Oak Park residents have voted to implement ranked choice voting, which allows voters to choose candidates in order of preference for village board elections.
Now that the referendum has passed, RCV will be used starting in April 2027. This method of voting includes the village trustees and village president, but not the village clerk.
According to results from the Cook County Clerk’s Office, of the 32 precincts in Oak Park and 39,728 registered local voters, 20,684 residents
Oak Park students, leaders to attend climate conference
The
2024 United Nations’ COP29 will be held in Azerbaijan, Nov. 11 - 22
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
Oak Park and River Forest High School seniors, Poppy Booth and Elora Cianciolo, will be attending the United Nations climate change conference, or COP29, along with OPRF Superintendent Greg Johnson and Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman.
World leaders and experts come together once a year to discuss the climate crisis and potential solutions at the climate conference. Young champions of climate advocacy attend, too.
Booth and Cianciolo are not the only Chicagoland students attending. It’s Our Future, the youth climate advocacy program of Seven Generations Ahead, is sending five area students to Baku, Azerbaijan, where the conference is taking place.
Scaman and Johnson were both invited by Gary Cuneen, founder and executive director of the local Seven Generations Ahead nonprofit. The Oak Park contingent will be attending for various days throughout the conference, but none will be there for the entire time
Student perspectives
Booth said her interest in climate change was sparked at the environmental club at OPRF, a group she now leads as co-president. Around 60 students are involved with the club that initiates climate-related projects around the school, she said. In the cafeteria, the group is growing lettuce through hydroponics, a means of growing plants in a water-based solution rather than in soil. In the school garden, Booth said the group works to grow native plants. The club also assesses the school’s sustainability plan, giving it a grade in each category.
Johnson said the plan relates to areas including greenhouse gases, waste production, education goals and food goals. It’s great that students are helping to keep the school accountable to its goals, he said. Booth said in colle ge she wants to study
civil engineering and learn ways to adapt the field to account for climate change.
At COP29, she said she’d like to learn about the impact of women and girls in conversations re garding climate change. People might not think about that, she said.
“If they think about climate change, or even thinking about climate justice, gender isn’t always brought into it, but it is a significant factor,” Booth said. “Women and girls, especially in developing countries, are normally more impacted by climate change because of the roles that they typically hold.”
Booth said she wants to make connections with people she might not otherwise meet at COP29.
“I’m really excited to be able to talk to people who are from all around the world, and who have had a lot of different experiences around climate change and hear about their lives and their perspectives,” she said.
Cianciolo said her love for animals inspired her interest in climate change. She has five rescued pet birds, that helped her understand how sensitive animals are to small changes.
“[Birds] are a danger to themselves, and everything is a danger to them,” she said. “It’s interesting seeing that on a global scale.”
Her family works to implement environmentally friendly gardening practices, Cianciolo said, including raking leaves into their garden bed.
At COP29, Cianciolo said she’s excited to explore topics related to biodiversity, sustainability and conservation. Europe,
for example, has launched rewilding programs, trying to reintroduce animals that have gone extinct or disappeared from their lands back into their native environments, Cianciolo said.
Cianciolo said she’s also looking forward to speaking with people who experience climate change firsthand. In the Midwest, residents might not be feeling the most severe impacts of climate change.
The young activist said she plans to study zoolo gy and fisheries and wildlife management in colle ge.
“It’s important for people to know that climate change is becoming an even more pressing issue as time continues and the impacts get worse,” Cianciolo said. “It’s no longer a far of f problem that can be put on the sidelines.”
Loc al leaders
Johnson said OPRF students have been sent to the United Nations’ climate conference for three years now. He said he’s “incredibly privileged” to be able to attend with Booth and Cianciolo. Attending with other local leaders, like Scaman, will also help deepen the village’s commitment to sustainability, he said.
He said the school districts, like the District 97 elementary schools and OPRF, are working to sync their policies with the village’s to create efficient ef for ts to promote sustainability locally.
The OPRF superintendent said he’s looking forward to attending education-related sessions at the climate conference and for
WEDNESD
AY
of Oak Park and River Forest
Editor Erika Hobbs
Digital Manager Stac y Coleman
Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan
Sta Repor ter Luzane Draughon
Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor
Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora
Contributing Editor Donna Greene
Columnists Marc Bleso , Jack Crowe, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger
Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck
Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead
Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea
Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza
Marketing & Adver tising Associate Ben Stumpe
Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls
Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan
Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
Special Projects Manager Susan Walker
Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs Publisher Dan Haley
Chair Eric Weinheimer |
Wendor f Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Audra Wilson
ELORA CIANCIOLO
VICKI SC AMAN POPPY BOOTH GREG JOHNSON
Jazz Prayer: Courage to Love the “O ther”
Friday, Nov. 15, Doors Open 7:10 p.m.,
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
End the week with an uplifting Jazz Prayer experience. Join us for live jazz by professional musicians, along with inspiring readings and prayers exploring the theme “Courage to Love the ‘Other.’” Together, we will re ect on bridging divides, fostering unity, and strengthening community. Refreshments are served at 7:10 p.m., with the service following at 7:30. Children are welcome, and the evening concludes by 8:30. Cannot attend in person? Join our livestream on our website or on Facebook. 611 Randolph St., Oak Park
Coding Fun For Kids
Saturday, Nov. 16, 10-11 a.m., Oak Park Public Library Dive into the world of coding in a bilingual (English and Spanish) setting with Codi ca + Code. This engaging session for kids in grades 3-5 includes fun brain breaks and introduces coding basics, cybersecurity, AI, and more. Register at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park
Terr y Sullivan Jazz Quar tet in Concert - The Best Is Yet To Come: Music Of Cy Coleman
Saturday, November 16, 7:30-9:15 p.m., Grace Episcopal Church
Join Forest Park resident and jazz vocalist Terry Sullivan, along with Chicago’s top jazz musicians—pianist Tom Muellner, bassist Scott Mason, and drummer Jon Deitemyer—for a tribute to Broadway composer Cy Coleman. Known for hits like “Witchcraft” and the score for Sweet Charity, Coleman’s music continues to shine Tickets: $25 per person, available at www.ticketsource.us/ terrysullivanjazz or cash at the door. For more information: 708-488-1701 (phone only; no text). 924 Lake St., Oak Park
The Real Elf Holiday Experience
Saturday, Nov. 16, 12-4 p.m., Art Studio 928
Join us for a festive afternoon with ornament decorating, elf-themed face painting, DIY holiday cards, and a holiday gift shop. Enjoy a performance by Tommy Holl as “The Real Elf,” spreading joy and laughter. Free for children 12 and under with a paying adult. Donations welcome to support youth art programs. 451 South Blvd., Oak Park
BIG WEEK November
Compiled by Brooke Duncan
Co ee and Conversation
Thursday, Nov. 14, 9:30 a.m.,
Nineteenth Century Charitable Association
Join Chuck Stone of Braver Angels for a timely discussion on reducing polarization in political conversations. This program will delve into how we can approach conversations about people on the opposite side of the political spectrum with respect and without stereotyping or contempt. Learn ways to intervene constructively when conversations drift toward hostilit y. Invite friends and family to join this open, public event, free of charge.
178 Forest Ave., Oak Park
Heritage Chorale 40th Anniversary Fall Concert
Saturday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church
Heritage Chorale is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a fall concer t. The program features “Norb: Life as an Ar t Form,” a commissioned piece by Emmy Award-winner Alex Wurman that honors the artistic journey of Heritage Chorale founder Norbert Teclaw. The concert also includes John Leavitt’s “Missa
Festiva,” Paul Carey’s “The Whole World Is Glad of the Wind” (dedicated to pianist Tehra Hiolski), and selec tions by Leonard Bernstein, Eleanor Daley, and Franz Schuber t. Tickets available online at heritagechorale.com or at the door. 7300 W. Division St., River Forest
‘The Drowsy Chaperone’
Saturday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., Perc y Julian Middle School Auditorium
Join CAST for this Tony Award-winning musical farce
When a theater fan plays his favorite cast album, the characters come to life. Tickets: $8 for students and seniors, $12 for adults. Available at castatjulian.org or at the door. 416 S. Ridgeland, Oak Park
Sunday Funday at Friendly Community
Sunday, Nov. 17, 12 p.m., Friendly Community
Join in on Sunday Funday, where there’s something for everyone: enjoy Sports & Brews in the Tap, Games & Crafts in the Co ee Shop, and Family Yoga in the Community Room. Mary Yoga will lead mindful movement sessions focused on social-emotional learning and nervous system regulation, perfect for all ages Afterward, make a themed craft or try out Friendly’s board games during Open Play. Entry is free, yoga available for an additional fee. 6731 Roosevelt Road., Oak Park
Monday Enrichment
Monday, Nov. 18, 1:15 p.m., Nineteenth Century Charitable Association Pulitzer Prize -winning author Jonathan Eig presents an exploration of Martin Luther King Jr. as depicted in his biography King: A Life. Hailed as the “de nitive” biography by the New York Times, this National Book Award-nominated work provides a profound look into King’s life and legac y. King: A Life also received the 2024 Barbara and David Zalaznick Book Prize from the New York Historical Society. Join us for this thought-provoking talk. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park
Running Through History
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 7-8:30 p.m., Oak Park River Forest Museum
As the running season comes to a close, join the Historical Society of Oak Park-River Forest for a special program on the history of running in the community. This panel discussion will feature stories from local runners about how the sport has impacted their lives, along with a small exhibit of local running artifacts, many donated by longtime runner and coach Paul Oppenheim. Regular admission rates apply ($5 residents, $7 nonresidents, $3 students, free for members). Visit oprfmuseum.org for more information. 129 Lake St., Oak Park
Papaspiros on Lake Street closes a er 28 years
Greek restaurant hopes to reopen in ‘near future’ at new location with easier takeout options
By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter
After 28 years of serving authentic Greek cuisine on Lake Street in Oak Park, Papaspiros closed its doors on Nov. 5.
The restaurant publicized the closure on Nov. 4 through an announcement on its website that thanked its many customers and said: “While we say goodbye for now, this isn’t the end. We’re hopeful and excited to return in 2025 – bigger, better and ready to create new memories with you all.”
Owner Spiro Papageorge established Papaspiros in Oak Park in 1996. In 2014, the restaurant moved to a new spot, 728 Lake St., right across the street from its original location.
According to William Rakes, Papageorge’s business partner, they hope to reopen in a space on Madison Street at some point in 2025.
“We want our next location to be more convenient for pickup orders,” Rakes said. For the past few years, Papaspiros has experienced an increasing number of pickup and takeout orders and a decreasing number of in-house diners.
“During COVID, I think people got used
to not going to the restaurant,” Rakes said. “People do not come into the restaurant and sit down as much as they once did.”
Rakes said inflation is another factor that he believes has caused a decreasing number of customers.
“We have a good product and we have wonderful customers – we just need more of them,” he said.
If Papaspiros ends up landing a space on Madison Street, Rakes hopes to introduce a takeout window at their new location.
“That’s the dream,” he said. “We want to concentrate on the pickup because that’s the trend.”
In the days following the announcement of the closure, the restaurant has received many calls from customers
“The calls are from people saying how sorry they are to see us leave and that they loved our food,” Rakes said.
According to Papageorge, gyros has been the most popular item among customers during his 28 years of running Papaspiros
“Everyone loves the gyros,” Papageorge said.
While he is a fan of the gyros as well, Papageorge’s personal favorite on the menu has been Spanakopita.
“I love this restaurant,” he said.
Since Papaspiros has their restaurant space through the end of 2024, they are available to host private parties during the month of December.
For more information about having a private party at Papaspiros, email reservation@papaspiroslive.com.
Forest Preserves of Cook County Your
NATURAL FUN
Walk, bike or run: With 350 miles of trails, this is where to get outside and get healthy.
TODD BANNOR
Outdoor dining at Papaspiros, which may move to Madison Street.
Most administrative departments ask for more money, too
Oak Park includes a $221K increase for the DEI o ce budget and $165K more for sustainability
e orts
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
Oak Park’s administrative departments, including human resources, finance, information technology, the village clerk’s office and the village manager’s office, are asking for more money in 2025. Law was the only department to have a slight decrease in its budget.
The operating departments, including police, public health, public works, fire, development services and neighborhood services also asked for more money in 2025. Interim Chief Financial Officer Donna Gayden will present the full budget to the village board on Nov. 19. Trustees are expected to approve a finalized version Dec. 3.
HUMAN RESOURCES
The Human Resources Department works to empower village employees and bolster recruitment and retention ef forts. The proposed budget for this department in 2025 is $1.042 million, up slightly from $1.023 million in 2024.
Changes to the budget include an increase in health insurance expenses, advertising efforts and external support. It also includes a decrease in temporary service costs and unemployment insurance payments
Human Resources Director Kira Tchang said that in 2025 the department hopes to focus on recruitment and retention efforts for numerous available roles in the village like entry level police officers and firefighters.
“We are estimating that we will have a maybe slightly higher than average hiring cycle in ‘25,” she said.
Other goals include expanding the online learning management system, leadership training, expanding employee wellness initiatives and supporting other departments with programs related to the alternative response to calls for service and unhoused population.
VILL AG E CLERK’S OFFICE
The Village Clerk’s Office, run by Village Clerk Christina Waters, works to keep official records and facilitate public participation in government. This office records all village board meetings, maintains records like minutes and ordinances and ensures compliance with the Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act
The proposed budget in 2025 is about $320,000, up from roughly $287,000 in 2024. That’s mainly due to an increase in salaries and benefits.
In 2025, Waters said the department will continue to provide notary services and voter re gistration accessibility. They’ll offer programs to promote health and wellness, collaborate with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, eng age with youth and encourage civic participation.
Trustee Lucia Robinson said 2024 was a “banner year” for the clerk’s office. The 2024 accomplishments, including voter re gistration services, multi-cultural event coordination, neighborhood clean-up event and junior deputy clerk program are just a
few examples.
Robinson said she loves the junior deputy clerk program, where an elementary student spends a half-day with Waters and takes the roll call at a village board meeting.
“[That’s] not quantifiable, but so highly valuable,” she said. “I want each one of those girls to know that they could grow up and actually sit at this board table.”
Trustee Cory Wesley wondered if the office might be able to sponsor an internship program, and Waters said she’d like that, too.
VILL AG E MANAGER’S OFFICE Adjudication
The adjudication division within the Village Manager’s Office conducts administrative hearings addressing parking citations and code compliance violations. The department also manages juvenile adjudication, seeking nonpunitive outcomes like community service.
The 2025 recommended budget is about See BUDGET on pa ge 10
Make a Difference in the Health of Our Community
Oak Park’s next clerk to get a 3% raise for 3 year s
The next elected clerk’s starting salary will be $107,000
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
Oak Park’s next elected clerk will receive a 3% raise in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
The new raise structure comes a week after trustees raised the base salary for the position to $107,000 from $76,625.
The village board decided on new salaries for the next elected officials at the Oct. 29 meeting, but they will not go into effect immediately. The trustees, president and clerk who are elected, or reelected, in April 2025 will be the first to earn the new figures.
Village Clerk Christina Waters is running for reelection in 2025.
On Oct. 29, trustees said they weren’t sure about the best way to structure raises for the clerk. They contemplated setting raises at a specific percentage increase annually or evaluating and determining raises on a regular basis. Most said they’d like the raises to help offset cost of living increases
Kira Tchang, the village’s human resources director, told the board Tuesday that the village’s pension contribution does fluctuate yearly, but by a relatively small amount. Increases in pay allow for “marginal” changes to the recommended contribution rate, she said.
Parakkat said he would have been more comfortable supporting an annual raise if the salary increase had been closer to a 10% to 15% bump. The increase was closer to a 40% bump, from $76,625 to $107,000.
“If somebody gave me a job o er, ‘Hey, we’re going to hire you at this number but you’re not going to get any raises. It would make me a whole lot less interested in the job.”
BRIAN
STRAW Oak Park village trustee
On Tuesday, trustees decided to stick with a set annual increase, 3%, but only for the next clerk’s term from 2025 to 2029. After that, a future village board can decide whether they want to change that parameter again.
The vote passed 4-2, with Trustee Susan Buchanan absent. Trustees Lucia Robinson and Ravi Parakkat voted against it.
Robinson had concerns about the unknown impact of these changes on the village’s pension contribution. The clerk is eligible for the same benefits as other village employees, including health insurance, paid leave and a pension contribution.
“It’s hard for me to tell what our overall pension impact could be,” Robinson said, pointing out that built-in raises can’t be changed during the clerk’s term. “I’m not entirely comfortable supporting that automatic increase year over year. Especially given that we’re trying to catch up on our pension.”
Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
Talking Politics at the Thanksgiving Table
This month’s family get-together could become stressful when the election enters the conversation.
Join us at COFFEE AND CONVERSATION
Thursday, Nov. 14, at 9:30 am
The Nineteenth Century Club
Trustee Brian Straw, however, said the 3% annual raise makes sense for now. The village wants a clerk that can functionally operate on the salary and support a family over a four-year ter m.
“If somebody gave me a job offer, ‘Hey, we’re going to hire you at this number but you’re not going to get any raises,’” he said. “It would make me a whole lot less interested in the job.”
Trustee Cory Wesley also pointed out that the clerk, who works full-time, has to do mandatory overtime work that other elected officials might not. When thinking about compensation, it’s important to factor that in along with inflation and the cost of living in Oak Park
“I don’t think we would hire any other position in our village and say, ‘This is your salary and it’s going to be your salary for the next four years,’” he said.
Trustees originally considered setting the clerk’s raise at 3% indefinitely. Straw said he was fine with that, because he didn’t want a future board’s inaction to essentially lead to a pay cut for the clerk. Robinson, however, pointed out that no other village staff positions get an automatic guaranteed raise at a set amount.
Village President Vicki Scaman said she would prefer limiting the annual adjustment to the clerk’s salary to the next term of the village clerk and that preference prevailed
Chuck Stone of Braver Angels will lead a discussion and offer tips on how to navigate discussion between friends and family on different sides of the political divide.
Admission is free and open to the public. Bring a friend!
OPRF alum’s new book helps kids understand the horror of Hurricane Helene
Jamieson’s e -book is designed to help with managing their feelings
By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter
OPRF High School alum Rachel Jamieson has penned a book for families with young children affected by Hurricane Helene, one of the deadliest hurricanes to strike the US mainland in the last 50 years.
Titled “There Was a Hurricane,” the ebook aims to help kids better understand the impact of the devastating September 2024 storm.
Jamieson, who has been an early childhood educator for 15 years, co-wrote the book with her friend Karin Erickson, a licensed clinical social worker. Jamieson and Erickson both attended Warren Wilson Colle ge in Swannanoa, N.C. and then spent several years living in Asheville. Both Swannanoa and Asheville were severely damaged by Helene. Although Jamieson and Erickson now live in Washington, D.C.,
they were hear tbroken by the destruction that the storm inflicted on an area and community that they love so dearly.
“We just had a feeling of devastation once the hurricane hit, and it hit our colle ge town particularly hard,” said Jamieson, whose parents still live in Oak Park.
“We couldn’t go down there to help, so we thought ‘what else can we do?’
Because Jamieson and Erickson both work with young children, they knew that teaming up to provide a source of support for the youngest individuals impacted by the storm was their calling.
“I think we both knew immediately that this is kind of our strength and our gift,” Jamieson said. “I write a lot of these stories for children.”
As a teacher, Jamieson writes this type of e-book, also known as a social story, for individual students who need help better understanding certain things that are happening in their lives, such as the addition of a younger sibling or an upcoming surgery. She has also written them for her entire class on more communal topics, like what an upcoming field trip is going to entail.
“It’s really important for children to be spoken to and involved in these big changes in a way that makes sense,” Jamieson said.
In Jamison and Erickson’s 11-page picture book about Helene, they describe what happened during the storm, what people are doing in the aftermath to clean up, and ways that life might feel different for a while. They also address the feelings that children have likely experienced as a result of the storm and suggest things they can do to feel better.
In addition to helping children, Jamison said the book also provides adults with a script for how they can tackle this big topic, which they might not have words for yet.
“It can help them feel more confident in eng aging in this conversation with children,” Jamison said.
After completing their e-book, Jamieson and Erickson initially shared it with their own networks. However, the book gained a much wider audience after people started posting about it on social media.
“It snowballed in a way that we never imagined,” Jamieson said.
They have since received emails from school superintendents and teachers in
the area, saying that they are utilizing the book with their students.
“It’s being shared in online networks in the early childhood community both county-wide and state-wide,” Erickson said.
To access and share “There Was a Hurricane,” visit https://ow.ly/h3tH50U36XJ
Malaysian-born artistic director for Heritage Chorale chose music over medicine
Fall concerts begin this Saturday
By JACK HELBIG Contributing Reporter
When Wen Chin Liu-Young was growing up in Malaysia her mother wanted her to be a pharmacist, or at least pursue a career in the sciences likes much of her family.
But Liu-Young followed a different path: music. Now she is in her third season as artistic director for Heritage Chorale, which kicks of f its new season on Saturday with a concert in River Forest.
Getting from Malaysia to the Chicago
area was more than just transversing the miles. It was convincing her family to allow her to pursue her passion.
She be g an taking piano lessons at age 7.
Though Liu-Young was, like her brothers, also good in the sciences, her heart wasn’t in it.
“I told my mom I don’t think I have any interest in memorizing medicine names.” LiuYoung recalled. After Liu-Young explored a couple of other non-musical careers (economics, accounting), her mother let her daughter follow her heart and pursue a career in music.
Liu-Young earned her bachelor’s de gree in Malaysia and then came to the United States to study chorale music in 2009 at Bowling Green State University in Ohio,
where she got her master’s de gree. She also studied at the University of Iowa.
Liu-Young said life in the American Midwest is very different than in tropical Malaysia “I love the fall here because I’d never seen changing colors on the trees growing up. It is so beautiful. And then winter is also pretty. It’s just cold,” she said.
Liu-Young moved to Chicago with her husband in 2022 and soon after she became the artistic director of the Heritage Chorale. She is also an adjunct faculty at Benedictine University in Lyle, a pianist at the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Arlington Heights (where she also works with their small choir) and is the music academy su-
RACHEL JAMIESON
WEN CHIN LIU-YOUNG
Aldi opens for business
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Over 100 people lined up in front of 215 Harlem Ave. Thursday to be among the first patrons at the new Aldi in town.
Among the impressive turnout of eager shoppers, a few shared why exactly they were in line – some before 7 a.m. – for the grocery store’s ribbon cutting that took place just after 8 a.m.
“This changes the game,” said Burhan Syed, who lives around the corner from the new Aldi, which is located at the site of the for mer Bed Bath & Beyond.
Syed said he moved from Seattle, Washington to Forest Park because of the village’s walkability. He added that he’s excited about getting fresh food down the street and keeping tax dollars in Forest Park
Forest Park resident Carmen Cervantes shops at the Aldi in Melrose Park. She said
she came to the grand opening “because it’s Aldi, and it’s right down the street.”
Armando Vargas, a Stickney resident, came to the grand opening to take advantage of Aldi’s af fordable prices. He said he could spend $100 at Jewel and get the same amount of groceries at Aldi for $60.
Michelle Melin-Rogovin, commissioner of streets and public improvements, frequents Living Fresh Market, the only grocery store in Forest Park after Ed’s Way closed in March. She said she’s excited for locals to have another choice when it comes to getting af fordable, fresh food.
“To have a grocery store on the north side of Forest Park and the south side of Forest Park is ideal,” Melin-Ro govin said.
“It’s always good to have options.”
She added that, from talking to those in
INFLATION-FIGHTERS: Aldi on Harlem opened its doors, Nov. 7. Shoppers were ready. But rst, the ribbon-cutting
JESSICA MORDACQ
BUDGET
from page 6
$639,000, up from about $603,000 in 2024. The increase is largely due to an about $19,000 increase in “external support” services, according to Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad.
Priorities in 2025 include starting youth defense adjudication hearings, increasing service opportunities for youth, providing more training for judges and providing mediation services to resolve resident disag reements.
Communications
The communications division, led by Chief Communications Officer Dan Yopchick, works to provide “timely, transparent and relevant information,” to help foster a connected community
In 2025, the department is asking for about $851,000, a slight bump from about $829,000 in 2024. Increases relate to salaries, civic engagement curriculum and external support
Yopchick explained priorities for the department next year, including launching an “Oak Park 101” curriculum for residents to learn about the village’s history and services, continuing citizen engagement through tools like Engage Oak Park and updating technology
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion works to champion diversity, advance racial equity and social justice and foster inclusion, said Danielle Walker, the chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer.
“[It’s] important with DEI that we do remain committed to how we’re growing, lear ning, reflecting and engaging,” she said.
The proposed budget for 2025 is about $916,000, a significant increase from about $695,000 in 2024. Those increases are due to $100,000 needed for language access services, $70,000 for a re parations study and the cultural competency speaker series, and $45,000 more for special events.
Walker said goals for 2025 include completing a racial equity action strategic plan, reviewing policies and procedures, finalizing reparations research, expanding renter support, and developing a “Will You Be My Neighbor?” trainer series to educate the community on inclusive practices.
Sustainability
The Sustainability and Resiliency Office is expected to guide implementation of the
Climate Ready Oak Park plan through partnerships with other departments and organizations
The division is asking for about $1.2 million in 2025, up from $1.045 million in 2024. Increases include the energy efficiency grant program, building energy use efforts, biodiversity work and climate plan administration.
Chief Sustainability Officer Lindsey Roland Nieratka said 2025 goals include transitioning gas equipment to electric, increasing municipal aggregation, increasing green infrastructure and bringing back Earth Day celebrations
Trustees also discussed the possibility of upping the 10-cent tax on plastic bags in stores to fur ther encourage residents to use reusable ones.
FINANCE
The Finance Department works to ensure proper use of taxpayer dollars and reduce costs where possible. Gayden proposed a budget of $11.2 million for this department, up from $10.9 million in 2024.
In 2025, Gayden said the department will work to amend the property tax levy policy, create a long-term financial plan and conduct a comprehensive review of village fees. She also said she plans to hire a budget manager.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
This department is an internal service provider to village staf f, assisting with things like software, data backup, facility access and video. The proposed budget for 2025 is $1.689 million, up only slightly from $1.687 million in 2024.
Alvin Nepomuceno, the information technology director, said the department’s priorities for next year include implementing and open data service, helping the police and fire departments install new record management systems, working on Cloud backups and installing Office 365.
LAW
The law department provides legal services to the village. In 2025, its proposed budget at about $917,000 is slightly decreased from 2024 at about $919,000.
Priorities in 2025 include maintaining legal services, working in-house when possible and adding an additional attorney to the staf f.
Trustees are expected to review the full budget Nov. 19.
LIU-YOUNG
Music over medicine
from page 8
pervisor at Project 88 Music Academy in Berwyn. She is also an administrative assistant at the Concordia Lutheran Church, the ELCA Concordia Church in Chicago.
It is a busy schedule that leaves Liu-Young breathless. But she is following her bliss.
These days she is busy preparing the Heritage Chorale for their fall concert, “Life is an Art Form: A Choral Celebration” (Saturday, November 16, at 7:30 at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest and Sunday, November 17, at 4 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, Oak Park). This is Heritage Chorale’s 40th anniversary.
To celebrate, the chorale commissioned a new work celebrating, Norbert Teclaw Who founded the community-based Heritage Chorale in 1984 with his wife Nancy Teclaw and a group of other choral singers in Oak Park.
The piece they are doing, “Norb: Life as an Art Form,” was written by the Emmy Award winning composer (and for mer Oak Parker) Alex Wur man.
Wur man had known Teclaw growing up
in Oak Park. He first met Norbert Teclaw when he was 7 or 8 years old, and his older siblings had Teclaw as a teacher at the OPRF High School.
Teclaw was a teacher at OPRF, a faculty member at an experimental progressive educational program at the high school (dubbed the Experimental Program, or XP).
“Norb was not directly influential on my music, but he was certainly influential on the way I view the world. He was a big fan of Buckminster Fuller. When my brother was in high school, he made a geodesic dome for Norb’s geometry class. And it was about four feet in diameter, and it was my personal play toy in my backyard.
“Norbert actually wasn’t an actual teac her of mine. But he was a presence in my everyday life. I would see him every day. And we would, even if we didn’t talk, it was just a glance that he could give me. Norbert, you know, just has a distinctive vibe to him. He was a teacher. He found innovative ways to show students things that changed their lives. He founded the Heritage Chorale because he wanted to bring the community up to the fore.”
Wur man said that he enjoyed working with Liu-Young on the piece. “She’s like a musical scientist, a spiritual musical scientist. And so it’s been really fun to go back and forth with her.”
to see how the inside of the for mer Bed Bath & Beyond has been transfor med
After Bed Bath & Beyond closed in March 2023, Aldi’s opening experienced minor delays.
line waiting to be the store’s first shoppers, many were from outside Forest Park
“I’m excited because it’s drawing people in from Oak Park,” Melin-Ro govin said. Suzanne Satterlee attended the Aldi grand opening from the neighboring village. She came because she loves Aldi, has visited locations in Austria and Hungary, and expects to now shop here instead of the Aldi in North Riverside.
“I’m excited to have one closer to home,” Satterlee said.
Forest Parker Taylor Hanson also shops at the North Riverside Aldi. She stood in line for the new location’s grand opening, partially because she and her family of seven love the store, and for the chance to win a $500 gift card
“I’m pumped to have an Aldi in Forest Park,” said resident Taylor Hanson.
While those who stood in line for the Forest Park Aldi’s grand opening got their shopping carts without first depositing a quarter, future visitors will need to have one handy
This was largely because contractors discovered a basement beneath the building that wasn’t on their plans, according to Steve Glinke, the director of Forest Park’s department of public health and safety
While addressing the unknown basement, contractors also updated the building’s electrical infrastructure, plus its roof and ceiling. They added an area for deliveries and redesigned the building’s facade. Inside, they installed refrigerators, freezers and cashier stations, according to Village Administrator Rachell Entler
“I think that people are looking for convenience. Aldi has taken on a national presence. They are providing food at af fordable prices,” Village Administrator Rachell Entler previously told the Review. “They have a value that has become something that families are wrapping their hands around. People want food stability and not to spend their whole paycheck on it.”
Aldi is open at 215 Harlem Ave. daily from 9 a.m.
Sliced Turkey
Carved Turducken
Carved Ham off the Bone
Broasted Chicken
Pierogies
Fresh & Smoke Polish Sausage
Shrimp Cocktail
Stuffing/Sauerkraut
Sweet Potatoes
Potato Pancakes
Stuffed Cabbage
Mashed Potatoes with Brown Gravy
Best Salad Bar in Town
Mushroom & Chicken Noodle Soup
Apple Crepes + Soft Serve Ice Cream
Data tells the tale of District 97’s ‘commendable’ rating
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Superintendent: ‘Results show we are trending in the right direction’
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
We live in the age of data, so it might be easy to get lost in a document like the Illinois Re port Card 2023-24. But for Dr. Ush-
their own approach to learning,” she said.
“Guided by our Equity Policy, our school teams develop school improvement plans each year with their specific students in mind. Our approach is to work toward excellence targets by focusing our practice on reducing lear ning bar riers for students.”
The District 97 Equity Policy was adopted in 2019 and provides a roadmap on how it will eliminate racial inequities and systemic disparities, and create and ensure educational opportunities for all students.
tors to review multiple for ms of data, to try on new approaches with courage, and to learn to gether to generate the kind of universal student success that has not yet been achieved.”
District 97 enrolled 5,540 students in 202324 — 51.8% male, 47.2% female and 1% nonbinary. Over 52% were white, 16.8% were Black and 14.7% were Hispanic. A little over 25% were students with disabilities.
“Oak Park D97 has welcomed an increasing number of multilingual students, students with disabilities, students with IEPs, and low-income students as the demographics of our Oak Park community shift over time,” Shah said.
“Each of these students bring assets and
“We look forward to working in tandem with the Illinois State Board of Education’s new math plan as we consider how to improve math teaching and learning in our district,” she said.
Jumps in chronic absenteeism plague other area districts, but in District 97 that number dropped to 14% in 2024 from 15% the year prior. Based on the years since the Covid-19 pandemic, this number is consistent.
While chronic absenteeism rates haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, Dr. Anna Colaner, senior director of data analytics and research, said differences by demographic group has District 97’s attention.
“Specifically, the (school year) 2024 chronic absenteeism rate for our Black
USHMA SHAH
Every District 90 school is ‘exemplary’ in latest state report card
River Forest is the only district in state with three or more schools in top rating
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
River Forest District 90 has something no other district in the state has: All three schools in the district – Lincoln Elementary, Willard Elementary and Roosevelt Middle School – were designated Exemplary in the annual Illinois Re port Card 2023-24 that was made public Oct. 30.
Exemplary schools are those that rank in the top 10% of the state, while Commendable schools rank in the next 67%.
In the previous year, Willard and Lincoln schools were Exemplary. Now Roosevelt has joined that group. District 90 was the only one in Illinois with three or more schools to be awarded Exemplary designations for all district schools, according to a press release.
“In three years, we’ve gone from one to three schools,” said Dr. Ed Condon, District 90 superintendent. “My first reaction was immense pride of our school community. Most importantly, it’s the students who bring their A-game every day. All of us associated with our school community are honored to be a part.”
District 90 enrolled 1,338 students in 2023-24 – 65.3% white, 11.1% Hispanic and 6.6% Asian. About 5% were Black. Average class size dropped from 20.5 to 19.3. A concern for many nearby districts is the growth of chronic absenteeism, but
students is roughly 16 percentage points higher than the white students,” Colaner said. “We currently eng age with school improvement teams around different for ms of data and now that the pandemic is behind us, we are taking a closer look at chronic absenteeism.”
Here’s another data point that some view as concerning: A teacher retention rate of
this is an area where District 90 went down, to 9.3% in 2024 from 13.4% the prior year. Condon said the better statistic to consider is the 9.2% rate in 2022.
“The 9.3% is a decrease and more typical to the previous year,” Condon said, “but it’s still higher than we wish. We can’ t provide high-quality teaching if the kids aren’t in school.”
Managing chronic absenteeism comes down to building principals’ ongoing communications with f amilies, underscoring the importance for kids to be in school, he said, along with info rming f amilies of absence rate
T here was plenty for Condon to be pleased about in the re port card. A full 76.4% met or exceeded performance levels for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test in English/Language Arts. That was up from 66.7% in 2023. In Math, 66.8% met or exceeded IAR performance levels, compared with 60% in 2023 and 73.4% in pre-pandemic 2019.
“On the standardized assessment IAR, we’re pleased our students are achieving pre-pandemic levels in ELA and Math,” he said. “We’ re really proud of that.”
He was also stoked about an over 80% proficient or exemplary showing on Science assessment, with 45.2% exemplary.
But the key stat, in Condon’s mind, is the IAR Growth Percentile relative to other students in the state. In ELA, 59.8% achieved better than the state mean of 50%. In Math, 62.3% achieved better than that 50% state mean. In 2023, the district achieved 55% in ELA and 58% in Math.
“It’s a value-added metric,” Condon said of the IAR Growth Percentile. “Repor t
89.8%, differing a bit from other area districts that are well into the 90th percentile. But look deeper, said Dr. Natacia Campbell Tominov, assistant superintendent of human resources and equity: The 2023-24 re port card showed that the district’s retention rate has been on an upward trend since pre-pandemic 2019, when it was 83.9%.
cards still have a student ac hievement assessment, but student achievement has f allen in relation to growth. Schools are ensuring every kid is growing.”
Also notable: Condon is seeing nar rowing performance differences in ELA and Math between boys and girls.
“It’s a unique statistic, but something we follow in D90,” he said. “We want to see all kids perfor ming at high level.”
Of course, any report card – for student or district – will reveal areas that require ongoing improvement. One that caught Condon’s eye was the 10% At Target achievement in the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) assessment for students with cognitive disabilities, with none listed as Advanced. In prepandemic 2019, 23.5% performed At Target with another 11.8% listed as Advanced. Approximately 1% of students take the DLM
“Based on previous analyses, we have been attending to Black teacher retention rates, and we are pleased to see improvement for that group,” Tominov said. “At the same time, disparities between and declines in retention rates for other racial/ ethnic groups is on our radar.
“We reco gnize that having teachers that reflect the racial diversity of our students
assessment.
Another area of concern is continued gaps between non-low income and low-income students. The Achievement Gap in the IAR for ELA was minus-35 in ELA and minus-39 in Math.
“To see those gaps continuing is something we’re going to be working on,” Condon said.
On the flip side, Teacher Retention is still a positive, sitting at 90.9%, almost exactly what it was in 2023 and in line with prepandemic 2019 (92.3%). Over 79% of 120 total teachers possess a master’s degree or higher
“We invest heavily in identification and hiring,” Condon said. “The culture here is a culture of commitment. I hope that it provides an environment where their contributions are valued. We’re so fortunate to have the people we have.”
is likely to have a positive impact on our whole school community. We look forward to continuing successful staf f initiatives as we seek to align ourselves with the district’s Equity Policy.”
Another positive is the fact that 65.2% of the district’s 459-plus teachers have a master’s de gree or higher. That remained consistent with the prior four years.
PROVIDED
Fourth grade students participate in a guided writing session with teacher Janeen Walsh, at Willard Elementary School in River Forest.
River Forest honored for green alley project
MWRD recognizes the village for promoting green infrastructure
By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter
River Forest was one of three municipalities to receive awards at the 12th annual Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Sustainability Summit last month.
In addition to River Forest, municipalities receiving awards at the summit, which was held Oct. 29 at the water reclamation plant auditorium in Stickney, were Glenview and Riverside. Also, education awards were presented to Afua Agyeman-Badu, principal at Aldridge Elementary School in Chicago, and Network 49, an independent grassroots political organization in Chicago’s 49th Ward
River Forest was honored for excellence in promoting green infrastructure, specifically for modernizing the village alleyways with per meable pavers
“These awardees are paving the way
for a greener, more resilient future in our communities,” said MWRD Commissioner Eira Corral Sepúlveda. “Their projects and educational efforts not only protect our environment but serve as inspiring models for others to follow. It’s an honor to recognize their leadership in sustainability and their commitment to creating lasting positive change across our re gion.”
Throughout the village, 35 alleyways have been reconstructed to allow stormwater runoff to permeate through the pavers in the middle of the alley, rather than run off to the sides and impact neighboring residential properties. The permeable pavers allow for runoff to infiltrate into a storage layer of stone under the pavers to help prevent ponding. Perfo-
rated pipe was installed under the permeable pavers to allow some stormwater to be conveyed into the sewer system during extremely heavy rain events
“These awardees are paving the way for a greener, more resilient future in our communities.”
EIRA CORRAL SEPÚLVEDA MWRD Commissioner
This project has relieved the flooding of alleyways and adjacent properties, as well as reduced the amount of stormwater entering the combined sewer to be sent to the MWRD treatment plant in Stickney.
“I am very proud that our village was recognized by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District for our proactive approach to upgrading all of our alleys,” said Cathy Adduci, village president, who accepted the award at the summit. “One of our guiding principles is to enhance property values by improving quality of life. This village-wide program
to reduce flooding in a sustainable way is a perfect example.”
Placing a special emphasis on managing the effects of climate change, this year’s summit brought together key industry experts, including hydrologists, engineers, planners and sustainability leaders, sharing valuable insights on building resilient, ecofriendly communities for the future. In addition to the presentations, this event recognized communities or individuals for their exceptional contributions to environmental sustainability through innovative green infrastructure, impactful capital investments, and dynamic public education ef forts.
“We are proud to bring together such an inspiring group of environmental leaders and innovators at this year’s Sustainability Summit,” said MWRD President Kari K. Steele. “The insights shared by our experts, from stormwater management to regional sustainability initiatives, are critical to building resilient, eco-friendly communities
for the future.”
River Forest’s green alley improvement project cost $2.6 million, $90,000 of which was covered by an MWRD grant.
Although the village typically reconstructed one alley per year, under the accelerated alley improvement program, four alleys were reconstructed in 2021, nine in 2022 and five in 2023.
Some of these alleys experienced stor m water issues and some had pavement in poor condition, according to village officials Most consisted of asphalt pavement, with a few having concrete pavement. Their reconstruction is intended to provide not only a better driving surface but increased stor m water mitigation.
According to information on the village website, the typical cross section of River Forest’s new alleys involves reconstruction with concrete pavement, sloped inward toward an approximately three-foot wide strip of permeable pavers.
The pavers allow storm water runoff to be conveyed to a stone reservoir underneath the pavement to help reduce flooding. There is also a perforated pipe within the stone reservoir which helps convey storm water away from the alley during periods of excessive rainfall.
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COURTESY OF VILL AG E OF RIVER FOREST
At the Sustainability Summit are (from le ) MWRD Vice President Patricia eresa Flynn; MWRD President Kari K. Steele; River Forest Village President Cathy Adduci; MWRD Commissioner Eira Corral Sepúlveda; and MWRD Commissioner Dan Pogorzelski.
The Foundation was created by the community, for the community. Join us to build a racially just society in which all members of our community thrive and prosper. Together we can invest in real change.
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CRIME
Chicago man arrested for DUI, possession of rearm
A 52-year-old Chicago man was arrested at 11:45 p.m. Nov. 5 for driving under the influence of alcohol on the 900 block of Lake Street. He was also charged with possession of a concealed firearm under the influence. He was given a citation and notice to appear.
Motor vehicle theft
■ Between noon and 1:35 p.m. Nov. 4, someone broke into a Bellwood resident’s 2016 black Kia Optima while it was parked on the 700 block of South Boulevard. The estimated loss is $15,000.
■ Between 2 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7:42 a.m. Nov. 7, someone stole an Oak Park resident’s white 2016 Nissan Maxima while it was parked on the 900 block of South Humphrey Avenue. The estimated loss is $15,000.
■ Between 11 p.m. Nov. 7 and 6:19 a.m. Nov. 8, someone shattered a window to break into and steal a Chicago resident’s black 2020 Nissan Maxima. The estimated loss is $20,000.
Theft
■ At 2:33 p.m. Nov. 4, a man was seen through home security cameras stealing a package containing ink markers and bingo cards on the 600 block of South Maple Avenue. The package was later found open, with all contents.
■ Around 1:57 a.m. Nov. 4, someone stole a package containing three smoke detectors from the front porch of an Oak Park residence on the 600 block of North Kenilworth Avenue. The estimated loss is $447.
■ A man stole an Oak Pa rk resident’s unlocked black, gray and white camouflage “SE” BMX bike from the front lawn of a building at 3 p.m. Nov. 9 on the 900 block of South Boulevard. The man rode away on the bike westbound on South Boulevard. The estimated loss is $1,200.
Arrests
■ A 36-year-old Bellwood man was arrested at 6:50 p.m. Nov. 4 for an assault that occur red on the 800 block of South Oak
Park Avenue. The man was given a citation and notice to appear. He also had three retail theft complaints and was given citation and notices to appear on those charges, too.
■ A 21-year-old Chicago man was arrested for domestic battery at 2:09 p.m. Nov. 6 in Berwyn.
■ An Oak Park boy was arrested at 5:13 p.m. Nov. 6 for a robbery that occurred on Oct. 23 on the 200 block of North Scoville Avenue.
■ A 39-year-old Chicago man was arrested for driving under the influence at 1:17 p.m. Nov. 7 on the 500 block of South Maple Avenue. He was given a notice to appear.
■ A 27-year-old Chicago woman was arrested at 2:35 a.m. Nov. 9 for battery that occurred on the first block of Division Street. She was given a citation and notice to appear
■ A 62-year-old Chicago man was arrested for unlawful use or possession of a weapon at 8:26 p.m. Nov. 9 on the first block of Erie Court. He was held for bond hearings
These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department re ports dated Nov. 4 – 11 and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
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COP29
UN climate conference
from page 3
an audience with Al Gore, for mer vice president of the United States. He’s interested in learning how different organizations are working with available resources to achieve climate goals.
“If we’re going to really be as effective as we want to be as an organization on this, we need to be working with folks in our commu-
nity and our state,” he said.
Scaman said attending COP29 will be an opportunity to hear about the future of meeting greenhouse gas emission reduction goals, to listen to youth-led solutions and to better understand what best practices and policies need to be instituted.
Oak Park has taken advantage of grants from President Joe Biden’s administration that provided dollars for municipalities of all sizes to help address climate change. Scaman said she can only hope that federal officials can advocate for those funds to continue, given the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
President-elect Donald Trump, who has called climate change a “hoax,” plans to boost United States fossil-fuel production. He may also pull out of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change, again.
The local goal, however, is to implement the recommendations in the Climate Ready Oak Park plan.
“The municipality [is] only a piece of a much bigger puzzle to a collective plan,” she said. Every level of gover nment is part of that puzzle. And residents. And businesses.
“We have to remain positive in our advocacy,” Scaman said. “If we allow ourselves
Do you have DIABETES?
If you do, you should know how important foot care is. Over time, diabetics risk developing foot complications. When the nerves are damaged from chronic high blood sugar, feet can become numb or painful with burning or tingling. is is called diabetic neuropathy. When diabetes a ects the arteries, circulation to the legs and feet may be compromised. Either of these conditions may lead to serious problems including ulceration, even amputation.
e key to prevention is early diagnosis of diabetes, and regular foot exams from a podiatrist. Diabetics who receive regular foot care, including paring of calluses and debridement of thick fungal toenails, are almost four times less likely
to undergo an amputation than those who do not seek treatment.
Medicare and some private insurances cover 1 pair of diabetic shoes and 3 pair of protective insoles each calendar year. Dr. Lambert has been a supplier of diabetic shoes since 2002. e shoes come in 30 di erent styles each for men and women. ese include boots, lightweight colorful athletic shoes, and dress shoes. Even patients who are not diabetic love the look and comfort of the footwear. Diabetic socks, slippers and compression hosiery are also available.
Protecting your feet with appropriate footgear is an important aspect of preventive care for diabetics.
to get too depressed with the tornados that we see across the nation, with the change in temperatures, with the obstacles that still exist and the energy that it requires to address those … we’re not going to be effective in our advocacy.”
Local, re gional and global ef for ts are all essential. And Oak Park can be a leader in addressing local barriers to combatting climate change, Scaman said. The village president has four grandchildren she keeps in mind, too, when looking toward the future.
“We need them to inherit an earth where they can live fruitful lives,” she said.
RANKED CHOICE
from page 1
voted “Yes” on the binding referendum. Only 5,436 residents voted against it.
In Oak Park, village president hopefuls will have to receive 50% of the vote plus one of first rankings to win. Candida tes for village trustee only have to receive 25% plus one of first rankings to win. If no candidate passes the respective thresholds, RCV will come into play
In that case, the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated. Voters who ranked that candidate first will have their votes transferred to their second choice. It repeats until one candidate emerges victorious.
Some Oak Park trustees seemed unsure about the referendum at a village board meeting Oct. 22. Trustee Cory Wesley asked about how the referendum language could be refined if needed, calling it “potentially problematic.” He and others wondered about filling vacancies on the table, should they occur.
The current referendum language reads that “In the event of a Village Board vacancy, Ranked Choice Voting shall be used, and the percentage required for a candidate to be elected shall be based on the number of vacancies.”
The only way to modify the now approved referendum is through another referendum, where voters will have to decide. The village board cannot vote to modify it themselves. Oak Park is the second municipality in Illinois to adopt ranked choice voting for local elections. Evanston was the first, in November 2022, and is expected to implement the system in April 2025.
In Peoria, the local township had an advisory referendum asking if voters would like ranked choice voting statewide. It passed with 67% of voters in favor, according to FairVote Illinois.
Referendum to boost role of voters wins big majority
Organizers say it could help empower voters
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
The advisory referendum question on the ballot Nov. 5 for local voters through the Oak Park Township gained an 85% majority of support.
T he question read: “Shall the people of Oak Park have the initiative right to amend and propose ordinances by voter petition and enact those ordinances by voter referendum?”
It asked voters if they would like to make changes more directly. But since the question is advisory, the village is just getting
an idea of how Oak Parkers feel. To be enacted, the village board would have to put the question on a future ballot as a binding referendum. Or another taxing body could implement it through a referendum, too. Then voters would decide.
The idea is that if residents feel strongly about an issue, they could org anize a petition with a certain threshold of signatures to bring an ordinance before the village board. The board would then have the opportunity to vote to pass and enact an ordinance. If it failed, the ordinance would be placed on the next ballot for voters to decide, under majority rules.
Jacob Drews, an Oak Park native and sophomore at Columbia University, was behind the ef fort. He and Pat Quinn, the 41st governor of Illinois, worked to get the question on the ballot.
Drews said the main benefit of this referendum is the empowerment of voters. If they feel elected officials are not listening to them, this would give them the power to change things themselves. Issues brought forward by voters would generally be local ones, Quinn said. The initiative can give everyday people a bigger voice in their government, he said.
Village President Vicki Scaman said she wants to work with the community and be responsive to their concerns. On this referendum, she said she’d be open to a conversation about possibilities moving forward. It’s important to make sure the referendum question, if ever put on a ballot as a binding measure, is written in a way that meets the intention of residents, she said. Scaman said she’d like that to be a collaborative process, too. A lot of specificity
Meet the 20-year-old behind the Township referendum question
Jacob Drews wants to increase direct democracy in his community
By ZOË TAKAKI Contributing Reporter
The Oak Park native behind the advisory referendum question on the November ballot is Jacob Drews, a 20-year-old sophomore attending Columbia University who is deeply invested in his Oak Park community Drews, with the help of for mer Gov. Pat Quinn, did the necessary work to get on the Nov. 5 ballot a question that asked Oak Park voters if they want the power to make changes in the village more directly.
T he b allot q uestion asked: “Shall the p eople of Oak Pa rk have the initiative right to amend and propose ordinances by voter p etition and enact those ordinances by voter referendum? ”
“Oak Park has long been on the forefront of new ideas in Illinois and a leader in Illinois. So we thought, ‘Why don’t we try to get this done in Illinois and have Oak Parkers lead again on a progressive cause like
this?’” said Drews.
Drews also believes that if passed, this referendum is an opportunity for the rest of the state to follow the village’s lead. Oak Park would be the second municipality in Illinois to have this power, the first being in Arlington Heights
“The rest of Illinois is really paying attention to what Oak Park does, so if they do this, it will send a strong signal to other communities throughout Illinois that Oak Park is doing this, so we need to get on this,” he said.
Drews has lived in the village his whole life, attending the Oak Park School District schools Horace Mann Elementary, Percy Julian Middle School and Oak Park and River Forest High School. He presently attends Columbia University, where he is studying political science.
He believes his Oak Park education prepared him well for his ivy league colle ge
“Coming to Columbia, I thought all these people are gonna be so much smarter than me. They ’re gonna come from fancy boarding schools and whatnot, I’m going to be so behind,” said Drews. “But I have to say OPRF and Oak Park public schools as a whole, really prepared me quite well. I feel
needs to go into drafting referendum language to avoid unintended consequences, she pointed out.
“It is also difficult for me to imagine residents passing petitions to seek the number of signatures that would be required for something like that without us at the board table knowing it and then feeling the need to host the conversation with or without the referendum,” she said. “I aim to listen and be responsive of our community’s needs, always.”
Residents might be skeptical of that in light of the leaf collection dilemma, Scaman acknowledged. But she said the board works to get input from residents before implementing changes.
Arlington Heights already allows voters
it was a phenomenal education.”
He grew up being interested in politics, reading the Chicago T ribune in elementary school and being affected election.
“When Hillary Clinton lost, I remember that was a big wake up call,” said Drews. “I remember thinking, this actually takes work to maintain our democracy.”
In high school, he spent lots of time volunteering and interning in local offices.
While volunteering for State Re p. Camille Y. Lilly, he started learning about what politics is really about.
“You read the paper and you think politics is one thing, but I found that really politics is very, very local,” said Drews.
He recalls going to block parties to talk with community members while volunteering with Lilly.
“Every Saturday we would go to like five different block parties,” said Drews. “I would see how she interacted with all the people. Endless amounts of energy, just listening to people, talking to them. That was a very important thing for me to see.”
Drews also interned with State Sen. Don Harmon and Re p. Danny Davis.
“I met some really good mentors and peo-
ple that gave me some really cool insights into how politics in Illinois works,” he said.
While interning for Davis, Drews met for mer Gov. Quinn and found they “both had an interest in direct democracy,” said Drews. They worked through the Oak Park Township to get the proposal on the ballot.
“We’ re optimistic that it’ll pass overwhelmingly in Oak Park,” said Drews.
When asked about the future, Drews says he has been enjoying Columbia University, and lately has been thinking about law school.
“Doing all this work in Oak Park, I’ve really seen how important advocacy is. I think there’s no better way to advocate that through the law,” said Drews. “I’d like to do stuf f where I can continue to do my small part in helping my community or other communities.”
JACO B DRE WS
A new generation at New Star
Frank Zhao now managing as Jinny Zhao remains popular host
NBy RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter
ew Star is a family restaurant. Now a new generation of the Zhao family is taking the reins. Frank Zhao, son of owner Jinny Zhao, began managing the restaurant in the last year. He aims to continue his mother’s high standards.
“I am very focused on maintaining food product quality,” Zhao said. “I try to make sure that I uphold the values and the core tenants that my family wants to represent when they are doing business.”
His mom, Jinny Zhao, is still the face of the restaurant. She can still be found most days greeting customers and answering the phone.
“She likes to be in there, so I’m glad to have her when she feels like she wants to be.”
These days customers walk in the door not only looking for their favorite dishes, but also for a good deal, according to Zhao.
“Guests are more value minded. People are more concerned about making sure
that they can stay stable for the future. I try to keep prices very reasonable for the amount of portion that you receive.”
The menu has many $15 entrees that come with enough to take home seconds.
Feeding families has always been a part of the New Star concept. With the wide menu, featuring many Asian specialties, such as Thai, Chinese, sushi, Tiki drinks, everyone can find a dish to suit their tastes.
Catering to the younger members of the family has always been important too. Zhao says he wants kids to be excited about coming to the restaurant. New Star goes the extra mile for them, going beyond the typical crayons and coloring sheet. Each child gets a toy to keep them busy and a menu that can provide stepping-stones to
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
New Star, located at 7444 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park.
entice picky eaters to go beyond their comfort zone.
One appetizer that always delights is beef skewers.
“Younger guests maybe are more conservative. We bring a little grill to the table. Kids love it. You get to put a little bit of beef on a skewer. It’s kind of like a little camping activity,” said Zhao. “It’s a really good way of getting people to explore a different dish.”
Orange chicken has been a staple for many to begin a journey into Chinese specialties. Another is Sizzling Beef. The dish arrives at the table on a metal platter still audibly cooking. Fragrant steam rises. All the senses are engaged.
A mainstay on the menu is honey walnut shrimp.
“That’s a classic Chinese dish. It always does really well here. It’s a relatively premium dish, but I think a lot of guests crave
Japanese Cuisine • Hibachi Steak House allwhite,allblack otherbrandcolorcombosas needed
As for Frank Zhao, his goal as manager will be to keep the dependable high quality and value that has been the guiding star at New Star since his mother took over from the Moy family 10 years ago.
“I’m helping my family take care of the restaurant, making sure that everyone has a good path towards a stable future, right? Not only for me, but also for my customers and my employees.”
Know before you go: Website: newstarrestaurant.com
Address: 7444 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park
Hours: Monday – Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Friday – Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday Noon to 9:30 p.m.
GCM’s reader supported newsroom turns to you for support
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Election Day and the launch of Growing Community Media’s largest ever fundraiser do not intersect by accident.
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That’s why in our reader supported newsroom we focus on the Essential Civics and why democracy is at the top of our list of five virtues for local news. Democracy. Accountability. Equity. Connection. Civility. That’s the list.
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In the coming weeks, we’ll use those funds to double your investment in the newsrooms which publish Wednesday Journal of Oak Park & River Forest, Austin Weekly News, Forest Park Review and Riverside-Brookfield Landmark.
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River Forest Condo sale breaks record
By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter
The rec ent sale of a condominium in River Forest was one for the record books: T he Ashland Avenue unit garnered the highest condo sales price in recent history in Oak Park and River Forest.
Ideal Location Oak Park’s Eli Schultz, managing broker and founder, and Mary Christine Pace r, broker and realtor, brokered the sale for their clients and said that
while the sales price speaks to the attributes of the condo, the sale also said something broader about the local condominium market.
A one -of-a-kind unit
Located at 444 Ashland, the condo is one of only six units in the building. Schultz said that the unit was not the penthouse but was one of two units that spanned an entire floor of the building. The interiors encompassed roughly
3,400 square feet and the three exterior spaces of fered another 1,500 square feet, which Schultz said is “unheard of” in the local market.
“That’s what made it a very sought-after building,” Pacer said. “It was so unique. To find that amount of square footage in a condo is appealing if you want single-floor living but don’t want to give up space to entertain.”
The condo boasts 3 bedrooms, a den that could serve as See CONDO on pa ge 24
444 Ashland, River Forest
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CONDO
from page 23
a fourth bedroom, two-and- one-half bathrooms, and an elevator that opens directly to the unit.
Their client sellers were the original owners of the condo, which was part of a new development in 2005. When they purchased the unit, the couple worked closely with the designers to create a space that catered to their lifestyle and enjoyed having enough room to host charity events and even a family wedding in the space.
Marketing a condo
In today’s fast-paced market, Schultz thinks that being tied in to the local community helped his firm seal the deal to re present the sellers in the transaction. He said that the wife of the couple worked at Trinity High School in River Forest for over forty years.
“My daughter is a fourth generation Trinity grad, and Mary went to Trinity when our client was working there. I brought Mary in to meet them because she’s a great agent and works on our marketing, but it was also a nice personal connection,” he said.
While making a connection was natural, it was a bit more challenging to price the condo because there were no comparably sized condominiums in River Forest or Oak Park to look at for a price comparison.
“Mary and I had to go through some of the larger units that have sold recently and do a price per square foot analysis,” Schultz said.
He said their asking price of $1.2 million was spot on in terms of price per square foot, but said you’d have to look to suburbs like La Grange or Western Springs to find this price point in a condominium.
th several interested parties, the evenbuyer closed the deal for a bit less than the asking price. Schultz said that at over $1 million, the all-cash deal was a great result his sellers. He thinks that if there had een similar-sized and finished condominiums on the market to provide comps, getting asking price would have been attainable.
Loc al market
Schultz and Pacer ag reed that if priced right, there is a high demand locally for condominiums, particularly for those with three bedrooms.
“For people who are downsizing and want
to stay in the area, there’s definitely a need and not enough inventory,” Schultz said. He cited as an example recent clients in their retirement years who looked for a three-bedroom condo for more than two years and ended up paying well more than the asking price because of multiple offers.
“There’s definitely a need for more of these types of buildings in the area,” Schultz said, refer ring to 444 Ashland.
“We could use buildings that have a mix of price points from the mid-$500’s to $1.5 million. There’s a real lack of buildings like this. A lot of older buildings don’t have a lot of outdoor space or a lot of light.”
Recently built apar tment rental buildings in Oak Park offer smaller units and are more expensive, making them less appealing to some locals who might be considering selling their homes but want to stay in the area.
Schultz said he believes that more developments like the Ashland building would benefit the market as a whole, by increasing the number of homes on the market, adding, “if there were more of these, it would help with people being convinced to sell their homes when they are empty nesters.
“If you could re plicate this building, you could sell it ten times over, and fast,” he said.
Prices up, supply down
Michael Nowicki, broker and realtor with Ideal Location Oak Park, said that the statistics reflect an active condominium market locally. Monthly supply for condos in Oak Park is 1.8 months and in River Forest, it’s two months. In October 2021, Oak Park had a 3.4-month supply and River Forest had a 4.7-month supply. Currently, Oak Park has 52 condominiums on the market and River Forest has 13. In October of 2021, there were 121 condos for sale in Oak Park and 32 in River Forest.
Median sales prices for condominiums in October of this year were $215,000 in Oak Park and $247,000 in River Forest. In October of 2021, Oak Park’s median condo closed for $180,000 and River Forest’s median condo sale was $200,000.
& FRESHLOCAL NEWS
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Notice of Proposed Property Tax Increase for the Village of Oak Park
I. A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for the Village of Oak Park for the 2024 tax year will be held on November 19, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois.
PAINTING & DECORATING
Any person desiring to appear at the public hearing and present testimony to the taxing district may contact Christina M. Waters, Village Clerk, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, telephone number (708) 358-5672.
II. The corporate and special purpose property taxes extended or abated for 2023 were $43,376,123.
The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes to be levied for 2024 are $44,185,125. This represents a 1.87% increase from the previous year.
III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2023 were $4,768,332.
The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public building commission leases for 2024 are $5,432,414. This represents an 13.93% increase from the previous year.
IV. The total property taxes extended or abated for 2023 were $48,144,445.
The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2024 are $49,617,539. This represents a 3.06% increase from the previous year.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.
Call Viewpoints editor
Ken Trainor at 613-3310
ktrainor@wjinc.com
To the men in my life …
You disappoint me Today I’m completely devastated and heartbroken by the events that took place today and honestly, I’m not even sure I know or understand how to articulate any further how I’m feeling.
You disappoint America today and to be frank, the only question I can bring myself to ask is, “Do you hate us?” While it might be easier for you to sit there and tell me I’m going to be fine — or worse, vote for the man, which is just jaw-dropping. That comfort you feel that this presidency is temporary and the knowledge that your own family will be OK is a privilege. I do not fear for my own life or safety, but the safety of other women. Especially women of color
MICHELLE ZAVISLAK
One View
My heart hurts for the women who have endured so much trauma, pain and abuse from this country for so long. Today was supposed to be a moment of relief and success. A step forward. Unfortunately, today was a moment of sadness that proved what we know to be true: This country hates women more than anything else, and it is frustrating to see the men in our lives doubting us
And for the men who voted for him, I want you to know you are the ones who dragged us down. You are the ones who now must live with the fact that you chose a selfish, hateful, misogynistic, racist, convicted felon over a highly qualified woman.
Now is not the time to tell women, “It will all work out” or “It’s all going to be OK,” but to grieve with us as we have to watch millions of women and immigrants endure tremendous amounts of pain, knowing that it was all completely avoidable, if our country voted for the woman.
I encourage you to stand with women today as we continue to fight because “when we fight, we win.” Even though this presidency will be a setback, it is not a loss This presidency is a key example of women’s continuous fight for equality, liberty, justice, and freedom.
I hope that one day we will be able to show our mothers and grandmothers that we can do better and continue to fight their battles for equality. I hope that you as men will grow with the mistakes of this election and instead of trying to tell us, we’re fine or sit on your couch and watch today’s tragedies, as if it was a show, instead to fight with us, fight for us and become better men. Become better role models for the next generation of men so that your daughters will be able to live in a world with stronger, more confident and better men than you are.
Michelle Zavislak, an Oak Park resident, is a 16-year-old junior at OPRF High School
VIEWPOINTS
Each candidate in his or her own way sought to assure the electorate that they felt their pain. Yet the election did not turn on how effective their policy positions were in reaching the voters. Prior to the election, all the political junkies (me included) and talking media heads kept re galing us with opinions and thought pieces about the ideolo gical differences between the two candidates
We were wrong. While many will point to tactical or strategic missteps, this election was not about political ideology. This election was a referendum on how we, as Americans, see ourselves. And the answer was clear and unequivocal: We see ourselves as divided by race and gender.
The overt use of race and gender was always considered political dynamite for women and people of color that could blow up in one’s face For white male politicians of both parties, race and gender can be an ef fective strategy. We used to refer to reliance on this strategy as “dog whistles.” Now we have reached a point where there is no longer a need for do g whistles. Society has given the permission structure to speak one’s mind about how they really feel about race and gender. And yes, race and gender politics apparently still works.
For example, Kamala Harris could have stood on her head and spat out $100 Bitcoins and still not convince the majority of men, re gardless of race (Black or white) and/or ethnicity (Hispanic or Asian) to respect and trust a woman as capable of holding the highest office in the land. As it relates to older white women, her so-called racial identity overshadowed her gender. And young people
weaned and raised on the inter net were deeply disappointed that the massive likes received on their posts did not translate into enough votes to offset their elders. The strong undercurrent of racial and gender animosity remains a structural barrier to challenge and dismantle.
I was looking forward to a Battle Royal between two markedly different world views. Here we had the perfect contrasts battling each other — the joyful warrior versus the dark knight. The joyful war rior talked about an envisioned future of bipartisan cooperation, respect for women’s rights and an emphasis on the endangered middle class. The dark knight war ned about what he saw as the accelerating decay of American society and painted a dystopian future — unless he was anointed the Chosen One.
Both felt their message would resonate with the voting public. What I forgot was that the under pinnings of race and gender are more powerful drivers than policy. Well, the dystopian view prevailed. Why it prevailed is the question. The answer stands boldly and clearly in front of us — people, re gardless of ideology, were fatigued, anxious and in search of relief. For us, the electorate, it was like watching two doctors argue about what should be done to save the patient while the patient is dying and calling for some relief. COVID did a number on all of us It has become more and more difficult to project a positive future.
Still, one candidate, with the help of billionaires and the default history of men leading this country, confi-
Referendum overreach
Our local elected officials mostly work hard, prepare well to discuss complex issues, devote long hours and, generally, keep our villages moving ahead
That is our experience of reporting on village boards, school boards, park boards over decades. Yes. Sometimes they err collectively. Rarely, but always painfully, voters elect a full-on dud — usually someone with an unchecked ego.
The point is our system of local elections works pretty well. And we prefer it, complete with imperfections, to the sugar-candy referendum that for mer Gov. Pat Quinn and a young mentee just slipped through a silly township program that allows a voter and a few cronies to get dar ned near any nonsense on a general election ballot.
Quinn, the single-minded — and really his only virtue is being single-minded — populist got 85% of gullible Oak Parkers to approve a referendum on Nov. 5 that again allows a small band of merry men to craft a petition to bring an issue before the village board. If the board does not acquiesce and enact an ordinance in accord with the petitioners, then the issue goes to a binding referendum at the next election.
Majority rules. Sounds good
But there are moments when elected officials must make hard decisions that would not immediately gar ner majority support. We look back to Oak Park’s early days of integration in the 1960s. Passing a bold fair housing ordinance would not have had the support of a majority of citizens. When the District 97 school board, just a few years later, created middle schools and redrew the attendance boundaries of the eight grade schools, it was not popular. It was the right decision, though, and voters came around to that position over time
With staggered elections for village of fices, voters are never more than two years away from the opportunity to begin reshaping the village board to make a correction the majority feels strongly about.
That is the temperate approach to local gover nance. And if the national election of a week back tells us anything, it is that we need a more thoughtful and less amped up approach to governing.
When commendable is exemplary
The annual school report cards issued by the state of Illinois are chock full of data points. And from that come the headline assessments dividing the state’s schools into five categories. This year, 10% of Illinois’ schools are deemed “exemplary.” The next two-thirds were swept into the “commendable” category. And the trailing quarter of all schools are marked for some level of targeted, comprehensive, or intensive support.
Locally, schools in River Forest earned exemplary status. The District 97 Oak Park elementary schools and Oak Park and River Forest High School (District 200) were deemed commendable
We point to the complex demography of D97 and D200 schools, to the ambitious efforts those districts have come to embrace in staring down the systemic inequities in these schools and our wider society And we offer congratulations on the commendable status they have earned
Based on the 2016 novel by Robert Harris, the new film Conclave is about the traditional gathering of cardinals (red hats, not redbirds) to pick a new pope. It has gar nered an aggregate score of 92% from critics on the Rotten Tomatoes website (and an 85% audience rating, which goes by the new moniker “popcornmeter”). Here is the critics’ consensus, distilled to one sentence: “Carrying off papal pulp with immaculate execution and career-highlight work from Ralph Fiennes, Conclave is a godsend for audiences who crave intelligent entertainment.”
A multitude of Catholics KEN TRAINOR
Craving intelligent entertainment probably applies to most of us, but especially those of us with some connection to Catholicism. Which is a lot of people. The Roman Catholic Church, just one of numerous institutions that identify as “Catholic,” estimates its membership at 1.3 billion, making it one of the world’s most influential religious organizations. It is a very big tent, though not known as “inclusive” by any stretch. More of a restricted club. Nonetheless it encompasses, officially and unofficially, myriad varieties of “Catholics,” who co-exist — well, uneasily. Here’s a sample:
■ Practicing Catholics (who regularly attend Mass and receive the sacraments)
■ Cradle Catholics (as in cradle-to-grave, birth to death … and beyond! as Buzz Lightyear might say)
■ Hatch, Match, and Dispatch Catholics (only darkening the church doors for Baptism, Matrimony and Last Rites)
■ Cafeteria Catholics (grazing, somewhat selectively, at the grand buffet of theological doctrine, dogma and ritual)
■ Cultural Catholics (mostly secular, aka “Catholics in Name Only”)
■ Traditionalist Catholics (who much prefer the First Vatican Council over the Second)
■ Silence-Gives-Consent Catholics (who seldom object or criticize, finding a way to make peace with it all, also known as Obedient Catholics, highly prized by the higher-ups
■ Ultra-orthodox Catholics (like the guy in suit and tie who, after a few drops of consecrated wine spilled from the chalice during communion one Sunday a few years back at Ascension Church, got down on his hands and knees and, swear to God, licked the floor Now that’s a serious Catholic!)
■ Social Justice Catholics (focusing more on the Church’s charitable works with the poor and marginalized)
■ Single-issue Catholics (who vote for Donald Trump, overlooking all the evil he does, as long as he helps them kill off abortion — better known as
“Make a Deal With the Devil” Catholics)
■ Recovering Catholics (following a guilt-ridden childhood growing up in a judgmental Church)
■ And last, but not least (in fact, increasing all the time): Ex-Catholics, aka “Fallen Away” or “Lapsed” Catholics, alienated by the institution’s treatment of children, divorced Catholics, women, and LGBTQ Catholics, plus other issues related to the rest of this list.
So what kind of Catholic am I?
■ A Free-Range Catholic (free-ranging, free-thinking, fluid, comfortable inside but more comfortable outside the flock). But as Walt Whitman (not Catholic) said, “I am large, I contain multitudes” (of other kinds of Catholics). I am also:
■ a John XXIII Catholic, not a John Paul II Catholic
■ a Francis Catholic, not a Benedict Catholic
■ a Vatican II Catholic (revived when I wrote the book Unfinished Pentecost – Vatican II and the Altered Lives of Those Who Witnessed It in 2013, just as Francis entered his papacy)
■ a Holy Spirit Catholic (comes closest to my concept of the divine)
■ a Teilhard de Chardin Catholic (Jesuit archaeologist who developed the concept of spiritual evolution)
■ an Open Window Catholic (John XXIII’s figurative cure for a closed, stale institution)
■ a Democratized Catholic (more egalitarian than hierarchical)
■ an Ecumenical Catholic (religious cross-fertilization, lear ning from, and dialoguing with, other religious traditions)
■ Catholic Plus (i.e., not just Catholic)
■ a Myth and Metaphor Catholic (beyond literalism, the only way the faith stays alive, according to myth-celebrator Joseph Campbell)
■ a Resurrection Catholic more than a Crucifixion Catholic (it’s a matter of emphasis, but Crucifixion Catholics seem to outnumber us)
■ a Fresh-Air Catholic (not a Museum Catholic, Taber nacle Catholic or Cathedral Catholic — see Free-Range Catholic above)
■ And last but the opposite of least: a Love First and Foremost Catholic, not a Love as an Afterthought Catholic (I can’t be the only one who has noticed the glaring absence of the word “love” from either version of our creed)
My involvement in the institution has been dormant for many years. However, most of the aforementioned Catholics remain alive within me, eagerly awaiting the Church’s resurrection.
I recommend seeing Conclave, by the way, no matter what kind of Catholic (or non-Catholic) you are.
The ending is a humdinger.
SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck
How to spend le over federal funds
Re: “Oak Park’s dilemma: How to spend $7.9M in leftover federal pandemic funds” [News, Nov. 6]. Oak Park families need financial relief and a reprieve from property taxes. The families of Oak Park need to be the primary recipients of the federal funds. Other areas of need can be identified.
I would like to congratulate Trustee Lucia Robinson’s viewpoint: “There’s still an opportunity to apply that to some of our resident’s needs.” Oak Park’s constituents’ needs should be considered and given priority to lessen some of the burdensome responsibilities that impact on their livelihood in Oak Park
There were other matters previously identified by the trustees that can be perceived as trivial concerns such as the leaf collection ordinance and trustees’ pay raises Our village officials are in partnership with the people they govern. The overall welfare of its people needs to be a constant point of interest to the health, welfare and sustainability of Oak Parkers.
To resolve the dilemma, I offer some suggestions for your consideration that will alleviate some undue financial hardships that exist on everyday people. You can start with Faith Julian, daughter of Dr Percy Julian and Dr. Anna Julian. This family dedicated their lives to improving the quality and interests of all people. Dr Percy Julian was a genius scientist. Dr. Anna Julian was the first African-American
woman to get a PhD in Sociology. Faith Julian lives in undue hardship and fear of becoming homeless every year as she currently resides in her childhood home and is being threatened with it being purchased for the price of her taxes not paid.
Second, you can consider seniors on limited income who struggle year to year to pay their taxes in homes they strive to maintain and reside in
Third, families who may have to downsize and have become empty-nesters.
Fourth, other struggling families with similar financial matters and unable to pay rent, utilities, school tuition, etc
Fifth, other families who are struggling to care for their elderly, aging parents
Sixth, I know there are families that trustees can identify to give them tax relief
These families and others in these situations live on the edge of the purchase price of their homes sold to the bidder. I am confident that the trustees will do the right thing to lessen the financial hardship the residents face. If you look through the lens of the people of Oak Park, you will be compelled to apply a portion of the federal funds to meet their needs and overwhelming daily struggles living in Oak Park
WEDNESD AY
of Oak Park and River Forest
Viewpoints Guidelines
e goal of the Viewpoints section is to foster and facilitate a community conversation and respectful dialogue. Responsible community voices are vital to community journalism and we welcome them. Space is at a premium and readers’ attention is also limited, so we ask that Viewpoints submissions be brief. Our limit for letters to the editor is 350 words. For One View essays, the limit is 500 words. Shorter is better. If and when we have su cient space, we print longer submissions, but when space is limited — as it o en is — we may ask you to submit a shorter version or hold the piece until space allows us to print it.
We reser ve the right to edit submissions. We do not have time to allow the writer to review changes before publication. We also do not have time to do more than super cial fact-checking, and because of our national epidemic of misinformation and conspiracy theories, when writers include statistical evidence to support their opinions, we require them to include the source of that information, such as credible websites, print publications, titles of articles and dates published, etc. Be as speci c as possible so that we and our readers have some way of assessing the credibility of your claims. Links may also be included for the online version. We follow the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics: seek the truth and report it and minimize harm. As a result, we will do our best not to publish pieces that espouse doubtful or debunked theories, demonstrate harmful bias, or cross the line into incivility. While we will do our best not to engage in censorship, we also do not intend to be used as a platform for misinformation. Your sources for fact-checking are a critical step in keeping the discourse honest, decent and respectful.
All submissions must include your rst and last name and the municipality in which you live, plus a phone number (for veri cation only). We do not publish anonymous letters. One View essays should include a sentence at the end about who you are.
If we receive your submission by 5 p.m. on Sunday, you can expect your opinion to be included in that week’s paper (and online), space permitting.
Pieces can be submitted through our online form at oakpark.com or directly to Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor, ktrainor@wjinc.com. For the latter, we prefer attached Word les or plain tex t included in the email.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
■ 350-word limit
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‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY
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Dorothy Wright
Oak Park
Is U.S. democracy in a death spiral?
“Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” (George Santayana) On Nov. 5, U.S. voters accomplished what Hitler and other dictators failed to do; they put U.S. democracy on the road to extinction. Those who are history-challenged could, for example, read about the Weimar Republic, which was created at the end of World War I and which died when Adolph Hitler became chancellor of Ger many.
Weimar’s history illustrates the step-bystep process by which a democracy can be destroyed, e.g. by ridicule, intimidation, violence, murder, and silence. Those who point out the threats to democracy are accused of hyperbole and fear-mongering. Ar med thugs, called brown shirts or black shirts (choose your country) are unleashed on the
public where they maim and kill political opponents. The result is public anxiety, fear, and civic chaos. Those who continue to speak out are jailed, put in “re-education camps,” and if they continue, are killed. The result is a reign of terror and finally silence.
Those who believe that Trump will give up the presidency four years from now due to a term limitation law must ignore his previous attempts to keep power by encouraging his followers to besiege the nation’s capitol. In doing so they clashed with D.C. police, terrorized our elected representatives, while screaming “Kill Mike Pence!”
On Nov. 5, 2024 the gutter came to power.
Al Popowits
River Forest
Serve your voters
Me enemy within
AGA owns the Libs. Let the retribution begin. I will own it too. I am the enemy within. By that I mean like the Lutheran saint, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who, writing books, watched casually as Fascism swept his native Germany in the ’30s.
But then joined a conspiratorial revolt against Hitler that led to Bonhoeffer’s death days before the Reich fell. A final order by Hitler did him and others in
JACK CROWE
From his cell, the night before he was hanged, in April 1945, he wrote: “Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine. Whoever I am, thou knowest, O God, I am thine.”
Perhaps we are on the cusp of many things: deportations in the millions, courtesy of Little Goebbels, Stephen Miller?
“We are the stuffed men.” The center didn’t hold. It matters less for me. I’m old. Not long for this world.
If the Justice Department is manned with a partisan bent on revenge. It shouldn’t touch me
If the trans community is Willy Hortoned, it won’t target me.
If a million or two or 10 or 20 undocumented are extracted from the streets? What effect on me?
For now, I’ll withdraw into books
I’ll cancel the Washington Post. I’ll hike in the woods.
To preserve a nugget that can reborn?
Elliott continued in The Hollow Men: “This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper”
Karin
Ryan Oak Park
I’ve noticed that, according to our trustees, River Forest, Forest Park and Elmwood Park, apparently must not care if their children are in danger over leaf piles and the huge problem of burning cars, which is the disinformation we were presented. As a person who has resided here since 1979, picking up leaves was much appreciated. As we just saw in the U.S. election, when you don’t serve your voters, you don’t stick around. So enjoy the rest of your ter m!
The Republican Party, once the party of Lincoln and slave emancipation, is now the party of the emancipation — in celebratory fashion — of comprehensive bigotry.
Shame and stigma are being scrubbed out of our political fabric and that’s just fine with the Chicago Sun-Times, which chose not to endorse a presidential candidate this year and calls for us to “find our better angels” and show mutual respect (editorial, 11/10). Has there ever been a more vacuous jour nalistic civic appeal, considering the present circumstances?
In his Second Inaugural address, delivered on March 4, 1865 to “Fellow Countrymen” — in attendance was the “fellow countryman” who assassinated Lincoln a month later — Lincoln implored Americans to “judge not, that we be not judged.” He ended his address in the enduring, soaring phrase “with malice toward none, with charity for all … let us strive to finish the work we are in.”
Lincoln’s Second Inaugural is not out-
Ar my on street corners keeping peace against libtards?
RFK Jr. banning vaccines?
Musk awarding himself contracts to Mars?
As T.S. Elliott wrote in his 1925 poem The Hollow Men, “We are the hollow men”
Respect? Are you kidding?
dated. Obama, in the spirit of Lincoln, was likely inspired by it in his breakout 2004 keynote speech. “They [Obama’s parents] would give me an African name, Barack, or ‘blessed,’ believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. … Our pride is based on a very simple premise … all men are created equal … endowed with inalienable rights
GREGG MUMM
One View
For alongside our famous individualism, there’s another ingredient in the American saga, a belief that we are connected as one people. … Yet there are those who are preparing to divide us. … Well, I say to them tonight, there’s not a liberal America and a conservative America, there’s the United States of America … we are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the Stars and Stripes.”
In 2004 and 2024, supporters of the party of bigotry wave our flag and chant “USA,” but there has never been a sufficiently mutual allegiance to our country’s founding
ideals of equality and unalienable rights. Bigotry stands in feverish, even homicidal, opposition and with it a substantial prospect of a complete jettisoning of democracy itself, the one design that honors equality.
Bigotry has now been significantly de-stigmatized. But the country still needs their lofty entreaties. Harris ran her campaign elegantly.
Rather, the blame in large measure rests with the Trump critics, particularly the public intellectuals and media. In focusing somewhat on the vile nature of Trump exclusively, they have disguised where ultimate responsibility lies. So the critics assert, almost courteously, that MAGA is brainwashed, conned, indoctrinated, stupid or crazy, victims of “fear” exploitation or of a “cult.” In other words, MAGA is not really responsible.
We’re also told we need to better understand them. But MAGA is powerfully incentivized, emotionally, to say that the
When MAGA starts quoting MLK, that’s when you’ll know we’re reaching the end
The Book of Proverbs says: “As dogs return to their vomit, So fools repeat their folly.”
(Proverbs 26:11)
economy is bad, they were “worse off” in 2024 than in 2020, the country is on “ the wrong track,” the border is porous to criminal infiltration, to abide the taunt that Puerto Rico is a “floating island of garbage,” to claim their motivation for denying women the right to manage their pregnancies is “pro-life,” that their bigotry is honored by their religion, that a person who rapes women and boasts of it is not disqualified, claiming the election of 2020 was stolen, that thuggish law enforcement is needed, that Russian interference in 2020 (after the candidate publicly invited interference) is a “hoax,” that mass deportation is needed, and Jan. 6, 2021 was a “love fest.” And we’re called upon by the Sun Times to respect all of this in the name of civility? In what sense is that “civil”?
This is not the time for “respect” for the political opposition, beyond what our laws oblige. Aretha Franklin, whom the SunTimes editorial board invoked, would likely be sickened.
Gregg Mumm is an Oak Park resident.
The election results tell a story. That story is told by using comparative mathematics: In 2020, Biden got over 81 million votes. In 2024, Harris got 71 million (and still counting). Trump got 73 million votes in 2020, slightly less than 74 million plus (and counting) this time. The difference is clearly, emphatically, those 10 million voters who decided not to vote Blue this time. Where did the 10 million Blue voters go this election?
Could the vast majority of the lost votes be a result of Har ris blatantly refusing to proclaim she would end our tax money going to Israel’s military? In my world that is a rhetorical question. The evidence of what inter national courts labeling the Gaza car nage a genocide has been stunningly, shockingly made clear. Major
Voting tells a story
media gave her a pass on it. That “get out of your comfort zone” advice to those who dared place morality ahead of politics-asusual cost Harris dearly. It was insulting to any person with a fully engaged sense of humanity.
The polls showed the majority of the public wanted a permanent ceasefire. But why bother with that kind of polling? The Democratic Party ar ro gantly felt they could beat the convicted felon. The result?
Unless you are filthy rich, no matter who you voted for, you have no comfort zone. The electorate lost. Even those who think they won!
Did you notice how the stock market soared the morning after? The world’s 10 richest people had their wealth increase by $64 billion. Corporate America is sali-
e Election and Mycelium
I’m on the shore scanning the ocean
I see wave after red wave
The blue waves
The Democratic Blue Waves
Never came
After the election I listen to my body
My heart is broken, my heart is strong, my heart is scared, my heart is numb
My heart is full of words that I have not named yet
I grit my teeth and, in my head, talk loudly to people I know
“You have a gay child/nephew/neighbor. Why didn’t you help in this election?”
“You have immigrants in your life that you care about.”
“You are a grandparent who wants clean water, fresh air, and a sustainable world for your grandchildren.
Why didn’t you help in this election?”
“Didn’t you know about Project 2025? Don’t you know that when leaders promise things, they often follow through?”
I unclench my jaw and remember this talk,
This blame is not helpful
I talk to myself
“Why didn’t you do more canvassing and phone banking for candidates up and down the ballot?”
“Why didn’t you contribute more money?”
Not helpful
More helpful, I tell myself
Lucky you. You were involved. You got to learn about issues and candidates from Swing States around the country, in addition to those on top
And the more you lear ned about them, the more these down-ballot candidates
Became almost like distant friends and family members
And some of these down-ballot people actually won
Blue Slivers
Blue Rivers in a Red Sea
You had the privilege of sharing information with voters
With kindness, patience, and enthusiasm
You got to be with many phone bank volunteers
Over many weeks, sharing time
Sharing, “How is it going? Just had a hard call. One hang up after another. Just had an uplifting call”
During phone bank debriefs, sharing a commitment and connection
With other volunteers calling swing voters
For we are like mycelium, thread-like structures deep in the soil
That connect trees and other living things
We were connected in the 2024 campaign
My hope is that we will stay connected
And support each other, and together
We will continue to work for democracy
Joy Aaronson, Oak Park
vating over more dere gulation. The irony is that, just as with Trump’s first term, 99.9% of his supporters get nothing in retur n as far as fiscal policy will go. They can feast on their mindless hate for nonwhite America, miso gyny and all the rest. Their wallets will, if anything, slim down. All she had to do to prevent the absurdity of losing to an opponent making death threats and promising retribution on perceived “enemies” was stop funding a genocide.
Oh, and those third parties that were vilified combined for maybe 2 million votes. Please don’t even think about going there.
We get the government we deserve Joe Harrington Oak Park
Send in the clowns
So disappointed in our country, now I know what it’s like to be a minority. Well, all you voters, be ready to accept responsibility for your decision. I hope it works out, but if it doesn’t, you are the ones responsible for our future and I feel so sorry that you are so wrong … for all of us. Amazing how his resume did not matter … it was all there!
There was a movie with Walter Matthau where he was caught cheating on his wife and he just said to her, “What woman?!” She started doubting what she saw. So has the American public! What resume?!
Rick Klaus Oak Park
Scouts to the rescue!
Heartfelt thanks to Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts Pack 16 who raked and bagged leaves for me yesterday! I was not able to come outside so I’d like to thank you via the Wednesday Journal. Job well done!
Carrie Kalina Oak Park
KWAME SALTER
Race and gender
from page 27
dently assured the voters that he would “fix it.” He was so confident that he refused to tone down his rhetoric, disparaging any and all who disagreed with him. The other candidate, the joyful warrior, with the help of other billionaires, celebrities and grassroots activists, was tiptoeing around political landmines while attempting to sell a lofty vision to skeptical people who were more fixated on her race and gender than her policy positions. There was no way she could find the sweet spot with voters who couldn’t get their heads around a mixed-race female becoming the face of America. Sure, Barack, the anomaly, pulled it of f. Still, I would submit that his being a male helped a lot. So now, what? For the record, this election truly was historic. As my grandmother used to say, we got down to the “nitty gritty.” We showed our true selves and what we saw was both scary and revealing. Still, in the words of Dr. MLK Jr., until we are able to “judge a person by the content of their character” and not extraneous factors like race and gender, we will remain in this political do-loop Kwame Salter, a former Oak Park resident, is president at The Salter Group LLC.
Restore leaf pickup
Despite your expensive and propagandistic program to force acce ptance of your leaf-bagging program, I remain unconvinced.
Listen to the people and then le gislate; do not force acce ptance of your discontinuance of a long-popular program without study or input.
It’s time to rethink past actions and restore leaf pickup while there is time to plan and budget for next year. I see the bags at the curb soaking in the rain and think of all the work this has created for both the homeowner and the poor guy that needs to hoist them into the truck. You should think of that, too. Then vote the money for 2025.
Charles Chauncey Wells Oak Park
Robert Carraher, 72 3M lifer,
Windmills
coach
ick Albert
Robert Charles Carraher, 72, died peacefully on Nov. 6, 2024, in his new home in Apple Valley, Minnesota, with loved ones by his side, including his wife JoAnn, whose devotion and loving care in Bob final months was an inspiration.
Born on Dec. 13, 1952 and raised in Oak Park, he had an uncanny ability to forge connections with people. Give him a long ticket line, and he’d find a Fenwick High School alum, a for mer 3M employee (he started there right after college) or someone connected to the Oak Park Windmills softball team, which he coached for many years. He aspired to be the most fun accountant you ever met, “an admittedly low bar,” he would say.
He was proud of his daughter, Samantha; his son, Timothy; and his grandchildren, Addison and Brady (of Sam and Chris Jasculca); or Agnes, Genevieve, Josef, Walter, and Magnificat (of Mitchell and Danielle Rose Hesley); or Hazel (of Brett and Lindsey Hesley).
His other loved ones include sister-in-law Donna and her children, Katie and Brian; his sister MaryElizabeth Kula, brother-in-law Jim, and their children, Taylor and McKenzie; his brother John and his children, Colleen, Danny, and Kevin, and their mother Sheila; John’s life partner Shari and her children, Taylor and Hunter; his best friend and little brother Tom, and his children, Alison and Megan, and their mother Eileen; his brother Jim and sister-in-law Susan, and her children, Chris, Lindsey, and Mandy; his brother-in-law Jerome Kahnke, sister-in-law Jan, and their children, Taylor and MacKenzie; his sister-in-law Donna Egan, brother-inlaw Tom, and their children, Ashley, Leah, and Bridget; his sister-in-law Peggy Elsasser, brother-in-law Bill, and their children, Nicole, Natalie, and Jacob; his brother-in-law Randy Kahnke, sister-in-law Lizz, and their children, Joe, Ben, and Pete; his stepson Shawn; his son-in-law Patryk; the mother of his children, Carol; his life-line friend Jimmy Tor ney; and his extensive group of golf enthusiasts, travel companions, and other dear friends.
He was preceded by his father William and mother Mary; his older brother Bill who passed earlier this year; and other loved ones: Robert, Mary Seraphina, and Freder-
A funeral Mass will be held on Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 4030 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122, with visitation an hour prior. Interment at Resur rection Cemetery.
There will also be a Chicago-based celebra tion of life on Saturday, Nov. 23, with details to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Fenwick High School or St. Giles School in Oak Pa St. Rose Academy in Birmingham, Alabama; or St. John Neumann Catholic Church
Karin Huebner, 82
Worked at West Sub Hospital
Martha Lindblad, 88 Loved Southern cooking and genealogy
Martha Doris “Dot” (Cole) Lindblad, 88, of Palatine, died peacefully at home with her family, on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. Born on Dec. 23, 1935 in Oak Level, Alabama to Horace and Julia Belle (nee Parker) Cole, she followed her older sister Sue to Chicago in 1954. There she met her husband, Michael Lindblad of Oak Park They married in 1957 and moved to Palatine in 1960, where they raised four children.
In their retirement years they began a love affair with travel, exploring the U.S. and the world. She enjoyed her flower and vegetable gardens, her sewing projects, Southern cooking and extensively researching the family’s genealogy.
Martha was predeceased by her parents, her sister Sue (Bill Conley), her brothers George (“Dugan”) and Marcel (“Parker”), and her daughter Laurie
She is survived by Mike, her husband of 67 years; her sister, Pat (Gene Floyd); her children, Scott, Julie (Wade Iverson) and Emilie (Paul Sheedy); her grandchildren, Benjamin, Madeline, Sam and Danny; and her many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation www.t2t.org or the Animal House Shelter in Huntley, www animalhouseshelter.com
A memorial service for Martha Lindblad will be held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 30 at First United Methodist Church of Palatine, 123 N. Plum Grove Road, Palatine IL.
Arrangements were handled by Giancola Funeral & Cremation.
Karin Huebner, 82, of Oak Park, wife, mother, ante, Oma, and Uroma, died on Nov. 2, 2024. Born in Berlin, Germany on Feb. 26, 1942, mmigrated to the United States in 1967. he embodied strength ompassion, dedicating many years to her work at West Suburban Hospital, where her kindness made a lasting impact on patients and colleagues. She cherished time spent alongside her husband, Gerhard, at Gears, Gears, Gears, where their teamwork and passion were evident to all. She had a passion for travel especially with her Rheinenishe Gesang Verien, Berliner Baeren and friends.
Karin is survived by her husband, Gerhard; her children, Petra, Franck (Joellyn), and KellyAnn (Jim); her grandchildren, Patrick (Cara), Ethan (Kara), Taylor (Will), Michael (Jordan), Emily, and Maddie (Matt) Jackson; her nieces, Martina and Richarda, and nephew Harold; and her great-grandchild Delilah.
Visitation was held on Nov. 11, with funeral service on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at ZimmermanHarnett Funeral Home, 7319 Madison St., Forest Park, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
Donations to Unity Hospice Foundation are appreciated
Dennis Callahan, 71 Attorney, musician, cook
Dennis Callahan, 71, father, grandfather, and brother, died on Nov. 2, 2024. Born on Oct. 3, 1953, in Oak Park to Kathleen and John Callahan, the eldest of four siblings, he grew up alongside his sisters, Kathleen, Maureen, and Patricia, who preceded him in death. After graduating from Fenwick High School, he followed in his father’s footsteps, pursuing a career in law. He made River Forest his home for over five decades, from his high school years until his late 60s. From 1974 to 1980, he shared his musical talents as a guitarist in his church band, expressing his lifelong passion for music.
Known for his legendary ribs and corned beef, his home was often filled with the sounds of good music, laughter, and the aroma of something delicious in the kitchen.
Later in life, he discovered a passion for motorcycles, not only riding them but also finding fulfillment in teaching others to ride.
Dennis was the father of Amanda, Liz, and Jon; the grandfather of Skylar, Cooper, Eleanor, and Robert in whom he found delight; his sisters, Kathleen and Maureen; his nephews, Jimmy Kimont and Matthew Clark; his niece, Kaitlin Kimont; and numerous friends who were touched by his generous spirit.
A Celebration of Life Mass will be held at St. Luke Church in River Forest on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Toys for Tots (www.toysfortots.org), a charity that brings joy to less fortunate children during the holiday season.
Elaine Feuerabend, 79 First Baptist Church member
Elaine Long Tuber Feuerabend, 78, a longtime resident of Berwyn, died on Oct. 11, 2024. Born on Nov. 2, 1945, to Virginia Jeanette Simmons and John Emerson Long, the youngest of three daughters, she was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Illinois.
She was a retired sales re presentative for a major paper company and a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Oak Park. She was very active in the church, and also served as their for mer financial secretary. Elaine will be dearly missed by her many friends from business, church and community
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband Michael “Big Mike” Feuerabend and her niece, Isabelle Schuyler-Sue Jones. She is survived by her sister, Cynthia (Long) Jones; her nephew, Kevin E. Jones; her stepchildren, Jason (Lisa) and Linzey Feuerabend, whom she loved as her own; and her nieces and nephews through the marriage of James E. Jones (her brother in-law). She loved and helped raise them.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at the First Baptist Church of Oak Park, 820 Ontario St., Oak Park Fellowship at 10:30 a.m., funeral service 11, followed by a luncheon at First Baptist.
Late eld goal sinks Fenwick
Friars eliminated from Class 7A football playo s
By MELVIN TATE
Contributing Reporter
All season long, the Fenwick High School football team has played consistently tough defense that carried them to the IHSA playoffs
“I feel this defense is one of the strongest Fenwick has had on the field,” said Fenwick senior defensive lineman Aiden Burns. “If there was a good play, a teammate was charged to make a bigger one. We fed of f each other, and once we got rolling, nothing was getting through us.”
In a second-round Class 7A game at Downers Grove North, Nov. 9, the Friars’ defense once again turned in an unyielding performance. Unfortunately, it was not enough as the Trojans kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired for a 13-10 victory, ending Fenwick’s season.
Fenwick coach Matt Battaglia lauded the ef fort against the defending Class 7A runner-up, who advanced to the quarterfinals against Batavia.
“This is a championship team,” he said. “We love them to death. I don’t care what the result says on the field today, they played their hearts out and they’re champions.”
DGN (10-1) embarked on a 15-play, 60-yard drive to begin the game, but Fenwick (8-3) turned away the Trojans on downs at its 20.
On the Friars’ possession, senior Frankie Hosty (12-of-21, 150 yards, INT) hit junior Raphiel Stewart (four receptions for 93 yards) for a 48-yard gain into DGN territory. But the
offense stalled, and a 50-yard field goal try by senior Noah Sur sailed wide left, leaving things scoreless after 12 minutes.
The second quarter began with junior Myles Montgomery muffing a punt that was recovered by the Trojans’ Weston Waughop at the Fenwick 31. But the Friars’ defense rose to the occasion and again stopped DGN on downs.
Late in the first half, DGN got things rolling offensively. A 36-yard pass from Owen Lansu (19-of-38, 189 yards, INT) to Will Vala put the Trojans deep in Friars’ territory.
Then on 4th and 1 from the 5, Jake Gregorio gained two yards for a first down, and on the next play, he scored with :45 to go, giving DGN a 7-0 halftime lead.
Antoine Kollintzas raised the Trojans’ lead to 10-0 with a 20-yard field goal at the 2:47 mark of the third quarter. But Fenwick quickly marched downfield and facing a 4th and 3 from the DGN 28, senior Jack Paris lined up at QB in the Wildcat formation. He took the snap and raced to the house untouched for the TD to cut the Friars’ deficit to 10-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
“Playing with Jack is a blessing,” Burns said. “Teams underestimate his athleticism both ways.”
After getting a three-and-out defensively, Hosty guided Fenwick back into DGN territory. But the Friars stalled, and Sur’s 50yard field goal came up short with 8:13 left in re gulation.
The teams exchanged defensive stops, but junior Tommy Thies intercepted Lansu
Fenw ick Quarterback Frankie Hosty gets ready to re a pass to Treston Smith during third quarter action at Dow ners Grove North High on Nov. 9.
at the DGN 30 with 4:49 left, gifting the Friars an excellent opportunity to tie or take the lead.
Hosty’s 16-yard pass to senior Nate Marshall (Auburn commit) got Fenwick into the red zone. The drive stalled, but Sur’s 29yard field goal was good, tying the game at 10-10 with 2:38 to play.
On DGN’s ensuing drive, the Friars’ defense forced a pair of third and long situations. But a questionable defensive penalty ke pt the Trojans alive in each instance. The first was unsportsmanlike conduct after an incompletion with 1:24 left. The second was especially costly as Thies’ interception and subsequent return deep into DGN territory got erased by pass interference — a call Fenwick fans vociferously disapproved. It gave the Trojans a first down at the Fen-
wick 33 with :37 left.
Lansu completions of 10 yards to Gregorio and four yards to Charlie Cruse, along with an eight-yard run by Alec Fiermuga (23 carries, 70 yards) got DGN into fieldgoal range. Following an incompletion with four seconds left, Kollintzas came on for a game-winning 28-yard field goal attempt. His kick was good as time expired to eliminate Fenwick in heartbreaking fashion.
“Unfortunately, the game didn’t go our way,” Burns said. “It was a hell of a game and a battle we loved to fight.”
Burns is one of 27 players Fenwick loses to graduation, and Battaglia appreciated their leadership.
“It’s a special group of young men, and I’m going to miss them dearly,” he said.
Huskies’ O’Connor adds all-state to cross country honors
When senior Liam O’Connor was an alternate for the Oak Park and River Forest High School 2022 boys cross country statequalifying team, he had potential. After then-senior Liam Newhart finished second in the Class 3A race, O’Connor envisioned unlimited possibilities.
“I think that kind of flipped a switch in my head that here’s a kid I see in school every day in the hallways and he’s running superfast,” he said. “To see that a guy from my school could go really fast helped me realize that I could do it, too.”
On Saturday, O’Connor became just the fourth OPRF multiple top-25, all-stater as he
finished ninth at Peoria’s Detweiller Park.
Besides achieving his goal of a top-10 finish, he covered the 3.0 miles in a personal-best 14:25.2 after taking 17th last year in 14:39.92.
“It’s really gratifying to know that I deserve to be up with those guys and that all of the hard work paid off,” O’Connor said.
The Huskies finished 18th (402 points), a first for the program, reaching state three consecutive seasons.
Seniors Andrew Harmon (116th, 15:18.6) and Finn Kelly (122nd, 15:20.4), juniors Yonny Rafter (127th, 15:22.9), David Schiff (174th, 15:42.3), and Julian St. Pierre (186th, 15:47.9), and sophomore Connor Harmon (193rd,
15:51.5) also competed.
Despite steady rain, basically everyone ran personal-best times.
“We beat teams who had beaten us all season. An awesome run, especially under these conditions. We put it together at the right time,” OPRF coach Chris Baldwin said.
“[O’Connor] beat some guys who beat him in the season. He does a really good job of putting it together at the right time.”
The Huskies graduated a strong senior class that helped them finish sixth (258) at state last year, including O’Connor’s brother, Lewis, and several close friends.
There were injuries to Andrew Harmon
and Kelly and Harmon, also returnees from 2023 state. Baldwin said the junior trio logged more than 500 miles this summer to “catapult” them and the team to success
“And it was not just our top seven, but our top 14, top 20. All really helped push the team,” Baldwin said.
O’Connor also praised them and teammates who withstood Saturday’s weather to support the Huskies, some with painted chests and carrying giant headshot cutouts “That was probably the highlight of the race, seeing them cheering us on,” O’Connor said.
— Bill Stone
PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE
STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.
Request of Kalei Elisabeth Guedel Case Number 2024CONC001472
There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Kalei Elisabeth Guedel to the new name of: Kalei Sorenson Guedel.
The court date will be held:
On January 10, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Zoom ID: 95894921843 Password: 226532, Cook County, in Courtroom # 12.
Published in Wednesday Journal November 13, 20, and 27, 2024
PUBLIC NOTICE
THE LAW OFFICE OF LINDA EPSTEIN
Attorney for Petitioner
722 W. Diversey Parkway, Ste. 101B Chicago, IL 60614
STATE OF ILLINOIS, COUNTY OF COOK, ssCircuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division
In re the Marriage of: Tigist Samuel Zeleke, Petitioner, and, Amdemichael Lidetu Tariku, Respondent, Case No. 2024D007809
The requisite affidavit for Publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, Amdemichael Lidetu Tariku, Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, Tigist Samuel Zeleke, for Dissolution of Marriage and that said suit is now pending.
Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent file your Appearance and Response electronically to said Petition with the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, on or before November 27, 2024 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.
IRIS Y. MARTINEZ, Clerk.
Published in Wednesday Journal
October 30, November 6, and November 13, 2024.
PUBLIC NOTICE
OAK PARK HOUSING AUTHORITY Request for Proposals: NSPIRE Inspections and Rent Reasonableness Determinations
The Housing Authority of the Village of Oak Park (OPHA) is requesting qualified, licensed, and insured entities to submit proposals for conducting National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Inspections and Rent Reasonableness Determinations for its Housing Choice Voucher Program. Interested parties may download the RFP document at https://oakparkha. org/about-opha/rfps-rfqs/ beginning Wednesday, November 13, 2024. The terms of this notice are subject to the terms set forth in the RFP. Hardcopy proposals must be received at 21 South Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60302 no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, January 10, 2025. Electronic submissions will not be accepted. Questions regarding this RFP should be directed to LaTaunda Cobb at (708) 386-9322 Ext. 135 or via email at lcobb@oakparkrc.com no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, January 3, 2025.
The OPHA reserves the right to postpone, cancel, or reject any or all proposals, waive any informality, and terminate the RFP process if deemed in the best interests of OPHA.
Published in Wednesday Journal November 13, 2024
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: G24000600 on October 25, 2024 Under the Assumed Business Name of B-THE BEAT with the business located at:6250 S. ARCHER AVE SUITE #5, CHICAGO, IL 60638. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: LAURA A. CRUZ CONCHA 612 RANDOLPH ST, OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA.
Published in Wednesday Journal October 30, November 6, 13, 2024
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will receive bids (labor rates only) from qualified electrical contractors to perform planned and emergency electrical work at Village-owned facilities during the calendar year 2025 pursuant to this Request for Bids. Bids will be accepted at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
Proposals must be enclosed in a sealed envelope marked “Village of Oak Park Electrician Services.”
The Request for Bids may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid beginning on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. For questions, please call or email Erin Duffy, Deputy Public Works Director, at 708358-5700 or eduffy@oak-park. us.
Published in Wednesday Journal November 13, 2024
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will receive proposals from qualified elevator maintenance and repair service companies to provide elevator maintenance and repair services for various Villageowned facilities. Proposals will be accepted at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
Proposals must be enclosed in a sealed envelope marked “Village of Oak Park Elevator Maintenance and Repair Services.”
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 TENTATIVE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
A public hearing of the President and Board of Trustees (“Board”) of the Village of Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, regarding the Village of Oak Park tentative annual budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2025 will take place on Tuesday, November 21, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers of Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois.
CALENDAR NUMBER: 19-24-Z
HEARING DATE:
December 4, 2024
TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits
LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302
APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on a special use permit application filed by the Applicant, Rui Spa, to operate a massage service establishment pursuant to Section 8.3 (“Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the property located at 423 ½ N. Marion Street, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 1607-101-008-0000, in the NC Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District.
A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.
The public hearing may be adjourned by the ZBA to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
The public hearing also will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/boardtv, as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT U-verse subscribers on channel 99.
The Request for Proposals may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid beginning on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. For questions, please call or email Erin Duffy, Deputy Public Works Director, at 708358-5700 or eduffy@oak-park. us.
Published in Wednesday Journal November 13, 2024
LEGAL NOTICE
Public comment must be given in person or by virtual means. If public comment is given virtually, the individual providing such comment must be on camera. If you want to join the meeting via Zoom, please email publiccomment@ oak-park.us.
The Village of Oak Park will receive Bids (labor rates only) from qualified plumbing contractors to perform emergency plumbing repair work at Village-owned facilities during the calendar year 2025 pursuant to this Request for Bids. Bids will be accepted at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.
Proposals must be enclosed in a sealed envelope marked “Village of Oak Park Emergency Plumbing Services.”
The Request for Proposals may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid beginning on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. For questions, please call or email Erin Duffy, Deputy Public Works Director, at 708358-5700 or eduffy@oak-park. us.
Published in Wednesday Journal November 13, 2024
The tentative annual budget is available for public inspection prior to the public hearing at the Office of the Village Clerk, Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The hearing may be continued by the Board to another date at the public hearing by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof. The tentative annual budget may be revised and adopted by the Board without further notice or hearing.
Published in Wednesday Journal November 13, 2024
CALENDAR NUMBER: 20-24-Z
HEARING DATE: December 4, 2024
TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits
LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302
APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on a special use permit application filed by the Applicant, Emiyuki Ortiz, to operate a reception/ banquet facility pursuant to Section 8.3 (“Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the property located at 6537 North Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-06-204-0011-0000, in the NA North Avenue Zoning District.
A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.
The public hearing may be adjourned by the ZBA to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
CALENDAR NUMBER: 17-24-Z
HEARING DATE:
December 4, 2024
TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits
LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302
APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicants, Anthony Wells and Michael Burkes seeking a variance from Section 4.3 (Table 4-1: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance to construct a fourth dwelling unit in the basement of an existing three-family dwelling unit building. The subject lot is 30 feet by 125 feet totaling 3720 square feet of land which is 1950 square feet less than the required 6,400 square feet required to allow the Applicants to construct a fourth dwelling unit at the premises commonly known as 110 S. Austin Blvd.,
Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-17-107-030-0000
(“Subject Property”), in the R-7 Multiple-Family Zoning District.
A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oakpark.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
Published in Wednesday Journal, November 13, 2024
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
CALENDAR NUMBER: 18-24-Z
HEARING DATE:
December 4, 2024
TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits
LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302
APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on a variance application filed by the Applicants, Craig and Kelly Mitchell seeking variations from Section 9.4 (Table 9-1: Permitted Encroachments Into Required Setbacks) and Section 9.3 (P)(1)(a) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance (“Zoning Ordinance”). Said Sections regulate permitted encroachments into required setbacks and require that ground mounted mechanical equipment (air conditioning units) shall be located in the interior side yard or the rear yard only and not the front yard at the premises commonly
known as 215 LE Moyne Parkway, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-05-109-0030000 (“Subject Property”).
A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.
The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
Published in Wednesday Journal, November 13, 2024
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff,
MARY WOLFE, CITY OF CHICAGO
Defendants 2019 CH 11236 1028 S AUSTIN BLVD 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 September 17, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on December 19, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1028 S AUSTIN BLVD, OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-17-331-015
The real estate is improved with a single family residence.
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.
Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.
The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.
If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).
IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.
For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876
THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION
One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE
You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300
NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2019 CH 11236 I3255336
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff vs. ALFONSO RECENDEZ, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendant 24 CH 1921 CALENDAR 57
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on December 16, 2024, at the hour 11:00 A.M., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: Lot 5 in Block 5 in Hillside Manor, a Subdivision of part of the North Half of the North West Quarter of Section 17, Township 39 North, Range 12, East of the Third Principal Meridian, according to the Plat thereof recorded October 5, 1945 as Document Number 1368749, in Cook County, Illinois. P.I.N. 15-17-104-005-0000. Commonly known as 329 High Ridge Road, Hillside, IL 60162. The real estate is: 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: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Marinosci Law Group, PC, 2215 Enterprise Drive, Suite 1512, Westchester, Illinois 60154. (312) 940-8580. 1803562
AT HOMEONTHE GREATERWESTSIDE Chicago’s iconic bungalows haven’t aged perfectly
These programs are helping homeowners restore them
By DELANEY NELSON | Special Projects Reporter
In the first third of the 20th century, Chicago’s population more than doubled—and with it, the city’s architecture and housing stock transformed. Developers erected high-rise luxury apartment buildings for the city’s wealthier residents while immigrants and poorer Chicagoans were crowded into blocks of packed tenements. In the middle of the spectrum emerged the bungalow
Between 1910 and 1930, Chicago developers built tens of thousands of bungalows — one-and-a-half story buildings characterized by low-pitched overhanging roofs, a narrow rectangular shape, expansive front windows, front porches, and limestone detailing.
“You had a lot of immigrants and a lot of people crammed into homes that didn’t have ample light or air circulation, bathrooms,
electricity, any of it,” said Carla Bruni, the preservation and resiliency specialist at the Chicago Bungalow Association.
“Bungalows were built in a very affordable way, even though they’re really well-built by today’s standards. You would never build these anymore. They would be so cost prohibitive.”
In their heyday, bungalows were known for being sturdy and efficient to build. Plus, unlike some tenements, they were outfitted with electricity and plumbing. The brick buildings popped up in neighborhoods along the western edge of the city, including parts of what are now Austin and North Lawndale, creating the “Bungalow Belt.” A Chicago bungalow typically has bedrooms on the first floor and an unfinished attic space that could be expanded down the line, once the homeowners had enough cash.
Bungalows, which required a relatively small down payment and low monthly payments, helped foster homeownership
among the city’s middle and lower-middle class. While bungalows “provided Chicago homebuyers of moderate means with extraordinary levels of domestic comfort,” according to the National Register of Historic Places property documentation, Black people were mostly excluded from owning them until the 1950s.
“You’d have every sort of socioeconomic background. You’d have somebody who worked in the meatpacking plants, and maybe his wife would be doing clerical work somewhere, and then they maybe had five kids. And then you’d have a doctor and his wife only living right next to them on a corner lot, because those tended to be bigger bungalows,” Bruni said. “It was really a socioeconomic mix, excluding African American families.”
While the Great Depression severely curtailed bungalow See BUNGALOWS on page B3
Home buying feeling overwhelming or out of reach? These programs want to help
By DELANEY NELSON Special Projects Reporter
Homeownership offers many benefits to individuals, families and the wider community. Owning a home is one way to create generational wealth and invest in your neighborhood. It can create housing stability in a tumultuous rental market and stave off the displacement effects of gentrification.
On the other hand, homeownership is an investment – which means it costs money, whether that money comes from savings, loans, grants or other forms. The good news? There are countless programs on the neighborhood, city, county, state and national level that can help you buy a house and invest in your community
To get you started, we’ve gathered a nonexhaustive list of those programs and the organizations that offer them.
CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY
Home Ownership Made Easy
• Choose to Own allows qualified Housing Choice Voucher and Public Housing families to use its housing subsidy to buy a home and make mortgage payments.
• Down Payment Assistance Program assists first-time home buyers with grants of up to $20,000 to help cover down payments and closing costs.
• The CHA also offers virtual and in-person workshops for prospective homebuyers, Realtors and lenders.
CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
ChiBlockBuilder
• To encourage the purchase and redevelopment of city-owned vacant lots, Chicago has an application portal for selling land with preferred use based on zoning and community plans
• The latest round of land sales opened in October and targets North Lawndale. Lots zoned for affordable housing construction or urban agriculture projects are priced at $1 per lot.
CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
The Building Neighborhoods and Affordable Homes Program
• BNAH provides eligible buyers with grants to help them purchase a newly constructed singlefamily residential building.
Repair programs
• Home Repair Program gives funding to low-income Chicago homeowners to make necessary repairs (previously called the Roof and Porch Repair Program)
• As of Nov. 1, the Emergency Heating Repair program is open to owner-occupants of oneto-four-unit properties earning less than 80% of the median area income. It offers grants to replace or repair heating systems.
The DOH has a longer list of programs available to homeowners on its website.
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF CHICAGO
Homebuyer Education Course
• NHS offers virtual and in-person homebuyer education courses led by HUD-certified housing counselors.
• The course covers the basics of budgeting, credit, shopping for a home, closing on a home and more.
Neighborhood Lending Services
• NLS is the largest non-profit licensed mortgage lender in Illinois.
• The lender offers purchase and purchase with rehab loans, including up to 100% financing for qualified borrowers. Qualification is not based solely on credit score.
• NLS also offers refinancing and home improvement loans, as well as down payment assistance.
NHS also provides real estate services to help you search for and buy a home.
COOK COUNTY BUREAU OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Down Payment Assistance Program
• Earlier this year, the county opened a $3 million down payment assistance pilot program for applications.
• As of Oct. 29, the initial investment for the program was fully allocated, but the county is seeking additional funding.
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF COOK COUNTY
Homeownership Program
• The homeownership program helps eligible first-time homebuyers afford a mortgage by providing vouchers that cover a portion of monthly mortgage payments.
ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Home Repair and Community Revitalization Programs
• The Home Repair and Accessibility Program helps low- and very low-income homeowners pay for repairs related to safety, health and accessibility in their homes. Eligible homeowners (total household income must be at or below 80% of the area median income) may receive up to $45,000 in the form of a five- or three-year forgivable loan to fund repairs. Grants are administered by city/ town-level grantees.
Homeownership Counseling and Mortgages
• The IHDA funds a network of housing counselors across the state.
• The agency also offers affordable mortgages that require borrowers to take a homeownership course, as well as grants and loans for home down payments.
• You can learn more at ihdamortgage.org/ homebuyers.
Follow us each month in print and at https://www.austinweeklynews.com/ at-home/, where you’ll find additional resources and useful information.
BUNGALOWS
Continued from page B1
construction, more than 80,000 remain standing in Chicago, accounting for one-third of the city’s single-family housing stock.
The Chicago Bungalow Association was established in 2000 by Mayor Richard M. Daley to preserve the existing bungalow housing stock and prevent further demolition. The goal, Bruni said, was to save this relatively affordable housing type. Tearing down a durable structure like a bungalow is not only an affront to Chicago’s iconic architecture, but also contributes to landfill waste — and whatever a developer builds in its place would be more expensive.
The organization now serves all owners of homes older than 50 years and connects homeowners with resources to maintain their home, including webinars, a community social media forum and a database of referrals for contractors that can help with roofing, insulation, water systems, exteriors and more. About 1,000 members of the CBA live in Austin, Bruni said.
“A lot of people have fought really, really hard over decades to stay in their homes,” Bruni said. “With taxes going up, with insurance, utilities going up with repairs that get out of control, because it’s so hard to find the money to maintain your home, a lot of people are in very precarious situations. So we try to figure out ways through helping people understand how to repair things, what you might be able to do yourself.”
Owners of bungalows and other older homes
often have high electric, gas and water bills — a challenge CBA is addressing through its Home Energy Savings Program. In partnership with ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, CBA provides free home energy services and improvements, including a free assessment to identify energy use. The goal is to help homeowners seal and weatherize their homes, which makes the structure more energy efficient and helps to lower energy bills. The organization has conducted thousands of full air sealing insulations, with a typical error 40% to 50%, meaning more of the cooled air is circulated.
Barbara Seales, who moved into her Austin/West Humboldt Park-area bungalow mor than two decades ago, participated in the energy savings program. Contractors installed insulation under her porch and in her walls and attic, and installed an eco-friendly thermostat. Seales said she was pleased with the insulation process and has seen cost savings.
“Once I heard about this opportunity from a friend to get the insulation done, I followed up on it right away. Over time the house gets kind of airy—you get cracks and it settles and
The Bungalow Belt
An estimated 80,000 bungalows make up “The Bungalow Belt,” stretching along the outskirts of Chicago in a crescent shape between the suburbs and what used to be the industrial neighborhoods outside the Loop.
everything. So it was kind of airy, and I wanted it to be warmer. I’m one of the fortunate ones.
My enclosed back porch is heated, but it was still very airy in the winter time,” Seales said. “I love my enclosed back porch now, because I can go out there and enjoy it in the winter. It’s not just a seasonal part of the house.”
While energy efficiency upgrades can be helpful to owners of old homes, these improvements are not accessible if a home needs structural repairs like fixing a leaky roof. CBA has teamed up with social justice artist Tonika Lewis Johnson on unBlocked Englewood, an arts-driven community redevelopment project providing Englewood residents with funds to repair and beautify their homes.
One of the goals, Johnson said, is to use investment to address and counteract the historic disinvestment in Black neighborhoods that has made it difficult for residents to afford repairs for their homes. Of the 24 homes on the block that
the project is targeting, half have successfully undergone repairs, including addressing roofing, plumbing, and electrical problems.
unBlocked Inglewood isn’t just about repairing homes, Johnson said. It also encourages community engagement. She added that she hopes the project inspires city planners, policymakers and local government officials to address historic harms more directly and creatively
“If it were not for those homeowners, our neighborhood would be suffering even more. It is because of those owner occupied homeowners [that] we actually have a foundation to even consider building from,” Johnson said. “We have to address helping existing homeowners in Black neighborhoods because we want them to remain homeowners and pay property taxes and help support the public amenities in the neighborhood, and that can only happen if people can afford to live in the homes that they have, and they can do so safely.”
We’ve reached the end of “At Home on the Greater West Side”
Here’s what we learned
By DELANEY NELSON Special Projects Reporter
Last November, Austin Weekly News launched a new project called “At Home on the Greater West Side.” Our goal was to demystify the homebuying process, specifically for residents of Austin, West Garfield Park and North Lawndale and the surrounding suburbs.
Now, a year later, we’re wrapping up the series. In many ways, AWN learned along with its readers, and if we’ve learned anything, it’s that the journey to homeownership isn’t exactly easy But that doesn’t mean you — yes you! — can’t achieve it.
A 4-STEP HOME BUYING PROCESS RECAP
1. Get realistic and take a class
Realtor Camella Sutton tells her clients to be realistic about what they can afford, and to save up for the “what-ifs”: “Knowing what’s out there is big, and [so is] knowing what you can and can’t afford,” she said. “What are you willing to cut back on? What sacrifices are you willing to make to get to the point of homeownership?”
It might seem obvious, but you need a combination of loans and savings to buy a home. Experts suggest building up your credit score as much as possible and being realistic about how much you need to save for a downpayment on your ideal home. Real estate agents, lenders and community organizations can all help you with this early planning stage.
Many experts recommend HUD-certified homeownership courses to first-time buyers. We spoke with the folks at Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago about their class, but there are tons of other options. HUD also has an online tool to search for housing counselors or courses based on your location and needs.
2. Find a lender and a real estate agent
Two primary people who will help make buying a home possible: A real estate agent and a lender. Real estate agents help buyers look at homes, make an offer and close on a home. Lenders deal with the financial side of things, pre-approving and approving buyers for a mortgage to buy property.
Before looking at properties, you’ll want to be preapproved for a mortgage. For this reason, many prospective buyers look for a lender first, work with them for their preapproval, and then find an agent, but you can pick an agent first. Lenders look at factors including income, savings and credit history to decide how much they would let you borrow to buy a home. You may want to shop around and get the opinion — and preapproval — of several lenders. Knowing how big of a mortgage you can get will help narrow your home search.
(Want to know more about lending and how to get a mortgage? Check out our guide at: https://ow.ly/Py6T50U2nvF Want to know more about finding the right agent and what their job entails? Read our Q&A with three Chicago-area real estate agents at https://ow.ly/6AGu50U2nxT.)
3. Look at homes, make an offer and close
This is the part of the process that likely comes to mind when you think about buying a house. With help from a real estate agent, prospective buyers tour properties, make offers and go through closing procedures that include getting a home inspection and meeting with a lawyer to finalize the terms of the sale.
Prospective buyers should make sure they budget for extra costs outside of a mortgage and downpayment. That includes closing costs, property taxes, home insurance and mortgage insurance, HOA fees, repairs, maintenance, renovations and more.
resource for West Siders who are interested in homeownership. But if the whole thing still sounds intimidating and impossibly out of reach, the good news is that there are countless community, city, county, state and national resources to help people like you become homeowners.
AWN is even hosting its own series of educational homeownership events. The final event “Before you buy, do these things,” will be Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. at 1359 S. Kildare Ave., Chicago.
For more opportunities for first-time homeowners and home buyer education, check out the:
- Neighborhood Housing Service
- Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America
- Cook County Land Bank Authority’s Homebuyer Direct program
4. Complete renovations and repairs, and move in
Not all homes are move-in ready. A thorough home inspection before closing on the property can help buyers assess what work needs to be done on a property
After moving in, homeownership costs don’t end at mortgage and insurance payments. Treat your home like the major investment it is: experts say it is a good plan to keep
- Chicago’s Building Neighborhoods and Affordable Homes project
In 12 months and over 30 stories, AWN spoke with countless real estate agents, local homeowners and housing experts about issues like saving for a mortgage, strengthening your credit, first time homebuyer programs and resources and the benefits of homeownership.
It was our goal to make this project accessible to as many people as possible. So in addition to traditionally reported pieces and features of community members, we also created graphics, explainers, glossaries and resource lists. We hope that even a small piece of this project has helped homeowners or prospective buyers on the West Side make a commitment to investing in themselves and their community through buying a home.
1%-4% of the home’s total cost in reserve in case of an unexpected emergency. Regular maintenance of gutters, roof, appliances, plumbing and HVAC systems will also keep your property value up and ensure you get the most out of your investment.
For more about what to do once you become a homeowner, read our guide on what’s next. We have also written a need-to-know guide on Illinois and Cook County property taxes.
