Wednesday Journal 100919 by Wednesday Journal

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October 9, 2019 Vol. 39, No. 10 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Friars’ homecoming win Page 37

Oak Park shifts trickor-treating hours Citing potential racial biases, the board votes to change hours to 4-8 p.m. By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

For decades, Oak Park allowed trick-or-treating during the hours of 3-7 p.m. on Halloween. This year, however, kids can continue their candy collecting in Oak Park past that, as the board moved to push back trick-or-treating hours to 4-8 p.m. at its Oct. 7 meeting. Trustee Arti Walker-Peddakotla made a large push to set the hours back. “This is a really good example of two things,” she said. “One: why racial equity training is really important because if we had used a checklist to evaluate this ordinance, we would have realized that this is overreach.” The board also voted affirmatively to change the ordinance into a resolution. Walker-Peddakotla went on to say that the standard 3-7 p.m. trick-or-treating timeframe negatively affects children with working parents or single parents. Those parents, she said, may not be back in time from work. A main concern in keeping the tradition of a 3-7 p.m. timeframe, some felt, was the potential for police to unfairly target children of color out trick-ortreating after 7 p.m. for violating the ordinance. The police department could not be reached to find out if any ordinance violations had been given in past years See TRICK-OR-TREAT on page 9

Courtesy Kindness Creators

SHOW AND TELL: Livia Hill shows Shirley Mungi a doll she thinks looks like her at Kindness Creators Intergenerational Program on opening day, Aug. 29. Kindness Creators is a preschool located inside Oak Park Arms.

New daycare’s core curriculum is empathy Kindness Creators Intergenerational Daycare inside Oak Park Arms celebrates all ages By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Ron Porter, 77, walked into the Kindness Creators Intergenerational Daycare, located inside of Oak Park Arms independent and assisted living retirement facility, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park, bearing gifts — two jumbo packs of

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups he’d bought during a trip to Walgreens on Oct. 2. “It’s my 4-year-old granddaughter’s birthday, so I felt obliged to get treats for the kids,” said Porter, whose grandkids live in Lockport — about a 40-minute drive from his Oak Park Arms residence. “I love children.” The new daycare, which the Oak Park

Board of Trustees approved to operate inside of Oak Park Arms last November, opened on Aug. 29. Porter, an Oak Park Arms resident who volunteers at the daycare, said he rarely gets to see his five grandchildren, but the fidgety preschoolers allow him to feel someSee EMPATHY on page 14

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Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

To make an appointment, please call 833-252-0563 today or visit westsubmc.com to learn more.

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Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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I N S I D E

R E P O R T

Community survey sent out Some Oak Park residents may soon receive a survey from village government. The survey, sent to a randomly selected group of Oak Parkers, is intended to help the village board, as well as other local policy makers, understand government action priorities. It will also be used to evaluate citizen-held opinions on public services and quality of life in the village. The organization overseeing this survey, the National Research Center Inc. (NRC), has conducted seven other village

surveys in the past, the most recent in 2017. Surveys are expected to take no more than 15 minutes to complete and participants will be able to submit answers online using a special code. All survey responses are confidential. A national database created by NRC and the International City Managers Association allows the village to compare the results of this survey to other communities both in and outside of Illinois.

Firearms Restraining Order Act training

Billy’s Fruit Market building demolished

Did you know that Illinois already has a version of the “red flag” laws being discussed by dawdling legislators elsewhere in the country (often with questionable sincerity)? Well, Illinois passed the Firearms Restraining Order Act in 2018. There’s only one problem: Hardly anyone knows it exists or how to use it. To that end, FRO training sessions are being held around the state, and Oak Park has theirs scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Oak Park Public Library. Members of the Illinois Coalition Against Handgun Violence will lead the session, which is sponsored by Moms Demand Action of Oak Park and Austin. Members of the Oak Park Police Department will also be on hand. Veterans Room, 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Stacey Sheridan

The building out of which Billy’s Fruit Market, a produce icon in south Oak Park, used to operate is finally gone, almost eight years after the grocery closed. The demolition process started Sept. 26. Structural problems required the building to be torn down. “The roof had collapsed,” said Baird & Warner real estate broker Theresa Jurgus, who is handling the sale of property. An undetected leak weakened the building’s roof, causing it to cave in from the weight of the HVAC system sitting on top of it. Jurgus was unable to give the property

In the driver’s seat

Allen Duda, 2, of Forest Park, mans one of the fire engines on Oct. 5, during a firehouse open house at the Oak Park fire station on Euclid Avenue, kicking off Fire Prevention Week. owner’s name but confirmed that the property is currently available and could be put to commercial or mixed use. “We’re looking forward to the property becoming an asset to the community and not looking the way it has,” she said. According to Jurgus, potential buyers have been expressing interest in purchasing the now empty lot, located at 400406 Madison St. “People are evaluating the property to see how it could fit their

Ken Trainor

Transgender issues

What does it mean to be transgender? What is the difference between sexual identity and gender identity? The Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association+ (OPALGA+) will address these questions and more when they host a Transgender Educational Panel for National Coming Out Day, this Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. in the Veterans Room of the Oak Park Public Library. The panel will discuss pronoun usage and proper terms, debunking myths and harmful stereotypes, and how to be a good ally. Issues will be discussed from legal, medical and personal perspectives. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Ken Trainor

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Photo provided

Longfellow’s baby boom Something wonderful is happening at Longfellow School, 715 Highland Ave. So far in 2019, 10 Longfellow teachers have had babies. There’s one more due in November which will raise what must be some sort of record number of babies to 11. Longfellow’s “2019 Baby Bears” are pictured and our thanks to Allison Nelson, a third-grade teacher, for sending us this happy news.

plan,” she said. The property is just shy of 10,000 square feet. “It’s certainly a very useful size, but it doesn’t allow for every kind of development,” she said. The property is one of several developments happening currently on Madison St. “It’s nice to see the investment on Madison Street,” she said.

Stacey Sheridan

Oak Park’s up to the task

Oak Park has an outsized role on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Affirming and Inclusive Schools Task Force, a body created by the governor that will “recommend ways to make public schools safer, more supportive and more inclusive for transgender, non-binary and gender nonconforming students,” according to a statement released by Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 officials. Among the 25 members are Ginger Colamussi and Mika Yamamoto. Yamamoto is an Oak Park writer and parent, while Colamussi is the prevention and wellness coordinator at OPRF who sponsors the A Place for All Club at the high school. “I’m excited to share the policies and procedures, as well as success and challenges, of OPRF’s journey to affirm and support transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming students,” Colamussi said. The task force began meeting in early October.

Michael Romain

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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Community Conversation on Clean Energy, Jobs and Environmental Justice Sunday, Oct. 13, 3 to 5 p.m., Unity Temple: Join members of the community, policy experts and state legislators to discuss how Illinois can lead the transition to clean energy and a just economy. Talk about the future of distributed energy in the Oak Park area and across Illinois. Featuring Sen. Don Harmon, Rep. LaShawn Ford, Rep. Camille Lilly, and reps from Citizens Utility Board, Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, Blacks in Green, and the Illinois Solar Energy Association. Free. Register: greencommunityconnections.org/calendar-events. Walk-ins welcome. 875 Lake St., Oak Park.

October 9 - 16

BIG WEEK Mariachi Herencia de Mexico

Sunday, Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m., Lund Auditorium, Dominican University See the internationally known—but locally grown—young mariachi ensemble who received a Latin Grammy nomination for their debut album. $18 - $29. Tickets: events.dom.edu/performing-arts/calendar-events. 7900 W. Division St., River Forest

Life Laughing with Val and Jeff Gee Saturday, Oct. 12, 7 to 9 p.m., Eastgate Café: The Gees are originally from England. Their routines on work, losing weight, the differences in cultures between the home country and the colonies, marriage, raising children, dealing with other relatives and life in general are always a riot. Come early to order dinner and drinks before the show. Also attend a monthly storytelling event, Do Not Submit, second Fridays. This month, Oct. 11, 7 to 9 p.m. More: 708-660-9091, eastgatecafe.net. 102 Harrison St., Oak Park.

Haunted House Friday, Oct. 11, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Dole Library: Wear a costume, bring a bag for candy and prepare for some frightful delights. In collaboration with the Park District of Oak Park. Best for ages 2+. Free. 255 Augusta St., Oak Park.

Fire House Open House Saturday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., River Forest Fire Department: See the newest Fire Engine 213. Also, Learn more about the River Forest Library, sign-up for a library card and more. 400 Park Ave.

Barktoberfest Saturday, Oct. 12, 7 to 11 p.m., FitzGerald’s Side Bar: Support the Animal Care League while enjoying live music, an open bar, German fare and more. Also take a chance at raffle prizes. (Raffle tickets available at the shelter, 1011 Garfield, Oak Park). 21+. $65, advance; $75 at door. Tickets/more: animalcareleague.org/events.html. 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn.

Local Art Stage-to-Screen Film Series: “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” Wednesday, Oct. 9, 1:30 p.m., Veterans Room, Main Library Join film buff Doug Deuchler for a six-week series celebrating films made from Broadway shows. Up next: Oct. 16: Broadway Bound | Oct. 23: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. More: oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Messenger of Peace Wednesday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m., Ascension Church: See a performance by a Franciscan Ministry for Performing Arts with a storyteller, music and images inspired by the mission of Francis of Assisi. $25 at Eventbrite.com or cash at the door. 808 S. East Ave., Oak Park.

American Anthem: Songs that Challenge, Unite and Celebrate Sunday, Oct. 13, 3 p.m., Pilgrim Congregational Church: Hear Chicago a cappella, inspired by the NPR series, as they sing music connected to history, from the 1970’s women’s rights mantra “I Am Woman,” to the anti-war sentiments of Bob Dylan, and explore the new significance of traditional tunes like “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” and “Goin’ Home.” Tickets/more: chicagoacappella. org, 773-281-7820. 460 Lake St., Oak Park.

Reception Sunday, Oct. 13, 2 to 4 p.m., Ferguson Art Gallery, Kretzmann Hall, Concordia University Chicago At Beyond Green Fences, artist Julie Sulzen’s oil-on-canvas paintings “… highlight natural wonders that go beyond green construction fences and gentrification, to showcase how nature decides its own way of ‘greening’ an urban area with revitalization and renewal.” Artist talk at 3 p.m. at reception. Exhibit though Nov. 9, Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 7400 Augusta St., River Forest, IL. Reception Friday, Oct. 11, 7 to 9 p.m., Oak Park Art League: At Myth Makers and Story Tellers, artists use the power of the visual to pass down cultural traditions, explore spiritual messages, understand historical events, learn life lessons and more. Through Nov. 1. More: oakparkartleague.org/exhibition-calendar. 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park.

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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ART BEAT

Art doing more for good causes

1995? IN G IN O D U O Y E WHAT WER STARTED. G IN T T E G T S U J E WE WER

By MICHELLE DYBAL

At the West Suburban Medical Center Gallery, fur friends take center stage in Purrfect Hues – A Cat Show. Velazquez Brightbill, an rtists can be motivated by many artist member of the Oak Park Art League things — to create something beau- and Expression Graphics in Oak Park, is extiful or thought-provoking, to exhibiting her feline portraits and donating 20 press emotion, to capture a moment percent of the proceeds to St. Sophia’s Forin time. Few use their art to raise gotten Felines, Westmont, a shelter where awareness of a specific cause. Fewer still do- she volunteers. nate a portion of the proceeds of the sale of “As I was in my studio one day, I started their art to aid the cause. Two of these artpainting from a picture I had taken of Yoists, Alex Velazquez Brightbill and Barbara shi, a Maine Coon kitty…” the Riverside Rose, are currently exhibiting at galleries in artist said. “That’s when I decided to creOak Park. ate a series of paintings of these cats and Rose’s exhibit, Trees Up Close, is a series perhaps help them find of “common native a home. I look at their trees in our urban forpersonality or any inest” watercolor paintteresting looks and deings. It is on view at cide what background the Art Gallery at the or look to give the Main Library in Oak painting. The series Park through Oct. 30. is also inspired by artAs with all work exhibited in the Library ists, musicians. … It’s Gallery, a percentage also about my memoof sales goes to the liries as a child in my brary to maintain its native Mexico, where art collection. Rose almost everyone in is also donating promy neighborhood had ceeds to West Cook cats, dogs and birds. Wild Ones, which At a very young age I promotes native landlearned to share my scaping. world with them.” “I hoped the paintVelazquez Brightings would prompt bill grew up in Mexico others to begin to City and came to the notice what our trees U.S. at age 10. are up to, to cherish “My work is definitethem and to underly influenced by my stand that we need bicultural experiences them and the larger — I grew up in a very green world to surtraditional Mexican vive,” the Oak Park home, but outside the artist said. home I navigated in my Most of her paintAmerican life: friends, ings are “larger than school and work,” life studies of buds, blossoms and seeds.” Velazquez Brightbill Rose has a certificate said. “My artwork rePhotos Provided in Botanical Art and flects this, from paintIllustration, which ‘Frida Pretzel Braid’ by Alex Velazquez ing cats to my other “combines scientific Brightbill (above). ‘Red Maple Seeds’ water- narrative series of accuracy with a deep paintings. This is my color by Barbara Rose (below). appreciation for the story that I want to natural world’s beaushare with the world.” ty,” she said. “It stoked my curiosity about See Trees Up Close, Botanical Watercolors all things green and growing.” by Barbara Rose through Oct. 30 at the Art Besides exhibiting art to raise awareness, Gallery, Main Library. Celebrate OAKTober Rose worked with West Cook Wild Ones to Tree Forum is Sunday, Oct. 13, 2 to 5 p.m., hold a Celebrate OAKTober Tree Forum at doors open at 1:30 to visit information tables. the Main Library on Oct. 13. Speakers from the Morton Arboretum; Oak Park Forestry Veterans Room, Main Library. More: oppl. Division; an expert in tree risk assessment org. 845 Lake St., Oak Park. See Purrfect Hues – A Cat Show with paintand management policy development; and a recognized perennial expert, designer and ing by Alex Velazquez Brightbill at the West author specializing in sustainable growing Suburban Medical Center Gallery through Nov. 16. 3 Erie Ct., Oak Park will present.

Contributing Reporter

IN 1995? G IN O D U O Y E R E WHAT W RTED. A T S G IN T T E G T S U WE WERE J

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Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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Equity via shock therapy

Trouble is, Oak Park’s inally on Monday night village government is years Oak Park’s village board behind on equity work. Doesn’t adopted a thoroughly mean the village hasn’t taken revised, actively more progressive steps on issues of inclusive, consciously race as individual matters have more direct diversity statecome up. But it has failed to unment. And the vote was derstand the need for a much unanimous. more elemental choice that The discussion leading to brings equity to the core of the that unanimity was altermission, every day, in every nately powerful and ridicudiscussion and decision, that it lous, contentious and, maybe, needs to accept, as our schools productive. We’ll see about the have, that there is racism productive part as we find out baked into the systems, which what next steps, if any, the vilwe have long just accepted. lage board takes on creating a The failure to do that results genuine equity plan, funding in a seven-month delay in adopting a Village equity training for all staff and elected Diversity Statement after the April election, officials, being open to authentic converA P O R T R A I T I N S T O R Y , M U S I C sations & IM AG E being ready to resulting in unexplained delays moving forabout policing, ward on endlessly discussed plans to tackle actually upend business as usual in how S TI O E it operates our municipal government. equity in a conscious way, putting necessary A P O R T R A I T I NA SPTO O RR T YR , A MIUT SII N C & MR AY G,E M U S I C & I M A G SATORBefore DUO we get to the part of the meeting funds against it, resulting in white men on Paolowhere Castellani, VIOLIN SATOR DUO an over-the-top Trustee Susan Buchan- the board having to be schooled over months SATOR DUO Paolo Castellani, VIOLIN Francesco GUITAR on equity and oppression, resulting — unacan toldDi theGiandomenico, white men on the board to “shut T O R Y , M U S I C A& PI O M RATGREA I T I N S T O R YPaolo , MCastellani, U S I C VIOLIN & I M A GFrancesco E Di Giandomenico, GUITAR Francesco Di Giandomenico, GUITAR ceptably — in those white men being told at up” and that “no one cares what you think,” Luca Tironzelli, ACTOR Luca Tironzelli, ACTOR Luca Tironzelli, ACTOR the board table by a colleague that they have I’d go back to the start of the discussion SATOR DUO SATOR DUO Tim Leeming, ORIGINAL ART John Duffy, Tim Leeming, ORIGINAL ART no business talking about equity, that their when, during public comment, Paolo Castellani, VIOLIN Tim Leeming, ORIGINAL ART Paolo Castellani, VIOLIN a white guy , spoke eloquently and provided Hutmacher, OFM, MUSIC and SCRIPT opinions do not matter. Francesco Di Giandomenico, GUITAR Robert Hutmacher, OFM, MUSIC and SCRIPT Francesco Di Giandomenico, GUITAR Robert Robert Hutmacher, OFM, MUSIC and SCRIPT This is what a failure to get ahead of essential context for all of us to consider. Luca Tironzelli, ACTOR Luca Tironzelli, ACTOR s $25.00 at Eventbrite.com or Cash Only at the Door equity looks like. The meeting was rivetDuffy recalled that it was 50 years Tim Leeming, ORIGINAL ART Tickets $25.00 at Eventbrite.com or Cash Only ORIGINAL at the Door Tim Leeming, ART Chiesa Nuova of Chicago, a Franciscan Ministry for the Performing Arts ing, like a train wreck, to watch but there ago when the Oak Park Village Board Robert Hutmacher, OFM, MUSIC and SCRIPT Produced by Chiesa of Chicago, of a Franciscan Ministry for the Performing RobertArts Hutmacher, OFM, MUSIC and SCRIPT Produced byNuova is still wreckage to be dealt with. Either faced down wide fear and actual hate in AChiesa P O RNuova T R A I TChicago, I N SaTFranciscan O R Y , MMinistry U S I Cfor&theIPerforming M A G E Arts this was a cathartic experience for this adopting open housing in the village. I Cash Only$25.00 at the Door Tickets at Eventbrite.com or Cash Only at the Door SATOR DUO still-new board that will clear the air or look back at that era and recall that, soon rforming Arts by Chiesa Nuova of Chicago, a Franciscan Ministry for the Performing Arts Produced Paolo Castellani, VIOLIN it was the determinant moment that asafter approving open housing, the village Francesco Di Giandomenico, GUITAR sures more dysfunction. board and the one that followed took Luca Tironzelli, ACTOR It is good to have a new and much additional aggressive steps to create the Tim Leeming, ORIGINAL ART improved diversity statement. Essential, possibility that Oak Park could become Robert Hutmacher, OFM, MUSIC and SCRIPT though, to remember that this aspiraracially integrated. The board wasn’t Tickets $25.00 at Eventbrite.com or Cash Only at the Door tional document, gradually updated over perfect, it operated with self-interest in Produced by Chiesa Nuova of Chicago, a Franciscan Ministry for the Performing Arts mind, but it was audacious in a hard time decades, reaffirmed by every new elected board since the 1970s, was never intended and led when it could have folded. Duffy, who has long been an equity activto be static. Our aspirations as a village ist in our public schools, said Monday that have grown so much since the open housDistrict 97 and District 200 have taken over ing days, from the then-radical concept of that leadership role on racial equity, and racial integration in housing to hard-won the village board is now “behind the times.” progress on sharing power, to wide defini“It is time for this board to move,” he tions of inclusion and protections. said, while acknowledging that equity Now the goal is true equity. For some as work in the schools is hard and uncertain. scary or misunderstood as a black family “We’re just learning to do it. It’s a revoluon the block in 1969. It is time for this tion. It’s intimidating.” But, he said, the village government to lead again. May Oak Park Village Board “faced history” 50 Monday night’s painful progress be a years ago and had to do it again. necessary step forward.

DAN HALEY

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Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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Metra steps up to provide sound barrier

Residents thank Lightford, village for addressing rail issues By MARIA MAXHAM Staff Reporter

State Senator Kimberly Lightford (4th) and River Forest Village President Cathy Adduci have worked out a deal with Metra and Union Pacific (UP), which will address problems residents have encountered as a result of the UP and Metra Third Rail Expansion project. Despite a lengthy and heated negotiation process with UP and Metra, the railroads have come through with plans that will help mitigate the sound and safety issues. In a statement over email, Adduci thanked the parties that came together to come up with a solution for River Forest residents. “The village is grateful for the leadership of Senator Kimberly Lightford in helping to work through the various issues and find mutually agreeable solutions. We also want to thank our various partners, including Union Pacific and especially Metra, who exhibited vision and innovation in piloting a program in River Forest to find economical solutions to sound mitigation along the rail lines,” she said.

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

SOUND RESOLUTION: Metra plans to fund $60,000 sound barrier to mitigate noise from rail expansion project. Union Pacific had originally agreed to put up a security fence that would be 8 feet tall in some parts and 4 feet tall in others. Now, however, the fence will be 8 feet tall for the full length of the property behind residents’ homes. The chain link fence will also include locking gates at the entry point to the access road.

Growing Community.

One of the biggest concerns — noise that impacts residents — will be remedied by Metra, who has agreed to use River Forest as part of its pilot program to try an “Acoustiblok” fence. The cost of adding the product, which will attach to the fencing that UP puts up, will be $60,000 and will be funded by Metra, which will be studied to

see if the product can be used in other areas as well. They will conduct sound studies after installation to test its effectiveness. According to an email from River Forest resident, and spokesperson for this issue, Megan Keskitalo, the material produced by Acoustiblok should reduce the noise level from 78 dB to 50 dB, which will be a big difference and “comparable to the background level of noise in the neighborhood.” UP will submit plans for the access road, which will be a permanent road, to the village of River Forest for approval before any construction begins. The village of River Forest matched UP’s contribution of $2,500 to re-landscape the trees and shrubbery that were destroyed during construction of the third rail, so there is $5,000 available for planting after the project is complete. Finally, the village is looking into the installation of additional security cameras in the area, either through a collaboration with Metra or UP. “We are so grateful to our village leadership and Senator Lightford, and to Metra for being an amazing partner who cares about our neighborhood safety and public health,” said Keskitalo in an email. According to Village Administrator Eric Palm, a timeline has not yet been set for these updates.

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Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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OPRF mourns student fatally shot in Chicago

D200 officials described Michael Reese, 17, as a ‘gentle soul’ By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School community is mourning the death of a student school officials described as a “gentle soul, who had significant relationships with

many teachers, staff and students,” according to an email sent out by District 200 Supt. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams on Oct. 7. Michael Reese, a 17-year-old senior at OPRF, was critically wounded in a shooting on Oct. 2 in the 5800 block of West Washington Boulevard in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, police said. Reese had been standing on the sidewalk in the area around 6:55 p.m., when someone in a black SUV drove up to him and started shooting. Reese was hit in the chest and rushed to Mt. Sinai Hospital in North Lawn-

dale, where he was pronounced dead at 1:12 a.m. on Oct. 7, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. In her email, Pruitt-Adams described Reese as a “young man who was very stylish and [who] always coordinated his outfits.” Reese was quiet, the superintendent said, but “left quite the impression on many and he will be missed.” District officials have made available social workers and counselors to students dealing with grief from Reese’s death, Pruitt-Adams said.

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Michael Reese On the day he died, OPRF teacher and community activist Anthony Clark, who coordinates the high school’s Hip Hop Club, of which Reese was a member, started a GoFundMe campaign to help support Reese’s family. The campaign has so far raised close to $6,000 of its $10,000 goal. “Michael was a talented young man who had a heart of gold and truly meant a lot to so many in the school building,” Clark said. “The impact of his passing is reverberating throughout the school community, as he will be dearly missed. “Gun violence,” he added, “is a pervasive epidemic that, until systematically addressed, will continue to take the lives of young people with promise.” To donate to the GoFundMe campaign, visit bit.ly/35kvXtB. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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In heated debate, Oak Park adopts diversity statement Vote is unanimous on substantially updated statement By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park Village Board members have been at odds since April over what has traditionally been the ritual post-election re-adoption of the village’s diversity statement. Finally, Monday night, after a discussion laden with racially charged dramatics and contention among trustees, the board unanimously approved a new version of the statement which had been crafted by the Community Relations Committee (CRC). Disagreements over the diversity statement started before the new language was even introduced. Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb suggested, in the interest of time, addressing the diversity statement discussion at a later meeting, as 10 p.m. was quickly approaching. At this, Trustee Arti PeddakotlaWalker let out a loud laugh. “People have been waiting here for the entire meeting” to discuss the diversity agenda, Peddakotla-Walker said. “Maybe we should have moved it to the beginning of the agenda, but we purposefully put it at the end.” The meeting continued with an intense discussion of semantics related to previous concerns from Trustee Dan Moroney and Trustee Deno Andrews over use of the term “systems of oppression.” That discussion led to an intense outburst by Trustee Susan Buchanan who questioned why white male trustees were offering opinions on the wording of the diversity statement.

TRICKORTREAT Change of hours from page 1 to trick-or-treaters, of color or otherwise, collecting candy after 7 p.m. In public comment, Susanne Fairfax, told the board she agreed with Walker-Peddakotla’s concerns. “This is a very, very good example of the difference using a racial equity lens when creating laws and codes for this village and not doing, how something can gently become a real problem.” Fairfax called Halloween in Oak Park “beautiful” because it is one of the times when Oak Parkers connect with people from other communities who come to Oak Park to trick or treat. She cautioned the board against marring it by constricting trick-or-treating hours. Anthony Clark, community activist and Oak Park and River Forest High School teacher, addressed the board after Fairfax,

“I am so tired of hearing two white men he said. That sentence reads, “By embracing tell us what systems of oppression are!” said equity, with an explicit but not exclusive foBuchanan to applause from the audience. cus on racial equity, we work to break down “For Christ’s sake, no! You don’t know what systems of oppression and achieve a society systems of oppression are; you haven’t been where race no longer determines one’s outoppressed,” she said. “This is like if you comes; where everyone has what they need guys wanted to tell us what it’s like to have to thrive.” Andrews proposed to clarify the language a menstrual cycle. You don’t know what “break down systems of oppression.” He you’re talking about.” She added, “You have not spent a day with suggested replacing that sentence with, “By embracing equity with an dark brown skin and tried to explicit, but not exclusive fowalk through this society. From cus on racial equity, we work to birth, you have been white. Why eliminate racism, sexism, hoare you arguing what is a system mophobia, and xenophobia and of oppression? You’ve never exall other forms of hate.” perienced one, so shut up!” Trustee Simone Boutet did not Buchanan went on to tell Anagree with Andrews idea to take drews and Moroney that they are not oppressed, but others in Oak out “systems of oppression” and Park are. supported the CRC statement “This mayor and this board completely. are obviously not willing to face In lieu of using “systems of history,” she said. “It is time for oppression”, Moroney suggested this community to face equity.” using the term’s definition. MoTo Andrews, Buchanan said, roney was concerned the police “You stop it. You are a white department was being construed male!” as a system of oppression. SUSAN BUCHANAN When the mayor, a native of Peddakotla-Walker then sugTrustee Palestine, tried to intervene, Bugested that, due to the late hour, chanan told him, “Your skin is people weren’t using their best white enough!” judgment. Moroney responded saying With a laugh, Buchanan asked that when it comes down to electher, “Are you the even keeled one ed white males being told they can’t have an now?” opinion “that we’re not doing this right.” The board finally agreed to add language In the earlier discussion over language to clarify the meaning of “systems of opin the statement, Andrews said overall, he pression.” Boutet asked that the word bias “loved” the CRC diversity statement, but be added to the sentence related to eliminatwanted to edit one sentence prior to adop- ing hate. tion. The board then voted quickly and unani“My only real proposal is to change the mously to accept the CRC version of the disecond sentence in the second paragraph,” versity statement.

In a public comment prior to the board discussion, Cate Readling, community outreach coordinator at the Park District of Oak Park, told the board she was speaking in support of the CRC version of the diversity statement. “It was the only version created by a diverse group of people,” Readling said. According to Readling, the CRC used a multi-step process that included input from the community and racial equity experts to develop its version. John Duffy, chairperson of the Committee for Equity & Excellence in Education, said the village board had fallen behind in promoting equity. “The schools have taken over that role,” he said. “They haven’t hired experts; they’ve gone to the community.” According to Duffy, Oak Park schools have implemented racial equity policies and procedures. “It’s time for this board to move,” he said. “You’re behind the times.” He urged the board to adopt the revised CRC diversity statement. He called two issues the board addressed earlier in the meeting – trick-or-treating hours and teenage e-cigarette usage – “painful.” “Racializing trick-or-treating! Running the black kids back to the West Side, that’s what that’s all about,” Duffy said. “It upsets me.” Duffy also said that, while the intentions behind giving citations to children for smoking to prevent addiction are good, the history behind it is completely racialized. “It’s at the heart of inequity, the criminal justice system,” he said. Racial equity is all about examining the impact decisions have on other people, which Duffy said, the schools are doing, and the village board needs to follow suit. CONTACT: stacey@oakpark.com

saying, “I just wanted to share a quick truth, being a black male.” He went on to tell the board that after being shot in 2007 while serving in the military, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. “In the process of attending therapy sessions, I realized that I have PTSD from being a child, from interaction with police officers in this community, when I was choked out in Scoville Park at the age of 12,” he said. Clark’s family moved to Oak Park when he was five years old. “I honestly can’t even think straight. I’m a little irritated, I’ll be honest with you,” Clark said to the board. “You all are wonderful individuals, but to have people with privilege speak for me and my experiences is unacceptable.” The board, Clark said, was missing the “systemic issue” and that even as an educated black man, he still fears interacting with Oak Park police officers. “If we’re truly a progressive community, we should be limiting police interaction,” Clark said. “I don’t give a damn if you have

make Oak Park look less welcoming to outsiders of color, he added. Sims doesn’t think there should be a rule at all dictating when kids can or cannot trick or treat. “Why put a law on Halloween? It doesn’t make sense,” he said. “It’s Halloween! We’re supposed to be out there having fun, saying, ‘Boo!’ and collecting candy.” Sims was also met with applause from the audience. Trustee Deno Andrews agreed 7 p.m. was too early, suggesting that the board get rid of designated Halloween hours or move them to either 3-8 p.m. or 4-8 p.m. Trustee Dan Moroney preferred 4-8 p.m., while Walker-Peddakotla wanted to abolish the timeframe completely. “I just don’t think that we should have any hours and if we do have hours, they should be extended to 9 p.m. at the latest,” she said. Trustee Jim Taglia supported 4-8 p.m., citing public safety concerns. “People do drink on that evening, they are out driving, and kids are hard to see at night,” he said. In a unanimous vote, the board decided to change Halloween hours from 3-7 p.m. to 4-8 p.m.

“This mayor and this board are obviously not willing to face history. It is time for this community to face equity.”

three good cops; the system is the problem.” He also said that he sees symptoms of PTSD in his students caused by police interaction. “If I ever have a child, I’ll be damned if police have a way or say in how he is raised,” Clark said before stepping back from the podium. The audience clapped for Clark, as he exited the meeting. In the final public comment regarding Halloween, Oak Park father Will Sims told the board he agreed with Clark. “I have an 11-year-old son and we trick or treat past 7 o’clock,” he said. “He is getting taller, he’s going to be recognized as a young black male, which is to be a target for police, whether it’s trick-or-treating or whatever.” According to Sims, ending Halloween festivities at 7 p.m. is too early and it targets people who work, calling it unfair. “It also targets people from Austin, from Maywood, neighboring communities that don’t have great trick-or-treating,” said Sims. Children from those neighborhoods often trick or treat in Oak Park. Imposing a time limit would negatively affect those children and

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presents A Wednesday Journal & A Tribe Called Aging Production

wabi sabi F I L M F E S T I V A L

Appreciating the beauty of impermanence, a quarterly Film Series encouraging everyone to embrace and respect our aging population and the transformation of our society.

First Film Event: Friday, October 25th

On Golden Pond

The Lake Theatre, 1022 Lake Street, Oak Park 10am, film presentation followed by discussion • Admission: $2

What the heck is the Wabi Sabi Film Festival?

t the Lake Theater in downtown Oak Park! Friday morning, Oct. 25, 10 a.m. On Golden Pond. Tickets are $2 each. Yep, $2.00.

This is a film festival about aging, a film festival for older people, though everyone is welcome to attend. Following the film, stay in your seats; we’ll have an interactive discussion about topics from each film. Every three months we’ll show a different film connected to the theme of aging, with a guest celebrity, followed by interactive discussion (we reached out to Jane). And the Lake Theatre popcorn is mouth-wateringly delicious! The first film to be shown in the Wabi Sabi Film Festival is On Golden Pond, starring Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda (with Jane).

Admission: $2 • Tickets available day of event at The Lake Theatre, 1022 Lake St, Oak Park Signature Sponsor

By the way, wabi sabi isn’t the green spicy stuff at the sushi restaurant. It is the Japanese world view that appreciates the beauty of impermanence. As I write in my current blog on the IONS website (noetic.org/blog/aging-is-inherently- noetic/): The Japanese aesthetic of wabi sabi is an appreciation of the beauty of impermanence — like the wooden banister in an aging house, stroked by thousands of hands over the years, wobbly, chipped, out of alignment, yet oh so beautiful. Teenagers strive for instant Wabi Sabi by buying already torn and ripped blue jeans, but they fall short. Wabi Sabi takes time, as does reaching our noetic phase of life. And like that aged wooden bannister, older people can be wrinkled and wobbly and still be beautiful people. Non Profit Patron Sponsors

Host and moderator, Elizabeth White, author of 55, Underemployed and Faking Normal. Ms. White will introduce the film and facilitate the in-theater interactive discussion following the movie.

Oak Park Township/ River Forest Township

A TRIBE CALLED

AGING

RSVP & Share at Facebook.com/pg/wednesdayjournalinc/events

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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Belmont Village celebrates six centenarians Honorees enjoyed champagne and a surf-andturf dinner By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Senior living community Belmont Village of Oak Park hosted a celebration, Oct. 1, honoring six very special residents who will be 100 years old or more by the end of 2019. The centenarians dined on surf and turf, followed by cake and champagne, surrounded by friends and family, who were invited to attend. “I think the thing that’s unusual and is one of the reasons that prompted us to celebrate, is having six centenarians in one building,” said activities coordinator Leanna McKenzie. “To have six within 110 to 130 residents is pretty amazing.” Many expressed a desire to do something special for the residents who had already, or most of the centenarians credited to having were about to, achieve a century of living. good genes. However, June Ireland said hers “A couple of our residents approached me comes from having “a daily 4 o’clock cockabout a month ago and said, ‘We should do tail.” Ireland’s drink of choice is cognac. something for them. It’s amazing we have “It has to be Courvoisier VSOP,” said Ireso many,’” recalled McKenzie. Staff had land’s son, who sat next to her. On Thursalready been planning the event for a few days, Ireland plays poker with McKenzie months. and usually wins. The event honored June Ireland, 102; DoMuriel Sweeney, Mary Bellile ris Gruskin, 101; Mary Bellile, and Gisela Stalzer agreed the 100; Ted Ratajczyk, 100; and Mubest advice for young people is riel Sweeney, who had her 100 to work hard and get an educabirthday a week before the celtion, while Doris Gruskin, who ebration on Sept. 23. Gisela Stalhas lived in Oak Park since kinzer, who turns 100 years old this dergarten, offered a different bit month, was also honored. of sage guidance. “They’ve lived through amaz“Don’t try to be a martyr,” she ing things,” said McKenzie. said. “They were born in 1917, 1918, DORIS GRUSKIN Ireland instructed young 1919; how much the world has Centenarian people to be kind and helpful, changed in the time they’ve been Ratajczyk said, “Listen to your on the Earth.” parents!” He grew up on a dairy The crew of century-old sefarm and, yes, literally walked niors has more than just the gift two miles uphill for school evof long life in common. “One thing that’s ery day. similar across the board is they’re all very When asked what the most important inlaid-back people,” said McKenzie. vention of their lifetime was, Ireland and To make sure the centenarians looked and Ratajczyk both said television. For Sweeney, felt their best at the party, a professional it was air conditioning. came the morning of to style hair and give Mary Bellile said her six children are the manicures. Belmont Village covered all premost important inventions of her lifetime. party pampering costs. Three of them were able to come to the celThe five ladies were given corsages to ebration. For Bellile, this is the best decade wear on their wrists the day of and at the she has lived. “I am very happy with my life party. Ratajczyk, the sole male centenarian, here at Belmont Village,” she said. got a boutonniere, which he wore pinned to Ratajczyk, a veteran, said the best decade his plaid button-down shirt. of his life was coming home from World War The party officially kicked off at 4:30, II, marrying his wife Mildred and having when centenarians and guests sat down for children. He was stationed in New Guinea dinner. To mark the occasion, staff draped and Australia and served as a technician, white cloths over each table. Attendees fifth grade. toasted the six with champagne. Muriel Sweeney’s best decades were those After dinner, centenarians shared fun when her children were young, calling it facts about their lives and offered pearls of “busy, but wonderful.” wisdom to those in attendance. Gisela Stalzer doesn’t have a favorite. The secret to longevity and good health

Photo provided

NO MARTYRS: Belmont Village’s centenarian crew (top, from left) June Ireland, Mary Bellile, Doris Gruskin, Theodore Ratajczyk, Gisela Stalzer, and Muriel Sweeney. At left, June Ireland receives her gift from Leanna McKenzie.

“If I never got around to it, it probably wasn’t worth it.”

STACEY SHERIDAN/Staff

“The government was corrupt in every decade,” she said. Stalzer was a globetrotter, having lived in Istanbul, Paris, Romania and Germany. She even visited Antarctica. During her long life, Doris Gruskin has nothing she wishes she had done or visited in her life, saying, “If I never got around to it, it probably wasn’t worth it.” At the end of the party, each centenarian received a framed poster with special facts from the year they were born, such as the

price of gas and groceries, as well as movies and popular music. Each poster also had a picture of the centenarian when they were young. According to McKenzie, the event was a lot of work to put on, but well worth it to see how happy it made the centenarians. “It was really special,” she said. “To have six centenarians who are just such kind people, I think, is really inspiring.” CONTACT:stacey@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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Cannabis top of mind at Julian town hall meeting

Residents concerned about resource burden, underage usage By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Roughly 50 gathered at Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland Ave. in Oak Park, on Oct. 2 for a Marijuana Town Hall meeting, where participants offered their opinions on the upcoming legalization of recreational marijuana and local law enforcement officials explained how they plan on enforcing the measure. The new law on legalizing the drug for those at least 21 years old will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020. The meeting — sponsored in part by Oak Park and River Forest Townships, and the League of Women Voters — featured a panel of five speakers, including state Sen. Kimberly Lightford (4th), Oak Park Police Chief LaDon Reynolds, and River Forest Sgt. Ben Ransom. Before the panel discussion, those in attendance completed an electronic survey, with roughly half of the 52 respondents saying they’re at least somewhat supportive of the sale of recreational marijuana in Oak

Park and River Forest (39 of the respondents were residents of either village). Around 81 percent of respondents said they were “concerned that the legalization of recreational marijuana will require an increase in community services (i.e., physical health, mental health, or policing, etc.),” according to one survey question. Fifty-seven percent of respondents said they think the appropriate number of recreational marijuana dispensaries in their community is between one and three. Thirty-seven percent said that they’d prefer no dispensaries where they live. Seventy-four percent said they were at least somewhat concerned about the underage use of marijuana increasing after legalization takes effect (45 percent said they were very concerned about this prospect). “For us, it’s analogous to packaged liquor,” said Chief Reynolds, referencing how the department plans on enforcing recreational marijuana. That means, the same laws and regulations that apply to alcohol — you can’t drive intoxicated, you still have to comply with the age restrictions, you can’t use it in public — will apply to legalized marijuana. Sgt. Ransom, who is also a school resource officer, said his greatest fears related to le-

galization is the possibility of people, particularly young people, using it in combination with alcohol. “With our youth, I think there needs to be a lot of parental monitoring and education, and our communities need to stay up-to-date with what’s going on as we all move forward with this,” he said. “We need to help our children make the right decisions and let them know that, just as you’re monitoring them to make sure they’re not going to underage drinking parties, we’re not going to allow them to go to underage smoking parties.” Some people in attendance had questions about what the law entails for people growing cannabis in their homes. Starting in January, people will be able to purchase and/or possess up to 30 grams, or about an ounce, of marijuana plant products, edibles containing up to 500 mg of THC, and five grams of cannabis concentrate products. Sen. Lightford said that only residents who have medical marijuana licenses will be allowed to grow cannabis and would be limited to growing five plants. But that’s still no reason to fear that the government will be after their marijuana, Reynolds told audience members during the Q&A, adding that police would likely need a search warrant before entering someone’s home because of cannabis.

“The Fourth Amendment [provides] some pretty stringent protections for someone’s home,” Reynolds said. “I can’t imagine us going into someone’s house and measuring inches.” Sgt. Ransom said, “We haven’t seen an uptick in accidents” and enforcement actions related to marijuana, but a “lot remains to be seen” related to the law’s real-life implications. “The law is coming and we’ll continue to do what we do,” Ransom said. “We’ll see what happens, what leads pop up, and how case law is established as cases are processed.” “This is a collaborative process between the community and the police,” Reynolds said, comparing the recreational cannabis law to the state’s firearm concealed-carry law, which took effect in 2013. Reynolds said his department hasn’t seen an “uptick of issues” in Oak Park related to the concealedcarry law and urged audience members to take the same measures with cannabis that they might with firearms. “If you are an adult who uses recreational marijuana, I’d encourage you to hide or lock up your stash,” he said. “Because it should not be available to young people who are inside of your home.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

C R I M E

Cops: Arsonist set fire to mattress An unknown person lit a mattress on fire, after placing it against a residence in the 500 block of North Harvey Avenue in Oak Park around 5 a.m. on Oct. 2, according to police. While the mattress was burning, a man in his 50s entered the 7-Eleven store on the corner of North Harvey and Chicago avenues and reported to staff that a house was on fire. The 7-Eleven employee then left the store to investigate the fire, returning shortly after to find the man who reported the fire behind the checkout counter, attempting to steal cigarettes. The man fled the scene. Oak Park police are investigating whether that same man started the fire as a diversion or if it was started by a different person, unrelated to the attempted 7-Eleven theft. Police are treating the incident as arson.

Armed robbery An Oak Park resident was robbed around 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 2 in the 400 block of North Austin Boulevard by a man in his 20s who was carrying a gun. The offender took the victim’s green purse, keys and iPhone 7, which she carried in her back pants pocket. The man, described as a black with a medium build and around 6 feet tall, was last seen wearing jeans and a gray hooded sweat-

shirt with the hood cinched over his face. He was with two other men, also in their 20s, wearing black hoodies with the hoods cinched over their faces. The three men fled in the victim’s vehicle. Chicago police found the victim’s vehicle unoccupied in the 4800 block of West Gladys Avenue, Chicago, around 4:40 p.m. the next day.

Vehicle break-in Someone broke into an Oak Park resident’s car by prying open the door during the overnight hours of Sept. 28-29 in the 300 block of South Taylor Avenue. The vehicle’s ignition was damaged.

Man arrested for vehicular burglary Devon Richardson, 22, of Oak Park, was arrested on Oct 3 in the 700 block of Columbian Avenue and charged with burglary to motor vehicle.

Burglary ■ Someone broke the lock to an Oak Park resident’s storage unit inside a building in

the 100 block of South Maple Avenue during the early morning hours of Sept. 29. A stereo amplifier and speakers were removed and stacked outside of the unit. ■ A storage unit belonging to an Oak Park resident in the 200 block of Wesley Avenue was broken into between Sept. 27 and Oct. 3 after someone cut the security lock. The person rummaged through boxes. ■ An attempted residential burglary occurred around 8 p.m. on Sept. 29 when someone tried to pry open the rear door of an Oak Park home in the 600 block of South Austin Boulevard. ■ An Oak Park residence in the 900 block of Fair Oaks Avenue was broken into after the rear kitchen door was forced open Oct. 1. A silver MacBook Air laptop was taken from inside.

Vehicle theft ■ An Oak Park resident’s vehicle was stolen during the overnight hours of Sept. 2930 from the 700 block of Woodbine Avenue, where it was left unlocked with the keys inside. ■ Around midnight Oct. 2, Chicago police recovered a stolen 2016 Mazda CX9, belonging to an Oak Park resident, in the 3400 block

of West Congress Parkway, Chicago, after it was involved in an accident. The vehicle was reported stolen on Sept. 23 from the 500 block of North Marion Street. Chicago police apprehended one person.

Theft ■ A man in a black hooded sweatshirt, jeans and white shoes with a black backpack was caught on a security camera taking an unchained blue and white Giant bicycle in the 1100 block of Lake Street on Sept. 28. ■ In the 1000 block of Lake Street on the night of Sept. 29, a men’s black Gravity Dutch Express bike was taken after the lock securing it was cut. These items, obtained from the Oak Park Police Department, came from reports Sept. 23-29 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Stacey Sheridan

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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Courtesy Kindness Creators

FAIR EXCHANGE: Eamon Brennan and Henrietta Stephen, a resident at Oak Park Arms, play at Kindness Creators Intergenerational Program on opening day.

EMPATHY

Intergenerational program from page 1 thing of his granddaughter’s vibrancy despite her absence. Jaime Moran — a co-owner who also serves as co-director and co-head teacher along with her business partner, Pamela Lawrence — said the idea to start a daycare inside of a retirement community was inspired by her relationship with her grandfather. “I grew up with my grandpa, who had Alzheimer’s disease and I can remember when I was young, he always remembered me,” Moran said. “He never remembered the adults in the family and even up to the day he passed away, he knew who I was.” If her grandfather was the motivation, Moran said, a documentary she saw about an intergenerational daycare in Seattle provided the spark.

“I was like, ‘Oh God, this is it, this is what I’m supposed to do,” Moran recalled. “We should have this. At the same time, Pam’s mom happened to be in a retirement community and she observed how the seniors would respond when she brought her daughters there. A mutual friend of ours happened to know [Moses Williams, Jr. — the executive director of Oak Park Arms] — and a dream came to live in about a yearand-a-half.” Moran said that the two-room space where the daycare operates was formerly a crafts room, a weaving room and an office. “We had to blow out the cement walls, gut the space and add ADA bathrooms for the children,” she said, adding that there’s also kitchen space. “Bringing the two generations together will be a very unique and special experience,” Williams said in a statement last month. “We are excited to welcome Kindness Creators into our building and our active community.” Moran said that the daycare is a preschool program that so far enrolls 16 students,

with between six and 10 senior residents of Oak Park Arms volunteering. On the day Wednesday Journal visited, Lawrence was putting some of the kids down for a nap. “This benefits the residents, because a lot of retirement communities don’t have a lot of visitors or family that’s close by,” Moran said. “We make it a point to walk the kids down the halls and brighten the day for everybody. We make sure we smile and say, ‘Good morning.’ They’re always offering high fives and handshakes and hugs. Our goal is to make the residents comfortable and to improve their quality of life.” “Usually they take walks in the morning, so I come like in the afternoon,” said volunteer Nancy Thornton, 65. “The kids are fun and they behave themselves which is nice.” Anne Gressle, 73 and an Arms resident, taught preschool for more than 40 years. On Oct. 2, she was assisting two children with an art project. “I’ve been here for about two months now and the daycare opened the week after I moved in,” Gressle said. “It’s kind of a

“This benefits the residents, because a lot of retirement communities don’t have a lot of visitors or family that’s close by.” JAIME MORAN Daycare co-owner

coincidence. I didn’t think I’d ever come back to it after I retired, but I came here, anyway, and it seemed like it was just time to be back with the kids. The timing was perfect.” Porter said that he gets motivation to visit the daycare while listening to old Patsy Cline CDs. “There’s a song she sings, ‘If I Could See the World (Through the Eyes of a Child),’” he said. “It says, ‘What a wonderful world this would be.’ That is a beautiful song and it’s so meaningful. I listen to it every night.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Dole Center Grand Opening A cooperative program of the Park District of Oak Park and the Oak Park Public Library

Friday, October 11, 2019 Free! 6 to 7pm | Grand Opening Festivities

Kite runner

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Hiro Mori, 4, of Oak Park, flies his kite at Scoville Park last Sunday.

• Building tours and refreshments • Program demonstrations—see our new art studios • Meet the Oak Park Society of Model Engineers and see the train club in action

Free! 7 to 8:30pm |

Oak Park schools approve FY 2020 budgets By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Elementary District 97 Board of Education recently approved a budget for 2019-20 that features a $3.2 million surplus, according to district officials. “Excluding bond proceeds and capital expenses paid from bond proceeds,” wrote Rob Grossi, D97’s financial consultant in a Sept. 18 memo, the budget reflects total revenues of $102.3 million and total expenditures of $99.9 million. During a Sept. 24 regular meeting, where the D97 school board unanimously approved the budget, Grossi explained that salaries will increase by 5.8 percent this year due to increased staffing and collective bargaining agreements. “Employee benefits will increase by about 2.4 percent due to modest increases in health insurance premiums,” Grossi said. “All other expense types are projected to increase by 5.6 percent due to an increased focus on enhancing programs and aligning more expenditures with the evidence-based funding formula.” Grossi added that the district is projecting property taxes to increase by $6.8 million, which “doesn’t mean that the district raised taxes by $6.8 million this year; it’s the

Stay for some Halloween-themed fun for kids!

www.pdop.org

timing of when the payments are received.” This is largely because property tax collections straddle fiscal years, Grossi said. For instance, during the 2018 fiscal year, the district received tax payments in the fall of 2017 and the spring of 2018. “We’re projecting the district will receive one final [tax increment financing] payment of $1.6 million during this fiscal year,” Grossi said, adding that the board will make a final decision on its tax levy in December.

OPRF board approves budget The District 200 Board of Education unanimously approved its fiscal year 2020 budget at a regular meeting on Sept. 26. The budget reflects $78.7 million in total revenues — a 7 percent decrease in spending from the 2019 fiscal year. Total expenditures in the 2020 budget are $90.8 million. The discrepancy between total revenues and total expenditures is mainly due to a $12 million capital outlay related to phase one construction projects outlined in the district’s long-term facilities plan. Oak Park and River Forest High School officials said property tax revenue is budgeted to drop by $6.4 million from fiscal year 2019 due to the timing of the district’s property tax abatement, which was required in order for it qualify for a property tax relief grant. This fiscal year, the district will get $3.8 million as part of that grant. The district will also receive one final tax increment financing payment of $1.4 million. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

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D97 approves $3.2M surplus, D200 budgets $12M for capital projects

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Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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Welch bill would make college sports pay for student athletes Rep. Chris Welch’s bill duplicates California law allowing athletes to sign endorsement deals, hire agents

By JERRY NOWICKI

a university from competition if its athletes are compensated in such a manner, and prohibits universities from upholding any rules that ban endorsements. The bill would apply to both public and private universities. While it allows student athletes to hire agents, it does not pave the way for them to seek salaries or payment, outside of scholarships, from their college or university, Welch said. “The salary issue is completely separate and apart from an athlete being able to sign an endorsement deal to profit from their own name and their own likeness,” Welch said. “I have no concerns about this threatening the purity of the sport and amateur sports. …This is a very tightly-written bill that I think takes that concern into consideration and eliminates it.” Welch said the bill does prohibit a student athlete from receiving an endorsement from a direct competitor to a partner organization of their university. “For instance, if the university has a contract with Under Armour, players can’t sign a deal with Nike,” he said. The NCAA opposed California’s efforts to pass such a bill. “As a membership organization, the NCAA agrees changes are needed to continue to support student-athletes,

Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD — An Illinois lawmaker is sponsoring a bill to allow college student athletes to sign endorsement deals, hire agents and benefit financially from the use of their likeness after California became the first state in the nation to pass such a law last week. “First and foremost, it’s about fairness and equity, and athletes being able to profit off their own names and their own likeness,” said Democratic Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, of Hillside. Welch said universities make millions off student athletes each year, and the NCAA — the governing body that oversees college athletics — generates tens of billions of dollars each year. The association’s rules, however, prohibit endorsement deals and prevent student athletes from cashing in on the popularity of collegiate sports which they helped create, he said. Welch’s measure, House Bill 3904, duplicates the California law and states any association, including the NCAA, “may not prevent a student athlete … from earning compensation as a result of the use of the student’s name, image, or likeness.” The bill also prohibits the NCAA from barring

but improvement needs to happen on a national level through the NCAA’s rulesmaking process,” the association said in a statement. “As more states consider their own specific legislation related to this topic, it is clear that a patchwork of different laws from different states will make unattainable the goal of providing a fair and level playing field for 1,100 campuses and nearly half a million student-athletes nationwide.” The association said it will “consider next steps in California” while its members “move forward with ongoing efforts to make adjustments to NCAA name, image and likeness rules.” A statement from the Pac-12 athletic conference, which is home to some of California’s largest and most competitive schools, said the conference “is disappointed in the passage” of the California law. “This legislation will lead to the professionalization of college sports and many unintended consequences related to this professionalism, imposes a state law that conflicts with national rules, will blur the lines for how California universities recruit student-athletes and compete nationally, and will likely reduce resources and opportunities for student-athletes in Olympic sports and have a negative disparate

impact on female student-athletes,” the conference said in the statement. Like the California bill, Welch’s measure would take effect in 2023. The reason for the grace period is to allow for an expected legal challenge, Welch said. “I think it’ll be challenged in court because the NCAA has a bottomless pit of money,” he said. “It makes millions off of student athletes every year. And that’s why in the California law and my bill, the effective dates don’t start until 2023. In anticipation, you know, of having this resolved via the court.” Welch said California’s action on the matter means Illinois must act to stay competitive on a recruiting basis. “From a recruiting standpoint, we need to be on par with the law in California. That’s an amazing recruiting tool for their coaches and those universities in California,” he said. “And that means time is of the essence.” Welch said he wants to move the bill, which has gained one Republican and six Democratic co-sponsors since it was filed on Sept. 30, when the General Assembly returns for fall veto session on Oct. 28. A request for comment from the University of Illinois was not immediately returned on Oct. 1. CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

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Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM Sponsored Content

24 for 24 | Celebrating Beloved Oak Park Restaurant’s Upcoming Milestone

t was a mere 24 years ago Cucina Paradiso opened its doors to the public in the heart of downtown Oak Park. Foodies have enjoyed countless sips of flavorful wines, numerous bites of picturesque pizzas, and infinite forkfuls of mouthwatering pastas over the years and the love for this modern Italian eatery continues to grow with each passing day. The magic that is Cucina comes partly from the ambience and design of the welcoming dining space, but mostly it comes from the people who helped open it in the first place. “I

always wanted to do a full-service restaurant where I grew up. I wanted a dining room that would be memorable along with excellent food and service,” says co-owner Anthony Gambino. 24 years is an applause worthy milestone, and it’s easy to see why Cucina has been as successful as it has. Passion seeps out of their reclaimed woodwork and change is always afoot in both the kitchen and the business. Gambino continues to explain that adaptation and change are at the forefront of the restaurant’s belief system. “You have to always want to look for change, improvement, and guest feedback.” And Cucina does just this. Gambino also notes the importance of returning customers and the value of being in a

supportive community that has rallied behind the restaurant. “It’s extremely gratifying knowing we are serving 2nd generation families who continue to support us by celebrating their special occasions with us or by simply coming in for dinner.” Cucina Paradiso has clearly put the time and effort into establishing itself as a staple of the Oak Park dining scene. The three-years running OpenTable Diner’s Choice Winner is looking forward to celebrating with an exciting limited-edition special. On October 21st, 22nd and 23rd come in and luck out with a three-course menu from Cucina’s kitchen, all for the price of $24. As a diner, you’ll have the chance to select from a pre-fixed list of delightful starters— think bacon-wrapped dates or fried calamari— followed by an enticing array of entrees that range from a gorgeous grilled Atlantic salmon to a juicy beef tenderloin. If that isn’t incentive enough, the third course dessert selections alone

5th Annual

should spur you to celebrate with the possibility of a chocolate lava cake, bread pudding, or tiramisu. Additionally, for the wine lovers out there, Cucina Paradiso is offering a special on select bottles for $24 dollars. Reservations will fill up fast for this special occasion, so be sure to make yours now!

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Linda Berger: Coaching Women to Overcome Destructive Distraction

he enemy of great achievement does not barge into someone’s life through patently bad, self-destructive choices. Instead, it comes disguised as a series of smaller, seemingly harmless tendencies and habits.

In a word: distractions. That truth is at the core of Oak Parkbased business coach Linda Berger’s guidance to professional women seeking to break through to the next level of success. “Distraction is the one really big area that stops women dead in their tracks from cultivating a rich life of experiences, of relationships, health, finances,” says Berger, founder of Business Women Warriors. “I have studied how hundreds of women entrepreneurs run their businesses. Distractions look different for all of us, but their impact is the same—they throw us off course from our plans.” That is one of the key messages that Berger will share on Wednesday, October 30th, in her role as keynote speaker of the 5th Annual Women in Leadership Conference at Riveredge Hospital in Forest Park. The conference is focused on leadership development, networking and empowerment. This year’s theme,

The Power of Intention, perfectly aligns with Berger’s coaching ethos of empowering women to “own their seat at the table.” “Too often, women get up from the table, so to speak, and start playing musical chairs,” she says. “They try to be too many things to too many people; the energy and power they have built up toward their primary goal gets drained. Then they have to build the energy up again—and that gets exhausting.” Berger, who brings over 30 years of sales, management, investment, and entrepreneurial experience to her work, has developed a 90-Day Challenge program. Through that structure, she helps clients strategize a practical action plan that nets positive results propelling them to achieve—and in many cases, exceed—goals that had seemed well beyond their grasp. “I don’t coddle people. I hold them accountable to their declared goals, and the plan necessary to achieve them,” Berger explains.

“They may not like it in the moment, but before long they appreciate that I have helped them get back on track.” To learn more about Linda Berger and Business Women Warriors, visit BusinessWomenWarriors.com.

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Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

VIEWPOINTS

The case for banning leaf blowers p. 32

Why you shouldn’t, and should, go

t has been said (by me) that attending your high school reunion is feared by more people than heights, snakes or clowns. As a 1967 graduate of New Albany High School in southern Indiana, I have attended a lot of reunions, including my 52nd reunion last month. Our class used to have reunions at 10- then five-year intervals, and now yearly. I fully expect our 70th reunion to be called “The 70th and Last Reunion.” You know you are about done when the program list of deceased class members exceeds those attending. This is commonly known as the Grim Reaper Horizon. In this column I have tasked myself with providing strategies and tips for making your next reunion your best ever. My advice is directed only to the fence-sitters, the angst-ridden “shall I stay or should I go” crowd. If you still smell bad and had no friends in high school, you probably should not go. If you are skinny, have most of your hair or are superrich, you should definitely go. Before arriving at the venue, I recommend firing down between 1.5 to 2.5 drinks. This is known as “coming in hot.” The idea here is to be loose and free-wheeling, but not staggering. If necessary, practice. As for dress, I recommend middle of the road, but distinctive. For example at my last reunion, I channeled country music legend George Strait — white long-sleeve shirt, fancy brown shoes my son bought me for Christmas, and Wrangler button-up blue western jeans I had specially purchased for the occasion. I looked just like a cool cowboy. The only problem was that every time I went to the bathroom it took me forever to unbutton and then re-button my fancy jeans. How does George Strait do it?

It is very important to have a wing man or woman, even if it is a parent. Otherwise you look like the nerd with no friends to be followed by those horrible reinforcing flashbacks to high school. Also, it is probably wise to prearrange, with just another friend or two, their attendance so you will have someone to sit with at a table, especially if your wingman/woman is your parent. Alternate table strategy #1: Stay standing. Alternate table strategy #2: Have a couple more drinks. Now the hard part is over. Either hang with those you have arranged to meet, and make snide remarks about your classmates, or muster up your courage, and chat it up with everybody. Obviously stay away from politics, religion and/or your IRS audit. Most importantly, if after an hour you are not having a good time or you find your classmates maliciously laughing at you, just leave. Overall, though, I believe you will find that the older you get, the more fun you will have. By the time you are 60, life has a way of leveling everyone. Joint replacements, kids out of the house, and job exhaustion make for super-boring conversation. Only a boor brags about his children or grandchildren’s successes. And so you talk about high school — the teachers, the sports, the dances and the crazy things that happened. For most, for better or worse, we were thrown together for four years, and then we moved on. But those years were precisely the ones when we were just becoming who we became. It was a special time that should be valued and appreciated. With your classmates. At your reunion.

JOHN

HUBBUCH

Moving forward with re-structured freshman courses

uring District 200 community conversations and in recent Wednesday Journal Viewpoints, critics and doubters of the proposed restructured freshman curriculum raise questions that challenge the research, data, design and planned implementation of curriculum changes aimed at bringing more racial equity and student access to honors option courses at OPRF High School. Such is the history of school reform, but especially so when reform seeks to challenge historic education inequities. The path forward for our high school has several indispensable guidelines: continue to study the “what” and “why” of the proposed freshman changes, including the research on tracking and de-tracking; heed our own history of persistent racial inequities in learning; and openly share our hopes and fears in launching this significant curriculum reform.

diverse, welcoming, and emotionally safe classrooms. Important to note here, based on OPRF teacher analysis, is that a similar range of student achievement and preparation is now present in college prep and honors courses. Providing academic supports for all students, sharpening teacher application of differentiated instruction, and conducting formative and summative program evaluation with attention to racial equity are critical components of the evolving courses. Fortunately, teachers have been identifying and developing core components for successful design and implementation for the last two years.

JOHN DUFFY

One View

Attention to equity goals, instructional concerns As OPRF administrators maintain, it is mandatory that de-tracked programs support the academic and social growth of all students. They are upfront about the special challenges of proposed courses that will combine college prep and honors students. This includes how educators will ensure rigorous learning opportunities for all students in more racially

Ongoing evaluation and design In unprecedented work, teacher division teams created uniform performance standards and nationally aligned course assessments in 2018. They then conducted current freshman course evaluations from a racial equity perspective and uncovered significant inequities that re-structuring will address. Teachers and administrators continue to review the extensive national research base on tracking and de-tracking. A select sample of this research is now on the district’s web page, Access for All. Guiding this review See DUFFY on page 32

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

O U R

V I E W S

Metra steps up

nytime you can pry a nickel out of the Union Pacific railroad for anything that might be considered aesthetic, neighbor-responsive, and not profit-additive, you’ve done a good day’s work. So our report today that the Union Pacific will ante up a few bucks to construct a chain-link fence and some security gates, maybe a bush or two, along its property in River Forest is something of a breakthrough. Credit certainly goes to the village of River Forest which has been strong in representing the concerns of neighbors, and to state Senator Kimberly Lightford, who helped broker an agreement. Of course, stories like this always rightly include fed-up neighbors who have been advocating for themselves for years. This story, though, is not about security fencing or landscaping. It is about obnoxious and unceasing train noise, mostly generated by Union Pacific freight trains. The real hero then is Metra, the less noisy and more neighborly commuter railroad, which has found $60,000 to invest in a pilot project in River Forest. Metra wants to experiment with a sound absorbing surface, Acousticblok by name, which will be attached to the 8-foot chainlink fence along the route. Happy neighbors said Metra believes the new surface should lower decibel levels from 78 to 50 dB which will bring the clatter and screeching more or less in line with typical street noise. We will find out soon if this works. Meanwhile, thanks to River Forest for pushing this rock up the embankment, to Lightford for jumping in along with Congressman Danny Davis, and most of all, kudos to residents who simply wouldn’t accept that this powerful private company could get away with ignoring the life-changing racket they cause.

Oak Park Housing Center’s next act It’s nice to be venerable. Better to be vital. The Oak Park Regional Housing Center certainly checks the box for historical impact on the village’s racial diversity over 45 years. Nothing diminishes that audacious start as it fostered ongoing white demand for rental housing in a moment when fear of racial resegregation was profound. Over time, the housing center adapted in multiple ways to attempt to address race and housing across a wider geography, including Forest Park, Berwyn and the West Side. Those results were mixed. Then as the technology of searching for an apartment went nearly fully digital, the housing center faced steep challenges in communicating its message and services. Now, a year after the resignation of Rob Breymaier as the center’s longtime activist director, and in the same year as the death of Bobbie Raymond, the center’s legendary founder, the nonprofit has gone back to fully reassess its mission and its methods. With a new strategic plan, with acknowledgement that it needs a funding base wider than a reliance on Oak Park’s village government, the housing center has a new director in Athena Williams. Well known as an activist on the West Side, and a resident there, Williams brings on-the-ground housing experience, deeply-made connections, and a new energy to a changing mission and tougher reality. She acknowledged in opening remarks at the center’s annual gala on Sept. 26 that the housing center needs to become largely financially independent of government funding. Oak Park’s village board, facing its own tight budgets and sporting a more critical view of the housing center, will be pleased. More essentially, Williams needs to clarify the housing center’s 2019 mission and execute it with purpose and passion.

V I E W P O I N T S

Whose back are you sitting on? I sit on a man’s back, choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am sorry for him and wish to lighten his load by all means possible … except by getting off his back.

Leo Tolstoy

What Then Must We Do?

According to Wikipedia, What Then Must We Do? (sometimes translated as What Is to Be Done?) by Leo Tolstoy, published in 1886, describes the social conditions of Russia in his day. It contains the powerful quote above. The title is based on a New Testament reference (Luke 3: 10-11): “‘What should we do then?’ the crowd asked. John [the Baptist] answered, ‘Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.’” Today we live in a time of even greater inequity — economic, racial, cultural, and educational. Those of us who enjoy a more privileged position in this deeply unequal society sit on someone’s back, assuring ourselves and others that we feel sorry for them and wish to lighten their load by all means possible … except by getting off their back. Just because someone else may be sitting on your back doesn’t let you off the hook. It should make us all the more motivated to get people off everyone’s back. It shouldn’t convince you to do everything possible to preserve what little privilege you have. That’s where we are at the moment when it comes to educational equity in Oak Park. I’ve been listening to the achievement gap/educational equity discussion in this community for almost three decades now and it hasn’t changed. Whenever someone suggests actually doing something to alter the status quo, the backlash begins: Whatever you do, don’t disturb the educational advantages our privileged kids enjoy. If accommodating minority kids means dumbing down the honors track and hurting our kids’ chances of getting into privileged colleges, forget it. That’s the only reason we’re in this community and willing to put up with these high taxes. Or some variation thereof. Questionable assumptions to say the least. They put it in the most palatable terms possible: “Statistics show this won’t work. Do you have stats to prove this will work? Why should we try something new if we aren’t completely sure it will work? Yes, it would be nice to have more diversity in the honors program, but minority kids are just too far behind. The problems go back to early childhood. It’s not fair to disadvantage our kids in order to advantage those kids. Equity is really just another word for mediocrity. It’s their problem and their parents’, not ours.” Short-sighted, narrowly focused and, frankly, selfcentered. We’ve got ours and we’re keeping it. The system isn’t working for everyone, but it’s working for some, so protect our kids at all cost. The cost is too high. The proposed curriculum experiment at OPRF High School removes the two-tier track of honors and college prep, for freshmen only, starting with the 2021-22 school year. The goal is to upgrade the all-inclusive single track, encourage more students to enter the honors track beginning in sophomore

year, and permanently bump up the college prep track to a more challenging level for those who don’t. Critics fear it will “dumb down” the curriculum too much for the top students. They see educational equity as a win-lose proposition. They need to widen their vision. It’s actually a win-win proposition. The top students will still get into their elite colleges and they’ll reap the benefits of greater diversity in their classrooms. They’ll be more well-rounded. Think of the admissions essays they’ll be able to write. Will it work? Well, what we’re doing right now hasn’t worked for decades, so don’t we have a moral imperative to try something new? The school’s motto, Ta Garista, “Those things that are best,” needs to be expanded to “Those things that are best for as many as possible.” Effectively, OPRF’s motto has been “The most for the best” when it should be “The best for the most.” Last fall’s docu-series, America to Me, exposed the lie: Underachieving minority kids aren’t underachieving because they’re not smart enough or because their parents don’t care. These kids are smart — smart enough to do honors work. We just haven’t figured out how to get more of them into honors classes. That’s our failure as much as theirs. John Phelan, who wrote about this in last week’s paper [More facts needed before changing the frosh curriculum, Viewpoints, Oct. 2], is a respected former president of an OPRF school board that didn’t act — not successfully anyway. There were reasons: reluctant superintendents and administrations that didn’t try hard enough, faculty members who didn’t care enough, and parents who cared too much about protecting “their” honors program. Not good enough. The system is set up for the few. It needs to be reset for the many. If you have a better idea than the frosh curriculum change, let’s hear it. I haven’t heard a single alternative so far. If you don’t think public education needs to change at all, then you haven’t been paying attention, which means you’ve disqualified yourself from the conversation. The freshman experiment is one way to address the situation, not the only way. We should give it a try. Should we learn from Evanston Township what worked and why, what didn’t and why not, as Phelan suggested? Sure. Should we find out if other school districts are having any success improving academic opportunity for minority students? Definitely. Maybe John Phelan will volunteer to do that for us. It would be a fine contribution. But we don’t have to get every single duck in a row before we act. Don’t make the perfect the enemy of the good. We’ve failed to act for too long. What white parents have been doing for too long, in effect, is sitting on the back of an education system and choking it and making it carry your kids, yet assuring yourself and others that you’re sorry for underachieving students and wish to lighten their load by all means possible … except, of course, by setting up more opportunities for them to succeed. What then must we do? First, get off their backs.

KEN

TRAINOR

V I E W P O I N T S S H R U B T O W N

by Marc Stopeck

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Associate Publisher Dawn Ferencak Staff Reporters Michael Romain, Stacey Sheridan Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Sports/Staff reporter James Kay Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, John Hubbuch, May Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West, Linda Francis Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes Editorial Designers Tom Deja Business Manager Joyce Minich IT Manager/Web Developer Mike Risher Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead Advertising Designers Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak Advertising Sales Marc Stopeck Inside Sales Representative Mary Ellen Nelligan

Your vaccination is keeping me alive Everyone who can be vaccinated should be vaccinated. When people aren’t vaccinated, they risk not only their health, but the health of people around them. In OPRF, a school of 3,500+ people, one infected person can easily create an outbreak of a dangerous disease. As a member of the community who is immunocompromised, I rely on herd immunity to stay healthy. Herd immunity, or community immunity, is the practice of having at least 90-95% of people vaccinated against a disease, so that one case doesn’t spread, and turn into an epidemic. Without herd immunity, I wouldn’t be able to lead a normal life. My medical condition, X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia, or XLA, makes my body unable to produce B-cells, which make up half of a healthy person’s immune system, and are responsible for fighting diseases and viruses that enter the body. Thankfully, there is a treatment for my condition. Every month, I get an infusion that boosts my immune system to close to the same level as everyone else’s; I also take an antibiotic daily. However, there’s no cure. And even with everything that I do, I am still more like-

ly to get sick than a person with a normal immune system. If I get sick, I could get much sicker than someone else. I rely on my community to be immunized so that diseases are kept away. To me, the question of vaccination seems like a no-brainer. With study after study proving their effectiveness with minimal risks, it’s a shock to me that people still don’t want to vaccinate. I understand that some religions may have objections to modern medicine, and I don’t want to advocate against religious freedom, but at a certain point, you have to wonder how important complete religious freedom is against the health of an entire population. Asking everyone to get vaccinated, a shot or two a year in most cases, seems like a reasonable request. Not only is it extremely beneficial to you with very minimal risks to your health, but it also helps protect people like me and two of my three brothers who also have XLA, as well as patients on chemotherapy, the elderly, and young children, especially when we can’t protect ourselves.

Holden Green

OPRF High School student

It takes all kinds Thank you for your down-to-earth description of current male-female roles and characteristics [The gender revolution, Ken Trainor, Viewpoints, Oct. 2]. As a woman, I appreciate the fact that now males can show sensitivity. I also appreciate the acceptance of male-male

Client Engagement Natalie Johnson Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Distribution Coordinator Wakeelah Cocroft-Aldridge Front Desk Carolyn Henning, Maria Murzyn Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

About Viewpoints Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, fire you to action. In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing. Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay. If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

and female-female relationships. And let’s not forget the humans who are asexual. It takes all kinds to make a world.

Joanne Selden

Oak Park

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

■ 250-word limit

■ 500-word limit

■ Must include first and last names,

■ One-sentence footnote about yourself,

municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)

your connection to the topic ■ Signature details as at left

Email Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com or mail to Wednesday Journal, Viewpoints, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 708 613 3300

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

DUFFY

Equity curriculum from page 29 is a critical eye for the validity, context, a priori assumptions, and applicability that such research has for OPRF and our racial equity goals.

Racial equity and community engagement In 2016 the Committee for Equity and Excellence in Education, along with APPLE (AfricanAmerican Parents for Purposeful Leadership in Education) and the Suburban Unity Alliance, proposed key process elements for increasing racial equity in freshman curriculum. Features of the process we outlined, as noted above, have been underway. These actions include: ■ Sponsoring an open inquiry process with community, teacher and parent participation ■ Reviewing local and national research that examines the impact a tracked and de-tracked curriculum have on all students ■ Providing for ongoing input and community dialogue around the design and implementation of this program ■ Identifying the professional learning and student supports that a unitary academic curriculum requires ■ Ensuring rigorous learning for all students while including pathways for earning honors credit ■ Developing a strong, comprehensive independent evaluation. To their credit, the D200 administration and school board have put in place key parts of a thoughtful, democratic and racially equitable curriculum change process. For certain, as supportive and oppositional voices in recent weeks demonstrate, we need to continue to bring more people into the conversation, while maintaining the district’s priority on racial equity. John Duffy chairs the Committee for Equity and Excellence in Education which networks with APPLE, Oak Park Call to Action, Suburban Unity Alliance, the E-Team, D97 DivCo, SAY, and other racial equity advocates in Oak Park and River Forest.

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Consequences of messing with OPRF curriculum

I have lived in Oak Park for 21 years. I love the community and have lived here longer than anywhere else in my life. Additionally, I am and have been in the real estate lending industry for roughly 20 years. The reality not being addressed with the OPRF freshman curriculum change is that this will impact real estate choices prospective buyers make. Schools and the school system’s impact on a child’s future is a major decision point along with taxes, safety and amenities/lifestyle. We pay immensely high taxes in Oak Park and, to some degree, live with crime issues less prevalent in other suburbs, but people still move here. This can be attributed to certain amenities that Oak Park provides, but it is definitely anchored by the schools.

This curriculum change represents a possible blow to this all-important aspect of a buyer’s decision process. Many people are open to new things, but most people will not gamble with their children’s future. They will make decisions based on the best opportunity to give their children a better life. Whether a perceived or actual difference, they will avoid uncertainty, especially when they would have to pay a premium to get it, i.e. exorbitant taxes. It is my assertion that you will see two things as a result of this. First, you will see a decrease in people choosing to move to Oak Park and River Forest. There are plenty of other suburbs with nearly the same amenities and geographical proximity that will meet their needs without a perceived disadvantage for their kids. Sec-

ondly, you will see current residents evaluating and making decisions regarding whether or not to stay in Oak Park and River Forest based on the aforementioned criteria as their children near ninth grade. I would be disingenuous if the thought had not occurred to me to synthesize an exit strategy and transition plan as my own children reach a point of no return where moving would be overly disruptive. This may sound irrational, selfish, alarmist, et al, but the reality is that I do not want to explain to my child that I could have made a choice that would have improved their chances to attend a certain college when and if they do not get in. I do not think that I am alone.

Doug Katz

Oak Park

Not one more dime for equity at OPRF

Dear Mr. Hubbuch, Thank you for the common sense you bring to the issues facing Oak Park in general and the high school in particular [The real gap at OPRF isn’t between students, John Hubbuch, Viewpoints, Sept. 25]. The obsession with “equity” has drowned out every other conversation at or about OPRF. The dumbing-down approach to achieving “equity” distresses me, but I believe the worst effect will be teaching students that people are defined by race, and only by race. And then the “responsibility” issue. As you point out, the achievement gap has persisted despite the school boards’ multiyear responsible, race-conscious attempts to solve it. Doesn’t it occur to anyone that the problem persists because it doesn’t lie with the school? If a black

student does not do as well as a white student, the Oak Park solution is to tell the white teacher to examine his/her “white privilege,” and accept all the blame. ShaRhonda Dawson, for example, blames everything on white racists (to her, all white people) and asserts that poverty, single-parent homes, and lack of parental involvement do not factor into student achievement. I find this statement absolutely extraordinary. Not only does it defy all common sense and knowledge of human development, but it invites students (and parents) to deny all personal responsibility. I have lived in Oak Park for more than 30 years, and have always voted money for the schools. No more. Since the board has decided

Financial independence benefits diversity

In response to the Oct. 2 article, “Housing Center appoints new director,” I would like to applaud the strategic plan of the Oak Park Regional Housing Center as articulated by Executive Director Athena Williams, namely to reduce financial dependence upon government funding from the village of Oak Park. Achieving financial independence from village funding benefits everyone: The Housing Center is able to pursue expansion of its programs as it sees fit, free from any possible constraints imposed by the village. In turn the village can potentially give Oak Park taxpayers some much-needed relief. The Oak Park real estate mar-

ket, relative to surrounding areas, is sluggish, due to our excessively high property taxes. High property taxes price both potential renters and homeowners out of the Oak Park market. High property taxes are a significant obstacle to promoting a diverse community. Diversity applies not only to race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, but to age and financial status as well. High property taxes potentially force older residents living on fixed incomes and families with single incomes to leave the village. Soon Oak Park will be comprised solely of young professional couples with two sizable incomes.

Corey Gimbel Oak Park

that my tax dollars are best spent paying equity specialists, I will oppose every dime. I am pretty sure that the main job of an equity specialist is to convince school boards and the community that his/her services are indispensable, that he/she is the only thing preventing the KKK from burning crosses on Oak Park lawns. I suspect that in this goal, if no other, the equity specialist will be successful. While I have little hope that Oak Park will ever view people without a racial lens, I truly hope that you will continue to express your views. I have been cursing the darkness, but you light a candle. Please don’t let it blow out.

Jessica Tovrov

Oak Park

The case for banning leaf blowers Recently, Wednesday Journal has published residents’ letters urging the regulation or banning of gaspowered leaf blowers. I am adding my voice to theirs. In a James Fallows article in The Atlantic, April 2019, “Get Off My Lawn: How a small group of activists (our correspondent among them) got leaf blowers banned in the nation’s capital,” he writes about the damaging noise and pollution levels caused by gas-powered leaf blowers. He cites a 2017 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the diminished hearing “largely caused by rising levels of ambient urban noise — sirens, traffic, construction, leaf blowers — which can lead to a range of disorders, from high blood pressure to depression to heart disease.” About pollution, Fallows says a gas leaf blower is powered by two-stroke

engine which is dirty and “sloshes together a mixture of gasoline and oil … then spews out as much as one-third of that fuel as an unburned aerosol.” The article goes on: “In 2017, the California Air Resources Board issued a warning [that] … by 2020, gas-powered leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and similar equipment … could produce more ozone than all the millions of cars in California combined.” Fallows suggests that battery-power can replace the gas-powered blowers. From 2015 to 2018, Fallows worked with neighbors in Washington DC and, with growing support, their efforts were realized. On Jan. 1, 2022, gas-powered leaf blowers will be illegal in our nation’s capital, as they are banned or restricted in “at least 100 U.S. cities.” We can do it, too.

Elaine D. Johnson Oak Park

FPSD91 Every Student ad (FPR) OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

1019.pdf

10/1/19

11:54 AM

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

Every Child Has the Right to a Quality Education Forest Park School District 91

National Equity Project (NEP)

District 91 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Equity Imperative

In 2017, Forest Park School District 91 began a long-term partnership with the National Equity Project (NEP) in order to provide professional learning experiences for Board members, administrators and other leaders in support of their ongoing efforts to improve educational experiences, outcomes, and life options for students and families who have been historically underserved by District 91.

Recognizing that systemic bias has plagued our educational system, we commit to nurturing dialogue around all issues of inequity, including culture, race, faith, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and different ability, as they pertain to classroom practices, school and district structures, and policies and procedures. We support actions removing barriers to opportunities that allow children to reach their full potential.

The Board of Education, with the assistance of superintendent Dr. Louis Cavallo and assistant superintendent Edward Brophy, worked together to craft the Equity Imperative, a mission statement that will serve as a strategic directive for District 91, ensuring equally high outcomes for all participants in our educational system.

Learn more about the Forest Park Public Schools at

fpsd91.org

We believe educational equity is achievable in District 91. And although the problems in education today are complex, daunting, and systemic, we are committed to working together to find solutions. Dr. Louis Cavallo Superintendent of Schools Forest Park School District

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

RELIGION GUIDE

Roman Catholic

Check First.

First Congregational Church of Maywood

400 N. Fifth Avenue (1 block north of Lake St.) Come join us for Sunday Morning Worship at 11 am Pastor Elliot Wimbush will be preaching the message. Refreshments and fellowship follow the service. 708-344-6150 firstchurchofmaywood.org When you're looking for a place to worship the Lord, Check First.

You’re Invited to A Church for All Nations A Church Without Walls SERVICE LOCATION Forest Park Plaza 7600 W. Roosevelt Road Forest Park, IL 60130

William S. Winston Pastor LIVE Webcast - 11:15AM Service Believer’s Walk of Faith Broadcast Schedule (Times in Central Standard Time) Television DAYSTAR (M-F)

3:30-4:00pm

Nationwide

WJYS-TV (M-F)

6:30-7:00am

Chicago, IL.

WCIU-TV (Sun.)

10:30-11:00am

Chicago, IL.

Word Network

10:30-11:00am

Nationwide

(M-F)

www.livingwd.org www.billwinston.org

West Suburban Temple Har Zion

1040 N. Harlem Avenue River Forest Meet our Rabbi, Adir Glick Pray, learn, and celebrate with our caring, progressive, egalitarian community. Interfaith families are welcome. Accredited Early Childhood Program Religious School for K thru 12 Daily Morning Minyan Weekly Shabbat Services Friday 6:30pm & Saturday 10:00am Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 708.366.9000 www.wsthz.org

St. Edmund Catholic Church

ELCA, Lutheran

188 South Oak Park Ave. Saturday Mass: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Masses: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. Weekday Mass: 8:30 a.m. M–F Holy Day Masses: As Announced Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15 p.m. Parish Office: 708-848-4417 Religious Ed Phone: 708-848-7220

Good Shepherd Worshiping at 820 Ontario, Oak Park IL (First Baptist Church) 9:00a-Worship 10:30a-Education Hour

All are welcome. goodshepherdlc.org 708-848-4741

Lutheran—ELCA

United Lutheran Church

409 Greenfield Street (at Ridgeland Avenue) Oak Park Holy Communion with nursery care and children’s chapel each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

on the corner of Thomas St. & Fair Oaks Ave.

worship on Sundays @ 10am nursery care available fairoakspres.org 744 Fair Oaks Ave. • 708-386-4920

OAK PARK MEETING OF FRIENDS (Quakers) Meeting For Worship Sundays at 10:00 a.m. at Oak Park Art League 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park Please call 708-445-8201 www.oakparkfriends.org

Roman Catholic

Ascension Catholic Church

www.unitedlutheranchurch.org

708/386-1576

(708) 697-5000 Sunday Service 7AM, 9AM & 11:15AM

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION

Lutheran-Independent

Grace Lutheran Church

7300 W. Division, River Forest David R. Lyle, Senior Pastor David W. Wegner, Assoc. Pastor Lauren Dow Wegner, Assoc. Pastor Sunday Worship, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Ed. 9:45 a.m. Childcare Available

Grace Lutheran School

Preschool - 8th Grade Bill Koehne, Principal 366-6900, graceriverforest.org Lutheran-Missouri Synod

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church

305 Circle Ave, Forest Park Sunday Worship, 9:30am Christian Education Hour 8:30am Wednesday Worship 7:00pm Wheelchair Access to Sanctuary Leonard Payton, Pastor Roney Riley, Assistant Pastor 708-366-3226 www.stjohnforestpark.org Methodist

First United Methodist Church of Oak Park

324 N. Oak Park Avenue 708-383-4983 www.firstUMCoakpark.org Sunday School for all Ages, 9am Sunday Worship, 10am Children’s Chapel during Worship Rev. Katherine Thomas Paisley, Pastor Professionally Staffed Nursery Fellowship Time after Worship

808 S. East Ave. 708/848-2703 www.ascensionoakpark.com Worship: Saturday Mass 5:00 pm Sunday Masses 7:30, 9:00, 11 am 5:00 pm at St. Edmund Church 188 S. Oak Park Ave.

Sacrament of Reconciliation 4 – 4:45 pm Saturday Taizé Prayer 7:30 pm First Fridays Feb.– Dec. & Jan. 1 Rev. James Hurlbert, Pastor

St. Giles Family Mass Community

We welcome all to attend Sunday Mass at 10 a.m. on the St. Giles Parish campus on the second floor of the school gym, the southernmost building in the school complex at 1034 North Linden Avenue. Established in 1970, we are a laybased community within St. Giles Roman Catholic Parish. Our Mass is family-friendly. We encourage liturgically active toddlers. Children from 3 to 13 and young adults play meaningful parts in each Sunday liturgy. Together with the parish, we offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based religious education program for children in grades K-8. For more information, go to http://www.stgilesparish.org/ family-mass-community or call Bob Wielgos at 708-288-2196.

Third Unitarian Church 10AM Sunday Forum 11AM Service Rev. Colleen Vahey thirdunitarianchurch.org (773) 626-9385 301 N. Mayfield, Chicago Committed to justice, not to a creed

Roman Catholic

St. Bernardine Catholic Church Harrison & Elgin, Forest Park

CELEBRATING OUR 107TH YEAR! Sat. Masses: 8:30am & 5:00pm SUNDAY MASSES: 8:00am & 10:30am 10:30 Mass-Daycare for all ages CCD Sun. 9am-10:15am Reconciliation: Sat. 9am & 4pm Weekday Masses: Monday–Thursday 6:30am Church Office: 708-366-0839 CCD: 708-366-3553 www.stbern.com Pastor: Fr. Stanislaw Kuca

Upcoming Religious Holidays

Oct 9 14-20 14 18

Yom Kippur Jewish Sukkot Jewish Thanksgiving - Canada Interfaith St. Luke, Apostle & Evangelist Christian 20 Birth of the Báb Baha’i Installation of Scriptures as Guru Granth Sikh

To place a listing in the Religion Guide, call Mary Ellen: 708/613-3342

Road Trip on the Horizon?

Let us know we’ll hold your paper!

Email: circulation@OakPark.com

(Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685) 1. Publication Title: Wednesday Journal 2. Publication no.: USPS 0010-138 3. Date of filing: Oct. 9, 2019 4. Frequency of issue: Weekly 5. No of issues published annually: 52 6. Annual subscription price: $38.00 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: Wednesday Journal, Inc., 141 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302. Stockholders owning 1% or more of stock: Gary Collins, 1326 William St., River Forest, IL 60305-1135; Robert Downs, 924 N. Euclid., Oak Park, IL 60302-1320; Dan and Mary Haley, 1305 Clinton, Berwyn, IL 60402-1231; Andrew Johnston & Julie Bernstein 9828 Trillium Trail, Bridgman MI 49106; Matthew Panschar, 2636 2nd Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55408-1701; Alexander, Edward Panschar and Martha Panschar, P.O. Box 200279, Anchorage, AK 99520-0279; Ruth Levy, 77 Bleecker St., New York, NY 10012-1701. 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: Oct. 9, 2019 15. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 5349 A. Total no. copies printed (net press run): B1. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions stated on Form 3541: 75 B2. Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on form 3541: 3,507 B3. Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other paid distribution outside USPS: 406 B4. Paid distribution by other classes of mail through the USPS: 0 C. Total Paid distribution: 3988 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: 403 D3. Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS: 0 D4. Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail: 600 E. Total free or nominal rate distribution: 1003 F. Total distribution: 4991 G. Copies not distributed: 358 H: Total: 5349 I. Percent paid: 81% 15. No. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: A. Total no. copies printed (net press run): 5089 B1. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions stated on Form 3541: 76 B2. Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on form 3541: 3516 B3. Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other paid distribution outside USPS: 487 B4. Paid distribution by other classes of mail through the USPS: 0 C. Total Paid distribution: 4,079 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: 226 D3. Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS: 0 D4. Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail: 500 E. Total free or nominal rate distribution: 726 F. Total distribution: 4805 G. Copies not distributed: 284 H: Total: 5089 I. Percent paid: 84% 16. Publication of statement of ownership will be printed in the Oct. 9, 2019 issue of this publication. 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner: Dan Haley, Publisher Oct. 9, 2019

V I E W P O I N T S

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Thanks for covering LGBTQ+ issues

Thank you so much for writing this important article on LGBTQ+ youth [District 90 strives for inclusion, News, Oct. 2]. For too long D90 was slow to move on actually doing things (rather than just passively listening), and it is brave and amazing of the young people interviewed in the article to give their time and energy to help move things forward. I wished a bit more celebration of the bravery of these young people could have been included. The tone of the article seemed to celebrate the district’s inclusion efforts and less the bravery and energy that it took these kids to allow their voices to be heard, to reach out to the school district and allow their voices to be heard in public. Ana Shack, one of the kids interviewed for the article, is my daughter and I know firsthand how much it took for her to take on such public leadership. I am also a licensed clinical counselor working with lots of LGBTQ+ teens in my work at a private high school in Wheaton, and I know all too well that this kind of leadership does make a huge difference, but it takes a lot of guts and energy and that LGBTQ+ youth face daily adversities others don’t

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

Our next evolutionary leap

have to face. I hope a future article will follow up with D90’s continued efforts to increase inclusion and will also give reference to the fact that it is an amazing action by young people who have already graduated to continue to raise their voices and concerns for future generations. I felt it a bit disappointing that this was not included in the current article and hope that this will be brought up in future articles. I also hope that future articles will check back on D90’s efforts on what they are actually doing day by day to make LGBTQ+ youth feel more safe, included and heard. When Ana was a student,that surely was not the case, and my son is a sixth-grader at Roosevelt Middle School who has several friends who identify as LGBTQ+ and would surely profit from continued improvements in the district’s actions. This is such an important topic and ongoing coverage of this would be so important for the Oak Park and River Forest community.

Angelika Rupp River Forest

Dear Ken, Reading your column is a treat for me, and many others I’m sure, each Wednesday as the Journal arrives. I do quite a bit of reading and some writing, so I have cultivated an appreciation for good writing, and I find that yours is reliably good, backed by research and lots of literary references that give it an extra spark. Evolution, biology, and human behavior are main subjects of interest for me. So when you began your recent column making the point about the pace of evolution accelerating, you had my attention [The gender revolution, Ken Trainor, Viewpoints, Oct. 2]. You are right that the Industrial Revolution, following the discovery of coal and fossil fuels over two centuries ago, was a powerful impetus for economic and population growth. But my studies point much further back, ten or more thousands of years ago, to the Agrarian Revolution when humans acquired the ability to produce their own food through domestication of plants and animals. This really was the beginning of what Edward O. Wilson calls: The Social Conquest of Earth. In his book of that title he writes: “Humanity failed to seize the great opportunity given it at the dawn of the Neolithic era. It might have then halted population growth below the constraining minimum limit. As a species, we did the opposite. There was no way for us to foresee the consequences of our ini-

tial success. We simply took what was given to us and continued to multiply and consume in blind obedience to instincts inherited from our humbler, more brutally constrained Paleolithic ancestors.” Having had the ability over millennia to cultivate and appropriate the earth’s resources to meet our needs, we humans have arrived at our present position in relation to the planet, which you accurately describe as “an acceleration of human endangerment.” Will we be able to invent our way out of it by finding new sources of energy to replace fossil fuels? Without having to change our high-consumption way of life? I seriously doubt it. I think it will take a deeper level of self-examination, leading to a much greater sense of responsibility by individuals, families, communities and societies. The multiple crises arising from overtaxing and exploiting the earth’s resources call for a level of change, or in Ken’s words, “an evolutionary leap” that we do not yet envision. The young people around the world (and here in Oak Park at the Climate Strike) who are rising up to confront the older generation, including world leaders, may turn out to be the force that brings us to take the leap.

Stephanie Ferrera Oak Park

101 S. Marion, Oak Park (708) 383-9695 oakparkjewelers .com

Congratulations to Oak Park Jewelers on their re-opening!

Celebrating at Oak Park Jewelers' ribbon cutting: Bob Stelletello, Right At Home Oak Park / Chicago / Hinsdale; Dr. Mary Ann Bender, Dr. Mary Ann Bender Podiatry; Liz Holt, OPRF Chamber of Commerce; Patty Mokrzycki, Oak Park Jewelers; Carlee Nestelberger, Oak Park Jewelers; Sam Ciccione, Oak Park Jewelers; Zack Larabee, Oak Park Jewelers; Meg Ata, Oak Park Jewelers; Susie Goldschmdit; Cliff Osborn, Jack Carpenter Realtors; Kim Goldschmidt, AXA Advisors

For your own ribbon cutting contact us on oprfchamber.org

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

O B I T U A R I E S

Lee Botts, 91

Environmentalist, writer, filmmaker Lee Botts, 91, an influential environmentalist, writer and filmmaker known for her work related to conservation and restoration of the Great Lakes and the Indiana Dunes, died on Oct. 5, 2019 at the Oak LEE BOTS Park Arms. Born Leila Carman in Mooreland, Oklahoma, on Feb. 25, 1928, and raised in Oklahoma and Kansas in the heart of the Dust Bowl, she moved to Chicago with her then-husband in 1949 and raised four children, including Oak Parker Beth Botts, in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Through the Save the Dunes Council, she took a leadership role in the campaign, which in 1966 resulted in the creation of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, now the Indiana Dunes National Park. In the early 1960s, she was a garden columnist for, and later editor of, the weekly Hyde Park Herald newspaper. In 1968, Botts became one of the first staff members of the Open Lands Project, now known as Openlands, one of Chicago’s earliest environmental organizations. In 1970, she founded the Lake Michigan Federation, now the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the first independent citizens’ organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of the lake. That year she also participated in the first Earth Day observance in Chicago. Botts then worked for the Region 5 office of the young federal Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). In 1977, President Carter named her head of the Great Lakes Basin Commission, a water planning and policy agency headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She later had a faculty research appointment at Northwestern University in Evanston Later, she became the top environmental official in the administration of Chicago’s Mayor Harold Washington and organized the city’s first Department of the Environment. In 1986, she narrowly lost an election to the board of what is now the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Chicago’s countywide wastewater treatment agency. In 1997, after she retired to the Indiana Dunes, Botts realized an idea she had long championed: establishing the Dunes Learning Center, which offers sleepover environmental education programs for gradeschool students and teachers in the national park. Today nearly 10,000 students come to the center each year from school systems throughout Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. Twice during the 1990s, Botts traveled to the former Soviet Union, to Siberia, Estonia and Ukraine, to coach fledgling citizen environmental groups. She also served as an ad-

visor to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation for North America, established under the environmental side agreement to the 1994 North America Free Trade Agreement. In her early 80s, despite knowing nothing about filmmaking, Botts began work on a documentary about the founding of the national park and the history of environmental activism in Northwest Indiana. As executive producer, with Patricia Wisniewski as director, Shifting Sands: On the Path to Sustainability premiered on Earth Day 2016. It has been shown on dozens of PBS stations and at film festivals nationwide, including a showing in the One Earth Film Festival at the Oak Park Public Library. At various times, Botts was a board member or president of the Dunes Learning Center, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Save the Dunes, the Shirley Heinze Land Trust, and the Delta Institute. She also sewed patchwork quilts with original designs and cultivated a garden of native plants that she called “my prairie.” She received many awards and honors from local, regional and national environmental organizations and agencies. Lee Botts is survived by her children, Karl Botts, Elizabeth (Beth) Botts of Oak Park, Paul Botts, and Alan Botts; her daughter-inlaw, Heather McCowen; and her grandsons, Alex Botts and Theo Botts. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory would be appreciated to the Dunes Learning Center in Porter, Indiana, or the Alliance for the Great Lakes in Chicago. A memorial celebration will be held later.

Genevieve Krawchuk, 90

Jazz vocal group member, animal lover Genevieve S. Krawchuk, 90, of Oak Park, died on Sept. 11, 2019. Born in Chicago, the third child of John and Mary Kaczmarek, sister to the late John (Alice) and the late William KaczGENEVIEVE KRAWCHUK marek and to a sister who died in infancy, she graduated from Schurz High School and Wright Junior College, worked for Teletype Corporation and traveled the country as a trainer for new equipment. A Frank Sinatra bobby-soxer in the 1940s, she had a love of music and was an excellent dancer. She met her husband, the late Richard R. Krawchuk, on a blind date at the Aragon Ballroom. They married in 1953 and purchased their Oak Park home in 1959. Known for her beautiful smile and welcom-

ing, hospitable nature, she hosted memorable parties and holiday dinners and loved to bake for her family and friends, and, among neighborhood children, her chocolate chip cookies were legendary. She was an active member of the Four Freshmen (jazz vocal group) Society, enjoying the group’s annual convention/reunion held in a different city each year. She and Richard belonged to the Senior Polka Association and the Polish Roman Catholic Union, where Genevieve served as treasurer in both clubs. She and Richard were lifelong Chicago Cubs fans and held season tickets to the Chicago Bears for many years. She was especially fond of the Chicago Blackhawks and relished their Stanley Cup titles. A lover of animals, she adopted dogs and cats over the years and contributed to animal welfare charities. Genevieve Krawchuk was the mother of Jody (Randall) Soland, Richard A. Krawchuk, Robert Krawchuk and Keith (Nancy) Krawchuk; the grandmother of Zoë and Jonathan Krawchuk; mother-in-law of the late Dick Kreiss; and the aunt of many. Visitation will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at Oak Park’s St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church, 38 N. Austin Blvd., followed by a memorial Mass at 10 a.m. and private interment. In lieu of flowers, donations to Fried’s Cat Shelter (friedscatshelter.org) are appreciated. Arrangements were handled by Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park.

Mark Kelley, 52 Oak Park resident

Mark S. Kelley, 52, born in Cincinnati, Ohio and currently of Oak Park, died peacefully on Sept. 28, 2019. He was the husband of Cathy Kelley (nee Kroner); the father of Aiden, Evelyn and Ian Kelley; the son of Jane and the late Dr. William Kelley; the sonin-law of Ann and Louis Kroner; the brother of Jenny (Tom), Amy, Kim, Chris and Cynthia (Jeff); brother-in-law to the Kroner family; and uncle of many nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to gather on Friday, Oct. 11 for a memorial visitation at 9 a.m. until time of memorial Mass, 10:30 a.m., at Cincinnati’s Guardian Angel Church, 6531 Beechmont Ave. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations to the wonderful JourneyCare Hospice, at journeycare.org, or to The Les Turner ALS Foundation, at lesturnerals.org.

Rebecca Watson, 57 Model, actor, teacher, advocate

Rebecca S. Watson, 57, died in her River Forest home on Oct. 1, 2019, surrounded by her husband of 26 years, Thomas J. Watson and her children, T.J. and Matthew. Other

survivors include her father, Victor Cruz, and her brothers: Ken, Steven (Melanie), Kevin and Jeff (Kerry) Cruz. Born in Los Angeles, she lived a full life. A successful model and actor, her career took REBECCA WATSON her to Paris, Milan, New York, and Los Angeles, starting at 16 until she retired in her late 20s. Thereafter she bluffed her way into a management position at Ann Taylor, despite no experience, teaching herself the things she needed to know at night. Her young retail career culminated in a regional manager position at Banana Republic, until she moved to Chicago, married, and raised her family. A free spirit, she was fearless, spontaneous, kind, and wise. When she decided while on a vacation in Mykonos, Greece that she wanted to stay longer, she got a job herding goats to pay the rent. She called it her Tempest Year. She did aerobics to stay in shape for modeling, and someone signed her up for the Crystal Light National Aerobic Championship — which she won. To defray the cost of attending out-of-town Grateful Dead shows, she sold wind-up toys at the shows on Shakedown Street. Smart enough to realize setting up next to the stirfry guy meant lots of hungry Dead Heads standing around waiting for food and buying her toys, she sold out quickly and could then enjoy the weekend. When she wanted to be a better mother, she became a Montessori teacher. When her children suffered from mental illness and needed help in school, she became a fierce champion for their rights and such an expert on the law that she became a source of information and strength for other parents struggling with the same issues. When her son, Matthew started playing hockey, she became a hockey mom, team manager, and passionate fan of both Matthew in goal, and the Chicago Blackhawks. Even with metastatic breast cancer, her Facebook post about voting went viral and resulted in calls from the Secretary of State to do voter outreach, and a call from wouldbe Gov. Pritzker. While Rebecca loved to travel with her family all over the world, she especially loved her time at her second home in the mountains of Sun Valley, Idaho and on vacations in Puerto Rico. Her Puerto Rican heritage was a great source of pride. A Celebration of Life will be held with a Jazz Funeral and Second Line parade on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at FitzGerald’s nightclub in Berwyn. Please RSVP at tomasjwatson@ mindspring.com. In lieu of flowers, donations to Thrive Counseling Center (www.thrivecc.org) are appreciated. Arrangements were handled by Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home.

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

@ @OakPark

SPORTS

“What coach said” This week in boys xc 39

Fenwick prevails on homecoming in 31-26 win Nudo honored before the game By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

For Fenwick head football coach Gene Nudo, Friday night’s homecoming game against Marmion Academy was bittersweet. He was honored before kickoff for achieving 100 wins as a high school coach, but the ceremony came after his mother-in-law was laid to rest earlier in the day. “It was great having my family [on the field before the game],” said Nudo after the Friars defeated Marmion 31-26. “To have them all out here was kind of melancholy for me. We got the 100th win three weeks ago, and I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever get to 101. Our kids played hard and inspired tonight.” Fenwick (3-3, 1-1 in the CCL/ESCC White) started the game fumbling the ball on Marmion’s opening kickoff. The Cadets recovered on the Friars’ 22-yard line but couldn’t take advantage and turned the ball over on downs. The Friars made Marmion (4-2, 1-1 in the CCL/ESCC White) pay for the missed opportunity as Kaden Cobb (10-for-23, 156 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT) launched a 53-yard scoring strike to Max Reese (4 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TD) to give Fenwick a 7-0 lead. Jacque Walls followed with a 1-yard TD run to raise the advantage to 14-0. Marmion would get back into the game on the Friars’ next possession as Jack Scales (3 INT) intercepted Cobb’s pass and returned it for a 20-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 14-7 after the first quarter. Late in the first half, Fenwick marched 67 yards to reestablish a 14-point lead when Cobb found Reese for a 3-yard TD toss. This

Photo by Andrew Carlin

TAKEDOWN: Fenwick defense brings the heat during 31-26 win on homecoming. put Fenwick up 21-7 heading into halftime. The Friars squandered an opportunity to extend their lead early in the third quarter. After Declan Donnelly recovered a fumble on the Marmion 15, Cobb threw his second pick of the night — again to Scales — in the end zone. A personal foul penalty on the Friars gave the Cadets the ball on their 35, and Padraig Fitzgerald’s 37-yard TD pass to Dane Pardridge capped the 65-yard scoring drive. However, the PAT by Anthony Kuceba hit the left upright, leaving the score 21-13 Fenwick with 8:32 left in the third.

A 42-yard punt by Bryan Dowd put the Cadets in a vulnerable position on the oneyard line. On third down, Quin Wieties strip-sacked Fitzgerald, and Kevin Frazier recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. This put Fenwick up 28-13 heading into the fourth quarter. “Quin and Kevin [Frazier] are beasts,” said Fenwick LB Bryce Legan. “They’re playing like seniors, and that’s great for the program’s future. Games are won and lost in the trenches, and it’s huge for us to have those guys in the interior.”

After Fitzgerald (15-for-29, 194 yards, 3 TD) connected with Pardridge (seven receptions, 83 yards) for another touchdown pass (25 yards) early in the fourth quarter, the Friars went on a 6-minute, 14-play drive that ended with Dowd’s 27-yard field goal to make the score 31-19 with 2:23 remaining in the contest. The Cadets would score another TD but couldn’t recover the ensuing onside kick. The Friars then ran out the clock. “We played a good team tonight. They never gave up, and that’s a trademark of Dan Thorpe’s teams,” said Nudo of the Marmion coach, who is retiring after the season. “He’s a good football coach, and his kids play hard for him.” Walls finished the evening with 89 rushing yards on 16 carries, and Danny Kent added 57 yards on 11 carries. Defensively, Danny Farnan led the Friars with 12 tackles (11 unassisted). Legan added 6 tackles, and Donnelly 5, along with both a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In addition, Wieties, Patrick Feldmeier, and William O’Brien each recorded sacks. If there’s one area the Friars will hone over the next few weeks, it’s discipline. Fenwick committed numerous penalties against Marmion — including a few personal fouls. Afterwards both Nudo and Legan expressed concern. “I feel that’s a direct reflection on me when guys start taking bad penalties,” said Nudo. “In my mind, that has to stop, or we’ve got to get different guys on the field who will play the right way.” “We need to work on our discipline; right now we look like an undisciplined team,” said Legan. “But we know we can fix it, and I think if you take away the penalties, the scoreboard’s different.” Fenwick will face St. Patrick on Friday, Oct. 11 in the regular-season home finale. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Triton College.

Lyons Township delivers in PKs to beat OPRF Huskies’ student section, Lions players trade taunts in thriller By JAMES KAY Sports Editor

They needed eight rounds of penalty kicks, but Lyons Township High School (8-3-2, 3-0) earned its first win at Oak Park and River Forest’s stadium since 2013 when they beat the Huskies (9-3-2, 3-1) on Oct. 1. The contentious match between the two conference opponents, which was tied 1-1 after regulation, and OPRF’s stu-

dent section had the Lions fired up after the match. “We don’t win here,” said LTHS head coach Paul Labbato. “They bring a gigantic crowd and they are pretty … amazing. The administration probably doesn’t love it, but our kids love getting yelled at and it fires you up. They were saying, ‘Hey keep the fans down there for the PKs’ and I was like, ‘No, bring them down there! Our kids want them there.’” One of the plays that would swing the match occurred 45 seconds into the first half when LTHS pushed the ball into the box. Three OPRF players swarmed the ball, and it ended up spinning into the Huskies goal. Both teams’ coaches and players were confused after the

game of how the ball ended up out of reach of the defense, but it appeared it hit one of OPRF’s players and bounced into the net. The Huskies didn’t waste any time evening the score. Throughout the first half, the Lions didn’t apply pressure on the OPRF offense. According to Labbato, they wanted to force the Huskies to make mistakes by allowing OPRF to push forward. The Huskies, however, took advantage of this strategy at the 30:53 mark. OPRF’s Ben Ryan shook off two defenders close to midfield, weaved through the defense deep into the See HUSKIES on page 39

S P O R T S

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

OPRF runs over Proviso West behind McGill, Bryant Hoerster looks for consistency after 40-26 win By JAMES KAY Sports Editor

Coming off a dominant 49-9 win against Morton last week, Oak Park and River Forest High School’s football team (3-3) took care of business against Proviso West (0-6) on Oct. 4. Huskies quarterback Jaden McGill (three total touchdowns) threw for 124 passing yards while adding 24 yards on the ground in his two quarters of work. Running back Nazareth Bryant accumulated 86 yards on the ground, 46 receiving yards, and had a rushing and receiving touchdown. However, the Huskies had moments of vulnerability against the Panthers. Going into the game, Proviso West scored 36 points through its first five games of the season. After the defense surrendered 26 points to the Panthers, there is still improvement to be made after six games. “We have to get better,” said head coach John Hoerster. “We still have to understand that it starts with good alignment and knowing where you are supposed to be, knowing your assignment, and executing. In all three phases of the game, we had instances where our alignment was wrong which put our players out of position and [Proviso West] took advantage of it.” Throughout the first half, McGill pressured the Panthers’ secondary with multiple shots downfield. While Proviso

West was able to disrupt the Huskies’ passing game, the Huskies opened up their run game. OPRF went up 14-0 in the first quarter after a pair of rushing touchdowns from McGill and Bryant. After the Huskies dropped a pass in the corner of the end zone on second down, McGill took matters into his own hands by running for a 10-yard touchdown with 7:48 left in the quarter. Bryant followed with a 13-yard touchdown at the 4:44 mark on the next drive after bullying the defense with two big runs during the series. The Panthers responded on the first play of their next drive when running back Brandon Smith took a handoff out of shotgun and sped past the Huskies’ defense. He tiptoed down the sideline for an 84-yard score (almost falling out of bounds on the one-yard line trying to stay inbounds). Later in the fourth quarter, he would gash the OPRF defense with a 65-yard rushing touchdown. He ended the game with 129 yards on the ground and would have added more to that tally if not for one attempt where he ran 25 yards back to avoid the defense. “[Smith] was probably the best player on the field tonight,” said Hoerster. “He is a phenomenal football player, and when you play against guys like that, you have to be in the right spot. He took advantage of us not being in the right spots. He is a very impressive athlete.” The Huskies matched the Panthers’ long touchdown with one of their own when Bryant ran the ensuing kickoff back for an 81-yard TD return. He would find the endzone again halfway through the second quarter when McGill threw a touch pass that Bryant caught up to and snagged from 10

yards out. Their connection has been one of the high points for the Huskies this season. “When you have a quarterback who can do things with his arm and legs and a running back who can run, catch, and block, they can do some damage for us,” said Hoerster. “They’re great kids who put in a lot of work.” Proviso West scored one last time before the conclusion of the second half, when wide receiver Jalon Jones shook off his defender on a hitch route, and ran for a 64-yard touchdown to make the score 28-12 (the Panther failed on both of their 2-point attempts in the first half). McGill would add to the Huskies’ lead with 24-yard rushing touchdown with 3:32 left to give OPRF a comfortable 34-12 lead heading into halftime. The second unit for the Huskies would take over the offense in the second half. Their lone score would come at the end of the game when running back Jack Landis ran for a 34-yard touchdown. OPRF finished with 331 yards of total offense. On the defensive end, Jack Birmingham totaled 4.5 tackles and an interception while his teammate Malik Donaly notched 5.5 tackles of his own. Naahlyee Bryant (1.5 sacks) and Evan Failor (one sack) had three tackles each. “We are still getting healthy with two of our starters being out,” said Hoerster. “I’ve been happy with a lot of things that I’ve seen from [this team] but at this point in the season I think we need to be a little sharper.” The Huskies will look for their first win at home when they face Downers Grove North for Homecoming on Oct. 11 at 7:30 pm.

For the love of the game, and Jimmy Dooley

igh school is usually a time for students to unearth their insecurities, find their passions and maybe start building a stable bridge towards adulthood. I can speak for my high school friend group when I say we did not do any of that. Instead, we let our youth escape us by putting all of our energy into the Oak Park Street Basketball league. Comprised of 12 skinny, semi-athletic dudes who are afraid of attacking the rim, my middle school friend group thought it would be fun if we did our own version of March Madness. We dedicated one summer night in 2009 to five hours’ worth of heaving contested fadeaways and mashing on a stadium-sized Dinicos pizza (Houdini himself couldn’t pull off the vanishing act that we did to that pizza in ’09). Slowly, the light-hearted tournament went from being a one-time event to us needing an odd amount of players at pickup games so someone could keep track of our stats. A Facebook page was formed, T-shirts with the league’s logo found our rail-thin bodies, and two documentaries were produced exclusively for the eyes of our loved ones. During year seven of the OPSBL, the league expanded from a meager 12 people to a whopping 15 participants wanting to take home our three-foot trophy. One of

those newcomers came in a 6-foot-5, 225-pound package and looked like he was going to be the league’s next star. Jimmy Dooley, man. Jimmy Freakin Dooley. The second I saw him post up on our scrawny big “men,” I knew I had to Sports Editor find a way to draft Jimmy for that year’s tournament with my prime years behind me. He ended up falling in the draft (oh yeah … we hold a draft lottery every year along with live pick-by-pick announcements on our Facebook page), and we were paired up that year. With his size and my three-point making ability, we lost every game we played in that tournament. More importantly, this was the first time I got to experience Jimmy’s larger-than-life personality up front. Before the tournament, he made his rounds sharing jokes with every person on the floor while blocking our warm-up jumpers. As everyone in the league would get to

JAMES KAY

know, it was just Jimmy being Jimmy. Having become one of the staples of the OPSBL, Jimmy offered to host us at St. Luke School gym, where his mom was the athletic director. The tournament transitioned from the alleyway on the 900 block of Lombard to the pristine hardwood at St. Luke’s. Because of Jimmy’s graciousness, we had an even bigger space to miss wide open jump shots. However, the league and the Oak Park and River Forest community would never be the same after Aug. 4, 2018. Our beloved Jimmy had dealt with migraines for weeks before he passed away at the age of 22 due an acute onset of hydrocephalus. It has been a year, and we still find ourselves missing him every day. If you knew Jimmy, he wouldn’t want his loved ones to suffer as we tried to wrap our heads around how this could happen to someone so happy and full of life. That is why OPBSL has decided to dedicate our 10year anniversary to Jimmy and his family. We are selling T-shirts to raise money for the Dooleys as they courageously move forward without one of the gems of the OPRF community. You can find the link to the shirts at www.customink.com/ fundraising/opsbl. They are $30 each and you can purchase either a short-sleeve or long-sleeve. On the back is our logo with the outline of Jimmy taking a jump shot

(this is inspired by the NBA’s logo of Jerry West’s dribbling). The shirts are available until Oct. 23. The league’s slogan is “mediocre at best,” but we feel this cause is far from that. The league just wants to do good by our fallen friend’s family, and if you could find the kindness in your Jimmy Dooley-sized heart, we would be more than thankful.

Photo courtesy JAMES KAY

OPSBL logo of Jimmy Dooley shooting.

S P O R T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

HUSKIES Extra time from page 37 LTHS box, and snuck a pass to teammate Zeke Rivera who finished off the possession with a missile in the right corner of the goal. Neither team found the net for the rest of the first half. In the second half, both teams started playing more physical, and didn’t allow one another to get clean looks. This carried through to both periods of extra time, where the intra-conference foes didn’t give an inch to each other. After going toe-to-toe for 100 minutes of action, the match had to be decided from the penalty spot. Lions would make its first PK, which was followed by OPRF sailing its first attempt over the right top corner of the goal. Both teams exchanged made goals until LTHS had a chance to put the match away holding a 4-3 advantage. The momentum shifted in favor of OPRF when Lions’ forward Luis Torres missed the game-ending shot. The Huskies scored on their next attempt to force another set of PKs. LTHS would prevail in the end, after two misses by OPRF sealed the intra-conference match. After the final miss, Lions players ran over to OPRF’s student section and gestured “L’s” with their hands. As they ran back towards midfield, one LTHS player yelled, “This is our house now!” As much as the Lions battled the Huskies on the field, they also had to overcome a student section that was riding LTHS throughout the match. “Our coach was saying that these benches are normally on the other side, so we are kind of lucky that they moved them

Photo by Anthony Fertitta

AROUND THE DEFENSE: OPRF’s Nicolo Stella (#27) tries to get by LTHS’ Cameron Labbato (#9) over, because the fans would come behind our bench and chirp us the whole game,” said LTHS captain Jake Fraser. When asked about the players’ gestures towards the student section, Labbato said, “I have no idea. Hopefully, that was for ‘LT.’ Hopefully, someone on our team was holding up a ‘T.’ The ‘T’s’ were over on the bench.”

When asked about how his team would respond to the loss, OPRF’s head coach, Jason Fried, tried to stay positive. “I just told them that it’s a tough loss, but the goal is about being the best we can be by the playoffs,” said Fried. “We take this as a bump knowing we can make a massive run.”

WHAT COACH SAID...

This week in boys cross country OPRF had a dual meet versus Lyons Township on Oct. 3. While the meet didn’t have high postseason implications, head coach Chris Baldwin used the week to keep everyone healthy and ready for the following weeks. Here’s what he had to say.

in the offseason. This summer, we had a large commitment from our guys that moved our team in the right direction. We had 10 kids run over 500 miles. So building that base is a starting point for us, and hopefully for next summer that will be a larger group of kids who will be running 600-700 miles. When we build that base, that lets us do some things later in the season. As we get closer to the postseason, we can change our types of workouts to be a little shorter but more intense, which gives their bodies more recovery time. We run in the toughest conference in the state and probably the toughest in the nation, depending on the year. The kids took it upon themselves to run more last summer.”

On why top runners didn’t participate: “We ran pretty well considering the conditions. It was a muddy mess like it has been in the past. We sat out some people, they sat out some people, so both squads weren’t at full force. It was great racing experience but with our top 5-15 runners who have that experience already, they usually stay back and do a workout. We want to keep them healthy and put them in a more rigorous environment than what that meet would have given them.”

On helping athletes with the mental side of running: “One thing we do [dealing with inexperience at varsity level] is some relaxation stuff to work on the mental side of running. So much of the race is what you are willing to put yourself through, but these are teenagers. There is a lot of anxiety not just in cross country but in everything they do. A lot of pressure is on them at this point in their lives, and they don’t always know how to handle all of it. All of our coaches are certified in RPR (reflexive performance reset) and that helps with resetting the body and with breathing techniques. That’s one way we help them on the mental side.”

On how the team used last summer to get ready: “This is really a year-round sport. If you want to be successful, you have to be working

Fenwick split up its squad and had its top seven runners travel to Peoria while the rest of the team went to Niles West High School on Oct. 5. This is what head coach David Rill said about the annual meet and how the runners compete

In order to create balanced coverage in high school sports around the area, we’re running a section called, “What coach said.” Every week, we’ll cover a different sport and talk to each coach at the varsity level. This week, we’re highlighting girls volleyball. With one month left before regionals, there is plenty of work to be done, and seeding to be determined.

CHRIS BALDWIN OPRF

with each other for a top-seven slot. On sophomore’s rise and giving up sailing: “[Lee O’Bryan’s] freshman year, he ran around a 19 [minute three-mile time] which isn’t crazy fast. He was going to sail in the spring for the sailing team. So I made a deal with DAVID RILL him and told him, ‘If you are allFENWICK conference in cross country this year, how about you run track in the spring?’ and he ended up being sixth in the conference on the freshman level. He dropped two minutes off his time at conference last year, so we knew what we were going to get from him this season. He was hurt going into this year, and has been improving throughout the year. He killed it Saturday.” On bumping best runners up for the Peoria meet: “This was the first week I ran those seven [runners] together. I have the mentality that if I have freshmen, I like them to run at the lower level and see how they can do on their own level. This is the first meet every year that I will bump people up [to the varsity level]. The guys always know going into Peoria that is when we are going to run our top seven. Every week they look to see if they are in the top seven and to see if they get to travel [to Peoria]. I’ve done it every year I have coached.”

James Kay

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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BUMPER POOL TABLE $15.00. 708-848-8755 SOLID OAK CABINET W/ HUTCH Beautiful condition. Two drawer, two door cabinet base 29â&#x20AC;?H x 49â&#x20AC;?W; Two shelf hutch 28â&#x20AC;?H x 49â&#x20AC;?W x 11â&#x20AC;?D. $175. $125.00 708-848-8755 STEINWAY UPRIGHT PIANO Excellent condition. Cut-rate price -$500.00 or best offer. Call Steckman Studio of Music 708-533-0969

WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, ďŹ&#x201A;ags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiersâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;lead, plasticâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

CEMENT

MULTI-FAMILY KIDS + MORE GARAGE SALE 900 S CLARENCE & WESLEY ALLEY SAT 10/12 8AM TO 12PM

3 family alley sale - childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothing and toys, manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bike, household items, some tools, clothing, gardening, outdoor furniture, dishes, Halloween costume items and collectibles. A combined 75 years of cool stuff and treasures. Oak Park

HOME/GARDEN EQUIP/ TOOLS 1019 DIVISION FRI 10/11 8AM TO 3PM SAT 10/12 8AM TO 1PM

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2 FAMILY DOWNSIZING SALE 842 FAIR OAKS SAT 10/12 8AM TO 12PM

Cookware, lamps, furniture, collectibles, ofďŹ ce supplies and more! Cash only. Riverside

GARAGE SALE JEFFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AUTO 20 E QUINCY ST SAT 10/12 & SUN 10/13 9AM TO 3PM

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Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

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FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

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PLASTERING

PUBLIC NOTICES

McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,â&#x20AC;? as amended, that a certiďŹ cation was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y19002273 on September 27, 2019 Under the Assumed Business Name of HONEST LIFE DESIGN with the business located at: 426 S. EUCLID AVE. APT. 2S, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: ROSEMARY ELIZABETH LAPKA 426 S. EUCLID AVE. APT. 2S, OAK PARK, IL 60302

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Published in Wednesday Journal 10/9, 10/16, 10/23

PUBLIC NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Village of Riverside 27 Riverside Road Riverside, IL 60546

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The Village of Riverside is now accepting separate sealed bid proposals for the Railroad Watershed Outfall. The project includes the construction of a 24-inch outlet sewer to the Des Plaines River and block or restrict ďŹ&#x201A;ow from the storm sewers of the Railroad Watershed Area to the existing combined sewer in the Village of Riverside, Illinois.

Lic. #0967

Will be received by: The Village of Riverside at the ofďŹ ce of the Public Works Department, 3860 Columbus Blvd, Riverside, IL, 60546 until 10:00 AM, October 22, 2019, and then at said ofďŹ ce publicly opened and read aloud.

PUBLIC NOTICES

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LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids at the Public Works Service Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019 for the following BID 20-103 VILLAGE OF OAK PARK VILLAGE WIDE LITTER PICKUP SERVICES REQUEST FOR PRICES Bid forms may be obtained from the Public Works Customer Service 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 Streets Superintendent, Scott Brinkman, sbrinkman@oak-park. us or on the Villageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website http://www.oak-park.us/yourgovernment/budget-purchasing/ requests-proposals. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening. For more information call the Public Works Service Center at 708.358.5700. THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Published in Wednesday Journal 10/9/2019

PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION October 24th, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting The Village of BrookďŹ eld Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, October 24th, 2019 in Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 BrookďŹ eld Avenue, Illinois for the purpose of considering and hearing a request for text and map amendments to Chapter 62 of the Village Code entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zoningâ&#x20AC;? to regulate the location of cannabis business establishments and an amendment to the Villageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zoning Map to create an Adult-use Cannabis Business Overlay District. The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/or written comments. The application materials may be viewed at the Village of BrookďŹ eld Village Hall. Comments, if any, should be provided in writing prior to the date of the public hearing to: Village of BrookďŹ eld, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Elyse Vukelich, 8820 BrookďŹ eld Avenue, BrookďŹ eld, IL 60513, or in person during the public hearing. Please reference PZC Case 19-08. Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of BrookďŹ eld (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access may be granted through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall.

The CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be examined at the ofďŹ ce of Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd., 9575 W. Higgins Road, Suite 600, Rosemont, IL 60018. Copies of the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be downloaded from QuestCDN via the Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. (CBBEL) website http://cbbel.com/bidding-info/ or at www.questcdn.com for a non-refundable charge of $20.00. A QuestCDN login will be required. Contact QuestCDN.com at 952-2331632 or info@questCDN.com for assistance in membership registration and downloading this digital project information. A hard copy of the plans may also be viewed at CBBELâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ofďŹ ces located at 9575 W Higgins Rd, Rosemont, IL 60018. Contractors must purchase bid documents and be shown on the Bidderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Planholder List in order to bid. Bids received from contractors who are not on the Bidderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Planholder List will be rejected. Published in RB Landmark 10/9/2019

PUBLIC NOTICE River Forest Park District Cook County, Illinois â&#x20AC;&#x153;Notice of Availabilityâ&#x20AC;? Annual Statement of Receipts and Disbursements Fiscal Year Ended April 30, 2019.

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE LAW OFFICE OF SCOTT LEVY Attorney for Petitioner 1525 E. 53RD STREET CHICAGO, IL 60615

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive 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 23, 2019 for the following: Village of Oak Park 2020 Comprehensive Landscape Maintenance Bid Number: 19-149 Bid forms may be obtained from the Public Works Customer Service 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, Rob Sproule, rsproule@oak-park.us and the Villageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website http:// www.oak-park.us/bid. A mandatory pre-bid meeting shall be held on Tuesday October 15 at 2 p.m. at the Public Works Center. Proposals 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 documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening. For more information call the Public Works Service Center at 708.358.5700. Published in Wednesday Journal 10/9/2019

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE INTENT OF THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, TO SELL NOT TO EXCEED $1,515,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION LIMITED TAX BONDS PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Village of Riverside, Cook County, Illinois (the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Villageâ&#x20AC;?), will hold a public hearing on the 17th day of October, 2019, at 7:00 oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock P.M. The hearing will be held in Room 4 at the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois. The purpose of the hearing will be to receive public comments on the proposal to sell bonds of the Village in the amount of not to exceed $1,515,000 to pay for road improvements within the Village and for the payment of the expenses incident thereto. By order of the President of the Village of Riverside, Cook County, Illinois. DATED the 25th day of September, 2019.

By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman.

The River Forest Park District has the Annual Statement of Receipts and Disbursements on ďŹ le at Park District Headquarters, 401 Thatcher Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305. It will also be on our website at www.rfparks.com

Published in RB Landmark 10/9/2019

Published in Wednesday Journal 10/9/2019

Published in RB Landmark 10/9/2019

/s/ Cathy Haley Village Clerk, Village of Riverside, Cook County, Illinois

Let the sun shine in...

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division. In re the matter of PATRICE K. JOHNSON, Petitioner and TIMOTHY L. JOHNSON, Respondent, Case No. 2019D-008171. The requisite afďŹ davit for publication having been ďŹ led, notice is hereby given to you, the Respondent, that a Petition has been ďŹ led in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, ďŹ le your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the OfďŹ ce of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before November 9, 2019, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition. DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk. Published in Wednesday Journal 10/9, 10/16, 10/23/2019

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,â&#x20AC;? as amended, that a certiďŹ cation was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y19002194 on September 18, 2019 Under the Assumed Business Name of ALAN FOX CONSULTING with the business located at: 747 S HARVEY AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: ALAN FOX, 747 S HARVEY AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304. Published in Wednesday Journal 9/25, 10/2, 10/9/2019

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,â&#x20AC;? as amended, that a certiďŹ cation was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y19002274 on September 27, 2019 Under the Assumed Business Name of PERENNIAL BAKERS with the business located at: 426 S. EUCLID AVE. APT. 2S, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: ROSEMARY ELIZABETH LAPKA 426 S. EUCLID AVE. APT. 2S, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal 10/9, 10/16, 10/23

Starting a New Business? Call the experts before you place your legal ad! Publish your assumed name legal notice here Call for details: 708/613-3342

Public Notice: Your right to know In print â&#x20AC;˘ Online â&#x20AC;˘ Available to you 24 / 7 /365 OakPark.com | RiverForest.com PublicNoticeIllinois.com

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

CLASSIFIED

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know

In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year OakPark.com | RiverForest.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE The Village invites the public to take a survey to help determine needs and decide how Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds will be spent over the next five program years (2020-2024). The online survey is open October 14 – November 1, 2019, will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and is available at: www. surveymonkey.com/s/vopgrants Paper surveys also are available at the offices of the Oak Park Neighborhood Services Division, in Room 214 of Village Hall, 123 Madison Street. In program year 2019 the Village of Oak Park received $1,633,190 in CDBG funds and $143,061 in ESG funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to use to primarily assist low and moderate income persons, including persons experiencing homelessness and those at risk. Grant funds are spent based on the Village’s fiveyear Consolidated Plan, which is developed through input from the community and then submitted to HUD. By completing this survey, you will help to ensure that funds are directed to the most critical community development and housing needs in the Village. The Village also will hold an openhouse 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan needs assessment meeting on December 3, 2019 from 5-8 p.m. in Room 101 of Village Hall to determine community development priorities. For more information call Mark Dwyer, Grants Supervisor, at 708.358.5416. Published in Wednesday Journal 10/9/2019

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.TERESA C. TRIPLETT, 1040 ONTARIO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2018 CH 14368 1040 W. ONTARIO STREET #2H OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 22, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 17, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1040 W. ONTARIO STREET #2H, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-07-113-0101012

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

The real estate is improved with a residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-18-12527 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2018 CH 14368 TJSC#: 39-5802 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 14368 I3132109

is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-13-31429 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 13 CH 027299 TJSC#: 39-6051 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 # 13 CH 027299 I3133416

funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Law Clerk at Plaintiff’s Attorney, The Wirbicki Law Group, 33 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. (312) 3609455. W18-1595 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3132991

2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 18, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 208 LE MOYNE PARKWAY, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-102-0290000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $474,475.34. 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. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assess-

ments 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, HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 111 East Main Street, DECATUR, IL, 62523 (217) 422-1719. Please refer to file number 2120-9146 - FT. 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. HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC 111 East Main Street DECATUR IL, 62523 217-422-1719 Fax #: 217-422-1754 E-Mail: CookPleadings@hsbattys. com Attorney File No. 2120-9146 - FT Attorney Code. 40387 Case Number: 10 CH 36911 TJSC#: 39-3991 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 # 10 CH 36911 I3130846

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.JOHN B. BERGEN, ANNE BERGEN A/K/A ANNE MATERN BERGEN, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NA, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, YODA INVESTMENTS LLC Defendants 13 CH 027299 128 S. LOMBARD AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on November 14, 2018, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 28, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 128 S. LOMBARD AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-303-008 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 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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION NORMANDY CAPITAL TRUST; Plaintiff, vs. INVESTQUEST PARTNERS HOLDINGS INC.; JENNIFER PARRILLA; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 19 CH 4445 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 Friday, November 8, 2019 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. 16-18-208-005-0000. Commonly known as 616 South Oak Park 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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION PNC BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION; Plaintiff, vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF DANIEL GASH AKA DANIEL S. GASH; WILLIAM BUTCHER, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DECEASED MORTGAGOR DANIEL GASH AKA DANIEL S. GASH; JOANNE GASH AKA JOANNE M. GASH AKA JOANNE M. RATZA AKA JOANNE RATZA; SEAN GASH; RYAN GASH; CAITLIN GASH; MOLLY GASH; PNC BANK, N.A. AS S/B/M TO NATIONAL CITY BANK; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 10 CH 34908 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 Thursday, November 14, 2019 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. 16-06-317-009. Commonly known as 1109 Paulina Street, Oak Park, IL 60302. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection For information call Sale Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, McCalla Raymer Liebert Pierce, LLC, 1 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602. (312) 346-9088. 8473 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3133590 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, DBA CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION TRUST Plaintiff, -v.LINDA F. COLE Defendants 10 CH 36911 208 LE MOYNE PARKWAY OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 13,

Illinois Classified Advertising Network EMPLOYMENT - DRIVERS FALL INTO A GREAT NEW CAREER AT TTI! $1600 Sign-on Bonus! EXPERIENCED DRIVERS *Flatbed *Step Deck *Van *LTL Reefer. Pay is 26% Gross Flatbed/Step Deck & up to .53/mile Van/ Reefer. Full benefits w/FREE Health & Life Insurance, six paid Holidays, + Industry-leading Driver Bonus Program! Must have Class A CDL. Call Ruth or Mike at TTI Inc. 1-800-222-5732 Apply online ttitrucking.com

GUNS/HUNTING GEAR GUN SHOW: October 11-13. Union Grove Fairgrounds, 19805 Durand Ave, Union Grove, WI. Fri 3–8pm, Sat. 9am–5pm, Sun. 9am–3pm. $7 (under 14 FREE) Buy/Sell. 608-752-6677 www.bobandrocco.com

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE TENNESSEE LAKEFRONT $34,900 BANK-ORDERED SALE. MASSIVE LAKE. Dockable acreage on Kentucky Lake. Way under market value. RV ready. Offered by Waters Edge Properties Inc Broker. 1-888-386-9446 • https://tnlandings.com/

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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Find your local job here!

On Wednesday Journal’s Local Online Job Board.

Search our ads today at OakPark.com/classified

To place an ad, contact Mary Ellen Nelligan (708) 613-3342 • maryellen@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, October 9, 2019

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Building the bank you deserve.

Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest is now Byline Bank. New name. Same local team committed to you. Together we bring you our stronger, combined bank to deliver and expand the products and services you value while remaining a neighborhood bank, devoted to the community.

To learn more visit: bylinebank.com/welcome-cboprf

ÂŠ2019 Byline Bank. Member FDIC. Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest has merged into Byline Bank.