Wednesday Journal 080724

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Roast this Saturday Page 23

This is the 6th amendment to the

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

After six years of delays and extensions, Oak Park village trustees voted 5-1, with one trustee absent, to approve a 16-month extension for the planned Pete’s Fresh Market at 640-728 Madison St

This is not the first time the developers have requested an extension, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues and utility work as some oftheir setbacks Pete’s will have to pay a $2,000 fee for this extension. It will also face harsher consequences for any future delays.

The new grocery store was supposed to be complete by June 30, 2024, based on an extension approved in January 2023. In January 2024, the project manager, Eugene

REPORT BY AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ, PAGE 16

WEDNESDAY

of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor Erika Hobbs

Digital Manager Stac y Coleman

Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan

Sta Reporters Amaris E. Rodriguez, Luzane Draughon

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Contributing Editor Donna Greene

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

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

HOW TO REACH US

141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

■ PHONE 708-524-8300

EMAIL Erika@growingcommunitymedia.org Dan@oakpark.com

■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com ■ FAX 708-467-9066

CIRCULATION

Jill Wagner • jill@oakpark.com • 708-613-3340

PRINT/DIGITAL ADVERTISING

Lourdes Nicholls • lourdes@oakpark.com • Ext. 3329

Ben Stumpe • ben@oakpark.com • Ext. 3330

C ALENDAR EVENTS calendar@wjinc.com

Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $2. A one-year subscription costs $52 within Cook County and $72 outside of Cook County

Adver tising rates may be obtained by calling our o ce. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 10138). Postmaster, send address corrections to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. © 2024 Growing Community Media, NFP.

Doctors demand unpaid sums, program funding from West Suburban

One group has star ted a legal arbitration process with the hospital

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Doctors at West Suburban Medical C enter are taking le g al action against the hospital for money they say has not b een paid.

PCC Community Wellness Center — a federally qualified health center with 14 locations around Chicago and two inside West Suburban — has started a legal arbitration process to recover doctors’ unpaid paychecks from West Suburban.

“It’s not a lawsuit,” Manoj Prasad told Growing Community Media. “We have a difference in opinion. They believe we owe them something, and we believe they owe us something.”

Prasad is the owner and CEO of Resilience Health. In Dec. 2022, Resilience Health and Ramco Healthcare Holdings, LLC — a minority owner which is in charge of real estate and facilities – bought Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood and West Suburban, which sits on North Austin Boulevard on the boarder of Oak Park and Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

The arbitration is the latest complaint about the hospital’s money management.

In May and June, resident doctor s picketed to d emand a union c ontrac t and requested investment in their education and b etter patient safety. T hey also c alled for raises and supplie s, wh ich are paid for with hundreds of thousands of d ollars per resident in federal f undin g allocated to the hospital. But residents said they aren’t seeing that money reflected in their resources since Dr. Manoj Prasad bought West Suburban.

According to Paul L uning, the chie f medical officer and a f amily physician at West Suburba n’s P CC C ommunity Wellness C enter, West Suburban and PC C have had numerous staffing and teaching ag reements since P CC launched i nside the hospital.

Ea rl ier this year, Luning said that PCC

eng aged in le g al action against the hospital because of nonp ay ment for c ontracted services

“There are some physicians that have not been paid for their teaching services,” said Luning, who is also halfway through a twoyear term as president of the West Suburban medical staf f. The position is elected, and he is not employed by the hospital.

West Suburban reimburses PCC to pay doctors for teaching residents, who are assigned to a PCC site for three years of outpatient experience.

“There’s a staffing ag reement for which certain payments are due, but there are some payments due back to us as well,” Prasad said.

Because the arbitration process is ongoing, Prasad said he is unsure if he can disclose how much PCC owes West Suburban. He said West Suburban’s medical staf f also teaches resident doctors at PCC.

Luning said he doesn’t have a number for how many PCC physicians haven’t been paid or how much they are owed.

But one of them, Frederick Barber, said he is out nearly $30,000, adding that it’s estimated that West Suburban owes PCC over $1 million.

Barber — who retired as a doctor three years ago after running his private practice out of West Suburban since 1975 — now works about four hours a week at the hospital monitoring resident doctors at PCC Dr. Burdick Family Health Center inside West Suburban. But he said he hasn’t been paid for over a year of work.

When Pipeline Health owned West Suburban, from 2019 to when it filed for bankruptcy at the end of 2022, Barber said he got a monthly check until the last two months of their ownership. But he said he has only

See WEST SUB on pa ge 10

Author Visit: Arionne Nettles

Wednesday, Aug. 7, 7-8 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

Join us for a lively evening with Arionne Nettles, author of We Are the Culture: Black Chicago’s In uence on Everything. Learn how Black Chicagoans have shaped pop culture in America. Books will be available for sale, courtesy of The Book Table, and the author will sign copies after the program. Register at //oppl.org/calendar. For more information, contact Kristen Romanowski at kromanowski@oppl.org. 834 Lake St., Oak Park

Oak Park Porchfest

Friday, Aug. 9, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Host Home

BIG WEEK August 7-14

End of Summer Ar t Celebration

Kids end of summer camp

Monday, Aug. 12, 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Village Church of Oak Park

For ages 4 through 10. Kids will meet Monday, Aug. 12 through Wednesday, Aug. 14 from 9:30 to noon for games, crafts, music, story, science and snacks. This event is free but registration is required. Contact Mary at Mc ase@villagechurchoakpark.com. 911 S. Taylor, Oak Park

Sunday, Aug. 11, 12-4 p.m.

Enjoy live music featuring Rich Klevgard and Hoover & Harley and the Boys Free event—bring your own chairs and blanket. Tacos Bernardo and your favorite neighborhood ice cream man will be there. A tip jar will be passed to support the bands. For more information and updates, follow Oak Park Porchfest on Facebook. 325 S. Har vey Ave., Oak Park

Track Celebration & Community Run

Friday, Aug. 16, 5 p.m., OPRF Track

Celebrate the new OPRF track with the state champion track and cross-country teams. The event kicks o with a 400 m run for 1st-4th graders and a 1-mile run for 5th-8th graders, followed by a community run. At 6:15 p.m., watch the OPRF cross country team’s 2-mile time trial. For more details, contac t Victor Guarino at vic tor. guarino@att.net. 100-126 N. East Ave., Oak Park

Celebrate the ar tistic achievements of children who participated in Frick Kids Ar t classes, camps, and private lessons. Enjoy pizza, snacks, drinks, and mini-art projects for all ages. The event also features a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Free Little Art Gallery (F.L.A.G.), where you can create and display mini-art pieces. The galler y includes a two-story art studio for sharing and taking art supplies. For more information, contact Phyllis Frick at info@frickkidsar t.com. 725 Woodbine Avenue., Oak Park

Evening of Music with Lyric Opera Stage Ar tists

Friday, Aug. 16, 7:30 – 9 p.m., St. Giles Cour tyard

Join OPRF IWS Circle 4 for a beautiful evening of music per formed by the Lyric Opera Stage Artists. The event is free, with donations bene ting the OPRF IWS Children’s Clinic. In case of rain, the event will move indoors. No RSVP required. Please bring your own chairs, blankets, and refreshments. 1025 Columbian Ave., Oak Park

Sibshop for Preschoolers Who Have a Disabled Sibling

Wednesday, Aug. 14

6 - 7 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

A Sibshop is a chance for kids who have a disabled sibling to come together, talk about their experiences, and play games. This class will use picture books to star t age-appropriate discussions. All conversations will be child-led, with minimal caregiver intervention. Register at //oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park

Compiled by Brooke Duncan

Listing your event

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

■ Email details to calendar@wjinc.com

ARIONNE NET TLES

RICH KLEVGARD

OP Township Supervisor Clarmarie

Keenan died July 30

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Oak Park Township Supervisor Clarmarie Keenan died July 30. She was 66. Keenan was born Sept. 30, 1957, ing to a Nelson Funeral Home obituar lived in Oak Park for 30 year first elected as the township supervisor in May 2017, according to her LinkedIn. She also served as a trustee on the township board for more than 18 years before that.

She served as the executi the Nineteenth Century Club from 1992 to 2003 and as president ofthe Oak River Forest Chamber of Nineteenth Century Club has long been a leader in charitable activitie and civic involvement initiatives, according to its website.

“As executive director [of the Nineteenth Century Club], Clarmarie brought a de gree of professionalism to the position that had not been present before,” Mary Ann Porucznik, a historian at the Nineteenth Century Club, told Wednesday Journal.

During Keenan’s term as executive director, Porucznik said the club changed its name, welcomed male members, had the first “Painted Lady House Walk,” and increased scholarship funding. The club also undertook a large fundraising campaign and building renovation to make the clubhouse accessible to all during Keenan’s term, Porucznik said.

be held for Keenan, according to the obit uary, wh ich asks for well-wishers to mak contributions to charity instead ofsend ing fl owers.

“As executive director [of the Nineteenth Century Club], Clarmarie brought a degree of professionalism to the position that had not been present before.”

Keenan was also a member ofthe Rotary Club ofOak Park-River Forest and a member ofOld Saint Patrick’s Church in Chicago, according to the obituary. From May 2017 to June 2020, she was a development manager at the Forest Preserve Foundation, according to her LinkedIn.

A private visitation and interment will

Village President Vicki Scaman said she’d like to share her condolences with Keenan’s mother, close family and friends.

Keenan has a long list of accomplishments and service to Oak Park, Scaman said.

“That commitment to service was so center to who she was as a person,” Scaman said. T he village president previously worked at the township as a grants coordinator Scaman recalled how she used to write an inspirational quote ofthe day on a whiteboard in the township. Keenan adopted that practice when she left, Scaman said. Scaman also remembered when she, Keenan and other female leaders in the community would get to gether at dinners to share suppo rt

Those who knew Keenan also knew that she was proud of her Irish heritage and often wore Irish jewelry, Scaman said.

MARY ANN PORUCZNIK Historian at the Nineteenth Century Club

TODD BANNOR

marie Keenan

Oak Park greenlights Madison a ordable housing project

Keystone Apartments will ser ve those earning 30% or less of the area median income

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Oak Park trustees approved the special use permit for an affordable housing development called “Keystone Apartments” for lowincome residents at 1106 Madison Street.

Housing Fo r ward partnered with Interfaith Housing Development Co rp oration on this project, with a g oal to open in 2026. T he five - story residential building is expected to have 36 units: 12 studio apar tments and the rest one-bedroom units. T he site was for merly the locatio n of Fellowship Christian Church . Ke y stone Ap artments, as a permanent suppo rt ive housing location, will ser ve residents earning 30% or less ofthe area median income. A q ualifying income in the Chicago metro area would be $23,550 a year, I HDC developer Erin Hebert told We d nesd ay Jour nal in April .

Individuals looking for housing at Ke ystone must also have a disability to be eligibl e, said Ly nda Schueler, Housing Fo r ward’s chie f executive officer. Th e disability c ould be a physical one, a mental health c oncern, a history oflong-ter m substance abuse, HIV/AIDS or a developmental disability, she said. Resident refe rr als will primarily c ome through Housing Fo r ward, I HDC President Pe rr y Vi etti said.

I HDC also developed Grove Ap artments, af fordable housing located above the Su ga r Beet Food Co-Op at 812 Madison St. Vi etti told the village b oard Ju ly 30 that I DHC c onsidered using pa rt ofthe new development for c ommercial pu rp oses but decided against it d ue to the limi ted space available.

Trustees also approved five zoning allowances for Ke y stone: increased building height, increased d ensity, reductio n

in front ya rd setback, decrease in pa rk in g spaces, and increased i llumination along the front property line, a ccording to village of ficials

Zoning ordinances would have required 36 pa rk ing spaces for Ke y stone, or one fo r each unit. Trustees approved allowing the development to only have six pa rk in g spaces. Most individuals living at Ke ystone will li ke ly not have cars, Vi etti told We d nesd ay Journal.

T he development will also be all-elect ric, a requirement set for th in the village ’s electrification ordinance that went i nto effect Jan. 1. T he developers also intend to i nstall solar p anels on the roof, according to Vi llage Planner Craig Failor.

Oak Pa rk ’s p lan c ommission unanimously voted to suppo rt the Ke y stone development, and no members ofthe public o pposed it at the public hearing Ju ly 10, 2024, according to village of ficials.

Construction for Keystone, however, could be a disruption to the nearby retail spaces such as Al’s Grill or Mama Thai. Vietti said he’s hoping to make the project as “painfree” as possible for their neighbors, but some disruption might be inevitable.

Vi etti also told village trustees Ju ly 30 that wh i le he c ould apply for a tax exemption as an af fordable housing development, he’s not planning to do so

“A s an Oak Pa rk resident, I understand the need for reve nu e, ” he said. “I f the building didn’t have ability to pay it, then that’d be a different story. ”

Trustees present at the meeting all expressed their suppo rt for the development. One ofthe village b oard’s priorities for 2024 is to support more af fordable housing in Oak Pa rk

“I think this is going to be an amazing a ddition to our community,” Trustee Cory Wesley said.

Trustees re nance $1.3M in housing loans for the OP Residence Corpora

The OPRC helps provide low- and moderate-income housing

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Oak Park trustees have resubordinated more than $1.3 million in village housing loans for the Oak Park Residence Corporation, a local housing provider.

OPRC is refinancing eight loans it holds with the village, for five of its properties.

Refinancing these loans, according to village officials, “will help OPRC continue to provide housing af fordable to households with low to moderate incomes,” a priority for trustees.

Trustees have been working to further housing goals outlined in their 2024 goals and in the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus housing study presented earlier this year.

According to village officials, this decision allows the OPRC “to access up to $4

million in financing to rehabilitate existing buildings” through bank lines ofcredit. Trustees did not change the terms ofthe village’s loans with the OPRC.

The possibility of additional funding could also let the OPRC improve or invest in the corporation’s existing buildings, village officials said. The OPRC owns and manages 32 multi-family buildings, or nearly 700 rental units, according to its website.

“Our primary mission is to promote Oak Park as a diverse and economically balanced community by providing highquality multi-family rental housing at reasonable rates for households ofall income levels,” OPRC officials wrote

According to village officials, an OPRCprovided analysis stated that more than 99% of its units in 2023 were affordable to those earning less than 70% ofthe area median in-

come. And almost 10% ofOPRC units found to be affordable for those earning less than 50% of the area median income

The village is resubordinating loans to Hinsdale Bank & Trust.

Four ofthe loans, which total $541,000, come from the village’s revolving loan funded with community de grant dollars. These loans were intended to help “support the acquisition, rehabilitation, and – ultimately – resale ofthe properties once stabilized.” Now, the OPRC is trying to hold on to properties to provide more affordable housing, so this loan has been resubordinated or extended several times. The loans are now due Dec. 31, 2026.

forgiven at the end ofa three-year period, estimated to be May 15, 2026.

Three ofthe loans, totaling $29,533.33, come from the multi-family housing incentive grant program, financed by the village’s general fund. The loans will be

AND FORGET IT! SHRED IT

One other loan, for $750,000, c omes from village housing b ond f und s. A ccording to village officials, this loan c omes from a village p lan to acquire and rehab 20 OPRC apar tment buildings. T he loan is d ue April 3, 2031.

SAVE THE DATE!! Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon (NOTE: If the trucks fill-up sooner—we finish sooner!)

Forest Park Bank, the locally owned and managed community bank, is pleased to continue the tradition of sponsoring the Annual FREE Sensitive Document Shredding Event in the Municipal Parking Lot located south of the Drive-Up Facility. The Bank has, again, engaged a professional shredding service to shred your documents with an industrial shredder.

Forest Park Bank and Forest Park Police Department personnel will be on site to discuss identity security issues, including ways to protect your identity and what to do if you become a victim of identity theft or financial scams.

You may bring up to two 12” X 12” X 18” boxes of documents to be shred at no charge. Three-ring notebooks and binders with large metal rings cannot be shredded. Staples are allowed. If you have questions, please contact the bank at 708.222.2800.

Oak Park Residence Corporation, 21 South Blvd.

PETE’S A history of delays

from page 1

Grzynkowicz, again said he could not confirm an opening date.

The 16-month extension means the building should be open by December 2025. But Pete’s has broken its promises on opening dates before.

“There are few things in our village that get almost universal frustration,” said Trustee Cory Wesley, the sole dissenter to the extension. “This has been one of them.”

The new amendment

There have been five prior amendments to the redevelopment ag reement associated with this project, but not all were related to Pete’s. Some were related to the senior living complex across the street, which opened in October 2022.

The sixth amendment, which trustees approved July 30, allows for electric vehicle charging stations on-site, a $22,000 donation to the Oak Park Area Arts Council for temporary art to be displayed during construction and a “claw back remedy,” according to village officials.

The claw back remedy outlines that if building foundation construction does not begin within 100 days of building permits being issued, the village can gain control of the entire property. If that construction does begin within those 100 days but then isn’t completed by the December 2025 deadline, the village can gain control of only part of the property.

This amendment also states that there will be a fee of $16,000 per month if the project is not “under roof” within nine

Most trustees were supportive of this new amendment and conditions. Trustee Lucia Robinson, who voted against an extension for Pete’s in January 2023, said the new conditions help hold the developers accountable and shows the “right amount of urgency.” But Wesley asked for the claw back remedy to include the entire property, even if construction begins within the 100day deadline.

“If we had this contractual language to

his head no.

“Pete’s is a good neighbor,” Sachs stated, referring to the store already at 259 Lake St “We’re not just strangers coming into town.”

“Pete’s Market is 100% committed to the project,” Grzynkowicz added. “We are not leaving.”

Village President Vicki Scaman said the village and Pete’s reached a fair contract, including the claw back remedy. She said she believes Pete’s has responded in a way that demonstrates “good faith.”

What ’s been done

Pete’s re presentatives say they’ve invested about $4.3 million into the project already, according to village officials, for utility relocation and site preparation.

at includes ComEd, AT&T and Comcast relocation, village water and sewer main relocations, storm sewer system installation, building demolition and environmental remediation.

icz said in addition to a lack of chitect was another unexpected setback to Pete’s progress.

Emily Egan, the village’s development services director, told Wednesday Journal that Pete’s was working to complete the permitting process. Some contractors complete building permit work all at once, she said, but Pete’s did not.

Egan told the board July 30 that Pete’s permit for the earth retention system and foundation was approved after three rounds of corrections and could be picked up by the developer pending the permit fee payment of $157,377. Grzynkowicz paid that Aug. 2, village officials told Wednesday Journal.

Trustee Ravi Parakkat asked if the new Aldi coming in Forest Park was a concern for the Pete’s developers. Grzynkowicz said Pete’s does not share the same market as Aldi and he wishes the other new grocery store well.

“A lesser contractor, a lesser business developer [than] Pete’s Market, with the hardships that [we’ve] incurred may have just walked away,” Grzynkowicz said. “That’s not us.”

Grzynkowicz also said Pete’s plans to give the village board more re gular updates as progress is underway.

The developers also claim an additional $3.8 million has been spent already to order supplies for construction and for architectural, engineering and project management needs. That brings the total investment thus far to $8.1 million. s

NIC MCKELVE Y e empty lot where the new Pete’s Fresh Market is planned to r ise at 640-728 Madison St

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received payment for four months since Prasad took ownership in December 2022.

Barber said he brought up the missing payments multiple times with Prasad, who told him to be patient, that he was hopeful money would come in.

West Suburban has long struggled with finances and has gone through multiple ownership changes in recent years.

When Prasad bought the hospital, he inherited upward of $80 million in debt. He said he has had trouble finding lenders to help him clear it.

Although Prasad said the hospital has a long way to go before being out of the red, it is slowly paying of f its shortfall.

“The debt included pretty much all major vendors and suppliers in the healthcare industry,” Prasad said. “So, in order to operate, we have been slowly settling with a lot of them.”

Prasad said as he settles the hospital’s debts, he’s also adding additional services.

On July 16, West Suburban enhanced its

mother-baby unit. The unit will now staf f a 24/7 obstetrician, contracted from an outside company, to handle birth deliveries, a request Prasad said came from the staff.

‘Pay your workers right away ’

Resident doctors for med a union in November — the first time West Suburban medical staf f had done so — and have been in contract ne gotiations since February. In addition to asking to improve what medical residents say is a lack of resources and worsening patient care, they also want to see more impact from their program funding and better pay.

The resident doctors picketed the hospital for a second time in June to continue raising awareness for their contract negotiation requests.

“Hey Prasad, this ain’t funny. What happened to all the money?” nearly two dozen medical residents chanted at the protest. “We did the work, we need the pay. Pay your workers right away.”

The picket came as resident doctors say their program lacks the support and supplies that they require to be successful.

“Every resident in the United States gets federal funding from Medicare,” hundreds of thousands of dollars per resident, Cla-

rissa O’Conor, a recently graduated resident and for mer member of the union’s bargaining team, told Growing Community Media while she was still a third-year resident. “Since Prasad has taken over, he has refused to allocate any money to the residency program.”

Prasad told Growing Community Media that the program is funded with federal money tied to patient volume and other metrics.

As resident doctors’ contract negotiations are still ongoing, they say there has been little communication from Prasad.

“As before, it’s hard to reach him and get some feedback on our requests,” said Nkiru Osefo, a second-year resident at West Suburban, during the June picket.

Prasad says otherwise: “I always have had an open-door policy for anybody who’s got these complaints.”

The disparity between the efforts of West Suburban’s owner and what doctors see started long before Prasad bought the hospital.

“Things had declined before Dr. Prasad came and took over,” said Karla Tytus, a provider at PCC Salud Family Health Center in Chicago’s Belmont Cragin neighborhood and a family medicine resident at West Suburban Medical Center. “It’s continuing after, but it’s been a long time in the making, so it’s also going to be a long

time in the making as far as getting our concerns heard.”

And while it seems that resident doctors are in it for the long hall, Prasad is worried that picketing and bad press will only deter people from coming to West Suburban.

“Talking about these things doesn’t really help anybody’s cause because the patients start thinking, ‘Oh my God, is this a good place to go?’” Prasad said.

“But things don’t get better if you keep things under wraps,” Tytus said at the June picket. “When it comes down to it, I don’t think any of us have faith in him.”

At a time when morale among resident doctors at West Suburban feels very low, Luning said these students are a vital component at the hospital, where a majority of patients are on Medicaid.

“The hospital and the residency program, for me, are intertwined as being critically important to the success of PCC and, honestly, the care of underserved patients on the West Side of Chicago,” Luning said. “We rely on residents to take care of our underserved patients.”

“I sure hope it will survive,” he added about the residency program. “I intend to do everything we can to make it survive.”

Because the hospital has seen numerous owners over the last decade, one can’t

Nkiru Osefo, a second-year resident at West Suburban, holds a sign that says, ‘Either you have the AC working or the elevator working. You can’t have both! - Overheard at West Suburban.’

help but consider if West Suburban might change hands again or, because the hospital has been in debt for so long, whether it’s worth keeping open. Officials say it must.

“It has to, for the care of our underserved patients,” Luning said. “For the hospitals to survive, I really think the residency program is a very important part of that.”

e elevator problem

One of medical residents’ demands re garding better patient care includes re pairing the elevators at West Subu rban Medical Center, which are often out of service.

Upon taking his mother to an appointment at West Suburban at the end of July, one local man shared his elevator experience with Growing Community Media

On the day he visited, all four of the lobby’s elevators we re out of servic e. Austin Weekly News is not naming the man to ke ep his health history private.

hospital hadn’ t paid its bills

“Our elevators are old. T here’s no two ways about it,” Prasad told Gr owing Community Media in May.

In an email a few weeks earlier, Prasad said that six of the hospital’s 24 elevators were out of service because of abuse by users. While repairs are underway, he said they are expensive and re placement parts are hard to come by

“The place had been ne glected forever,” Prasad said. “A lot of our money is going towards fixing things.”

said about W “I know the community need another empty building. Suppo one is critical.”

T he man said patients, including his mother, had to meet with their doctors in the lobby

“After I was there for about an hour, one of the four elevators started working again,” the man said. “But at that point, I did not trust to use it.”

Prasad ag reed.

“I know the community needs this,” he

“I ha ntentions of selling,” added Prasad, ho said that he’s fighting this battle single-handedly when it comes to the hospital’s finances. “If I g et overwhelmed, that’s a different story. But we seem to be trudging along, making very g

He added that a hospital employee told him that elevators haven’ t been re gularly working for weeks, and repairs weren’ t being done because the

As of the beginning of August, Prasad told Growing Community Media that all of the hospital’s usually functioning elevators are back in service. He added that there is one elevator that re pair workers can’ t fix, and its re placement will cost close to $500,000.

“These elevators are very old, and from time to time, they break down and we have to fly in parts to make them operational,” Prasad said.

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West40’s annual Backpack Giveback

is set for Saturday

Last year more than 3,000 backpacks were donated

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

West40 is partnering with a local community colle ge to ensure local students can head back to school with the supplies they need.

Morton Colle ge, Cicero, and West40 Intermediate Service Center #2, a nonprofit intermediate service center serving 38 school districts and three co-ops in West Cook County, will be distributing free backpacks and school supplies at their annual Backpack Giveback and Resource Fair

The event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Morton Colle ge, 3801 S. Central Ave., Cicero, Illinois.

Organizers aim to follow last year’s success, when nearly 3,200 backpacks were distributed and additional donation requests came in after the event.

“We understand the cost ofschool supplies can add up,

but we hope to make this time of year easier for our community members by distributing backpacks and school supplies at no cost,” said Maria-Elena Agrela, a West40 community resource coordinator.

According to the National Retail Federation, for the 2023-24 school year, families with children in elementary through high school planned to spend on average $890 on school supplies, a $25 increase from last school year.

EducationWeek re ported that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many school districts across the country decided to shift the cost ofschool supplies from parents over to the schools, but as COVID relief funds begin to dwindle, many are now returning those costs to parents.

In Illinois, a few school districts including Community Consolidated School District 21, out of Wheeling, will continue to provide all enrolled students with the required school supplies for the 2024-25 school year, but it varies district by district.

Locally, Forest Park School District 91 provided district

sponsored school supplies to all students on their first day, said Nurys Uceta-Ramos, director of eng agement.

The Backpack Giveback will include notebooks, crayons, pencils, and additional supplies and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis with a limit of one per child.

The annual event will also feature nearly 50 resource vendors on site to help provide additional resources.

West40 serves Oak Park and River Forest District 200, Oak Park School District 97, Proviso Township High School District 209, Forest Park District 91, Riverside Brookfield Township District 208, Riverside School District 97, Lindop District 92 and Westchester School District 92.5 among others. A full list can be found at West40.org.

Oak Park moves forward with village hall upgrade plans

Trustees

want to balance their remodel goals with cost concerns

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

After more than a year of discussions and analysis, Oak Park trustees are moving forward with plans to remodel the existing Village Hall structure and build a new police station.

Two options were still on the table, according to village officials. One was to build a new police station and renovate the current Village Hall facility That could cost between $132 million and $138.3 million. The other was to redevelop, or demolish and rebuild, the entire Village Hall campus. That was estimated to be between $139.4 million and $144.7 million.

Village staf f asked trustees July 30 if they’d like a feasibility study from Johnson Lasky Kindelin Architects for the narrowed-down options, at a cost for the study not to exceed $265,000. Trustees decided not to spend the extra money, instead directing village staf f to move forward with planning for the renovation option.

“The one thing that would annoy Oak Parkers about spending all of this money is if services were disrupted,” said Colette Lueck, Facility Review Committee cochair. “People pay a lot of taxes to live her and what they expect for those taxes are high services. That’s why things like leaf pickup become a big deal.”

Background

In July 2023, the village board proposed demolishing and rebuilding the historic Oak Park Village Hall, at an estimated cost of between $118 million and $124 million. But demolition was met with strong public opposition, so the board began to consider other options.

The Facility Review Committee recommended in April that the village board build a small glass addition to Village Hall, removing all police functions and moving council chambers to the lower level. JLK estimated this option to cost between $39.2 million and $41.2 million, excluding the additional cost of the new police station, which was undetermined.

“Village Hall isn’t just a place for meetings but it ’s one where we want the residents of Oak Park to feel as if they are cared about.”

VICKI SCAMA N Village President

The price tag for renovation, which doesn’t come cheap, however, was not viewed favorably by some trustees. Balancing board goals for Village Hall improvements with cost constraints might prove to be easier said than done.

Village staf f suggested using the feasibility study to see if a $100 million cap on the project was possible. But even that was too high a price for some trustees.

At a study session in May, village trustees asked for revised plans. Trustees agreed then that the police station was a top priority, and that the rest of Village Hall needs change, but weren’t yet clear on what that would look like

Meanwhile, there’s a bit of a ticking clock for the board to approve plans together before some of their seats go up for election in the spring, Lueck pointed out. Lueck is a for mer village trustee. There’s also pressure due to the poor condition of the police station, Lueck said.

“I was skeptical whether or not the architects would be able to really address all

the concerns,” she said. “The building is interesting, significant, but outdated and not functional. That being said, I do believe that the committee and its work with its consultants were able to address all the concerns.”

Maintaining the current Village Hall is also more sustainable than tearing down and rebuilding, Lueck said. Trustees ag reed. And it might be the least disruptive option for village staff, she said.

Trustees’ discussion

It’s going to be challenging to rehab Village Hall, Village President Vicki Scaman said. But she said the best way to move forward is on the village’s land.

“This building and the openness of gover nment, our accessibility, is important to us,” she said. “Village Hall isn’t just a place for meetings but it’s one where we want the residents of Oak Park to feel as if they are cared about.”

No matter what, it’s likely to be expensive, Scaman pointed out. In improving Village Hall, construction crews may discover unexpected issues in the nearly 50-year-old building that will need to be fixed. Looking for creative ways to fund the project is one option to assuage cost concer ns, she said.

Trustee Lucia Robinson ag reed that renovating the existing structure is the most

cost-efficient path forward. One of her priorities is ensuring safety in the council chambers, she said. The Facility Review Committee had raised the concern that if trustees needed to get out quickly, they could be trapped because the stadium seats cascade down. And if everyone attending needed to leave in an emergency, it could be difficult to do so.

Renovating is the right option from a historic preservation and sustainability perspective, Trustee Ravi Parakkat ag reed. But one of his top concerns is the cost. He said he is not in favor of spending even $100 million on this project, and that the board needs to make decisions based on what the village can af ford

Trustee Cory Wesley proposed another alternative July 30, saying he was against both rehabilitation and demolishing and rebuilding Village Hall. It’s too expensive either way, he said. He suggested building a new police station with a few extra floors for village staf f.

A new space would likely be cheaper, Wesley said, and as more employees work from home in future years, less people will need to utilize Village Hall anyway. But other trustees did not seem on board with his proposal.

Village Manager Kevin Jackson said village staf f will return to the board with further planning and design considerations.

Oak Park Village Hall

OPRF set to release plan addressing antisemitism accusations by the start of the school year

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Oak Park and River Forest High School is set to release a new plan that addresses accusations ofantisemitism in a little more than two weeks, officials said.

The goal is to be ready by the time teachers and students return to campus. The plan, which is not final, will be released to the school community before they are made public, officials said.

Details were not immediately availabl But they would address acknowledged problems and work to bolster the “saf welcoming environment” OPRF foster said Supt. Greg Johnson.

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, OPRF has grappled with balancing the messaging, activities and interests of

pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel students and teachers. The resulting war, the strong local emotions re garding it and the power ofsocial media together have pushed the district to understand how to live out its promise of inclusivity in this context.

In his resignation letter obtained by Wednesday Journal, Soffer said that despite numerous conversations with administrators, the district did not go far enough to address his concerns.

“The continued toll ofantisemitism at

Canned cocktails trend adds a local o ering

Drop Needle Drinks is created by Oak Parker and her associates

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

Drop Needle Drinks is a new entry into the ready-to-drink cocktail market, with three sparkling wine and fruit-juice-based products now available at many local restaurants and liquor stores.

During the pandemic Nallely Suarez Gass, an Oak Park resident, and three colleagues at a national beer company started thinking about shifting trends in alcohol consumption and began to dream about making their own products.

“People are shifting to wanting to have a cocktail in their hand and we saw beer sales going down. We saw even some of the seltzers going down, which is why we saw an opportunity to make something that was wine based,” Gass said.

Ready-to-drink cocktails currently make up 12 % of the U.S. alcoholic beverage market, according to several groups that study the industry. That percentage is expected to grow in the coming years. While this sector of the market has historically appealed to women, according to Gass men are starting to pick up pre-made cocktails as well.

Drop Needle Drinks come in three flavors, all made with real fruit juice: The Modern Mimosa is a blend of orange, tangerine and clementine juices. The Berry Rosé Sparkler features blackberry and raspberry juices. The California 75 is a riff on a French 75, this time with lemon juice and notes of juniper and elderflower. All are made with sparkling wine from a family vineyard in Paso Robles, California. Each one is less than 9 grams of carbs and is

The first step for the company was to secure distribution in the Chicago area.

“Right now, we are door-to-door selling, knocking on every bar door, every restaurant door, every liquor store, every convenience store. Trying to build the brand so that then we can pursue the bigger stores,” Gass said.

Local distributor Burke Beverage was the first to deliver the drinks to market. Robert’s Westside was its first retail account. Now cans can be found at Sugar Beet, where a four-pack sells for $16.99, Carnival Grocery, La Tequileria, Taco Mucho, T he Beer hop, plus almost 100 other locations and counting

“I felt really loved, because the local places have been really, really supportive,” Gass said. “Our goal is to cover the Chicagoland area, then we’ll branch out to other markets.”

Gass grew up in the city of Chicago and later moved to Texas work for Pe psiCo. When she moved back to the area, she knew that she wanted to settle in Oak Park

“I just love how it feels. We rented for a little bit while we found our dream home. And it’s been 13 years now.”

Feeling the groove of a place, time or event is exactly what the name Drop Needle means.

“It’s about that moment when the party, like reaches a different level. When you’ re having a good time and then, something happens. You’ re with the right people. You have the right drink. And all of a sudden, you hear a song, or someone takes out a guitar and it’s like you feel like this shift in what you’ re experiencing.”

That’s a Drop Needle moment to Gass.

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Nallely Suarez Gass

OPRF’s Project 2 construction is on schedule

PE classes and athletics will see changes for new school year

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Almost 10 weeks into the massive interior demolition and rebuilding of a portion of Oak Park and River Forest High School, construction is moving along and going according to plan, said district officials.

“There have been little hiccups here and there but nothing major,” said Anthony Arbogast, assistant superintendent for business services

$100 million Phase 2 of the school’s ongoing reno “You almost ha anticipate you are going to find some things or do investi from where at, we pleased with the work this summer.”

While Arbogast said that from the outside of the school’s physical education plant on the southeast corner of the main building on Scoville Avenue it might not seem like a lot of impact has been made, inside is a different story.

on schedule, with a focus on selective demolition and reworking of the mechanical systems to ensure the rest of the school can operate normally once the 2024-25 school year begins.

“This summer is a lot about getting the interior demolition done,” he said.

According to Arbogast, the project breakdown will begin with demolition and be followed by foundations, structure, exterior facade and buildout. An old Nicor gas line also needed to be removed.

Additionally, Arbogast said a “connecting project,” installing a geothermal heating and cooling system, has also begun. The new system, which is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by ap442,500 pounds each year, was approved by the board of education in January.

OPRF Project 2 const ruction o cially began May 28.

“When you are inside the building, especially in the construction area, you look and it’s like ‘how did they get so much done in such a short period of time?’” Arbogast said.

Arbogast attributes this success to great communication between the district, contractors and subcontractors.

“It may visually this summer appear that it moved slowly but inside it is going at war p speed,” Arbogast said.

The first official day of work on the project was Tuesday, May 28, Arbogast said. But the high school held a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the project on June 4, welcoming community members for the celebration.

With “no major hiccups or delays,” according to Arbogast, the project is running

According to previous reports by Wednesday Journal, the geothermal system is projected to save OPRF approximately 18% in annual energy savings compared to a natural gas boiler system. Focused on building a new physical education wing, the re placement wing will include all-gender locker rooms, performing arts dressing rooms, weight room, boys’ and girls’ locker rooms, multiuse gyms, and a 25-yard x 40-yard pool and spectator balcony among other amenities.

The project was designed by FGM architects and construction is managed by Gilbane Building Company, one of the largest construction management firms in the country. According to previous re ports, OPRF approved a nearly $6 million contract with Gilbane back in September 2023.

According to the district’s Project 2 Dashboard, which breaks down the cost of the project by the different packages, the demolition portion was $1,473,200.

According to the breakdown of the big package, the largest allocation of funds will be dedicated to a mechanical package, at $15,782,000.

The total approved bid for the project was $101,899,817.

How do PE classes and spor ts continue?

Due to ongoing construction, school officials needed to accommodate returning students and faculty to allow physical education and sports to continue this fall.

To help facilitate students’ participation in gym classes, the following facilities will accommodate the classes affected by construction:

■ Fieldhouse

■ 1W Gym

■ Mono gram Room

■ Fitness center

■ Rehearsal room

■ Climbing gym

■ Wrestling room

■ Stadium

■ West pool

■ South cafeteria

■ Second floor south hallway

■ Third floor hallway outside the Student Resource Center

■ Track and multipurpose field

■ Stadium

■ Tennis courts

■ Ridgeland Common fields

■ Lake Street multipurpose fields

Locker rooms will also be reassigned to let freshman and sophomore girls use the current sophomore boys’ room as students will still be required to dress daily for PE class.

Additionally, according to district administration, the athletics department will continue to offer programming for all 31 sports with no reduction of athletic opportunities. However, some off-campus facilities will be used for training and competition including space at River Forest School District 90, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, the Park District of Oak Park, Triton College, and Riverside Brookfield High School among others.

Arbogast said “years of planning” has gone into ensuring students would still receive a quality PE experience. This includes an emphasis on scheduling and communication to ensure there is enough space for classes and athletics.

“Gym classes will be impacted without a doubt,” Arbogast said. “But our physical education department has done a great job of planning around our other available spaces for PE.”

Classes will begin at OPRF on Thursday, Aug. 15.

Provided by OPRF High School District 200

Demolition has begun inside the PE/Athletic wing at OPRF High School

ROBERT MESSER

Who are the DNC delegates, and what do they do?

Several of the 177 Illinois delegates attending the Democratic National Convention represent Chicago’s West Side and the western suburbs

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

With the Democratic National Convention fast approaching, Chicago is gearing up to host over 50,000 dele gates, volunteers and members of the media in and around the United Center and McCor mick Place

The U.S. Secret Service and local law enforcement recently announced safety plans for the areas, with more than 170 dele gates just from Illinois expected to attend the convention Aug. 19 to Aug. 22.

But who are the d ele gates who have b een elected to re present Chicago’s West Side and the wester n suburbs? And wh at exactly is their role at the Democratic National Convention?

What is the DNC?

The Democratic National Convention takes place every presidential election, convening dele gates from 50 states and U.S. territories. The convention typically marks the end of the primary election season and the beginning of general elections.

While the DNC serves as a period for Democrats to officially nominate a presidential and a vice-presidential candidate, in the past several decades nominees have been announced long before the convention. This makes the DNC more of a celebration for the nominees and is a way for the Democratic Party to unify around the party’s platform.

This year’s convention differs significantly from previous ones, when presidential nominees were chosen months before the DNC.

This year, before the convention opens, dele gates will officially select the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate during a roll call. The roll call was scheduled Aug. 1 through Aug. 5, but Vice President Kamala Harris won enough dele gate votes to become the nominee by 2 p.m. on Aug. 2.

What do delegates do?

Delegates represent voters and are the ones who officially select the Democratic presidential nominee. They must cast a vote for a presidential candidate or have an uncommitted preference.

On March 12, President Joe Biden received confirmation from most of the Democratic dele gates that they would renominate him. After Biden withdrew from the race July 21, Harris crossed that majority threshold July 22.

But an estimated majority confirmation only makes Harris the presumptive party nominee, not the official one. The for mal nomination came during the virtual roll call among the more than 4,000 delegates

After delegates selected the Democratic Party’s nominee, at the convention, they will spend time listening to speakers and attending get-togethers to rally around Harris and her party platform. They will also vote on resolutions and platform initiatives.

How are delegates chosen?

Every state has its own way of choosing delegates. While some are elected at state caucuses or local party conventions, others are named a dele gate because they are an elected re presentative who’s been voted for by the public

In Illinois, voters who requested a Democratic ballot during the primary election in March had the chance to vote for dele gates. Dele gates who ran in Illinois had to be re gistered voters themselves, plus file a nominating petition, statement of candidacy and presidential preference form.

The number of dele gates that each state got this year depended on the state’s number of electoral votes and the proportion of votes it gave to the Democratic candidate in the 2020, 2016 and 2012 elections. United States territories are given a fixed number of pledged delegates.

There are a few different types of delegates, including district delegates and at-large delegates, who are elected statewide.

There are also PLEO delegates, who are the state’s party leaders and elected officials. PLEO and at-large dele gates are elected by a quorum of district-level dele gates. District, at-large and PLEO dele gates are bound to vote for a presidential candidate based on the results of their state or district’s caucus and primary vote count.

Superdelegates, on the other hand, can support any candidate, but only vote if the presidential nomination is contested

Who are the area delegates?

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is a PLEO dele gate, along with Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

PLEO dele gates also include Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, Emanuel “Chris” Welch, speaker of the Illinois House of Re presentatives, and state Sen.

Kimberly Lightford.

District-level d ele gates include Ro ry Hoskins, mayo r of Fo rest Pa rk , along with other district-level d ele gates li ke Ald. E mma Mitts of the 37th ward, Stat e Re presentatives K am Buckner and La Shawn Fo rd and Chicago City C lerk A nna Valencia . State Re presentative Camille Lily is an at-large candidate.

added that they know he will serve his new district “just as well as he served his students” at OPRF.

“Last year was incredibly challenging for many of our Jewish students and faculty members, and it pains us to know that what transpired has caused such a valued educator to leave the school,” Johnson said.

According to Johnson, Soffer is the sole for mer employee who has cited antisemitism as the reason for their departure.

In late June, more than 100 people filed a complaint against OPRF D200 and three teachers with the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Attorney General’s office.

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 that they said contained posts with antisemitic comments and those that promoted “antisemitic falsehoods.”

The complaint also listed the Middle Eastern and North Africa Club Advisors,

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 entire outline of Israel next to the word ‘Palestine,’ symbolizing the elimination of the State of Israel.”

Mellman told Wednesday Journal community members attended multiple board of education meetings to re port incidents and follow up with the district. According to the complaint, “virtually no remedial action” was taken.

At the July 11 board meeting, Johnson said that the district remained “steadfast” in its ef for ts to balance the rights of all by seeking advice from community and religious leaders.

Johnson also said the district sought legal counsel and has been consulting with their attorneys to ensure district policies are properly followed. According to Johnson, “enhancements” to better support D209 community members affected by the events have been suggested and that the district will share those actions once details have been finalized.

“As we prepare for the coming school year, we will continue to work hard in both visible and invisible ways to support our Jewish students and faculty members,” Johnson told Wednesday Journal.

Man seeking food strikes, steals from Chicago resident

On Ju ly 29, a man asked a Chicag o resident for food on the 100 block of Madison Street. After the Chicago resid ent ag reed to buy the man food, the man followe d the victim i nto a business. T he man then hit the victim in the face with a closed fist. He stole the victim’s wallet wh ich had identification cards and money. The man left the business and was last seen headin g southbound on Ly man Avenue. T he estimated loss is $520.

Armed robbery

On Ju ly 30, two men exited a gr ay vehicle at 801 Chicago Ave. One man p unched a Chicago resident in the face T he other took out a g un, wh i le the first man displ ayed a knife. T he men then stole the victim’s wallet wh ich had identification and money. T he estimated loss is $13.

Motor vehicle theft

On Au g. 4, four individuals broke the rear p assenger wind ow and g ot i nto an Oak Pa rk resident’s wh i te 2020 Hyundai Tucson on the 300 block of S outh Austin Boulevard. T he steering c olumn was d amaged. T he Oak Pa rk resident c onfronted the individuals and was struck in the face with a closed fist. T he four individuals then drove aw ay in the stolen vehicle and we re last seen eastbound on Austin Boulevard. Th e estimated loss is $20,000.

Attempted motor vehicle theft

Someone used a prying tool to shatter the rear passenger door window ofan Oak Park resident’s silver 2017 Hyundai Sonata while it was parked on the 1000 block of South Austin Boulevard. The person damaged the steering column while trying to steal the car. The incident, which occurred between July 28 and 29, resulted in an estimated damage of $2,500.

Arrests

■ Two Chicago boys were arrested July 27 on the 100 block ofElgin Avenue for criminal trespass and criminal damage to a vehicle. The incidents occurred on the 200 block of South Maple Avenue. One boy was also charged with aggravated unlawful use ofa weapon. One boy was transfer red to his aunt and the other was taken to juvenile detention.

■ A 56-year-old Chicago woman was arrested July 28 on the 100 block ofNorth Austin Boulevard was arrested for battery after she struck someone in the face with a closed fist. She was issued a notice to appear citation and released.

■ A 20-year-old woman was arrested Aug. 2 on the 1100 block of South Boulevard for criminal damage to property. She was issued a citation and notice to appear and released.

■ On Aug. 3, a 20-year-old Chicago man was identified as the person involved in a car hijacking that occurred Dec. 10, 2023, at 543 Madison St. The man was stopped by the Elmwood Park Police Department. The Oak Park Police Department then charged and held the man for bond hearings.

■ A 37-year-old Oak Park woman got in a verbal altercation with her mother Aug. 4 on the 200 block of South Maple Avenue. She had an active order ofprotection against her for her mother’s address. She also had a warrant for a parole violation. The woman was arrested and held for bond hearings.

These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department re ports dated July 26 – Aug. 5 and re present a portion ofthe 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 ofa 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 ofthe suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Luzane Draughon

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Feast at Massa Cafe Italiano and Taste of Elmwood Park

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

Massa Cafe Italiano, 7434 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park, has been around for decades, but it never stops evolving. The restaurant has a deep and wide menu that includes many Italian favorites, such as paninis, panzerottis, pastas and salads. But it is the pizza and gelato that grab you when you walk in the door.

You expect the gelato case, showing off more than 20 flavors, but there is also a pizza case – with slices ready to go.

One of the offered toppings is Italian beef with giardiniera. The pie is a Sicilian deep-dish pizza with a crisp, crackling crust and flavors that scream “Chicago.” It’s no wonder that these toppings are also available in take-and-bake form through the Massa Pizza Company – which can be ordered online or found in local grocery stores. Other popular toppers, pepperoni, sausage and margherita, are available too.

Now back to the gelato. Sixty flavors rotate through the case.

“We like to go with whatever’s precious and seasonal. It’s summer now, so we like to do a lot of the fruit ones with strawberries and all the different berries,” owner Gia Lollino said.

Their Vero brand of gelato and coffee of the same name are also distributed widely.

For those attending the Taste of Elmwood Park Family Festival in August, Massa is bringing Sicilian pizza and gelato to the party.

The fest is Elmwood Park’s premiere event. It has been going strong for more than 30 years. This year’s edition is Thursday through Sunday, August 8-11, in Cen-

tral Park at 2430 N. 75th Ave. Entry is free and open to the public.

“The Taste of Elmwood Park is an opportunity for our restaurateurs to showcase their culinary skills, and it’s also an opportunity for the whole community to come together to eat, drink, and enjoy a weekend filled with fun and entertainment,” said Angelo “Skip” Saviano, Elmwood Park village president.

Come hungry. Twenty-four food vendors will be offering their best: Armand’s, Caputo’s Fresh Markets, Caruso’s, Circle Tavern, Donny G’s, Elmcrest Banquets, Fit To Be Fried, Grecian Kitchen, Gringo & Blondie’s Taqueria, Jimmy’s Red Hots, Johnnie’s Italian Beef, Maria’s Mexican Restaurant, Massa Café Italiano, New Star, Rosebud Restaurants, Russell’s Barbecue, Shwings, Sicilian Bakery, Spizzico Pizza & Pasta, Strawberry Slushies, Top Butcher, Tri Cafe, and Union Tap.

Food is cash only, but drinks (both alcoholic and non) are available with tickets, purchased in $5 bundles. ATMs will be on site. If competitive eating is your jam, there is a meatball eating contest Saturday at 4 p.m. In the premium Taste Lounge Tito’s vodka will be pouring cocktails and each night live DJs will set the pulse for the party.

Need to stretch before you dig into another day? Renew Studio will offer fitness

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Massa Cafe food spread

Outdoor seating at Massa Cafe

Lots of Gelato at Massa Cafe

ing. Additional activities for young and old alike dot the calendar during the four-day event. There will be a bocce tournament, arts & crafts, kid’s games and rides. On the mainstage, bands will rock out all weekend long. There is something for most any music lover to enjoy: 80s classic rock by One of the Boyzz; music of Queen and Lady Gaga by Radio Gaga; 70s yacht rock by EZFM; the classics from Sinatra, Martin and Davis by Ocean’s Rat Pack – and more.

Getting there is easy. Handicap parking will be available along Fullerton Avenue. The Metra Milwaukee District West Line’s stop at 75th and Grand is directly in front of Central Park. A shuttle service will run from John Mills School, the Parks & Recreation Center and Elm Middle School. More Info:

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Pizza at Massa Cafe

Grayson personnel le released, Stateville inmates ask to be moved

Preparations for the November election

are under way, with security a top priority

By CNI STAFF Capitol News Illinois

The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department late Wednesday released the personnel file of for mer deputy Sean Grayson, who is accused of the murder of Sonya Massey. Massey was shot to death in her home last month after calling for help during a mental health crisis. Grayson was fired after he was charged with first-degree murder last month. The 163-page personnel file begins in March of 2021, when Grayson applied to the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department. At the time, he was working part-time at both the Pawnee and Kincaid Police Departments. In his application he listed an Illinois State Police trooper, a Capitol Police Officer and a for mer Ar my buddy as references. On his application Grayson wrote that he had received an honorable discharge from the military. His discharge papers included with his personnel file show that Grayson was issued a general discharge under honorable circumstances and did not finish his term of duty.

In Grayson’s background investigation, Scott Butterfield, a longtime deputy with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department, provided a reference. In his interview, Butterfield said that Grayson was “a mellow and non-confrontational person.” Butterfield also disclosed that Grayson was dating his daughter. The two were scheduled to marry in October

Grayson underwent a psychological examination in March 2023 as part of the hiring process. Thomas Champion, a licensed psychologist, recommended Grayson as qualified for the job, but noted the assessment was subjective, not predictive Champion noted that Grayson scored low on the cognitive assessment and concluded that it will take Grayson “longer to learn, process and apply new materials as compared to others.” He further found that Grayson was “rigid and linear” in his thinking

“He knows he can move too fast at times He needs to slow down to make good decisions,” Champion wrote.

Champion added that experience and training would help.

The personnel file includes a letter written on Jan. 25, 2024, by Sheriff Jack Campbell. In the letter, Campbell passed along a compliment he received about Grayson from a woman who was the victim of a burglary and fraud.

“It’s professionalism like you displayed that makes a difference to the people you come into contact with,” Campbell wrote. “Thank you for your diligence in your duties and for remembering that helping the citizens in Sangamon County of the main role we play.”

Massey, 36, was unarmed when she was shot in the kitchen of her home on July 6. She called the police to request help after she said she heard someone outside of her house.

Stateville prisoners ask judge to move or release them

A little more than a month after 51-year- old Michael Broadway died ins ide Stateville Co rrectional C enter, those incarcerated in the prison this week asked a judge to force the transfer – or release – of men serving time in the nearly 100-year- old facility

Chicago law firm Loevy and Loevy filed the motion as part of an ongoing federal class action lawsuit, Dobbey v. Weilding, that claims the state’s failure to properly maintain Stateville has led to dangerous and unsanitary conditions, rendering the prison in Crest Hill uninhabitable.

T he filing asks the federal c ourt overseeing the c ase to order the I llinois Department of Co rrections to create a p lan of transfer or release of all class members of the lawsuit by Au g ust 12, wh il e requesting all transfers or releases happ en by Se p tember 20.

The motion – which states class members “reported excessive heat and poor ventilation” the day Broadway died – also references a state-commissioned facilities re port published last year that called Stateville one of three Illinois prisons that were nearly “inoperable.”

Gov. JB P ritzker has cited the re po rt as

a catalyst for his March announcement that he’d seek to close and rebuild b oth Stateville and Lo g an Co rrectional C enter in Lincoln.

In a series of hearings in May and June, IDOC officials indicated they planned to keep Logan open while building a new facility – which may move to the Stateville campus – but could close Stateville as soon as September, temporarily moving those inmates to other prisons during the rebuild process.

The plans face significant opposition from surrounding communities and AFSCME, the union that re presents most correctional officers and other prison workers, though they all ag reed that the facilities’ need for improvements was dire.

Would-be sta union pushes back on Speaker Welch

Staffers for Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch are pushing back on the speaker’s arguments that a judge should dismiss a lawsuit filed against him to force reco gnition of their union.

In a new filing this week, the would-be union dubbed the Illinois Legislative Staf f Association once again asked a Cook County judge to rule that Welch is depriving his staf f of the right to org anize and collectively bargain, thus violating a voter-approved 2022 addition to the state constitution that guarantees Illinois workers that right.

Welch has maintained the Workers Rights Amendment doesn’t change a state law that specifically bars legislative employees from being able to form a union and has pointed to his sponsorship and passage of legislation through the House that would change the law.

But the bill has not made any progress in the Senate, which ILSA alleges is evidence of Welch privately colluding with Senate President Don Harmon to stop their unionization ef fort

ILSA sued Welch in May and in June, the speaker claimed the lawsuit was “forum shopping” after the Illinois Labor Relations Board refused to certify the union in 2023. He also pointed to the fact that ILSA failed to appeal the ILRB’s decision as evidence the would-be union’s lawsuit was merely posturing.

But the ILSA this week said the state board’s decision told them to instead resolve the issue in the courts, and called Welch’s argument to the contrary “bizarre.”

E orts to protect election workers

A new state law is changing the kind of identification badge that election judges and poll workers wear in Illinois in an effort to protect their safety.

Starting this year, the badges will no longer display the person’s name, ward, precinct, or township. Instead, they will wear badges with a unique identification number that say they’re authorized by their local court.

That was one of several changes made in an omnibus elections bill, House Bill 4488, Pritzker signed into law last month.

Tazwell County Clerk John Ackerman said at a news conference Thursday that the change is intended to protect election workers by deescalating potentially tense situations at the polls.

“When they approach the individual, they’ll talk to ‘Betty Sue’ differently than they’ll talk to an officer of the circuit court,” he said. “So that little pause … may give them time to think about what they want to say, how they want to say it, and just gives them the few minutes of pause before they continue.”

The Illinois State Board of Elections also provides emergency contact information that can be put on the back in case an incident does happen.

Election authorities say they are working to add protections in and around polling places as another layer of election security.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is funded primaril y by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCor mick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.

Farmers Market celebrates summer with Corn Roast

The Aug. 10 event takes place during National Farmers Market Week

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Far mers Market will host its popular “Corn Roast” Aug. 10, allowing locals to enjoy fresh-roasted corn.

Far mers market growers will sell fresh-roasted corn by ear from 9:30 a.m. until supplies are gone. Credit cards will not be accepted for purchasing roasted corn, so locals are encouraged to bring cash. An ear of corn will cost $3.

This event will be in celebration of National Far mers Market Week, according to a village news release, which is Au through Aug. 10.

“This year ’s c elebration highlights the vital role far mer markets pl ay in our nation’s food system,” officials said in the release

Oak Park’s market began in 1976 and now hosts more than 25 vendors who sell various items including produce, meat, cheese, baked goods, breads, flowers, honey and grains from far ms in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michig an.

The Oak Park Far mers Market, which takes place at the Pilgrim Cong re gational Church parking lot at 460 Lake St., is open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until Oct. 26. Free parking is available during market hours.

The Corn Roast will also be a “zero-waste event,” according to village officials, meaning corn cobs, wrappers and take-aw bags will all be compostable.

The far mers market has a new program where shoppers can take or leave a reusable bag while browsing the market, accord ing to the release. Anyone can donate or take a bag from the clothesline hanging from the cooling tent.

The annual far mers market pie bake-off will be Sept. 7. Re gistration is now open, and any level baker can sign up online. Entries are accepted until Aug. 29. Ten entries will be selected for participation.

German mayor to participate in Oak Park panel discussion

The event will be 5 p.m., Aug. 7 at village hall

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Mayor André Dora of Datteln, Germany, will participate in a panel discussion about peace and unity at 5 p.m. Aug. 7 at Village Hall.

Anyone can attend the event in the council chambers at room 201 on 123 Madison St. Dora, Village President Vicki Scaman and Oak Park resident Alan Hoffstadter will be participants on the panel. The panel will be moderated by Oak Parker Linda Francis

According to a village news release, the event will start with a traditional German welcoming. The panelists will discuss peace and unity, especially in spaces that have historically been divided, according to village of ficials.

Scaman and Dora are both members of Mayors for Peace, according to the release, the purpose of which is to work toward a world without nuclear weapons, support safe and resilient cities and promoting a culture of peace.

Before the panel, Dora and guests will tour

the Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio, Unity Temple, the Oak Park River Forest Museum and Village Hall. They will also enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in the Hemingway District, according to the release. Hof fstadter, one of the panelists, discovered that his f amily ’s German roots are connected to Datteln, where Dora is mayor, according to a previous Wednesday Journal ar ticl e. His mother, Charlotte Goldberg, fled Datteln in 1933 at age 15. Today, Datteln is a town with a population of about 35,000 residents.

During Hoffstadter’s time tracing his heritage, he developed a relationship with the mayor and residents of Datteln, according to Wednesday Journal. The town awarded him the Etienne Bach Prize, “which honors individuals who are committed to promoting understanding and reconciliation between people of different, historically adve r sarial, cultures.”

Scaman also has German r oots, according to the ar ticl e. S he is the firs t in her mother ’s f amily to be bo rn in the United States.

Peter Preston, Julia Preston and Jen Preston eat corn on the cob dur ing the Farmers Market annual cor n roast fundraiser in 2021.

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Empowering Every Voice at Perennial SLP

At Perennial SLP (formerly Lakeview Speech), our Speech-Language Pathologists use evidencebased, client-centered approaches to foster authentic growth in an inclusive and supportive environment. We believe communication is a human right, and follow a relationship-based model centered on connection, self-advocacy, and autonomy.

Why Choose Us?

• Strengths-Based, Neurodiversity-Affirming Approaches: We tailor our services to focus on strengths, empowering our clients to build their self-confidence and expression.

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Studio 928 is a spa-inspired creative space designed to combine the therapeutic bene ts of art with the soothing atmosphere of a spa, a sanctuary where creativity, relaxation and great vibes coexist.

Founded in 2018 by Cheryl Vargas, Studio 928 has evolved from a simple art space into a creative haven

ABOUT US

A Creative and Soothing Environment

Ambiance: The studio is designed with calming colors, soft lighting, and a serene decor encouraging a peaceful mindset for artistic expression.

Aromatherapy: We incorporate essential oils and calming scents to enhance relaxation and focus during creative sessions.

Complimentary Teas: We o er a variety of calming teas during our adult art experiences.

A SPA-INSPIRED CREATIVE SPACE

for art lovers, one block south of OPRF High School.

Believing in the therapeutic benefits of art, we blend the tranquility, sounds and aromas of a spa with a space where creativity flourishes. We returned to Oak Park in May of 2024 after painting with corporate teams like Netflix and the Gates Foundation from the founder’s La Grange dining room.

Artistic O erings:

After School Art Jam: Provides tweens to teens with a creative outlet after school. Designed to foster artistic skills building a sense of community among young artists.

Creative Bonds: Tailored for moms and newborns, this program o ers a unique bonding experience through art. Mothers can engage in creative activities while connecting with their babies in a supportive environment.

Naturally Artistic: Guided meditation and a multi-medium class using acrylics and chalk pastel to create beautiful organic plants, owers and other items in nature.

Team-Building Events: Studio 928 o ers corporate and team-building events that promote collaboration and creativity in a relaxed setting.

Event Space: We o er 2600 square feet of open space for holiday parties, birthdays and special events.

The studio caters to artists of all ages, from tweens to teams. From our impactful After School Art Jam for tweens and teens to specialized art workshops for adults like Creative Bonds for moms and newborns. Each session at Studio 928 is designed to nurture artistic exploration and provide a supportive and calming atmosphere. Experience the Power of Art at Studio 928 where art and wellness coexist naturally.

FEATURED EVENTS (PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED)

Saturday, August 10

Oasis, A Young Creatives Art Exhibition, 5pm to 9pm

Thursday, August 15

After School Art Jam (Daily), 3:30 to 5:00 pm

Tuesday, August 20

Naturally Artistic (Tuesdays - adults), 10:30 am to 1 pm

Sunday, August 25

Home and Kodachrome: An Art Show & Reception, 5pm - 9pm (all ages)

Wednesday, September 4

Creative Bonds (Wednesday’s - moms/newborns), 1pm-2pm

We pride ourselves on UNIQUE, one-of-a-kind, handmade art items. We love to talk about art and creative collaborations. We invite mini-makers and artisans to sell the wares, so please STOP BY!

Experience the unique blend of art and relaxation at Studio 928. Located at 451 South Boulevard, Oak Park, IL

For more information and to sign up for classes, visit studio928.net or call us at 312-371-9526 STOP BY FOR VISIT TO OUR GIFT SHOP

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Start your journey with the Jr. Huskies Basketball League! Our program is designed for boys & girls grades 3-8, focusing on building foundational skills and basketball competence. Experience skills academies, leagues, and camps that align with the OPRF Huskie basketball system.

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Don’t miss out on this chance to train like a future Huskie! Register now at jrhuskiesbball.com and secure your spot today. For more information, contact us at jrhuskiesfeeder@gmail.com. Let’s bring basketball back to prominence in our community!

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If walls could talk: Local residents share vintage items they found in their homes

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

We’ve all heard the phrase “if these walls could talk,” and it conjures up a home with a long history of secrets that remains unrevealed. Sometimes, those secrets are revealed after they are disturbed during a renovation. Several local homeowners share stories of history uncovered in their homes

Debbie Borman has found a number of items in her River Forest home, which was built in 1911. She laughs because people are always expecting to find three things hidden in walls: money, guns or alcohol.

She hasn’t found anything too alarming. Her contractors did discover three bottles from the 1960s in her ceiling, and while renovating an older home in Oak Park, she said that a contractor found a small pipe and marijuana bag, which, she noted, “were not ancient.”

In her current house, she’s found some older items. When she had work done on her bathroom, contractors discovered very brittle newspapers in the rafters. The article remnants dated to December 1917.

“It’s so ironic, they were talking about some of the same things we’re talking about now,” Borman said. “It’s very cool to imagine who lived here then.”

Earlier this summer, she uncovered a toy bus under the stairs. With some research, she determined it dated to the 1940s or 1950s.

Borman keeps tabs on neighboring homes as well.

“All of the houses on my side of the street were built by one builder between 1911 and 1913,” she explained. “Whenever anything’s being done, I always ask my neighbors if they found anything.”

Borman’s neighbor Trudi Ross has lived in her house for 47 years and said she’s fourth g eneration River Forest. Her bungalow was built in the 1920s and she found newspapers dating to 1926 in the attic when they added insulation to the home.

See VINTAGE ITEMS on pa ge 33

Items found in the walls of Marta Stewart-Bates’ home in Oak Park.

VINTAGE ITEMS

Hidden treasures from page 31

After her husband dismantled a pantry added by for mer owners in the basement, they found an advertisement for bread painted on a board. Ross saved the sign and hung it in their kitchen.

Ross said her husband Jim likes to dig in

the garden, which is where he found an old milk bottle and toy car.

Ross grew up in a home around the corner that her great grandfather built in the late 1800s. Her parents lived in the house for more than 60 years, and when they sold it, Ross found photos of the front and backyard of the far mhouse. She made copies and gave them to the new owners, along with a copy of an early property tax bill, reflecting taxes of $47.

Marta Stewart-Bates benefitted from a similar kind act. When her family moved

who had lived in the home for 50 years, left behind a box of items found in the walls

A kitchen renovation in the 1990’s yielded a newspaper dated 1898, as well as a number small objects. Stewart-Bates said the seller left them in a box with a letter asking that the items be passed down with the house.

“We were thrilled. We didn’t expect this,” she said.

She called the items “so neat.”

“They came out of the box and are now on display in our living room,” she said. “Houseguests love to look at them.”

When Stewart-Bates had a ceiling light placed, the contractor found some of the riginal wallpaper with a pattern of red berries, and she framed a fragment of the paper to enjoy the intricate patter n.

She said that if her family ever moves, they plan to leave the items for the next homeowners.

Dave Ksander of Von Dreele Freerksen, an Oak Park general contractor, said that workers often discover items hiding in the walls the local historic homes they renovate.

Items run the gamut: a board signed by a home’s original carpenters, a 1900s-era pipe,

One of many items found in Marta

toys from the 1870s, a Japanese battle flag. Ksander said that homeowners are always excited when historic items are discovered. The company documents some of the treasures on their website at: http://vdfconstruction.com/interesting-finds

Stewar t-Bates’ home in Oak Park

TRUDI ROSS

Toy car found in Trudi Ross’ garden.

Our beautiful 6-story building provides quality, a ordable, independent housing for seniors. e Oaks o ers studio and one-bedroom apartments, with kitchens and private bathrooms. Amenities include an award winning interior landscaped atrium, central meeting room, library, laundry facilities, computer learning center, internet access, electronic key entry system, and parking.

On-site management includes 24/7 emergency maintenance service and a senior services coordinator who is available during business hours to assist residents in accessing service agencies and programs designed speci cally for seniors. e Oaks is owned and operated by the Oak Park Residence Corporation and is funded by the US Department of Housing and Ur-ban Development through the 202/ Section 8 Program. Monthly rent is based on the resident’s income, with individuals paying approximately 30% of their monthly income toward rent. For

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor

Ken Trainor at 613-3310

ktrainor@wjinc.com

C ONSCIOUS A

GING

e Few, e Proud, e Older

Irecently had the opportunity to take my 11-year-old granddaughter to her softball tournament in Des Moines, Iowa. Just me and her for the weekend. Most of the grandparents reading this will know why I am smiling

Because of a confluence of scheduling problems, I was the only one in the family who ould make the trip. At my stage life, hanging out with my grandaughter for the whole weekend was certainly a gift, even with a -hour drive to Iowa. Part of onscious aging is recognizing not ust the losses in growing older but also the opportunities

BLESOFF

My granddaughter’s team drew the 8 a.m. game, Friday mor ning, which means arriving at the field by 7 am. It was a really nice eight-field complex, well kept, well organized and surrounded by cornfields. As we arrived, one of the cornfields was being bulldozed I’m not a coach, so I had to buy a general admission ticket. As I paid my entry fee for the weekend, the two young volunteers sitting at the ticket table informed me of the 50% senior rate. I thought “Sure, why not?” and inquired whether I got any discounts at the concession stands. No, all I got was the half-price admission fee. I paid my money and they carefully and competently placed the neon-pink band around my wrist that I would wear for the next three days

Players and coaches didn’t have wristbands, but the hundreds of parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends all had them on for the weekend. It wasn’t until Friday evening that I noticed most of the hundreds of wristbands were neon-yellow. At that moment, I realized that my wristband was different, that I was visibly identified as old and having paid half-price. There was no difference between a yellow or a pink wristband except for the entry fee amount — no reduced prices for food or drink, no entry into a special raffle, etc

I didn’t feel any different than the hundreds of other spectators wearing yellow wristbands. I felt like I knew the game of softball and that, like everybody else, I was there to root on my team and my player. But I did feel a twinge about being dif ferent every time I looked at my wrist. Part of me felt like old people got pink wristbands,

VIEWPOINTS

in front of Mt.

around 1905.

Recently, the Oak Park Reparations Task Force presented a specific proposal for reparations in Oak Park, and the task force would like to address the pushback voiced in these editorial pages.

In response to Trustee Lucia Robinson’s ask for a deeper historical study of the village’s discrimination against Black residents, I ask if she has read the task force report? (https://docs.google. com/document/d/1Amtr4N9kpuH69H5U-cyfiQY-gF9XAu2moWjL1uwbR88/edit?usp=sharing)

The task force spent nearly three years researching the history that went into our 82-page report, which is heavily cited. The task force met several times with historians Frank Lipo and Rachel Berlinski at the Oak Park River Forest Museum, as well as spending hours at the West Town Museum of Cultural History in Maywood. We also combed through materials at Dominican University, the Cook County Clerk’s Office, the Chicago Public Library’s microfiche collection as well as the Oak Park Public Library’s holdings

We read and discussed From Here to Equality (Darity and Mullen, 2020) and Suburban Promised Land (West, et al., 2009). It is a documented fact, not an anecdote, that Mt. Car mel Baptist Church bur ned down on Christmas 1928

under mysterious circumstances, and its loss unraveled the Black community centered on Williams, now Westgate, Street. The census and newspaper records tell us that. The 1920 and 1930 plat surveys show that the lots on Williams Street, now Westgate, were resurveyed and renumbered. It is a fact that the land now occupied by The Emerson, among other businesses, is some of the most valuable taxed land in the village.

The task force presented the history relevant to our specific requests; there is no need to reinvent the wheel. This ask for more history is clearly a delay tactic meant to impugn the credibility of the task force’s work and claims We need a village board apology for this very specific history and the Julian family’s discrimination that we cited in our presentation to begin the reparations process. The fact that they were unwilling to give one on July 16, after adopting reparations as a board goal two years prior in 2022, is disappointingly troubling.

***

In response to Mr. Knickelbein’s letter to the editor [There needs to be a plan before reparations, Viewpoints, July 31], he is incorrect to say that there does not appear

PROVIDED

Parishioners

Carmel Baptist Church in Oak Park on what is now Westgate. e photo was taken

e price of village hall

It took better than a year for Oak Park’s village board to move from its bold but nonsensical idea of demolishing its notable village hall on Madison Street to a decision to substantially renovate its landmark building while building an entirely new police station.

Let’s hear it for the citizen committee tasked by the board to consider options and to the preservation-minded architectural consultant who steered Oak Park back from that bold brink of demolition.

The building Harry Weese designed for Oak Park 50 years ago is outstanding and a bricks-and-mortar buildout of the governing values Oak Park touts. Most village staff sit out in open spaces, not behind closed doors. Elected officials convene in a chamber where citizens are uppermost and the village board is physically at their feet.

Now if only any of the critical systems in the damned building — heating, air conditioning, sound management — actually worked, we would be in better shape. If we had not come to a place in this nation where we have to worry about a lack of an exit route for elected officials, then reusing the venerable council chambers would be easier. And if we had understood back in the 1970s that sequestering the police department in the windowless basement of village hall was worse than shortsighted, we would not be facing the cost of a brand new cop shop

Given all that, the village seems ready to address shortcomings that have been obvious for at least a couple of decades. Good for them.

While the direction is now clear, the cost of this major fix is going to be large. And that appears to be the next contentious discussion on this board. Previous cost estimates have pegged the price of a full redo and new police station at north of $130 million. Some trustees are asking for a plan that won’t exceed $100 million.

While we all want elected officials who are laser-focused on costs, this isn’t the moment to squeeze nickels. This is a once-in-multiple-generations investment in critical facilities. Oak Park needs to have a seat of gover nment and a public safety building that are better than merely functional. We must aspire for better than that.

A ordable housing wins

Oak Park’s village gover nment has a stated goal this year of creating more affordable housing. It took a proud step forward last month when it approved a special-use permit to build 36 units of such housing at 1106 Madison St.

The units are reserved for individuals with lower incomes and with some level of disability. The Keystone Apartments will be a partnership between the Interfaith Housing Development Corporation and Housing Forward, two of the village’s outstanding nonprofit agencies. Another win for the village

Clarmarie Keenan

The elected supervisor of Oak Park Township, Clarmarie Keenan, died last week at 66. She was a notable leader in local gover nment for decades. She also played vital roles at the Nineteenth Century Club, Rotary and the local chamber

She was an essential and committed Oak Parker for the past quarter century.

Will the cycle be unbroken?

Fifty years ago this summer, I graduated from college, and for my graduation present my parents gave me a 10-speed bicycle. I’m pretty sure this was my dad’s idea. My mom never learned to ride a bike — not sure why — so it would be out of character for her to suggest a bike as a graduation present. At the time, I thought it an odd choice too, but as modes of transportation go, a care for each of their six boys wasn’t in the budget. I don’t know what my five brothers received, but a bike tur ned out to be quite a good present.

In fact, I’m still riding it I didn’t appreciate how special this bike was at the time. My dad purchased the opaque red Schwinn Le Tour 10 speed from Barnard’s Cyclery on North Avenue (since 1911). Says so, right on the bike frame decal. A few years back, I brought the bike in for a tune-up. They didn’t seem overly impressed when I told them about its origin, but I’m sure they see plenty of fancier, more impressive bikes these days. One day, though, as I was riding on the Salt Creek Trail, a serious biker (judging by his outfit) sped by, glanced at my bike and came to a sudden stop. “Whoa,” he said. “Is that a Le Tour?”

KEN

TRAINOR

seat. How I couldn’t bear to detach that seat for many years after he graduated to his own bike (Dylan was in high school by then). How my bike (and I) enjoyed a renaissance when I took it in 25 years ago for a restoration and finally had the seat removed. How I started to wonder if it would last 30, then 40, and now 50 years. In all those years, I don’t think I’ve used more than three of the 10 gears, which is probably an apt metaphor for the way I’ve lived my life. How many gears have you used in the road race of your life? But in baseball, going three for 10 over a career will get you in the hall of fame. This bike earned its way into my hall of fame

A 1974 Schw inn ad shows o their new LeTour model race r, plus some classic 1970’s fashion. And no, the guy in the plaid shor ts is not me.

In fact a 1974 Le Tour, the first year for that model. Schwinn didn’t make them. They imported the bikes from Panasonic in Japan. Schwinn wanted a lightweight racer to compete with other bike companies’ “road bikes.” It was marketed as “Schwinn Approved” — Japanese designed and engineered, American branded, with a French moniker. According to the Frugal Average Bicyclist website, the 1974 Le Tour cost $159.95. My dad got his money’s worth — at any rate I sure did. At 30 pounds, the Le Tour isn’t lightweight by moder n standards, but it’s sturdy and rides beautifully. In fact it glides, even a half-century later. It (and I) survived T-boning a car (the brakes didn’t work in the rain), and I was thrown from the bike one other time (a downed tree across the trail during a thunderstor m).

I’ve written about this bike before: how my son Dylan spent many hours in his first few years in the mid-’80s riding behind me in the attached bike

I’ve often wondered how many miles my trusty Le Tour has logged beneath me. Surely a global circumference. Around the world in 50 years. But I didn’t log any miles during its 48th and 49th years. So when the anniversary rolled around this June, I was deter mined to give it a workout. I brought it to my grandsons’ house for the duration of their summer vacation, and we’ve had a wonderful time biking, first around town, then along the Prairie Path. Eventually, I hung my bike and one of theirs on my ancient bike rack and wedged the other bike in the back seat of the car, and we headed to Morton Arboretum to ride the East and West loops. They weren’t accustomed to defying uphill gravity (neither was I), so there was plenty of grousing, but the downhills — ah, the downhills were a revelation.

We glided. We practically flew

“We need to do more of this!” exclaimed Bryce. “That was so much fun!” agreed Tyler. This was the summer they became dedicated cyclists. I thought about my dad, who turned 50 the year he gave me this bike. If he had lived, we would be celebrating his 100th birthday. Instead, I celebrated the bike’s half-centennial with his great-grandsons, whom he never saw. Before he died, I told him how much this bike meant to me. He would have loved watching us glide on this downside. Their ride is just beginning.

Thanks again, Dad, for a remarkable gift.

One that keeps on graduating.

SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck

Heat safety: a rising concern

July 22, 2024, was the hottest day on record, according to NASA’s analysis of global daily temperature data. As climate change pushes temperatures higher, “heat safety” is becoming an essential part of our vocabulary.

Take the heatwave in Chicago in 1995, for example. Over 725 residents, mostly elderly, poor and Black, lost their lives due to a combination of extreme heat and lack of air conditioning. This tragic event is documented in the film Cooked: Survival by Zip Code, which highlights the disproportionate impact of heatwaves on vulnerable communities.

If you don’t have air conditioning, there are several ways to stay cool: Open Windows at Night, Close Them During the Day: Use box fans to draw out hot air and bring in cooler air at night. In the mor ning, open north and west windows, then switch to east and north windows in the after noon.

Limit Sunshine in Your Home:

Keep your home cooler by closing curtains or blinds on east-facing windows in the morning and south and west windows from mid-day to early evening.

Use Cooling Machines: Try placing a bucket of ice in front of a fan, or invest in a standing air-conditioning unit that vents out a window. You can also use a fan that adds moisture to the air.

Put Wet Washcloths in the Freezer: Use them on your skin throughout the day, and try cooling your pillowcase before bedtime for a more comfortable sleep.

Visit a Local Cooling Center: Oak Park offers cooling centers where you can escape the heat and stay safe, such as Oak Park Public Library branches and Oak Park Temple at 1235 N. Harlem Ave.

Learn more about heat safety: www.oak-park.us/heatsafety24.

If you do have air conditioning, consider using these tips to reduce

your usage to help cut greenhouse gas emissions, which are driving climate change. One of the best things you can do is start researching how to switch to a heat pump or mini-splits if/when your heating & cooling system fails in the next 10 years. Lear n more about cutting energy use: opcan.org

And check in on your neighbors, especially the elderly, people who live alone, pregnant people and those who work outside, such as your letter carriers.

The Climate Ready Oak Park plan has an “Extreme Weather and Resiliency” section. You can find it at www sustainoakpark.com.

Staying cool and safe in extreme heat is crucial, especially as we face the realities of a warming planet. Let’s all do our part to protect ourselves and each other.

Laurie Casey

One Earth Local, Climate Ready OP , and OPCAN

WEDNESDAY

JOURNAL

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.

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Shaping our housing future

Oak Parkers have much to be proud of in our community’s history of bold action to ensure fair access to housing — but continuing that legacy requires a break from the inadequate and largely ineffectual policies the village has adopted in recent years. Unless we advocate more forward-looking approaches, the Oak Park of the future will lose its identity as a national example of equitable housing that supports a vibrant, racially diverse community.

DIVERSIT Y OAK PARK

One View

The 2024 independent report by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC), commissioned by the village, found that of the 1,676 total rental units built in the last 12 years, only 50 were af fordable for the average resident. At the same time Oak Park housing prices have outstripped income growth. The re port also notes that these troubling trends have been accompanied by growing racial segregation and a 10-year decline of Black residents from 24 to 18 percent.

The consensus conclusion of the MMC and hundreds of community participants in interviews and surveys is that the village must prioritize the construction of affordable housing by strengthening our weak Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and by sponsoring the construction of middle-sized housing like townhouses, duplexes, and structures with 5-12 units

Diversity Oak Park set forth specific proposals for a more effective, affordable, and racially equitable policy in Wednesday Jour nal and to village trustees earlier this year (https://www. oakpark.com/2024/01/02/a-newhousing-ordinance/)

In the late 1960s and ’70s, Oak Park fostered housing opportunity through intentional integration — efforts to counteract open prejudice against nonwhite families looking to buy or rent homes. Sustaining the effort required a host of programs and a community relations committee.

Today, the village’s lack of affordable housing is the primary factor driving re-segregation. For example, the neighborhoods with the fewest rental homes and least variety in housing options are also the least racially diverse.

Maintaining equitable access to housing in Oak Park requires a new and varied set of tools to support affordability — policies that communities across the country have found successful. But these policies face opposition from developers who would prefer not to build affordable units and homeowners who fear that higher-density development will lower their property values.

Montgomery County in Maryland, which in 1973 was the first adopter of Inclusionary Housing in the country, boasts one of the strongest public-school systems in the country, requires all private

housing developers to set aside affordable units (regardless of whether they require zoning changes, the more common trigger for a municipality’s affordable housing requirements). New Jersey requires that all townships provide their fair share of affordable housing, based on the population and demographics of each town. And both Chicago and Evanston have more robust Inclusionary Housing Ordinances and use zoning approvals more effectively than Oak Park to require new developments to contribute affordable homes to communities.

The commonly heard claims about affordable housing developments reducing property values do not align with the evidence, according to Princeton sociologist Matthew Desmond Ultimately, Oak Park faces a bigger question: will we join other forward-looking communities in enacting policies that reflect our values as a vibrant, inclusive community? Or will we continue our drift away from the village’s legacy of courageous action on housing opportunity? Please join Diversity Oak Park in demanding concrete action from the village administration to create a meaningful, pro-affordability zoning policy and to draft a comprehensive, community-approved housing plan based on the report’s findings and recommendations. Email us at rhlee@ comcast.net or rohini.chojnacki@gmail. com and join the effort to make Oak Park a place of housing opportunity

Antisemitism and OPRF

Jim Poznak [Don’t claim to speak for everyone, Viewpoints, July 24] is the latest person to use the ter m “As a Jew” as a key phrase in a letter to the editor. In his letter, he uses the phrase to diminish the claims of alleged anti-Jewish behavior at Oak Park and River Forest High School. He uses his status as a Jew to make his feelings more important than the actual experiences of a group of Jewish students, their parents, and supporters.

Their experiences are the latest in a decades-long history of anti-Jewish behavior at OPRF directed at Jewish students and faculty.

This was forcefully reinforced by a Chicago Tribune/Oak Leaves article (https://

tinyurl.com/yxpycfe9) reporting on the resignation of a longtime History teacher and for mer student, citing rampant antisemitism, and the failure of OPRF to meaningfully respond.

OPRF Superintendent Johnson is quoted in the article as saying, “We will continue to work hard in both visible and invisible ways to support our Jewish students and faculty members.” To me, this is a tacit admission of the problems at the high school. But it is also a cop out. Can the District 200 administration and school board be held accountable for the effectiveness of its actions if they are “invisible”? Of course they can, but only if the problems are, as Mr. Poznak implies, nonexistent.

If Kushner can do it, why can’t

Oak Park?

Regarding the issues of redevelopment and missing-middle housing [Oak Park works to expand ‘missing middle’ housing, News, July 31] the Wednesday Jour nal editorial [Our Views, Viewpoints, July 31] harkens back to the tallbuilding era of the for mer village president and lack of vision of the current board and staff. As an example of the benefits of the days-of-yore, it touts the windfall transfer-tax collection from the sale of the Emerson Building, while ignoring the reality of that being a one-time revenue bump.

During his campaign for a seat on the village board, Brian Straw pointed out that the owners of the tall buildings have generally and successfully appealed the property value assessments, reducing the property taxes collected on those structures, and putting the stress back on residential properties, particularly single-family homes. This year under the County Assessor’s new methodology, the burden on homeowners was exacerbated, while taxes will be reduced on commercial properties, such as the tallbuildings

Meanwhile, the current village board is discussing eliminating the classification of singlefamily housing zoning districts to increase density and the number of affordable units. In general, that’s a pipe-dream. There isn’t going to be a wave of demolitions in single-family districts heralding redevelopment with multi-unit buildings on those lots.

Let me remind the readers of this newspaper that antisemites do not care whether you are this Jew, or that Jew. Whether you are an atheist or ultra-observant. Whether you wear a kippah or not. Whether you are European or Moroccan, Ethiopian or South American. Whether you live in Israel or in the Diaspora.

In fact, as David Nirenberg wrote in his book Anti-Judaism, hatred of Jews sometimes flourished after societies rid themselves of their Jews. When there are no more Jews around, feed the hunger for hate by accusing non-Jews of so-called “Jewish” behaviors.

Alan Peres Oak Park

The window for affordable units in the era (or is it error?) of tall buildings has passed and developers, including the Emerson Building, skated right past it under the village’s for mer leadership. And don’t get me started on how that same leadership ignored Roosevelt Road and North Avenue.

The state of Illinois mandated that local municipalities plan, adopt and enforce affordable housing requirements back in 2006. Yet buildings like the Emerson, Vantage and others went up with few if any affordable units. Looking for examples of development in other areas I found one in New Jersey, the land of my youth, in of all places toney Colts Neck, current home of such icons as Bruce Springsteen and Jon Stewart. There, the often and with good reason vilified Kushner corporation is building a new 360-unit rental complex and 20% of the units are affordable apar tments

Geez, if Jared can do it, why not Oak Park? Chris Donovan, Oak Park

In Oak Park, we have two perennial complaints — parking and property taxes. In spite of our perpetual complaints about the latter, our property taxes have been a huge factor in making Oak Park special. We get a lot of great services that aren’t readily apparent to the entire community If you don’t have kids in the public schools, it’s easy to discount all the wonderful services they provide to our community If you’re not a senior citizen, it’s easy to be unaware of the services Oak Park Township offers to our seniors. The services that are important to you, you can readily appreciate, but what happens to all of our tax dollars? It’s easy to assume that we don’t get the bang for our buck that we feel we deser ve, so we complain.

One entity that almost all of us are aware of is our park district. Most of us appreciate the part of it that is most prominent in our lives: the swimming pools, the playing fields, the skating rink, the gymnastics center, the Conservatory, the field houses and their programs, the passive beauty of the parks, the tennis/pickleball courts, the special events of all sorts, the mansions, the senior programs, and last, but not least, the new

MARK BLESOFF

A proud older

from page 35

Finishing the job

Community Rec Center (CRC) with its many options. Seldom do we consider just how extensive the programming is. The park district does all of this and more while receiving just 4.7% of our property taxes.

TERRY GRACE

One View

It appears to me that all of this is not fully appreciated by our community at large. The park district has to operate in a land-locked, land-limited community. Yet ours is one of the most renowned park districts in the country for a mid-sized community, also as one of the most environmentally-conscious park districts. Check out their awards. There are many.

One thing, though, is missing in the Park District’s programming: Phase 2 of the CRC, offering an indoor pool for lap swimmers, and a warm-water pool for seniors and the lessabled for aqua therapy. I’ve heard the arguments: there are other options; it’s a waste of the taxpayers’ money; I don’t swim; and other complaints. I would like to address these.

The YMCA, FFC, and potentially the High School. When I checked the pool schedule for the Y, I found that unless you choose to swim very early in the mor ning, there are limited

NANC Y ALEXANDER

Reparations Now

from page 35

options for lap swimmers. They have swim lessons, family swims, and other pool activities. And the membership fees range up to $63/month. Availability is limited and, for some, expensive. FFC is expensive, $139/month. The big community argument is for the park district to share facilities with the high school when the new expansion is completed, including a new deluxe swimming pool. But they will have swimming classes throughout the day, M-F for students. After and before school, the girls and boys swim, diving and water polo teams will be working out and practicing. My understanding is the school and the swim community have visions of our swim teams being competitive with the top teams in the state. If so, available times for community lap swimming are going to be very limited, probably in flux, and unclear to most of the community. While the idea has great appeal given our focus on property taxes, the reality may very well be unrealistic.

Oak Park has no warm water pool. As a senior citizen, I am very conscious of this omission. Our senior population is growing,

so the need for this option is also growing. The less abled also deserve a program that can address some of their needs. The closest war m-water pools, to my knowledge, are either at Loyola Fitness Center in Maywood or at the Gottlieb Fitness Center in Melrose Park. Both require monthly memberships, which will challenge our lower-income citizens, and both are some distance from Oak Park.

The issue in Oak Park always comes down to property taxes. Understood. It’s a challenge for homeowners with tight budgets. Because the costs for maintenance and utilities for a water component are high, the park district would have to raise property taxes $90/year on the median value home in Oak Park. Even though that comes to about $1.73/ week, it will not be appreciated by some. But the specific, tangible benefit for the community is worth that outlay. It will make a difference. Oak Park is a community full of giving and caring people. If we perceive a clear and specific need and benefit for our citizens and our community, I hope and believe that most of us would be willing to make that sacrifice.

Terry Grace is a resident of Oak Park

regular people got yellow wristbands. This “being othered” is another example of the unconscious bias of ageism.

I don’t have any data regarding how many other spectators noticed or cared about my neon-pink wristband. I’m sure some of them did, but the fact that I noticed and felt the difference is an example of inter nalized ageism.

What reason could there be to give older people a different colored wristband? I couldn’t come up with one except plain old habit. They’ve done it that way for years, so they just keep doing it that way. Maybe there used to be a reason, but nobody remembers it now and it’s just the way we do things.

On and off, I ke pt feeling different, and I was appreciating yet another example of how ageism can crop up anywhere, even at 7 a.m. on a Friday mor ning in the cornfields of Iowa.

By Saturday morning, however, I was thinking about my pink wristband differently. I started to think of it as a badge of honor

I was one of the few, the proud, the older

to be a plan for reparations. The task force detailed four very specific actions with a budget of money that does not come from taxpayers, but from inclusionary zoning funds, money paid by real estate developers in lieu of providing affordable units.

The 2022 Dominican survey he asks about, intended only for Oak Parkers of color, was tainted by responses from white folk, invalidating the survey. What the task force was able to glean from it was that most Black Oak Parkers do not trust village gover nment to provide any meaningful reparations. Danielle Walker’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Office at village hall had also planned to administer a reparations survey back in January 2024. I personally do not know anyone who has taken it, nor have those results, paid for with taxpayer funds, been released Also, Mr. Knickelbein demanded a “high burden of proof in order to qualify” for

reparations “in writing or substantially documented.” What the task force found, and the Reparations Committee in Evanston found, was that written evidence of property deeds, birth, marriage and death records, insurance, etc. have been systematically erased (if they were ever deemed important enough to archive). The differences between the two plat surveys of Williams Street, now Westgate, is an example of this. An employee at the County Clerk’s Office echoed this erasure. What does remain are newspaper accounts, photographs, personal letters and diaries, family histories and personal recollections. The task force’s request wasn’t for personal individual reparations, but for community reparations starting with an apology for specific, collective, documented har ms, and we provided the historical proof that exists. Will that proof ever be enough for Mr. Knickelbein?

Apparently not. Nevertheless, the Village Board of Trustees needs to act on its commitment, promised years ago, to do something on reparations besides grandstanding and delaying. Finally, saving the Percy Julian house is a community issue. The task force’s pro-

posal for the village to obtain the property is not without precedent — see Pleasant Home and Cheney Mansion. The Julian home’s history is so significant to the village that it’s used to promote Oak Park’s supposed racial openness. If Faith Julian had received any compensation for the times her family’s name and experience have been invoked to promote diversity in Oak Park, she wouldn’t need a GoFundMe to pay her property taxes. The loss of that home to a private developer or tax sale would be another erasure of Black history in Oak Park.

The village of Oak Park could continue to duck-and-dodge until the next board is elected and continue to rest on its self-proclaimed laurels. Or it could decide to take a visionary step, as it did with Open Housing in 1968, and begin the reparations process here with an apology and action on the four proposals of the Reparations Task Force.

Do the right thing, Oak Park. We are still waiting Nancy Alexander is a member of the Oak Park Reparations Task Force.

Julie Samuels, 80

Planning Oak Park’s future

Oak Park is essentially becoming a gated community without gates [OP trustees hire firm to create economic vitality plan, News, July 31]. Retailers have been migrating to the borders — or out of town. The interior has caught the fancy of folks who are willing and able to outbid others for homes and to bear the costs of government without the support of a significant industrial and commercial tax base. Put in a high-end golf course, move the few remaining gas stations to the borders, and Oak Park could be Geneva National with cross-traffic. Or, with a few more senior living facilities, The Villages.

It’s surely a useful exercise to envision a different future, but massive redevelopment and business corridors are a pipe dream. The footprint of the village is 125 years old and the land is fully built out. It would be much more efficient to start with an empty swath of land and design it from the ground up as a planned community than to attempt a radical retrofit of what is here. We can’t even figure out how to enable people to bike and/or walk safely from Point A to Point B.

Bob Stigger, Oak Park

Gar eld badly needs resurfacing

I have been reading so much about the banning of gas-powered leaf blowers, bike lanes, affordable housing, etc. However, no one talks about resurfacing Garfield Street which is in dire need of serious repairs. Not only that but I have seen vehicles hit potholes that have flattened their tire(s).

Can we have this conversation? I mean better streets is a public safety issue.

In addition maybe it should no longer allow access to Austin Boulevard. Crossing from Garfield in either direction to Austin is a deadly accident waiting to happen.

Steve Williams, Oak Park

e & environmental activist

Samuels, 80, a longtime Oak activist, died 19, 2024. June 14, 1944 in Cleveland, he attended Miami University at a time Freedom were being esistance. She d to New York amilies to . In the course of ho was doing reogram. Julie and Bruce were married in 1968 and moved to Oak Park in 1973.

They were lifelong champions of social and environmental issues. When she and Bruce applied for a mortgage for their own home, they were denied because it was “too old” — an excuse used to justify abandoning neighborhoods threatened with racial change. A community organizer at heart, she took leadership in a coalition fighting these “redlining” practices, achieving national legislation to end the practice. She was interviewed about her work on 60 Minutes. She believed in reduce-reuse-recycle and practiced it before the issue was well known, serving on the boards of the Chicago cling Coalition, the Safer Pest Control Proj ect, and the Illinois Environmental Council

She started a food co-op because she be lieved food should be “for people and not for profit.” She supported community dens in the Chicago communities of A North Lawndale, and Englewood, wo with Lillian Drummond at the Austin Satellite Senior Center, because gardens community and strengthened people’s power to address environmental and social tice concer ns

She worked with other residents to the village recycling program in the 1980s and later to establish the Southeast Oak Community Organization. She was active in village gover nment commissions and supporting candidates for local and state offices For seven years, she served as coordinator of the Illinois Affordable Budget Coalition to provide affordable utilities for low-income residents. She helped start the Green Party in Illinois and ran as its candidate for state representative in 2004 and lieutenant governor in 2006. Gover nor Pat Quinn appointed

her to the Chicago State University Board of Trustees. She worked with Open Lands from 1994 to 2013 doing community outreach and serving as Community Gardens Coordinator, including teaching at the Garfield Park Conservatory and volunteering with the Chicago Community Gardeners Association. She volunteered in her children’s schools and welcomed her children’s participation in her community activities. She shared laughs with her bridge group and her breakfast group (Women Organized for Meaningful Breakfasts or WOMB).

She believed, “A sustainable community is one that creates a small footprint and is selfsufficient, where money is recycled through locally owned businesses, where waste and toxins are eliminated, and local residents’ talents, skills, and insights are sought after and respected.”

Julie is survived by Bruce, her husband of over 50 years and biggest cheerleader, and her beloved children Rachel (Ty Smith), Aaron (Veneta), and Noah.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Aug. 31, at Pleasant Home, 217 Home Ave., Oak Park. Details will be updated on her page on Legacy.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Chicago Community Gardeners Association through their website at ChicagoCommunityGardens.org.

Dennis Kmiec, 76 Man of many interests

Dennis C. Kmiec, 76, of Oak Park, died suddenly on July 23, 2024. He earned his Master of Management degree from Northwestern University and his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois. A graduate en High School, Class of ’66, in the d in the Peace Corps in Malaysia and worked as an advisor in the Center for New Students at Harper College for many years. More recently he was a docent at Brookfield Zoo and the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio

A true renaissance man, he was a passionate reader, cinephile, sommelier, prolific puzzler, bread baker, Chicago sports fan, yoga enthusiast, cyclist and rollerblader. He was a lifelong learner, jazz enthusiast, podcast aficionado, supportive father and grandfa-

ther, and loyal friend. He was always up for an adventure.

Dennis was the husband of Roberta Kmiec (née Egidi). They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December. He was the son of the late Charles A. Kmiec and the late Irene A. Kmiec (née Zolad); brother of the late Kathleen Carr (Charles Carr); father of Amelia Kmiec (Thomas House) and Jeffrey Kmiec (Rebecca Kmiec-Price); and grandfather of James and Daniel House; uncle of Ret. Lt. Col. Michael Carr (Ret. Lt. Col. Noelle Briand) and Jeremy Carr (Michael Quimby), Dr. Jason Brock (Karen Brock) and Dr. Justin Brock (Dr. Renee Brock), and Lori McLamb (Michael McLamb) and the late Matthew Myers (Dr Jacqueline Bussie); and the brother-in-law of the late Gloria Myers (Clarence Myers), and Carla Brock (Dr. Larry Brock).

In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorial contributions made in Dennis’ name to Brookfield Zoo: www.brookfieldzoo. org/Donate

Arrangements were handled by the Cremation Society of Illinois.

Andrew Page, 51 Artist and carpenter

Andrew Austin Page, 51, died on June 29, 2024, at his home in Austin, Texas. Bor n on March 22, 1973, in Minneapolis, he lived most of his life in the Oak Park area and Austin.

A caring and hardworking husband, father, brother and son, he will be greatly missed. He was a talented artist and carpenter and shot a mean game of pool. He worked for many years at the Austin Statesman, the daily newspaper in Austin, Texas. More recently he worked at Stan’s Heating and Air Conditioning in Austin. His family wishes him eternal peace.

Andy is survived by his wife, Erin Page; his daughters, Rowan and Ivy Page; his parents, Sharon Austin Bloom and William Page; and his siblings, Matthew Reynolds, Johanna Page, Ben Page, Nick Page and Maggie Page

A family memorial and celebration of life will be held at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas on Sept. 7, 2024. In lieu of flowers the family is grateful for donations made to donate nami.org (National Alliance of Mental Illness).

Night of Miles is coming to OPRF High School

Community event kicks o Huskies’ cross- countr y season

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Inspired by the new outdoor track-and-field facilities on campus, Oak Park and River Forest High School cross-country coaches Chris Baldwin (boys) and Ashley Raymond (girls) decided to create a community-involvement event that will also serve as a kickoff to the upcoming season.

The Night of Miles takes place on Aug. 16, starting at 5 p.m with a 400-meter race for first through fourth grades. Next is a mile run for fifth- through eighth-graders, followed by a “community miles” run that is open to the general public. Finally, there will be two-mile time trials for high-schoolers.

Baldwin told Wednesday Journal that the boys have run a time trial at the start of each season since he became head coach, and the new facilities presented an opportunity to get the community involved “We’ve always had alumni come out, pace some of the heats, and cheer on their for mer teammates,” Baldwin said. “It’s always been an awesome environment for our team and a great way to start the season. We want it to be a special event for our programs and the whole community.”

Baldwin added that r unning has become popular in both the Oak Park and River Forest communities, thanks to entities and events such as the Frank Ll oyd Wright races, the Good Life Race, the Oak Park Runners Club, and the F leet Feet store located in Downtown Oak Pa rk

Moreover, both Baldwin and Raymond make it a point to get youth involved with cross-country as early as possible.

“Both the boys and girls teams offer running camps for sixththrough 12th-graders and have made some great connections with the younger runners in the community,” Baldwin said.

Although meets are held on grass, Baldwin believes the new track can help the Huskies’ cross-country programs this fall.

“It’s a great addition to our program,” he said. “It provides a meeting space and is an excellent training facility We look forward to utilizing it this upcoming season.”

The participation cost is $5 for first- through eighth-graders, and $10 for community miles. All participants receive a T-shirt

To re gister, visit oprfhs.revtrak.net/athletics/Athletics-CrossCountry/boys-xc. For more information, contact Baldwin at cbaldwin@oprfhs.org or Raymond at araymond@oprfhs.org.

SPORTS

ree Bears gain Hall of Fame

Meanwhile, woeful White Sox wallow in Hall of Shame

Before the high school spor season starts up next week, thought a Tate’s Take was in order, offering a couple of quic thoughts on a pair of Chicag pro sports teams. One is good; the other is both bad and ugly.

Let’s begin with the good: Chicago Bears. This past weekend, three pla were inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio: Devin Hester, Steve McMichael, and lius Pe ppers. These three bring the total number of Hall of Fame inductees who spent time with the Bears to 40 — more than any other NFL franchise.

Hester, a wide receiver who spent eight of his 11 seasons with the Bears (2006-2013), truly revolutionized the g came to kick returns. His 20 career return touchdowns, including 14 via punt, are an NFL record.

Moreover, Hester is the only player to ever return the opening kickoff of a Super Bowl for a touchdown. It happened in Super Bowl XLI as he went 93 yards. Unfor tunately, that was the highlight for fans as the Bears fell to the Indianapolis Colts 29-17.

McMichael, a defensive tackle who played 13 of 15 seasons with the Bears (1981-1993), was an underrated part of the team’s “46” defense that sparked the franchise’s sole Super Bowl victory in 1986, 45-10, over the New England Patriots. “Mongo,” as he was affectionately called, was a two-time All-Pro in the ’80s and made the Pro Bowl twice, finishing with 847 career tackles and 95 sacks — the latter ranking fourth all-time among defensive tackles.

Sadly, McMichael was unable to attend the enshrinement ceremony in Canton, Ohio, as he has battled ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) for the last three years. It has left him not able to speak. But I thought it was classy of the Hall of Fame to have McMichael’s wife Misty accept the gold jacket and bust on his behalf. Misty then brought both to their home in Homer Glen, where several of his teammates, including Hall of Famers Jimbo Covert, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, and Mike Singletary, celebrated with him.

Pe ppers, a defensive end who spent the majority of his 17-year career with the Carolina Panthers, played with the Bears from 2010-2013. He made the Pro Bowl nine times and finished his career with

tackles (including 159.5 sacks), 11 nterceptions, and six touchdowns Hester, McMichael, and Peppers all made valuable contributions to the Bears worthy of the Hall of Fame in my ook. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about this year’s Chicago White Sox, ho deserve a spot in the Hall of Shame for their putrid showing he Sox, who have MLB’s worst record at 27-87, had lost a franchise-record 21 onsecutive games entering this week. This on top of a 14-game losing streak ed in April; they’re on pace to ass the MLB record for single-season losses in the modern era (the 1962 New Mets had 120). Manager Pedro Griol, in his second season, has a record of 88-188, a staggering 100 games below .500! Needless to er his head.

But I don’t blame the Sox’s struggles solely on Grifol. General Manager Chris Getz put to gether a roster of guys who honestly should be playing in the minor leagues. They’re simply over matched each time they take the field. Basically, Getz gave Grifol a bunch of lemons and asked him to make lemonade.

Clearly, it’s not working.

Yet Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf sits idly by and does nothing to improve the club. A competent owner would’ve let go of both Grifol and Getz by now. Instead, Reinsdorf just goes through the motions. Re por tedly, he doesn’t want to pay either to stay away, which is shortsighted on his part. If a pro sports owner is trying to improve and ultimately win, he or she does whatever is necessary to meet that goal, even if money has to be spent.

Sadly for Sox fans (not sure how many are left at this point), I just don’ t see things getting better any time soon.

Something drastic needs to happen. If he doesn’t care about winning anymore, then Reinsdorf needs to sell the team to someone who does. But I doubt that will happen because he seems too stubborn and stuck in his ways.

Do yourselves a favor, Sox fans, and focus on the Bears, who I think this year will be better than in recent years. If rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has a strong debut, the Bears could return to the NFL playoffs.

My early Tate’s Take? 11-6.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE ON BEHALF FOR CITIGROUP MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2021-RP4, Plaintiff(s), vs. SCOTT SCHEMMEL, SVETLANA KAPLIN A/K/A SVETLAN KAPLINA, VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, TUDOR ROSE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, STATE OF ILLINOIS, U.S. BANK, N.A. SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO REGENCY SAVINGS BANK, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, Defendant(s), 22 CH 1440 CALENDAR 60 NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on September 9, 2024, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-07-323-052-1003 AND 1607-323-052-1007.

Commonly known as 424 S. WISCONSIN STREET, UNIT 3N, OAK PARK, IL 60302.

The real estate is: condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g) (4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act.. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Suite 201, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 357-1125. 22-00544

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3249069

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given by the Board of Education of Riverside Brookfield High School District 208, Cook County, Illinois, that a tentative budget for said school district for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, will be on file and conveniently available at the school district’s administrative offices at Riverside Brookfield High School District 208, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Illinois, from and after 8:00 a.m. on July 1, 2024.

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing on said tentative budget will be held at 7:00 p.m. on September 10, 2024, at Riverside Brookfield High School District 208, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Illinois.

Published in RB Landmark August 7, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICES

VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Riverside will be held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the business of the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit, in Room 4 of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, to consider an application from the Petitioners, James Ungaro and Nicole Ungaro, for a two (2) lot subdivision for property located at 121 Southcote Road, Riverside, Illinois, in the R1-A Single Family Residence District. The application proposes to combine the two subject properties.

Application No.: PZ 24-0009

Petitioners: James Ungaro and Nicole Ungaro

Property Commonly Known As: 121 Southcote Road, Riverside, Illinois PINs: 15-25-309-020-0000 and 1525-309-021-0000

Legally Described As: That part of Lot 1256 in Block 31 lying northwesterly of a line drawn from the center point in the northerly front line of said lot to the center point of the southerly rear line of said lot and that part of Lot 1257 in Block 31 lying southeasterly of a line drawn from the center point in the northerly (front) line of said lot to the center point of the southerly (rear) line of said lot, all in third division of Riverside, a subdivision of part of the southwest quarter of Section 25, also a part of the southeast quarter of Section 25, also a part of the northwest quarter of Section 36, also part of the northeast quarter of Section 36, all in Township 39 North, Range 12, east of the third principal meridian, in Cook County, Illinois.

The above application is available for inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546. During the Public Hearing the Planning and Zoning Commission will hear testimony from and consider any evidence presented by persons interested to speak on this matter. Persons wishing to appear at this hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representative and may speak for or against the proposed subdivision. Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed at such hearing or with the Planning and Zoning Commission in advance by submission to the Village’s Community Development Department at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois prior to 4:00 p.m. the day of the public hearing.

The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

Dated this 7th day of August, 2024.

Jennifer Henaghan, Chairperson Planning and Zoning Commission

Published in RB Landmark August 7, 2024

Advertisement to Solicit Bids

Notice is hereby given by the Executive Director of Housing Forward, 1851 South 9th Avenue, Maywood, Illinois, that bids will be received for the following improvements at The Write Inn located at 211 North Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302: Roof membrane replacement, Roof insulation and Masonry Tuckpointing

Bids will be received until 5:00PM, Central Standard Time on August 30, 2024, and emailed to RFP@iff. org. Please direct all bid proposals to Ann Panopio.

The bidding forms and documents will be available to request here (https://iff.org/rfps/). The owner, and owner’s representative have been authorized to refuse to issue plans, specifications and proposals to any person, form or corporation that they consider to be unqualified. Proposal must be submitted on the forms provided.

The bidder is specifically advised that Housing Forward is a Subrecipient of the Village of Oak Park of a grant pursuant to the Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, pursuant to an agreement entered between the Village of Oak Park and Housing Forward. Further, the work must adhere to federal labor compliance requirements (Davis Bacon). Housing Forward and Village of Oak Park have a preference to qualifying Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises. Contractors are expected to make their best effort in maximizing participation.

NOTE: No contracts will be awarded unless the contractor is actively registered with the “System for Award Management (SAM)” and permitted to work, certified by the Village of Oak Park.

Project Team:

Owner: Housing Forward Owner’s Representative: IFF Architect: LBBA

Summary of Work – The project includes all work described in the Bid Documents including but not limited to all required site prep, scaffolding, temporary shoring, demolition, removal and appropriate disposal of waste materials, replacement, or repair of existing materials to remain, cleaning, and confirmation of water-tight enclosure for all areas of work. This work should be coordinated with Owner to minimize impact to Owner’s operations.

Published in Wednesday Journal July 31, August 7, 14, 21, 28, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: G24000358on July 29, 2024 Under the Assumed Business Name of DAYBREAK REIKI with the business located at: 367 BLYTHE RD, RIVERSIDE, IL 60546. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: JILL GEHRING 367 BLYTHE RD RIVERSIDE, IL 60546, USA

Published in RB Landmark August 7, 14, 21, 2024

NOTICE

LEGAL

The Village of Oak Park --Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302-- will receive electronic proposals until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 15, 2024 for Project: 24-15, Bike Boulevard Pavement Marking and Signage Improvements. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, the improvements consist of: the installation of pavement markings including polyurea, preformed thermoplastic, Methyl Methacrylate (MMA), and thermoplastic; the fabrication and installation of signs and telescoping steel sign supports; concrete sidewalks and curbs; installation of RRFB systems; and all appurtenant work thereto.

Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oak-park. us/your-government/budgetpurchasing/requests-proposals or at www.questcdn.com under login using QuestCDN number 9247776 for a nonrefundable charge of $64.00.

The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. No bid documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening.

The work to be performed pursuant to this Proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer

Published in Wednesday Journal August 7, 2024

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK COMMUNITY DESIGN COMMISSION

HEARING DATE: August 28, 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

CALENDAR NUMBER: 02-24-DRC

APPLICANT: Gabriela Ardila, on behalf of Evoluzion Alternative Health Inc.

ADDRESS: 6142 Roosevelt Rd., Suite 101, Oak Park, IL 60304

REQUEST: The Community Design Commission will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Gabriela, on behalf of Evoluzion Alternative Health Inc., seeking variances from the following sections of the Oak Park Sign Code relative to increasing permanent window sign coverage and increasing items of information displayed in a window area, to allow the existing permanent window signage to remain at the premises commonly known as 6142 Roosevelt Rd., Illinois, Property Index Number 1617-328-032-0000 (“Subject Property”).

1. Section 7-7-15 (C) (1) of the Village of Oak Park

Sign Code, requiring that permanent window signage affixed to or painted on the inside of a window shall occupy no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the surface of each window area. Window area is counted as a continuous surface until divided by an architectural or structural element. The window area east of the entrance door is 100% covered.

2. Section 7-7-9 (H) (1) of the Village of Oak Park Sign Code, requiring all signs to limit the number of items of information to no more than six (6) items of information. The window area contains 17 Items of information.

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.

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

NOTICE OF HEARING ON PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP SUPERIOR COURT OF ARIZONA IN MARICOPA COUNTY Juvenile Department

PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME(S): Jennifer Elaine Ciszek-Gill

Mother Joshua William Clark - Father Case Number JS22090 Petitioner

Jennifer Elaine Ciszek-Gill

In the Matter of Minor(s): Levi William Clark 05/02/2007

This is an important notice from the court. Read it carefully. A petition about termination of parent-child relationship has been filed with the court, and a hearing has been scheduled related to your child(ren). Your rights may be affected by the proceedings. You have a right to appear as a party in the proceeding.

If you fail to participate in the court proceedings, the court may deem that you have waived your legal rights and admitted to the allegations made in the petition. Hearings may go forward in your absence and may result in the termination of your parental rights.

Judicial Officer: Honorable Thomas Marquoit Hearing Date/Time: September 3, 2024 @ 9:30am (AZ time)

Hearing Type: Publication Hearing Location: Court Connect Remote Appearance ***video appearance preferred Court Connect Hearing: Yes Video: https://tinyurl.com/jbazmc-juj07 Phone (917)781-4590, Participant Code 764 718 766 #

How can I prepare for the hearing? Any supporting documentation must be filed with the Clerk of Court at least seventy-two hours in advance of the set hearing date.

If I have questions or concerns who can I contact?

For questions concerning filing, please contact the Clerk of Court at (602) 372-5375. For questions about the hearing, contact the Juvenile Department at (602) 506-4533, Option 2 to reach the assigned Judicial Officer’s staff. If you have legal questions, seek legal counsel.

Docket Code: NOTJS Rev 09/27/23

Published in Wednesday Journal August 7, 14, 21, 28, 2024