s excellent One View, “We need an amendment to restore the Constitution,” Viewpoints, July 10. The Supreme Court has declared that the President has complete immunity from prosecution for crimes committed in office. This “decision” is obviously a partisan fabrication that lacks any basis in the Constitution.

Their goal is to enable Donald Trump, if elected, to destroy his “enemies” and anyone who opposes King Trump, as well as to facilitate the Republican Agenda, as documented in their Project 2025. The Six Supremes assume that no Democratic president would commit crimes because Democrats are hopelessly honest suckers to be taken advantage of.

The Democrats must immediately explain to President Biden that he now literally has absolute authority to do anything he wants. He could remove Josh Hawley and other sitting Congresspeople from their jobs for tak-

ing part in an act of treason on Jan. 6, 2021. He must certainly remove Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito from the Supreme Court for taking massive bribes to pervert the course of justice. Why stop there? He should remove all six Republican justices on the court because every one of them perjured themselves during their confirmation hearings, claiming they would not ignore precedent. Furthermore, they brazenly violate the Separation of Powers by usurping the Legislative Branch, voiding any law they do not like (or that makes their own corruption illegal), and making up new ones. Biden should appoint six new Justices. Please, Joe, call their bluff!

To anyone who reads this and says “this is a ridiculous idea,” please remember it when Trump orders the execution of every Democrat in Congress. You really have not been paying attention.

Tom DeCoursey Oak Park

Steps to stop climate change

My name is Alejandro and I am working to get my communications merit badge. To earn the merit badge I need to write an essay based on an issue going on in the world. I am going to write about climate change. I believe that climate change is one of the most important subjects that people should be aware about. Climate change is affecting everyone, and people are not doing enough to stop it, which in the future will negatively affect us

We can help stop climate change by teaching and informing people about the subject. This will allow people to know the problems so that they can help fix it

Step 2: Getting help and support from other busi-

Bagging leaves and its discontent

This fall, for the first time in history, homeowners will be required to bag the leaves they rake to the front curb One additional step has been added to a process that is done by most of us each year. Some have sent furious letters to this newspaper, accusing the village board of callous disregard of public opinion, especially their personal opposition. They are welcome to voice that opinion, but thankfully we haven’t been obliged to read letters from the whole population of 54,600 Oak Park citizens, most of whom seem to have accepted it

LILLIAN HOHMANN

One View

Years ago we were entertaining guests when a neighbor alerted us to a car that was burning on our street. It had been parked over leaves and, yes, it caught fire. The car had to be replaced. Incredibly, it happened a couple of years later to different guests, proof that it does happen. It wasn’t reported to the police because it wasn’t vandalism. However, year after year, all of us have had to negotiate the huge leaf piles that blocked many intersections and have been left for many days. I will be glad to see these piles disappear and safer driving restored.

My family moved to Oak Park 52 years ago from Chicago where neither parkway trees nor leaf cleanup are a priority. We fell instantly in love with the canopy of elm tree branches over most streets as we looked at houses. The village has since supplied a variety of other trees to provide shade and a pleasant appearance to my modest home and I don’t mind taking some responsibility for cleaning up leaves.

A leaf rake and snow shovel together easily shift a pile of leaves into an old plastic garbage container, saving the expense of buying bags. The same containers are used during the summer months to dispose of weeds and yard waste. They are cheaper and easier to work with than paper bags.

At 83, I still like outdoor work/gardening but those who don’t or who are disabled must solve a much larger problem, beginning in the spring with lawn care, so objections over bagging leaves in the fall seem to be an exaggerated minor point of a larger lawn challenge.

nesses and organizations. We need all of the support and money we can get to invest in ways to help change the course of climate change.

The last step is taking action. We need everyone to pitch in and find a way to help using the resources we can provide them. For example, we can replace plastic straws with metal straws to avoid burning waste

I believe that the information I have given you can be useful and you can discuss it at a village board meeting to see how you guys can help the cause

Alejandro Barrera Boy Scout Troop 16

Finally, we elect people to represent us and solve the many problems of our village. Anyone who has served on a board knows how many hours of free work it involves and how few are willing to do it. I doubt any are incompetent or ignorant of their tasks and if we disagree with a decision, we learn to ask necessary questions, listen to answers, then usually live with the decision.

Because a board does not agree with us does not mean they weren’t listening. Unless we have met or discussed with the rest of the population, we also can’t claim to represent them with our objections. “Squeaky wheels” do serve an important role in a democracy and I welcome their opinions. They often help me clarify my own thoughts but I hope we can get over a small amount of extra work to dispose of leaves and be grateful that we live in a beautiful town with lots of trees and that our streets will be clean in the fall!

Lillian Hohmann is a longtime Oak Park resident.

e village should help Cozy Corner

The village of Oak Park should help save the Cozy Cor ner It’s heartbreaking that a well-loved and always busy breakfast and lunch restaurant that has been in business for 65 years and survived the pandemic will close because landlords cannot find a way to make all parties content. This is an Oak Park landmark that needs to stay put. Why can’t the village help save this popular eatery and prevent another empty storefront on Lake Street?

Diane Mufson Oak Park

MARK WALLACE

from page 27

Village isn’t listening on leaf-bagging, Shelly Uslenghi, 6/26

Different treatment on 2 issues, Steven Kastenholz, 6/26

Rethink leaf-bagging, Ryan Farris, 6/26

Reverse this decision!, Marjorie Greenwald, 6/19

Typical Oak Park, John Keefe, 6/12

Open letter to the Oak Park Village Board, Thomas Bair, John & Joyce Cassell, Linwood & Susie Duroe, Denise & Bruce Hartney, James & Diane Martin, Julie Robiechaud, Zarine Weil, Jeff & Diane White, 6/5

We need a petition on leaf disposal, Robert Parks, 6/5

Board, beware of the Bilandic precedent, Peter Manikowski, 5/29

Don’t go backward with leaf-bagging, Chris Lutz, 5/22

Oak Park Board handled this badly, Shelly Uslenghi, 5/15

Bag this short-sighted change, Ken Zimmer, 5/15

Two words for the board on bagging, Noah Sullivan, 5/15

What is the recourse?, Lynn Grogan, 5/15

In opposition to leaf-bagging, Ann & Jerry Bolan, 5/8

Life in Oak Park just got harder, Mark Wallace, 5/8

Concer ns about new leaf-bagging policy, Ravi Parakkat, 5/8

With bagging leaves should come a tax cut, Michael Papierniak, 5/1

Bee-pollinator friendly planting, Dimitra Lavrakas, 5/1

What it will cost seniors, Jackie Lewandowski, 4/24

Homework lacking in leaf-bag decision, Robert Parks, 4/17

The leaf-removal conundrum, Grace Ewert, 4/10

A bad bag idea, William Gale, 4/10

Re-examine bagging leaves, Susan Parks, 4/3

Leaf-bagging is a bad idea, Carrie Kalina, 4/3

Parkway leaves, Robert Larson, 4/3

Why bagging leaves is a bad idea, Charles Chauncey Wells, 3/27

Ridiculous reasons for bagging our leaves, Alan Krause, 3/27

Bagging leaves adds costs … for homeowners, James Peters, 3/27

No more curbside leaf pickup?, Jerry Bowman, 3/27

Say no to bagging leaves, Mark Wallace, 3/27

Bag those leaf-bagging plans, Christopher Goode, 3/20

Mandatory leaf-bagging? Surely you jest, Adrian Marquez, 3/20

Letters in favor of mulching, etc.:

Leave the leaves this fall, WJ reprint of 10/1/2013 letter, 6/26

Leaf bagging is not the apocalypse, Adrian Ayers Fisher, 5/22

Sharing the (leaf) harvest, Laurie Casey, 5/22

Turn your lawn into a garden, Jim Po znak, 4/10

Our leaf-grinding experience, Jeff Brinkman, 4/10

Doing nothing is the solution, Don Anderson, 4/10

In favor of bagging leaves Lauren Peterson, 4/3

Leave the leaves, WJ Editorial, 3/27

Mark Wallace is a resident of Oak Park.

Bagging leaves is a problem

I have been seeing things about having to bag leaves this year and in future years as well. The cost of this for homeowners will be so much more than it would be to just have a truck go through and get all of the leaves. The bags cost $2.65 to $2.70 per 30 gallon bag. On average, it would be about 25 bags per lawn, making $66.25 per lawn. That is a lot of money across all of Oak Park with more than 20,000 households. It also takes a lot more time and labor to bag the leaves rather than just putting them in a pile in the street. If anyone hires landscapers for their

leaves, then they would probably charge extra because of the labor of bagging the leaves.

I know that this was passed out of concer n for the environment, but it will end up hurting more than helping because getting the bags requires driving either to the store and back or to their house and back by a big delivery truck.

Overall, I think the decision to switch over to bagging leaves is a bad decision for the community

Ian Osta Boy Scout Troop 16

Delta 8 THC should be regulated for youth

Delta 8 THC is currently legal to buy at any age in Oak Park. This means teens can buy cannabis in a form that is advertised to younger people. The delivery of the THC comes in candy bars and gummies to appeal to younger audiences. The unregulated psychoactive drug is extremely similar to the active ingredient in cannabis, but is not regulated on a federal, state, or local level — the majority of calls regarding ingestion of Delta 8 are from children, according to poison control centers. Delta 8 has also not been approved by the FDA in any way, yet it is still able to be sold to

children. Therefore Oak Park must take action to keep everyone safe.

Delta 8 also has extreme effects on an individual’s ability to drive and do other daily tasks, further increasing the risk associated with the hemp byproduct. Some individual states, not including Illinois, have already placed regulations on Delta 8, and Oak Park should follow in their footsteps to maintain a safer community for everyone

Seth Osta Boy Scout Troop 16

STEPHANIE FERRERA

from page 27

cally and cognitively for another ter m.

He has a heart for working people, a serious concer n about climate change, and a proven devotion to public service. He heads a strong administration with Kamala Harris as vice president, a highly competent cabinet, department leaders and civil servants

Should the unthinkable happen in November, I would see the current divide among Democrats as holding a large part of the responsibility. I agree with Ken Trainor who wrote in a recent Wednesday Jour nal column: We cannot afford to panic.

Stephanie Ferrera is a family therapist and partner in the Center for Family Consultation.

More bike racks at OPRF

It has come to my attention that there is an utmost lack of student bike stands surrounding the high school. As a student at OPRF, I faced the issue of limited bike spots often and in most cases I had to squeeze in. With the addition of more bike racks near all entrances, students like me will be able to have enough space to lock our bikes in the morning without having to press in

An additional row or two of bike racks outside the east and west entrances could prove to be beneficial toward this issue. Bike racks are relatively cheap

and could boost student quality of life exponentially.

I understand that OPRF has other, arguably more important, issues such as the pool and field renovations, but this low cost upgrade could potentially be highly favorable to high school students who bike to school.

Overall, increased bike racks potentially could be a massive improvement to the quality of life of OPRF students.

George Summy OPRF High School student

Trump should drop out, not Biden

Ken Trainor’s July 3 column, “We cannot afford panic,” quoted jour nalist/historian Heather Cox Richardson: “Trump employed a rhetorical device in throwing out a fast string of lies, nonsequiturs, and specious arguments, so many that it is impossible to fact-check or rebut them.”

With Biden’s cold and possibly the reaction to the medication taken for it, he was not able to respond quickly or co-

herently enough, making him look weak and unprepared. To suggest Biden drop out because of his poor performance is to panic.

We have to ask, how is it that the Constitution allows Trump, a convicted felon, to run for president? He should be the one to drop out!

Dorothy Dumelle Oak Park

Communal composting

I fail to understand why anybody feels the need to make it the village’s job to divide compost cart charges — or to think that only two families can share a cart. Talk to your neighbors. Get four families to ag ree to use a single cart and split the cost four ways. It gets billed to one of them and the other three reimburse for their quarter-shares by cash or Zelle or whatever.

I also fail to understand why so many people pay for a ca rt that they fail to use. I encourage you, while walking the do g, to peek in car ts the night before pickup. My experience is that the majority of them are empty and many others have little in them. I just counted eight carts in our alley and there may be another one or two in people’s yards. Three carts would be more than suf ficient for our block.

I respectfully suggest to composting advocates that having a cart does not mean the household is composting. Your mission should be to motivate people to actually compost in whatever fashion they choose, not to encourage or force people to pay for car ts that they don’ t use That merely enriches the waste hauler

Bob Stigger Oak Park

Enforce tra c

restrictions

T he lack of traffic restrictions and enforcement in South Oak Park have become a serious problem. In the shor t span of two weeks, I witnessed at least three accidents on the corner where I live. The intersection of Oak Pa rk Avenue and Fillmore Street has right tur ns only during rush hour, coming from Fillmore, however this restriction is rarely followe d and seldom enforced. In addition, recent pa rk ing re g ulation changes have made it almost impossibl e to see traffic coming northbound on Oak Pa rk . This intersection is increasingly d angerous, and something must be done about it.

Alex Bukalski Oak Park

OPRF must address antisemitism complaint

This is in response to the We d nesd ay Jour nal ar ticle: “Complaint claims OPRF fosters a ‘hostile antisemitic environment’” [oakpark .com, Ju ly 12] at the Ju ly 11 Board of Education Special Meeting, Oak Park & Rive r Fo rest High School made a statement re ga rding a for mal communityb ased complaint submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education and to the Illinois Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau. The complaint alle g es that OPRF High School is c omplicit in allowing antisemitism to fester within its halls by not adhering to its own polices and existing case law. I enc ourage our community to read it (https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24798102-request-to-investi gate-d200teachers-and-d200-signed?responsive=1&title=1).

To be clear, the community concer ns and for mal comp laints are about antisemitism, full stop. And so, when the superintendent asked to inter rupt the nor mal board meeting agenda to make a public statement and respond to the comp laint, it would be reasonable to assume the district might mention the wo rds “antisemitism,” “Jewish students,” “Jewish f amilies,” or “Oak Pa rk and Rive r Fo rest’s Jewish c ommunity.” That did not happen. Not one of those wo rds or phrases was used. Why not? Please listen to the entire bu t shor t official statement by our superintendent for yourself : video link at time stamp 1:11:15 to 1:13:51 (https://www.youtube.com/live /KDuqI8Jk0IU). In retrospect, at least for me,

Reconsider

Cozy Corner’s rent hike

After 20 years of living in Oak Pa rk , I am ve ry upset with land lord Peter Latrides. How dare you double the rent and make Co zy Cor ner restaurant unable to ke ep its doors open? (https:// chic ag o. suntimes.com/foodand-restaurants/2024/07/11/ cozy-corner-restaurant-in-oakpa rk - to-close-after- 65-years-thesaddest-pa rt -about-this-is-thec ustomers)

Monthly rent from $8,700 to over $14K monthly? This is just greedy. I love this restaurant. It is a village jewel for breakfast. Please reconsider your position. If you live in the area and do not want this restaurant to close please email the owner/landlord on LinkedIn.

the public statement now seems perfor mative and soulless Why is it so hard, and in this case impossible, for D200 to actually name antisemitism in response to a complaint to the Attor ney General about, well, antisemitism? Odd, no? It f eels a lot li ke a double standard, part icularly for a district wh ich screams from the mountaintop about such issues. What if the board meeting inter ruption and all the “conve rsations” and “committees” are just ways to slow-walk action and avo id true accountability and honest community building? This sounds more li ke a political strat eg y than attending to the educational needs of students, families and our community

To their credit, the school administration promised to u pdate the community prior to the start of the upcoming school year re ga rding the complaint and potential poli cy enhancements. I hope D200 will be true to its wo rd and address the actual content of the complaint this time. The proof will be in the actions and messaging our district chooses or chooses not to take.

Fo r the sake of our entire community, and specifically fo r our Jewish community, let’s hope there is less le g alese and vir tue signaling and more actions and resolutions grounded in facts, the law, common sense and decency.

Ross Lissuzzo River Forest

OBITUAR Y

omas Gaylord, 91

Naturalist, outdoorsman

J.C. Barber Oak Park

House Lodge in the foothills. They moved to River Forest, where he worked in landscaping and finance. Always quick to share

the wonders of nature, he was involved in Oak Park Boy Scout Troop 16 and founded the Chicago chapter of the Over The Hill Gang before moving to Vail, Colorado to pursue the life of a ski bum. In Vail, he fell in love with Sandra Hower and went on to become director of the Vail Nature Center. Always the naturalist, he volunteered on environmental cleanup projects and led many hiking and skiing groups.

Tom is survived by his wife, Sandra; his children, Kathleen Gilson (Mike Ryba) and Elizabeth Gaylord (David Schutt); his grandchildren, Michael Gaylord (Heather) and Jean Biggins (Todd); several greatgrandchildren; and his cousins, Louis Zwingelstein and Mary Cahill.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Joan Levin; his son Timothy; his grandsons, Daniel Gilson, Jeremy Gilson, William Gilson; and several cousins

Memorial services will be held on July 18 at 10 a.m. at the Vail Nature Center in Vail, olorado.

Tom stayed involved with the Walking Mountains Science Center in Avon, Colorado from the time it was a wishful thought. In lieu of flowers donations to Walking Mountains would be greatly appreciated.

SPORTS

Dallis Flowers’ football camp lls fast

OPRF alum gives back to his community

By MELVIN TATE

Contributing Reporter

Last fall, Oak Park and River Forest High School alum Dallis Flowers, who graduated in 2015, received the best honor a high school student-athlete can get as his #21 football jersey was retired by the school.

Now Flowers is giving back to by conducting a free youth football camp for boys and girls, age 8 to 13, on Saturday, July 20. In a sign of his popularit y, all 100 available spots filled up quickly when re gistration was announced last month on social media.

OPRF head football coach John Hoerster, who coached Flowers from 2012 through 2014, is excited about the upcoming camp.

“Dallis really values where he’s from and wants to give back to the kids,” Hoerster said. “He’s really been fortunate, with a lot of hard work, and when you get a good situation and things work out, he wants to give back. It’s pretty awesome.”

Hoerster said Flowers reached out to OPRF a few months ago and pitched the camp idea.

“We were able to make it work,” he said. “It all came together quickly. It should be great, and I’m just so happy for him. I’m

Oak Park and River Forest coach Max Sakellaris and his son, Tyler, talk with Dallis Flowers before the ceremony to retire his jersey on Sept. 1, 2023.

excited for him to see his number retired on the stadium [press box], for him to know we appreciate him as well and how grateful we are to him for giving back.”

Perhaps the best part is that there will be several girls participating. Hoerster says that’s significant, given the increasing popularity of girls’ flag football in the state.

“We just started our girls flag football program a couple of years ago, and they’re

doing awesome,” he said. “They’re building so much momentum. There are so many opportunities now for girls with colle ge sports. They’re getting scholarships to play flag football.”

Flowers, a cor nerback and kick return specialist, attended four different colleges over a seven-year period. He wasn’t selected in the 2022 NFL draft, but signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free

agent and made the final 53-man roster. Flowers made the Pro Football Writers of America Association’s All-Rookie Team that season thanks to his return prowess. Taking over the Colts’ kick-retur n duties in Week 12, he amassed 715 yards on 23 returns with a NFL-leading average of 31.5 yards per return. Flowers’ biggest moment came during a nationally televised Monday Night Football game on Nov. 28, 2022 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He returned a kickof f 89 yards to start the second half, helping set up a Colts touchdown.

Last year, Flowers became a starting cornerback and registered three passes broken up (PBU). Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during a Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Rams

However, having faced and overcome adversity previously during his whirlwind colle ge career, Flowers attacked his rehab with vigor and Hoerster said he’s looking good for starting training camp later this month on time.

“He looks like he’s in a good place now and ready to get back at it,” he said. “That injury was sad news, but he’s just a hard worker with so much drive and commitment.”

Given his work ethic, it wouldn’t be surprising if Flowers has a strong comeback season this fall. After all, he is the very definition of OPRF’s school motto: Those Things That Are Best.

D’Alise delighted with South Beach

Recent Fenwick alum to join University of Miami football team

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

In the first of a series of college commitment profiles from recent graduates of OPRF, Fenwick, and Trinity high schools, we take a look at Fenwick’s Luke D’Alise. The Oak Park resident was a standout linebacker on the Friars’ 2021

IHSA Class 5A state championship football team. The following year, he was named Fenwick’s Most Valuable Player in the Chicago Prep Bowl title game. He rushed for 161 yards (151 coming in the second half) and a touchdown on 21 carries; defensively he registered 12 tackles and added two interceptions.

D’Alise tells Wednesday Journal his college

plans and shares his favorite memories and what he lear ned as a Fenwick student-athlete: Varsity sports played at Fenwick: three years football; two years wrestling; two years track and field College Sports Plans: Football at the Uni-

See LUKE D’ALISE on pa ge 34

STEVE JOHNSTON

Bell blossoms as broadcaster

2012 Fenwick alum covers WNBA’s Sky for Marquee Spor ts Network

By MELVIN TATE

In 2018, Bell, who grew up in Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood, returned to Illinois, covering high school and college sports at WICS in Springfield. Then two years later, she came back home, joining the brand new Marquee Sports Network, which is owned and operated by the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.

rli Bell (Class of 2012) conduc ts an intervi

excited to see her coaching career grow at enwick and beyond.”

Bell has some good advice for young women looking to get into broadcasting. riting is a plus, along with developing strong networking skills. Moreer, she said aspiring broadcasters should be knowledgeable about the sport they ver, and also understand the usiness side of the industry.

self-confidence goes a long way toercoming the early obstacles sure to t of a broadcasting career

“There will be hard days and bad days, and having a support system around you vably important and impactful,” she said. “You need to have thick skin to deal with the constant criticism you will get as a woman in this industry. Don’t take rything too personal and learn which rth fighting, and only you can figure that out.”

playing in a stadium with thousand s rt ing your team. But more I love the sport of football. I le to play this sport as long as

he lear n ed from high school

“I learned a multitude of lesut I think the most applicable ones are being the hardest wo rker in the room and then being able to wo rk with my the pu rp ose of winning . specifically showe d me the imommunity. Once a F ria r, al-

K ARLI BELL

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

CITIZENS BANK, N.A. F/K/A RBS

CITIZENS, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.-

CLOVER L. MATTHEWS

Defendants 2023 CH 10280 119 47TH AVENUE

BELLWOOD, IL 60104

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 17, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 A.M. on August 14, 2024, 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:

LOT 29 IN BLOCK 25 IN HULBERT’S ST. CHARLES ROAD SUBDIVISION, BEING A SUBDIVISION IN THE NORTH HALF OF SECTION 8, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Commonly known as 119 47TH AVENUE, BELLWOOD, IL 60104

Property Index No. 15-08-213-0070000

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, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030

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. 14-23-07801

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2023 CH 10280

TJSC#: 44-1074

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 # 2023 CH 10280 I3248183

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive bids from qualified consultants through Monday, August 5, 2024 for the following: Integrated Streetscape Branding and Design For Chicago Ave., in Honor of Dr. Percy L. Julian Bid Number: 24-717

Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark. us/bid. For questions, please email Brandon Crawford, Deputy Director Development Services at bcrawford@oakpark.us

Published in Wednesday Journal July 17, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER: 013-24-Z

HEARING DATE: August 7, 2024

TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Adam Fotos, seeking a variance from Section 9.3 (N) (2)(c) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance requiring that if a lot abuts a public alley that provides adequate access to a street, a detached garage must be constructed so that access is from the public alley, to construct a garage with access from the corner side yard (Fillmore Street) and not the alley at the premises commonly known as 1150 S Cuyler Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-17-325-001-0000.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate inperson in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park. us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal July 17, 2023

DOCKET NUMBER: PC 2405/06 (Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment and Special Use Application – Community Service Center)

HEARING DATE: August 1, 2024

TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 - Council Chambers, Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street Oak Park, Illinois 60302

PETITIONER: Housing Forward, 1851 South 9th Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153

PROPERTY ADDRESS: 38 North Austin Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60302

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lots 1 to 13 both inclusive, the North 9 feet of Lot 16 (except alley), Lots 17 to 22 both inclusive, the North 21 feet of Lot 54, the vacated 16 foot East and West alley lying South of and adjoining Lots 1 to 14 both inclusive, and the vacated North 21 feet of the North and South alley lying between Lot 15 and Lot 54, all in Block 4 in the Subdivision of that part of the East 1/4 of the Southwest 1/4 of Section 8, Township 39 North, Range 13 East of the Third Principal Meridian lying South of the Chicago Harlem and Batavia Railway, in Cook County, Illinois.

P.I.N.s: 16-08-323-026

REQUEST: The Petitioner, Housing Forward, seeks a text amendment to the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance as follows: An amendment to

Article 2 (“Definitions & Rules of Measurement”), Section 2.3 (“Definitions”), by adding a definition for “Community Service Center” as follows: “An emergency overnight residence for individuals who are unhoused on a short-term basis. Said individuals may reside at a community service center on an overnight-only basis. A community service center may offer: meals for its residents prepared on-site, food products stored on-site to be provided to residents, office space for not-for-profit housing-related agencies, not-for-profit public outreach agencies and counseling and medical and mental health services”, amending Article 8 (“Uses”) to add “Community Service Center” as a special use in the I-Institutional District, and amending Section 8.4 (“Principal Use Standards”), by adding a new section “X. Community Service Center” with the following standards: ”1.) Overnight hours for the residential portion of a community service center are limited to 7:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., 365 days-a-year. 2.) The maximum capacity of individuals housed within the residential portion of a center is the lesser of 45 individuals or as determined by the Village’s current residential building codes. 3.) Counseling and medical services may be offered for overnight residents, school students and families of school students. 4.) Community Service Centers

must meet all federal, state or local requirements regarding health, safety and building code requirements and 5.) All applicants are required to submit a statement of the exact nature of the community service center, the qualifications of the agency or agencies that will operate within and the center, including the number and types of personnel who will be employed. No special use permit application will be accepted by the Village until the required statement is filed with the Village.” The Applicant is also requesting a Special Use permit to allow a Community Service Center at the above referenced property addresses. The Plan Commission may also consider any related and additional relief that may be discovered during the review of these dockets.

A copy of the proposed text amendment and special use application is on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 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

Public Information Meeting Notice Scheduled by Village of Riverside East Avenue Improvements

The Village of Riverside will hold a Public Information Meeting concerning the proposed streetscape improvements of East Avenue from Pine Avenue to Forest Avenue. The Public Information Meeting will be held at Riverside Parks and Recreation Community Center, 43 E Quincy St, Riverside, IL 60546 on August 6, 2024, at 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. All interested persons are invited to attend. Persons with disabilities planning to attend should contact the person listed below by August 1st. The contact may be by telephone, in writing, by fax or by telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY).

To allow for all potential federal and state funding sources, the public information meeting is being held in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s public involvement policy.

All persons interested in the project are invited to attend the meeting to express their views and comments on the project. The meeting will also serve to involve and obtain the views of the public for purposes of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. Information will be available on known historic resources that may be affected by the proposed project and the historic resources protection process. IDOT requests comments from the public on effects to historic resources to assist in consultation with the Illinois State Historic Preservation Officer.

The meeting will be conducted on an informal basis. Representatives of the Village of Riverside will be available from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Representatives will answer individual questions and record comments offered by those in attendance. Verbatim comments will not be recorded. The Village of Riverside representatives will provide information about the proposed improvements and anticipated schedule. Preliminary reports, engineering drawings, maps, and aerial photography, will be available for review and inspection at Riverside Parks and Recreation Community Center.

For more information, contact Ashley Monroe, Assistant Village Manager, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL 60546, amonroe@riverside.il.us, 708-447-1241.