By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
HOUSING Concern over Metra station
from page 1
support unhoused residents is a priority for them.
During a Nov. 12 board meeting, two Oak Park residents expressed frustration during public comment with the increase in individuals experiencing homelessness at the train station between Marion Street and Harlem Avenue. They complained of trash, human waste and “drug use.”
Public Works Director Rob Sproule explained at the Dec. 3 meeting that Oak Park staf f clean at the station daily, and conditions would be worse if they didn’t. Metra does not have custodial services, he said.
“In this situation, to me, there’s no way you can tell me that those folks who are [at the train station] now … would have been allowed to sleep one night on the street had they shown up in our village as migrants,” Trustee Cory Wesley said at the Nov. 12 meeting. “This is a situation that we allow … We allow [them] to live without dignity.”
He echoed that sentiment at the Dec. 3 meeting.
other capital improvements. But some trustees seemed uncertain if they want to tap into that fund balance again. It’s not an “unlimited debit card,” Trustee Lucia Robinson said.
Expanding street outreach
Lynda Schueler, Housing Forward’s chief executive officer, explained Dec. 3 that about $327,000 would help expand the nonprofit’s street outreach team to cover evenings and weekends and upgrade the Oak Park-specific team from two to four members. Right now, the team only works during typical business hours.
It would also allow for coordination with
Expedite housing matches
About $479,000 would allow Housing Forward to move individuals staying in interim housing or medical respite programs into permanent housing situations faster. This would help cover rental assistance, moving assistance, additional services and other personnel costs.
The additional funds would also allow Housing Forward to hire a substance abuse specialist.
Schueler explained that with the current system, a bottleneck is created. Individuals who need Housing Forward’s help come from hospitals, police, call centers, street outreach or as walk-ins. But the nonprofit and suburban Cook County don’t have the required capacity to assess and place every person or family seeking help into housing right away.
Jonathan Burch, the village’s neighborhood services director, acknowledged at that meeting that Oak Park has seen a significant increase in residents experiencing homelessness. According to village data, single adult men and Black individuals make up the two largest demographics experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Oak Park
“We really don’t have a right to continue to complain about the problem if we’re not going to be willing to invest in a solution,” Village President Vicki Scaman said at the board meeting.
The village has already committed $365,600 in its 2025 budget to help Housing Forward open an expanded emergency overnight shelter site at 112 S. Humphrey Ave. But the additional $800,000 or so would potentially have to come from reserves.
Oak Park had almost $46 million sitting in reserves at the start of this year’s budget planning process. That number is expected to dwindle to about $18 million after trustees decided to spend down reserves for the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape project and
the alternative crisis response team, for drivers to bring individuals to emergency shelter or warming sites, and to meet basic needs like meal cards or public transportation passes
Some individuals might be hesitant to accept assistance, Trustee Brian Straw said. But more encounters with street outreach teams who are increasingly available and present would grow more trust, said Becki Stone, Housing Forward’s director of impact, system perfor mance and strateg y.
Schueler expressed that Housing Forward can’t say $800,000 is all it takes to keep individuals of f the streets and not sleeping at the Metra station, for example. But it would help to alleviate the problem and get more individuals seeking shelter into one
“I am hugely supportive of these ef forts,” Straw said. “I think that it is necessary for us to invest at this level to start to address this homelessness crisis that is happening here in Oak Park.”
Expanding street outreach and expediting housing matches goes hand in hand, Schueler said. But if she had to choose one to prioritize right now, she said it would be expediting housing matches to help this bottleneck issue. If individuals can be moved from interim housing to permanent housing, that frees up beds for individuals in shelters. And that, in tur n, frees up beds for individuals on the street.
Acknowledging the asks are costly, Schueler pointed out that the village will be saving expenses for cleanup, police calls or public works ef for ts related to individuals experiencing homelessness on the street.
Trustee Ravi Parakkat said he’s looking for a holistic solution to the issue of growing homelessness, while understanding what Oak Park can af ford.
“Where we are getting most hit is the very visible aspect of homelessness spilling into the community,” he said, adding that the impact he wants to pr event is residents or businesses moving away or not wanting to invest in Oak Park
“I did want to disagree with Trustee Parakkat that the underlying goal is to not have residents be annoyed by homelessness and move away,” Trustee Susan Buchanan said. “The goal is to actually get shelter for unhoused people.”
She said she supports the funding request, as did Trustee Chibuike Enyia
It’s not yet clear when the discussion will come back to the village board, as meetings are concluded for 2024. The next village board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2025. Related story on page 7
WEDNESD
AY JOURNAL
of Oak Park and River Forest
Editor Erika Hobbs
Digital Manager Stacy Coleman
Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan
Sta Repor ter Luzane Draughon
Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor
Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora
Contributing Editor Donna Greene
Columnists Marc Bleso , Jack Crowe, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger
Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck
Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead
Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea
Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza
Marketing & Adver tising Associate Ben Stumpe
Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls
Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan
Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
Special Projects Manager Susan Walker
Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs Publisher Dan Haley
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair Eric Weinheimer | Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Audra Wilson
TODD BANNOR
Homeless encampment under Metra station ramp in Oak Park in June 2023.
Our nal Big Week will run on December 18. Don’t worry! We have more events coverage coming soon. For a sneak peak, and to submit events to be included in our new calendar, visit oakpark.com/events
December 11-18
BIG WEEK
The Faces I Know Exhibition: Where AI and Human Imagination Bring
Familiar Faces to Life
Friday, Dec. 13, 5 – 8 p.m., Studio 928
Join us for a unique art exhibition by Amber Murayi, hosted by Studio 928.
The Faces I Know explores the intersection of AI, imagination, and human connection, celebrating Black identity and existence. The exhibit re ec ts intimate, familiar moments of beauty and connection, with AI- generated ar t re ned by the artist’s photographic expertise. 451 South Blvd., Oak Park
Prisms of Winter Concert
Thursday, Dec. 12, 7 p.m., Oak Park & River Forest High School Main Auditorium
The OPRF Music Department presents its annual Prisms of Winter concert. Enjoy a 90-minute musical extravaganza featuring all curricular music ensembles and student-led performances. Two performances: Thursday, Dec. 12, and Friday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. Tickets sell fast—secure yours at oprfhs.ticketleap.com or email tickets@oprfhs.org. 201 N. Scoville Ave., Oak Park
‘Scrooge: The Comedy ’ at White Pines
Thursday, Dec. 12, 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Howard Mohr Community Center
Enjoy a wacky, zany performance of Scrooge: The Comedy at White Pines in Mount Morris, where audience participation makes every show unique. Lunch and transportation are included. Call 708-771-7737 for reservations and more details. 7640 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park
Comedy Mirror
Friday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m., Madison Street Theater
Enjoy a night of stand-up comedy where everyone can see themselves in the stories shared on stage. Featuring a lineup of talented comedians, including host Shelley B. Wright and headliner Manny Petty, Comedy Mirror brings laughs and life experiences to Oak Park. General admission tickets: $15, doors open at 7 p.m. Purchase tickets at: madisonstreettheater.org. 1010 Madison St., Oak Park
Move Me Soul: Teen Dance Class
Friday, Dec. 13, 4 - 6 p.m., Oak Park Public Library
Teens can express themselves and unwind through movement in this fun and energizing dance class. Strengthen your body, improve exibility, and reduce stress while dancing to your favorite music. 834 Lake St., Oak Park
Santa Saturday at Oak Park Jewelers
Saturday, Dec. 14, 2 - 5 p.m., Oak Park Jewelers
Santa Saturday is back for its third year. Enjoy an afternoon of festive fun with the whole family—visit Santa, cookies and hot cocoa from Blackout Baking Co., and shop for a cause. A portion of proceeds will bene t Wonder Works Children’s Museum. RSVP at oakparkjewelers.com. 101 S. Marion St., Oak Park
Holiday Food and Gift Basket Volunteer Oppor tunity
Saturday, Dec. 14, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., United Lutheran Church
Volunteer to help deliver holiday gifts to families in Oak Park and River Forest. We will distribute gifts starting at 9:00 a.m. until completed. Sign up on our website at communityofcongregations.org. 409 Green eld Ave., Oak Park
32nd Annual Cookie Walk
Saturday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m., United Lutheran Church
Fill a box of cookies for $20 at this cherished tradition hosted by United Lutheran Church and Chicago Church of Christ. Jams, jellies, and ra e tickets for assorted gift cards will also be available for purchase. Proceeds bene t local charities, including New Moms, A House in Austin, and NAMI Metro Suburban. 409 Green eld St. (and Ridgeland), Oak Park
Sing We Joyous
Saturday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 15, 4 p.m., First United Church of Oak Park
The Oriana Singers, City Voices, and Pro Musica Youth Chorus present Sing We Joyous, a beloved Oak Park holiday tradition now in its 19th year. Directed by William Chin, the concert features seasonal music, lighthearted fun, and a stage lled with performers. Visit CityVoicesChicago.org or purchase at the door. 848 Lake St., Oak Park
Compiled by Brooke Duncan
Rainbow Girls at Robert ’s Westside
Saturday, Dec. 14, 8 p.m., Rober t’s Westside
Join Rainbow Girls for a powerful night of music described as “a gang of sweet angels punching you in the hear t.” General admission is $15 plus service fees. Reserved table seating is available for $25 per seat plus service fees (sold in groups of 4-6, with general admission included). 7321 Madison St., Forest Park
Bluey Dance Mode Dance Part y
Saturday, Dec. 14, 3 p.m., Portillo’s Bring your family to go full dance mode and take photos with everyone’s favorite blue heeler pup. This event is designed for ages 8 and younger. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park
Makers’ Market
Saturday, Dec. 14, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Rober t’s Westside
Celebrate the creativity and skill of local artists and artisans at the Arts Alliance Forest Park’s Holiday Makers’ Market. With 28 artists showcasing their ne, handmade works, this event is per fec t for collectors, gift seekers, or anyone enjoying a stroll through the displays. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park
Holidays Around the World
Sunday, Dec. 15, 1 - 2 p.m., Oak Park Public Library
Preschoolers and elementary schoolers are invited to celebrate world holidays and traditions through crafts, games, and stories. Discover new cultures and share the joy of the season. 834 Lake St., Oak Park
Singers from the Lyric Celebrate the Season
Monday, Dec. 16, 1:15 - 2:30 p.m., Nineteenth Century Charitable Association
Celebrate the season of joy with a lyrical concert featuring John Concepcion, Yvette Smith, Aaron Wardell, Kimberly Jones, and Lisa Kristina. Enjoy a charming performance of both secular and sacred classics. This event is free and open to the public; donations are welcome. To live stream the program or watch a recording available one week later, visit ncca.memberclicks.net. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park
‘A Christmas Carol’: A Live Radio Play at Oil Lamp Theater
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Howard Mohr Community Center
Experience A Christmas Carol as a live radio play at the Oil Lamp Theater in Glenview, where the theater transforms into WBFR on Christmas Eve, 1946. Lunch and transportation are included. Call 708-771-7737 f or reservations and more information. 7640 Jackson Bl vd., Forest Park
Wine Ta sting with Anfora Wine Merchants at R Titus Designs
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m., R Titus Designs Enjoy curated wine selections from Anfora Wine Merchants while shopping for last-minute gifts at R Titus Designs Studio. Enter to win ra e prizes with purchase. RSVP at https://pp.events/ rtitusdesignswinetasting. 143 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park
Music of the Baroque Chorus & Brass Ensemble
Thursday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church Inspiring music in one of Chicago’s most beautiful spaces. The Music of the Baroque Chorus and Brass E nsemble, conduc t ed by Andrew Megill, takes you on a journey from the medieval age to the present with ethereal chants, majestic brass works, and some of the finest choral music ever written. Featuring music by Gabrieli, Praetorius, and more. Tickets: $48-$85. Learn more at www.baroque.org. 7300 W. Division St., River Forest
Sat. & Sun. 9am-4pm.
Design phase starts for village hall, police station
Architects will determine scope and cost of project
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
At the Oak Park village board meeting Dec. 3, trustees approved an ag reement with Johnson Lasky Kindelin Architects, Inc. for schematic design services for Village Hall and a new police station in an amount not to exceed $1.85 million.
This won’t be one and done, either. The schematic design will not be the final design. During this phase, JLK will help determine the scope and overall vision for the project, along with a more realistic cost estimate. This is commonly thought of as 30% of design plans.
Trustees decided Nov. 21 to direct village staf f to ne gotiate this ag reement with JLK to produce a schematic design for a Village Hall remodel and new police station on the existing site.
The schematic design phase is expected to wrap up in mid-March. Sproule explained that village staf f and JLK will renegotiate the fee for the schematic design phase if the scope of the project changes significantly, like a large cost reduction.
In this phase, JLK will provide three potential schemes for the project.
“This project will be successful because we will know how much it costs and we will also know when it will cost that much,” said Meg Kindelin, president of JLK.
Remodeling Village Hall and building a new police station was last estimated to cost between $132 million and $138.3 million.
Public Works Director Rob Sproule said village staff negotiated the agreement with JLK based on an estimate of the project costing $120 million, but some trustees were still dissatisfied by that number.
“When we approved the negotiation with JLK, I was not expecting it to still be a $120 million estimate,” Trustee Ravi Parakkat said, adding that he’s heard pushback from community members. “All this is delaying
the process of getting the much-needed police facility.”
Most board members said they want to prioritize building a new police station first.
“We all understand that [the] police station is a priority for the project but there are very large-scale decisions that need to be made about the police station and how it interacts with this site that the board needs to provide direction on before we can start constructing that building,” Sproule said. “This process is what gets us to that point.”
And the $120 million estimate is partially based on board priorities, Sproule said. That includes preserving historical aspects of Village Hall, meeting sustainability goals, meeting building codes, creating accessible and inclusive spaces, and bringing both facilities up to modern standards The total project cost is still yet to be determined, however.
Trustee Brian Straw said he believes JLK will be making decisions with the cost of the project and the board’s priorities in mind He said he thinks the board can expect de-
sign schemes focused on delivering a high value proposition, and Kindelin agreed.
Village President Vicki Scaman added that she doesn’t want this board’s decisions regarding the campus to be a “Band-Aid.”
“I’ve watched previous boards make decisions without taking the entire campus into mind and waste money,” she said. “We’re not doing that and I’m proud of the process that we have landed on.”
Housing Forward to open new emergency shelter
The nonpro t
previously
planned to expand capacity at the St. Catherine –St. Lucy Rectory
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
In an attempt to help get more individuals experiencing homelessness into stable situations, Housing Forward is opening a new emergency shelter site at 112 S. Humphrey Ave., instead of renovating the one at the St Catherine – St. Lucy Rectory.
Housing Forward had been planning to expand and double the number of beds available at the rectory from 20 to 40. This site at 38 N. Austin Blvd. has been in operation since 2023.
But upgrading the rectory to meet safety needs and ensure village code compliance proved to be too expensive an undertaking The HVAC system and roof needed to be improved, along with ensuring fire safety and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
And the St. Catherine – St. Lucy Rectory is consistently at capacity. The new site on Humphrey Avenue, owned by the Oak Park Housing Authority, would allow for 42 beds and has bathrooms with two showers
Housing Forward aims to open the new shelter site in February or March 2025, possibly closing the rectory site at that time. The 20 clients who regularly stay at the St. Catherine – St. Lucy Rectory will move to the new shelter, presumably leaving only 22 beds open. But Lynda Schueler, Housing Forward’s chief executive officer told trustees at the village board meeting Dec. 3 that the rectory might still be used for other functions later on.
Vanessa Matheny, the village’s community services administrator, had estimated work at the rectory could cost about $795,000. The village submitted a grant application for $637,166 in Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus funds to help cover that cost. But the grant request was denied So, Housing Forward, unable to fund the rehab needed alone, looked for other options. Schueler explained Dec. 3 the site at Humphrey Avenue will require less capital improvement work and is already accessible.
The nonprofit can’t operate both shelters right now because of the high cost to improve both spaces and meet required codes, along with the operational cost of running both.
The new shelter would also have a commercial kitchen, dining area, office space and semi-private sleeping areas. It’s near public transit like the CTA Green Line and bus routes and would be open 365 days a year from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.
To start up a new emergency shelter, Housing Forward estimates it’ll cost about $365,600. That money is already allocated and approved in the village’s 2025 fiscal year budget.
That amount will cover expanded staffing, food and rent expenses, and hotel stays for families, for whom an emergency shelter is not always ideal, Schueler explained. But this building will require some work too, including sprinkler system and water service improvements as well as other upgrades Housing Forward has requested $250,000 from Cook County for those costs.
For long-term funding for the shelter operations, Housing Forward is looking at opportunities with Cook County or state funding. But the organization might have to ask Oak Park for more money
Of Housing Forward’s entire client base, covering 26 communities in west suburban Cook County, 34 households are on the shelter waitlist as of Dec. 3, said Becki Stone, Housing Forward’s director of impact, system performance and strategy.
Of 99 households in Housing Forward’s street outreach roster, 42 are served in Oak Park. And four of those 42 households in Oak Park are families with minors, Stone said.
“[That] is a lot of young kiddos either sleeping outside or sleeping in cars tonight,” she said at the village board meeting Dec. 3.
Oak Park can’t solve homelessness statewide, Trustee Lucia Robinson pointed out. She said she wants individuals in Oak Park to have some level of priority for a shelter here, funded with Oak Park dollars.
Schueler ag reed but added that she can’t guarantee there won’t still be individuals experiencing homelessness sleeping outside in Oak Park. Especially with a greater need than beds available.
“If we’re having an unhoused problem in Oak Park, Oak Park dollars should be made available to meet that need,” Robinson said.
Park o cials delay Keystone vote
The decision follows a contentious meeting
By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter
The River Forest Park District Board deferred action on a controversial proposal to allow the Dominican University women’s softball team to use a field at Keystone Park in River Forest following a contentious meeting Dec. 9.
More than 60 residents filled the meeting room at the park district building with several standing along the walls although there were a few unoccupied chairs. All 15 who addressed commissioners said they opposed the proposed ag reement – to the applause of the crowd. Several others also signed up to speak, but deferred because their points had already been made by other speakers. Board President Mike Grant also said of ficials received 28 pieces of correspondence from residents, all opposing the plan. At issue is a proposed partnership between the River Forest university and the park district that would allow the Stars women’s softball team to play its home games in Keystone Park, Lake Street and Keystone Avenue. Due to limited space for athletic fields on the campus at 7900 Division St., the Stars women’s softball team and the men’s baseball team play their home games of f campus. Park
district and university officials have been ne gotiating terms since Dominican first approached the park district in March.
Dominican has been playing its home softball games the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, where the Chicago Bandits women’s professional team for played.
Under the proposed ag reement, the Stars would practice and play home games on Keystone baseball/softball field No. 2 after the park district undertook improvements, including converting the infield from dirt and clay to a synthetic surface. Additional “minor modifications” would have to be made to meet National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 3 specifications.
Michael Sletten, park district executive director, said previously that a similar project is in the park district’s master plan and “has been on our radar.” That project carries an estimated cost of $460,000. It was not scheduled previously but could take place in 2025, allowing the Stars to play there beginning in 2026. In exchange, Dominican would pay the park district $60,000 in three annual payments of $20,000 each over the three-year ag reement period. After three years, the ag reement would renew annually
unless either the park district or the university decided to cancel. Dominican would continue to pay $20,000 annually.
Sletten explained that the original term in the ag reement was for 10 years with Dominican paying $200,000, $40,000 per year for five years. During ne gotiations, it was decided to consider the ag reement to be a rental ag reement, “just like everybody else,” he added.
For 45 minutes on Dec. 9, speakers gave a variety of See KEYSTONE PARK on pa ge 14
What Does Solidarity with Palestine Look Like?
December 14 •
Dominican University would like to use Keystone Park for so ball games.
Prof. Rashid Khalidi Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies Emeritus at Columbia University
Rabbi Brant Rosen Tzedek Chicago, co-founder of the Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council
Asha Ransby-Sporn Chicago-based organizer, campaigner & writer (BYP100, Bring Chicago Home)
Ricardo Gamboa Artist, activist, academic & co-founder Latinxs for Palestine, founder & host of The Hoodoisie
Oak Park’s Tatsu Aoki showcases the art of Japanese drumming
He
will be per forming at the Museum of Contemporary Ar t’s Edlis Neeson theater later this month
By MAYA SWAN-SULLIVAN Contributing Reporter
Asian Improv aRts Midwest brings “Reduction 10” and “Taiko Legacy 21” to the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Edlis Neeson theater Dec. 14.
“This is one of the most elaborate taiko concerts that you are ever going to see from a community group in the Midwest,” said creative director and founder of AIRMW, Tatsu Aoki.
Taiko means “drum” and the performances are the art of Japanese percussion. Both shows consist of music and dance performances, with about 18 performers, including three famous Chicago avant-garde musicians, Michael Zirin, Hamid Drake and Nicole Mitchell.
“Reduction” blends traditional and modern music, including improvisation of the instruments. “Taiko Le gacy” focuses on original compositions, honoring geisha chamber, classical, folk, theater and festival taiko music.
“On the Taiko Legacy, basically, I am reincarnating all the songs that were played when I was younger in our taiko group in Tokyo,” Aoki said. “Then Reduction is a recreation of what the experimentalism was in Tokyo using different talents. So, I think the community taiko drumming is closer to the real shape, and reduction is evolved into Chicago music more.”
Aoki grew up around music, performing with his mother, grandparents and everyone else in his house. Later in his teens he became involved in Tokyo’s underground performing arts and music movement.
“So, part of this ethnic cultural identity that I brought from Japan to Chicago has to do with Japanese ethnic folk-art music, and myself being a musician for all my life,” Aoki said. “I started to build the not-for-profit organization that sort of specialized in our Japanese American/Japanese cultural ethnic identity.”
The composer, performer, filmmaker and educator moved to Chicago in the late 1970s Later, he and his family moved to Oak Park, primarily for its public school system.
“It’s been a great village, a great space to live,” he said.
These performances have been a family effort, with his kids being involved for the past 20 years.
“My oldest daughter, Kioto, does both experimental performances with taiko drumming,” Aoki said. “Miyumi does the traditional one and the Japanese dance. And Miyumi and Kioto, they both play shamisen, the Japanese flute music. My son plays the improvising taiko drumming as well as the compositional taiko drumming.”
Aoki said that as he’s getting older, he’s having the younger generations take on more responsibilities for AIRMW. His children, along with performing in the shows, also help produce them and have been for the past 20 years.
“I think what is interesting for me is seeing the evolution of what kinds of things that we each take on as each iteration goes on,” said Aoki’s son, Eigen Aoki. “You know, I think we’ve kind of grown more and more into our own areas of expertise or what we’re comfortable with when it comes to producing the show.”
Tickets are $20. For tickets or more info visit airmw.org/taikolegacy
COURTESY OF TAIKOLEGACY.COM
Tatsu Aoki
Oak Park approves $1M for Percy Julian home in 2025 budget
The move to preser ve Perc y Julian’s home, now owned by his daughter, came as part of a routine budget process
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
Oak Park has approved its 2025 fiscal year budget, setting aside $1 million at the last minute for the preservation of AfricanAmerican scientist Percy Julian’s home at 515 N. East Ave.
Percy Julian’s daughter, Faith Julian, owns the home. It’s in need of re pairs and has been under threat of tax sale for years. Earlier this year, an anonymous donor paid of f the 2021 property taxes, in the amount of $31,496.90, temporarily keeping the home of f the tax sales list.
But now, a total of $168,925.30 in proper
COURTESY OF FAITH JULIAN AND TAKEN BY PERCY JULIAN, JR
Perc y Julian (second from le ) is pictured in the Oak Park home with (standing from le ) Perc y Julian Jr., Faith Julian and cousin Leon ‘R hoddy’ Ellis. Dr Anna Julian is seated alongside the family dog, Buddy.
ty taxes and late payment interest charges is owed on the property, according to the Cook County Treasurer’s Office.
It’s not yet clear exactly how the $1 million will be used. But Village President Vicki Scaman said she put the motion forward, seconded by Trustee Chibui Enyia, to preserve the home in a manner consistent with Faith Julian’s wishes. Doing so could cost more than the $1 million set aside, but the money was intended to begin the process
“I’ve always trusted that this board has the intention to act and preserve the Julian home,” Scaman said. “Trustee Enyia … sai ‘I wish we could do something like this.’ An I said, ‘You know what, we can.’”
But with the looming local elections in April, the village board’s priorities could chang e.
“[Percy Julian’s] family is a reason why we get tourism coming to Chicago Avenue to check out the home,” Enyia said. “It is a chance to bring Oak Park together.”
Despite some concern among other trustees, the board did approve the request as part of the 2025 budget.
The now approved 2025 budget has expected expenditures at more than $114 million. In addition to the $1 million transfer from reserves for the Julian home preservation, trustees also pulled $500,000 to boost the sustainability fund.
per household
But with the last-minute change, Trustee Ravi Parakkat said he was concerned about the upcoming tax sale on the Julian property and the potential loss of ownership. He said he wants to see what happens before setting aside money. The intent is appreciated, he said, but he doesn’t see the urgency.
“It is a chance to bring Oak Park together.”
CHIBUIKE ENYIA Village trustee
Oak Park had almost $46 million in reserves when this year’s budget planning process began. That number is expected to dwindle to about $18 million, or less with the recent changes, after trustees decided to spend down reserves for the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape project and other capital improvements.
The levy increase will be 3.5%, according to Interim Chief Financial Officer Donna Gayden, which could result in an estimated increase of $48 in property taxes
Trustee Lucia Robinson added that she would like to wait to set aside the money until a clearer plan was in place. She also raised concerns about the le g al parameters of using public funds or taxpayer dollars for the preservation of a private resident’s home, but still called the property “sacred ground.”
Setting aside the money now, Scaman said, is not intended to predict all the ways the funds could be spent. But she said it shows commitment to the project and allows the village manager money to work with to bring future proposals forward.
The board could have made budget amendments to take money from its reserves for this home preservation instead
of setting it aside now. But by putting the restriction on these dollars now, they can’t be spent on something else unless the board publicly changes it
“By making this budget allocation and putting it in restricted funds, we make a statement of purpose,” Trustee Brian Straw said, who supported the change. “It means that if a future board actively decides to remove those restrictions, they have to be consciously deciding ‘We are going to take funds which have previously been allocated for the purpose of preserving the Julian home and spend it on a different purpose.’”
Trustee Cory Wesley ag reed, saying changes like this, and raising the priority rating for the Percy Julian Streetscape project in the capital improvement plan, shows the commitment of the board and the village to this era of history.
He said he hopes this era is elevated to the same level in Oak Park as Frank Lloyd Wright and Ernest Hemingway.
“[This change] creates, if not a real barrier, at least a mental barrier to undo this,” Wesley said, echoing Straw’s point.
And Trustee Susan Buc hanan supported the change, too.
The village board can make budget amendments in 2025 if deemed necessary.
COURTESY OF THE OA K PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY
e home of Percy Julian at 515 N. East Ave. in Oak Park
Oak Park plans to create Percy Julian Streetscape
Perc y Julian was an AfricanAmerican chemist and entrepreneur
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
Oak Park is moving forward with plans to honor African American scientist Percy Julian through a streetscape design on Chicago Avenue between East Avenue and Austin Boulevard
Percy Julian, a chemist and entrepreneur, is known for synthesizing cortisone, hormones and other products from soybeans. He re gistered more than 130 chemical patents in his career.
His home, now owned by his daughter, Faith Julian, is located at 515 N. East Ave. and has needed repairs and been under threat of tax sale for years. The village board recently approved setting aside $1 million in its 2025 budget for the preservation of the Julian home
village board approved in November, the Percy Julian Streetscape project was elevated from priority level “D” to “B.”
During the village board meeting Tuesday, Oak Park hired Planning Resources, Inc. to develop a streetscape design to publicly reco gnize the life and le gacy of Percy Julian. Hiring Planning Resources will cost the village up to $150,000. Planning Resource’s goal with the project is to create “space to change the le gacy of Dr. Percy Julian from forgotten genius to
trailblazing chemist and activist.”
“We’re ecstatic to be a part of project like this one where we can contribute to the commemoration of Dr. Percy L. Julian,” said Dar rell Garrison, president of Planning Resources. “Memorable spaces don’t just happen. Memorable spaces are not just by accident but they’re by thoughtful and careful planning.”
The idea of a streetscape was brought up during a board meeting in May, along with other ways to honor Julian’s le gacy. Another option was to create a “Dear Old Oak Parker” Walk of Fame star.
The streetscape project could include gateways, banners, wayfinding signs, art or other site features. Jennifer Kelliher, senior landscape architect from Planning Resources, also said they want to inte grate an outdoor exhibit into the streetscape that will share Julian’s story through interactive and immersive learning experiences.
“It would be very helpful for us to understand what the ongoing cost implications of a technology component would be,” Straw said.
Kelliher said Planning Resources intends to first research the site and learn more about Julian’s story. Then the group plans to meet with stakeholders, engage the community and analyze feedback before creating the streetscape design.
Potential funding sources for the project after design, Planning Resources outlined, include the State of Illinois, Community Development Block Grant funds, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and community foundations
Planning Resources will also partner with TERRA Engineering, Ltd. and Prescott Group LLC during the design phase.
“We have a ton of rich history here in Oak Park,” Trustee Cory Wesley said. “[The outdoor exhibit] strikes me as something new and dif ferent.”
Trustee Chibuike Enyia said he loves the idea to incorporate augmented reality into the design because technology is becoming more prevalent in society. Trustee Brian Straw ag reed but cautioned that it will need to be kept updated so it does not feel outdated quickly.
Oak Park citizens, leaders recall Det. Allan Reddins at candlelight vigil
‘He looked out for me,’ a young man Reddins mentored says
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
To get a sense of what Det. Allan Reddins meant to the village of Oak Park community, it’s essential to speak to someone like Ellis Fountain.
“He looked out for me … he was like a role model in my life,” Fountain said at a candlelight vigil Friday for Reddins, who was shot and killed Nov. 30.
His mother, Erin Fountain, elaborated.
“My son was attacked,” she said. “He was severely beaten and robbed, and he was missing for five days back in 2021. He was in the hospital for like two weeks.”
After he returned from the hospital, an Oak Park police department commander who knew her son from Oak Park-River Forest High School introduced him to Reddins.
“She assigned Officer Reddins to be Ellis’s point person,” she said. “If anyone messed with him, if he needed anyone to talk to, if he needed to talk through what had happened to him, he was there.”
About two weeks before the shooting, Ellis Fountain ran into Reddins at a Walgreens.
“It was like walking in and meeting a friend,” said Erin Fountain, who works at Whittier Elementary School. “That’s the relationship they had.”
Despite the frigid temperatures and an icy wind, several hundred villagers turned out for the candlelight vigil, which featured remarks from Oak Park police chaplain Adonna Reed, Oak Park village President Vicki Scaman and police Chief Shatonya Johnson.
“Tonight we are here because Detective Allan Reddins did indeed lay down his life for his friends,” Reed said in her opening statement, before violinist Windy Indie played Amazing Grace as, one by one, at-
tendees lit their candles
“Detective Reddins’ dedication to protecting our community, his courage and his unwavering commitment to justice will forever be remembered,” Scaman said. “Tog ether we vow that this sacrifice will not be forgotten, and his le gacy will continue to inspire us all as we work tog ether to build a safer, stronger Oak Park.”
After the vigil had concluded, Scaman said she knew Reddins because she had sworn him in May 2019.
“What rings the most clear is that he was a family man and he was always willing to step up and volunteer, and follow things through in fair ness and in peace,” she said.
In her remarks, Johnson said that her department was struggling mightily with the first murder of an Oak Park police officer since 1938.
“I can tell you, we will not be the same,” she said. “My prayer is that we’re going to be stronger, we’re going to work harder, and we’re going to be safer than ever
“It is deeply personal to the men and women of our police department that Detective Reddins made the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting alongside his brothers and sisters. And for that, we will be forever indebted to him and his family.”
For Katie Fuentes, owner of the McDonald’s next door to village hall, Reddins’ death hit home. Her store donated cookies that were served along with coffee and hot cocoa at the vigil.
“My father-in-law is a detective, my current cousins are detectives and sergeants in the police force, so my heart goes out to the police force,” Fuentes said. “Very grateful for everything they do for the community.”
Oak Park Township trustee Eric Davis said he took time to speak to citizens and elected officials, and said that to a person, the emotion was devastation.
“Our officers are a big part of our community,” Davis said. “It’s a real loss.”
New details emerge in Oak Park detective’s death
Jerell Thomas has been charged in the death of Oak Park Det. Allan Reddins
By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
Chicago man Jerell Thomas, who was charged with the shooting death of Oak Park Det. Allan Reddins, will remain detained until his next court date Dec. 20. Thomas, 37, appeared in court Thursday in Maywood. Thomas allegedly shot Reddins on the 800 block of Lake Street on Nov. 29. Reddins later died at Loyola University Medical Center. Thomas was also shot. According to Fox 32 Chicago, Thomas entered the Chase Bank and was approached by a manager who thought he was acting suspiciously. Thomas displayed a gun and left the bank. Security and Oak Park police were contacted Reddins, according to Fox 32 Chicago, and another officer encountered Thomas outside the bank. The two officers approached Thomas near the Oak Park Public Library. Surveillance footage showed T homas
reaching in his jacket as the officers told him to keep his hands visible. T he officers then backed away, according to Fox 32 Chicago.
Six shots over two rounds were fired T homas’ first shot hit Reddins in his side. T he second officer was not harmed, but T homas was seen on footage firing at both officers.
Thomas was re por tedly shot in the leg by another officer and his gun, a .40 caliber pistol, was recovered. Thomas’ sister had re ported the gun stolen to Chicago police a few days prior to the shooting, according to Fox 32 Chicago.
On Nov. 26, Thomas and his father got into a physical argument. Thomas then reportedly went into his sister’s bedroom and took the weapon from a safety box.
Thomas also has felony convictions for aggravated battery to a peace officer.
He is expected to appear in court again Dec. 20 but will remain in custody until then.
T he Oak Pa rk Lodge #8, Fraternal Order of Police also is c ollecting d onations for the Re ddins f amily. T he money raised will be used to suppo rt the f amily, pa rt icularly his son, who attends c olle ge out of state, and his mother, wh o is receiving medical treatment, officials said. Fo r more info rm ation, email oakparklodge8@gmail.com. Donations also c an be made by Zelle using this emai l a ddress: oakparklodge8@gmail.com.
C hecks c an be mailed to Oak Pa rk FOP Lodge 8, P. O. Box 1054, Oak Pa rk , I llinoi s, 60304. Fo r more info rm ation, visit www oakparkfop8.org.
A limited supply of blue ribbons will be available in the lobby at Village Hall for those interested in displaying a ribbon in honor of the detective. The ribbons can be picked up during regular business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and at the candlelight vigil Friday while supplies last.
Wake and f uneral services
A wake for family and friends of Det. Allan Reddins will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, at Leak & Sons Funeral Home at 7838 S. Cottage Grove Ave. in Chicago.
A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at Apostolic Church of God at 6320 S. Dorchester Ave. in Chicago. Before the funeral, a procession of the Oak Park Police Department will leave at 9 a.m. from Village Hall at 123 Madison St. to tr avel to the church
Wednesday Journal will be streaming the police procession Thursday live on Facebook. Apostolic Church of God will later stream the funeral service.
A procession of family, friends and law enforcement will then travel to a cemetery for a private burial.
KEYSTONE PARK
Misgivings about eld use
from page 8
reasons why they opposed the proposal, including the le g ality of a Catholic institution using a public facility and the fact that Dominican, as a non-profit, does not pay taxes. Others expressed concerns about River Forest Youth Baseball and Softball leagues losing access to park district fields, disag reeing with Commissioner Lynn Libera’s comment about minimal scheduling conflicts. Still others implied that park district officials had not involved residents in the process and sugg ested surveying residents or forming a steering committee.
Sletten said previously he did not anticipate scheduling conflicts, noting the Stars’ season runs from February to May and they start “way before everybody else” that uses the field. He also said youth groups do not play on Sundays, which would allow Dominican to play doubleheaders on those days. In addition, on practice days, the Stars are of f the field by 4:30 p. m.
T he meeting became c ontentious as it
Tc ontinued, with Grant wielding his gave l numerous times when attendees started shouting q uestions and a ccusations at the board.
A social media campaign and online petition drive were conducted over several weeks leading up to the meeting with the tone of the social media campaign drawing criticism from commissioners.
Commissioner Daniel Roche said he was “bothered” by the social media comments and Grant expressed concer n about misconceptions and miscommunication.
“It’s shameful that people who are volunteers get bashed,” he said.
“We want to be good neighbors. We don’t want to displace anybody. We want to use the eld when River Forest isn’t using it.”
came athletic director in November 2023, citing as examples the university’s hosting the park district grade school basketball championships for fourth through eighth grade boys and girls in March. He said they plan to re peat the ef fort in 2025. He also noted the camps and clinics Dominican has hosted for park district baseball, softball and soccer coaches and players, as well as boys and girls basketball and volleyball coaches and players, one of which was scheduled to be held the night after the meeting.
JOHN PLANEK Dominican athletic direc tor
The claim in the online petition, which re portedly has been signed by 800 residents, that the proposed ag reement is one-sided was addressed by John Planek, Dominican athletic director, who attended the meeting with Cristina Lukas, the Stars’ head coach.
Planek said that Dominican has provided support for the park district since he be-
“We want to be good neighbors,” he said. “We don’t want to displace anybody We want to use the field when River Forest isn’t using it.”
Also discussed were possible parking and traffic issues on game days and allowing Dominican to place “Dominican University Women’s Softball” logos on backstop pads and windscreens.
Grant said any buses or vans bringing players and equipment to the field on game
days will be parked offsite. He also said officials estimate the number of fans will not exceed the number of fans who attend Little League games. He estimated that 50 parking spaces are available in parking lots and on-street near Keystone Park.
As that portion of the meeting wound down, commissioners expressed a desire to defer a vote.
Bade said he thought the board was going too fast, adding, “I don’t have a problem slowing down.”
Saying he “wanted to hit pause on this,” Roche agreed.
“I was uncomfortable going into this meeting,” he said. “And I’m uncomfortable now.”
If park district officials approve the ag reement, Sletten explained that the renovation of the field, including converting the infield to artificial turf, still would have to be approved by the village and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
The delay in making a decision could impact the proposed timeline and prevent the Stars playing at Keystone until 2027 or later. Commissioners ag reed to defer a vote, instructing Sletten to address their concerns re garding leg al issues and questions about parking and traffic. In addition, they asked him to coordinate one or more meetings with stakeholders.
OPRFCF Announces New Focus of Community Grants
he Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation recently announced the new direction and focus for its Community Grants program. A er a yearlong process of fact- nding, research and interviews, the Foundation has decided to focus its grantmaking on the intersection of two priority areas identi ed in its landmark Community Voices report: Safety and Belonging, and Health — speci cally, addressing behavioral and mental health for young residents in western Cook County.
“By focusing on behavioral and mental health, we are seeking to repair some of the damage and division caused by the historic inequities in our region and empower the solutions the community has called for,” said Elizabeth Chadri, Foundation program director. “We are now putting forth a grantmaking strategy that is responsive to our community’s expressed needs, through a process that engenders equity, trust, and inclusion.”
e 2024-25 Community Grants cycle will prioritize proposals that focus on creating pathways to a robust, representative workforce of mental and behavioral health professionals; or facilitate access to and/or provision of
services or treatment for youth and young adults. ese priorities will be further re ned in 2025 by a steering committee made up of Foundation board, sta and members of the West Cook community to develop a multi-year grants process. e multi-year program will include convenings and shared decision-making, and will bolster opportunities for advocacy and other systemic change.
We are seeking to repair some of the damage and division caused by historic inequities in our region.
e deadline for applications was in October, and applicants will be noti ed of decisions no later than January 31, 2025. Funding will be disbursed shortly therea er.
Elizabeth Chadri serves as program director for the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation
Cooking fatigue? Try caterers Sawa’s Old Warsaw
By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter
Three local chefs are standing by to cater to your food needs — holidays, dinner parties, weekly meals — so you relax and enjoy your guests or prop up your feet after a long day of work.
Chef Shawanda Simmons of Passion Eats Catering got her start bringing her home-cooked leftovers to her workplace. The response was immediate and strong
“They were like girl, you need to package this thing up,” Simmons said. “We offer fresh chicken wings, catfish, spaghetti. Seasoned green beans, we’re known for green beans. Collard greens. Our mac and cheese is to die for! We do red beans and rice. We do stuffed chicken meatballs, turkey meatloaf. We are a traditional soul food caterer.”
Once she started catering the jobs rolled in: celebrities, news anchors, aldermen, even a governor. She was often asked where people could get their hands on her soul food outside a special event. That led to opening a storefront in Oak Lawn and expanding to her newest Oak Park location at 7103 W. North Ave.
The location is optimized for catering, but you can also order and pick up. She offers what they call the Oak Park Family Feast. It’s food for 15 people: chicken, fish, five sides and corn muffins.
“All of our products come in fresh and are cooked fresh. We cook to order. For example, if you order some chicken wings from us, they’re going to literally be dropped 15 minutes before your scheduled time to arrive,” Simmons said.
Su Jang is another local chef. She cooks at the new commercial Hub Kitchen in River Forest and offers catering for all sizes of events. Her specialties are seafood, like her shrimp fra diavolo and crabcakes.
“We do small personal events where we’re going into someone’s home to parties with plated meals for a hundred people We also have full bar service, with certified bartenders. And it goes beyond the food, we make sure tables are cleared and check that bathrooms are stocked and clean. People are like, ‘oh my gosh, I was able to enjoy my party. And I didn’t have to worry about cleaning up,’” Jang said.
This personal touch is part of what makes her New Rose Catering special. Jang starts with a menu, but then asks questions about favorite foods, allergies or
intolerances, and will even do a tasting in advance. The fee for that consultation is deducted from a booked event’s bill.
Another offering is weekly meal deliveries.
“My unofficial tagline is solving the dreaded ‘what’s for dinner’ question,” Jang said. “Everything we make is homemade, seasonal. It’s just a healthier approach. There’s a lot of people who don’t like to cook. But then they’ re like, ‘We really like ordering from you because who knew my kid really liked Brussels sprouts?’ It takes the pressure off busy families.”
Jang posts the menu for home delivery on her website each week. She incorporates both seasonal produce and eating trends. For example, she has noticed that people want lighter fare the week after Thanksgiving each year.
Another take on catering is Bethanny Alexander’s Kind Café and Catering launched in Se ptember 2024. T he “café” part of the name is aspirational. Righ t now, she is concentrating on catering. All of her options are ve g an.
“I think there is this misnomer about ve g an food — that it’s weird or there’s going to be strange ingredients. It’s just food, just plant based healthy food. It’s food for everyone, because you can still make hearty soups and sandwiches and main courses and desserts and all of that and have it be made from plants,” Alexander said.
This past T hanksgiving, Alexander created a special menu, which included mushroom parsnip pot pies and cranberry pecan cookies
“If you’ re hosting, I can either do all of it for you or I can just supplement what you are doing. If you have ve getarian or ve gan guests, wouldn’t it be nice to give them an entree that they can have so they don’t just have to eat sides?”
Her food is developing a following. Several customers have asked for her to create a weekly meal delivery option, but for now, Alexander is balancing a career as a real estate agent with her catering passion. Her solution is “souper” Sunday. Each week, she stirs up a batch for delivery. Recently, she made tomato and lentil soup to celebrate the final harvest of tomatoes from her garden.
More information can be found at: https://www.passioneatscateringco.com/ www.newrosecatering.com www.kindcafeandcatering.com
Turducken
Sliced Roast Beef
Ham off the Bone
Broasted Chicken
Smoked Salmon
Fresh Polish Sausage
Smoked PolishSausage
Sauerkraut
Potato Dumplings
Mashed Potatoes
Potato Pancakes
Cabbage Pierogies
Green Beans
Mushroom Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup
Apple and Cheese Blintzes Apricot and Cherry Kolaczki Make Your Own Sundaes
$42 per Adult $16 per Child
Doors are open from 12 Noon to 7pm Reservations available every 2 hours
Get a complimentary Mimosa to ring in the New Year!
Reservations Recommended
Cheesecake,
Tires targeted in Oak Park crimes
S omeone slashed the left rear tire to a Fo rest Pa rk resident’s 2007 Honda Accord b etween 9:30 p. m. Nov. 26 and 6:30 a.m. Nov. 27 on the 100 block of S outh Har ve y Avenue. The estimated loss is $200.
In another re po rt , someone d amage d four tires to an Oak Pa rk resident’s 2017 Nissan Ro g ue b etween noon Nov. 30 and 7:03 p. m. Dec. 2 on the 0 – 100 block of
Pleasant Street. T he estimated d amage is $200.
Motor vehicle theft
Between 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 and 8 a.m. Dec. 7, someone stole an Oak Park resident’s black 2016 Mercedes Benz C300 from the 1000 block of Lake Street. The estimated loss is $24,000.
Burglary
Between 11:30 a.m. and 11:47 a.m. Dec. 5, someone unlocked the door and got into a Wooddale resident’s Chevrolet work truck on the 1100 block of South Oak Park Avenue. The person stole a RIDGID sewer camera and a RIDGID camera locator. The estimated loss is $10,000.
If you do, you should know how important foot care is. Over time, diabetics risk developing foot complications. When the nerves are damaged from chronic high blood sugar, feet can become numb or painful with burning or tingling. is is called diabetic neuropathy. When diabetes a ects the arteries, circulation to the legs and feet may be compromised. Either of these conditions may lead to serious problems including ulceration, even amputation.
e key to prevention is early diagnosis of diabetes, and regular foot exams from a podiatrist. Diabetics who receive regular foot care, including paring of calluses and debridement of thick fungal toenails, are almost four times less likely
to undergo an amputation than those who do not seek treatment.
Medicare and some private insurances cover 1 pair of diabetic shoes and 3 pair of protective insoles each calendar year. Dr. Lambert has been a supplier of diabetic shoes since 2002. e shoes come in 30 di erent styles each for men and women. ese include boots, lightweight colorful athletic shoes, and dress shoes. Even patients who are not diabetic love the look and comfort of the footwear. Diabetic socks, slippers and compression hosiery are also available.
Protecting your feet with appropriate footgear is an important aspect of preventive care for diabetics.
Residential burglar y attempt
At 12:12 a.m. Dec. 8 on the 400 block of Wisconsin Avenue, an unknown man was seen outside an Oak Park resident’s window with a flashlight. The Oak Park resident’s kitchen window was opened and plants on the windowsill had been moved. The man was seen walking south toward an alley after the resident yelled. No loss or damage was reported.
Arrests
■ A 39-year-old Oak Park man was arrested at 12:17 p.m. Nov. 29 for domestic battery to an Oak Park resident on the 400 block of South Scoville Avenue.
■ A 32-year-old Oak Park woman was arrested at 1:28 a.m. Dec. 1 for domestic battery to an Oak Park resident on the 1100 block of North Taylor Avenue.
■ A 28-year-old Naperville man was arrested at 2:18 p.m. Dec. 2 for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and defacing identification marks of a firearm on the 100 block of North Marion Street. He also had an active Villa Park warrant for retail theft.
■ A 38-year-old Westchester woman was arrested at around 4 p.m. Dec. 3 for aggravated battery to a nurse, aggravated battery in a public place, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia on the 0 – 100 block of Erie St.
■ A 35-year-old Chicago man was arrested at 8:02 p.m. Dec. 6 for criminal trespass to property at the Walgreens at 811 Madison St. He was given a citation and notice to appear.
These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department re ports dated Nov. 29 – Dec. 9 and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
Compiled by Luzane Draughon
BUILD’s Adam Alonso named as a top Latino Leader
CEO named as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’s 2024 Latino Leaders
By HECTOR CERVANTES Contributing Reporter
Adam Alonso, an Oak Park resident and the CEO of BUILD, has been recognized as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’s 2024 Latino Leaders Honorees
The nominees featured selected based on ensuring they ser leadership roles, ha years of experience and strate notable in their industry and All honorees live Chicago area, with their profiles drawn from submitted nomination materials.
Since taking the helm BUILD in 2015, panded the organization from team of 30 with a $2.3 million budget to 200 staff and a $22 million budget. BUILD serves more than 3,000 youth and families at risk of violence, providing comprehensive support that includes mental health care, gang intervention, and arts and sports programs.
them,” Alonso said.
When offering advice to emerging leaders in the non-profit sector aiming to create a similar impact, Alonso reflected on his own experience starting a non-profit at the age of 32 in Cicero.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help or support Be clear about why the work you’re doing is important. I’m grateful to be where I am today because I had mentors who supported me — people I could tur n to for advice. When I wanted to quit or give up, they encouraged me to take a moment for myself and then get ontinuing the ,” Alonso said.
professional ame in 2019 when he launched a $24 million capital a youth and our years latulminated in the a 56,000-square-foot
that matters ommunity responds, hen they show up, use the space, eople are connected, thriving and receiving the support they need. To me, that’s truly the mark of success and something for us to celebrate,” Alonso said. “Yes, the building itself is an accomplishment, but what happens once the building is up is what really matters most.”
“It’s an honor to be acknowledged for the hard work. I know I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with my colleagues who were also listed as notable leaders. And, of course, there are many more leaders in the field who have not been reco gnized. It’s truly an honor to receive this recognition, and I know there’s a lot of great work happening across the city,” Alonso said.
The majority of Alonso’s professional career has been dedicated to nonprofit work, with a focus on youth services. Alonso emphasizes the importance of young people feeling connected to caring adults who are invested in their success.
“It’s incredibly important for young people to feel connected to adults who care about them and genuinely want to see them succeed. Supporting them on their journey has always meant a great deal to me, and through my work, I’ve strived to share that sense of care and encouragement with
The motivation to keep innovating and advancing BUILD’s mission comes from the young people Alonso serves. By rejecting a scarcity mindset, Alonso believes there is freedom to dream big and explore new ways of doing the work For Alonso, it’s about imagining possibilities and seeking fresh approaches to make a lasting impact
“Not having a scarcity mindset, I think, frees you to dream and think big, and to imagine new possibilities. I’m not saying you should dream extravagantly, but I am saying you should think big—think of new ways to do your work. Consider all the new ways the building could be used, or the different ways the rooms could be arranged,” Alonso said. One of the lessons Alonso learned was the gratitude for having parents who not only loved and held them accountable but also took an active interest in his well-being, including in his whereabouts, friendships and academic responsibilities.
ADAM ALONSO
Old school and innovation at Donny G’s
A meal straight out of the movies
NBy RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter
ew ideas and respect for tradition sit side by side at Donny G’s, 7308 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park.
Starting in December breakfast is served at this Italian ristorante and bar.
In the past, breakfast was a Sunday exclusive, but now you can come and get it daily, except on Mondays when the restaurant is closed. An extensive morning menu is complemented with rotating specials. Service starts at 8 a.m.
“The breakfast menu is extensive!” Mary Jane Muccianti, assistant to the general manager, said. “We have fresh squeezed orange juice. I think that’ll be a draw.”
Crepes, waffles, skillets, pancakes, omelets – the sizzle and smell of breakfast never fails to wake the senses. You have until 2:30 p.m. to rise and shine. The lunch menu overlaps with breakfast starting at 11 a.m.
“Our neighborhood regulars will be here first, but we hope that word of mouth will
spread, once people taste the quality,” said Muccianti.
And word does get around. Donny G’s staff is proud that people come back, even from afar.
“I’ve seen people on vacation from Arizona, and they will come in because they’ve been here before or their relatives bring them in. And we have a lot of people from out of state who come here because they have fond memories of the place,” said Muccianti.
On Sundays, breakfast gets the extra treatment with entertainment from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Music to diner’s ears.
Speaking of music, the restaurant has both a dining room and a lounge area where dinner is also served on Friday and
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
Donny G’s, located at 7308 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park.
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
Crepes at Donny G’s.
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
Waffles, fruit and ice cream at Donny G’s.
Tuesday - Sunday from 8am - 2:30pm Regular Hours:
Saturday nights. The vibe feels straight out of a movie with live singers and a DJ keeping it smooth and elegant. Dec. 13 will feature the singing group Jersey Girls. And New Year’s Eve will pull out all the stops, featuring Anthony Frank Cassano and his tribute to Frank Sinatra. Dinner and a show.
Weekly lunch specials span salads, sandwiches and lunch portions of seafood delights, such as whitefish and salmon. Dinner specials change weekly chasing what is freshest and best of the season. Drink specials round out the goodness: Tuesdays it’s $7 martinis; Wednesdays $5 glasses of house wine; Thursdays 1/2 off bottles of wine.
The wine list is an extensive tour of Italy’s wine producing regions, along with several other stops along the U.S. west coast and points beyond.
Holiday catering is a mainstay at Donny G’s.
“Serving the best, without the exhaustion,” Muccianti said. “This gives you the energy to enjoy your party.”
No matter whether you are eating a hearty breakfast, feeling the swing on the weekends, or remembering the good old
days with friends and neighbors, Donny G’s commitment is to customers. Muccianti has great admiration for the manager, George Diamond.
“He spares no quality. He takes pride. He stands at the kitchen. Every night he watches the food go out. He’ll say, ‘Mary Jane is everybody happy?’ And he’ll walk up to every single table to make sure.”
Know before you go
Website: donnygs.com
7308 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park
Tuesday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Monday Closed
Friday and Saturday 8am - 11pm Sunday 8am-9pm
Monday - Closed
Tuesday - Thursday 8am - 10pm
omelet at Donny G’s.
Sponsored Content
The time is now. Use your VOICE to change the future of cancer as we know it for everyone.
VOICES of Black Women a groundbreaking initiative led by the American Cancer Society is calling on Black women from all walks of life to join the movement that will power meaningful research to help save lives. You can help make a difference by letting people in your community know about this study and help transform health outcomes of Black women today and for generations to come. Your VOICE is the key to changing lives forever. Not just any kind of change: One that can directly improve the health of Black women for generations to come.
“I see this study as laying the foundation for a healthier future for Black women—one where our voices are heard, our health is prioritized, and our lives are valued,” said Shanita Akintonde, Illinois VOICES
Ambassador, “The impact will be felt not just in our generation, but in many generations to come, as we move closer to a world where every Black woman has the opportunity to live a long, healthy, and empowered life. I do it for my late mother, Mary Cathy Bishop, who has given me her nod of approval.”
This isn’t just a study; it’s a collective commitment to understanding and improving the health of Black women across the nation. And that change starts with you.
“VOICES of Black Women® represents a crucial step towards achieving health equity in a population that is long overdue,” said Dr. Alpa Patel, co-principal investigator of the study and senior vice president of population science at the American Cancer Society. “The data we’ve uncovered through previous population studies has been critical in reducing the unacceptably high burden of cancer, but that reduction has sadly not been equal. By centering Black women’s voices and experiences, we can dig deeper in uncovering the unique challenges and barriers contributing to cancer disparities and develop tailored interventions to mitigate them.”
Our goal is to enroll at least 100,000 Black women in the US between 25 and 55 years of age who have never had cancer. As a valued participant in VOICES of Black Women, you’ll collaborate with researchers by sharing
behavioral, environmental, and lived experiences through surveys taken at least twice a year. When you join VOICES, over the years our study can make note of any important health and general lifestyle updates that occur in women’s lives. There will be no cost to you for participating in this study. Add your voice to this movement.
Learn more at voices.cancer.org
This content is made possible by our sponsor and is independent of GCM’s editorial staff.
If your provider has recommended a hip or knee replacement, Dr. Terhune is here to help you achieve the best possible outcome and return to the activities you love.
Areas of Expertise:
• Minimally invasive hip and knee replacement
• Direct anterior hip replacement
• Partial knee replacement
• Revision hip and knee reconstruction
Schedule an appointment in Chicago or Oak Park.
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
Luke 2:14
Join us this holiday season!
Christmas Eve
Children's Services: 4:15 and 6 p.m.
Both services are led by the students of Grace Church and School
Traditional Service: 8 p.m.
Candlelight Service: 10:45 p.m.
Prelude starts at 10:30 p.m.
Christmas Day
Worship: 10 a.m.
e Catholic Community of Oak Park invites you to Make Room for Hope during the Advent and Christmas Seasons! The Catholic Community of Oak Park invites you to Make Room for Hope during Advent and Christmas Season!
Ascension and St. Edmund Parish www.ascensionoakpark.com | 708-848-2703 or 708-848-4417
Ascension Church
Ascension Church
S. East Avenue, Oak Park
808 S. East Avenue, Oak Park e Parish of Ascension and St. Edmund www.ascensionoakpark.com · 708-848-2703 or 708-848-4417
St. Edmund Church 188 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park
St. Edmund Church
St. Catherine of Siena - St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish www.stgilesparish.org | 708-383-3430
St. Catherine -St. Lucy Church
188 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park
38 N. Austin Boulevard, Oak Park
St. Giles Church
Meditation and Prayer
Meditation and Prayer
Advent Circle Garden ~ Walking Meditation McDonough Hall, St. Giles
Advent Circle Garden ~ Walking Meditation McDonough Hall, St. Giles
St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church 38 N. Austin Boulevard, Oak Park e Parish of St. Catherine of Siena - St. Lucy and St. Giles www.stgilesparish.org · 708-383-3430
St. Giles Church 1045 Columbian Avenue, Oak Park
1045 Columbian Avenue, Oak Park
2024 Advent Prayer and Re ection O erings
2024 Advent Prayer and Reflection Offerings
Saturday, Dec. 14 | 8:30-10:00am Sunday, Dec. 15 | 11:30-2:00pm
Monday, Dec.16 | 4:00-8:30pm
Tuesday, Dec.17 | 5:30-8:00pm Wednesday, Dec.18 | 7:15-8:30pm
Saturday, Dec. 14 | 8:30-10:00am Sunday, Dec. 15 | 11:30-2:00pm
Monday, Dec.16 | 4:00-8:30pm
ursday, Dec.19 | 7:15-8:30pm with Prayer service at 7:30 pm
Faith Sharing ~ Praying with Advent Scriptures
Tuesday, Dec.17 | 5:30-8:00pm Wednesday, Dec.18 | 7:15-8:30pm
Tuesdays, Dec. 3, 10, and 17 | 1:30pm | St. Edmund Church
Thursday, Dec.19 | 7:15-8:30pm with Prayer service at 7:30 pm
Centering Prayer
Faith Sharing ~ Praying with Advent Scriptures
Tuesdays, Dec. 3, 10, and 17 | 1:30pm | St. Edmund Church
Tuesdays, Dec. 3, 10, and 17 | 4:00pm | St. Edmund Church
Evening Prayer Under the Wreath ~ Scripture, Song & Contemplation
Wednesdays, Dec. 4, 11,18 | 6:30pm | Ascension Church
Centering Prayer Tuesdays, Dec. 3, 10, and 17 | 4:00pm | St. Edmund Church
Prayer in the Spirit of Taizé ~ Singing and Praying for Peace
Evening Prayer Under the Wreath ~ Scripture, Song & Contemplation
Wednesdays, Dec. 4, 11,18 | 6:30pm | Ascension Church
Friday, Dec. 6 and Wednesday, Jan. 1 | 7:30 pm | Ascension Church
Contemplative Prayer ~ Come to the Quiet
Prayer in the Spirit of Taizé ~ Singing and Praying for Peace Friday, Dec. 6 and Wednesday, Jan. 1 | 7:30 pm | Ascension Church
On Zoom, Saturdays Dec. 7, 21, & Jan. 4 | 8:30am.
In-person, Saturday Dec. 14 | 8:30am | Ascension Church
Contemplative Prayer ~ Come to the Quiet
Contact David Anderson for the Zoom link.
Find the Silence ~ Eucharistic Adoration and Personal Prayer
Find the Silence ~ Eucharistic Adoration and Personal Prayer
Mondays, Dec. 2,16, 23 | 4:00pm - 9:00pm | St. Edmund Church
Mondays, Dec. 2,16, 23 | 4:00pm - 9:00pm | St. Edmund Church
Zoom, Saturdays Dec. 7, 21, & Jan. 4 | 8:30am.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
person, Saturday Dec. 14 | 8:30am | Ascension Church
Advent Reconciliation Service
Contact David Anderson for the Zoom link.
with opportunity for individual confessions
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Monday, Dec. 9 | 7:00pm | Ascension Church
Individual Confessions
Advent Reconciliation Service with opportunity for individual confessions
Saturdays, 8:30-9:00am year-round| St. Giles Church
Monday, Dec. 9 | 7:00pm | Ascension Church
Saturday, 4:00-4:45pm year-round| St. Edmund Church
Additional Reconciliation Times
Individual Confessions
Saturday, Dec. 14 | 11am-12pm | St. Catherine-St. Lucy
Monday, Dec. 23 | 6:00-7:00pm | St. Giles Church
Saturdays, 8:30-9:00am year-round| St. Giles Church
Saturday, 4:00-4:45pm year-round| St. Edmund Church
Additional Reconciliation Times
Saturday, Dec. 14 | 11am-12pm | St. Catherine-St. Lucy
ursdays, Dec. 5, 12, 19 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm | St. Giles Church
Thursdays, Dec. 5, 12, 19 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm | St. Giles Church
Advent Feast Days
Advent Feast Days
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
Monday, Dec. 9 | 6:30 am Mass | St. Giles Church
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
Monday, Dec. 9 | 8:30 am Mass | St. Edmund Church
Monday, Dec. 9 | 6:30 am Mass | St. Giles Church
Monday, Dec. 9 | 8:30 am Mass | St. Edmund Church
Our Lady of Guadalupe Youth Ministry Prayer Service
Tuesday, Dec. 10 | 7:00pm | St. Edmund Church
Our Lady of Guadalupe Youth Ministry Prayer Service
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Bilingual Mass
Tuesday, Dec. 10 | 7:00pm | St. Edmund Church
ursday, Dec. 12 | 6:30pm | St. Edmund Church
Hosted by the Catholic Community of Oak Park
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Bilingual Mass
Thursday, Dec. 12 | 6:30pm | St. Edmund Church
Hosted by the Catholic Community of Oak Park
Homes
Warming Your Hearth and Your Home
By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter
When the weather outside is frightful, you can warm more than your heart with the use of a fireplace. Fire places can heat up a room and help decorate it as well. Many local homes have fireplaces at the center of the living room, and the options from woodburning to gas heating elements with modern or historic surrounds offers something for every home.
The basics
Woodburning fireplaces are prized for the atmosphere they add to a home. The flame looks, sounds and smells authentic. Homeowners can customize the aroma by choosing specific types of wood, and operating costs can be low as long as you have an inexpensive source of chopped wood
Woodburning fireplaces also produce a lot of heat, easily warming a room. On the downside, owners have to tend to woodburning fires to keep the flames going, and
the fires need to be monitored for safety. If you’ re building new, adding a woodburning fireplace can be more expensive because of the need for a chimney
Gas-powered fireplaces are an alternative to woodburning and can be safer than woodburning because they don’t create flames, sparks or soot. Gas fireplaces can be operated with a remote control, offering ease of use, and because they don’t
See FIREPLACES on pa ge 28
(vur’
Tom
Finding
Call Tom Carraher at 708-822-0540 to achieve all
FIREPLACES
Cozy spaces
from page 26
produce smoke, the air inside the home remains cleaner
While gas fireplaces put of downsides. They require have higher operation costs if natural gas is pricey. Unli wood, gas is not a renewable resource.
Fireplaces and real estate
In Oak Park, of the 77 real estate listings acti press time, 25 feature a fir active listings, 10 include a fir from woodburning firep vintage homes, the fir have not been well maintained and serviced
Catherine Simon-Vo Warner is currently listing a home with a fir N. Grove is a Prairie Style bungalow with a w fireplace in the living room.
Simon-Vobornik said that place is not a must-have but she thinks it’s typically a has a working fireplace,
She calls fireplaces a “welcome amenity” and noted that lighting a fireplace can create a nice ambiance during winter open houses or showings and can help to show of home in its best light.
Before listing a home with a fir said she makes sure the o
“I will ask, if it is woodburning, when was the last time the chimney was swept? If it has been a while I will suggest they have it cleaned and to keep the firebox clean, as well. I will also ask if they know how old the chimney liner is. That seems to be the typical question a buyer would like to have answered. If it is gas, I will confirm that it is operational and if they can show me how to turn it on.”
For first-time buyers or those that have never had a fireplace before, Simon-Vobornik allayed potential worries by stating that home inspections should cover the fireplace.
“A home inspector will run a gas fireplace to make sure it is working and will show my buyer how to operate it,” she said. “For wood-burning, they will check to see how clean it is, and they will also check the condition of the firebox, chimney and chimney liner.”
Fireplaces as foc al points
Beyond the nuts and bolts, fireplaces can impart a lot of style to a room, and a mantle can be a great place to display art or hang some Christmas stockings.
If you’ re looking to add style to your existing fireplace or want to make a new fireplace fit in with your historic home, Cassandra Deiters of ReUse Depot said that the store always has a range of mantles on hand.
ReUse Depot, which was founded in 2013 to save reusable building material from the landfill, permits shoppers to browse vintage home items to add to their construction or
restoration project.
ReUse Depot is moving from its Maywood warehouse to a new Elmwood Park location, but Deiters said buyers can browse online to see the 10 or so vintage mantles that they typically have in stock.
“We have all different styles from antique to more mod-
ern,” she said. “We currently have three from 1902 with full surrounds.”
She added that shopping for vintage fireplace surrounds has benefits beyond keeping something out of a landfill.
“One of the great things about shopping with us is that you get a lot of character.”
Fireplace mantles at ReUse Depot
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M. Call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310
ktrainor@wjinc.com
FAV ORITE THINGS – SOUNDS GOOD CHOIR
Singing out and sounding good
What do 90 retired and part-time authors, attorneys, home inspectors, teachers, stand-up comedians, database administrators, physicians, business owners, researchers and others do on Tuesday mor nings in Oak Park?
JOY
AARONSON
One View
They sing with the Sounds Good Choir, “Chicago area’s largest no-audition choral program for adults 55 and better, and the only one in Illinois with a separate choir for persons with early-stage dementia and their care partners” (according to their website).
There are eight Sounds Good choirs throughout the Chicago region and the Oak ParkRiver Forest choir is the largest, with 90 members.
I recently had the opportunity to attend one of their rehearsals, led by conductor Linda Crabtree Powell. Linda previously taught chorus at Brooks Middle School in Oak Park and Trinity High School in River Forest for many years. Her choirs have performed inter nationally. She wanted to be a music teacher since the age of 10 and began taking piano lessons at that time.
Because I write about my “Favorite Things” in Oak Park, I asked for her “favorite things” about the Sounds Good Choir.
Linda’s favorite thing is selecting the repertoire for the fall and spring programs
“I [am] constantly listening and searching for music that will work well with our singers. I search for solid, interesting music composed in arrangements that work for our singers’ voices. It is rewarding and fun to lear n challenging and diverse music at rehearsals, and later be able to share music with our audience.”
During the rehearsal, she led her group of soprano, alto, tenor and bass singers in body stretches, scales, and war mups. She dissects the lyrics by phrases and works with the different sections in her role as both teacher and cheerleader. The singers around me were clearly engaged.
A real sense of community emerged at the end of rehearsal, as the birthday people of the month stood up and their fellow singers warmly sang “Happy Birthday” to them. Some of the singers told me they have made new friends and go out to lunch and the movies together at the Lake Theatre.
I asked some of the singers for their “favorite things” about being in the Sounds Good Choir.
VIEWPOINTS
Hitting the right tone
It was a couple of weeks before Christmas, sometime around 1965. I walked into the living room to find our thick-haired, silvergray cat, Scuffy, airborne, maybe 3 feet above the floor, legs forward, paws extended, claws out, crashing into our new, shimmering, silver aluminum Holiday tree.
Tabby, brown with black stripes and named cleverly by us to match her breed, followed Scuffy as his wing-cat, not quite as high as the flying, lead feline but with the same fervor, penetrating with force the pointed silver perimeter
After her attack, ornaments shook, tinsel trembled, and the tree wobbled, teetered and pitched over onto the carpet with a shudder. I yelled at the cats, they scattered, and I surveyed the wreckage of bent limbs, scattered snowlike foil strips, and broken ornaments. My sisters, worried about how Dad might react when he came home from work, set out to straighten the thin, bent wiry branches, cleaned up the broken glass and swept away the “snow” before he arrived.
The poor tree never looked quite right again, but it served as our glimmering holiday conifer for a couple more seasons, with red and green tones from the color wheel drifting over a few weirdly angled arms.
Christmas: it arrives with expectations. The trees we set
up wear and shape them.
In “The Cultivation of Christmas Trees,” T.S. Eliot wrote:
The child wonders at the Christmas Tree: Let him continue in the spirit of wonder
At the Feast as an event not accepted as a pretext;
So that the glittering rapture, the amazement Of the first-remembered Christmas Tree, So that the surprises, delight in new possessions
(Each one with its peculiar and exciting smell),
The expectations of the goose or turkey
And the expected awe on its appearance
Eliot beautifully captures the wonder of a child upon seeing his or her first tree. But the reaction of our cats on their first encounter with this tantalizing, glittering tower of color and movement was to pounce.
And they did.
But we, the cats and people inhabiting this bungalow at 15th and Clarence in Berwyn, recovered. Wounded and mildly misshapen, the tree took its place amidst the broader array of symbols, rituals, music, prayers and practices that for us defined the Christmas season.
Despite the tree’s condition, the awaited morning on
Fe Julian family lega cy
or years now Oak Park has, in various ways, understood it had complex challenges and some less articulated opportunities when it came to uplifting the legacy of Dr. Percy Julian and saving the historic Oak Park home he and his family lived in on East Avenue — and that his daughter Faith still lives in Dr. Julian was a pioneering chemist who invented products that changed the world. He is world famous for synthesizing cortisone, hormones and other products made from soybeans. Julian registered more than 130 patents during his career. He chose Oak Park for his family’s home at a time in the 1950s when Black families were not accepted in this village. Oak Park’s welcome comprised the firebombing of their home.
Real history that needs to be recognized
Oak Park’s village board took two actions in finalizing its 2025 budget which will have a positive impact on amplifying and preserving the Julian legacy
The village has now hired a planning consultant to begin work on a streetscape project honoring Julian on Chicago Avenue from East to Austin Boulevard. This is a worthy project that we look forward to watching develop
In a last-minute budget addition, the board also set aside $1 million to be used in ways still to be determined to preserve the Julian home at 515 N. East Ave. This is complex. The home has physically deteriorated to a substantial degree over recent decades. Property taxes on the home have regularly fallen into arrears and the home typically turns up on Cook County tax sales list. Each year some last-minute solution is found to keep the home in Ms. Julian’s hands. Right now, taxes and interest owed on the property total $169,000.
A fundamental goal of all who have been involved in discussions has been to keep Faith Julian in her family’s home as long as she is able That’s important. But there is also the truth that village tax dollars being spent on a private home is problematic, absent a quite detailed plan that will eventually create some sort of nonprofit entity, which will both preserve the home and give it uses that honor both Dr. and Mrs. Julian.
Now there is a fund in place and we await that more detailed plan.
Invest in the Journal
Again this week, you’ll find a small envelope tucked in the paper. It comes from Growing Community Media, the nonprofit entity which publishes Wednesday Jour nal and three other local newspapers.
It is a donation envelope. And as we move toward our end-of-year fundraising season, we’re asking you to use the envelope to invest in our reader supported newsroom.
The Journal is a vital hub in Oak Park and River Forest. Hard news reporting, stories about neighbors, local businesses, the faith community, public safety. This is reporting you will not find anywhere else. And we need our readers to help support our work.
Please consider making a donation now. A one-time gift is valued A recurring monthly gift is welcome. Use the handy envelope or go to oakpark.com/donate.
And thank you.
O come, O come, Emanuel, and ransom captive Israel
…
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadow put to flight
***
Instead of Christmas, I’m thinking about a season I like even more, The season of Advent, The season of what’s coming The season of anticipation and longing.
The season of hunger
***
I hunger for hunger And thirst for thirst, Which I don’t feel often enough. So many seem enslaved by their hungering and thirsting And will do anything to serve and salve them.
Instead, bow to the absence, Develop an appetite for hunger.
***
Hunger feels clean, light, Purifying, Arouses the urge to satisfy, But not the necessity Waiting can be pleasurable, Emptiness is its own fulfillment. If you aren’t compelled to sate your hunger, You are, in your hungry moments,
Free
***
When not driven, You’re in the driver’s seat.
***
Appetite annoys,
Distracts, A curse that controls Give hunger its due, Let it be prolonged, Like climax, Exciting in its anticipation, A burning that leads to greater pleasure, Rendering the transient ending anti-climactic.
***
Siddhartha’s three powers: I can think, I can fast, and I can wait.
Waiting is where power lies, Where freedom lies Blessed are they who hunger and thirst, For they shall be satisfied, But not just yet.
*** To be hungry, To be thirsty, To be aroused,
Is to be alive, Is to be fully human.
***
Some pre-empt their hunger, Fearing the feeling, Avoiding the void, Neutralizing into neutral, But unhurried, Waiting makes the satisfying more satisfying, A declaration of independence From appetite’s slavery
***
In praise of hunger KEN TRAINOR
Fasting is freeing, Why break-fast is the most satisfying meal, Why religion urges self-sacrifice. In fasting, we are momentarily unleashed,
Just as slowing down frees us from passing time, And the oppression of marking it.
***
Advent is no countdown to Christmas,
But a celebration of hunger and longing,
The season of anticipation. Thinking, Fasting, Waiting.
Come, Emanuel, and ransom captive Israel. But not just yet.
***
Something is coming, Something great, Something worth the wait.
What I owe Growing Community Media
I owe a lot to Growing Community Media, especially its flagship Wednesday Journal.
When my wife and I moved to Oak Park in 1982, the Journal quickly became indispensable in figuring out how the village worked, who the political players were, who was mad at whom, and why. It didn’t re port just what happened; it explained the underlying reasons. Its plainspoken and clear re porting, its robust letters pages and its committed columnists proved essential guides, helping us become part of the community.
I don’t have to tell you that that kind of jour-
nalism is an endangered species, not just in Oak Park, but across the country. Now, more than ever, all communities need exactly the kind of local expertise the Growing Community Media team delivers daily.
I hope you’ll join me in supporting Growing Community Media, making a contribution beyond your print subscription (oakpark.com/ donate).
Charles Meyerson Chica goPublicSquare.com
Growing Community Media board member
SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck
Honoring his sacri ce
To the administrators and employees of Oak Park,
Friday evening Oak Park presented its citizens with a moving and dignified way to collectively mour n our fallen Police Detective Allan Reddins. Upon entering village hall, we heard sounds of a violin, were handed candles, sporadically felt warmth from outdoor heaters, saw numerous papers awaiting our thoughts for the Reddins family as well as eating welcome hot chocolate and cookies.
Oak Park hit just the right tone. Speeches were kept to a minimum in order to preserve the frozen toes of the very old and the very young, who mingled among the many first responders.
Detective Rollins, a grateful community honored your sacrifice.
Patricia Healey
Oak Park
WEDNESD AY
JOURNAL
of Oak Park and River Forest
Viewpoints Guidelines
e goal of the Viewpoints section is to foster and facilitate a community conversation and respectful dialogue. Responsible community voices are vital to community journalism and we welcome them. Space is at a premium and readers’ attention is also limited, so we ask that Viewpoints submissions be brief. Our limit for letters to the editor is 350 words. For One View essays, the limit is 500 words. Shorter is better. If and when we have su cient space, we print longer submissions, but when space is limited — as it o en is — we may ask you to submit a shorter version or hold the piece until space allows us to print it.
We reser ve the right to edit submissions. We do not have time to allow the writer to review changes before publication. We also do not have time to do more than super cial fact-checking, and because of our national epidemic of misinformation and conspiracy theories, when writers include statistical evidence to support their opinions, we require them to include the source of that information, such as credible websites, print publications, titles of articles and dates published, etc. Be as speci c as possible so that we and our readers have some way of assessing the credibility of your claims. Links may also be included for the online version. We follow the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics: seek the truth and report it and minimize harm. As a result, we will do our best not to publish pieces that espouse doubtful or debunked theories, demonstrate harmful bias, or cross the line into incivility. While we will do our best not to engage in censorship, we also do not intend to be used as a platform for misinformation. Your sources for fact-checking are a critical step in keeping the discourse honest, decent and respectful.
All submissions must include your rst and last name and the municipality in which you live, plus a phone number (for veri cation only). We do not publish anonymous letters. One View essays should include a sentence at the end about who you are.
If we receive your submission by 5 p.m. on Sunday, you can expect your opinion to be included in that week’s paper (and online), space permitting.
Pieces can be submitted through our online form at oakpark.com or directly to Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor, ktrainor@wjinc.com. For the latter, we prefer attached Word les or plain tex t included in the email.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
■ 350-word limit
■ Must include rst and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for veri cation only)
‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY
■ 500-word limit
■ One-sentence footnote about yourself and/or your connection to the topic
■ Signature details as at left
What case can be made for 4 terms?
Why would a River Forest village president run for a fourth ter m? What’s the point? In Cathy Adduci’s case, we can only be amazed
The ongoing citizen effort to impose term limits on elected River Forest village officials might seem specifically directed at her. In most ways it is. But the effort raises important questions about ter ms in office that, at least for local offices, need to be addressed
One View
I’ve been on many organizational boards. I’ve been the president of several. In a few cases I had up to two terms as organizational leader. I always refused any further ter ms, no matter how urgent the requests that I continue. With respect to public office, it seems to me that no individual should persist past two terms unless a dire emergency demands it.
An emergency of sorts does exist in our village, but it’s not one that needs her leadership, since she mostly engineered it
Our village has a small town, in-group ethos. It allowed Frank Paris to hold the office of village president for 16 years, despite a reputation for nastiness and overbearing behavior. This small town, in-group characteristic reared its head again with the appointment of Marty Paris (getting the drift here?) and his group to develop Lake-Lathrop
This award came despite a lack of evidence that he and his group had the ability or the funding to carry out such a project. And it came in the face of ample evidence from our neighbor, Oak Park, of the wisdom of approving wellheeled and highly experienced developers for a large number of significant projects. None of those Oak Park projects was what one might call a signature development in the center of the village, as Lake-Lathrop is for River Forest.
The precedent of persistence in office is a part of the River Forest fabric, it would seem. But why, one must ask, would a village president think it appropriate to run for another term, given the debacle of Lake-Lathrop, a debacle that she has led, strong-arming a village board that should have known better?
Our most important civic development in decades is now an idle eyesore on Lake Street. Adduci blames its demise on an arduous and expensive “remediation.” It’s beyond difficult to see this version of history as anything but disingenuous
The dead-on-arrival project didn’t just happen on her watch. It happened continually on her watch, with extension after extension for a developer who was using pure flim-flam on the site, pretending that real work was being done when it was not and staging flurries of activity that would suddenly end when they ran out of money — again.
So I ask once more: why a fourth ter m for this person, never mind the third ter m she’s already in? Is it pure arrogance, residing in the sense that only she can lead our village? In deflecting the blame for the mess, she has been gaslighting those of us who have closely observed the Lake-Lathrop disaster as it unfolded in agonizingly slow, sometime risible steps, each of them more maddening as the developer was given yet another chance.
Were she to be open and frank (you should pardon the expression), she’d not only own up to her massive personal responsibility for that concrete and mud pile, but she’d also have the grace to know that it’s time to leave.
It’s not often that an office holder has a visible disgrace that demonstrates perfect reasons to apologize and exit stage left. Our village president has one at the southwest corner of Lake and Lathrop. Just take a look at it. You’ll see what I mean.
Ed McDevitt is a resident of River Forest.
A Bigotry-Bible connection?
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, would have us believe he is, foremost, a devout Christian. He’s just so prim and pious … even while defending Trump’s deviant cabinet nominees, policies and behaviors. What follows is offered as hypothesis, rather than as authoritative sociological scholarship: Observing the feverish zealotry of the MAGA “evangelicals” and “Christian Nationalists” triggers inquiry into whether there is causal linkage between hate and religion. As a preliminary offering, the word-sequencing of “Bigotry” before “Bible” in the title above is intentionally descriptive: the “hate” of the bigots is the “horse” that is pulling the “cart” of religion, not vice versa.
Religious doctrinal sources, like our country’s Constitution, contain agreed upon text that surely foreclose certain interpretations (e.g., one can’t be a Christian without belief in the divinity of Christ; likewise, one cannot think the 8th Amendment ban on “cruel and unusual punishment” permits the drawing and quartering of a shoplifter). But the exercise of reasoned discretion (choice) remains.
The abhorrent 7-1 pro-segregation decision in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and the directly contrary 9-0 integration decision in Brown V. Board (1954) were arguably both permitted by the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Both were energetically rationalized; neither decision was per curium. Did the Brown v. Board justices, 58 years after Plessy, possess superior legal skills? Unlikely; what they possessed was a superior moral sensibility, an enlightened commit-
Don’t take away my choice and vote
ment to the 1776 proposition of the equality of all.
The late Justice Scalia, a selfidentified “originalist,” asserted he would have dissented in Plessy. This is questionable. The majority opinion writer in Plessy, Justice Henry Brown (ironically), could conceivably have originated the label of “originalist” earlier than Scalia. In effect, that is what he was claiming in 1896, as was the lone dissenter, Justice John Harlan Sr. So “originalism” is no more defensible as a self-executing mandate to constitutional interpretation than would be a singular reading of a Biblical passage. Choice remains. At best, the framers of the Constitution and the authors of religious writings agreed upon text, but were not likeminded when it came to word-meaning or how the text would direct a particular interpretative outcome.
When has such consensus ever existed in any narrative context? To think otherwise is fantastical, more likely a grossly insincere claim, if not a lie (e.g., during his confirmation hearing, John Roberts outrageously asserted that justices are akin to baseball umpires calling balls and strikes, so “strike three, you’re outta here, Roe v. Wade”?). Those joining the KKK did so driven by hate (hating Catholics and Jews with comparable fervor). KKK membership did not arise from their professed Protestantism, which they proceeded to soil by rationalizing their bigotry. The proof, surely, is that more Protestants, even then (or at least now), found the KKK’s mission, or the terroristic methods at a minimum, to be barbarous
Gregg Mumm , Oak Park
Good gover nance is the collaboration of elected board/council members for the greater good. It’s about following processes and procedures to manage public resources with due regard for the rule of law and for the health and safety of the community. In this small village of River Forest, we expect our board to work together to achieve good gover nance for no pay. That’s right, our elected officials in River Forest donate their
time for the greater good. I believe we have good gover nance in River Forest. While it would be wonderful to see more citizens stepping forward to serve, it just isn’t happening. The next local election, April 2025, we will be asked to vote for village president, unopposed; village trustees, four candidates for three seats; library board, only two candidates running for three seats, leaving one seat open.
Some residents are convinced that good gover nance can only occur when our village president is limited to the amount of time we allow her/him to serve our community Limiting the terms of the village president, or any elected officials, takes away a valuable right to vote and limits our choices of who we vote for. Other communities in the area that have adopted term limits, have anywhere from three to four terms for all board
members and clerk. The majority of their populations are more than River Forest. That’s a much deeper pool than 11,000 in our village. If it’s such a great way to bring good gover nance, then why are so few doing it?
Perhaps it isn’t good gover nance as advertised by a few, but more about limiting our choices and our vote
Jan Saeger, River Forest
The highway to dictatorship
In his election victory speech early Wednesday mor ning, Nov. 6, standing before a wall of red-white-and-blue banners, Donald Trump cast his win as divine will: “Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason,” he said. “Now we’re going to fulfill that mission.” Never has the old saw “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross” seemed more prescient.
JEANNE MATTHEWS
One View
His plans for mass deportations, severe cuts to social programs, and expanded military aggression are already in motion. Key Trump allies are openly threatening their political opponents with violence, while corporate backers like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy tout policies of “pain” — targeting essential social services for cuts and sanctioning servicing layoffs. And if social media outlets post war nings, Trump’s billionaire friends are in the process of buying up the most popular outlets and either closing them down or converting them into conservative mouthpieces.
Project 2025, the conservative policy and personnel program, is the road map “to finish the job” Trump started in his first ter m. The intent is to destroy the governing structures and norms of liberal democracy through mass purges of civil servants and others who are not Trump loyalists — and create something else And that something else is autocracy, which is “fascism” using a softer ter m.
Trump is pursuing a well-worn playbook, one
that has been fashioned by dictators he has admired, dictators like Russia’s Vladimir Putin, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, and China’s Xi Jinping. He’s already saying he is going to replace America’s independent civil service with Trump loyalists. The next thing autocrats do is go after the courts, the press, the social media outlets and the universities. Many of our fellow citizens have grown up with a false confidence that the United States is immune from this kind of democratic corrosion. Americans will have to wake up and recognize the threats Trump’s autocracy mean to our democracy
We will have to watch out for Trump’s use of national “emergencies” to produce a power grab Emboldened by his courts, whose membership he has named and over which he has increasingly demonstrated control, he will “create” new states of emergency. You know the type, “The world is falling apart. I have got to do A, B, and C.” And his courts will say, “Yeah, of course you have the right to do it. You’ve defined an emergency. Go ahead, do what you need to do.”
There’s a real danger of Americans losing the rule of law. The defense of democratic rights and the social interests of all Americans cannot be entrusted to those who are responsible for Trump’s victory. The Democratic Party, so far, has demonstrated no plan to resist Trump’s goals. But Americans must or else America will slip under the cloud of autocracy and fall victim to fascism.
Jeanné Schulte Matthews, Oak Park
Sharing the faith
November 2024 marks 10 years since Cardinal Cupich was installed as Archbishop of Chicago. During his homily, he spoke about sharing with our young people the joy of encountering Christ. Those words speak powerfully to my experience as a religious education catechist at Ascension Church
I began teaching 11 years ago when I was fresh out of colle ge, fully aware of the important role of faith in my life that had been shaped in so many ways throughout my life up until then. Teaching religious education has been an opportunity for me to share that, as I help young people grow in their own relationship with God, to fulfill the mission I have in faith.
I was particularly excited to be back in class at the start of my 12th year of teaching this
past September after attending the National Eucharistic Congress. There were so many graced moments during those mid-July days in Indianapolis gathered with tens of thousands, showcasing a cross-section of the church. We heard from great speakers like Bishop Barron and Father Mike Schmitz. We prayed during adoration and at Mass. At the end of it all, we were sent forth to live out these encounters with God, which I have done with eager ness during the classes we’ve had so far.
I feel a deep drive to teach middle-schoolers as it takes me back to the time in my life when I joyfully embraced faith on my own. I reconnect with that special time in class, living it anew, even as I see it come alive in my students. It’s a taste of Heaven on Earth.
Paul Rubio, Oak Park
None of what happened excuses us from civic duty
A letter from the president of the League of Women Voters, OP-RF:
The election left many heartbroken and with deep concer n about the future of our country’s democratic principles. While many saw democracy as the existential issue of the campaign, this was not the case for a majority of voters and the American people have spoken.
JANE HASTINGS
ing.” She reminds us that there is “no alternative to persevering, and that does not require you to feel good. You can keep walking whether it’s rainy or sunny.” We have held fast for 250 years and will carry on. You may need to mourn more, but none of what happened excuses us from civic duty, and there is power in action.
As we reflect on the election, we hold multiple truths:
■ It was a fair and secure election marked by integrity, transparency, and high tur nout. This is thanks to the dedication of poll workers, election officials, workers, and civic volunteers nationwide
■ This election has made the future for women unclear
■ Given the sexist, racist rhetoric heard throughout the campaign, we are deeply concer ned about the challenges women, LGBTQIA+ people, immigrants, and other communities will face in the next administration.
Like you, we are still processing. Yet as we move forward, we are holding on to two more truths:
■ We’re thankful for the people who empowered millions of voters to make their voices heard, including League members nationwide.
■ We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for women and our democracy
The league notes that advocating gender and racial equity is not partisan. Calling out attacks on democracy is not partisan. LWVUS also understands that “organizations in the democracy space are in a period of recalibrating. They realize that the coming months and years will be an important time for allyship and partnership, and the league will need to show up in different ways.”
While there is uncertainty about how to organize and what actions to take, chaos seems certain. A member shared a passage, almost an invocation, from author Rebecca Solnit, which talked about a moment of “furious mour n-
Demand that President Joe Biden publish the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). It’s imperative that the prudent take action to ensure that the process of publishing the amendment is completed since it has been fully ratified since 2020. The ERA will protect against the rollback of rights, provide a vital tool for the judicial branch to decide sex discrimination cases, and pave the way for further legislative progress toward sex and gender equality
Support the reintroduction of HR14 and S4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, to fully restore and modernize the Voting Rights Act. Urge Your Members of Congress to Support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Support the One Person One Vote campaign to move the nation beyond the Electoral College and toward true representation — a democracy powered by the people, for the people, and in the interim, help pass the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact by 2028. Join the LWVIL study group on gun violence prevention so we can advocate for more sensible gun laws
Generations before us marked the season during uncertain times, and we will do the same. Christian scripture may bring joy. It is the Jewish season of light. Kwanza celebrates unity. We are a nation of plenty, and bountiful tables are a gift. Hot Dutch cocoa is a treat. And somewhere this month, a child will experience the magic of a first snowfall. Let gratitude find you. Peace to you and your families. Jane Hastings is president of the League of Women Voters, Oak Park & River Forest. This letter appeared in their December newsletter.
High-e ciency furnaces are ine cient
“High efficiency” gas furnaces are inefficient compared to electric heat pumps.
In the Nov. 27 issue of Wednesday Journal, there was an excellent article by Luzane Draughon (“Oak Park trustees to boost sustainability fund by $500K”), which mentioned that buildings are responsible for more than 70% of our emissions and that (in effect) more funds should be provided to those who need help to replace inefficient furnaces with 93% efficient ones
The reference to 93% efficiency was a gift. It gave me an excuse to make a pitch for electric heat pumps.
Air-source electric heat pumps are two to four times more efficient than any modern gas furnace, meaning that they provide two to four times more heat energy than the electricity they use. Compared to 93%, they have efficiencies of 200% to 400%. Ground-source heat pumps (geother mal) have efficiencies as high as 600% and
can provide continuous domestic hot water
A major advantage of heat pumps is that they provide both heating and cooling. Heat pumps can be used to heat or cool a single room, an entire house, a church, a school, a hotel, or a Community Recreation Center.
There are generous incentives such as tax credits and rebates for heat pumps. A provision in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), called Direct Pay, allows nonprofits to directly receive the full value of tax credits for heat pumps.
There are no incentives for “high-efficiency” gas furnaces that lock in decades of using a fossil fuel and producing tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide. The EPA had proposed a phaseout of Energy STAR labeling for natural gas furnaces, but it is on hold due to strong pushback.
For more information about heat pumps, talk to a Climate Coach https://opcan.org.
Mac Robinet, Oak Park
What else is in your toolbox?
Over the weekend, we experienced an act of political violence. On Sunday mor ning we discovered that our Harris/Walz yard sign had been pulled up and placed in our driveway, where all three cars had their tires slashed. I called the Oak Park police, who came promptly, and they patiently and thoroughly gathered information for their report. I appreciated their seriousness as well as their empathy: No one should have to suffer vandalism because of a political yard sign
There has been both a financial and emotional cost to experiencing this political violence. A sense of loss for sure. I am reaching out to you because you are someone who has written extensively about our community, politics, and theology [Who we really are, Ken Trainor, Viewpoints, Nov. 20]. I have clipped many of your columns to read again because it has meant so much to me to have a leader in our village who is committed to speaking out on the Beloved Community. I need to hold on to some hope that voices like yours will continue to be a loud and strong moral compass over the next few years. When I thought about how I wanted to write about this incident on social media, I thought of you and wrote the post below:
To the person who, sometime during the night, ripped up our Harris/Walz yard sign and placed it next to our cars’ slashed tires in the driveway: How did you know?
How did you know that I woke early this mor n-
ing with my favorite coffee mug, candle, and pen and filled pages in my journal detailing my Emotional Toolkit for the next 1,461 days?
I won’t share it all but here are a few ...
1. I give myself permission to gently hold and honor the emotions that have not left me since Nov. 5 — Fear, Sadness, Anger (because they pop up wildly in my dreams when I ignore them).
2. I will borrow beautiful language from John O’Donohue and tend my inner landscape. And know that only I can protect my inner landscape — which I imagine as a seaside sand dune — from the forces of erosion. I will plant tall grasses with deep roots to stabilize the ground.
3. I will remember the “3 Be’s” from Mama God :
~ Be still, and know that I am God
~ Be not afraid; my love is stronger than your fear
~ Be strong, have courage.
4. I will ration dropping an F-bomb to only once per week.
How did you know I’d need to use that toolkit so soon?
There’s so much I wonder about you. If you have something to say about Kamala Harris, why do you sneak silently in the darkness instead of having the courage to speak your words?
Other than a sharp tool for slicing tires, what else is in your toolbox?
Tara Meyer Dull, Oak Park
Rethinking teachers unions
Based on a quick internet search, the IEA/NEA appears to be the main bargaining unit for Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, River Forest District 90, and Oak Park District 97. How do Oak Park and River Forest teachers feel about a recent report showing how their unions are spending their hardearned money?
ROSS
LISSUZZO
One View
According to federal re ports filed with the Department of Labor (Form LM-2 is filed with the Office of Labor-Management Standards by unions that details how a union spent funds in the past year. It is the most detailed report labor organizations are required to file), a recent Illinois Policy article (https:// www.illinoispolicy.org/illinoiseducation-association-continues-tolose-members-underfund-job-no-1) noted that less than 15% of IEA members’ dues actually go toward “representational activities,” the core function of a union. The union re presenting them keeps the rest for other things such as union executive salaries, politics, other priorities, public relations, etc. Of note, the same article highlighted that roughly 33% of IEA officers make $100,000 or more while the average teacher salary was less than $76,000. Something is of f, right? Unions are part of our history, and they can justly protect labor from unsafe and abusive practices; think safe guards against child labor or the dangerous physical labor that occurs in manufacturing plants. Yet “labor” has evolved dramatically over the last century. It is now clear that we have reached a moment where some unions are simply trying to hang onto any relevance and are spending more time, resources and member dues outside of their core mission. In today’s service-based economy, being blindly pro-union without understanding where all the money goes is not only unwise, it is performative, political, and full of empty virtue signaling.
If Oak Park and River Forest teachers decided to directly hire a law fir m to re present them in contract negotiations, they might get more on their dollar investment instead of 15 cents. That would leave teachers with 85 more cents in their pockets to save, invest and donate to causes they choose. Currently these excessive dues are allowing union leadership to pay themselves, peddle their influence and redirect funding to causes that may not be in alignment with many teachers’ values.
I am unclear how individual teachers can choose to opt-out of their barg aining unit at our schools. Yet I presume there are a few lawyers in our community who can advise our teachers of such an option and maybe even of fer re presentation at an 85% discount. An analo gy here may be that $150 cable bill you are paying each month when you only need 15 channels and not 100; many of which you will never watch. We all know families who cut the cable cord and are enjoying single-use platforms and it is working out just fine. In fact, such early adopters now have a little more money in their pockets to spend and even donate to causes that align with their values.
Teachers are some of the most patient and wonderful human beings on the planet. They have positively impacted the lives of countless generations. Many are still underpaid, overworked and under-resourced, depending on what community they might work in. Unions who skim too much of f the top, aren’t the long-ter m answer for teachers, taxpayers, or our community.
Oak Park and River Forest teachers, please at least think about this issue so we don’t end up with the drama (and tax burden) similar to that of the CTU.
Ross Lissuzzo is an Oak Pa rk nati ve and current River Forest resident.
DOOPER ’S MEMORIES
Educated, awed, and fascinated
As a young guy during the 1940s and ’50s, I was educated, fascinated ous places and When I went to P Barber Shop one summer da to get a haircut, I decided that I would also get a sha 17, and I had been shaving for a year using a safety razor, so I thought I would li out what a straight-ed would feel like on my face
When Ed the barber completed my haircut, he shar pened the blade, which was three or four inches long with a rounded back that sloped to a fine edge. Ed soaked my face with lather and guided the blade in the direction in which my beard grew. I was nervous when he shaved my neck, especially when he again sharpened the blade. I feared that his hand might slip. When Ed finished, and I was unscathed, I thanked him, paid the $3 bill and left the shop. This moment of my education was over forever.
In the back room of Reyf f’s Stanley Reyf f had ge train set that eled through a mock countryside, puf fing and finally stopping at ooden station. This train set was especially awesome at Christmas time when the countryside was covered with and the station was decorated with tiny, col-
In the front hall of our home, andfather clock that fascinated me and when I was a third-g rader, I was awed by it. I can still remember the single bong sound denoting the half hour, and the 1-12 bongs denoting the hour
Every evening my grandfather would wind the clock with a special key, and after his death, I inherited the job. As far as I recall, the clock kept perfect time as each day it summoned us to supper, work, and school. All of us set our watches by this clock.
JOY AARONSON Sounds Good Choir
from page 29
Barbara Hausman is the liaison for the choir. She lends support to the inner workings of the group and serves as a resource for the singers.
“I love the camaraderie of singing with others,” she said. “Especially in this day and age of much societal divisiveness, I appreciate spending time with others and together, collectively, making something wonderful ... beautiful music. I refer to the choir as a group of ‘singer friends,’” she said.
Alan Hofstadter’s favorite thing is “the combined emotional, as well as physiological, ‘rush’ that comes from making music in unison and harmony. It’s very satisfying for both body and soul.”
Pete Neuman’s favorite thing is “the amazing way that Linda brings us together musically. We have some excellent singers. We also have some members with little singing experience who may not be able to read music. Linda is able to lead us all to our concert day with a musical result that we are truly proud of.”
Sarah Shirk told me that rehearsal day is her best day of the week and participating in this choir has given her the courage to sing with other choirs
RICH KORDESH
Christmas trees past
from page 29
the 25th came off with the joy and wonder we had come to expect. We went to Mass at St. Mary’s, taking in the stirring solemnity of Jesus’ birth. We gathered and exchanged gifts with extended family. Mom — or maybe “Aunti” or maybe both — prepared an awesome dinner of ham, chicken or turkey. And for dessert there was Grandma’s lemon meringue pie.
A family’s yuletide culture builds over the years while it submerses the stories of individual trees under multiplying layers of memory.
Every library I visited had a card catalog of books — these were author, title, and subject cards — simply a guide to the books in the library. I was able to look up a book alphabetically by author, subject, or by title, and each of the cards also had a call number, which consisted of the book’s Dewey Decimal number, or in the case of a colle ge library, a Library of Cong ress number
The call numbers infor med me where in the book shelves I could find the book I wanted, and in the process of digging through the catalog drawers, I often came across other titles that interested me and led to further reading. This not only educated me, it was also fascinating.
Look up at the sky! It’s a giant sausage! No! It’s a blimp!
These flying airships ke pt their sausage shape via the internal pressure of the gas within the blimp. Whenever we neighborhood kids were playing outside and a blimp passed overhead, all of us stopped playing and looked up in awe and fascination. Many of these blimps had signs painted on their sides, like Goodyear, and some of the blimps car ried flashing electric signs used for advertising. Sometimes when I was at Wrigley Field, an ad blimp would pass over the field much to the delight of the baseball fans
To me, our world will always be an aweinspiring, fascinating, and mind-expanding place.
“Hearing my voice combined with other singers brings joy to my heart and a deep sense of belonging to something bigger than myself. Plus, I practice every day and am learning to read and understand music, so my brain is enriched on a daily basis,” Val Gee said.
Janice Roberts’ favorite thing is that over years of being in the choir, “I’ve noticed I’m more calm, less stressed after a morning at Sounds Good. I can see the ‘good’ in my life instead of focusing on the challenges.”
Katie Frankle’s favorite thing about the Sounds Good Choir? “Joining with other voices to make music lifts my spirits and always brightens my day. Also, I like running into a new set of friends around Oak Park, my fellow Sounds Good singers.”
If you’re interested in joining the choir when the new session begins in January, you can get information on their website at https://soundsgoodchoir.org.
Sounds Good concerts are free to concertgoers. I can vouch for the beauty of the experience and encourage you to attend.
The Sounds Good Choir Winter Multifaith/Multicultural Holiday Concert will be held this Friday, Dec. 13 at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St. in Oak Park. The concert begins at 7 p.m. and there is no admission charge.
Joy Aaronson is an Oak Park resident who writes about her favorite things in the village
Sixty years later, our trees now stand in front of a window looking out on Marion Street in Oak Park. We walked home with last year’s green fir from the lot on Chicago Avenue next to a pizza place. Outside our window, two living pines rise, one of them taller than our building. Colors coming from the street, some seasonal and others year-round, mix with the red, blue and green lights on our branches to remind us that Christmas takes place not only in a home, but in a community. We won’t have to worry about cats, but we will have to monitor the expectant, small hands of grandkids as they probe our decorations. They’re attracted to or naments, like the red and blue wooden airplane that will be hanging from its hook. They’re allowed to grab that one, but we’ll need to guard more warily, or situate on higher limbs, the more fragile, glass bulbs, especially those that have been with us a long time
It’s early December once again, and expectations are building. In the silence surrounding the tree that will occupy our cor ner this year will reside memories of many lit and adorned trees from the past, including a trembling, bent silver one whose shape was sculpted in part by two crazed feline projectiles.
Rose Meyer, 98
Butter y Lady of Brookdale
Rose Meyer (nee Reich), 98, of Oak Park, died on Dec. 1, 2024. Born on April 5, 1926, she was an activist and supporter of women’s rights her whole life. She lived in New York until she was 10, then went with her father to find work in Chicago. She attended Bryant Elementary School and Marshall High School, then decided to quit school at 16 to help with the war fort. She started a job at Harvester where you had to be 18 to work. She wore heels and makeup and got the job. She became a Rosie the Riveter even though she had to stand on a box to operate the lathe. When they asked for her birth certificate, she told them she was born in Philadelphia and would need to send for it. Eventually she was found out and fired.
She went back to finish high school, attended colle ge and got a master’s de gree in teaching K-8 and a de gree in Special Education. She taught special ed at Marshall High School on the West Side from 1964-1973, then became a guidance counselor at Curie High School for the Performing Arts which was a brand-new magnet school on the South Side. She became the first female director of performing arts at Curie. Her greatest joy was attending live theater and musical performances, especially with her dear friend Rick.
She led a Saturday morning Current Events group at the Brookdale retirement facility in Oak Park for over 20 years. About 10 years ago, she helped start the Yiddish Club. She was proud of her culture and made sure that Chanukkah was celebrated along with other holiday traditions. In 2006, she fought the Whiteco high-rise apar tment building on the corner of Harlem Avenue and Ontario. She attended village board meetings, got petitions signed, and eng aged her fellow residents to fight for their neighborhood.
At the age of 80 she ran for village trustee (2007). She was all about commitment and was a tireless worker for what she believed in. She presided over many meetings of the New Leadership Coalition and was elected to an office with that group. At almost 5 feet tall, her famous opening statement, “I am standing up,” was always greeted with smiles and cheers.
Butterflies were her trademark. She surely owned more butterfly images and trinkets than anyone, and gave them away freely. Her wisdom, experience and humor could always be counted on.
Rose was the wife of the late Joseph for 50 years; the mother of Steven (Elizabeth) Meyer, Michael (Mary Fran) Meyer, Marla (Ron) Fronczak, and the late Sandy Meyer;
the grandmother of Jeremy Meyer, Emily Meyer, Michelle (Tim) Brown, Mia (Jason) Culver, Joe (Maggie) Fronczak, and John Fronczak; the great-grandmother of Isabella, Mike, Jaxon, Mila, and Cameron; the sister of Sonny (Sally) Rich; the aunt of Mari Strissel, Laurie (Binyomin) Babendir, Susie (Jon) Brooke; and her great-nieces and nephews. She will be deeply missed by cousins and friends. Rose’s family would like to thank her care giver, Lilly, for her compassion and dedication.
In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting an arts organization or enjoying a live performance in her honor.
Holly Williams, 79 Avid cyclist, social justice advocate
Holly Williams, 79, a for mer Oak Park resident, died peacefully on Nov. 22, 2024 surrounded by her family in Switzerland. She will be remembered for her contributions to the Oak Park community and the many friends she made there. Holly taught French at Lyons Township High School and re gularly led a group of students to France to enrich their language and cultural experiences. She and her first husband, Jean Devaud, spent summer vacations camping and hiking in the National Parks.
While living in Oak Park, she attended Third Unitarian Church and joined the choir. She participated actively in her community and was a vocal advocate for women’s rights, environmental justice, and educational equity. Holly was an avid cyclist who joined cycling trips both domestically and abroad with friends and family. She swam laps at the neighborhood pool 4-5 times a week. She traveled across Russia by train with friend s. An accomplished chef, she shared delicious meals with family, friends and neighbors.
Jean died in 1989 and Holly met Paul Williams several years later. They married and moved to Elgin, then Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where Paul died. Holly’s last home was in Brooklyn, New York, where her long battle with Parkinson’s disease ended, having taken the agonizing decision to voluntarily end her life with dignity.
Holly is survived by her son Pier re Devaud; her daughter, Lucy Ngokonyo; her grandchildren, Simone, Theo, Zola, and Safi; her brother, John Harde; and her sister, Mary Littlefield.
A memorial service/remembrance will be held in her honor at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 at Third Unitarian Church, 301 N. Mayfield Ave., Chicago.
In lieu of flowers, Holly would want you to give to your
To run an obituary
favorite charity; however given her unique situation, consider a gift to completedlife.org, which asks our society to consider the choices we should be able to make about our own bodies.
Marijo Lopez, 69 Village hall union steward
Marijo Lopez, 69, died on Nov. 26, 2024, surrounded by family. She was a force of nature, helping those she loved and cared fo r.
Born Marijo Christine Phillips on Jan. 5, 1955 at Loretto Hospital in Chicago, she grew up in Oak Park, graduating from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1973. In 1969, she met the love of her life, Antonio Lopez. After briefly separating while he served in the Navy, they reconnected upon his return, married in September of 1977, and had three children.
She returned to the workforce after her children were old enough to be in school full-time. Eventually, she retired after working for the village of Oak Park for 20 years, making many friends (and some enemies) in the process. She was known to be a fierce defender of her fellow union members as the chief union steward and wasn’t afraid to face down those in power to fight for what she thought was right. After retirement, she spent her days doting on her grandchildren, offering plenty of babysitting and dogsitting services, and spending as much time as she could with her husband and family at their vacation spot in Woodhaven Lakes.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dominic and Constance Phillips; her parents-in-law Antonio and Irma Lopez; her brothers-in-law Raul Lopez and Raphael Lopez; and her ne phew Andrew Hagins.
She is survived by her husband, Antonio Lopez Jr.; her daughter, Tina Maria Lopez (Mark Kaminski); her sons, Antonio Dominic Lopez (Kimberly Lawson) and Adam Alexander Lopez (Danielle Jonsson-Lopez); her sisters, Antoinette Hagins (Michael) and Gina Phillips; her brother, Dominic Phillips Jr.; her sisters-in-law Irma Lopez, Clara Grala (Paul) and Illeana Her rera (Joe); her brother in-law, Roberto Lopez (Martha); her grandchildren, Anthony Suero, Angelina Suero, James Suero, Isabelle Lopez, Elliot Lopez, Adrian Lopez, Nicolas Lopez, Mia Lopez, Elena Lopez, and Elias Lopez; and many nieces and ne phews, grandnieces and grandne phews.
Visitation for Marijo was held on Dec. 5, with a chapel service at Ridge Funeral Home, 6620 W. Archer Ave., Chicago, IL 60638.
Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com, or fax: 708/524-0447 before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.
SPORTS
Two out of three for Fenwick girls hoopers
Friars defeat OPRF, Lane Tech during demanding week
By MELVIN TATE
Contributing Reporter
Last week, the Fenwick High School girls basketball team had a challenging week against three tough opponents. After losing their Girls Catholic Athletic Conference opener to visiting St. Ignatius 51-17 on Dec 3, the Friars rebounded with two solid victories: 51-36 over East Avenue rival OPRF, Dec. 5, and 39-27 over Lane Tech in the Chicago Elite Classic at Malcolm X Colle ge in Chicago, Dec. 8.
“Two out of three is not bad. We’ll take it,” said Fenwick coach Lenae Fergerson. “We’re just going to keep building on it.”
At Malcolm X, the first half was a defensive struggle as Fenwick (5-3) and Lane Tech went into halftime tied at 15-15.
“The first half, we really played sluggish,” Fergerson said. “Our defense was still solid, but we didn’t push the ball. I’m trying to get us to play a lot faster, and in the third quar ter, we opened up because we defended and pushed the ball. Good things happen when we do that.”
With the game tied at 19-19 midway through the third quarter, the Friars went on an 11-0 run to take control. Senior guard Keira Kapsch was the main ignitor, pouring in nine of her game-high 12 points in the stanza.
“Keira came up big, so did our freshman Eleanor Gibson,” Fergerson said. “Like I tell
them every night, it’s going to be a team effort. Everyone is going to have to contribute in some way, and this was a good team effort.”
Kapsch added six steals and five rebounds while Darryelle Smith had eight points and eight rebounds for Fenwick, which held Lane to 23.3 percent shooting (9-of-39) from the floor and forced 22 tur novers
“What really got our team going in the second half was our halftime talk,” said Kapsch “We discussed ways of improving our execution on offense and keeping up our intensity on defense because that was keeping us in the game. In the third quarter, we were able to maintain our pressure on defense and get more stops and steals. Getting a few clutch shots early in the quarter boosted our confidence. This also helped us build momentum, getting points on fast breaks. I feel optimistic about the rest of the season. We needed to win these two games to bounce back from a disappointing performance against Ignatius, and working hard to get these wins are going to help us going forward and remind us to work even harder to accomplish more.”
Fergerson felt playing on a college floor, which has a little more length than a high school floor, didn’t bother the Friars
It’s likely Fenwick felt better about the victory over Lane than the one against OPRF, which was marked by sloppy play The Friars prevailed despite committing 20 turnovers against the Huskies.
OPRF’s Leia Hammerschmidt (14) and Gabriella Chesney (33) defend Fenw ick’s Keira Kapsch (11) dur ing a nonconference game Dec. 5, in Oak Park.
“Yes, [OPRF] was a win, but it was nowhere near how we need to play,” Fergerson said.
Gibson led Fenwick with 12 points. Smith had 10 points and eight rebounds, and Cammie Molis and Avani Williams [another freshman] each added nine points Sophomore Taryn Draine led OPRF (1-6) with 12 points, and senior Genevieve Simkowski added nine points. But turnovers were a major problem for the Huskies, who committed 31 versus the Friars.
“The turnovers killed us,” said OPRF coach Renee Brantley. “When we turned the ball over in the second quarter, we weren’ t scoring either. We can’t have that. We also missed a few layups and quite a few free
throws. We played hard, but we definitely had opportunities.”
While Brantley was pleased with playing Fenwick evenly in the second half (each team scored 23 points), she knows it’s important for the Huskies to keep improving.
“The work doesn’t stop,” Brantley said. “The ef fort is there 100 percent from them.”
Up next for Fenwick is a home GCAC game against Mother McAuley, Dec. 12, then games versus Lincoln-Way East and St. Laurence, Dec. 14, at the Marian Catholic Holiday Classic.
Meanwhile, OPRF has West Suburban Silver games against visiting York, Dec. 13, and at Downers Grove North, Dec. 16.
Marshall changes mind, recommits to Michigan
y Signing Day for high school relace last week, Fenwick High School senior Nate Marshall made a major decision. After originally committing to the UniverMichig an in April, Marshall switched University in August. But Marshall announced on his Instagram page, Dec. 3, that he dropped his pledge to Auburn and recommit-
ted to Michigan. This came one day before the Early Signing Period, which took place December 4-6.
Marshall, a defensive end/wide receiver who was named the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference White Tony Lawless Player of the Year this fall, is rated by recr uiting service Rivals as the state’s
top player in the Class of 2025 as well as the #2 weak-side defensive end and #26 overall prospect in the country. Another service, 247 Sports, has him #3 in Illinois’ Class of 2025, and the #8 defensive lineman and #103 overall prospect nationally.
— Melvin Tate
STEVE JOHNSTON
MARSHALL
Macariola is elite again at UIC
27-point e or t leads Fenwick past OPRF at Chicago Elite Classic
By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
Fenwick’s Ty Macariola has enjoyed a memorable run at the Chicago Elite Classic against East Avenue rival Oak Park and River Forest High School.
After scoring 20 and 26 points respectively in victories the past two seasons, the senior did it again at University of Illinois Chicago’s Credit Union One Arena on Dec. 6. His game-high 27 points, combined with intense defensive pressure causing numerous turnovers, helped the Friars roll past the Huskies 59-45.
“It’s just a huge rivalry,” Macariola said. “I grew up going to the games, starting in third grade. It’s always a big deal to come and show out in front of all the fans.”
Alex Gossett scored 10 of his team-leading 17 points in the opening quarter to put OPRF (1-3) ahead 14-13.
But trailing 22-18 with 5:17 left in the half, Fenwick (5-1) went on an 11-0 run to take control. Macariola scored 10 points in the
second quarter to pace the Friars to a 34-28 halftime lead.
“I want to see if we can play all our games [at UIC],” said Fenwick coach David Fergerson with a laugh. “When we go there, Ty is a true warrior. He’s a senior, and for him to go out like that, it’s awesome. That’s a big-time win for us.”
Fenwick broke the game open in the second half, starting the third quarter with a 10-0 run. The Friars’ defense increased its ball pressure on OPRF, resulting in six consecutive turnovers on the Huskies, who finished with 25 for the evening.
“Coach Ferg has been teaching us to value defense more this year,” Macariola said. “That was something we lacked last year. Our ability to press more has been huge for our success.”
“We try to get after teams, pressure, and eventually wear you down,” Fergerson said. “That’s 25 shots they didn’t get to take, and I’ll take it.”
While Fergerson was happy with the havoc his defense created, OPRF coach Phil
Gary wasn’t thrilled with the tur novers.
“That’s how you lose games,” he said. “If we don’t take care of the ball, we won’t win.”
Fenwick led 46-33 after three quarters. Then the Friars began the fourth with a 12-0 run to put things away and send the OPRF Dog Pound student section streaming toward the exit.
Jimmy Watts and Nate Marshall came of f the bench to provide valuable contributions. Watts had eight points and four rebounds while Marshall added seven points for the Friars.
“We call that second group ‘The Grit Squad,’” Macariola said. “They come in and take the energy from the first group and multiply it. Last year, we weren’ t as deep as we are this year. And whichever sport Nate is playing, you know he’s going to give you energy; it’s huge to have him come of f the bench.”
Alex Vincent posted a double-double with 13 points and 16 rebounds for OPRF, which was held to 36.6 percent field-goal
shooting (15-of-41).
“The first 10 minutes, we were giving ourselves a chance, getting the ball to Big Al,” Gary said. “But once they turned the pressure up, we reverted to being careless with the ball. We were trying to get [Gossett and Vincent] the ball, but when you turn over the ball a lot, we can’t do it.”
The Huskies are hoping for a bounce back as soon as possible, but Gary is not throwing in the towel on the season. Not by a long shot.
“We’ll watch film and see where we can get better,” he said.
OPRF has home games this week against Milwaukee School of Languages, Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m., and Downers Grove North, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, Fenwick looks to keep things rolling with Chicago Catholic League games at St. Rita, Dec. 13 (7 p.m.) and at home versus Mount Carmel, Dec. 17 (7 p.m.).
“We’re thankful we won and no one got hurt,” Fergerson said. “We’ve got to stick with the plan.”
OPRF boys swimming in reload mode
Huskies return just eight varsity swimmers
By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
Wi th only eight returning varsit y member s, the Oak Pa rk and Rive r Fo rest High School boys sw i mming and divin g team is rebuilding this season. But head c oach Clyd e L und gren is eager to g aug e the new mix.
“I’m excited to see how the season goes,” said Lundgren, who has been with the program since 1998. “The boys have had a strong fall and so far have impressed me with their work ethic and grit.”
Senior Will Keyes is a returning state qualifier for OPRF. Last season, he was part of the Huskies’ 200 and 400 freestyle relays that earned All-American honors. OPRF’s other varsity returnees include seniors Andrew Harmon in the 500 freestyle
and Lucas Puntillo in the 100 butterfly. Top newcomers are sophomores Alfonso Cide s, Justin Dairyko, Connor Harmon and Ben Mellman; juniors Charlie Beyer, Francesco Canzona, Dominic Kramer, and Yuri Rogachev; and seniors JT Cruz and Charlie Scott.
Among the schedule highlights for the Huskies this season are the Downers Grove South Invitational, Dec. 21, and the Lyons Township Invitational, Feb. 1. When it comes to the West Suburban Silver title race, Lundgren says Hinsdale Central “is always a force to be reckoned with. Our goal is always the same: try to get many personal bests and get as many relays and individuals to state as possible.”
OPRF opened the season with a dual at Fenwick, Dec. 10 (after press time).
Hasso gets award
OPRF boys track and field head coach Tim Hasso was recently named Illinois Track and Cross-Country Coaches Association Class 3A Coach of the Year. He will receive his award at a ceremony to be held at the Eaglewood Resort in Itasca, Jan. 10. Hasso, head coach since 2005, led the Huskies to a share of the 2024 IHSA Class 3A team title, the program’s first since 1987.
OPRF football
T he OPRF football team had three players named to the All-West Suburba n Silver Team: sophomore r unning back Liam Smith, junior quar terback Johnny Nelson, and senior wingback/linebacker Jake Karnick.
Moreover, eighteen Huskies received WSC Silver All-Academic Honors: Karnick, Peter Kelly, Everett McCreary, Rashad Smith, Marshall Cronin, Owen Watson, Charles Brandon, CJ Robinson, Eric Guerrier, Cole Deuce, Mykah Riley, Joaquin Hernandez-Pecoraro, Matt Winkelhake, Emmett Kennedy, Hugh Vanek, Wade Rebb, Joey Elza, and Ben Martin.
The following players won team awards:
■ Gary Olson Award: Nelson
■ Most Valuable Player and Deadpool Award: Karnick
■ Offensive Most Valuable Player: Smith
■ Defensive Most Valuable Player: Vanek
■ Lineman of the Year: Robinson
■ Game Changer: Mikee Vielehr
■ Lunch Pail Award: Elza
The Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District #97 will receive sealed letters of intent for out of school time program proposals for Brooks and Julian Middle Schools located in Oak Park, IL, 60302, until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, December 23, 2024. The letter of intent should include the name of the organization, intent to submit a response, the organization’s background information and areas of documented expertise in the out-ofschool time space.
Copies of the scope of services may be requested by emailing Eboney Lofton (elofton@op97.org). The cutoff date for receiving the scope of services is 3:00 pm, Friday, January 3, 2025.
Responses mailed or delivered shall be marked to the attention of:
Oak Park School District 97 Attn. Dr. Eboney Lofton 260 Madison Street Oak Park, Illinois 60302
The front of the envelope should be clearly marked “Out of School Time Programs for District 97 Middle Schools”. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Dr. Eboney Lofton at elofton@op97.org. Faxed or electronically submitted bids will not be accepted. Any faxed or electronically submitted proposals will disqualify vendors.
Responses Due Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 3:00 P.M.
Only those responses complying with the provision and specification of the response will be considered. The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities, qualifications, or irregularities and/ or reject any or all responses when in its opinion, such action will serve the best interest of the Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District 97.
Published in Wednesday Journal December 11, 2024
Lonya Boose, Board of Education Secretary
High-impact local news takes support from our readers Here’s reporting from 2024 that we’re proud of
This is the time of year when we naturally look back on the Journal’s stories that had the biggest impact on Oak Parkers and River Foresters across 2024. We asked Luzane Draughon, our Journal reporter, to tell us which stories resonated most with her:
• Reporting on traffic stop/pedestrian stop data in Oak Park shows racial disparities
• The intersection of policing and mental health impacted Oak Park’s approach to alternative police call responses
• Ongoing turmoil at West Sub
• Investments in housing for the unhoused
• Thorough coverage of migrants arriving, departing and, for some taking root in Oak Park
• Will Pete’s ever open?
• Oak Park’s efforts to honor Dr. Percy Julian and to save the family home where his daughter now lives
• And, most recently, our timely coverage of the murder of Oak Park police detective Allan Reddins
Here’s how you can help:
We have about three weeks remaining in our critical year-end campaign — and we could really use your support to secure much-needed funding for 2025.
And right now, to spur you on, our Growing Community Media board of directors has set up a $10,000 match. That means that every dollar you offer in support of local news gets doubled. You give the Journal $50 and we get $100!
We need your help to meet this $10,000 match! Will you join us?
With gratitude,
Dan Haley Erika Hobbs Publisher Editor
Donate now at GrowingCommunityMedia.org/donate. Every dollar helps. Every dollar goes straight into our newsroom.
You can also scan and donate here:
Dr. Percy Julian File
Vigil for Detective Allan Reddins Todd Bannor
Luzane Draughon Oak Park reporter
Protest at West Sub File