Wednesday Journal 100522

of Oak Park and River Forest

Report nds Oak Park police not recording dashcam audio

Commission ‘troubled’ that the practice may be more widespread

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Citizen Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) says that the failure by Oak Park police officers to consistently activate the audio portion of the depart ment’s dashboard camera recording system is “troubling” and recommended in a re port accepted by the village board on Sept. 6 that police department leadership and the commission actively review all such instances and initiate cor rective action for the next six months. However, in a memo attached to the re port in the Sept. 6 village board meeting packet, staf f recommended against that joint review, because it is not in line with the ordinance under which CPOC operates.

Trustees voted without discussion to accept, as part of the consent agenda, the commission re port and staf f’s recommendation against the commission’s request for additional review.

Village President Vicki Scaman said the failure to discuss the re port separately was an er ror on the part of

In his first week of school as the new principal at Hinsdale South High School, Patrick Hardy was called the N-word and characterized as a pedophile twice, according to a recent Patch re port, which referenced an email message Hardy sent to the high school community in September

“When I introduced myself and asked him to pull his pants up or shirt down to cover his undergar ments, he responded by stating, ‘You’re a grown man. Why are you looking at my a**?’ Another student yelled from the crowd, ‘He a gay a** n*****! (n-word),’” Hardy said.

ROMAIN

Teaching white supremacy

educator pipeline was purposely decimated after Brown.”

Fenwick argues that, prior to 1954, Black educators comprised 35 percent to 50 percent of the educator workforce in the 17 states that, by law and custom, operated racially segregated schools.

These Black educators were taught at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and, in many cases, master’s and doctoral degree programs in norther n institutions like Ohio State University, the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania.

in the position to possibly teach their white children.

“What is clear by the historical record is that on a nearly one-to-one basis in the 17 [states with legal school segregation before Brown], exceptionally credentialed and effective Black educators were replaced by less credentialed whites,” Fenwick said. “Some were educators, others were not. ”

I remember Hardy from his days as the beloved principal at Proviso East High School in Maywood and the for mer equity director at Oak Park and River Forest High School.

This story is on the surface shocking and infuriating but two new books published this year put Hardy’s experiences in historical context. And reading about the real history of America and particularly American schooling dulls the shock and even makes the students’ behavior rather predictable.

Jim Crow’s Pink Slip: The Untold Story of Black Principal and Teacher Leadership by Leslie Fenwick, dean emerita of the Howard University School of Education, led me to think differently about the Black educator.

Dr. Hardy, who holds two master’s degrees from Harvard and Cambridge and two doctorates, is part of a lineage of highly credentialed Black educators whose careers and contributions to American classrooms were conspiratorially and systematically covered up in the wake of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that ended legal segregation in schooling.

Today, Hardy is a rarity. About 7 percent of America’s 3.2 million teachers are Black and about 11 percent of the 93,000 principals are Black, Fenwick says. Meanwhile, less than 3 percent of the nation’s 14,000 superintendents are Black.

“But we’ve never talked about the history about why this is so,” Fenwick told NPR earlier this year. “And one of the things I was trying to do in the book was push against the myth that after Brown and desegregation, Blacks pursued careers en masse in other fields outside of education. Well, the historical record shows that the Black

In an interview with Howard Professor Gregg Carr last month, Fenwick said these Black educators “did an academic migration” by going “north or Midwest or slightly west, ear ning their master’s and doctoral degrees and returning to the segregated south to teach in all-Black segregated schools.”

As early as 1926, Fenwick said, 41 percent of the all-Black faculty at her mother’s racially segregated high school had master’s and doctoral degrees and “about three from the University of Chicago and Harvard combined.

“And that was not a fact that was only true of my mother’s school. This was broadly true of segregated all-Black schools. Despite sometimes dilapidated buildings, despite certain underfunding, despite used books and other curricular materials [that were] many times defaced with racial epithets … the teacher and principal workforce was exceptionally credentialed and [these educators] had also experienced learning in a desegregated or integrated environment in their graduate school education.

“So they returned to the south after this academic migration having not only superior academic credentials compared to their white peers but also a social experience that their white peers had not had or experienced,” Fenwick said.

She argues that, starting in 1952 (two years before Brown) and continuing into the 1970s, those highly credentialed Black teachers and principals were systematically “fired, demoted and dismissed and replaced by lesser qualified whites.” And this was all because white adults did not want these highly qualified Black educators to even be

The problem was so bad that Thurgood Marshall, then an attorney with the NAACP, led a team across the south to document the conspiracy. In one case, Marshall’s team identified the Black principal of a one-room, dirt-floor schoolhouse who had ear ned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Columbia University. After Brown, the Black principal was replaced by a white milkman.

Much of the material that informs Fenwick’s book comes from a Senate hearing on the displacement of Black principals across the south, which Dr. Carr, paraphrasing Fenwick, called perhaps the “the largest brain drain in the history of American education and maybe education anywhere.”

Fenwick estimates that, from roughly 1952 to the 1970s, around 100,000 Black principals and teachers were forcibly removed from public schools, resulting in the loss of about $2.2 billion worth of income in today’s money.

If Jim Crow’s Pink Slip tells the awful reality of American education, Donald Yacovone’s new book, Teaching White Supremacy: America’s Democratic Ordeal and the Forging of our National Identity spells out how this country has historically utilized history textbooks published in the North to perpetuate national mythology grounded in racism and white supremacy.

If you wonder why kids in Hinsdale can so easily call their Black principal the N-word or, closer to home, how white parents can so easily and blithely trample on the authority of Black women superintendents in Oak Park, consider Yacovone’s argument.

“Surveying American history school textbooks from the early nineteenth century to the present day will provide a more profound insight into the full depth of the national commitment to white supremacy,” he writes. “It also allows us to trace exactly how white supremacy and Black inferiority have been […] drilled into student minds generation after generation.”

The history is long and ever-present.

Charles Goodrich, brother of the popular textbook writer Samuel Griswold Goodrich, published The First Book of History for Children and Youth in the 1800s. Although he hoped, Yacovone writes, “slavery would end, he instructed young students that ‘slaves are generally well treated, that is they have enough to eat [and drink], and are not often required to labor beyond their strength.’ He stressed that slaves were ‘the property of their masters who have a right to punish them for bad conduct, and to sell them.’”

George Bancroft’s 10-volume History of the United States, originally published in 1834, described slavery as “the mercantile avarice of a foreign nation” to divert attention from America’s responsibility for its development. And history textbooks published in the 21st century have described enslaved Blacks as “indentured servants” and essentially happy workers.

The effect of this centuries-long assault on the public mind, Yacovone argues, is apparent in the present data. As a 2018 report by the Souther n Poverty Law Center notes, only 8 percent of the roughly thousand high school students the SPLC surveyed could identify slavery as the central cause of the Civil War. Half of the survey respondents said the war was caused by “tax strife.”

“In Florida, a teacher assured his students that the N-word ‘just means ignorant,’” Yacovone writes. “Minnesota fifth graders, in a lesson plan right out the 1920s, lear ned that African Americans regretted the end of slavery because ‘the enslavers took care of them and gave them food and clothing.’”

In 2020, the author adds, the New York Times reported that “the medical students and residents in a Duke University survey remained convinced that African Americans have thicker skin and less sensitive nerve endings — the same vile garbage spewed across the United States by Harvard University’s biologist and ethnologist Louis Agassiz in the nineteenth century.”

James Baldwin wrote in 1965 that history, “as nearly no one seems to know, is not merely something to be read. And it does not refer merely, or even principally, to the past. On the contrary, the great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do.”

No matter how much we want to deny it.

BIG WEEK Oc tober 5-12

Halloween Hoot ‘n Howl

Friday Oc t. 7, 5-7:30 p.m.,

Keystone Park and The Depot Spooky animals take center stage at this event sponsored by the River Forest Park Distric t, Trailside Museum, and River Forest Public Library. Kids 10 and under, accompanied by a parent, can see live native animals, listen to live music and spooky stories, make s’mores and hot chocolate around a bon re, and paint pumpkins Free. Lake St. and Keystone, in River Forest

Barbara Ballinger Lec ture: Natalie Moore

Sunday, Oc tober 9, 2-3 p.m., Oak Park Public Librar y

This lec ture and Q&A features guest author and WBEZ journalist Natalie Moore, in conversation with local radio host Doris Davenpor t. Moore is the author of the book The Billboard, a play about abor tion, which was produced as a play by 16th Street Theater. The book deals with a c tional Black women’s clinic in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood on the South Side and how it gets involved in the public debate over abor tion. Register now at oppl.org/ballinger. 834 Lake St., Oak Park

John Nichols

Sunday, Oc t. 9, 11:30 a.m., Third Unitarian Church Nichols writes about politics for The Nation. His lec ture topic: “Most Important Election In Histor y?

This Time They Are Right!”

To join the online ser vice, call or email for Zoom link: (773) 626-9385 or thirdunitarianchurch@gmail.com.

Illinois Libraries Present A Conversation With Jesmyn Ward

Wednesday, Oc t. 12, 7-8 p.m., vir tually through Illinois Libraries Present -time National Book d winner Jesmyn discusses how her y vision and personal experiences address urgent questions about racism and social injustice. Register now at bit.ly/ILP_JesmynWard

Southern Culture On The Skids

Wednesday, Oc t. 12, 8 p.m., FitzGerald’s

This psychobilly band sings about banana pudding, possums and doing a dance called the Nitty Gritty while handing out buckets of piping hot fried chicken. What ’s not to like? $20, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berw yn.

Ernest Hemingway: Citizen Of The World

Monday, Oc t. 10, 1:15-2:15 p.m., Nineteenth Centur y Charitable Association

Nanc y W. Sindelar, Ph.D, takes you on a trip through the life of this legendar y author, star ting from his bir th and early in uences in Oak Park right on up through his journeys through Kansas City, Italy, France, Spain, Key West, Cuba, and Sun Valley, Idaho. This discussion will be enhanced by rare photos and excerpts from Hemingway’s personal letters. Free, but with a suggested donation of $15 for non-members. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park .

Ac tion Rally

Thursday, Oc tober 6, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Scoville Park, 800 Lake St, Oak Park

The Sarah’s Inn team and our par tners at the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago will be gathering to rally the community to take ac tion against domestic violence, gun violence, and community violence.

After Rally Meet & Greet 6:30-8 p.m., Oak Park Bank, 151 N. Oak Park Ave, Oak Park Oak Park Bank is hosting Sarah’s Inn suppor ters after the rally for light refreshments. Suppor ters can stop by and pick up informational materials, ribbon kits, yard signs, and talk with Sarah’s Inn and INVC sta All are welcome for these free events.

for

tutoring

New tutors being hired, volunteers sought

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School tutoring center will remain open until 7 p.m. beginning next week. Currently it closes at 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

The tutoring center is located in the new Student Resource Center which opened eight months ago. It is staffed by educators and volunteers. This week OPRF is expected to hire additional staf f to allow the tutoring center to remain open into the evening.

“We had approximately 10 applicants for tutoring positions and are currently com-

pleting the hiring process,” said Laurie Fiorenza, the Director of Student Learning in an email sent through Jackie McGoey, the communications and community relations coordinator for OPRF. “Tutoring will focus prima rily on math, humanities, and writing.”

In order to attract job applicants, the school increased the pay for an after school tutor by $20 after the initial salary did not attract any applicants

T he school is also looking for volunteers who would like to help out with tutoring. Anyone interested in volunteering to help out in the tutoring center can contact Fiorenza at lfiorenza@oprfh s.org.

T he school is also looking to have a tutor available for virtual tutoring for students who can’ t stay after school for in person tutoring.

At the Sept. 22 school board meeting OPRF school board member Fred Arkin

pushed for the tutoring center’s hours to be expanded although plans to extend the hours were already in place. Arkin would like the new Student Resource Center to be used as much as possible including past 7 p.m.

“It’s there, we made a tremendous in vestment,” said Arkin at the Sept. 22 school board meeting refer ring to the $40

million cost of creating the new Student Resource Center. “I for one, and I can’ t speak for my board colleagues, made that decision with the understanding that there would be additional operating costs and I hope that the administration is not predetermining what the board’s going to think about a certain item in not bringing it up for that.”

West Sub ow ner declares bankruptcy, continues to negotiate sale

Hospital’s bidder says it intends to close on purchase

By STACEY SHERIDAN and DAN HALE Y Staff Reporter and Editor

Pipeline Health, the owner of West Suburban Medical Center, declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy Oct. 2 in the Souther n District of Texas.

For months Pipeline has been ne gotiating the sale of both West Sub and Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago to a newly for med venture called Resilience Health.

The failure to close on that sale by Aug. 30 at a ne gotiated price of $92 million was a critical factor in the bankruptcy declaration, according to a 53-page statement to the cour t. The statement was submitted by Russell Perry, who was identified as Pipeline’s chief transfor mation of ficer He took on that role on Aug. 24.

Manoj Prasad, the head of Resilience Health, said in a statement on LinkedIn that “we are still planning to move ahead with the sales as previously envisioned.”

The Chicago Tribune quoted Reddy Rathnakar Patlola, a par tner in Resilience and head of New Jersey-based Ramco Healthcare Holdings, as saying it was monitoring the bankruptcy filing, was still in communication with Pipeline and “remained committed to operating Weiss and West Suburban hospitals for the long ter m.”

In his statement, Per ry said the seven-hospital group operating in Califor nia, Texas and Illinois was financially undercut by ongoing losses at West Sub and Weiss. In the 12 months ending this August, Per ry re por ted the two Il linois properties had a combined loss of $69.7 million. The statement said the five other hospitals in the group had been financially propping up West Sub and Weiss pending their sale Per ry said that diversion of resources had “destabilized Pipeline’s overall healthcare network.”

The failure to close on the $92 million sale of the two Chicago hospitals by Aug. 30 was one of four direct causes of the bankruptcy filing, wrote Perry. He said the cash in fusion from a sale of West Sub and Weiss “would quickly unlock the value of those assets for Pipeline and unburden its remaining operations, while allowing for the inte gration of the Illinois Facilities into a healthcare network that can properly support them.”

Anan Abu-Taleb, for mer Oak Park village president,

said in a text message to Wednesday Jour nal on Oct. 3 that he remains chair of West Sub’s governing board but de clined comment at this time.

In a statement from Pipeline of ficials on Oct. 3, Jane Brust, a spokesperson, said all of Pipeline’s hospitals and other medical facilities will continue to operate nor mally under bankruptcy protection. Pipeline also said it is continuing to ne gotiate with Resilience Health but will also potentially seek other buyers for its proper ties

West Suburban Hospital Medical Center

Gas stations suing Oak Park over 24-hour ban

A temporary restraining order has also been granted

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The owners of seven Oak Park g as stations are suing the village board for the recently imposed ban on 24-hour g as stations, arguing that the restriction on hours threatens their livelihoods and forces a breach of contract with fuel suppliers A temporary restraining order was granted Se pt. 30, bar ring the village from enforcing the ordinance that requires g as stations to operate only between 5 a.m. and midnight each day.

“We are pleased with the cour t’s ruling today enjoining enforcement of the ordinance that requires our clients to close their businesses over night,” said Samantha Ditore, one of the attor neys re presenting the g as stations.

“We will continue to reach out to the vil lage with the hope to reach a voluntary and collaborative solution that allows our clients to stay in business and avoid the dev-

astating ef fect of this ordinance.”

A preliminary injunction hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 12.

Le g al action was anticipated from local g as stations Attor ney David Jasmer told the village board Se pt. 19 that a temporary restraining order would be filed if the or dinance passed, which it did unanimously.

Village Attor ney Paul Stephanides also previously war ned the village board that prohibiting 24-hour g as stations could re sult in litig ation. Wednesday Jour nal has reached out to the village for comment.

The elimination of 24-hour g as stations is intended to combat increased criminal activity in the village Oak Park has had a total of 18 violent of fenses take place at g as stations in the last three and a half years; 13 of those of fenses took place after midnight, including the murder of 18-year-old Jailyn Lo g an-Bledsoe in June.

However, the complaint argues that the new ordinance is “unconstitutional” and was put in place to “deflect and redirect”

blame for violent crime away from the board and onto “eight minority-owned g as stations,” which serve many Oak Park residents that do not work traditional hours. The complaint also states that the g as stations are family-run businesses

The complaint states the village has no data supporting its asser tion that a reduction in g as stations hours would result in fewer violent criminal of fenses and that the ordinance violates the rights of the g as station owners as set for th in the Four teenth Amendment and under state prop er ty law.

The ordinance would also result in financial loss and possible closures of g as stations, according to the complaint, which states that g as stations pay between $60,000 and $80,000 in annual property taxes, while over night sales account for roughly 15 to 35% of their overall sales.

“The dramatic decrease in income the or dinance would ef fectuate, combined with the rising costs of operation, would

significantly impede, the stations’ ability to operate, potentially causing one or more to close their doors per manently.

Prohibiting g as stations from operating 24 hours each day, the complaint states, in fringes on g as station owners’ rights to run their businesses and constitutes “a de facto revocation of nearly 20 percent of their business licenses.”

The g as station owners are seeking restitution from the village in a sum re presentative of lost profits and oppor tunities with fuel suppliers and other businesses in the event of breached or canceled contracts Damages are also being sought by g as station owners in the amount of lost revenue that could be “reasonably expected” from new contracts if it were not for the ordinance.

“Our clients want to see criminal activity addressed just as much as any Oak Park resident, but there far more ef fective alter natives that do not place their livelihoods in jeopardy,” Ditore said.

By Lauren Gunderson Directed by Brian Fruits

ursday Night Out sees surge in support

Downtown Oak Park event generated $200,000

By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

After a two-year hiatus, Downtown Oak Park’s signatur dine-around event made a triumphant return this summer Thursday Night Out, held every week from June through gust, is known for drawing a crowd of food and music lo and 2022 was no exception. The summer event series gener ated more than $200,000 in revenue with nearly 8,000 attend ees over the course of the series.

“I just think people were so ready to come out,” said non Williams, executive director of Downtown Oak Pa “Even though the event ended at 9 p.m. we couldn’t get people to leave. They just wanted to sit and soak up the atmospher Williams attributes the increased attendance in part “people being done with COVID” and was especially excited to see new faces in the crowd. Sh noted there was a significant increase in young families and people new to the area spend ing their Thursday evenings on Marion Street in the heart of the village.

Word of mouth drives attendance at the family friendly event which first started in 2006. In the early days of TNO organizers would sell 30 booklets a night. This year saw tendees purchasing 600-700 books weekly providing a major financial boost to weary restaurants in the DTOP distric and eclipsing peak 2019 sales.

Roughly $23 of every $25 booklet sold, or approximatel 92% of sales, went directly back to the participating restaurants. The remaining funds help Downtown Oak Park cover a portion of the $50,000 cost of executing the series of music filled evenings.

First time participant Kyuramen “slammed it” this year according to Williams who praised their “outstanding” food The ramen shop had a coveted centralized location on Mar ion Street and developed a system for quickly serving the gathering crowds. They served generous portions of popcor n chicken, steamed pork bao buns, crispy shrimp tempura and fried shishito peppers.

“Al Mancini kicked butt this year,” said Williams. “He was so proud and told me it was the best year ever for Thursday Night Out!”

The veteran restaurateur and owner of Tres Sorelle Ristorante, 1111 Lake St., made a big impression by serving up giant pizza slices, pumpkin ravioli and perennially popular mozzarella sticks to TNO attendees. Like most eateries, Mancini’s Italian restaurant struggled through the pandemic and the ups and downs took a toll, but TNO made a big difference to the independent restaurant.

“I was one of the pilgrims,” said Mancini. “I was one of the very first 10 or maybe 12 businesses that ever participated in Thursday Night Out when it started, but I saw that this was going to grow to be big. This year I had people lining up outside and I would collect 300-350 coupons a night.”

Mancini approached Thursday Night out like it was an advertising campaign and always gave people a sample that was a better value than they expected. His generous portion sizes and customer service was rewarded was repeat busi ness and full paying customers.

“Look, this is what we pay Downtown Oak Park for, and they have given me my money’s worth, there’s no doubt about that,” said Mancini. “They have helped me build up my business. They have helped us push through the pandemic and will help us get out of it.”

Looking ahead to next summer, Williams promises to “level up” Thursday Night Out” by reconfiguring the layout for the event to allow for more tables and seating. She also plans to feature one band and predominantly position them in a central location while leaving plenty of room for families to gather by the fountains with their children.

“I think it is just great to be in a community that comes out to support local businesses like ours does,” said Williams. “It felt like we were turning a corner and people wanted to come out to share that feeling.”

TNO 2022 was sponsored by Byline Bank.

Boss Burrito

Beer Shop

Cold Stone Creamery

Careful Peach Boutique

Hecho en Oak Park

Edible Arrangements

Katy

Dumpling House

Harold’s Shrimp and Chicken

Jerusalem Café

Kyuramen

Khyber Pass

The Little Gem

Burrito

Local 84

Sushi House

Nando’s Peri Peri

Tre Sorelle

Q

Sugar

Wells

Wise

was

Two-level space deemed unworkable; shared tax agreement nulli ed

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Despite the Village of Oak Park approv ing an agreement to split sales tax revenue, Dom’s Kitchen & Market will not be moving forward with its plans to open an Oak Park location in the historic Marshall Field and Company building on Lake Street.

The upscale, grocery-restaurant brid decided to back out of lease neg tions after “completing detailed spac plans” that d mined the two-stor space was ill-suited for the Dom’s cept, according Sept. 30 news release from the Village Oak Park.

The announcement comes mere weeks after the vil lage board approved a 20-year sales tax sharing agreement with Dom’s. The busi ness would have received 50% of tax reve nue generated from its alcohol, grocery and retail sales. Dom’s was expected to bring in $350,000 in total annual sales taxes.

The sales tax agreement was supposed to serve as an incentive for Dom’s to occupy the beautiful but long vacant ground level and lower level portions of the building. Lease negotiations were contingent upon the village approving the agreement. By not entering into a lease, Dom’s has nullified the agreement.

The withdrawal is a disappointing loss for both the village and the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation, which recommended the sales tax agreement to the village board and had been working with Dom’s leadership to bring the market to Oak Park John Lynch, the development group’s executive director, previously called

Dom’s “a unicorn tenant.”

“Of course, we’re disappointed,” Lynch told Wednesday Jour nal. “We certainly knew there were issues to be resolved before Dom’s signed their lease, but I’d be lying if I said I thought the overall space would be one of those issues.”

Dom’s, Lynch said, was unable to start space planning until an economic agreement was reached with the Village of Oak Park. He said he is proud that such a deal was able to be secured even though it will not come to fruition and that Dom’s leader ship found Oak Park a worthwhile community to invest in.

“The issue with this space had nothing with Oak Park tenant was ve on Oak Park nch said. first two floor the Marshall building, Dom’s was occupy, ha in need of m tenant for decade. Bor ookstore, the s most recent tenant, closed in 2011.

Over the years, the village has ap proved several special use applications for other interested tenants As with Dom’s, those plans ultimately fell through due to, according to the village news release, circumstances not attributable to the village OPEDC is continuing to work with the prop erty owner to find a new tenant.

“We’ve been working with the owner for years. That isn’t going to change,” Lynch said.

While the desired outcome did not pan out, the experience with Dom’s is not without its positives for the OPEDC. Lynch believes that the Village of Oak Park has demonstrated to the retail market that it’s a top tier suburban location for enter pris es ready to expand out of Chicago

“This par tnership really demonstrated that the village, the property owner and the tenant can and will work to gether to bring the right conce pt to this space.”

JAVIER GOVEA/Sta

e Marshall Field building at Lake Street and Harlem Avenue.

Two Sisters closes Austin restaurant and eyes e-commerce

Owner Veah Larde will continue catering out of The Hatchery

By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

The restaurant associated with Two Sis ters Catering, 4800 W. Chicago Ave. in Chicago, quietly closed for business this summer As she clears out the restaurant her business called home for more than a year, owner Veah Larde is reflecting on the reasons behind the decision to shutter her carryout restaurant and contemplating plans for the future.

The cost of doing business in the current climate proved to be too great a burden for the establishment known for chur ning out healthy versions of soul food classics on the Soul City Corridor. Larde found herself “pilfering her own finances” to make ends meet and decided in August that she would need to close the restaurant.

“This situation is not unique to me,” said Larde. “I was facing the same issues that ev ery restaurant and every catering company have been facing for the last few years.”

Rising food costs played a key role in Larde’s decision to close the restaurant. She tinkered with the menu trying to figure out what she could offer that would be appealing to her customers without bankrupting the business. She reduced the amount of meat she offered, tur ned her focus to vegetarian entrees and eliminated her fish offerings al-

together.

“I used to offer fish twice a week, but the price got so high that I took it off,” said Larde.

“I had to lose my fish crowd. That was a bit ter pill to swallow because I had customers that like to eat certain foods on certain days.”

When soaring prices of butter and eggs began impacting the baking side of her business and slow foot traffic at the restaurant forced her to reduce her staff, Larde started to re-evaluate her business model. She founded Two Sisters in 2012 as a cater ing company and never intended to have a restaurant. She grew into a confident busi ness owner after finding her way to the West Side’s Hatchery food incubator in 2018 and gained the respect of her community when she became a vendor at Austin’s weekly farmers market. The storefront fell into her lap and as hard as she tried to make the brick-and-mortar thrive she had to admit, af ter looking at the numbers, that catering or ders and her savings were keeping the doors open. The restaurant couldn’t sustain itself and something had to change.

“My heart hurts for my elderly customers who would come in and buy three meals at a time from me,” said Larde. “They know they can still find me at the farmers market, but that part of closing was sad. They are like family to me.”

Larde opted to close the restaurant in fa vor of making catering her top priority once again and will retur n her homebase to The Hatchery. She has established a relationship with Marla’s Lunch which works to part ner up with small businesses to provide hot

Ow ner Veah Larde makes cakes in the former home of Two Sisters Catering in 2021. e business is headed back to e Hatchery, and Larde is exploring an e-commerce option for her popluar cakes and sweet treats.

lunches in schools without cafeteria staf f. Two Sisters is currently assigned to Providence St. Mel’s in East Garfield Park and St. Vincent Ferrer in River Forest. Larde is eager to expand this sor t of consistent ca tering and will consider small to mid-sized private events for clients that understand the Two Sisters culture.

“Two Sisters has always been about of fering amazing health-conscious food for the souther n food enthusiast,” said Larde. “And it still is. Souther n food can be healthy, and you can still have room for

that snack or treat.”

Additionally, the entrepreneur is explor ing an e-commerce option for her popular baked and expansion oppor tunities for her savory menu of ferings into commercial grocery stores as part her participation in 37 Oaks University, a commerce develop ment and lear ning lab for entrepreneurs.

“I am not sad,” said Larde “I am in a good place You have to keep your head on a swivel in this business but I think pauses like this happen so you can get things right.”

Free food and lm showcase coming to Austin

Eats

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

According to the Chicago Health Atlas, only 55% of Austin residents re port having easy access to fresh fruits and ve g etables An upcoming film and food event seeks to address that challenge.

Austin Eats, an initiative designed to expand access to fruits and ve g etables and rewrite the nar rative around food in Austin, and Austin Coming To g ether will

screen two shor t documentaries that tell food stories on the West and South side s.

“As We Are Planted” and “Feed ’Em All” will screen on F riday, Oct. 7, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the By T he Hand Club for Kids, 415 N. Laramie. Pa rticipants can also join the event vir tually.

“As We Are Planted” was directed and produced by Anna Lee Acker mann. The film is about two South Side org anizations that are working to bring more food into their communities

“Feed ’Em All,” directed by Helen Quinn-Pasin, exposes the issue of food insecurity on the West Side through grassroots ef for ts of Oak Park activist Anthony Clark’s community fridg e movement. T he community fridges have been planted in Chicago and the suburbs for residents who need fresh food that’s free.

Clark has collaborated with various org anizations on the initiative, including Black Panther Party Cubs Chair man

Fred Hampton Jr Last year, Clark and a group of volunteers built a Free Em All fridge outside of the boyhood home of slain Black Panther Party Chair man Fred Hampton in Maywood

“Austin Eats has hosted bi-annual educational film screenings since 2021, successfully eng aging hundreds in conversations about collectively addressing food insecurity in Austin.”

To re gister for the free screening, visit : oneear thfilmfest.org.

MELISSA ELSMO/Food Editor

River Forest board OKs $304K expense for ne w ambulance

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

T he Rive r Fo rest Fire Department is g etting a new ambulance, but it ’s going to take a wh i le for it to get her e.

At the Sept. 26 village b oard meeting , officials voted unanimously to approve a resolution to purchase a 2024 L ife Line Type III Advanced L ife Suppo rt ( ALS ) ambulance for $304,021 from L ife Line E mergency Vehicles of S umner, Iowa, the lowe r of two bidders.

A nticipated d elive ry is January 2025, well p ast the previous five - or six-month d elive ry time, a ccording to Fire Chie f Tom Gaertner, explaining that supply chain and staffing i ssues are c ausing the d elay in delive ry

T hose factors and inflation also have led to “numerous” price increases over the p ast year that are c ausing a “signific ant” escalation in c osts for the chassi s

and production, he a dded. T he budg eted amount for a new ambulance in the 2023 Capital Improvement Plan was $230,000.

T he new ambulance will re p lace a 2014 Type III ALS ambulance, wh ich Gaertner said is in the seventh year of i ts useful l ife of eight year s. Th at vehicle will be p ut i nto a reser ve status and used when the new unit goes down for maintenanc e, re p lacing a 2006 model.

“The cu rrent ambulance is pretty wo rn down,” Gaertner said. “We have had some engine i ssues recently that have pu t it out of service for a few hours here and there. It will wo rk fine as a reser ve uni t when the time c omes, but operating on a daily b asis for the next 28 months is go ing to be interesting at best.

“Wi th cu rrent supply chain i ssues g etting parts c an be difficult. We ’re ke e pin g our fingers crossed that nothing major happens to it.”

Gaertner said the new ambulance will

have b etter emergency lighting, as well as a dual air-conditioning system that will provide better air flow to the rear of the ambulance and a AeroClave System which scrubs the air and surfaces of the interior of the ambulance, killing bacteria and air borne viruses such as COVID-19.

He said he d oes not anticipate any ad ditional price increases and hopes that the d elive ry time might be shortened bu t “ right now that d oesn’t appear to be in the card s. ”

T he village b oard also voted unani mously at the Sept. 26 meeting to approve the purchase of two 2023 Dodge Durang o p olice service vehicles from T homas Dodge Chrysler Je ep of Highland In c. of Highland, Ind., for $103,176, the amount included in the 2022-23 budg et for re p lac ing two police vehicles

Police Chie f Jim O’Shea explained that T homas Dodge was chosen after depa rt ment officials researched law enforce

ment special bid options and with the recommendation of the S outhwest C onference of Mayo rs

T he new vehicles will re p lace a 2019 Dodge Durango patrol vehicle and a 2015 Fo rd I nterce p tor utility vehicl e, b oth of wh ich have b een p ushed out p ast thei r scheduled Capital Equipment Re p lacement Fund re p lacement cycles and are in need of re p lacement, a ccording to O’Shea.

T he $103,176 includes $84,692 for the all-wheel drive vehicles and $18,484 fo r p olice-specific equipment and labor fo r b oth vehicles. O’Shea said the aftermar ket equipment will be purchased and in stalled after the vehicles are d elive red, wh ich he said is expected to be four to si x months

Howeve r, he noted that the department is still waiting for d elive ry of a Fo rd Ex p lorer that was ordered over a year ago, adding, “I’m not holding my breath.”

Do you live in Oak Park, River Forest or

Township and need to schedule a mammogram?

During

recommend that most women have mammograms every year beginning at age 40.

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• To qualify, you must not have insurance coverage.

• You must live in Oak Park, River Forest or Proviso Township. Proof of residence will be requested at the time of your visit (e.g., voter registration card, utility bill or personal check).

• Your mammogram must be performed by Oct. 31, 2022.

Digital mammography saves lives.

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

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A safe & smart choice.

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ird Unitarian in Austin to host ‘Nation’ journalist

John Nichols will be speaking about the upcoming midterm election at the Austin church on Oct. 9

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more important.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

By COMMUNITY EDITOR Austin Weekly News

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

family

be honored for

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

part

ours.

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

The Nov. 8 midterm election is the most important election in history, according to nationally prominent journalist John Nichols. Nichols, who writes about politics as national af fairs correspondent for the Nation magazine, will flesh out his opinions at Third Unitarian Church, 301 N. Mayfield in Austin, on Sunday, Oct. 9, 11:30 a.m.

Nichols will appear in person at the church and online. To join the online service, call or email for the Zoom link: (773) 626-9385 or thirdunitarianchurch@ gmail.com.

In addition to writing for the Nation, Nichols is a contributing writer for the Progressive and In These Times. He’s also the associate editor of the Capital Times, the daily newspaper in Madison, Wisconsin.

JOHN NICHOLS

Joined Oak Park parishes consider

The 4 churches will keep original names but share new parish names

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

On July 1 ofthis year Oak Park’s four Catholic churches were merged into two parishes, following a process called Re new My Church. St. Giles and St. Catherine/St. Lucy became one parish and Ascension and St. Edmund became the other

Now those two parishes are working through an archdiocesan process that will layer a new and shared name over the original parish names.

In a letter to parishioners on Jan. 29, Rev. Carl Morello, pastor ofSt. Giles; Rev. John McGivern, pastor ofSt. Edmund ; and Rev. Rex Pillai, pastor ofAscension, acknowledged that when two cong re ga tions become one parish, establishing an equitable unity requires a lot of intentionality

That’s why both new parishes are presently involved in a process to come up with a name that honors both the individuality ofall cong re gational constituents and at the same also claims an identity for the “new parochial reality.”

In the Jan. 29 letter, the three priests wrote that they wanted to move forward in the selection ofnew parish names “in a manner that would honor our past, ad dress current challenging realities and develop a blue print for the future.”

In a follow-up letter a couple months ago, Pillai explained why the naming process is important. First, he noted, none of the for mer names ofthe four cong re ga tions will be permitted in the newly created parish name

At the same time, he added, “Church

Current

names

buildings are consecrated spaces that keep their current names.” In other words, the building on Oak Park Avenue will still be called St. Edmund and the church at 808 S. East Ave. will continue to be refe rred to as Ascension.

Pillai said the new parish names should not be new for the sake ofnewness but should reflect the identity ofthe new relationship. “Names are important and can define us uniquely. T he names selected will reflect the identity ofour newly uni fied parish. Names symbolize who we are and what we want to be as a faith community.”

T he naming process be g an as a bottomup undertaking. Parishioners were invit ed to submit suggestions between Sept. 10 and Sept. 25. T he suggestion surve y stated that the rationale for the suggested name would be as important as the name itself, reflecting “who we are” and being “mission driven.”

After reviewing the suggested names that met qualifications, Morello said, “the Unification Team identified six candidates that best convey the spirit ofour unified parishes and have the most potential to gain widespread support among parishioner s.”

Ascension members then met on Sept 18 and St. Edmund members on Sept. 22 to discuss the names as a group. T he process, however, will become top down in October when the Presbyterial Council will screen the submitted names to Cardinal Blasé Cupich who will make the final selection of the parish names

Morello “leaked” some ofthe leadin g c ontenders wh ich “have the most p otential to ga in w idespread suppo rt among parishioners [o f St. Giles and St. Cathe rine/St. Lucy]: Beatitudes ofthe Lord Parish, Holy Wi sdom Parish, Pax Christi Parish, St. C lare of A ssisi Parish, St Hild eg ard ofBingen Parish, and Saint Sophia Parish.

St. Giles

St. Catherine/St. Lucy

St. Edmund

at 4:30

5

5:30 p.m.,

8 a.m.

11 a.m.

10:30

Gottlieb Fitness Cente reopens a er long pandemic closure

T he Gottlieb C enter for Fitness, 551 W. North Avenue (Entrance 7) in Melrose Pa rk , will reopen on Oct. 1, said officials with Loyola Medicin e, Gottlieb ’s parent entity, in a statement released Sept. 29.

“A f ter closing during the p andemic, the fitness c enter was remodeled to bring new and impr oved facilities to member s, ” officials said.

“The Gottlieb C enter for Fitness is a 55,000 square foot facility with two p ools, an indoor c ushioned track, extensive cardio and strength equipment, exercise studios and b asketball c ourt. Members will also enjoy a lineup of group exercise and aquatics classes aimed to ser ve all fitness levels to encourage an ac

tive, healthy l ifestyle. Located next to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, the c enter features co nvenient hour personal training and fitness progr ams.”

“We’ re excited to be able to brin the Gottlieb C enter for Fitness to the c ommunity,” said Elizabeth Ea rly, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital’ president. “We hope the new and im proved facilities and progr ams will provide members with the resource they need to achieve their health and wellness goals.”

T he c enter will be open Mond through F riday, 5:30 a.m. to 8 and Saturday and S und ay, 8 a.m. to 5 p. m. Free pa rk ing is available onsite – STAFF

Ourbeautiful 6-story building provides quality, a ordable, independent housing for seniors. e Oaks o ers studio and one-bedroom apartments, with kitchens and private bathrooms.

Amenities include an award winning interior landscaped atrium, central meeting room, library, laundry facilities, computer learning center, internet access, electronic key entry system, and parking.

On-site management includes 24/7 emergency maintenance service and a senior services coordinator who is available during business hours to assist residents in accessing service

agencies and programs designed speci cally for seniors. e Oaks is owned and operated by the Oak Park Residence Corporation and is funded by the US Department of Housing and Ur-ban Development through the 202/ Section 8 Program. Monthly rent is based on the resident’s income, with individuals paying approximately 30% of their monthly income toward rent.

For more information, please visit us at www.oakparkrc.com or contact us at 708-386-5862.

e Gottlieb Center for Fitness in Melrose Park is open again.

Hundreds turn out for Tour de Proviso

3rd annual bic ycling event was hosted by Riverside

By SHANEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

The third annual Tour de Proviso rolled through Riverside on Oct. 1 for the first time since the event’s founding in 2020.

The Tour de Proviso is the brainchild of Maywood Trustee Miguel Jones and Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson. The elected of ficials said they wanted to promote outdoor recreation and community to gether ness during the pandemic.

For its first two years, the biking event, which is a play on the world-famous Tour de France, took place in Bellwood, Broad view and Maywood

This year’s Tour de Proviso may have been the biggest one yet, with 450 re gistered riders.

Riverside Village President Jose ph Ballerine said he par ticipated in the Tour last year, but this one was particularly special.

“I was honored to have been given this event this year by Mayor Katrina Thomp son,” Ballerina said.

“It’s a great oppor tunity for us to brin g our communities to g ether,” Ballerine said. “I have a great working relationship with all the dif ferent mayors, so as you

e 3rd annual Tour de Proviso brought out members of 14 communities and 450 registered riders on Oct. 1 in Riverside.

c 14 a beautiful f all day. We’re very for tunate.”

Nor th Riverside Mayor Jose ph Mengoni

lages include Proviso Township areas, also part icipated in the event, which included a community expo in Guthrie Park in downtown Riverside

In addition to riding through Riverside ’s historic, wind ing streets, cyclists also rode through par ts of Brookfield Zoo, about half of which in within Riverside ’s corporat e limits.

Ian Durbin, 10, said this is his first year part icipating in the annual bike ride

“It felt pretty good,” he said. “I liked it and look forward to doing it next year because I like ridin g my bike.”

Riders also included first responders like Oak Park Police Commander Paul Kane.

“We were glad to come to Riverside and par ticipate,” he said. “It was a wonderful event. It brings people to gether and gives them an oppor tunity to enjoy the neighborhood and weather.”

Juanita Crouch, of Broadview, said she usually rides in a bike-riding group that Thompson hosts each Saturday.

“I invited my sisters to come,” Crouch said. “I love the fact that they blocked of f the streets along with the police and firemen escor ts. People came out and cheered us on. I love how the city welcomed us.”

Next year’s Tour de Proviso will be held in Westchester.

SHANEL ROMAIN/Sta

SHANEL ROMAIN/Sta

Participants ride across the Des Plaines River on Forest Avenue in Riverside.

Home Aven to get more home

Pedestrian causeway up for ‘architecturally signi cant’ overhaul

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

T he Home Avenue pedestrian bridg of fers walkers and cycli sts a safe and co nvenient path across the Eisenhowe Expressway, wh i le linking the nor th and south halves of Oak Pa rk . But the bridg i tself is something of an eyesore. It f unctionality is its only quality. And tha f unctionality is deteriorating

“It’s a little j ank,” said Lisa Reed, wh walks across the bridge seve r al times day. “It would be love ly to have something a little nice r, maybe a little greener y. ”

As it stands now, the gr ay bridge c onsists of c oncrete sur rounded by metal safety f encing held up by ve rt ical metal p osts. Metal handrails gr ace each s ide W hen crossing it, one c an see patches of newe r c ement cove ring p otholes c aused by years of wear and tear. The view from

bikes across it, resident S haron Pearce ment there, ” Holzberg said.

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer

Home Avenue pedestrian bridge over I-290 in Oak Park as it looks today.

VILL AG E OF OAK PARK m other communities show what

POLICE AUDIO

speak

the village board.

“The village manager and I both agree that these reports, by habit, should not be on the consent agenda moving forward,” said Scaman.

Not discussing the report was a “shortsighted move,” Scaman said, caused by an abundance of other time-consuming items up for discussion and vote on Sept. 6. Since the village board retur ned from its August hi atus, the board’s meetings have consistently surpassed four hours.

“That’s not really a great excuse,” she said.

CPOC discovered the failure on numerous occasions of Oak Park police to tur n on the audio portion of squad car dashcams during a review of citizen complaints against police officers lodged between November 2021 and June 2022.

The commission found that officers failed to tur n on the audio recording component in nine of the 13 citizen complaints reviewed by the committee from November 2021 to June 2022.

Dashcams automatically begin recording video when police lights are activated. However, officers need to manually tur n on the audio component when responding to a call.

It reportedly became a department re quirement earlier this year that officers must activate the audio recording device in preparation for officers being outfitted with body cameras, according to Interim Chief Shatonya Johnson. The requirement was re portedly put in place prior to the departure of Chief LaDon Reynolds.

The failure of officers to activate the audio portion was dismaying to the committee, which included in its report to the village board that the “high occurrence of [dashcam] violation is troubling to CPOC members, and while we acknowledge that OPPD leadership is taking steps to remedy this situation, we are concer ned that there are many more occurrences of failure to activate [dashcam] than what is re ported here.”

Wednesday Jour nal is awaiting response to a public information request for the total number of instances in which officers within the Oak Park Police Department have neglected to activate the audio recording element of their dashcams.

The village’s policy regarding dashcam re cordings dates back to 2013, but it was amend ed in February 2021 and updated again in Au gust 2022. Specifics of the changes made were not included in the policy itself Wednesday

Jour nal has reached out to Johnson for more information.

CPOC was given the authority to review dashcam footage for citizen complaints in October of last year at the direction of Scaman. Citizen complaints lodged against of ficers are investigated inter nally by police leadership.

The results of those investigations are then reviewed by CPOC, which decides whether more investigation is needed or to uphold the inter nal findings In giving the commission the authority to review dashcam footage, its members have more information on which to base their recommendations rather than “just taking a summary from our police chief,” said Scaman.

In the nine documented instances of dashcam audio recorders not being activated, the officers were not acting out of willful disobedience, according to Oak Park spokesperson Erik Jacobsen, on behalf of Interim Chief Shatonya Johnson.

“There were NOT any cases where officers were found to intentionally not tur n on the camera,” Jacobsen wrote in an email to Wednesday Jour nal.

Rather, he said the of ficers simply forgot to tur n them on either because they were in a rush or because they are still getting used to the new procedure.

The number of department-wide violations of the policy has not been provided to the village board or CPOC, the latter of which is only privy to information attached to citizen complaints

CPOC Chair man Donovan Pepper told Wednesday Jour nal the committee has re quested that the number of violations be made available to the village board.

Pepper said he believes village staff’s recommendation against the commission’s joint

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION

(Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685)

1.Publication Title: Wednesday Journal

2. Publication no.: USPS 0010-138

3. Date of filing: October 5, 2022

4. Frequency of issue: Weekly

5. No of issues published annually: 52

6. Annual subscription price: $48.00

7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302, Cook Co.

8. Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher: (same)

9. Names and complete mailing addresses of publisher, editor and manager editor:

Publisher: Dan Haley, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

Editor: Dan Haley, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

Managing Editor: Dan Haley, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

10. The owner is: Growing Community Media 141 S Oak Park, Oak Park IL 60302

JAVIER GOVEA/Sta

review with police leadership on dashcam activation violations for the next six months was the result of miscommunication be tween the committee and village staf f.

CPOC meant to recommend the village board be provided with that data, not the committee, according to Pepper.

“It was my understanding that we were asking for the village [board] to have that in formation,” he said.

Pepper was not aware of the staff memo nor that the village board had not discussed the CPOC report.

Failure to activate the audio dashcam re cording system can result in an officer being reprimanded, counseled or coached. However, the requirement was not meant to be puni tive, according to Kira Tchang, the village’s human resources director.

“It was really more just around the development of those skills in anticipation of the body-wor n cameras,” she said.

State law mandates that municipalities with over 50,000 but fewer than 100,000 resi dents, including Oak Park, must outfit their law enforcement agencies with officer-wor n body cameras by January 2024.

The village board approved a $1.4 million, five-year purchasing agreement on Oct. 3 for the purchase of the cameras, as well as new in-car video recording systems and Tasers. The agreement includes storage and redaction software for the footage.

Staff is searching for grant opportunities to help pay for the body cameras, according to Johnson, who told the village board that the addition of body cameras will help in CPOC’s oversight process.

“I do believe that this affords an opportunity for CPOC to look at and have a clearer understanding of what’s going on when we receive citizen complaints,” she said.

11. Known bondholders, mortagees and other security holders owning or holding one percent or more of the total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities are: None.

12. N/A

13. Publication name: Wednesday Journal

14. Issue date for circulation data below: September 28, 2022

15. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months:

A. Total no. copies printed (net press run): 4479

B1. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions stated on Form 3541: 80

B2. Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on form 3541: 3198

B3. Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other paid distribution outside USPS: 316

B4. Paid distribution by other classes of mail through the USPS: 0

C. Total Paid distribution: 3594

D1. Free or nominal rate outside-county copies included on PS form 3541: 0

D2. Free on nominal rate in-county copies included on PS Form 3541: 302

D3. Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS: 0

D4. Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail: 70

E. Total free or nominal rate distribution: 372

F. Total distribution: 3966

G. Copies not distributed: 313

H: Total: 4279

I. Percent paid: 90.62%

15. No. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date:

A. Total no. copies printed (net press run): 4274

B1. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions stated on Form 3541: 80

B2. Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on form 3541: 3212

B3. Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other paid distribution outside USPS: 301

B4. Paid distribution by other classes of mail through the USPS: 0

C. Total Paid distribution: 3593

D1. Free or nominal rate outside-county copies included on PS form 3541: 0

D2. Free on nominal rate in-county copies included on PS Form 3541: 198

D3. Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS: 0

D4. Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail: 70

E. Total free or nominal rate distribution: 268

F. Total distribution: 3861

G. Copies not distributed: 413

H: Total: 4274

I. Percent paid: 93.06%

16. Publication of statement of ownership will be printed in the Oct. 5, 2022 issue of this publication.

17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner:

Jill Wagner Circulation Manager Oct. 5, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICESPUBLIC NOTICESPUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will re ceive proposals from qualified custodial contractors to provide custodial services at various Village-owned facilities. Propos als will be accepted at the Public Works Service Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, until 10:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, October 25th, 2022.

Custodial Services for the Village of Oak Park

Proposal Number: 22-127

Issuance Date: 10/5/22

There will be a pre-bid meet ing at the Public Works Center, located at 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL on Wednesday, Octo ber 12th, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.

Bid forms may be obtained by calling 708-358-5714 or by emailing fgutierrez@oak-park.us between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. M-F. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified.

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

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK

NOTICE

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA NO. FN2022-091197

SUMMONS (Domestic Relations)

In re the Marriage of TEARA DYNAE CARPENTER, Petitioner, and TYISHA PENNINAH MARSHALL, Respondent, THE STATE OF ARIZONA

TO THE ABOVE NAMED RESPONDENT, YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to appear and defend in the above entitled action within TWENTY (20) DAYS, exclusive of the date of service, if served within the State of Arizona, or within THIRTY (30) DAYS, exclusive of the date of service, if service is made without the State of Arizona. If service is made by publication, service is complete THIRTY (30) DAYS after the date of FIRST PUBLICATION and you must appear and defend within THIRTY (30) DAYS thereafter. In order to appear and defend, you must file a proper response or answer in writing with the Clerk of this Court, accompanied by the required filing fee. Failure to appear and defend will result in judgment by default being rendered against you for the relief requested in the Petition. You are required by law to serve a copy of your response or answer upon the Petitioner, and such response or answer should be addressed as follows: TEARA DYNAE CARPENTER 99 W PALOMINO DR APT 173 CHANDLER, AZ 85225 If service is made by publication, a copy of the Petition and other papers filed in this matter may be obtained from the Clerk of this Court whose address is as follows: CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT 201 W. JEFFERSON ST

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park—Of fice of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Il linois 60302—will receive elec tronic proposals until Thursday, October 27, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. Bids will be received and ac cepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid ser vice listed below. In general, the improvements consist of com bined sewers, storm sewers, wa ter mains, asphalt and concrete patches, and traffic control and protection, and all appurtenant work thereto.

Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 4:00 P.M., which can be found at https:// www.oak-park.us/your-gov ernment/budget-purchasing/ requests-proposals or at www. questcdn.com under login us ing QuestCDN number 8309802 for a non-refundable charge of $30.00. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications to only those contractors deemed qualified. No plans will be issued to prospec tive bidders after 4:00 P.M. on the working day preceding the opening of bids.

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

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer

Published in Wednesday Journal October 5, 2022

PHOENIX, AZ 85003 Request for reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities must be made to the Court by parties at least three working days in advance of a scheduled court proceeding.

SIGNED AND SEALED this date: 08/18/2022, CHRISTOPHER COURY, Clerk /s K. CLARK, Deputy Clerk

Published in Wednesday Journal September 14, 21, 28, October 5, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

STATE OF WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT

WALWORTH COUNTY

Plaintiff CURT PATRICK 158 W. Whitewater Street Whitewater WI 53190 -vs-

Defendant DOMINIQUE SOOKIKIAN 517 S. Lombard Avenue Oak Park IL 60304

Publication Summons And Notice (Small Claims) Case No: 2022SC000634

If you require reasonable accommodations due to a disability to participate in the court process, please call 262-741-7012 at least 10 working days prior to the scheduled court date. Please note that the court does not provide transportation.

Publication Summon and Notice of Filing

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will re ceive sealed Bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday October 19, 2022 for the following:

Village of Oak Park 2023 Comprehensive Landscape Maintenance Bid Number: 22-131

Bid forms may be obtained from the Public Works Customer Ser vice Center by calling 708-3585700 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 Forestry Superintendent, Grant Jones, gjones@oak-park. us and the Village’s website http://www.oak-park.us/bid

A mandatory pre-bid meet ing shall be held on Tuesday October 11 at 2 p.m. at the Public Works Center. Propos als received from bidders who do not send a representative to the pre-bid meeting shall not be considered.

The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal docu ments 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.

Published in Wednesday Journal October 5, 2022

TO THE PERSON(S) NAMED ABOVE AS DEFENDANT(S):

You are being sued by the person(s) named above as Plaintiff(s). A copy of the claim has been sent to you at your address as stated in the caption above. The lawsuit will be heard in the following Small Claims court:

Walworth Co. Judicial Center 1800 County Road NN, P.O. Box 1001 Room 2055 Elkhorn WI 53121

On the following date and time: October 20, 2022 at 9:30am.

You must appear at the time and place stated. If you do not appear or answer, the plaintiff may win this case and a judgment entered for what the plaintiff is asking.

/s/ Alyssa S. Wilson 7/28/22 Bar No. 1099926 262-725-0175

Published in Wednesday Journal

28, October 5, 12, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.

Request of Caleb Jordan Baze Case Number 20224003956

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Caleb Jordan Baze to the new name of: Caleb Jordan

The court date will be held:

On October 18 at 11:00am at 1500 Maybrook Drive Maywood, Cook County in Courtroom # Zoom

Published in Wednesday Journal September 28, October 5, 12, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF AUDIT REPORT OF RIVERSIDE

TOWNSHIP

Riverside Township hereby provides public notice that an Audit of its funds for the period April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022 has been made, and that a report of such audit dated.

September 9, 2022, by Selden Fox, LTD has been filed with the County Clerk of Cook, Illinois, in accordance with 30ILCS 15/0.01 et seq.

The full report of the audit is available for public inspection at Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road Riverside, Illinois, during regular business hours 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday 9:00 am. to 3:00 p.m. Friday, except for holidays.

Published in RB Landmark October 5, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice Of A Public Hearing

By The Joint Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals Of The Village Of North Riverside Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held by the Joint Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of North Riverside on Thursday, October 20, 2022., in the Council Chambers located in the Village Commons, 2401 S. Desplaines Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois.

At such time and place, the Joint Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals will consider a request for a variance to permit a wall sign to be displayed that exceeds the maximum square footage allowed under Title 14 Section 14.01.100 (D1D) of the North Riverside Sign Ordinance.

Applicant: Integrity Sign Company

– As Authorized Representative for Forman Mills

7503 W. Cermak Road North Riverside, Illinois 60546

All persons desiring to appear and be heard for or against said petitions may attend the Public Hearing.

Village of North Riverside

Pat Ferriter, Chairman of the Joint Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals

Published in RB Landmark October 5, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS

Public Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Community Room of the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois, to consider amendment(s) to the Village’s Zoning Ordinance which include, but may not be

PUBLIC NOTICESPUBLIC NOTICES

limited to, the following:

1. A Text Amendment to Section 10-3 (Definitions) of the Zoning Ordinance to define accessory dwelling units; and

2. A Text Amendment to Section 10-7 (Regulations of General Applicability) of the Zoning Ordinance to create standards for accessory dwelling units; and

3. A Text Amendment to Section 1021 (Land Use Chart) of the Zoning Ordinance to designate accessory dwelling units as a special use in certain residential Zoning Districts.

The petitioner for the Text Amendments is the Village President and Board of Trustees.

This public hearing is being held pursuant to direction given by the Village Board of Trustees for the Zoning Board of Appeals to consider these amendments. For additional information visit www.vrf.us.

All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. For public comments to be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Village Board of Trustees in their decision, they must be included as part of the public hearing record. If you cannot attend the public hearing but would like to provide input on this matter to the Zoning Board of Appeals you may submit your comments in writing, to Clifford Radatz, Building Official, no later than 12:00 Noon on the date of the public hearing at cradatz@vrf.us or by mailing them to 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305.

For further information or for a copy of the proposed text amendments, please contact Assistant to the Village Administrator Matt Walsh at (708) 714-3563 or at mwalsh@vrf.us or visit www.vrf.us.

Sincerely, Clifford Radatz Secretary, Zoning Board of Appeals

Published in Wednesday Journal October 5, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS

Public Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) of the Village of River Forest, County of Cook, State of Illinois, on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Community Room of the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois on the following matter:

The ZBA will consider an application for a fence variation submitted by 1534 Park Apartments LLC, owner of the property at 1534 Park Avenue, who is proposing to install a fence in the Front yard.

Section 4-8-5 of the Village Code provides the Zoning Board of Appeals jurisdiction to hold public hearings and offer recommendations to the Village Board concerning variations to the Fence regulations.

The applicant is requesting a variation to Section 4-8-4-A-1 of the fence regulations to allow a Type 2 fence (metal materials, maximum 6 feet high and a minimum of 80% open to view) to be installed in the Front Yard. The regulation requires the fence in a Front Yard in the C-1 Commercial District to be a Type 1 fence (metal materials, maximum 4 feet high and a minimum of 50% open to view).

The legal description of the property at 1534 Park Avenue is as follows:

THE SOUTH 50 FEET OF THE EAST HALF OF LOT 1 IN BLOCK 1 IN THE SUBDIVISION OF THAT PART OF LOTS 1 AND 2 LYING EAST OF THATCHER ROAD IN OWNER’S SUBDIVISION IN THE NORTH WEST QUARTER OF THE NORTH WEST QUARTER OF SECTION 1, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

A copy of the application will be available to the public at Village Hall and on the Village’s website at www. vrf.us/zoningvariation no less than 15 days prior to the public hearing.

The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting packet will also be available at www.vrf.us/meetings no less than 48 hours prior to the public hearing.

All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. For public comments to be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Village Board of Trustees in their decision, they must be included as part of the public hearing record. Interested persons can learn more about how to participate in the hearing by visiting www.vrf.us/zoningvariation.

Sincerely, Clifford Radatz Secretary, Zoning Board of Appeals

Published in Wednesday Journal October 5, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS

Public Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) of the Village of River Forest, County of Cook, State of Illinois, on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Community Room of the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois on the following matter:

The ZBA will consider an application for variations submitted by Chicago Property Group LLC, owner of the property at 1037 Bonnie Brae, who is proposing to make exterior improvements to the property.

Section 4-8-5 of the Village Code provides the Zoning Board of Appeals jurisdiction to hold public hearings and offer recommendations to the Village Board concerning variations to Village Code.

The applicant is requesting a variation to Section 10-10-7 of the setback regulations requiring a 3 feet setback in the side yard. The applicant is requesting a one-foot setback on the south property line.

The applicant is requesting a variation to Section 10-10-8 of the off-street parking regulations that requires that a detached garage occupy no more than 40% of the rear yard. The applicant is requesting an increase in the allowed percentage to 52%.

The applicant is requesting a variation to Section 10-10-4 of the lot size regulations that requires a lot size of 17,424 square feet for any alterations or construction in an R3 district. The lot is an existing non-conforming lot.

The legal description of the property at 1037 Bonnie Brae is as follows:

LOT 1 (EXCEPT THE NORTH 55 FEET THEREOF) AND THE NORTH 15 FEET OF LOT 2 IN BLOCK 8 IN THE SUBDIVISION OF BLOCK 1, 8, 9, 19, 11, 14, 15 AND 16 IN BOGUE’S ADDITION TO OAK PARK, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF THE SOUTH EAST ¼ OF SECTION 1, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

A copy of the application will be available to the public at Village Hall and on the Village’s website at www.vrf. us/zoningvariation no less than 15 days prior to the public hearing. The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting packet will also be available at www. vrf.us/meetings no less than 48 hours prior to the public hearing.

All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. For public comments to be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Village Board of Trustees in their decision, they must be included as part of the public hearing record. Interested persons can learn more about how to participate in the hearing by visiting www.vrf.us/zoningvariation.

Sincerely, Clifford Radatz Secretary, Zoning Board of Appeals

Published in Wednesday Journal October 5, 2022

CRIME

Woman pepper-sprays train passenger

A Chicago resident was pepper-sprayed in the face by a female passenger while riding the CTA Green Line at 5:30 p.m., Oct. 1 in the 300 block of South Boulevard. The Oak Park Police Department is investigating the battery.

According to Detective Commander Schonella Stewart, the female passenger ac cused the victim of staring at her. When the victim told the offender that he was not star ing at her, she pepper sprayed him in the face and eyes.

After the victim got off of the train, the fe male passenger continued riding westbound

Burglary

■ Someone broke the rear passenger’s side window to gain entry into a 2020 Hyundai So nata parked in the 900 block of South Cuyler Avenue then pulled the ignition and removed cash from inside the vehicle between 9:30 p.m., Sept. 29 and 8:34 a.m., Sept. 30. The esti mated damage is $300.

■ A pair of white Apple AirPods in a brown leather case were taken from an unlocked 2016 Land Rover parked in the 400 block of South Cuyler Avenue between 11 p.m., Sept 28 and 9:50 a.m., Sept. 29. The estimated loss is $300.

■ A Makita lawn mower was taken from a residential garage with an open overhead door between 5 p.m. and 5:34 p.m., Sept. 29. The estimated loss is $400.

■ Someone cut the screen on a rear door then reached in to unlock the deadbolt secur ing the home on the 800 block of Mapleton, then entered into the home and removed a purse and wallets from ransacked cabinets and closets between 1 p.m., Sept. 25 and 10:50 a.m., Sept. 27. The offender then went into the unlocked garage and ransacked the victim’s white 2019 Jeep Cherokee. The estimated loss is unknown.

Motor vehicle theft

■ A 2022 Kia Sportage parked in the 200 block of Washington Boulevard was taken between 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., Oct. 1. The loss is estimated at $23,000.

■ A 2017 Kia Optima parked in the 900 block of North Humphrey Avenue was taken be tween 11:38 a.m., Oct. 1 and 3 p.m., Oct. 2. The estimated loss is $13,000.

■ A 2020 Kia Sportage was taken between 5:10 p.m., Sept. 25 and 5:10 p.m., Sept. 26 from the 1000 block of Washington Boulevard. Chicago police recovered the vehicle at 1:57 p.m., Sept. 27 in the 4000 block of West Walton Av enue in Chicago.

Motor vehicle recovery

■ The 2018 Kia Optima reported stolen out of Oak Park from the first block of Harrison Street Sept. 30 was recovered by Chicago po lice in the 300 block of West 79th Street in Chicago at 9:45 p.m., Oct. 2.

■ The 2015 Kia Optima reported stolen out of Oak Park from the 800 block of Fillmore Street was recovered by Chicago police in the 1500 block of South Karlov Avenue at 6:37 p.m., Sept. 29.

■ The 2019 Hyundai Elantra reported stolen from the 1300 block of North Austin Boulevard in Oak Park Sept. 22 was recovered by Chicago police in the 3000 block of West Cullerton Street in Chicago at 4:37 p.m., Sept. 27.

Theft

■ A package containing a pair of black Sia Collective tennis shoes was taken between 11:08 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sept. 28 in the 700 block of Washington Boulevard. The estimated loss is $270.

■ The catalytic converter was cut from a 2008 Honda CRV between 3 p.m., Sept. 23 and 8 a.m., Sept. 24 in the first block of Harrison Street.

■ The catalytic converter was cut from a Kia Spor tage between 6 p.m., Sept. 23 and 4:30 p.m., Sept. 25 in the 200 block of South Boulevard.

These items, obtained from the Oak Park Po lice Department, came from reports, Sept. 27Oct. 3, 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 ar rest

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Homes

Multifamily math

Traditional apartment buildings for sale in Oak Park

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

There are currently 13 multifamily buildings on the market in Oak Park. Most of the available investment properties are traditional two-flats or for mer singlefamily homes that were converted into two units decades ago. One four-unit building just hit the market, and its evolution offers a glimpse into what it takes to make an investment in the multifamily market.

When Owen Li decided to jump into the real

estate market in 2019, he was looking to find an investment property that he could live in and manage. In addition, he was looking for a re hab opportunity that would let him learn the skills behind managing a construction project from the ground up.

He thought he’d found the perfect opportunity in 617 S. Lombard Ave. in Oak Park. The four-unit building needed a complete overhaul, which of fered the chance to learn the construction process in all its facets.

Owen Li completely overhauled the 4-unit building at 617 S. Lombard Ave. e building may be more than 100 years old, but inside, says Li, “Everything is new.” e building (inset) before the overhaul.

MULTIFAMILY Range of prices

Once finished, he planned to live in the four-bedroom owner’s unit, while renting out the remaining three units in the building. He saw it as a good investment.

“I could live in one unit and the other three would pay the mortgage,” Li said.

For the first-time rehabber, the timing could not have been worse. With the pandemic hitting after he took possession of the building, the process of getting permits and bringing in contractors was put on hold for months. It took Li until Oc tober of 2020 to get through architectural review and get the permits he needed to do the extensive renovation the neglected building required

Fortunately, he was more than ready to learn from the process

“We had to do everything. HVAC, plumbing, electrical, in spections,” Li said. “Whatever I touched, I wanted to lear n about it. I lear ned a lot.”

Unfortunately, the process took so long, that his personal plans changed. His young daughter no longer is interested in moving and starting a new school. Rather than live in one unit and rent the others, Li decided to sell the building to try to ear n his money back

Working with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services broker Fei (Yanfei) Hu, he recently listed the property for sale for $1.4 million. Hu notes that the three three-bedroom units are also listed for rent at $2,380 per unit. Parking is an additional $120 per space.

Hu states the two-pronged approach of marketing the entire building for sale while also marketing the three-bedroom units as rentals is a good idea in a real estate market that is experiencing softening rents and longer market times.

“It’s probably more attractive to a buyer to buy the property if the three units are already rented,” Hu said.

Each of the units is completely new and features higher end finishes including stainless-steel appliances and quartz counters. The owner’s unit has a first floor with three bedrooms, a full bath, a breakfast room, an open family room and a kitchen with a large island with a built-in wine fridge.

The lower level of the duplex has in-unit laundry, another full bath, a bedroom and a family room.

The three-bedroom rental units have identical layouts, in cluding family rooms and eat-in areas of the kitchen. During the renovation, Li finished for mer sunrooms, adding insulation, heating and cooling to create year-round dining spaces off the kitchens. While the building itself is more than 100 years old, Li said, “Everything else is new.”

Hu says Li wanted to price the building to recoup some of his investment and notes that it is a good opportunity for someone who wants to be a landlord but doesn’t want to have to do any construction in this era of supply chain and worker shortage delays

There are currently no other four unit buildings for sale in

Oak Park. A look at other two-flats on the market currently reveals a wide range of prices for them.

The two-flat at 1122 S. Oak Park Ave. is listed at $729,000. The two-flat was renovated in 2014 and, like 617 S. Lombard Ave., offers a two-level owner’s unit with four total bedrooms and two bathrooms. The second-floor unit has three bedrooms and rents for $2,000 a month.

The building at 64 Washington Blvd. in Oak Park is a short sale available for $599,000. Built in 1920, it has a first and lower-level duplex unit with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, and a top-level unit with three bedrooms and two bathrooms

The vintage brick two-flat at 328 S. Ridgeland Ave. is for sale for $615,000. The traditional brick building includes two units, each with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

quar tz countertops. ree-season sunrooms o the kitchens have been converted into year-round dining spaces.

On Saturday, Oct. 15: McAdam Pumpkin-Palooza

Over the years, the McAdam PumpkinPalooza has become an annual autumn staple of fun (and free) family activities.

This year is no exception, with a pumpkin patch, hayrides, ghost stories, sweet treats, and pumpkin painting all in store for Saturday, October 15th at our Nursery & Garden Center, 2001 Des Plaines Ave. in Forest Park.

Scott McAdam Jr.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and every child who comes will receive a free pumpkin. We also encourage everyone— kids and adults alike—to wear costumes.

During this special occasion, we will offer huge fall discounts on all trees, shrubs, and perennials that are in stock. And for those looking to know what they can still plant, professionals will be on hand to give tips on how to winterize your garden.

Particularly with plants that have been growing in the same containers all year long, this is a good time to landscape. Before next summer’s heat comes around, it’s very beneficial to give new plantings upwards of six to eight months to get established.

A half-mile south of Roosevelt Road, the McAdam Nursery & Garden Center is open until mid-November. Whether you have a question about PumpkinPalooza or anything else, we’re always just a phone call away at 708-771-2299.

IMPORTANTNOTICE TO PRO PERTY OWN ERS

Cook County Annual Tax Sale Notice to Property Owners, Annual Tax Sale Schedule, and Delinquent Real Estate Tax List

This legal notice includes a list of properties of real estate on which 2020 property taxes (due in 2021) are delinquent and subject to sale as of September 13, 2022.

NOTE: This list may include some properties on which the taxes were paid after the list’s preparation on September 13, 2022. It is the property owner’s responsibility to verify the current status of payment. This list does not include all the properties in Cook County that are delinquent and subject to sale. For a complete listing of the properties in your neighborhood that are subject to sale, please visit www.cookcountytreasurer.com.

Under Illinois law, the Cook County Treasurer’s Office must offer properties having delinquent real estate taxes and special assessments for sale. IF YOUR PROPERTY IS LISTED IN THIS NOTICE FOR SALE OF DELINQUENT REAL ESTATE TAXES, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO TAKE ACTION SO THAT YOUR TAXES ARE NOT SOLD. The tax sale is scheduled to begin TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022. The sale of taxes will result in a lien against the property that will add, at a minimum, hundreds of dollars in fees to the amount currently due. Sale of the tax and continued failure by the owner to redeem (pay) may result in the owner’s loss of legal title to the property.

Prior to sale, delinquent taxes may be paid online from your bank account or credit card by visiting cookcountytreasurer.com. Personal, company, and business checks will be accepted only through October 27, 2022. After October 27, 2022, all payments must be made by certified check, cashier’s check, money order, cash, or credit card. Please note that under Illinois law, the Treasurer’s Office cannot accept payments of delinquent taxes tendered after the close of the business day immediately preceding the date on which such taxes are to be offered for sale. For questions about submitting a payment or to verify the precise delinquent amount, you may contact the Cook County Treasurer’s Office by phone at (312) 443-5100 or by e-mail through our website at www.cookcountytreasurer.com (click on “CONTACT US BY EMAIL”).

2020 Annual Tax Sale Schedule

SALE BEGINS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2022, AT 8:30 A.M. THE TAX SALE HOURS OF OPERATION ARE 8:30 A.M. TO 5:00 P.M. (CHICAGO LOCAL TIME) EACH SCHEDULED DAY. THE DATES OF SALE AND THE DAILY SALE HOURS MAY BE EXTENDED AS NEEDED. TAX BUYER REGISTRATION WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN OCTOBER 7 AND NOVEMBER 4, 2022. FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.COOKTAXSALE.COM OR CONTACT THE TREASURER’S OFFICE.

SALE DATEVOLUMES TOWNSHIP/CITY

November 15, 2022 001 TO 147 Barrington, Berwyn, Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Cicero, Elk Grove, Evanston, Hanover, Lemont, Leyden, Lyons, Maine, New Trier, Niles, Northfield, Norwood Park, Oak Park, Orland

November 16, 2022 148 TO 270 Palatine, Palos, Proviso, Rich, River Forest, Riverside, Schaumburg, Stickney, Thornton, Wheeling, Worth, Hyde Park

November 17, 2022 271 TO 464 Hyde Park, Jefferson, Lake

November 18, 2022 465 TO 601 Lake, Lake View, North Chicago, Rogers Park, South Chicago, West Chicago

COOK COUNTY DELINQUENT REAL ESTATE TAX LIST

OFFICE OF THE TREASURER AND EX-OFFICIO COLLECTOR OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Advertisement and Notice by Collector of Cook County of Application for Judgment and Order of Sale of Delinquent Lands and Lots for General Taxes for the years indicated, for order of sales thereof, as provided by law.

COUNTY OF COOK, STATE OF ILLINOIS

October 5-6, 2022

NOTICE is hereby given that the said Collector of Cook County, Illinois, will apply to the County Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois on Friday, October 21, 2022, for judgment against all lands and lots, hereinafter described as being delinquent, upon which taxes (together with any accrued interest and costs) remain due and unpaid, for an order for sale of said lands and lots for satisfaction thereof, fixing the correct amount due. Final entry of said order will be sought on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.

NOTICE is further given that beginning on the 15th day of November, 2022, A.D., at the hour of 8:30 A.M., all said lands and lots, hereinafter described for sale for which an order shall be made, or has been made and not executed as noted, will be subject to pub-

lic sale at 118 N. Clark St, Room 112 (Randolph Street entrance), in Chicago, Illinois, for the amount of taxes, interest and costs due thereon, respectively.

The following is a list of the delinquent properties in Cook County upon which the taxes or any part thereof for the 2020 tax year remain due and unpaid; the name(s) of the owners, if known; the property location; the total amount due on 2020 tax warrants (excluding delinquent special assessments separately advertised); and the year or years for which the taxes are due.

In lieu of legal description, each parcel of land or lot is designated by a property index number (PIN). Comparison of the 14-digit PIN with the legal description of any parcel may be made by referring to the cross-indices in the various Cook County offices.

The Cook County Collector does not guarantee the accuracy of common street addresses or property classification codes at the time of sale. Tax buyers should verify all common street addresses, PINs, classifications, and ownership by personal inspection and investigation of said properties and legal descriptions prior to purchasing general taxes offered at the sale.

NO TAX BUYER WILL BE PERMITTED TO OBTAIN A TAX DEED WITH RESPECT TO ANY PROPERTY OWNED BY A TAXING DISTRICT OR OTHER UNIT OF GOVERNMENT. WHEN AN ORDER TO VACATE THE TAX SALE OF ANY SUCH PROPERTY IS ENTERED, THE FINAL RESULT MAY BE A REFUND WITHOUT INTEREST.

CHARLIE

DOUGLAS

YVETTE

YORDANA

ROBERT KNUTH

LAVINIA HUSBANDS

GRP WASHINGTON LLC1146

MICHAEL D ROBERTS

DR KHURANA MAYO AUSTIN

142 16 08 319 044 1008

S LOMBARD AVE 142 16 08 320 027 1001

W WASHINGTON BLV 142 16 08 320 028 1018

WASHINGTON BLVD 142 16 08 321 030 1001

MADISON ST 142 16 08 322 029 0000

LISA RZESZUTEK

GOZA

LISA RZESZUTEK

LOURDES MARTINEZ

GOZA

ROOSEVELT RD 145 16 18 428 043 1029

ROOSEVELT RD 145 16 18 428 043 1036

ROOSEVELT RD 145 16 18 428 043 1063

ROOSEVELT RD 145 16 18 428 043 1115

ROOSEVELT RD 145 16 18 428 043 1125

OAK PARK COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL

DD HOLDINGS LLC

NORTH AVE 138 16 05 102 032 0000

FORTY WEST CHICAGO LLC 46 CHICAGO AVE 138 16 05 325 026 0000

FORTY WEST CHICAGO LLC 44 CHICAGO AVE 138 16 05 325 027 0000

2020 $2,421 29

2020 $624 23

2020 $624.23

2020 $800 00

2020 $4,426 83

2020 $119,984 30

2020 $5,344 30

2020 $4,813 38

FORTY WEST CHICAGO LLC 40 CHICAGO AVE 138 16 05 325 029 0000 0 2020 $7,042.38

ROBERT & MARCELLA GRAY 6549 NORTH AVE 139 16 06 204 005 0000 0 2020 $33,623 25

TBL HOLDING LLC 161 N MARION ST 141 16 07 119 025 1047 0 2020 $13,960 18

TBL HOLDING LLC 163 N MARION ST 141 16 07 119 025 1048 0 2020 $6,041 79

1120 CLUB LLC 1116 LAKE ST 141 16 07 119 035 1003 0 2020 $17,395 99

BYEONG OK CHEON 100 S KENILWORTH AVE 141 16 07 305 001 0000 0 2020 $23,427 80

LARRY DANTONIO 6336 ROOSEVELT RD 143 16 17 324 036 0000 0 2020 $21,709 91

TAXPAYER OF 604 HARRISON ST 144 16 18 227 023 0000 0 2020 $9,176 26

1101 1103 GARFIELD LLC 1103 GARFIELD ST 145 16 18 301 031 0000 0 2020 $4,232 04

1101 1103 GARFIELD LLC 1101 GARFIELD ST 145 16 18 301 032 0000 0 2020 $2,795 24

ANNA MARIA DIAZ 7100 ROOSEVELT RD 145 16 18 323 045 0000 0 2020 $39,872 95

BONNIE MANAGEMENT CORP 6936 ROOSEVELT RD 145 16 18 326 030 0000 0 2020 $17,158.39

BONNIE MANAGEMENT CORP 6936 ROOSEVELT RD 145 16 18 326 031 0000 0 2020 $17,158 39

LEROY G PRINS 6638 ROOSEVELT RD 145 16 18 424 035 0000 0 2020 $27,394 84

REAL ESTATE LLC 6101 NORTH AVE 138 16 05 104 007 0000 0 2020 $64,495 64

OAK PARK VACANT LAND

2020 $10,509 26

2020 $2,936 69

2020 $2,708 26

2020 $5,247 10

2020 $9,988 88

GUY MCFOLLING 541 S HUMPHREY AVE 143 16 17 106 029 0000 0 2020 $8,260.68

R UTH M BRAUN 633 S HARVEY AVE 143 16 17 110 034 0000 0 2020 $515 93

KALEKYE MUSAY 626 S LOMBARD AVE 143 16 17 112 010 0000 0 2020 $2,068 03

NEW WAY INVESTMENT INC 142 S AUSTIN BLVD 143 16 17 115 023 0000 0 2020 $16,358 62

CARL SPIGHT 744 S TAYLOR AVE 143 16 17 121 018 0000

S CUYLER LLC

ARTURO G VALADEZ

SUBURBAN CAPITAL LLC

W LLIAM KING

S CUYLER AVE 143 16 17 125 015 0000

S TAYLOR AVE 143 16 17 128 032 0000

S HUMPHREY AVE 143 16 17 130 027 0000

S AUSTIN BLVD 143 16 17 131 024 1004

2020 $7,392 69

2020 $3,077 00

2020 $12,668 60

2020 $6,631 35

JEAN CELESTIN II 440 HOME AVE 141 16 07 324 040 0000 0 2020 $1,500 53

LEXINGTON RESERVE AT O 439 CLINTON AVE 141 16 07 324 044 0000 0 2020 $5,072 01 LEXINGTON RESERVE AT O 430 HOME AVE 141 16 07 324 045 0000 0 2020 $6,421.95

BONNIE MANAGEMENT CORP 6950 ROOSEVELT RD 145 16 18 326 028 0000 0 2020 $10,379 14 BONNIE MANAGEMENT CORP 6942 ROOSEVELT RD 145 16 18 326 029 0000 0 2020 $1,134 99

by order of County Collector of Cook County, Illinois

SPORTS

OPRF volleyball rallie twice to spike Fenw

Nelson, Garland provide one-two punch to take crosstown clash

By MELVIN TATE and BILL STONE Contributing Reporters

In a back-and-for th match on Oct. 3 at crosstown rival Fenwick, the Oak Park and River Forest High School girls volleyball team prevailed in three sets over the Friars: 25-27, 26-24, and 25-22.

OPRF (19-5) jumped out to a 14-11 lead in the first set, but Fenwick (8-15) rallied for an 18-18 tie. Then after the Huskies took a 22-20 lead, the Friars scored seven of the final 10 points to win the set.

“The energy is not going to calm down for a while,” said OPRF coach Kelly Col-

lins. “That was exciting, it was a rollercoaster ride.”

“That was some great volleyball teams, and no one should ha match,” said Fenwick O’Laughlin. “It was a great crosstown battle.”

In the second set, Fenwick behind some inspired play from Ella Hullinger, OPRF would rally to force a deciding third set.

“Ella stepped up and I’m super proud of her,” Collins said. “She did a nice job not only blocking, but also attacking.”

In the final set, the Friars out of an early lead. But the Huskies rallied late and closed out the ing seven of the last nine points

“We got our competitiveness OPRF senior Reese Garland. “We kind of slipped up in the middle, but in the end, we

OPRF’s Grace Nelson had 15 kills to lead the Huskies past Fenwick on Oct. 3. She had 16 kills in a losing e ort against Lyons Tow nship on Sept. 27.

played like our team is supposed to play We’re insanely excited about this win.”

Shannon O’Laughlin had a team-high 18 kills for Fenwick while Erin East added 16 kills.

“We’re into October, and we need to keep playing like we’ve been playing,” Kathleen O’Laughlin said of Fenwick, which saw a three-match winning streak halted. “We got our whole unit back together and we’ve been trying to get the chemistry going. I’m not worried about wins or losses at this point.”

Grace Nelson had 15 kills, Garland 11 kills and Kinsey Smith 22 assists for OPRF.

“It’s good for our kids to play in this type of atmosphere, especially as we move towards the end of the season,” Collins said. “Some of the things we displayed tonight like fighting and showing more grit we’ll need come the playoffs.”

On Sept. 27, the Huskies also forced a third set against the West Suburban Confer ence Silver co-leaders Lyons Township High School but couldn’t sustain the momentum and lost 25-23, 20-25, 25-16

Senior middle hitter Reese Garland and her Oak Park and River Forest High School girls volleyball teammates played arguably their best set of the season at Lyons Township Sept. 27.

OPRF fell behind 8-3 and trailed throughout the final set. They closed to 16-14 but never again scored while serving.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get off to that fast start we wanted,” OPRF coach Kelly Collins said. “They exposed us a little bit on serve receive and unfortunately took the momentum from us. Then we had to play their game instead of ours.”

Grace Nelson had 16 kills, eight in the sec ond set, with eight digs and two service aces Other standouts included Kinsey Smith (34 assists, 9 digs), Garland and Gabby Towns (7 kills, 2 blocks each), Ella Hullinger (6 kills, 3 blocks), Samantha Shelton (3 kills), Keira Kleidon (6 service points, 7 digs), Molly Brown (7 points, 2 aces), Maeve Moran (5 points, 5 digs) and Arianna Winsett (5 points, 2 aces). Shelton, a freshman outside hitter, was playing just her third varsity match.

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer Freshman Samantha Shelton (8), playing just her third varsit y game, passes the ball to an OPRF teammate against LTHS on Sept. 27.

Fenwick boys cross country 5th at Peoria Invite

McKillop places7th overall to lead Friars

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

The Fenwick High School cross-country teams participated in the Peoria Invitational Oct. 1.

The boys placed fifth as a team with 251 points. Nate McKillop had the Friars’ top individual finish, coming in seventh with a time of 15 minutes, 8.96 seconds.

Other Fenwick runners were Dean O’Bryan (19th, 15:33.93), Grayden Rill (31st, 15:52.90), Benicio Carideo (90th, 16:39.13), Chris Badja (106th, 16:48.73), Finn Munley (127th, 16:59.71) and Michael Domke (170th, 17:29.27)

The Fenwick girls came in 17th with 484 points. Bella Daley had Fenwick’s best showing with a ninth-place finish (18:06.73).

Av Rodriguez (98th, 20:27.66), Kyra Miller (116th, 20:55.66), 21:27.23), We (179th, 22:28.46) completed the Friars’ lineup

Girls golf

The Fenwick and Oak Park and River Forest High School girls golfteams fin ished 1-2 at the IHSA Class 2A St. Ignatius Re gional Sept. 29.

The Friars’ score of357 was five strokes better than the runner-up Huskies (362).

Fenwick’s Charlotte Batsman placed third among individuals, shooting a round of85. OPRF’s Ella Homrok and the Friars’

Kathryn Sweeney each shot 86 to tie for fourth. The Huskies’ Faith Lee (tie for 8th, 90) and Emerson Amstutz (tie for 9th, 91) also placed in the top ten.

Olivia Tsitovich (92), Emma Maria Bassett (94), Me gan Grote (117), and Jenin Gabato (127) rounded out the Friars’ lineup, while Elle Tanner (95), Trinity Mosher (100) and Renner Prouty (101) were the other Huskies participating.

However, in the Class 2A Glenbrook

good for 11th place, while the Friars placed 13th with 403 strokes

Bateman and Sweeney each shot 89, four strokes below the state qualifying score of 85, to lead Fenwick. Mosher (93), Amstutz (94), and Tanner (97) were OPRF’s top individuals

Boys golf

The Fenwick boys golfteam finished third at the IHSA Class 2A Hinsdale South Regional on Sept. 28 with 321 strokes, 19 behind re gional winner St. Ignatius.

Clarke Bennett and Jack Harrison each shot 79 to tie for eighth, and Nick Scudder tied for 13th with an 81. Mac Oberlies (82), Liam Dugan (83) and Kevin Hanley (87) rounded out the Friars’ lineup

On Oct. 3 at the St. Viator Sectional, Fenwick finished seventh with 329 strokes. Bennett shot a 78 and missed qualifying for state ound of80, Harrison an 85, Hanley an 86, Oberlies an 89

gional

Sept. 28, OPRF’s fifth-place score of342 was not enough for team advancement to the sec tional. However, the Huskies did qualify three individuals, Jacob Goldberg (82), Luke Roberts (84), and Kevin Cortez (85).

At the Conant Sectional on Oct. 3, Cortez narrowly missed qualifying for state, shooting a 78 to finish one shot below the cut line Roberts shot an 82 and Goldberg an 84.

Trinity cross country

The Trinity High School cross country team had a strong showing at the Pat Savage Invitational held Oct. 2 at Niles West, placing seventh out of37 schools participating with 236 points.

The McGreal sisters were the Blazers’ top two runners in the Class 1A/2A division. Freshman Molly finished 15th in a time of 19:49.96, while senior Amanda was 17th in 19:57.76.

Ella Miller (20th, 20:03.50), Jasmine Ar zuaga (21st, 20:04.71), Myla Roy (39th, 20:49.25) and Jade Morelli (42nd, 20:56.40) rounded out Trinity’s lineup.

OPRF starts fast, nishes strong to topple Morton

Defense steps up in red zone as Huskies snap losing streak

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Getting early leads in g ames hasn’t been the problem for the Oak Park and River Forest High School football team this season.

Instead, finishing games has been prob lematic for the Huskies since West Suburban Silve r play started, the worst oc currence happening Sept. 23 when OPRF -- after leading the vast majority of the g ame -- lost at Hinsdale Central 22-19 on a touchdown in the closing seconds.

However, on Sept. 30 at Oak Park Stadium, the Huskies started f ast and finished strong in a 28-7 homecoming victory over Morton, snapping a three-game losing streak.

“Our ef fort was good,” said OPRF coach John Hoerster. “Hats of f to Morton, those guys came ready to play T hey’re a good, well-coached team that got after it and made some plays. We made a few more, and I’m happy with how the kids finished up.”

It took OPRF (3-3) just three plays to find the end zone as Tim Spillane caught a pass from Jack Gooch, broke a couple of tackles, and scooted 44 yards for a touchdown. Nolan Vitale booted the first of his four point-afters to give the Huskies a 7-0 lead at the 10:45 mark of the opening quarter.

Morton (2-4) had a golden opportuni ty to even things on the next drive as a Khalil Nichols fumble on a punt retur n gifted the Mustangs excellent field posi tion at the OPRF 34. But the Huskies’ de fense came up with a huge stop on fourth and goal from the 1, resulting in a turnover on downs

T he Mustangs would eventually tie the g ame at 7-7 early in the quar ter. Given another short field after Makhail Germany interce pted Gooch, the Mustangs cashed in when on fourth down from the OPRF 25, Julian Hernandez connected with Jeremiah Putterlik for a touchdown pass with 11:05 left in the first half

After the teams traded multiple defensive stops, OPRF took the lead for good when Gooch found Tyler Davis open for an 11-yard touchdown at the 3:45 mark.

T he Huskies blocked Hernandez’s p unt deep in Morton territory on the ensuing

possession, but Gooch was subsequently interce pted in the end zone. Howeve r, the OPRF defense stopped the Mustangs again, and with 12 seconds left before halftime, Gooch found Spillane for a 32yard touchdown and a 21-7 Huskies lead

After OPRF’s Jamari Williams turned away Morton with an end zone interception on the opening drive of the second half, Lemer Burnett started taking over of fensively for the Huskies.

His 51-yard burst down the OPRF side line set up his 4-yard touchdown r un that gave the Huskies a commanding 28-7 lead with 4:56 left in the third quar ter

“It was my time to sho w what I can do,” said Burnett, who finished with 179 yards on 18 carries with a 9.9 average per at tempt. “My linemen did some awesome things for me to get the yards that I got.”

“Lemer played a great g ame,” said Gooch. “We knew before the g ame he was going to have to step up, and he did a great job.”

T he OPRF defense came up big once again in its own red zone as it turned away the Mustangs with a fourth-down stop on at the 3-yard line early in the final quarter. T hen Burnett -- filling in for an injured Eric Evans -- cranked out r uns of 16, 13 and 13 yards as the Huskies would chew up most of the remaining time.

Gooch completed 11 of 20 passes for 163 yards, three touchdowns and two inter ceptions. Spillane caught four balls for 98 yards and two touchdowns for OPRF

Defensively for the Huskies, Nichols had a team-high seven tackles. Faris Dispensa and Sam Gray each had six tackles, Jeremiah Williams had 5.5 tackles and

shared a sack with Matthew Poe. Mekhai Tate had five tackles.

OPRF welcomes Proviso West for Se nior Night on Oct. 7, with kickof f sched uled for 6 p.m.

Fenwick cruises past Marmion

E.J. Hosty threw for three touchdowns and ran for another score as Fenwick (33) improved to 2-0 in the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference White Division with a 35-6 victory at Marmion Academy in Aurora.

The Friars return to Triton Colle ge on Oct. 7, but they’ll be the designated road team when it meets St. Patrick, which also plays its home games at Triton. Kickof f is at 7:30 p.m.

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer

OPRF running back Sam Gray (1) gains a rst dow n during the Huskies’ homecoming win over Morton on Sept. 30 at Oak Park Stadium.

Community news on life suppor t

Mor ning time, sipping strong coffee and read ing printed newspapers is one of my favorite times of the day. The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, along with Wednesday Jour nal and Forest Leaves fill many hours. Our local papers add another dimension to my reading pleasure. They are informational and of fer ar ticles of national impor tance, too. Our jour nalists are extremely talented, demonen Trainor, and letters from readers are worthy een reading about comnewspapers and their seems that some big-business groups publications and and often encouragement high-financed syndications

One of the ar ticles describing this disturbing trend used an example of “The Austin American Statesman,” which was swallowed up in 2019 by the Gannett chain. Nationally, it joined the ranks of more than 1,000 other mass-produced local papers now under the corporate control of the USA Today Network. Fur ther, I lear ned that the The Gannett chain is an entity owned and controlled by the Soft Bank Group, a multibillion-dollar Japanese financial consor tium. I’m sure the Soft Bank Group isn’t interested in the community issues, which was the focus of the Austin American Statesman.

Also, many of our national daily newspapers are in the g rip of primarily three huge hedge funds: Soft Bank Group, Alden Global Capital, and Chatham Asset Management. Under the guise of providing assistance, they are plundering local news holdings. A Wall Street euphemism calls this practice, “the financialization of jour nalism.”

As a result of these take-overs, talented and dedicated jour nalists and production folks are being dismissed or fighting hard to hold onto their dying newspapers, trying to publish basic and truthful information. They face the seemingly impossible.

The new owners seek to spread their own right-wing leaning news, often indif ferent to actual news, local or otherwise The size of these struggling papers is reduced;

VIEWPOINTS

On the rst day of rst grade, I ditched

It was Se ptember of 1959. With Mom’s help, I got ready for the be ginning of first grade. After breakfast, I said goodbye to her, walked out of the back door in my blue shirt and blue tie — the school unifor m — and headed toward St. Mary’s, about a half-block from our Clarence Avenue home.

I opened the back gate to the alley, closed it, took a few steps to my right, stopped behind our garage, and went no fur ther. I hadn’t planned to do it, but staying there felt more right than the prospect of exiting the alley, tur ning left on 15th Street and finishing the trek to school.

Over the course of my life, I’ve pulled back from other expectations or seeming obligations that didn’t sit right in my gut. But in this case, I was 5 years old, going on six. My parents had never hinted that I had any choice in the matter. Everything that mor ning was pointed toward St. Mary’s: the flow of kid traf fic was all in one direction.

I avoided that traf fic as I stood in the shadow of our garage.

About eight months prior, we had moved to the neigh borhood in Berwyn from Brookfield. In Brookfield,

although we had been parishioners at St. Barbara’s, I had been going to kindergar ten at Lincoln Elementary, a public school. When we moved to Berwyn mid-year, my parents chose to not enroll me in kinder gar ten. Rather, they decided to wait until the next school year and star t me as a first-g rader in the local Catholic school, St. Mary of Celle

During those months when I was not in school, from our alley or along 15th Street, I would see kids at St. Mary’s in their blue unifor ms, walking in disciplined lines between the church and the school, led by mysterious women in black veils and robes.

After school and on weekends, some of the kids at St. Mary’s who lived on my block told me that the nuns were mean, especially Sister Mary For tunata, who would become my first-grade teacher

The aura of the nuns, the lines, and the unifor med kids made me wary about what kind of place that Catholic school really was. What did they do with the kids in there? It looked awfully controlling.

On opening day, Mom trusted me to get there on my

Natalie Moore delivers the librar y’s Ballinger Lec ture

e garage where the the author spent part of his rst day of school

Gaps in police audio

Even as it awaits the overdue and anticipated third party assessment of policing in Oak Park, the village has modestly expanded the role of its Citizen Police Oversight Commission. The commission primarily is charged with reviewing citizen complaints related to encounters with officers.

That the commission currently is allowed to only review those complaints after they have been investigated internally is problematic. But progress was made last year when, at the direction of Village President Vicki Scaman, the committee was given access to dashcam videos tied to those complaints.

As it reviewed 13 such complaints from November 2021 to June 2022 the committee discovered that in nine of the cases officers failed to activate the audio recording feature of the dashcams. In its biannual report to the village board, the commission expressed its concer n that there was no audio on most complaints. And it surmised that the lack of audio was likely common within the department. It asked that the village board be informed of the percentage of cases overall where there is video — a process that occurs automatically whenever police lights are turned on in a squad car — but no audio

That’s a number Wednesday Jour nal would also like to report. And we await a response to our Freedom of Information request on that topic.

And while we have received the current police policy on the use of dashcams — video and audio — we still want to know what changes were made to that nine-year old policy when it was amended by former chief LaDon Reynolds a year ago and amended again two weeks ago by Interim Chief Shatonya Johnson on Aug. 19 of this year

While the oversight commission recommended to the village board that all instances where audio was not activated over the past six months result in direct conversations with each officer, spokespersons for the village were awfully soft in attributing the failure to activate audio as just a bad habit

We’re dubious. Understanding how the policy has evolved would offer clarity.

Just Monday night the village board approved a plan to finally bring bodycams to Oak Park. We’re now operating under a stateimposed deadline of January 2024 for implementation.

When the BerryDunn report on policing finally drops, perhaps this month, we look for ways to further expand citizen oversight of this department. That audio recordings have seemingly been optional is a good reason for greater citizen engagement.

Save West Sub

It is hard to overstate the vital role a stable West Suburban Medical Center must play in Oak Park, River Forest and the West Side. News Monday that its current owner, Pipeline Health, has declared bankruptcy is deeply troubling.

That ne gotiations we thought were nearly complete for Pipeline to sell the hospital yet ag ain have stalled is especially worrisome.

The days ahead will be critical to saving West Sub, its safety-net health services, its jobs and its declining institutional role in our communities.

On the brink of turning 9

The boys turn 9 next week and they’ re star ting to go separate ways. Not entirely. Twins are pretty much stuck with each other. That can be wearing. They get on each other’s nerves and take swipes, verbal and physical. Sometimes they need to be separated. Other times they’ re inse parable.

Life also has a way of separating them. Separate classes in third grade. And sports. Tyler likes baseball, Bryce likes soccer. There are times when one is at practice and the other is with me.

Tyler is becoming an adept practitioner of the succinct stoic re ply. Earlier in the car, Bryce launched into a litany of aches, pains, cramps and wheezings resulting from “Knights on the Run,” the fundraising event earlier that day where they had to tally as many laps as possible for donations. When Bryce finally came to the end of his long list of complaints, Tyler’s rejoinder was, “Same.”

KEN TRAINOR

Interesting phenomenon. Call it individuation. They’ re dif ferent alone than they are together. Less competitive, less fractious, more relaxed. More who they really are, I suspect, which gets overlooked in the constant back-and-forth of twinness.

I’ve had Bryce alone lately more than Tyler because Tyler is in a fall baseball league that practices on my night with them. We drop him of f at the field and Bryce and I head over to the library for a couple of hours. Alone, Bryce is calmer, less annoying because he doesn’t have Tyler to annoy, and be annoyed by, and he knows I have less tolerance for annoyance.

A nicer side emerges. More thoughtful, more conversational. I see the intelligence and creativity come to the forefront. The library has crafts and building sets in the Children’s section, and it’s not crowded at this hour, so he plugs into activities and I keep him company. He likes challenges — up to a point. He has low frustration tolerance, so sometimes I have to help him. He was interested in origami for a short time, but that’s pretty detailed and the instructions, often the case, are not the best, so in very short order, his head explodes.

Crafts and Legos and other interconnected blocks require patience and concentration. Not all 9-year-olds are good at that. We try one of those “find the 10 differences in two almost identical pictures.” He finds five and then he’s done. I find the other five and give him hints. It’s OK to solve things together. My hope is he extends that lesson to working with his brother.

As the sun sets, it’s time to pick up Tyler. It’s fall weather so by the time we get there, it’s chilly Tyler forgot to bring his sweatshirt, and he’s been standing in right field where there isn’t much action, so he’s cold.

I say, unhelpfully, “Tyler, didn’t you bring your sweatshirt?” Grandparents sometimes have a way of rubbing it in, on the theory it will ingrain the lesson.

He responds, “No … should’ve.”

But my frigid right-fielder doesn’t dwell on his physical discomfort for long. After I give him my pullover, which is gigantic, and roll the sleeves way up his arms, Bryce calls out for help on the “dig site” he has discovered up the trail leading to the sledding hill nearby. Tyler’s of f like a shot to locate a proper stick or rock for dig ging up the usual things one expects to find just below the surface of the topsoil: prehistoric fossils, ancient stone tools, dinosaur bones, buildings from early civilizations. Their expectations are nothing if not exorbitant.

Since this is my night for stating the obvious, I say, “You guys are real archeologists, aren’t you?”

Bryce says, “No, I’m a scientist. Tyler is an archeologist.” I’m not sure archeologists would appreciate that distinction. He means Tyler is the digger and he’s the one who “studies” the results, laid out neatly on a nearby picnic table, each excavated pa leolithic artifact sitting atop a scrounged tree leaf

I notice the beautiful fingernail moon overhead sailing into the sunset’s afterglow, so we walk to the top of the sledding hill to look at it. I also point out brilliant Jupiter, rising in the southeast sky through the trees.

My job is to expand their universe whenever an opportunity presents itself — though they seem to do pretty well on their own. Somehow they’ve figured out that a remarkable array of mysterious treasures are buried in the earth beneath their feet.

As we gaze at the moon, I say, “It looks so close.”

“But it’s not,” re plies Tyler, succinct as ever. In spite of the chill, he suggests we celebrate this excellent evening with ice cream. If nothing else, it gets him into a warm car. We stop at one of the two downtown artisanal ice cream shops, whose flavor of the month is “Trick-or-Treat,” and since their birthday is imminent and they’ re already in the full flower of Halloween fever, it’s hard to say no.

A comfortable quiet settles in on the drive back home — except for the contented smacking, slurping and crunching sounds from the back seat.

It isn’t always, but it can be good teetering on the brink of 9 years old.

Very good indeed.

Ballinger Lecture brings Natalie Moore to the library

On Sunday, Oct. 9, author and WBEZ re por ter Natalie Moore will join us at the Oak Park Public Library for the annual Barbara Ballinger Lecture. As a bonus, local radio host Doris Davenport will moderate this year’s conversation.

MARGITA LIDAKA One

The Ballinger Lecture is an annual event sponsored by the Friends of the Oak Park Public Library. Each fall, we celebrate and recognize for mer head librarian Barbara Ballinger and her many years of dedicated service to the library and to Oak Park. This year’s event will be held in person for the first time since 2019, with an option to join via

Moore is a Chicago Public Radio reporter who regu larly covers segregation and inequality. When we first read her nonfiction book The South Side, which came out in 2019 and details historical and contemporary

Together, we can end domestic violence

The Sarah’s Inn team and our partners at the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago will be gathering at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6 in Scoville Park, Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue to rally the community to take action against domestic violence, gun violence, and community violence.

After the rally, Oak Park Bank, 151 N. Oak Park Ave., from 6:30 to 8 p.m.,is hosting Sarah’s Inn supporters for light re freshments Supporters can stop by and pick up informational materials, ribbon kits, yard signs, and talk with Sarah’s Inn and INVC staff. If there is rain or other inclement weather, we will hold the rally at Oak Park Bank as well.

We hope you will join us for these free events as we kick-off Domestic Violence Action Month.

S arah’s Inn

Oak Park

segregation in Chicago, we knew she would be a perfect local author for this event.

And with her latest book, the fictional play The Billboard, her work grows only more timely, her voice only more relevant to the times we live in.

The Billboard, which was produced as a play by 16th Street Theater this summer, is about a fictional Black women’s clinic in Englewood that gets publicly involved in the debate over abortion.

Moore has said the book was inspired by real events, but she wrote it well before the U.S. Supreme Court overtur ned Roe v. Wade in June.

“I had no idea we would be in this position,” Moore told Block Club Chicago in March. “I thought this play was always going to be timely, but I didn’t think it was going to be urgent.”

Come hear directly from Moore on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2-3 p.m. at the Main Library, 834 Lake St. You can also at tend virtually on Zoom. Please register to attend at oppl org/ballinger We hope to see you there.

Margita Lidaka is an Adult Services librarian and Jabez Patterson is Programming librarian at the Oak Park Public Library.

Folk music returns to the librar y on Oct. 17

I was surprised to read your Viewpoints column [As autumn turns toward night, Ken Trainor, Viewpoints, Sept. 28], delighted by the quote from the Diary of Opal Whiteley, and by your war m thoughts about Anne Hills singing Opal’s words to music by Michael Smith at a 2016 concert at the Oak Park Public Library

I feel I should clarify that the concerts have been funded by the Friends of the Oak Park Pub lic Library I made a proposal to their board years ago and have had the pleasure of booking the artists for those programs.

I also have some good news, after a nearly two-year suspension, live folk music concerts are retur ning to the Veterans Room of the main library The first concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17, featuring Paper Birds, the foursome of Claudia

Russell and Bruce Kaplan, Ka tie Dahl and Rich Higdon. Each of these couples has perfor med here in the past and may be fa miliar to those who head to Wisconsin in the summer, especially to Door County.

The library has the new feature of registering to attend, and while registration is not required for attendance at these concerts, doing so has two special features — reminder notification (email or text) and the ability to view a live streaming of the concert. While I personally prefer attend ing a concert in-person when possible, I appreciate the possi bility of seeing a perfor mance re motely and hope that it increases the audience for this music.

Hope to see you in the audience,

y Clark

Park

WEDNESD AY

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Michael Romain

Senior Editor Bob Uphues

Digital Publishing and Technology Manager Briana Higgins

Staff Repor ters Stacey Sher idan

Staff Photographers Alex Rogals, Shanel Romain

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Big Week Editor James Porter

Columnists Marc Bleso , Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, Harriet Hausman, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designer Susan McKelvey

Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls, Kamil Brady

Business Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Donor Relations Manager/Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Development & Sales Coordinator Stacy Coleman

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Judy Gre n Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

About Viewpoints

Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, re 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 ling.

Please understand our veri cation 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 veri cation, 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 con rm 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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Supporting refugees builds a community

I’ve encountered many people deeply touched and even transfor med through their volunteering with Cluster Tutoring and Kids Express — such great opportuni ties to support children in need locally. My transformative tutoring experience has been with Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America (FORA).

The past two summers, I tutored an Afghan girl the same age as my daughter, now 11. When I first met Habibi (not her real name), she mentioned that her mother often prays for family still in Afghanistan. Her distress was all the more palpable the week the Biden Administration pulled Americans out from Afghanistan. My heart ached for this talkative, curious girl who struggled to understand the world events that caused her mother ever more grief.

Both Habibi and my daughter are bright and spirited. They both like the same pop musicians, (Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande), and the same YouTubers (Norris Nuts, Aphmau), but Habibi grew up in refug ee camps in Iran and Turkey, with little access to education. Her mother had fled Afghanistan 10 years prior because of Taliban persecution. The family came to the United States with no material possessions, mostly illiterate, and

speaking no English.

When I met Habibi in the summer of 2021, her American school teachers had recommend ed that she repeat fourth grade. However, I witnessed a quicklear ning girl who sought ever more challenging things to read.

ALAN TAYLOR

View

After reading for a week from the Wrenly series, she asked for something more challeng ing. She especially liked non-fiction, wanting to lear n about the world. By summer’s end, she was fully and joyfully ready for fifth grade. And she thrived in fifth grade!

Over half of FORA’s students are Rohing ya. In 2018, the UN declared the Rohingya the most persecuted people on the planet, deprived of education and subject to genocide in Myanmar. Cox Bazaar, the largest refug ee camp in the world, holds 850,000 Rohing ya in Bangladesh. This past March, the U.S. State Depar tment also for mally reco gnized that the Rohing ya have suf fered genocide. Hopefully, more Rohing ya families will be resettled in Chicago and elsewhere.

FORA was founded by for mer Oak Park ers, Kathleen and Michael O’Connor with 12 Rohing ya students in 2018. Within three

weeks, their waitlist had 60 children. When the pandemic hit, FORA recruited many online tutors. Within weeks FORA had over 120 daily tutors suppor ting children online Because of this outpouring of suppor t from people of com passion, FORA of fered tutoring to all the children on their waitlist.

In June 2021, FORA retur ned to in-per son tutoring at their West Ridge location. Bursting at the seams with another waitlist of more than 70 children, they are in need of additional tutors, both in-person and online. They hope to expand with a much larger building in the next year.

My children have joined me as tutors for three weeks. FORA tutors range in age from 11 to 95, the 95-year-old coming in from Naperville. FORA provides a safe, supportive atmosphere that customizes the lear ning for each of the children.

I am deeply inspired by FORA’s vision, leadership, and generosity. The founders remain full-time volunteers. They have cultivated a lear ning community where all members of the truly multicultural, multifaith staf f (many for mer refugees)

and volunteer tutors lear n from one another and the children served, whose families are predominantly Muslim. FORA significantly changes the lives and families of scores of students — and often those who work with them. The result has been the development of a relational network that brings together hundreds of people to participate in this meaningful work.

Even though Habibi and her older sister did not speak English when they came to the U.S. three years ago, they harbor resilience, curiosity, and a deep desire to lear n and support their family. As Michael O’Connor was quoted a year ago by the Chicago Tribune, “Welcoming these chil dren robustly is so important.”

This is a burgeoning community of compassion, inspiration, and mutual under standing. If you would like to lear n more, visit RefugeeFORA.org. If you want to become a volunteer (in-person or online), visit FORA, or meet the founders here in Oak Park, please contact me at alan@ lovewithcourage.org or FORA directly at info@refugeefora.org.

Re v. Alan Taylor is a resident of Oak Park and former president of the Community of Congre gations

Flynn’s example should be replicated Parking tickets spoile d a lovely evening

I was delighted to read the ar ticle about Nora Flynn [For Julian literacy teacher, award affir ms hard work, News, Se pt. 28]. Nora is the literacy specialist at Percy Julian Middle School who received the 2022 Barack Obama Literacy Award from the Illi nois Reading Council. With this award came a $1,000 collection of books that re present Black and Brown characters and cultures.

Of course, the accomplishments of Nora’s students predate her award and are the reason for her award, but the relevance of the books she has been using and these new books, she says in the ar ticle, “allow us to just level up quite a bit and have the joy of read ing again.” Students are more likely to read if the book is relevant.

Julian’s principal, Jeremy Chris tian, said in the ar ticle that the data points show that Nora’s students are now reading at grade level or above. He also stated that when a story or character aligns more closely to read ers and their experiences it is “wildly impactful.”

For students who have been strug gling readers to read up to grade level is a tremendous milestone.

The message here for Oak Park District 97 is that, to benefit all students and enhance teaching strate gies, all the district school librarians and literacy specialists should immediately receive more funding for books and materials

Elaine Johnson Oak Park

On the evening of Friday, Se pt. 30, I was in vited to a rece ption on the 300 block of Nor th Scoville Avenue. When I drove up the block to that address the street had a number of cars located on that side of the block, but after passing the house I found a spot and parked. I knew there was no parking during the day in that area near the high school, but this was after that time period.

I did not see any special “no parking” notices posted on trees in the area, or I would have looked for a legal spot to park. I did not choose to stroll up and down the street looking for a sign that told me not to park, as the combination of many other vehicles parked there, a per manent sign that appeared to allow parking, and no notice of some exception to this rule on the trees near my spot led me to assume what I did was legal.

Only after the lovely party was ending did others who attended come back to the house

after discovering parking tickets on all of the cars on the street. I guess I should have guessed there might be a sign I missed somewhere on the block and found my error, so I paid the park ing ticket.

Usually the village tries to do a good job of notification for parking, but this time none of the usual No Parking signs were evident, and it did not occur to me to roam the street to seek out a notice I had no reason to believe was there.

If there is a notice of special No Parking zones, they should be on all the trees, should be facing in the direction to be seen by motor ists, and the local residents should be notified so they can plan events to avoid this conflict

I am particularly sad that so many nonlocal guests were entrapped by this incident, including those who live out of state. It really spoiled a lovely evening for all of us.

Teresa Powell Oak Park

Storysongs and storysingers can change the world

Ken, your column [As Autumn turns toward night, Viewpoints, Sept. 28] was beautifully written and crafted in every way. I, too, love folk “storysongs.”

One of the blessings in my life were the powerful, beautiful, talented women folk singers of my youth: Mary Travers, Joan Baez, and others. They were mentors to this young girl and teen, giving me a vision, guiding me in how to be a powerful, beautiful, and talented woman, too. They were early feminists, even though I didn’t have a word for it then. But I liked it. T hey showed me how to sing my hear t out with social justice and spiritual songs, to help touch hearts and change the world.

They guided me on how to do it. I got a transistor radio when I was about 8 years old. My mom called it my fifth appendage. I’d often have it to my ear, especially when Mary or Joan was singing. I loved their voices. I loved their strength and passion. I loved their beauty and their stunning long hair. I loved how they felt they could help change the world for the better with

their folk, spiritual and “storysongs.”

Fast forward decades later, and Peter, Paul and Mary were perfor ming at Orchestra Hall.

GINA ORLANDO

Of course I bought a ticket. I have a condition called multiple chemical sensitivities, and it was when those sensitivities were pronounced, so going to a concert held the possibility of having to move my seat to avoid chemical fragrances. Sure enough, when I sat down, I smelled some toxic perfume. I asked the usher to move me. He did, and I got more of the same sickening perfume. So I asked the usher if the rugs had recently been shampooed and they had. What to do?

One View

a beautiful voice and long, silky blonde hair in her senior years. She was still an inspiration. I listened to the trio, their harmonies, their beautiful guitar playing, the powerful words. I listened to the old classics, still so full of energy, storytelling, and “change the world” passion.

was seen, I was acknowledged. Mary was known, seen, and acknowledged. I had a feeling of coming full circle from that singing girl with the transistor radio.

Rug perfume and universal synchronicity allowed this miracle of connection to one of my musical models

Chemical sensitivity drama rarely produces a wonderful miracle. But the kind ushers had a novel plan: to sit me on the stage in the first row behind Peter, Paul, and Mary. I was seated directly behind Mary — a surprising gift to be so close to one of my mentors! As I listened to her, I marveled at how she could still have such

During one of their classic social justice songs, Mary had the lead. It touched me so deeply, just like it did when I was young. My heart cracked open in deep gratitude for Mary, for her voice, her song, her beauty, her power, her passion, her social justice ministry, for the power of song itself. As I was sitting there with tears streaming, she felt my strong emotional energy. While singing for this packed house, she graciously and caringly tur ned to look at me, smiled knowingly, winked, and nodded. I put my hand on my hear t and bowed my head to her in gratitude and reverence, tears rolling down my face. In this miracle moment, we connected. I was known, I

Thank you, Mary. Thank you, Joan. Thank you, women and men singers who helped change the world. You touched so many. You inspired me and helped teach me how to sing and be a musician from the heart. I know that I have touched people with beauty and the energy to help change and heal the world. I had the ability to lift hear ts and souls to God in my church music and social justice ministries. Amidst my human imperfections and the daunting job, I know I have done my best. And I remain so deeply grateful.

The new crop of singers, activists, prayers and visionaries now help heal the divisions and dysfunctions. We heal, together.

Gina Orlando has been a contributor to Wednesday Journal for 32 years and now lives in Forest Park.

Village board should vote this development down

The ar ticle on the requested zoning change for a proposed Home Avenue townhome project [Home Av e. de v elopment goes to villa ge board for vote, News, Se pt. 28], which is opposed by neighbors (the sign next door declares: “Zoning Laws Are For Everyone”), re por ts that the developer has given up on the Oak Park Plan Commission, which voted to approve it but failed to achieve the necessary quorum, and he is taking the matter directly to the village board.

FRANK

I have no do g in the fight. I’m just an Oak Parker who has passed the site most days for over 40 years and has always admired the g rand old Victorian house that is the only building there, but I found the article illuminating on the workings of village gover nment

The zoning request would permit 12 units to be built on the site, although the developer indicates only four are intended. The Plan Commission attor ney, however, asserted that no deed restriction to four units could be considered; others are quoted as agreeing that the choice is strictly between existing zoning and what has been requested. Given that, it seems clear the pledge to build only four units isn’t worth the paper it isn’t written on.

Putin swore in February he would not invade Ukraine. But one need not attribute such bad faith to the developer to conclude that 12 units would eventually be built. People make honest changes of judg ment. And the next owner is not likely to want to make only what he can from four units, when he could put up 12. The village board has to take this as an application to put up 12 units

Whatever number is built, the neighboring property values would certainly go down. The condo balconies presently face a large sunny, peaceful green lawn would face the back side of the new townhouses.

While those owners took their chances when they bought, that risk only involved whatever present zoning would permit (a house?); not the backside of a large multi-unit building. The proposed change seems quite unfair to them.

Why would gover nmental of ficials OK that unfair ness, and change the zoning? To satisfy the wishes of a developer who is not satisfied to make what money he could under cu rrent zoning law?

The comments of the three commission members who voted for the change are arrogant, bordering on ignorant. All favored more units to produce more village revenue. Since that would be done at the cost to the neighbors’ property values, it bespeaks an attitude symptomatic of a disease that afflicts all too many public officials: a ready willingness to “spend” other people’s “money.” If they want more housing, and more money for the village, let them buy the houses next to their own, knock them down, and put up skyscrapers.

The ar ticle re por ts that the village staff will provide trustees with a recommendation; but they already re por ted to the Plan Commission that they have no objection to the change.

Hopefully, the village board will have more sense.

Frank Stachyra is an Oak Park resident.

‘Small’ ask in dollars, but huge in percent

Do you want a 50% tax increase? That’s what the Cook County Forest Preserve is going to ask you.

There is a referendum on November’s ballot to in crease the Cook County Forest Preserve taxing rate by 0.025%. Sounds pretty small, until you realize the cur rent rate is 0.051%. That’s almost a 50% increase District 200 would be jealous

One of the goals identified in the referendum is to “restore 30,000 acres to good ecolo gical health.” Do we let our forest preserves deteriorate until we finally get around to asking voters for more money? Were there other ef for ts we could have de prioritized so this didn’t happen?

Twenty-one percent of this levy, the largest portion of this increase, will go to pension debt. Because it’s not an Illinois tax par ty without the pension pooper showing up To the county’s credit, they disclose this; however, you won’t see it headlining any referendum marketing materials.

Some goals of the referendum do indeed align with an increased levy, such as expanding the forest preserve acreage and creating a per manent conser vation corps. I can see voters getting behind these goals Seventeen percent of the levy goes to land acquisition. But what happens to those tax dollars when the county completes their land grab?

Eliminate Columbus Day?

Strange that no one has called to fund these preser vation ef for ts by defunding the Cook County Forest Preserve Police, most notably Oak Park’s very own county commissioner and defund-the-police advo cate Brandon Johnson. After all, nearly 20% of the CCFP budg et goes to public safety I guess that fad has passed. T here will be no marches from Quercus Woods to Sag anashkee Slough.

Sometimes the issue isn’ t the amount of the in crease ($3-5 per month for the typical Oak Park homeowner), rather the context provided in re gards to the increase. If this were marketed as the massive 50% budg etary increase that it is instead of the Sally Struthers “price of a cup of coffee” method, there might be more questions When you live in the Land of Tax Silos under the P eople’s Re public of Mosquito Abatement, taxes are like deat h by a thousand cuts — 0.076% doesn’t sound like much until you add it to the do z en or so other taxing bodie s.

If I expected one gover nment unit to be for thright with the taxpayers, it was the forest preserve Just tell it like it is: 50% price increase Seems like a small ask for a “small” ask.

Nicholas Binotti Oak Park

Please slow down driving

If a historic person enslaved people, should his holiday be abolished? Many of us are mis-educated about what the world was. Hollywood, our school cur ricula, and even the New York Times have convinced many of us that only Jews and Black Americans were ever slaves. This is absolutely false Slavery was nor mal throughout the world and much of history. Anyone can improve their slave history education by Goo gling: The Real History of Slavery Columbus Day was established by President Har rison in mig from dif

I just witnessed an accident at Scoville and South Boulevard. A car heading south rushed through a stop sign and hit a car with the right of way. The poor woman driver who was hit was in shock and sustained significant damage to her car. Last year I witnessed a middle-schooler hit by a car in front of Brooks Middle School as he crossed the street. The driver did not yield

Learning history was about more than facts

Iwas introduced to the study of history ear my school y

ing stories about people who lived in other times and places. I lear that the world was not al like it was when I was in the lower grades.

Later in the elementary school grades study included Illinois history in fourth tory in the fifth history in the sixth grade, and U.S. history and current events in seventh and eighth grade. We also studied the Constitution in eighth grade.

In high school, all students were required to take a world history class in sophomore year, and U.S. history in either junior or senior year.

Various methods were used to add to the information given in the history books used in the course. My fifth-grade teacher enhanced our lear ning of U.S. history by showing filmstrips, slides, and movies. My seventh- and eighth-grade history teacher took our class on field trips to museums that had displays historical events, and during my eighth-grade year, our class put on a play dramatizing the founding of Chicago.

In both elementary and high school U.S. history classes, a common practice was the teaching of patriotism in order for the class to lear n to love and respect our country and to admire our great heroes.

My high school world history teacher believed there were many things students would be more likely to understand

y of history than in any other way. he told us most of students ew up in a single ulture and took it for granted y things are done in that culture is the only way to do them. She taught us that history can help us develop an understanding and apprecia other cultures as well.

S. history teacher in high school, told us that stulike ourselves, often pick up cultural lag. She explained that even a young child can see again and again in history how people keep on doing things in the way they are used to doing them even when the reasons for doing them that way have disappeared. She said this under standing helps the student evaluate beliefs that are held currently.

I lear ned in grade school that people of all lands and races are very much alike, that customs are often a better protection against tyranny than laws themselves, that important changes nearly always come gradually and are very likely to arise in the mind of a youngster through the study of history.

All the history teachers I had believed it was foolish to say we study history to lear n only the facts. We also need some basis for picking out facts that are necessary to lear n, and history should be studied for the light it can shed upon the problems of our time.

The thoughtful history teachers I had used history to help us build and broaden our own points of view and our own outlook on the world.

Midterms are coming, are you registered?

Two deadlines are looming. The link below is impor tant as those who read the WJ online are likely to re gister online too We need more public awareness; the midter ms matter! Voters need to know the

who, what, why, where, and when on voting in November https://illinoisvoterguide.org/

Cynthia Breunlin Oak Park

KORDESH Alley paralysis

own. It was a short walk. She had three little girls at home to take care of, including a newbor n. Mom had just given birth to Annie a week before.

I guess I took advantage of the loose reins. No one was there to move me along — until the neighborhood got involved. I stood in the alley for at least an hour until Mrs. Bland, who lived next door, spotted me through her back window and called Mom on the phone: “Jean, I think Richard’s be ing sick out behind your garage.”

Mom hung up the phone and ran out of the house, through the yard and into the alley. She found me standing behind the garage, alone: “Richard, why aren’t you at school?” I told her I didn’t want to go to the school because I didn’t like the nun who would be teaching us

Shocked, Mom gathered up my little sisters, and took me to the first-grade classroom that mor ning, a couple of hours late.

At the classroom entrance, she said something privately to Sister Fortunata about my being afraid of her. Sister then walked me up to the front of the class, beaming, and said, “Boys and girls, how many of you like me?”

HAUSMAN

page 29

they are primarily run by new staf f; they are higher priced; and right-leaning information is the focus. Community letters and voices are kept to a minimum. The infor mation that is printed is meant to thwart civic engagement and public knowledge

These predators use scare tactics feeding into parental fear and racist views. The most extreme of these unscrupulous folks fabricate conspiracies and use the news media to war n folks against “Un-Christian, multi cultural people who desire to replace white society.” Educators, librarians, school board members are targeted. We need to be aware of this har mful, politically-biased ground swell which is literally exploiting truth and damaging our democracy.

I knew that entities like the Koch Brothers Donors Trust Group were involved in these focused activities. My surprise came when I lear ned that both Facebook and Google also

The kids were ea ger to please. Almost 50 hands shot up; a multitude of smiles broke for th. Sister showed me my desk. Feeling embar rassed, I sat down.

With Maureen, I’ve raised my own kids since then. None of ours dodged the first day. Three of them rode to their be ginning class in their Episcopal school’s van. A few years later, Maureen walked Gre g, our fourth, to his opening mor ning at Longfellow in Oak Park

But we had days when our kids just didn’t want to go. It was hard to tell at times what part anxiety, physical ailments and/or just plain boredom were in play. It wasn’t just us. The phenomenon now gets broad attention in the education field. There’s a for mally reco gnized disorder, “school refusal” (Elizabeth Chang, “What to do, and not to do, when your child won’t go to school,” Washington Post, Se ptember 22, 2022).

But in 1959, I was just a little guy needing an extra nudge out of the alley.

Gripped by a 5-year-old’s foreboding based on bad infor mation, I balked. The inter vention initiated by our neighbor got me moving. It all worked out. I graduated from St. Mary’s in 1967.

Mom, Dad, the community, my fellow students, and some dedicated, black-veiled teachers teamed up over the years to get me through.

Rich Kordesh grew up in in Berwyn and is a longtime resident of Oak Park

play a role in this pillaging effort

Shockingly, since 2005, America has lost one quarter of its community-based newspapers, and up to two papers/week are ei ther folding or cutting their publishing to the core The JCPA (Jour nalism Competi tion Preservation Act) is a proposal meant to protect local papers from big-tech pillaging Unfortunately, their efforts have not been successful. We need to respond to this crisis by contacting our congressmen, asking them to provide more federal funding in support of public news sources.

According to the Columbia Jour nalism Review, in 2020 U.S. funding for local newspapers was at a rate of $1.42 per capita, compared to $100 per capita in the United Kingdom and Sweden. We should do what we can to support our local newspapers in their uphill effort to continue providing truthful information.

Note: Information in this column was sourced from the Hightower Lowdown, Jim Hightower, writer; researchers Laura Eh rlch and Melody Byrd; Rebuild Local News; and the American Jour nalism Project.

Ginie Cassin, 96

Longtime village clerk and Hemingway Foundation chair

Virginia Cassin, 96, of Oak Park, died on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. Her last days and hours were spent in the peace and comfort of her home at Northern Lakes Senior Living, in Baxter, Minnesota. Five of Ginie’s eight children were gathered near her bedside. Her departure was sweet and without pain

Born to Maude Hinckley Robie and Theodore Mead Robie, on April 13, 1924 in Beloit, Wisconsin, after a brief residence in Dallas, Texas, the family moved to Oak Park There she met and married her sweetheart, William A. (Bill) Cassin, who had just returned from World War II military duty in Europe.

Life was full of excitement and joy as Ginie and Bill were blessed with eight children. Duty to church and community were of life long interest to both of them. In their early years as parents, Ginie and Bill team leaders in the Christian ment (CFM), and the CANA Edmund Parish in Oak Park Eventually the call to civil rights activis found Ginie joining the League Voters and the Community

of Oak Park, as well as the National Confer ence of Christians and Jews (NCCJ). In the 1970s, the citizens of Oak Park elected Ginie to the position of village clerk, a position she held for 20 years. Not only was she the first woman to hold that position in Oak Park, she was also the first woman to become a member of Rotary International of Oak Park

After “retirement,” Ginie and Bill became actively involved members of the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park They spent tireless hours helping the foundation purchase and renovate the Hemingway birthplace, which eventually became an important destination for Hemingway pilgrims.

After 90+ years in the Chicago area, Ginie joined her daughter, Sheila MacLaughlin, and sons, Patrick and Sean Cassin in Minnesota. Her two years as a resident of Northern Lakes Community were comfortable and enjoyable. Until COVID came along, she enjoyed the friendship of many dear neighbors as well as the happiness of gathering with her extended family of children, grandchildren and great-grandkids in the Brainerd Lakes area. She filled many lives with love and joy.

Ginie is survived by her eight children: Mi chael (Barbara) Cassin, Patrick Cassin, Sharon Cassin Frame, Sheila (Rick) MacLaughlin, Timothy (Marcia) Cassin, Sean Cassin, Brian (Donna) Cassin and Kieran (Jeri) Cassin. Eighteen young adults will miss their grandma as well as 26 great-grandkids

Ginie was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents, Maude and Ted Robie; her brother, Bill Robie; and her nephew, David Brown Robie Donations may be made in memory of Ginie as follows:

To the Virginia Cassin Rotary Fund, 1049 Lake St. #204, Oak Park, IL 60301.

The Virginia Cassin-Sr. Michelle Germanestablished by the er Forest with ommunity Foundation, a tax-exempt 501(c)3 organization, in two of its most irginia (Ginie) emale admitted to the

Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest in 1988 and was recognized throughout the village for her charm, an upbeat can-do attitude and her skillful persuasiveness. Sister Michelle Ger manson, O.P. joined Rotary in 1992 while serving as the president of Trinity High School. She was known for her determination, her energetic spirit and her keen sense of humor. The Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest seeks to honor the legacy of these two women by providing an opportunity for young female students, grades 6-8, to explore areas of learning outside of their classroom that will help each girl develop their talents, interest and vision of self, who, without financial assistance, would be unable to have this opportunity

Je FitzGerald, 66

Preservationist, painter and music lover

Geoffrey “Jeff” John FitzGerald, 66, completed his earthly journey on Sept. 26, 2022. Bor n on Oct. 4, 1955 to the late Christopher James FitzGerald III and Margaret Dell (Daly) in Evanston, his younger years were lived out among the water, treehouses of Evanston, Cincinnati, and hi family’s longest home, Oak Park. The fourth of nine children, he was known to his siblings as “Adventure Boy,” due to his intrepid spirit

He attended Oak Park and River Forest High School, and Harrington College of Design. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Marie (Riggs) FitzGerald, for 29 years. They shared homes and businesses in McGregor, Iowa and Minneapolis, Minnesota, before a houseboating trip led them to small-town living in Lansing, Iowa. There, they opened FitzGerald’s Inn Bed and Break-

Robert

fast and completed their family of four chil dren, before settling in Dubuque in 1997.

He had a deep love for the Mississippi River, historic buildings, gardening, and bringing life back to everything from plants and flowers to hardwood floors and trim. He had a discerning eye for restoration and renova tion. Where some saw lost cause, he saw po tential. He was passionate about painting, architecture, and historic preservation.

Wherever he was, music was playing. A lover of all genres, he enjoyed setting the scene of any family event with music, lighting, great food, and room for dancing. Never lost for words, he had a rich store of anec dotes for any listening ear. Where laughter was needed, he could provide. His jocular nature and infectious laugh could cure most ailments. Dynamic and resilient, he overcame illness for the better part of three decades, surpassing expectations and always living by his own terms and timeline

Jeff is survived by his children, Meghan FitzGerald, Kyle (Callie) FitzGerald, Erin FitzGerald, and Riley FitzGerald; their mother, Marie FitzGerald; and his eight grand children, Mikayla and Elijah Farber, Ruby FitzGerald, Jaylen, Michelle and Maleyah FitzGerald, Tyler Cassady, and Wesley FitzGerald-Meekins. He was survived by seven siblings, Mary, Bill, Chris, Sheila, Brian, Catherine, and Terry, along with his brothers- and sisters-in-law, and many cherished nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Margaret “Peggy” FitzGerald

Jeff ’s family would like to extend a sincere thank you to those involved in his care throughout the years at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, MercyOne, Medical Associates, especially Dr. Jeffrey Meier, Dr Stephen Frommelt, and the wonderful staff at Dubuque’s Visiting Nurse Association.

As an expression of sympathy, donations can be made to the Dubuque VNA via the Finley Health Foundation, 350 N. Grandview, Dubuque, IA 52001.

A celebration of life will occur at a later date.

HOURS:

HELP WANTED

OFFICE ASSISTANT

contributing to the Congregation’s mission through the smooth and effective accounting of Unity Temple’s financial ledgers and is responsible for journal entries and balance sheets. Working with the Director of Finance & Administration, the Bookkeeper will prepare statements, investigate and clear discrepancies, compile reports and analyses of accounts and update congregational pledge data.

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class.

Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

DEFINITION

To perform various network/system administration, computer support, and operational activities for the Village including computer system setup, configuration, and testing.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Reports directly to the Information Technology Services Director.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:

Essential and other important duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential duties and responsibilities

1. Ensure that best in class customer service is provided to both internal and external customers and also embrace, support, and promote the Village’s core values, beliefs and culture.

2. Configure, test, and deploy network systems, such as, firewalls, routers, switches, wireless equipment, network servers and storage arrays.

3. Configure, test, and deploy system servers, such as, file, print, Internet, e-mail, database, and application servers.

4. Configure, test, and monitor server and end-user systems for security, such as, user accounts, login scripts, file access privileges, and group policy management.

5. Configure, test, and deploy end-user systems, such as, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, printers, and software.

6. Test, configure, deploy, and support security systems, such as, facility access system, video & audio system.

7. Monitor and auditing of networks, systems, and user activities to ensure security and efficiency of systems. Create scripts and reports of detail activities for regular review.

8. Perform and participate in disaster recovery activities, such as, backup procedures, data recovery, and system recovery planning.

9. Assist end-users with computer problems or queries. Troubleshoot systems as needed and meet with users to analyze specific system needs.

10. Ensure the uniformity, reliability and security of system resources including network, hardware,

software and other forms of systems and data.

11. Prepare, create and update user/technical procedure documentations and provide computer training.

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

13. Participate in research and recommendation of technology solutions.

Other important responsibilities and duties

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

2. Participate in the preparation of various activity reports.

3. Travel and support remote facilities and partner agencies.

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

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

6. Complete projects on a timely and efficient manner.

7. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

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

9. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

VB scripts.

Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment. Technical writing, office productivity tools and database packages.

Ability to:

Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following:

- Walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time

- Operating assigned equipment - Lift 50 pounds of equipment, supplies, and materials without assistance

- Working in and around computer equipped vehicles

Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:

- Making observations - Communicating with others - Reading and writing - Operating assigned equipment and vehicles

Maintain mental capacity allowing for effective interaction and communication with others.

Maintain reasonable and predictable attendance. Work overtime as operations require.

Experience and Training Guidelines

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

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

Vaccination against COVID-19 strongly preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

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

Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation is looking for a part time Office Assistant. The Office Assistant plays a key role in contributing to the Congregation’s mission through the smooth and effective running of Unity Temple’s administrative and office needs. Working with the Director of Finance & Administration, sitting at the front desk and welcoming visitors, managing the congregational calendar, ensuring the procurement of supplies and supporting the rental program of our historic and culturally renowned buildings is the focus for this position.

Core Competencies -Organization and Planning: Organizes people, funding, materials, and support to accomplish multiple, concurrent goals and activities. -Vision and Purpose: Commitment to and knowledge of Unitarian Universalist Principles and values (see Support for the Mission and Values of the Congregation below) -Trust and Integrity: Is widely trusted to keep confidences, admit errors, and adhere to a transparent set of personal and professional values that are congruent with the ministry of the congregation.

Proficiencies: Google Workspace, specifically Google Drive, organizational skills with a strong detail orientation, ability to communicate with a variety of different people, familiarity with CRM software is a plus (UTUUC uses Realm).

You can find more information about the position at https://unitytemple. org/job-postings/. To apply, send a cover letter and résumé to jobs@ unitytemple.org indicating “Office Assistant” in the subject line.

BOOKKEEPER

Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation is looking for a part time Bookkeeper.

Hours: 15 hours/week Sept – December 2022, then 10 hours/week as of 1/1/2023

The Bookkeeper plays a key role in

Core Competencies - Accounting principles - Bookkeeping procedures - Vision and Purpose: Commitment to and knowledge of Unitarian Universalist Principles and values (see Support for the Mission and Values of the Congregation below) -Trust and Integrity: Is widely trusted to keep confidences, admit errors, and adhere to a transparent set of personal and professional values that are congruent with the ministry of the congregation.

Proficiencies: Quickbooks Online (certification is a plus but not required), Google Workspace (specifically Google Drive), organizational skills with a strong detail orientation, ability to communicate with a variety of different people, familiarity with CRM software is a plus.

You can find more information about the position at https://unitytemple. org/job-postings/. To apply, send a cover letter and résumé to jobs@unitytemple.org indicating “Bookkeeper” in the subject line.

NURSERY SUPERVISOR AND CHILDCARE COORDINATOR

Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation is looking for a warm, welcoming and experienced Nursery Supervisor and Childcare Coordinator to work with the youngest among us on Sunday mornings in the nursery as well as coordinate babysitting for congregational events outside of Sunday mornings. This is one job with two different roles. As Nursery

Supervisor, this person will provide a compassionate and consistent presence in caring for our babies and toddlers during the Sunday morning worship service times, supervise, train and schedule other nursery staff, maintain the nursery as a safe and clean environment, welcome and orient new families to the nursery, and build relationships with and communicate effectively with parents. The nursery hours are Sundays from 9:30–11:30am, and approximately one hour outside of Sunday morning worship service.

You can find more information about the position at https://unitytemple. org/job -postings/. To apply, send a cover letter and résumé to jobs@ unitytemple.org indicating “Nursery Supervisor / Childcare Coordinator” in the subject line.

Implementation Specialist sought by Amount, Inc. in Chicago, IL. Mg dtd exctn of implntn proj plans. Telecomm prmtd. Apply @ JobPostingToday.com, REF#95557.

ADMINISTRATIVE

ASSISTANT

United Methodist Church of Oak Park Oak Park, Illinois

Job Description: Administrative Assistant

The Administrative Assistant is a critical role to the life of First United Methodist Church. The ideal candidate is experienced in providing support in all phases of administration, financial, worship and communication for the Pastor and church. This position requires someone who can work in an independent environment, is organized and has strong written and verbal communication skills. Essential responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Administration

-Provide administrative support to the Pastor and church volunteers responsible for committee and church programs -Ensure worship bulletins and related

Custom Frame Company

documents are prepared weekly for Sunday services

-Oversee and maintain church files and records and assist in producing the annual statistical report required by the church conference Finance

-Under the direction of the Finance Committee and in coordination with the accountant, oversee account payables and account receivables -Manage and record all account and expense-related actions into Quickbooks

-Ensure receipt of approved payment requests for all invoices Communication -Generate and distribute as required all forms of communication on behalf of the Pastor and its members

-Maintain church calendar General Office Duties -Oversee the operation of all church office equipment and arrange for repairs as required

-Maintain and order office supplies as needed and order other supplies subject to the approval of the Pastor and Trustees.

Qualifications

-Extensive knowledge with basic computer operations and administration software, such as: email management, file management, Microsoft Office Suite and Google applications; experience with Quickbooks is helpful -Demonstrate the ability to adapt to a dynamic working environment -Confidentiality is a must

BA or BS degree preferred. We also require Covid vaccination.

The candidate must agree to completing a background check before hire.

The hourly salary is between $20 and $24 an hour.

Hours are part tine 20 hours a week –10:30 AM to 2:30 PM

There is holiday pay and earned vacation and sick pay

PART-TIME

ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER

Call contracter for more info. 708-738-3848

River Forest Public Schools

River Forest School District 90 is seeking On-Call Substitute Teachers and Teacher Aides, $130-$150 per day!

FLEXIBLE Schedule between the hours of 7:50a - 3:20pm

Work one day a week or up to 5 days a week, half days or full days

Responsibilities:

The On-Call Substitute will work in place of the individual he/she will be temporarily replacing during the scheduled day. This individual may also be asked to perform other duties as required in relation to the substituting assignment.

Qualifications:

One of the following licenses:

• Professional Educator License (PEL)

• Substitute Teaching License (Bachelor’s degree required; beginning January 2023 enrolled in an IL approved educator program & have completed 90

semesters hours of coursework)

• Short-term Substitute License (Associate’s degree or at least 60 college credit hours)

• Educator License with Stipulations

• Paraprofessional License (Associate’s degree required)

• Short-term Paraprofessional License (High School Diploma w/3 years to work towards obtaining Paraprofessional license.)

Apply online at:

HELP WANTED

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE COORDINATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator in the Health Department/ Village Manager’s Office. This position will coordinate disaster response, crisis management and medical countermeasure dispensing/ distribution activities for the Village of Oak Park, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies, hazardous materials spills, biological releases) or disasters. This single class position is also responsible for the complex administrative duties required for state, federal and local response processes and grant management. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/ jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications will be August 5, 2022.

FIRE INSPECTOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Fire Inspector Part-Time in the Fire Department. This serves the public through enforcement of Village fire & life safety codes and ordinances; through inspections of residential, commercial and industrial properties; and provides consultation and information to residents, architects, attorneys, fire services personnel and builders regarding laws, rules, regulations and policies relating to fire and life safety. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/jobs

PARKING ENFORCEMENT

OFFICER

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

GRANTS

COORDINATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Grants Coordinator in the Development Customer Service Department. This position assists the Village’s Grant Supervisor in developing, coordinating, and administering various grants programs for the Village of Oak Park. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

YARD SALE

Park

MOVING SALE

S RIDGELAND

OCT 8 9AM-1PM

Furniture, household goods, toys, exercise bike, books, and more! No early birds.

Oak Park YARD SALE

1036 N. EUCLID AVE. SAT. OCT 8 11AM-3PM

Huge salesman sample sale with gift items in original packaging: Soaps, Candles, Bath & Body, Perfume, holiday items. Gently used household items: bedding, LEGOS, pet items, accessories, two complete China sets, baskets, kitchen, clothing, linens, Coach purses, games & more! Something for everyone!

CARS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

OFFICE/RETAIL FOR RENT

CITY RENTALS

GENERAL

Terry's Woodwork Restoration

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS

Public Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) of the Village of River Forest, County of Cook, State of Illinois, on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Community Room of the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois on the following matter:

The ZBA will consider an application for a major zoning variation submitted by Dave and Sheri Delaney, owners of the property at 935 Franklin Avenue, who are proposing to construct a new house on the property.

Section 10-5-6 of the Village Code provides the Zoning Board of Appeals jurisdiction to hold public hearings and offer recommendations to the Village Board concerning variations to the Zoning Ordinance.

The applicants are requesting a major variation to Section 10-9-7, for the Front Yard setback. The required Front Yard setback is 72.1 feet, as calculated per the procedure described in section 10-8-7-A of the Zoning Ordinance. The applicants seek a variance to allow the Front Yard setback to be set at 59.0 feet for the new house.

The legal description of the property at 935 Franklin Avenue is as follows:

LOT 2 IN SECOND 935 FRANKLIN RESUBDIVISION, BEING A RESUBDIVISION OF PART OF THE SOUTH HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 1, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED OCTOBER 8, 2021 AS DOCUMENT NUMBER 2128119006, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

A copy of the application will be available to the public at Village Hall and on the Village’s website at www.vrf. us/zoningvariation no less than 15 days prior to the public hearing. The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting packet will also be available at www. vrf.us/meetings no less than 48 hours prior to the public hearing.

All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. For public comments to be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Village Board of Trustees in their decision, they must be included as part of the public hearing record. Interested persons can learn more about how to participate in the hearing by visiting www.vrf.us/zoningvariation.

Sincerely, Clifford Radatz Secretary, Zoning Board of Appeals

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

The ZBA will consider an application for setback and lot size variations submitted by Bremen Properties LLC, owner of the property at 7227 Thomas Avenue, who is proposing to make exterior improvements to the property.

Section 4-8-5 of the Village Code provides the Zoning Board of Appeals jurisdiction to hold public hearings and offer recommendations to the Village Board concerning variations to the Zoning Code.

The applicant is requesting variations to Section 10-10-7-A of the setback regulations. The regulation requires the front yard setback to be 40 feet and the applicant is a reduction of the setback of 3.1 feet. On the north side of the property, the regulation requires a 25 feet setback. The applicant is requesting 17.5 feet in setback reduction to 7.5 feet.

The applicant is also requesting a variation to Section 10-10-4 that requires a lot size of 17,424 square feet and 100 feet of depth through the length of property. The lot is an existing non-conforming lot.

The legal description of the property at 7227 Thomas Avenue is as follows:

THE NORTH 55 FEET OF LOT 1 IN BLOCK 8 IN THE SUBDIVISION OF BLOCKS 1, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15 AND 16 IN BOGUES ADDITION TO OAK PARK, BEING A SUBDIVISION IN THE SOUTHEAST ¼ OF SECTION 1, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

A copy of the application will be available to the public at Village Hall and on the Village’s website at www.vrf. us/zoningvariation no less than 15 days prior to the public hearing. The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting packet will also be available at www. vrf.us/meetings no less than 48 hours prior to the public hearing.

All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. For public comments to be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Village Board of Trustees in their decision, they must be included as part of the public hearing record. Interested persons can learn more about how to participate in the hearing by visiting www.vrf.us/zoningvariation.

Sincerely, Clifford Radatz Secretary, Zoning Board of Appeals

Published in Wednesday Journal October 5, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Development.

The draft plan is available for inspection at the following locations during normal hours of operation:

Oak Park Housing Authority 21 South Boulevard Oak Park, IL 60302

Mills Park Tower 1025 Pleasant Place Oak Park, IL 60302

Written comments will also be accepted prior to the hearing for inclusion in the public record.

Address all comments or inquiries to:

Oak Park Housing Authority Executive Director

Re: PHA Annual Plan 2023 21 South Boulevard Oak Park, IL 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal October 5, 2022

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION CITIMORTGAGE, INC.; Plaintiff, vs. ALAN F. SEGAL; KATHLEEN W. SEGAL; VILLAGE OF OAK PARK; PARK ERIE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION; Defendants, 21 CH 6085

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, November 7, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-07-206-019-1009.

Commonly known as 304 NORTH OAK PARK AVE., UNIT 2, OAK PARK, IL 60302.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g) (4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

WAVERLY CLARK, JR., INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR Defendants

12 CH 25204

1187 SOUTH HIGHLAND PARK OAK PARK, IL 60304

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 11, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 14, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 1187 SOUTH HIGHLAND PARK, OAK PARK, IL 60304

Property Index No. 16-17-325-0470000

The real estate is improved with a one story, two unit brick building with no garage.

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

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

ducts foreclosure sales.

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT

PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys,

One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC

One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-346-9088

E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com

Attorney File No. 20-05419IL_615363 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 12 CH 25204

TJSC#: 42-3533

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 12 CH 25204 I3204043

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR GSAA HOME EQUITY TRUST 2006-14, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-14 Plaintiff, -v.-

ELIZABETH SMITH, LARRY E. SMITH Defendants 2018 CH 03138 646 LYMAN AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304

NOTICE OF SALE

title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

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

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION ASSOCIATED BANK, NA; Plaintiff, vs. SHEILA CONNER; STEVEN CONNER; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY; THE STATE OF ILLINOIS; CITIMORTGAGE, INC.; Defendants, 19 CH 13166

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-08-311-001-0000.

Commonly known as 200 South Humphrey Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act.

Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 19-038564

XOME F2

PUBLIC NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS

Public Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) of the Village of River Forest, County of Cook, State of Illinois, on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Community Room of the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois on the following matter:

You are hereby notified that a Public Hearing has been called by the Housing Authority of the Village of Oak Park, Oak Park, Illinois to be held at its Main Office located at 21 South Boulevard, (South and Austin), Oak Park, Illinois 60302 at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, October 7, 2022, for the purpose of considering the following item of business:

To hear comments from the Public on the Public Housing Agency Plan.

The draft of the PHA Annual Plan for 2023 along with the public’s comments will be considered by the Authority before adoption of the Annual Plan to be submitted by Monday, October 17, 2022, to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

For information call Mr. Ira T. Nevel at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 3571125. 21-02147 ADC

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3203916

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.-

RASHINDA PLUMP, WAVERLY CLARK, JR, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS,

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

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

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on July 27, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 31, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 646 LYMAN AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-17-114-0150000

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

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-18-00602 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2018 CH 03138

TJSC#: 42-2855

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2018 CH 03138 I3203178

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3202926

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

e 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. is newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

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

Anything but ordinary.

Henish Bhansali, MD Kristen Vealey, MD

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Begin your journey to a healthier, happier you, visit dulyhealthandcare.com/OakPark or call 708-745-5744. Oak Park 1121 South Blvd.