WednesdayJournal_101117 by Wednesday Journal

W E D N E S D A Y

October 11, 2017 Vol. 35, No. 8 ONE DOLLAR

JOURNAL

@oakpark @wednesdayjournal

of Oak Park and River Forest

Historic River Forest block stares down demolition Developer seeks to raze home in first Prairie School planned development By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

River Forest historic preservation advocates are gearing up for another battle over a proposed demolition in the village. With the razing of the Mars Mansion fresh in the minds of many in the village, some residents point out that this time, the certificate of appropriateness for demolition concerns not just one house, but an entire block. In 2016, the 700 block of William Street was honored for its significance as the first Prairie Style planned development, and the street was marked with commemorative street signs. The block is the subject of a 2014 book by William Storrer, The Anonymous Frank Lloyd Wright and the 700 William Street River Forest Project, which posits that Wright was the anonymous architect of the homes. While Storrer’s theory has not been proven, the block’s significance as the first Prairie School planned development in the state, and perhaps the country, brought residents together to seek recognition from the village. In August 2017, River Forest residents Rob Sarvis and Mark Sullivan, as Mayborn Development, purchased 747 William for $415,000. On Sept. 11, a See WILLIAM STREET on page 13

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

SENDING A MESSAGE: Father George Omwando, pastor of St. Catherine-St. Lucy in Oak Park, has displayed “no guns” signs outside the church for years now. The Archdiocese of Chicago issued a decree last month requiring all parishes to hang the signs.

Praying for a solution to gun violence

Chicago Archdiocese makes statement with “no guns” signs By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

The debate within the Chicago Archdiocese about displaying “no guns” signs

on the doors of churches has been around for years, with some pastors choosing years ago to post the now ubiquitous signs seen on the doorways of businesses and restaurants. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, made it official in September, issuing a decree making the signs mandatory at all property controlled by the Archdiocese. The decision is timely, considering it

came about a month prior to the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, with gunman Stephen Paddock firing thousands of rounds of ammunition into a crowd gathered for a country music show in Las Vegas, leaving 58 dead and about 500 injured. “This policy is rooted in the belief that our churches, schools, administrative facilities or any other facilities owned, See NO GUNS on page 12

OUR NEW FALL MENU IS HERE! Stop by for a taste.

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Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

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Saturday, October 14th • 11a.m. - 3p.m. • FREE Green Pumpkin Trail: Pick up a Green Pumpkin Trail Map at tent outside 1010 Lake Street in Downtown Oak Park and collect healthy, eek-o-friendly treats at participating businesses! Suggested ages: 3–8 | Costumes optional | Rain or shine Green Pumpkin Trail Stops:

• Fannie May, 1020 Lake St.

• Red Mango, 1044 Lake St.

• A Matter of Style, 114 Marion St.

• Fitness Formula Clubs, 1114 Lake St.

• Spenga, 1136 Lake St.

• The Barre Code, 1040 Lake St.

• Fleet Feet Sports Oak Park, 102 Marion St.

• Sugarcup Trading, 110 Marion St.

• Beer Shop, 1026 North Blvd

• Jayne Boutique, 122 Marion St.

• Sushi House, 1107 Lake St.

• Bruegger’s Bagels, 1118 Lake St.

• Khyber Pass, 1031 Lake St.

• Ten Thousand Villages, 121 Marion St.

• Café Descartes, 1018 Lake St.

• Léa French Street Food, 106 Marion St.

• Two Story Farmhouse, 1016 North Blvd.

• Cold Stone Creamery, 134 Marion St.

• Lemonmade Style & Snips, 187 Marion St.

• The UPS Store, 159 Marion St.

• Cozy Corner Breakfast Boutique, 138 Marion St.

• Mancini’s Italian Bistro, 1111 Lake St.

• Vantage Oak Park, 150 Forest Ave.

• Nando’s PERi PERi, 1138 Lake St.

• Wheel & Sprocket, 1118 Westgate St.

• Delia’s Kitchen, 1034 Lake St. • Elephants and Dinosaurs, 1047 Lake St. • The Emerson, 1116 Lake St. (Temporary Leasing Location)

• Oak Park Prosthodontics, 185 Marion St. • Polished Nails & Day Spa, 1036 Lake St. • Pumpkin Moon, 1028 North Blvd. • Q•BBQ, 124 Marion St.

Other Green Halloween Activities: • Free Screening of Minions [Rated PG] - Lake Theatre, 1022 Lake St. 10 a.m. • Pumpkin Patch - Purchase and decorate a pumpkin with Wonder Works Children’s Museum on Westgate St., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Monster Mash on Marion Enjoy live kids’ music and free popcorn samples provided by Wells Street Popcorn. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Meet Moana, Elena of Avalor and Captain America! 12 to 2 p.m. • Free Vegan Face Painting - Marion St., 12 to 2 p.m.

• Scary Storytelling - Ten Thousand Villages, 121 Marion St., 1:30 p.m.

Get GREEN at DowntownOakPark.net

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

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I N S I D E

R E P O R T

Deja view A new sculpture, which might look familiar to you, was unveiled at the Park District of Oak Park’s Gymnastics and Recreation Center, 21 Lake St., during a public ceremony and celebration on Oct. 5 Donated by the Parks Foundation of Oak Park, “Blue Woman in the Twilight,” by sculptor Jacqueline Willis,

is a 10-by-9-by-2-foot sculpture made from stainless steel and blue and amber glass. Prior to finding its permanent home at the GRC, the sculpture was on display during the Oak Park Area Arts Council’s Sculpture Walk on Harrison Street this summer.

Marty Farmer

Foundation’s annual behind-the-scenes look at many of the region’s great places and spaces that are rarely open to the public. This year’s event is Saturday, Oct. 14, and Sunday, Oct. 15. In addition to the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, 951 Chicago Ave., the new Oak Park River Forest Museum, 129 Lake St., will also be featured. More information, including a list of all locations, is posted at openhousechicago.org.

FILE 2017

STORY WALL: The Oak Park River Forest Museum is located at the renovated former Cicero Firehouse, 129 Lake St.

Open House Oak Park Ten Oak Park sites will be among the 200-plus locations in Open House Chicago, the Chicago Architecture

D97 recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ Day

This year, Oak Elementary School District 97 formally recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day alongside Columbus Day for the first time in its history. The D97 school board formally approved a resolution last month in time for the Oct. 9 holiday. “The Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District 97, declares that we, as a district, commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ to be recognized on

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

STATUESQUE: “Blue Woman in the Twighlight” became a permanent fixture in front of the Gymnastics Center at the unveiling, Oct. 5.

the same day as Columbus Day in 2017,” the resolution states. “This motion does not replace Columbus Day due to limitations in the Illinois School Code. This motion

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acknowledges the Board’s desire to recognize the contributions, cultures, and dignity of indigenous peoples.”

Michael Romain

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

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Oct. 11-18

BIG WEEK We Are Enough Reception Friday, Oct. 13, 7 to 9 p.m., Oak Park Art League: As part of the Art for Social Change initiative, 30 plus artists exhibit the many facets of body image and its relationship to self-worth and acceptance. Works deal with race, gender, disability, aging or changes from illness or surgery. “Solidarity & Survivorship” includes customized casts from area breast-cancer survivors. Continuing through Nov. 3. More: 708-386-9853, oakparkartleague.org. 720 Chicago Ave.

Green Halloween

Halloween Costume Drive Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 16 to 23, Lively Athletics: Have new or gently used costumes you no longer need? Suburban Unity Alliance is accepting costumes, masks and makeup for ages 1 month to 12 years. Info, or if in need of costumes: anthony@ suburbanunity.org. 109 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park.

Saturday, Oct. 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Downtown Oak Park: Follow the Green Pumpkin Trail to healthy, eek-o-friendly treats, see a movie and costumed characters, or be spooked by scary stories and more. Costumes optional. Suggested ages 3 to 8. Rain or shine. Details: downtownoakpark.net. Pick up trail map/sticker card at the Visitors Center, 1010 Lake St.

CALENDAR EVENTS

Soul of a Jazz Survivor Saturday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m., Open Door Theater: Join Margaret Murphy-Webb, award-winning jazz artist and cancer survivor for music of Billie Holiday, Cole Porter and others. $25. Tickets: opendoortheater.net, 708-386-5510. 902 S. Ridgeland, Oak Park.

■ As you’ve likely noticed, our

Canadian Chamber Choir

Saturday, Oct. 14, workshops 10 a.m., concert 3 p.m., First United Church of Oak Park: Professional and amateur musicians are invited to all-day workshops presented by members of the CCC. Sessions include vocal pedagogy and technique, vocal health and development, music therapy, composing and arranging and more. $25, workshops and concert; $15, concert only. Details: 708-386-5215, ext. 108, musicatfirst@firstunitedoakpark.com. 848 Lake St.

Haunted Trolley Friday, Oct. 13, 7 to 10 p.m. Oak Park Conservatory: Take a haunted ride to discover the mysteries lurking in the parks. Begin with appetizers at the Conservatory for a plant inspired mystery. Continue on to the haunted Cheney Mansion for dinner and finish on the spooky grounds of Austin Gardens for dessert. Tickets include food, two drinks, transportation between sites. $75, individual resident; $140 resident pair; $113, non-resident; $210, nonresident pair. 21+ event; register: pdop.org. 615 Garfield St.

Rush Oak Park Health and Wellness Fair Thursday, Oct. 12, 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., Park District of Forest Park: Find educational materials and health resources; participate in free health screenings, exercise demos, ask a doctor/pharmacist; get flu shots (while supplies last); visit booths on diabetes care, Weight Loss and Lifestyle Medicine, Domestic Violence Counseling and more. Registration required: roph.org/calendar, 708-660-4636. 7501 W. Harrison St.

L’Affichomania: The Passion for French Posters Monday, Oct. 16, 1:15 p.m., Nineteenth Century Charitable Association: Catherine Shotick, a curator at the Driehaus Museum, explores the 1880s French Belle Époque poster craze, the artists and their impact on Paris. Related exhibit at Driehaus through Jan. 7, 2018. $10, suggested donation. More: 708-3862729, nineteenthcentury.org. 178 Forest Avenue, Oak Park.

Calendar has changed to Big Week. Fewer items, higher profile. If you would like your event to be featured here, please send a photo and details by noon of the Wednesday before it needs to be published. We can’t publish everything, but we’ll do our best to feature the week’s highlights. Email calendar@wjinc.com.

Funny, That Doesn’t Sound Jewish Sunday, Oct. 15, 4 p.m., West Suburban Temple Har Zion: From Mendelssohn and Bernstein, to European courts, Yiddish theater and the Broadway stage, many Jewish composers wrestled with their faith. Chicago A Cappella explores this dynamic through classical works, church oratorios, American Songbook hits and more. $35; $30, seniors; $15, students. Tickets: chicagoacappella.org. Questions: 708-3669000. 1040 Harlem Ave., River Forest.

Author Talks Saturday, Oct. 14, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., L!ve Café: Stacey Montgomery’s “What’s Your Super Power?,” a guided journal for girls, provides a series of fun and thoughtprovoking activities to help 8- to 12-yearolds find their inner awesome. 163 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park.

Sunday, Oct., 15, 4 to 6 p.m., Veterans Room, Main Library: Joe Gustaitis’“Chicago Transformed: World War I & the Windy City,” tells how WWI changed Chicago and how the city helped shape the history of WWI. 834 Lake St., Oak Park. Wednesday, Oct. 18, 7 to 9 p.m., Veterans Room, Main Library: Al Gini’s “The Importance of Being Funny,” is an informative take on jokes, joke-telling, and the jokers who tell them. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

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ART BEAT

Their moment in the spotlight By MICHELLE DYBAL

Contributing Reporter

ream Big. The advice that Tina Reynolds gives to her theater students as well as her own children, when taken to heart, really pays off. “They will soar if they can find complete joy in doing what they love,” said Reynolds, performingarts artistic director and program manager for BRAVO at Gwendolyn Photo by Liz Lauren Brooks Middle School in Oak Park. STAGE PRESENCE: Leo Gonzalez (center) in “Fun “Here, the students soar on stage and in life — gaining confidence, Home” at Victory Gardens Theater. maintaining good grades and learnwas 5 or 6, I was falling asleep on a speaker. ing time management.” One Brooks eighth-grader soared right At age 12, I got a supporting role in Chicago.” That role, in the musical Comfortable onto the Chicago stage when he started acting professionally earlier this fall. Reynolds Shoes, earned him a Jeff Award nomination was contacted by a Chicago casting agent, for Actor in a Supporting Role in 2003 and resulting in auditions for 13 BRAVO stu- ultimately moved his family to Oak Park. dents. Scoring a role was Leo Gonzalez, who While the younger Reynolds was attendis playing Christian Bechdel in Fun Home at ing Brooks, his mom volunteered. When Victory Gardens Theater. there was an opening to direct Grease at the He trained for the part this spring to preschool, she took it. Reynolds was then ofpare him for acting in the role of the oldest fered a full-time job to manage and oversee brother out of three siblings, BRAVO, a position she has held who, Leo said, “thinks he knows for 15 years. a lot and is a pretty fun character BRAVO puts on a minimum of to play.” four shows and two workshops Prior to this, Leo, who is 13, each school year and another had no other training outside of five during the summer. BRAVO where he has appeared “Everything I dreamt that I in as many at 12 productions. wanted it to be, it is,” she said. “BRAVO taught me all the “It’s been an amazing oppornecessities in the theater,” Leo tunity to grow it and build it said. “I’ve learned how to always and be surrounded by amazing be working and manage my time JUSTIN REYNOLDS people you can collaborate with. with school.” Motown the Musical We support and build each other He keeps his regular school up.” schedule while appearing in Fun Singing his way through Motown, with Home five days per week. When the show ran on Broadway, it won five Tony awards, tunes including “Shop Around” and “You’ve including Best Musical. It follows the tale of Really Got a Hold On Me,” at one point the graphic novelist’s coming out, ultimate ac- younger Reynolds held a perfect note so ceptance, and her family memories. long, completely filling the historic theater Another Oak Park native hitting the Chi- with his voice, the crowd erupted in thuncago stage is Tina Reynold’s son, Justin. derous applause and cheers. The 27-year-old is playing Smokey RobinJustin imparts his own wisdom to those son in Motown the Musical, a 35-week long, younger who are interested in theater. traveling, production from New York that “It’s going to be tough, but stay true to officially opened its six-day Broadway in your work ethic,” he said. “Go above and beChicago run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre yond. You never know who else is going to be downtown last week. in the room.” “Motown music has a special place in my Other Oak Parkers currently appearing heart,” Justin said. “To say I am excited on the Chicago stage are three young people is an understatement. To play tribute to Smokey Robinson, all the hits and what Ber- with roles in Billy Elliot at Porchlight Music ry Gordy created is a blessing. It’s a dream Theatre — OPRF sophomore Katelyn Montgomery, Whittier fifth-grader Alex Medina, come true.” and second-grader Gabriel Robert. Reynolds and his sister grew up around Fun Home is recommended for 13+ and performance; their parents had a musical production company in Michigan that put runs through Nov. 12. For tickets/info: victorygardens.org. Billy Elliot runs through on shows for events. “It’s just in me since I was born because Nov. 19. Tickets/more: porchlightlightmuthat’s what my family did,” he said. “When I sictheatre.org.

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Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

An Oak Park Tradition A

Doing better next time

ur world is vibrating at a high and unsustainable pitch these days. See a U.S. Senator suggesting the president is careening us toward World War III as evidence. And consider that both the senator and the president are conducting this discussion largely in the one-way tunnel of social media hooting and hollering. Here at home we have our own hometown aspects of turning up the heat even as we retreat to hardened positions on important, but not lifethreatening, issues. There’s the extended and furious debate over the Albion high-rise, now settled with a reasonable compromise that in and of itself led to fevered upset toward elected officials who helped find the middle ground. Then through the course of Monday we watched as a troubling racial post on an OPRF student’s SnapChat ramped up into controversy. Can adults, a deeply apologetic student, and honest talk bring this social media pepper spray around to a moment where we really find out if our values work? Or does a good kid doing something horribly stupid demand a sacrifice? I’m a critic of social media — whether it is being actively used to steer our national election to the most dangerous man ever in the Oval Office, my own kids saying things and then receiving messages that do nothing but tear down fragile relationships, local candidates ginning up a base of opposition on Facebook during an election only to have to stare the opposition down when actual hard and complicated decisions must be made. That said, as individuals, complete with free will and all that, we had to have allowed ourselves to get into the boxer’s crouch in order for that social media to have such sway on us. We’re looking for a fight and then, inevitably, everything is a fight, all parties are suspect, we take hard positions early in a discussion and then we stay lubricated in the echo chamber of comment boards and Facebook groups. Take Albion. Please.

The northwest corner of Lake and Forest was going to be developed. And not as a public square. It’s the most desirable development site in Oak Park. It is now and forever adjacent to the lovely and admired Austin Gardens. When Albion, a legit and respected developer stepped forward, that was the moment to start talking. To each other. Not at each other, past each other. Our mayor, Anan Abu-Taleb, is single-minded. He believes Oak Park needs economic development to fuel tax growth and to keep the downtown viable in the age of Amazon. And he can hold a grudge. He doesn’t like the park district and feels it has actively thwarted collaboration efforts among local governments. A debatable point — as in reasonable people could sit and talk it through. The park district knew development was coming. But instead of sitting at the table, from the first moment it took a wholly oppositional position. The development would forever damage its park. The village was going to jam this through, some thought, before the April election. The park board’s unilateral position gave opposition candidates for the village board a ready rallying point against Albion. It gave citizens in opposition cover, too. They were defending a precious park not opposing progress. And it hardened positions with both the village and the developer. We could have just talked. Albion was not going to easily walk away from this site. The park district could have gotten itself a much better deal in terms of direct support for the park and for Festival Theatre if it had come to the conversation and then stayed. Our town could have avoided the tribalism that we all see pervading our national affairs and which we have reason to worry is infiltrating our hometown politics. Oak Park will survive Albion. I think it will thrive with thoughtful, planned growth. But how will it survive and thrive through many more such overwrought battles?

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Stolen Childhood:

Disrupted Education from Chicago to Palestine October 16 7pm - 8:30pm Oak Park Public Library 834 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301

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In both Chicago and Israel/Palessne, structural oppression has created vastly unequal experiences for children living just a few miles apart. For example, In Chicago, 73% of all school construccon funding went to the 12% of schools where white students are more than a quarter of the student body. Tens of thousands of students are homeless, and an unknown number face the threat of deportaaon for themselves or their families. Hebron, in the West Bank, approximately 800 seelers move In Heb freely under the proteccon of the Israeli army, in the midst of about 215,000 Palessnians whose movement is impeded by checkpoints and roadblocks. These facts of daily life, combined with the praccce of placing Palessnian schoolchildren in Israeli military detennon, have severely compromised educaaonal progress for Palessnian students. Come hear Hamed Qawasmeh, director and co-founder of Hebron Internaaonal Resources Network (HIRN), and Tony Alvarado-Rivera, Director of Youth Programs at the Chicago Freedom School, as they discuss the work they do to support students in Palessne and Chicago. The Commiiee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palessne (CJPIP) is a community based organizaaon founded to develop and support accviies that further the cause of peace and jussce in Palessne and Israel. Speakers do not necessarily represent the views of CJPIP. This program is not sponsored by the Oak Park Public LIbrary . For more info and to contact us, please visit our website www.cjpip.org _

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Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Illinois 60302 PHONE 708-524-8300 ■ FAX 708-524-0447 ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com | www.RiverForest.com CIRCULATION Jill Wagner, 708-613-3340 circulation@oakpark.com DISPLAY ADVERTISING Dawn Ferencak, 708-613-3329 dawn@oakpark.com

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SALES Mary Ellen Nelligan, 708-613-3342 maryellen@oakpark.com NEWS/FEATURES Dan Haley, 708-613-3301 dhaley@wjinc.com

CALENDAR Carrie Bankes calendar@wjinc.com SPORTS/PARKS Marty Farmer, 708-613-3319 marty@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal is published weekly by Wednesday Journal, Inc. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, Illinois (USPS No. 0010-138). In-county subscription rate is $32 per year, $57 for two years. Annual out-of-county rate is $40. © 2016 Wednesday Journal, Inc.

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

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Oak Park TV ‘greatest hits’ gets telecomm award

Locally produced videos highlight village government, cops, business By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

The village of Oak Park’s communications department was awarded for programming excellence in September by the National Association of Telecommunications Officers (NATOA) at its annual awards show in Seattle. VOP-TV, the broadcast division of Oak Park’s Communications Department, received the award – programming excellence for organizations with budgets under $250,000 – for a “best of ” reel of short videos shot and edited by VOP-TV Media Production Manager Joe Kreml. But the informational videos produced by Kreml, which highlight public health and safety, local government, business and economic development, are only a fraction of the work by the broadcast department in its effort to keep residents connected. VOP-TV also produces video footage of meetings of the Village Board of Trustees, and most recently began shooting and archiving for viewing online meetings of the Zoning Board of Appeals and of the Plan Commission. Oak Park Communications Director David Powers said board meetings have been available the village website since 2011 – that’s in addition to the Board of Trustee meetings being broadcast live on Channel 6 since the 1990s. “We recognized a long time ago [viewership on] cable declining, so we started looking to move [the broadcast] online,” Powers said. He said the online portal that provides access to the meetings is run through a software package known as Granicus, which pairs the meeting’s agenda items with the video and allows viewers to skip to the section of the meeting that interests them. “In my mind, the village can’t get more transparent than putting it online and having gavel-to-gavel coverage,” he said. Powers said board meetings usually get about 100 to 250 views, depending on the public’s interest in the agenda – those views tend to grow over the subsequent weeks as residents view meetings on their own time, Powers said. A meeting held on Oct. 2, where trustees approved a controversial residential apartment building downtown by Albion Residential, was viewed by 269 residents live, but

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

THE WIZ: Government TV manager Joe Kreml controls the cameras during a public meeting in the camera operating room at Oak Park Village Hall. that number jumped to around 900 in the days following the meeting, according to Powers. He said making the videos available online saves the village time in Freedom of Information Act requests for DVDs of the meetings, which is how the village distributed the meetings prior to posting them online. “We’re creating a public record,” Powers said, adding that “matters of public policy should be argued in public.” Powers praised Kreml for his work in making the meetings available online and for winning top honors at NATOA this year, noting it’s the fourth time the village has received

the award. The village’s Youtube.com page, where Kreml posts his videos about Oak Park government, includes more than 400 short films that have received nearly 400,000 views, according to the village. Kreml says in a press release that in Oak Park he’s never short on ideas because it’s an “incredibly visual and vibrant community.” “Something interesting to feature, whether it’s government in action, unusual personalities or community partnerships, is always out there,” Kreml said. CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

New Moms Inc. is getting new digs

Nonprofit to raze building on Chicago Avenue for housing, offices By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

New Moms, Inc., a nonprofit that provides transitional housing for low-income mothers is planning to build a four-story building at 206-212 Chicago Ave. that will include 18 more permanent apartments and groundlevel office space. Laura Zumdahl, president and CEO of New Moms, tells Wednesday Journal that the $6.9 million project will provide new

housing for New Moms and office space for the organization. The organization is receiving $5.9 million from the Illinois Housing Development Authority and $825,000 from IFF, a community development financial institution, to pay for construction of the 21,000-square-foot structure. She said the organization still is fundraising for about $500,000 needed to complete the project. The property is currently occupied King’s Kidz Academy. A representative of King’s Kidz Academy could not be reached for comment. Zumdahl explained that the 18 affordable units will not be “transitional housing” like the New Moms 40-unit building at 5317 W. Chicago Ave. in the Austin neighborhood of

Chicago, which opened in 2013. Those living in transitional housing – for those transitioning from homelessness – are allowed to stay in the units for a maximum of two years; whereas, those living in the new affordable units can stay as long as they’d like, Zumdahl said. The organization is building the project within the standards set by the Oak Park zoning ordinance, so New Moms will not need to appear before the local Zoning Board of Appeals or the Plan Commission for approval. Zumdahl said New Moms is still in the process of closing on the purchase of the land, but they aim to break ground on the project in early 2018. New Moms has spent the last 30 years

operating out of a 2nd-floor office at Euclid Avenue Methodist Church. The new facility will provide programming space and office space for the group, Zumdahl said. “It’s been a good home, but it’s getting too small for us,” she said. “We want a storefront – something that is a little more accessible and has more visibility.” Zumdahl said there is a “deep need” for affordable housing for families in the area New Moms held its annual fundraiser and gala at the 19th Century Club in Oak Park on Friday, Oct. 6, where Zumdahl announced the new project. “We’re excited to announce that the parts are coming together and we’re moving forward on that building project,” she said. CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

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The viaduct at Harlem and South Boulevard in Oak Park is slated for rehab. File photo

Villages team up on Harlem bridge project

Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park to submit joint grant application By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

The Village of Oak Park is moving forward with a $27 million project to replace the 105-year-old viaduct at the intersection of Harlem Avenue and South Boulevard. The village will partner with River Forest and Forest Park to fund the project. The Oak Park Board of Trustees approved a resolution directing the village to apply for a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant with the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is expected to cover 80 percent of the costs of the project, according to a village memo. The remaining portion of the cost of the project, roughly $5.4 million, will be split between the three communities – about $2.7 million to Oak Park, and the remainder split between Forest Park and River

Forest. If the grant is awarded, design work would begin in 2018 and construction in 2020. The project entails replacing the existing bridge, lowering the Harlem roadway to reduce truck strikes to the top of the viaduct, and adding pedestrian and aesthetic enhancements, according to the village of Oak Park. The column in the viaduct also will be removed in an effort to improve traffic in the area. The grant application notes that the improvements to the bridge and adjacent CTA station dovetails with the introduction of several transit-oriented developments in the area. “Together they will bring 719 new housing units to the area along with significant new retail and commercial space,” the grant application notes, also stating, “These new developments are expected to produce an additional 371 car trips and 161 transit trips every day, increasing the need for a Harlem Multimodal Bridge in a state of good repair.” CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

Oak Park tightens massage parlor regulations By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Board of Trustees has approved a new ordinance aimed at keeping illegal massage parlors – particularly those engaging in prostitution – out of the village. The ordinance, approved unanimously by trustees, comes about a month after three Oak Park massage parlors were busted by police – two for engaging in prostitution and one for operating without a massage license. Those three businesses – King Spa, 6441 W. North Ave., Angel Spa, 1102 Chicago Ave. and 6340 Roosevelt Rd. – were closed permanently by the village in late August, after Village Manage Cara Pavlicek declared them a public nuisance. The arrests and closures left many asking why the businesses were given licenses to operate; one of the parlors, Angel Spa on Chicago, had not yet received a business license from the village. The new ordinance requires owners to: prove that each massage therapist is licensed through the state; display service rates prominently; maintain records of dates and times of all massage services. Massage parlor owners also must have a clear glass façade “allowing for unobstructed view of the front customer area” and not display depictions “of services that would

constitute a felony or misdemeanor.” The businesses also will be subjected to inspections twice a year. Judith Alexander, a community organizer and chair of the North Avenue District, praised the ordinance but said in an email that it could be stronger. “I would like the village to become more pro-active with regard to business licensing and zoning,” Alexander wrote. “We are continually closing the barn door after the horse escapes. That is why North Avenue is plagued with negative uses including currency exchanges, day labor agencies, massage parlors, pawnshops, and payday/ title loan stores. These are all prohibited or special uses under the new zoning code, but businesses of these types keep operating because they’re grandfathered in.” She added that the village should deny businesses licenses to anyone who has violated the ordinance in other cities. “As a matter of policy, I would like to see the village check regularly with neighboring communities and our own police department about business types that are creating problems elsewhere,” Alexander said. “These businesses types should be subject to background checks prior to issuing business licenses.” CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

OPRF approves FY18 budget By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 school board unanimously adopted a fiscal year 2018 budget at a regular meeting on Sept. 28. The final budget includes around $79 million in total revenue and $83.4 million in expenditures. This year’s budgeted expenditures are $1.6 million, or roughly 2 percent more than last fiscal year’s actual expenditures. According to D200 officials, overall revenue is expected to be down markedly from 2016-17, mainly because the district will collect less in property taxes. This fiscal year, revenue from property taxes is expected to be roughly $4.8 million less than last year. The sharp decrease, officials explained in budget documents, reflects Cook County’s “unique tax levy cycle, unlike any other county in Illinois.” Because the district collected tax revenue that was much larger than typical in 201617, the amount the district is set to take in this year is significantly lower, reflecting the normal pattern of collections, officials

stated. Some of the most notable expenditures in this fiscal year’s budget were in the district’s education, cafeteria and bookstore funds. Collectively, the district increased expenditures in these funds by 4.28 percent, or $2.5 million more than last fiscal year. The school board has approved additional spending for more programming, such as new cosmetology and nursing programs, and additional personnel hires, such as instructional coaches. For the cafeteria fund, the district budgeted around $492,000, or an increase of around 24 percent over last fiscal year, to purchase and install a new walk-in cooler and freezer in the cafeteria, and for miscellaneous equipment repairs and replacements. Another $276,207 was budgeted for the bookstore fund, which is around 27 percent more than what was budgeted for that fund last fiscal year. The increased spending is due to “the rising costs of the supplies and materials that are purchased as part of the students’ [Instructional Material Fee)],” according to budget documents. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

OPRF student apologizes for Snapchat photo ‘I did not check my white privilege,’ says 17-year-old who uploaded blackface picture

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

An Oak Park and River Forest High School student who uploaded a racially charged photo to social media showing him in blackface has come forward to apologize. During an interview on Monday, the 17-yearold OPRF senior confirmed that he is the person in the photo and that he posted it to his Snapchat account on Sunday night. “Vote me for BLU president,” reads the caption above the picture of the student in blackface. Underneath that statement he wrote, “For those who don’t know BLU is Black Leaders Union,” and inserted an emoji depicting a neutral face beside the bottom caption. Within hours, the teenager said, he noticed the backlash the photo had provoked among his friends and acquaintances and took it down. He then posted an apology to his Snapchat account, he said. “I was at a friend’s house and we were exfoliating. I had a black charcoal face mask,” he explained during an interview. “The photo was posted as an off-handed joke and I didn’t stop to think about the racial circumstances or the effects it would have.”

Since he uploaded the photo on Sunday night, it has been screenshot, shared on Facebook many times and widely circulated among OPRF students. The words, ‘hi racism!’ are scrawled in neon green digital handwriting across the version of the photo that has been making the rounds on social media. He said that those words are not his and must have been added by someone else. The student and his mother, who declined to be identified because of concerns about her employment, said that District 200 officials, fearing for his safety, told him not to go to school on Tuesday. The teenager said that he’s written an open apology and takes full responsibility for his actions, adding that he doesn’t want to be viewed as a victim. The student and his mother had expressed a desire to voluntarily reveal his identity, but Wednesday Journal editorial policy states the paper does not identify minors accused of wrongdoing. “I posted an offhand comment on social media and I wasn’t really thinking,” the teen said. “I want to make sure that everyone knows how I feel, that I’m very regretful and would love to learn from this experience. People’s anger is justified. I did not check my white privilege. I did not think

about what I posted. There’s no excuse. I did this and I take responsibility for my actions.” Some people close to the student, including OPRF teacher and community organizer Anthony Clark, were shocked by the photo. The student said that he has been involved in marches organized by Suburban Unity Alliance, the nonprofit Clark founded last year to fight against racism in the suburbs. The teenager said he has even volunteered on Clark’s campaign for U.S. Congress and participated in the Woman’s March in Chicago earlier this year. In Monday’s interview, the student described himself as a strong supporter of LGBTQ rights and racial equality. Clark shared the offensive photo on Facebook before taking it down after speaking with the student and his mother on Monday. Clark said he, the teenager and the mother also met with Amy Renzulli, the founder of School of Rock, of which the 17-year-old is an active member. “We all had painful and open dialogue covering everything from systemic racism to white privilege, culminating the conversation with understanding that talking is not enough, apologies are not enough,” Clark

wrote in a statement. “My son did something embarrassing and we feel awful about this. He did a dumb thing and we can’t excuse it out of ignorance,” said the student’s mother. “I told him that he put something ugly out into the world and, even if he didn’t mean it, it’s still out there,” she added. “All he can do is try doing something good. If his coming out and taking the heat for this and responsibility for this helps show other people a way forward, that’s the best thing to come of this.” The teenager’s act, his mother said, flies in the face of the household’s collective process of self-education. She said she had just finished reading a book about white privilege and its attendant harms called White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson and noted that Ta-Nehisi Coates’ bestseller about white supremacy, Between the World and Me, had been on her son’s “reading shelf forever.” “We try and be good allies,” she said. “This is the first time any of us have ever been on this side of the issue. It’s not a place we’re comfortable being.” The student’s mother, however, cautioned See SNAPCHAT on page 16

2017 Fall leaf collection set to begin...

• Keep catch basins clear of raked leaves to avoid flooding.

• Leaves only -- do not add brush, grass clippings or yard waste.

• Obey all parking restrictions. Regulations will be strictly enforced.

• Do not park on or near a pile of leaves, which can hinder leaf removal operations. Heat from a car also could ignite the leaves.

• Dampen piles after raking to avoid leaves being blown by the wind.

• Rake leaves onto side streets whenever possible. Try to avoid major thoroughfares where piles of leaves might create traffic hazards. • Do not rake leaves into or close to cul de sacs or traffic diverters. The equipment needs room to operate.

• Inform landscape services of the leaf collection schedule.

• Drive carefully. Leaves are slippery when wet and large piles may hinder visibility. • Drive cautiously – crews will create safe work zones and close intersections for a few minutes while removing large leaf piles.

For more information call 358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us

SOUTH BLVD. TUESDAY Oct. 17 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 7 Nov. 14 Nov. 21 Nov. 28

EAST AVE.

• Rake leaves out the day before the scheduled pickup date.

HARLEM AVE.

• Do not rake leaves into or close to bus shelters or bicycle racks (including Divvy).

THURSDAY Oct. 19 Oct. 26 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 16 Nov. 23 Nov. 30

MONDAY Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Nov. 20 Nov. 27

ROOSEVELT RD.

2017 FALL LEAF COLLECTION SCHEDULE

AUSTIN BLVD.

• Consider composting or using the leaves as garden mulch as an alternative to raking.

WEDNESDAY Oct. 18 Oct. 25 Nov. 1 Nov. 8 Nov. 15 Nov. 22 Nov. 29

EAST AVE.

NORTH AVE.

The annual fall leaf collection program is scheduled for Oct. 16 – Nov. 30 with seven pickups planned for each section of the Village. Residents should rake leaves into the street at least 18 inches from the curb the day before the scheduled pickup dates indicated on the map. Leaves raked into the street will be pushed into piles by Public Works crews during the night to reduce impact on traffic and parked cars. Leaves will be collected the following day. Residents who miss a scheduled pickup date should keep their leaves on the parkway until the night before the next scheduled pickup. Sweepers will be scheduled to run at the end of the collection program to clean up residue. Cooperation is essential to the success of this operation, so please follow these simple rules:

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

‘Safe Haven’ baby returns to West Sub

Girl, 10, left at West Suburban Medical Center reunites with staff By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Robbin Uchison was a nurse 10 years ago at West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, when someone dropped off a baby at the hospital’s emergency room — the first infant in the hospital’s history given up under the Illinois Abandoned Newborn Protection Act, also called the Safe Haven Law, which was passed in 2001. “She was relinquished downstairs in emergency and, if I remember, they were going to hang on to her downstairs, but we insisted she come up to the nursery, which was probably the better place for her,” said Uchison, a 31-year employee with the hospital who is now director of its Family Birth Place. ■ To read more “She came to us on a Sunday, and so we named her Grace Elizabeth VISIT OAKPARK.COM Sunday,” Uchison said, as that baby, now a precocious 10-year-old whose legal name is Aidan Jane Millar-Nicholson, sat a few seats away from her. Millar-Nicholson was flanked by her adopted parents, Lesley and Lori Millar-Nicholson, during an Oct. 4 press conference designed to be both a homecoming and a public service announcement of sorts. The goal was to draw attention to a law that, according to its advocates, is still relatively unknown, particularly

WEB EXTRA

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

REUNITED: Registered nurse Vilma Duran, left, hugs Aidan Jane Millar-Nicholson last Wednesday at the West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park. Duran was one of the nurses who cared for Millar-Nicholson when she first arrived to the medical center. among mothers who may be desperate for safe alternatives to raising the babies themselves. The Safe Haven Law allows mothers to anonymously leave infants with staff members at any hospital, fire or police station, or emergency medical provider in the state as long as the babies are no older than 30 days and unharmed. The parents don’t need to answer any questions or fear prosecution. They do, however, have the option of accepting a packet containing information about the Safe Haven law, their rights as birth parents, health care resources and a

self-mailer used for sharing basic information about the infant. If the infant doesn’t appear abused or neglected, the “relinquishing parent may choose to remain anonymous and no attempt will be made to identify him/her,” according to the Save Abandoned Babies Foundation’s website. “Within 12 hours of receiving the child, either directly from a birth parent or upon transport from a police or fire station, the hospital must report the relinquishment to the Department of Children and Family Services’ (DCFS) State Central Registry,” the website explains. “DCFS will then confirm that the newborn is not a missing child and arrange for placement with a licensed Illinois adoption agency.” Lesley and Lori Millar-Nicholson had been waiting to adopt for two years when they received a phone call the day after Aidan was dropped off at West Suburban. They drove from their home near the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where Lesley worked. “On Monday, I was at work and I got a phone call from our adoption agency case worker,” Lori recalled. “They tried to reach Lesley, but she was in a meeting, so I had to make an executive decision. She said, ‘A beautiful baby girl was dropped off at West Suburban around 9 o’clock. Would you like to adopt her?’ I said, ‘Absolutely.’” “The nice thing about the Safe Haven law is that there’s a list of adoption agencies and so the next parents on the list are contacted, so babies don’t have to go into foster homes,” said Uchison. “They’ll go right into the home of the people they’ll be living with.” Two days later, Lesley and Lori were in the hospital’s lobby, waiting anxiously for the young girl they now simply call, “A.J.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

The Hemingway District presents...

Annual HALLOWEEN Parade Saturday, October 28 Line Up Begins at 9:45am • Oak Park Avenue & Pleasant Street Kids, come in costume! Trick or Treat on The Avenue Enjoy family craft tables and walk the Haunted Hallways 1st floor, of Scoville Square, 137 N. Oak Park Ave. Décor by: Stage Rite by Deb

Parade Begins at 10am

Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb will lead the parade escorted by the Oak Park Fire & Police Departments Find details at OakPark.com and ScovilleSquare.com Sponsored By

Elmwood Park

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Oak Parker organizes disaster relief for Mexico Middle school teacher raises funds for Mexicans ravaged by earthquake

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

The devastation left in the path of hurricanes Irma and Harvey has dominated the headlines nationwide for the last couple of months, leaving less room in the media for coverage of the catastrophic earthquakes that rocked Mexico in September. The disaster hit close to home, however, for one Oak Park resident who grew up in Cuernavaca, a city about two hours south of Mexico City, which suffered extensive damage along with other municipalities in the region. “The entire town got leveled,” said David Reyes, an Oak Park resident and bilingual teacher at Mannheim Middle School in Melrose Park. “In that town there are a lot of poor people. The more we heard from people in that state we started getting a little desperate because most of the news was focusing on Mexico City.” Reyes said his entire family – aside from his brother, who also lives in the U.S. – is still in Cuernavaca. Though no one in his immediate family was hurt, hundreds were killed in Mexico City and elsewhere and dozens of buildings were destroyed by the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck on Sept. 19. Many who escaped with their lives lost everything, according to Reyes. “After watching the news for a day and half, I told my wife that I need to go and do something,” he said. Reyes launched a Facebook page “Familias Sin Fronteras (Families Without Borders)” and began raising funds to buy food and supplies. His goal: gather enough in donations to feed 100 families. “The amount of people who wanted to help was incredible,” he said, noting that friends, family – some as far away as Germany, Reyes said – and even students at his school gave donations. He’s been posting photos of the trip nonstop since landing in Mexico City “not because we wanted people to praise us (but because) we wanted for the people who were donating money to have a personal connection to the people in Mexico.” Within days of establishing the Facebook group, Reyes said he exceeded his goals exponentially, raising about $10,000 in disaster relief – most of which has already been spent. His wife, Emily Reyes, coordinated the effort stateside on money and supplies. “It went from hundreds to thousands – by the end of this thing we are going to be able to provide food for easily 3,000 to 4,000 people,” he said. Reyes, who travels to Mexico frequently to visit family and friends, said his trip to help distribute the relief was emotional “because I was not prepared for what I was going to see.” His first encounter with the disaster came a few miles from the airport, where he saw an 8-story building that was collapsed.

Photo provided by David Reyes

A HELPING HAND: Oak Parker David Reyes (top left) traveled to central Mexico to distribute food and supplies to victims of a 7.1-magnitude earthquake.

Reyes described Jojulta as one of the hardest hit areas, noting that an estimated 1,500 houses collapsed during the quake. “When I got to the town my brain couldn’t comprehend what I was seeing,” he said. “It’s a pretty big city – it’s poor but it’s pretty big. Every single block had either hard damage or a house collapsed.” He said the downtown area of that municipality was closed off because “every single building got damaged.”

“After a week (of living in the aftermath of the earthquake) people were just shocked – they started losing hope,” he said. “After every single day we finished working – when we left these people – all of us started crying … on the way home. “We didn’t want to break in front of them, but once the adrenaline wasn’t there, on every day we started sobbing.” During the trip he distributed food and supplies to Colonia Emiliano Zapata in Jojutla, Cuernavaca, Ocuituco, Hueyapan and Santa Cruz. After five days of non-stop work, Reyes returned to Oak Park. He calls the effort “Operation Hope” for the many Mexicans who only have hope left. “Sometimes we feel that when (disasters) happen, you feel powerless and you can’t do anything,” he said, noting that it was his first time to engage in such a disaster relief effort. “That might be true if you want to do everything on your own. You have to be willing to put yourself out there and do the work.” CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

NO GUNS

Archdiocese mandates signs from page 1 leased or operated by the Archdiocese are intended to be sites where people come to gather, pray and worship in safety and peace,” Cupich wrote in the decree. “The intent of this policy is to balance the rights of all who approach Archdiocesan churches, schools or other facilities with the greatest possible protection for children, the elderly and otherwise vulnerable people of our society.” Intentional or not, the policy also has the effect of sending a message about the state of gun violence in Chicago. Oak Park churches are taking different approaches to posting the signs — for some it’s a message worth sending, for others the signs are an ugly reminder of the scourge of gun violence in modern life. Rev. James F. Hulbert, pastor of Ascension Parish, 808 S. East Ave., sent a letter to parishioners following the announcement of the decree, noting, “Being greeted as we approach our church, with the entrances defaced by 4-inch by 6-inch images of a handgun with a red line drawn through it, is not what I would prefer for us and our children.

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM “None of us,” he continued, “is going to rest easy thinking we will be safer or less likely to get shot in church.” “As I try to make peace with this new rule, my thought is to try to use these ugly signs as prompts to greater solidarity with those who have suffered from gun violence,” he wrote. “Looking at the image of a pistol as I enter church, I will say a silent prayer for those whose lives have been upended by the criminal use of these weapons.” Hulbert said in a telephone interview that he sought an opinion from the Archdiocesan legal office and has since opted to display the sign in the vestibule, past the front door of the church. He said he believes the new rule aims to show “solidarity toward anybody who’s concerned about gun violence.” Rev. George Omwando, pastor of St. Catherine-St. Lucy Parish, 38 N. Austin Blvd., said in a telephone interview that his parish believes the signs make sense. The parishioners of Omwando’s church, located on the border of Oak Park and the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, have greater exposure to gun violence, he said. “Here we are very sensitive on the issue of guns and the impact it’s had on people’s lives,” Omwando said, noting that a teenager was shot dead about a block away from St. Catherine-St. Lucy earlier this year. Omwando said he placed a “no guns”

sign prominently on the door of the church a few years ago. “You can’t miss it,” Omwando said, adding that it sends a strong message to the Austin community. Rev. John McGivern, pastor of St. Edmund Parish, said his church posted the signs about two years ago. But unlike Ascension and St. Catherine-St. Lucy, the church chose to place the decals at the bottom of the door. “We are believers in this; a church, school, hospital or public place is no place for weapons,” McGivern said in a telephone interview. “In putting those stickers up, that’s our way of saying we do not promote violence, and we do not support people bringing [guns] when they come to worship. It seems antithetical to what we’re about.” McGivern acknowledged that there is likely “a political dimension to it, but there’s also a theological, spiritual component.” “It has nothing to do with not supporting people’s right to arm themselves — that’s in our Constitution — but it’s meant to [get people to] think about this at a deeper level,” he said. “What does it mean to bring a weapon into a church or a school or a public place? “I’m glad Cardinal Cupich has made this decision to make this mandatory throughout the Archdiocese.” CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

PHOTOGRAPHER/Title

PRAYING FOR PEACE: The Archdiocese of Chicago now requires all parishes to display “no guns” signs.

RUSH OAK PARK HOSPITAL

Community Health & Wellness Fair Free screenings • Body mass index • Bone density

• Cholesterol* (fasting required) • Diabetic foot screening

• Flu shot* (while supplies last) • Glucose*

Free consultations • Ask a doctor: Ten minute appointment with a Rush Oak Park Physician Group doctor.* • Ask a pharmacist: Bring a list of your prescribed medications, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and supplements for a conversation with a pharmacist about possible interactions. Rush Oak Park Hospital health and information booths Audiology | Breast Imaging Center | Cancer Center | Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Care Domestic Violence Counseling | Otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) Center for Weight Loss and Lifestyle Medicine | Midlife Center | Midwest Orthopaedics Nutrition | Obstetrics & Gynecology | Mobile Stroke Unit | Respiratory Care Volunteer Services | WomenHeart Support Network | Wound Care Free fun and food • Exercise demonstrations/classes (if you’d like to participate, wear comfortable clothing) Zumba Gold: 9:15 a.m. | Chair Yoga: 10:00 a.m. • Enter to win raffle prizes • A light breakfast will be served

roph.org

Rush is an academic health system comprising Rush University Medical Center, Rush Copley Medical Center and Rush Oak Park Hospital.

Park District of Forest Park 7501 W. Harrison St. Forest Park Thursday October 12, 2017 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. * Register in advance by calling (708) 660-4636, or visit roph.org/calendar to register online.

17-ROPH-5319

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

OPRF civics club hopes to spark engagement

Youth Action in Civics, founded by students, seeks to raise public awareness, activity By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Max Freeman, a senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School, and three of his friends were playing ping pong in someone’s attic one day during his sophomore year when they decided to channel their growing energy and enthusiasm for local politics into something structured and systematic. “We had all become more politically aware,” Freeman said recently as he recalled the moment that resulted in him, along with OPRF students Scott Smith, Ryan Jansen and Maciej Dzumala, founding the Youth Action in Civics Club (or YAC for short) last August. “I had noticed that there weren’t any civics clubs at the high school,” Freeman said. “There was Model UN and speech team, but no club that solely focused on civics and that had a community service aspect.” Since its creation, the club has helped facilitate voter registration drives and it hosted a forum for District 200 school board candidates before the last election. Six days before the presidential election last November, the club hosted a town hall-style discussion on local politics with state Sen. Don Harmon (D-39th).

PHOTOGRAPHER/Title

ACTIVISTS: (Left to right) Ryan Jansen, Max Freeman, and Maciej Dzumala. Co-president Scott Smith is the other member of the team. “Students were pretty interested in hearing Senator Harmon talk, because we didn’t really have exposure to something like that,” said Freeman, who interned with the Harmon. “Basically, we’re trying to foster greater civic engagement among students at OPRF,” he said. “We’re trying to get kids more enthusiastic about local politics.” This school year, Freeman added, the club has been

WILLIAM STREET

Heritage vs. Homeowner from page 1 Historic Preservation Commission meeting was held at the home, and Sarvis, Sullivan, architect Pat Magner, commission members and members of the public toured the house. According to notes of this meeting, Sarvis communicated that due to the condition of the house, it was most feasible to demolish the property and build new. On Sept. 20, Sarvis and Sullivan filed an application for a certificate of appropriateness seeking approval to demolish the home. In the initial application, Sarvis and Sullivan stated, “The building is structurally unsound, and to rehabilitate it is not a possibility nor is it feasible.” On Oct. 5, the Historic Preservation Commission held a special meeting to consider issuing a certificate of appropriateness for the demolition. More than 20 concerned neighbors and historic preservation advocates attended the meeting, many armed with copies of Storrer’s books and historical research on the block. No decision was made on the application at the Oct. 5 meeting. At the outset of the meeting, the village’s management analyst, Jon Pape, stated that after consultation with the village attorney, the application was deemed incomplete and required site drawings and front, rear and side elevation drawings of the existing structure. Preservation commissioners requested that the developer provide a report from a licensed structural engineer on the home as well as the items required to complete the application. Once the application is complete, a date for public meeting will be set with notice provided on the village website, signs outside of the home, publications and letters to those living within 500 feet of the property. During the public comment portion of the special meeting, many residents emphasized the historical significance

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION: 747 William Street, left, in River Forest. of the block in arguing against demolition. Sue Blaine stated that the significance of the home stems from the entire block as a whole, and cited Wright’s HillsDe Caro House in Oak Park as an example of a home that had been altered but was rehabilitated in keeping with the original structure. Neighbor Pat Heiman presented a petition from residents asking the commission to encourage the developer to renovate or build an addition to keep it in style with the rest of the homes on the block. Mark Zinni, a former resident of the block and an architect who renovated many of the block’s residences, noted that removing the residence from the block would be akin to removing a tooth from the smile of the street. Sarvis responded that his intention was to create a home that fit with the block but that the existing home had many issues, including low ceilings and a problematic driveway that kept it from being the kind of house that people want to purchase today.

focusing on fundraising for victims in areas around the country and world that have been struck by natural disasters. Jansen said that the club’s volunteer opportunities, particular those in the world of politics, have exposed his peers to a range of avenues for bettering their community. “We hope to foster youth who are aware, engaged and passionate,” Jansen said. The task, Freeman added, is harder than it might seem in a political environment in the country as fraught and charged as the current one. Surprisingly, he said, the initial emotion that marked the days and months following President Donald Trump’s election hasn’t turned into a galvanizing, sustainable movement among the young people he knows. “It would seem like more kids would be interested in getting involved in politics and civics because of the election of Trump,” Freeman said. “The fervor probably only extended a couple of months after the election, when the majority of students were alarmed. Sadly, though, most students aren’t involved other than just being angry.” Freeman said that he hopes YAC will help mobilize young people in the area to get involved by steering them to service projects that offer tangible, immediate results. “One of the things I’m really looking for are things that I can volunteer with but that actually make a difference and that I can see,” he said. “That’s one reason why it’s hard, especially for students, to get involved. A lot of things being offered are not tangible.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Under River Forest’s new historic preservation ordinance, the Historic Preservation Commission does not have the authority to block demolition of a home that does not have local landmark status, but it can ask applicants for demolition permits to appear before the commission and delay a demolition for up to six months. This is the first test of the amended ordinance, which was adopted in 2016. Laurie Blazek, a resident of the block, wondered if there was a way to landmark the entire block, stating, “I’m just looking for a loophole to get the block landmarked because there is no other block like this in the country.” Commissioner Al Popowits commented that the underlying disagreement seemed to be whether houses in the village could be harvested by anyone who could afford to do so or whether they were a protected resource, but acknowledged that under the current limits on the village’s powers it seemed like a compromise would be the best the village could hope for. Commissioner Cara Graham-White remarked that lot of homes like 747 William St. do sell to interested buyers, saying, “If you’re going to live in River Forest, you’re probably going to live in an old house. If you don’t like old houses, go to Naperville.” Members of the public in attendance applauded her comment. Tom Zurowski, chairman of the commission was not present at the meeting, but noted that once the application is complete, the public meeting must take place within 60 days. Within 15 days of that meeting, the commission has to issue a finding either issuing the certificate or denying it. If the commission denies the certificate, the applicants can appeal to the village board. Zurowski acknowledged that if the commission denies the certificate, the house can still be demolished, but said the commission hopes to raise awareness of the value of significant properties with the six-month delay. “It’s our job to protect historical and architecturally significant properties,” Zurowski.

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Oak Park pastor gets 3 years for fraud

Wilkerson, with wife and co-defendants, sentenced for stealing $450K from summer program By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

A pastor who founded a church in Austin was recently sentenced to more than three years in prison and ordered to pay restitution after he was found guilty of defrauding a federal summer food program out of roughly $450,000. In May, Rev. Robbie Wilkerson, 50, along with his wife, Tasha Wilkerson, 45, both of Oak Park, and three associates — Anthony Hall, 55; Richard Shumate, 52; and Evelyn Shumate, 49 — all pled guilty to various charges. Wilkerson, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering, was sentenced to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay nearly $441,000 in restitution. His wife, Tasha, who pled guilty to theft of government funds, was sentenced to one year in prison and three years of supervised

release, and ordered to pay roughly $40,000 in restitution. Wilkerson is the founding pastor of New Birth Christian Center in Austin. According to the 2015 indictment, Wilkerson filed paperwork in 2010 for New Birth to administer the Summer Food Service Program, which is offered by an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As Austin Weekly News reported in August, the pastor submitted an operating budget of $446,440 to the Illinois State Board of Education, which administered funding for the federal food program at the state level. But by the time the program had ended, the indictment claimed, Wilkerson and his co-defendants had allegedly made $700,000 worth of false claims. Wilkerson and his collaborators claimed to have served around 270,000 meals to lowincome children over the summer, but the Department of Agriculture conducted an investigation and concluded that the num-

ber of meals served turned out to be fewer than 100,000. Wilkerson and his co-defendants allegedly kept $450,000 for a range of personal expenses, such as $37,000 to buy housing in Memphis for Wilkerson’s parents and nearly $30,000 to buy a 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The Justice Department stated in May that the Wilkersons admitted “they embezzled more than $100,000 from the program, including more than $60,000 in direct payments to themselves, at the same time Tasha was paid as an employee of Youth Outreach Services, Chicago, as a prevention coordinator. “In addition, more than $10,000 was given directly to relatives; $20,000 in cash and other withdrawals from NBCC’s bank account; $46,000 to purchase real estate in Chicago; and $37,109 to purchase a residence in Memphis, Tennessee, for Robbie Wilkerson’s parents.” Hall, a New Birth pastor from Downers

File photo

Rev. Robbie Wilkerson pictured several several years ago. Grove who was also the business administrator for the food program, pleaded guilty to embezzling around $51,000 for personal expenses. He was sentenced to five years of probation and 10 months of home confinement, and ordered to pay roughly $40,000 in restitution. CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

C R I M E

Police nab one of four from August carjacking

Oak Park police have arrested a man accused of working with a group of three other men to steal a Cicero man’s car at gunpoint in the 1100 block of South Cuyler on Aug. 10. Devonta Thompson, 20, of the 2200 block of West Adams in Chicago, was arrested in the 3100 block of West Flournoy at 9:40 a.m. on Oct. 6 and charged with aggravated vehicular hijacking. The police report from August notes that the victim was sitting in his running white Honda Accord when he was surround by three other vehicles — two dark sedans, one of them possibly a Nissan, and a silver or white Honda sedan. One man pointed a handgun at the victim, while a second man exited his vehicle, approached the victim’s driver’s side door, pointed a handgun at him and demanded the vehicle. The man drove away in the victim’s Accord followed by the other three vehicles. They made off with his wallet and phone as well for an estimated loss of $16,000.

Vehicular hijacking The driver of a silver 2006 Cadillac STS was carjacked at gunpoint in the 900 block of North Humphrey at 11:35 p.m. on Oct. 7. A man opened the driver’s side door, pointed a semi-automatic handgun and asked, “Do you want to die or give up your car?” He then pulled the driver from the car and fled in the vehicle. The estimated loss is $5,000.

Divvy bike stolen

A man stole an unsecured blue Divvy bike from the docking station in the 800 block of Oak Park Avenue at 12:45 a.m. on Oct. 7. The estimated loss is $1,200.

Robbery ■ A woman was the victim of robbery in the 100 block of Le Moyne Parkway at 7:55 p.m. on Oct. 8. A man described as in his late 20s or early 30s grabbed the woman’s purse as he walked past her on the sidewalk. The purse contained a wallet, a Canadian driver’s license, credit cards, and both U.S. and Canadian currency. The man was described as black, 6 feet tall, with a thin build, and wearing a light-colored skull cap, a white Tshirt and blue jeans. ■ A man was the target of a robbery in the 800 block of Pleasant Street at 7:05 p.m. on Oct. 3. A man described as in his late teens approached the victim and told him to take everything out of his pockets or else he would shoot him. The victim then punched the robber in the face and knocked him to the ground. The victim fled to his residence. No loss was reported.

Just kidding A Broadview man was the victim of assault on the CTA Blue Line train. Two men entered the train at the Oak Park stop, and

one of them asked the victim if he could use his phone, which the victim allowed. The second man then asked the victim if he had change for a $20 bill. The victim said he did not, so the man said, “Man, I’m going to blow you away right now,” while putting his right hand in his right pocket. The first man gave the victim back his phone and said the other man was joking. All three men exited the train at the Harlem stop.

Burglary ■A

residence in the 200 block of South Oak Park Avenue was the target of an attempted burglary at 2:40 p.m. on Oct. 4. The offender attempted to enter the residence with a pry tool after knocking on the door twice, which the victim did not answer. The victim heard the burglar attempting to enter the residence and yelled, “Who is this?” The offender then fled the scene. ■ A burglar was interrupted by a babysitter in a residence in the 700 block of South Maple at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 4. The burglar entered the residence through a rear basement door. He was spotted by the babysitter, who reported hearing the door slam as she went to alert the child’s mother. No loss was reported. ■ The Oak Park Apartments, 35 Chicago Ave., was burglarized at 6:04 a.m. on Oct. 2. A man used a baseball bat to break five windows to the storefront. The burglar then reached in and grabbed a security camera before fleeing in a gray Honda Accord southbound on Aus-

tin Boulevard. The estimated loss is $6,100.

Theft A Chicago woman was the victim of theft in the 100 block of South Clinton at 3 p.m. on Oct. 2. A young man between the ages of 15 and 20 approached her while she was sitting on the concrete stoop of the building and grabbed an iPhone 7 out of her hand and fled westbound on South Boulevard. The estimated loss is $600.

Aggravated battery and warrant arrest Cassidy Whitcomb, 29, of the 4600 block of North Sheridan in Chicago, was arrested in the 100 block of South Oak Park Avenue and charged with aggravated battery at 4:46 p.m. on Oct. 5. He also was arrested for an active Oak Park warrant for retail theft. These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports, Oct. 2-9, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

— Compiled by Timothy Inklebarger

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

I N

M E M O R I A M

Barbara Furlong, 85, longtime public servant Served as village president from 1997 to 2001 By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

Barbara Furlong, a former Oak Park trustee and village president from 1997 to 2001, died on Oct. 2. Furlong, who also served as village trustee from 1989 to 1993, was 85. Former Village Clerk Virginia Cassin, who served in that position from 1972 to 1992, said Furlong and her late husband, William R. “Bill” Furlong, were “very well thought of ” and were both active in the Village Manager Association (VMA), a local organization that vets and slates candidates for public office. Furlong, who retired from her career as a medical technologist in 1992, also was a longtime volunteer with the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust, earning a 25year service pin for her volunteer work with tthe League of Women Voters. A Wednesday Journal article published in April 11, 2001, bidding “farewell” to Furlong, who chose not to run for a sec-

ond term as village president, noted that her tenure was defined by tackling issues such as diversity, gay couple registration and affordable housing. She explained her selection to run for the president’s seat by the VMA in that article. “I think my selection [and subsequent victory] was based on my longtime involvement in the community,” she told Wednesday Journal. The story goes on to identify Furlong’s involvement in the Community Relations Commission, Oak Park Housing Center, the Parents’ Human Relations Commission at ORPF and Metropolitan Mayors’ Caucus. Furlong stated in the article that economic development was a top priority during her time in office. “In fact, what has tended to consume most of our time has been the push for economic development,” she said. “Firstar [the new townhouse project behind what is now US Bank on Oak Park Avenue] was a real coup for the village and we had consensus on the board for development. … It’s a wonderful addition to the tax base

and when the village works to expand the tax base, that’s a positive for every taxing body.” The article noted that Furlong was born and raised in Cleveland, attended Notre Dame College in Euclid, Ohio, and was certified in medical technology at University Hospital. Furlong was the mother of Mary (Jere) Mendelsohn, Thomas (Ann Williams), Timothy (Gayle) and Matt (Julia) Furlong; grandmother of Nathan and Rachel Mendelsohn, Christopher Furlong, Michael (Carmen), Rebecca (Eric) Duenke, Emily, Sarah, Hannah, Peter and Jonathan Furlong, and Jayne, James and Jennifer Furlong; great-grandmother of Ian and Evan Duenke; sister-in-law of Jack (Kit) Furlong; and an aunt to many. A funeral Mass and celebration of Furlong’s life will be held at a later date. Donations can be sent to St. Giles Church or the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation. Drechsler, Brown and Williams Funeral Home, Oak Park, handled arrangements. CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

Barbara Furlong

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Goodbye, Columbus (Day)

ast weekend, I spent most of Saturday at Eataly, the massive Italian food emporium on the near North Side of Chicago. This year, as in years past, Eataly held a series of workshops and dinners focused on Italian cuisine. These annual events are organized by Identità Golose, a magazine devoted to international cuisine with a decidedly Italianate orientation. At a workshop on pizza making, I was fascinated that the Italian chef who was giving the presentation was extremely sensitive to Photo: David Hammond the temperature of the dough he was using. A beautiful slice of pizza made as part of This kind of careful attention to detail, the Identita Golose. almost fanatical devotion to using highquality ingredients prepared in a way that honors the integrity of each ingredient, has As an Italian American, I can’t help but been a tradition in Italy for centuries. feel a little sorrow that a man who repreThat’s perhaps why, when Catherine de sented the visionary boldness Medici moved from Italy to and adventurousness of the France to become the wife of Italian Renaissance is being Henry II, the French reportedly taken down a peg. Honestly, embraced refined Italian cookI probably would have preing techniques. Some say that ferred a separate holiday for was the birth of French cuisine Indigenous Peoples’ Day. There as we know it today. is, however, poetic justice in There are a lot of reasons taking away Columbus’ holiday to be proud of Italian culture, and giving it to Indigenous which cultivated intellects such Peoples, just as Columbus as Dante, Da Vinci and Fermi. started in motion a process that Like most civilizations, howtook away this land from those ever, the Italian civilization is same people. not uniformly wonderful and Although we in Oak Park no blameless. There was Mussolini, longer recognize Columbus Day for instance, and, of course, Local Dining with a holiday, we recognize Columbus. & Food Blogger Italian achievements every time The reputation of Columbus we listen to an opera, admire has been taking a beating for the Mona Lisa … or have a slice decades. In Oak Park, the most notable exof pizza, arguably America’s most popuample of this understandable push-back on lar “ethnic” food. There are over a dozen the reputation of “the man who discovered restaurants in Oak Park that offer pizza, America” is the replacement of Columbus an undeniably enduring contribution from Day by Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This ad“the boot,” and a recent Harris poll indicates mittedly slight calendar readjustment was that when Americans were asked what food a perhaps lamentable but understandable move, reflecting a national reconsiderathey’d choose if they had only one food to eat tion of the abhorrent treatment of native for the rest of their lives, 1 in 5 said pizza. peoples by European invaders. Thanks, Italy!

DAVID

HAMMOND

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SNAPCHAT

Teen apologizes from page 9 those who would “rush to judgment” based on a photo uploaded to social media. “Sometimes teenagers do dumb things that go against what they themselves believe in,” she said. “God forbid your kid does something stupid and wrong. It happens. I think that our political environment encourages [snap judgments], because they encourage hatred and division. “I’d ask people not to not be angry, but to take a step back. He is remorseful and wants to try to make it up to people. That doesn’t

mean that I’m trying to make him out to be the victim in any way, because I know he is not and so does he.” On Monday evening, the OPRF administration released a statement on the incident. “We share the hurt and dismay that this action has caused our school community. We take such matters extremely seriously and are investigating,” the statement from Supt. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams reads. “In handling this, we must consider the impact the posting has had and will continue to have on all parties. In the coming days, we will be determining how best to address the matter for all involved.” Publisher’s note: The teenager involved in this incident is related to a Wednesday Journal employee. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Property transfers p. B14

October 11, 2017

Homes

New construction heads north The remake of a Taylor Avenue home By LACEY SIKORA

Contributing Reporter

iverside couple Caren and Nicholas Isopo have been working together to redesign older homes for two years, and recently turned their eyes to their first Oak Park project. Taking on a run-down bungalow in northeast Oak Park, they transformed the house into a full two-story farmhouse with modern conveniences and a charm they say suits the historic housing stock of Oak Park. Their company is called Safe & Sound Investments, and with Car-

en as the designer and Nicolas as developer, the duo says their mission is to provide “bespoke homes with modern details and refined finishes that are inspired by the character of each structure’s original era and location.” In combing through real estate listings to find a home appropriate for a flip project, the Isopos were conscious of all the pluses Oak Park offered. Caren’s mother grew up on Taylor Avenue in Oak Park and they knew buyers in Oak Park would appreciate their vision of home. See TAYLOR HOME on page B3

Photos courtesy of © VHT STUDIOS

FROM THE BOTTOM UP: Caren and Nicholas Isopo, owners of Safe & Sound Investments, took an old woodframe bungalow down to its foundation and built a new, yet traditional style home in its place.

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B2 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ October 11, 2017

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TAYLOR HOME ‘BoHome’ from page B1 “This area is a really progressive area to get into,” said Caren Isopo. “There are great school districts and parks everywhere. We feel like we’re revitalizing the area a bit.” Linda Von Vogt of Baird and Warner, who is listing the remodeled property for $749,900, said that the northeast neighborhood of Oak Park is a good place for a home overhaul due to the ability to start from the ground up. “One of the advantages to this area is that you avoid the tremendous amount of restrictions that you might have in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District,” Vogt said. “That really allowed Caren to use her vision on the home.”

Being your own boss As a designer in the hotel industry for a decade, Caren knew the ins and outs of design but was looking for a career with less time on the road after the arrival of her second child. When Nicolas suggested they pair up on a real estate adventure, she was game and knew they had something unique to bring to the development sphere of the near western suburbs. For Caren, the career move’s benefits were two-fold. “Our overall goal was to create a business for our family and to feel like we’re putting really spectacular homes on the market,” she said. “Recently, we were homebuyers for our own family too. We understood that feeling of wanting to put our stamp on a place but not do too much work. Every new construction project we were seeing out there was just basic Home Depot. When you come in this house, it doesn’t feel like a cookie cutter house.” While she focuses on the design side of the business, creating mood boards and concepts for each home they renovate, Nicolas is focused on the acquisition of houses. Car-

Photos courtesy of © VHT STUDIOS

TRANSFORMED: Drawing inspiration from early Oak Park, the new home is a “farm house,” but souped up with all of the amenities modern families are looking for, such as a high-end kitchen (above) and living spaces adequate for entertaining. en says that Oak Park is a very busy market for flippers, and it can be competitive to find the right house for a project. Nicolas trawls the MLS listings, and with the help of Von Vogt found this house, ripe for a makeover, in the summer of 2016. Listed at $205,000 in 2016, 837 N. Taylor Ave. was a wood-frame bungalow that had seen better days. For the Isopos, it represented the perfect entry into the Oak Park market. Built in 1917, the bungalow had been renovated over the years but did not stand the test of time. The Isopos took the home down to its foundation and built a new house in its place, complete with a front porch, open floor plan first floor, full second story and full basement level. “In hospitality, you always have a concept or a purpose behind the design,” said

Caren Isopo, drawing on her hotel design background. “I usually research the history of the street or the home to come up with a design plan. This house didn’t have a specific background, so I turned to Oak Park as a whole for inspiration.” As she learned about Oak Park’s early settlers, the Kettlestrings, she created a European-style farm house scheme. She then chose accents influenced by the metropolitan feel of Chicago with industrial touches such as dark metals and wire-mesh finishes on light fixtures.

Family-friendly style Conscious of who a typical buyer might be for a five-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom house, Caren created a home suitable for a family but with the artistic style people might expect

from Oak Park. With a style she calls “BoHome,” she relied on quality high-end brands such as Rejuvenation, Restoration Hardware and Viking for key pieces in the home. While the neutral interiors in tones of white, black and gray allow the home to become the buyer’s canvas, she sourced tile and hardware that give the home a unique feel. The kitchen’s farmhouse sink, subway tile and globe pendants over the island offers the style buyers are looking for, and the attached family room and access to the deck make the room suitable for entertaining guests and family. A first-floor office space is separated from the dining room with French doors. On the second floor, two children’s bedSee TAYLOR HOME on page B5

October 11, 2017 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review

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CHARMING THREE BEDROOM FARMHOUSE with updated kitchen, family room that overlooks fenced yard and in-ground pool with pool house. Partially finished basement with finished rec room, updated full bath, laundry room. One car garage, 3 exterior spots.....................................$329,000 RARE BRICK BURMA HOME with original coved moldings, leaded glass windows and wood floors accent well-built house. Enjoy sunroom view of park. 3-bdrm, 2-1/2 bath with large bonus room on 2nd fl, den on 1st fl. Authentic tile roof on house and two-car brick garage.........................$699,000 CHARMING, SPACIOUS QUEEN ANNE BUNGALOW In pristine condition. Art glass windows, French doors, wood trim, hardwood floors. Granite kitchen, breakfast nook. Family room and 1st floor bedroom. 3 bedrooms on 2nd floor. Finished basement, enclosed porch, 2 car garage................ $619,900 BEAUTIFUL 3 LEVEL SINGLE FAMILY offers 3800+ sq/ft of living! Open concept on first floor. Second floor features four spacious bedrooms & a sunroom overlooking backyard. Third floor has great room w/separate guest BR and workout room. Finished basement. ........................................... $600,000 THIS HOUSE HAS IT ALL! Great bones, stunning backyard, attached garage, great basement. A few personal touches and this one is a winner........ .......................................................................................................................$520,000 LOVELY, WELL CARED FOR VICTORIAN offers three bedrooms, 1-1/2 baths and classic Victorian details throughout. All brand new - wood floors, carpeting, kitchen appliances, quartz counter tops, sink & fixtures, and washing machine. The large, deep back yard is fully fenced. ........................$479,000

OAK PARK HOMES

UNPRECEDENTED ESTATE in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historical district of Oak Park! This meticulously renovated 5 BR, 5 full / 2 half bath property offers exquisite details and refined finishes that boast timeless materials and over the top custom millwork. This is a showcase home! .................................$1,900,000 TRULY CLASSIC OP RED BRICK COLONIAL with four or five bedrooms, depending on your needs, and four full and two half baths. Third floor features rec room, or bedroom, and full bath. There is a heated 2 car, with addl 2 tandem space, garage with fabulous coach house above. ...............................$1,750,000

INVITING TWO STORY three BR on a corner lot designed in 1921 by renowned architect Lyman Allison. This classic home has retained all of its original charm including natural woodwork and stained glass windows. The tranquil back yard provides a perfect place to relax. ..........................$425,0000

FOREST PARK HOMES METICUOLOUSLY MAINTAINED new construction with open floor plan features 10 foot ceilings, hardwood floors, and many custom details from crown molding to door handles. High end kitchen. Four generously sized bedrooms. Open basement ready to finish. Just move in!! ...................$474,000 WONDERFUL UPDATED HOME with all the amenities. This 3BR, 3BA home boasts a large foyer, hardwood floors, beautiful woodwork and high ceilings throughout. Eat-in kitchen, beautiful LR, DR and office complete the 1st FL. Upstairs includes 3 spacious BRs w/wood beam ceilings. .......$390,000

ELMWOOD PARK HOMES NICE GEORGIAN ON GREAT BLOCK. 3 bedroom plus bonus room and two full baths. Great Master BR with walk in closet, sliding glass doors to private deck. Rear deck & landscaped yard w/exterior lighting (front & back). Side drive with wrought iron gate. ..................................................................$299,000

P R I C E R E D U C E D! CHARMING, SPACIOUS BUNGALOW in move in condition. Classic living room with wood burning fireplace, dining room and living room with hardwood floors. 2nd floor has four bedrooms and bath. Breakfast room over looks patio and back yard. Newer 2 car garage. ................................................................................... $449,000

CONDOS/TOWNHOMES/2 FLATS RIVER FOREST 3BR, 3BA. Extraordinary! ............................................$549,500 RIVER FOREST 3BR, 2BA. Large intimate yard. ..................................$389,500 RIVER FOREST 2BR, 2BA. Luxurious & unique!..................................$285,000 RIVER FOREST 2BR, 2BA. Three exposures. .......................................$239,000 RIVER FOREST 3BR, 1-1/2 BA. Oak floors. ..........................................$169,500 RIVER FOREST 2BR, 1-1/2 BA. Hardwood floors. ..............................$159,000 NEW LISTING RIVER FOREST 2BR, 1BA..........................................$145,000 NEW LISTING RIVER FOREST 1BR, 1BA............................................$95,000 RIVER FOREST 2BR, 1BA. Updated bathroom......................................$90,000 OAK PARK 2 Flat ......................................................................................$549,900 OAK PARK 2 Flat. .....................................................................................$434,999 OAK PARK 3BR, 2BA. Top floor unit. .....................................................$185,000 OAK PARK 2BR, 1-1/2 BA. Generous closet space. ...............................$137,500 PRICE REDUCED OAK PARK 1BR, 1BA. ..............................................$89,000 NEW LISTING OAK PARK 1BR, 1BA.....................................................$70,000

New Construction Luxury Condominiums in the Village of River Forest

The Avalon The corner of Bonnie Brae & Thomas

15 Luxury Units* All Three Bedroom Units

For Information please contact Andy Gagliardo • 708-771-8040 *All information in this ad is estimated and therefore subject to change.

For more listings & photos go to GagliardoRealty.com

B4 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ October 11, 2017

2 Units SOLD!

Sarah O’Shea Muñoz committed to guiding you home

ASP (RE) CNE e-pro G R I

OPEN SUNDAY 12-1:30PM 101 N. EUCLID #2 OAK PARK 3 BR/ 3.1 BA , Fabulous Family & Great Rooms! Terrific Floor Plan & 3,100 Sq Ft! ................................... $649,000

OPEN SUNDAY 2-4PM 1010 WOODBINE OAK PARK Gracious 3 BR/ 1.1 BA Brick Beauty .............................. $549,000

OPEN SUNDAY 12-2PM 1407 LATHROP RIVER FOREST

Photos courtesy of © VHT STUDIOS

Welcoming, Bright & Large 4 BR/ 2.1 BA Brick Home…$839,000

FAMILY FRIENDLY: The home has five bedroom and 3.5 baths, enough for a growing family and sporting custom cabinetry, a second-floor laundry room, built-in window seats and a finished basement (below).

NEW PRICE! 7770 WASHINGTON RIVER FOREST

TAYLOR HOME

Large, Bright 4 BR/ 3.1 BA. Great Space! ..................... $620,000

from page B3 rooms feature built-in window seats looking out into the tree tops. The kids’ bathroom is playful with a patterned cement tile floor. The master suite includes a walk-in closet with custom built-in cabinetry. A dressing area leads into the master bathroom, which is floored in Italian ceramic tile and features a double-sink vanity and a large shower. A second floor laundry room also features custom cabinets.

The full basement level offers plenty of room for a playroom and storage as well as a fifth bedroom and full bathroom. All new mechanicals include dual-zoned HVAC systems and a tank-less water heater. At the end of the day, Caren Isopo says they have really changed the way the house lives. “Before, it was very closed off,” she said. “We tried to capitalize on the outdoors with the open porch and access to the backyard.”

1435 LATHROP RIVER FOREST

4 BR/ 3.1 BA & 1st Floor Family Room!Handsome & Inviting Lannonstone Home ....................................................... $875,000

632 N. HUMPHREY OAK PARK Roomy 3 BR/ 1.1 BA Picture Perfect ............................. $419,000

SARAH O’SHEA MUÑOZ WWW.OSHEAMUNOZHOMES.COM sarah@osheamunozhomes.com

708.359.1570

October 11, 2017 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review

Distinctive Properties

View more properties at:

OakPark.com/Real-Estate

NEWLY RENOVATED

NORTH RIVERSIDE

3 BR,3 BA ......................................$329,000 Joan Wiaduck â&#x20AC;¢ 312-518-9939

OPEN SUNDAY 10:00 A.M. - 12 P.M. 515 CLINTON

OAK PARK

3BR, 1BA ......................................$349,000 Susan Abbott â&#x20AC;¢ 708-305-4039

OAK PARK

6 BR, 3.1 BA ..................................$699,000 Lloyd Behrenbruch â&#x20AC;¢ 708-697-5903

NEW PRICE!

FOREST PARK

4 BR,2 BA ...................................................................................................................... $299,900 Nick Fournier â&#x20AC;¢ 630- 640-9548

OAK PARK

5 BR, 4.2 BA ..............................$1,750,000 Gagliardo Realty Associates â&#x20AC;¢ 708-771-8040

RIVER FOREST

3 BR, 1.2 BA ..................................$495,000 Tagger Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien â&#x20AC;¢ 708-456-6400

RIVER FOREST

4BR, 2.1BA ...................................$659,000 Victoria Witt â&#x20AC;¢ 708-790-1319

3 0 :DOVK &2 1SVEFOUJBM 6LQFH

7375 West North Avenue River Forest, Illinois 60305 708.771.8040

NEW PRICE!

RIVER FOREST

6 BR, 3.2 BA ..................................$695,000 Tagger Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien â&#x20AC;¢ 708-456-6400

3 0 :DOVK &2 1SVEFOUJBM 6LQFH

NEW PRICE!

OAK PARK

3 BR, 2 BA ..................................................................................................................... $335,000 Steve Scheuring â&#x20AC;¢ 708-697-5946

OAK PARK

4 BR, 2.1 BA .................................................................................................................. $472,000 Steve Scheuring â&#x20AC;¢ 708-697-5946

OPEN SUNDAY 1 - 3 P.M. 749 JACKSON

RIVER FOREST

3 BR, 2.2 BA .................................$689,000 Gagliardo Realty Associates â&#x20AC;¢ 708-771-8040

Search. Expllore. Discover! B6 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate â&#x2013; October 11, 2017

7375 West North Avenue River Forest, Illinois 60305 708.771.8040

WJHomes Advertiser listings at Oakpark.com

Search by City, Realtor, ZIP code, Price, BRs, BAs and street name |

View this weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open houses

To add your Real Estate listings, contact Marc Stopeck at 708.613.3330

Distinctive Properties

RIVER FOREST

4 BR, 4.2 BA ...............................$1,635,000 Tagger Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien â&#x20AC;¢ 708-456-6400

View more properties at:

OakPark.com/Real-Estate

RIVER FOREST

7 BR, 3 BA .................................$1,779,000 Gagliardo Realty Associates â&#x20AC;¢ 708-771-8040

RIVER FOREST

5 BR, 4.2 BA ..............................$1,895,000 Gagliardo Realty Associates â&#x20AC;¢ 708-771-8040

3 0 :DOVK &2 1SVEFOUJBM 6LQFH

7375 West North Avenue River Forest, Illinois 60305 708.771.8040

OAK PARK

4 BR, 3.2 BA ............................................................................................................... $1,550,000 Steve Scheuring â&#x20AC;¢ 708-697-5946

RIVERSIDE

3 BR, 1.1 BA ..................................$449,000 Joan Wiaduck â&#x20AC;¢ 312- 518-9939

RIVERSIDE

4 BR, 2.1 BA ..................................$514,000 Joan Wiaduck â&#x20AC;¢ 312-518-9939

RIVERSIDE

5 BR, 4.1 BA ..................................$765,000 Joan Wiaduck â&#x20AC;¢ 312-518-9939

0 0 1

e h t o t ns o i t n a l o i u t t a a i r c o s s Cong A a e g Ar n i t k r a r a P b Â® Cele Oak S R O T L A l! a of RE i n n e t n e C r i the To find a local expert, go to oakparkrealtors.org October 11, 2017 â&#x2013; Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review

SPONSORED CONTENT

Getting Down To Business

with the Oak Park - River Forest Chamber of Commerce October 8th, 2017

For the Record: We Don’t Vote

By CATHY YEN, Executive Director

visited with a friend this week and was surprised to hear her say, “my friend told me the Chamber of Commerce voted for the project.” The project, of course, is the Albion development at the corner of Lake and Forest - a project that has been divisive since it was first proposed. The fourth of four high rise developments in our downtown area, this one challenged the community to consider just how much density and development it can swallow. And, of course, there’s the park. What additional damage would this high rise, coupled with the one right next to it, do to the neighboring park? My friend - and her friends - happened to oppose the project. And that’s okay.

B20 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ October 11, 2017

Everyone is entitled to their voice and their opinion. The Chamber, however, deliberately chooses to forgo having a voice and opinion. On this project and any other issue. By policy, we did not, do not and will not. The Chamber’s mission is to connect businesses in the community to resources, information, government, consumers and each other. We are committed to remaining nonpartisan. We define “advocacy” as providing information so that business owners can make their own choices. Our unwillingness to take a stand even as we try to be supportive is not common knowledge and might be confusing, it would seem. As a business organization in a progressive community, we often find ourselves summarily labeled “pro business” or “the other side” on economic issues. Some of this is due to inaccurate headlines, but much of it is related to the assumption that we are associated with the

US Chamber of Commerce or the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. We are not. As the local organization dedicated to community - not just the business community but the entire Oak Park and River Forest community - we are not affiliated with these national or state institutions. Nor do we have a legislative agenda. We represent a dynamic, diverse business group of businesses, with their own opinions, their own priorities. Our members, many of whom are residents as well, make their own decisions. We are happy to pass them along, but we don’t presume to decide for them.

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October 11, 2017

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October 11, 2017

SENIORliving

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all galas and wedding receptions. Bykinds, the 1970’s, however, hotel chains By the 1970’s, however, hotel chains were springing up everywhere. The Oak were up everywhere. Park springing Arms’ future was in doubt,The until Oak Park Arms’ future wasfriends in doubt, it was purchased by two who until it was byretirement two friendslivwanted to purchased create active who wanted to createthat active ing in a community wasretirement full of life, living in aand community that was full of life, service spirit. service and spirit. Today the Oak Park Arms is still owned Today the Oak Park Arms is still owned by those two friends who remain inby thoseand twocommitted friends who volved toremain excellence. It involved and committed to excellence. is flourishing as an independent living It isorflourishing as an independent living an assisted living retirement com- or an assisted livingresidents retirement munity offering ascommunity full a life offering as full a life as they as they residents wish. wish. The word “choices” applies to everyThe word “choices” applies to thing. There is an abundance of appealeverything. There is an abundance of ing options for dining, learning, fitness, appealing options for dining, learning, care and camaraderie. Residents enjoy fian tness, care and camaraderie. Residents unbeatable combination of value, enjoy an unbeatable combination of flexibility, life enrichment and fully value, fl exibility, life enrichment and fully integrated senior services. With more integrated senior services. With more than 300 events a month, residents can

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than 300 events a month, residents can

Books are delivered from the renowned create a day as exciting – or as relaxing – Oak Park Library. Complementary as they wish. transportation is available to appointBooksthe aregrocery delivered from the renowned ments, store and the Oak Park Library. Complementary shopping mall. Within the Arms is an transportation is available to appointelegant dining room, ballroom, meeting ments, barbershop, the grocery store and the shoprooms, hair salon, docpingoffices mall. Within Arms isplace an elegant tors’ and a the wonderful for a dining room, ballroom, meeting rooms, massage.

barbershop, hair salon, doctors’ offices

The Arms shares space with the Lifeand Learning a wonderful place forlocal a massage. long Center (the Senior The Arms shares space with the Lifelong Center), and more than ten other Learning Center (the local Senior Center), providers of senior-centered care are and more than ten other providers of within the Arms.

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There are assisted living services if and There are assisted living services if and when they are needed. Short term or when they are needed. Short term or respite stays are popular. The Adult respite are popular. Adult Day Day Carestays program invites The participants Care program invites participants to to spend their daytime hours at The spend their daytime hours at The Arms Arms and then return home in the and then return home in the evenings. evenings.

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Winner of multiple awards, the Oak Arms has maintained its original charm. Park Arms has maintained its original It is an affable and affordable home for charm. It is an affable and affordable older for adults and a great to home older adults andresource a great reOak Park, River Forest, Forest Park and source to Oak Park, River Forest, Forest surrounding suburbs. Park and surrounding suburbs.

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SENIORliving

October 11, 2017

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Wednesday Journal

CONVERSATIONS

Peter Sagal Host, NPR’s Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me!

November 20 ■ 7pm Dominican University Performing Arts Center Tickets: $25 oakpark.com/sagal

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B23

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October 11, 2017

SENIORliving

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION aDvErtisEmEnt

Panton Eye Center Doctors Provide Latest Eye Care

he Panton Eye Center has provided state-of-the-art eye care for over fifty years. Board-certified ophthalmologists and optometrists offer comprehensive optical, medical, and surgical care including five treatment lasers. John H. Panton, M.D., founder, comments on the advances made during his career: “Cataract was once a blinding disease. Surgery required a lengthy hospitalization and patients wore thick spectacles post-operatively. That is a thing of the past. Today’s no-shot cataract surgery allows the restoration of normal vision for nearly everyone. What we now consider routine was unimaginable when I began!” Peter J. Panton, M.D., senior surgeon, describes the surgical elimination of glasses or refractive surgery: “The refractive components of the eye are the cornea (in the front of the eye) and the lens (inside the eye). There are two major refractive procedures: (1) LASIK is the use of a laser to reshape the cornea; (2) Refractive Cataract Surgery is the combina-

Panton Eye Center

tion of a bifocal implant with no-shot cataract surgery. For both our LASIK patients and our Refractive Cataract Surgery patients, life without glasses is the anticipated outcome.” Robert W. Panton, M.D., fellowship-trained corneal surgeon, defines ALL LASER LASIK: “ALL LASER LASIK is the combination of two lasers to correct vision. The first makes a thin flap of cornea which is gently folded back. The second reshapes the cornea. The flap is repositioned without the need for stitches. Prior to surgery, the patient is able to see only the big-E; the morning after ALL LASER LASIK, the patient drives himself for his follow-up exam.” Elizabeth Panton Karkazis, O.D. explains how contact lenses complement refractive surgery in a comprehensive practice: “Teenagers are too young for LASIK and not every adult is a suitable candidate for LASIK. When surgery is not an option, contact lenses remain a valuable tool to satisfy a patient’s optical needs.”

7740 north avenue, Elmwood Park, iL

708-452-7200

WWW.PantOnEYE.COm

Dr. Peter Panton Discusses Cataract Surgery & Bifocal Implants Dr. Panton, what is a cataract and how is it treated? A cataract is the clouding of the lens inside the eye. Neither drops nor pills can prevent or cure a cataract. The only treatment for a cataract is its surgical removal and its replacement with a clear artiﬁcial lens or intraocular lens implant (IOL).

Dr. Peter J. Panton, a graduate of the Brown University School of Medicine, is certiﬁed by the American Board of Ophthalmology, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and former president of the Chicago Ophthalmological Society.

Call to schedule your Bifocal Implant Evaluation

Panton Eye Center 7740 North Avenue Elmwood Park, IL

708-452-7200 WWW.PANTONEYE.COM

What is the difference between a monofocal implant and a bifocal implant? In the past, the IOL corrected distance vision only; this is called a monofocal implant. Patients who undergo cataract surgery with a monofocal implant still need reading glasses. Recent advances incorporate a bifocal into the IOL. The bifocal implant allows patients to read without glasses, drive without glasses, and do virtually all of their activities without glasses. What will I experience during cataract surgery with a bifocal implant? Cataract surgery is performed on an outpatient basis using eye drops to numb your eye; no shots are necessary. The operation takes approximately 20 minutes after which you will rest for a short time before going home. Post-operatively, you will be asked to instill eye drops for a few weeks after surgery. You will have 90% of you vision back within one day and your eye will be completely healed within two weeks. How do I ﬁnd out if bifocal implants are right for me? While most cataract patients are candidates for this technology, it is best to seek consultation with an ophthalmologist with experience in bifocal implants. If you want to reduce your dependence on glasses after cataract surgery, call Dr. Panton at 708-452-7200 to schedule an appointment.

No Glasses after Cataract Surgery

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M. Call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 ktrainor@wjinc.com

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

VIEWPOINTS

The park board on Albion p. 19

What draws us to reunions

n Saturday evening, Sept. 23, the New Albany, Indiana High School Class of 1967 held its 50th Reunion at the Calumet Club on Spring Street. Both Marsha and I are members of the class. In fact, we went to the senior prom together. Both of our families still live in the town of 35,000 located on the Ohio River. As a result, we have been to most of the previous reunions. I was particularly excited about this one — 50 years is a long time. There were almost 700 in our graduating class. In 1967, there was a single high school for the whole town and county. According to the program, 113 graduates attended. Eighty-six were not there because they had died. In due course, the actuarial imperative will no doubt flip this ratio. These reunions are self-selective affairs. If you are obese or on oxygen, you don’t attend. If you hated high school, you probably don’t want to reminisce about the good old days because there weren’t very many. A lot of grads came stag because their nongrad spouses would have preferred water-boarding. Everyone looked as you would expect — 67 or 68 years old and kind of beat up and worn down. A few of us may have been cosmetically altered. They looked 65 or 66. It was somewhat surprising to me that everyone seemed pretty happy. I suspect each of us brought different thoughts to bear on this humid evening. For some, the heavy lifting of job and children was over, and there was perhaps the hopeful comfort of a future of greater certainty and predictability in our lives. Some of us were perhaps warmed by a sunshine of reminiscence that cut through clouds of angst, anxiety, and fear. For three years, we comprised a cohort of common experience — classes, good and bad teachers, first dates and break-

JOHN

HUBBUCH

See HUBBUCH on page 20

Do not stand idly by

You shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.

Leviticus 19:16

of weapons that can be owned? Is there a limit on ammunition? What responsibilities do gun dealers have? How can you explain mass shootings to your children? Read about it. Go check it out at the Library. Google it. Join an organization. There are plenty: The Brady Campaign and Moms Demand Action are national organizations. There is a state organization, Illinois Coalition against Handgun Violence (www.ichv.org.) and a local group, Gun Responsibility Advocates (www.oakparkgra.weebly.com). Check them out. Get involved. Attend a rally. Carry a sign. Remember what Robert Kennedy said: “Ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” Support legislation. Another specific action you can take is to support legislation to have gun dealers licensed by the state of Illinois. SB 1657 has passed the Illinois Senate and we are trying to get it passed by the Illinois House in the veto session (Oct. 24-26 and Nov.

JOHN

BARRETT

nother mass killing. This time in Las Vegas. Fifty-nine people murdered and over 500 injured. Will it never end? How should we respond? What can we do? Take time to mourn. Think about all the innocent people who lost their lives and the effect that it will have on all who knew and loved them. At the next meeting that you attend — be it with friends, relatives or acquaintances — ask for a moment of silence to reflect on this massacre. But don’t stop there. Become more educated on gun violence prevention strategies. What do you know about Second Amendment rights? What are the responsibilities of a gun owner? Does everyone have the right to own a gun? Any gun? Are there limitations on the number or type

One View

Burger Tuesdays Dine-in only.

7353 W. Madison, Forest Park

2nd Burger FREE October only!

See BARRETT on page 20

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

O U R

@ @OakParkSports

V I E W S

A block, not one house

istoric preservation is always complex. Individual property rights vs. the collective right of a community to live out its values in shared spaces often finds fundamental virtues in conflict. River Forest has long been conflicted on this subject. That explains why it was so long in coming to the table with any sort of substantial preservation ordinance. The early versions were toothless. The amended version, passed just last year, is based entirely on delay and persuasion techniques. Slow down demolition permits for six months and present developers either with alternatives to demolition or enough public noise to send them skedaddling. There is a new twist on this old dilemma playing out right now in River Forest. Preservationists are working to save not just a single old house but this home’s place within a full block of Prairie-style homes in what is likely River Forest’s first planned development. This is the 700 block of William Street. Only a year back, the village noted the significance of that architectural legacy by posting commemorative street signs. Some architectural historians believe Frank Lloyd Wright was not only the inspiration for this assemblage of home but was actually the architect. That remains a point of conjecture. But it is now clear honorary street signs alone won’t save 747 William St. Purchased over the summer by two River Forest residents with a plan to demolish and replace it, the buyers claim the home is structurally unsound and obsolete. In a meeting last week, members of the River Forest Preservation Commission requested a report from a structural engineer to test the home’s soundness. Village government has also slowed the demolition request by asking for further site drawings. We are sympathetic to the argument of neighbors and supporters that this wonderful block must be considered in its totality. We hope that, in addition to slowing the process to a crawl, they can persuade the buyers to find a new buyer who sees the magic in investing in this historic home on this historic block. However this unfolds, River Forest must continue to seek more substantive tools of preservation.

Video of our lives Joe Kreml, the extraordinary videographer who chronicles our community and lives in Oak Park, has just won another award. That isn’t a surprise and it won’t be the last. We’d just note that those who turn to Oak Park village government’s cable channel or website will find an array of Kreml’s work that explains this village, celebrates this village, and shares vital information in formats that never cause eyes to glaze. Oak Park is fortunate to have had Joe Kreml behind the lens for so many years.

Barbara Furlong With a quiet perseverance, grace and focus, Barbara Furlong was an effective and trusted Oak Park village trustee and later village president. Mrs. Furlong died last week at 85. In her two terms in office, mainly in the 1990s, she was an able steward of the village’s legacy of racial integration and a proponent of purposeful economic growth. In a Wednesday Journal article on her departure from the village presidency in 2001, Mrs. Furlong pointed to the complicated effort to bring a major multifamily development to the intersection of Lake Street and Euclid. “It was a real coup for the village and we had consensus on the board for development,” she said. Her earned stature in Oak Park came from decades of active involvement in organizations and commissions, including the Community Relations Commission, the Oak Park Regional Housing Center and the Parents’ Human Relations Commission at OPRF. Always steady, always strong, Mrs. Furlong was an effective and much appreciated Oak Park leader.

Rendering courtesy of Albion

Albion’s “Wrigley Field” revision of the back of their proposed new high-rise, as viewed from Austin Gardens .

Albion: Not just tree huggers vs. high-rise huggers

he opposition no doubt feels disappointed, even betrayed, after last week’s vote to approve a new building at Lake and Forest. Many are asking, “Is this how democracy works in Oak Park?” The answer is, “That’s how it functions.” The real question is, does it “work”? “Exclusive” development (i.e. economic development to the exclusion of all else) beat back “inclusive” development (economic development in a wider context) last week. Not a surprise, really. Oak Park, or at least village government, is suffering from “high-rise fever.” It would be fascinating to hold an instant referendum to find out whether the rest of the village supports this new development. Pro, con, indifferent. The percentages would be revealing. But it’s clear the village board and the business community, at least, have blinders on. They don’t acknowledge that there might be an alternative vision of development, one that goes beyond the merely economic. They overlook the fact that there was less opposition to the Vantage project and almost no opposition to the Emerson and HarlemSouth projects. Of the four high-rises, only one aroused organized, passionate resistance. There was something about this location that was different, but Albion proponents aren’t interested in why. Instead (with the exception of Mayor Anan, who made good-faith efforts to reach out), they seem to dismiss the opposition as little more than “tree huggers.” Which, I guess, makes the supporters “high-rise huggers.”

Nonetheless, the opposition made their case for a different kind of development, a kind that allows for breathing space, based on an actual recommendation by villageapproved consultants who proposed an open plaza on this spot, a people place, recognizing a wider context that includes respect for history, with natural and man-made beauty co-existing. This was not a mutiny against “all tall buildings” and “all economic development.” It was an objection to bringing density to this particular spot, for very particular reasons. In spite of being mischaracterized, however, the opposition was successful. If opponents had not organized and been so vocal, you can bet Albion would not have made the adjustments they did. Without the opposition, the Plan Commission would not have voted down Albion’s proposal. Without opposition, trustees Deno Andrews and Dan Moroney would not have lobbied Albion to make last-minute changes. It may be small consolation, but it’s important that this be recognized and acknowledged. Will the Albion project have upside as well as downside? Yes, but for the next two years, it will be all downside. Vantage and its residents are not going to love two years of noisy, disruptive demolition and construction directly across from their entryway. The view from Cooper’s Hawk restaurant will be less appetizing next summer. Dining outside will not be so desirable.

KEN

TRAINOR

See NEXT PAGE on page 19

V I E W P O I N T S

Late Albion changes will benefit Austin Gardens On Monday, Oct. 2, the Village of Oak Park Board of Trustees approved the construction of the Albion development at the corner of Lake Street and Forest Avenue, just south of Austin Gardens, one of the park district’s parks. The Park Board of Commissioners have the duty to preserve and protect our community’s park land. Based on information from professional shade studies, the board had concerns about the potential negative impacts to Austin Gardens. During the Village of Oak Park Plan Commission’s review of the project and the subsequent review by the VOP Board of Trustees, the park district provided detailed information regarding the negative impact to the park if the Albion high-rise were built. The park district would like to extend its appreciation to Albion and the village board, who listened to our concerns and made changes to the project’s design that are expected to help protect the park. The park district recently requested that local architect Tom Bassett-Dilley create a shade model based on the new drawings. The good news is that the projected shading on the garden and photovoltaic array has been decreased. It appears some of the building mass from the north elevation was moved toward Lake Street, lessening the impact to the park. The park district applauds the public process that

From PREVIOUS PAGE After going through Vantage and Emerson (and soon Harlem-South), the downtown business district, pedestrians, and motorists will be mired in “construction fatigue.” And those of us who use Austin Gardens for peace and quiet already had to endure the Vantage disadvantage. Lake Street is clogged with traffic and that’s just with one of four high-rises functioning. Imagine when Emerson, Albion and Harlem-South are operational — presuming they fill up. That remains to be seen. The upside? Downtown will be teeming with new residents, spending money in local businesses. That, in turn, will attract new businesses. Downtown Oak Park is much livelier than it was 30 years ago. It will be livelier still. If Emerson’s presence leads to a revitalization of Westgate’s “Tudor village,” so much the better. Vantage brought us the aforementioned Cooper’s Hawk. Emerson landed Target. If Albion can recruit something along the lines of Crate & Barrel, they’ll be hailed as local heroes. I had one meal at Cooper’s Hawk and it was very good, but I can’t afford to eat there often. I will shop at Target and appreciate the convenience. The rest remains to be seen. How trustworthy will the Albion partnership be? Will they make good on an earlier offer of $400,000 to protect Austin Gardens or will they renege because the park district didn’t make nice and get on board? Remains to be seen. Taxes won’t go down, but more revenue will be available for village services, though some of that will be diverted to serve the denser population downtown.

allowed all opinions to be heard and the project to be analyzed from many different perspectives. The intelligence, insight and passion of our residents, no matter what opinion they held, reflects the distinctive community of people who live in Oak Park. With the decision made, we all must move forward and continue to work together for the betterment of our community. The park district looks forward to working closely with Albion and the village of Oak Park to minimize the impact to park program participants and park users during construction and after the new development is occupied. The park district also looks forward to welcoming the new residents to the Park District of Oak Park’s facilities, parks and programs. The park district appreciates the Plan Commission’s thorough process and time commitment in reviewing this project. We also understand that the board of trustees had to make a difficult decision that will impact our community for many generations to come. As always, the park district board and staff will continue its dedicated stewardship of our community’s parks and work in collaboration with all Oak Park governmental entities to keep Oak Park a great place to live, work and play.

Park District of Oak Park Board of Commissioners

Much remains to be seen. Such as how soon the back wall abutting Austin Gardens will be covered with Wrigley-Field ivy, as pictured in Albion’s latest rendering. Looks nice in the drawing. I’ll believe it when I see it. Trust yet verify. This likely isn’t the end of high-rise fever. Will the Marshall Field building be next? How about the other corner — The Gap, Pier 1, etc? The old Montgomery Ward building, NW corner of Marion and Lake across from Chase Bank? Or the bank itself ? Or both? Much more may be in store. Which is why opposing Albion was an important first step. We need an overall development plan that actually gets followed, that incorporates architectural innovation, sustainable methods for all new construction, affordable housing set-asides, adaptive reuse whenever possible (the Marshall Field building, for example). In other words, humane development: How do we design a downtown with room to breathe? And how do we design a development process that does a better job of incorporating ideas from those who want to widen the picture and help village government take off its business-friendly blinders? That’s why the Albion opposition movement was so important. Yes, they got a little rude and unruly, but trustees Andrews and Moroney learned when you flip your campaign position, you’re going to get some impolite pushback. The opposition always operates at a disadvantage, swimming against the stream, the odds decidedly against them. That’s why developers usually get their way. It can be frustrating. Is this what democracy looks like? Around here, yes. Does it “work”? Remains to be seen.

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Associate Publisher Dawn Ferencak Staff Reporters Michael Romain, Timothy Inklebarger Viewpoints/Ken Trainor Sports/Staff reporter Marty Farmer Columnists Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, John Hubbuch, May Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West, Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley Staff Photographer Alexa Rogals Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes Editorial Designers Jacquinete Baldwin, Javier Govea Business Manager Joyce Minich IT Manager/Web Developer Mike Risher Director Social Media Strategy & Communications Jackie McGoey Advertising Production Manager Philip Soell Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead Advertising Designers Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak Advertising Sales Marc Stopeck, Joe Chomiczewski Media Coordinator Kristen Benford Inside Sales Representative Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Distribution Coordinator Caleb Thusat Comptroller Edward Panschar Credit Manager Laurie Myers Front Desk Carolyn Henning, Maria Murzyn Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

About Viewpoints Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, fire you to action. In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing. Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay. If you have questions, call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 708-613-3310 or email him at ktrainor@wjinc.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR ■ 250-word limit ■ Must include first and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY ■ 500-word limit ■ One-sentence footnote about yourself, your connection to the topic ■ Signature details as at left

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

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

Add ‘disability’ to our equity list I have a serious concern as a special needs parent (Irving), educator, community member, and general education parent (Hatch). Currently, under key terms on the District 97 vision tab, “equitable” is defined as follows: Equitable: Is the practice of beliefs and creation of systems that provide access and opportunities for all students in order to eliminate the predictability of outcomes associated with race, gender and socioeconomic status. I am heartened by this language. As a classroom teacher and reading specialist of 12 years, I am familiar with children of color and children coming from poverty predominating the interventions list each week in data team. However, the other greatest predictor of outcomes (and of who will be on that list each week) is disability status. While every child is different, in general Individual Educational Plan (IEP) eligibility is a dramatically accurate predictor of lower academic success. Students with a disability are more likely to not meet growth targets, to not attend college, or to be employed as adults. Even more staggering is the predictability of outcomes of children

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BARRETT

After grief, take action from page 17

of color who have a disability and are more at risk than their white disabled peers and children of color without a disability. To personalize this, I will use the example of my son’s disability: his autism diagnosis predicts he is less likely to attend college, more likely to be unemployed, and is predicted to die at a younger age than his typical peers. Why are we not listing his statistically-limiting factor in our mission statement? What about the other approximately 900 students with IEPs, including the roughly 380 children of color with IEPs? Thus, I contend that the district should include the term “disability,” as it is an equally great inhibiting factor on student achievement. Language matters. It is with our word choices we illustrate what is important to us as a community. By omitting disability status from this list, we communicate we are not serious about mitigating the effect of disability as a predictor of achievement. We also appear naive and unwilling to wrestle with the deeper barriers to achievement.

Erika Eckart Oak Park

7-9). This bill will reduce the flow of guns that are used to commit crimes. Reportedly, the killer in Las Vegas purchased a large number of guns this last year — many from the same dealer. Should this not have caused alarm bells to go off ? Call your state representative and ask them to support SB 1657. The Peace and Justice Committee at Saint Edmund Church has held a Prayer Vigil to End Gun Violence on the last Saturday of every month for nearly four

HUBBUCH

The allure of reunions from page 17 ups, homecoming dances, basketball games, music, part-time jobs and cars. We morphed from adolescent to adult. Together. Like soldiers or teammates or even family. Maybe the bad times decay from our memories faster than the good times. I’m not sure, but everyone I talked to had fond memories of this shared past.

years. The next one is on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. on the church lawn, 188 S. Oak Park Ave. All are welcome to attend. We read the names of the people who were shot to death in the Chicago area during the previous month. There are about 60 every month. Just about the same number killed in Las Vegas. Gun violence is an ongoing national problem. Don’t just grieve. Don’t just stand there. Do something. John Barrett is a retired trauma surgeon and a 30-year resident of Oak Park. He was the director of the Cook County Hospital Trauma Unit from 1982 to 2002. He is a founding member of Gun Responsibility Advocates and a member of the Saint Edmund Parish Peace and Justice Committee. In my case, I experienced all of these competing emotions — and one more. I am drawn to these reunions because they remind me of who I was before I became who I am. It was a time of great, if not infinite, possibility. I could have been or done anything. Life had not yet intruded and made me realize how laughably foolish my ambition was back then. I savor the sweet melancholy of these formative years with a group of fellow travelers. It makes me smile. I’m already looking forward to the next reunion. Carry on.

PARKVIEW CHURCH FALL 2017 SUNDAY MESSAGES Worship at 10:30 a.m., 641 S. Oak Park at Jackson

Thanks to generous grant funding, Westlake Hospital is offering free screening mammograms to female residents of Proviso Township in these qualifying zip codes: 60104 Bellwood 60126 Elmhurst 60130 Forest Park 60141 Hines 60153 Maywood 60154 Westchester 60155 Broadview

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Participants will be required to show proof of residence (Photo ID, Driver’s License or a utility bill reflecting the qualifying address). Participants must be at least 40 years old, or 35-40 years old with a strong family history of breast cancer, whose most recent screening mammogram was at least 365 days prior to the scheduled test. All FREE screening mammograms must be scheduled for and occur in the month of October, 2017. A physician’s order is required. Call (708) 783-5000 to schedule your screening mammogram today. More than 600 free mammograms were performed in 2016. Westlake Hospital 1225 West Lake Street, Melrose Park, IL 60160 westlakehosp.com

“MERE PROTESTANTS”

To celebrate the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther’s historic Wittenberg Door on October 31, 1517, that kicked off the Protestant Reformation, Parkview looks at the FIVE (5) SOLA’S (or, the “Only’s”) of the PROTESTANT REFORMATION. September 17: BY GRACE ALONE: Can we earn our way to Heaven or is it a gift? 24: THRU FAITH ALONE: Can we drub up enough ‘points’ to gain God’s ear? October 1: IN CHRIST ALONE: Are there any other ways to Heaven? We celebrate World Communion Sunday with Christians the world-round! 8: WITH SCRIPTURE ALONE: Is there any other road-map to Heaven? 15: FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ALONE: When it’s all said & done… 22: LUTHER’S JOURNEY and Ours! Highlights of Martin Luther’s discovery! 29: REORMATION SUNDAY: CALVIN’S JOURNEY and Ours!

Questions? Call Pastor John 619.417.5068 Check us out on Facebook @ ppcoakpark and “Like us”

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

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Wednesday Journal

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Peter Sagal

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V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

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Is the ‘sweet tax’ turning sour?

he sweetened beverage tax is an attempt to use taxation as a tool to promote better health choices while generating revenue to recover related health care costs. Tobacco was similarly taxed with consumption lessening gradually over time as the tax rate increased. The tobacco-revenue-generating fiscal policy led to the Smoke Free Illinois Act that took effect in 2008, banning smoking in most buildings and vehicles used by the general public. Fifty years ago, 42.4 percent of U.S. adults smoked. The CDC reports that by 2014 that number decreased by almost half. The penny-per-ounce tax on flavored water, teas, juice and sports drinks has been dismissed by opponents as nothing more than a revenue grab — one, some say, that could cost the County Board President Toni Preckwinkle her seat in her 2018 bid for re-election. The sweetened beverage tax passed last November with President Preckwinkle casting the rare tie-breaking vote. The tax was expected to generate $68 million to help balance the budget in fiscal year 2017. The Illinois Retail Merchants Association sued the county, resulting in a restraining order, preventing the tax from taking effect on July 1. Cook County Judge Daniel Kubasiak, however, ruled in favor of the county’s request to dismiss the lawsuit. The temporary restraining order was lifted and Cook County began collecting the tax on Aug. 2. A sweet tax repeal ordinance was introduced by Commissioner Richard Boykin (1st District) on Sept. 13 and subsequently referred to the finance committee, as a budget issue, with a hearing expected on Oct. 10 or 11. Preckwinkle is expected to veto the

repeal if it passes with a simple majority, requiring commissioners to obtain a three-fifths majority, or 11 votes. According to the World Health Organization, 42 million children under age 5 were overweight or obese in 2015, more than 500 million people worldwide were classified as obese and more than 422 million people with diabetes. The U.S. has the world’s highest rate of obesity per population. In 2016 the state of Illinois produced a priority analysis of the local health department and a community health needs assessment. The results showed that the number one local health improvement priority category, consistent throughout the state, is nutrition, physical activity and weight status. Depending on the funding source, sweetened beverage consumption has consistently been linked to obesity and other adverse health conditions. Healthier consumption decisions among Americans, however, are not keeping pace with the alarming rate of escalating health-care costs. According to Commissioner Boykin, arguably the most vocal opponent of the sweet tax, that is no excuse for government stepping in to tell Cook County residents what they can and cannot eat while calling it fiscal policy. Boykin recently declared in a press conference, “The soda pop tax and the president must go now!” Pointing to the threat of layoffs, he calls the tax dishonest government — “a false narrative.” In 2016, Fortune ran a story headlined, “Soda Consumption Falls to 30-Year Low in The U.S.” Consumers seeking beverage alternatives they deemed healthier (i.e. without aspartame) was reported as the cause. Juices and flavored water benefited from that consumer choice. Beverage companies have become very sophisticated in their marketing once realizing perception is often what makes the difference in the choices consumers make. In a recent speech to the City Club of Chicago, President Preckwinkle reminded commissioners that to repeal the sugar tax would threaten the county’s safety net and ability to provide essential services. It would mean “firing frontline health care providers: doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who help serve our most vulnerable patients, halting plans for expansion of Provident Hospital; Compromise the commissioners’ constitutional duty to provide for the legal defense of those who cannot afford counsel FILE

DORIS

DAVENPORT One View

Photo by Jim Hurt

MAKING A STATEMENT: Members of the Marching Huskies band joined OPRF football players in kneeling during the National Anthem at Oak Park Stadium prior to the Sept. 29 game against Downers Grove North.

I’ve got to get out of this place

Please don’t lecture me about freedom of speech [OPRF students take a knee at Friday night game, News, Oct. 4]. When my father was shoveling coal into a boiler on a ship bringing war material to the Allies in WWII, with heat at 120 degrees, he was not permitted to sit down to protest. When my Uncle Brook was pinned down in a foxhole for days on end and then when he slowly lost his sanity, he

by taking away money from the Public Defender’s Office and forcing the already overworked public defenders to absorb another 6,400 cases; and reduce vital community investments in workforce development training programs geared at young people on the South and West sides.” Preckwinkle promotes the fact that Cook County has passed a balanced budget each of the seven years she has been in office; closed $1.8 billion in budget gaps; reduced the workforce by 10%; and with the help of the expanded insured population created by the Affordable Care Act, they have reduced the taxpayer allocation to Cook County Health and Hospitals System by $300 million, down 75%. A University of Chicago professor described the Illinois property tax system as “a textbook example of institutional racism.” Taxes like the amusement tax, bottled-water tax, emergency telephone system surcharge, gas tax, ground transportation tax, parking tax, bag tax, etc., are a sample of excessive regressive taxation. State Senator Don Harmon (39th) has run a Fair Tax campaign year after year. If the

did not sit down to protest. When my Uncle Kak was fighting on the front lines in Europe, no nice teacher came along and said, “If you prefer to sit down to protest, please do so.” For this you use my hard-earned tax dollars? I have to get out of this crazy town.

Colette Verdun Oak Park

state, which owes Cook County millions, had paid its bills and Illinois legislators found the political will to pass a progressive income tax, Cook County and other taxing bodies could be positioned to pass more progressive taxes. Big Soda companies like Coca-Cola and Dr. Pepper-Snapple are contributing the maximum amount allowed by law to support the repeal effort. The American Beverage Association and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg are funding the campaign in support of the soda pop tax, with Bloomberg pledging “whatever it takes.” The Illinois Manufacturer’s Association formed Government Accountability PAC, a fund with no contribution limits, which targets backers of the tax, in support of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association repeal efforts. Preckwinkle asked, “So why is Big Soda OK with selling our vulnerable kids liquid sugar, which they know is bad for them? The answer, of course, is because it’s their business.” Will the “Sweet Tax” or “Big Soda” prevail? We may find out this week.

V I E W P O I N T S

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Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

Surprised about Albion vote? Not really Bet you were as surprised as I was when the trustees voted to build an 18-story building at Lake & Forest! Just being facetious, as I don’t believe anyone who follows this administration’s history with developers thought there would be any other outcome. Feel like a bit of fool, however, as I cast votes for trustee candidates who stated they would oppose this high-rise when they recently ran for office. I mean, I knew where our mayor stood, but I (fool that I am) took the trustee candidates at their word. Now in a year or two we’ll have more congestion in the downtown area streets with gridlocked autos, a possible destruction of a beautiful park (someone recently stated in WJ that it’s not utilized enough anyway, as if that’s the reason for nature’s existence), a possible wind effect at that corner equal to what’s experienced in downtown Chicago, and all for what? A “possible” increase in the tax base that not is overwhelmed by the infrastructure costs? One trustee complained about abusive emails or such because Oak Park is supposed to be the world center of civility. While I don’t agree with some messages that some citizens might have sent to him, does he not see how he lied to the people of this village and deserves strong negative feedback? Couldn’t the vote at least be delayed for a few weeks to further study what’s now proposed? Step designs in a high-rise doesn’t make it different from

hundreds of similar buildings, and where’s the proof that no damage will be done to the park or that there will be no wind effect? The trustees can’t be bothered with facts or at least delaying the vote to gather more data? Where does all of this positive speculation come from, the developer? There’s an internationally known sound company in Toronto who make these type of studies daily. Why not consult an independent expert rather than your developer’s lackey? The real problem, aside from being lied to by our public officials, is that in years down the road, when many of us are gone, the next generation will possibly be stuck with a real problem with the park, traffic, wind shear, and who will they be able to approach? The next mayor or group of trustees who think they always know the right course for Oak Park despite multiple past errors that we now endure. What’s next, mayor and lackey trustees? The narrowing of Madison Street? More high-rise developments downtown (never on the north side of town, as they have zoning laws, as if downtown Oak Park didn’t)? A world-class pool and recreation center? This was probably the last time I will participate in the farce that you refer to as local elections. Fool me once … well, you know! P.S. Thanks to the one trustee [Simone Boutet] keeping her word and voting No.

James Agin Oak Park

Feeling betrayed by Dan and Deno I feel betrayed. I voted for Dan Moroney and Deno Andrews because they spoke to me in person, one-to-one, saying they would vote against the Albion building. Dan Moroney told me he was a contractor and he knew they didn’t need to build an 18-story building to make a profit. They both promised to fight the building because it is not in keeping with the DTOP plan, because it would increase the wind tunnel created by the Advantage building, because it would negate the solar panels and green roof on the new Nature Center.

It will shade Austin Gardens and cause die-off of trees and plantings. Lake Street is looking more like a canyon every year. I voted for these men based on the promise they made. If I had known they had no intention of keeping their promise, I would not have voted for them. I will never vote for them again. They need to explain themselves to us, the voters! Shame! Shame! on elected officials who ignore the people they represent and ignore the studies that have been paid for.

Letters to the editor

E-MAIL: ktrainor@wjinc.com FAX: 708-524-0047 MAIL: Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

Mary E. O’Kiersey Oak Park

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Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

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O B I T U A R I E S

Ellen Andersen, 92 Classical singer

Ellen Kirstine Andersen, 92, an Oak Park resident for over 60 years, died on Oct. 8, 2017 at the Danish Home of Chicago, her nursing-home residence for the last three years. Born on Oct. 4, 1925, she was a proud Danish-American of immigrant parents and a native of Chicago. She was married for many years to Donald Mose of Oak Park who had been president of the Oak Park Public Library, a businessman, and a collector of books and art. As a classical singELLEN ANDERSEN er, Ms. Andersen was proud to sing alto in the very first seasons of the Chicago Symphony Chorus under Margaret Hillis and Fritz Reiner. Her civic activities in her community were many and her love of life never in question. She was fun to be around, right to the end. As the Danes say, “All honor to her memory.” Ellen Anderson was the mother of Lisa (Fabrizio) Mose and Peter (Simone) Mose; and the aunt of several nieces and nephews. They were lucky to have her for so many years. A memorial visitation at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion Street in Oak Park will be held on Sunday, Oct. 15 from 2 until 6 p.m. The family appreciates memorial tributes to the Danish Home, 5656 N. Newcastle Ave. in Chicago, 60631.

Victor Elizondo, 87 Longtime Oak Park dentist

Dr. Victor A. Elizondo, 87, of Durango, Colorado, formerly of Oak Park, died in Farmington, New Mexico on Sept. 16, 2017. Born on Oct. 30, 1929 in Batanes Province

Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home

Since 1880

in the Philippines to Felisa Pabila Acebes and Rufino Faronillo Elizondo, he graduated from the University of the East with a degree in Dental Medicine and practiced there before moving to Oak Park in 1974. He enjoyed practicing dentistry in the Chicago area until 2016. A lifelong Catholic, Victor was a devoted parishioner at Ascension Church for over 43 years. Victor Elizondo is survived by his children, Norman and Miriam (Jennifer Baker); his sisters, Redencion VICTOR ELIZONDO Elizondo Castano and Avelina; his brother-in-law, Jake Fajardo; his nephew, Fr. Ramil Fajardo; his niece, Mara (Brian) Fitzpatrick; and many other family members in the United States and in the Philippines. He was preceded in death by his wife, Filomena T. Elizondo; and his brother, Ramone Elizondo. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Oct. 30 at 9:30 a.m. at Oak Park’s Ascension Church, followed by burial at Chapel Hill Gardens in Oak Brook, with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Victor’s life. The family would like to thank Farmington Funeral Home for their kindness. Additional information is available at 505-690-0172.

James ‘Allen’ Harper, 77

Austin Boulevard Church member James “Allen” Harper, 77, of Oak Park, has died. He was a longtime member of Austin Boulevard Christian Church. Allen was the husband of the late Virginia Ann (nee Karr); the father of Jim (the late Brenda Hollis) and Deborah Harper; the grandfather of Payton Hollis Harper,

Colette Frances Harper and Geneva Pearl Harper; the brother of Eldon (Wanda) Harper, Sheryl (Michael) Paul, Leroy Harper, Kialene Harper; and the uncle of many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Saturday, Oct. 14 from 2 until 6 p.m., at Oak Park’s Drechsler, Brown, & Williams Funeral Home, with a funeral service at Drechsler-Brown on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. Interment is private. Additional information is available at www.drechslerbrownwilliams.com or 708383-3191.

Russell Miller, 94 WWII submariner, handyman

Russell A. Miller, 94, of Northlake, died on Oct. 5, 2017. Born in Oak Park on May 26, 1923 to Herman F. and Clara M. Miller, he and his brother, Herb, attended St. Lucy School in Chicago and Oak Park and River Forest High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a submariner and married his childhood sweetheart, Lorraine Wadham. After his military service, the RUSSELL MILLER couple lived in Chicago and Elmwood Park, then moved to Oak Park, where they remained for 56 years. He worked many jobs, including 33 years at International Harvester in Melrose Park. He was widely known as an avid collector and recycler of other peoples’ treasures and an all-around handyman. After his wife’s death in 2011, he moved to the Casa San Carlo Retirement Community in Northlake where he made many new friends. Russell Miller is survived by his children, Kathryn Jackson, Patricia (Michael) Davies, Michael (Robin) Miller, Patrick (Muriel) Turley, Jeanne O’Laughlin, Di-

Robert P. Gamboney Funeral Director

Family Owned & Operated

I am there for you in your time of need. All services handled with dignity and personalized care.

Charles Williams, Owner/Funeral Director

Cell: 708.420.5108 • Res: 708.848.5667

203 S. Marion St. Oak Park 60302 708/383-3191

I am affiliated with Peterson-Bassi Chapels at 6938 W. North Ave, as well as other chapels throughout Chicagoland.

ane (William) McCracken, Louise (Robert) Buford and Paul (Debbie) Miller; his daughter-in-law, Ann Miller; and his 21 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorraine; his son, Andrew; and his sons-in-law, Robert Jackson and Raymond McGraw. Visitation will be held on Friday, Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. until time of Mass, 10 a.m., in the Chapel of Villa Scalabrini, 480 N. Wolf Rd. in Northlake, followed by private interment at Irving Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations to P.A.W.S. Chicago, www.pawschicago.org. Arrangements were handled by Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home.

Carolyn Steirer, 80

Oak Park Board of Realtors executive Carolyn M. Steirer, 80, of Sarasota, Florida, and formerly of Pierre, South Dakota and Oak Park, died on Oct. 4, 2017. Born in Chicago on Aug. 3, 1937, she was a 1959 graduate of St. Olaf College who received a degree in Dietetics and began her career as a dietician at Edward Hines VA Hospital. In 1973, she started her lifelong career in real estate and held an executive position at the Oak Park Board of Realtors for many years. In the early 1990s, she made a career move to Pierre, South DaCAROLYN STEIRER kota to work as the executive director of the South Dakota Association of Realtors. In 2000, she retired to Sarasota and worked part-time for the Sarasota Board of Realtors. She loved to travel, had a great passion for reading, and enjoyed an enriched life of faith within her church family by being an active member of choir, prayer groups, and stewardship. She created many beautiful friendships along life’s journey, which she held dear to her heart. She will be missed by all of her family and friends. Carolyn Steirer was the mother of Suzanne (Martin) Battistoni, Sherrie (Richard) Neidhardt, and Stephanie (William) Klug; “Amma” of Melanie Battistoni, Kimberly (Frank) Alonso, Jacqueline (Warren) Khatib, and Nick and Amaya Klug; and “Great-Amma” of Isabel Alonso. A memorial visitation will be held from 4 until 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13 at Oak Park’s Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, followed by a memorial service on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at United Lutheran Church, 409 Greenfield St. in Oak Park. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates donations made on her behalf to St. Olaf College, www.stolaf.edu.

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Religion Guide Methodist

Check First.

First United Methodist Church of Oak Park

First Congregational Church of Maywood

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

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

William S. Winston Pastor (708) 697-5000 Sunday Service 7AM, 9AM & 11:15AM

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

3:30-4:00pm

Nationwide

WJYS-TV (M-F)

6:30-7:00am

Chicago, IL.

WCIU-TV (Sun.)

10:30-11:00am

Chicago, IL.

Word Network

10:30-11:00am

Nationwide

(M-F)

www.livingwd.org www.billwinston.org

West Suburban Temple Har Zion

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

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

Lutheran—ELCA

United Lutheran Church

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

708/386-1576

Lutheran-Independent

Grace Lutheran Church

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

Fair Oaks

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

744 Fair Oaks Ave. Oak Park 386-4920 Sunday Schedule Christian Education for All Ages 9:00am Worship Service 10:00am

Child care available 9-11am

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

Roman Catholic

Ascension Catholic Church

Grace Lutheran School

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

Christ Lutheran Church

607 Harvard Street (at East Av.) Oak Park, Illinois Rev. Robert M. Niehus, Pastor Sunday Bible Class: 9:15 am Sunday School: 9:10 Sunday Worship Services: 8:00 and 10:30 am Church Office: 708/386-3306 www.christlutheranoakpark.org Lutheran-Missouri Synod

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church

305 Circle Ave, Forest Park Sunday Worship 8:30am & 11:00am Adult Bible Class & Sunday School 10:00am Wheelchair Access to Sanctuary Leonard Payton, Pastor Roney Riley, Assistant Pastor 708-366-3226 www.stjohnforestpark.org

808 S. East Ave. 708/848-2703 www.ascensionoakpark.com Worship: Saturday Mass 5:00 pm Sunday Masses 7:30, 9:00, 11 am, 5:00 pm Sacrament of Reconciliation 4 pm Saturday Taize Prayer 7:30 pm First Fridays Feb.– Dec. & Jan. 1

Rev. James Hurlbert, Pastor

Roman Catholic

St. Edmund Catholic Church

188 South Oak Park Ave. Saturday Mass: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Masses: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Weekday Mass: 8:30 a.m. M–F Holy Day Masses: As Announced Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15 p.m. Parish Office: 708-848-4417 School Phone: 708-386-5131

Roman Catholic

St. Bernardine Catholic Church Harrison & Elgin, Forest Park

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

St. Giles Family Mass Community

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

Traditional Catholic

The Traditional Catholic Latin Mass

Our Lady Immaculate Church 410 Washington Blvd Oak Park. 708-524-2408 Mass Times: Sat. 8:00am Sun. 7:30 & 10:00am Operated by Society of St. Pius X. Confessions 1 hr. before each mass

Third Unitarian Church 10AM Sunday Forum Summer Schedule at

thirdunitarianchurch.org (773) 626-9385

301 N. Mayfield, Chicago, near Austin and Lake Unity

UNITY CHURCH OF OAK PARK 405 North Euclid Ave.

With Spirit as my guide, I take charge of my life. Sunday Services 9 am & 11 am Youth Education 11 am 708-848-0960 — unityoakpark.org

Upcoming Religious Holidays

Oct. 12 Shemini Atzeret 13 Simchat Torah

Jewish

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION

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

1.Publication Title: Wednesday Journal 2. Publication no.: USPS 0010-138 3. Date of filing: Oct. 11, 2017 4. Frequency of issue: Weekly 5. No of issues published annually: 52 6. Annual subscription price: $32.00 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302, Cook Co. 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher: (same) 9. Names and complete mailing addresses of publisher, editor and manager editor: Publisher: Dan Haley, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 Editor: Dan Haley, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 Managing Editor: Dan Haley, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 10. The owner is: Wednesday Journal, Inc., 141 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302. Stockholders owning 1% or more of stock: Gary Collins, 1326 William St., River Forest, IL 60305-1135; Robert Downs, 924 N. Euclid., Oak Park, IL 60302-1320; Dan and Mary Haley, 1305 Clinton, Berwyn, IL 60402-1231; Andrew Johnston & Julie Bernstein 9828 Trillium Trail, Bridgman MI 49106; Matthew Panschar, 2636 2nd Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55408-1701; Alexander, Edward Panschar and Martha Panschar, P.O. Box 200279, Anchorage, AK 99520-0279; Ruth Levy, 77 Bleecker St., New York, NY 10012-1701. 11. Known bondholders, mortagees and other security holders owning or holding one percent or more of the total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities are: None. 12. N/A 13. Publication name: Wednesday Journal 14. Issue date for circulation data below: September 27, 2017 15. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months: A. Total no. copies printed (net press run): 6,528 B1. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions stated on Form 3541: 50 B2. Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on form 3541: 4,009 B3. Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other paid distribution outside USPS: 252 B4. Paid distribution by other classes of mail through the USPS: 0 C. Total Paid distribution: 4,311 D1. Free or nominal rate outside-county copies included on PS form 3541: 3 D2. Free on nominal rate in-county copies included on PS Form 3541: 405 D3. Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS: 0 D4. Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail: 1,088 E. Total free or nominal rate distribution: 1,496 F. Total distribution: 5,807 G. Copies not distributed: 721 H: Total: 6,528 I. Percent paid: 74% 15. No. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: A. Total no. copies printed (net press run): 6540 B1. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions stated on Form 3541: 45 B2. Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on form 3541: 3991 B3. Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other paid distribution outside USPS: 235 B4. Paid distribution by other classes of mail through the USPS: 0 C. Total Paid distribution: 4,271 D1. Free or nominal rate outside-county copies included on PS form 3541: 3 D2. Free on nominal rate in-county copies included on PS Form 3541: 294 D3. Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS: 0 D4. Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail: 1,200 E. Total free or nominal rate distribution: 1,497 F. Total distribution: 5,768 G. Copies not distributed: 772 H: Total: 6,540 I. Percent paid: 74% 16. Publication of statement of ownership will be printed in the Oct. 11, 2017 issue of this publication. 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner: Dan Haley, Publisher Oct. 11, 2017

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM New local ads this week

YOUR WEEKLY AD

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES: OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

Deadline is Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion. Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion. The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

Place your ad online anytime at: www.OakPark.com/Classiﬁed/

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 524-0447 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

CONTROLLER Hephzibah Children’s Association is a social service agency in Oak Park, IL with a multi-faceted mission serving children and families. The agency offers short and long term group homes, family based support and intervention services and after school and summer day care programs.

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Parking Enforcement Officer in the Police Department Field Services Division. This position will perform a variety of duties and responsibilities involved in the enforcement of Village parking regulations; and to provide general information and assistance to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http:// www.oak-park.us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than October 23, 2017.

We are seeking a Controller who will be responsible for all areas relating to financial reporting including maintaining accounting practices and procedures to ensure accurate financial statements, month end close and interim financial statements. Solid experience coordinating external audit activities and managing reporting, budget development and analysis, accounts payable and receivable, general ledger, payroll, and accounting for investments. Reports to the Director of Finance. Supervises the accounting functions and team. Qualifications: -Bachelor’s degree in accounting with CPA or MBA -Minimum of 5 years accounting experience with demonstrated financial skills -Supervisory experience -Written and verbal communication skills -Competent in Microsoft Office products, Word, Excel, Outlook -Ability to gain proficiency in agency general ledger software -Sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural difference in staff and client populations. Send resume to mjjoyce@hephzibahhome.org Equal Opportunity Employer C.N.A.s & CAREGIVERS Become part of our local family that takes care of people who are older and need us. We have been in Brookfield for over 100 years! If you have a passion for compassion, we would like to meet you and tell you what we have to offer you! Call 708-485-6066 www.cantata.org EOE Non-Profit CROSSING GUARD - Riverside $12.15 hr. Requires working in all weather conditions. On call hours are split as guard is needed morning & afternoon. Applications are at Riverside Police Dept., 31 Riverside Rd., Riverside, IL 60546 (708) 447-2127- Sgt. Pontrelli fpontrelli@riverside.il.us ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER PART-TIME Part-time Electrician’s Helper. Must have own transportation and some tools. Call 708-738-3848. HELP WANTED PAINTER REPAIR PERSON 708-725-3110 oakrent.com Click on Employment

SQL Developer for PLS Financial Services, Inc. Req BS in CS, Comp. Eng., or Eng. & 5 yrs of progressively responsible exp. as a SQL Developer. Dev + maintain SQL Server Integration pkgs for ETL Process + SQL Server Reporting Svcs. Position is in Chicago, IL. Mail CV to: Attn: Art Sanders, One South Wacker Drive, Floor 36, Chicago, IL 60606. EOE. PART-TIME WATER METER READER The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of part-time Water Meter Reader in Public Works. This position will perform a variety of duties including reading water meters and recording consumption; identifying water meter equipment problems and performing minor water meter maintenance and repair. This position requires walking and working in inclement weather. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www. oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than October 30, 2017

SUBURBAN REAL ESTATE

SUBURBAN RENTALS

NEW CONCEPT FOR MAYWOOD

OAK PARK 2BED, BEAUTY 1161 S OAK PARK AVE This bright, airy apart is located in a well maintained four unit building in Oak Park. Located first floor walk up, it has: hardwood floors, ceiling fans brand new cabinets, dishwasher, microwave, c/a, new GFA–high efficiency, newer windows, gr8 closet space, huge storage space in basement, gr8 neighbors. Laundry on site. 2 space tandem parking $75. Rent $1330 month, deposit $1330. No more than 30% of income toward rent. Tony 773-718-1338

In this quiet residential neighborhood

902 S. 3RD AVENUE (2 blks W of 1st Ave & 1 blk N of Madison)

Reserve your own affordable 2 or 3 BR condo unit of 1000+ sq ft of living space being built on this historic site. You’ll benefit from a unique 12 year tax freeze and lower monthly living expenses from energy saving systems/appliances, and you can help design your own individual unit. Plans also include building 5 new townhomes onsite. For details Call 708-383-9223.

SUBURBAN RENTALS FOREST PARK 3BR Vintage, large, sunny 3BR apartments available. Newly refinished hardwood floors. Air conditioned. Dishwasher. Laundry in bldg. Garage Parking available. 2 blks to Blue line, 3 blks to Madison St. downtown. $1500-1600. Call 312-802- 8291. FOREST PARK LARGE 2BR Forest Park 5 Large Rooms, 2BR, stove & refrigerator. Pay own heat & utilities. Close to transportation. Security deposit, 1 yr lease. No Pets. 1 car garage. Avail. now. $1100. Call 708.297.4215.

REAL ESTATE WANTED HAS YOUR HOME BECOME A BURDEN?

Repairs, Taxes?? At a need to sell, we buy houses to fix up for rental or resale, especially houses that need major work on them! “So, if your house has become a problem we might become the solution!”

OAK PARK 2 & 3 BR Oak Park Two and Three Bedroom Apartments, LR, DR, tile bath, hardwood floors, heat included $1250 and $1400 + security deposit 708-717-3975.

CITY RENTALS Chicago

WAITLIST OPEN

Anathoth Gardens/ PACE Apts. 1 & 2 Bedroom Apts. Available Senior Buildings, rent based on 30% of Monthly Income. A/C, Laundry room, Cable ready, Intercom entry system. Applications are being accepted between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday thru Friday at Anathoth Gardens 34 N. Keeler Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60624 Please call 773-826-0214 For more information.

ROOMS FOR RENT AUSTIN CLEAN ROOM With fridge, micro. Nr Oak Park, Super Walmart, Food 4 Less, bus, & Metra. $116/wk and up. 773-637-5957 Large Sunny Room with fridge & microwave. Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $101.00 week & up. New Mgmt. 773-378-8888

SPACE FOR RENT 4807 SQ FT In beautiful neighborhood in Oak Park. Varied uses possible for any kind of not-for-profit. Offices, community center, school, day care, etc. Private Cell: 708-846-9776

Lost & Found and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-3342

SUBURBAN RENTALS

M&M

property management, inc.

708-386-7355 • www.mmpropmgt.com 649 Madison Street, Oak Park Contact us for a complete list of available rentals throughout Oak Park and Forest Park.

O a k Pa r k . c o m | R i v e r Fo r e s t . c o m

OAK PARK Office Suites 2 to 4 rooms

RIVER FOREST 2 Offices 1000 to 1100 sq. ft.

Strand & Browne 708/488-0011

ESTATE SALES Oak Park

ESTATE SALE 900 FAIR OAKS SAT 10/14 & SUN 10/15 10AM TO 3PM

Beautiful 3 story home with lots of items!

GARAGE/YARD SALES Berwyn

MOVING SALE 1226 CLARENCE AVE SAT 10/14 9AM - 5PM SUN 10/15 9AM - 4PM

Furniture, office furniture & supplies, plus size clothes-good condition, treasures and trinkets, hunter green love seat, solid oak desk & matching credenza (very heavy), file cabinets, bookcases, bikes, table, and so much more, lots of baby clothes (small, preemie baby or dolls), hanging folders, etc. Call 484-4943 with questions. Forest Park

MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALE 1133 S ELGIN SAT 10/14 9AM TO 3PM

MORE BARGAINS, MUST GO!

Map It!

G AR A

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue. Or call us toll free at 1-888-328-8457 for an appointment.          

         

GARAGE/YARD SALES

Oak Park

TWO FAMILY GARAGE SALE 631/635 N TAYLOR SAT 10/14 8AM TO 2PM Tools, hardware, lumber, clothes, toys, bikes, air conditioners, books, etc.

Oak Park

WE GOT STUFF YARD SALE 6040 W ROOSEVELT RD SAT 10/14 8AM TO 4PM

Halloween, Christmas, Furniture, Clothing, Housewares, Small appliances, bedding, dining accessories, knick knacks. COME TO SEE

ITEMS FOR SALE ENTERTAINMENT UNIT Entertainment Unit for LP Records. Black lacquer with Chinese gold leaf scene. $150. Call 708-488-8755. FUTON $50. Call 708-488-8755.

WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers-lead plastic-other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

AUTOS FOR SALE 2017 VW PASSAT 2017 VW Passat. Very low mileage, like new. $32,000. Call John at 708-524-9720.

LOST & FOUND FOUND FORD OWNERS MANUAL PACKET Found near Barrie Park on 10/2: Ford 2016 Owners Manual Packet. Call Aida 708-524-0341.

NOVENAS

Apartment listings updated daily at:

We Pay Cash, No Commissions

VICTORIAN GENERAL CONTRACTORS 708-484-8676

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT

SALEGSE

GO TO OAKPARK.COM/ GARAGESALES TODAY!

or call mary ellen at 708.613.3342 to place an ad

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (NEVER KNOWN TO FAIL) Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and publish; your request will be granted. CAC

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

CLASSIFIED AIR CONDITIONING/ HEAT AIR CONDITIONING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Air Conditioning Automotive A/C Refrigerators Ranges â&#x20AC;˘ Ovens Washer â&#x20AC;˘ Dryers Hot Water Heaters Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

CARPENTRY CARPENTER

Full-service general carpenter with 20 years experience specializing in renovation, remodeling and structural repairs. Dedicated to offering the highest-quality craftsmanship, affordability, integrity and customer service. Your ideas crafted with precision and attention to detail. CALL PATRICK: 773-503-2212 www.ashgrovebuildersinc.wordpress.com

CLEANING Pamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A+ Cleaning Service

Fall is here! Time to make a change? Take a moment to preview our detailed cleaning. For a free esimate please call 708-937-9110

ELECTRICAL HUGHS ELECTRIC

*Appliance lines *Remodeling *HVAC Service *Trouble calls Lic & Insured since 1986 Compare our rates Good Refs

708-612-4803

CEMENT

(708) 613-3333 â&#x20AC;˘ FAX: (708) 524-0447 â&#x20AC;˘ E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM LANDSCAPING

ELECTRICAL A&A ELECTRIC

Ceiling Fans Let an American Veteran do your work Installed We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs Home Re-wiring â&#x20AC;˘ New Plugs & Switches Added New circuit breaker boxes â&#x20AC;˘ Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp â&#x20AC;˘ Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential â&#x20AC;˘ Commercial â&#x20AC;˘ Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. â&#x20AC;˘ Bonded â&#x20AC;˘ Ins. â&#x20AC;˘ Low Rates â&#x20AC;˘ Free Est.

708-409-0988 â&#x20AC;˘ 708-738-3848

Sr. Discounts â&#x20AC;˘ 30 Yrs. Exp | Servicing Oak Park and all surrounding suburbs

FOUR SEASONS ELECTRIC

Full Service Electrical Work including

Rewiring Old Houses & Installing Ceiling Fans Service Upgrades

Reasonable Pricing & Free Estimates

â&#x20AC;˘ No Job Too Big or Too Small â&#x20AC;˘ Lic * Bonded * Ins * 24 hrs

708-445-0447

ELECTRICALâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; LOWÂ VOLTAGE KINETIC KONCEPTS A division of Kinetic Energy Inc, is a local, residential low voltage specialist in home networking, smart TV installation and programming, landscape and under-cabinet lighting. Call for free estimate.

(708) 639-5271

FIREPLACES/ FIREWOOD

Firewood Unlimited

Fast Free Delivery

Mixed hardwoods â&#x20AC;˘ $130 F.C. CBh & Mix â&#x20AC;˘ $145 F.C. 100% oak â&#x20AC;˘ $165 F.C. Cherry or hiCkory â&#x20AC;˘ $185 F.C. 100% BirCh â&#x20AC;˘ $220 F.C. Seasoned 2 years Stacking Available

847-888-9999 1-800-303-5150

Credit Cards Accepted

CEMENT

MAGANA

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N â&#x20AC;&#x153;QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATIONâ&#x20AC;? ESTABLISHED IN 1987

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708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 Â&#x2021; )281'$7,216 Â&#x2021; 3$7,26 67(36 Â&#x2021; &85% *877(56 Â&#x2021; 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* Â&#x2021; 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured. Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

GARAGE/GARAGE DOOR Our 71st Year

Garage Doors &

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PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION October 26th, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting

LAW OFFICE OF LINDA EPSTEIN Attorney for Petitioner 722 W. Diversey Parkway Ste. 101B Chicago, IL 60614

The Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, October 26th, 2017 in Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Illinois for the purpose of considering and hearing a request for a special use permit for the addition at the S.E. Gross Middle School located at 3524 Maple Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 (PINS 15-34-307-007-0000, 15-34-307-008-0000, 15-34-307009-0000, 15-34-307-010-0000, 15-34-307-013-0000, 15-34-307018-0000, 15-34-307-019-0000, 15-34-307-020-0000, 15-34-307022-0000). Legal Description: Parcel 1: LOT A, B, C, AND LOT 8 (EXCEPTING THEREFROM THAT PART DEDICATED FOR PUBLIC ALLEY), LOTS 9 TO 17 AND THE VACATED ALLEY LYING SOUTHEASTERLY AND ADJOINING SAID LOTS 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 AND 17 IN BLOCK 1 IN PORTIA MANOR, BEING FREDERICK H. BARTLETTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SUBDIVISION IN THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 34, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO THE PLOT THEREOF RECORDED FEBRUARY 6, 1915 AS DOCUMENT NO. 5573274, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Parcel 2: SOUTH 158 FEET OF THE EAST 233 FEET, (EXCEPT THE SOUTH 33 FEET AND THE EAST 33 FEET THEREOF) IN THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 34, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY ILLINOIS. Application materials may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall. Comments, if any, should be provided in writing prior to the date of the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Emily Egan, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513, or in person during the public hearing. Please reference PZC Case 17-06 S.E. Gross Special Use Permit. Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access may be granted through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall. By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman. Published in Landmark 10/11/2017

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,â&#x20AC;? as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: D17152127 on September 21, 2017. Under the Assumed Business Name of NEWSOME INVESTMENT ENTERPRISES with the business located at: 230 W SUPERIOR STREET #700-116, CHICAGO, IL 60654. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: KELLY L NEWSOME 222 S OAK PARK AVE APT 5 OAK PARK, IL 60302. Published in Wednesday Journal 9/27, 10/4, 10/11/2017

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STATE OF ILLINOIS, COUNTY OF COOK, ssCircuit Court of Cook County, County Department Domestic Relations Division In re the Marriage of Cheryl Simmons, Petitioner, and Davariol Taylor, Respondent. No. 17 D 008178 The requisite affidavit for Publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, FAYYAZ MUHAMMAD MALIK, Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief: and that said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before November 8, 2017, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage Entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition. DOROTHY BROWN, Clerk. Published in Wednesday Journal 10/11, 10/18, 10/25/2017

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of Oak Park on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Room 201 of the Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois on the following matter: Cal. No. 21-17-Z: 1100 S. Lombard Avenue, Mary Garrett Mary Garrett, Applicant, is requesting that a variation be granted from Section 4.4 (Table 4-1: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards), which Section requires a front yard setback for the principal building of approximately 14.77 feet, based on averaging of the next two adjacent lots, and a maximum impervious surface of 60%, whereas the project will feature an enclosed front porch addition with an approximately 10.96 foot front yard setback and a maximum impervious surface coverage of 64.4%, respectively, to allow the construction of an enclosed front porch. Those property owners within 500 feet of the Subject Property and those persons with a special interest beyond that of the general public (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Interested Partiesâ&#x20AC;?) wishing to cross-examine witnesses must complete and file an appearance with original signatures with the Village Clerk not later than 5:00 PM on the business day preceding the public hearing. All papers in connection with the above matter are on file at the Village of Oak Park and available for examination by interested parties by contacting the Zoning Administrator at 708.358.5449. DATED AT OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, this 11th Day of October, 2017 Published in Wednesday Journal 10/11/2017

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

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

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of Oak Park on Wednesday evening, November 1, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois on the following matter:

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of Oak Park, sitting as a Zoning Commission, on Wednesday evening, November 1, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois on the following matter:

Cal. No. 20-17-Z: 200-210 Harrison Street, Flexhouse Oak Park LLC/Harrison Street Ventures, LLC, Applicant, is seeking variations from the following sections of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, which sections detail the requirements for rear buffer yards for lots with more than 90 feet of lot depth, for the proposed commercial/live work dwelling unit developments located at the premises commonly known as 200-210 Harrison Street, Oak Park, Illinois:

Cal. No. 18-17-Z: 6429 North Avenue, Learning Oak, Early Childhood Development Center

b. Section 11.8 (B) (2) (b) requires one shade tree for every 30 linear feet of buffer yard length; whereas the proposal does not include shade trees in the buffer yard;

Maria Nicosia, Applicant, on behalf of Learning Oak, Early Childhood Development Center, filed an application pursuant to Section 3.1 (Summary Use Matrix) and Section 4.5.2 H (DayCare Centers) of the Zoning Ordinance of the Village of Oak Park requesting the issuance of a special use permit, authorizing a day-care center to be located at 6429 North Avenue. The proposed day-care center would offer early childhood educational programs for ages 2 to 6 years old. The Learning Oak would also offer an extended child care program. The center would be open Monday-Friday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. The day-care center will serve approximately thirty children and three (3) staff members at 6429 North Avenue.

c. Section 11.8 (B) (2) (d) requires that one shrub, which must reach a minimum of three feet in height at maturity, must be planted for every three linear feet of landscape area, spaced linearly; whereas the proposal does not include shrubs in the buffer yard; and

Those property owners within 500 feet of the Subject Property and all interested parties wishing to cross-examine witnesses must complete and file an appearance with original signatures with the Village Clerk no later than 5:00 PM on the business day preceding the public hearing.

a. Section 11.8 (B) (2) (a) requires a buffer yard to be a minimum of seven (7’) feet in width; whereas the proposal does not include a seven (7’) foot wide buffer yard;

d. Section 11.8 (B) (2) (e) requires the remainder of the buffer yard be planted in live groundcover, perennials, grass, or trees; whereas the proposal does not feature live groundcover, perennials, grass, or trees in the buffer yard. Those property owners within 500 feet of the Subject Property and those interested parties wishing to cross-examine witnesses must complete and file an appearance with original signatures with the Village Clerk no later than 5:00 PM on the business day preceding the public hearing. All papers in connection with the above matter are on file at the Village of Oak Park and available for examination by interested parties by contacting the Zoning Administrator at 708.358.5449. The Zoning Board of Appeals may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof. DATED AT OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, this 11th Day of October, 2017 Published in Wednesday Journal 10/11/2017

All papers in connection with the above matter are on file at the Village of Oak Park and available for examination by interested parties by contacting the Zoning Administrator at 708.358.5449. The Zoning Board of Appeals may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof. DATED AT OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, this 11th Day of October, 2017 Published in Wednesday Journal 10/11/2017

PUBLIC NOTICE River Forest Park District Cook County, Illinois “Notice of Availability” Annual Statement of Receipts and Disbursements Fiscal Year Ended April 30, 2017. The River Forest Park District has the Annual Statement of Receipts and Disbursements on file at Park District Headquarters, 401 Thatcher Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305. It will also be on our website Published in Wednesday Journal 10/11/2017

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE Village of River Forest Development Review Board River Forest, Illinois

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: D17152274 on October 2, 2017. Under the Assumed Business Name of SECOND DRAFT PRESS with the business located at: 426 LAKE STREET F3, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: LAURA JOHANNA WALTJE 426 LAKE STREEET F3 OAK PARK, IL 60302.

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: D17152267 on October 2, 2017. Under the Assumed Business Name of LITTLE DAYCARE THAT COULD with the business located at: 3235 MADISON AVE, BROOKFIELD, IL 60513. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: AMIE SUMMERS 3235 MADISON AVE BROOKFIELD, IL 60513

Public notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held by the Development Review Board of the Village of River Forest, County of Cook, State of Illinois, on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois on the following matter: Application # 17-01: Amendment to the Planned Development Granted in Ordinance 2883, as Amended by Ordinances 3588 and 3622. The Applicant, St. Vincent Ferrer, proposes to remove a condition of approval regarding the color of the exterior windows of the multipurpose hall and supporting spaces at St. Vincent Ferrer Church at 1530 Jackson Avenue, River Forest, Illinois 60305, located on the south side of North Avenue between Jackson Avenue and Lathrop Avenue. The Legal Description of the property is as follows: BLOCKS TWO (2) AND THREE (3) IN WILLIAM H. BECKMAN’S SUBDIVISION OF THE WEST HALF (W1/2) OF THE WEST HALF (W1/ 2) OF THE NORTH EAST QUARTER (N E 1/4) OF SECTION ONE (1), TOWNSHIP THIRTY-NINE (39) NORTH, RANGE TWELVE (12), EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN. The applicant is: St. Vincent Ferrer’s Literary Society d/b/a St. Vincent Ferrer, 1530 Jackson Avenue, River Forest, Illinois 60305. All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing, the purpose of which is to take evidence on the Application for the Development Review Board and Village Board to consider. A copy of the application and meeting agenda will be available to the public at the Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, or at www.vrf.us. Clifford Radatz Secretary Development Review Board

Published in Wednesday Journal 10/11, 10/18, 10/25/2017

Published in RB Landmark 10/11, 10/18, 10/25/2017

LEGAL NOTICE Chertkow and Chertkow (22019) Attorneys for Petitioner 1525 East 53rd Street Chicago, Illinois 60615 STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division. In re the marriage of Joel Awe, Petitioner and Mosunmola Awe, Respondent, Case No. 2017D-007070. The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before November 10, 2017, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition. DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal 10/11/2017

Published in Wednesday Journal 10/11, 10/18, 10/25/2017

PUBLIC NOTICE PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME In the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, County Department, County Division. In the matter of the petition of WILLIE ANTHONY SAMPLER for change of name to W. ANTHONY SAMPLER, Case #20174005994. Notice is given you, the public, that on October 4, 2017, I have filed a Petition For Change of Name in this Court, asking the Court to change my present name of WILLIE ANTHONY SAMPLER to the name of W. ANTHONY SAMPLER. This case will be heard in courtroom 112 on December 5, 2017 at 9:30 a.m..

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: D17152163 on September 26, 2017. Under the Assumed Business Name of DONNA WATTS CASTING with the business located at: 159 MARION ST. #3385 OAK PARK, IL 60301. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: DONNA F. WATTS 323 S. AUSTIN BLVD. #2W OAK PARK, IL 60304

Published in Wednesday Journal 10/11, 10/18, 10/25/2017

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that an amendment to the Village of Oak Park Citizen Participation Plan (CPP) is being proposed and the draft revised CPP is available for public review and comment during business hours MondayFriday, effective October 12-26, 2017 at the Oak Park Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, on the Village’s website, and at all public library branches in Oak Park. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons, as needed. The CPP addresses participation, access to meetings, access to information, access to records, publishing the plan, public hearings, notice of hearings, public comments, technical assistance, complaints and amendments, all with regard to federallyfunded programs through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The document was last amended in 2016. Changes to the document consist of the addition of newer citizen participation requirements for Oak Park’s upcoming Assessment of Fair Housing. An open-house Public Hearing on the proposed-amended CPP will be held from 3-5 p.m. on October 26, 2017 in Room 215 of Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302. Attendees can arrive at any time within this two-hour period. Any comments concerning the proposed-amended CPP can be submitted in writing and by phone by October 26, 2017 to Mark Dwyer, Grants Supervisor, Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 at (708) 358-5416. Published in Wednesday Journal 10/11/2017

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION DITECH FINANCIAL LLC Plaintiff, -v.UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF MARGARETTE STOILJKOVIC, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF MARGARETTE STOILJKOVIC, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF MARGARETTE STOILJKOVIC, DECEASED, ELENA STOILJKOVIC AKA ELENA M. STOILJKOVIC, IVAN STOILJKOVIC, PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, LLC, WILLIAM BUTCHER, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF MARGARETTE STOILJKOVIC, DECEASED Defendants 16 CH 04550 1180 S. Scoville Ave. Oak Park, IL 60304 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 6, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 3, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1180 S. Scoville Ave., Oak Park, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-18-427-0160000. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $354,975.58. 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. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay

the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact Plaintiff’s attorney: HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC, 111 East Main Street, DECATUR, IL 62523, (217) 4221719 Please refer to file number 2120-12149. If the sale is not confirmed for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the purchase price paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC 111 East Main Street DECATUR, IL 62523 (217) 422-1719 Fax #: (217) 422-1754 CookPleadings@hsbattys.com Attorney File No. 2120-12149 Attorney Code. 40387 Case Number: 16 CH 04550 TJSC#: 37-8438 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. I3062637 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF STANWICH MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST A Plaintiff, -v.JOHNNIE WATSON, LAQUILLA HARDMAN, JOHNNIE NELSON WATSON, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, STATE OF ILLINOIS– DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE Defendants 16 CH 014770 1218 N. AUSTIN BLVD. 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 April 21, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 15, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

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

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Commonly known as 1218 N. AUSTIN BLVD., OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-127-0300000. 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. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption. 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 or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE

ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-13-21664. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-13-21664 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 16 CH 014770 TJSC#: 37-8472 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. I3062786

& Platt, L.L.C., 65 East Wacker Place, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (312) 236-0077. INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3063374

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 or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-15-18861. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-15-18861 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 09 CH 050831 TJSC#: 37-7858 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. I3062272

-v.LINDA F. COLE Defendants 10 CH 36911 208 LE MOYNE PARKWAY OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 13, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 16, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 208 LE MOYNE PARKWAY, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-102-0290000. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $474,475.34. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assess-

ments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact Plaintiff’s attorney: HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC, 111 East Main Street, DECATUR, IL 62523, (217) 4221719 Please refer to file number 2120-9146–FT. If the sale is not confirmed for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the purchase price paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC 111 East Main Street DECATUR, IL 62523 (217) 422-1719 Fax #: (217) 422-1754 CookPleadings@hsbattys.com Attorney File No. 2120-9146–FT Attorney Code. 40387 Case Number: 10 CH 36911 TJSC#: 37-8975 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. I3064317

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION US BANK NA AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE JP MORGAN MORTGAGE TRUST 2006-S2 MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES Plaintiff, vs. MARY L. PROCYK; GEORGE S. PROCYK; CHICAGO TITLE LAND TRUST COMPANY, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO COLE TAYLOR BANK SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO CORUS BANK FKA RIVER FOREST STATE BANK AND TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE UNDER TRUST AGREEMENT DATED AUGUST 4, 1978 AND KNOWN AS TRUST NO. 2370; JPMORGAN CHASE BANK NA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE BENEFIT OF INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, UNKNOWN OWNERS, GENERALLY AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 15 CH 17814 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause on May 19, 2017 Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Thursday, November 9, 2017 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-01-305-003-0000. Commonly known as 1127 Ashland, River Forest, IL 60305. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection For information call Ms. Kimberly S. Reid at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Kluever

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN HOME MORTAGE ASSETS TRUST 2006-5 MORTGAGE-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-5 Plaintiff, -v.ELLEN RAVITZ AKA ELLEN M. RAVITZ, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF ELLEN RAVITZ, IF ANY, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMAINTS Defendants 09 CH 050831 118 HOME AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on August 16, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 20, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 118 HOME AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-07-303-0080000. The real estate is improved with a multi-family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION TRUST Plaintiff,

14 CH 15739 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION; Plaintiff, vs. JUAN C. ALBIZURES; JENNIFER C. ALBIZURES; ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 14 CH 15739 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-04-206-080-0000. Commonly known as 1510 North 31st Avenue, Melrose Park, IL 60160. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 15-030019 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3064078

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Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Shattering the Status Quo OPRF football needs a statement win against mighty Glenbard West

“T

he status quo sucks” is a quote from George Carlin that the Oak Park and River Forest High School football team adopted as a slogan last season. Loosely translated for the Huskies’ purposes, it means that while OPRF has qualified for the state playoffs a school-record five seasons in a row and been a consistent winner under head coach John Hoerster, more is expected. Another opportunity to truly take that next step arrives this weekend against 2016 Class 8A state semifinalist Glenbard West at home, on Friday the 13th no less. Last season, the Huskies rolled into Glen Ellyn brimming with confidence and a 6-0 record offering suggestions that OPRF was finally ready to beat Glenbard West. In span of about three hours, the Hilltoppers dropped 56 points, 625 yards of total offense and the Huskies’ morale in one fell swoop. Glenbard West enters Friday’s game as the prohibitive favorite. The Hilltoppers (6-1) have already beaten conference contenders Hinsdale Central and Lyons Township. Other than a shocking 64-32 loss against Maine South in their season opener, the Hilltoppers have been rolling through the competition as smoothly as Lake Ellyn on a picturesque fall afternoon. Glenbard West has a dynamic offense, featuring three good running backs in Tyquan Cox, Ryan Diver and Dre Thomas, a solid quarterback in Alex Hollensbee, and a stud receiver in Alec Pierce. The defense has improved greatly since the shellacking administered by Maine South. And here’s a daunting stat for OPRF fans. Since Chad Hetlet took over the program in 2007, Glenbard West is 118-17 with two state titles. Nevertheless, it’s time for the Huskies to beat the Hilltoppers. This so-called “rivalry” needs to become one. It has been 10 years since the Huskies dealt Glenbard West a loss. To paraphrase Judge Smails’ line to Danny Noonan right before the latter’s final winning putt in the movie “Caddyshack.” “Well Huskies, we’re waiting.” In order to beat the Hilltoppers, OPRF (5-2) will need to run the ball effectively.

Led by Terrance Roundy (17 carries, 127 yards) and Keith Robinson (9 carries, 87 yards), OPRF ran for 242 yards against York in a 30-7 victory last week. Quarterbacks Brian May and Toby Kunkel and wide receivers Trevon Brown and Craig Shelton need to play very well against Glenbard West. It’s a given that the Huskies must win the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball against the stout Hilltoppers’ linemen. Defensively, the Huskies can’t give up any long runs outside against Glenbard West. Containment is a must. If OPRF can keep everything bottled up on the inside, the Huskies have a chance. What would a win over Glenbard West mean? Not only would it clinch the Huskies a sixth straight playoff berth, it would improve the perception some outsiders such as high school football analyst Edgy Tim have of Hoerster’s program. Skeptics of OPRF football admit the program is solid, but needs more signature wins over the likes of Glenbard West, and in the postseason, as well. I disagree with that assessment a bit. The Huskies are better than solid- they are good. Consecutive wins over perennial power Lincoln-Way East in 2014 and 2015, coupled with notable victories over Lyons Township, Hinsdale Central and Simeon in recent years, reinforce the quality of the program. And yet, that elusive higher level remains hovering over the program. The Huskies have the talent, coaching, facility and resources to get it done. Only one other thing is still missing, and it’s something I’ve written about before. The Huskies need more enthusiasm from the community. I know the parents and friends of the players are always supportive. I’m talking about the larger community as a whole. Sure, attendance is up at Oak Park Stadium in recent years. The atmosphere in my opinion, however, is largely silent. A loud and supportive environment could do wonders for the Huskies and perhaps rattle the typically unflappable Hilltoppers. Shattering the status quo is never easy, but the OPRF players, coaches and fans can only make it happen one way. Together.

MELVIN TATE

File photo

OPRF senior running back Terrance Roundy rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries in a 30-7 win over host York on Friday, Oct. 6.

Huskies run over York Roundy and Robinson combine for 214 yards, 3 TDs on ground BY MARTY FARMER Sports Editor

The Oak Park and River Forest High School football team bounced back from a disappointing loss against Downers North with a 30-7 win at York on Friday, Oct. 6. The Huskies dominated the host Dukes with a strong ground game, led by running backs Terrance Roundy (17 carries, 127 yards, 2 TDs) and Keith Robinson (9 carries, 87 yards, TD). Roundy opened the scoring on a 3-yard run at 7:28 of the first quarter. Henry Darrow added the extra point to give OPRF a 7-0 lead. Roundy scored another touchdown on a 31-yard run with 7:23 left until halftime. John Mitchell returned a punt 65 yards into the end zone, extending the OPRF lead to 20-0 with 5:25 to go until the half. Late in the third quarter, Robinson added a 3-yard touchdown and Darrow the PAT to make the score 27-0. Darrow tacked on a 23yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter, finishing off the Huskies’ run of 30 unanswered points. The Dukes broke up the Huskies’ bid for a shutout on a 6-yard TD run with 2:56 left in the fourth quarter. OPRF amassed 279 yards of total offense, with 242 on the ground. Sophomore quarterback Toby Kunkel completed 7 of 10 passes for 37 yards and wide receiver Trevon Brown caught three passes for 23 yards. Defensively, Jake Sanchez led OPRF with 8.5 tackles and Mitchell had six tackles, followed by Miles Molette (5 tackles, interception), Cedric Cheatham (5.5 tackles, tackle

for loss) and Izaiah Ruffin (1.5 sacks). York rushed 39 times for 97 yards (2.5 yards per carry) and allowed three sacks. OPRF (5-2, 2-2 West Suburban Silver) hosts Glenbard West on Friday, Oct. 13. Game time is 7:30 p.m. An upset win over the Hilltoppers would do wonders for the Huskies’ confidence and tighten up the West Suburban Conference Silver Division race. Currently, Glenbard West sits atop the Silver with a 4-0 record, followed by Hinsdale Central (4-1 in conference), Lyons Township (3-1) and OPRF (2-2). As a testament to the strength of their conference, those four teams have a collective record of 22-6, with only two losses coming outside conference play. For more information about the OPRF/ Glenbard West game — as well as other OPRF and Fenwick sports news — visit www.oakpark.com or check out Friar/Huskie Sports Nation on Facebook.

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GOLF

Miss a week…

High hopes from page 32 the Mount Carmel Invitational with a 69. “Reese is a leader on the team who can always be relied upon for a good score,” Kribs said. “He does all the right things on and off the course. Michael is another leader whose steady play and even keel are assets to the team.” Senior Billy Bruce is the best athlete on the team. Previously, he played tennis at Fenwick. He’s also a key member of the Friars’ basketball team, which finished second in the state last year. “Billy is a Chicago Catholic League AllConference golfer,” Kribs said. “His competitive drive really helps him grind JERRY KRIBS out every shot.” Fenwick boys coach Promising underclassmen Jake Wiktor and Jackson Schaeffer have delivered already for the talented Friars. Wiktor is a freshman who shot a 75 to place fifth in regional play. He’s regarded as a tremendous chipper and putter. Schaeffer, a sophomore, has driving accuracy and grinds out every shot which enables him to score in the mid-70s. “Our greatest strength is our depth,” Kribs said. “Any of our six players have been and could be the low scorer of the day. This has been one of Fenwick’s best seasons to date. Playing well at the state tournament could very well make it the best.”

miss a lot.

With talented players like juniors John Parker and Andrew Corsini and sophomore Aiden Wittenberg, the future looks bright for the Huskies. All three golfers, along with senior Mike Milad, advanced to sectionals with good rounds at the Elk Grove Regional. Parker and Corsini each shot an 81, while Milad carded an 83. Wittenberg scored an 86 for the Huskies, who finished fourth in the team standings with a score of 331. The Huskies fell just short of qualifying for sectionals as only the top three teams move on. Fenwick (302), York (306) and Lake Park (310) finished ahead of OPRF.

Fenwick Girls The Friars’ score of 358 topped runner-up Payton by six strokes to win the Class 2A St. Ignatius Regional last week. Senior Stephanie Mroz led Fenwick with a score of 73 to earn medalist honors. Alexis Attard (92), Natalie Mortell (95), Taylor Holquist (98), Olivia Morrissey (101) and Brigid O’Hara (121) also contributed for the regional champs.

If you don’t have a subscription JOURNAL to Wednesday Oak Park police to car anti-overdosrye Journal, drug you’re missing a lot. Each week Wednesday Journal covers local news, local people, local sports and the local ads you want to see. Village hall, police, OPRF, the elementary schools, business, religion, we have Oak Park and River Forest covered. So why are you waiting— subscribe today! Three easy ways to subscribe: 1) call (708) 524-8300 2) visit OakPark.com/subscribe 3) mail in the form below. *Sign up today to receive Breaking News email updates! W E D N E S D A Y

June 1, 2016

Vol. 34, No. 42 ONE DOLLAR

of Oak Park

and River Fores t

@O @OakPark

Special pullout

section

Oak Park Fire Depart administers Narcan ment already roughly once a week

“This has been one of Fenwick’s best seasons to date.”

OPRF Boys

Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

By TIMOTHY

INKLEBARGER

Staff Reporter

Oak Park police with an anti-opioi officers will soon be equipped can, confirmed d overdose drug known as Tony Ambrose. Oak Park Deputy NarParticipants Police Chief A state law wave at the that went crowd during dates that into effect WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff the annual Memorial in January all Illinois Photographer mancarrying police departme Day Parade the drug in nts begin in River Forest an effort from heroin on May 30. and opioid-bas to prevent overdoses For more photos, Ambrose ed prescripti said in a on drugs. page 10. telephone OPPD is working interview that the ment to receive with the Oak Park Fire training and Narcan program. grant fundingDepartfor the Oak Park Deputy Fire in a telephone By TOM HOLMES Chief Peter to sunset, Pilafas said interview Contributing paramedi every day that fire Reporter cs have been for four weeks. Nausheen departme can for some trained to nt sounds very Syed Mohuddin administe ator, to develop on Yom much like r NarKippur or times a monthtime and used it an a (a.k.a. Mohi) Jew patience, and his wife a Christian average of to perfect in Ahmed Lent when she Nausheen one’s character. gratitude and four Pilafas applied 2014 and 2015. during describes keeping the Akhter will a Muslim When fasting, what Muslims on May 20 month of begin are striving for during is supposed will cover for the 5. The River Ramadan 100 percent behavior, to be on their Ramadan “What people on June Forest residents avoid anger, program, . of the costs grant, which may ing without and it etc. Many bad language, best for the OPPD food or drink, will fast, go- “is that the purposenot know,” she said, people give He said now was approved three example up bad habits,lies, of Ramadan from sunrise bring you days police and will attend closer spiritually fire departme later. is to spection smoking. It is for a training nt officials to your Creand self-reflec a time of introofficers on seminar to instruct how tion on how police Earlier this to administer the to betdrug. See RAMADA year, Oak Park Township N on page 12 SuperviSee NARCAN on page 13

A day of remem

An American River Forest couple says

brance

Ramadan

don’t make assum ptions about Muslim s

Fathe r’s Day brunch 9a-2:3 | Sund ay 0p Reservations:

Courtesy Matt McMurray

Anika Carlson tees off during regional play. She carded a 102 to qualify for sectionals. Marie Miller, Samantha Shalgos, Grace Bennett and Gabriella Kiel have provided depth this season. Fenwick tuned up for the postseason with a second-place showing in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference tourney at the Green Garden Golf Club in Frankfort. With a score of 342, the Friars trailed only Loyola in a 12-team field. GCAC All-Conference picks Mroz (third place, 2-over 73), Mortell (9th place, 84) and Attard (12th place) powered Fenwick to its runner-up finish. Fenwick has benefited from excellent play at the top of lineup. “Stephanie Mroz is a senior who is playing some of her best golf,” Fenwick coach Kitty Delany said. “She has an average 18hole score of 75 and an average 38 score over 9-holes. She is very talented and capable of placing very high, if not winning, the state finals. “Fellow senior Natalie Mortell has steadily improved her scoring. Alexis Attard is a big hitter. She’s also improved her short game this season, which has improved her scoring as well.”

OPRF Girls Although the Huskies fell short of advancing to sectionals as a team, two golfers earned their way to that round of postseason play. Junior Haley Gladden recorded the best score for OPRF with an 89 and fellow sec-

tional qualifier Anika Carlson carded a 102. “I think Haley can get downstate and I want to see Anika right on her heels,” OPRF coach Matt McMurray said. “Haley’s strengths are accuracy and her long game. She has a really strong all-around game. Anika’s strengths are driving and short game. “The players have a great attitude and there is camaraderie on this team. They all like one another and have fun while focusing on getter better.” Ella Haas missed qualifying for sectionals by one shot (107). “Ella shot a 35 against Willowbrook this year and has a handful of rounds in the 40s,” McMurray said. “She’s good at her drives and approaches.” Like Haas, Liv Conmy has been a welcome addition to the varsity. She drives the ball well and is a skilled player with irons. “Our strengths are driving the ball and playing well at home,” McMurray said. “We need to improve our stamina and consistency over 18 holes. Additionally, we need to break 50/100 more often on the back end of our lineup. We need more depth. This is McMurray’s first year at the varsity level. “I coached JV last year so not much of a track record thus far.” McMurray said Tom Kennedy has been a good addition as assistant coach. “Tom has really built a great relationship with his players,” McMurray said. “He makes the game fun for a team of mostly new and inexperienced golfers.”

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Wednesday Journal, October 11, 2017

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SPORTS Fenwick, OPRF golf on course for success Shattering the Status Quo

Huskies run over York

Friars have especially high hopes for state tournament BY MARTY FARMER

Sports Editor

ith the state finals this weekend, the summary for the OPRF and Fenwick boys and girls golf teams is incomplete. The statequalifying teams and individuals hope their best scorecard occurs at state. The Fenwick boys team could do some major damage at the state finals. The Friars, who finished fifth in the Class 2A state tournament last year, have flourished once again this season at the 3A level. The Friars’ impressive resume includes an Elk Grove Regional championship, a Chicago Catholic League title, four 1st place invite finishes, and a 12-1 overall record, with an 8-1 mark in the CCL. The team not only has talent but an effective mix of veterans and younger players. Junior Josh Kirkham was the medalist at the Elk Grove Regional with a 69 as the Friars posted a score of 302 to edge York (306) for the title. He’s an all-conference player who was also the medalist at the St. Laurence and St. Ignatius invites. “Josh has an all-around strong game,” Fenwick coach Jerry Kribs said. “His short game is impeccable.” Seniors Reese Wildermuth and Michael Scudder bolster the front end of a terrific lineup. Wildermuth, another all-conference performer, carded a 69 to finish first at the CCL Tournament. Scudder tied for first at Courtesy Jerry Kribs

See GOLF on page 31

(Left to right) Reese Wildermuth, Michael Scudder, Billy Bruce, Josh Kirkham, Jake Wiktor, Jackson Schaeffer.

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