W E D N E S D A Y
August 18, 2021 Vol. 42, No. 3 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Oak Park’s Catholic landscape is changing, leaders say
Village’s four parishes are coming to terms with Renew My Church adjustments as faith leaders strike optimistic note By MICHAEL ROMAIN Equity Editor
Earlier this year, Rev. George Omwando, the pastor of St. Catherine-St. Lucy Parish, 38 N. Austin Blvd., was abruptly transferred to another parish in Chicago, leaving the 132-year-old institution without a full-time priest. “The parish is very disappointed that he left,” said Tom Lynch, a longtime St. Catherine-St. Lucy parishioner and former chair of the church’s finance committee. “He was very much a people person,” Lynch said of Omwando. “Wherever he went, he just spread smiles and pleasantries. He did his job and he did it well. He had a well-organized parish.” The Archdiocese of Chicago did not provide an explanation of the reassignment. Omwando, who joined the Oak Park church in 2012, started his new position as assistant pastor at the Parish of Our Lady of Grace and St. Sylvester in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood on Aug 1. An attempt to contact Omwando on Aug. 16 was unsuccessful. See OMWANDO on page 12
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
LETTING GO: Friends and family send balloons with messages aloft during a vigil, Saturday, for 15-year-old Melissa Rendon in the alley of the 200 block of North Taylor Avenue. Read the update on this story on page 7.
Call her Glena, Dominican’s new president A first-generation college grad, Temple learned how to ask for help By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter
Glena Temple’s new office isn’t quite there yet. The bookshelf behind her corner desk, as well as the one near the entrance door, is lined with only a few rows of books and a couple small
potted plants. The conference table and coffee table, which are surrounded by chairs and positioned at opposite ends of the room, are rather bare and untouched. And there are a handful of boxes sprawled across Temple’s desk waiting to be unpacked. Temple, who officially began her role as Dominican University’s president Aug. 2, is still working on making herself at home. Although one can say she may have already done that. Temple, who among many things is a scholar in botany and See TEMPLE on page 8
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On the secular importance of churchgoing
hen the Pew Research Center conducted its most recent Religious Landscape Study back in 2014, it found that while 76% of adults in the Chicago metro area considered religion at least somewhat important in their lives, only 29% reported attending a religious service at least once a week. Pew discovered that while the percentages of adults who say they believe in God, pray daily, and attend religious services Commentary regularly declined only modestly in recent years, this modest decline was driven significantly by “the nones.” The “nones” are “the growing minority of Americans, particularly in the Millennial generation, who say they do not belong to any organized faith.” The “nones” accounted for 23% of the adult population in the U.S. in 2014, up from 16% in 2007, according to Pew. “And, as the ‘nones’ have grown in size, they also have become even less observant than they were when the original Religious Landscape Study was conducted in 2007,” Pew officials wrote. “The growth of the ‘nones’ as a share of the population, coupled with their declining levels of religious observance, is tugging down the nation’s overall rates of religious belief and practice.” That decline in religious observance has meant a shift in the Catholic landscape in Oak Park, with all four of the village’s parishes undergoing readjustments meant to confront declining church attendance and the many challenges that decline brings. I approach this social reality from the standpoint of the narrator in Philip Larkin’s 1954 poem “Church Going,” who can never resist the impulse to stop inside of an empty house of worship and wonder “when churches will fall completely out of use, what we shall turn them into.” When churches become obsolete, we should all worry — regardless of what, or whether, we believe. That’s because religious spaces (and I’ll reference the Christian church, in particular, since that’s the one I’m most familiar with) are actually important binding agents in the civic glue that holds together our secular society. At their best, churches, the Black church in particular, helped build American democracy. As the political scientist Robert D. Putnam wrote 20 years ago in his famous book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, churches are one of those places that help build social capital, which Putnam defines as the “connections among individuals’ social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them.” In Change: How to Make Big Things Happen, the communications scholar Damon Centola disputes some of the received opinions we’ve come to have about social networks in the age of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. While social networking is dominant, actual social networks are fraying. As Centola writes, social networks are basically the totality of people’s relationships, which may and may not be (more likely not) the same as Facebook friendships. Networks “include everyone we talk to, collaborate with, live near, and seek out,” Centola writes. “Our personal network makes up our social world.” If we want to do more than make a dance go viral on TikTok, if we want to create a movement to protect voting rights, for instance, we need to rely on what Centola calls
MICHAEL ROMAIN
strong-tie networks, as opposed to weak-tie networks. “The geometry of weak-tie networks looks a lot like a fireworks display,” the author writes. “Each person is at the epicenter of their own ‘explosion,’ and their weak ties reach out randomly in every direction. Each tie jumps to a different, sometimes faraway place. There is very little social redundancy in weak ties. These people tend not to be connected to one another’s friends. “The geometry of strong-tie networks looks more like a fishing net,” he adds. “These networks have the appearance of an interlocking sequence of triangles and rectangles. This pattern, often referred to as network clustering, is distinctive for its abundance of social redundancy. People are connected to one another’s friends.” The Black church, working in tandem with other civic binding agents like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) are what created the strong-tie networks responsible for the Civil Rights Movement. Rosa Parks “was effective because she was not alone,” Centola writes, echoing Putnam. “She was part of a massive social network of citizens who coordinated their efforts to protest segregation in the American South.” For instance, before she became famous for sitting on a bus (an act that ultimately paved the way for the massive misconception of Parks as a mere domestic servant with tired feet who was passively foisted into history), she was one of the NAACP’s best sexual assault investigators. Twelve years before the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, Parks worked to investigate instances of Black men falsely accused of rape — a common pretext for lynching — and Black people sexually assaulted by whites. The historian Danielle L. McGuire documents this overlooked aspect of Parks’ biography in At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance — A New History of the Civil Rights Movement from Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power. Too often, when we learn about historical figures and successful people, their social networks get obscured. We tend to see them as if they sprang fully formed into the world. But this isn’t how change works in reality, Centola argues. “Social networks are the coordinating sinews that allow large numbers of regular people from many different walks of life to act together,” he writes. “When people act as a coordinated whole, then any one person’s action — that of Rosa Parks, for example — carries with it a mass of anonymous people. That is how revolutions are sparked.” So, as Centola explains, if we want to see how change really works, the first step is “to stop looking for the special people in the network and instead start looking for the special places.” Places like Holt Street Baptist Church, where King and other local leaders at the time met to strategize and stage the Montgomery bus boycott. Today the historic church, sadly, sits abandoned. When I think of our present crisis of churchgoing, I think of my own church, a Baptist congregation in May-
wood going through its own challenges. Like the Catholic parishes in Oak Park, membership is down. Our pastor of some five decades died a few years ago. Next weekend, we’ll be tasked with selecting his permanent successor. I don’t attend services very regularly, so I’ve decided to recuse myself from the voting (we’ll pick one candidate among five finalists). I still, however, consider myself a member. This church, after all, was where I grew up, was nurtured, and where I developed. Sundays were a production, from morning until late in the evening, when I’d often fall asleep on the pews, often under the sound of relatives preaching (my grandfather, stepfather, grandmother and a great-aunt were all ministers, assigned based on a rotating schedule, to deliver a sermonette on any given evening). Before those late-night Vespers services, as they were called, a small group of us would gather for what was called Baptist Training Union or BTU, for short. This was roughly an hour in a room picking through Bible scriptures before convening to sing hymns and share testimonies. The experience, much like Sunday school some 10 hours earlier, has stayed with me. I realize now that it helped build character, provided reading and comprehension lessons, and wove around me a strong-tie network that I don’t think I could have gotten anywhere else. One of my Sunday school teachers was Don Williams, who was also a minister at my church. Williams, the father of Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough, was the second Black mayor of Maywood (Maywood’s first Black mayor, Joe Freelon, was the longtime chairman of our church’s deacon board). Williams was also once the leader of the Maywood branch of the NAACP, where he discovered a bright, charming and enthusiastic young student-leader and decided to appoint the teenage boy to be the civil rights organization’s local youth leader. That boy was Fred Hampton. Various institutional nodes, whether churches or civic organizations like the NAACP, often interconnect, creating amplifying effects. Don Williams, Joe Freelon, Fred Hampton. I feel their cumulative influence intimately within me and that sense of history and tradition feeds my own sense of purpose. It’s a powerful thing knowing that you aren’t alone in the world, that you’re part of a community of people who have been before you; who live, struggle and have their being beside you; and who will come after you. What happens, as Larkin asked many years ago, when these binding institutions wither and die (“a shape less recognizable each week, a purpose more obscure”)? I trust Larkin’s answer. Humans will be compelled to recreate them, “since someone will forever be surprising a hunger in himself to be more serious.” Whether or not it’s possible, in our lonely age, to create alternative institutions that are as effective at weaving social networks strong enough to spark the moral revolutions the world desperately needs right now is another question.
CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
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BIG WEEK
Movies in the Park Thursday, Aug. 19, Dusk, Scoville Park Pack the blanket, some snacks and settle the whole family in for the monthly movie under the stars, courtesy of the Park District of Oak Park. This month see Black Panther. Up next: Sept. 16, A Dog’s Way Home. Free. Drop in event. Lake and Oak Park Ave. More: pdop. org/events/moviesinthepark
August 18-25
Classical Offering: Music in the Time of COVID Friday, Aug. 20, 7 to 9:30 p.m., New Spirit Community Church Hear professional pianist and native Oak Parker Heather Peterson play selections by JS Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Ravel. Peterson has selected these works because they are some of “the most joy-filled, thrilling pieces” she has studied. She hopes all come away from the concert “with a deep sense of peace, feeling refreshed and even experiencing some healing in our souls.” Audience capped at 50; masks required. $15. Tickets/more: heatherpeterson.net. 542 S. Scoville Ave., Oak Park.
Compete to Defeat Homelessness Trivia Night Thursday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m., Virtually with Housing Forward Grab your friends and family and form a team of up to six players. Those without a team will be matched up. Fun and surprises are guaranteed. $45; $225, team of six. Tickets/more: housingforward.org/events. Questions: cjackson@housingforward.org, 708-338-1724 x 201.
Javier Jasso’s Bridge Residency and Clay Seminars Wednesdays, 4 to 7 p.m., and Saturdays, 4 to 6 p.m., Compound Yellow Stop by to meet the artist in residence, who is a Mexican American artist born in Chicago, raised in Mexico and currently living/working in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood. Also, play with clay - make functional and non-functional objects, and participate in an on-site raku kiln firing. Free; all skill levels and ages welcome. 244 Lake St., Oak Park.
Year of the Butterfly: Bike Tour of Native Habitats Saturday, Aug. 21, 9 to 11 a.m., with the Oak Park Public Library
Ride to visit native gardens in Oak Park with library staff and representatives from Bike Walk Oak Park for a tour that includes the wetlands at Taylor Park and the native gardens at Lindberg Park and two additional locations. Begins at Taylor Park and concludes at Scoville Park. Limit of 20 riders. Register: oppl.org/calendar. Meet at the corner of Division St. and Elmwood Ave., Oak Park.
Peruvian Independence Day Display
Social Stitching
Through Friday, Aug. 27, Main Library Idea Box Peru’s independence from Spain is celebrated on July 28, Fiestas Patria, and is considered the most important day in Peruvian history. View artifacts from Oak Park community members, Eliana Gamarra and Brian Bauer, on display in the Idea Box windows, and see contemporary textiles of Peru from the areas of Puno, Cusco and Huancavelica. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.
Wednesday, Aug. 25, 10 to 11 a.m., Garden, River Forest Library: If you enjoy knitting, crochet, cross-stitching or sewing, join like-minded individuals at this monthly meet up. Bring your own materials. Every fourth Wednesday of the month. May be held in the meeting room depending on weather. Brought in partnership with River Forest Township. Register: riverforestlibrary.librarymarket.com/events/social-stitching-9. 735 Lathrop Ave.
Community Yard Sale
Friday Night Flicks: “Call of the Wild”
Saturday, Aug. 21, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Parking Lot, Nineteenth Century Club Books, blenders and belongings begone. Shop for a variety of items with proceeds going to support The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association’s Community Outreach Committee. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.
Friday, Aug. 20, 8 to 10 p.m. River Forest Public Library Lawn Bring a blanket, some snacks and watch a favorite family movie. Weather permitting. Free; drop in. PG; recommended for ages 10+. Register: riverforestlibrary.librarymarket.com/events/friday-night-flickscall-wild. 735 Lathrop Ave.
Galewoodstock Saturday, Aug. 21, 1 to 8 p.m., Sayre School South Lawn Galewood Neighbors, Inc., a new community association, has organized its first music festival. See Tino & the Latin Swing Factor, Groove Witness, Nasty Snacks, The Bitters and DJ sets by Mr. CAC. There will also be food and kids activities (1 – 3 p.m.) at this free event. Donations accepted. More: galewoodneighbors.org/event-4393091. 18001850 N. Newland, Chicago.
Preparing for a Job Interview Monday, Aug. 23, 2 to 3 p.m., Virtually with the Oak Park Library Learn the importance of first impressions and how to present yourself to a potential employer. Also, review tips and techniques to help prepare for job interviews. Presented by Eileen Vesey, Chicago Federation of Labor Workers, Workforce and Community Initiative. Register: oppl.org/calendar
Micro Brew Review Saturday, Aug. 21, 2 to 6 p.m. Downtown Oak Park Visit 40+ Midwest craft breweries while supporting Seven Generations Ahead. The afternoon also includes live music and local food. And, it’s a zero-waste event. 21+. $50, advance; $60 at the gate. Tickets/more: sevengenerationsahead.org/oak-park-microbrew-review. Marion St. and North Blvd., Oak Park.
Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
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Kid’s coffee company peddles by pedaling By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
As the main proprietor of Spoke Café, 13-year-old Alec Olson has been pedaling and peddling this summer, serving nitrous cold brew and root beer floats to the community from his bicycle beverage cart. Perhaps River Forest’s youngest entrepreneur, Olson is steering both the business and the bicycle forward. “We decided we would get into the natural cold brew market since it’s one of the fastest growing markets,” said Olson of the café’s origins. Always looking to diversify his portfolio, the rising eighth grader added root beer and root beer floats to the menu to satiate younger customers while working the block party circuit. Spoke Café sources the soda from Chicago-based Filbert’s Old Time Root Beer, making routine purchases of two three-gallon-kegs. “Not everyone sells root beer by the keg,” Olson said. The ice cream currently comes from the grocery store, but Olson, always eager to strike up partnerships, is hoping to land Forest Park’s Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor as a supplier. Sputnik Coffee Company, located in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, supplies Spoke Café’s cold brew, which Olson serves in the morning to commuters, setting up shop near train stations. The bicycle’s cart is equipped with a serving tap as well as storage compartments for the kegs and nitrogen. Olson paid half the cost of the specialized bike, which had a price tag of about $500, using money his grandparents gave him for Christmas. The other half came from a capital investment made by his parents, who help Olson sign contracts and procure equipment. Olson credits his father for helping with the business’s financials and his mother for Spoke Café’s social media, where he posts the café’s locations for the week each Sunday. His parents also provide some supervision during selling hours. “He can do it on his own,” said Olson’s mother Misty. “But there’s a little part of me that doesn’t want him sitting out there alone.” Her son pretty much does everything else, she said. Olson routinely displays the shrewdness of a seasoned professional, taking the necessary steps to legitimize the café, including building a website. Customers can purchase T-shirts emblazoned with the Spoke Café logo, which was modeled after a bicycle wheel, on the website. “The logo, my cousin came up with,” he said. “She’s a teacher.” To ensure the café meets legal standards,
Alec Olson he got a business permit in River Forest, which required him to fully insure Spoke Café. Olson is also in the process of getting a business permit for Oak Park. He has already received certification to handle food. “To get the food handler’s license, the food has to be kept in a commercial kitchen,” said Misty Olson. As luck would have it, River Forest has a commercial kitchen. Spoke Café rents refrigeration space at the kitchen to store the perishables in compliance with certification standards. Spoke Café has been a pricy start up for the 13-year-old. With the cost of insurance, rental space, supplies, taxes and business expenses, the café has yet to turn a profit. “We’re doing better than we thought we would,” he said. “We’re making about a 30 to 40 percent margin.” Once the café does become profitable, Olson does not intend to pocket all the profit himself. Rather, he hopes to donate 10 percent to a local charity, citing Beyond Hunger as his organization of choice. Spoke Café is far more than just a summer job for Olson, who intends to limit his work schedule to weekends once school starts. He is also undeterred by the prospect of cold weather. He’s taking the change of seasons in stride by looking for suitable substitutions for cold brew and floats. “If we can figure out some way to get this [bike] to go on snow, we’re thinking about maybe finding a way to sell hot chocolate and maybe hot coffee.”
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
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Pavlicek’s final thoughts on leaving Oak Park Oak Park’s village manager off to Northbrook By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter
Oak Park’s longtime village manager Cara Pavlicek is hanging up her hat Thursday. Rounding out her final days in her post, Pavlicek reflected on her decade-long tenure as Oak Park’s top administrative official, the COVID-19 response and the village’s future without her. “I think I could get in my head and act like, ‘Oh, I’m so important. When I leave what’s going to happen?’” she said. Pavlicek is leaving Oak Park at a tender time – the pandemic is still real; development of the fiscal year’s budget will soon begin in earnest; an almost entirely new set of elected officials sits at the village board table. However, she feels she is leaving the village in good hands, sharing her confidence in the leadership of the village board and Lisa Shelley, Pavlicek’s former deputy who is stepping up as interim village manager until a permanent replacement is found. Speaking of the village board, she said, “They want great things for this organization. They’ll move through the processes and everyone will be grownups about it,” she said. “We’ll be fine.” The ostensible ease with which she is passing the reins may shock some of Pavlicek’s critics. In her almost 10 years as village manager, some have labeled her as overly controlling and her leadership style as highly regulatory. Pavlicek has taken the knocks with a grain of salt, believing inherent sexism the reason for much of the criticism sent her way. “I think the last time I looked a few years ago, 13 percent of the [municipal government] managers are women,” said Pavlicek. While others have called her leadership approach micromanaging, she considers herself disciplined and efficient. Discipline and efficiency, according to Pavlicek, are integral in running government responsibly. “You can’t run $150 million organizations, being willy-nilly and just letting people do whatever they want,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if I say that or a man says that, but some people react differently to women.” She believes people have different expectations for women in the workplace that are incongruent with those for men. Still, Pavlicek told Wednesday Journal that being a woman in a position of power that is habitually occupied by men has not prevented her from carrying out her duties. “I still try to do my job the way it’s required in the municipal code and that does mean that I have to make decisions,” she said. “I’m OK with that.” Pavlicek has managed to make friends of those who could have once been considered dubious. Oak Park’s previous village president Anan Abu-Taleb, a local restauranteur, and Pavlicek initially butted heads. Abu-Taleb later became one of Pavlicek’s fiercest supporters. “It wasn’t symbiotic at all,” she said of the start of their relationship. “I think Anan and I both came from a place of
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Cara Pavlicek caring about the community deeply.” “All governments have a greater sensitivity to public The early tension between them was the result of the two health than I think we ever used to,” she said. having different approaches to governing. Once corrected, The village of Oak Park consolidated its public health Abu-Taleb and Pavlicek became an effecdepartment as a budgetary measure in 2015. tive team, with the latter matching the forPavlicek recalled that the village even conmer’s intensity and pace. Of the projects sidered doing away with the department completed during Abu-Taleb’s time as vilentirely – something that would have made lage president, or mayor as he preferred, Oak Park’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis the village of Oak Park had multiple highdrastically different. Oak Park is in the prorise buildings constructed and Madison cess of beefing up the department by hiring Street revitalized. Pavlicek called the alley an environmental health services supervisor renovation project Abu-Taleb’s most overand a health education manager, a newly crelooked accomplishment. ated position. “He got the support of the village board Pavlicek’s departure puts village staff in for a multi-year program where an addia position that only comes in a leadership transition. Once the village board appoints tional $5 million every year was put into a permanent replacement, staff will have a local alleys,” she said. new boss who could potentially have far less At the time she became village manager, knowledge of the village itself than they do. the poor condition of Oak Park’s alleys was “I really do compliment the village board the number one cause of complaint for resfor being sensitive to that transition for the idents, according to Pavlicek. CARA PAVLICEK employees of the organization,” said PavIn a matter of days, Pavlicek will start Village Manager licek. “They moved expeditiously to name an her new position as village manager interim and I think that creates some safety of Northbrook. She is replacing Rich net.” Nahrstadt, who spent 13 years in the role. She understands that transition can be uncomfortable, Unlike Oak Park, Northbrook does not have its own public health department, presenting a significant change for Pav- even frightening at times. “It’s OK,” she told Wednesday Journal. “Change haplicek, adding that she has no history working with the Cook pens.” County Public Health Department.
“You can’t run $150 million organizations, being willy-nilly and just letting people do whatever they want. It doesn’t matter if I say that or a man says that, but some people react differently to women.”
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ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
The Chorale’s fall concert series will feature music of
Family members mourn the loss of 15-year-old Melissa Rendon.
South America, including the Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramírez, with performances scheduled for
November 13 and 14. Rehearsals are in the Oak
teen found in Oak Park alley
Park-Forest Park-River Forest area on Monday
evenings, 7:30 to 9:30, beginning August 30. For
Prosecutor says defendants posted videos on Snapchat By STACEY SHERIDAN
nandez continued to drive around with the victim and Williams, until Hernandez, who Staff Reporter had identified himself in one of the videos, More information has surfaced regarding pulled over and raped the victim while Wilthe death of the 15-year-old girl from Chi- liams recorded it on Snapchat. Two other videos reportedly showed the cago whose body was found in an Oak Park victim as visibly unconscious. Williams and alley the morning of Saturday, Aug. 7. During the couple’s bond hearing at the Hernandez reportedly fell asleep in HernanMaybrook courthouse on Aug. 10, a Cook dez’s car, with the girl lying unconscious in County prosecutor detailed the victim’s fi- the backseat, for several hours. When they nal hours, which were allegedly recorded by woke up and realized the victim was not defendants in a series of videos posted on breathing, they reportedly attempted to resuscitate her without success. the social media app Snapchat. Hernandez then drove around before pullAccording to the prosecutor’s bond proffer, the teenager was drugged and raped over ing into an alley as Williams redressed the victim’s body. Hernandez then allegedly rea period of hours beginning on the night of Aug. 6 before her body was discarded in an moved the victim from the car, placed her in alley behind the 200 block of North Taylor the alley and left the scene. A resident discovered the body and called Avenue. police at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 7. The girl was Sergio Hernandez of the 3100 block of North Austin Boulevard, has been charged pronounced dead on the scene by Oak Park with criminal sexual assault, aggravated paramedics, who responded to the call with criminal sexual abuse and concealment of a police. She had been reported missing to death. Joslia Williams, 18, of the 1700 block the Chicago Police Department about three of Menard Avenue, was charged with child hours after her body was found. According to the bond proffer, the victim’s pornography and concealment of a death. Hernandez and Williams are each being mother saw one video showing Hernandez trying to push the unconscious victim from held in Cook County Jail on $500,000 bond. The bond proffer states that, prior to the the front seat to the back seat of Hernanteenage girl’s death, she was drinking and dez’s vehicle. The girl’s family then reportedly located smoking cannabis with an unnamed witness and Williams, who had been posting Hernandez and recorded him on a cellphone videos on Snapchat throughout the night, in making statements about leaving the girl’s body in an alley. Chicago police arrested Hernandez’s car in Chicago the evening of Hernandez. Oak Park police later arrested Aug. 6. The girl and Williams then reportedly Williams. State Farm The took pills, suspected to be Xanax, while at Bloomington, IL Cook County Medical Examiner has a beach on the South Side of Chicago. Af- not yet determined the cause and manner of ter dropping off the unnamed witness at the girl’s death, which is pending the results 2001290 around 11:30 p.m., said the prosecutor, Her- of a toxicology report.
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
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River Forest trustees push back on Priory Campus zoning Bachner, Brennan say commercial development should be explored By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter
As news of Dominican University’s Priory Campus sale gains momentum, two River Forest village trustees are questioning whether the site’s current zoning has hindered the village from attracting other potential buyers and are calling for the board to reconsider a past decision. The property, a 7.6-acre parcel owned by Dominican University, is zoned for non-taxable public and recreational uses. In 2019, the village board unanimously voted to follow
the Plan Commission’s recommendation and preserve Priory’s green space and historic buildings, an effort now part of the village’s comprehensive plan. But trustees Kathleen Brennan and Erika Bachner said that keeping the campus’ current zoning could keep other buyers from coming forward and limit future possible uses for the land. “I’m fearful that if we don’t act quickly to review it, it’s too late,” Brennan said during the Aug. 9 village board meeting. She suggested to the board that the Economic Development Commission look into the zoning for Priory this time around and reassess the property. Brennan said the commission is tasked with identifying underused lots, sussing out the sites’ best uses and advising the board on the economic impact of potential developments – all of which “fall squarely” into this situation.
Brennan also pointed out that while the village’s comprehensive plan helps the board make informed decisions, it also talks about making “creative” decisions, and with Priory Campus up for sale, now is the time to do so. Village President Cathy Adduci disagreed. Adduci said she did not believe the commission was the right fit because plan commissioners are responsible for studying land use and zoning. She also believed that Priory’s zoning, as it stands, has no bearing on developers’ interests in the property. In a follow-up interview with Wednesday Journal, Adduci said just because Priory has been zoned for non-taxable public and recreational uses, it does not bar commercial or housing developers from putting their names in the ring.
TEMPLE
New on campus from page 1 plant science, carved her office out of a room inside Parmer Hall, the university’s newer science building, instead of moving into her predecessor’s office tucked in Lewis Memorial Hall. Temple’s space is bright, airy and modern, while former president Donna Carroll’s office aligned with the building’s Gothic architecture, featured dark red walls and was adorned with ornate religious items and wooden furniture. For Temple, she had always viewed roles in higher education as a calling. The New York native had spent the last 20 years at Viterbo University in Wisconsin, including the last four as president, and she felt her “window in which you can make an influence with your gifts” had closed and felt good about her work there. In some ways, it was time to take another step in her journey, Temple said. “If you look at it as a job, the hours and the work can be a lot,” Temple said of working in higher education. “But I love going to the athletic games of students or fine arts performances or the art shows or research presentations, and that doesn’t really feel like work. That feels like a celebration of a community I care about – and that’s what makes this job great.” As Temple cozied up to her chair by the conference table, she opened up about what drew her to make the move and apply for the position of president at Dominican. Last October, Carroll, who had dedicated nearly three decades of her career as the university’s leader, announced her retirement, and when Temple heard the news, her ears perked up. “I wasn’t actively on the job market,” Temple said, adding someone had nominated her to take on the role. “It was just the job – and this place – that I felt like I couldn’t
Glena Temple, new Dominican University president. not explore.” Dominican University carried out an extensive search for Carroll’s successor, according to a press release issued by the university in May. The search committee – which was made up of 15 members and included the university’s board of trustees, faculty, alumni, students and Dominican sisters – interviewed several candidates over the course of seven months before they unanimously selected Temple, the release stated. Temple said she eyed Dominican because of its strong commitment to academic excellence and to help students and staff embrace their best selves and reach their successes. Over the years, Dominican has worked to cultivate a mission of diversity and inclusion, including becoming a sanctuary campus for students and staff who are undocumented, offering a wide range of services. The River Forest university has also sought to provide more wraparound resources, especially for its first-generation college students and graduates, an experience that resonates with Temple. Temple is a first-generation college graduate and knows firsthand the pressures that many other students face in that particular position. It all piles up: Navigating school-
work, worrying about how to pay for school and building a career are just some of the barriers that students face, she said. Temple recalled failing calculus as a freshman at Allegheny College and thought, “‘Well, I can’t do this. I shouldn’t be a scientist.’” “I was a very shy and young first-year college student,” she said, “and I didn’t know how to ask for help, and I didn’t know where to go.” Temple said she didn’t know how to “access the tools” that would help her, and she was also embarrassed to find them. “A lot of my passion has been making it so that students don’t have to ask for help and offer [resources] to try and take some of that ‘transition energy’ away,” she said, adding it’s crucial to ask, “How do you reduce the hurdle and make it seem seamless and make it seem like a positive thing to achieve those goals?” As Temple reflected more on her years in school, she talked about one mentor who introduced her to a career in education. As an undergrad, Temple said her goal was to end up in medical school but that blip in calculus “shook” her, but a mentor helped her score a research project, which included a
See PRIORY on page 9
service component. Temple said that service component led to a stint in teaching science at a local elementary school. “I found that I really liked research, and I really liked trying to explain science and the energy that comes from being around people,” she said. “And those two pieces were critical in me finding my path.” From there, Temple continued to build her future and herself back up. Over the years, she had held several different leadership and faculty positions at various colleges and universities in Wisconsin, Minnesota and California. Among her many roles at Viterbo, Temple was chair of the biology department, coordinator of the natural sciences division, co-director of the honors program, dean of the School of Letters and Sciences and vice president for academic affairs before becoming president in 2017, according to the May press release issued by Dominican. As Temple continues to settle in at Dominican, she expressed gratitude in being named the president of the university, but her title, though a privilege to have, does not define her as a person. “There’s times that I need to be ‘Glena the President,’ the ‘ceremonial,’ the ‘make the hard decision,’ but I want to be one with the community and the students as Glena,” she said. Temple said there’s a side of her that most people will come to know. She’s an introvert, who “geek[s] out” over data and also finds the sight of spreadsheets relaxing. She likes to garden and carve out time in her schedule to pray, so passerby may see her by the Grotto on campus. She’s a reader and the first to say that she’s “boring outside of her work.” “It’s a hard job,” Temple said of being a university president. “If you can’t do it as your authentic self, you’re not going to succeed in the role.” “The authentic self, Glena, is more laid back, approachable, relaxed,” she said. “I’ve learned I just have to own that to be effective in the role. A place like Dominican, we’re pretty lean, and we really care about the community. … We lean into the work that needs to be done.”
Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
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PRIORY from page 8 “If a [commercial] developer was interested in that land, and Dominican wanted to sell it to that developer, and there’s a majority of the board that wanted to accept that development, it could get done,” Adduci said. At this point, Oak Park and River Forest High School and Fenwick High School have publicly announced they have submitted letters of intent to purchase Priory Campus from the university. While OPRF has yet to disclose what it would use the campus for, Fenwick has shared that the lot could provide them additional space for administrative or athletic offices, spiritual retreats or music and arts programs. Adduci, who serves on the board of the private Dominican run Fenwick High School, said she would resign from her position at the school immediately, if Fenwick is selected as the buyer. “It would be the most practical and astute thing to do,” she said. Karin Sullivan, a spokesperson for OPRF, said she has no updates or information to share since the letter was sent to representatives at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), a real estate company hired by the university as its commercial broker. Fenwick spokesperson Scott Hardesty and JLL managing director Tom Kirschbraun could not be immediately reached for comment. In a previous report by the Journal, Kirschbraun had declined to comment on the number and names of other entities that submitted letters of intent.
‘We’re going to have the ultimate say’ During the Aug. 9 meeting, Adduci said she did not believe the village was losing out on any opportunities by keeping
“If a [commercial] developer was interested in that land, and Dominican wanted to sell it to that developer, and there’s a majority of the board that wanted to accept that development, it could get done.”
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Priory Campus’ current zoning. She also repotential buyers of the land. mained open to further discussing the zoning, “It’s crystal clear that the message to any if she received a consensus from the trustees. potential developer is that the village will not “There wasn’t consensus,” Adduci said in entertain rezoning,” Brennan said. “The mesan interview after the meeting. “Two isn’t a sage has already been given to the seller that majority.” the village won’t entertain rezoning.” At the meeting, Adduci stood firm in her In a landlocked community like River Forstance and explained why Priory’s current est, the Priory property is a unique, rare opzoning has gone unchanged. portunity, Brennan and Bachner said. This “I don’t think we should rush to change our could have been the village’s chance to seize comprehensive plan that we spent years talkan opportunity and look to Priory Campus as ing about with a multitude of public meetings potential tax revenue, said Bachner. immediately,” she said. “I think we let our “The green space that’s there is not the land use zoning stand for a bit and make a de‘green space’ that most River Forest residents understand and use,” Bachner said. “It’s not termination if we want to later on.” the fields that our kids play on or the park. It Adduci said the comprehensive plan, which is a building and a parking lot and a little bit seeks to maintain the Priory property as open CATHY ADDUCI of land around that. It’s off of Harlem Avenue, space, is a guide for the village’s future and Village President which is huge. It’s a great opportunity for trafrepresents what the board and residents want. fic, if you’re looking for people to come to some Moving away from the plan and revising the sort of restaurants, commercial retail.” zoning before other developers approach the Bachner clarified that’s just an idea, but “we board is a “knee-jerk reaction,” Adduci said. “There’s a plan development process that we can look at” to haven’t done anything in the village to investigate what could be our options for this if we think creatively.” review the zoning – if developers are interested, she said. For Brennan, she said she wasn’t necessarily interested in Trustee Bob O’Connell echoed Adduci’s sentiments. “[The university] had a deadline of when they wanted let- rezoning Priory: She just wanted to hold another conversation ters of intent,” O’Connell said. “Nobody impacted anybody’s and see what could come from it. “I think it’s important that we have the conversation and ability to go in there.” “We have a piece of property that has zoning on it right that we have the correct commissions doing the research now,” he continued. “Nobody has come to us and said, ‘I want about the opportunities here and for the village and for its to change this zoning.’ If somebody did that, I’d be totally on residents,” she said. But O’Connell thought otherwise. board with you guys and say, ‘We got something to talk about “I think for us to get in the middle of letters of intent behere.’ But nobody has done that.” Brennan and Bachner, however, argued that by not bringing tween a buyer and a seller is a bad place for us to be,” he said. the Priory zoning to the table for another discussion, the board “We’re going to have the ultimate say at the end of the day as closed the doors on possible sources for tax revenues and other to what goes on with the property.”
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
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Back-to-school drive for masks and hand sanitizer Suburban Unity Alliance, Brewpoint Craft come together to help students in need get ready for school
By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter
When Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a universal mask mandate for Illinois schools, Anthony Clark, a community organizer and teacher from Oak Park, had one question: “How are we going to address that additional expense and need for many of our families, students and individuals?” Face masks and hand sanitizer are now essential school supplies just like pen and paper, but access to those items may not be as easy, especially for those in need, said Clark, a special education teacher at Oak Park and River Forest High School. So, Clark propped up his nonprofit, Suburban Unity Alliance (SUA), as a platform to launch a back-to-school drive for face masks and travel-sized hand sanitizers. He also partnered with Melissa Villanueva, owner of Brewpoint Craft in Oak Park, and worked with her to make her local coffee shop into a drop-off spot. The drive, which kicked off Aug. 10 and runs until Aug. 31, aims to benefit students in need in Oak Park and nearby communities in Proviso Township and Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. “There [are] so many families and individuals that are already working on a shoestring budget, doing everything they can just to survive,” said Clark, who founded SUA in 2016 to promote unity in Chicago’s western suburbs. “While $10 to $12 a month or a week extra may not seem a lot, to
some people that could be everything.” Donors can bring their items to Brewpoint Craft, 163 S. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park, or its other two locations in suburban Elmhurst. Brewpoint Craft in Elmhurst is located at 617 N. York St. and 124 W. Park Ave. Villanueva suggests donors drop off their items between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday at any of the three locations. The hours and days of operation vary at each location, and Villanueva encourages donors to visit her shop’s website at www.brewpointcoffee.com to see the current schedules. Clark and Villanueva are accepting reusable and dispos-
able face masks. Masks must be new and come in sealed packages. They are asking donors to check whether the masks meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines before dropping them off. According to the CDC, cloth masks should be made of two or more layers of breathable fabric and have a nose wire. The CDC does not recommend the use of cloth masks consisting of a thin, single layer of fabric or with exhalation valves or vents. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov and find “Your Guide to Masks.” For Villanueva, teaming up with Clark reminded her of the main reason she opened a shop in Oak Park. Brewpoint Craft in Oak Park lives in the nowshuttered L!VE Café, which was run by Reesheda Graham Washington who envisioned creating an inclusive space beyond just serving food and drink. Like Graham Washington’s mission, Villanueva has sought to continue that effort and lean into the possibility of making Brewpoint a place to promote change. “I just love being a place [where] people can grab their morning coffee and do something like drop off some hand sanitizer and masks to help prevent the spread of COVID in communities who need things like this,” Villanueva said. “It’s awesome to see what I was hoping for by coming to Oak Park,” she continued, adding that her partnerships with SUA and L!VE Café plays a much bigger role than what meets the eye. “This is everything we wanted: to be connected with this fight with the larger community.”
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River Forest reorganizes public works, building depts. Village engineer picked to lead newly consolidated division By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter
River Forest trustees approved at the Aug. 9 Village Board meeting the appointment of Jeff Loster to the newly created position of director of public works and development services. Under a reorganization of the Public Works Department Loster will oversee both public works and the building division, a move that streamlines operations and was implemented to ensure the best possible use of existing village resources, according to a press release from the village. This change will increase efficiencies related to building and development activities throughout the village, the press release stated. “I applaud village administration for continuing to improve the ways in which we serve our community,” Village President Cathy Adduci said. “Realignment of the Public Works Department is part of our overarching goal to continually improve operations, providing the highest quality services while utilizing existing resources and saving taxpayer money.” Acting Village Administrator Lisa Scheiner said Loster has served as village engineer since 2013 “and has done an outstanding job leading innovative projects that have improved the village’s infrastructure.” In a memo to the board, Scheiner recommended reorganizing management of the Public Works Department “to best align with the needs of the community as well as best practices.” Specifically, the proposed reorganization eliminates the position of public works director and the man who held the position for seven years, John Anderson. Loster was promoted from village engineer to the director of public works and development services position and will oversee both public works and the building division. In addition, Loster’s former position of village engineer has been eliminated, replaced with a staff engineer position, and a new position, the position of public works management analyst. A graduate of Bradley University in Peoria with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Loster said his job title has been village engineer, but that his role has changed over the years. Prior to coming to River Forest, he was a staff engineer and development engineer at the village of Downers Grove for about six years. In addition to holding a professional engineer’s license, he is a certified flood plain manager and a certified professional in erosion and sediment control. When asked about his strengths, Loster
said he aims to be efficient, diligent and thorough, adding that he tries to “prevent things from falling through the cracks.” Regarding goals, he said he is hoping for a “smooth transition” to using the new permitting software the village recently purchased with a building division staff that includes a few “newish” staff members. Addressing some possible retirements down the road is one of Loster’s challenges. Another relates to the village’s storm water master plan that was approved earlier this year. The main goal of the plan will be
to identify areas of need related to the village’s sewer system and to establish future improvement projects that will help address those needs. Loster’s salary will rise from $135,037 to $160,000, an increase that “takes into account the increased span of control he acquired as well as the expertise and professional engineer license that he brings to the position,” Scheiner said. The current Public Works Department includes 14.5 full-time equivalent employees and two to three seasonal employees. It en-
compasses several functions including operations such as streets and water/sewer and oversight of construction of large development projects approved under planned development. Since 2011 the senior leadership team has included the public works director, village engineer and superintendent. The village’s building division has previously been under the wing of the Administration Department and has three full-time employees as well as one full-time employee whose duties are split among administration, finance and building.
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
OMWANDO
More changes coming from page 1 The pastoral change at St. Catherine-St. Lucy is indicative of the fluid state of Oak Park’s Catholic landscape, said Rev. George McGivern, the pastor of St. Edmund Parish, 188 S. Oak Park Ave., who was appointed administrator of St. Catherine-St. Lucy in March. “Changes are coming to the Catholic Church in Oak Park and I don’t know what the final footprint will look like,” McGivern said on Aug. 16. “It’s possible four parishes become two or three. The whole process has barely begun.” In a statement, a spokesperson for the archdiocese said that all four Oak Park parishes belong to the 100 Renew My Church groupings across the archdiocese. “The Oak Park grouping will meet through the fall to discern the best path forward for the four parishes in the grouping,” the archdiocese spokesperson said. “We hope to share more updates in the New Year.” In June, the four Oak Park parishes that make up one Renew My Church grouping — St. Catherine-St. Lucy, St. Edmund, St. Giles, 1025 Columbian Ave., and Ascension, 808 S. East Ave. — started “the process of discerning the future of the Catholic Church in Oak Park,” Rev. Carl Morello, the pastor of St. Giles, wrote in a letter to parishioners that’s posted on the church’s website. Last year, the archdiocese assigned Morello to become administrator at Ascension, effectively succeeding Ascension’s former pastor, Rev. Jim Hulbert. Rev. Rex Pillai, a Chicago priest, was assigned to serve as Ascension’s pastoral leader. McGivern said the archdiocese utilizes two benchmarks for helping it determine a parish’s vibrancy: a minimum of 800 worshippers attending the parish on a given weekend and a minimum annual operating budget of $750,000. These minimum benchmarks were adjusted downward to try to account for the impact of the pandemic, McGivern said. The pastor said based on his ballpark guesstimate, St. Catherine-St. Lucy’s weekly mass attendance has been roughly 100 while the weekly attendance at St. Edmund has been around 200. He also said that financially, St. Catherine-St. Lucy’s revenue figures were much lower than the archdiocese benchmark. “What I know is that attendance is down everywhere,” McGivern said. “The numbers were already down before the pandemic, which was partly, not solely, what precipitated Renew My Church. But Covid has really dropped the figures even more dramatically.” Church attendance across the country had been trending downward a decade ago, according to the Pew Research Center’s most recent Religious Landscape Study, conducted in 2014. The study found that only 27% of older Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1989) attended religious services at least weekly,
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM compared with 56% of Generation X adults (born between 1965 and 1980) and 61% and 67% of Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) and the Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1945), respectively. And only 29% of adults in the Chicago metro area reported attending religious services at least once a week, according to the Pew study. The declining church attendance numbers and the financial deterioration of many parishes across the Chicago metropolitan area are what, in part, prompted Cardinal Blase Cupich to announce the Renew My Church initiative in 2017. According to the initiative’s website, mass attendance across the archdiocese has decreased by 27% over the past 20 years and only 17% of Catholic Millennials reported attending mass each week. “With Chicago being such a community of immigrants, there were parishes that were a couple of blocks from each other,” McGivern said. “One might be German, one might be Polish, one might be Irish. While that made sense when there was an influx of immigration, it no longer makes sense now and it isn’t spiritually and economically feasible for there to be so many parishes so close to each other.” But while weekly mass attendance and revenue may be flagging, those aren’t the only indicators that the archdiocese uses when evaluating individual parishes, McGivern said. Other factors, such as significance to the local community, also come into play. According to Lynch, that’s where Oak Park’s four parishes really stand out. “I don’t know if this was by plan or what, but Oak Park’s parishes are amazingly well distributed,” Lynch said. “You’ve got one north, one south, one east and one west.” Lynch said he believes that all four of the village’s parishes have compelling cases to make when it comes to arguing their unique and indelible impact on the local neighborhoods in which they’re located. He said that’s especially the case with St. Catherine-St. Lucy , which has historically served parts of Chicago’s Austin community. McGivern said he’s even hopeful about the future of Oak Park’s Catholic community, even as local churches adjust to consolidation and Covid. “Since becoming administrator of St. Catherine-St. Lucy, I’ve really valued being part of that community,” McGivern said. “I’ve been welcomed warmly and we’ve begun to bridge the parochial divides between St. Edmunds and St. Catherine-St. Lucy parishioners. We now share a weekday worship schedule, so we’re now gathering as one community of faith and that’s a wonderful thing.” Lynch said he’s hopeful that attendance will eventually rebound as younger adults grow older. “This is a large community and we’ve got a lot of Catholics,” Lynch said. “We need our churches and even though attendance has dropped, I think eventually it will come back as the younger people get a little older and appreciative of what we have to offer.”
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13
Hines V.A. daycare closure stuns employees The child care center has closed for good By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter
When Eva* learned the daycare center at Edward Hines Jr. V.A. Hospital was abruptly closing, she was stunned. For many working parents at the suburban hospital, the Hines Child Care Center was a crucial resource. It was affordable compared to other daycares in the area, and it was located right on hospital grounds. Eva, who asked that her name not be used for fear of reprisal, said her children had attended the daycare for years and grown accustomed to bringing her children to work, visiting them during her lunch break and picking them up after her shift. Now, “pulling into the VA without my kids was just emotional in itself,” she said. But it wasn’t just the daycare’s sudden closure that shocked Eva and dozens of other parents who work at Hines. They also were unaware that the facility was facing structural issues and deemed unsafe for children and daycare staff. In a company-wide email to employees obtained by Wednesday Journal, hospital officials said “a piece of plaster ceiling” in one of the daycare rooms “came down” sometime during the night of July 14. “The room was empty at the time, no injuries occurred and the room was secured upon discovery,” officials said in an email sent July 16, two days after the incident. Hospital officials also told employees that Hines’ occupational safety, patient safety, engineering and infection control teams conducted a “comprehensive safety review” of the daycare following the incident. A consultant from the Midwest branch of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) also inspected the child care center. Based on their findings, they decided to close the center indefinitely, officials wrote in an email. “We were told after the inspection of the space that they couldn’t confidently say that it wouldn’t happen in any of the other rooms and that it was like a ticking time bomb,” Eva said. Hines Child Care Center was located in Building 1, a roughly mile-long structure planted on the south end of the hospital’s 174-acre campus. The daycare center, which had long been part of Hines for about 40 years, was split into several different rooms to accommodate children from 6 weeks to 6 years old, said Eva and Amy, another Hines employee who requested her name not be published for privacy concerns and in fear
Photo by Bob Uphues
Outdoor playground at the hines Child Care Center located in Hines, IL. of retaliation. It also had additional office dripping water from the walls and nothing space for staff, kid-friendly bathrooms, a happened.” Matthew Moeller, a spokesperson for large indoor playroom and an outdoor playHines V.A., declined to comment on the deground, Eva said. Eva, a longtime employee of Hines, said tails of the safety review or describe the she did not know the daycare had any main- damages discovered in the daycare center. In an emailed statement to Wednesday Jourtenance problems but knew other parts of nal, Moeller wrote that that building did. the decision to close the In July 2012, the Defacility was “difficult” partment of Veterans but necessary to repair Affairs Office of Reits “long-term structursearch and Development al” problems. Hines VA released an extensive declined to participate report documenting the in a formal interview. physical condition of “Currently, there are 171 of its research buildno plans for the space ings across 74 campuses. after repairs are comAccording to the report, pleted,” he said in the Building 1 had numeremail. ous maintenance issues Moeller explained the ranging from a leaky Hines Child Care Center roof to vinyl asbestos was run by a private orfloor tiles and poor heatganization. On July 23, ing and cooling systems. a week after Hines adInspectors also found ministrators announced a “severely aging” HINES V.A. EMPLOYEE the daycare temporarelectrical distribution ily closed, the daycare’s system and noted that “several ‘emergency situations,’” including board of directors moved to shut it down a water main break, occurred during the as- permanently. Eva and Amy said about 17 teachers, along sessment. At the time, they wrote Building 1, along with the entire Hines campus, was with a handful of daycare staff, lost their positions. After repeated requests, Moeller in need of “constant” maintenance. Though the report was published nine declined to confirm the number of daycare years ago and the building has since un- staff impacted by the closure but stated that dergone countless repairs and renovations, the daycare operated on a “rent-free space at Eva and other Hines employees said some our hospital” and no Hines VA hospital emof those maintenance issues have yet to be ployees were affected. Moeller said a meeting was held on the resolved. “I know that a lot of the offices in the same day administrators sent out the email building had ceiling leaks and issues like about the daycare’s temporary shutdown. that,” Eva said. “We would put in these re- Employees were told they could file for leave to take time off work and find alternative quests for ceiling repair or like removal of care for their children, Moeller said.
“ It was heartbreaking because you’ve formed this relationship with the staff who are taking care of your children. In some cases, they see your kids more than you do just with these eight-, nine-hour days. You’re literally taking a part of someone’s family, and a lot of these kids have been here for years.”
Eva and Amy said they were told about the daycare’s indefinite closure on a Friday afternoon. That meant they had Saturday and Sunday to figure out who could care for their children. Eva and Amy said the Hines Child Care Center was the perfect place because the rates were inexpensive and located onsite. Amy said parents paid roughly $280 weekly at the Hines Child Care, whereas other childcare centers cost double or triple that amount, and finding a new daycare center means adding more travel time for parents. Eva and Amy explained that many Hines employees are medical and healthcare professionals and unable to work from home. Some also do not have or live near other family members who can help and care for their children, they said. On top of that, searching for the right childcare provider takes time and trust. With the COVID-19 pandemic already shifting their children’s routines, Eva and Amy worried how this change would affect them too. “It was heartbreaking because you’ve formed this relationship with the staff who are taking care of your children,” Amy said. “In some cases, they see your kids more than you do just with these eight-, nine-hour days. You’re literally taking a part of someone’s family, and a lot of these kids have been here for years.” Eva and Amy said they wondered why it took hospital officials two days to notify them about the ceiling plaster falling, and yet their children still attended daycare on July 15, the day after the incident, up until the afternoon of July 16. “Here is a daycare where all of our children are, and [it’s] amazing,” Amy said. “But you’re telling me you’re only just now seeing that the ceiling is falling? You’re only just seeing that there might be an issue in this area? And, you’re only just seeing it and telling us that it’s so severe that you have to close down for good?” Nearly a month has passed since the Hines Child Care Center closed down, and Eva and Amy are still upset, devastated and angry. The two said they often receive company newsletters on how Hines is trying to help its employees achieve a “work-life balance,” and for a time, the daycare center was it – it was what they needed to help strike that balance. Now, it’s gone. “The biggest thing that runs through my mind is [Hines VA] constantly saying [they] hear me, but there are no real actions,” Amy said. “Maybe you hear me but you don’t care. Hines hears, but they don’t care.” *Editor’s Note: Wednesday Journal has agreed to change the names of the employees in the story to protect their identities.
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
At reelection launch, Kaegi touts equity, transparency By MICHAEL ROMAIN
gressman said. Kaegi said that, over his first term, his office fought “to bring transparency and equity to a rigged system that put favoritism above fairness. We got right to work fixing the corruption and unfairness of the last administration, implementing strict ethics codes, being transparent about how we are assessing properties — showing our work, and putting our models online.” Along with technological upgrades in the office, Kaegi also touted a passage of “important legislation like automatic renewal of the senior exemption and the omnibus affordable housing bill. All of this has contributed to eliminating distortions and biases in assessments so that our tax base is becoming more equitable.” Recently, Kaegi’s office has come under criticism from commercial property owners for carrying out his campaign of redistributing some of the property tax burden from residential to commercial properties. Writing in Crain’s earlier this month, Jack Lavin, the president and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, called the assessor’s property valuation process “arbitrary.” But Kaegi’s attempts to reset the county’s property tax system, so that it’s less burdensome for homeowners has been countered by activity at the Cook County Board of Review, the 3-person body that facilitates the
Equity Editor
Oak Park resident and Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi announced his run for another term on Aug. 11 in Chicago. The Democratic Primary election is on June 28, 2022. Kaegi formally announced his campaign for reelection during a press conference held at Jeffery Plaza in Chicago’s South Shore community on Aug. 11. Kaegi, a longtime Oak Park resident, was surrounded by roughly a dozen politicians in support of his reelection bid, including some with west suburban constituencies like Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and First District Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson. Garcia lauded Kaegi for what he said is the assessor’s office accountability and transparency, issues that Kaegi ran on four years ago when he soundly beat former assessor and local powerbroker Joe Berrios. “A perfect example of transparency and accountability in Cook County is found in the policy that says anyone who comes to the assessor’s office needs to sign in and explain who they are there to see,” said Garcia. “I have found that many people who visit the assessor’s office no longer want to visit the office, because they don’t want to sign in and tell who they’re there to visit,” the con-
determine valuations for more than 1.8 million parcels countywide. During his remarks on Aug. 11, Kaegi said for “too long, our system has undervalued the biggest properties, shifting the burden on homeowners and small businesses, who pick up the tab.” Kaegi said the undervaluation of commercial properties during Berrios’ tenure “meant that millions of dollars were taken out of ” places like South Shore each year, “when they could be spent right here. “That extra burden was enough to displace long-term residents from their homes,” Kaegi said. “And inaccurate, regressive assessments of homes also lead even more millions to be taken out of the community that should have stayed here.” Kaegi said the Berrios administration “rewarded vacancy, by cutting assessments by up to 90% for owners who stated their buildings, keeping them empty while waiting for land values to rise. This heaped extra burden on the hard-working entrepreneurs and local leaders who dedicate themselves to enlivening and sustaining commercial strips like 71st Street.” Kaegi said starting this year, “all properties on corridors like 71st Street will get credit for the local vacancy rate, while those with extra vacancy will only get temporary and partial relief, in line with market practice.”
process of taxpayers appealing over-valued property assessments. Last year in Oak Park and River Forest townships, the assessor’s valuations of nonresidential property totaled $81 million, an increase of 33% over the Board of Review’s total of $61 million for 2019. In 2020, the board’s total was $69 million, just a 13% jump. “The data support the view that Assessor Fritz Kaegi faces powerful real estate tax appeal attorneys and other political forces in his efforts to reform Cook County’s grossly unfair and logic-defying method of calculating property values,” Daily Southtown columnist Ted Slowik wrote earlier this month. Slowik said the board defended its readjusted total “by saying it conducts detailed examinations of tax appeal requests on an individual basis, whereas the assessor must
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
C R I M E
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Armed robbers pat down victims Three male juveniles from Oak Park were the victims of an armed robbery by two offenders each carrying handguns. The three victims were walking in the 600 block of South East Avenue when a small black SUV pulled up beside them at 10:35 p.m., Aug. 9. The two offenders hopped out of the vehicle, while a third stayed in the driver’s seat, and pointed handguns at the victims before patting them down. The offenders took the backpack off of two victims, as well as a cell phone from the third. The backpacks contained the respective victims’ wallets and cell phones. The estimated loss is $500 per victim. The two offenders then got back into the SUV, which was last seen traveling eastbound on Adams Street.
Attempted armed robbery While walking, a man was approached by two teenage offenders, one of whom displayed a black handgun and demanded the victim’s property in the 400 block of Clinton Avenue at 9:05 p.m., Aug. 9; when the victim said he didn’t have anything then continued walking, the two offenders fled in a small black SUV driven by a third person. No loss was reported.
Aggravated vehicular hijacking ■ A woman was sitting in her parked tan 2014 Chevy Malibu when four offenders, one armed with a black handgun, opened all four doors and ordered her out of the vehicle in the 900 block of South Oak Park Avenue at 10:16 p.m., Aug. 9. The four offenders then drove off in her vehicle, traveling northbound on Oak Park Avenue. The estimated loss is $15,000. ■ Chicago residents were sitting in a parked gray 2017 Hyundai Tucson when four or five offenders approached the vehicle; one offender showed a handgun and
(All levels and styles)
demanded the keys to the vehicle and the victims’ cell phones at 10:19 p.m., Aug. 12 in the 900 block of South Humphrey Avenue; upon exiting, the offenders got into the car and drove off. The estimated loss is $19,000.
Call Dr. Harry Steckman (708) 533-0969
Theft ■ The catalytic converter was cut from a Mitsubishi Outlander between 3:30 a.m., Aug. 3 and 10 a.m., Aug. 4 in the 1100 block of North Humphrey Avenue. ■ Two offenders were seen using a small jack to elevate a blue Toyota Prius and using a reciprocating saw to cut the vehicle’s catalytic converter between 8:42 a.m. and 8:46 a.m., Aug. 11 in the 800 block of South East Avenue. ■ A pair of diamond earrings and the victim’s wedding ring was taken from a bedroom drawer in her residence in the 1100 block of South Oak Park Avenue between midnight., Aug. 1 and midnight, Aug. 9. The estimated loss is $3,500. ■ The catalytic converter was cut from a 2014 Kia Forte between 2:25 p.m., Aug. 9 and 8 a.m., Aug. 10 in the 400 block of South Taylor Avenue. ■ The catalytic converter was cut from a white 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander between 3:30 p.m., Aug. 9 and 8 a.m., Aug. 10 in the 400 block of South Taylor Avenue. ■ These items, obtained from the Oak Park Police Department, came from reports Aug. 6 through Aug. 13 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Want a beer? Take a shot first
Beer Shop and Kinslahger require proof of vaccination for customers By MELISSA ELSMO
Though he has no way of knowing for sure, Compaglia is confident most of the online criticism came from outside the Oak Folks looking to belly up to the bar are not Park community. In addition to dealing with strangers to showing identification before some online ire, Beer Shop also saw an apimbibing, but now in addition to checking proximately 20% drop in revenue on the IDs for proof of age, staff at Beer Shop, 1026 weekend following the announcement. North Blvd., and Kinslahger Brewing ComUndeterred, Beer Shop employees bepany, 6806 Roosevelt Rd., are requiring pa- gan asking customers to show proof of trons to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 vaccination beginning Aug. 14. COVID-19. Customers can show their vac“I am not a scientist or a cination card or a photo of the disease expert, but I do watch card on their phone, but any what is going on,” said Tony customer entering the building Compaglia, current owner of must comply with the vaccine Beer Shop. “And an increasing requirement. number of groups are coming “My first priority is the safety to this same decision.” of our customers and employOn July 27 the San Francisco ees,” said Compaglia. “We made Bar Owner Alliance, a local the decision we felt was the industry group, recommended right one. Hopefully the comthat local bars check for proof munity will continue to come to TONY COMPAGLIA of vaccination before allowing Beer Shop.” Beer Shop owner guests inside. On Monday, Aug. Jack Dengel, longtime man15 New York City became the ager of Beer Shop, and his wife, first government in the United Danielle Dengel, will take over State to ban unvaccinated peoownership of the bottle shop ple from indoor restaurants, and tap room from Compaglia gyms, and music venues. Fifin the next month. The in-comteen Chicago music venues have instituted ing co-owners are fully supportive of Com“no shot no show” policies and the city of paglia’s decision to require vaccination and Chicago has its own growing list of restau- plan to continue the policy after the ownerrants requiring proof of vaccination includ- ship transition is complete. ing Koval Distillery, Giant, Beat Kitchen and “Things are spiraling out of control, and Empty Bottle. it is falling to businesses to lead the way out “I feel like we are ahead of what will be- of this,” said Jack Dengel. “We are being come a trend in Oak Park,” said Compaglia. proactive for our customers and setting a “I am doing my best to balance all these good example in the community. All customcomplexities and things seem to be moving ers have to do is flash their vax card.” in the direction of checking vaccination staBeer Shop employees are all on the same tus.” page as the ownership team. They are not Beer Shop’s policy shift was announced strangers to checking identification and via Instagram on Aug. 6 and gave patrons ensuring no-one is over-served in their esa week to adjust to the change. Online reac- tablishment; checking vaccine cards is antion to the announcement was largely posi- other step they are willing to take to ensure tive, but some commenters were displeased safety. The Dengels, however, are clear it is with the policy. not their employees’ job to debate custom“I am willing to endure some short-term ers. If someone takes issue with the policy, pain in exchange for longer term safety,” they will be referred to management just said Compaglia. “We have experienced an- like any other unruly customer. ger from some people who have opinions “We all thought this was over and it is about mandates that are very different than hard to make a decision that could be conours. Social media gives people a platform to sidered controversial,” said Danielle Denexpress that anger.” gel. “But it is heartwarming to have the supOak Park Eats Editor
FitzGeralds joins in vaccination proof policy FitzGerald’s, the iconic nightclub on Roosevelt Road, on Monday joined the escalating number of live music venues, restaurants and bars requiring either proof of COVID-19 vaccination or an upto-date negative COVID test to gain admission to the club. In an email to FitzGerald’s followers, owner Will Duncan said he and his staff have agreed on the new policy for patrons,
musicians and staff to access the indoor nightclub. For now patrons can use the patio and Sidebar space without proving vaccination or providing a negative test. “Masks are required for staff and we doggedly beg patrons to wear masks as well. The future of the live music industry depends on kicking COVID’s ass,” Duncan wrote
Melissa Elsmo
“I feel like we are ahead of what will become a trend in Oak Park.”
Harmon on mend after breakthrough COVID case Sen. President Don Harmon is recovering from what he describes as a mild breakthrough case of COVID-19. Harmon, an Oak Park resident, said in an Aug. 16 press release that he experienced mild symptoms late last week. He self-isolated and was tested for the virus. When confirmed, contact tracing began.
Harmon, who was vaccinated last spring, said, “I’m even more grateful to be vaccinated, given how mild my symptoms have been. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated and also to not let their guard down as we try to get back to normal.”
Dan Haley
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
PROOF: Erich Connor, of Chicago, shows a photo of his COVID-19 vaccination card to Jonathan Agrimonti, of Chicago, on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, at the Beer Shop. port of our community. It goes such a long way when people tell us they are grateful for our decision to keep people safe.” Just days before Beer Shop announced its vaccine requirement, Keith Huizinga, owner of Kinslahger Brewing Company, made a similar decision for customers looking to enjoy a beer in his brewery’s tasting room. “We were closed for 15 months at the height of the pandemic and since reopening we have been staying on top of the Delta variant, breakthrough infections and the potential for spreading,” said Huizinga. “We contemplated closing again, but that seemed too drastic. The next best thing was limiting the population at Kinslahger to those who have been vaccinated.” Huizinga is clear that life is not risk free but acknowledges COVID-related health risks are far less serious among the fully vaccinated. The decision to require proof of vaccination strikes a proper balance and
feels like the responsible choice to the brewery owner. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Huizinga. “Ninety-seven percent of people are supportive. Of course, there are about three percent of people calling us fascists, but we were never going to change those minds anyway.” According to Huizinga patrons unable to prove their vaccination status have been asked to leave the tasting room with the assurance they will be welcomed back with proper proof of immunization. Like Compaglia and the Dengels, Huizinga is convinced more businesses will take this approach to keep their customers and employees safe. Though Huizinga and Compaglia have not spoken, owners of both businesses intend to keep the policy in place long term and are hopeful people who have been hesitant to come out for a beer will feel comfortable visiting their establishments.
Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
17
ART BEAT
About that parrot on North Blvd. ...
Parrot Pandemonium the latest mosaic mural from Off the Wall By MICHELLE DYBAL Arts Editor
There’s a new mosaic mural in town, thanks to Oak Park Area Arts Council’s Off the Wall summer program. The eight-week project, which resulted in “Parrot Pandemonium,” is a large stand-alone installment along the sidewalk at 914 North Blvd., Oak Park. Off the Wall is an annual program that provides employment and creative opportunity for professional artists as well as students. Master Artist Carolyn Elaine, who has headed previous Off the Wall projects, presented the parrot idea to art apprentices, and they contributed details and colors, according to Camille Wilson White, executive director of the Oak Park Area Art Council (OPAAC). In addition to pops of color representing the different parrots, leaves and sky, mirror pieces reflect light and represent the branch the parrots share, plus other highlights. Those working on the mural included Atlan Arceo-Witzl, assistant to the master artist, a college graduate and Oak Park native. Hasani Cannon, senior apprentice and apprentices Perhaje Cannon, Lauren Atchley, Greta Olson and Lauren Edwards, all from Oak Park, are college and high school students. According to Wilson White, apprentices return each summer, especially when they have been a “valuable part of the team.” Two such artists who have returned year
after year, and increased their responsibilities, are Arceo-Witzl, who is now a professional artist and Hasani Cannon. “Nine out of 10 times they come back,” Wilson White said of the apprentices’ desire to return. The site for Parrot Pandemonium, a beautiful image blocking dumpsters and screening a parking lot in a stretch of apartments, came at the request of Bill Planek, president of Greenplan Management, the owner of Oak Park Apartments. Funding for Off the Wall came from the village of Oak Park, Illinois Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Photos by Carolyn Elaine
TEAMWORK: Above: Hasani Cannon, (left), and his brother Perhaje Cannon work with tesserae. Right: Atlan Arceo-Witzl, (left), and Greta Olson apply grout at the North Blvd. site.
Photo by Joe Kreml
PANDEMONIUM: The Off the Wall mural team included (left to right) Hasani Cannon, Atlan Arceo-Witzl, Carolyn Elaine, Perhaje Cannon, Lauren Edwards and Lauren Atchely.
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Modified Micro Brew Review set to return Saturday By MELISSA ESLMO Oak Park Eats Editor
On Saturday, Aug. 21, more than 45 breweries are expected to offer a wide array of craft beers at the 14th annual Oak Park Micro Brew Review in downtown Oak Park. The zero-waste craft beer fest benefitting the nonprofit Seven Generations Ahead, took a pandemic pause in 2020 but the popular event is poised to make a thoughtful return this weekend. Masks are required and Micro Brew Review attendees, including ticket holders, vendors and volunteers, must show proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID test within 24 hours to enter the event. Vaccinated attendees will need to show their official CDC issued vaccination card to hired personnel in charge of checking identification. A photo of the card, both front and back, is acceptable. Those wishing to offer proof of a negative COVID test will need to be tested after 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 20 to qualify for entry. “The village hinted these changes may be coming and we planned the event as if this was going to be the case,” said Gary Cuneen, founder and executive director of Seven Generations Ahead. “It is great to be back. This is a well-loved event that is positive and fun. We always have a great crowd, and we want the event to be as safe as it can be,” he said. The largest of its kind in the Midwest, the Micro Brew Review has historically attracted close to 4,000 people, but COVID-related
capacity limitations will keep 2021 attendance lower than in years past. Organizers intentionally capped ticket sales at 1,800 this year in an effort to de-densify the festival area and promote social distancing. The number of beer vendors was also trimmed from 85 to just under 50 to create additional space within a limited footprint. Haymarket Brewing will be offering two diversity-themed beers at the Micro Brew Review. In an effort to promote inclusion in Chicago and in the craft beer realm, Haymarket collaborated with brewers Sam Ross and Jay Westbrook to brew Harold’s ’83 Honey Ale in honor of former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington. The Black Beer Baron, Jay Westbrook, is also offering Summer of ‘54 in partnership with Haymarket. The ruby red grapefruit and mango laden IPA is intended to be a celebration of baseball, friendship, and inclusion. Westbrook brewed the beer as a tribute to Ernie Banks and Minnie Miñoso and honors the first full season both Chicago baseball teams had a Black player. Beer lovers looking for a sour should plan to stop by the Revolution Brewing tent. They
will be serving up Pursuit of Freedom, the latest Freedom Session Sour, featuring both refreshing yuzu and jammy raspberry. Familiar Forest Park and Oak Park establishments, Exit Strategy Brewing, Oak Park Brewing Company, One Lake Brewing, and Kinslahger Brewing Company, will also be on hand pouring their hyper-local brews. Wild Onion Tied House, The Daly Bagel, Poke Burrito, Knock Out Catering and Hay Market Pub and Brewery will also be on site providing an array of local fare to festival goers. Four bands and a DJ will provide entertainment throughout the event. The Micro Brew Review eliminates nearly all landfill waste through reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting to align with the
mission of Seven Generations Ahead. The Micro Brew Review is the largest annual fundraiser for the organization that takes a multifaceted approach to building sustainable and healthy communities. “We are in the midst of an existential climate crisis,” said Cuneen. “This fundraiser helps support our zero waste school programs and our work with local institutions to help them look at solar options.” The Micro Brew Review will be held on Marion Street between Lake Street and South Boulevard from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 21. Tickets are available at https://sevengenerationsahead.org/oak-park-microbrew-review/
Corn roast returns with COVID spacing The Oak Park Farmers Market hosted its annual corn roast on Aug. 14 after a pandemic-related hiatus in 2020. Freshly shucked corn, donated by long-time market vendors Geneva Lakes Produce and R. Smits & Sons, was roasted and dunked in melted butter from Brunkow Cheese. The combination brought smiles to market goers’ faces. “We are so excited to have the corn roast back this season,” said Jill Stewart, Oak Park Farmers Market commis-
sioner. “It’s such a good representation of the market itself – the corn is donated by our farmers; volunteers roast and serve it to our community. It’s one of the best special events of the year, and it’s a great fundraiser, too.” Under the advisement of Dr. Theresa Chapple-McGruder, Oak Park’s public health director, lines were structured and managed to avoid crowding at the corn roast. Chapple-McGruder also attended the virtual meeting of the Oak Park Farmers Market commission on Aug. 11 and
indicated in addition to “de-densifying spaces” at the corn roast she would be assessing other farmers market events in response to the surge in COVID-19 cases within the village. Chapple-McGruder will determine if upcoming market events like stone soup and the annual pie baking contest will function with mitigation or need to be canceled all together. A new health order related to the market is forthcoming according to Chapple-McGruder.
Melissa Eslmo
Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
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19
Homes
The hottest market in years
@VHT STUDIOS
Recapping spring and summer real estate sales By LACEY SIKORA
I
Contributing Reporter
n case you haven’t been paying attention, the local real estate market is hot, very hot. And, it’s not limited to the suburbs. According to the National Association of Realtors, in May 2021, nationwide the median price for existing homes topped $350,000 for the first time, marking a 24-percent increase over 2020. This was the biggest annual increase in median pricing in more than two decades. Combine lower interest rates with lower inventory, and the market has been a seller’s market for the summer. We asked local agents weigh in on what they’ve seen in their busy real estate practices this spring and summer and what they see on the horizon.
Hottest spring in memory In Oak Park and River Forest, agents agree that the spring market was one of the hottest in recent memory and say that, as is typical, summer sales lag spring. Leigh Ann Hughes of Baird and Warner’s Hughes Home Team reports that her group’s sales in 2021 have the potential to nearly double those of 2020. “For most of the spring and early summer, homes were selling within a week, with many receiving multiple offers at or above listing price,” Hughes said. While she thinks that the hot market is a combination of factors, including historically low interest rates, she said the pandemic changed the way people live in their homes. “Working and learning from home was the norm for almost a year, and people realized they needed more space, or different kinds of space to make that functional for their families,” Hughes said. Jane McClelland of ReMax in the Village agrees. “Many young families were coming from the city, living and working from home in their 1.200 square-foot condos, and they were just dying for more space and a yard,” Mc-
Clelland said. “Once they realized their jobs were secure, they started looking for homes. However, there was not adequate inventory to absorb all of these buyers, hence the multiple offers.” McClelland says that February through May of this year saw markedly increased sales activity. “Many homes were selling with multiple offers at over list price,” McClelland said. “Sellers were able to ask for things that normally buyers would not consider, like extended post-closing possession. And buyers, in order to have their offers stand out over competing offers, were waiving inspections and appraisals.” McClelland says she and many of her peers have seen a bit of a slowdown since June. “Things have calmed down a bit now,” she said. “There are still some multiple offer situations, and instead of eight or nine offers, there may be two or three.” While comparing 2021 to the same period of 2020 might show remarkable increases in sales and prices, John Lawrence, vice president and designated managing broker with See SALES on page 20
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
SALES
A seller’s market from page 19 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago cautions making such comparisons with hindsight. Overall prices are up, he June 2020 closings were impacted by the pandemic shutdown in the spring, and very few homes went under contract during April in May in 2020. A more accurate comparison is looking at 2019 and 2021. That said, Lawrence noted that the four months from February to June of this year were the hottest he’s ever experienced.
Advice for buyers and sellers For those looking to buy, McClelland’s advice is to be prepared. Financially, buyers should get pre-approved for a
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM mortgage. Working with a local realtor can provide a better glimpse into the current market and insight into homes that might be hitting the market soon. Emotionally, she cautions that homes that are move-in ready sell fast- -- within a day or two of hitting the market -- so buyers should be ready to act quickly. In the case of multiple offers, she says that it’s common to lose the home, so be prepared with a best offer and don’t get too attached. Hughes says it can be easy for buyers to get discouraged. She encourages buyers to look at the bright side -- those same historically low interest rates that are making the market hot are also creating an opportunity to buy and build wealth for the long term. She says that different loan products such as small down payment, rehab loans and bridge loans broaden the options even more for buyers. On the selling side, McClelland says it pays to put in the time before listing a house. “It seems homes either sell in the first 10 days, or they sit on the market for a while. Often this is the case due to price or condition or both,” McClelland said. “Buyers will pay for a move-in ready home. Do your cleanout up front, consider a professional stager, prepare you home with paint, repairs and cleanout and make it as spotless as possible.” Hughes says that this is still the best seller’s market she’s seen in years, so she advises that it’s a good time to sell. Beyond preparing a home with staging and cleaning, she emphasizes the need for good pricing. McClelland agrees, noting that pricing is a tool. “If it doesn’t sell in the first two weeks, be prepared to reduce the price,” she said. “Market time is not your friend. Buyers know how brisk this market is. If they see a home with 45 days market time, they will ask themselves, ‘Why didn’t anyone else want this home? There must be something wrong with it.’ You can never regain the momentum
NEW PRICE!
of the first 10 days.”
Looking ahead to fall McClelland won’t hazard a guess to how long the hot market will last, but says historically the fall market is not as active as the spring market. Hughes saw a slight dip in activity in July, and she attributes that to people taking postponed vacations. She expects buyer demand to remain robust this fall and says that the first weekend in August saw noticeable uptick in open house traffic. Lawrence said the market is still very strong, but that the pace of spring was never going to last forever. “It’s more important to price properties correctly,” Lawrence said. “There isn’t the unencumbered enthusiasm, but homes that are well-priced for what they are will still sell very fast and frequently with competition.”
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
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CONDOS
Growing Community.
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
SPORTS
COVID lingers as high school athletes return to compete
Masks mandated for indoor sports, but no masks or capacity limits outdoors By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
The Illinois High School Association sports year began Aug. 9 with practices in football, boys and girls cross-country, boys and girls golf, boys soccer, girls swimming and diving, girls tennis and girls volleyball. The IHSA is optimistic that it can have a fully normal sports calendar. However, with the number of COVID-19 cases on the rise largely due to the delta variant of the virus, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced on Aug. 4 a temporary mask mandate for indoor youth sports. This applies to student-athletes participating in girls swimming and diving and girls volleyball. In the case of the former, competitors do not need to wear masks while in the water, but they must have them on at all other times. The mask mandate does not apply to outdoor sports. Moreover, there are no capacity restrictions for any fall activity, and at this time there are no plans to require that spectators present proof of vaccination in order to be admitted. The athletic directors at Oak Park and River Forest, Fenwick and Trinity high schools are hoping to avoid a repeat of the past year, when the schedules were severely condensed in all sports with some overlapping each other. There were also games canceled due to COVID-19 whenever teams had to quarantine, and attendance was either non-existent or extremely limited. “Overall, we were able to get creative and give athletes an opportunity to compete, but in most cases, that competitive environment looked very different than what we were used to,” said OPRF Athletic Director Nicole Ebsen, who oversaw the program at Morton High School last year. “I am super proud of our kids and coaches in how they handled the new protocols and procedures,” added Fenwick athletic director Scott Thies. “We also have great parents who had to deal with so much in a year filled with twists, turns and many unknowns.” “Trust the process” is a well-known cliché when it comes
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
DRILLING: Oak Park and River Forest High School football coach John Hoerster (center) leads drills with his players on the Oak Park Stadium field on Aug. 16 as his team prepares for its season opener later this month. to sports, and Trinity Athletic Director Ken Trendel believes that’s the biggest lesson administrators have taken away from the pandemic. “I was proud of how our administration, teachers, staff, and coaches set the tone for a safe learning/playing environment for our community,” he said. While Ebsen, Thies and Trendel are all optimistic about starting and completing each team’s season on time, they
also know that the delta variant of the coronavirus -- considered to be more transmissible than the original strain -- could adversely impact those plans. “It’s definitely a concern, but this far along into the pandemic, I think we all know what needs to be done to keep safe,” Trendel said. “We need to learn from what has worked to slow or change the curve and will need to keep doing what we can to keep our community safe, especially our students and student-athletes.” “I’m always concerned and vigilant, but I’m also hopeful that we’ll be able to give our athletes a chance to compete,” added Ebsen. “Safety is the first priority, and we’ll always act in the best interest of our athletes.” Ebsen also feels flexibility will be important this year, as how things evolve with the pandemic could mean schedule changes and game cancelations. “Be flexible and ready to pivot because at any point things can change; don’t take any opportunities for granted,” she said. “We need to value every athletic experience we’re able to have because you never know.” Thies thinks if everyone -- student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and parents -- can work as one unit, this season will be a better experience for all. “Last year was an important reminder that high school sports mean so much to the physical, emotional, and social development of kids,” he said. “We appreciate everyone’s willingness to work together in the best interest of our kids.” ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
GETTING READY: The OPRF football team’s offensive unit practices on Aug. 16 at Oak Park Stadium.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M. Call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 ktrainor@wjinc.com
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Where are you? p. 30
Teachers on frontlines of youth mental health crisis
he last few weeks have given us all a powerful reminder about the importance of prioritizing our mental health and speaking out when we need help. By publicly acknowledging they need space to focus on mental health, Olympic athletes like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka have sent a message across the world encouraging others to feel empowered to do the same. I hope young people, many of whom look up to these athletes as role models, recognize that it’s OK for them to say they are not OK either. But for many young people, mental health remains extremely stigmatized, even at a time when more youth are in need of support and services than ever before. To help combat the hesitancy young people face in reaching out for help, we need the trusted adults in their lives, such as parents and teachers, to be trained to recognize signs and symptoms of someone struggling with mental health. At NAMI Metro Suburban, where we serve individuals, families, and communities affected by mental illness in the western suburbs of Cook County, we believe that training teachers on mental health and providing them with the resources to connect their students with the help they need is one of the most important ways to address the mental health needs of our young people. This training is even more important as we look to the start of a new school year, where many children are returning to the classroom for the first time in a year and a half and are preparing to face the challenges that come with catching up on missed learning, returning to after-school activities, and resuming daily socialization with friends. That’s why we are firm believers in Mental Health First Aid, an international, evidence-based education program to train people in mental health just like someone would be trained in CPR, as a way to get teachers the training and resources they need. A range of peer-reviewed studies conducted around the world show that individuals who participate in Mental Health First Aid not only grow their knowledge of mental illnesses and addictions and increase their confidence in, and likelihood of, helping an individual in distress, but also show an increase in their own mental wellness. This is particularly important at this moment, as teachers will also be facing the challenges of returning to the classroom after a long, difficult period and need to be attentive to their mental health as well. The State of Illinois recognizes Mental Health First Aid’s effectiveness, too, as Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation back in 2019 authorizing Illinois school districts to utilize the training program. Now we just need to encourage schools to implement that program, and ensure our teachers get the resources they need to address the mental health of their students and their own. NAMI Metro Suburban wants to help — we offer free Mental Health First Aid classes that count as eight continuing education units to anyone interested. As students return to classrooms, our teachers will be back on the frontlines of our youth mental health crisis, each and every day. We need to be sure they’re equipped with the resources to handle it and connect students with the help they need. Let’s get more teachers connected to Mental Health First Aid and ensure mental wellness is a priority in our schools. Kimberly Knake is executive director of NAMI Metro Suburban.
KIMBERLY KNAKE One View
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
Dominican University’s Priory Campus is up for sale.
Dominican Priory’s past – and future
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n late July, while strolling around the Priory property at Dominican University, I grew wistful as I reflected on the 1,000-plus hours I have spent there. That was over 30 years ago, when I was part of a team that served as real estate adviser for the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Albert the Great in Chicago. Though the Priory parcel was not sold to Dominican University until 2002, over a decade earlier my job frequently took me to these beautiful grounds. We guided the Province by developing and selling the perimeter land areas with 23 single-family lots and eight acres to the River Forest Park District, which it developed into a beautiful park. We also re-developed the nearby soccer, baseball and football fields for Fenwick High School, and oversaw the entitlement process. Today, the 23 single-family homes are longtime neighbors of the property and enjoy the mature surroundings. My work on those 35 acres was a labor of love: My uncle, Friar John, had previously lived at the Priory. In addition, during visits nearby to see my future wife, a Trinity High School graduate, I had grown intrigued by the 1920s Gothic structure with a huge 330 feet of setback off Harlem Avenue and a quarter mile of frontage. Investigating the sprawling property’s status led to my firm’s engagement with the Dominican Friars. The experience spanned about three years and led me toward my current specialization serving religious congregations across the U.S. and Canada. Guiding them on similar intricate real
estate requirements through hundreds of such transactions, I have observed recurring themes that are likely to unfold at the two buildings on the Priory property. Now that it is the focus of so much interest from parties such as Fenwick High School and Oak Park and River Forest High School, I want to share from my experiences not only in this unique real estate niche, but at this unique property. Observation 1: Whoever acquires the Priory should do everything possible to preserve its historical heritage and integrity. It is worrisome and greatly concerns me that OPRF High School has offered an additional $1 million if the two buildings are demolished before a transaction is consummated. Much more reassuring is Fenwick President Rev. Richard Peddicord’s public pledge that Fenwick would preserve those structures. River Forest Village President Cathy Adduci has rightly noted the Priory’s historical significance and that green space is a key element to preserve. Observation 2: The purchaser should thoroughly explore an adaptive re-use of the Priory building to preserve the structure. Many of the floors don’t line up, making an interior adaptive re-use more difficult. But those challenges can be overcome. Having worked on the adaptive re-use and preservation of the 1929 Marshall Field’s building in Evanston, among others, I know this is feasible.
BRIAN
DOLEHIDE One View
See DOLEHIDE on page 26
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Coming to terms with summer time
V I E W S
Priory bidding is a closed circle
here is nothing keeping a commercial developer from making a bid to purchase the Priory Campus at Harlem and Division from Dominican University. So says River Forest Village President Cathy Adduci. Well, nothing except Adduci’s comments to the Journal back in June that the existing zoning on the 7-acre property — non-taxable public and recreational use — was etched in stone. Nothing except Adduci’s clear message to Dominican officials that the green space had to be preserved, that the zoning was clear and that River Foresters wanted it to stay that way. So at this point, after Dominican hired a commercial real estate firm to shop the property to a very small pool of acceptable users. after Oak Park and River Forest High School and Fenwick High School have already submitted letters of intent to buy the property, it is disingenuous of Adduci and allies on the village board to effectively say, “It’s a free country. Developers, make your bids and we’ll consider them.” At the last village board meeting on Aug. 9, two village trustees — Erika Bachner and Kathleen Brennan — said the board should consider options beyond the current zoning limits. They asked the board to assign the issue to the village’s Economic Development Commission. Their argument, which is indisputable, is that 7 acres of open land seldom come available in River Forest and all options should be on the table. Adduci clearly wants this property maintained as open space. We believe she has the votes on the board to make that happen and, based on a lack of any public pushback advocating for commercial development, we believe she has public support. She should just say that. The pretense that this is a wide-open bidding process is not accurate. Further, Adduci is a member of the Fenwick board of directors. When the topic of bidding for this property was first raised Adduci should have resigned from that board seat. She says now she will do just that if Fenwick is chosen by Dominican to buy the property. That is too late.
Thanking Cara Pavlicek
This is Cara Pavlicek’s last week as Oak Park’s village manager. After a long tenure which began with her as Oak Park’s parking czar, Pavlicek heads to Northbrook as its top administrator. In a long interview with the Journal last week, Pavlicek was typically candid on a range of topics — from deciding it was time to move on, to the challenges and opportunities she believes Oak Park faces. In her tenure Pavlicek, with support from various village boards, has modernized and streamlined virtually every aspect of village government. She has led Oak Park through two major national crises — the financial collapse in 2008 and the combined health and financial wallop of COVID-19. While the pandemic continues to prove it is not over, Pavlicek provided strong leadership and brought Oak Park village government through and in many ways leaner and more focused. Pavlicek was imperfect. Shocking. While the board sets policies, Pavlicek could have done more on community safety reforms, on building a culture of equity in village government, on investing in sustainability. That said, this is a very hard job. Pavlicek did it very well. And we’d close by noting that the guff she took for being too decisive, for reorganizing village hall with the manager dead center in all things, reflects a sexist malignancy we all still need to deal with. Our thanks to Cara Pavlicek for her leadership.
Always Munch
A quick word at the late news of the death of Robbin O’Harrow, the longtime owner of Munch, the vegetarian and vegan restaurant on Marion Street. In a town filled with an ever-changing assortment of restaurants, O’Harrow’s Munch was a singular accomplishment. Unique in its menu, top notch in its quality, Munch was a destination and a discovery. We offer her family our thanks and our thoughts on her contributions.
Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future.
Steve Miller Band
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Fly Like an Eagle
ime is slippery. Like water, it seeps through your fingers, no matter how hard you cup your hands to hold it. Eventually you’ll need your hands for something else, and time trickles away while you’re busy doing other things. Since we can’t stop or slow it down, our only option is to learn to enjoy the passage of time, as James Taylor sings in “Secret O’ Life.” Learning how to enjoy time’s passage — you guessed it — takes time. First you have to work your way past the cliches: Time waits for no one, time heals all wounds, time will tell, and, of course, time flies when you’re having fun. Time flies whether you’re having fun or not, but I am most acutely aware of its flight during the summer, which is the season I want to go slowest. Yet here we are, already in the second half of August, and summer has been a disappointment, weather-wise, what with wildfire smoke blowing in from the West Coast and tropical storm moisture funneling up from the Gulf, and excessive heat indexes courtesy of global warming, plus our tiresome perennial Midwestern nemesis, humidity. The sunshine we worship went AWOL, hiding behind cloud banks and haze, and the sky turned 50 shades of gray instead of blue. I wrote a column rhapsodizing summer just before it began, and the day the column ran (Murphy’s Law being the most powerful force in the universe) we went into our June swoon and never really recovered — although last weekend was lovely. I could accept all this if it were merely “the weather,” but much of our weather is now man-mangled. The problem, I realize, is not so much summer failing to live up to my expectations as my desire for perfect summers, but I felt cheated nonetheless, and that made me even more acutely aware of the fleet feet of summer’s sprint toward autumn. As Thich Nhat Hanh wisely wrote, “It is not impermanence that makes us suffer. What makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent.” I don’t really want permanent summer — just one that feels leisurely and long. To enjoy the passage of time, however, you also have to learn to enjoy the passing seasons. Enlightened detachment is not the solution. The antidote for being underwhelmed is actively finding true summer — a moment here, a moment there, inside and outside — and sometimes letting summer find you. Sitting outside, for instance, on a comfortable mid-July evening in Austin Gardens for a stirring performance of Shakespeare’s valedictory, The Tempest, featuring another tour-de-force
performance by Kevin Theis, who had been missing for several years from Festival Theatre’s stage. In the role of Prospero, Shakespeare’s alter ego, Theis rails and incants and bellows his intoxicating brand of bombast, channeling the Bard, who tried one last time to wring magic and mystery from the universe and inject it into life itself. Summer showed up on the Salt Creek bike trail, gliding along the undulating ribbon of pavement from Brookfield to Oak Brook on my 47-year-old Schwinn Le Tour bicycle, propelled by my 69-year-old legs. Summer was present at Brookfield Zoo with my grandsons, one of whom complained that “The zoo is boring. It’s just looking at animals,” but who managed a remarkable impersonation of interest when I gave him my keys to dangle in front of a seal who paused, mid-swim and upside down, an inch away on the other side of the glass to study it. My grandson complained again when it was time to go home. Summer made an appearance on a beautiful Saturday morning under overhanging trees, surrounded by flowers at Friendship Botanical Garden in Michigan City, Indiana, during a memorial service for a revered high school teacher who recently died at the age of 90. In retirement, Alex Rakowski became the heart and soul of this place, his legacy urging us, we decided, no matter our age, to keep growing, listen with our hearts, and become truly human. Summer accompanied an eight-hour trip up the center of Wisconsin to the North Woods, aka “an eternity of trees.” You might think such a long drive on the Interstate Highway System would be sterile and stultifying, but thanks to the foresight of Ladybird Johnson’s wildflower program, the roadway was lined with summer prairie blossoms all the way. If that weren’t enough, the drive was enriched — courtesy of the Oak Park Public Library — by listening (with heart) to the audiobook version of Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury, perhaps the finest book ever written about summer and about being alive, which is the essence of summer. And when at last we arrived at our remote destination, I found summer, or rather summer found me, surrounded by the unexpected quiet as I emerged from the car. Momentarily stunned by the calm, I was reminded of what an unremittingly noisy environment I live in and how much I needed this refuge, a thought reinforced later as we skimmed across a glassy, still lake in kayaks for the first time, accompanied by the lonesome wail of a loon. On our way home, we passed a sign for Marathon County, Wisconsin, which included the marketing slogan that I plan to adopt and evermore apply to summer, no matter how much climate change messes with it, as well as to life itself: “Marathon: Where time is on your side.”
KEN
TRAINOR
V I E W P O I N T S
We can do much better on vaccinations
I’m a COVID widow and a nurse − and I’m livid Since the beginning of the pandemic last year, my husband Rich and I were exceptionally safety conscious. Rich’s lungs were already compromised from an underlying autoimmune disease. As a nurse, I was aware of the risks. So was he. Despite our rigorous efforts to remain safe, our worst fears were realized. We both contracted COVID. Rich never had a chance to refuse the COVID vaccine. He would not have refused. He died before Christmas, after I made the agonizing decision to withdraw him from life support. I held his hand as he took his last breath. My journey as a COVID widow has been an excruciatingly painful one. When the vaccine became available in my age group, I eagerly sought it. Rich missed the vaccine by only eight weeks because it simply wasn’t available to him. Tragically, the first 10 months of the pandemic were grossly mismanaged on the federal level. It was a colossal failure of leadership with dire consequences. But now that we know better, we can do better. Vaccines have been available in the U.S. for many months. Given that, I’m livid that our national “fully vaccinated” rate stands at little more than 50%. Scientific evidence shows that the Delta and others variants can infect even the vaccinated. COVID does not have a political affiliation. Neither should the decision to get vaccinated. We are all at risk, especially young children, the elderly, immune-compromised, and health care workers. As an Oak Parker for four decades, I take pride in our village. So why is Oak Park’s 58% vaccination rate barely more than the national average — and trailing Evanston’s by almost 30 percentage points? Why aren’t
W E D N E S D A Y
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
PROVIDED
Anne Rooney with her late husband, Rich Means alarms clanging all over our village, demanding immediate collective action? Oak Park, we can and must do better! Our lackluster vaccination rate demands a coordinated campaign — from our village officials, businesses, civic groups, faith congregations, schools, health-care community, and concerned citizens. As Priority #1, I urge local employers — especially in health care — to mandate vaccines as a condition of employment. Our primary response must be focused on the common good, not on distorted interpretations of individual autonomy. I don’t want another family to suffer the devastating loss of a loved one to what should be a largely preventable disease. Let’s not fail each other again.
Anne Rooney Oak Park
No equity in Oak Park’s taxes A recent letter to this newspaper demanded that the Oak Park Village Board use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to “create a plan that truly makes our community whole.” Did they have in mind all Oak Park taxpayers when they made this proposal? Fortunately, the village board made the right decision to “invest in the community” by retaining the first down payment to replenish its fund balances. They should also do the same with the next installment as any rushed decisions are premature until the Biden Administration develops and enacts a plan to defeat COVID and communicates a coherent message, one not fraught with the current confusion. The entire community should benefit from the ARPA payments, not select interest groups led by self-proclaimed activists. Financial support to individuals and families is already available with the ARPA passage that included cash payments to many Oak Park residents and an ongoing monthly subsidy to those with children. The Cook County Treasurer’s Office released the second installment bills this week. If you are like me, your real estate taxes will have increased 20%+ vs. last year.
Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
Since we purchased our Oak Park home in 1988, real estate taxes have increased at a compounded rate of 8.7% or 6.5 times inflation. Over the years, taxing bodies approved increases, all the while Springfield defaulted in their obligations to Oak Park taxpayers, local media remained silent, and property appreciation lagged behind other suburbs. What do we have to show for Oak Park’s high taxes? An elementary school district with a rating that must be improved! All of the new high-rises in downtown Oak Park, coupled with the expiration of TIF districts, should have reduced the real estate tax burden. This did not happen as Oak Park taxing districts have not been financially prudent. An initiative the Oak Park Village Board should enact is a moratorium on all proposals that would remove property from the tax rolls, while every taxing body should limit wage increases below the average inflation rate of the past five years and reduce all other expenses by 5%+ through efficiencies in service delivery.
Richard Willis Oak Park
Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Equity Editor/Ombudsman Michael Romain Staff Reporters Stacey Sheridan, F. Amanda Tugade Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Arts Editor Michelle Dybal Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Mark Moroney Business Manager Joyce Minich Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs
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About Viewpoints Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, fire you to action. In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing. Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay. If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@ wjinc.com.
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ADDRESS 141 S Oak Park Ave., Oak ParkIL 60302 ■ PHONE 708-5248300 EMAIL Dan@OakPark.com ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00. A one-year subscription costs $43 within Cook County and $53 outside of Cook County. Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 10138). Postmaster, send address corrections to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Il 60302. © 2021 Growing Community Media, NFP.
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OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Number 1 priority: Voting rights Each of us has our own priorities as to what governmental problems should be addressed first. My principle concern is voting rights. President Biden and our legislators have a multitude of challenges vying for attention, including but not limited to Afghanistan and troop withdrawal, physical and human infrastructure bills, the police reform bill, gun regulation, domestic terrorism, “white supremacy” and race relations, immigration reform, and of course the pandemic, which is ravaging so many lives. The task of government is to address press-
ing issues, all of which need attention, and to do so at the same time. That said, I believe the assault on voting rights should be the primary focus at this time. Free and fair access to voting for all citizens is the very crux of our democracy. Yet in state after state, Republicans are writing bills severely limiting access to voting by minorities and people of color. Thousands of votes that Republicans assume would be opposition votes are being stricken from the rolls. Limiting and controlling who gets to vote precludes fair elections and can lead to the destruction of the very te-
nets upon which our democracy rests. So I find myself back to the urgent task of battling outrageous unfairness. Yet again, I am e-mailing, writing, and calling our legislators, and the President, pleading with them to address this abuse of our constitutional rights. We must demand that these ever-increasing, horrific challenges to voting rights be their most pressing priority. Please join me in contacting our leaders. “We, the People,” can save our democracy!
Harriet Hausman River Forest
Demand action on clean energy The IPCC Climate Report has been released — with stark and superlative warnings. Will there finally be an urgent call to action by our elected leaders to stave off a dire future for life on earth? Will the seemingly intractable partisan divide finally be bridged by a nonpartisan emergency occurring before our eyes on a daily basis? I fear not. The time for insincere rhetoric and proposed half measures is long over. We need a bold transition to clean energy or the exponentially terrible costs will be borne by our children. Demand action.
Therese Kane Oak Park
Block Party of the Week!
Political spectrum on the clock A Reactionary wants to destroy the clock. A Conservative wants to stop the clock. A Liberal wants to tinker with the clock. A Radical wants to speed up the clock. A Dogmatist wants to argue with the clock. And a Pragmatist wants to make sure the clock is giving the right time.
Kwame Salter Oak Park
DOLEHIDE from page 26
Our thanks to the neighbors on the
1100 block of Home Avenue! Want to get your September block party in the pages of Wednesday Journal? Contact Jill at 708-613-3340 or jill@oakpark.com. Keep in mind, we can only go to one party per week, so reserve your spot today.
For that mixed-use development in Evanston, going through the historic preservation process, an extensive renovation of the interior came even as we preserved the exterior façade while increasing the value with new uses on all floors. Observation 3: The next property owner should consider building an addition to this historic gem. It’s been done before with an abundance of land and existing setbacks — and it can happen again. In fact, depending on the nature of the adaptive re-use, expanding the footprint enough will generate the necessary revenue to offset the extensive costs to preserve the iconic structure. More than anyone else, of course, neighbors have a major stake in whatever future unfolds at the Priory site. Though I no longer have any business interest in the property, my desire now, as it was a generation ago, is that the property be stewarded with care and responsibility. Only after all the above options have been genuinely explored should any serious thought be given to demolition. Brian Dolehide, a Hinsdale resident and former Hinsdale Historic Preservation commissioner, is founder of Anno Domini Advisors, a faith-based real estate consulting firm in Chicago.
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
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Troop 16 honors 9 Eagle scouts
Boy Scout Troop 16, based in Oak Park, held an Eagle Court of Honor ceremony for 9 scouts who achieved the rank over the past 18 months. The ceremony was held at Bemis Woods in Westchester on Aug. 15. “This is a first for us,” said Scoutmaster Terry Dutton. “Normally we do these for individuals one at a time, but we had a number of scouts who worked incredibly hard during the pandemic to complete the rank, and as some are going off to college, we wanted to give them their proper due. It’s been a challenging couple of years for us and we’ve had to rethink how we do a lot of things.” Troop 16 continually operated its outdoor program during the pandemic. Opting to meet outdoors and using multiple group sites, it was able to provide near uninterrupted activities and engagement for its members while maintaining strict safety protocols and adhering to state and local guidelines. Scouts must complete a project benefiting the community in order to earn Eagle, in addition to earning 21 merit badges, as well as a number of other requirements. Said newlyminted Eagle Scout and Oak Park resident Cory Yu, “Earning Eagle was a long and sustained process, always requiring dedication and commitment. It feels almost surreal that I have come so far and grown so much since I first entered Troop 16. For me, Eagle rank represents a capstone to my journey and growth through Scouting, and I hope to continue living up to that standard for myself, the troop, and the community at large.” Added Troop 16 committee chairman Jim Bicak, “We actually have an additional three boys who have earned the rank but were unable to participate in the ceremony due to scheduling conflicts, including one who has an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy and has started his training. We’re really proud of these 12 young men, in
PROVIDED
SCOUTS’ HONOR: (From left) Danny Roberts, Dylan Hendrixson, Sean O’Connell, Hugh Lipic, Duncan Weir, Camari Bolger, Cyrus Kaczkowski, Cory Yu, and Luke Pildich part for what they’ve already accomplished, but also for the amazing things they’ve yet to accomplish.” Troop 16 is chartered by First United Church of Oak Park and is one of the country’s oldest continuously operating B.S.A. scout troops. Founded in 1916, it currently serves over 90 young men, age 10-17, drawing from the communities of Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Maywood, Elmwood Park, and Chicago. The troop has produced hundreds of Eagle Scouts since its founding. The scouts honored at the ceremony on Aug. 15, all from Oak Park, are: Camari Bolger - Built and installed two large shelving units in a storage area of First United Church and organized that space to make it more useful for the church.
Dylan Hendrixson - Painted an interactive sundial at Beye Elementary School on the blacktop. Faculty and students can use the sundial to explore the rotation of the Earth and revolution of the Earth around the sun and seasons simulator. Cyrus Kaczkowski - Built planters with birdhouses for Oak Park Township. Hugh Lipic - Cleaned and reorganized a preschool storage room at Oak Park Temple in addition to repainting a basement community gathering hall Sean O’Connell - Created a Bird Blind at Thatcher Woods Trailside Museum. The blind makes it possible for people to watch the birds without disturbing them. Luke Pildich - Built two large, wooden planter boxes and landscaped playground
area for New Moms, a nonprofit organization in Oak Park. Danny Roberts - Built two bookcases for Beyond Hunger to help provide books to food pantry guests. Duncan Weir - Created children’s chapel program for First United Methodist church, so that they would be prepared for reopening. Cory Yu - Built five benches of various lengths for the Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center (SLOEC), which is an outdoor school run in Bartlett, by the Northwest Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO). For more information, contact Assistant Scoutmaster Andrew Campbell at 773-5392356 or andrewcampbell518@gmail.com.
Andrew Campbell
Troop 16
Delay on public input is inexcusable
The nearly $40 million America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds our village was awarded are still waiting to find out what the village wants to do with them. In the six months since the village was aware of receiving ARPA funds, neighboring municipalities and Cook County have conducted multiple sessions to engage their communities on how the funds should be used. Oak Park has not held any community engagement programs around ARPA. It is hard to understand what has delayed getting community input for Oak Park while
Chicago, Evanston, and Cook County have all been able to move ahead. Our concern should not be on the cause of the delays, however. Instead, we need to know that by not pushing for community input, our trustees get advice that may not be reflective of what Oak Parkers want or need. In neighboring Cicero, the trustees and president decided to spend its Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) funds on its police force. Based on reporting from Jesus Montero, it appears that there was no community input on the use of the
CARES funds. In Oak Park, it would be a good bet that the community would not want to see ARPA funds spent on policing. How we spend our funds demands community input. The Oak Park village manager role is now vacant, and the budgeting process has started. The interim village manager has provided no detailed plan to the public on how they will solicit feedback. When asked during the Aug. 2 board meeting, the outgoing village manager mentioned that she would use a process like the one used for feedback on Interstate 290. Since I-290 gener-
ally affected those who lived around the interstate, re-using that process may not work for those farther from the highway. The board needs to urgently seek community input on use of these funds. We are far behind other recipients of ARPA funds in bringing in voices across the village. There are commissions, staff, and volunteers ready to facilitate the process. So further delay is not only hard to understand, it’s inexcusable.
Stephen Morales Oak Park
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What I miss about pandemic restrictions
oes anyone else find themselves a little nostalgic for real COVID restrictions? I don’t mean COVID itself — I would not trade my vaccine for smaller crowds — but I forgot what a pain in the ass everything is when people are no longer freaked out and staying home. There’s traffic on the Eisenhower again, which I did not miss at all. There’s an upsetting amount of traffic everywhere, really. I liked not worrying about how long it was going to take to drive places; in May of 2020 I made it downtown for a 9 a.m. dental appointment at Northwestern Hospital in 23 minutes. Even found street parking. Today I would be nervous about tardiness if I hadn’t left the house by 7:30. Dentist was focused and moving fast, too. I definitely appreciated the way medical people got focused overall. My doctor is a normal doctor, which means every appointment starts with 40 minutes of waiting in the exam room, and a couple of weeks ago a trip to the ER kicked off with a very rapid $450 charge to my credit card, followed by a 90-minute wait to see
any medical person. Not during the pandemic though! During the pandemic, doctors moved swiftly and efficiently to minimize exposure and my couple of trips to urgent care were handled like there was an “Either your problem is resolved in 10 minutes or your care is free” promotion underway. I could tolerate recreational capacity limits on restaurants and movie theaters if the exchange was no traffic and no lines. Restaurant-wise, I miss not having to make good choices. When everywhere was closed, it was easy to avoid defaulting to “Let’s just go out.” Good for the wallet and the cholesterol, avoiding that temptation. Now I have to avoid it the old-fashioned way, with planning and will power, which is much more effort than just shutting everything down. I liked not having to remember how to make plans. I love traveling and I used to be great at it. Book tickets, book rental cars, pack, plan, go. Then we couldn’t travel for 15 months. I still haven’t gone anywhere, partly because I’m still not 100% sold it’s a good idea and partly
ALAN
BROUILETTE
because the idea of buying tickets and renting cars and packing seems dauntingly complex compared to my go-to pandemictainment of staying in and learning to cook something new and watching a movie I haven’t seen before. We had such a taste of how good a voluntarily lower-capacity world was during the phased reopening, too, which makes this all the harder. I went to a reduced-capacity game at Wrigley in May. Ten thousand people in the park. No crowds at all in Wrigleyville. We found street parking, ate dinner without waiting in a mobbed bar for an hour, breezed through the gate and
sat in seats near (but not too near) people who were visibly happy to be there instead of belligerent sports-analyst superfans heckling after five beers. But maybe I’m just trying to brace myself for the next few months. I’m trying to be sanguine about this surge, and I’m generally a pretty optimistic guy, but the effort is showing. I was a good sport about the mask the first time around. This time I might get a little cranky. “Regular life plus masks” was not the endgame I had hoped for. Alan Brouilette writes a monthly column for our sister publication, the Forest Park Review.
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No masks, but he got his shots
hese are the Dog Days of Summer, so we decided to interview a dog from Forest Park. His name is Scout and we conducted the interview using the latest CCD (Canine Communication Device). After I fastened the CCD collar around Scout’s neck and put on my own, we could understand each other perfectly. Fortunately, Scout speaks English. “Scout, I notice you’re not wearing a mask.” “We don’t do masks. Muzzles, maybe. The worst is wearing those cone collars but they’re very good for maintaining dental distance.” “Have you had your vaccinations?” “Are you kidding? I got all my shots when I was a puppy. First, they gave me a shot for distemper. Did you know, that spreads through coughing and sneezing? Yeah, we definitely cough and sneeze. We’ve even got our own coronavirus vaccine. I got shots for heartworm, Lyme disease and especially ra-
bies. The rabies shot is required in every state.” “Do you have some type of certificate that proves you were vaccinated?” “Sure, I need to have my rabies vaccination certificate, or I’d never get into my favorite places. Like when my owner drops me off at Camp Ruff Ruff for the day.” “So what breed are you anyway?” “Can we just say ‘mixed?’ I never met my dad but I had the most loving, nurturing mom. She was a collie and raised me and my three brothers all by herself. Then when we were about 4 weeks old, she started pushing us away. Finally, she flat out ignored us. It’s gotten so bad that I spotted her at the dog park and she walked right by without recognizing me.” “Well, fortunately you were bought by a
caring owner.” “That guy also ignores me. At least he did, until he started working from home. Now, I get too much attention. I used to wag my tail when he grabbed my leash. Now, we’re walking all over the neighborhood five times a day. I swear my legs are getting shorter.” “Is Forest Park a good place for walks?” “Smell-wise, you can’t beat it. There’s always a pleasant aroma in the air from Ferrara Pan Candy and Kay’s Bakery. Although, I prefer the meaty smells along Madison Street to sniffing sweets.” “Do you meet other dogs along the way?” “Yeah, too many. I used to like being greeted by strangers but now I can’t turn around without getting sniffed. The sidewalks are packed with dogs. Especially those annoying
JOHN RICE
“pandemic puppies.” They can’t even walk straight, without getting tangled up in their leashes.” “So do you know why they call these the Dog Days of Summer?” “It has nothing to do with us. In ancient times, they believed that the rising of the Dog Star caused drought, unrest and an increase in infections.” “Are you Sirius?” “Hey, at least we have a Dog Star. There aren’t that many other dog stars, besides Marley, Beethoven and Benji.” “Is that supposed to be funny?” “It always cracks up the boys at the kennel.” “Do you have any advice for getting through the dog days?” “I recommend cutting out the walks until the weather cools off and getting back to four-hour naps. Also, make sure your rabies shots are up-to-date. You don’t want to see any of us foaming at the mouth.”
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
‘W
here are you?” is a question my wife may ask when she’s calling to find out when I’ll be home from work or running errands and hoping she can add one more item to a list before I get to the last store. “Where are you from?” or “Where do you live?” are similar questions we often ask when meeting someone for the first time. The answers may be an address, street, town, state, or even another country. They give each of us a sense of place and are the first steps in “getting to know you.” So I find myself working with John, a plumber I have never met before, who’s removing a tub and redoing the plumbing so I can install a new shower. “Where do you live, John?” I asked. “Bellwood,” he replied. “What about you?” “Berwyn.” “So we’re neighbors,” he said. “Yep. Right around the corner.” Sense of shared place established and business cards exchanged. Then there’s Ed, a Wheaton High School track star so good he won six — count ’em, six — first place medals at a single track meet. Set the state record for the high jump in 1906. A real star. Where do you live? Address, street, town, state. That’s where most of us stop. Do we really need to add “United States”? For John, the plumber, a town was good
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Where are you? enough. For Ed, the track star from Wheaton, the race was just getting started. Take a moment right now, really, and write down where you’re at: (address, street, city, etc.) until you stop expanding your space. Did you get North America? Planet Earth? The Milky Way galaxy? Ed did, and still he kept on running. While Ed was interested in physics, his insurance executive father wanted him to be a lawyer. So, a dutiful son, he graduated from Oxford in 1913, as a Rhodes scholar from the University of Chicago, with a degree in jurisprudence. When his father died that same year, Ed found himself able to pursue his own dreams. In 1917 he received his PhD in astronomy from the University of Chicago. A hundred years ago, the basics of astronomy were that moons orbit planets, planets orbit stars, and all the stars we see are grouped into one large cluster we call a galaxy. He knew we lived on the third planet from one of those stars. He also knew that our star, which we affectionately call the sun, was just one of some 200 billion stars that make up a flat, disc-shaped galaxy we call the Milky Way. A hundred years ago, these basic facts were just the starting blocks for that track star from Wheaton High School. At that time, everyone assumed our galaxy
was the entire universe. And why not? Aren’t 200 billion (200,000,000,000) stars big enough for God’s creation?! But what gnawed at Ed were some fuzzy, nebulous bits of something floating around in the sky around the edges of our galaxy. What were they? They didn’t look like stars. Were they just leftover “junk” from the creation of the Milky Way? Answering that question turned out to be the race that would define his career. After serving in the Army during WWI, he got a position at the Mt. Wilson Observatory in California and, using the largest telescope of the day, he answered that question, proving beyond a doubt that one of those “fuzzy bits” was indeed another galaxy, one we call Andromeda, 2.5 million light years (15 trillion miles!) from earth and containing a trillion — with a T — stars. Ed’s discovery instantly changed astronomy’s race from a 100-yard dash to a marathon. Thanks to his interest in Astronomy, we now have a more expansive answer to the question, “Where are we?” According to NASA, there are somewhere between 200 billion to a trillion galaxies in the observable universe. And each one of those billions of galaxies has somewhere between 100 to 400 billion stars, plus planets and moons for which there is no number. One planet, the one we call Earth, rolls east-
BILL SIECK
One View
ward every morning, bringing our local star into view until Earth rolls so far that our star disappears on the western side. Then in the darkness that envelops, we get just a glimpse of all that is out there — and where our address, street, city, etc. find their rightful place. Ed died in 1953. Thirty-seven years later, NASA launched a telescope into space in his honor. Edwin Powell Hubble, a local boy from Wheaton, who preferred the stars over stardom, who never saw a race too long to run, took all of us out of our immediate neighborhoods and opened our eyes to the whole of creation. If you have not yet opened your mind and imagination to explore the wonders of a universe 92 billion light years across, you might want to consider getting out more. It will be the most humbling, thrilling, and beautiful trip you ever take. And it’s always there for a visit. Google “pictures from the Hubble telescope.” Or just look up. And on one of those planets for which there is no number, in one of those galaxies far, far away, another plumber named John may be providing fresh water and hot showers to another astronomer named Ed who’s looking out at our galaxy — and wondering if he and John are all alone. What do you think? Bill Sieck is a Berwyn resident, someone who looks at life from odd angles, and one for whom planet Earth is his “pied-a-terre.”
O B I T U A R I E S
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Robbin O’Harrow, 65
Owner of Munch Restaurant Robbin E. O’Harrow, 65, of Oak Park, died on Aug. 14, 2021. Born on June 6, 1956, she earned both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Chicago. She owned and operated Munch Restaurant in Oak Park. Robbin was the mother of Sage and the late Laina; the wife and dear friend of Edwin O’Harrow; and the grandmother of Solomon and Maya. Visitation will be held beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21, until the time of service, 11:45 a.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St., Oak Park, with interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
Kay Duff, 91
Longtime Ascension parishioner Catherine Agnes (Kay) Duff, 91, died peacefully in her home in Forest Park on Aug. 12, 2021, following a bout with cancer that was discovered only months ago. Prior to that, she was sharp as a tack, and as healthy as one could be at her age. Born on Oct. 27, 1929, she was a remarkable woman who became the family matriarch. She spent her formative years on the West Side of Chicago, before moving to Oak Park shortly after marrying her (late) husband of 57 years, John (Jack) Duff. She attended Providence High School, and was an active member of the Presentation Young People’s Club, through which she met her future husband.
Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
She married at age 20, and raised 10 children, seven of them born before she turned 30. She was an active member of Ascension Parish and was involved in the Altar & Rosary Society and the many functions and events her children were part of. She was, like many women of the day, a full-time mom and a damn good one who never took a day off. One of the amazing things is that she never drove. She walked to stores or sent the children for daily supplies. She knew everyone’s birthday. Not just her kids, but her many grandchildren, great grandchildren and godchildren. She would send reminders about an upcoming sibling’s birthday, etc. In addition to her own wide circle of friends and her children, she was loved and adored by her children’s friends, who spent countless hours at the Duff household over the years and well into adulthood. In her later years, she worked as a receptionist for Wednesday Journal. She will be missed dearly by all, but the memories of her will be everlasting.
JOURNAL
Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com, before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.
of Oak Park and River Forest
Drechsler, Brown & Williams
Robert P. Gamboney
Since 1880 Family Owned & Operated
I am there for you in your time of need. All services handled with dignity and personalized care.
Charles Williams, Owner/Funeral Director
Cell: 708.420.5108 • Res: 708.848.5667
203 S. Marion St. Oak Park 60302 708/383-3191
I am affiliated with Peterson-Bassi Chapels at 6938 W. North Ave, as well as other chapels throughout Chicagoland.
Funeral Home
Kay Duff was the wife of the late John M. “Jack”; mother of John, Kathleen, Thomas (Pam), James (Wendy), Anne (Robert) Dorneker, Margaret (William) Walsh, Mary (James) Arey, Patricia (Robert) Marino, Robert and the late Susan (the late John) Sbarbaro; grandmother of Ainsly and Benjamin, Amanda, Thomas and Kaitlyn, Kevin, Elizabeth, Kelly and Maggie, Meredith, Joseph and Patrick, Matthew and Nicole, James and John, and Marikate, Jack and Samuel; great-grandmother of Colin and Clare, Josephine and Thomas, and Cadence and Tenley; sister of William (Anita) and Lawrence (Mary) Frankel and the late Margaret (the late Charles) May, Hugo, Robert (Dorothy), Loretta Marren, Howard and Virginia Frankel; and the aunt and great-aunt of many. Visitation was held on Aug. 16 at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home. A funeral Mass was celebrated on Aug. 17 at Ascension Church, followed by interment at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Ascension School (school.ascensionoakpark. com) are appreciated.
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Let the sun shine in...
Public Notice: Your right to know In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year OakPark.com | RiverForest.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com
Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.
HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI
BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM PUBLIC NOTICES
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PUBLIC NOTICES EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION DOCKET NUMBER: PC 21-08 (Zoning Ordinance Text AmendmentAccessory Dwelling Units) HEARING DATE: 2021
September 2,
TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the agenda permits. LOCATION OF HEARING: The Plan Commission will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/ commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT Uverse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7 (e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Written testimony or comments regarding the application may be provided prior to the public hearing by email to planning@oak-park. us. The individual’s name and a reasonable part of their testimony or comment will be read aloud into 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: Y21007478 on August 2, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of HUFF RESOLUTION SERVICES with the business located at: 4909 W THOMAS ST, CHICAGO, IL 60651. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: DINAH HUFF 4909 W THOMAS ST, CHICAGO, IL 60651, USA. Published in Wednesday Journal August 4, 11 and 18, 2021
the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. If email is not an option, written testimony or comment can be dropped off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the south entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 2, 2021. All written testimony and comments will be distributed to the Plan Commission and made a part of the official hearing record. Those wishing to provide public testimony at the hearing shall contact the Village Planner at planning@oakpark.us for instructions on attending the live Zoom meeting by 5:00 PM the day of the hearing. Interested persons may also participate in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by emailing the cross-examination form to clerk@oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to sign up. Individuals who sign up to participate in this manner will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the meeting online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone. Questions regarding written testimony or comment can be directed to 708-358.5420 or email to planning@oak-park.us. PETITIONER: Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302
REQUEST: The Petitioner requests text amendments to the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance as follows: Article 2 (Definitions & Rules of Measurement) by adding a definition of an “accessory dwelling unit,” and Article 9 (“Site Development Standards”), Subsection 9.3A(3) by exempting attic, basement and attached accessory dwelling units from accessory structure setback regulations, and adding a new Subsection 9.3B (“Accessory Dwelling Units”) to allow attic and basement conversions with separate entrances and attached accessory dwelling units with separate entrances. A copy of the application and each of the applicable documents are on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during current business hours, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before September 20, 2021, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition. DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk. Published in Wednesday Journal August 18, 25, September 1, 2021
LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 1, 2021 for the following: Village of Oak Park
Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Thursday August 19th, at 10:00 a.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 7992342 for a non-refundable charge of $30.00. 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. All prospective bidders must prove they are pre-qualified by the Illinois Department of Transportation by providing a certificate of eligibility to the Engineering Division at which time a password will be issued for access to the online bid documents. This project is financed with local Village funds and federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and thus is subject to all federal rules, regulations and guidelines, including DavisBacon and Related Acts, Section 3, and Equal Opportunity requirements.
OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION Oak Park, Illinois 60302
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: Y21007583 on August 11, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of BILL & GILL’S PROPERTY MAINTENANCE with the business located at: 4112 SUNNYSIDE AVE, BROOKFIELD, IL 60513. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: MATTHEW DAVID GILL 4112 SUNNYSIDE AVE, BROOKFIELD, IL 60513, USA WILLIAM JOSEPH PRASCH, 2240 TERRY LN W, BROADVIEW, IL 60155, USA. Published in RB Landmark August 18, 25, September 1, 2021
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Control Cabinet Replacement Project Number: 21-134
Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours. Published in Wednesday Journal August 18, 2021
Wednesday Journal • Landmark • Forest Park Review
THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer
LEGAL NOTICE Published in Wednesday Journal August 18, 2021
ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD
Published in Wednesday Journal August 18, 2021
LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division. In re the marriage of ADEKUNLE AYANNEYE, Petitioner and KOWAII MATTHEW Respondent, Case No. 21D630026.
LEGAL NOTICE 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 September 2, 2021 for Project: 21-2, Resurfacing of Various Streets. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, this contract includes removal and replacement of curb and gutter, sidewalks, ADA ramps, driveways, drainage structure adjustments, pavement patching, cold-milling of bituminous concrete, installation of hot-mix asphalt binder and surface courses, pavement striping, parkway restoration, and all appurtenant work thereto.
PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of STEFAN WLADYSLAW SUCHAN Case Number 2021 CONC 001009 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: STEFAN W SUCHAN to the new name of: STEVE W SUCHAN The court date will be held: On November 5, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. at Daley Center in Courtroom # 2503 via Zoom. Published in RB Landmark August 18, 25, September 1, 2021
PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y21007543 on August 5, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of TOBY ZUCKER JEWELRY DESIGN with the business located at: 202 N KENILWORTH AVE STE 2, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: TOBY SHORE 202 N KENILWORTH AVE STE 2, OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA. Published in Wednesday Journal August 18, 25, September 1, 2021
PUBLIC NOTICE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on August 10, 2021, the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the Village of Riverside, Cook County, Illinois, adopted amendments to Chapter III, “Examinations – Original Appointments” of their Rules and Regulations, which amendments generally pertain to Lateral Appointment of Sworn Police Officer Candidates. Copies of the amendments are available at the Village of Riverside office, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL, and on the Village of Riverside website. These amendments will be effective August 29, 2021, and thereafter. /s Kelly Navarro Kelly Navarro, Secretary of the Riverside, IL, Board of Fire & Police Commissioners Published in RB Landmark August 18, 2021
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal-opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.
The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids at the Public Works Service Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 1st, 2021 for the following: BID 21-135 VILLAGE OF OAK PARK EMERGENCY FIBER OPTIC CABLE REPAIR RATES REQUEST FOR BIDS Bid forms may be obtained from the Public Works Customer Service Center by calling 708358-5700 or by stopping by the office located at 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Information is also available from the Streets & Street lighting Superintendent, Scott Brinkman, sbrinkman@ oak-park.us or on the Village’s website http://www.oak-park. us/your-government/financedepartment. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening. For more information call the Public Works Service Center at 708.358.5700. THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Published in Wednesday Journal August 18, 2021
Find Help Wanted & Marketplace listings on the next page!
NOVENAS PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (NEVER KNOWN TO FAIL) Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to suc cor in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and publish; your request will be granted. L.M.
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
CLASSIFIED
(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM HELP WANTED
River Forest Public Schools District 90
District 90 is seeking qualified and experienced applicants for the following positions:
Hephzibah Children’s Association
• English Language Learners Teacher (Part-time FTE 0.50 at Lincoln Elementary School)
Hephzibah Children’s Association is a social service agency in Oak Park, IL with a variety of programs including Residential Group Homes. Our mission is “To help children thrive and families flourish through innovative community-based programs”.
• Physical Education Teacher ( Part-time FTE 0.60 at Lincoln Elementary School)
Join our team now and you will be eligible for a signing bonus paid in installments (must be active at time of payout).
For detailed qualifications requirements and job duties, please visit our website at https://www.district90.org/about/ employment for our complete list of employment opportunities. Interested candidates should complete the online application available at www.district90.org. Please do not send hard copies of supporting documentation, i.e. cover letters, resumes, licensure, etc. to River Forest Schools District 90; instead, upload these materials onto the online job application system for proper processing.
Village of Brookfield
Imagine being a role model to children in the local community! If you are at your best in a child and student centered environment, when promoting learning and fun, are safety minded and you aim to make a difference in the lives of kids; please take the next step and apply to one of these exciting part-time roles in the Recreation Department:
• STARS Instructor, Before & After School Program ($11-$14 per hour) • Lead Teacher, Tots Prep Program ($12-$14 per hour) • Assistant Teacher, Tots Prep Program ($11-$12 per hour) Apply through the Careers link on the Village of Brookfield homepage. PART TIME DRIVER ASAP
Local company looking for part time driver/warehouse. Must be drug free & have valid IL DL. Must be able to lift 75lb. $13/hr Email resume to HR@sievertelectric.com
ASSISTANT VILLAGE ENGINEER
The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Assistant Village Engineer in the Public Works Department. This position will be responsible for participating in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities for assigned programs including design, mapping, field survey, private development, real estate and program planning for future public works and capital needs and also recommend, within Village policy, appropriate service and staffing levels while administering departmental policies and procedures. The ideal applicant will have extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering, applicable laws and regulatory codes relevant to assigned area of responsibility, prepare understand and interpret engineering construction plans, specifications and other contract documents. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications August 26, 2021.
BUDGET & REVENUE ANALYST
The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Budget and Revenue Analyst in the Finance Department. This position will Serve the public with professional administrative and analytical duties in the areas of budget preparation, purchasing, payroll, data analysis and process improvement. Provides, prepares and maintains records, and financial and statistical reports and analysis which assist in the Village’s ability to improve business processes and gain efficiencies through better use of technology. Budget duties include assisting in the development, analysis and application of performance measures with regard to Village services and resources; preparing, modifying, tracking and monitoring Village expenses and transfers; grants, and conducting budget-related research and analysis. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications August 27, 2021.
HORTICULTURE SUPERVISOR – PARK DISTRICT OF OAK PARK
The Park District is actively looking for a Full-Time Horticulture Supervisor. We offer a competitive compensation package with a starting salary of $49,513.00 + based on experience and qualifications. Our benefit package includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending account, IMRF Pension, $300 reimbursement for wellness related activities, vacation, holidays, sick time and personal days. The Horticulture Supervisor oversees the daily maintenance of the Park Districts landscape beds and natural areas. Landscape operations include: performing maintenance such as weeding, mulching, planting, pruning, watering, and fall and spring cleanup. The Horticulture Supervisor assists in the design, organization, and scheduling of landscape area plantings to create healthy habitats. Additionally, operations include: hiring, training, scheduling, and leading the horticulture team in proper horticulture maintenance practices. Review the complete job description and apply online –https:// www.pdop.org/jobs h t t p s : / / w w w. p a y c o m o n l i n e . n e t / v 4 / a t s / w e b . p h p / jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=38634&clientkey=41D8300184906117978771C10E755DC6 The Park District of Oak Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer!
PAID-ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER Job Title: Paid-on-Call Firefighter Description: The Village of Riverside Fire Department is seeking applicants for the position of Paid-on-Call Firefighter. Additional Status Information: This is not a full-time position. Qualifications: - In good physical condition - Reside within 1.5 miles of the boundaries of the Village of Riverside at time of appointment - Be 18 years of age at the time of application - Possess a high school diploma or GED - Possess a valid driver’s license with a good driving record Miscellaneous Applications are reviewed in October 2021. Application deadline is Friday, October 8th, 2021. The Village of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
GRANTS SUPERVISOR
The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Grants Supervisor in the Development Customer Services Department. This position will perform a variety of responsible for developing. Administering and coordinating activities related to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and other grant-funded programs for the Village. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/ jobs. Position opened until filled.
HIRING BONUS! HEPHZIBAH DAY CARE PROGRAM SITE SUPERVISOR
Hephzibah Children’s Association offers after school day care on site at each of the Oak Park elementary schools. The Day Care Program is accepting applications for a Site Supervisor for the 2021-2022 school year to provide supervision to childcare staff as well as care and supervision of 5-11-year-old children. Regular days and hours are Monday through Friday from 2:30 6:00 PM, Wednesday 1:30 – 6:00 PM. Additional hours on school closing days, in coordination with the school district calendar. May work other hours during school holidays and for staff meetings.
Residential Counselor - full time and part time positions - Signing Bonus
Residential Supervisor - full time and part time - Signing Bonus
We are currently seeking candidates to work in our residential Group Homes program. You will provide physically and emotionally nurturing care to children who have trauma histories in a structured therapeutic environment that provides consistency and predictability in a community-based setting. We have a several part time and full time shifts available including, overnight, mornings, afternoons/evenings and weekend shifts. Shifts include: • Full time weekdays -4-10 hours shifts: Noon-10:00 pm and every third weekend • Full time overnights - Saturday-Tuesday 9:00pm-7:00 am • Part time weekends - flexible, but includes morning & evening shifts on Saturdays & Sundays • Part time: Friday and Saturday, noon-10pm and Sunday, 7:00am-noon Flexibility to work additional shifts if needed, is desired. Requirements include: • Bachelor’s degree • Must be at least 21 years old • Experience working with special needs children • Experience writing Medicaid notes a plus • Valid IL drivers license • Sensitivity and responsiveness to the cultural differences in the staff and client populations
We are currently seeking supervisor candidates to work in our residential Group Homes program. You will provide supervision to the staff and physically and emotionally nurturing care to children with trauma history in a structured therapeutic environment that provides consistency and predictability in a community-based setting. We have a several part time and full time shifts available including, overnight, mornings, afternoons/ evenings and weekend shifts. Shifts include: • Full time overnight – Wed-Saturday 9:00pm-7:00am • Part time – weekends Friday, Saturday, Sunday days • Part time – various days/times Flexibility to work additional shifts if needed, is desired.
Equal Opportunity Employer Hephzibah Children’s Association is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply. We value, advocate for and support an inclusive, respectful, multicultural, environment for employees and the clients we serve.
HIRING BONUS!
Part Time Positions Available for 2021-22 school year
AFTER-SCHOOL RECREATION / DAY CARE WORKER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST ON SITE AT OAK PARK PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Day Care Program of Hephzibah Children’s Association is accepting applications for nurturing individuals to provide care and supervision of 5-11-year-old children in the After School Day Care program on site at Oak Park public schools. The days and hours are Mon – Fri from 2:30-6:00 PM and 2:00-6:00 PM on Wednesdays. Plan and supervise arts and crafts, indoor & outdoor play, games, sports, homework help and more. Requirements include: -previous experience working with children -6 semester hours in education, recreation, social work or related college courses desired Program starts mid-August and runs through the 2021-22 school year.
WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400 Lost & Found, Items for Sale, and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-334
CARS WANTED
Equal Opportunity Employer We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all backgrounds to apply
PART TIME HELP WANTED SPOTLESS CARWASH at 7343 Roosevelt and 7802 Madison St in Forest Park is in need of an attendant. We are looking for someone who likes to be outside and is friendly and likes people.
Program starts mid-August and runs through the school year. Additional hours for staff meetings and on school closing days in coordination with the school district calendar.
The duties are to meet and greet customers, spray their wheels and perimeter of the car with soap, wipe the windshield with the sponge on a handle to prep a car before entering the automatic bay. Make change, sell tokens, automatic and self serve wash instructions, keep the lot, equipment room, and perimeter clean, and empty garbage cans.
Equal Opportunity Employer We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all backgrounds to apply
MARKETPLACE
Contact MJ Joyce at mjjoyce@hephzibahhome.org
Associate degree in child development or early childhood education, or the equivalent in child development or education desired. Previous experience working with children required.
Contact MJ Joyce at: mjjoyce@hephzibahhome.org
Requirements include: • Bachelor’s degree • Must be at least 21 years old • Supervisory experience • Experience working with special needs children • Experience writing Medicaid notes a plus • Valid IL driver’s license • Sensitivity and responsiveness to the cultural differences in the staff and client populations
Pay is $11.00 per hour. The hours an attendant is on duty are 9-5 on weekdays 9-4 on Saturday and Sunday. If you can fit any of these hours on a part time basis we can work with you. Please come to 7343 Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park to pick up anapplication. 708-771-2945. Thank you
CLASSICS WANTED CLASSICS Restored or Restored or Unrestored Unrestored
Cars Motorcycles Cars & & Vintage Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Import Import Cars: Cars: Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, MuscleCars, Cars, Ferrari’s,Jaguars, Jaguars, Muscle Mustang && Mopars Mopars Mustang Top $$ Etc. $$$$Top $$allallmakes, makes, Etc.
Collector James Collector James 630-201-8122 630-201-8122
CLASSICS WANTED Restored or Unrestored
Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
CLASSIFIED
(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM MARKETPLACE
ITEMS TO BE GIVEN AWAY FREE TO ANY PERSON WITH A NEED
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Oak Park
Quantum QJ6 Power Wheel Chair 2018 J6 Jazzy Model 260 lbs l40” w28” h54” left hand drive (708) 848-4611
GARAGE/YARD SALES
GARAGE/YARD SALES
RUMMAGE SALE HUGE RUMMAGE SALE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF OAK PARK 820 ONTARIO FRI 8/20 7PM TO 9PM SAT 8/21 8AM TO 3PM SUN 8/22 11AM TO 1PM
Forest Park
Forest Park
GARAGE SALE 908 & 914 BELOIT SAT 8/21 8AM TO 1PM
Furniture, tools, eclectic goodies. Mix of household items, and much more! Oak Park
Artwork, jewelry, collectables, toys, books clothes for all ages, housewares, furniture, and “Make Me an Offer”, plus more! Mask required.
COMMUNITY YARD SALE 19th CENTURY CLUB 178 FOREST AVE SATURDAY 8/21 9AM TO 1PM MORE THAN 15 SELLERS! (RAIN DATE SAT. 8/28)
HUGE ANNUAL DOWNSIZING SALE! DON’T MISS THIS SALE: PART 1 - AUGUST 6/7/8 PART 2 AUGUST 20/21/22 9AM - 5PM 547 MARENGO AVE
Many quality items at reasonable prices. Much kitchen miscellaneous: gadgets and small appliances; much silver in excellent condition; fine crystal, especially stemware; several small area rugs and runners; small wool rug with appraisal; a few tools and garden items including vintage sprinklers; two snow plows several nice pieces of furniture, including glass cabinet; white porcelain cookware (unchipped); too much to list; must see to appreciate. No early birds.
R E N TA L S & R E A L E S TAT E SUBURBAN RENTALS Apartment listings updated daily at:
ROOMS FOR RENT Large Sunny Room with fridge, microwave. Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $125.00. New Mgmt. 312-212-1212
OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT THERAPY OFFICE OAK PARK
Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue. Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.
STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR Best Selection & Service
708-386-7355
MMpropMgmt.com BERWYN DELUXE 5 RMS
Deluxe 5 RMS, 2 BDRMS, close to train and hospital. Includes heat, water, all appliances, laundry facility, parking. Just painted, new blinds. $1200/mo. Sec. dep. 1 mo. Credit Check. BROKER
708-347-2500
CITY RENTALS AUSTIN RENAISSANCE APARTMENTS
A HUD subsidized affordable Apartment property announces the opening of its waiting list for both One and Two Bedroom Apartments! Resident rent is approximately 30% of gross household income, some restrictions apply. Our property is located on Washington Blvd in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Apartments offered with an occupancy of one to four persons. Properties feature modern kitchens, include appliances, and offer onsite maintenance. Austin Renaissance will accept requests for application packages by U.S. Mail postmarked no later than , September 15, 2021. Send or email a written request for an application package that includes your name, mailing address. Daytime telephone number, Email address, and the number of persons in your household to: Town Center Realty Group LLC, PO Box 64, Huntley IL 60142-0064 or Email requests to mrpaul.tcrg@gmail.com Application packages available by mail or email delivery only. No walk-ins accepted.
Town Center Realty Group LLC
Free wifi; flexible leasing, and offices nicely furnished right down to the Kleenex. Secure building & friendly colleagues, often giving referrals to other office mates. Shared Waiting room, Conference room & option to join Peer Supervision Group. Ideal for new practice or 2nd location.
RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. * 1116 sq. ft. * 1400 sq. ft. Dental Office RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. * 960 sq. ft. OAK PARK–6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. * 3 & 5 room office suites FOREST PARK–7736 Madison St. *2500 sq. ft. unit Strand & Browne Strand & Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011
FOREST PARK TOWNHOUSE FSBOPRINCIPALS ONLY
3BR, 3 BA Desirable townhouse in Forest Park. 2 car heated garage. Many upgrades. $419,000.
708-712-8933
708-383-0729
HOME SERVICES CEMENT
OAK PARK & FOREST PARK
SUBURBAN REAL ESTATE
OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT
CEMENT
MAGANA
C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N
FLOORS
LANDSCAPING
KLIS FLOORING INC.
BRUCE LAWN SERVICE
New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured. Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com
“QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION” ESTABLISHED IN 1987
HANDYMAN
COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL
Mike’s Home Repair
708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 )281'$7,216 3$7,26 67(36 &85% *877(56 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED
ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed
ELECTRICAL
A&A ELECTRIC
Let an American Veteran do your work
We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est.
708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area
Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do
708-296-2060
CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair
FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small
708-488-9411
HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING
Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery. 708-848-9404
Spring Clean-Up Aerating, Slit Seeding Bush Trimming, Lawn Maintenance brucelawns.com
708-243-0571
NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP
Evergreen trimming & more. Clean-ups. Garden weed removal. Storm Branch Tree Removal.
708-447-1762
PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING
Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost
708.749.0011
PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.
Small & big work. Free estimates. Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services
708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed
Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years
PETS While you’re away, your pets are okay . . . at home
cat calls
Oak Park’s Original Pet Care Service – Since 1986
Daily dog exercising Complete pet care in your home )PVTF TJUUJOH t 1MBOU DBSF Bonded References
524-1030
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Wednesday Journal, August 18, 2021
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
189 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 386-1400
HomesInTheVillage.com
Featured Listings for This Week
Erika Villegas,
Oak Park $950,000 4BR, 2.1BA Patti x124
Oak Park $565,000 4BR, 3BA Patti x124
Oak Park $524,900 Multi unit Elissa x192
Oak Park $479,000 3BR, 1BA Laurie x186
Oak Park $464,800 4BR, 2.1BA Kyra x145
Oak Park $449,000 4BR, 1.1BR Harry x116
Forest Park $418,800 Multi unit Kyra x145
Countryside $395,000 3BR, 3BA Maria x117
Riverside $389,000 2BR, 1BA Kris x101
Oak Park $229,000 3BR, 1BA Laurie x186
Oak Park $164,000 2BR, 1BA Linda x187
Oak Park $159,900 1BR, 1BA Patti x124
Properties of The Week
1143 N Kenilworth Ave Oak Park 5BR, 3BA...$698,000 Kyra x145
216 S Humphrey Ave Oak Park 5BR, 3BA...$648,800 Kyra x145
Managing Broker/Owner
Mike Becker
Laurie Christofano
Marion Digre
Morgan Digre
Leticia Cruz
Jane McClelland
Elissa Palermo
Kyra Pych
Maria Rodriguez
Linda Rooney
Kris Sagan
Patti Sprafka-Wagner
Harry Walsh