The unfair practices were based on applicant income or criminal background
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
An investigation into fair housing practices of some of Oak Park’s biggest housing providers showed evidence of discrimination in their rental processes.
The investigation largely focused on whether those housing providers violated county, state or federal fair housing laws by discriminating against applicants based on income or criminal history. One incident involved racial discrimination.
Investigators found evidence that six housing providers were not compliant with laws related to source of income protections. Seven providers could not explain to an investigator acting as a prospective tenant how an arrest or conviction record could affect their application.
“Most of the housing providers told our independent investigators, or testers, that they don’t know the policy,” said Michael Chavar ria, executive director of the civil rights advocacy organization HOPE Fair Housing Center, which the village hired to conduct the investigation. “[They said] ‘We use
Roosevelt Middle School Spanish language students (of senoras Tammy High ll and Marjorie McInerney) visit the Frida Kahlo mural by artist Robert Valadez in Pilsen. See story, page 18
@wednesdayjournalinc @wednesdayjournal @oakpark
Discrimination on income and criminal record
from page 1
a third-par ty screening company, and they set the policy. They make the decisions.’ We know that’s not true.”
Trustees on Oct. 1 called the findings “alarming,” “disturbing,” and “troubling.” The re port appeared to come as a surprise to a village that “commits itself to diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
But the trustees also appeared determined to push the village’s housing providers toward full compliance with fair housing laws. Some asked to implement enforcement measures, including fines or supporting legal action, when necessary.
“As a society, we have to make discrimination too expensive to continue,” Chavarria said. Trustees ag reed.
Trustees Chibuike Enyia, Brian Straw and Cory Wesley said they would like to explore enforcement provisions related to fair housing violations.
“These kinds of violations are the kinds of things that prevent people from moving into Oak Park, and it’s just unacceptable,” Straw said. “The only way, in an industry that’s driven by dollars and cents, to make sure that we get discrimination out of the industry, is to look at the dollars and cents of it.”
Wesley said there’s an imbalance of power between landlords and potential tenants
“We owe it to ourselves here at the board, but also to our village, to live the values that we preach,” he said.
Reviewing housing provider practices
The project began in 2023 after the village contracted HOPE to look into anti-discrimination protections among Oak Park housing providers. All housing providers tested were ke pt anonymous in the re port, but they have some of the biggest market shares in Oak Park, Chavarria said.
As part of the 13 investigations, HOPE sent independent testers to act as applicants, gather information about a housing transaction and inquire about policies related to income requirements or criminal records. Testers’ experiences were later compiled and reviewed.
Illegal housing discrimination, Chavarria explained, is when a prohibited act is taken against a protected class. A prohibited act, Chavar ria said, is when a person is treated differently in a way that denies them housing or the ability to enjoy it.
Federally protected classes include race, disability, sex, national origin, color, religion and familial status. Illinois takes it a step farther by protecting people from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, ancestry, marital status, gender identity, arrest record, age for 40 and up, order of protection status, military status, source of income and immigration.
Both the Illinois Human Rights Act and the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance based on source of income, which is protected as long as it’s legal and verifiable, Chavarria said. Source of income discrimination could manifest as preferring tenants with certain types of income, refusing applicants with housing choice vouchers, or screening out applicants receiving government assistance.
Landlords often require renters to have an income that’s at least three times the rent per month. For example, a rent that’s $1,500 a month would require an income of $4,500 per month. For voucher holders, it’s different, Chavarria said, because someone who earns three times the rent wouldn’t qualify for a voucher.
“So, if you apply a policy of ‘You must earn three times the full rent amount’ to a voucher holder, you are categorically excluding every single voucher holder in Oak Park,” Chavarria said.
When considering an applicant who has a voucher, that metric can only be applied to the tenant’s payment portion, he explained. If, in the same example, a voucher holder paid $500 out of pocket and the housing authority covered the other $1,000 toward rent, a housing provider could only require the tenant to earn $1,500 per month, three times their portion, not $4,500.
The Cook County Human Rights Ordinance also prohibits discrimination based on “covered criminal history,” which
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Highlights of the League of Women Voters Oak Park/River Forest Colorful Histor y
Thursday, Oct. 10, 9:30 a.m.,
Nineteenth Centur y Charitable Association
Join us to celebrate the centennial of the League of Women Voters Oak Park/River Forest, one of the oldest and largest chapters in Illinois. Learn about the founding mission to assist women in exercising their right to vote, promote voter education, and enhance our community. Discover how the League has evolved over the past centur y. Admission is free and open to the public. 178 Forest Ave. #1, Oak Park
Join us for an evening of storytelling, food, and fun, all in support of life-changing opportunities for students. Enjoy a bu et from BabyGold BBQ, a cash bar, online auction, and “mystery envelopes” lled with exciting prizes. 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn
Film Lover Fridays
Friday, Oct. 11, 1 - 3:30 p.m., River Forest Public Library Join fellow movie lovers to watch classic lms as par t of the Marlon Brando centennial celebration. This month’s feature is Viva Zapata (1952), starring Brando as revolutionary Emilio Zapata. Enjoy snacks and stay for a post- lm discussion led by local lm expert Jim Jacob 735 Lathrop Ave., River Forest
Mangia Italiano … Spaghetti Dinner
Saturday, Oct. 12, 3- 7 p.m., Trinity Community Church, U.C.C.
Join us for a spaghetti dinner at Trinity Community Church. Enjoy homemade meatballs, charcoal-grilled Italian sausage, a big-bowl salad, Turano French bread, beverages, and desserts. Wine will be available for just $3.50 per glass. The evening will feature candlelight, soft music, and ra es ($2 each or 6 for $10). Treat yourself to a meal you do not have to cook or clean up after. For more information call 708-484-1818 or visit tccuccberwyn. com. 7022 Riverside Drive, Berwyn
BIG WEEK
Oc tober 9-16
¡A Bombear se ha Dicho!:
Saturday, Oc t. 12, 2-3 p.m., Oak Park Public Library
Join us at the Oak Park Public Library for ¡A Bombear se ha Dicho!, an exciting Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba experience with Ivelisse Diaz and La Escuelita Bombera de Corazon. Celebrate the vibrant rhythms of Bomba, the oldest music of African descent in Puerto Rico. This interactive event is a fun and lively cultural celebration for all ages. Learn more and register at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park
Groundwater Collective Exhibition
Saturday, Oc t. 12, 12 - 9 p.m. and Sunday, Oc t. 13, 12 - 6 p.m., Carriage House Gallery in the Oak Park Art League
For one weekend only, the Groundwater Collective will share an eclectic selection of recent and collected works at the Carriage House Gallery. This group of artists brings a unique combination of talent and dedication to this exhibition. Explore Galen Garapolo’s Midcentury Modern collages, Jackie Lakely’s
mysterious mixed media paintings, Kelly Donahugh’s surreal collage works, and Mary Jo Parker Ohearn’s imaginative depictions of family, friends, and fashion in various mediums. All works are for sale, with payments accepted by cash, check, Zelle, and credit cards. 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park
Girl Crush Fundraiser Party
Sunday, Oct. 13, 2 - 5 p.m., School of Rock
Join the lmmakers of Girl Crush for a special fundraiser at Oak Park’s School of Rock. Enjoy live music, free drinks, tarot readings, and caricature portraits, plus auctions, ra es, and more. All proceeds will go toward the production costs of Girl Crush, a queer, coming-of-age feature lm set to shoot in Oak Park and Chicagoland in summer 2025. Written by Oak Park native Grace Melon and directed by Nadyja von Ebers, Girl Crush explores themes of identity, friendship, and human connection. Produced with Take Care Productions and scally sponsored by From The Heart Productions. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://tinyurl.com/23wa2adh. 219 Lake St., Oak Park
Touch a Truck
Monday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Host Home
Bring your family to explore real re trucks, police cars, tree-trimming trucks, and street sweepers. This hands-on event is perfect for children of all ages with a parent or caregiver. Weather permitting, the program will be held behind the library on the 700 block of Jackson Avenue Event will be canceled in case of heavy rain. 700 Jackson Ave., River Forest
The Sandwich Generation
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 7- 8 p.m., River Forest Public Library
Are you an adult caring for an elderly parent while also raising your own children? If so, you are part of the Sandwich Generation. Join us for an informal discussion group where members can share experiences, gain suppor t, and learn about available resources. Bridget Byrne from the Central Baptist Village retirement community will lead the session. Sandwiches will be ser ved. 700 Jackson Ave., River Forest
Listing your event
Wednesday Jour nal welcomes notices about events that Oak Park and River Forest groups and businesses are planning. We’ ll work to get the word out if you let us know what’s happening by noon Wednesday a week before your news needs to be in the newspaper. ■ Email details to calendar@wjinc.com
Compiled by Brooke Duncan
FAIR HOUSING
means “information re garding an individual’s arrest, charge or citation for an offense; participation in a diversion or deferral of judgment program; record of an offense that has been sealed, expunged, or pardoned in accordance with applicable law; juvenile record; and conviction.”
To deny a person based on a criminal record, Chavar ria said, the housing provider would have to prove that person poses a risk to the tenants or property and give them a chance to explain why they do not.
“The ways that discrimination can manifest are endless,” Chavarria told the village board. “We anticipate that there will be new for ms of discrimination arising each and every day.”
When it came to income, HOPE investigators looked at whether an Oak Park housing provider accepted vouchers or imposed barriers that prevented voucher holders from accessing housing. All six providers tested revealed some level of discrimination on this basis.
Some of the violations found included income requirements that would prevent voucher holders from being accepted and discouraging certain callers from applying based on voucher program questions. At least one included race-based discrimination.
As for the seven Oak Park housing providers who were tested to see whether policies violated the Just Housing Amendment, HOPE investigators found none could explain how their policy on arrest/conviction records would affect an applicants’ chances of being acce pted for a lease.
Wesley said that housing providers appear to be “selectively confused about fair housing law,” considering they have no problem articulating the benefits of their units or the neighborhoods. Chavarria agreed
“If you know the restaurants that are around your housing units, you should know the law as well,” Wesley said.
According to Jonathan Burch, the village’s neighborhood services director, Oak Park received more than 300 complaints from tenants about related to housing per year in 2021, 2022 and 2023. However, no formal complaints have been filed in that time against Oak Park housing providers on the basis of fair housing discrimination, he said. Whether that was due to a lack of understanding about how to do so or because
not all rose to the level of a for mal fair housing complaint is not clear.
If someone had independently re ported the discrimination HOPE testers uncovered, for mal legal action could have been taken, Chavar ria said.
Toward a solution
HOPE recommended that the village require housing providers to be transparent with potential tenants about qualifications, increase education and outreach on fair housing laws for housing providers and tenants, and invest in fair housing enforcement.
“It is important that when people’s civil rights are violated, that they have opportunities to stand up for themselves,” Chavarria said.
Village staf f recommendations include amending the residential rental license requirements, to include broadening the definition of who is required to attend the village’s housing provider training and how soon they must take the training. Burch recommended it be within three months of acquiring a license.
They could also increase the frequency of the village-provided required training, and Burch said village staf f plan to update the training’s content based on HOPE’s
testing results. Burch also said Oak Park wants to move the trainings back in person, after being taken online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another step could be to require housing providers to provide information on source of income protection and the Just Housing Amendment, Burch added, potentially through provided documents to tenants
Burch said village staf f is also recommending starting a Fair Housing Coalition, similar to the Oak Park Homelessness Coalition, which could consist of 12 to 15 individuals who meet to address fair housing issues.
Trustee Lucia Robinson said she’s not sure about a Fair Housing Coalition because she doesn’t want to decentralize housing issues and would rather focus on the Housing Programs Advisory Committee, which is already accountable to the village board. Village President Vicki Scaman also said she could see the work being done by HPAC instead.
Burch said the village also aims to hold trainings about discrimination based on source of income in November and arrest and conviction records in December.
Further recommendations are expected to come back to the board at a later date before implementation.
Make a Difference in the Health of Our Community
Garland Flowers
SYMPHONIC OKTOBERFEST
Juan Munoz appointed to Oak Park Township board
He will ser ve the remainder of Timothy Thomas’ unexpired term
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
No. 4, ‘Romantic’
Juan Munoz, an Oak Parker with strong ties to the community, was appointed to the Oak Park Township Board of Trustees during a special meeting Monday.
Munoz will serve the remainder of Timothy Thomas’ unexpired term. Thomas, a former trustee who began serving in May 2021, stepped up to fill the township supervisor role after Clarmarie Keenan died July 30.
Thomas was unanimously appointed for the role for the remainder of Keenan’s term that expires in 2025. Keenan was first elected township supervisor in 2017 and served as a township trustee before that.
Township trustees are responsible for setting policies, approving budgets and ensuring services are delivered, according to a for mer township news release.
Munoz has experience in community service, strategic planning and nonprofit
leadership, according to an Oct. 7 township news release. He moved to Oak Park in 2017 with his wife, mother and two children and later got involved with the village’s diversity, equity and inclusion office.
“I am deeply honored to have been selected to serve as Trustee for Oak Park Township,” Munoz said in the release. “I look forward to contributing my skills and experiences to ensure that Oak Park remains a place where diversity, inclusion, and community support thrive.”
He grew up in small towns in the United States and often helped his Spanish-speaking family connect with the communities by interpreting medical information and assisting with financial literacy, according to the release.
Munoz serves as vice chairman of the Great Kids, Inc. board of directors as well as vice president of business development at Kribi Coffee. In colle ge, he was a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“Munoz’s appointment underscores Oak Park Township’s commitment to inclusive leadership and its ongoing ef for ts to strengthen the community through effective governance,” township officials said in a statement.
Liu, soloist
Raking leaves into the street could lead to nes
Penalties of
up to $750 are possible, but village will focus on educating rst
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
Oak Park residents who intentionally defy the new leaf removal program by raking leaves into the street rather than bagging them for collection or keeping them in their yard could be subject to a fine up to $750.
Oak Parkers have been abuzz about the changes to the fall leaf collection that typically runs from late October to early December Some locals aren’t happy with the decision to require residents to bag leaves for collection.
One resident, Robert Parks, shared a petition with trustees in June, signed by 1,875 residents, asking to delay leaf bagging until 2025. The village board voted 4-3 that night to move forward with the change this fall.
But some residents may resist.
Trustee Brian Straw told the village board back then that he “had some interactions with folks who suggest they intended to engage in some civil disobedience around leaf collection.”
Dan Yopchick, the village’s chief communications officer, said the village has not received any direct communication from residents who intend to defy compliance with the new program. He said village staf f has, however, seen some residents expressing their disagreement over the change on social media and in Wednesday Journal’s Viewpoints section.
Oak Park’s village board originally approved requiring residents to bag leaves for collection this fall in a 5-2 vote on April 30, ending the practice of raking leaves into piles in the street. But residents can choose to leave their leaves in the yard as they fall, compost the leaves or place them in a bag or bin to be collected.
What will the village do if they decide to defy the changes by intentionally pushing leaves into the roads?
The first step will be to continue educating residents and landscapers as necessary. In June, Rob Sproule, Oak Park’s public works director, told the board if residents rake leaves into the street, village staff will educate them about the new program and hand out materials to help ensure compliance.
Yopchick said the village is trying to mobilize its staf f that are already out on the streets and more likely to see people raking or blowing leaves into the roads, to communicate with residents as necessary. This includes workers from neighborhood services, public works, the police department or the fire department.
The village has also been working to provide education through its newsletters and on its website, Yopchick pointed out. But if someone is found to be intentionally raking leaves into the street, or reported as doing so, the code compliance division of the Neighborhood Services Department may reach out. This division consists of a code compliance manager and six inspectors.
Yopchick said it’s unlikely that residents would be fined initially. But residents who refuse to stop raking leaves into the street could be subject to a fine of up to $750. That’s the highest possible fine, Yopchick pointed out, but fines, if issued, would be determined through the adjudication process
“Especially in this first year, we’re really prioritizing education and working with people,” he said.
In theory, a resident could get multiple citations or fines. But it’s unlikely early on, Yopchick said, as opposed to a repeat offender year after year.
According to a letter from the village to local property owners, “if yard waste materials or leaves are placed in the street by a landscaper, the property owner where such material originated may be responsible for the removal of the yard waste material or leaves.” Commercial properties and buildings with six or more units are also responsible for their own leaf collection and disposal.
A thin layer of leaves may fall into the street from trees that arch over the roads or after being blown about. The village has already started trying to take care of those and that will continue throughout the collection period, Yopchick said. Leaves intentionally pushed or piled into the street might be different, but he did not confirm whether the village or resident would be responsible for cleaning it up
Other municipalities in Illinois that have leaf-bagging requirements for collection haven’t seen much of an issue with residents raking leaves into the street instead, Yopchick said. But if it that happens, he emphasized again, the village will focus on educating homeowners and landscaping companies on how to handle the change.
The League marks a century
One hundred years ago, a group of citizens in our communities formed a chapter of the recently formed National League of Women Voters. Their mission was to help women carry out their new responsibilities in casting ballots, and they did it with style!
Learn more about the League’s colorful history
Coffee and Conversations
Thursday, October 10, 9:30 am
Nineteenth Century Charitable Association • 178 Forest Ave, Oak Park Admission is free and open to the public
Coming Next Month
Thursday, November 14, 9:30 am
Nineteenth Century Charitable Association • 178 Forest Ave, Oak Park Braver Angels: How to Talk Politics at Thanksgiving after the Election
Check it out: Pete’s Fresh Mark
The long-awaited grocer y store should be open by December 2025
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
The work Oak Park residents have waited for over six years is underway –— construction for the Pete’s Fresh Market at 640-728 Madison St
The Oak Park village board approved a 16-month extension in a 5-1 vote for the grocery store during its July 30 meeting. The Pete’s developers have requested other extensions before then, citing the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain problems and utility work as the reasons
The earth retention system work is now about 70% complete, Eugene Grzynkowicz, the project manager, told the village board Oct. 1. The permit for this was issued Aug. 2 after three rounds of corrections
“An ERS typically secures horizontal earth
pressures and protects nearby foundations from soil settlement,” according to Engineering Consulting Services. “ERS usually controls soil movement and drains water held underground.”
Grzynkowicz said the mass excavation work is close to 70% complete, too. This includes site preparation work, usually to remove soil or rocks, and to create a space for construction. The project is on track to install a concrete foundation the last week of October, he said. And he said that on Oct. 7 they would pave the west parking lot and the cul-de-sac on Euclid Avenue. Landscaping work, including planting new trees, will also be part of upcoming efforts.
“I can imagine that the cul-de-sac being finished with some greenery will be a big plus for that block,” said Village President Vicki Scaman.
The 16-month extension means the building should be open by December 2025. With construction now underway, Grzynkowicz told the village board that the project is now three weeks ahead of its current schedule.
“We had some great weather, we took ad-
Constr uction fencing along Ma d ison St re et for the planned Pe
development, 640-728 Ma d ison St
temporary artwork that will be goard Oct. 1. with the Oak
As a 4-star rated charity for the past 11 years, PCRF is an established lifeline, supplying essential medical care, mental health support, and humanitarian aid. Tax-deductible donations to PCRF until November1, 2024 can be made at: crossroadsfund.org/cjpip Until November 1, 2024, you can still donate to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) community fundraiser.
Discussion on River Trail in River Forest draws interest
Residents give feedback on options that could bene t bic yclists
By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter
The potential on-street extension of the Des Plaines River Trail through River Forest was the focus of a recent meeting that drew a strong community turnout including bicyclists who have a particular interest in the project.
Organizers said about 50 people attended the open house on Oct. 1, held to gather feedback re garding the proposal to extend the trail mainly along Thatcher Avenue between North Avenue and Madison Street. A smaller section would run along Madison between Thatcher and Van Buren Street, where it would connect with a proposed biking/walking path in Forest Park
Jack Bielak, Rive r Fo r est director of public wo rks and engineering, sai d he was “extremely and p leasantly surprised” by the n umber of p eople wh o a ttended the two-hour meeting at Rive r Fo r est Vi llage Hall.
“It was a great turnout,” he said, adding. “We had a good discourse and received a lot of positive feedback.”
Bielak was joined by two re presentatives from the transportation group of Christopher Burke Engineering Ltd.: Melissa McGhee, senior project manager, and Michael J. Matkovic, vice president.
Burke Engineering, a full-service consulting engineering and surveying firm based in Rosemont, is the consultant for the Phase I development of the entire Des Plaines River Trail network.
Many of those attending came into the Community Room carrying their bicycle helmets, indicating their interest in the project.
Instead of a for mal program, organizers displayed overside poster boards with information about both the overall project and the River Forest component. Also on display across several tables was a large map of the proposed trail extension.
The section of the proposed trail between North and Lake Street would be on the existing roadway while the section between
Hawthorne and Madison would be an offstreet multi-use path on the roadway right of way west of Thatcher.
Generating c onsiderable i nterest we re the two options for the trail b etween North and Hawthorne that we re shown.
One would eliminate the existing pa rking lane to create two dedicated bikin g lanes, one of each s ide, and the other that would preser ve the pa rk ing lane and create lanes that would be shared by bicyc lists and motorists
Attendees were in two camps with one group in favor of keeping the parking to avoid issues on nearby streets and the other in favor of eliminating parking to provide greater safety for bicyclists. Bielak said a common theme among attendees was implementing traffic calming measures on Thatcher.
T he trail r uns along the Des Plaines Rive r through La ke and C ook c ounties b etween Wa dswo r th on the north and North Avenue on the south. Plans c all fo c onnecting the 56-mile-long Des Plaines Rive r Trail with the 61-mile-long Illinoi Prairie Path, using the Rive r Fo r est section and the p lanned biking/walking path along Van Buren Street in Fo r est Pa rk , wh ich would create a c ontinuous trail from the Wi sconsin/Illinois border to Wheaton.
According to the Cook County Forest Preserves website, the Cook County portion of the Des Plaines River Trail is 28.4 miles long, consisting of paved and unpaved surfaces. The Cook County Forest Preserve system includes over 350 miles of paved and unpaved trails
T he project is cu rr ently in the first of three p hases. T he cu rr ent p hase includes preliminary engineering and environmental studies with an estimated c omp letion date in 2025. T he second p hase, wh ich includes c ontract p lan pr ep aration and land acquisition, is expected to take nine to 12 months with an estimated c ompletion date in 2026. T he third and final p hase is c onstruction wh ich is expected to take 12 to 15 months with an estimated c ompletion date in 2030. Th e timeline for all three p hases is de p end ent on f unding. Bielak said village officials are investi ga ting p ossible gr ant f unding from state and federal sources.
Local League of Women Voters chapter turns 100
Centennial
Gala for Oak Park and River Forest chapter will take place on Sunday, Oct. 20
By MARTHA BRENNAN Contributing Reporter
In 1920, six months before the ratification of the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote, the National League of Women Voters was founded. Four years later, an organization that was previously known as the Oak Park Civic League changed its name to the Oak Park League of Women Voters.
The rest, as they say, is history. The League of Women Voters of Oak Park and River Forest Centennial is now in full swing, with historical exhibits showcasing its history in the River Forest, Oak Park, and Forest Park Public Libraries.
Also, on Oct. 20, the league will hold its Centennial Gala, a dinner at the Nineteenth Century Club, 178 Forest Ave., where it will celebrate its work educating voters and defending democracy. The event is open to the public.
As one of the two largest LWV chapters in Illinois (second only to Evanston), LWVOPRF encourages voters in the community to be informed on pressing community issues including tax referendums, school funding and traffic safety.
“Our local league has literally made a difference in our lives,” said LWV-OPRF archivist Mary Ann Porucznik. “The League has been, throughout its history here, campaigning for voter education, for ness of participating.
In its earliest days, the League’ centration was spreading voter According to LWV-OPRF historical on Oct. 9, 1924, a meeting was held durin which a Republican, Democrat and LaFollett progressive infor med listeners on “Presidential Nominees and Party Principles
This planted the League’s roots in Oak Park; 100 years later, they are still standing.
While local politics looks different than it did a century ago – Oak Park doing public health examinations ies – one principle remains the same: the League is non-partisan.
“The League is all about educating ers and getting people involved, not telling people what to do,” said member Carlotta Lucchesi.
Joan Petertil joined LWV-OPRF in 2004 to support its “advocacy and priorities.” She has served on the board seven years.
“It’s very interesting to group of women who are like the good of the community,” she said. But it all comes down to upholding democracy. The League is work voters confront and combat menace: misinformation.
With society’s fixation on the internet, Lucchesi believes that addressing misinformation is imperative.
“It’s an issue that the League is trying to help people understand,” she said. “With the internet and everything, how people edit what’s real and, you know, what’s fake.”
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the LWV-OPRF held its Fall Kickof f event, “Fake News: The Evolution of Alternative Facts and the
Leslie Lauderdale and Joan Peter til register new voters at the
Registration Event at Oak Park Public Library on Oct. 3.
sources, helping to ensure that their information intake is reliable.
“It was a wonderful program,” said Pornucznik. “I think it’s important that people a way to learn about the issues that t polarizing.”
This is where League’s work comes in “[The program was] a perfect example of the League taking a current issue [and] offering some well-reasoned discussion of it, and eople can ask questions” she explained
But the real celebration – the one with seared bass, chicken breast and pasta pomo– is on Sunday, Oct. 20, beginning at 5:30 m. with cocktails, followed by the dinner Seeing as it is the League of Women Voters, the event involves local politicians.
Oak Park and River Forest Village Presidents, Vicki Scaman and Catherine Adduci, respectively, and Forest Park Mayor ry Hoskins are honorary co-chairs of event. There will also be live music, as well as a historical exhibit.
For LWV-OPRF, the Centennial is a re presentation of its reign of accomplishments which have filled the past 100 years and established their ever-evolving le gacy.
“Throughout its history here, campaigning for voter education, for awareness of the importance of participating, [doing] studies on the schools,” said Porucznik, “it’s been a really powerful force.”
While its presence is alive and well, she feels that the reco gnition of the League’s community impact has diminished.
“I think people have forgotten that or never realized it,” she said.
Still, their work continues to empower voters of Oak Park and River Forest, as well as the surrounding communities. They have a le gacy to fulfill.
“An educated voter is a powerful voter,” said Lucchesi.
Tickets for the Centennial Gala can be purchased using this link: https://www. lwvoprf.org/centennial.html
TODD BANNOR
Housing Forward Voter
Candidates often win without broad support
Negative campaigning is rewarded
Voters only get one choice per position
Vote splitting can defeat the most representative candidates
Majority winners are guaranteed
Positive campaigning is rewarded
Voters have more choice and therefore more voice
Votes can be transferred to candidates who share similar views
Cesar Chavez Frederick Douglass
Cesar Chavez Frederick Douglass
Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez
‘ e Misanthrope opens Oct. 11 at Madison Street eat
The Molière comedy is produced by Forest Park Theatre
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Forest Park Theatre will soon start its run of Molière’s comedy “The Misanthrope,” the group’s first indoor performance since it started annual summer Shakespeare in the Park productions in 2021.
“The Misanthrope” will run Oct. 11-13 and Oct. 18-20 at Madison Street Theater in Oak Park. It is a satire of 17th century French aristocracy, telling the story of Alceste, a man who’s furious about how people tell lies and behave inauthentically, though he does the same.
“In our political world right now, that’s a pretty relevant thing to be addressing,” said Richard Corley, founder and director of Forest Park Theatre. He added that, in the comedy, Molière critiques how extreme opinions are destructive.
“Human beings are flawed, human beings are complex, and human beings are prone to behaving in ways that are contradictory,” Corley said. “Unfortunately, human nature never goes out of style.”
The play is written in rhyming couplets,
which Corley said has been exciting to see Forest Park Theatre actors rehearse.
“The ability to negotiate how to speak that language is very challenging tors,” Corley said. “We have pany who are really rising to the occasion.”
Opening night tickets for thrope” are $80 and include food. the shows, Oct. 12 and 13, plus Oct. 18 throug 20, are $35 for general admission for students, and $30 for seniors and members of the Forest Park Arts Allianc
Selling out the 40-seat theater night would pay for the Forest atre’s rental of Madison Street Theater, Corley said.
“This opening night benefit is a way for the community to help us pay our bills,” Corley said. “Like any nonprofit, we’re trying to break even.”
Origin
Corley founded Forest Park Theatre in the spring of 2021.
With a bachelor’s in acting and master’s de grees in theater history and directing, Corley started a theater in New York City in the 1980s. He and his wife moved to Forest Park nearly a decade ago and now teach at the University of Illinois Chicago’s theater program.
“When we moved to Forest Park, we no-
Christian Ortega, who plays Alceste, rests in Elizabeth Hope Nahulak’s lap.
ticed two things,” Corley told the Review in the past. First, they saw how diverse and welcoming the village is. “And we also noticed there was no theater.”
Corley founded Forest Park Theatre as the village’s first theater group, and as a way for UIC acting students to get experience outside of school.
Forest Park Theatre has held annual Shakespeare in the Park performances since 2021. This summer, the group perfor med “Pericles.”
While many of the actors in “The Misanthrope” will be the same as those who have performed in Shakespeare in the Park, there will be lighting and sound effects in the company’s first full indoor production, unlike when they perform outdoors.
Corley said he chose a Molière play as the company’s first indoor performance because both he and Shakespeare center language at the heart of their playwriting.
“The speaking of the words is the dramatic act. T he event of the play is languag e,” Corley said. He added that he hopes “we bring our outside audience from the summers inside, and that we can grow an audience for year-round theater.”
T hough Corley said he’s ultimately looking for a space dedicated to Forest
Park T heatre so that the company can grow and host acting classes, he’s currently looking for donations for a place to rehearse and perfor m.
Last year, Forest Park Theatre started hosting events outside of its annual summer Shakespeare in the Park performances with year-round play readings at American Legion Post 414.
Now, Forest Park Theatre is expanding its official productions. The group will put on a version of “Electra” by Sophocles in the spring, also at Madison Street Theater. Corley said his goals include building a strong theater company and developing an audience for professional theater in Forest Park
“Any arts organization like this needs visionary community members who see … the value that it can add to the community,” Corley said.
“I think what people are going to see on the stage is a budding great professional company. I think people can get very excited about being in on the ground floor of something extraordinary that could be built here.”
Buy tickets to see “The Misanthrope” at Madison Street Theater at https://www.fptheatre.org/.
ANGELINA DAVIS
Life’s a peach for prizewinning pie bakers
3 took top prize in the Oak Park Farmers Market annual competition
By WEDNESDAY JOURNAL STAFF
Contributing Reporter
Corn, berries and peaches took the top honors this year at the 2024 Oak Park Farmers’ Market’s annual pie bake-off.
The sumptuous delights were packed with seasonal, farm-fresh ingredients to in their bake-off submissions. The pies were scored by three volunteer judges and sampled by those who visited the market that day. This year, 12 pies were entered in the contest and judged based on taste, presentation
and the creative incorporation of market ingredients
The top three pies and bakers were honored with trophies and bragging rights.
The winners of the bake-off are:
1st Place: Jamie Paterick with Maizy’s Berry Corn Pie
2nd Place: Elizabeth Franken with Fruits of the Forest
3rd Place: Cady Trelstad and Rohan Mandavilli with Peachy Blue Bliss
Dying to try the pies? You can by downloading the recipes. https://ow.ly/u9rr50TGTqC
You have a few more weeks to visit the market. The last day to shop is Saturday, Oct. 26.
WithCantata’scontinuumofcare,youcanliveyourbest
Tour our 10-acre campus today! (708) 387 1030
Tour our 10-acre campus today! (708) 387- 1030
Jay Friedman celebrates 30th season with the symphony
Award-winning orchestra will per form works by Mozart and Bruckner
By LEAH SCHROEDER and TERESA POWELL Contributing Reporter
Jay Friedman, music director of the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest is preparing for his 30th season, but in the three decades before he stepped into this role, Friedman never thought about becoming a conductor.
During his decades as a trombonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, F riedman said that while he had no desire to become a conductor, he was always interested in the different sounds of different orchestras. This initial curiosity led him to consider accepting offers from small orchestras that approached F riedman later in his career about conducting for them.
“I just kind of fell into it much later in my performing career,” he said. “I was a hesitant conductor. That’s not what I started out to be because I was an orchestra player.”
Jay Friedman, music director of the Sy mphony of Oak Park & River Forest
This season begins with works by Mozart and Bruckner at a concert at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Concordia University Chapel in River Forest. Free parking is available in the garage at 1124 Bonnie Brae, and the chapel is just west of the garage. A preconcer t conversation with David Leehey begins at 3 p.m., and a free rece ption follows the concert. Tickets for students through colle ge are free
The first piece on the program, the Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3 features soloist Yang Liu, an award-winning Chinese-American violinist who has toured North America, South America, and Asia with multiple orchestras. He is an advocate of cultural exchange via classical music, and is a founder of the Yang and Olivia Foundation and Momento Virtuosi, a chamber ensemble featuring diverse ethnicity and instrumentation.
Friedman will also direct Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4. Bruckner used the subtitle, “Romantic,” for this symphony and provided thematic descriptions of each movement.
The program is supported in part by grants from Cook County Arts, The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council and the Oak
Finally, during the 1995 season, the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest held a music director search, during which Friedman and four others conducted and were considered. Friedman won out as the best option to take over. Friedman is only the fourth music director since the orchestra was founded in 1931.
Now in its 93rd season, the OP-RF Symphony is one of the oldest in the country. It has been honored as the top community orchestra in Illinois, and features both local musicians and professionals from across the Chicago area.
In his role as music director, Friedman is responsible for conducting the orchestra during weekly rehearsals, plus five concerts per year. Calling himself “very particular” about music preparation, he has also taken on the role of music librarian, in which he plans programs and prepares the physical music for the musicians. Their passion, he says, keeps him motivated.
“Most of the players are amateur musicians, so they make a big commitment during the year. That means they really love
Park Area Arts Council. For tickets and more information, go to SymphonyOPRF.org, email theSymphonyOPRF@gmail.com, or call 708-2182648. Tickets are $30 through October 12, and $35 on concert day. Season subscriptions are $100.
music because it’s not their primary vocation,” he said. “They do it firmly for the love of making music. That’s a rare thing these days.”
During Friedman’s illustrious career, he has had the opportunity to conduct two world premieres and two Chicago-area premieres. He has also conducted six largescale choral works with the orchestra at Chicago’s Symphony Center, which are among the highlights of his conducting tenure. His dedication to his job did not go unnoticed.
Friedman was honored as the Illinois Council of Orchestra’s Conductor of the Year three times and the ICO’s Cultural Leadership Award in 2018.
“It’s quite an honor to be recognized for something you love to do, in spite of all the work,” said Friedman, adding that his love for conducting remains strong.
“We’re like an old married couple, myself and the orchestra. We have our agreements and our disagreements. However, we try to make up for that fact with commitment, love of the music, and love of performing so that comes through in our performances.”
PROVIDED Yang Liu
e Pilgrim Virgin for Peace
The world-famous International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima is visiting the area in early October as part of the Fatima Tour for Peace, drawing pilgrims and worshipers from around the region to St. Paul VI Parish in nearby Riverside Sculpted by Jose Thedim, aka “the Michelangelo of Portugal,” the statue has been traveling internationally since 1947.
On Oct. 13, 1947, in the presence of 200,000 pilgrims at Fatima — a shrine where many Catholics believe the Blessed Mother appeared and where healings
have reportedly occurred — the statue was blessed by the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima and commissioned to serve as “The Pilgrim Virgin.” She was then flown to the United States, where she was crowned in Ottawa, Canada, and began a two-year tour of Canada and the U.S. T he statue has since traveled to more than 100 countries, carrying what Catholics believe are Fatima’s blessings and urgent message of peace to people worldwide.
— STAFF
PHOTO S BY TODD BANNOR
Federal agency opposes new st ate law; Pritzker to lead trade mission to Japan
Lawsuit seeks to block state law that would limit debit and credit card fees
By HANNAH MEISEL & ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois
The Biden administration is asking a federal judge to halt Illinois’ first-in-the-nation law curtailing credit card “interchange fees” before it goes into ef fect next summer
When fully implemented in July 2025, the law will curtail banks’ ability to charge those fees on the tax and tip portion of debit and credit card transactions
After a coalition of financial institutions sued over the law in federal court this summer, federal officials this week sided with the banks. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency — an independent bureau within the U.S. Department of Treasury — wrote in a legal brief that Illinois’ law is both “bad policy” and in conflict with federal law.
T he filing, published We d nesd ay, frames i nterchange f ees as a “core f eature of an i ntricately d esigned nationw ide pay ments system. ”
“The Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act is an ill-conceived, highly unusual, and largely unworkable state law that threatens to fragment and disrupt this efficient and effective system,” the brief said. “Although the IFPA’s requirements are vague and ambiguous in many respects, this much is clear: the IFPA prevents or significantly interferes with federally authorized banking powers that are fundamental to safe and sound banking and disrupts core functionalities that drive the Nation’s economy.”
The law, which Gov. JB Pritzker and Democrats in the General Assembly approved as part of the state’s budget process earlier this year, was a concession to the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. Retailers had been opposed to the gover nor’s proposed cap on a tax deduction historically granted to them for collecting the state sales tax.
I RMA leaders defended the law last week, wh i le P ritzker on T hursd ay sai d the B iden administratio n’s filing was “not something that I’m de ep ly c oncer ned about. ”
“When things g et brought to c ourt, yo u neve r know how they’ll turn out,” he
said at an unrelated event. “I think thi s one is one that c an be defended well and we ’ ll end up with the law we have on the b ooks being af firmed.”
Pritzker ’s Japan trade mission
Pritzker is also set to join state legislative and business leaders on a trade mission to Japan next week to explore clean energy, manufacturing, life sciences, quantum, and other “key growth industries,” according to the gover nor’s office.
Members of the delegation will meet with their counterparts in Tokyo to discuss strengthening economic ties between the state and the island nation.
The delegation represents what the governor’s office calls “Team Illinois” – a group of gover nment and business officials that work to secure business and economic development partnerships. While it started informally, it’s now a key element of the Pritzker administration’s five-year plan for attracting businesses to the state
In total, about four dozen lawmakers, economic development officials, academics and businesspeople will join the gover nor on the trip. Among them are House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park.
Christy George, the CEO of Intersect Illinois, is also joining the delegation. Intersect Illinois is the private economic development organization started by then-Gov. Bruce Rauner that has since become a go-between for businesses looking to relocate to Illinois and state gover nment. It works on marketing and site selection in partnership with the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
George stepped into the role in mid-September after working as the executive director of the Democratic National Convention’s 2024 Host Committee. Prior to that, George worked in Pritzker’s administration as an assistant deputy governor and as the executive director of the Illinois Commerce Commission.
Others heading to Japan include representatives of PsiQuantum and TCCI, both of which have received multimillion-dollar tax incentives from DCEO since last summer The heads of the state’s major utilities, representatives from the University of Illinois and University of Chicago, and heads of several business-related lobbying organizations are also set to join the delegation.
The Pritzker administration has led similar trade missions to the United Kingdom and Canada in recent years. The gover nor’s first trade mission, in 2019, was also in Japan. Since then, Illinois exports to Japan have increased 31.7% while imports from Japan have fallen 22.4%, according to the gover-
nor’s office.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government covera ge to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Roosevelt Middle School Spanish students to visit Pilsen neighborhood
Students will get a rst-hand taste of Spanish culture on Oct. 17
By HECTOR VERVANTES Contributing Reporter
Seventh-grade Spanish students at Roosevelt Middle School in River Forest will take a field trip next week to the vibrant Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, to immerse themselves in the Spanish culture they have been studying.
The Oct. 17 trip coincides with the end of National Hispanic Heritage Month and the celebration of Día de Los Muertos. Students will immerse themselves in the Spanish language, cultural practices and local artistry they have studied in class.
Students will also lunch at Los Comales, a taqueria, and explore local shops on 18th Street before visiting the National Museum of Mexican Art to learn more about the culture and history of Pilsen. Pilsen, located in Chicago’s Lower West Side, is renowned for its vibrant Mexican and Latino culture, featuring a rich array of restaurants, art, music, and nightlife.
The trip, a core part of the curriculum for over 20 years, will be led this year by two Spanish teachers: Tammy Highfill and Marjorie McInerney.
With Spanish language speakers re presenting an ever-increasing percentage of the American population, the teachers emphasized the importance of this kind of outing to help their students understand the Spanish culture.
“They can visit this neighborhood, see Spanish on the signs, hear Spanish on the street and speak to shop owners in Spanish,” Highfill said. “They can find traditional foods and sample different candies at the dulcería, as well as enjoy unique pastries at the panaderías. If they go to La Michoacana, they’ll experience a very different type of ice cream store, often referred to as a Mexican heladería.”
McInerney said that by the year 2050, Spanish is expected to become the predominant language in the country, with more Spanish speakers than English speakers. This shift will significantly impact the
ties, travel experiences and their ability to get along with people in their neighborhoods and workplaces, knowing the language is essential.”
According to Chicago.gov, Pilsen was originally settled in the 1840s by Irish and German works. It later became home to other groups including Bohemians, Lithuanians, Croats and Poles. Beginning in the 1950s, Pilson changed again with the arrival of recent Mexican immigrants.
The trip is planned to coincide with The National Museum of Mexican Art’s annual Festival del Arte Popular, which celebrates Mexico’s vibrant folk art, featuring artisans from across the country.
Highlights include Daniel Paredes and Maria Fernanda Rosales Ruiz’s clay Day of the Dead figures, Jacobo Ángeles Ojeda’s Oaxaca alebrijes, Audias and Mariana Roldan’s Papel Amate paintings, Pedro
the students’ experience by preparing them in the classroom. T hey teach students about traditional neighborhoods in Spanish-speaking countries, focusing on specialized f amily-run shops that end in “eria,” such as panaderías, pastelerías and zapaterías.
Through their lessons, students learn about Day of the Dead traditions, including preparations on Oct. 31, such as purchasing marigolds, Bread of the Dead and ing redients for hot chocolate, along with creating ofrendas with offerings like mole and candles to honor loved ones.
When asked how the experience shapes students’ perceptions of their cultural identities, Highfill emphasized that while the students are young, the trip sparks their curiosity and encourages them to think beyond their own experiences.
McInerney said that visiting an area like Pilsen certainly impacts the students at Roosevelt, who are predominantly from privile ged backgrounds. She said that alters the students’ perceptions of how people in other parts of the city live.
“I just think it’s important to remind them how lucky they are in the particular cultural environment in which they live I’m not sure how much exposure they’ve had outside of that environment prior to a trip like this,” McInerney said.
Roosevelt Middle School Principal Tina Steketee said of the field trip, “Rich experiences like this trip enhance classroom learning by sparking curiosity and helping students make connections to the wider world.” She praised the teachers for making it happen.
“I think this experience piques their in-alizing there’s more out there beyond their own experiences,” he said. “They might ferent from know about that.’ It opens their eyes to the richness of culture and its possibilities.”
PROVIDED
Roosevelt students learn about ofrendas (memorial altars) at the Mexican Fine Arts Museum.
Ghouls and skeletons galore: How to celebrate Halloween in Oak Park
Trick-or-treating hours from 4 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
Are you r eady to binge on c hocolate treats, sour g ummy wo r ms and c andy co rn this f all? Grab your c ostumes and g et r eady for Oak Pa rk ’s official Halloween t rick-or-treating hours from 4 p. m. to 8 p. m. on Oct. 31.
The village encourages households wanting to participate to turn on their lights and post a sign letting trick-or-treaters know they are welcome. Households not interested in participating can turn of f their lights and post a sign to discourage stop s.
T he village also urges parents to go t rick-or-treating with young children, especially after da rk T he sun is expected to set around 5:46 p. m. Oct. 31 in Oak Pa rk . Other safety t ips from the village include having parents i nspect treats, wearing light-colored c lothing or reflective tape on da rk c ostumes and stayin g in familiar neighborhood s.
Oak Park officials remind trick-or-treaters and parents to avoid costumes that perpetuate stereotypes of cultures or races and/or mock individuals or cultures. The Teal Pumpkin Project also provides ideas for making trick-or-treating safer for kids with allergies or medical conditions.
T he Oak Pa rk Police Department asks drive rs to be careful during Halloween t rick-or-treating hours because pedes-
t rians will be all around, and kids might pay less a ttention to crossing at i ntersections. Only pre-approved b locks hosting pa rt i es on Halloween c an c lose streets, as doing so without warning c ould prohibit first r esponders from g etting through in an emergenc y.
A list of Halloween-related events in
and around Oak Pa rk are also av ailabl e on the Pa rk District of Oak Pa rk ’s we bsite. Upcoming events include skating at the Ridgeland Common Re creation Comp lex, a g aming event at the C ommunity Re creation C enter and p umpkin carvin g at the Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center
We’re
Man strikes victim with knife, damages vehicle
Around 12:46 p.m. Oct. 4, on the 6100 block of North Avenue, a man displayed a knife, swung it toward a Chicago resident and struck them. The man then damaged the doors and hood and punctured a tire of the victim’s 2012 Nissan Altima. The estimated damage is unknown.
Criminal sexual assault
A man was re ported Oct. 5 to have previ-
ously committed a criminal sexual assault against an Oak Park resident.
Theft
■ Someone stole a Chicago resident’s white and black RadMission Power mountain bike around 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 1 while it was unlocked and charging on the 1100 block of Lake Street. The charger for the bike was also stolen. The estimated loss
is $1,200.
■ At 1:52 p.m. on Oct. 3, a man entered the Walgreens at 811 Madison St. and stole two, 2- packs of Modelo beer. He was last seen heading north on the alley between Oak Park Avenue and South Grove Avenue. The estimated loss is $46.82.
■ Criminal damage to property
■ Someone used a brick to shatter the windshield of an Oak Park resident’s 2016 Chevrolet Colorado between the evening of
If you do, you should know how important foot care is. Over time, diabetics risk developing foot complications. When the nerves are damaged from chronic high blood sugar, feet can become numb or painful with burning or tingling. is is called diabetic neuropathy. When diabetes a ects the arteries, circulation to the legs and feet may be compromised. Either of these conditions may lead to serious problems including ulceration, even amputation.
e key to prevention is early diagnosis of diabetes, and regular foot exams from a podiatrist. Diabetics who receive regular foot care, including paring of calluses and debridement of thick fungal toenails, are almost four times less likely
to undergo an amputation than those who do not seek treatment.
Medicare and some private insurances cover 1 pair of diabetic shoes and 3 pair of protective insoles each calendar year. Dr. Lambert has been a supplier of diabetic shoes since 2002. e shoes come in 30 di erent styles each for men and women. ese include boots, lightweight colorful athletic shoes, and dress shoes. Even patients who are not diabetic love the look and comfort of the footwear. Diabetic socks, slippers and compression hosiery are also available.
Protecting your feet with appropriate footgear is an important aspect of preventive care for diabetics.
Oct. 1 to the morning of Oct. 2 on the 700 block of South Lombard Avenue. The estimated damage is $800.
■ A man hit and broke two glass panes to a CTA bus shelter between the morning of Oct. 1 and the morning of Oct. 2 on the 1100 block of South Boulevard. The estimated damage is unknown.
Motor vehicle theft
Someone with keys stole an Oak Park resident’s 2017 black Audi Q5 between 8 a.m. Oct. 2 and 8 a.m. Oct. 3 on the 1200 block of North Harlem Avenue. The car had a 14-piece golf club set, gold bag, golf shoes and golf bag cart. The estimated loss is $17,450.
Arrests
■ A 34-year-old Chicago man was arrested around 11 a.m. Sept. 30 for aggravated battery to an Oak Park resident that occur red on the 1100 block of Westgate Street.
■ A boy from Chicago was arrested for attempted motor vehicle theft of an Oak Park resident’s car around 8:50 a.m. Oct. 2 on the 200 block of Washington Boulevard.
■ A 55-year-old Maywood woman was arrested at 8:13 a.m. Oct. 3 for criminal trespass on the 700 block of Lake Street. She was given a notice to appear and released.
■ A 25-year-old Chicago woman was arrested at 8:42 p.m. Oct. 4 for driving under the influence on the 1–100 block of Washington Boulevard after a traf fic accident.
■ A 33-year-old Cicero man was arrested for driving under the influence at 2:25 a.m. Oct. 6 on the 800 block of North Oak Park Avenue.
■ A boy from Chicago was arrested around 6 p.m. Oct. 6 on the 800 block of Wenonah Avenue for an active warrant from Cook County for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department re ports dated Sept. 27 – Oct. 7 and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
Compiled by Luzane Draughon
BREAK THROUGH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
River Forest Village Administrator Matt Walsh, Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins, Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman, Forest Park Commissioner Michelle MelinRogov in, Sarah’s Inn Executive Director Carol Gall, 39th Senate District Director Eileen Ly nch, 78th District Representative Camille Lilly and domestic violence surv ivor Tanya Prince at the End Domestic Violence rally in Scov ille Park on Oct. 1.
Inn personnel talk with rally participants.
PHOTO S BY TODD BANNOR
Sarah’s
Greentow n founder John Harris speaks at the rally.
Sarah’s Inn Executive Director Carol Gall addresses the crowd.
It’s Ladies Night every night at Sportz Nook
A sports bar led by women who can cook and offer warm welcome
WBy RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter
hen Sportz Nook, 7841 Grand Ave. in Elmwood Park, opened two years ago the idea was to cater not only to sports fans with 38 television screens, but also to women. That means the menu features bar-food favorites and also lighter fare and vegetarian options.
“We want to have a sports bar, but with a female flavor to it,” said Marketa Gladkowski, general manager.
Of course, men are more than welcome too, she insisted. It’s a place where a couple can go out and both find what they want on the menu. And it’s the rare barstool-joint that’s ideal for a girl’s night out.
The vibe is friendly, welcoming and meant to be a gathering place for friends. Watch a game. Enjoy some gaming. And bond over a delicious meal. The location is open for patrons 21 and up only, due to the gaming options.
When it opened, the original menu focused on burgers and beer pairings, but they have expanded. There is serious attention to detail in the kitchen. Burger patties are hand-made. And most of the menu is
crafted on site, with the exception of the tater-tots. That’s the only thing that comes out of a bag, according to Gladkowski.
Daily food specials rotate through the week. Monday through Friday a half-priced meal deal from 4 – 6 P.M. kicks off the evening. Best sellers are the Philly cheesesteak sandwich and tacos – featuring Peruvian and Mexican hot sauces. There are unexpected offerings as well, such as mussels and a beef and barley soup that tastes like it just walked out of a garden.
The Fire Cobb salad is the classic with a twist. The chicken arrives enrobed in Buffalo sauce and blue cheese crumbles making this more like the famous appetizer in a more vegetable-forward form.
The kitchen and management team are female-led, which is the secret behind the female-friendly environment.
and we’re seeing more women come now,” said Madelyn Castellano, marketing manager. “We’re always in front talking. We socialize.”
This is something Gladkowski is proud of. She started in the hospitality industry at a young age. It shaped her ideas about creating welcoming spaces.
“I’m originally from Czech Republic. I have this saying, ‘This is my third continent, 5th country!’ I’ve been bartending or managing bars everywhere. I have a business degree in Italy and restaurant degree back in Czech Republic.”
At Sportz Nook she incorporates European attention to detail with American fun. There is a patio in the back with its own TV.
On the weekends Sportz Nook opens at 9 a.m. Brunch is served. Bloody Mary’s flow coupled with dishes from simple, like corned beef hash and avocado toast, to sophisticated, like Southern eggs Benedict
and cinnamon apple French toast.
The menu changes with the seasons to what is fresh and comforting. October brings a new round of delights.
Come in and ask them to tune in to the game, match, race, contest, playoff, championship … whatever you are looking for.
“Just yesterday, customers were asking for a certain channel and we went back there and turned three TV’s on the same channel,” Castellano said. “Everybody was happy!”
Know before you go:
• the-sportz-nook2-2.website.spoton.com
• 7841 Grand Ave., Elmwood Park
Hours:
Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Friday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
The Sunset salad at Sportz Nook.
Open house Chicago: A weekend of architecture and culture
By LACEY SIKORA Contributing reporter
Open House Chicago returns to the Chicago area on Oct.19 and 20. The free, public festival produced by the Chicago Architecture Center offers behind-the-scenes access to architecturally, historically and culturally significant sites throughout the Chicago area. The weekend also includes more than 40 events, programs, demonstrations, talks and art performances.
Adam Rubin, director of public engagement for the CAC, said that this year’s OHC includes more than 170 sites, with a presence in 23 neighborhoods.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for Chicagoans to lear n more about neighborhoods they don’t live in and maybe even more about the neighborhoods they do live in.”
On the CAC’s website for OHC, it’s possible to create an itinerary based on theme. Among the suggested itinerar-
ies are “Bank on It,” which explores four Chicago financial institutions; “Theatres to Silver Screens,” which leads participants through six movie palaces, music venues and refined theaters; and “Libation Station” which features five Chicago area watering holes
Ru bin emphasized that the weekend offers endless p ossibilitie s.
“It is very much a choose your own adventure experience. The cool thing about Open House Chicago is that no two people experience it the same way,” he said. Beyond the suggested tours based on themes, the CAC website also organizes OHC sites by neighborhood so that participants can choose which parts of the city they would like to get to know better.
On the West Side, Austin will host six sites this year, including: Christ the King Jesuit Colle ge Preparatory School; Fraternite Notre Dame; Austin Harvest- By the Hand Club for Kids; Austin Community Family Center; St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and BUILD Headquarters. Rubin singled out Christ the King Jesuit Colle ge Preparatory School on Jackson Boulevard as a fun, modern building. Designed by architect John Ronan, the building’s materials, he pointed out, include a number of Chicago-specific materials, such as the wall of glass brick and a cement-paneled exterior that undulates.
Built in 1923, the Austin Family Community Center on Central Avenue once served the community as a YMCA building. Rubin said that the building has been home to many organizations over years. Today, the building shares space with an SRO and homeless shelter and
PHOTO BY ERIC ALLIX ROGERS
Austin Communi ty Family Center, 501 N. Central Ave., Chicago
PHOTO BY TO M HARRIS
BUILD Headquar ters, 5100 W. Harrison St., Chicago
OPEN HOUSE CHICAGO
Jesuit College Preparator y School, 5088
Jackson Blvd., Chicago
OPEN HOUSE CHICAGO
Arts
25
partners with community organizations to provide social services, recreation and cultural programs to local youth and adults.
“It’s a c ool adaptive reuse project,” Rubin said.
BUILD Headquarters on Harrison Street is a community center designed in connection with Landon Bone Baker architects. BUILD, or Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development, is an organization dedicated to gang intervention, violence prevention and youth development.
Meant to be a home for youth in the community, the new BUILD center offers a variety of education and enrichment programs for area youth, including a garden, art areas and sports facilities.
Rubin said that during OHC, BUILD will be a location for a few hands-on activities including a button making station on Saturday, Oct. 19, in which participants can make buttons with personal affirmations.
BUILD will also host a popcorn seasoning station, using herbs grown in the onsite garden.
In addition to offering access to more than 170 sites, the CAC also created guides for each of the 23 neighborhoods that will
be featured during OHC.
Rubin said that these guides include local activities, restaurants and businesses that participants can visit while in particular neighborhoods. For the families participating in OHC, the guides also include near by playgrounds so that they can break up the day with some outdoor activity.
“We want people to explore like a local,” Rubin said. To that end, the CAC made sure to include fun new spots as well as le gacy businesses to make sure that participants get a real feel for each neighborhood they visit.
New this year, the CAC is including a photography contest as a part of OHC. Photographers of all experience levels are invited to take their best shots during the OHC weekend and submit their photos of sites they enjoy in four categories: interior, exterior, architectural detail, and black and white
The CAC curatorial team will choose winning photos to display at the Chicago Architecture Center in a photo exhibition, which opens on Nov. 23. Following the opening of the show, a jury of professional photographers will select one winner and one honorable mention for each category, and winners will take home a complimentary annual membership to the CAC.
At the end of the day, whether you choose to travel across the city or explore one new neighborhood, Rubin said that the purpose of OHC is to build civic pride and awareness.
“We want to encourage people to get involved in their community.”
Before you go
Open House Chicago is a free event. Visitors to Open House Chicago can download the Chicago Architecture Center app to access addresses and hours for all of the sites. Information on the weekend, demonstrations and special tours are also available at the CAC’s website: https://www.architecture.org/open-house-chicago/
PHOTO BY ERIC ALLIX ROGERS
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 5700 W. Midway Park, Chicago
PHOTO BY ERIC ALLIX ROGERS
Fraternité Notre Dame, 502 N. Central Ave., Chicago
Austin Harvest - By e Hand Club For Kids, 423 N. Laramie Ave., Chicago
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M. Call Viewpoints editor
Ken Trainor at 613-3310
ktrainor@wjinc.com
Religion as a political in uencer
Rabbi Yitzchok Bergstein helped staf f a Chabad Lubavitch booth at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and some of his rabbi colleagues did the same at the Re publican Convention in Milwaukee. The Oak Park rabbi, however, said no Chabad rabbi would be talking about the election in a partisan way from the pulpit, certainly not supporting one of the candidates.
In my view his behavior is an example of the proper place of religion in politics and government. First, a reminder of what the First Amendment says” Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Gover nment for a redress of grievances.
The First Amendment prohibits government from influencing or interfering with religion, but it has no problem with religion petitioning the government.
With that point in mind, what Rabbi Bergstein was trying to do at the DNC was to influence the delegates to frame what they were doing in ter ms of God’s purposes for the world he created.
“At the booth,” he said, “our purpose was to serve the needs of the Jewish community and to pass along a message of kindness of sharing.”
According to the Orthodox Jewish understanding of creation, on day six of creation, the rabbi said, God did not complete the work of creation. What God did was create human beings with the vocation, duty, and obligation to complete that work
“If you look at the Hebrew text,” he said, “God created the world in its physical form and us to partner with God to perfect the world, to partner with God to bring this world to a higher state of conscious, a state of positivity, of caring, of sharing, of giving.
“When the Jewish people are referred to as the chosen people, some use it as a derogatory. The perspective of the Torah is that God chose us and gave us the responsibility of guiding and bringing light to the world. That’s the positive aspect of ego. I have an ego not to show of f
Shrubtown: Leaf-bagging meets Halloween
When my family moved to Oak Park five years ago, I was impressed by the many services our tax dollars funded, but two really stood out: fall leaf pickup and the residential composting program.
As we all know, one of those services has changed. As the owners of a corner lot that is home to what I can only assume is Oak Park’s Most Productive Oak Tree, the curbside service made it simpler to manage our leaves while also managing a baby and toddler at home.
However, this is not another piece decrying the decision to change the leaf pickup program — it’s a done deal and it’s time to adapt. Instead, I’m going to share how I plan to deal with the change in service: in part by taking even more advantage of my other favorite service, the CompostAble program.
Composting food and yard waste at home is one of the best ways individuals can make a positive climate impact. It reduces landfill waste, cuts down methane emissions, captures carbon, and improves soil health. And until I moved to Oak Park, I found the process complicated, time intensive and ... kinda gross.
But the CompostAble program not only makes it easier to compost food and yard waste, it has the shocking quality of being as easy, or even easier, than throwing it away.
For $16.31/month (we split the cost with our neighbor and share a bin), you get a grey bin in your alley and a small bin for your kitchen. It requires limited behavior change because instead of putting food waste into the garbage, you just put it into the bin instead.
When it’s time to take out the trash, it’s one more small bag to bring to the alley. But it’s not just food. You can put any soiled paper item into it: pizza boxes, take-out bags, napkins, and more. As a family of four with two picky kids and a weekly pizza habit, it’s been pretty eye opening to see just how much food and paper we throw away each week. We’re grateful for the opportunity to minimize our impact.
But the real time and $$ saver comes from the yard waste. No more bags or stickers — everything goes right into the bin. Fallen branches, tree trimmings,
Stimulated by AI’s simulator
Housing is still not fair
Oak Pa rk has been a pioneer in fair housing for better than 50 year s. It was bold action in 1968 for the village b oard to adopt the ordinance as a ke y piece of Oak Pa rk ’s visionary ef fo rt to foster racial inte gr ation. Unli ke other communities that passed fair housing laws in that remarkable and turbulent year, Oak Pa rk ’s ordinance stood out because it was active ly not just window dressing for PR pu rp oses. Oak Pa rk ’s fair housing law included enforcement mechanisms that made it real and c onsequential.
Th at comes to mind this week as the village board reviewe d the latest re po rt from the HOPE Fair Housing Center, a third-par ty vendor under contract to the village to test h ow the owners of Oak Pa rk ’s rental properties are confor ming to the local, state and federal provisions of fair housing in 2024.
T he re po rt was not good .
HOPE and its testers found six housing providers we re not complying with laws related to the source of income protections. Some we re not basing the income required of a p otential tenant on the co rrect equation. Fo r example, if a p otential tenant has a steady source of income, such a housing choice voucher, it should lowe r the amount of ear ned income the tenant would need to bring to the table.
HOPE also found that seven housing providers could not explain the protections in place for potential tenants wh o have had a conviction in their past.
T hese are serious issues that are seemingly preventing q ualified people from finding housing in Oak Park . And that g oes ag ainst the fair housing values Oak Park has espoused for 56 year s.
Th at said, the presentation by HOPE at an Oct. 1 village b oard meeting and the discussion among trustees was not f ully transparent. It is unclear just how many housing providers we re tested overall. We ’d li ke to know that. So far, the village and/or HOPE have declined to share the names of the individuals or firms that we re tested. T hey said the testing included some of Oak Pa rk ’s largest rental fir ms. We ’d li ke to know more. We ’d li ke to interview those fir ms to get their take on the process
Oak Pa rk trustees, to their credit, though, active ly disc ussed how to improve perfor manc e, how to build out enforcement mechanisms with teeth and how to prove that the village is serious about consequences.
“The only way, in an industry that’s driven by dollars and c ents, to make sure that we get discrimination out of the ind ustr y, is to look at the dollars and cents of it,” said Trustee B rian Straw.
Trustee Cory Wesley said, “We owe it to ourselves here at the board, but also to our village, to live the values we preach.”
We ag re e.
The subject heading of the email read: “I told Microsoft Co-pilot to write a column about autumn in the style of Ken Trainor,” the creative whim of a friend. I’ve heard people describe God as their co-pilot, but Microsoft? Maybe AI is becoming our alt-deity. Anyway, here’s what Copilot produced:
Autumn in Our Town: A Season of Re ection and Renewal
KEN TRAINOR
As the leaves begin their annual transformation, painting our town in hues of amber, crimson, and gold, we find ourselves once again in the embrace of autumn. This season, more than any other, invites us to pause and reflect on the passa ge of time and the beauty of change
Walking through the tree-lined streets of Oak Park, one can’ t help but feel a sense of nostalgia. The crisp air carries with it the scent of fallen leav es and the distant echo of children’s laughter as they play in the parks, their cheeks flushed with the chill of the season. It’s a time when our community comes together, wrapped in scarves and sweaters, to celebrate the harvest festivals and pumpkin patches that dot our town Autumn is a reminder of the cycles that govern our li ves. Just as the trees shed their leaves, we too must let go of the past to make way for new growth. It’s a season of renewal, where the old giv es way to the new, and we are reminded of the resilience and strength that lies within us.
In the quiet moments of an autumn ev ening, as the sun sets earlier and the nights grow longer, we find solace in the warmth of our homes and the company of loved ones. It’s a time for storytellin g, for sharing memories of summers past and dreams of winters to come. The simple act of gathering around a fire, with a cup of hot cider in hand, becomes a cherished ritual that binds us together.
Ken Trainor once wrote that ev eryone has a stor y, and ev ery story is worth tellin g. In this season of reflection, we are reminded of the stories that make up the fabric of our community. The tales of resilience, of hope, and of the enduring human spirit. As we watch the leaves fall and the landscape change, we are reminded that we too are part of this ev erevolving tapestry
So, as we welcome autumn in Oak Pa rk, let us embrace the beauty of change and the promise of renewal. Let us find joy in the simple pleasures of the season and take a moment to appreciate the stories that connect us all. For in the end, it is these stories that define us and make our town a place lik e no other.
AI must have found my book, “Our Town Oak Park – Walk with Me in Search of True Community,” judg-
ing by several references to “our town” in the text. “Community” also comes up. And the positive tone is sympathetically in synch.
But I would never describe the autumn air as “crisp,” a cliché so worn it should be banned from prose altogether for at least 50 years. “Cheeks flushed with the chill of the season” isn’t much better. If AI wants to be taken seriously, it will have to move beyond cliches.
I don’t think of autumn as “a season of renewal, where the old gives way to the new.” The old gives way to winter and winter gives way to the renewal of spring. Maybe that’s what Co-pilot was after but never quite arrived.
But AI did quote something I actually wrote: “everyone has a story, and every story is worth telling,” which is central to my journalistic philosophy, so points awarded on that one. It also concludes that the stories we tell “make up the fabric of our community,” and “we too are part of this ever-evolving tapestry,” demonstrating a beginner’s facility with figurative language
Overall, the style reminds me of a diligent, promising student with little sense of humor, verve, or spontaneity. The writing is precise and tidy, what you would expect from a machine, albeit a sophisticated mechanism capable of aggregating and synthesizing oceans of data in no time flat. But there is no magic or poetry in it yet.
I asked my friend if he “fed” my writing samples to AI. Nope, Co-pilot conducted its own research. And how long did it take to produce the resulting essay?
“Less than 5 seconds,” he re plied. Awesome.
Nonetheless, I would grade this ef fort a B- and tell our diligent student to loosen up, avoid the conventional, be playful and less predictable.
I have no interest in making AI my co-pilot. I’m not looking for shor tcuts. I enjoy the process, in line with my CTA-inspired motto: It’s the going, not the getting there, that’s good. AI is a machine of our devising. We should never forget that our brains are the most complex entities in the known universe and that we are just beginning to tap the mind’s potential.
Can we program AI to do anything more than simulate? Can it write something that will move us to tears? Is the human brain capable of creating something more complex than itself? Will a machine ever possess the elusive spark of creative genius that resides in every human being?
If so, then as our machines evolve, so must we
To compare my actual style with AI’s mimicry, I added passages from the Autumn chapter in my book “Our Town Oak Park,” which you can find below the online version of this column.
SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck
Living, and voting, in the real world
There is a fundamental flaw in our current presidential and vice presidential debate system. The candidates are asked repeatedly what specific things they would do to address problems that voters are concerned about. The premise is faulty because while the Executive Branch can propose laws, the Legislative Branch alone can pass legislation to address problems in specific ways
The differences in the two parties are not about specifics, but rather how they perceive the world. The Republican Party and its candidates refuse to live in the real world. They do not accept scientific consensus as a basis for action. They will not address climate change because they do not believe it is real, or they simply do not care. They pretended that COVID was a hoax, and thousands of Americans died as a consequence. They do not like losing elections so they pretend they really won. They do not apologize when caught in lies because their world is fictional, where lies are the basis for their actions. For many decades they have proposed cutting taxes on the rich and on corporations, based on “trickledown” economic theories that have failed every time. In the vice presidential debate, Republican J.D. Vance claimed “experts are wrong” because some made predic-
tions that did not come true. But what “experts” can do very accurately is to analyze past history and extract patterns. History can tell us that cutting taxes on the rich does not stimulate the economy and pay for itself because it has been tried repeatedly and it never worked. It is no coincidence that Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has donated tens of millions to the GOP. He expects to reap hundreds of billions in tax breaks, which is a phenomenal retur n on his investment.
Voters should ask themselves which candidates live in the real world and intend to address real problems, and which live in a fantasy world where they can do what they want and then simply lie about the horrific consequences that result.
Voters may tell themselves, I choose to vote for the Fantasyland candidate because I like their world vision. Unfortunately, whether one believes in the real world or not, that is where we all live, and when the Fantasyland candidate wrecks the environment and the U.S. economy, and takes away our rights and freedoms and health insurance, we will all suffer the real-world consequences.
Tom DeCoursey Oak Park
WEDNESD AY
JOURNAL
of Oak Park and River Forest
Viewpoints Guidelines
e goal of the Viewpoints section is to foster and facilitate a community conversation and respectful dialogue. Responsible community voices are vital to community journalism and we welcome them. Space is at a premium and readers’ attention is also limited, so we ask that Viewpoints submissions be brief. Our limit for letters to the editor is 350 words. For One View essays, the limit is 500 words. Shorter is better. If and when we have su cient space, we print longer submissions, but when space is limited — as it o en is — we may ask you to submit a shorter version or hold the piece until space allows us to print it.
We reser ve the right to edit submissions. We do not have time to allow the writer to review changes before publication. We also do not have time to do more than super cial fact-checking, and because of our national epidemic of misinformation and conspiracy theories, when writers include statistical evidence to support their opinions, we require them to include the source of that information, such as credible websites, print publications, titles of articles and dates published, etc. Be as speci c as possible so that we and our readers have some way of assessing the credibility of your claims. Links may also be included for the online version. We follow the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics: seek the truth and report it and minimize harm. As a result, we will do our best not to publish pieces that espouse doubtful or debunked theories, demonstrate harmful bias, or cross the line into incivility. While we will do our best not to engage in censorship, we also do not intend to be used as a platform for misinformation. Your sources for fact-checking are a critical step in keeping the discourse honest, decent and respectful.
All submissions must include your rst and last name and the municipality in which you live, plus a phone number (for veri cation only). We do not publish anonymous letters. One View essays should include a sentence at the end about who you are.
If we receive your submission by 5 p.m. on Sunday, you can expect your opinion to be included in that week’s paper (and online), space permitting.
Pieces can be submitted through our online form at oakpark.com or directly to Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor, ktrainor@wjinc.com. For the latter, we prefer attached Word les or plain tex t included in the email.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
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Hurricane Helene’s devastation
Virtually everyone knows someone who has been affected by Hurricane Helene. My friends, for mer Oak Parkers Pete and Lin von Dreele, retired to Weaverville, North Carolina, outside Asheville, in 2005 (they lived there for 16 years before moving one more time to Colorado to be closer to family). Wester n North Carolina is among the areas hardest hit by the hurricane, with torrential rains and severe winds.
I spoke to Lin on Oct. 2 and asked how her North Carolina friends are faring. With the area’s power grid down, Lin has been unsuccessful in trying to contact friends in Weaverville, including Kari and Jim Deuel, also former Oak Parkers.
I asked how friends in Oak Park and River Forest can help. She suggested I call her for mer congregation, Church of the Holy Spirit, an Episcopal church in Mars Hill, near Weaverville
The church still has power, water and wifi, but most parishioners live in rural areas and all are dealing with home damage, the church secretary said. One church family is
isolated because a bridge has been washed out, cutting off transportation. Another parishioner stood on the porch of their home, watching the water rise and saw a neighbor’s home float down the river with the residents still inside, screaming. The local grocery store’s storage facility has been wiped out. Supplies are being air-lifted in Mules are even being used to cart in supplies.
The unthinkable has happened. Yet amid the devastation, survivors are coming together to help each other. And they can use our support. If you’d like to donate to support the survivors of Hurricane Helene, here are some organizations you might consider: World Central Kitchen, www.wck.org American Red Cross, www.redcross.org Church of the Holy Spirit www holyspiritwnc.org (click GIVE in the top far right cor ner of the web page, then click on GIVE TREASURE.)
Sue
Montgomery Oak Park
Celebrating OPRF coach Gary Olson
Like many of you reading this, I am proud to call OPRF High School my alma mater I am grateful for the top-flight education, the lifelong friendships made there, and to have found inspiration in the amazing faculty, staff and administration at the school. One of the more inspirational figures to serve at OPRF was coach Gary Olson. In his 27-year tenure as an educator and coach at the high school, his dedication and passion for teaching inspired students in the classrooms and on the field. He impacted the lives of countless students and studentathletes, impressing upon them the values of hard work, teamwork, and support for one another. We lost Coach Olson in 1999 but his legacy has carried on at OPRF and in our community
Now I have the privilege of co-chairing a fundraising effort in Coach Olson’s honor for the OPRF High School Imagine Foundation.
We’re aiming to raise $250,000 to support the current facilities project, which will be matched by a generous donor to reach a total of $500,000!
If you are an OPRF football fan, a for mer OPRF football player or alum who fondly remembers Coach Olson, we want to invite you to join us for a pre-game tailgate party and kick-off fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 18, hosted by Stephen Schuler, OPRF Class of 1980 (and #54). Enjoy delicious food from Skrine Chops, games, and a special gift while celebrating Coach Olson’s legacy with fellow Huskies and alums. To learn more and register for this free event, go to //bit. ly/4gVYpXC
Let’s come together, raise a glass to Coach Olson, and help shape the future of OPRF!
With gratitude,
Chris Gri th OPRF High School Class of 1998
Key dates for voting
Tuesday, Oct. 8 was the last day to register to vote by paper or in-person registration.
Sunday, Oct. 20 is the last day to register to vote by online application. The registration period for the online voter registration system will close at 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 20 and will reopen on Nov. 7.
Monday, Oct. 21 is the first day of Early Voting
Thursday, Oct. 31 is the last day to request a mail ballot, including military and overseas voters.
Monday, Nov. 4 is the last day of Early Voting.
Tuesday, Nov. 5 is Election Day, which is the last day mail ballots can be postmarked. No voting at village hall on Election Day. Voters must go to their local
polling place.
For more information, contact: Christina M. Waters, Village Clerk’s Office, 708-548-2242 (Mobile), 708-358-5672 (Office), email: clerkwaters@oak-park.us, website: www oak-park.us.
Cynthia Breunlin Oak Park
ere are more than two sides
As I write this letter it is one month from the most anticipated election in any living person’s memory here in the U.S. The prevailing mainstream media mantra is the election is about saving our democracy. Hmm. Saving it from whom or what exactly?
Well, not surprisingly, Ken Trainor prefers to editorially declare the matter “Two sides” [Viewpoints, Oct. 2]. One month, for sure. But just two sides? His column questions polling accuracy and rightfully so. However, there are recognized polls being taken that acknowledge what the major media does not: There are more than two choices.
In the Oct. 4 Chicago Sun-Times, there is an article about early voting in Chicago. The re porter quotes a woman who states she is voting for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, all the while wearing a Palestinian scarf. That’s right, there are more than two choices. And there are legitimate polls that currently show candidate Stein leading among potential Muslim voters in Michigan, Arizona and Wisconsin. Harris cannot af ford to lose any of those states. The fact that Stein is trending upward is bad news for Harris. All she has to do is condemn the year-long car nage that has literally ripped families apart in Gaza. This one-sided assault on a hugely civil-
ian population has been documented. But she won’t demand a cease fire. She can’t. Same as Biden won’t. And can’t. To millions of un-polled voters, a vote for either of the two sides is thus a literal vote for continued crimes against humanity. Period. And millions want their tax money to stop paying for the deadly weapons we ship to the country that bombs schools, shelters, hospitals and relief convoys. It’s nauseating. Stein may not have any chance of winning the election, but the media embargo on factual re porting of her campaign isn’t working for the countless silent supporters of her message: People, Planet, Peace. If Harris loses, she has only her party’s obstinate, and infuriating for many, stance on an issue that begs for resolution.
Lastly, this isn’t a battle for an existing democracy. When the voice of any le gitimate third-party is systematically ignored, litigated against to prevent ballot access, and made subject to constant prevarications, that is clearly antidemocratic.
The only cer tainty about however the election shakes out is this: We will get the government we deserve.
Joseph Harrington Oak Park
Remembering the Village Manager Association
In 1963, my wife Barbara and I moved to Oak Park and we met Dominic Meo who was then the CEO of United Way also known as the community chest. His favorite line was “Every generation must build its own courthouse.”
DOUG WYMAN
One View
So here is my ode to the VMA (Village Manager Association): Born 1952, retired 2018, lasted 66 years
Lots of good memories, laughs, and tears Let’s reflect, reminisce, socialize, and appreciate
We’ve done a lot to congratulate Now let’s see, what did we do?
What I’m about to tell you is certainly true From 1940-1952
We had alder man with patronage and corruption.
Outside interests, party factualism, alcoholism, nothing got done
A small group discussed the changes that needed to take place.
And all the obstacles we were going to face
Instead of Republicans or Democrats you know,
We wanted a completely different show. Let’s ask the Oak Parkers for complete reform.
The citizens said yes, and it was born
A professional manager gover ned by a citizen board,
A president, six trustees, and clerk, praise the lord.
So here is the Village Manager Association. The VMA
Made up of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, you say?
Yes, any Oak Parker who wants good gover nment can belong
To the selection committee, no fee, no flag, no song
The seven people plus clerk were selected.
Now put before citizens to get them elected
From 1953 – 2011
VMA thought we were in heaven.
A total of 90 seats and we won 88.
Ninety percent, we thought that was great.
But the years 2013, ’15 and ’17, seats totaled 11.
We lost 5 and were no longer in heaven.
Times have changed, and let’s be candid,
The VMA’s tired so now it’s disbanded
And we’re celebrating good things we’ve done.
The changes we’ve made and policies we’ve won.
Over time there were hundreds of souls,
Each with different skills and different roles.
I’d like to mention those who went before us now
And are no longer with us, and give them a bow.
We’re riding on their shoulders for all they have done.
This crew took care of renewing the village I’d say.
■ New zoning and anti-blight measures
■ Massive sewer program
■ Street and alley redo
■ Established Oak Park Rescorp to rehab blighted properties
■ Fences over the expressway, just to mention a few
Next: Donaker, Gearen, Thomas, and
I have been a longtime skep tic of re cycling, so I was quite interested in Mark Wallace’s letter to the editor in the Oct. 2 Vi ewpoints section. He asks the question whether plastic re cycling is a scam.
T here is no need to speculate. According to NPR, W TTW ’s Frontlin e , and many other outlets, executive s in the plastics industry became concerned in the 1980s that consumers would begin to wo r ry about the adve rs e
McClure, Callahan, Hoppe, Philbin, Fallon, McLean, Slaughter, and McMahn,
These people all said, “Yes, we can.”
1968 - Adopt Fair Housing Ordinance
■ No ‘For Sale’ signs allowed
■ Licensing and inspection of multifamily dwellings
■ Housing Center for ms and collaborates with village, what a great crowd
■ Community Relations Department? Sherlynn Reid said, yes indeed.
■ Developing a comprehensive plan
■ Mills Tower built for senior citizens
■ Village board adopts racial diversity statement, yes we can
■ Board passes ordinance requiring leases for tenants
■ Passes $1.5 million housing bond to support multifamily rehab
■ Oak Park relocates new village hall to Madison and Lombard
■ Adopts equity assurance ordinance to insure homeowners against loss of home value, village will pick up the tab
■ Oak Park installs mall, then takes it out, villagers ask, what’s this all about?
Next generation:
Furlong, Staszak, Schultz, Ebner, Kostopulos, and the rest are still alive.
And we say thanks, for these great five
■ Appoint racial diversity task force
■ Board adds sexual orientation to protected clause
■ Historic Preservation Ordinance implemented
■ Protection of solid waste disposal, let’s take a pause
■ Holly Court parking garage complete
■ Add more police and local cop beat
■ Attract more developers to build downtown
Spread a smile and drop the frown
Now to Madison Street
PROVIDED
Doug Wy man and Barbara Ballinger
Hope it gets done without much heat.
And now to all of you here, Thanks for all you’ve done and never fear, The next generation will build their own courthouse you see, And they may even ask for help from you and me
Congratulations for 66 great years.
Doug Wyman, a longtime champion of the VMA, died in 2023. This memorial to Oak Park’s era of good government was sent to us recently by fellow former VMA stalwart Jim Kelly. We decided to run Doug’s summary because we should never forget the pivotal role the Village Manager Association played in creating the village we enjoy today.
Plastic and recycling
environmental effects of plastics. They concocted the p lastics re cycling idea, figuring that they could assuage the collective guilt of our society by convincing people that the plastic could simply be reused, not thrown into landfills.
To day, we see vast resources poured into the recyclin g ef fo rt , even though less than 10 percent of household s in America actually re cycle and, as Wallace points out,
no more that 6 percent of the plastic burden is actuall y recycled
If we as a society we re serious about plastic in the environment, we would simply proscribe plastic bottles. We could then go back to reusable glass bottles, at great savings to the environment.
James Whalen Oak Park
IKnowing how to get things done
t’s election season! Yes, again! I don’t watch that show, so if you’re looking for hot election takes, you’re going to have to look somewhere else.
But I am, just to offset all the ne gativity, going to tell you a very happy government-based story. I had my all-time favorite interaction with a government employee last week. I’m going to be vague about the details for reasons that will become clear, but someone out there absolutely deserves a Congressional Medal of Honor for customer service.
ALAN BROUILETTE
The details of this anecdote have changed slightly in the interest of protecting that person, God bless them.
An extremely critical piece of paper had left the family. Whether this was through being misplaced or lost or some other nefarious means remains unresolved. The priority was to get the piece of paper re placed swiftly — so swiftly that even my family forew ent the blameassignment portion of the lost-paper grieving process and went directly to the frenzied effort at re placement.
A government piece of paper is not a thing you re place swiftly. Sometimes there are emergencies, and your average gover nment agency is extremely understanding about emergencies. They are often deeply sympathetic when they tell you there is nothing they can do. You can even sometimes almost perceive genuine
et in their tone as they reiterate that there is nothing they can do. Often, they are telling the truth.
But sometimes there are works.
The party most affected by the urgently needed lost paper was dispatched along with an aide. The aide was there to shepherd both the affected party and the cor nucopia of papers required to re place the very important piece of paper. The aide executed both portions of this assignment flawlessly and was an absolute godsend.
Among the requirements for the very important piece of paper’s re placement was to print out an application to receive the very important piece of paper, fill it out, and bring it with you to the relevant government office, unsigned. Presumably the idea is that you are to sign it only after the tribunal has proofread your document and verified that it is complete.
The papers we took were reviewed and found satisfactory. To the great surprise of all, we were told that six hours hence we would be able to pick up the replacement piece of paper. I do not wish to brag, but I was entrusted with the job of picking up the replacement very important piece of paper through an extensive qualification process of asking me if I happened to be working downtown that day (Yes).
When I arrived to pick up the piece of paper and seal our triumph, the person
behind the desk asked me if the original person in need of the piece of paper was with me. I said “No.”
This is the customer service Medal of Honor part:
The person behind the desk then said, “Maybe the applicant is downstairs at Starbucks. You may want to check, as we forgot to have the document signed this morning before they left. Here, take the document and this pen in case the applicant is in fact still in the neighborhood. If so, have them sign it and bring it directly back to me. Go ahead and bypass the front desk when you return.”
I was not born yesterday. I can pick up what someone is putting down.
So of course I immediately went downstairs to the Starbucks and, as luck would have it, the applicant was in fact sitting right there! It was as though they had known something might go sideways. They were able to sign a remarkably authentic-looking version of their own John Hancock with their own hand. I returned alone to the office upstairs with the signed form, which was promptly transmuted into the re placement very important piece of paper.
All is well.
So now whenever someone asks me who I think should be the President, I will point them to one small office in downtown Chicago and say, “In this office is a person who knows how to get things done.”
Alan Brouilette, a Forest Park resident, writes a monthly column for our sister publication, the Forest Park Re view.
Losing treasured gra ti
Lest we forget the Library of Alexandria, it bur ned down in the year 48 B.C. and the vast majority of the library’s estimated 700,000 scrolls were lost forever. Imagine what it felt like to be a local of Alexandria, once a resident of a town synonymous with knowledge and culture, now dwelling among the ruins of a greatness that will never be recaptured. Guess what? You don’t have to imagine. We are experiencing this same feeling
today because Oak Park has so callously painted over the DIVACUP graffiti that once adorned the walls of I-290, near Oak Park Avenue. Not familiar? Well it is what it sounds like: graffiti that said “DIVACUP.” It had been a ro gue art installation for roughly a year. A simple video of it had gone viral on Tiktok, amassing 158,000 likes.
The DIVACUP graffiti’s origins were mysterious. Was it a gorilla marketing
activation created by a marketing exec for DivaCup Inc? Was it a shopping list? Was it a new concept for a divas-only golf tournament? We will never know. Town officials are trying to erase our culture by covering it up — with a paint color that is 5000 hex code digits away from matching the rest of the wall.
Rachel Stark Oak Park
Sonic Runway’s Oak Park connection
Lumenaura is the inaugural illuminated art experience in Aurora from Oct. 4 to Nov. 1. Its major feature will be the Sonic Runway, co-developed by Oak Park native Warren Trezevant and his friend and lead artist, Rob Jensen, for Burning Man.
Warren began attending Burning Man in 1997 and started building large-scale art in 2001. Since then, he has worked on a variety of installations, including Peter Hudson’s “Charon,” a stroboscopic zoetrope of rowing skeletons, and “Eternal Retur n,” a stroboscopic zoetrope of acrobatic women, and Marco Cochrane’s “R_Evolution,” where he designed the breathing for this 40-foot sculpture of a standing woman.
The Sonic Runway appeared at Bur ning Man in 2016 and 2018 and has toured cities around the world, including Chengdu, China; London, England; and a variety of cities in the U.S. and Canada. San Jose, California commissioned a semi-permanent version of the Sonic Runway, which was installed in 2021 in front of the city hall, designed by Richard Meier. The latest iteration of the Sonic Runway was installed for Burning Man 2024.
Warren’s creative path emerged while he attended OPRF High School, graduating in 1987, and later being recognized with the Tradition of Excellence Award in 2010. He graduated with honors from the College of Art and Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1993 with an
TOM HOLMES
Completing the work of creation
from page 29
or belittle someone, but when I have an ego, I know that God has given me this mission.”
It’s not just about rights but also about duties. “That’s the difference between the American perspective and the religious Jewish perspective. When people in this culture talk about charity, they talk about doing it out of the kindness of their heart, which means that they don’t have to do charity if they don’t feel that way.
“But in Hebrew tzedek means justice, which is an obligation, a responsibility to ourselves, to the world and to God.”
Mindful that the High Holy Days fall on the calendar this month during the last lap of the race to the White House, Bergstein said, “On Rosh Hashanah we reflect on this concept of the mission of the human being and reflect on the idea of renewal.”
In a guidebook for keeping the Holy Days, he noted that Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the other days not only remind us of our purpose and destination but also provide fuel, if you will, for the jour ney.
“The seventh month [of the Jewish calendar] is re plete with spiritual riches, beckoning us to tap into this extraordinary opportunity and to realize its potential. We complete the journey overflowing with mental and emotional inspira-
BFA in Industrial Design. He completed his final year of studies at Nor thumbria University in Newcastle, England, where he won a bursary award for one of his designs from the Royal Society of the Arts.
Warren started his professional career as a character animator at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, California, animating on nine feature films. He was the creative lead for the stroboscopic 3-D Toy Story Zoetrope, which was part of the “Pixar: 20 Years of Animation” exhibition that premiered at the Museum of Moder n Art in New York, before traveling to world class museums around the world. Additional versions of the zoetrope are at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles and Disneyland Paris.
He transitioned into helping build better digital tools for creatives, first at Pixar with Presto, the studio’s proprietary production software, then as a product manager at Autodesk for Maya, the industry-leading animation software, where he oversaw the Animation & Rigging workflows, and later for ShotGrid, where he oversaw Review and Production Tracking workflows.
He recently joined Adobe Firefly, the company’s Generative AI product, to explore ways storytellers can utilize GenAI to facilitate more impactful stories.
Bob Trezevant Oak Park
NICOLE CHAVAS
A bagless leaf plan
from page 29
endless weeds, the evil rose bush I finally dug out, all right into the bin. Now it will also be a rece ptacle for my leaves this fall.
I know this bin alone cannot contain all the leaves from Oak Park’s Most Productive Oak Tree, but it’s still a key part of my five-part master plan:
■ Bye bye raking, hello electric leaf blower. It’s fast, it’s quiet, it’s sustainable, and it’s as satisfying as power-washing my patio. So satisfying, in fact, I could be convinced to come blow leaves around my neighbors’ yards in exchange for a post-blow cocktail.
■ Get into leaf composting. There is an underutilized corner of my yard right under Big Oak where its leaves naturally pile up. I’m embracing the chaos and turning this corner into my leaf-compost zone We’ ll buy a few leaf-composting bins — relatively inexpensive or DIY-able — to store the leaves and let nature do its thing. By spring, I’ll have free leaf mulch ready for my garden beds and any neighbor who would like some for theirs. If it’s too much, I can easily wheel my village compost bin over and fill it up at the same time
tion to power us through the entire year.”
So what is the proper role of religion in politics in general and the election on Nov. 5 in particular?
When I was a boy, members of Cong ress from my denomination were split half and half between Democrats and Re publicans. The point, I think, is that religion is about discerning the proper destination, and politics is about the practical challenge of figuring out how to get there, or at least how to work toward “a more perfect union.”
The Bible is not a spiritual GPS telling us when to turn right and when to turn left.
The Chabad rabbi talked about obligation, mission and duty, not about rights. I hear a lot of political rhetoric about rights these days but not much about responsibilities. Take the issue of gun violence. The debate centers on the right to bear arms vs. re gulation, without addressing the spiritual issue of fostering a culture of nonviolence.
I hear a lot of talk about a woman’s right to choose vs. anti-abortion laws and little about fostering a culture where abor tion is, in Bill Clinton’s words, “le gal, safe, and rare.”
I hear a lot of whining about what leaders are not doing “for me” in the federal and state governments, all the way down to our local condominium associations. At the last meeting of my association we set a record with a tur nout of 21%. Most owners were not interested in “completing the work of creation.”
Tom Holmes, a Fo rest Pa rk resident, is an occasiona l c ontributor to We dnesday Jour nal and writes a column for the Fo rest Pa rk Re view, a Growing Community Media publication.
■ Mulch the leaves with our mower. Mulching, I’ve learned, is a fancy word for mowing over the leaves on your lawn. Mowing the lawn takes less time than raking the lawn, and leaving the shredded leaves on the grass is good for your soil — win-win!
■ Leave the leaves we don’t get to. It’s remarkable just how many leaves Big Oak drops all through the fall, especially on our parkway, which is where we really got the most bang for our buck raking them into the street. At some point, we’ll call it on the mulching and just follow the village’s guidance to leave the leaves where they are.
■ Not use a single bag. I wish I could say this was part of some bold sustainability statement, but the truth is, I just don’t want to deal with the whole bagging thing Behavior change is hard, but my hope is that we will discover, come December, that we didn’t spend any more time managing our leaves than we did in years past. In the meantime, I invite my fellow Oak Parkers to join me in par ticipating in the village’s home composting program, a great deal for residents and our climate.
Nicole Chavas, an Oak Park resident with a background in urban planning, is president and co-founder of Greenprint Partners, a fir m that manages climate resiliency and stormwater mana gement projects.
What must we do to be infor med?
If you don’ t read the newspaper, you’ re uninformed, If you do read it, you’ re misinformed.
Denzel Washington Oscar-winning actor
Ican’t say for sure, but I do feel “We the People” are systematically being manipulated to keep us from seeing what’s really going on and who are the real puppet masters.
All facets of our society seem to be adopting the “Hollywood” entertainment business model. Hollywood is without peer when it comes to creating illusions that appear real. For the record, the American Entertainment Industry re presents a mighty sizable export to the rest of the world. According to my research, “In 2021, for instance, exports from film and television alone accounted for about $20 billion. When factoring in other segments like music and gaming, the total contribution to the economy is even higher.”
While the fiscal note is impressive, I am more concer ned with how all of these make-believe realities impact our ability to understand and negotiate life in real time. Simply put, my thesis is that these unlimited and varied entertainment platfor ms are essentially eye wash that blurs
our vision of reality.
Moreover, I maintain that using entertainment as a diversion from reality has created unanticipated consequences in our political arena. For example, Rome’s political leaders used free or cheap entertainment as a way to mollify their public when the prevailing re gime was floundering. Clearly, the objective for the Roman leaders was not only to placate but, more importantly, to distract the populace from their grievances — and, by the way, they were successful … for a time.
I would submit that today the entertainment industry is used very effectively as a diversion from reality. While free events are rare today, there are still many entertainment options out there to keep us distracted. We can easily access these entertainment platforms, everything from apps to streaming. In fact, today we are faced with managing dueling technologies. Should I use my mobile phone, my iPad, my laptop or my smar t TV to find my favorite distraction?
Case in point: what’s been happening in our political races. The language of politics has coarsened and become foul-mouthed. Elected officials employ name-calling and insults, which have become tiring and juvenile. Today, as Cole Porter once said, anything goes.
It feels like we’re living in a “fact free” universe. Whoever tells and re peats the biggest lie, even with fact-checking, seems to dominate the news cycles. Politicians are less concerned about connecting with voters around truthful statements and instead are relying more and more on so-called “alternative facts.”
Still, We the People need reliable and fact-based information to make the best decision as voters. Instead, what we are getting falls under the “g arbage in, gospel out” rubric. Without verifiable and truthful information, We the People are simply minds to manipulate and not educate. As a result, we are grappling with unanticipated consequences in our political arena. So, how do we find information that
OBITUARIES
Lee Roy Hoenisch, 84 U.S. Army veteran, Harrison Street Bible Church
Lee Roy Walter Hoenisch, 84, of Kenosha died on Sept. 10, 2024 at The Manor of Kenosha. Born on Aug. 6, 1940 in Forest Park, son of the late Walter and Sophia (Schlager) Hoenisch, he was employed by Borg-Warner Automotive for over 35 years. He married Wanetta Bill on Oct. 14, 1963, in Chicago, served in the U.S. Ar my, and was a member of Harrison Street Bible Church in Oak Park. His hobbies included fishing, gardening and enjoying time with his fellow veterans.
Lee Roy is survived by his wife, Wanetta; his children, Tammy (Joe) Kilinski, Cindy Zarbock, Ted Hoenisch, Wendy (Kelly) Anderson, Daniel Hoenisch, Tim (Doreen) Hoenisch, Sarah Hoenisch, Rachel Hoenisch, James Hoenisch, and Deborah (Marcus) Hostetler; many grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Lee Roy was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Robert; and his brothers, Richard and LeAndre.
A celebration of life will be held at Village Church of Oak Park (911 S. Taylor Ave., Oak Park) on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. Kenosha Funeral Services & Crematory, 8226 Sheridan Road, Kenosha, WI 53143.
informs and educates us so that we can discharge our responsibilities as voters? Allow me to modestly share how I and others might personally deal with this conundrum.
■ Be a consumer of news from more than one source. Watch and read both conservative and liberal news outlets.
■ Never assume that your political nemesis is stupid or not worth listening to. “If you’re not careful, you might learn something.”
■ Quit trying to convert your political nemesis. Rather probe him/her about the basis of their beliefs. Acknowledge their authenticity even if you fundamentally disagree.
■ Always remember not to take personally the “labels” your political nemesis uses against you to throw you of f your game.
■ Attack the issue, not the person.
■ Remember always that we are all Americans and, in the final analysis, we want this great country to prosper and live up to its founding principles. The challenge and the dilemma we face is to defy Denzel Washington’s dual curse. We must find a way to be neither misinfor med nor uninformed.
Susan Pederson, 77 Homemaker
Susan Jane Pederson (nee Hernandez), 77, of Plainfield, fory of Brookfield, died on Oct. 6, 2024 in Plainfield. Born on Oct. 3, 1947 in Oak Park, she was a homemaker who enjoyed needlepoint, sewing and her family.
Susan was the wife of Dean Pederson; mother of the late Dean (Maria) Pederson and the late Dennis Pederson; grandmother of Brandon (Briana), Cristina, David (Lena), Denny and Dean derson; sister of Debbie Matozzi, Nancy LaFrancis, Art Hernandez, Bob Hernandez, John Hernandez, Carol Hernandez, cki Suddreth, Marge Murray and the late Frank Hernandez, Tom Hernandez, Bette Mersereau, Mary Franson, Louis Hernandez and Lucille Stewart; and aunt and great-aunt to many. sitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, from 10 a.m. until time of funeral Mass, 11 a.m. St. Barbara Church, 4000 Prairie Ave., Brookfield.
Arrangements were handled by Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield. Online condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family at www.JohnsonNosek.com.
SPORTS
Grining’s goal brings OPRF victory over Fenwick
Game-winner comes late in the match
By MELVIN TATE
Contributing Reporter
It doesn’t matter how each school is doing in the season, re gardless of the sport. The East Avenue rivalry between Fenwick and OPRF high schools is one where records are disre garded and victory over the other can make a team’s season.
And so it was on Oct. 5 at T riton Colle ge when OPRF met winless Fenwick in a boys soccer match. T he F riars put for th a strong ef fort, but it was a late goal by Cole Grining that gave the Huskies a hardfought 1-0 win.
“I had a feeling [Fenwick] was going to sit back [defensively], which makes it really tough,” said OPRF coach Jason Fried. “They really defended compactly and organized. We were looking for a counter and it frustrated us for sure.”
OPRF (9-3-2) tilted the pitch for the majority of the first half, keeping Fenwick (0-11-3) hemmed in on its own end. But the Huskies were unable to generate any good scoring chances and the match remained goal-less after 40 minutes.
In the 68th minute, OPRF’s Peter Bondartsov got open at the top of the box and fired a shot, but Fenwick goalkeeper Dom Ballarin was up to the task and made the save. Two minutes later, the Huskies finally got an effective counter going as junior defender Owen Baf fa stole the ball at midfield and passed to junior forward Kings-
DUNNING
Oak Park-River Forest’s Nolan Waters (le ) v ies with Fenwick’s Shane Kupiec for the ball, Oct. 5, at Triton College. e Huskies edged past the Friars 1-0.
ton Petersen on his right.
Petersen then spotted Grining going toward the top of the box and deftly passed between two Fenwick defenders. Grining’s shot from 25 yards out beat Ballarin to the right.
“We’d been looking for that all game,” Grining said. “We were trying to overrun on one side and create space on the other. The ball just rolled to me, and I put it away
It was a good team play, and it felt good.”
With just under five minutes left, Fenwick sophomore defender Kevin Jancewicz got free and fired a shot from 30 yards out, but OPRF goalkeeper Christian Kellogg came up with the save, snuffing the Friars’ best scoring chance of the game.
“I’m really proud of the way the guys played,” said Fenwick coach Craig Blazer.
“Oak Park’s a good team and our guys
raised their level. We thought one of our free kicks would be able to get through, but it was a good high school soccer game.”
Blazer also felt playing on a larger surface at Triton was a beneficial experience for all the players.
“The field was fantastic,” he said. “The guys had to figure things out and run a lot more, but it was fun.”
Although it’s been a challenging season for Fenwick, which has just four seniors on this year’s roster, Blazer feels his team has adually improved throughout.
“We’re going to keep improving and building of f this,” he said. “We really wanted this game, but you’ve got to keep composure, eliminate fouling, and be a little more disciplined. In these next few games, I’m looking forward to the guys showing up.”
Meanwhile, OPRF is one game behind West Suburban Silver leader York, after defeating York 4-0 on Oct. 4, with goals by Noah Cummings, Nate Grining, Josh Kitterman, and Nolan Waters. Goalies Christian Kellogg and Thomas Howe combined for the clean sheet in goal.
The Huskies like where they are now, but also know there’s room for improvement.
“This team has a ton of potential,” Fried said. “Yes, the experience may not be as high as it was last year, but there’s nothing these guys can’t do. We just need to get a little more consistent, and if we do that, I don’t see why we can’t go into the playoffs and win seven games.”
Sherlock, Sweeney, Vattana advance to state golf nals
Three student-athletes represent Fenwick and OPRF
By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
Fenwick
pant in each of the IHSA golf state finals this weekend. At the boys Class 2A Lemont Sectional, Oct. 7, Fenwick finished ninth in the team standings with a score of 311. However, junior Luke Sherlock’s round of 74 tied for seventh overall, and was tied for the fourth-best of individuals from nonqualifying schools, which allowed him
to advance to the state finals, which take place Oct. 18-19 at Weibring Golf Club in Normal.
Fenwick’s other golfers were senior Luke Nowicki (77, T-20th), sophomore Grant Hickman (80, T-46th), junior John Cox (80, T-46th), senior Michael Carmignani (82, T-62nd), and sophomore Alex Kulisek (90,
T-99th).
On Oct. 2, the Friars nar rowly missed winning the De La Salle Re gional as their score of 311 was one stroke behind champion St. Patrick. Sherlock tied for fifth with a round of 75, while Carmignani’s 77 was
See GOLF on page 38
OPRF, Fenwick girls prep for tennis postseason
Friars, Huskies have experience, depth
By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
With the conference and sectional tournaments around the corner, the Oak Park and River Forest and Fenwick girls tennis teams are looking for momentum. On Oct. 5, the Huskies and Friars met in a dual at the OPRF tennis courts. The Huskies won six of the seven matches, and head coach Fred Galluzzo was impressed with the outcome
“I’ll take that 10 out of 10 times,” he said. “We’re feeling pretty good; it was a big win.”
The highlight of the day was an intense match between OPRF sophomore Lucy Stein and Fenwick senior Lily Brecknock. Stein won the first set 6-3, then won a hard-fought tiebreaker 8-6 to win the second set and the match.
Stein says she enjoys playing matches against high-caliber competition like Brecknock, the 2022 Class 1A individual champion.
“Every point matters,” said Stein, who qualified for last year’s state meet. “You can’t have any bad shots. You know it’s going to be a long match, and she is a really great player.”
Brecknock was disappointed by the outcome, but she also felt it will help her going forward.
“It was pretty frustrating,” she said. “I probably should’ve found a better way to win points. [But] I’ll play her again in a few weeks. She definitely presents a different game style, so it’s good practice.”
Another good match took place in #1 doubles as the Huskies’ duo of seniors Alice Cadwell and Maeve Marzec rallied after being down by three points in the first set to defeat the Friars’ duo of senior Caroline Gruber and sophomore Emma Louderback, 6-4, 6-4.
“We stayed consistent at the baseline and were really aggressive at the net,” Cadwell said. “It was one of our biggest matches we’ve played all year. Fenwick’s in our sectional, and
from page 37
good for a ninth-place tie. Hickman (14th, 79), Cox (T-15th, 80), Nowicki (T-19th, 81), and senior Charlie Shishman (T-42nd, 93) completed Fenwick’s lineup.
In girls competition, Fenwick finished seventh as a team at the Class 2A Sandburg Sectional, Oct. 7, with a score of 364. However, sophomore Mairin Sweeney’s round of 86 was the 10th-best among individuals from non-qualifying schools, giving her advancement to the 2A state finals, which will be held Oct. 18-19 at Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur.
this helps us with our seeding, which is going to be great.”
“It’s been a great season. We’ve been really doing well, Marzec said.
OPRF’s other victories came at #2 doubles from senior Anika Gupta and Sophie Welch (6-0, 6-1 over Fenwick senior Rachel Abraham and Mia Menendez); #3 doubles from senior Baylee Piasecki and sophomore Ava Lebovitz (6-2, 6over Fenwick seniors Elle Karls and Lily Claire Nottestad); #4 doubles from senior Sophia Lynn and freshman Ella Rang sithienchai (6-1, 6-3 over Fenwick juniors Maddie Cheroni and Sydney Woitel); and #5 doubles from juniors Tess Cronin and Zoe Panton (6-3, 6-4 over Fenwick juniors Olivia PerezZuleta and Katie McCarthy).
Senior Megan Trifilio notched the Friars’ only victory of the day at #2 singles, defeating OPRF junior Clara Lau 6-0, 6-0.
Even with the loss, first-year Fenwick coach Ron Rogala feels the season has gone well. He credits not only the leader ship that experienced players like Abraham, Brecknock, and Trifilio have provided, but also the parents, who have been supportive of him since he replaced the now-retired Gerard Sullivan.
“It’s been great,” he said. “The thing that stands out to me is the depth we have in both singles and doubles.”
“I think the transition has gone pretty smooth because the girls have been pretty good with the change,” Brecknock said. “It hasn’t been a factor We’ve won the (Girls Catholic Athleti Conference) for the past three years, so it’d be good to get four Then at sectional, we want to qualify as many people as we can for state.”
OPRF is hosting a sectional, Oct. 18-19. But before that, the Huskies will compete at the West Suburban Silver championships, Oct. 11-12, at Lyons Township.
“We’re actually in pretty good shape in the conference. We’re currently second,” Galluzzo said. “I don’t know if that’ going to hold at the conference tournament because we’ll face different lineups and we’ll see if it goes in our favor.”
Fenwick will compete at the GCAC championship, Oct. 11, at XS Tennis Club in Chicago.
Fenwick’s other sectional golfers were senior Emma Maria Bassett (T-25th, 87), senior Molly Mullen (T-44th, 93), senior Olivia Tsitovich (T-62nd, 98), junior Maddy Cox (T-66th, 99), and junior Katie Cox (T83rd, 105).
Like the boys, the Friar girls just fell short of a re gional title, finishing a stroke behind champion St. Ignatius (353-354) at the St. Ignatius Re gional on Oct. 1. Sweeney finished second individually with a score of 81. Mullen had an 87; Katie Cox a 92; Tsitovich a 94; Maddie Cox a 98; and Bassett a 100.
Oak Park and River Forest
Sophomore Nadia Vattana will re present
Oak Park-River Forest sophomore Lucy Stein follows through on a shot in her tennis match against Fenw ick’s Lily Brecknock, Oct. 5. Stein prevailed 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).
the OPRF girls golf team in the Class 2A state finals. Vattana carded a round of 85 at the Sandburg Sectional, Oct. 7, which was ninth-best among individuals from nonqualifying schools.
Four others competed for the Huskies at the sectional. Senior Jane Souders tied for 33rd with a round of 90; junior Courtney Moore shot a 95 to tie for 49th; senior Abby Dwyer tied for 58th with a 97; and senior Isabel Stickney’s 100 was good for a tie for 70th.
At the St. Ignatius Re gional, OPRF shot 372 to finish fourth, falling six strokes short of advancing to the team sectional. Vattana shot an 86 to place fourth. Dwyer (13th, 93), Stickney (T-17th, 96), Souders (T-19th, 97), Moore (T-27th, 104), and senior Ava Fischer (28th, 105) were the other com-
peting Huskies.
The OPRF boys had three individuals compete in a Class 3A sectional hosted by Glenbrook North, Oct. 7. Sophomore Karsten Davis just missed going downstate as his round of 75 was a stroke shy of the cut line for individuals from non-qualifying schools. Juniors Hugh Dwyer (T-46th, 79) and Luke Roberts (T-59th, 81) were the other competing Huskies.
OPRF placed fifth in the Class 3A Loyola Academy Re gional with a score of 324. Dwyer was the Huskies’ top golfer, finishing in a tie for 12th with a round of 79. Davis (T14th, 80), Roberts (T-22nd, 82), junior James Kelly and senior Reese Brotman (T-23rd, 83), and sophomore Jackson Dodd (T-27th, 85) rounded out the lineup.
C AROL DUNNING
LEGAL NOTICE
Request of Sarah Jennette Nieman Case Number 20244005683
There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Sarah Jennette Nieman to the new name of: Sasha Jennette Nieman
The court date will be held: On November 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.
The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2024 for the following:
Village of Oak Park Stone & Sand Materials Bid Number: 25-102
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified vendors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 1, 2024 for the following:
Village of Oak Park Water and Sewer Repair Parts and Materials - 2025 Bid Number: 25-100
Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/ bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours.
Published in Wednesday Journal October 9, 2024
Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours.
Published in Wednesday Journal October 9, 2024
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time until 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 18th, 2024 for the following:
Village of Oak Park Viaduct Conduit Repair Project Requests for Prices Bid Number: 24-131
Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours.
Published in Wednesday Journal October 9, 2024
PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
CONCERNING RIVERSIDE
BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208
PROPOSED eLEARNING PLAN
CONCERNING RIVERSIDE
BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208
PROPOSED eLEARNING PLAN
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN that Township High School District Number 208, Cook County, Illinois, will hold a public hearing regarding the District’s proposed eLearning Program on the 22nd day of October 2024, at 7:00 o’clock P.M.
The hearing will be held in Room 201 in the Riverside Brookfield High School Building, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Illinois.
The purpose of said hearing will be to receive public comment on the proposed eLearning Program which, if approved, will permit students’ instruction to be received electronically while students are not physicallypresent in lieu of the District’s scheduled emergency days. This program is allowed under Public Act 101-0012. If approved, the eLearning Program will be implemented for a three-year term.
By order of the President of the Board of Education of Township High School District Number 208, Cook County, Illinois.
Mary Ann Nardi
Secretary, Board of Education, Township High School District Number 208, Cook County, Illinois
Published in RB Landmark October 9, 2024
PUBLIC NOTICES
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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST Plaintiff,
CHRISTOPHER J. HANSON, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Defendants 2022 CH 09656 138 ERIE ST 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 July 22, 2024, an agent for Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 A.M. on October 24, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: THE WEST 37 FEET OF LOT 4 IN SCHULTZS SUBDIVISION IN THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF BLOCK 6 IN KETTLESTRINGS ADDITION TO HARLEM, BEING A SUBDIVISION IN SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Commonly known as 1138 ERIE ST., OAK PARK, IL 60302
Property Index No. 16-07-106-0180000
The real estate is improved with a residence.
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.
The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The
Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 7949876 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
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 # 2022 CH 09656 I3252359
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What housing stock can tell you about the West Side
The types of housing matter to a community
By DELANEY NELSON Special Projects Reporter
Chicago is known as the city of neighborhoods; it’s a place where each community has unique history, struggles, qualities, goals, residents and values. One distinct, but perhaps overlooked, part of each neighborhood’s identity is its existing housing stock.
Housing stock refers to the total number of dwellings in a specific area, including single-
family homes, condominiums and multifamily units. An area’s housing makeup can be used to strategically address the community’s housing needs. Programs designed to increase homeownership in a neighborhood with a high number of owner-occupied units, for example, will look different from programs for a community with a large percentage of multiunit apartment buildings.
“If your neighborhood has a lot of two- tofour-unit buildings, and you have a lot of these small rental properties, there may be small-scale landlords who own and run those properties. That’s a different type of consideration than if the neighborhood has all single-family homes, which are more likely to be fully owneroccupied,” said Geoff Smith, executive director
See HOUSING STOCK on page B3
Cook County program aids prospective homeowners with flexible $20,000 grants
By DELANEY NELSON Special Projects Reporter
If you want to become a homeowner, but don’t think you can afford it, the Cook County Land Bank Authority wants to help.
The Homebuyer Direct program, launched by the CCLBA in 2017, connects prospective buyers with below market-rate houses in need of renovation. The program aims to remove barriers that come with fixer-upper properties through grants up to 6% of a home’s purchase price, capped at $20,000.
“[Program grants] allow them to buy, rehab and ultimately move into the home of their home of their dreams,” said Darlene Dugo, deputy director of the CCLBA.
In 2024, the program expanded to assist buyers in purchasing developer-owned renovated properties or newly built properties on former land bank plots. The grant is only available for property that will become the owner’s primary residence. Homebuyers may use grant funds to finance renovations, contribute to a down payment or closing costs or pay for things related to property transactions, like insurance or inspection fees. In addition, buyers must contribute at least $1,000 or 1% of the home purchase price, whichever is less.
There are two ways to participate:
For buyers interested in purchasing a fixer upper directly from the land bank, search the CCLBA’s interactive property viewer for available properties. Buyers may show their interest using the “apply” button on the property’s listing. From there, a representative from the agency will take potential buyers on a property tour and talk them through needed renovations.
The second option is to purchase from a developer. A list of qualifying properties can be found on the CCLBA’s website
PROVIDED
The Cook County Land Bank Authority, along with the city, Community Investments Corporation and Community Initiatives Inc., unveiled a newly restored eight-flat residential building at 1701 N. Melvina in Galewood. The project was completed by local developer Leodus Thomas Jr., who is from the Galewood and Austin neighborhoods.
PROVIDED
Construction of PCC Wellness’s new Austin Primary Care Pavilion. The property was built on formerly vacant Land Bank land.
PROVIDED
under “equity fund program.” This includes both developer-renovated properties and previously vacant land bank lots on which developers have built new property. Application documents are also listed on the website.
In either case, buyers must be mortgage-ready to apply for the grant money. That may mean going to homebuyer counseling, meeting with a lender and getting pre-approved for a mortgage.
Darlene Dugo, deputy director at the CCLBA, said the homebuyer direct program intentionally has few limits, aside from mandating the property be owner-occupied for a minimum of three years.
“We don’t impose any income restrictions, we don’t impose any credit score requirements. Essentially, we’re letting the applicant know, ‘Follow your lender’s guidelines, because they’re going to direct you,’” Dugo said. The program’s purchase assistance can be layered with other purchase assistance or down payment assistance programs, she added, as long as the buyer’s lender allows it.
Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, first elected in 2010, has led a charge to investigate and create solutions for historic disinvestment.
The CCLBA, which, aside from this grant program, acquires vacant, abandoned and foreclosed properties and develops them in a way that’s consistent with community stakeholder priorities, is a branch of Preckwinkle’s work.
In addition to making home buying more affordable and accessible, the land bank’s grant program “continues its mission of promoting redevelopment and reuse of vacant, abandoned, foreclosured, tax delinquent property,” Dugo said.
“Imagine having one delinquent property on your street and the havoc that that causes,” said Dugo. “That impacts everyone on that block’s property values. What we want to do is turn these properties into an asset for that neighborhood.”
In the past decade, the CCLBA’s partnerships with private developers have done just that: created jobs, built affordable housing and aided in the revitalization of disinvested communities across Cook County, according to the organization’s ten-year impact report. At a cost of just over $185 million since 2014, the CCLBA’s programs generated $9.77 for every dollar spent.
In Austin, CCLBA’s reach extends beyond homeownership. On Oct. 10, PCC Community Wellness will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for its Austin Primary Care Pavilion, which was built on former Land Bank plots. The center will of fer medical care, job opportunities, an urban farm and workforce development programming. And earlier this year, local developer Leodus Thomas Jr. unveiled a newly restored eight-flat residential building in Galewood. It includes five affordable residences and was also built on plots purchased from the Land Bank.
HOUSING STOCK
Continued from page B1
at the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University. He said two flats, for example, provide owner-occupied homeownership opportunities, as well as affordable rental units.
On the West Side, each community has a unique housing stock composition. Singlefamily homes make up 26% of the housing in Austin, which is on par with the city average. But it has a higher percentage of two- to-four-flats than Chicago overall.
West Garfield Park and North Lawndale look a little different. Both West Side neighborhoods have a lower percentage of single-family homes than Austin, and their rates of two- to four-flats are far above the city average. Here, a homeownership-boosting initiative may include classes to teach two-flat homeowners how to rent out a unit of their home, Smith said.
A neighborhood’s housing stock is closely tied to its location and when the neighborhood was developed, according to Smith. Austin, which was established in 1920, has many older, smaller multi-unit buildings.
As a result of decades of disinvestment by the government, banking institutions and developers, many of these properties need rehabilitation, narrowing the selection of movein ready homes for sale.
“Those buildings require substantial rehab,” Smith said. “So that would mean a flipper or
some type of developer would have to come and purchase those properties and improve them. That has been happening, for sure, but there’s just a need for increased investment.
Austin also has some vacant land, which can provide opportunities for new construction. But the financing of such projects isn’t always plain sailing.
“Because of the nature of the cost of new construction versus the value of real estate in some neighborhoods, the economics of those deals are tricky sometimes for market-rate developers to make work,” Smith said.
Today, there are an array of initiatives focused on increasing homeownership and stabilizing affordable housing on the West Side.
Both Austin and West Garfield Park are, for example, designated target areas for the city’s Micro Market Recovery Program, an initiative of the Department of Housing focused on “rebuilding distressed Chicago communities” by reducing the cost of homeownership and reinvesting in vacant buildings. The Oak Park Regional Housing Center hosts Austin Rising, a program designed to help existing homeowners and “improve housing stock without displacement.” The Preservation of Affordable Housing-Chicago, a nonprofit developer focused on building and rehabbing affordable housing, has undertaken two rehab projects in Austin. One of the organization’s acquisitions is the Austin Renaissance, a structure built in 1926 on W. Washington Boulevard.
Even day-to-day conversations with neighbors can be shaped by the way a neighborhood is built. On blocks filled with owner-occupied single-family homes, residents are likely to have more interactions with their neighbors, said Don Washington, director of the Chicago Housing Initiative Coalition.
In turn, these communities may become stronger, cohesive units that can better fight against destabilizing factors like gentrification. A community with more vacant lots and large, spread-out buildings may have a harder time creating the same degree of cohesion, Washington said.
“If the housing stock is mostly apartments and renters, if it’s mostly large buildings, then it’s easy to displace it. Neighbors don’t really know each other,” Washington said. “By displacement, I don’t just mean gentrification. I mean things like, ‘We want to put something in your neighborhood that you don’t like, like a chemical plant.’ But if the neighborhood has people who have investments in their homes, or has a bunch of two- and six-flats scattered among single-family homes, it becomes very hard to displace that neighborhood. You have to build around it, because you’re not going to be able to go through it.”
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What the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut means for prospective Chicago homebuyers
By DELANEY NELSON Special Projects Reporter
Last month brought good news for prospective homebuyers who are wary of high mortgage rates: The Federal Reserve — the U.S. central bank — cut its prime lending rate by 0.5% in midSeptember, in an effort to cool inflation and stabilize the U.S. economy. That rate cut and its ripple effects should make buying a home less expensive.
Why do lower mortgage rates matter?
The lower the interest rates, the more people who can afford to buy a home, explained Alex Bokich, a senior mortgage consultant at W intrust Mortgage in the wester n suburbs.
A buyer’s debt-to-income ratio can be a make-or-break factor in qualifying for a mortgage, Bokich said. Debt payments — combined mortgages, credit card debt, car loan payments and more — shouldn’t be more than half of the buyer’s income. Generally, buyers won’t qualify for a mortgage amount that would put them over
the 50% threshold.
“If (rates) drop about a half a percent, millions of new people have that opportunity to purchase a property,” Bokich said.
Why does the Fed control interest rates?
The Federal Reserve has two main responsibilities: promote maximum employment and stable prices.
Rate setting is one tool the Fed uses to stabilize the economy and meet its so-called “dual mandate.” Although it doesn’t have the power to set mortgage rates outright, cutting the short-term federal rate sends a signal to other lenders — and the country — about how the economy is doing. This filters down to mortgage lenders, which tend to respond by lowering rates, too.
The decision is a sign the Fed is shifting back to “normal dual-mandate mode, where we’re thinking about employment and inflation,” said Chicago Fed president Austan Goolsbee in a news conference. He compared that to the past year and a half, during which the Fed was “singularly prioritizing the fight against inflation — which we had to.”
How much does one rate cut help borrowers save?
The average 30-year fixed mortgage interest rate is around 6.2% right now, compared to a year ago, when the average was closer to 8%. A buyer who didn’t qualify to borrow enough cash for a home in their neighborhood last year may qualify today.
In other words: A theoretical household earning $60,000 per year with no debt could qualify for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of $181,443 with 8% interest, according to Fannie Mae’s online mortgage affordability calculator. That same household would qualify for a $211,115 mortgage at 6.2% — a difference of nearly $30,000.
To be clear, mortgage rates had been falling for most of 2024, before the Fed cut its rate. That’s because other economic factors, like employment, can influence mortgage rates.
For example, when unemployment rose in August, some economists saw it as a final nail in the coffin, proving the economy was showing signs of struggle and that the Fed would have to cut rates. So lenders dropped mortgage rates in anticipation of a Fed cut, Bokich with Wintrust Mortgage said.
If the Federal Reserve continues to make cuts
— which many economists, and Bokich, predict will happen later this year — mortgage rates will likely fall even more.
I’m already a homeowner, but the interest rate on my mortgage is high. Is now a good time to refinance?
Typically, when rates have been up for a while and then they start coming down, it starts making sense for borrowers to refinance.
But refinancing comes with a fixed cost, so it only makes sense to do if the cost doesn’t outweigh potential savings, said Bokich.
“Let’s say closing costs are $2,000 for example. Would you spend $2,000 to save 20 bucks a month? No, that’s too little savings,” said Bokich. “Would you pay $2,000 to save $500 a month? The answer is yes, because you would break even in four months.”
Plus, the “right” time comes down to each homeowner’s circumstances, Bokich said. In some cases, waiting to see how low rates get is the right move. For others, it may make sense to refinance several times.
“You refinance now, guess what? In four or five months, if (rates) come down, you can refinance again. Why not?” he said.
