Wednesday Journal 112322

Standing up to Big Healthcare

OPRF signs on to pact with police to share student records

New police chief persuasive on cops as ‘guests’ inside OPRF

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

After nearly an hour of discussion the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education unanimously approved on Nov. 17 an intergovernmental ag reement with the village of Oak Park to allow OPRF to share some student records, under some limited circumstances, with the Oak Park Police Department. The ag reement also calls for the police department to have a primary contact and two backups to work with at the school.

The ag reement once again establishes a for mal partnership between OPRF and the Oak Park police department but does not assign an officer to be stationed at the school, 201 N. Scoville Ave. OPRF does not currently have a police officer stationed at the school. In 2020, in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, the OPRF school board voted 6-1 to eliminate the school re source officer (SRO) position which placed an Oak

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer

anksgiving, before it was ‘o cial,’ was about cultivation

It may be hard to imagine nowadays, but Thanksgiving didn’t always mean taking of f work or school; watching g ames on TV; the one day where the smell of chitterlings, and third and fourth plates of food, are all forgiven; heated arguments about politics that covers for long-subdued family frictions; maybe taking in a church service; and the day before Black Friday.

issued the first National Proclamation of Thanksgiving, a practice of for mal observance that has been followed in various for ms by presidents and Cong resses ever since.

derivation of this celebration, which, in fact, has been happening among human cultures for eons

of the Potawatomi diet was wild rice, or mnomen, which grew in the shallow waters of the Great Lakes re gion.

ROMAIN

In fact, Thanksgiving (the national holiday Americans know it to be) wasn’t created until 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln declared the holiday would be celebrated on the last Thursday in November

Of course, it had been observed in a variety of ways well before then. There was, most notably, the famous celebration at Plymouth Plantation starting in 1621 between the Wampanoag Indians and the Pilg rims to commemorate the settlers’ first harvest they considered a success

In 1777, the Continental Cong ress

In 1941, Cong ress, prompted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, declared that Thanksgiving would fall on the fourth Thursday in November, so as to leave more time for the holiday shopping season so critical to a consumer-based economy.

But before humans living on the banks of the Des Plaines River were consumers, they were Native Americans who lived on staple crops, such as squash, melons and cor n (also called maize), which they cultivated themselves (without the help of Amazon or Walmar t).

After each harvest, those Native Americans held festivals to celebrate the bounty produced by their labor Thanksgiving, as we know it, is simply a

“Since the first hunter-g atherer tur ned their spear into a plow, humans from cultures across the world have almost universally held celebrations commemorating the conclusion of the fall harvest,” notes the website of the Potawatomi nation.

The Potawatomi were in the area before those places even had names.

The Potawatomi used the Des Plaines as their highway. They hunted and used the river’s banks to exchange muskrat pelts, mink and beaver with French fur traders.

“There were cer tainly celebrations held around the time of the harvest because almost every culture in the world has them,” according to Kelli Mosteller, the director of the Citizen Potawatomi Cultural Heritage Center. “You celebrate the successes of the year and feast to give thanks and bring people to gether as a way to signal that it was time to really prepare for winter.”

One par ticular harvest that was a staple

The Potawatomi relied on wild rice before the gover nment systematically removed them from their native lands in the 1830s in order to make way for European homesteaders

According to the Potawatomi nation’s website, the harvest of mnomen “was cause for celebration as the summer ended and autumn settled in.”

Notice that the Potawatomi celebrated Thanksgiving for what they had cultivated, by the sweat of their brow and with their own hands. Nowadays, our Thanksgivings are marked more by intake and spending, getting and taking.

Let this year be dif ferent by using Thanksgiving to celebrate what you’ve cultivated, as opposed to making the day all about consumption. Just some food for thought to go along with the turkey, some fodder for contemplation before the Black Friday crowds

CONTAC T: michael@austinweeklynews.com

ARCADIA

A draw ing of a Potawatomi Indian with a French fur trader found in D oug Deuchler’s book on Maywood

BIG WEEK

November 23-30

Pour Painting

Sunday, Nov. 27, 1-3 p.m., Park Distric t of Oak Park

Pour painting is a painting technique that mixes colors to create an abstrac t e ect. Here’s a chance to make some paintings of your own. Two canvas boards per person can be used, with a large variety of colors and nishes to make your work of ar t really stand out. You don’t even have to clean up the mess. Register with the park district.

$18 - $23, 255 Augusta St., Oak Park.

Monday, Nov. 28, 1:15 p.m.,

Nineteenth Centur y Charitable Association

Ar tist John Vergara has created several large murals throughout the city of Chicago. Vergara will discuss what goes into creating massive works of ar t. Free, but a voluntar y suggested donation of $15 for nonmembers is appreciated. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.

Law at the Librar y: Changes in Tax Law

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 6-7 p.m., vir tually through Oak Park Public Librar y This presentation gives you a heads-up on the tax law before it happens. Each Law at the Library program features a presentation on Zoom by an experienced attorney, followed by a brief question-and-answer session. Presented in partnership with the Chicago Bar Association, the Chicago Public Library, and Evanston Public Library. Register now at oppl.org/calendar.

‘Tis the Season: Holiday Traditions From Radio’s Golden Age

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2-3 p.m., Oak Park Public Librar y

From Jack Benny’s annual shopping trips to Lionel Barrymore’s portrayal of Ebeneezer Scrooge, there were several ongoing holiday customs on the airwaves during the pre-television era. This presentation o ers a box full of classic seasonal sounds from radio’s past, designed to spur the imagination and share a bit of Yuletide spirit. Register now at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park

Thanksgiving Watch Part y: ‘Planes, Trains & Automobiles’

Wednesday, Nov. 23, 5:15 p.m., FitzGerald’s FitzGerald’s presents a free screening of this 1987 movie which has become a holiday staple. Steve Mar tin and John Candy blunder their way through a three -day trip, tr ying to get to their respective homes in time for Thanksgiving. As you’d expect, hilarity ensues 6615 Roosevelt Road, Ber w yn.

The Zimmermen perform

’

‘The La st Waltz

Friday, Nov. 25, 9 p.m., FitzGerald’s A legendar y quintet who called themselves The Band were par t of the bir th of country-rock, or what we’d now call Americana. On Thanksgiving night, 1976, they played their last concert before disbanding That event was captured in a documentar y called The Last Waltz. The Zimmermen will be playing songs from that event at this special show. $25, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Ber w yn.

Billie Holiday Brunch with

Petra Van Nuis

Ronnie Baker Brooks

Wednesday, Nov. 23, 8:30 p.m., FitzGerald’s This veteran Chicago blues artist ushers in the holiday season with style. Contemporary blues with a rock sheen. $29-35, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Ber w yn.

OPRF Show Choir

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 6:30-7 p.m., Oak Park Public Librar y

This musical per formance features Oak Park and River Forest High School’s show choir. Register now at oppl org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Sa 12 p an Nuis is a local jazz singer who puts her hear and soul into a set of torchy jazz classics made famous by Lady Day herself Road

Holiday Candlelight Tours

Friday, Nov. 25, 7 - 9 p.m., Pleasant Home Foundation Already, Pleasant Home is decked out for the holidays! Here’s a chance to take a guided tour through the building, with Yuletide designs fully intac t. Light refreshments will be provided. $20, 217 Home Ave., Oak Park .

PETRA VA N NUIS

RONNIE BAKER BROOKS

JOHN VERGARA

River Forest trustees set to

tax levy hike

Won’t tr y to capture value of new construction, limiting hit to taxpayers

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

River Forest trustees on Nov. 14 voted unanimously to accept the estimate ofthe 2022 corporate property tax levy of$8.8 million, an increase of 4 percent.

Officials are expected to for mally ap prove the levy re quest at the Dec. 12 village board meeting.

T he 2022 levy request of$8,879,762 is slightly higher than the 2021 extended levy of $8,489,113.

Illinois tax cap laws limit the tax levy increases for non-home r ule municipali ties like River Forest to 5 percent or the level ofthe consumer price index (CPI), whichever is lower. For 2022, the CPI is 7 percent, the largest increase since June 1982.

“This is the hard part ofour job,” Village President Cathy Adduci said. “I think we’re making a lot ofsmart decisions. I’m really happy about this.”

Rosey McAdams, the village ’s finance director, told elected officials that prop erty taxes on new construction are not in cluded in the levy valuation. That figure is estimated at $8 million as determined by building pe rmits issued

“By not including the new construc tion dollars, River Forest property taxpayers will benefit as a whole,” she said. “The village did not increase the levy last year for new construction and actual new property added to the tax roll in 2021 was $7,256,868.

“By not accounting for new construc tion dollars year after year, the overall

tax rate for the village should decrease. T he village board continues to look for economic development opportunities to lower taxes for all taxpayers.”

McAdams also explained that a chang e in methodolo gy will impact f uture police and fire pension benefit estimates

“This year’s actuarial re ports include a change in methodolo gy based on a programming change made by the actuarial consultant,” she said. “The impact of this change on future benefit estimates a reduction of over 3 percent in projected future benefits.

“Both pension funds ha ag reed to smooth the re duction in conover a -year period. esulting ac required ontribution is less than what eted for fiscal year 2023.” he tax levy re uest also high ust how a part po lice and fire pensions play in the village ’s fiscal picture. T he village is re questing to levy total taxes ofa little more than $3.6 million to fund the village ’s po lice and fire pension obligations, which are based on actuarial re ports prepared by the village ’s actuary, Todd Schroeder from Lauterbach & Amen. T he 2022 prop erty tax levy for the police pension fund is $1,896,778 and, for the fire pension fund, $1,707,496.

Pension obligations amount to nearly 44 percent of River Forest’s annual property tax levy request.

T he village board also approved the annual tax levy for the River Forest Public Library, which f alls under the auspices of the village but is gover ned se parately.

T he current fiscal year r uns from May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023. T he taxes from the 2022 levy are collected in 2023.

Officials noted that the village portion of residents’ property tax bills is about 12 percent of the total.

Holiday Food and Gi Basket program needs more sponsors

The annual e or t supports almost 2,300 individuals in need this year

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The Holiday Food and Gift Basket program is in need of more sponsors to make the holidays merry and bright for those unable to afford the expenses of the season on their own. Roughly 150 individuals have yet to be paired up with sponsors this year

“These are our neighbors that we’re help ing,” said Angie Seder, the director of the longtime program. “Your donation is helping your neighbor.”

The Community of Congregations sponsors the project which is a twofold operation that provides food for Thanksgiving and gifts under the tree for many local households.

Individuals and families are referred for the program by social workers, social service agencies, schools and churches. Ninety percent of those referred live in Oak Park and River Forest, according to Seder, who became program director in September “People really look forward to this,” she said. “It’s part of making their Christmas happier for them and better for them.”

The number of people referred to the program continues to increase, requiring more

funds and sponsors each year to satisfy the need. The program served 2,000 individuals last year. This year, that number grew by almost 300. Participants are grouped by household, which can be just one person or, in the largest household this year, 10 people

Each household participating in the program receives a Jewel-Osco grocery store gift card with which they can purchase items for Thanksgiving dinner. The amount of each gift card depends on the number of people in that particular household, but a total of $35,000 in gift cards was dispersed through the program.

While that is no paltry sum, the program’s biggest endeavor each year is gift giving, which is where the sponsors come in. The participating households put together holi day wish lists. Those wish lists are given to the sponsors, who then purchase the items and wrap them. The gifts are then delivered to families ahead of Dec. 25 by volunteers, so that they can be opened under the tree on Christmas

This maintains the magic of Santa for young children, while also providing such necessities as winter coats or bedding that the participating households could not other wise afford. The privacy of the household is maintained throughout the process.

Many families sign up as sponsors each year, using the opportunity to bond with

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer

GEARING UP: Angie Seder goes through paperwork for the Holiday Food and Gi Basket event at the River Forest Community Center on Madison Street.

Housing Center development on West Side breaks ground

City broke ground No on streetscape and Laramie State Bank redevelopmen planned by Oak P Regional Housing

By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ AustinTalks

City of ficials broke ground last week on Chicago Avenue to kick off construction of two projects funded by Invest South/West: Austin’s “Soul City Cor ridor” and Austin United Alliance‘s development of the for mer Laramie State Bank building.

Soul City Cor ridor, a project led by the city’s Department of Transportation, will revitalize the commercial cor ridor along Chicago Avenue, from Austin Avenue to Cicero Avenue The Austin United Alliance, which is being planned by the Heartland Housing Alliance and the Oak Park Re gional Housing Center, is redeveloping the long vacant bank at 5200 W. Chicago Ave. into a mixed-use building that houses a bank, a museum, commercial space and af fordable housing.

“This is a West Side groundbreaking, but it’s a city-wide celebration,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said at the Nov. 15 ceremony. Ald. Emma Mitts and of ficials from several city agencies also attended the event, held on the third anniversary of Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West plan.

During that time, INVEST South/West’s $70 million investment in 10 neighborhoods has brought in $2.2 billion in investment commitments from private, public and philanthropic entities, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

At an open house held Nov. 14, a day before the groundbreaking, Austin residents had an opportunity to see renderings of the improvements to come. Lubka Benak, project director of CDOT’s Livable Streets program, said the improvements were deter mined based on community feedback gathered in the last two years.

Tina Augustus, an Austin resident who attended the open house, said she’s excited to see the “amount of dollars coming into

the community” after living through “the whole disinvestment time.”

The co-founder of Chicago’s West Side Chamber of Commerce said the renovated Soul City’s commercial cor ridor will attract business owners who open up stores and increase economic development, which will help “alleviate some of the issues that the [Austin] community is dealing with.”

Improvements to Chicago Avenue include wider sidewalks, new bus boarding islands, more street lights, street resurfacing, improved bike lanes as well as the installation of more trees, benches and trash cans.

To make the avenue safer for pedestrians and bikers, several intersections will have raised crosswalks, ADA ramps, bump-out sidewalks and upg raded traf fic signals In addition, four peace circles designed by youth collaborating with the architecture fir m Lamar Johnson Collaborative will be installed along the cor ridor.

At the open house, Chicago transpor tation of ficials presented community feedback on the “look and feel” of the Soul City Cor ridor compiled over the last two years. Residents said they prefer red ear thy colors, bold and moder n fonts, and a moder n aesthetic style for the community identifiers – two gateways and several decorative elements for light poles – that will be installed.

CDOT also found that residents want to see African-American culture and Black power symbols re presented throughout

City cor ridor in a way that celebrates neighborhood and the history of African American communities design of community identifiers be commissioned to an ar tist or group tists through the De par tment of Cultural Af fairs and Special Events. The will be selected in mid-December submitting their proposals to a panel med by “community re presentatives, ts professionals and elected of ficials.” dia Rose, DCASE’s director of public t, said the agency received about 61 applications in the initial call for ar tists, which closed Nov. 13.

Ross said it’s an “exciting challenge” for ar tists, who will have to propose ar t that incorporates the community’s voice on Soul City Cor ridor, along with the community’s input for public ar t gathered through DCASE’s PARTY tour.

This is a unique oppor tunity for the two city agencies, DCASE and CDOT, to collaborate on a large-scale streetscapes project, she said.

Gateways and community identifiers are public art, and by collaborating with CDOT, there is an opportunity to bring in artists that will create a visual identity that matches the streets design, she said.

At the open house, CDOT representatives said in some sections of Chicago Avenue traf fic lanes will be reduced. Narrowing traf fic lanes increases safety for all roadway users as it can reduce drivers’ speed, said Chris Wolf f, director of the Chicago of fice at the civil engineering services fir m Civiltech.

Site plans show some lanes will be reduced to 10-foot wide, the minimum recommended for major urban streets by the National Association of City Transportation Of ficials. Wolf f said based on traf fic volume studies completed as part of this project, reducing the size of lanes will not af fect traf fic on Chicago Avenue.

The full renovation of Soul City Cor ridor is expected to be completed by 2025. The first phase, started on Nov. 15, will cover Chicago Avenue from Austin Avenue to Central Avenue and will be completed around the summer of 2024.

CONTAC T: austintalks.org@gmail.com

Giving Thanks— and Attention to Detail

Attention to detail.

Of all the compliments we receive, that’s one we aim to achieve—and take to heart—more than just about any other.

As we celebrate our 44th Thanksgiving as a family-owned business, we are grateful for the multiple generations of employees and customers who continue to make all those details possible.

Here are portions of a note that a customer sent to me a few weeks ago (shared with her permission):

“Phase I of our landscaping was installed today. Bob and I are thrilled with the results.

Thank you for your visits and input for the patio and landscaping… your contractor poured the stamped concrete, and it looks great. The final size is pretty much to the specifications that you laid out a year ago when you first looked at our sad backyard…

Your landscape designer was great to work with: thoughtful, patient, knowledgeable and professional. The installation team was also top-notch and did an outstanding job setting the plants in. Rarely do you see such careful work and attention to detail. There is, of course, more to be completed next year. But I appreciate the excellent attention to detail for what was I’m sure a relatively small project for you.”

To be clear, no project is “small.” Neither is our gratitude for all who have entrusted McAdam to serve them over the years.

2001

VDTA AND LATENT DESIGN

An architectural rendering of the Lara mie Bank Building development at 5200 W. Chicago Ave.

Scott McAdam Jr.

OPRF approves remake of athletic elds on campus

Project par tners with park district

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Last week the Oak Park and River Forest High School board unanimously approved spending a little more than $17.3 million to construct a new 8 lane, 400 meter track and new fields on the school’s campus among various other athletic improvements The board approved bids totaling $17,335,486 which is down slightly from a previous estimate of $17.6 million. OPRF will use re serve funds to pay for the project.

The cost reduction came from a rework ing of architect’s fees after District 200 board member Fred Arkin complained at the Nov. 3 Committee of the Whole Meeting about the rising costs of the project which was initially estimated to cost around $12 million.

“I almost feel we’re getting juiced on a juice loan because every time I come back the price is going up,” a frustrated Arkin said on Nov. 3.

The district’s architectural fir m, FGMA, ag reed to cap its fee for the track and field

design work at $750,000 and $250,000 for de sign work for installing a geother mal heating and cooling system under the fields saving OPRF $272,226. The scope of the project also expanded resulting in nearly $1.8 million in additional costs, including $303,000 for stor mwater detention.

OPRF cur rently does not have a competition sized outdoor running track. For the past two decades it has been using the track at Concordia University in River Forest for track and field practices and meets but Concordia is ending the track sharing ag reement at the end of this year’s track season.

The package approved last week includes a new 400 meter track located west of the school, just nor th of Oak Park Stadium, where the baseball and softball fields currently are. The varsity baseball field will move across Lake Street and re place the cur rent multipurpose fields with a small running track around it. That track will be eliminated. The varsity softball field will be east of the baseball field at the Park District of Oak Park’s Ridgeland Common.

Schematic of the proposed renovation of athletic elds.

The baseball and softball fields will also be used for other sports, especially in the fall. Bleachers around the new track will have seating capacity of 300. The field within the new track will be used for field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, cheer, drill team, Special Olympics and football although varsity football g ames will still be yed at Oak Park Stadium. The new track and field will also be used for physical education classes Community members will be able use the new track.

Lights will be added to the recently re built tennis cour ts at a cost of $181,200. Security cameras will be installed to monitor the Lake Street and Ridgeland Common fields as well as the tennis cour ts and the west fields at cost of $291,400 which includes running fiber optic cable to the fields

Arkin and school board president Tom Cofsky expressed reservations about the need for the security cameras but voted to approve the package. The board could still

decide to reduce the scope of the project.

“I would like to pare back on things that are not a necessity,” Cofsky said before eventually casting a yes vote

Sara Dixon Spivy, a board member, cast an enthusiastic yes vote.

“I’m super excited,” Spivy said after voting to approve the project.

New 60 foot high netting will be installed at the Lake Street fields at a cost of $368,000 to prevent balls from going on to Lake Street. The poles to support the netting ac count for the bulk of that cost. Administrators said that the existing netting needs to be re placed anyway.

The project will obviate the need to do just over $2.9 million in maintenance work over the next 10 years making the net cost of the project approximately $14.4 million.

The new track will also save the approximately $80,000 annual cost of shuttling athletes to the Concordia track for practices

Pe pper Construction will oversee the project which will be done next summer.

PROVIDED

New superintendent focuses on accountability, curiosity

By JAMIE O’TOOLE Contributing Reporter

Ushma Shah, superintendent of Oak Park’s District 97 elementary schools, has reached the 150-day mark in her administration. Rooted in her stated goal of maintaining democracy and sustainability among students, Shah expressed gratitude to be able to ensure universal access to academic excellence in her position – guided by safety and curiosity.

To preface her 150-day re port at the Nov. 15 school board meeting, the word ‘Grateful’ in Gujarati appeared on the screen. And Shah recounted a recent event she was grateful to attend and witness: the swearing in of Oak Park Police Chief Shatonya Johnson on Nov. 11.

“I’m grateful to have been in a room that reflected that kind of community of pos-

sibility and a community in which we really feel to gether in moving forward in such impo tant ways,” Shah said.

Relating this pride in ‘common good’ to the work at trict 97, she said it’s that sponsibility of moving forward to gether that’s in the district’ idea of democracy and sustainability, and its duty to mak sure that learning happens, and that every child is ready for futures ahead of them.

sees district moving forward

between her and her peers has been a major part of her role,

Accountability, she says, es us better.

that they’re doing to create welcoming and accepting school environments for all of our students,” Sie gfried said.

USHMA SHAH D97 superintendent

“Those things are very much connected to everything that we do every day and our purpose,” she said.

In her transition, Shah said she has had to consider various perspectives in ensuring student excellence, and with that she must check her own ego to remain “student centered and anchored in those big ideas.” With the decisions she’s made along the way, many questions have sur faced – questions she is responsible for answering, and so checks and balances

at Percy Julian Middle School recently practiced their democracy in their wn capacity during a Mock earing them up for oting and making important choices in America, Shah said. In celebration of student success throughout Shah’s 150 days, Amanda Siegfried, senior director of communications, presented ac complishments made by District 97 students T he eighth at Pe its conference title. And the Rainb at Pe middle schools ers Award, honored Lesbian and Gay Association.

“They

Brooks Middle School’s Environmental Club also met with Sen. Don Harmon about the fight to save Bell Bowl Prairie, as it is under threat from the expansion of an airpor t in Rockford.

Listed in Shah’s ‘things to do as a dis trict team’ is develop shared ag reements and protocols and center the most im pacted communities – on the basis of her value of being curious at District 97.

Board members at the meeting raised questions about the intersection of a new Intergover nmental Ag reement (IGA) on safety and policing with the district’s eq uity policy, expressing concerns and com-

Village subsidizes Holiday Gi Guide

Joint project of Chamber and Growing Community Media

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park village board approved a re quest for up to $16,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to subsidize a second year ofa Holiday Gift Guide. The gift guide is a partnership ofthe Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce and Growing Community Media and highlights local businesses through increased holiday advertising in print and digitally.

In the plan the village will subsidize $100

ofthe advertising cost for any licensed Oak Park business. It will also fund expanded print circulation ofthe section within GCM’s five flags. The program will include the printing ofan additional 3,000 copies of Wednesday Journal and 500 copies of Forest Park Review, as well as an added section in the Village Free Press, Austin Weekly News and Riverside-Brookfield Landmark, for a total print circulation of 16,000.

This year the Village ofRiver Forest will also provide a $100 subsidy for any licensed business purchasing advertising in the guide.

Oak Park’s 24-hour gas station ban cleared to begin

Gas stations will have to close at midnight

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The ordinance prohibiting Oak Park gas stations and convenience stores from operat ing 24 hours a day is set to go into effect following a recent Cook County Circuit Court ruling. The exact date it will go into effect has yet to be deter mined

The ordinance limits gas station and convenience store hours to between 5 a.m. and midnight in an effort to reduce violent crime. The village board first adopted the ordinance Sept. 19 but was barred from enforcing it after the legal team representing the impacted gas stations filed for a temporary restraining order. The order was issued 11 days later

Judge Neil Cohen rescinded the temporary restraining order Nov. 15. He also denied a motion for a new temporary restraining order, the request for which was also filed on behalf of seven gas station owners. Wednesday Jour nal has reached out to the gas stations’ legal representatives for comment.

Cohen’s concer ns over the ordinance were

FILE

ing Oct. 25, according to a news release from the Village of Oak Park.

It was at that public hearing that the owners of Oak Park’s two 7-Eleven convenience stores asked that their businesses be included in the ordinance. The ordinance was amended to incorporate convenience stores. The village board passed the updated ordinance at its Nov. 7 meeting.

The repeal of the restraining order is a blow to local gas stations, but it is not a definitive legal victory for the village either. The seven Oak Park gas station owners are suing the village over the ordinance. The complaint, filed Sept. 27, argues that the restriction of hours threatens their livelihoods and forces a breach of contract with fuel suppliers. The lawsuit is pending, according to Oak Park Village Attor ney Paul Stephanides.

Chicago juvenile arrested in attempted armed carjacking CRIME

Two Fayetteville, Ark., residents were carjacked at gunpoint in Oak Park but refused to hand over the keys to their ve hicle. The two visitors were putting items in their car around 7 p.m., Nov. 20 in the 600 block of South Kenilworth Avenue, when they were approached by a male juvenile from Chicago, who showed them a handgun and demanded their vehicle keys

When the Fayetteville residents refused to hand over their keys, the juvenile fled on foot. He was detained minutes later by police and was found to be in possession of a 9 mm handgun. The juvenile was processed and charged with attempted aggravated vehicu lar hijacking and unlawful use of a weapon.

Motor vehicle theft

■ A white 2015 Kia Optima was stolen between 2:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., Nov. 17 from the first block of Thomas Street. The ve hicle was recovered with a broken window and its steering column peeled in the 800 block of North Waller Avenue in Chicago.

■ A white 2020 Kia Sportage was taken from the 700 block of Highland Avenue between 8:17 a.m. and 8:23 a.m., Nov. 17. The vehicle was recovered at 3:55 p.m. in the 400 block of Harrison Street.

■ A white 2016 Chevrolet Impala was taken from the 1100 block of South Maple Avenue between 9 p.m., Nov. 11 and 4:14 p.m., Nov. 13.

■ An unknown person was observed breaking the rear passenger’s side window of a 2013 Hyundai Elantra and driving of f in the vehicle at 1:34 a.m., Nov. 15 in the 400 block of South Grove Avenue. The estimated loss is $10,000.

Attempted motor vehicle theft

Someone broke the rear passenger’s side window of a 2018 Kia Sorento then peeled its steering column between 9 p.m., Nov. 14 and 7:40 a.m., Nov. 15 in the 200 block of Pleasant Street.

Theft

■ A Colt King Cobra .357 revolver with a black handle and silver barrel was stolen from inside an Oak Park resident’s home

in the 800 block of Washington Boulevard between 8 a.m., Nov. 17 and 5 p.m., Nov. 19. The estimated loss is $900.

■ The catalytic converter was taken from a 2013 Toyota Prius parked in the 500 block of South Maple Avenue between 7 p.m., Nov. 14 and 6 a.m., Nov. 15.

■ The catalytic converter was taken from a Toyota Prius parked in the 700 block of South Boulevard between 9:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Nov. 15.

■ A man was observed removing a pack age, containing a pair of brown leather Schutz boots, from a front porch in the 300 block of South Cuyler Avenue between 1:30 and 1:35 p.m., Nov. 18. The man was seen driving of f in a black sports utility vehicle. The total loss is $150.

■ The catalytic converter was cut from a 1998 Ford F350 parked in a lot in the 400 block of Lake Street between 6 p.m., Nov. 18 and 7:46 p.m., Nov. 20.

■ A package containing a pair of Chanel and a pair of Celine women’s sunglasses was taken from a front porch in the 1200 block of North East Street between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., Nov. 20.

Criminal proper ty damage

■ Someone shattered the rear passenger’s side window of a 2014 Kia Optima, but did not gain entry, between 4 p.m., Nov. 14 and 8 a.m., Nov. 15.

■ Someone punctured the rear driver’s side tire and two passenger’s side tires of a 2019 Toyota Camry parked in the 900 block of South Highland Avenue between 5:15 p.m., Nov. 13 and 6 a.m., Nov. 14.

These items, obtained from the Oak Park Police Department, came from re ports, Nov. 15-21, and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Stacey Sheridan

Finding refuge in the Onion Roll kitche

New addition brings unanticipated level of skill to bagel baker y

By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

Igor Russo, co-owner of The Onion Roll, 6935 W. North Ave., spent the first 19 years of his life in Kyiv, Ukraine and still has distant relatives in the war tor n country. Earlier this year Russo and his business partner, Ryan Rosenthal, put their bagel bakery to use chur ning out blue and yellow bagels inspired by the Ukrainian flag and donated 100% of proceeds from the sale of the specialty ba gels to the Heroes Protection Fund established through St. Jo seph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church

The North Avenue business also distributed Ukrainian flags and partnered with other local restaurants to expand their fundraising reach. Now, the legacy business has brought their mission full circle by staffing their bakery with refugees escaping the violence in their homeland Mariana Vats has been in the United States for just three months and now leads bakery operations at The Onion Roll. She came to the United States as part of the Uniting for Ukraine program, a humanitar ian effort organized through U.S Citizen and Immigration Services. Program participants must have a beneficiary in the United States and those, like Vats, who are granted travel authorization under Uniting for Ukraine are “paroled” into the United States for up to two years.

“I knew we had to get them out,” said Russo. “We have a family connection to Mariana, but when we came to find out she was a chef everything just fell into place. She taught cu

is grateful the restaurant has become her safe haven and allows her to use her considerable culinar y experience.

linary arts in Ukraine, so all of this is second nature to her.”

Vats and her 18-year old son fled the vio lence in Ukraine and took refuge with friends in Turkey for five months before making their way to Oak Park. Her son began work ing at Rosenthal and Russo’s chiropractic office located next door to the restaurant while Vats made quick work of lear ning how to make ba gels according to the Onion Roll’s exacting standards.

Vats is joined in the bakery by Oksana Pidgorodetska, another Uniting for Ukraine program participant, and Olha Shten who also hails from Ukraine, but has a per manent resident card. Together they chur n out up to 900 bagels (depending on demand) in 12 varieties every day. Vats anticipates she and her team are just two weeks away introducing a house-made rye bread program.

Chef Ar mando Pacheco has been piling cor ned beef on sandwiches at the Onion Roll

for 29 years and this will be the first time he will have an in-house bread program to take his well-crafted sandwiches to the next level.

Vats is also putting a creative spin on ba gels offering a rotating array of sweet dessert-inspired combinations on the weekends. Expect a “Neapolitan” inspired bite to feature a chocolate bagel with strawberry cream cheese and vanilla cookie crumble

While the future is uncertain for Vats and Pidgorodetska, the owners believe with this team in place The Onion Roll will eventually have the capacity to expand to include a sec ond location.

“This is about people helping people,” said Rosenthal matter-of-factly “We are honored to have them here with us.”

“I like America and I love Ukraine,” said Vats “I am grateful to Dr Russo and Ryan and the Onion Roll for supporting my family, supporting Ukraine and keeping us safe.”

e Onion Roll: Updated for a new generation

For six decades The Onion Roll has large ly stayed the same, but owners Ryan Rosenthal and Igor Russo have updated the Jewish deli for a new generation of bagel and cor ned beef loving customers. The layout and general atmosphere remain the same, but new light fixtures, fresh paneling on the walls and a spruced-up breakfast bar have given the North Avenue mainstay some moder n-meets-retro flair.

“Our longtime customers have applauded

the changes we’ve made,” said Ryan Rosenthal, co-owner of the Onion Roll. “We offer a generational experience, and all are welcome here.”

The business owners have introduced occasional live entertainment on the weekends and seasonal specials including pump kin pancakes, but the biggest changes are happening at the register.

The Onion Roll now accepts online orders and credit card payments.

PHOTO S BY MELISSA ELSMO/Food Editor

From le : Mariana Vats, Oksana Pidgorodetska and Olha S bagels.

Chef Armando Pacheco has been heading up the kitchen at the Onion Roll for 29 years. In the coming weeks he will be piling corned beef on house-made rye

Lox and Bagel ser ved Onion Roll style with tomato, onion and plenty of capers.

Onion Roll head baker, Mariana Vats,

TikTok helps expose aws of health-care system

Parker uses video-sharing ser vice to ght $40,000 cancer-surger y bill

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park resident Aaron McManus re cently exposed the inadequacies of the American health-care system, racking up almost a million views on TikTok in the process The non-binary father (whose pronoun is “they”) took to the video-sharing service after receiving a $40,000 bill for the removal of a football-sized cancerous tumor — a bill their health insurance provider refused to cover.

“I feel like I’m being treated like a customer who’s complaining because I didn’t get enough ketchup on my hamburger,” they said of their insurance provider. “It’s actually like, literally, my life and death in the balance here.”

McManus, who has stage 4 cancer, was not expecting the story to go viral when they shared it on TikTok through the account “aaronwontshutup,” but it caught the attention of hundreds of thousands of sympathetic viewers — and in the end got the insurance provider to pony up “Wow. They make it as dif ficult as possible,” TikTok user Luke Neal responded to McManus’ Oct. 22 post. “Cruel how the strateg y is to wear us down.”

McManus only took to TikTok after the traditional route of disputing a health insurance claim proved fruitless. The 41-year-old’s story be g an last June when McManus was diagnosed with renal cell carci noma. A massive, 15-centimeter long malignant tumor was found on a kidney, which would have to be removed surgically.

McManus had gotten the procedure authorized through Elevance Health, known at the time as An them Blue Cross They underwent the operation June 24 at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital and stayed another day in the hospital at the physician’s request.

Come August, Anthem Blue Cross de clined to cover the expense, deeming the operation and subsequent hospital stay not “medically necessary.” McManus was on the hook for everything from operating room ser vices, $11,602, to anesthesia, $6,305, according to the claim, which McManus shared with Wednesday Jour nal.

“So I called them and was like, ‘Hey, I’m assuming this was a booboo,’” McManus said.

An appeal was filed over the phone on Aug. 3. That appeal resulted in Anthem Blue Cross supporting its original decision to deny coverage at the recommendation of a family physician, who reviewed McManus’ records in the appeal.

McManus was notified of this deter mination in a letter from the insurance company, dated Se pt. 2. The letter stated that extended hospital stays are only deemed medically necessary when such severe

problems as infection, pain and bleeding exist.

“The information we have does not show you had these or other severe problems,” the letter reads. “For this reason, the request for you to remain in the hospital on and after June 25, 2022 is denied as not medically nec essary.”

That reasoning cut no ice with McManus, who took the fight to TikTok. McManus’ first post on TikTok about Anthem Blue Cross was on Sept. 8. The video received roughly 40,000 views that day — and the count continued to rise. Several concer ned TikTok users flooded the comment section demanding accountability from the insurance company, tagging Anthem’s account. Hundreds of people called and sent emails to Anthem as well, according to McManus

“I was really surprised that that many people stopped scrolling and actually called.”

McManus got a call from Anthem shortly after posting the video and they said a billing error had been made on the part of the physician. McManus also received a for mal letter from the insurance company that the correct paperwork had been received. All McManus was responsible for paying was the $61.32 co pay.

The letter was dated Oct. 21, just two weeks

after a follow up CT scan found six malignant nodules in McManus’ lungs. The cancer had spread

No apology was extended to McManus in Anthem’s letter, a copy of which was provided to Wednesday Jour nal. Nor did the letter explain why the error was not uncovered during the initial appeal. Instead, the letter thanked McManus for their “patience.”

Unsatisfied with that response, McManus took to TikTok again. In a video posted Oct. 22, they blasted Anthem for its lack of compassion and condemned the entire American health-care industry for prioritizing profits over people’s health.

“That lack of empathy is an institutional problem,” they said.

The video again went viral, sur passing the view count of McManus’ first Anthem-related TikTok. As of Nov. 21, the video has close to a million views and over 7,000 comments, proving the power of social media

Representatives of Anthem were unavail able to be interviewed. However, the insur ance company apologized to McManus in a statement.

“We’re sorry this caused stress in an already stressful time, and our care team continues to be in contact and work closely with Mr McManus to guide him and help ensure he has access to the care, information and answers he needs,” the statement reads while also maintaining that the insurance company is not at fault for the mistake that caused the company to originally deny coverage to McManus

“Due to incorrect details provided by his physician, Mr. McManus was sent a bill based on this inaccurate information,” the statement says.

Placing the blame squarely on the doctor does not sit well with McManus, who called the move “tacky.” And while they have no problem with completing insurance paperwork before finalization of a claim, McManus called it “absurd” that Anthem would expect them to pay $40,000 because the in surance company did not receive the correct documentation.

“But the reality is that they didn’t bring up this paperwork issue at all; they denied the claim and said that was their final decision,” said McManus. “Until the TikTok.”

PROVIDED

Aaron McManus

“I feel like I’m being treated like a customer who’s complaining because I didn’t get enough ketchup on my hamburger. It’s ac tually like, literally, my life and death in the balance here.”

AARON M C M ANUS

Oak

OPRF/POLICE

Agree to share records

from page 1

Park police officer at the school during school hours.

On Nov. 15 the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education approved the record sharing agreement by a vote of 5 to 2, with Holly Spurlock and Nancy Ross Dribin voting against the agreement.

With both school districts now on board, the Oak Park village board is expected to vote on the IGA at its Nov. 28 meeting.

At the start of the discussion Thursday evening OPRF board members Gina Harris and Kebreab Henry expressed reservations about the agreement.

Harris said that she was concer ned that the agreement would target what she ter med “students of the global majority.”

“Our data in Oak Park always looks the same,” Harris said. “I’m highly concer ned that it is going to continue to look the same.”

Harris and Henry expressed concer n about there being nothing in the agreement about restorative justice or de-escalation.

“I don’t see anything in this agreement about working restoratively,” Harris said.

Henry was concer ned about how quickly the agreement was adopted. Henry said the board first saw the agreement a couple of months ago.

“I don’t know why we’re moving this quickly,” Henry said. “We just got this two months ago.”

He also said that the agreement was not specific enough about when police would be called if an offense occurred.

“There’s too much play in there for me,” Henry said.

But eventually Harris and Henry seemed to be won over by comments from new Oak Park

With concerns, D97 board OKs pact with police

By JAMIE O’TOOLE Contributing Reporter

By a 5-2 vote school board members at the District 97 Oak Park elementary schools approved an intergover nmental agreement with Oak Park police and Oak Park and River Forest High School which clarifies how information on students may be shared with police and the circumstances under which police may interview students

At its Nov. 15 meeting, the board held a lengthy and thoughtful discussion with Supt. Ushma Shah on a range of concer ns including equity, training of teachers, ad ministrators and police, and the challenge

Police Chief Shatonya Johnson.

Johnson emphasized that police would abide by the values of the school when at OPRF and would better know the school by having an officer assigned to the school’s threat assessment team.

“What we do understand is that we’re visitors in the building,” Johnson told the school board. “We’re not going to do things we would have done on the street.”

Johnson noted that Oak Park police officers undergo training in recognizing implicit bias and she herself teaches such classes for other police departments

She said that the lack of an agreement creates confusion when the police have to re spond to an emergency.

“This is hugely important just to share in formation, to get on the same page,” Johnson said.

The agreement was adopted with two amendments One prohibits police from in terviewing a student without their parents present except when there is a health or safety emergency or when police have a warrant

households annually. The Oak Park Women’s Guild, which is in the process of changing its name to represent the philanthropic group’s inclusivity, took in about 135 households.

of a single policy which applies to students from kindergarten to high school seniors. Shah told school board members that in conversations with Oak Park Village Manager Kevin Jackson and OPRF Supt. Greg Johnson there was agreement “that we would commit to a continuous process of looking at the implementation and to committing to coming back next year” to further refine the IGA.

Responding to concer ns raised by Gavin Kear ney, a board member, about the many and unexpected circumstances a police interview of a student might take that are hard to anticipate, Shah said the district needed to do what was “legally required in cleaning up the language” of an IGA.

or court order that explicitly prohibits the police from contacting the student’s parent or guardian. If the police do interview a student without the student’s parent or guardian present a school administrator, or other school employee, must be present during the interview.

The other amendment limits what student records will be shared with the police Students records will be shared with the police without parental consent only in connection with a health and safety emergency as de fined in the Illinois School Student Records Act or pursuant to a valid court order or warrant with appropriate notification to the student’s parent or guardian. Student records shared with the police without parental noti fication are limited to information necessary for the school to comply with its legal obliga tions and to maintain safety in the school environment.

School board member Sara Dixon Spivy said the agreement was a long time coming “I don’t see that this agreement increased police presence in our school,” Dixon Spivy

Beyond that though she said the district administration will focus on establishing training for teachers and administrators and to work “in this new space, which is a collaboration with the village and District 200.”

Venus Hurd Johnson, vice president of the board, looked to the historical pain caused by having an outdated IGA. “Because the definitions in the behaviors weren’t explicit, there was student har m. We are working to prevent that. … that system was absolutely broken. We are looking at a dif ferent system.”

Ultimately board member Nancy Ross Driben and Holly Spurlock voted against the IGA.

said. “This allows us to coordinate better and more fully with the police department. I think we need this to be able to exchange infor mation as quickly and easily as possible.”

Reciprocal records agreements between schools and police departments are quite common and usually, at least until recent years, uncontroversial.

Some parents would like OPRF to again have a police officer stationed at the school. Dixon Spivy told the school board that that she recently attended a meeting of the school’s Community Council. At the meeting a number of parents, she estimated ap proximately half the parents at the meeting, pressed for having a police officer stationed at OPRF due to concer ns about violence and a spate of fights this year at OPRF.

“There was a very robust, and at times quite passionate, conversation around parents and their concer ns for their students,” Dixon Spivy said. “We’re in a climate right now where violence seems to be on the uptick and so several parents voiced a strong prefer ence for having an SRO.”

neighbors while sharing their good fortune The Seder family has been a gift basket sponsor since they moved to River Forest 12 years ago.

Local businesses and organizations also take up the mantel of sponsorship. Growing Community Media is sponsoring a family of seven this year Oak Park and River Forest High School sponsors a large group of

Those sponsoring through the Women’s Guild are meeting at the home of the guild’s treasurer, Kim Gar nett, on Dec 4 to wrap gifts before delivery over mulled wine and Christmas cheer. Gar nett’s twin 15-year olds have gotten into the sponsorship spirit, using their own money to buy gifts for people in need

“My daughter was practically in tears just seeing that these people are asking for necessities as opposed to something entertaining or fun,” said Gar nett.

If more sponsors don’t sign up, HFGB participants without sponsors won’t go without. Seder will have to dip into the program’s savings to purchase their items, but this isn’t a foolproof solution. Those savings make up the basis for next year’s Jewel-Osco’s gift card purchases, which will have to be re couped. This will put the program in a tighter fundraising position. Fundraising for the next year begins shortly after Christmas.

Seder, however, is hopeful that more sponsors will sign on. It is definitely not too late to sign up to be a sponsor nor is it too late to volunteer to deliver the packages Both roles present opportunities for worthwhile service that often becomes a personal tradition.

Want to help?

To sign up as a sponsor, please email HFGB Program Director Angie Seder at hfgbholidays@gmail.com. You can also sign up online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f49aaa629a5fbc16-hfgb. Happy sponsoring!

“It’s really fulfilling to see how the community comes together, from the sponsors who donate or want to buy gifts for families,” said Seder. “But also, the people who continue year after year to volunteer.”

Huskies fall in 2OT in tourney season opener

OPRF hopes to vie for conference title in 2023

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Entering his third season, Oak Park and River Forest High School boys basketball coach Phil Gary is feeling optimistic despite the Huskies dropping their season opener to Plainfield North 63-58 in double overtime at the Wheaton Academy Thanksgiving Tour nament on Nov. 21.

Senior Rodney Murphy had a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds. Mehki Austin scored 13 points and junior Max Johnson added 11.

“We have a lot of young guys that are hungry,” he said. “We should have more balance on offense and want to press more on de fense.”

The Huskies, who went 16-11 last year and lost 67-62 in an IHSA Class 4A regional final to Riverside-Brookfield, retur n three players who saw significant playing time in Mur phy, Johnson and senior Christian Marshall. OPRF also has a trio of sophomores looking to make an impact in Alex Gossett, Alex Vincent and Justin Bowen, a transfer from Lincoln Park who’s one of the state’s top prospects in his class.

Huskies have a challenging schedule and a change at the front end, competing in the Wheaton Thanksgiving Tour nament in stead of the one at Riverside-Brookfield High School.

“Riverside-Brookfield is a pretty good tour

nament, but we wanted to go find a tour nament that helps our young guys,” Gary said.

Other notable non-conference games are with rival Fenwick on Dec 2 in the Chicago Elite Classic at Credit One Arena on the Uni versity of Illinois at Chicago campus, Loyola Academy and Evanston Township.

The Huskies will again take part in the Pontiac Holiday Tour nament and meet Hyde Park in the Metea Valley MLK Classic on Jan. 16.

With defending Class 4A state champion Glenbard West having graduated all five starters and several top reserves, the West Suburban Conference Silver Division appears to be a wide-open affair this year Gary anticipates OPRF vying for the WSC Silver title

“The more we grow as a team, the better our chances will be,” he said.

The Huskies meet the Wheaton Academy Warriors on Nov. 23 and Bartlett on Nov. 25, with the final opponent in the Thanksgiving tour nament for Nov. 26 to be deter mined

Young Fenwick squad in rebuild mode

The Fenwick High School boys basketball team lost its season opener Nov. 21 to Neuqua Valley 46-42 at the Hoops 4 Healing Tour nament in Oswego, but second-year coach Tony Young likes the direction the Fenwick High School boys basketball team is going in, even though there are plenty of newcomers.

“The amount of work they’ve put in, the energy, and the attitude have been great so far,” he said of the Friars, who were 9-18 last season and won the IHSA Class 3A Prosser

Regional. “I have three guys that played [on varsity] last year, but no one else has. It’s about teaching the young guys how to play on the varsity level.”

Those three retur ning players are all sophomores: guard Ty Macariola, forward Nate Marshall (whose debut will be delayed due to the football team reaching the Chicago Prep Bowl final) and guard Damion Porter Jr

But Young is optimistic about the Friars’ young talent. Several players from the lower levels of the program, which combined for a 75-6 record last winter, are on the varsity squad, including sophomores J.T. Pettigrew and Zion Young (Tony’s son) and junior Dar shan Thomas.

“They have experience winning, but they have to get used to the speed, physicality, and demands of playing varsity,” Young said.

“We’ve got some decent size, it’s just a matter of putting it together and getting guys adjusted.”

Fenwick has another challenging schedule this season, participating in the Hoops 4 Healing Tour nament and the Proviso West Holi day Tour nament. Other non-conference high lights are games against OPRF at the Chicago Elite Classic, Riverside-Brookfield, Orr and Rich Township.

Brother Rice, DePaul Prep and St. Rita are this year’s top contenders in the Chicago Catholic League

“We’ve got to win more games than we did last year,” said Young. “Every month when we evaluate the team, we should be doing things better Come February, we want to be at our peak, and that’s got to be the goal both individually and as a team.”

Fenwick girls win home opener, but o to slow start

The Fenwick High School girls basketball team ensured Lenae Fergerson’s home debut as head coach was successful as the Friars edged Phillips 40-36 on Nov. 18 in the New Trier Thanksgiving Tour nament.

“I’m proud of how the girls played de fense,” Fergerson said. “We forced a lot of

tur novers.”

Fenwick won despite committing 37 tur novers themselves

“I think we panicked when they started picking up the pressure, and we didn’t handle it,” she said. “A lot of those tur novers were unforced. We’ ll get back to the draw-

ing board.”

Senior forward Cam Brusca led all scor ers with 16 points; she also grabbed 12 re bounds.

“Cam’s our leader and we need her,” Fergerson said. “When she goes, we go, and Cam knows that.”

The Friars (1-2) also received contributions from senior Bella Daley (7 points, 4 rebounds), junior Grace Kapsch (6 points, 5 rebounds, four assists), senior Raina Ford (5 points, 2 steals) and senior Allie Hey er (4 points, 6 rebounds).

“We have balance, it’s just a matter of get-

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer

OPRF’s Paul Kitch (21) goes in for a layup during the Huskies double overtime loss to Plain eld North during the Wheaton Academy anksgiving Tournament on Nov. 21 in West Chicago

Fenwick rolls over St. Laurence into Prep Bowl nal

Friars to meet Public League champ Simeon on Nov. 25

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

For the second consecutive year, the Fenwick High School football team will play in the season’s final week.

While the Friars’ defense of their IHSA Class 5A state title ended with a first-round 14-6 loss of Morgan Park, the team has bounced back with consecutive victories in the Chicago Prep Bowl playoffs, defeating St Laurence 30-18 on a frigid evening Nov. 17 to win the Chicago Catholic League championship.

“It wasn’t that bad at first, but after a couple of hours it started feeling cold,” said Fenwick coach Matt Battaglia.

Things started in inauspicious fashion for Fenwick (7-5) as St. Laurence recovered a muffed opening kickoff on the Friars’ 33. But the defense rose to the occasion and stopped the Vikings on downs, and it took the offense just five plays to hit paydirt as Marek Hill connected with Dennis Moore for a 48-yard touchdown pass. Nate Marshall added a 2-point conversion to give Fenwick an 8-0 lead at the 7:47 mark of the opening quarter

“We didn’t freak out,” Battaglia said. “We continued to take things one play at a time. That’s been the biggest positive this season.”

The Friars broke the game open in the second quarter. Hill found Pat Durkin for a 4-yard touchdown, followed by another

ting everyone on board in terms of executing,” Fergerson said. “But we’ ll get there.”

The Friars’ win atoned for a season-opening 49-28 loss at Stevenson on Nov. 15. On Nov. 19, Fenwick fell 40-23 to host New Trier.

Fenwick’s final game of the New Trier Thanksgiving Tournament is Nov. 23 versus Warren Township at Loyola Academy. That will be followed by the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red Division opener at neighborhood rival Trinity High School on Nov. 29.

Miller

Lauren Miller’s 31 points and 14 re

2-point conversion by Marshall. On the next possession, Hill’s 73-yard completion to Rowan White set up his third touchdown pass, a 23-yarder to Luke D’Alise.

“Marek did a great job operating the of fense,” Battaglia said. “He made some good reads and tough throws into a stiff wind during the second quarter.”

Late in the half, Mirko Jaksic intercepted a screen pass and nearly took it to the house, rumbling down to the St. Laurence 2. Two plays later, Marshall went in standing up from a yard out to give Fenwick a command ing 30-0 halftime lead

“We’ve got a lot of linemen who’ve been busting their butts and getting overlooked,” Battaglia said. “We want to make sure they carry the ball and share in the glory.”

Up next for the Friars is the Prep Bowl title game versus Chicago Public League champion Simeon on Nov. 25 at Triton College Kick off is scheduled for 11 a.m.

The Wolverines, who defeated Taft 38-34 on Nov. 18, are 11-1 and feature wide receiver Malik Elzy, one of the state’s top senior prospects, as well as junior running back Andre Crews, who has amassed multiple 200-yard games this season.

Fenwick seeks its fifth Prep Bowl championship.

“We take it as an honor to play in the [Prep Bowl],” said Battaglia. “It’s my first go around with it, and it’s something that I’m glad is still going on between the Catholic and Public Leagues. I hope after experienc ing it, more schools will value it and want to get back.”

bounds led Trinity (2-1) to a 54-36 victory over Rosary in the Elmhurst Classic at Timothy Christian on Nov. 21.

On Nov. 19, Sophia Rodriguez had 18 points (six 3-pointers) and Miller had a double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds), but the Blazers fell 47-44 to Thornwood.

In the season opener Nov. 16 at Taft, Cierra Richardson’s 23 points and eight re bounds led Trinity to a 52-34 victory.

Miller had another double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Rodriguez had 12 points and eight rebounds, and freshman Chloe Santos added four points and 11 rebounds.

— Melvin Tate

KATH Y

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

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

A safe & smart choice.

A safe & smart choice.

A safe & smart choice.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

scores 31 to lead Trinity over Rosar y

ASSISTED LIVING • SHELTERED CARE • MEMORY CARE • SKILLED NURSING

oakpark.com/real- estate email: buphues@wjinc.com

Homes

Easing the experience of aging in Oak Park

New residents provide a window into living at American House

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

For many seniors, there comes a time when it makes sense to leave the family home and move into a senior living facility. A variety of factors can play into making the decision. Perhaps their single-family home’s maintenance has become too much, or medical needs mean it’s no longer safe or comfortable to stay in their homes.

Many struggle with the decision to move into a senior living facility. And, once the de cision to move is made, choosing a place that feels like it can be home for the next stage in life can be another challenge.

Oak Park is home to multiple senior living facilities, and the newest, American House, 703 Madison St., recently w elcomed its first residents. A few of these residents, all moving from within Oak Park, discussed with Wednesday Journal why they made the move

Doug Wyman raised nine children with his wife Barbara in Oak Park When Barba ra passed away four years ago due to compli cations of Alzheimer’s, Wyman stayed in his home and continued to stay active in community events and with Ascension Parish. When he began to explore senior living, he wanted to stay in the area, if possible. Three

of his children are nearby, and he liked the location.

“Here it is right on Madison, right in the middle of everything,” Wyman said. “It’s close to Ascension and everything else in the Oak Park area.”

While Wyman has a car, which he can park in the garage at American House, he also liked that he has the option to use transportation provided by American House or by Oak Park Township.

His daughter, Mary Wyman, in town from the Los Angeles area to get her father settled, said American House has made the transition easy for her father. She points out that the facility accommodates her fa ther’s small dog.

“Dad loves Tai Chi, and he wants to do it in the morning, and they help that hap-

pen,” she said.

The “they” she refers to is Adrian Dalmacio, the life enrichment director for American House. A certified Tai Chi instructor, he makes sure Wyman get in his daily practice.

Dalmacio says it is his job to get to know the residents and help them find the ac tivities and routines they need be fulfilled When residents move in, he schedules an initial meeting

“I really try to get to know them on a personal level -- their likes and dislikes,” he said.

Dalmacio has a lot of material to work with at American House. The first-floor space includes a cinema room, complete with popcorn machine, and a spa room for residents. An outdoor heated patio off the

American House at 703 Madison St. in Oak Park recently welcomed its rst residents, who can take advantage of a variety of amenities and opportunities for social interaction in both indoor and outdoor spaces, like the fourth- oor sensory garden (below) that’s part of the memory-care w ing.

PHOTO BY CURT CLAY TO N

AMERICAN HOUSE

Independent living

from page 19

main dining room allows for events and dining outside when weather permits.

On the second floor, there is an open kitchen for the monthly chef demonstrations that Dalmacio coordinates. A large lounge area is a place for residents to gather to play games or listen to speakers. There is an art studio on the third floor, and large, built-in cabinets that will display residents’ art line the common-area walls

The second and third floors of American House are for assisted living residents, and these residents have their own dining room. The space opens up to an expansive patio with grills, trees and large planters filled with vegetation.

The fourth floor is the memory care unit. Dalmacio has trained to work with dementia patients and says that this floor was carefully planned to provide comfort and safety There are wreaths on the doors to the individual apartments

A sensory room is stocked with weighted blankets and comfortable chairs. Lifelike dog and cat animals are in the lounge space to help residents find comfort in their soft fur. The outdoor space has walls for safety but an open roof to allow in sunlight. Curved planting beds, wind chimes and a fountain provide a soothing area to be outdoors.

The fifth through seventh floors are for independent living and offer

g at the bar of the seven oor bistro called e Wright Place, is American House’s life enr ichment director.

man and Max Dieber live on the seventh floor

The couple has lived in Oak Park since 1987, two blocks away from the American House site and watched it being built. Prolman, who recently had a knee replaced, says their ondo had three floors and too many stairs for this stage of their life. Their two children live in different states, so the ouple decided it made sense to stay in Oak Park

Dieber says they looked at many places in the Chicago area, but knew American House was the right place after their scheduled tour

“It looked like it would be a good fit financially and life style-wise,” he said.

Prolman says that while choosing American House was easy, the choice to take the step into senior living took some djusting to

“It sounds like it was an easy decision, but it wasn’t,” Prolman said.

In spite of the challenges in making the decision to move nto a senior living facility, she points out that there are many positives.

One is having a network of care already in place, so the ouple doesn’t have to manage all aspects of health care, physical therapy and taking care of a larger home on their own. Another perk? The food

“I don’t have to cook anymore!” Prolman said.

American House has a professional chef on staff in Alan

Bloom, who manages the building’s four kitchens, which will eventually serve 180 residents. With a background in fine dining, Bloom says he loves to cook seafood, chops and steaks. At the seventh-floor Bistro space, he gets to flex his creative muscle and come up with a restaurant-style menu.

The main dining room on the first floor includes a bar called the Madison Street Café, which will also have a sepa rate menu. Bloom says he balances flavors with the needs of the residents, noting that for residents who are 55 and up, some will need special diets due to allergies or health concer ns like diabetes.

Independent living residents have breakfast and dinner in cluded in their rental plans, and Prolman said she liked the individualization Bloom brings to the dining services.

“I told him that I liked strawberry yogurt. He made it for me,” she said. “I mean, he bought vanilla yogurt and chopped up fresh strawberries for me. I told him I liked Muesli cereal, and he made me that from scratch, too.”

Wyman, Prolman and Dieber agree that while the facili ties are top-notch, it is the staff that sold them on American House. Dalmacio says that a commitment to the well-being of the seniors is a quality that runs throughout American House.

“It’s a way to use my creativity to give them the spice of life,” Dalmacio said.

CoNtributor

Sandy Prolman (from le ), Doug Wyman and Max Dieber, who are among American House’s rst residents, relax in the rst- oor dining area, called the Madison Street Cafe. ere are four kitchens in the complex, which will eventually ser ve up to 180 residents.

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS SUMMARY FOR FISCAL

YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2022 Copies of the detailed Annual Statement of Affairs for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2022 will be available for public inspection in the school district/joint agreement administrative office by November 30, annually. Individuals wanting to review this Annual Statement of Affairs should contact: Oak Park-& River Forest High SD 200 201 N Scoville Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302-2264 708-434-3278 Call to make an appointment School District/Joint Agreement Name Address Telephone Office Hours Also by January 15, annually the detailed Annual Statement of Affairs for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2022, will be posted on the Illinois State Board of Education’s website@ www.isbe.net. SUMMARY: The following is the Annual Statement of Affairs Summary that is required to be published by the school district/joint agreement for the past fiscal year. Statement of Operations as of June 30, 2022

Local Sources 1000 57,239,258 12,429,104 (4,889) 902,242 2,909,204 4,167,423 823,354 (59,645) (23,241) Flow-Through Receipts/Revenues from One District to Another District 2000 0 0 0 0 State Sources 3000 6,965,254 0 0 491,681 0 50,000 0 0 0 Federal Sources 4000 4,978,534 38,694 0 3,460 22,872 0 0 0 0

Total Direct Receipts/Revenues 69,183,046 12,467,798 (4,889) 1,397,383 2,932,076 4,217,423 823,354 (59,645) (23,241)

Total Direct Disbursements/Expenditures 66,860,282 6,342,690 299 1,772,471 2,838,176 25,919,612 770,102 3,215,894

Other Sources/Uses of Funds (9,000,000) (5,000,000) 0 0 0 14,000,000 0 0 0

Beginning Fund Balances without Student Activity Funds - July 1, 2021 51,301,953 3,410,464 223,891 4,684,344 1,492,094 27,912,701 6,425,222 3,175,829 3,564,669

Other Changes in Fund Balances 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Ending Fund Balances without Student Activity Funds - June 30, 2022 44,624,717 4,535,572 218,703 4,309,256 1,585,994 20,210,512 7,248,576 2,346,082 325,534

Ending Fund Balances (all sources) with Student Activity Funds - June 30, 2022 46,026,023 4,535,572 218,703 4,309,256 1,585,994 20,210,512 7,248,576 2,346,082 325,534

OAK PARK RIVER FOREST HSD 200 06-016-2000-13

PERSON, FIRM, OR AGGREGATE

CORPORATION AMOUNT

2080 MEDIA INC $5,500.00

A&R DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE INC $5,019.11

AA RENTAL $20,684.00

ABC WINDOW CLEANING CO. $3,500.00

ABSOLUTE FIRE PROTECTION, INC $5,139.02

ACCURATE BIOMETRICS $11,450.00

ACHIEVE3000 $9,605.00

ADORAMA CAMERA $8,499.00

ADVANCED DISPOSAL $16,113.90

AIRGAS USA $5,188.34

AIRPORT ELECTRIC $75,712.81

ALEXIAN BROTHERS BEHAVIORAL $3,240.00

ALL-WAYS TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, I $62,569.16

ALPHA BAKING CO $33,197.29

ALTERNATIVE TEACHING $4,500.00

AMAZON.COM, INC. $196,408.23

AMBASSADOR ATHLETIC APPAREL $23,333.88

AMERICAN CUSTOM SILKSCREENING $4,275.00

AMIGOS LIBRARY SERVICES $4,712.58

AMPLIFIED IT, LLC $11,245.00

ANDERSON LOCK $39,698.27

ANDREWS TECHNOLOGY HMS, INC $49,019.95

ANDY FRAIN SERVICES $15,725.06

ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN’S $2,850.00

ANOVA FURNISHING INC $105,172.00

ANTHONY J SVEJDA $5,088.34

APPLE FINANCIAL SERVICES $32,010.67

APPLE STORE $27,306.00

APPRAISAL ASSOCIATES $5,700.00

AQUA PURE ENTERPRISES, INC. $6,001.83

ARAMARK $4,373.49

ARCHER ELECTRIC SUPPLY $16,918.64

ARCHIVE SOCIAL $4,788.00

ASANA $14,394.00

ASHLEY M RAYMOND $6,400.72

AT&T $13,754.91

ATHLETICO $71,024.83

AUTOMATED LOGIC CORPORATION $61,821.60

B & F CONSTRUCTION CODE SERVICES $10,837.00

B&H PHOTO AND VIDEO $12,496.31

BAKER TILLY VIRCHOW KRAUSE, LLP $39,050.00

BARAK $15,485.42

BARNES & NOBLE $126,911.52

BARR MECHANICAL SALES $16,687.51

BEHCA LLC $4,800.00

BERLANDS HOUSE OF TOOLS $3,968.00

BERWYN GARAGE $19,952.96

BEYOND HUNGER- OP & RF FOOD PANTRY $7,146.00

BHFX

$16,372.70

BILL YOUNG $5,100.84

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES $3,506.99

BLICK ART MATERIALS $50,647.87

BLUEMACK $4,955.70

BMO HARRIS MASTERCARD $209,151.61

BOARD OF EDUCATION DIST #97 OPRF HI $447,310.00

BOATHOUSE SPORTS $24,183.53

BOB’S DAIRY SERVICE $18,785.77

BOOKS IN COMMON $6,000.00

BOOM ENTERTAINMENT $46,002.28

BOUNCE ATHLETICS, INC $4,063.48

BRACKER’S GOOD EARTH CLAYS,INC $6,059.08

BRAINPOP $3,250.00

BRIGHTLY $14,537.58

BRUCE & MEGAN FINKELMAN $25,000.00

BSN SPORTS $84,900.33

BUMP CITY AUTO BODY INC $10,364.33

C. ACITELLI HEATING & PIPING CONTRA $44,645.36

C. R. LEONARD $4,675.00

C.R. LEONARD $28,539.80

CALM.COM, INC $6,921.60

CAMELOT SCHOOLS, LLC $21,507.35

CAMP MANITOQUA $3,482.94

CAPSTAN NETWORKS, LLC $6,611.25

CARDINAL COLOR GROUP $7,522.00

CARDIO PARTNERS $3,258.00

CAROLINA BIOLOGICAL SUPPLY $4,469.55

CARRIER COMMERCIAL SERVICES $11,042.00

CATCHON, INC. $9,750.00

CATILIZE HEALTH $58,316.76

CDW GOVERNMENT, INC. $918,538.76

CENTER FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVIC $17,200.00

CERAMIC SUPPLY CHICAGO $5,888.91

CHADDOCK $213,226.75

CHANGE ACADEMY AT LAKE OF THE OZARK $239,276.14

CHER-MAR MECHANICAL INSULATION $45,997.44

CHICAGO FLYHOUSE INC $15,222.00

CHICAGO MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN $75,673.25

CHICAGO TRIBUNE MEDIA GROUP $3,200.30

CHRISTINE MONDRAGON $5,208.00

CHRISTOPHER BALDWIN $9,181.21

CINTAS CORPORATION #23K $20,336.76

CITADEL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT $3,702.28

CITRIX SYSTEMS, INC $4,616.99

CLARE WOODS ACADEMY $31,763.98

CLIC $13,554.17

CLINICARE CORP - MILWAUKEE ACADEMY $19,318.52

CMS COMMUNICATIONS $2,945.26

CODEHS INC $10,300.00

COEO SOLUTIONS $26,958.11

COLLEGE BOARD $167,604.00

COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION BOARD $11,640.60

COLLEY ELEVATOR CO $40,908.50

COMCAST $24,000.00

COMCAST CABLE $4,647.15

COMMERCIAL TIRE SERVICE - MP $3,652.00

COMPASS HEALTH CENTER CHICAGO $3,120.00

COMPASS HEALTH CENTER OAKBROOK $2,880.00

CONCORDE SIGNS LLC $41,090.00

CONNECTIONS DAY SCHOOL SOUTH CAMPUS $31,768.28

CONSERV FS $8,008.85

CONSTELLATION ENERGY SERVICES $151,574.75

COOPERATIVE ASSN FOR SPECIAL ED $58,517.16

COVE SCHOOL $168,173.18

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP SOLUTIONS $11,900.00

CRISIS PREVENTION INSTITUTE $3,478.58

CRX INTERNATIONAL $8,108.80

CULTURED IMPRESSIONS $2,595.00

CUSTOM COMPUTER SPECIALISTS, LLC $13,080.10

CUSTOMINK LLC $7,178.42

CYNTHIA A SIDOR $4,177.35

DANCE PARTY DJ’S $2,800.00

DANIEL LEE MOORE $6,000.00

DECISIONED GROUP, INC $34,872.00

DELTA DENTAL PLAN OF ILLINOIS $612,778.48

DELTAMATH SOLUTIONS INC. $2,800.00

DEMCO $5,867.89

DES PLAINES VALLEY REGION $44,281.00

DILIGENT CORPORATION $8,500.00

DIMAND WALINSKI LAW OFFICES, P.C. $2,921.52

DISTRIBUTIVE EDUCATION CLUBS OF ILL $7,965.00

DISTRICT 97 $14,370.00

DIVERZIFY $7,431.00

DOST VALUATION GROUP LTD $10,000.00

DYNAMIC LYNKS, INC $15,970.00

E2 SERVICES $402,705.17

EASTER SEALS METROPOLITAN CHICAGO $223,109.95

EBSCO INFORMATION SERVICES $7,617.53

ED-RED $5,000.00

EDUCATION FRAMEWORK INC $6,540.00

EDUNOVELA.COM/TREEFROG PUBLISHING L $4,085.00

EDWARD DON & CO $33,616.72

EILEEN M. BRANN $58,452.75

ELIM CHRISTIAN SERVICES $170,264.98 ELITEFTS.COM $24,131.55

ELIZABETH J PEREZ $6,784.34

ELSEVIER, INC $8,231.73

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CORPORATION $411,263.85

ENVISION TEES $8,197.50

ERC AND PATHLIGHT $3,660.00

EXCEL EDGE $67,150.00

EXPLORE LEARNING, LLC $6,995.00

FACILITY ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES, PC $5,656.00

FAITH COLE $3,497.55

FELICITY SCHOOLS LLC $41,843.49

FGM ARCHITECTS $818,653.34

FILTERBUY $21,257.76

FIRST FENCE INC $4,230.00

FIRST STUDENT $1,212,639.53

FLINN SCIENTIFIC $9,712.07

FOLLETT CONTENT SOLUTIONS, LLC $28,179.27

FORECAST 5 ANALYTICS, INC. $21,734.00

FORMAL FASHIONS INC $2,934.24

FORMATIVE $19,481.00

FORWARD SPACE $1,541,708.18

FOX HIRE, LLC $97,263.13

FRAME WAREHOUSE $2,995.01

FRANCZEK RADELET $112,521.95

FREDERICK L. CHAMBERLAIN CENTER, IN $309,278.70

FREESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHIC SUPPLIES $4,002.62

FRONTLINE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC $10,537.26

FULCRUM MGMNT SOLUTIONS INC $24,000.00

GALE/CENGAGE LEARNING $20,418.38

GCG FINANCIAL, LLC $61,476.73

GET FRESH PRODUCE INCORPORATED $39,747.68

GIANT STEPS ILLINOIS, INC $71,772.60

GINGER BENCOLA $2,730.85

GLEN OAKS THERAPEUTIC DAY SCHOOL $32,885.64

GLENN STEARNS CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE $24,765.00

GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR AFRICA $3,146.00

GLOBAL PRINTING & PACKAGING $14,608.00

GLOWFORGE INC $6,990.00

GOLDSTAR LEARNING, INC. $22,513.10

GOLF TEAM PRODUCTS.COM $2,931.00

GOODHEART-WILCOX CO INC $6,682.72

GORDON FLESCH $68,516.74

GORDON FOOD SERVICE, INC $833,022.45

GRAINGER $62,905.85

GREAT LAKES COCA-COLA DISTRIBUTION, $98,217.32

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA, NFP $5,074.00

HALLETT & SONS EXPERT MOVERS $21,473.78

HEALTHCARE SERVICE CORPORATION $9,252,419.07

HEALTHPRO REHABILITATION $60,060.62

HEARTLINE FITNESS - MIDWEST $5,538.89

HINSDALE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL $2,770.00

HOH WATER TECHNOLOGY, INC. $17,228.65

HOME DEPOT CREDIT SERVICES $14,479.92

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN $7,271.37

HOUSING FORWARD $3,146.00

HUDL $11,029.67

HUMANEX VENTURES - UNION BANK & $27,500.00

HUNT TECHNOLOGY MGMNT LTD $14,331.32

HYATT REGENCY O’HARE $3,830.40

IASA $2,833.02

IDEAL CHARTER, LLC $49,316.60

IDENTISYS, INC $3,877.00

IHSA $7,799.20

IL STATE DISBURSEMENT UNIT $53,898.45

ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOAR $17,175.00

ILLINOIS COUNTIES RISK MANAGEMENT T $621,300.00

ILLINOIS WINDOW SHADE COMPANY $5,291.36

ILLUMINATE, INC $12,593.38

IMAGINE LEARNING $25,000.00

IMPERIAL BAG & PAPER CO LLC $36,366.91

INFINITE CONNECTIONS, INC $5,599.96

INFOBASE LEARNING $3,016.33

INNERSYNC $10,471.20

INSTRUCTURE, INC. $3,878.56

INTEGRATED SYSTEMS CORPORATION $13,200.00

INTERNATIONAL SPORT SURFACES $3,740.00

INTERPRENET, LTD $2,947.54

INTERSTATE ELECTRONICS COMPANY $2,647.10

IT’S A SIGN $2,942.10

IXL LEARNING $3,634.00

JAMES BORJA $2,728.44

JAMF SOFTWARE $7,552.00

JASON FRIED $4,786.62

JEANINE SCHULTZ MEMORIAL SCHOOL $15,299.52

JEFFREY KELLY COSTUME DESIGN $6,660.00

JENNIFER SAGE $10,000.00

JEWISH CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES $25,147.47

JIMENEZ STRATEGY & ANALYTICS $28,000.00

JOHN HAYLEY’S UNBREAKABLE FITNESS $4,950.00

JOHNSON CONTROLS FIRE PROTECTION $24,511.70

JOSEPH ACADEMY $14,370.56

JOSTENS $32,804.09

KATIE J DEPASQUALE $2,837.60

KCK PRODUCTIONS INC $2,699.00

KENDALL/HUNT PUBLISHING $25,918.00

KES PRO TECHS COMPANY $2,600.00

KEVIN T CAMPBELL $2,510.52

KNOWLEDGE MATTERS $2,800.00

KRISTIN WIRTZ $11,105.91

KUUMBA LYNX $3,000.00

LAGOOZO VISUAL $5,775.00

LANGUAGE TESTING INTERNATIONAL, INC $5,225.00

LANSING SPORT SHOP $17,844.00

LARSON ENGINEERING INC $2,950.00

LEARN BY DOING, INC. $10,000.00

LEARNPLATFORM, INC. $15,325.20

LEVEL DATA, INC $10,662.75

LINCOLN INVESTMENT PLANNING, INC $48,720.00

LISA GARVIN, MSW $26,033.00

LISA WESTMAN CONSULTING, INC. $13,750.00

MAKEMUSIC, INC. $8,593.95

MARCHESE & SONS INC. $4,800.00

MARILYN MARSHALL $5,670.00

MARYVILLE ACADEMY $197,598.78

MAXIM STAFFING SOLUTIONS $277,859.99

MC ADAM LANDSCAPING, INC $49,274.43

MC SQUARED ENERGY SERVICES $515,237.11

MEADOWLARK GOLF COURSE $2,506.00

MECHANICAL VIBRATION & BALANCING SV $2,720.00

MECK PRINT $69,116.57

MENTA ACADEMY OAK PARK $391,471.58

MENTA SPORTS ACADEMY $7,609.14

MEP, INC. $4,839.60

MESIROW INSURANCE SERVICES, INC $88,789.00

METLIFE $246,824.10

METROPOLITAN PREPARATORY $102,508.34

MIDLAND PAPER $11,227.41

MIDWEST APPLIED SOLUTIONS, INC $8,448.00

MIDWEST COMPUTER PRODUCTS $3,897.14

MIDWEST CONFERENCE SERVICE $29,779.25

MIDWEST INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS $28,890.27

MIDWEST SECURITY PRODUCTS $16,396.51

MINIPCR $7,257.00

MOLLIE O’CONNOR $3,580.42

MPS $8,562.57

MSDSONLINE $3,760.00

MUSIC & ARTS CENTER $11,367.69

MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL $5,205.00

MYBINDING, LLC $5,464.05

NAPERVILLE PSYCHIATRIC VENTURE/LIND $4,380.00

NATIONAL DANCE ALLIANCE $3,000.00

NAUSHEEN DIN, MD SC $4,435.00

NAVIANCE $18,892.24

NCS-PEARSON INC. $16,661.22

NEFF COMPANY $4,455.48

NEW CONNECTIONS ACADEMY $13,627.92

NEW HOPE ACADEMY $105,141.47

NEW HORIZON CENTER FOR THE $3,790.44

NEW YORK TIMES $3,848.00

NICHOLAS MICHALEK $2,681.93

NOREDINK CORP $9,450.00

NORTH-WEST DRAPERY $45,055.00

OAK PARK & RIVER FOREST HIGH SCHOOL $4,165.00

OAK PARK ELEMENTARY DIST #97 $7,557.02

OAK PARK TWNSHP YOUTH SERVICES $34,510.00

OCONOMOWOC DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

CEN $243,477.41

OMNI $2,995,107.01

OPC KICKS $5,650.50

OPRFHS $157,445.69

OPRFHS FOOD SERVICE $21,209.60

ORGANIX RECYCLING $3,655.41

OVERDRIVE, INC. $5,373.34

P.A. CRIMSON $8,652.45

P.A.C.T.T. LEARNING CENTER $59,516.42

PANORAMA EDUCATION, INC $19,250.00

PARTY PEOPLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC $3,587.50

PEAR DECK, INC $8,358.00

PEKRON CONSULTING $44,792.00

PENGUIN RANDOMHOUSE LLC $31,288.80

PEPPER CONSTRUCTION $24,380,654.49

PERFECT CUT PRODUCTIONS $17,585.00

PERSONALIZATION HOUSE (SHIRTWORKS) $4,692.25

PERSPECTIVES $9,660.00

PETTY CASH, OPRFHSD #200 $11,684.18

PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH $65,625.00

PLATFORM ATHLETICS $2,750.00

PLAY IT AGAIN SPORTS $9,031.67

PLAYER SPORTS $2,787.50

PLS 3RD LEARNING $2,795.00

PMA FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC $3,434.70

POLACH APPRAISAL GROUP, INC $7,000.00

POWERSCHOOL GROUP LLC $28,360.13

POWERSTONE COMMUNICATIONS LLC $30,000.00

PRASINO ENGINEERING, LLC $30,000.00

PREMIER TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC $3,600.00

PREMIUM FLOOR COVERING INC. $5,352.00

PRESTO-X $11,560.22

PROJECT LEAD THE WAY, INC $6,844.00

PROQUEST $4,991.42

PROTOLIGHT, INC. $63,602.55

QUADIENT (FORMERLY NEONPOST) $9,724.16

QUADIENT LEASING USA, INC (MAILFIAN $13,497.54

QUALTRICS, LLC $4,775.00

QUINLAN & FABISH $8,213.65

R.E. WALSH & ASSOCIATES, INC $3,285.00

RACHEL LOFTIN, PHD, PC $3,700.00

RAYNER & RINN-SCOTT, INC $8,210.64

RBS ACTIVE WEAR $5,282.64

RED PEPPER SOFTWARE, LLC $2,700.00

REMIND101 $11,458.00

REVTRAK $94,302.70

RIDDELL/ALL AMERICAN $16,128.21

RIO GRANDE $8,099.31

RIVER FOREST COMMUNITY CENTER $10,470.00

ROARING SPRING PAPER PRODUCTS $2,615.56 ROBBINS SCHWARTZ NICHOLAS LIFTON $86,295.89

ROBERT J. MILLER & ASSOC, INC $9,900.00

ROBOTICS EDUCATION & COMPETITION FO $3,240.00

RUDIS - TRIHEX $24,031.83

S&S ACTIVEWEAR $7,880.60

SAFEGUARD SURVEILLANCE LLC $30,107.00

SAVVAS LEARNING COMPANY LLC $5,196.80

SCENARIO LEARNING LLC $6,927.00

SCHOOL HEALTH CORPORATION $11,131.33

SCHOOL SPECIALTY $4,103.27

SCREENCASTIFY, LLC $3,564.00

SCRIBLE, INC. $10,350.00

SECURATEX $66,632.65

SECURLY $22,888.58

SEPS, INC. $4,119.00

SERVICE SANITATION, INC. $22,246.56

SEWING CONCEPTS $6,135.00 SHC SERVICES INC $26,330.36

ANNUAL STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS SUMMARY FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2022 SALARY SCHEDULE OF GROSS PAYMENTS FOR CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL AND NON-CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL

GROSS PAYMENT FOR CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL

Salary Range: Less Than $25,000

Alexander, Nancy Lael, Allen, Ashlee, Anzaldi, Susan,Arvetis, Thomas,Backeberg, Briquelle Ivern,Belpedio, Linda A,Casto, Trinity,Clarke, Matthew,Cobbs, Judy,Corvo, Angela,Cotiguala, James R,Cousin, Janice,Crawford, Sheridan A,Davis, Gwyneth,De La Cruz, Justin R,Dickey, David,Dye, Jason Michael,Farnham, Ryan A,Fitzgibbons, Susan,Fluharty, Johsua Dean,Foley, Timothy David,Gabbidon, Nisa M,Gary Iii, Phillip,Gentile, Rosalee L,Glamoclija, Natasa,Govea, Yesenia,Grieve, Daniel A,Grogan, Martin W,Hamilton, John,Hamrick, Alyssa,Harmon, Barbara J,Hartman, Edward Elliott,Hines, Derik S,Hoshi, Megumi,Hunt, Henry,Iqbal, Kamran,Johnston, Brent,Kimmel, Carol,Kirksey-Miller, Shakana,Kruszynska-Piper, Magdalena,Kuntz, Jane,Leyva, Antonio F,Luchez, Sylvia Prokopowicz,Luepker, Sarah R,Mackenzie, Nigel,Madden, Lori,Martin, Paul,Maxie, Tyler,Nava, Gerardo,Nelson, William,Nixon, Keith A,Nolan, Mark James,Ogundipe, Kathleen J,Pena-Davis, Janet,Pisani, Daniel William,Pollock, Kelly,Pontikes, Peter L,Prendergast, Michael,Regan, Christine,Reid, Rhonda M,Reilly, Megan Elyse,Renteria, Erik,Richkus, Ellen A,Robinson, Minnie,Roche, Mark,Roundtree, Joan,Ruzicka, Carole,Seelinger, Dustin Ryan,Seretis, Christina P,Shepelak, Robert H,Short, Marisa,Silva, Alexandra M,Smith, Diane Lee,Smith, Scott Paul,Soo, Tiffany,Stewart, Rosanne,Tomkins, Angela R,Viano, Rachel,Villasenor, Kaley,Worl, Tammy,Young, Tiffaney

Salary Range: $25,000 - $39,999

Carnate, Oliver C, Culloton, Brendon M, Thomas, Creola

Salary Range: $40,000 - $59,999

Alvarado, Kara R, Blanco, Lauren,Defauw, Brad A,Faulkner, Lisa M,Fotzler, Kimberly L,Fumai, Adriana,Murphy, Hannah,Pligge, James D,Thompson, Jaclyn

Salary Range: 60,000 - $89,999

Achurra, Francisco,Alwawi, Wafaa A,Baer, Brittany M,Brown, Kiah J,Buchanan, Erin M,Callaghan, Kevin A,Canales, Katelynn

E,Cano, Paula,Caraballo Iii, Wilson,Cartier, Kirsten A,Cason Iii, George A,Cermak, Lindsey M,Ciccolini, Luca,Clark, Johanna,Courtney, Ryan S,Cousin, Justin C,Cox, Travis M,Del Fiacco, Velia,Doherty, Bridget,Downs, Claire,Dubina, Brian S,Evans, Ryan R,Gallagher, Helen C,Graham, Omar,Gronli, Leena K,Heinemann, Jolene L,Honn, Kevin A,Hung, Ailien,Kanwischer, Jennifer L,Knoche, Craig J,Lara, Susana,Ledbetter, Christian J,Makely, Lisa,Martinez, Brianna C,Mcgee, Raquel B J,Payne, Reginald G,Prabhakar, Adith,Raad, Bradley,Rogers, Nathaniel C,Salinger, Maia D,Schmadeke, Yoko K,Sherrard Blesch, Cara,Smithson, Janelle S,Springer, Bradley D,St. John, Benjamin W,Stephen, Michael,Tarshish, Evan,Terretta, Julee M,Torres, Jacqueline D,Vai, Renee M,Valenzuela, Patricia,Vishneski, Peter A,Ward, Julie A,White, Valerie R,Woulfe, Patrick R,Zhang, Michelle J

Salary Range: $90,000 and over

Achurra, Lauren, Ackerman, Craig,Ambrose, Brandi M,Anderson, Ronald C,Arends, Lauren A,Avalos, Carmen,Bader, Adam,Baldwin, Christopher,Bayer, Michelle R,Bell, James E,Bellamy, Octavius T,Belpedio, Kristina M,Bencola, Ginger,Bernthal, David B,Beyers, Brian D,Biasiello, Toni,Bishop, Janel L,Bohne, Kara A,Booth, Christine N,Borja, James,Boyce, Liliana,Browder, Nicholas E,Brown, Andrew,Brown, Douglas E,Brueggemann, Louise,Burbano, Jaime M,Burns, Linda G,Byars, Michael B,Cahill, Meghan,Cain, Benjamin J,Cairo, Jenna L,Calcuttawala, Nabiha,Campbell, Kevin T,Campbell, Tia D,Carlson, Linda M,Carparelli, Annamaria,CarrowSever, Michelle M,Chichester, D James,Clark, Anthony V,Cohen, Daniel S,Cole, Faith,Coleman, Semaj,Collins, Kelly A,Collins, Mark S,Collins, Paul D,Colquhoun, Jeremy D,Conrick, Teresa B,Conway, Joseph M,Conway, Lauren B,Corcoran, Daniel W,Costopoulos, John T,Coughlin, James P,Curtis, Joseph D,Dalo, Nicholas J,Depasquale, Katie J,Diaz, Kelly M,Diverde, Marci L,Dorame, Michael A,Doyle, Kelly A,Dunson-Johnson, Betina,Ebsen, Nicole M,Eckart, Erika M,Ecker, Jonathan,Elderkin, Rachel Megibow,Espinosa, Jill,Farley, Elizabeth A,Farrow, Elizabeth,Faust, C Stan,Ferguson,

SHOCKWAVES PROMOTIONAL APPAREL $3,164.34

SIGNCO $9,930.00

SITEIMPROVE $9,957.37

SKYWARD $57,535.00

SOARING EAGLE ACADEMY, INC $7,726.16

SOIL AND MATERIAL CONSULTANTS, INC $32,345.50

SONIA SHANKMAN ORTHOGENIC SCHOOL $484,750.29

SOUTH SIDE CONTROL SUPPLY CO $7,217.16

SOUTHWEST REGIONAL PUBLISHING $6,344.00

SPECIAL EDUCATION SYSTEMS $60,658.66

SPECIALTY FLOORS, INC $23,630.00

SPHERO $7,156.44

SPIRIT PRODUCTS $18,732.42

SPORTSCOPE $5,547.00

SPOTIFY USA INC $2,875.50

SPRINT $20,335.30

STAPLES $39,979.89

STARSHIP $6,674.38

STAYBRIDGE SUITES PEORIA-DOWNTOWN $3,396.65

STRIKER LANES $4,524.00

STRIVVEN MEDIA LLC $4,825.00

STULLER $4,808.64

SUGAR CREEK GOLF COURSE $2,775.00

SVET’S THINK TANK CO $12,000.00

SWANK MOTION PICTURE, INC. $6,140.00

SWEETWATER $9,741.66

SYSCLOUD $12,060.00

TABLEAU SOFTWARE, INC $3,010.00

TECH ELECTRONICS $5,962.29

TELCOM INNOVATIONS GROUP, LLC $27,866.53

TELECHECK $2,941.02

TEXTBOOK WAREHOUSE $43,935.50

TEXTHELP, INC $10,021.50

THE CAMPHILL SCHOOL, INC $119,189.95

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF OAK PARK $7,400.00

THE STEPPING STONES GROUP LLC $5,632.80

THE ZERO CARD, INC. $4,279.11

THERMFLO $5,943.00

THOMAS H. HOOPER $9,902.50

THOMSON REUTERS $6,268.32

THRESHOLDS $215,688.51

TIMOTHY J HASSO $3,242.00

T-MOBILE $6,182.00

TOOLS4EVER $4,824.00

TOP NOTCH SILKSCREENING INC. $8,007.70

TOTEM LUMBER SUPPLY $3,658.97

TRANSEO $14,354.08

TRIMARK MARLINN $19,207.50

TROPHIES BY GEORGE $3,181.55

TURNITIN $11,425.00

ULINE $7,640.97

UMOJA STUDENT DEVELOPMENT CORP $12,600.00

UNCHARTED LEARNING, NFP $7,500.00

UNIQUE PRODUCTS $159,344.04

UNITED RADIO COMM, INC. $14,585.17

UNIVERSAL DANCE ASSOCIATION $6,922.00

UW MADISON $13,500.00

VALOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC $108,828.00

VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES $9,098.66

VERIZON WIRELESS $13,767.25

VEX ROBOTICS $5,716.76

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK $205,965.95

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK $11,034.54

VIRTUAL CONNECTIONS ACADEMY $58,534.52

VISION SERVICE PLAN (IL) $66,039.53

VISTA HIGHER LEARNING $7,203.78

VISTA LEARNING, NFP $25,471.50

VISTAR OF ILLINOIS $18,703.78

VOCAREUM, INC $3,080.00

W W NORTON & CO INC $99,274.00

WASTE MANAGEMENT - METRO $33,428.80

WATERS EDGE GOLF CLUB $7,500.00

WEISSMAN $3,230.59

WEST SUBURBAN CONFERENCE $7,500.00

WESTGATE FLOWERS $24,874.73

WESTMONT INTERIOR SUPPLY HOUSE $13,924.00

WEVIDEO USA $5,000.00

WHISPER ROOM INC $4,532.50

WHITNEY YOUNG BOY’S BASKETBALL $8,250.00

WILLIAM V. MACGILL $3,017.40

XPERIENCE CHICAGO, LLC $3,275.00

YELLOW FOLDER LLC $7,790.00

YIPES! $4,090.00

ZAYO GROUP $30,414.64

ZEIGLER FORD NORTH RIVERSIDE $5,100.97

ZENDESK INC $36,812.63

ZORO TOOLS $7,810.47

ZUM SERVICES, INC. $156,668.50

Lauren,Fiorenza, Laurie M,Francois-Blue, Shalema,Fredrickson, Andrew L,Frey, Julie L,Fried, Jason,Fuentes, Julie L,Gajda, Joyce L,Gamache, Andrea N,Ganschow, Daniel J,Gardner, Tamara Johnette,Geovanes, James J,Giovannetti, Louis F,Godinez, Melissa,Gonzalez, Manuel,Grady, Maureen E,Graham, Jane E,Gunn, Regina,Hanson, Jacqueline,Hardin, Sheila M,Hardy, Patrick,Heidkamp, Bernard E,Hennings, Allison K,Herbst, Joseph M,Hill, Amy V,Hill, Douglas A,Himes, Khalida,Hobson, Darryl,Hoerster, John R,Hooper, Amber M,Hornik, Natalie,Howell, Jessica A,Hunter, Sarah Dove,Iliadhi, Alexis,Johnson, Gregory T,Johnson, Kristina M,Johnson, Susan,Johnston, Christine,Joyce, Fawn C,Kaiser, Kelsey V,Kennedy, Meghan M,Kennedy, Thomas J,Kinnan, Glynis J,Kirby, Linsey M,Kirkpatrick, Matthew J,Kleinfeldt, Daniel A,Kostal, Joseph J,Kralik, Catherine A,Krefft, Lauren M,Kuenster, Wendy S,La Porte, Danielle L,Lam, Julie H,Lee, Brendan T,Lee, Jason B,Lesniak, John M,Leuschel-Perzov, Erin K,Limberg, Dana C,Lukic Cole, Daniela,Lundgren, Clyde O,Lynch, Heidi K,Madock, Katherine,Maloney, Matthew W,Martin, Daniel R,Mazumdar, Rena N,Mccormack, Patrick S,Mcgrail, Amy,Mcguire, Meredith,Mckittrick, Christina L,Mckittrick, Kevin M,Mclaughlin, Cameron E,Mcmurray, Matthew T,Mcnulty, Sara L,Medina, Esteban Z,Meglan, Christopher T,Mertz, Richard A,Messer, James D,Michalek, Nicholas,Miller, Maureen,Mondragon, Christine A,Morris, Jacquelyn,Mulvaney, Ryan,Murray Baielli, Scyla J,Myers, Allison S,Myland-Waseem, Sarah,Nash, Elizabeth Caliendo,Nelson, Faith M,Neuman, Andrea J,Nixen, Pete D,Novotny, Melinda P,Ojikutu, Carolyn T,O’keefe, Eleanor C,Oliver, Stephanie M,Ovalle, Ramon E,Pang, Lucas,Pappalardo, Mark N,Parenti, Joseph J,Parker, Lynda Joi,Pearson, Patrick A,Perez, Cynthia,Perez, Luis P,Peters, Jennifer F,Podolner, Aaron S,Ponce Jr, Ignacio,Potts, Robert M,Prebble, Matthew,Purvis, Derrick R,Quinn, Peter W,Rabichow, Keldra L,Radziszewski, Dariusz,Ramilo, Gisele P,Raven, Lavie,Raymond, Ashley M,Remack, Leigh M,Roberts, Lesley S,Rosas, Sarah E,Roth, Jenifer M,Ruzicka, Peter,Ryan, Joseph P,Sahagun, Claudia C,Sakellaris, Max A,Sanders, Roxana,Schwartz, Steven

M,Sherman, Thaddeus,Sieck, James C,Silver, Jonathan S,Singletary, Rahasad,Soffer, Michael B,Sponsler, Scott,Stanis, Amy M,Stewart Day, Chonita,Stoeger, Mary,Stow, Kristen S,Svejda, Anthony J,Tarantino-Spoor, Carley,Tellez, Carlos A,Terretta, John V,Torrez, Buster,Traphagen, Stephen,Tsilimigras, Kathy,Van Duinen, Tracy M,Venhorst, Ryan R,Wade Jr, Leandrew,Walquist, Stephanie,WaltonScott, Alisa K,Wangelin, Beth Anne,Watson, Ellayne,Webster, James G,Weisman, Neal H,Weisman, Nimmi,White, Erica M,Williams, Carla C,Williams, Tyrone W,Wilson, Rockeya,Wirtz, Kristin,Wolman, Daniel,Woytek, Patricia,Wright, Paul N,Yorty, Natalie,Young Jr, William C,Young, Laura K,Young, Mary B

GROSS PAYMENT FOR NON-CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL

Salary Range: Less Than $25,000

Allen, Nicholas S, Archambeau, James W,Arroyo, Gilberto,Baran, Alexandra E,Berry, Noelle A,Blakes, Charine L,Blausey, Sarah,Brown, Keva A,Burkes, Geraldine,Burton, Brianna L,Caldwell, Vernisa,Chandler, Tikara S,Chrisp

Ii, Patrick A,Cintron, Michael,Considine, Martin J,Cooper, Millison A,Davila Beltran, Blanca A,Diggs, Curtis A,Dina, Michael,Divittorio, Olivia,Dolezal, Kenneth D,Douglas, Michol,Dressel, Beth A,Esquivel, Hilda,Feilen, Wendy M,Gaberik, Audrey,Gaiter, Thyesha,Gallion, Kimberly J,Galvan, Julisa,Gandy, Angel L,Garcia, Diana,Garcia, Leah E,Gatewood, Ellen,Goodman, Michael,Hoang, Tracy H,Hoover, Thomas W,Ionut, Angela,Ivery, Paul,Johnson, Laeontene,Jones, Ashley E,Jones, Dominica S,Karrow, Marilyn J,Kliman, Christopher R,Kogel, Daniel,Krick, Alex C,Lawny, Donna J,Loving, Deborah L,Lynch, Benjamin P,Martinez, Jannis K,May, Jamie R,May, Raeah L,Mcdonald, Madeline R,Mendoza, Veronica,Mizdrak, Timothy,Montoro, Patricia,Moore, Shentail D,Phelan, Michael L,Pitlik, Veronica,Prassas, Kleanthi,Reed, Sheila,Reynolds, Shoneice L,Rice, Kathleen,Rivera Alfaro, Hernan,Robinson, Christian,Rodriguez, Salvador G,Sanchez, Manuela D,Seretis, Christina P,Spiller Sr, Steve,Starr, Violet,Taub, Jane P,Thurman Jr, Michael C,Vasquez, Jose,Vaughn, Raven A,Wise, Anna J,Worthy, Pamela T,Mendoza, Veronica,Mizdrak,

Timothy,Montoro, Patricia,Moore, Shentail D,Ondande, Moruri,O’neal, Terria Alicia,Perez, Joshua,Phelan, Michael L,Pitlik, Veronica,Prassas, Kleanthi,Puri, Aasha,Reed, Sheila,Reynolds, Shoneice L,Rice, Kathleen,Rivera Alfaro, Hernan,Robinson, Christian,Sanchez, Manuela D,Schonman, Brooke,Seretis, Christina P,Shannon, Jack,Simon, Benjamin,Spiller Sr, Steve,Starr, Violet,Suchomel, Ella,Taub, Jane P,Thurman Jr, Michael C,Tikkanen, Josie,Todd, Alexander,Trevino, Julia,Truelove, Cameren,Ungaretti-Levy, Ella,Valle, Axel,Vasquez, Jose,Vaughn, Raven A,Williams, Sullivan,Winter, Beck,Wise, Anna J,Wolinski, Julianna,Worthy, Pamela T,Yutzy, Elizabeth,Zeigler, Patrick, Salary Range: $25,000 - $39,999 Basso, Khalil,Bessas, Dimitrios,Brennock, Therese M,Bryant, Juanita,Buckles, Kimberly,Celis, Jessica,Cipparrone, Carolyn,Collins, Alethia,Corbett, Laura,Dabney, Janae A,D’avella, Mary,Digioia, Donna M,Dossey, Madeleigh D,Ely, Starla D,Erickson, Mary Beth,Eskridge, Chadaryl,Flores De Alaniz, Martha E,Garland, Tyrone,Giesenschlag, Rebecca,Grbic, Zoran,Hackl, Eric C,Hameister, Gretchen C,Heezen, Nancy R,Herring, Wendy E,Herron, Ayana B,Johnson Jr, Reginald,Johnson, Seneca N,Joy, Branden K,Kirksey, Loretta,Kramer, Michael,Lewis, Anthony J,Linnear, Lamar,Lopez, Antonio D,Malhiot, Bryce R,Marcus, Karen,Mazzuca, Margaret B,Mckenzie, Gwendolyn,Mckinnie, Kevin,Mcnichols, Shannon J,Moreland, Jenee A,Moreno, Naybeth,O’banner, Daisha M,Parker, Daniel L,Patterson, Gregory,Perez-Feliz, Alexander,Price-Pigram, Colletta M,Schaefer, April K,Sinclair, Renee S,Sliva, Debbie J,Sutton, Barbara A,Talley, Ashley E,Therriault, Barbara Anne,Townsend, Adrian,Tsagaris, Georgia,Whitley, Cardell M,Wong, Cindy,Zepeda, Maria

Salary Range: $40,000 - $59,999

Acharya, Kirti,Angelini, John A,Asbury, Kimberly A,Baer, Joshua W,Beltran, Marisol,Blackshear, Carol Lynn,Cannon,

Jana,Carrasco, Socorro M,Colas, Kiara J,Colletti, Ashley,Donald, Kameron A,Elmiger, Julie A,Foley, Lori,Gaya, Evelyn R,Gerena, Marian,Hayes, Linda V,Hernandez Terrazas, Daniel A,Hernandez, Mario A,James, Gianna M,Johnson, Robert L,Jones-Mcleod, Cherylynn A,Joseph, Dawn C,Kidd, Shorlanda D,Korab, Diane M,Kremidas-Lumbreraz, Patricia L,Lampley, Kevin,Latham, Michael A,Lopez, Carmen M,Love - Raglin, Erica W,Lucas, Carin K,Luciano, Luis A,Luckett, Tracie D,Lush, Lyneice M,Mahaffey Jr, Bobby D,Mallon, Matthew J,Maxwell, Elizabeth,May, Heidie M,Mcginnis, Nancy P,Mcgowan, Leila E,Medrano, Gerardo A,Miller, Gregory A,Molette, Anissa,Moore, Adekoyejo,Morales, Jesus Jr,Nash, Phylicia D,Ochs, Jeffrey J,Ordman, Joseph J,Perryman, Shannon A,Pruitt, Barbara D,Ramos, Marcelino N,Rodriguez, Angelica,Sakellaris, Angie A,Salgado Ruiz, Antonio,Sanfilippo, Vincent P,Scholtens, Christopher,Serrano Jr, Francisco,Shipley, Marsha S,Short, Richard J,Smith, George,Stahl, Sean A,Taylor, Daniel L,Tisue, Heather E,Trigueros, Judith,Tucker, Roberto F,Van Delft, Heather M,Van Zant, Gabrielle A,Weisenritter, Michael,Welter, Lynette,Werbicki, Kamil,Wesson, Harley R,White, Tanya,Willis, Dimitri,Yarrington, Valda C,Zielke, Mark H

Salary Range: $60,000 and over Bell, Andrea,Bergmann, Jeff,Black, Bradley C,Brown, D’quan,Brown, Lonnie R,Calderon Sr, Gustavo,Carlin, Leah R,Celis Jr, Humberto,Collins, Donal F,Collins, Robert C,Cordero, Elimelec,Corner, Jean L,Bell, Andrea,Beltran, Hugo,Bergmann, Jeff,Black, Bradley C,Brown, D’quan,Brown, Lonnie R,Brown, Melody J,Bryce, Amanda,Calderon Sr, Gustavo,Carlin, Leah R,Celis Jr, Humberto,Collins, Donal F,Collins, Robert C,Cordero, Elimelec,Corner, Jean L,Davis, Donnell E,Delrio, Manuel,Dennehy, Timothy E,Doble, Esteban,Evans, Lisa A,Farrar, William D,Gardner, Terrence Antonio,Gerald, Asad,Granzyk, Lynn,Guillen, Hilda,Gust, Carolyn,Hagins, Antoinette J,Hasso, Timothy

J,Hatchko, Jason,Holloway, Brian K,Imhoff, Brian,Jackson, Izaza L,Karels Jr, Richard,King, Lark W,Lama, Kenneth A,Mazzulla, Gabriela,Mcgoey, Jaclyn A,Mckee, Kristen K,Meraz, Olivia,Micek, Shane,Michaca Ruiz, Hector,Miller, Alisa R,Olivera, Gabriela,Paul, Janie Denise,Phillips, Michael W,Piekarski, Micheline Bunzol,Poe, Patrick W,Powell, Jeremy J,Preuss, Fred M,Raggs, Roy H,Rivera, Rachel D,Rubio, Martiniano,Salgado, Griselda,Sandoval, Janine M,Sidor, Cynthia A,Slee, James A,Slifka Jr, George W,Smith, Apollo A,Smith, Charles A,Sorensen, Kevin T,Soto, Victor M,Stokes Ii, Eddie,Sullivan, Karin H,Szpisjak, Michael S,Tang Jr, Edward A,Thieme, Christopher T,Ury, Karen L,Vincent, Lisa M,Weiser, Jonathan R,Williams, Leonotis T,Word, Kevin L

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M. Call Viewpoints editor

Ken Trainor at 613-3310 ktrainor@wjinc.com

Post-election, pre-runo thoughts

Ilove my country — except for the South. For back ground, when my colle ge roommate got married and moved to the South, she told me “all they seem to care about is football and race.” Of course, that was over 50 years ago, but things don’t seem to have changed much. At least the Republicans don’t think so Surely the Republican Party in Georgia would not have been sly enough to have nominated Her schel Walker, a speech-challenged Black football icon, just to get the southern-white-football-nut vote. Surely.

VIEWPOINTS

MARY KAY O’GRADY

Herschel Walker is not just any for mer college/pro athlete/hero revealed to have fathered children out of wedlock. There’s no question that he was a superb football player who got that way by hard work and dedication. He ear ned his football hero reputation. And there’s no question that he has fathered several children out of wedlock.

Maybe it was OK for him to use women because he was a famous athlete. Maybe the women used him. Maybe he should support the children he has fathered. There’s no “maybe” that Herschel Walker, who ran as a Republican for the U.S. Senate and is now in a runoff, is just a colossal womanizer and a jerk.

One of the questions about Walker was whether he adequately supports three of the four children (that we know about), with one on the way, that he fathered out of wedlock. Apparently he does not. But he says he does. What a guy.

He’s not entirely to blame in his hit-and-run af fairs with women. What I find interesting in reading about Walker’s actions is that he paid for, or offered to pay for abortions all around. Apparently the mothers of his children eschewed abortion and preferred to go on his lifelong child-support payroll, which turns out to be highly unreliable, according to his very vocal son (well, one of his sons).

Here it comes. Remarkably, it’s not his lack of connection or financial support for the children he fathered, but his of fers to pay for abor tions that has riled his critics the most, critics who condemn abortion as murder. (Their

One year a er the re, feeling thankful

One year ago today, Oak Park Festival Theatre’s second floor office at 1034½ Lake St. was destroyed when a fire broke out behind Delia’s Kitchen. Sadly, the restaurant never recovered and the building was razed nearly eight months later. But because of an outpouring of generosity and care by our supportive community, I’m proud to say OPFT is still here. For this, we are immensely grateful.

TOM ARVETIS One View

director who will be taking over for the in imitable Barbara Zahora. Her 5-year tenure in that role was buoyed by a broadening of the kind of performance experiences our audiences have come to expect as well as consistent critical acclaim for those produc tions. While we are sad to mark the end of an era, we know she’ll continue to contribute to our success as an esteemed artistic associate

Returning from this calamity has been a work-inprogress, coming on the heels of a global pandemic that devastated the performing arts community. While we have yet to return to a permanent office setting, we’re grateful to live in a world that allows for the remote administration of our org anization. This has freed us up to focus on the future.

We are very near to announcing the next artistic

In addition to providing their own creative vision for OPFT, the next artistic director will be embracing a three-year, three-part operational strategy newly mapped by our board of directors. Our first priority is accessibility — that is, removing obstacles that keep the greatest number of community members from participating.

Giving thanks for Barbara Ballinger

COURTESY OF FESTIVAL THEATRE

Festival eatre at Austin Gardens

VIEWS

Giving thanks in the still of the ni ght Schools, cops and equity

Last week the Journal covered two interesting school board meetings. Both the District 97 Oak Park Elementary School board and the District 200 board at OPRF had probing, thoughtful discussions before approving a new intergover nmental agreement with village gover nment and its police department.

Ultimately the high school board approved the agreement unani mously. At D97 it was a 5-2 vote. At both boards there were worthy questions and concerns raised about an agreement that works to clarify the circumstances in which a school district can and should involve the police department in a conflict within a school, how information about a specific student should be shared with police officers, and under what circumstances police may interview a student and who must be present.

In approving the pacts — the village board is expected to sign off on Nov. 28 — both school boards were assured by their superintendents that this is a starting point for a necessary collaboration and that it will evolve year by year

To us it seems clear that Ushma Shah and Greg Johnson, superintendents at D97 and D200 respectively, had fruitful and frank conversations with Kevin Jackson, Oak Park’s new village manager and brand-new Police Chief Shatonya Johnson. Clear, too, that those conversations were direct in addressing historic and profound ineq uities in how Black and Brown students were and are scrutinized by police.

Chief Johnson was persuasive in acknowledging that her officers must respond as “guests” when they are at the high school, respectful of school policies meant to protect its students

We are charting new ground here. This progress is possible because of the extraordinary alignment of elected boards and their administrative leaders around critical issues of equity. Now we are dealing with real-life issues and not aspirational rhetoric. More work ahead.

Give your best gi

It is honestly one of our favorite charitable projects of the year for Oak Park and River Forest. The Holiday Food and Gift Basket program connects in so many community-affir ming ways.

And now, in this Thanksgiving week with referrals for holiday gifts from local families at an all-time high the gift basket program finds itself still short of sponsors. There’s still time to jump in and help We believe it will be the most gratifying thing you do for yourself and for others during this sharing holiday. Some 2,300 local people will benefit. That’s up 300 from a year ago.

Here’s how this program works: Sponsored by the Community of Congregations for decades, the gift basket program solicits referrals from school social workers, elder housing, and social service agencies to identify individuals and families with skimpy resources who might go without holiday gifts this year. The program then solicits sponsors and matches them with specific, though anonymous, fami lies with needs. Often the gift requests are for foundational needs like a set of sheets or pajamas.

The sponsors range from institutions like OPRF High School, which always comes in big, to small local outfits like Growing Community Media, which “adopts” a single family You could be a sponsor. You should be a sponsor. Send an email right now to hfgbholi days@gmail.com.

The wee hours are a fine time to focus on thankfulness. Here’s what spilled out of my pen one late night/early mor ning last week:

I’m thankful that life isn’t all good but that most of it is.

I’m thankful that not all people are good but that most are.

I’m thankful that the measure of a life isn’t deter mined by a happy ending.

I’m thankful that seasons change before too long, especially after it changes to my least favorite.

I’m thankful that the glass of life is half empty, because that means it’s also half full.

KEN TRAINOR

I’m thankful that hunger intensifies the flavor of food, That silence intensifies both the beauty of sound for grateful ears that hear

I’m thankful that warmth feels so comforting after cold, That cool feels blissful after blistering heat.

I’m thankful that lessons hard won last long, That winning happens seldom enough to matter, That winning transpires even after you lose, That in losing, you can still succeed

I’m thankful that life has more than one dimension, That we can feel the freedom of flowing through space, That bodies, sometimes aided by mechanical sup port, defy gravity — with myriad degrees of grace, That happiness defies gravity too,

That life is hard but, occasionally, unexpectedly, easy, That the simpler, usually, is better, but simplistic, generally, is not,

That solitude is the GPS that steers us to the safe har bor of friendship.

I’m thankful that darkness magnifies light, That light magnifies vision, That night is soothing and a front-row seat to the greatest show off Earth.

I’m thankful that dreaming gives the mind room to stretch its wings, And occasionally to soar, That when dreams are unsettling, waking is relief.

I’m thankful that the mind and heart at times reconcile,

That music paves the path between them, That noise sets the stage for music, which improves listening, That music leads to musings that salve the soul, That dancing leads to wrestling and wrestling leads to more dancing.

I’m thankful that mistakes lead to learning and learning produces better mistakes, That our errors aren’t always correctable yet can lead to better than-hoped-for results,

That incorrectness is often in the mind of the beholder, That re grets fuel amends.

I’m thankful that suffering sometimes leads to suffering less, That suffering generates compassion, That pain leads to healing, That time heals and reveals, That true love ripens, that wisdom is the well-spring of experience, that aging cures and mellows.

I’m thankful that ripening leads to rotting, which leads to compost, which enriches the Earth.

I’m thankful that, through sheer repetition, life cycles af ford chances to do things better,

That it allows wrongs to be righted and reusing what is broken to fashion something newly useful.

I’m thankful happiness is momentary and temporary, so we can never take it for granted, That we don’t live happily ever after but happily sometimes after.

I’m thankful that the young are not the sole beneficiaries of fun and youth is not the sole province of the young.

I’m thankful that death drives us to choose living, That one life ripples, echoes, leaves a mark, That meaning and beauty make living worthwhile, That laughter is medicinal, That sor row and joy are flip sides of the coin of this realm.

I’m thankful to be a grain of sand in a material uni verse and a drop of water in an ocean of consciousness, That giving feels good, that we need each other, that loneliness leads to gathering, And that gathering is the gateway to thanksgiving.

anks for your kindness

On Nov. 12, my phone apparently fell out of my pocket, unbeknownst to me, as I was walking along Madison Street near the Dollar Store. Thank you to the kind person who found it and promptly turned it over to a policeman who then promptly drove to my home to retur n it (he beat me to my home!). It all happened within about 20 minutes, which

included me retracing my steps and not finding the phone.

What a responsive community and police force we have!

Blessings and Happy Holidays to all.

Betty Schlatter Oak Park

Reimagine the OPRF Imagine Plan

If you conduct an online search for $100 million school PE/sports facilities, you’ll find a few with names like the University of Miami and the University of Cincinnati, but you won’t find any public high schools. Why? Because their sports programs don’t generate the revenue needed to support such an expenditure, nor do they have big donors or tuition dollars augmenting it.

MONIC A SHEEHAN

One View

Oak Park and River Forest High School would be the outlier as the construction estimate for its proposed Project 2, a PE/sports addition, is $100 million. One would think that this estimate, which doesn’t include bor rowing costs and things such as possible remediation that could push the total cost higher, would make it a nonstarter but actions by the District 200 school board suggest otherwise. When the administration presented the construction estimate at the Oct. 27 meeting, some board members expressed sur prise at the number which is significantly more than its Imagine Plan estimat e. However, none stated the obvious: the need to reimagine Project 2 along with the remaining Imagine Plan, re placing it with a financially viable, buildable plan. Projects 2-5 would require the unnecessary, expensive demolition and rebuilding of the entire south end of the school. As a reminder, the Imagine Plan was developed without a budget. It’s an aspirational plan. Project 1 is already

25% over budget.

Project 2’s natatorium is a “want,” and the size is the only reason that the southeast corner of the school would need to be demolished and rebuilt. The other elements in the project could be achieved through renovation. A pool half the size of Project 2’s pool would meet the school’s needs.

Our community values academics and equity There are classrooms, science labs, performing ar ts spaces and the Field House waiting to be addressed in Projects 3-5. Overspending on Project 2 would push of f these needed renovations, perhaps beyond our lifetimes, which is unacce ptable.

WEDNESD AY

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Michael Romain

Senior Editor Bob Uphues

Digital Publishing and Technology Manager Briana Higgins Staff Reporters Stacey Sheridan

Staff Photographers Alex Rogals, Shanel Romain

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Big Week Editor James Porter

Columnists Marc Bleso , Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, Harriet Hausman, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designer Susan McKelvey

Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls, Kamil Brady Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Donor Relations Manager/Food Editor Melissa Elsmo

Sales & Digital Development Manager Stacy Coleman

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

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Exterior schematic design for Imagine OPRF Project 2.

Superintendent Greg Johnson and Board Presi dent Tom Cofsky have stated that all funding options are on the table for Project 2, which means they’ ll consider bypassing voters to finance the controversial project. As a reminder to Cofsky and the board, they have a fiduciary duty to taxpay ers, which means that they are bound, legally and ethically, to act in taxpayers’ best interests, who have made it clear that they want to decide how their money is spent.

PROVIDED

About Viewpoints

Please consider emailing the superintendent, gjohnson@oprfhs.org, and the board, boe@oprfhs.org, to reimagine the Imagine Plan and underscore that its funding needs to go to referendum for voter approval.

Monica Sheehan is a resident of Oak Park

Police report is a disappointment to many

Re garding my comments quoted in last week’s Wednesday Journal [In-depth police assessment re port released, News, Nov. 16], the staf f correctly re ported my supportive words about Oak Park’s police depart ment as reflected in the BerryDunn policing re port However, what the re porter left out was the rest of my comments, which reco gnized what this re port is not: It is not a document that offers a paradigm shift in policing, which is something many residents hoped to see.

The initiative to examine our police department grew out of the profound anger based on years of injustices experienced across the nation, expressed during the spring and summer of 2020, when protests against the racist behavior of police officers boiled

over. For some of us on the board, the point of hiring a consultant to examine the Oak Park Police Depart ment was to receive recommendations on transformational change in our village’s approach to public safety.

BerryDunn’s re port does make multiple concrete recommendations that will make our village’s policing more equitable and help fight inherent bias and systemic racism. But I want to reco gnize that the re port is a disappointment to many, including members of our community who have suf fered from historic hy per-surveillance and harassment from a system that was designed exactly for that purpose.

Susan Buchanan

Oak Park villa ge trustee

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

In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for ling.

Please understand our veri cation process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that veri cation, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot con rm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay.

If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

VIEW’ ESSAY

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

Don’t make our parking situation worse

Last week’s Wednesday Journal contained a letter to the editor with a very misleading headline. It was titled “The benefits of raising parking rates”; however, that was just a small aspect of the article. I actually would not be that upset if parking rates increased by a dollar an hour, as long as we ke pt that hour and a half or even an hour free, rather than a hard-to-keep-track-of 45 minutes. However, the letter took a much more extreme and unrealistic position.

The writer suggests that everyone give up short-distance use, or even total ownership, of cars. The writer says that everyone lives within 5 miles of shopping in Oak Park and therefore they should bike or walk there. I do not own a bike, and as a senior citizen with osteoporosis, it would be a very bad idea for me to purchase one and risk a fall that could lead to a lifechanging injury. Nor am I going to walk an 8-mile round-trip to Downtown Oak Park

First of all, while I do walk a mile or

so almost every day, 8 miles is more than my back could handle. Secondly, what would I do with my purchases? I would be hesitant to buy anything that I knew I would have to carry home.

There is also the time factor

I am a very busy person. Think about how long it would take me to walk to downtown, shop and then walk home. I would have to devote the entire day to it, and I cannot do that.

And what about people who are handicapped or have young children with them? Then there is the factor that we do not live in a war m climate. In winter it is very unrealistic to ask people to take very long walks. Indeed, if it is at all snowy or icy that is actually hazardous.

I read a few years ago that our garages were deliberately ke pt inexpensive to encourage people to use them and leave the street parking free for quick stops. Driving around looking for street parking also adds to pollution. That fact, and the poten-

tial of increased tax revenue from shoppers who take their time and therefore are likely to buy more, is probably why towns like Elmhurst make their garages free.

Worst of all, the writer suggest that new developments not provide off-street parking for their residents. I hardly know anyone who doesn’t own a car. Even if they don’t own a car, what about when they have visitors or service calls? Where are those people supposed to park? The residents and visitors would be filling the garages and pa rking spaces so that the rest of us will add to pollution driving around longer looking for pa rking.

If I did not own a car, how would I possibly visit family members who live in various suburbs? How would I get to jobs I may book that may not be accessible by public transportation? How would I bring groceries home?

Any new residents are bound to have similar questions. I have purchased a hybrid and try to reduce my local driving but cannot eliminate it. Think about all the residents we have already whose lives

are made dif ficult because their buildings do not have parking. Why would we make it worse?

Cars are a fact of life and won’t be going away for a very long time, so we have to accommodate them. In a few more years, all the cars will be EVs anyway. New developments should be required to have lots of charging stations in addition to sufficient parking spaces. People already joke that Oak Pa rk should be called “No Park.” Let’s not make it worse.

Joyce Porter is a resident of Oak Park

VILL AG E OF OAK PARK

Giving thanks for Barbara Ballinger

Jessica MacKinnon wrote a lovely tribute to Barbara Ballinger, my grand father’s dear friend of many years (Ruper t Wenzel). [Barbara Ballinger, 97, Oak Park library director, lov er of poetry, News, Nov. 16]

Barbara’s wonderful niece, Beverly Jackson, gathered recollections from various Wenzels.

Elsa Wenzel

From Rupert Wenzel Jr., writing from Ingleside, Illinois:

There are so many stories about Barbara, and others can spin them much better than I. Very briefly, I’ll relate the origin of how Barbara became the Wenzel’s Honorary Great-Grandmother.

The family had assembled in Maine for Karl and Kristen’s wedding. Dad and Barba ra made the trip out for the celebration and I was at loss as to how to introduce Barbara She was so much more than Dad’s “friend” and I wanted her to be recognized as part of our family. After a number of introduc tions, I jokingly made an aside — that she was our Honorary Grandmother. Barbara heard that, looked at me, and I could see a twinkle in her eye. She was pleased with the appellation, but she took it one step further and announced to the next person we met, she was the Honorary Great-Grandmother of the Wenzel Family.

From Elsa Wenzel, granddaughter of Rupert Wenzel Sr., writing from Evanston, Illinois:

It is the end of an era for our family. I’m at a loss

Barbara decided she wanted to be known as “honorary great-grandmother,” so she signed books to our children “HGGM.” Our oldest, Lilah, preferred to call Barbara by her first name and spelled out her full name on homemade cards. Lilah, who recalls sitting on Barbara’s lap in her office and together poring over the collection of blue ink pens, last week used a blue ink pen to sketch a page of blue-and-white flowers that my dad and I gave Barbara on Friday. “Hi to Lilah,” Barbara said. She always asked about Lilah’s siblings, Charlie, who visited recently, and Rosie too.

Barbara and my grandfather Rupert Wenzel were simpatico. They shared a love of music, literature and art. They loved the community of Oak Park and gave so much back to it. After he passed away, she made a point of walking me and other family mem-

Barbara Ballinger, 1990, shelving, or unshelving, Ernie.

bers to trees that had been planted in honor of him and my grandmother, Mary Wenzel. Barbara has her own location. Several weeks ago she told me she had admired the way he took care of Mary. We also admired the way Barbara took care of Rupert, even at his last breath.

It goes without saying that Barbara was inquisitive, a voracious reader with an enviably sharp memory. I realized recently that I had not lear ned much about her life before she teamed up with my grandpa, partly because she kept us on our toes answering her questions about our lives. Even as her short-ter m memory sometimes failed in recent years, she recited poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins, Billy Collins and Richard Wilbur. When my dad and I last saw her three days ago, it was the only time she did not recite a poem.

I admired how Barbara maintained friend ships with people of all ages and walks of life. She listened. She did not complain often, except when people broke rules of grammar or otherwise exhibited poor taste

She graciously hosted many family holi days for the Wenzels

Years ago, Barbara made it known how much she desired to see a pileated wood pecker. Around that time, my dad and I stumbled across one of the huge “Good God” birds flying out of a cluster of trees near the

Mississippi River in Keithsburg, Illinois. When we reported that to her, Barbara freely expressed her envy George and I will toast Barbara with gewurtztraminer for the lack of Pinot Grigio tonight. Recently Barbara shared Pinot Grigio with me, my mom and their friend Jim, who enjoyed attending operas at the Lyric with her

I hope to honor Barbara by keeping her kind spirit and memory alive in my children, and seeking to give back to our community. I was privileged to consider her an “honorary grandmother.”

From Judith Wenzel, daughter of Rupert Wenzel Sr., writing from Owl’s Head, Maine: We have so many happy memories of Barbara. When she would visit us in Maine with Dad, she was very enthusiastic about the wildlife, particularly the loons and pileated woodpeckers. We managed to find her some loons on a quiet pond, but the pileated woodpecker that normally came around to our house every day, absolutely refused to show. We asked friends if they had any on their properties, kept watch daily — and 10 minutes after she and Dad left for the airport, Woody woodpecker started packing at the stump!

Barbara’s love of music, shared with Dad, brought both such joy. What we loved so much about Barbara was her questioning mind; everything was interesting to her. She was passionate about Billy Collins. For her 90th birthday, I wrote Mr. Collins and asked if he could possibly acknowledge her birthday. He did — with a wonderful note Barbara was my dad’s closest friend to his death. He adored her

From Caron Wenzel, wife of Stephen Wenzel (younger son of Rupert Wenzel Sr.), writing from Woodstock, Illinois: Sharing recollections of Barbara at this time is especially important. It goes without saying that Barbara was an amazing women and adopted Grandmother-inlaw. Two particular memories that come to mind. One fun time that was personal with Barbara, it that she assisted me with a nature-based English class for teachers. She taught the poetry section (naturally). Of course it was excellent and played to rave reviews!

The other memorial moment happened when we were in San Francisco for our niece, Elsa’s wedding. We traveled with Barbara on the same flight and got here

through TSA metal detectors without too much trauma. This was followed by a day of sight-seeing in San Francisco, We were in Chinatown during the Lunar New Year celebrations. It was like stepping into another country with dragons, food and Luck Money with hoards of people up and down hilly pavement. As it also happened, the famous City Lights bookstore is just around the cor ner from Chinatown. Bar bara made a beeline to the poetry section and was there for two hours communing with shelves of Beat Generation Poets and the classics. An exciting time was had by all. This all goes without saying that she brought an incredible amount of love, culture, and quality of life to the Wenzel clan. We love you, Barbara!

From Dori Jacobson-Wenzel, Elsa Wenzel’s mother:

Barbara Ballinger was a gracious, noble, intelligent, well-read, and hard-working in dividual. She loved Oak Park as her home and loved the Oak Park Public Library, the Hemingway house, Lyric Opera, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, music, books and ideas

Barbara and Grandpa (Rupert) Wenzel became partners and shared many events and ideas when Barbara became “honor ary grandmother” after Mary Wenzel passed away. Together Barbara and Rupert Wenzel shared friendships, commitment to Oak Park’s politics, social justice issues, and culture.

Meeting Barbara at the opera was a special pleasure for me, as Barbara knew the opera scores, the arias, and reco gnized and sang her favorites. Plus, we always enjoyed a cocktail or glass of wine and dessert at inter mission or post-opera.

Graciousness, knowledge, intelligence and respect for others were Barbara’s “calling cards.” The love of her Oak Park poetry meetings and recitation of favorite authors, such as Gerald Manley Hopkins and Billy Collins, showed her brilliance and her love of poetry, literature and ideas In her condo she organized a reading of James Joyce’s Ulysses, so friends in the condo could discuss ideas and share companionship.

We were privileged to know and love Barbara, to enjoy operas and music and birthday luncheons and family dinners.

Barbara Ballinger is a true friend and inspiration to all. She will be sorely missed and fondly remembered.

CREDIT: HISTORICAL SOCIET Y OPRF

Oak Park is sending mixed messages

The village of Oak Park is sending mixed messages about its commitment to lower emissions, as stated in Climate Ready Oak Park. By raising parking fees and limiting free parking at the village parking garages, with the goal of eliminating free parking, it is dis-incentivizing residents who live in older apar tment and condo buildings to follow the Climate Ready guidelines

Those residents in the older buildings, who aspire to or already own EVs, will find it more dif ficult and more expensive to charge their cars. EVs lower emissions, but older buildings do not support charging EVs. The village will be limiting access to charging stations in the parking garages which will discourage owning an EV. Composting is one of the most impor tant activities one can do for the Ear th. Food scraps put into landfill become methane gas. Food scraps put into composting fields be come soil. Despite what the village website says, no local garbage/recycling hauler will pick up compost from buildings with more than five units.

Residents who live in older, large buildings need to use village composting bins. Two bins are currently located in the Avenue Parking Garage. Once free parking is unavailable, residents will have to pay to enter the garage to drop of f compost.

Sounds Good

It doesn’t matter where you go, you’ re going to hear some music. In places when you’ re feeling low, or happily buying a tunic. There’s shopping tunes at the grocery store, Dental music so you come back for more. Eerie notes to make scary films scary, And holy chords when the soul is weary. But the best songs of all are the ones you sing, When you take a breath and let your voice ring.

OK, full disclosure: I wrote this poem because I sing in the Sounds Good Choir. But I didn’t know how to end it. If you’ re not doing anything on Dec. 11, come to our free concer t at Pilg rim Cong re gational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park at 4 p.m. We lov e to sing, and we especially lov e to sing for you.

Happy Holidays

And now what?

Now that midter m elections are almost complete, I hope we can look forward to a calmer couple years of good gover nment and less chaos. That said, I am concer ned for the 2024 election. Biden has done well for us, but too many folks feel his advanced age is such that he should not seek re-election. And, of course, in my opinion, Trump seeking re-election would be an absolute disaster.

Val Gee Oak Park

I think these problems can be solved, but village trustees have to take another look at their decision, which is causing the mixed messages.

Elaine D. Johnson Oak Park

O’GRADY

from page 25

movement, Right to Life, would better be called Lifelong Unprotected Sex Tarif f or LUST.)

Candidate Walker, by the way, is fir mly opposed (now) to abortion.

As a woman, I’m not willing to let the women who bore his children off the hook either. This is the 21st century and bir th control for both men and women is readily available. Unless you’d rather get pregnant (for financial reasons?).

Probably the saddest thing about Walker’s candidacy is that he’s being used by white Re publicans who are taking advantage of him. Walker himself has said he’s “not that smart.”

I’m guessing Hollywood will wait about five years be fore making the movie. Although we don’t how the plot will end, my guess is that it will be sad and depressing, but Herschel Walker will probably appear, smiling, at the premiere. Maybe he’ ll bring some of his kids

On a lighter note, I can picture Trump and Walker ap pearing at a rally to gether. English teachers all over the country will weep.

HAUSMAN

Recently, one of my Republican friends told me that even though Trump made a few mistakes, ould be a better presi quote her, “After all, e some good decisions.” ee with her! I r characterize Trump as er, especially be his desire for an autocratic ich he would be the uncontested leader for life here are many reasons I do not want Trump re-elected, including, but not limited to, the following list, in no particular order: It is not good decision-making or wise leadership to:

■ promote white supremacy and behave in racist and big oted ways, such as limiting minority access to voting

■ separate migrant children from their parents and detain them in prison-like facilities as a means to limit immigration.

■ restrict availability of abortions and health-care initia tives for women and children, and reduce financial aid for the poor.

■ remove environmentally sound regulations that protect our public lands, resources, air, and water.

■ confiscate Native American lands for the benefit of oil companies.

■ distance the United States from our allies and world’s nations; drop out of the Iran Nuclear Treaty and the Paris Accords.

■ abuse the presidential office for personal profit and to increase his personal power.

■ support the NRA rather than sensible safety measures on gun purchase and use

■ use lies and inflammatory rhetoric against one’s oppo nents; instigating and encouraging violence.

Most of all, I could never support a leader who attacks our election practices, the very basis of our democracy. On Jan. 6, 2021, Trump encouraged a coup, hoping to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election. In my opinion, this was a treasonous, criminal act.

I fear if Trump is elected again, our nation will plunge into the depths of hate and fear, and the rule of law will be supplanted with fascist and white supremacist beliefs. I opt for a president we can all respect, someone who earnestly represents the will of the American people, the Constitution, and democracy. I believe most of us want a president with wise judgment who can make decisions that are best for the majority of us, now and into the future.

That’s leadership.

DAVID M. GOLDMAN/SOUNDSGOODCHOIR.ORG

ARVETIS

Happy to still be he re

from page 25

For example, this summer we implemented a new open captioning system that was welcomed by everyone, not just those with hearing impairment. We aim to be radically hospitable and do everything we can to ensure a welcoming atmosphere; we’re even exploring sustainable ways to reduce our ticket prices.

Our second priority is greater diversity and equity. We will continue to make our company more reflective of the full spectrum of our audience, be it their age, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, etc. We also owe it to our employees to pay a just wage for their time and talent.

Finally, we will prioritize education, developing and delivering programming that encourages people of all ages to engage with and explore ideas that matter to the health and welfare of our community.

This is a bold agenda and will take time for our small ar ts organization to roll out. But the first step in that journey is sharing this vision with you. Being inclusive means not only going public with our successes. It means inviting our community into the challenges and opportunities we have yet to realize and trusting that our allies will help us find our way.

That cer tainly proved to be true last year when a two-alarm fire on Lake Street made our future ter ribly uncer tain. Our community of supporters made sure we would endure.

If you have ever joined us for a summer evening in Austin Gardens or an immersive show in a local historic mansion, I hope this vision for Oak Park’s very own professional theatre company resonates. I look forward to hearing from you how we might be more accessible, diverse, equitable, and educational. I

f you are unfamiliar with Oak Pa rk Festival Theatre, I hope this note inspires you to take a chance on us in 2023.

And if you prefer not to wait that long, join us at 3 p.m. on Dec. 4 at Grace Episcopal Church for Midwinter’s Tales: Simple Gifts, a holiday celebration that will raise money for the company as we close out the year. More infor mation can be found on our website: https://www.oakparkfestival.com.

Tom Arvetis is the managing director of Oak Park Festi val Theatre.

OBITUARIES

John Scott, 70 Passion for photography and pickleball

John R. Scott, 70, of Oak Park, died in his sleep on Nov. 17, 2022. Raised in Chicago and Harwood Heights, he graduated from Maine South High School, attended Northwestern and the University of Illinois, and graduated with a bachelor’s de gree in Mathematics. He pursued an ac tuarial career and worked in that role for the next 40 years.

Photo graphy was a great passion and he delighted many with the memorable f amily moments and compelling scenes he captured. He enthusiastically followed the Blackhawks, Bears, White Sox, and Bulls, sometimes traveling to an opponent’s stadium to watch their g ames and also followed his alma mater’s football and basketball g ames

He had the opportunity to take courtside shots in a for mer women’s basketball leagu e, the WBL, and one of his photos graced a women’s sports magazine cover. He was known for his easy-going personality and sense of humor. At work, he circulated David Letterman-style Top Ten lists for de parting employees

In his retirement, he discovered another passion — in the camaraderie and fun of the Oak Park pickleball community. He is remembered as a pl ayer who was kind and encouraging to players at all skill levels, and he would often play five or six days a week. After a morning of pickleball, he exercised his mind by watching Jeopardy each day.

He will be greatly missed by his

siblings, Walt, Diane (Tom), and Joe (Joanne); his for mer spouse, Maureen (Frank); his nieces Cheryl (Justin), Jenna (Mark), Katie (Kaleb), Allison, and ne phew Byron (Colleen); along with Lily (Steven) and Frank III (Alissa), Briana and Janelle, to whom he was a most devoted “Godfadda.”

Visitation services are at the Conboy Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester, on Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. A memorial service star ts at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Misericordia

Barbara Nurse, 82

Registered nurse-midwife

Barbara A. Nurs e, 82, a longtime resi d ent of Fo rest Pa rk , for merly of Oak Pa rk , died sur rounded by f amily at Rush Medical C enter on Oct. 31, 2022. S he grew up in Georgetown, B ritish Guyana, and move d to L ond on, England to further her education. After c omp leting her studie s and becoming a re gistered nursemi dw ife she im mi gr ated to the United States, settling in Oak Pa rk . Her thoughtfulness, helpfulness, and extraordinary kindness guided her suc c essful career at C ook C ounty Hospital. Her service did not stop with her pa tients

As a l ifelong Christian, she was an ac tive c ong re g ant of St. Christopher ’s Epis copal C hurch. S he faithfully c ontributed to charitable organizations that p ledge d to assist those in need in various aspects of their live s.

S he was the b elove d d aughter of the late Oscar & Millicent Nurs e. S he is sur vive d by siblings George, Derek, C laire, Corrin e, & T hora and is remembered as a loving aunt to many nieces and nephew s.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 28 at St. Christopher ’s Epis copal Church . Please send fl owers and memoria l wishes to St. Christopher ’s, 545 S. E ast Ave., Oak Pa rk , IL 60304.

James (Jay) Michael Champelli, 80, a longtime resident of Oak Park and a longtime Ascension parishioner, died on Nov. 20, 2022, due to cancer. A member of the Village Manager Association, he was an advocate for social justice.

Jay was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather. Please join his family in sharing your favorite memories and stories at a visitation on Friday, Nov. 25, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Peterson-

Bassi Chapels, 6938 W. North Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60707 (https://www.petersonfuneralhome. com).

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26, at Ascension Church, 808 S. East Ave., Oak Park, IL 60304.

To help honor Jay’s commitment to community service, please consider donating to Housing Forward: https://www.housingforward.org.

Jay Champelli, 80

VMA member, community activist

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m. HELP WANTED

River Forest Public Schools

River Forest Public Schools, District 90 is seeking an experienced part-time School Psychologist

Qualifications:

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

HELP WANTED

ACCOUNT CLERK II

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

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

DEFINITION

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

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Reports directly to the Information Technology Services Director.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:

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

Essential duties and responsibilities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

software and other forms of systems and data.

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

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

13. Participate in research and recommendation of technology solutions.

Other important responsibilities and duties

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

2. Participate in the preparation of various activity reports.

3. Travel and support remote facilities and partner agencies.

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

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

6. Complete projects on a timely and efficient manner.

7. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

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

9. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

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

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

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

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

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

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

VB scripts.

Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Technical writing, office productivity tools and database packages.

Ability to:

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

- Walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time

- Operating assigned equipment

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

- Working in and around computer equipped vehicles

Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:

- Making observations

- Communicating with others

- Reading and writing

- Operating assigned equipment and vehicles

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

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

Experience and Training Guidelines

Experience: Three years of network/system administration in the public or private sector, maintaining a minimum of 75 Client Workstation computers. AND

Training: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in computer science or a related field. Certifications in Microsoft Server Administration, Networking, Applications and Cisco Networking.

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

Vaccination against COVID-19 strongly preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

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

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Account Clerk II. This position performs a variety of accounting clerical duties involving financial record keeping and/or transactions including accounts payable and receivable and to provide a variety of accounting support to the Development Customer Services Department. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/jobs. First review of applications November 4, 2022.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Administrative Assistant in the Public Health Department. This position provides a variety of responsible administrative and analytical functions; records and monitors department budget and fiscal requirements of grant-funded programs; oversight of Accounts Payable process; prepares reports and serves as a resource for computerized office applications. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/ jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

PART-TIME ASSISTANT FACILITIES MANAGER

First United Methodist Church of Oak Park 324 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park

First United Methodist Church is seeking a part-time Assistant Facilities Manager to work the following hours:

- Sunday mornings 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

- Two Mondays per month from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

- Every Wednesday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM

The position will also cover additional hours for weekdays and occasional weekend hours as needed.

Responsibilities of this position include:

- Opening and closing procedures on Sunday mornings and at the end of other church or guest events.

- Locking and unlocking appropriate doors for each event

- Overseeing the loading and unloading of bulky items through church doors

- Setting up and breaking down tables

- Directing guests to legal parking options

- Providing security for church events

- Contacting emergency medical, police or fire personnel when required

- Ensuring snow removal contractors arrive in time to clean sidewalks, or removing snow on private sidewalks if needed

- Accessing items in storage as needed, such as power strips, proper tape

- Handling minor repairs and contacting the Facilities Manager, Trustees or directly calling contractors when necessary

- On occasion there is some cleaning required of spaces used

This individual must present himself/

• Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in School Psychology.

• Prefer at least 5 years of successful educational experience in both general and special education; and at least five years of successful experience in evaluating students, collaborating, and problemsolving with school and District teams.

• Master’s Degree preferred.

Demonstrates knowledge of special education legislation and acts in accordance with those mandates; follows policies and procedures of the District. Develops and implements activities that encourage students to be life-long learners. Identify and assess the learning, development, and needs of individuals and groups, as well as, the environmental factors that affect learning and school success. Uses assessment data about the

students and their environments in developing appropriate interventions and programs. Conducts appropriate individual psychoeducational assessments for children who have or are suspected of having a disability and provides written reports of assessment results.

Participates in all staff conferences of students having received psychological evaluation or reevaluation, including hospital discharge. Provide support to special education personnel including assisting staff with development of functional behavioral analysis and behavior intervention plans, modeling “best practices” and assisting special educators with instructional practices.

For a complete list of duties, please visit our website at https://www.district90.org/about/ employment

Interested candidates should complete the online application available at www.district90.org.

Custom Frame Company

Clean, safe, fun work with graphic display frames that you’ll see in Wal-Marts, Verizon stores, CTA stations, all over US. No weekends, no evening hours, great pay and benefits.

Manufacturing

Top rated firm, Alpina Manufacturing LLC, founded in 1992, locally owned beautiful campus in Galewood, near Mars candy, 3 blocks north of Oak Park. We build and sell display framing systems to customers nationwide including Wal-Mart, Verizon, Circle K, Hospitals, CTA. Apply in person M-F 8am to 4pm • Alpina • 6460 W Cortland St Chicago, IL 60707 www.fastchangeframes.com

herself to the public in a professional manner as a representative of our church.

May fill in when needed for the Facilities Manager or the Custodian This position reports to the Facilities Manager, Trustees or the Pastor as needed. Must be willing to serve on rotation for emergency response from our Burglar system or the Fire Department.

Successful completion of background checks must be completed prior to work. Covid vaccinations are required.

Pay - $20 an hour. Resumes can be sent to LKMasters47@gmail.com.

FULL TIME HELP

WANTED SPOTLESS CARWASH at 7343 Roosevelt and 7802 Madison St in Forest Park is in need of an attendant. We are looking for someone who likes to be outside and is friendly and likes people.

The duties are to meet and greet customers, make change, sell tokens, automatic and self serve wash instructions, keep the lot, equipment room, and perimeter clean.

Pay is $13.00 per hour to start. The hours an attendant is on duty are 9 – 11 and 12 – 5 on weekdays, 9 – 11 and 11:30 – 4 on Saturday and Sunday. Looking for Wednesday through Sunday. If you are mechanically inclined please mention it.

Please come to 7343 Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park to pick up an application. 708-771-2945.

Thank you

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

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

HELP WANTED • NETWORK SPECIALIST

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

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: Y22009778 on October 25, 2022 Under the Assumed Business Name of SP TECH with the business located at: 1020 N DES PLAINES AVE SUITE 410, FOREST PARK, IL 60130. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: DELONDON C HAWTHORNE 1020 N DES PLAINES AVE SUITE 410, FOREST PARK, IL 60130

Published in Forest Park Review November 9, 16, 23, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.

Request of Olivia Rose Reynolds Case Number 2022CON001315

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Olivia Rose Reynolds to the new name of: Oliver Winchester Reynolds.

The court date will be held: On December 19, 2022 at 9am via Zoom at 50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, Cook County, Meeting ID: 96525616475 Password: 553663.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 16, 23, 30, 2022

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: Y22009829 on November 7, 2022

Under the Assumed Business Name of WRITE 2 READ RIGHT with the business located at: 5931 WEST MIDWAY PARK UNIT 2E, CHICAGO, IL 60644. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: MICHOL MARLENE WHITNEY 5931 WEST MIDWAY PARK UNIT 2E CHICAGO, IL 60644, USA.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 16, 23, 30, 2022

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, ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division In re the Marriage of: Laura Gonzalez, Petitioner, and Noe Ayala, Respondent, Case No. 2021 D 005047.

The requisite

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 December 14, 2022 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. November 16, November 23, and November 30, 2022.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 16, 23, 30, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

SUMMONS (Family Law)

CITACIÓN (Derecho familiar)

CASE NUMBER (NÚMERO DE CASO): HF22130927

NOTICE TO RESPONDENT (Name): AVISO AL DEMANDADO (Nombre): ANGELO C GALLARDO

You have been sued. Read the information below and on the next page.

Lo han demandado. Lea la información a continuación y en la página siguiente.

Petitioner’s name is: Nombre del demandante: MERCEDITA M. GALLARDO

You have 30 calendar days after this Summons and Petition are served on you to file a Response (form FL-120) at the court and have a copy served on the petitioner. A letter, phone call, or court appearance will not protect you.

If you do not file your Response on time, the court may make orders affecting your marriage or domestic partnership, your property, and custody of your children. You may be ordered to pay support and attorney fees and costs.

For legal advice, contact a lawyer immediately. Get help finding a lawyer at the California Courts Online SelfHelp Center (www.courts.ca.gov/ selfhelp), at the

California Legal Services website (www.lawhelpca.org), or by contacting your local county bar association.

Tiene 30 días de calendario después de haber recibido la entrega legal de esta Citación y Petición para presentar una Respuesta (formulario FL-120) ante la corte y efectuar la entrega legal de una copia al demandante. Una carta o llamada telefónica o una audiencia de la corte no basta para protegerlo.

Si no presenta su Respuesta a tiempo, la corte puede dar órdenes que afecten su matrimonio o pareja de hecho, sus bienes y la custodia de sus hijos. La corte también le puede ordenar que pague manutención, y honorarios y costos legales.

Para asesoramiento legal, póngase en contacto de inmediato con un abogado. Puede obtener información para encontrar un abogado en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en el sitio web de los Servicios Legales de California (www.lawhelpca.org) o poniéndose en contacto con el colegio de abogados de su condado.

orders are effective against both spouses or domestic partners until the petition is dismissed, a judgment is entered, or the court makes further orders. They are enforceable anywhere in California by any law enforcement officer who has received or seen a copy of them.

AVISO—LAS ÓRDENES DE RESTRICCIÓN SE ENCUENTRAN EN LA PÁGINA 2: Las órdenes de restricción están en vigencia en cuanto a ambos cónyuges o miembros de la pareja de hecho hasta que se despida la petición, se emita un fallo o la corte dé otras órdenes. Cualquier agencia del orden público que haya recibido o visto una copia de estas órdenes puede hacerlas acatar en cualquier lugar de California.

FEE WAIVER: If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the clerk for a fee waiver form. The court may order you to pay back all or part of the fees and costs that the court waived for you or the other party.

EXENCIÓN DE CUOTAS: Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario un formulario de exención de cuotas. La corte puede ordenar que usted pague, ya sea en parte o por completo, las cuotas y costos de la corte previamente exentos a petición de usted o de la otra parte.

1. The name and address of the court are (El nombre y dirección de la corte son): SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, 24405 AMADOR STREET, HAYWARD, CA 94544 - FAMILY LAW DIVISION

2. The name, address, and telephone number of the petitioner’s attorney, or the petitioner without an attorney, are: (El nombre, dirección y número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante si no tiene abogado, son): SATNESH S. PRASAD, 607 LONGWOOD AVE., HAYWARD, CA 94541

Date (Fecha): OCT 21, 2022

CHAD FINKE, Clerk, by (Secretario, por) SARAH GOUVEIA, Deputy (Asistente)

[SEAL]

Published in the Wednesday Journal November 23, 30, December 7, 14, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) is proposing to build a 34-ft wood telecommunications facility in the vicinity of 1022 N Harlem Ave, River Forest, Cook County, Illinois 60305. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Project 6122010448 - JLD c/o EBI Consulting, 6876 Susquehanna Trail South, York, PA 17403, jdavis@ ebiconsulting.com, or at (203) 2316643.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 23, 2022

NOTICE—RESTRAINING

ORDERS ARE ON PAGE 2: These restraining

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

Park District of Oak Park

218 Madison Street Oak Park, IL 60302

Request for Proposals

The Park District of Oak Park is accepting proposals for the printing of the 2023- 2024 Brochure Series. Specifications may be obtained at www.pdop.org starting Monday, November 28, 2022. Each proposal must be placed in a sealed envelope marked “Seasonal Brochure –Sealed Bid Enclosed” and addressed to Ann Marie Buczek, and delivered on or before 1:00pm on Friday, December 9, 2022 to Park District of Oak Park, 218 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL, 60302. The Park District encourages qualified minority-owned, locally-owned and woman-owned business enterprises to compete for and participate in the Park District’s supply and service requirements.

For further info contact Ann Marie Buczek at (708)725.2121 or annmarie.buczek@pdop.org.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 23, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD PUBLIC NOTICE

VACATION OF RIGHT OF WAY

Notice is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield will hold a public hearing on December 12, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois, to consider vacating portions of the 29th Street unimproved right-of-way, located between Sunnyside Avenue and Prairie Avenue, Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois legally described as follows:

The first beginning at a point along the eastern boundary of Sunnyside Avenue and ending at a point along the western boundary of Vernon Avenue, an area that extends to the north of parcels 1527413024 and 1527413026 33 feet, and the second beginning at a point along the eastern boundary of Vernon Avenue and ending at a point along the western boundary of Prairie Avenue, an area that extends to the north of parcels 1527414001 and 1527414033 33 feet but excludes the 16 foot by 33 foot portion of the 29th Street rightof-way that lies north of the alley between Vernon Avenue and Prairie Avenue.

The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/ or written comments. Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield Community Development Department c/o Kate Portillo, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513, kportillo@ brookfieldil.gov, or (708) 485-1445. Oral or written testimony may be given during the public hearing.

Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield at (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall. Published in RB Landmark November 23, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

Copies of the Bid Documents including plans and specifications will be available starting November 7, 2022. Bidders can download electronic Drawings and Specifications from the BHFX Plan Room, www.bhfxplanroom.com. Printed sets may be ordered and paid for by the contractor.

All bids offered must be accompanied by bid security in the form of certified check or bid bond made payable to the Owner in the amount of not less than ten percent (10%) of the amount of the aggregate of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and the performance of the contract properly secured. The successful bidder for the project is required to furnish Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the bid amount, with sureties to be approved by the Owner, and in the form required by the Bidding Documents.

The successful bidder is required to pay the general prevailing wage for work under this Contract as ascertained by the Illinois Department of Labor, and shall submit certified payroll records, in compliance with the Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130) and the requirements of the Bidding Documents.

A pre-bid meeting will be held on November 15, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Hauser Middle School, 65 Woodside Road, Riverside, IL 60546 in the Hauser Auditorium. Bidders must allow sufficient time to register at the building prior to being permitted to proceed to the meeting location.

Bids will be received until 1:00 PM, December 6, 2022, at the District office at 3440 S. Harlem Ave, Riverside, IL 60546. A public bid opening will take place afterwards at 1:30 PM, December 6, 2022 at the Hauser Middle School, 65 Woodside Road, Riverside, IL 60546 in the Hauser Auditorium.

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all bids or any part thereof.

Published in the RB Landmark November 23, 30, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

Park District of Forest Park 7501 Harrison Street Forest Park, Illinois 60130

Popelka Park

The Park District of Forest Park does hereby invite sealed bids for Popelka Park. Work will include removals, earthwork operations, concrete curbs and paving, site furnishings, playground equipment, play surfacing, fencing, sod, planting, and subdrainage.

Project manuals, including bid form and specifications, and construction documents are available after 10:00 A.M. on November 17, 2022, from Accurate Reprographics 2368 Corporate Lane, Suite 100, Naperville, Illinois 60563, 630.428.4433 www. hitchcockplanroom.com

Bidding documents are available to download and print at the non-refundable cost of reproduction. Bids will be accepted at the Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison Street, For-

est Park, Illinois 60130 during regular office hours. All bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the Contractor’s name and address, and “Bid for Popelka Park,” on the face of the envelope. Bids must be received no later than December 8, 2022, 10:00 AM. Bids will be opened on December 8, 2022, 10:00 AM at the Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison Street, Forest Park, Illinois 60130. All bidders will be required to submit Bid Security in the form of a Bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the Base Bid, payable to the Park District of Forest Park.

The successful bidder, as determined by the Park District of Forest Park, shall be required to pay, and to agree to pay no less than the Prevailing Rate of Wages, pursuant to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130) for the locality of the Park District of Forest Park (Cook County), to each laborer worker, or mechanic needed or used to complete the work as detailed in the contract to be let.

The successful contractor, and all subcontractors shall be required to submit, to the Park District of Forest Park, certified payrolls no later than the tenth day of each calendar month for the immediately preceding month.

The Park District of Forest Park reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, parts of any and all proposals, or to waive technical errors or omissions in submitted proposals.

No submitted bid may be withdrawn until a period of ninety (90) days after the bid opening date, without written consent of the Park District of Forest Park. The Park District of Forest Park encourages minority business firms to submit bids on this project and the successful contract bidder to utilize minority businesses as subcontractors for supplies, equipment, services, and construction.

Questions should be directed to Bridget Deatrick or Eric Hornig, Hitchcock Design Group (630) 9611787, bdeatrick@hitchcockdesigngroup.Com, or ehornig @hitchccockdesigngroup.com

Published in Forest Park Review November 23, 2022

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

HEARING DATE: December 8, 2022

TIME: 7:30 p.m. or as soon there after as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING: The Commission will conduct a public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/com missiontv 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 remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has de termined that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s cur rent disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may provide written evidence, testimony and public comment on the application by email to historicpreservation@oak-park. us or by drop off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 8, 2022. All written testimony and comments will be distributed to the Historic Preservation Commission and made a part of the official hearing record. Those wishing to provide public testimony at the hearing shall contact the Village’s Urban Planner at historicpreservation@ oak-park.us for instructions on attending the live Zoom meeting by 5:00 PM the day of the hear ing. Interested persons may also

in

participate in the hearing to cross examine the Petitioner and her witnesses by emailing the crossexamination form to clerk@oakpark.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to sign up. Individuals who sign up to participate in this manner will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the meeting online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone. Questions regarding writ ten testimony or comment can be directed to 708.358.5413 or email to historicpreservation@oak-park. us

PETITIONER: Anastasia Valen tine, 742 North Marion Street, Oak Park, Illinois

REQUEST: The Petitioner seeks approval of a Certificate of Ap propriateness to demolish one residential building located at 742 North Marion Street, Oak Park, Il linois, P.I.N. 16-06-308-027-0000, which is located in the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architec ture Historic District.

A copy of the application is on file and is available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Cus tomer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday be tween 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Commission to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes of the hearing fixing the time and place of the date. The Commission shall issue or deny the Certificate of Appropriateness within fifteen (15) days following completion of the public hearing.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD OAK PARK HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Oak Park, Illinois 60302

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will re ceive sealed proposals from qualified drinking water laborato ries at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 3:00 p.m. on Fri day, December 9, 2022 for the following:

Village of Oak Park Drinking Water Laboratory Services

Project Number: 23-106

Proposal documents may be ob tained from the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours.

Published in Wednesday Journal September 7, 2022

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

e Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

is newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

Public notice is hereby given that the Board of Education of Riverside School District 96 in Riverside, Illinois will receive sealed bids for:

Blythe Park Auditorium Repurposing Project

Published

Wednesday Journal, November 23, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

HEARING DATE: December 8, 2022

TIME: 7:30 p.m. or as soon there after as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING: The Commission will conduct a public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/com missiontv 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 remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has de termined that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s cur rent disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may provide written evidence, testimony and public comment on the application by email to historicpreservation@oak-park. us or by drop off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 8, 2022. All written testimony and comments will be distributed to the Historic Preservation Commission and made a part of the official hearing record. Those wishing to provide public testimony at the hearing shall the Village’s Urban Planner at historicpreservation@oak-park. us for instructions on attending the live Zoom meeting by 5:00 PM the day of the hearing. Interested

persons may also participate in the hearing to cross examine the Petitioner and their witnesses by emailing the cross-examination form to clerk@oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to sign up. Individuals who sign up to participate in this manner will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the meeting online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone. Questions regarding written testimony or comment can be directed to 708.358.5413 or email to historicpreservation@ oak-park.us

PETITIONER: Nicholas Schmuck and Cora Bruemmer, 424 Pleasant Street, Oak Park, Illinois

REQUEST: The Petitioner seeks approval of a Certificate of Appro priateness to demolish one garage structure located at 424 Pleasant Street, Oak Park, Illinois, P.I.N. 16-07-405-017-0000, which is lo cated in the Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District.

A copy of the application is on file and is available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Cus tomer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday be tween 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Commission to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes of the hearing fixing the time and place of the date. The Commission shall issue or deny the Certificate of Appropriateness within fifteen (15) days following completion of the public hearing.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD OAK PARK HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION Oak Park, Illinois 60302

PUBLIC NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

On November 23, 2022 the Village of Oak Park (Village) will request the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to release federal funds under Title I of the Housing and Community De velopment Act of 1974 (PL 93-383), as amended, for various activities pursuant to the Program Year (PY) 2022 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

The following activities will take place within the Village of Oak Park, Illinois at a total cost of $464,171: Lead Hazard Reduc tion $99,150; Single Family Rehab Loan Program (revolving loan fund) $175,000; Small Rental Rehab Pro gram $90,950; and Public Facilities Improvements $99,071: $46,800 to UCP Seguin’s $52,000 “You Hold the Key” project which in cludes: Renovating a kitchen, new plumbing and electrical upgrades to adhere to current code guide lines at 436 South Taylor Avenue and install 130’ maintenance-free privacy fence set on steel posts along the home’s south side at 134 South East Avenue, Oak Park, IL; $42,271 to Way Back Inn’s $46,968 “Window Replacement” project which includes replacing 39 win dows and screens at the Oak Park Grateful House Recover Home at 412 S. Wesley, Oak Park, IL; and $10,000 to Y.E.M.B.A.’s $11,650 project which includes façade im provements and concrete stoop at 218 Lake St. Oak Park, IL 60302.

An Environmental Review Record covering CDBG programs has been made by the Village, which documents the environmental re view of the activities. This Envi ronmental Review Record (ERR) is on file at the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 and is available for public examination and copying upon request from November 24 to

December 8, 5 p.m. The ERR is also available on the HUD Envi ronmental Review Online System (HEROS) at: https://cpd.hud.gov/ cpd-public/environmental-reviews

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 or via: email at grants@oakpark.us All comments received by December 8, 2022 will be con sidered by the Village of Oak Park prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

The Village of Oak Park will un dertake the activities described above with grant funds from HUD, under PL 93-383. The Village of Oak Park and Kevin J. Jackson in his official capacity as Village Manager, and Tammie Grossman, in her official capacity as Develop ment Customer Services Director, consent to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal courts if an action is brought to enforce responsi bilities in relation to environmental reviews, decision-making, and ac tion, and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. The legal ef fect of the certification is that upon its approval, the Village may use the grant funds, and HUD will have satisfied its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the Village of Oak Park’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the Vil lage of Oak Park; (b) the Village of Oak Park has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24

CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the devel opment process have committed funds, incurred costs or under taken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental qual ity. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to HUD at 77 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois 60604. No objection received after 5 p.m., December 23, 2022 will be considered by HUD.

Notice is also given that CDBG Tier 1 Broad (non-site specific) Environmental Reviews were con ducted for the following proposed projects - Tier 1 Broad Review proj ects - Village of Oak Park Housing Programs projects (3) that will: 1) reduce lead-based paint hazards for LMI homeowners; 2) rehabili tate single-family homes for LMI homeowners; and 3) rehab rentalbuildings with 1-7 units to primarily benefit and improve affordability for LMI renters.

The specific locations within the Village of Oak Park are not yet de termined for the above proposed Tiered Activities. Tier 2 Site Spe cific Reviews will be completed (which include laws and authori ties not addressed within the Tier 1 Broad Reviews) for each individual address under the Oak Park CDBG program when addresses become known.

Kevin J. Jackson,Village Manager, and Tammie Grossman, Develop ment Customer Services Director, Certifying Officers

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.LOUIS G APOSTOL, AS SUPERVISED ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF GERHARD THOMSEN, DECEASED, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF GERHARD THOMSEN, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF GERHARD THOMSEN, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF GERHARD THOMSEN, DECEASED, ANTHONY MCGHEE, AS LEGATEE OF THE ESTATE OF GERHARD THOMSEN, DECEASED, PAWS ANIMAL SHELTER, AS LEGATEE OF THE ESTATE OF GERHARD THOMSEN, DECEASED, CITIZENS BANK, N.A. FKA RBS CITIZENS, N.A.

Defendants 22 CH 02162 916 N. HUMPHREY AVE. OAK PARK, IL 60302

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on September 16, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on December 19, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 916 N. HUMPHREY AVE., OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-127-0140000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $154,625.54.

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

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

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 601 E. William St., DECATUR, IL, 62523 (217) 422-1719. Please refer to file number 1640900.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

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

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

HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC 601 E. William St. DECATUR IL, 62523 217-422-1719

Fax #: 217-422-1754

E-Mail: CookPleadings@hsbattys. com

Attorney File No. 1640900 Attorney Code. 40387

Case Number: 22 CH 02162

TJSC#: 42-3560

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 # 22 CH 02162

I3206920

Published in Wednesday Journal, November 23, 2022

Anything but ordinary.

You deserve a care plan that’s as one-of-a-kind as you. At the Duly Health and Care Center in Oak Park, our team of dedicated care allies help adults on Medicare discover their healthiest, happiest selves. Your Duly physician partner is ready to help you begin unlocking your extraordinary potential today.

Begin your journey to a healthier, happier you, visit dulyhealthandcare.com/OakPark or call 708-745-5744.

Oak Park 1121 South Blvd.

Henish Bhansali, MD Kristen Vealey, MD

Season of Giving

PARK-RIVER FOREST

Foundation

Season of Giving presented by

Season of Giving presented by

Expanding the circle of caring

Our annual Season of Gi project goes back a good long while. Its earliest incar tions matched up with the old Community Chest of Oak Pa and River Forest. And each year wrote about the 17 local social servic agencies which received funds from the Chest.

Always 17. It was a static view of local nonprofits. It took a minor atmospheric disturbance for an agency to be added, or heaven help us, subtracted from the roster. The Boy Scouts fell out of munity Nursing Service merged with an out of town entity.

Ultimately the Community Chest was merge into the Chicago United Way and that was that. The Oak Park River Forest Community F tion gradually came to take on some aspects of the Chest and much more besides.

These days both the foundation and Grow ing Community Media have been in a time of self-examination and greater focus. Our mutual geography has widened to include all of the Greater West Side from Austin through Oak Park and across Proviso Township. And our shared foundational principle is furthering equity.

y this year’s Season of rporates so many very different nonprofits. A varied geography. maller enterprises. Newer efforts. And reflecting the voices of leaders color and youth leaders. eason of Giving’s Joyful Giving g includes listings of more than 50 Greater West Side nonprofits ou to consider as you think about end of year donations

Full disclosure: Growing Community Media, publisher of Wednesday Journal, Forest Park Review, rside-Brookfield Landmark and the Village w a nonprofit, as well. hanks to the Community Foundation for being our long-time sponsor for this project and ush Oak Park Hospital for

Inside

■

The Power of Voices: Leaders of color

Chicago West Side Music Center B4

The Leaders Network B4

The Nehemiah Community Project B6 Cicero Independiente B9 YEMBA B9

■

Youth Voices: Young People Lead ROYAL B11

LGBTQ+ at OPRF B11 Dog park in Forest Park B11

■

West Side credit union B12 Inter view with Rev. Acree B12 Life Expectancy B14

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The Joyful Giving Catalog Page B25

■

Dan Haley

Editor and Publisher

Growing Community Media

Index of organizations Page B38

Community Voices Have the Power to Change

Last winter, the Oak ParkRiver Forest Community Foundation partnered with the Nova Collective, a women-owned, Black-owned consultancy founded in Oak Park, to conduct a community needs assessment for the west Cook County region. We convened a series of focus groups and conversations centered on racial equity, with the goal of building trust and determining priorities where the Foundation and our broader community could work together to create a more just society. Participants included people who have not historically been invited into such conversations, along with community leaders and frontline sta from grassroots organizations serving those in need.

rough this process, the Foundation sought to understand our communities’ greatest needs, and acknowledge our o en under-celebrated assets. We heard stories of struggle, but also

voices lled with pride and spirit, that despite all odds continue to push forward and challenge deeply rooted systems of inequity. ese valued community members identi ed a number of priorities for building racial equity, represented in the “word cloud” accompanying this story. All of these needs intersect and interrelate in a person’s daily life. is interconnectedness was clearly evident in our conversations with focus group participants, who o en described multiple issues woven together.

e top priorities — as well as data from a broad range of sources that supports these ndings— were published in our Community Voices report, which can be downloaded at oprfcf.org/community-voices.

We view the report as a beginning, a spark to galvanize not just the Foundation and nonpro t sector, but to inspire local government, schools

and the community at large. It contains not just problems but also community generated solutions, and provides a framework for future e orts toward racial equity.

ese solutions are achievable, with your help. Together, we can work to eradicate symptoms of poverty like hunger, homelessness, and health disparities. And together we can build upon the legacy of our progressive region, and address the deep root causes of racial and wealth inequality in order to provide everyone an opportunity to prosper and thrive.

ere’s a role for each and every one of us, and it takes all of us to make a real impact.

Help us ensure the voice of every member of our community is heard by making a donation to the Foundation or to any of the deserving nonpro ts in this special guide.

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley

Contributing writers Lacey Sikora, Stacey Sheridan, Igor Studenkov, Shanel Romain, Ashley Brown, Francia Garcia Hernandez

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey

Sales Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls, Kamil Brady

Business and Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Sales and Digital Development Manager Stacy Coleman

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

HOW TO REACH US

141 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Pak, IL 60302 Phone 708 524 8300 • Fax 708 467 9066 by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2022 Growing Community Media NFP.

Sponsored Content

Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation • oprfcf.org

Empowering through music

Chicago West Community Music Center

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

When Darlene and Howard Sandifer founded the Chicago West Community Music Center (CWCMC) in 1999 it was because they saw what decades of disinvestment in the city’s youth created. Budget cuts in Chicago Public Schools in 1979 led to generations of students not being exposed to education in music and the arts.

Today Darlene is the managing director and Howard the executive director of the CWCMC, which has a mission to enhance families and communities through music. They believe that arts education promotes entrepreneur ship and fosters community development.

Darlene notes, “We started the school be cause it would not only help kids learn music, but it would help them test better, get into higher tier schools and be able to have careers in music.”

The couple started out with 10 violinists, and quickly added more strings, then piano

and harp. Today, they serve children from pre-school to high school and beyond.

The WISH class, or Westside Instructional String and Harp class, starts with children as young as four. Darlene calls the program a family-oriented program, explaining that when children are in their private lessons, a parent sits in. She adds, “The parents are learning too. The parents are the teachers at home.”

The CWCMC offers general classes, private lessons, music theory classes, and a master class that transitions into orchestra. Over the years, Darlene says they have expanded their offerings to meet the interests of youth in the community

She says, “Students in high school might say, ‘I like to make beats.’ They mean they want to make music electronically. We give them a laptop, the software and the controllers.”

The students still are required to lear n music theory because she says it’s important to learn how to read music. This past summer, the class focused on the music of New Orleans

CWCMC also offers a Business of Music class that helps students learn about the busi ness side of music from copyright considerations with sampling to conflict resolution and interviewing skills

The center partners with the Berklee College of Music. Children in classes in Chicago use a Berklee curriculum at the CWCMC and some participate in a six-week summer program at Berklee in Boston. High School students can apply for a four-year scholarship to the college. Darlene says of the partnership, “It’s actually changed lives for these kids.”

The past few years have not all been smooth. Howard says, “Covid was a chal-

lenge, but we made a beautiful transition online. The parents did a really good job of helping their kids stay connected.”

Now that they are back in person, CWCMC is anticipating sharing their music with the community through upcoming concerts on Dec. 8 at the Chicago Cultural Arts Center, where Howard will receive an award for his dedication to music education with children, on Dec. 16 at the Symphony Center to perform before the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the teen orchestra and WISH kids re cital will take place on Dec. 17 at the Garfield Park Conservatory. More information about CWCMC can be found at www.cwcmc.org/

Faith and community on the West Side

The Leaders Network

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

The Leaders Network be gan when Rev. Ira Acree, Rev. Marshall Hatch and Rev. Cy Fields, faith leaders from Chicago’s West Side, partnered to help with relief efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The movement, which originally was focused on providing relief to those affected by natural disasters and is sues like the Flint, Michigan water crisis, grew to encompass helping Chicago victims of shootings and standing up for victims of police misconduct. A focus on economic and racial social justice quickly followed.

Monthly meetings held on the second Tuesd month at 9:30 a.m. lumbus Park Refectory became a community mainstay residents, community and leaders and special guests on issues that face the community.

In 2017, David Cherry met Acree at the funeral of Bland, and was invited to first meeting of T kept coming back, president of The Leaders Netw According to Cherry, monthly focus on the issues of fascinating to have people involved in

or officials in city, state or counnment come to speak. uests from all walks attendees can ask them questions.”

When Cherry was sworn in an. 2020, he had no idea that d was about to change. thin days of the March 2020 meeting, the Covid-19 pandemic hanging every aspect of thout missing a beat, The Leaders Network transitioned to virtual holding their re gularly sched uled meeting in April 2020.

Cherry notes that during the pandemic, they brought in speakers from then Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson, to police superintendent David Brown, to

state Senator Don Har mon.

During the pandemic, Cherry says there was an “emphasis on education and health care to provide the latest and best infor mation to our residents.”

Other topics of interest include housing, employment and community develop ment. Though the focus is on community building, Cherry notes that the reverends’ initial vision of providing aid and comfort to those in need continues. He says a particular focus remains the victims of mass shootings, stating “We stand with the vic tims, whether it’s in Highland Park or Gar field Park.”

More information about monthly second Tuesday meetings, becoming a member and the ef for ts of The Leaders Network can be found at leadersnetworkchicago.org/

Season of Giving presented by

Chicago West Community Music Center orchestra

HOWARD AND DARLENE SANDIFER

DAVID CHERRY

RUSH Oak Park Hospital

From allergies to emergencies, from heart disease to diabetes, RUSH Oak Park Hospital is here for your health — providing expert, specialized care in a convenient community setting. RUSH Oak Park is home to more than 100 specialists treating an array of conditions, including the following:

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THE POWER OF VOICES : LEADERS OF CO LO R

Filling a void for Black men, youth in Maywood and beyond

The Nehemiah Project

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

Chris Chambliss founded The Nehemiah Community Project (TNCP) in Maywood to help young Black men in the community. Chambliss grew up with an intimate knowledge of Maywood through his father’s work there as a pastor and both parents’ work in local livestock, fish and grocery markets serving the community.

His chose to name his community orga nization after the book of Nehemiah in the Bible because he states, “There was a despair that Nehemiah was going through, and I saw that in my own community.”

TNCP utilizes the T.A.C.T. model, which Chambliss says is based on trauma, awareness, capacity and training. A father of six and a grandfather with

a back ground in and psycholo gy, says his ef for ts we for med by an inability to action-based results ing through other communi ty-based organizations.

He took his vision to nect with others to provide the supports he saw missing in the community. Quoting Frederick Douglass, bliss says it’s easier to build strong children than it is to re pair broken men, and he says that broken men in the community did not have a lot of resources.

TNCP is building to focus on three ar eas: returning citizens, or for merly in carcerated individuals; military support for veterans and their f amilies; and En Game a group to empower young men.

TNCP’s flagship progr am is En-Game,

Way Back Inn: Jillian’s Story

My story begins at the local gas station. The attendant knew me to be homeless and harmless; she didn’t mind that I meandered around the store with my drink, thawing my bones. She merely smiled when I purchased a bottle of Listerine and a pack of cigarettes. “The poor man’s “Rumplemintz” is what I’d jokingly call it. She looked out at me, pensive and remote, then down at me - never down on me, though. I looked up at her and our tear-filled eyes met. I asked if she would call someone for me. An ambulance came shortly thereafter.

Toward the end of my stay in the Emergency Room, the staff asked if I wanted to go home. What home? I said if I did leave, I’d just end up

back there. I pointed out that was the same response I’d had the last time they asked me, just a few days ago. I was stuck.

My counselor gave me a packet of recovery homes to contact. Way Back Inn answered my desperate call– they said, “recovery first, we’ll figure out the fees later.” It was immediately apparent that Way Back Inn was unique. They provided me with the structure and support I needed to grow and succeed. With the help of peer support, therapy, and the months I spent in this residential program, I was transformed into something I never dreamt I could be: a genuinely happy, stable, sober person.

Way Back Inn • 708-345-8422 • waybackinn.org

a safe space for men to gathweek. T he groups meet in person and virtually and provide a safe space for adult men of color to dis uss topics that allow prob lem solving, validation and mation, as well as being here members can dealing with the pressures of life “We needed to try something new,” he says, adding, “There’s just not room for men to talk about themselves, to say, ‘I’m broken. I need help.’ T he pandemic really highlighted and unveiled these issues which had existed all along.”

During the pandemic, Chambliss part nered with his brother in Los Angeles to create Brother to Brother conversations on Insta gram. Members can listen in and

join the conversation, which covers life topics.

TNP also works with challenged youth, helping with therapy and support for young adults and the teachers and adults who work with them. Chambliss says the aim is “trying to collectively come into a space of wholeness.”

T he group’s military support services are a future goal that Chambliss says he wants to make sure they g et right. He found that many members seeking support through the En-Game were connected to the military. “We saw that many of those who gravitated towards this program were veterans. My father was a veteran. I understand the challenges faced by both veterans and their f amilies, so we want to make sure we are intentional about creating these supports.”

More information on The Nehemiah Community Project can be found at thenehemiahcommunityproject.org/

Every day the students at Maywood Fine Arts find their magic! Children enter a safe space that allows them to discover their confidence, creativity, and happiness.

Fine Arts: Be Part of the magic!

Maywood

place!

Whether taking classes in dance, tumbling, visual arts, music, drama, or karate, Maywood Fine Arts’ students are able to find their passion. This is indeed, magical!

As Mia was getting fitted for her first ballet shoes, she looked up and said “I can’t believe it’s really happening. I can’t believe I get to take a real ballet class!”

Isabella, one of four children being raised by their grandmother, shared a picture she created in art class. When asked “what favorite place would you like to fly over like a bird,” Bella drew a picture of herself flying over MFA, her favorite

After COVID, Daniel was anxious about returning to his karate classroom, so he stood outside and watched for months. With consistent encouragement from his teacher, he felt the magic that is MFA and was able to open the door and step inside. His mother shared, “This has made him confident, proud of his skills, and able to see the places he might go!”

What happens at MFA is far different than waving a wand – it takes hard work and commitment. For over twenty-five years, Maywood Fine Arts has provided opportunities to children who are too often overlooked and under-resourced. Making these children’s dreams come true is what they’re all about.

See them in action and you too will feel the magic!

Maywood Fine Arts • 708-865-0301• maywoodfinearts.org

CHRIS CHAMBLISS

Sponsored Content

Jillian

Life-changing connections through ACT’S The Hub

Meet Brittany, a community health worker at an independent living facility who began the role following her completion of the Community Health Worker program at Malcolm X College.

Before her experiences in the program, Brittany was working 9-to-5 in various capacities at Northwestern Hospital. With this work, she felt deeply unful lled and without purpose. Yet, an encounter with an Austin Coming Together (ACT) resource table at her daughter’s school dramatically changed the course of Brittany’s professional endeavors and life as a whole.

Upon learning of the Malcolm X College program, Brittany decided to enroll. Knowing that community health had always been an underlying passion, Brittany felt that the program could uniquely challenge her and

elevate her professional expertise by engaging in truly meaningful work.

Today, Brittany works with a variety of individuals by connecting them with available health resources. Utilizing just about every skill obtained in her training, Brittany feels she is living her purpose: Working with people and having a direct, positive impact on their lives.

Brittany is grateful for that random meeting she had with ACT and encourages everyone to seek out ACT’s Austin Community Hub to get connected. “On the outside, ACT doesn’t seem like they have much to o er. On the inside, it’s a whole di erent story. ey welcomed me and showed me a world of opportunities. ey can do it for you too.”

Without this opportunity, Brittany would be underemployed working at the same job, never knowing the heights she could reach.

The power of grit and New Moms

Mikah is a young mom who personifies New Moms’ core value of “grit.” She had experienced homelessness, a highrisk pregnancy, and the death of her father, but was determined to make a better life for herself and her daughter. She signed up for New Moms and was partnered with a doula and family support specialists who supported her throughout her pregnancy. At seven months pregnant, Mikah signed up for the winter semester of college. Two months later, Mikah gave birth to her daughter, Sophia, and only three days after that, started school.

This summer, Mikah joined New Moms’ Academic Coaching program, which has supported her as a student parent and taught her “employee rights, ways to study,

and financial literacy.” The program has helped her balance work and school, saying without them she would have dropped out to work. Mikah commented, “Having people like New Moms back me up and validate everything is a major thing for me.”

Her goal is to become a therapist, and she is determined to make this dream a reality, not just for her own future, but for her daughter Sophia’s as well. Mikah is excited about “giving my daughter a home and doing something that I’m passionate about and giving back to the community.”

Mikah’s story is a great example of what young families can accomplish when they have reliable support. Join New Moms in this essential work and support young moms as they build the foundations of well-being for their families and communities!

New Moms • 773- 252-3253 • newmoms.org

Season of Giving presented by

Sponsored Content

Austin Coming Together • 773-417-8610 • austincomingtogether.org

When

on Stories of

It is a truism that history is all around us. So Oak Park River Forest Museum created a free Black History Bike Tour so everyone can learn about the stories of African American life in Oak Park, from 1905 to today.

Located at 129 Lake St., OPRF Museum has some of these stories currently on display in its exhibit “Open House: The Legacy of Fair Housing” and many others in Suburban Promised Land: The Emerging Black Community in Oak Park, Illinois, 1880-1980, an illustrated, 170-page book published by The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest and available in local libraries and at OPRF Museum. New in 2022 is UnvarnishedHistory. org, a collaborative website that allowed the Oak Park story to be told nationally as part of a look at U.S. housing discrimination.

While museum exhibits, books and websites are fantastic places to learn history, experiencing

history where it happens, right in front of homes, schools, and other sites, makes the stories come alive.

“There is a powerful connection with the past when you stand right where history happened,” said Frank Lipo, Executive Director of OPRF Museum.

“Our exhibits, programs, and other activities shed light on important stories and the people who walked the streets before us. And bike tours and walking tours put us right into the story and are a key part of our story-telling.”

The free tour booklet is always available as a pdf at oprfmuseum.org so that bicyclists, motorists and pedestrians can access it from their computer, phone or other device. The bike tour was unveiled during the first official Oak Park Juneteenth celebration on June 19, 2021. But this important history should not be experienced just once a year. Now it is available 24/7.

Oak Park River Forest Museum • 708-848-6755 • oprfmuseum.org

We have the power to build a sustainable future for all When we work together, we can create the world we want to see: Clean water. Clean air. Healthy food. Learn more and join us: oneearthfilmfest.org/members. Save the date for One Earth Film Fest: March 3-12, 2023. Memberships start at $35

more and join us: oneearthfilmfest.org/members.

start at $35

Season of Giving presented by

THE POWER OF VOICES : LEADERS OF CO LO R

Reporting Cicer s news in a bilingual digital format

Cicero Independiente

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

In a town long without a local news source, Cicero now has a bilingual nonprofit digital newsroom launched by a trio of young founders focused on building community in their city and in their primary language.

Cicero Independiente delivers news in a bilingual format to Cicero, where 82.3% of residents speak a language other than English at home.

“We’re not just providing news and up dates about what’s going on; we’re really trying to build community around our news,” said Irene Romulo, one of Cicero Independiente’s three co-founders and its development and community engagement director

To accommodate the needs of its readers, Cicero Independiente reports news in Spanish and English. As its name would suggest,

Cicero Inde erage is Cicero though when able, the outlet covers Berwyn too.

Cicero Independiente was launched in 2019 as a volunteer led independent news outlet. It has since been incorporated as a worker led non-profit with two paid staffers: Romulo and

co-founder April Alonzo, who serves as digital editor

That growth has come with challenges, of course. Not everyone who works with Cicero Independiente comes from a jour nalism background, including Romulo. She started as an organizer. Her introduction to the news world came by way of City Bureau, a Chicago-based non-profit newsroom.

“It wasn’t until I did my reporting fellowship with City Bureau that I started lear ning about journalism and how I could use my organizing skills to really create an organi zation that centers the needs of a bilingual community,” Romulo said.

None of the co-founders had run a business before, either. They worked with a legal clinic to determine an operational structure for Cicero Independiente. In lieu of an executive director, Cicero Independiente has a steering committee composed of its three co-founders and volunteers who have been with the outlet since its launch.

The steering committee is intentional in

planning for the publication’s future by de veloping a sturdy infrastructure on which to grow and to be able to pay people well for their work, while building strong, trust-based relationships in Cicero and Berwyn. Growth for growth’s sake is not the objective.

They are also investing in that future and that of bilingual journalism through Cicero Independiente’s paid reporting fellowship program. Previous fellows from the program’s first cycle in 2020 also serve on the steering committee. This year’s fellows are an intergenerational group made up of Spanish-only speakers and bilingual young people.

Cicero Independiente is the only news outlet specifically dedicated to Cicero, according to Romulo, and they expected gover nment officials would be reluctant to share infor mation. That has proved true and difficult, but the team at Cicero Independiente isn’t put off by the efforts to block transparency.

“We don’t stop doing our reporting,” Ro mulo said. “We just do it even more.”

No compromising on dreams

YEMBA

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

For many young people, it feels like the odds are stacked against them and because of their age, their feelings and needs are of ten discounted by adults. This does little to help them grow into confident, well-adjusted individuals.

Oak Park non-profit YEMBA Inc. is breaking that cycle.

“We’re all about doing what it takes to ensure that our kids’ dreams are not compro mised,” said Edward Redd, YEMBA founder and executive director

Officially known as the Youth Educa tional Mentorship Basketball Association, YEMBA’s mission is to empower the youth of Oak Park in all aspects of their lives. The mentorship program equips young people with experience, education and exposure –tools that lead to better outcomes not just for themselves, but for their families and communities.

“It’s like planting a seed,” said Redd. “You plant the seed, and you want to see it blossom and grow into something beautiful.”

In the 15 years since its founding, YEMBA has provided mentorship to over 13,000 youths. Many of those youths have become YEMBA mentors themselves, including Oak Park artist Hasani Cannon.

“When he finished his first year [with YEMBA], I gave him his first set of color utensils,” Redd recalled.

Cannon has recently received a bach elor’s in fine arts from the University of Springfield, according to Redd, and contributes the artwork for YEMBA’s annual coffee fundraiser.

YEMBA works within the Oak Park school system, starting with middle schoolers who are transitioning from chil dren into more independent individuals. Adolescence is a pivotal part of a person’s development, but those changes can be difficult and uncomfortable to navig ate.

Kids in the program are provided with emotional support on top of mentorship, which helps them to make good decisions.

Redd

They are taught such invaluable life skills as financial literacy, leadership and accountability, as well as receive substance abuse education. The non-profit also allows youth to express themselves creative ly and recreationally.

As the middle schoolers move into high school, YEMBA stays with them while they adjust to their new surroundings and

manage the stress of increased academic demands. YEMBA continues to support youth even after high school. Staf f and mentors help to connect recent colle ge graduates and soon-to-be graduates with internship opportunities.

“Our youth are more than capable, more than able,” Redd said. “And that needs to be celebrated.”

Edward

IRENE ROMULO

ROYAL youth stand up for Black and B rown students

Launched in 2018 when

founders were in middle school

By ASHLEY BROWN Contributing Reporter

Marlene Meraz, a 17-year-old co-founder of ROYAL, says the advocacy group “is my drive. I am so thankful to work with such amazing youth that are a part of the orga nization.”

Revolutionary Oak Park Youth Action League, is a student led group that started in 2018. It advocates for Black and Brown voices and works to make Oak Park, and the rest of

the world, not only a better place for Black and Brown people but for all.

The founders Meraz, Cindy Brito, Jocelyn Meraz, and Antione Ford are all young Black and Brown students. ROYAL started when the youngest members were just in middle school. The group was motivated by the mur der of Trayvon Martin and began by selling hoodies with the phrase “We Are Trayvon.”

The organization meets every week at the Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church and hosts various events such as work shops to enhance Black safety when coming in contact with police officers, as well as rallies and events

Miracle Smith, a 16-year old member of

ROYAL, says the group played a role in po lice resource officers being taken out of Oak Park and River Forest High School. Though the organization is not affiliated with OPRF it continues to make an impact in the community they live in by spreading their voices for ones that can’t.

One of ROYALs current projects in volves a climate action plan that calls for free bikes and protecting water supplies especially so that BIPOC communities have consistent access to fresh water. They stress that though it may not seem directly related to the BIPOC community, according to the Princeton Student Climate Initiative, BIPOC communities are affected by climate

change on a significantly higher level than their white counter parts.

ROYAL has become more than an advo cacy group to its members. It has quickly become a community that supports its members when tragic things happen not only to the BIPOC community but to individuals Sometimes the members of ROYAL just come to meetings to be in a place with people who understand the discrimination and struggles they face on a daily basis.

Meraz says, “ROYAL is one of my biggest accomplishments and we have truly become a family over the years.”

Ashley Brown is a student at OPRF and a contributing reporter for Wednesday Journal.

OPRF’s welcoming Place for All

Sponsored club for LGBTQ+ students and allies

By ASHLEY BROWN Contributing Reporter

Frances Berta a 15-year-old sophomore at Oak Park and River Forest High School is president of A Place for All, the school’s club for students of all genders and sexual orientations. They say that APA “provides a space for queer kids in the school to feel themselves in a place that accepts them.”

Many students who attend APA’s weekly meetings are not in a safe enough situation for them to come out to their parents. But with the sup port of their fellow students and the APA sponsors the group becomes a nonjudgmental and friendly place.

OPRF’s APA also welcomes allies with a purpose of offering advocacy and inclusion for people across the LGBTQ+ community

APA meets every Wednesday with a goal of creating a safe space for everyone including allies, but especially people of the LGBTQ+ community who may not feel accepted at home or in some parts of the school.

APA meetings start of f with announcements where opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth are shared with the community. At the last meeting, scholarship opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth and allies were announced. There was also news of an opportunity provided by the Oak Park Public Library allowing youth to get a library card with their preferred name on it

without the need of an adult. After announcements, the club transfers to an activity such as games or crafts that further creates bonds with the people within the club

According to students in APA, OPRF has done a strong job of listening to student voices to create an environment where students feel accepted. APA’s ef for ts are featured in the Dai ly Bulletin the school sends out. And, say APA members, OPRF tries to work with the club to create new opportunities for students. The school, they say, prides itself in the multitude of clubs it provides for students to enhance a better learning environment.

APA has future plans to add guest speakers who will talk about things such as sexual health for queer teens, what it is like to be queer in a religious environment and the fact many queer people are still religious. Also on the list of topics is what it is like being queer in the black community

Remus Bachner a 15-year-old freshman who is a member of APA, says such discussions and openness are not only important for awareness but they said it is important for “people who don’t have a safe space.” Bachner explained they are lucky to have that space at home but it is important to them to have a “queer space just for queer people” where there is no ne ga tivity and hate

In a world where LGBTQ+ youth are still at higher risk for mental health issues and hate crimes it is important, Bachner says, “It’s nice to have a space where there is no censor.”

Ashley Brown is a student at OPRF and a contributing reporter for Wednesday Journal.

Forest Park six th grader raises money for dog park improvements

As then-fifth grade student Ju liet Harrington looked at the state of Forest Park’s village-owned dog park at 632 Circle Ave., she knew that it could be better than “a boring mud bucket” – and she decided to do something about it.

Harrington wanted to get the play ground equipment dogs could run and climb on. She researched the playg round equipment and found out how much it would cost. With the village’s help, she launched a

fundraiser. It reached the $5,000 goal in July, a month before it was scheduled to end. The playground equipment was delivered at the start of November, and the village expects to have it installed in Spring 2023.

“I hope that it shows that it doesn’t matter about your age, anybody can make a difference,” Harrington said. “I really hope people enjoy driving past the dog park and for those who donated to know that you helped.”

ALLISON HARRINGTON AND JESSICA VOOGD

West Side cr er to becoming reality

The Leaders Network has pac to open West Side branch

By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ AustinTalks

The West Side-based Leaders signed a memorandum of with Great Lakes Credit Union to open branch in Austin.

“This is something that ultimately change the landscape in A Black people would be able their own community without paying so much money or just outright said Rev. Ira Acree, pastor of Bible Church in Austin.

Michelle Collins, a for mer development banker with A Park roots, has been assisting in the ef She said, Great Lakes Credit Union is “great partner” that aligns with the mission and vision of the Leaders N this year, Collins had said the group was in conversations with unions interested in working with the The two groups have signed a memorandum of understanding – the first step – to enter

nto the overall work we do in supporting the community

Collins said the Leaders Network’s goal is to reach a definitive agreement by the end of this year, allowing the credit union to start virtual operations, offering West Side residents and business owners financial services and financial literacy. The brickand-mortar branch could take longer to open, she said.

“If we have the staffing, we could start opening accounts and online banking,” Collins said.

Acree said the Leaders Network is still seeking donations, which will help fund the associated costs of opening the credit union, such as licenses, fees, marketing and outreach. So far, $300,000 has been raised.

“I can’t wait for this to manifest, this is definitely one of the greatest things I’ve ever been a part of,” Acree said. “We’re so close, and I’m so very hopeful about because I think this could possibly be a national model. If it happens in Chicago, why can’t it happen in Detroit, St. Louis and other cities?”

To support the Leaders Network community credit union, visit: https:// givebutter.com/leaders-network-credit-union

CONTAC T: austintalks.org@gmail.com

Rev. Ira Acree says his legacy is tied up in credit union

By SHANEL ROMAIN Staff

Ira Acree, pastor of Greater St. John Bible Church in Austin and co-chairman of the Leaders Network, is blunt about what prompted his organization to want to create a credit union on the West Side

“We don’t have any banks that are community-focused,” he said. “Blacks have been unbanked and underbanked, have been redlined against, have just been treated so unfairly by the banking industry. It’s literally criminal how they treat us.”

Acree said there’s a need for a financial institution in the community that can “help small businesses, help people secure loans for homes and give them an alternative to payday loans and other loan sharks.”

The pastor said he’s been in Austin since 1970, after his family moved here from Arkansas in 1967. He’s been pastoring for 33 years.

“I consider myself a civil rights leader,” he said. “I’ve been pastoring for 33 years.”

A credit union, he said, is consistent with the legacy of community-building he wants to leave behind.

“When I took over this church it was only four years old and in a basement in a building in Oak Park,” Acree said.

“My le gacy is when I see so many lives that have been turned around because of being a part of this ministry. It’s quite amazing. When I look around and see someone like Stacy Osidecko who grew up in this church, went away, came back and now she’s teaching school in a neighborhood she grew up in. And she comes here on Sunday as a beacon of hope for other young people to let them know that they can do it. That means a lot.

“Stacy Osidecko is a business owner, she can get loans to buy things that she needs to keep building her business,” Acree said. “Others come to mind who are not homeowners yet, but would like to have their own brick and mortar. At the end of the day we wanted to do something tangible that could impact our community.”

AUSTINTALKS

David Cherry, president of the Leaders Network, talks to members at the group’s monthly meeting.

SHANEL ROMAIN/Sta

Rev Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible Church stands in his o ce where he is the pastor.

Helping Our Network, Sometimes one person at a time

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association has a reputation for helping people who become part of their network. Pianist Natasha Stojanovska was one of the Association’s presenters for its music program as part of its Monday Enrichment Series and Henry Fogel Presents. Natasha is from Macedonia and was working hard to receive her green card, citizenship and doctorate.

Nineteenth Century was cooperative in providing Natasha employment and important data as she renewed her green card and acquired her citizenship. The association president and music program chair, Diane Moses, encouraged Natasha through her doctorate at Northwestern and attended her graduation in June. “I am so grateful,” Natasha said, “for the organization’s support through this journey.”

On May 8, 2023, Dr. Natasha Stojanovska

will again perform for the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association, in their program Stars at Any Age, where she will partner with young pianists Freya Pang, Claire Rong, and Christian Gerald Esteban for a concert. Monday afternoon and evening programs are open to the public.

Find out more about upcoming events at nineteenthcentury.org.

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association • 708-386-2729 • nineteenthcentury.org

L’Arche Chicago operates three familysized residential homes where adults with intellectual disabilities live together with staff members who support and assist them. The effect is an environment where each person with disabilities thrives through person-directed, often 1:1 customized support that is tailored to each person’s individual needs and desires. But even more, L’Arche creates an environment where each person, staff and resident, experiences a profound sense of belonging and meaning. Live-in staff member Katie describes it this way: “‘Being present’ is difficult to describe. I didn’t learn to be present in a classroom or online seminar. Instead, sharing presence was revealed to me in a particular way at L’Arche. It’s where I leaned into the ways of the human heart. I learned about the communion of human hearts through receiving a resident’s blessing at the end

of our nightly routines or chatting through our joys and griefs while being careful not to nick my housemate’s face with a razor during a morning shave. Presence in L’Arche meant that I could trust others to hold my limitations with gentleness and extend that same grace without resentment. Presence meant that we could hold our celebrations and sorrows in the same breath and see each other with breathtaking dignity.”

L’Arche seeks to welcome four more adults with disabilities into this unique care model with the construction of a new ADA accessible home.

L’Arche is excited to be firmly planted in South Oak Park and get to know the neighborhood better!

Learn more about this project here: www. larchechicago.org/larcheforlife. See our community in action at hello@larchechicago.org

2learning, giving, and sharing our landmark building.

Creating Joyful Relationships

For over 20 years, L’Arche Chicago has provided high quality care in communityintegrated homes for adults with disabilities in the Oak Park and River Forest area.

L’Arche Chicago is currently in the process of building a new ADA accessible home in South Oak Park that will extend this unique care model to four more adults with disabilities.

Learn more and make an impact here: www.larchechicago.org/larcheforlife

Season of Giving presented by

Sponsored

Dr. Natasha Stojanovska

West Side, suburban organizations tackle life expectancy gap

Di erence between Black and non-Black communities worsened during pandemic

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

To the healthcare workers and the community activists working on the West Side, the fact that COVID-19 took a harsher toll on Black and Hispanic communities wasn’t a surprise. The healthcare disparities have been documented for years, and the pandemic has only made them worse.

The disparities are particularly evident in Chicago, which has a 10-year gap in life expectancy between Black Chicagoans and non-Black Chicagoans. Suburbs with majority-Black populations also have lower life expectancies, through the differences aren’t quite as stark and not all suburbs fit the pattern. Area healthcare providers have been trying to tackle those issues, and they all agreed that any effort to improve life expec tancy gaps and other health disparities, must invest in the communities and empower resi dents – even if they take different approaches to tackling it.

Lena Hatchett, director of community and university partnerships at the Maywood based Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, said that one major difference between the city and the suburbs is that there is less access to transportation. The West Side is served by three CTA lines, Oak Park has two and Forest Park has one, but Maywood and other communities further out have buses and the more expensive Metra commuter trains

Maywood is served by multiple Pace buses that feed into the CTA Blue Line, but the ser vice gets more sparse and less frequent further out.

David Ansell, the senior vice president for health equity at Rush University Medical Center, said that, since the start of the pandemic, Chicago’s gap continued to increase to 10 years. More alar mingly, Ansell said, the average age of Black Chicagoans slid below 70 years for the first time

“The COVID hit, and we knew that it would plant its roots in pre-existing fault lines, social fault lines as identified prior to the pandemic, who got to live and who got to die early,” he said. “A lot of people were shocked at the disparate Black and Latinx death rates,

years

but it’s consistent with what we’ve seen with other pandemics and epidemics.”

Ansell added that some of those deaths weren’t caused by the virus itself. The already higher rates of heart disease, hypertension, infant mortality and homicide increased during the pandemic.

“The good news is that we think that, with the pandemic hopefully under some measure of control – and the pandemic is not over, there are still 300 people dying daily in United States -- maybe life expectancy will bounce back, but we still have a lot of work to do,” he said.

Hatchett offered similar sentiments, saying that disparities “all worsened during CO VID, because they are all problems they were ignoring before COVID.”

Rush is one of the founding members of West Side United, a coalition of mostly West Side-based Chicago health systems, which was for med because the founders determined that closing the life expectancy gap and other health disparities was impossible without ad dressing non-medical factors that affect the

quality of life in the community. Since 2017, WSU member hospitals steered procurement toward West Side businesses, set up job pipe lines in area high schools and issued grants to local businesses and nonprofits.

Rukiya Curvey Johnson, a member of the WSU executive leadership council and Rush’s vice president of community health equity and engagement, said that workforce development was particularly important.

“As the saying goes, health is wealth,” Johnson said. “A lot of time, your ability to access higher wages and jobs that come with health insurance is one of the ways people can improve health.”

WSU members have also hired West Siders as community health workers in order to share health information with city residents and do “social determinates health screening.”

“They ask [patients] about their access to food, do they have a place to live, are they concerned about paying rent, and we can refer them to various services, help them apply for SNAP benefits,” Johnson said. “We also

make referrals, help them connect to other primary care [providers].”

She also said that the history of medical experimentation on African Americans, such as the Tuskegee Experiment syphilis study, as well as doctors not taking Black patients’ concerns seriously, made many patients mistrustful of medical professionals. Building that trust, often from scratch, is an ongoing process

Rush is also part of the Garfield Park Rite to Wellness, a collaborative between West Side churches, healthcare providers and community organizations that tries to figure out the best way to improve health and wellness. Ansell said that it’s trying to do its part to reverse decades of disinvestment with the Sankofa Wellness Village project, which would be made up of three buildings along Madison Street – “The K” business incuba tor at Kostner Avenue; a 60,000-square-foot Sankofa Wellness Village center with a clinic, fitness center and credit union at Kildare Av enue, and a grocery store at 3835 W. Madison St., where an Aldi grocery store was shut-

Season of Giving presented by

What people die from

Black communities in Chicago and the suburbs are less likely to have pharmacies and grocery stores, less likely to have ac cess to clinics and residents are less likely to have health insurance. This means that residents are more likely to rely on an ER for healthcare, and less likely to get regular check-ups, which can exacerbate health is sues that go undetected. Transportation is another issue – on the West Side in partic ular, buses and CTA trains often run less frequently than in other areas, and it’s not unusual for patients to require multiple transfers to reach their local hospitals.

According to the 2021 State of Health for Blacks report prepared by five Black epidemiologists and researchers at the Chicago Department ofPublic Health (CDPH), the life expectancy gap between Black and non-Black Chicagoans increased from 8.3 years to 9.2 years between 2012 and 2017. Although there were a number of reasons for the increase, the authors cited five driving factors: chronic disease, violent crime, infant mortality, infectious disease and opioid overdoses. The report found that 1 in 7 African Americans, or roughly 14% of

Chicago’s Black population, die of causes other than old age, compared to 1 out of 29, or 3.5%, ofnon-Black Chicagoans. And while it wasn’t a top five cause, the report showed that Black mothers were more than twice as likely to die during childbirth than non-Black mothers.

The report found that the top four causes ofdeath were the same for all Chicagoans – heart disease, cancer, accidents and strokes. But Black residents were significantly more likely to get killed or die of diabetes and kidney diseases

The data compiled by the Cook County Department ofPublic Health paints a more complex picture. From 2010 to 2015, Maywood whose populations are 63.3% Black had, life expectancy of74.6 years, while Bellwood, whose population is 72.7% Black, had a 76.2-year life expectancy, and Broadview, which is 73.3% Black, had a 77.7 life expectancy. By comparison, Forest Park, which is 27.6% Black, had a 77.2-year life expectancy, Oak Park, which is 18.4% Black, had 80.3-year life expectancy, and Berkeley, which is 26.1% Black, has a 77.1year life expectancy.

tered in October 2021. He said that the proj ect would cost around $60 million, and Rite to Wellness is applying for the $10 million Chicago Prize, a community grant from the Pritzker Traubert Foundation. The project is currently one ofthe six finalists, and the winners are expected to be announced sometime in December.

Ansell said that, whether Rite to Wellness wins or not, it will have to raise millions, and they are determined to reach that goal.

“We all decided to go into the lowestlife expectancy neighborhood on the West Side and do something about it,” he said. “I believe that, over time, it will reduce that death gap. A lot oftimes, people wring hands [about] what we can do. We have a plan for West Garfield Park We think this plan can work in other Chicago communities as well.”

Hatchett is a co-founder ofProviso Part ners for Health (PP4H), a collaborative simi lar to Rite to Wellness, except with Proviso Township institutions. Their approach is somewhat different. They organize a system of“hubs” that empower residents to improve their lives. For example, they are addressing fresh food scarcity by teaching Proviso youth urban gardening, offer job training and leadership training for aspir ing entrepreneurs to improve economic op

portunities, and offer leadership and community-building training for residents who want to make changes in their communities.

The major component ofPP4H work, is to address the generational trauma caused by slavery and racism and teach people healthier ways to respond to stress and avoid passing the trauma on to the next generation. For example, Hatchett said, trauma can re sult in people not knowing how to raise their children in a nurturing and supportive way, and that affects how those children raise their own children. Breaking the cycle can go a long way.

“If you can change a young person, ages 18 to 24, we’re reversing intergenerational poverty, and the impact ofsystemic racism,” Hatchett said. “They’re going to parent differently, they’re’ going to look at their life differently.”

Johnson said that, given “decades and de cades” ofdisinvestment and structural racism, the changes are bound to take time. The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t helped. But she said that their work is making an impact, especially when it comes to expanding job opportunities – the key is to keep going.

“You may not see everything right off, but there’s definitely a movement in the right direction to [overcome] some ofthese systemic barriers,” she said.

Infant Welfare Society Meets Critical Needs In Children’s Dental

OPRF Infant Welfare Society believes that a family’s household income shouldn’t impact a child’s health outcomes, and that oral health is vital to overall health. That’s why they continue to invest in and grow their delivery of dental care to children who are uninsured or on Medicaid. Children with severe dental anxiety, behavioral health issues or complex medical conditions require a pediatric dentist who has extra training to support their needs. For families on Medicaid or without insurance, options for this care are very limited. IWS is proud to have a highly experienced dental team that includes pediatric dentists as well as general dentists at their new, larger location at 28 Madison Street in Oak Park. They leverage their dental visits to screen patients

for mental health concerns and can connect them with a social worker. IWS also screens and provides their dental-only patients with measles vaccines they may have missed during the height of the pandemic. They recently restarted their portable dental program in area schools, providing cleanings and health education. Altogether, Infant Welfare Society’s dentalrelated programs reach thousands of children each year, and they are poised to provide more than 8,000 dental visits this year thanks to their recent expansion.

“OPRF Infant Welfare Society is committed to the long-term health and wellness of our patients. We know you are too. Please help us continue this essential work by making a gift this holiday season.”

OPRF Infant Welfare Society • 708-848-0528 • childrenscliniciws.org

Season of Giving presented by

Byline Bank works side-by-side with local nonprofits

Byline Bank is dedicated to answering the call to support nonprofit and community organizations, small businesses, and economic development associations in the Oak Park-River Forest area. In 2022, the community bank, which is Illinois’ leading Small Business Administration lender, donated more than $60,000 in sponsorships to over 50 local nonprofit organizations, charitable groups and youth clubs in Oak Park and River Forest. Supporting its monetary contributions, Byline employees also gave over 200 volunteer hours to local organizations.

“There are many organizations in Oak Park and River Forest that are working hard to meet the needs of our neighbors. Giving and helping allows Byline to build stronger connections, especially with the people within our community. It improves relationships, leading everyone to have a better life,” said Susie Goldschmidt, Byline Bank Oak Park-River Forest Market President. “The health, well-being and success of our neighbors, customers and the community at large is at the heart of what we do as a community bank.”

Byline’s support of local organizations includes those working in the fields of food insecurity, educational resources, schools

and learning centers, arts, animal welfare, at-risk children and infants, gender equality, health care, and communities in crisis. Some of the specific initiatives include:

Reducing food insecurity: Byline is actively involved with Beyond Hunger, a nonprofit organization that provides hungerrelief programming and services, providing Community Development grants for operations needs and sponsorship of the annual fall benefit concerts. Goldschmidt also sits on the Beyond Hunger Board of Directors. Additionally, Byline is a sponsor of the Suburban Unity Alliance Community Fridge

located at the Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church.

Promoting equality: Support for organizations such as Women’s Global Education Project and Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association Awards helps our communities thrive and grow.

Caring and education for families, children, infants, and adults with special needs: Organizations such as Opportunity Knocks, Age Options, Infant Welfare, Sarah’s Inn, Hephzibah, Oak Leyden, A Place to Belong, The Learning Center, A House in Austin and many more local organizations have partnered with Byline Bank to serve the community.

Outside of the more traditional avenues of contribution, Byline also accepted the #BettyWhiteChallenge to fundraise for adoptable animals. Held in coordination with the Village of Oak Park’s Betty White Centennial Celebration at Classic Cinemas Lake Theater, the event raised money to help place adoptable animals in the loving care of their forever families. Building thriving communities is at the heart of everything Byline Bank does on a local level. “Our mission is to help the greater Oak Park community learn, grow and prosper by working side-by-side with these critical organizations. We want to make a difference,” added Goldschmidt.

Committed to Oak Park

Byline is privileged to be a part of the OPRF community sponsorships and support to the Oak Park and River our commitment to customers and businesses in the

To learn more about our commitment to Oak

2022 Chicago Dragon Boat Race for Literacy – Byline Bank Employees

Willard School Run – Susie Goldschmidt

Dunk for Dollars benefiting  Ace Project - Susie Goldschmidt

©2022 Byline Bank. Member FDIC

Butterflies are magical. They symbolize transformation and rebirth, giving us hope. They help us believe that change and growth are possible in our own lives, and this can be incredibly inspiring, especially to children residing at Hephzibah Home where we regularly use nature as a therapeutic tool for healing. When a local nature enthusiast asked the kids to help care for her swallowtail caterpillars, they jumped at the chance. Much like the children when they first arrive at Hephzibah Home, the creatures are vulnerable and fragile, needing nurturing care, so they can grow and transform. One young boy, Oliver, took to the project, tenderly watching over the caterpillars, ensuring they were safe, protected and healthy. That is exactly what we tell children when they come

to Hephzibah Home – that we’ve got this, they are safe and that healing is possible. Oliver watched them transform into chrysalises, and eventually butterflies that were set free. He learned that all beings possess the power to change, and came to believe that he too, could survive the trauma he had been through. He also learned to have hope. That is what we do best – provide a space for children to heal and recover and be safe from harm.

Here at Hephzibah, we offer child-centered therapies, meeting every child where they are on their healing journey and helping them to progress – to trust and believe that one day they too can fly away stronger than before.

To make a donation, visit www.hephzibahhome.org/donate-now/

Season of Giving presented by

Partnering with schools, West Cook Y is committed to closing the achievement gap

The Y is closing the academic achievement gap with programs that improve students’ educational readiness, engagement, and outcomes, while helping scholars grow emotionally and physically, too. Thirdgrade reading skills predict high school graduation.

In partnership with the River Forest School District 90, Power Scholars AcademyTM is a five-week summer program designed to not only tackle summer learning loss in math and reading while fostering physical and social-emotional growth. Scholars receive

strong academic support from local certified teachers through evidence-based curriculum designed to boost math and literacy skills with activities focused on

phonics, writing, and reading. Students are also able to participate in an array of enrichment activities where students will be able to enjoy physical activity, cooking classes, improv/acting classes, Percussion music, and dance!

Through the support of our schools, families, WCY members, community partners, and donors, students have participated in over 240 hours of math and literacy, gaining up to three months of learning. Your support allows Power Scholars AcademyTM to be offered at no cost to families. Invest in our students today and help close the Achievement Gap by donating at www. westcookymca.org/give.

Beyond Hunger feeds families

This has been a hard year for local families living on the edge. They are coming to Beyond Hunger’s programs in increasing numbers.

When Shandra moved here with her family for a new job, she had just gotten settled when her position ended abruptly. Her last paycheck went directly to pay for rent and other bills. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do about food: “I visited the pantry right away since I needed the food. To be honest, I was nervous coming for the first time - I’m usually the mom volunteering and taking care of others - but people made me feel so welcome. And the food is terrific! I’ve been able to make so many healthy meals with everything.” Many families like Shandra’s are barely making

ends meet. With increases in gas, utilities, and the costs of groceries, there is little left to manage monthly bills.

The need this year is exponential –Beyond Hunger is tackling rising food costs as more and more community members are picking up food to feed their families. And just as Shandra can’t hold out any longer, Beyond Hunger can’t do this without you. A donation of $75 can provide two months’ worth of fresh and nutritious groceries for a neighbor in crisis—helping them make meals their families love this holiday season.

To donate, visit GoBeyondHunger.org or send checks payable to Beyond Hunger, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301

Beyond Hunger • 708-386-1324 • GoBeyondHunger.org

West Cook YMCA • 708- 383-5200 • westcookymca.org

2022 D89 Power Scholars Academy – Water Park Field Trip

2022 D90 Power Scholars Academy – Field Day at Local Forest Preserve

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YESTERDAY. TODAY. TOMORROW.

Since December 31, 1902, the West Cook YMCA has been providing programs and services to address the needs of our community from serving as a refuge for young men, to physical education and housing, to providing childcare and teaching swim lessons to becoming a leader in chronic disease prevention and addressing the Achievement Gap in our students.

When you give to the West Cook YMCA, you impact our community today and tomorrow.

100% of your tax-deductible donation goes directly to providing scholarships to children, adults, and seniors- your friends and neighborstransforming their lives through access to health screenings, chronic disease prevention programs, after-school programs, swim lessons, homeless prevention for residents, and Y memberships that can open the door to help each person become their best self.

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Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership keeps schools safe

Safety before and after school was a crucial issue in the area surrounding Irving Middle School in Maywood. The Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership held listening sessions with young students and parents where they shared that there was constant loitering, suspicious vans circling the school, and fights that were causing the children to feel afraid.

After the listening sessions, CSPL gathered the parents to take action on it. They brought parents together again to share, strategize, and conduct a power analysis and community mapping in order to find a solution. Parents learned to hold strategic meetings with governing officials and the local police chiefs and to collaborate with the school district leadership to get the funding necessary to launch

this community driven project.

After several gatherings and meetings with additional stakeholders, Smart Routes to School was created and launched in September 2019. Within a few months, the positive impact of the program was already evident. Parents and children reported having fights deescalated, loitering reduced, and that the program helped apprehend a suspicious van driver who was soliciting a young girl.

The pandemic created a pause in the program but parents started pushing for the program to be funded again in August of 2021. Parents are working to reimagine the program to address some of the post-pandemic changes and needs that the parents and children share. CSPL looks forward to helping drive community-driven safety solutions that allow our children to thrive.

Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership • 708-397-4266 • www.csplaction.org

Deborah’s Place gives Anita the key to housing

Like Anita, some women who experience homelessness have been in abusive relationships. After years of living in an unsafe and unstable environment, she was evicted. She had nowhere to go and no one to turn to for help. All she had were a few personal possessions and her car.

For three years, Anita lived in 50 square feet of space in her car through brutal winters and scorching summers. She says, “Homelessness stopped me from doing anything…from living. I felt like I was ready to give up.”

But Anita didn’t give up. Through the City of Chicago’s Expedited Housing Initiative, Anita was connected with Deborah’s Place. Once she was matched with a case manager, she was able

to find an apartment and get everything she needed to make it feel like home. Finally, she had a safe, stable place to sleep at night.

Today, Anita enjoys everyday activities, like cooking and drawing, and is considering going back to school. “Now that I have a place to live, I can do more for myself. Better than I was when I was on the street.”

Deborah’s Place provides women like Anita the key to opening the door to their future, and we can’t do that without your help! Your generous support allows us to provide critical resources to hundreds of women every year, giving them the opportunity to move on from the experience of homelessness.

Deborah’s Place • 708-638-6537• deborahsplace.org

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What the OPPL Book Bike delivers (in addition to smiles)

Oak Park’s Book

Bike (nicknamed the Paperback Rider) gives people access to the library outside of the three brick-andmortar buildings. Visits to schools, apartment residences, neighborhood parks, block parties, local businesses, and summer camps happen all around town (weather permitting) each April through October.

The Oak Park Public Library’s bike was originally funded by generous donations to the library’s Fallon Family Fund, a dedicated endowment managed by the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation that was established to help deliver cutting-edge initiatives and resources for all of our community’s children. Library staff members who have been trained to safely operate the bike, pedal it to scheduled community events and outreach

locations. The bike’s cargo hold is stocked with relevant materials— cookbooks and gardening manuals at the Farmers’ Market, for example, and children’s books at area park and daycare storytimes.

For a past summer’s block party visit, an Oak Park family requested that Braille books be included for their young son, who is visually impaired. “Having Braille books would enable him to be included in this fun event with our neighbors,” the resident wrote. Happily, the library was able to stock the bike with Braille books, including one on trains and buses—the boy’s favorites—and the family checked out every one.

Learn more about the bike at oppl.org/bike, and more about giving to the library’s endowment funds at oppl.org/give.

Oak Park Public Library • 708-383-8200 • oppl.org

History is everywhere

Connecting people to the past enriches their experience of the present. Forest Park’s dense and colorful history is reflected throughout the year in different immersive experiences offered by the Forest Park Historical Society.While historical appreciation can be gained through any of our in-person or virtual cemetery tours, the Historical Society also connects people to the lives, past and present, of ordinary people, local influencers, and even people and voices that have shaped the nation. The society hosts bicycle tours, walking tours, virtual tours and special events, like Haymarket trivia on International May Day.

In addition, the Historical Society collects oral histories from veterans, gives esteem to our black community members and leaders, honors the heritage of Forest Park, and reflects on the women who have made history in town. The Society’s annual Stitching a Community event builds on the Black American tradition of

storytelling through quilting, and has become a vehicle to collectively tell the community story annually. The quilts are displayed at the annual Juneteenth Pool Party held by the Forest Park Park District.Giving voice to voices that are often unheard is one of the priorities of the Historical Society through immersive experiences. Sign up for the monthly newsletter, join a tour or walk, read the weekly Lookback blog in the Forest Park Review and become a member.

Forest Park Historical Society • forestparkhistory.org

Invest inyour library's future

TheOakPark-River ForestCommunity Foundationmanages eightendowment fundsfortheOak ParkPublicLibrary. Yourdonationshelp connectpeopleand buildcommunity, educateglobalcitizens, andsustainandrespect sharedcommunity resources. Monetarydonations totheseendowment fundsaretax deductible.Find descriptionsforeach andgiveonline. oppl.org/give

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UCP Seguin believes that all people, regardless of ability, deserve to achieve their potential, advance their independence and act as full members of the community. So we stop at nothing to provide life skills training, assistive technology, meaningful employment and a place to call home for people with disabilities, as well as specialized foster care for children.

Our goal: life without limits for people with disabilities.

Season of Giving presented by

We all make a difference when Our Future Reads

Malcolm’s 5th-grade teacher recently assigned his class a book report. This could have been a problem for Malcolm and his mom, Maria, because they did not have many books in their home. Fortunately, Maria is a part of one of the organizations with whom Our Future Reads partners. Our Future Reads sent Malcolm’s mom a genre survey through the agency and matched them with age-appropriate books, including, Trapped in a Video Game, a book that fit his interests. Maria recently offered feedback, noting that she and Malcolm’s teacher were so proud of the book report Malcolm put together for the assignment. This is Our Future Reads’ impact.

In the Chicagoland area, 1,000,000 people have low basic literacy skills and 77% of Chicago

Public School 8th graders do not read at a proficient level. In order to address those figures and help those in need of books, Franklin Taylor founded Our Future Reads to focus on providing access to books and increasing literacy rates. They promote literacy by connecting curious readers with the books that interest them. Every day they hear stories–like Maria and Malcolm’s– of people getting excited about reading, because Our Future Reads connects them to books they actually want to read. Our Future Reads prides itself on serving those that may not have the means to buy every book on the shelf, but still would love to read them. They continue to alleviate the low literacy rates in the Chicagoland area. Let the curious be curious!

Our Future Reads • 773-969-9676 • ourfuturereads.com

In 2018, UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago foster parent Marcy received a call about Peter, a 22-month-old child who needed her love, support, and care. When Marcy met Peter for the rst time, he was not walking, talking, or eating...Peter was barely surviving.

e UCP Seguin team leapt into action to support Marcy every step of the way in meeting Peter’s signi cant medical, physical, and developmental needs. e Pediatric Nursing sta ensured the family received training on his nutritional, healthcare, and therapeutic supports; case managers were on-call 24/7 to make sure that Peter had everything he needed to thrive and grow. Peter was also able to maintain a relationship with his biological siblings. Almost four years later, Peter has grown…and ourished.

Peter has a huge personality that lights up the day of everyone he meets, and his vocabulary is, well, out of this world. Peter’s amazing progress is a testament to his fortitude, willpower, and drive to succeed; not to mention the nurturing love, support, advocacy, and encouragement he

receives from Marcy, his extended foster family, and his team from the UCP Seguin Children’s Foster Care program.

UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago’s Friends & Families have come together to o er a $150,000 Matching Challenge – that means any gi you give today will be matched dollar for dollar, up to a total of ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS! You can be a holiday hero for children and adults with disabilities by donating this giving season at ucpseguin.org.

Our Future Reads

Our Future Reads teams up with other nonprofits to build personal libraries for those that do not have readily available access to books.

- 2,000 individuals and families supported - 8,000 books donated per year - 30,000 books donated to Our Future Reads - 8 partnerships with other nonprofit organizations - Serving the Chicagoland Area since 2021

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UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago

Seguin UCP Seguin believes that all people, regardless of ability, deserve to achieve their potential, advance their independence and act as full members of the community. So we stop at nothing to provide life skills training, assistive technology, meaningful employment and a place to call home for people with disabilities, as well as specialized foster care for children.

Our goal: life without limits for people with disabilities.

BUILDer

orn in the U.S., Uriel was raised in Mexico. At age 12, he was eager to help his hard working single mother.Spotlight: Uriel, age 20 Uriel

He started working for a local drug cartel, but after four close friends were all murdered, his terrified mother sent Uriel to live with relatives in Chicago. Struggling, he drifted back to gangs and fought in school, where his dean referred him to BUILD, and mentor Felix Jusino.

“Felix really tried to help me,” says Uriel. “He wanted me to understand that what I was doing was not good, and it was going to lead to more drama and violence in my life. But I didn’t listen.”

Uriel’s gang involvement deepened, he survived a gunshot wound, and was arrested on a gun charge. Alone and scared, the only person he could think to call was Felix, who came right away.

Felix helped the family navigate the courts, got Uriel out of prison and into house arrest, and into a steady job. When a short time later Uriel lost his closest friend to gun violence, Felix helped him manage his grief and rage, or “how to CHILL” as he called it. “I realized I couldn’t risk going back to jail and disappointing my family anymore,” Uriel said, “I had to stay focused on the bigger picture for my life.” Felix helped him get a laptop, materials to study for his GED, and to think about a future. “He was consistent in giving me positive things to do. He gave me his word to help me, and he is still doing that today.”

BUILDer Spotlight: Zaire, age 17

“My experience growing up is what happens when violence is prevalent in your community.”

“There is more than one way we suffer,” says Zaire. In her home, Zaire had two sisters, a mother sick with multiple sclerosis, and a grandmother so scared of the violence outside that she didn’t let the girls leave the house. The strictness and isolation was too much for her older sister, who started running away. Zaire stayed, helping care for the household— without any hope or plans of her own.

The one place she was allowed to go was school, and BUILD was there. One day Zaire took home a flier for BUILD’s spring break art program. “Amazingly, my grandma let me go—because it was just for one week,” she says.

“That week changed my life.” Immersed in art and surrounded by positive peers, Zaire felt she could let go for the first time. “I discovered my own love for art. I learned art could help me process everything going on at home. And most importantly, I found a safe place. A place that became a door to my own future.”

After this experience, Zaire’s grandmother learned to trust BUILD a little more, and Zaire enrolled in other BUILD programs: BUILDing Girls 2 Women, Youth Council, and after the pandemic hit, individual therapy. Those tools helped her stay focused on her own future, without letting the guilt she felt about leaving home keep her from going to college. As she understands now, “my family only wants the best possible future for me.”

BUILD • 773-227-2880 • BuildChicago.org

staff helped

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BUILD • 773-227-2880 • BuildChicago.org

Animal Care League

Animal Care League offers a safe haven for pets in need. Rooted in the community since 1973, Animal Care League takes a proactive approach to animal care and adoption as well as preventative measures to help reduce the number of homeless animals in our communities. With over 1000 pets coming to our doors each year, Animal Care League counts on supporters to ensure that we can provide what is needed from routine vaccinations to life saving surgery. Make a difference in the life of a homeless animal by visiting animalcareleague.org where you can sign up to volunteer, make a donation, view our adoptable pets, and learn about upcoming events.

Austin Coming Together

Austin Coming Together (ACT)’s mission is to increase the collective impact of our 50+ member organizations on improving education and economic development outcomes for Chicago’s Austin community. Since 2010, we’ve been connecting residents to services, attracting investments for the community, and building capacity for policy change. After the pandemic made long-standing inequities even worse, we started addressing growing needs through efforts like the Austin Eats Initiative, a 20+ group focused on strengthening the community’s food access infrastructure.

Learn how Austin is leading efforts to move forward together, and how you can support, at //AustinComingTogether.org/AustinCares

Beyond Hunger

For over 40 years Beyond Hunger has created solutions to end hunger at every stage of life. Our programs now include providing emergency food to families in need, summer meals for kids who lack them when school is out, connecting individuals to valuable benefits like SNAP (“food stamps”), conducting nutrition education and cooking classes to combat chronic illness, and delivering groceries to homebound older adults. Organization-wide we focus on health and nutrition. We provide food that families love, that nourishes and sustains.

To donate, visit GoBeyondHunger.org or send checks payable to Beyond Hunger, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301.

Cicero Independiente

News for the people by the people. Cicero Independiente is a bilingual news organization that investigates underreported issues, elevates stories of people in Cicero and holds the powerful accountable through community-rooted journalism. Donations help us pay local residents so that they can learn journalism skills and report on issues that matter to them. We foster and support civic participation and a sense of belonging in a community that has traditionally been divested in. We’re creating opportunities for more BIPOC storytellers and working collaboratively to make our town a better place to live.

Support community-rooted, bilingual journalism by making a contribution at https://donorbox.org/cicero-independiente.

The Collaboration for Early Childhood

The Collaboration for Early Childhood turned twenty this year! Thank you for your two-decade-long commitment to striving towards a day where every young child has the care, relationships, and resources needed to thrive and to begin school safe, healthy, and empowered to succeed. We need your support to write the next chapter of our children’s success story. There is so much opportunity for our little ones just over the horizon. Consider setting a recurring donation to keep the good going all year long.

Learn more about our impact and make a donation at www.collab4kids.org.

Concordia University Chicago

BUILD

Since 1969, BUILD has helped Chicago’s most vulnerable youth escape gangs and violence to become positive leaders in their communities. These young people face enormous obstacles and trauma, so we surround them with the counseling, mentoring, training, and opportunities they need to build a future and succeed. We engage youth at every stage, with specialized teams dedicated to street violence interventions, gang detachments, creative after-school programming, academic school and college support, mental health care, community violence crisis response, and enrichment activities ranging from art and music to sports, podcasting, engineering and gardening. Potential doesn’t discriminate, neither should opportunity.

Join us in BUILDing a better future. Visit www.buildchicago.org

The Coalition for Spiritual & Public Leadership

The Coalition for Spiritual & Public Leadership (CSPL) is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-generational spiritually-rooted organization that labors to transform racial, economic, social and environmental systemic structures through grassroots coalition building, community organizing, and liberative formation. CSPL is based in Maywood and works with community residents to bring about change and helps incubate worker cooperatives.

To learn more or join our efforts, visit csplaction.org.

Founded in 1864, Concordia University Chicago has equipped students to serve and lead with integrity and compassion. Concordia-Chicago is a Christ-centered Lutheran university where truth, freedom, and vocation form students for lives of influence and service for the common good. Historically a college for teachers, it now offers more than 100 areas of study through traditional, blended or online classes. Students can earn a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees through one of four colleges: the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Health, Science & Technology, and the College of Theology, Arts & Humanities.

To learn more, please visit CUChicago.edu or CUChicago.edu/GiveNow to support our

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Ron thrives at Opportunity Knocks, one Warrier Welcome at a time

Opportunity Knocks (OK) exists to support young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, whom they endearingly dub Warriors. This past year, they have welcomed new Warriors who have begun to thrive after finding community at OK. Ron Turner is one such Warrior.

Ron joined programs this past May, coming all the way from Pennsylvania!

After his big move, he and his sister were eager to find a program as robust as his previous one and decided to attend OK. While Ron was a bit reserved the first few weeks, he began to come out of his shell as he got to know his Warrior peers, one Warrior Welcome at a time. Not even a month into programs, there was a visible change in Ron as he had grown comfortable

with the group, presenting the Warrior Welcome and helping out his friends whenever the opportunity arose.

“Ron has since become very lively; he has very strong leadership skills and has the respect of his fellow Warriors,” reflects Netta Williams, Volunteer Coordinator and Program Leader. Ron flourishing in programs is a testament to the community that has been and continues to be built within and around Opportunity Knocks.

Consider a donation this season so that Opportunity Knocks can continue to meet the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is support from the community that grants Warriors the opportunity to discover and amplify their voices and explore the experiences of life without boundaries.

Opportunity Knocks • 708-771-6159 ext. 204 • opportunityknocksnow.org

St. Angela School is here to stay

Four years ago, vacant buildings on the St. Angela School campus were demolished; a sad day for many whose childhoods had included those buildings, but a day of promise for today’s scholars.  With the generous help of alumni and other friends, St. Angela has built a campus that is a testament to their belief in the future of the school.  They now have a soccer field—and a burgeoning soccer program.  St. Angela School is increasingly green, the newest of their trees having been planted by their 8th graders this past fall. They have outdoor classrooms, a beautiful, shaded playground, a four-season prayer garden surrounding the statue of St. Angela that once graced the façade of the church.  An engraved brick garden, dedicated to the memory of generations of students and teachers, tells the story of their first one hundred years.

The work on their campus isn’t finished and neither is their work on the old buildings. In October, an artist began covering the south wall of the school with a beautiful, colorful mural that celebrates St. Angela School children. The mural represents the fulfillment of a promise St. Angela School made the Austin community—their neighborhood—when those bulldozers first arrived years ago, “we’re not going anywhere. We are here to stay.”

St. Angela School will continue to serve these children. “We will keep them safe, give them fields to run on, gardens to read in, trees to shade their rest. We are committed to our work, and we are deeply grateful to all those who support it.”

For more information about St. Angela School, their people and their programs, please visit their website: www.saintangela.org.

St. Angela School • 773-626-2655 • saintangela.org

Wonder Works is back to full play

“At Wonder Works, we believe that play is so powerful, it can change lives,” says Wonder Works Executive Director Deborah Clair, “as a child plays, they convey their thoughts and explore emotions that shape their understanding of the world around them.”

Clair joined Wonder Works in February 2022, bringing a wealth of experience with nonprofit organizations that touch youths’ lives. She has a passion for working with children, helping to grow and develop the next generation of 21st century leaders, and is thrilled to have joined the Wonder Works team.

During the pandemic, Wonder Works was closed for 15 months. From her first day, it has been Clair’s mission to bring Wonder Works back to full play and create a safe environment for ALL children.

Clair and her staff worked to increase museum

hours and capacity, add more play materials, reopen the snack room, and add more birthday celebration options. In 2022, Wonder Works hosted several fun events including a dinosaur takeover, an outdoor bubble bash and a tinkering workshop. A new permanent exhibit, featuring big, bright, colorful blocks, will empower young visitors to build and design whatever they imagine. Despite being a community anchor on North Avenue for 20 years, Wonder Works’ attendance is down significantly compared to pre-COVID levels. Donations to Wonder Works will help the museum continue to change the lives of the children of Oak Park, surrounding suburbs and the Chicagoland area through play-based learning.

Make a gift to Wonder Works today at www. wonder-works.org

Wonder Works • 708-383-4815 • wonder-works.org

• Over 100 years of academic excelence with a caring community and rich history

Who we are:

• Over 100 years of academic excelence with a caring community and rich history

• Over 100 years of academic excelence with a caring community and rich history

• Small class sizes and belief in learning to be active citizens and leaders in our community and world

• Small class sizes and belief in learning to be active citizens and leaders in our community and world

• Small class sizes and belief in learning to be active citizens and leaders in our community and world

• Technology for all students PreK-8th grade

• Technology for all students PreK-8th grade

• Technology for all students PreK-8th grade

• Early Childhood Program starting at 3 years old

• Early Childhood Program starting at 3 years old

• Early Childhood Program starting at 3 years old

• Over $700,000 in financial aid awarded each year

• Over $700,000 in financial aid awarded each year

• Over $700,000 in financial aid awarded each year

Saint Angela School 773-626-2655 www.saintangela.org 1332 N Massasoit Ave, Chicago

Saint Angela School 773-626-2655 www.saintangela.org 1332 N Massasoit Ave, Chicago

Saint Angela School 773-626-2655 www.saintangela.org 1332 N Massasoit Ave, Chicago

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D97 PTO Council and Diversity Council

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homelessness are still an underserved population. With donor support, unaccompanied women will achieve their goals and greater self-determination.

To learn more, volunteer, or donate, visit deborahsplace.org, email info@ deborahsplace.org or call 773.722.5080.

Defy Ventures Illinois

Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park

Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory

The D97 PTO Council and Diversity Council (DIVCO) Angel Fund provides financial support to D97 students, prioritizing students whose families qualify for free or reduced lunch, as well as those who face socioeconomic or cultural barriers, so that all students have a fair chance to participate fully in their school communities. The Angel Fund ensures that all students have a fair opportunity to engage their best selves in academic activities, school events, and traditions, and that they have their essential needs met during the school day. Please donate to be part of our community of care.

Tax deductible donations can be sent via: Lincoln PTO

ATTN: D97 STUDENT ANGEL FUND 1111 S Grove Ave, Oak Park, IL 60304

The Day Nursery

Since 1912, The Day Nursery has provided exceptional early childhood education in an environment that welcomes all children, enhances individual strengths, and fosters the academic, social-emotional, and physical development that leads to school readiness. You can help lay the foundation today for successful adults tomorrow.

To learn more about us and to donate, visit www.thedaynursery.org

Deborah’s Place

Deborah’s Place has opened doors of opportunity for women who are homeless in Chicago since 1985. Supportive housing offers women the key to healing and moving on from the experience of homelessness. With more than 200 units of housing and over 600 women served yearly, Deborah’s Place is the largest provider of permanent supportive housing in Chicago exclusively for unaccompanied women. After 37 years of service, there is still a great need for Deborah’s Place. Women experiencing

What if YOU were known for the worst thing you’ve ever done? Do you believe in second chances? Defy Ventures Illinois

shifts mindsets to give people with criminal histories their best shot at a second chance. Using entrepreneurship, career readiness, and personal development training programs, Defy Illinois helps currently and formerly incarcerated people defy the odds. Our graduates start businesses, launch careers, better themselves and their communities, and have a less than 10% return-to-prison rate. Defy works with the business community to create economic opportunities, dispel myths about people with criminal histories, and transform lives. Join us!

Find out more about Defy and support us at defyventures.org.

Equity and Transformation

Equity and Transformation’s (EAT) mission is to build social and economic equity for Black workers engaged in the informal economy: the diversified set of economic activities, enterprises, jobs, and workers that are not regulated or protected by the state. Our strategy seeks to empower individuals who

The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park is a non-profit 501(c)(3) literary arts and educational foundation dedicated to thoughtful reading and writing. The foundation offers a wide variety of programming, all open to the public, to nurture and encourage creative expression for students and for people of all ages. Through tours and exhibits at Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace museum, the foundation fosters an understanding of his life and work, his Oak Park origins and his impact on world literature. Your gift supports creative outlets for people of all ages through professional teacher development, local author and performing artist programs, inter-generational engagement, a writer-in-residence program, as well as student writing workshops, mentorships, and scholarships.

For more information about us or to donate online go to hemingwaybirthplace.com or mail us at: Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park, P.O. Box 2222, Oak Park, IL 60303-2222.

The Frederick Law Olmsted Society of Riverside, IL

The entire Village of Riverside, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1869, is a National Historic Landmark. For over 50 years, the dedicated members and volunteers of the non-profit Olmsted Society of Riverside have strived to preserve, protect, and promote its fascinating history, beautiful landscapes, and

Built in 1929, the Oak Park Conservatory is a Historic Property of the Park District of Oak Park. Free to the public with 50,000 visitors annually, the Conservatory is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Conservatory offers three indoor showrooms featuring more than 3,000 plants and two outdoor gardens including a play area for toddlers. The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory offers a wide range of programs focused on enriching the visitor experience at the Conservatory. From volunteering to educational and recreational opportunities, tours and classes, there is something for everyone to enjoy year-round.

To learn more or to join, visit fopcon.org.

Growing Community Media

Growing Community Media connects residents through reader-supported journalism--our stories are based in facts, rooted deeply in our neighborhoods and reflective of voices not always heard. Through Austin Weekly News, Wednesday Journal, Forest Park Review, Riverside-Brookfield Landmark and Village Free Press, GCM provides a vital civic service worthy of public support. Our journalists tell compelling stories that strengthen the fabric of our democracy by holding local governments and institutions to account. GCM’s non-profit news sources grow political engagement, create shared culture, and connect community members to businesses and local events. It’s about more than news.

Donate for news that matters to you at growingcommunitymedia.org/donate/

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The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory funds tours for students

Astrategic goal of the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory is to expand outreach for their school tour program to underserved communities. Recently, they have been working to fine-tune a new Tour Grant Program that will cover the per-person cost of tours for students coming from public schools in areas that neighbor Oak Park, such as Berwyn and Cicero. The program is now ready to pilot and their first school is registered!

This fall, The Friends will host a group of 5th graders from a public school in Cicero for a guided school tour. Many of their students have never been on a field trip or visited the Oak Park Conservatory. Their teacher is an inspiration, aiming to plan a field trip once a month so her

students can expand their horizons at museums and cultural institutions. The school is not permitted to ask the families for money to cover the cost of these trips, but The Friends’ Tour Grant made their docent-guided tour possible.

The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory are happy to get this program up and running, as it was on hold for two years due to COVID. “It is deeply satisfying to know we are helping these kids learn about climate, plant life, and geography as they visit the local Oak Park Conservatory,” they say. Their goal is to bring 250 students through the grant program this year, and they are off to a good start!

For more information about tours, volunteer opportunities, supporting The Friends financially, or becoming a member, please visit fopcon.org.

Renee finds The Answer

After the unexpected passing of her daughter, Renee Anderson received custody of her two grandchildren and was thrust into early retirement. As a grandmother raising her grandchildren fulltime, Anderson has certainly experienced some challenges; yet, she has found comfort and peace in knowing that she has found a village and support system in her community.

Anderson raises a set of 10-year-old twins, one girl and a boy, Malik. Malik has autism, and presented behavioral challenges for Anderson. She worried about her own ability to help her grandson grow and become independent.

By chance, Anderson became acquainted with The Answer’s Program Coordinator, Dana Bryant, and learned about the programs and services the agency provided.

“At first” Anderson said, “we had to deal with a lot of whining from Malik, and his tone of

voice, he talks so loud. However, I see progress in him since those programs.”

Over time, Anderson began to notice vast improvements with her grandson. He attends The Answer Inc.’s weekly Saturday program, and participates in the Spectrum University tutoring program where he receives help with school assignments and creative projects.

“Saturday programs are very helpful because they give me a bit of a break,” Anderson said. “The only other break I have from parenting is school.”

With the support of The Answer Inc. Anderson says Malik has become more independent with dressing himself, his communication is progressing, and he’s learning better manners and etiquette.

“I hope this program never ends,” said Anderson. “These types of programs help me believe there are people who really do care in our communities.”

The Answer Inc. • 708- 296-5651 • theanswerinc.org

Brenda walked into the domestic violence courthouse to le for an emergency order of protection. When she arrived, she met a Legal Advocate from Sarah’s Inn who assisted her as she lled out paperwork and they explained her legal rights under the law, as well as the legal process in the domestic violence court system. Brenda told the advocate that she and her daughters had been kicked out by her husband because she had gone to her sister’s home without his permission. She shared stories about the physical abuse that had begun when she was pregnant with her third daughter. e advocate replied to her saying, “We understand your situation, we believe you, and we’re going to help you.” Brenda says she felt such relief because “ ose were the words I was waiting for, for many years.”

rough the advocacy and counseling services at Sarah’s Inn, Brenda found the support she needed as she began to heal and create a life she never thought possible for her family. She attended college, found a job she enjoys, and was able to purchase a home for her and her

daughters. roughout all of this, her Sarah’s Inn Advocate has continued to walk with her and stand by her as she navigates her life free of abuse.

Visit sarahsinn.org to hear more about Brenda’s story and to learn about Sarah’s Inn’s programs and services.

Sarah’s Inn • 708-386-4225 • sarahsinn.org

Sponsored Content

You are not alone, we believe you.

The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory • 708-725-2460 • fopcon.org

Debra Vines, Founder, CEO, The Answer Inc

Season of Giving presented by

The Joyful Giving Catalog

Hephzibah Children’s Association

For over 125 years, Hephzibah has served vulnerable children and struggling families. Hephzibah Home, located in the heart of Oak Park, is where children receive intense therapeutic support to heal from extreme abuse and neglect and is the only program in Illinois designated to care for young children ages 3-11. Our Family Based program supports hundreds of foster care children and stabilizes families in crisis in the Chicago metro area. The after school and summer day camp program delivers quality, affordable care for over 500 elementary school children in Oak Park every year.

Change a child’s life with us at hephzibahhome.org

The Historical Society of Forest Park

The Historical Society of Forest Park collects, preserves, and shares the rich heritage of Forest Park. Through history we explore the past to understand the present and shape the future. We offer experiences of history through events, displays, and programs. Virtual tours, presentations, and films about Forest Park are found on our website. They include Forest Park Amusement Park, Bloomer Girls, Veteran History, Haymarket Martyrs’ Monument, Cemetery Symbolism, and others. Our members support our mission and our programs including the Garden Walk, Prohibition Event, History Hangouts, bicycle tours, and weekly lookbacks to bring history to the community throughout the year.

Visit ForestParkHistory.org to become a member or to learn more about Forest Park

Housing Forward

Housing Forward is passionately focused on one vision – ending homelessness. We believe in bold, comprehensive approaches to prevent homelessness whenever possible, respond to the housing crisis, and

create stability through permanent housing. We offer a coordinated response that allows people experiencing a housing crisis to quickly resolve their situation. We offer comprehensive services including homelessness prevention, outreach and diversion, interim housing, medical respite, housing, and wraparound support. Last year, we served nearly 3,000 individuals and families with personalized support and services. Housing Forward also has programs that specifically address the housing needs of families, youth, and veterans.

To learn more, volunteer, or donate, visit housingforward.org, email development@ housingforward.org, or call 708.338.1724

Infant Welfare Society

Help us care for the whole child and create greater health equity! At the OPRF Infant Welfare Society and IWS Children’s Clinic, we serve publicly insured/uninsured children and address their whole health through sick and well child visits, dental care, behavioral health services, nutrition classes and other wrap-around programs. We treat more than 3,400 area children each year, including Oak Park, Chicago, Berwyn, Cicero and beyond. Support the whole health needs of children in our community today! $25 provides a mental health screening, $50 provides two vaccines, $100 provides a preventive dental cleaning.

Learn more and donate today at https:// childrenscliniciws.org/donate or 708-4068661.

L’Arche Chicago

L’Arche Chicago provides high quality care in community-integrated homes for adults with intellectual disabilities in the OPRF area. Our mission is lived through daily life shared in mutuality: afternoon walks to the park, doctor’s appointments, and dinner parties. Moreover, L’Arche is committed to life together in a way that welcomes difference. L’Arche Chicago is currently in the process of building a new ADA accessible home in South Oak Park that will extend this unique care model to four more adults with disabilities and address the accessibility

needs of current members of the community. Whether you’d like to contribute a one-time gift, or commit to a lifetime of giving to L’Arche Chicago, every dollar will create a lasting impact in our community!

Make a needed local impact through our people and mission at www.larchechicago. org/larcheforlife

Maywood Fine Arts

Equity in the arts is the driving force behind Maywood Fine Arts’ programs and people. Access to affordable, high-quality instruction in dance, music, visual arts, drama, tumbling and fitness cannot be taken for granted among families MFA serves from nearby, under-resourced communities such as Maywood, Bellwood, and Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. MFA serves over 800 students ages 4 to 18 per week, the majority of whom are young people of color. MFA’s facilities anchor downtown Maywood. Families count on MFA’s safe, nurturing out-of-school time environment where children learn artistic and social skills and expand their worldviews.

To donate, visit maywoodfinearts.org or send checks payable to Maywood Fine Arts, 25 N 5th Ave, Maywood, IL 60153.

Maywood Youth Mentoring Program

Organized in 1993 as a 501c3, the Maywood Youth Mentoring Program has served hundreds of middle to high-school youth providing a variety of programs, workshops, field trips, and experiences designed to increase academic potential and instill cultural pride. Since 2008, the program has hosted free monthly youth breakfasts with topics ranging from anger management and conflict resolution, etiquette, police/community interactions, sexual health, drug and alcohol avoidance, and academic excellence. Youths practice critical thinking skills to encourage positive life choices. Volunteer mentors interact with youths, providing positive role models for college and career choices. Funds are needed to continuously provide free services and incentives for participation.

To volunteer, or to donate, visit us at maywoodyouthmentoring.org, or contact Barbara Cole, founder/CEO, at barbaracole@maywoodyouthmentoring. org or 708-344-3577.

New Moms

New Moms’ mission is to strengthen families by partnering with young moms as they progress toward housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being. We believe in the strength, skills, and potential of all families and envision a future where all young moms and their children thrive! Coaches in our housing, job training, and family support programs partner with moms, 24 and under, to decrease stress, build social connections, and set and track personalized goals.

Together with their coach, moms build the foundations of long-term well-being for their families and communities.

Join us in this essential work!

www.newmoms.org/season

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association strengthens our community through learning, giving, and sharing our landmark building through space grants to local non-profits, who account for 80% of its usage. We provide community outreach, scholarships, and public programming in five areas: music, art, literature, science, and social sciences. The Nineteenth Century is the owner of 178 Forest Avenue, commonly referred to as the Nineteenth Century Club. Our charitable and cultural activities are supported by our members, volunteers, donors, and by the events held at the building. Programs are open to all and we welcome all ages to join.

If you would like information about volunteering, joining or donating, please call us at 708-386-2729 email to info@ nineteenthcentury.org. You can also make donation at nineteenthcentury.org.

The Joyful Giving Catalog

Season of Giving presented by

Oak Park Art League

The Oak Park Art League (OPAL) is one of the longest running non-profit arts organizations in Illinois. Since 1921, OPAL has brought arts education, appreciation, exhibitions, and artistic inquiry to the surrounding community. OPAL is committed to meaningful outreach to Oak Park and the surrounding communities through partnerships, on-site arts programming, and collaborations. The Oak Park Art League is located at 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 and online at oakparkartleague.org.

For more information about membership, exhibitions, classes, workshops, outreach, or to donate to these efforts, please contact Brad Nugent, Executive Director, at 708-386-9853 or email inquiries to oakparkartleague@gmail.com.

Oak Park Public Library

Invest in Oak Park’s future. The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation

manages eight endowment funds for the Oak Park Public Library. Monetary donations are tax deductible. Giving to these funds connects people and builds community, educates global citizens, and sustains, shares, and respects Oak Park’s community resources.

Choose the fund that means the most to you at oppl.org/give. Or contact Director of Finance Jeremy Andrykowski at jeremya@ oppl.org.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center

Oak Park Regional Housing Center has a mission to achieve vibrant communities while promoting intentional and stable residential integration throughout Oak Park. OPRHC is the only non- profit agency in Oak Park promoting intentional integrative housing options. OPRHC is celebrating 50 years of service to the Oak Park community. Consider giving a tax-deductible year end donation so that we may reach our goal to raise $250,000 by December 31, 2022! These funds will help us continue to help integrate and invigorate the Oak Park community for up to 500 individuals in the first quarter of 2023!

You may donate at //oprhc.org/donate. To learn more, please call 708-848-7150.

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation

The mission of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is to unite community members and mobilize resources to advance a racially just society and equitable outcomes for residents of Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities. We envision a racially just and equitable society as the full inclusion of all people into a society in which everyone can participate, thrive and prosper. In an equitable society, everyone, regardless of the circumstance of birth or upbringing, is treated justly and fairly by its institutions and systems.

Visit oprfcf.org to learn more about our services to donors, scholars, and nonprofits.

Oak Park River Forest Museum

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest is the community’s storyteller, making history relevant in tangible ways that positively impact today’s residents including walking tours, school field trips, traveling exhibits, and house research. We operate the Oak Park River Forest Museum in an 1898 Oak Park Landmark at Lake and Lombard next to Stevenson Park. We invested $1 million in private funds to create a welcoming space in a former firehouse. Exhibits include “Open House: The Legacy of Fair Housing.” We are not supported by tax dollars and a gift of any amount funds our 2023 activities, research center, and knowledgeable staff.

Learn more and donate at oprfmuseum.org or 708-848-6755.

One Earth Collective

One Earth curates vibrant environmental programming that inspires action, facilitates learning, promotes justice, and fosters equity and inclusion to create resilient communities and a healthier planet. We focus our work in 3 areas - One Earth Film Festival, One Earth Youth Voices, and One Earth Local. One Earth Film Fest’s 12th season will take place March 3-12, 2022. We’re excited to welcome Chicagoland audiences back live, in

addition to our virtual screenings. Join us for captivating films, engaging discussion, impactful action opportunities and community-building. Memberships start at $35. Learn more and donate at oneearthfilmfest.org/give.

Opportunity Knocks

Opportunity Knocks was established in 2009 to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they live, work, learn, grow, and connect within their community. We believe in the strength, power, and value in the voice of every Warrior. We value the importance of an interdependent connection between each Warrior and their community, along with developing healthy relationships and social connections. We approach all of life’s experiences fearlessly, unhinged by abilities.

We are 95% privately funded and rely on the generous support of the community. Your gift is integral in moving our mission forward. Visit opportunityknocksnow.org to learn more.

Our Future Reads

Our Future Reads was founded to promote literacy by connecting curious readers with books that interest them. We partner with other non-profit agencies and survey the recipients to create personalized book donations. Through our surveys, the members request specific genres and we fulfill those requests with our book inventory. Our personalized donations create a higher likelihood that the books will be read and shared with their families and friends. We serve youthful and adult readers that may not have the means to buy every book on the shelf but still would love to read them. Let the curious be curious!

Donate today and learn more at https:// ourfuturereads.com

Parents Against Child Sex Abuse (PAXA)

PAXA is a nonprofit that in 2022 celebrates five years of delivering on the mission of empowering parents to protect their children from sexual abuse.

PAXA offers programs like its PAXA Pointers™ Curriculum, which is a parent-focused curriculum designed to address foundational information about predatory behavior in scenarios where their child is easily accessible. The curriculum is anchored with a high quality printed P.A.X.A. Pointers™ Resource Guide that can be enhanced with a virtual or in-person presentation. The topics included are: Babysitters, Playdates, Sleepovers, Schools, Devices & Online Safety. Learn more by visiting PAXA.online and KIDSTOO.org

PING!

PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation), a nearly 25-year-old, community nonprofit organization, provides band and orchestra instruments along with mentoring, workshops, and access to lessons, music camps, and trips to students in need in grades 4 through 12, bringing true equity to instrumental music in Oak Park and River Forest public schools. In our community’s high-quality school music programs, PING! students can be on par with peers, regardless of their family situation, and feel like they belong.

PING! serves approximately 130 young musicians annually, 70% BIPOC, bringing diversity to instrumental music classrooms and beyond.

Donate: pingoprf.org/ donate. Instrument donations: info@ pingoprf.org.

The Joyful Giving Catalog

Concordia University Chicago celebrates Women of Faith

Alumna artist Deaconess Sara (Bauman) Nordling BA ’85, along with Anastasiya Camp BA ’20, executed a commission by Gary and Sue Loontjer to honor their daughter Kim Loontjer BS ’03 who received her heavenly homecoming in February 2019. Kim charged her family to celebrate women at her alma mater who lead others to fix their faith on Jesus Christ in order to secure their hope of heaven.

The outcome was the “Women of Faith” works of art, which are now part of Concordia’s permanent collection and hang in Ferguson Art Gallery. Deaconess Sara’s submission utilizes woven threads and vintage lace as a nod toward traditional women’s fiber work reinforced by hand stitched bible verses. A professor at Purdue University-Fort Wayne, she uses her medium of fibers and weaving to merge the most important areas of her life. “I focus on color, texture and design elements to convey thoughts, emotions, and concepts not always readily available in representational art,” said Deaconess Sara.

“As a Lutheran Christian University, integrating faith and learning is essential. Art is a natural springboard into interdisciplinary conversations about theology, history and other academic disciplines,” says Nikkole Huss, Professor of Art and Curator of the University’s collection. “The high level of technical skill in the art commissions invites viewers to slow down, take a closer inspection and uncover subtle details that tie directly to all Women of Faith.“

View “Women of Faith” at the Ferguson Art Gallery, located in Kretzmann Hall at Concordia University Chicago, 7400 Augusta St., River Forest, IL. Hours are Mon -Fri 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sat - Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

D97 Angel Fund seeks expand opportunities to all students

Not all children have the same Oak Park school experience. In 2019, working with school administration, one D97 PTO provided snacks, extra clothes, and experiences for economically challenged students. In 2020, with nation-wide illness and job loss, it delivered small libraries, and struggled to provide food and assistance.

All D97 schools faced the same challenges. Currently, up to 20% of students in D97 schools qualify for free or reduced lunch, with even more families “just making it” or temporarily experiencing economic struggle.

In 2021, the PTO Council presiding over all D97 PTOs, along with the Diversity Council (DIVCO), prioritized centering the removal of economic barriers so that all students could have the same opportunities.

A district-wide coat drive caught the eye of the Good Heart Work Smart foundation (GHWS) which generously donated $100,000 towards the goal of creating an Angel Fund for families in need along with a commitment to donate $50,000

annually for three years.

The Angel Fund will give students financial access to:

• Field trips, school fees, supplies, and afterschool enrichment

• Yearbooks, graduation gowns, PE uniforms, and spiritwear

• Clothing, toiletries, food needs

Yet we continue to learn, through our diversity and equity lens, that existing needs are more than previously imagined. Growing the Angel Fund is paramount to ensuring that every student has every opportunity. Support this cause by sending tax deductible donations to:

Lincoln PTO, ATTN: D97 STUDENT ANGEL FUND, 1111 S Grove Ave, Oak Park, IL 60304

A Most Merry and Blessed Christmas!

Son,

Season of Giving presented by 7400 Augusta St. River Forest, IL 60305 (708) 771-8300 CUChicago.edu

God’s greatest gift to us is the gift of Himself, in His

Jesus Christ. A tiny baby nestled in the manger, with His arms reaching out to embrace the world – through Him, we find comfort in His promise of salvation.

In all things, we are reminded that Jesus came to us as a gift and we are privileged to share that gift with others.

Concordia University Chicago wishes you the blessings of the Christ Child this Christmas and throughout the New Year.

Sponsored Content

Concordia University Chicago • 708-771-8300 • cucchicago.edu

From left to right: Sue and Gary Loontjer, Sara (Bauman) Nordling, Nikkole Huss, BettyAnn Mocek and Anastasiya Camp.

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Pro Bono Network

Access to justice should not depend upon your ability to afford an attorney. There are simply not enough legal aid lawyers to help people in dire need of civil legal aid. These include issues of safety from an abuser, adequate housing, critical care documents, and more. Pro Bono Network has enabled 425+ attorneys to give more than 28,000 hours of free legal assistance to 5,000 clients whose lives were meaningfully changed. Let’s transform lives together by increasing access to legal representation.

To get involved or donate, visit pro-bononetwork.org. Your support will make an impact on the lives of many!

Progress Center for Independent Living

Founded in 1988, Progress Center for Independent Living is a cross-disability organization governed and staffed by a majority of people with disabilities. Progress Center serves people with all types of disabilities in Suburban Cook County. We assist individuals in pursuit of their self-determined goals. Progress Center recognizes the innate rights, needs and diversity of the disabled, works toward their integration into community life, and serves as an agent of social change. Progress Center is dedicated to building a society in which people with disabilities exercise the same freedoms, rights, and civil liberties as everyone else.

Donate today and learn more at http:// progresscil.org/

Race Conscious Dialogues

Race Conscious Dialogues are designed to deepen awareness of identity, power and privilege, then to integrate learning with everyday life. This nonprofit community

resource offers a variety of cohorts both in-person and virtually, and the foundational workshop series consists of 4 sessions with light readings to be done in preparation. Conversations are framed around understanding Whiteness – our own racial identities, the historical and current harm being caused by Whiteness, and guided discovery of how we show up and work collectively to eradicate racism. Thank you for considering a donation as well as participation! www. raceconsciousdialogues.org

River Forest Public Library Foundation

In person and online, River Forest Public Library serves everyone from toddlers to seniors by connecting them with information, entertainment, and each other in a welcoming space.

RFPL Foundation works to ensure the vitality of the Library through advocacy, fundraising, and grants. Foundation grants have enabled the Library to refresh the Children’s and Teen spaces, maintain the Memorial Garden for gatherings, offer community events like the Dooleys Band concert, explore the feasibility of re-purposing indoor space for community use, and more.

Please donate at rfplfoundation.org and help your Library continue to serve and connect our community for generations to come.

Sarah’s Inn

Spanish), and offered free of charge to survivors and their children.

Learn more and donate at sarahsinn.org

St. Angela School

St. Angela has served the families of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood for more than five generations, committed to enriching the lives and futures of their children. We have a storied history and an extended family of generous alumni whose philanthropy provides scholarship funds and whose engagement keeps our campus beautiful. We are richly blessed and deeply grateful for the partnerships that have sustained us through the years. Now, early in our second century, we are proud to reaffirm our commitment to love and serve all those who choose to be part of our community. We ask those partners to recommit to our cause as well. Thank you!

Learn more about St. Angela School at saintangela.org or call us at (773) 626-2655.

Silk Road Rising

Silk Road Rising is a community-centered artmaking and arts service organization rooted in Pan-Asian, North African, and Muslim experiences. Through storytelling, digital media, and arts education, we challenge disinformation, cultivate new narratives, and promote a culture of continuous learning. Our work expands and enriches the American story and explores how we understand both Americanness and belonging. In so doing, we create opportunities for communities of diverse backgrounds to experience cultural interchange, challenge racism and coloniality, and upend polarization.

provide less than half the funds needed for the Symphony’s performances. Your gift keeps the orchestra going strong and allows us to maintain affordable ticket prices, including free admission for all students through college. Please help us continue and strengthen our 91-year tradition of bringing beautiful and inspiring music to Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park and neighboring communities.

Make your end-of-year tax-deductible donation at SymphonyOPRF.org, or: P.O. Box 3564, Oak Park, IL 60303-3564.

Thrive Counseling Center

Thrive Counseling Center has provided mental health services to the greater Oak Park area for over 120 years. We build healthy minds, families, and communities by empowering people to attain mental and emotional well-being, regardless of their ability to pay. Hope, resilience, and recovery form the heart of our programs and services for youth and adults.

Individual therapy • Group therapy

Psychiatry and medication management 24/7 Crisis intervention Case management Suicide awareness and prevention training

Thrive Talks community education programs

Open Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday 9am-5pm, and Saturday from 9am-2pm. To learn more or donate, please visit thrivecc. org or call 708-383-7500.

Sarah’s Inn is a community-based organization whose mission is to improve the lives of those affected by domestic violence and to break the cycle of violence for future generations. We offer services in three areas of program focus: Intervention services for families affected by domestic violence that includes Advocacy and Counseling; Prevention education for youth to give them the tools to develop healthy relationships; and Training and Education for professionals and community-based organizations to create a network of skilled ambassadors. Intervention services are confidential, bilingual (English/

Learn how Silk Road Rising uses stories to help our world heal, and how you can support us by visiting www.silkroadrising. org.

The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest

The award-winning Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest and its

esteemed conductor Jay Friedman, continues to bring extraordinary and accessible concerts to our community. Ticket sales

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Season of Giving presented by

Cameron credits the Housing Center

My grandfather was president of the village in the late 60s, so we have ties to the Housing Center as a family. I am personally interested in an Oak Park that is not one type of renter. I have a racially blended family, and I don’t want a monolithic Oak Park. The Housing Center has helped me support diversity in my buildings.

I have a lot of pride in maintaining my buildings the way I do. By upholding my agreement and providing quality and safe housing, I feel like I’m able to help create a community. Everybody has a story and I like to play a little part in those stories to offer my renters a place where they can feel comfortable and where it will feel like home.

There is a big learning curve mastering the business of housing, and being a housing provider can be really hard. Mike at the Housing Center has been great about advising me on how to best maintain my buildings, and providing me with crucial information. I’ve learned so much from him.

OPAL lays groundwork for the next century

Many initiatives are in full swing as the Oak Park Art League (OPAL) prepares for the 2023 exhibition and programming season and beyond. A few exciting organizational updates include new art courses and workshops, additional artist instructors, a more inclusive and equitable use of resources and programming, an increase in course registrants and members, as well as planning for updated space configurations and renovations.

Change and accommodation can be challenging and regenerative at the same time. According to Brad Nugent, Executive Director since March 2022, “the Board of Directors, who are all working volunteers, along with our Staff, genuinely appreciate all the individual discussions, cooperation, and support from our members, friends, and community leaders as we build this organization into a robust and

HOLIDAY

inclusive environment. With continued support, we are working to secure funding for building renovations, which include a new ADA-compliant restroom on the first floor, window replacements, roof and exterior work, electrical upgrades, and hopefully a second classroom on the first floor. As we acquire new resources, we look forward to updating internal processes and longterm projects in addition to the exterior capital improvements.”

You are cordially invited to a Holiday Champagne Brunch celebrating the Oak Park Regional Housing Center’s 50th Anniversary.

CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH

50th Anniversary Celebration

As a community-based, 501c non-profit organization, assistance from donors, artists, and the business community is essential. Please consider making a gift and donating to OPAL this holiday season. Visit in person and at oakparkartleague.org for OPAL’s offerings. The Board and Staff invite you to join with OPAL this new century, taking classes, visiting exhibits, becoming members, volunteering, and engaging with art. All are welcome!

Oak Park Art League • 708-386-9853 • oakparkartleague.org

Saturday, December 10, 2022 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM St. Catherine of Sienna – Maguire Hall 38 N. Austin Blvd. Oak Park, IL 60302

Live Music Champagne Brunch

Make your donation for tickets at bit.ly/holiday-brunch-50

Requested Donation: $150

Raise your glass to the next 50 years of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as we celebrate continued change, growth

Champagne toast led by Congressman Danny K. Davis Representative of the 7th District of Illinois

Sponsored by

For more information, contact Anika Chase at achase@oprhc.org.

Sponsored Content

Oak Park Regional Housing Center • 708-848-7150 • oprhc.org

Cameron Gearen, Live in Oak Park Housing Provider

Season of Giving presented by

UCP Seguin

UCP Seguin believes that all people, regardless of ability, deserve to achieve their potential, advance their independence and act as full members of the community. So we stop at nothing to provide life skills training, assistive technology, meaningful employment and a place to call home for people with disabilities, as well as specialized foster care for children. Our goal: life without limits for people with disabilities. Make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Donate online at ucpseguin.org or send gifts to UCP Seguin, 332 Harrison Street, Oak Park IL 60304

Way Back Inn

Since 1974, Way Back Inn has successfully provided long-term residential and outpatient treatment for substance and gambling use disorders. Our mission is to rebuild lives damaged by addiction in a personalized healing environment. This holiday season, we ask that you gift responsibly with the youth in your family. Children who have early exposure to gambling experiences, including lottery tickets, are more likely to develop a gambling problem later in life.

For more information or to make a donation to our program, go to: www.waybackinn.org or call us at 708-345-8422 ext. 22.

West Cook YMCA

A life best lived includes helping others experience a better life. When you give to the West Cook YMCA, you give to our community. 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes directly to providing scholarships to children, adults, and seniors- your friends and neighborstransforming their lives through access to health screenings, chronic disease prevention programs, after-school programs, swim lessons, life-skills training for residents, and Y memberships that can open the door to help each person become their best self. Make a difference right in your own community today through your support of West Cook YMCA’s scholarship fund.

To donate, visit WestCookYMCA.org/donate or send your check to West Cook YMCA, 255 S. Marion St., Oak Park, IL 60302. (708-3835200)

West Suburban Special Recreation Association

West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA) provides recreational programming for individuals with disabilities who reside in Oak Park, River Forest and nine other surrounding communities. Donations to WSSRA help provide financial assistance to those participating in our year-round programs and summer day camp. To make a donation please visit wssra.net.

Wonder Works

For 20 years, children have learned through PLAY in the safe, enriching environment of Wonder Works Children’s Museum on North Avenue. We put great care into creating a child-sized environment with 8 permanent exhibits that spark curiosity, creativity, and learning in the areas of science, math, literacy, and the arts for children from birth to 8. Your donations support special programs, exhibit improvements, free and discounted admissions for families in financial need, and more! Please join us in our mission to spark curiosity and innovation through play-based learning experiences.

Visit Wonder-Works.org to donate and support the power of play

YoungLives Chicago

YoungLives Chicago is a mentoring ministry devoted to loving and supporting teenage mothers and their babies.

YoungLives mentors walk alongside teen moms in authentic friendship, serving as a bridge to resources and supporting their academic, vocational, spiritual, and relational goals. YoungLives Chicago creates a community of belonging for young families to thrive. Teen moms meet twice a month with their mentors for YoungLives club and have the opportunity for a summer camp experience specifically designed as a respite for teenage moms. The cost of a week of camp is $500 for the whole family. Your gift impacts two generations at once! Please consider sponsoring a teen mom and her baby today. Thank you for being a part of our YoungLives village.

If you would like information about volunteering, please contact

Youth Crossroads

Youth Crossroads supports youth, guiding them through life’s challenges, and inspiring them to discover new opportunities for personal development, healthy relationships, and positive community involvement. We provide youth in Chicago’s near west suburbs with the services they need to achieve success at home, in school, and in life. All services are free, in English and Spanish, including In-School and Community Counseling, Crisis Intervention, Youth Leadership Training, Workforce Development, After-School Enrichment, Food Pantries, and Summer Camp.

Your donation makes it possible for youth to get the guidance, support, and inspiration they need to build meaningful lives. Visit youthcrossroads.org for more information.

The Answer

The Answer Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to providing support, resources, education, recreation, and advocacy for families in the greater Chicago area that are challenged with supporting family members with Autism & Developmental Disorders. In addition to providing essential resources & services for parents and caregivers, our agency strives to help contribute to the continued growth, educational and recreational inclusion for the children and relatives specifically impacted. Learn more about The Answer at theanswerinc.org

Giving homeless animals a loving home for the holidays

Helping stray, abandoned, and otherwise needy animals in our local community is at the core of Animal Care League’s mission. There are so many homes full of love to give, and so many sweet animals in need — all it takes is to bring them together. And sometimes, the pursuit of this goal takes us beyond our immediate area, as was the case with a sweet pup named Kira.

When she was first rescued as a stray in Puerto Rico, she was in worrying condition, completely covered in thick, matted fur. The dirty mats covered her eyes to the point that she could barely see. Kira’s rescuer quickly took her to receive vet care and grooming, and in no time, a new dog emerged, nothing but sweet and grateful.

To help Kira find a home, she was brought to ACL, and she didn’t have to wait long for her lucky break. Almost immediately, she was adopted! Just like that, Kira’s path forward went

Kira finds a loving home with Mary.

from dangerous and uncertain to clear and joyful, and we’re so happy to know that she’ll be cozy, happy, and healthy for the holidays. Stories like Kira’s inspire us to continue working to help as many animals as possible, creating strong and lasting bonds in our community and beyond.

Scantodonateto

95% of Day Nursery children transition into Kindergarten with the skills for school success.

thedaynursery.org/donate/

Quality early childhood education for all children IS social equity.

Your gift today creates the foundation for tomorrow's adults.

1139 Randolph St, Oak Park, IL 60302 708.383.8211

Mary sees The Day Nursery Difference

Mary, a single parent and first-time mom, wanted to find THE place for her 3-year-old son, Luke. Luke often struggled with transitions and had some delays in meeting his developmental milestones. Luke’s previous child care situation often left Mary feeling defeated as a parent, isolated, and without feeling supported. Mary searched for a quality early childhood education program that could meet their needs. A co-worker suggested she call The Day Nursery.

The Day Nursery Parent Coordinator looked for ways to support both Luke and Mary throughout the entire enrollment process. Luke and Mary made several visits and met with the

teaching team. Before starting, the teachers worked with Mary to develop strategies and routines that were similar to the techniques she used at home to create consistency for Luke.

During Luke’s first day of attendance, Mary received a message from Luke’s teacher. She opened it and discovered a photo of Luke cleaning up blocks with peers, and smiling and the caption “Great first day! We are so glad you are here!” At that moment, Mary knew this was THE place!

Ask Mary about The Day Nursery, and she will tell you, “I have no words for how amazing The Day Nursery is. What a strong and loving school family we have now. Every day they make a

With housing comes hope

Elizabeth was sleeping in a parking garage in downtown Oak Park when she met Dannette, one of Housing Forward’s Street Outreach staff.

Each night, Elizabeth and a group of friends gathered in a corner of the garage to take shelter from the cold. Dannette would stop by on a daily basis. Eventually, as she and Elizabeth got to know each other, Dannette explained the support and services, including housing, that she could arrange for Elizabeth when she was ready. While she was reluctant to leave her friends at first, after several weeks Elizabeth decided it was time to make a change. Dannette immediately worked with the housing staff at Housing Forward to arrange placement in our Interim Housing Program. There, with a stable place to sleep and healthy meals, Elizabeth began building her future. With Dannette’s support, Elizabeth started working on important building blocks like medical care, public benefits and employment.

For the first time in a long time, Elizabeth could envision having her own apartment. In October, that possibility became a reality and finally she began creating a home for her and her two daughters. Elizabeth is excited about taking her next steps and looking forward to her future!

Find out more about Housing Forward and how it can help transform the lives of men, women, and families struggling with homelessness and housing crisis, go to housingforward.org/give.

A Stack of Newspapers

On a cold February day, Shelley opened the front door to her Oak Park apartment where she was greeted by a stack of sixteen newspapers and bags of unopened mail. It was the day after Valentine’s Day and the collection of backdated issues of Wednesday Journal felt more like love letters than local news. Shelley snuggled up in the quiet comfort of her own home and read them in chronological order from oldest to most recent. She was using them as a tool to track time she had lost.

In November of the previous year, a heartrelated crisis landed Shelley in the emergency room and a series of subsequent surgeries and unexpected downturns kept in her in the hospital for four months straight. Most of the time she was fighting for her life remains a blur to Shelley. Though she fought her way back to good health with the care of an outstanding medical team and support staff, she struggled to make sense of all that had happened to her. “Coming home and reading those issues of

Wednesday Journal grounded me. They helped me to re-connect to my community, focus on something other than myself and make some sense of the time I couldn’t account for while I was in and out of consciousness,” said Shelley. “I love Wednesday Journal. I read it cover-to-cover every week, but reading those issues felt like going back in time. They made me feel normal after four months when nothing was normal.”

Subscribers like Shelley and GCM donors appreciate the attention Growing Community Media publications give issues they care about and understand local newsrooms should not be taken for granted. We are grateful Shelley shared her story with us and we are proud she is part of our GCM community. Her perspective celebrates the unique way local news sources keep residents meaningfully connected to the people, events and institutions inside their newsworthy communities. At GCM it’s about more than news.

Growing Community Media • 708-524-8300 • growingcommunitymedia.org

Housing Forward • housingforward.org

Elizabeth

Index

of Organizations and Sponsors Season of Giving 2022

Get all

the live links!

Visit the Joyful Giving Catalog online at:

A Place for All B11

e Answer, Inc… ...................................... B28, B34

Animal Care League… B25, B35

Austin Coming Together… B7, B25

Beyond Hunger… ....................................... B18, B25

BUILD… ...................................................... B24, B25

Byline Bank… B16, B40

Chicago West Community Music Center B4

Cicero Independiente...................................B9, B25

Coalition for Spiritual & Public Leadership .......................................................................B20, B25

Collaboration for Early Childhood ................... B25

Concordia University Chicago ................. B25, B31

D97 PTO Council and Diversity Council .......................................................................B27, B31

Day Nursery ................................................ B27, B36

Deborah’s Place B20, B27

Defy Ventures Illinois B27

Equity and Transformation ................................ B27

Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park ................................................................................B27

Frederick Law Olmsted Society of Riverside, IL ................................................................................B27

Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory B27, B28

Growing Community Media............B27, B37, B39

Don Harmon, Illinois Senate President B10 Hephzibah Children’s Association ........... B17, B29 Historical Society of Forest Park B21, B29 Housing Forward B29, B37 Infant Welfare Society ................................ B15, B29

L’Arche Chicago .......................................... B13, B29 Leaders Network B4, B12 Camille Lilly, Illinois House Representative ................................................................................B10

Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine B14

Maywood Fine Arts...................................... B6, B29 Maywood Youth Mentoring Program .............. B29 Nehemiah Project B6 New Moms B7, B29

Nineteenth Century Charitable Association .......................................................................B13, B29

Oak Park Art League B30, B33

Oak Park Festival eatre................................... B17

Oak Park Public Library ............................ B21, B30

Oak Park Regional Housing Center B30, B33

Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation ...................................................................B2, B3, B30

Oak Park River Forest Museum B8, B30

One Earth Collective B8, B30

Opportunity Knocks B26, B30

Our Future Reads B23, B30

Parents Against Child Sex Abuse (PAXA) ....... B30

PING!.. B30, B35

Pro Bono Network...............................................B32

Progress Center for Independent Living B32

Race Conscious Dialogues ................................. B32

River Forest Public Library Foundation B32

ROYAL .................................................................. B11

Rush University Medical Center B5, B14

Sarah’s Inn .................................................... B28, B32

Silk Road Rising B32

St. Angela School ........................................ B26, B32

Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest B32, B35

rive Counseling Center .................................. B32

UCP Seguin B22, B23, B34

Way Back Inn ................................................ B6, B34

West Cook YMCA B18, B19, B34

West Suburban Special Recreation Association ................................................................................B34

Wonder Works ............................................ B26, B34

YEMBA B9

YoungLives Chicago ............................................ B34

Youth Crossroads.................................................B34

Season of Giving presented by

Committed to Oak Park and River Forest

Byline is privileged to be a part of the OPRF community and is proud to have contributed more than $90,000 in sponsorships and support to the Oak Park and River Forest area this year, alone. Our team looks forward to continuing our commitment to customers and businesses in the Oak Park and River Forest community.

To learn more about our commitment to Oak Park and River Forest, visit bylinebank.com/oprf

Season of Giving presented by