Wednesday Journal 121918 by Wednesday Journal

W E D N E S D A Y

December 19, 2018 Vol. 39, No. 20 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Road ready wrestlers Sports, page 52

Oak Park & Madison plan moves ahead Pete’s Fresh Market and Essex Communities clears hurdle, still almost three years away By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Board of Trustees moved forward with a developer’s plan to build a grocery store and senior living facility on Madison Street near Oak Park Avenue. But the board’s approval of a redevelopment agreement at its Dec. 10 meeting is just the beginning of a process that could take until 2021 to complete. The redevelopment agreement (RDA) with Jupiter Realty and its partners, approved by the board of trustees in a 6-1 vote – Trustee Simone Boutet was the sole dissenting vote – proposes to build a 41,500-square-foot Pete’s Fresh Market at 644 Madison St. The grocery store would take the place of the vacant Foley-Rice building, which is immediately east of the village-owned parking lot at the northeast corner of Madison Street and Oak Park Avenue. See MADISON STREET on page 16

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

COULD YOU SPEAK UP?: Santa tries to read the mind of 2-month-old Robert Burke at Carnival Grocery. We suspect he’s dreaming of sugarplum fairies.

Local grocer’s Christmas wish? Market share Carnival brings Santa, muralist and cafe in bid to lure Arts District clientele

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

From Friday through Sunday, Santa was at Carnival Grocery, 824 S. Oak Park Ave. The appearance was St. Nick’s first to this part of Oak Park in decades, said the store’s general manager, Steve Faso. The visitation by Mr. Claus was just one

part of a more comprehensive vision that Faso and owner Arthur Paris, a River Forest native, have for the independent grocer. In a nutshell, that vision is to grab more market share by opening up the space to the community. Recently, Faso and Paris commissioned prominent painter and arts educator Cheri Lee Charlton to plaster the store’s erstwhile

SAVE THE DATE

staid white walls with whimsical (indeed carnivalesque) murals. “A lot of my work is targeted toward younger audiences,” said Charlton, who teaches illustration at Columbia College Chicago and who has an extensive body of commissioned work including an indoor See CARNIVAL on page 12

SAY Connects presents our next installment in a series of community conversations. Come hear what our young people have to say. January 17, 2019 • Julian Middle School Auditorium: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Registration is Required - RSVP at oakpark.com/sayconnects Email advance questions to: sayconnects@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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I N S I D E

R E P O R T

Yen goes all in with Flexhouse It’s been a few months since the departure of Cathy Yen, former executive director of the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce. But it didn’t take Yen long to get her name back in the paper — this time in Crain’s Chicago Business as the owner of the four new Flexhouse townhouse units by Ranquist Development in the 200 block of Harrison Street. Crain’s reporter Dennis Rodkin

notes in his Dec. 10 story that Yen and her husband purchased the four newly built townhouses for $2.16 million and will rent them for $4,000 a month. Yen, who could not be reached for comment, left the chamber in September to become director of operations for the Chicago nonprofit Beat the Streets, which focuses on youth sports.

Timothy Inklebarger

Women’s Exchange closing its doors

A festive toy drive for the holidays

On Dec. 11, a truck delivered mounds of coats and toys to the Austin Community Family Center, 501 N. Central Ave. The delivery was the result of a second annual toy drive sponsored by Oak Parkbased Suburban Unity Alliance, Oak Park and River Forest High School, the Oak Park Temple and EAU Methodist Church. The collaborators facilitated the drive over the month of December. “The health of one community directly impacts the health of another and it is important for our communities to work together,” said Anthony Clark, the founder and executive director of Suburban Unity Alliance.

Michael Romain

When the Oak Park Women’s Exchange — a business dedicated to empowering women to help support themselves through arts and crafts — was first established in 1974, its organizers had a problem getting the store off the ground. “At the time, nobody would give them a loan,” said Deanne Alexander, publicity chair and display chair at the exchange, explaining the widespread discrimination women faced only four decades ago. “Somebody came in and backed them up — it was a man,” she said with a knowing chuckle. That’s what it took for women to succeed in an era where many still were blocked from the workforce. While the glass ceiling still needs plenty of breaking, times have changed, and such exchanges, once numbering in the hundreds nationwide, have largely closed, due in part to inactivity from members. The Women’s Exchange in Oak Park, located at 839 S. Oak Park Ave., is following suit, its members announcing it will close Dec. 29. The exchange is open from

Rendering provided by oakparkeconomicdevelopmentcorporation.orgt

YEN ROW: Oak Parker Cathy Yen is the new owner of Flexhouse. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 12 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday; and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Online sales, higher rent and difficulty staffing the store contributed to the closure, members say. “We are very thankful for our loyal customers over the 44 years,” said Janet Paulin, of Forest Park. She has been a member since 2012, making scarves, doll clothes, aprons and more. The shop, which features the work of 33 local artisans — that number was once closer to 200 — is one of the last women’s exchanges in the country. Only about two dozen such shops remain. “We will continue as a sisterhood of crafters and do craft shows throughout the area,” Paulin said. “It’s very sad over there to have customers come in who have been there for many, many years and saying goodbye.”

Timothy Inklebarger

File photo

A FOND FAREWELL: Oak Park Women’s Exchange closes at the end of the year.

708.383.9000 • forestagency.com

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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Drop-in Beaded Snowflakes Fridays, 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 2 to 5 p.m., through Dec. 22, Bead in Hand: Create a beaded snowflake in a choice of three sizes. $6, $12, $15, based on size. Snowflake kits also available for purchase. Info: beadinhand.com/holiday-extravaganzas. html. 145 Harrison St., Oak Park.

December 19 -26

Holiday One Hundred Mondays through Fridays, 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 1 to 4 p.m., Oak Park Art League (OPAL): Featuring original artwork, items are priced from $50 to $300. Purchases support the artists, as well as raise funds to celebrate OPAL’s Centennial Anniversary. Galley closed Dec. 23 to Jan. 2. Sale through Jan. 4. Info: 708-386-9853, oakparkartleague. org. 720 Chicago Ave.

Celebrate with Live Music at FitzGerald’s Wednesday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m.: Rob Parton Big Band performs “A Swingin’ Christmas,” with music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington and various seasonal favorites. $15; $5, 17 and under.

Thursday, Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m.: Country Night in Berwyn, Holiday Edition, includes Peter Joly, Allegra Malone, Cropduster, Linda Weseman, Sole City Juke Band, Badass Gumbo and more at this annual country music holiday show. $10.

Friday, Dec. 21, 8 p.m.: Hear The Redmonds’ rockin’ Christmas Show. $12, advance; $10, at door with a non-perishable food item. Tickets/more:

fitzgeraldsnightclub.com/events/view/TheRedmonds-Christmas-Show-3

Support for Those Living with Cancer Every Wednesday, 10:15 a.m., Community Room 1100, Building A, West Suburban Medical Center’s River Forest Campus: A yoga class for cancer survivors only. Free. Register: 844-794-4301. 7411 W. Lake St. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2:30 p.m., Community Room 1100, Building A, West Suburban Medical Center’s River Forest Campus: Come to a Cancer Support Group. Free. Register: 844-794-4301. 7411 W. Lake St.

BIG WEEK ‘A Dickens Carol’ Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 3 p.m., through Dec. 30, Madison Street Theatre: Oak Park Festival Theatre re-imagines the story of Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ point of view and real-life events. Set in London in 1842, it’s a ghost story that promises to melt the heart of any Scrooge. Ages 10+. $35; $28, seniors; $15, stdents. Tickets: 708-300-9396, oakparkfestival.com. 1010 Madison St., Oak Park

Elf Friday, Dec. 21, 2:45 to 4:30 p.m., River Forest Library: Drop by to watch this funny holiday film. Grades 5 to 12. 735 Lathrop Ave., River Forest.

Friday, Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m., SideBar: See Lauren Anderson in the Anderson Holiday Jamboree: Benefiting Guitars over Guns. $10.

Saturday, Dec. 22, 9 p.m.: Hear “blues guitar hero” Ronnie Baker Brooks, with his band, $20, advance; $25, at door. Tickets/more: fitzgeraldsnightclub.com/ events/view/Ronnie-Baker-Brooks-9.

Saturday, Dec. 22, 9 p.m., SideBar: See “Chicago’s most original cover band,” Lovehouse, performing their Rockin’ Holiday Show. $5. 6615 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn.

Out of the Box Art Market Saturday, Dec. 22, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 23, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hemingway District: Shop for handmade jewelry, ceramics, glass, textiles, leather, and more at this pop-up artisan market. 133 S. Oak Park Ave.

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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ART BEAT

Ghosts of Christmas Past A vintage Christmas display from the collection of Jerry Ehernberger, founder of The Golden Glow of Christmas Past.

Goeden gives voice to Marie Antoinette

By MICHELLE DYBAL

lutionists is part of Strawdog Theatre Company’s 31st season: “Bravery.” “We talk about the stories that matter to ith a record number of women us most, socially and politically,” Goeden elected to Congress in Novem- said. “We choose the season and ask the bigber and increasing numbers ger artistic questions. As an actor, you don’t of women speaking out across always have that agency.” Goeden also appreciates the audience feedthe globe, females are fighting to be heard. Historically suppressed, the back, hearing from theater-goers who stay for a voices of women are the subject of a play at drink after the show, who write what the shows Strawdog Theatre in Chicago’s North Cen- mean to them or attend fundraisers. The Strawdog audience, she said, is a community. ter neighborhood, where Sarah Goeden of “It’s fulfilling and ties you to why someOak Park, plays Marie Antoinette, the fallen one wants to do this art,” she said, “because queen during the French Revolution. In The Revolutionists, the four female you can talk to the people and have convercharacters are based on historical charac- sations with them as you act.” In the role of Marie Antoiters. According to Goeden, nette, Goeden takes the audithe play focuses on “the See “The Revolutionence on a journey. voices of women during a ists” through Dec. 29, “She’s someone of privitime when white men were Thursdays, Fridays and lege who has been sheltered, in power, making decisions Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., so she has many quirks … about the revolution.” and Sundays, 4 p.m., at and says some things that She sees that dynamic as Strawdog Theatre. $35; are racist and insensitive, not having changed much in $26, seniors. Tickets/ and she doesn’t realize it,” 225 years. more: strawdog.org. Goeden said. “You’re sup“We’re in a time in the U.S. 1802 W. Berenice Ave., posed to look at her as a dingand around the world where Chicago. bat, but then she becomes women’s voices are still not wise. It’s a journey of learndominant or not equal or ing, which is wonderful.” desperately suppressed,” The play is written as a comedy and alshe said. “This play grapples with how that though it takes place in 1793 Paris, it is a affects everyone.” Goeden has been acting since age 8 when modern work, first produced in 2016. The she took the stage in a community produc- Revolutionists was penned by prolific playtion of Jack and the Bean Stalk because wright Lauren Gunderson, the most proher piano teacher was looking for someone duced playwright in America. Other characters in the show are playto carpool with her daughter, who was also performing in the play. Goeden has been act- wright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charing ever since, first appearing in a Strawdog lotte Corday, and Haitian rebel Marianne production in 2008 and becoming a company Angelle, who is an amalgam of real-life individuals. Goeden describes the design of the member in 2011. “For years I was really impressed with the show as “punk-rock glamour and modern.” “When you think about a revolution, how ensemble,” she said. “The actors were emotionally invested and did truthful, honest can women’s voices be heard?” Goeden said. “[Gunderson] wrote a witty play about hiswork that was exciting to watch.” As a company member, she has input on toric figures, but I hear the voices of friends Strawdog’s season, which is different from I know. The characters talk like real women. many other theater companies. The Revo- That is really important right now.”

Contributing Reporter

Oak Park River Forest Museum, 129 Lake Street, Oak Park 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays until Jan. 12, 2019 Join us for our Twelfth Night celebration on Jan. 6, 2019 from 2 to 4 p.m. and help us send the Christmas season to bed. Includes music, a program on the history of the festival, and delicious desserts. Questions about exhibit or Twelfth Night? Visist oprfmuseum.org or call 708-848-6755

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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Austin. Forward. Together

n Saturday morning in the auditorium of a high school in Austin, nearly 300 people gathered to take the work of this neighborhood’s next five years on their collective backs. It was inspiring, daunting, realistic and celebratory. The event at Michele Clark High School, Harrison and Laramie, was the unveiling of a Quality of Life Plan for our neighbors to the east. The ambitious project was led by Austin Coming Together, a collective-impact nonprofit. Two years it took. Four hundred people had a hand in it. Seven key issues were addressed with goals and strategies and measures. At the top of the list was not economic development or education, safety or housing. No, the first order of business on this five-year journey was headlined as “Community Narrative.” That’s the story Austin tells itself. About itself. To itself. True stories. Neighborhoods have to define themselves because surely others will be happy to define them for their own purposes. A factoid in the handsome brochure accompanying the presentation was that in 2017 there were three negative stories about Austin for every positive story. Honestly, I’m surprised the ratio of bad to good wasn’t higher. Watch TV. Read the dailies. Look at your own social media feed, Oak Parkers. You find crime. And crime. And crime. And bad schools. For most of the 38 years I’ve been publisher of the Journal, our small company has also published the Austin Weekly News. And while our newspaper is imperfect and short of resources, often this is where you will find the real Austin. At least that is our attempt. The stories of innovation, perseverance, compassion. Stories of elders and of youth. Stories of frustration over again being forgotten at City Hall. Stories of disinvestment. Stories of hard-won success, of possibil-

ity, of winning. What I see in Austin — and it was on display Saturday — is growing confidence, stronger and widely spread leadership, a more assertive, politically savvier, more fed up community with a growing sense of its own worthy identity. This is not an Austin beholden to politicians who historically failed to lead. Hell, 10 percent of the 20 candidates for Chicago mayor are Austinites. This is not an Austin in the thrall of endless pastors sometimes of dubious motive. Hell, several of the pastors driving the political narrative of the city are from Austin. This is not an Austin of siloed social services intent on protecting their share of the spoils from the city, state or feds. Hell, a whole batch of those agencies collaborated on this new plan. This is not an Austin waiting and waiting some more to be given something, usually handed down. There is something powerful, demanding and positive going on in Austin. Oak Parkers can ignore it and keep being captured by their fear of Austin, but in that auditorium Saturday morning there was a subset of Oak Parkers. Village government was represented. Social service agencies. A local banker. The head of the Community Foundation. A good many active volunteers. Some from the Community of Congregations. My sense is that those Oak Parkers who were present, got it. We’re welcome as allies, needed as allies. We have a place at the table. It is about four chairs down on the far side. These two neighbors have a better future together than the past 50 scarred years looked like. But it is as equal partners, not as donors and recipients. As partners who have a lot to learn from and about each other. It was a heady morning Saturday in Austin. And that is all good for Oak Park.

DAN HALEY

This is not an

Austin beholden to politicians who historically failed to lead.

Tickets are on sale now! Visit EmeraldCityTheatre.com

See what all the buzz is about.

OakPark.com

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Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Illinois 60302 PHONE 708-524-8300 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com | www.RiverForest.com CIRCULATION Jill Wagner, 708-613-3340 circulation@oakpark.com DISPLAY ADVERTISING Dawn Ferencak, 708-613-3329 dawn@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal is published weekly by Wednesday Journal, Inc. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, Illinois (USPS No. 0010-138). In-county subscription rate is $35 per year, $60 for two years, $87 for three years. Annual out-of-county rate is $43. © 2018 Wednesday Journal, Inc.

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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Oak Park Arts District gets a mission-driven bookstore Jake’s Place Books invites kids in for a free book By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

Bill Fletcher and Don Moss, two of Oak Park’s newest residents, admittedly have a little bit of a problem. As far as problems go, it’s not a bad one to have — over the last few decades the couple that moved here earlier this year from Seattle has amassed a collection of thousands of books. So many that they rented a storage space for about half of it. The other half, well, the couple has opened a shop in the Oak Park Arts District in the last few weeks and are now entrepreneurs. Fletcher said in a recent interview that Jake’s Place Books, 142 Harrison St. — the shop is named after Fletcher’s beloved, late yellow Labrador — is more than just a long overdue purging of the married couple’s personal book collection – the fledgling business also is a mission-driven enterprise. “We got interested in a store to get books out

to kids and to get them reading,” Fletcher said. He noted that all the children’s books in the store are free and children are allowed to pick one when they come in. Fletcher, who works at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines — a Roman Catholic institution for abused children — said he wants to get out into the community and start working where they need books or someone to read to children. “It’s always in the back of my mind that children need all the help you can give them,” he said. Fletcher recently donated a dozen pop-up books to Duke Ellington Elementary School, 243 N Parkside Ave., in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. He noted that teachers there get about $250 a year for supplies and the kids in the special-education class there get a lot out of the pop-up books. He noted that the basement shop has a garden in the back and he plans to schedule readings when the weather is good. “It’s right on the Blue Line, so it’s easy to get here for parents,” Fletcher said. Fletcher is putting out a call to organizations in and around Oak Park that are interested in getting books to kids to work with

Excellence.. It’s quality health care for your entire family, close to home. Excellence is just the beginning.

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

CROSSING AUSTIN: Bill Fletcher and Don Moss have opened a new bookstore, Jake’s Place, in Oak Park, named in memory of their Labrador. him to find the best way to make that happen. He and Moss moved to Oak Park about six months ago in part because of the reputation of the community for openness and diversity. They were walking down Harrison Street earlier this year when they saw the empty storefront and had their eureka moment. “It was an immediate decision for us to open a bookstore,” he said. The store has a wide selection, but Fletch-

er said they have an excellent performing arts selection with books on film, theater, drama and music. Jake’s Place is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; noon to 6 p.m. on Fridays; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. More information about the shop is available on their website at jakesplacebooks.com. tim@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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Keystone granted property tax exemption

The village plans to continue the case and appeal the ruling By NONA TEPPER Staff Reporter

The dispute between Keystone Montessori School and the village of River Forest will continue after the Illinois Department of Revenue granted the nonprofit school a property tax exemption on Dec. 3. In a statement, the village said it plans to appeal the ruling. Keystone took the village to court in March, alleging River Forest officials said they would only approve the school’s zoning permit if Keystone agreed never to seek a property tax exemption. The lawsuit claims its agreement with the village contravenes public policy and constitutes unconstitutional condition, illegal contract zoning, illegal perpetual contract, and equal protection violation. The school is asking for reimbursement for attorneys’ fees, $1.1 million in property taxes it said it has paid over two decades, and an end to its agreement with the village. The state’s Department of Revenue granted Keystone total relief for the 2017 tax year, and

File photo

TAX BREAK: Keystone and the village continue to debate whether a 20-year agreement is valid. Vicki Shea, director of Keystone, said in a statement that she was pleased with the ruling. “Now we can project a budget surplus and be confident that Keystone Montessori will continue to serve the students, parents, and taxpayers of River Forest in the best way possible,” she said. Keystone’s complaint was filed just weeks before Busey Bank moved to foreclose on the school’s more than $2 million mortgage, according to property records. Attorney John Mauck, from the Chicagobased firm Mauck & Baker, which is repre-

senting Keystone, said that if the nonprofit school can break its agreement with the village and become tax-exempt, Keystone will be solvent and able to pay its mortgage and other obligations. Keystone has not paid its 2017 taxes yet. He said the school had been relying on private donors to help pay the taxes, but this past year donors dried up. The Department of Revenue’s ruling recognized all schools are tax exempt by law, Mauck said. “Now that the department has ruled that River Forest has been acting illegally, we

hope [the village] will cooperate with, rather than litigate against, a school that has been saving local taxpayers about $300,000 per year in public education costs,” he said in a statement. Keystone filed a request with the Cook County Board of Review for a property tax exemption, which recommended that the Illinois Department of Revenue deny the request. The Department of Revenue, however, went against the recommendation and granted Keystone property tax exemption status. In a statement, the village said it was pleased with the Board of Review’s recommendation and that it intended to appeal the Department of Revenue’s decision. The village added that it will continue to defend their original agreement with Keystone. “These appeals are a long process, but in the end we believe that our contract, [which] Keystone willingly signed 20 years ago, is valid and enforceable,” the village said in a statement. “The village remains ready, however, to work out an agreeable resolution of this matter with Keystone Montessori should they want one, as we would with any of our institutions and businesses in River Forest.” The case is still pending in the Cook County Circuit Court. CONTACT: ntepper@wjinc.com

D200 board chimes in on Imagine costs

Board split on what to do with high school’s south end By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education has reached a consensus on some aspects of Imagine OPRF’s long-term master facilities plan, which calls for a series of capital improvements estimated to cost $219 million and which could take up to a decade to complete. During a Committee of the Whole meeting on Dec. 11, most board members expressed support for the administration’s recommendation to embark on a first phase of projects that would include the renovation of 76 general education classrooms, among other instruction-related projects. The cost for those improvements is an estimated $32.6 million and could take up to four years to complete. Board members also expressed support for the administration’s recommendation to take $20 million from OPRF’s more than $100 million operating fund balance to create a capital reserve fund for future construction projects. They were also in support of immediately laying the groundwork for attracting private dollars that might help pay for much-needed

improvements. But the board was divided when it came to how to approach the physical needs of OPRF’s south campus, where physical education classes and athletics are concentrated. During the Dec. 11 meeting, D200 Superintendent Joylynn Pruitt-Adams said that the board could consider committing an estimated $65.4 million to a range of projects that include the replacement of the district’s aging pools, the construction and/ or renovation of locker rooms for boys and non-binary students, the installation of an ADA-compliant elevator at the south end of the high school, among other projects. Some board members, such as Matt Baron, Craig Iseli and Fred Arkin indicated that they would not support spending $65.4 million on athletics-related projects when, in their opinion, some critical options for minimizing those costs, such as exploring the feasibility of removing a mandatory swimming requirement, have not been sufficiently explored. “In terms of the swimming requirement, I know I asked a few months ago — echoing concerns or questions from the community — could we explore a path to allow some capable swimmers to opt-out?” said Baron. “And the response was that it’s part of a six-year curriculum review in the physical education program. And with Imagine be-

ing charged with looking to the future and really trying to look out 10 to 20 years and beyond of preparing our students for the future, I am disappointed that we seem to be institutionally holding onto a relic of the past, of a swimming requirement that doesn’t make sense anymore.” Baron said that Imagine did not look into the swim requirement and that, in general, “there’s just not even an openness to exploring it.” Pruitt-Adams, however, said that she “would respectfully disagree” that the district has refused to look into, “or are resistant to,” the idea. She added that looking into the swimming curriculum was not the task given to Imagine, which was responsible for evaluating how facilities impact the educational environment. Pruitt-Adams also pointed out that changing the swimming curriculum, something she said the administration would look into, was not relevant to the size of the proposed aquatics facility. “If we do delay 14 or 18 months before exploring [south end improvements] further, I would ask my colleagues on the board to join me in calling for at least an exploration of that issue,” Baron said of the swimming requirement. Iseli said that he wasn’t ready to support the $65.4 million expenditure “until I feel we’ve exhausted” other compromises, such as exploring whether or not PE facilities

need to be located on campus. “Imagine focused on how to fit this within the footprint of the building and that’s an assumption that isn’t a hard fact,” Iseli said. “There are lots of [high schools] with PE facilities that aren’t located at their site.” But for members like Jennifer Cassell and Jackie Moore, the discussion seemed like déjà vu. “I feel like I’m in the twilight zone,” Cassell said. “We need to have a better understanding of some of the uncertainties you guys are talking about, [but] I’m concerned that, in 18 months, we’re going to still be waffling back and forth about whether or not we need to have a swimming program, or extracurricular aquatics programs on campus.” Moore said that she needs “to understand what our commitment to our PE program is” and expressed support for the notion that equity should not be limited to classroom spaces, and that PE spaces are also instructional spaces — something that PruittAdams and Imagine members said has been demonstrated by student feedback they collected during the long-term facilities planning process. The school board could make a decision on how to proceed with at least the $32.6 million phase of the long-term master facilities plan at its regular meeting on Dec. 20. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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An Oak Park man will spend the next 21 years in a federal prison after being convicted of sex trafficking several Chicago children from 2014 to 2016, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Allen Young, 53, was convicted earlier this year on five counts of sex trafficking and one count of attempted sex trafficking. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, Young took photographs of his victims and posted them online in ads offering commercial sex. He drove them to meet with those responding to the ads and then pocketed some of the money. In some cases, Young made the victims have sex with him. Some of the girls were as young as 15, according to the Department of Justice press release. Young was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang, who also ordered him to pay his victims $37,750 in restitution. The case was investigated by the FBI Chicago Child Exploitation Task Force, which was assisted by the Chicago Police Department. Victims of sexual exploitation are encouraged to contact that National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-8435678 or online at http://www.missingkids. com. tim@oakpark.com

me SEL Y in L I es.. La and T or . Ei st ma M the Da ke EL r w y D us T I e ec a r T D .29 t ea so OW h at nab N 5P le M of fer

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Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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With plan complete, Austin preps for takeoff

Oak Park residents play minor roles in West Side community’s historic quality-of-life plan By SUZANNE McBRIDE AustinTalks

More than 250 people packed the auditorium of Michele Clark Magnet High School, 5101 W. Harrison St., on Dec. 15 to celebrate the unveiling of a quality of life plan for Austin. The plan has been in the works for more than two years and involved more than 400 people — most of them from Austin, but many who came from Oak Park, such as architect and urban planner Cindy Gray Schneider. Schneider is tasked with “identifying existing community gardens that are in need of support/maintenance” and finding ways to fund those gardens, according to an action plan she drafted earlier this year. “Today is a very important and special day in Austin,” said Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together, which oversaw the creation of the plan. “Things are changing in Austin,” said Shields, an Austin resident. “We are a community that has seen good times and hard times. And now we’re prepared for the next chapter … This plan is a roadmap for our success.” Shields thanked LISC Chicago, which was a partner in developing the plan. He noted LISC has done similar work since 2000 in 24 communities that has led to more than $800 million in investment in those neighborhoods. Saturday’s event followed dozens of working meetings that focused on seven key issue areas as well as three community summits. The next step is getting even more people involved, said Mildred Wiley, of the Austin Community Action Council and Institute for Justice. She served as one of 20 steering committee members who oversaw the work. “This plan is going to be action-oriented, which means we have to take some action and do some work. If you’re ready to do some work, then raise your hands … We have to work together to get this done.” This is not something that sits on a shelf, Wiley added. Shields said now that the planning stage is over, it’s time to mobilize. Seven task forces — community narrative, economic development, education, housing, public safety, youth empowerment and civic engagement — are identifying partners to work with and tapping local leaders to turn the plan into action. Austin resident Briana Shields, who runs her own business, Briana Janee Arts, and is co-chair of the community narrative task

Photo courtesy Austin Coming Together

FORWARD TOGETHER: The people who helped facilitate the drafting of Austin’s historic quality-of-life plan bask in their accomplishment at the plan’s unveiling on Dec. 15 in Austin. Now there’s mplementation work to do. force, said she wants to show the reality of her community. “I see all the positive things that happen in Austin every single day, yet those are not the headlines we see in the news or the stories we read in the newspaper every day.” It’s time for Austin residents to share the rich history of the community; this is “our opportunity to rewrite our narrative” and shift the way others view us, she said. Others said Austin, one of the city’s 77 community areas is long overdue to become one of Chicago’s jewels. Education Task Force Co-Chair Natasha Smith-Walker, who works with Project Exploration, said young people in Austin deserve what youth in other communities get One of 23 strategic goals laid out in the plan calls for increasing enrollment of Austin’s schools; too many of the neighborhood’s youth leave the area for their education, task force leaders said. Bradley Johnson, co-chair of the public safety task force who works at BUILD, said Austin should be defined by its people, not by the crime that happens in the neighborhood. He pointed to his young son and daughter as he talked about the importance of what happens next. “I’m part of this because of them. And because of my mom who for (more than 40 years) lived down the street on Laramie.” Althena Williams, co-chair of the housing task force who works for the West Cook Homeownership Center, said they will need help from elected officials like state Sen. Don Harmon, who attended Saturday’s event, to improve life in Austin. She noted that over 60 percent of Austin’s property is rental, so there is an opportunity to increase home ownership. Williams, who

Photo courtesy Austin Coming Together

ALL HANDS ON DECK: More than 250 people packed the auditorium at Michele Clark High School on Saturday for the unveiling of Austin’s quality-of-life plan. The plan, which now must be put into action, includes around 400 collaborating entities. works as a realtor, said she was a renter for 18 years before she bought her home. “I see the wonderful housing stock we have and the need to maintain our homes” so property can be passed onto the next generation. ”I just think Austin is a wonderful community, and I’m all in.” Since 2016, Wells Fargo has provided more than $200,000 to support the Austin plan in conjunction with LISC Chicago and Austin Coming Together. Saturday, Wells Fargo presented a $100,000 check to continue the work. “We need resources,” Darnell Shields said. “We have a lot of work in front of us.” He urged everyone in the packed auditorium to take concrete steps to “reclaim power for Austin,” urging those in attendance to “share this plan with your neighbors, use it when you talk to public officials, show them what needs to be

done and ask them what they can do help. Build relationships with the people and groups involved in this plan. And get others involved.” “So much of our potential power goes underutilized because we’re just a huge neighborhood, “Shields said, adding that many things happen in isolation. “The only way we’re going to get things done in this neighborhood is through collective action,” he said. Editor’s Note: AustinTalks Publisher Suzanne McBride and Austin Weekly News editor Michael Romain were involved in some of the planning for the quality of life plan, and the publications will be involved in the community narrative task force going forward. CONTACT: austintalks.org@gmail.com

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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OPRF’s pilot racial equity course could launch in 2019

Course was developed by OPRF students By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

A proposed racial equity course created largely by students at Oak Park and River Forest High School is likely to debut next school year, based on reactions by District 200 board members to a detailed presentation of the course’s specifics that student leaders made during a Dec. 11 Committee of the Whole meeting. “We all feel some emotion when it comes to talking about race,” read a slide in a PowerPoint presented by OPRF students Naomi Leach, Ryhen Miller, Michaela Anderson and Kennedi Wilsona — all members of Students Advocating For Equity (SAFE). “For some students of color these conversations force them to become the representative for their race, which is a reminder

of how far from racial equity we are. Sometimes white students and teachers feel guilty and attacked. Making matters more complicated is the common disbelief of minority disadvantage.” The students explained that SAFE’s goal through 2020 is to create a curriculum “that fosters open discussion on uncomfortable topics, and goes deeper than just the slavery/oppression topics in class.” Greg Johnson, D209’s assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said during the Dec. 11 meeting that a pilot racial equity course would likely debut in the 20192020 school year. The course, worth one credit per semester, would be available to juniors and seniors, who would then help facilitate a version of the course with students in other classrooms, so the whole student body becomes exposed to the course content. The high school’s Spoken Word Club is a model for how the racial equity course might work logistically, Johnson and the

SAFE students explained. Similar to Spoken Word, student leaders might meet to “plan and reflect on curriculum” on Monday and Tuesday while the rest of the week, they’ll “push out to other courses to facilitate curriculum directly to underclassmen.” The screening process for the course, they said, would be similar to Leadership Launch, a mentoring program at the high school in which student leaders serve on a selection committee to determine the next year’s leaders. Johnson said administrators are still honing logistical details regarding the course rollout and the content, but the goal is to make the racial equity course material as widely available as possible, similar to civics. “One of our goals, right off the bat, was that we wanted to make sure this was something our students could access on a broader scale,” Johnson said. “One of the benefits of a civics class is that we know our kids are taking it. That’s a requirement across the board.”

Johnson said the administration is working to identify a teacher who can “help develop and potentially teach the course” by the end of the first semester of the 2019-20 school year. The D200 school board expressed unanimous support for the course. “I really like the aspect that this can be pushed out to all the classrooms because my concern is that [it] would only be [for] students who want to talk about this,” said board member Jennifer Cassell. Board President Jackie Moore said the SAFE students have been “working on this for a couple of years” and she was “pleased with how much listening and research they did.” The development of a racial equity course was one of the central demands voiced in a string of protests led by students and community members in the wake of several racist and anti-Semitic incidents that occurred at OPRF in November. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Friends of the Children pulls Oak Park funding request

Trustee calls request improper because of village manager’s seat on board By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

A nonprofit organization that works with at-risk youth in the Chicago neighborhoods of Austin and North Lawndale has withdrawn its request for $15,000 from the village of Oak Park. The decision by Friends of the Children to pull the request comes after the item was removed from the consent agenda of the Oak Park Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 10 and placed on the regular agenda by trustees Simone Boutet and Dan Moroney. Boutet said in a telephone interview that she believes it is improper to provide funds to the nonprofit because Village Manager Cara Pavlicek serves on the board of the organization. “I think it’s an improper use of public funds to fund your private interest with public funds,” she said. The item originally appeared on the consent agenda, meaning that it would have been approved by trustees with a number of other consent-agenda items and without discussion. The funding was first included a year ago in the 2018 budget but was removed by trustees.

Pavlicek said in a telephone interview that the $15,000 request “falls below the manager’s spending authority,” meaning the funds could have been committed to the organization without board approval, but she brought it to the board for consideration. She believes the request is appropriate because the new organization is working in Austin. Taal Hasak-Lowy, executive director of Friends of the Children, said the request was pulled, in part, over concern that the request would anger Oak Park taxpayers. She and Friends of the Children Board Chairman Tom Abrahamson decided to pull it from the regular agenda. “I think Tom’s general feeling was [that] a lot is happening in Oak Park, so let’s pull this out if this is an issue at all,” she said. Some on social media argued that the request constitutes a conflict of interest because of Pavlicek’s position on the board. Oak Parker Kitty Conklin, who regularly attends board meetings and has been an advocate for lowering property taxes in Oak Park, argued at the Dec. 10 meeting that Friends of the Children is not Oak Parkbased and does not serve local students. “Therefore, to me, there is a very obvious conflict of interest with the funding request,” she told trustees on Dec. 10. Hasak-Lowy said several Oak Park residents are involved with Friends of the Children, and the Austin neighborhood of Chicago “is of special interest to Oak Park.”

The nonprofit works to pair caseworkers with at-risk students in economically depressed parts of the city. The mentors follow the students for the entirety of their education to help them achieve their educational goals, she said. Friends of the Children has been active for 25 years but just launched a Chicago chapter in 2018. They started in January with 24 first graders — 16 of which attend Ella Flagg Young Elementary School, 1434 N. Parkside Ave., and the remainder from schools in North Lawndale, Hasak-Lowy said. Boutet told Wednesday Journal she believes it is “a wonderful charity” but added that it is “not within the realm of the village.” She added that she thinks Pavlicek “deepsixed” the funding request. “I’m glad it got removed, but I still think [Pavlicek] should be held accountable,” she said. “If this was a board that was more accountable and where there was more accountability, there would have been a discussion right away.” Trustee Deno Andrews said in a telephone interview that he agrees the village should not fund a program that does not serve Oak Park children but had no ill will toward Pavlicek or the organization for making the request. “I don’t love how it was presented, but I don’t hold it against the village manager for asking because I believe she believes it would be a benefit to the village,” he said. tim@oakpark.com

Season’s Greetings

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

CARNIVAL

CANNON FOODER: Customer checks out as muralist Cheri Lee Charlton adds color to the cannon on the wall mural at Carnival Grocery on South Oak Park Avenue.

Competing for market market from page 1 mural in Schaumburg. Before the year is out, Paris said, Carnival will also include a cafe space — replete with Wi-Fi, coffee and baked goods — which will be located near the store’s entrance. The net effectof the changes, according to Paris and Faso, is to fashion the store in the image of the creative consumers trafficking into a newly revitalized Harrison Street Arts District. “We put the cafe in here because we want to become a real community hub for our local constituents in the arts district,” said Faso. “We want a friendly place where they can come, use the Wi-Fi, do their work and collaborate with others.” “What we’re doing here, I think, can really contribute to the character of the Arts District,” said Paris, a graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School. The changes come on the heels of a complete remodeling of the store that was once known as Pan’s Food Center. Paris bought the store, his second Carnival location, in 2014. The first store is in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. A third location, Paris said, is in the works and will be located in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. Considering the recent upheaval in brick

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

and mortar retail, the decision to expand may appear counterintuitive. Since 2010, according to a 2017 analysis in The Atlantic, more than 12,000 physical stores have closed as online shopping has increased exponentially. In addition, Ameri-

cans are increasingly spending more of their money at bars and restaurants than at grocery stores, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data by economist Mark J. Perry. And Paris acknowledged that the grocery

competition in Oak Park and River Forest is already fierce, and increasingly so. For starters, there are Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, two Jewels and Pete’s Fresh Market to contend with — all within less than a five-mile radius.

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Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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EXPLOSIVE: Twins Silas, left, and Vera Gleason, 4, from Oak Park, write a letter to Santa Claus. Cheri Lee Charlton, works on her large mural at Carnival Grocery.

There’s also direct competition for the cafe space, with Carnival located steps away from a popular spot, Addis Cafe, 818 S. Oak Park Ave. Paris and Faso, however, believe their store’s offerings — which include an extensive wine selection, premium deli meats and fresh produce — and its unique community ethos will give them a competitive advantage. Faso also thinks Carnival has a “convenience edge over some of the giant chains.” ARTHUR PARIS “With us, you can Carnival owner be in and out in 15 minutes,” he said, noting that Carnival’s community ethos is baked into initiatives like the Santa appearance, Charlton’s murals, and the store’s aggressive philanthropy (it regularly donates to area homeless shelters, schools, churches and nonprofit organizations). “Oak Park’s a competitive market,” Paris said. “There are a lot of good operators around Oak Park now, but we want to be one of the best.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

“What we’re doing here, I think, can really contribute to the character of the Arts District.”

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

C R I M E

Car owner thwarts theft of vehicle

A Chicago resident prevented a thief from stealing their car in the 500 block of South Austin Boulevard at 10:15 a.m. on Dec. 10. The thief entered the owner’s silver 2009 Lincoln MDX, and the intended victim confronted the thief. Police report that the car owner, whose gender was not revealed, observed a gun in the thief ’s waistband. The owner pulled the man out of the vehicle, and the thief fled to the passenger side of a small, dark-colored SUV, which fled in an unknown direction. No loss was reported.

Burglary ■ A residence was burglarized in the 1200 block of North Euclid between 5:50 and 9:25 p.m. on Dec. 11. The burglar used a pry tool to gain entry to the victim’s closed but unlocked master bedroom window. The intruder then stole miscellaneous jewelry and cash. The estimated loss is $2,300. ■ A residence was burglarized in the 700 block of North Lombard between 8:30 a.m. and 6:08 p.m. on Dec. 11. The burglar entered through a closed but unlocked rear bedroom window and stole an Apple com-

puter, a checkbook, cash, and a Herschel brown leather handbag. The estimated loss is $1,425. ■ A residence was burglarized in the 600 block of Highland Avenue at 3:28 a.m. on Dec. 12. The burglar used large hedge shears found in the backyard to smash the 2-by-3foot window on the rear locked door. The burglar reached in and removed a small purple wallet with keys attached and then used the keys to steal the victim’s black 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee parked in the rear. The estimated loss is $20,000. ■ An office was burglarized in the 7000 block of West North Avenue at 4:40 a.m. on Dec. 13. The burglar smashed glass on the exterior door and then used brute force to open the office door, then ransacked the office. Nothing was reported taken, but the estimated loss due to damage is $3,000. ■ A garden apartment was burglarized in the 400 block of North Taylor between 2 and 11 p.m. on Dec. 10. The burglar entered through a closed but unlocked kitchen window and proceeded to ransack the apartment, making off with an Xbox video gaming console, a copy of the Xbox game “Call

of Duty,” an ASUS laptop, a black backpack, a black gym bag and a black safe. The estimated loss is $660.

Theft ■ Two yellow stump grinder wheel attachments were stolen from an Oakbrook Terrace resident in the 200 block of South Lombard Avenue about 2 p.m. on Dec. 11. The estimated loss is $200. ■ Two young men, described as between 15 and 20 years old, one of whom wore a surgical mask to disguise his identity, entered a store in the 1100 block of Lake Street at 6:03 p.m. on Dec. 11 and stole two iPhones. The two entered the store and walked over to a display near the front door on the east wall and took a black iPhone XS Max and a goldcolored iPhone XS Max. The two then exited the store and ran eastbound on Lake Street. The total loss is $2,309. ■ A man, described as in his 40s, stole $113.97 worth of Jameson Irish Whiskey from Walgreens, 811 Madison St., at 4:40 p.m. on Dec. 13. He departed the store on a blue mountain bike without paying.

Battery

A 28-year-old resident of the 800 block of North Lockwood, Chicago, was arrested in the 100 block of Madison Street at 11:04 a.m. on Dec. 11 and charged with two counts of aggravated battery.

Unlawful use of a weapon A 26-year-old resident of the 800 block of North Humphrey, Oak Park, was arrested in the 800 block of Hayes Avenue at 3:20 p.m. on Dec. 13 and charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports, Dec. 10-13, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Candidates Eleven file for open D90 challengers emerge in D200, D97 board seats file for school River Forest Challengers outnumber incumbents in races board race trustees race By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Six challengers have emerged for the River Forest Board of Trustees race come April, when three seats will open on the board. Candidates final day to file nominating petitions was Dec. 17. Incumbent Michael Gibbs, an elevator inspector, is seeking his third term on the board. Residents Erika Bachner; Kathleen “Katie” Brennan, chairwoman of the village’s sustainability commission; John Grant; Gregg Kuenster; and Robert O’Connell, chairman of the village’s economic development commission, are all seeking spots on the board.

Nona Tepper

Eleven candidates filed to run for nine open seats on the school boards of districts 97 and 200, in the upcoming April 2 Consolidated Election, according to Cook County Clerk election records. In Oak Park Elementary Schools District 97, Holly Spurlock, the current board president, was the only incumbent to turn in nominating papers for re-election. Board members Jim O’Connor and Rupa Datta announced earlier this year that they did not plan to seek reelection. The challengers who filed to run for the three open seats on the D97 board include Jung Kim, Cheree Moore, Gavin Kearney and Barika Grant. In Oak Park and River Forest High Schools District 200, incum-

File photo

Holly Spurlock, District 97 president bent board members Fred Arkin and Sara Dixon Spivy both filed to run for re-election. Incumbent Jennifer Cassell announced earlier this year that she did not plan on running for re-election. The challengers who filed to run for the three open seats on the D200 board include Ralph Martire, Victor Guarino, Gina Harris and Amanda J. Massie. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Eight challengers will seek election to the District 90 Board of Education race for the three open seats in the April election. Candidates’ final day to file their nominating petitions was Dec. 17. Incumbents Barbara Hickey and Richard Moore are again seeking election; board President Ralph Martire will not seek re-election, as he is running for the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 board. Hickey and Moore “have done great work; they’re sort of emblematic of a very different world view and very different ideologies. They co-chair our gender equity committee and work phenomenally together,” Martire said. “It goes to show you that a monolithic world view isn’t the best way to get things done. One of the great challenges for students is to be aware of different ways of viewing the world, to broaden their thought process.” Carol Allison Jack, Steve Lefko, Kathleen M. Avalos, Calvin Davis, Matt Hefner and Hui Kang are also seeking election to the board.

Nona Tepper

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Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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SOUTH OAK PARK AVENUE

EUCLID AVE.

Redevelopment agreement The village-owned parking lot will be redeveloped into a 112-space parking lot for Pete’s. Jupiter also partnered with Paragon Real Estate to build an 8-story senior housing facility at 711 Madison St. – the site of a different Foley-Rice building that is currently occupied by Evolution Fitness Club and TranscenDance Studios – and would be owned and operated by Essex Communities of Omaha, Nebraska. The senior living facility would be located on the south side of Madison Street and run west of Wesley Avenue and past South Euclid Avenue, closing Euclid to thru traffic. Euclid also would be closed on the north side of Madison Street – the Pete’s parking will run from the corner of Oak Park Avenue and Madison Street to just past where Euclid will now dead end. The Pete’s would be between Wesley and the Euclid cul-de-sac. The development also includes a 5,000-square-foot freestanding retail space in the Pete’s parking lot at the corner of Oak Park and Madison. Some of those costs will be paid for with funds from the Madison Street Tax Increment Finance District, a special taxation district that expires at the end of this year and holds roughly $13 million. Under the redevelopment agreement, the village would contribute $3 million for the Foley-Rice building at 644 Madison and up to $2.3 million in environmental remediation of the three sites: up to $900,000 for the parking lot at Oak Park and Madison; up to $750,000 for the Foley-Rice building at 644 Madison St.; and up to $685,000 for the FoleyRice building at 710 Madison St. The village also would contribute land worth about $3 million and spend roughly $4 million in public improvements around the developments, putting the final taxpayer price tag at more than $12 million. If the environmental remediation costs come in under the spending caps, Tammie Grossman, director of Oak Park’s Development Customer Services Department, said the developers could use the remaining funds on other eligible TIF expenses. She said that if the environmental costs turn out to be more expensive than the caps, then the developer could come back and request more funds from the village or choose to pay the costs themselves. Environmental costs could be critical to the project because the village purchased Car-X Tire & Auto, 700 Madison St., in 2017 for $1.3 million in anticipation of a forthcoming Jupiter development -- Oak Park also paid $141,000 to have the auto shop torn down in October. Concern over the environmental cleanup stems in part from an unexpected $3 million the village paid in 2016, when the Emerson Apartments were being built in downtown Oak Park. The village had to dip into the

ate about $473,000 in real estate taxes annually.

DOWNTOWN OAK PARK STREET CHANGES

Retail

Pete’s parking

Pete’s Fresh Market

MADISON STREET

Senior Housing

Images provided

MADISON REIMAGINED: Jupiter Realty has partnered with Paragon Real Estate and Essex Communities to build and operate, respectively, an 8-story senior housing facility at 711 Madison St. (pictured above). The developer also has brought on Pete’s Fresh Market (not pictured above) as the anchor retail tenant for the north side of Madison Street. of cleaning up leaking oil tanks at the construction site. The RDA notes that Pete’s is expected to spend $22 million on the project and the developer will spend $52 million on the senior housing building. Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb said the

WESLEY AVE.

$32 million in sales and property tax revenue over the first 20 years. The RDA states that the Pete’s is projected to generate $35 million a year in sales and bring in an estimated $587,000 annually in real estate taxes and $546,000 in sales taxes. The senior living facility is expected to gener-

Grossman said the RDA is a 20-year agreement between the village and the developer and prohibits both Pete’s and Essex from appealing their property taxes for the first 20 years. Joshua Klayman, founder of the political organization VOICE of Oak Park and a candidate for village trustee in 2019, asked the board during public comment if it was wise to vote on a plan that is “incomplete and vague at this point.” He said the board largely made the decision to advance the plan by Jupiter and its partners at the recommendation of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation, which is tasked with bringing business development to the village. “It’s particularly a problem that the economic development corporation and staff don’t present fully developed alternatives for the board but rather that there’s one preferred plan and it’s thumbs up or thumbs down and that’s not a very good way to make decisions,” Klayman said. The proposal still must go through the village’s Plan Commission review process and then return to the village board for final approval. A preliminary schedule notes that the developer is expected to submit an application to the village by the end of March and a review is expected to be completed in early August. If the board of trustees approves the project, construction would begin in spring of 2020 and be completed by fall of 2021. Abu-Taleb said after the vote that the Madison Street TIF has been in place since 1995 and no board has ever successfully developed the corridor. “Only in the very last year of that TIF, year number 23, after so many boards have tried and so many staff have tried, we have been able to have developers who are interested in investing in the Madison corridor, and they will be taking a risk …” he said. He reminded the board that if the TIF funds aren’t dedicated for a project before the tax district expires at the end of the year, “the village will have to go borrow the money at the village expense and the village pays that debt alone even though we don’t get 100 percent of the benefit.” tim@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Friday is the first National Coquito Day

long with the Pina Colada, the Coquito is Puerto Rico’s gift to the cocktail-loving world. Like the Pina Colada, the Coquito is rum-based, and Don Q distillery in Puerto Rico has successfully lobbied to have the first annual National Coquito Day declared on Dec. 21. Last month, I had dinner with Yisell Muxo of Don Q, the #1-selling rum in Puerto Rico, and the woman who helped spearhead the establishment of National Coquito Day. Muxo told me, “The Coquito is an integral and delicious part of Puerto Rican holiday traditions. We realized there wasn’t a national day devoted to celebrating this iconic drink, so we took the necessary steps to register the day and officially establish National Coquito Day.” Successful cocktails have many fathers and mothers: There’s more than one Puerto Rican bar that claims to be the place where the Pina Colada was first served. For instance, both Hotel Caribe and Barrachina in San Juan claim the cocktail originated at their bar. Although Muxo concedes that for the Coquito, “there aren’t official records of the original creator or the recipe; the base has to be Puerto Rican rum and coconut cream or milk, and from there, the ingredients usually vary. Most Puerto Ricans have their signature or ‘go-to’ recipe, many of which have been passed down through generations.”

Photo by David Hammond

Yisell Muxo’s Coquito recipe

Carmen Rivera’s Coquito Recipe ■ ½ cup water

■ 1¼ ounce can sweetened condensed milk ■ 2 egg yolks ■ 1 cup Bacardi Rum ■ 2 15-ounce cans coconut milk ■ 1/3 cup Coco Lopez cream of coconut ■ ½ tsp. vanilla ■ ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon Yisell Muxo’s Coquito Recipe ■ 1 pinch salt ■ 1 can evaporated milk Pour water, milk, egg yolks, ■ 1 can sweetened condensed rum, coconut milk and Coco milk Lopez into a blender. Add ■ ¾ can cream of coconut vanilla, cinnamon and salt. ■ 1 tsp vanilla extract Blend until well combined. ■ ¾ tsp ground cinnamon Refrigerate at least one hour. Local Dining ■ ½ tsp ground nutmeg Sprinkle extra cinnamon on ■ 1 cup Don Q Cristal rum & Food Blogger top and garnish with a cinnaPut all the ingredients in a mon stick. Makes 5-6 cups. blender; mix on high setting until In December, Puerto Riwell incorporated, funnel into a glass botcans prepare Coquitos at home and then tle, mason jar or empty Don Q rum bottle, give away bottles of the cocktail as a gift to and refrigerate for at least 4-6 hours. Serve friends and neighbors. “Back in the day,” chilled in a cordial or small glass with a says Rivera, “we would save plastic two-liter dash of cinnamon or a cinnamon stick garbottles, or sometimes we would reuse other nish. liquor bottles to store the Coquito before we Carmen Rivera of Oak Park Eats/Chicago give it away. These days, thanks to the Ole Parent Magazine continues the Puerto RiDollar stores, we use those re-sealable wine/ can custom of preparing Coquitos with her water bottles. They look much prettier. We family and then distributing the cocktails also put a few cinnamon sticks and coconut as a kind of Christmas gift and something shreds in a little mesh bag that we tie on the to bring to holiday dinner. “We usually get bottle so whoever we gift with it has a little together to make it during a family hangout, of garnish for the drink.” before Christmas,” explains Rivera, “and it Think of the Coquito as a kind of eggnog becomes like an assembly line: someone from Puerto Rico … only we like it better brings bottles, someone else brings the rum, than eggnog. and so on.”

DAVID

HAMMOND

XMAS EVE NEW YEARS EVE

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

C H R I S T M A S

Christmas 2018

C H U R C H

G U I D E

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

First United Church of Oak Park Join us in worship to welcome the savior. At Christmas and all year. December 24: Christmas Eve Two candlelight services

5 p.m. Family-friendly worship with children’s Christmas pageant 9 p.m. Traditional worship with blended music of jazz and classic Christmas carols

Sunday, December 30 11 a.m. “Sticky Church” worship in Centennial Hall will include breakfast and family fun time

A GUIDE TO AREA CHURCH SERVICES

Fair Oaks Ave. & Thomas St. • Oak Park • 708-386-4920 • fairoakspres.org Revs. Ben and Hailey Braden Lynch, co-pastors

Christmas Eve Worship Services Monday, December 24 4:30pm Family Service Our family-oriented, candle lighting service includes scripture readings, a Christmas message, and carols. Music is offered by our Christmas pageant participants and other special musicians. Child care will be provided in our nursery for this service.

11:00pm Candlelight Service This traditional Christmas Eve service, known as the Festival of Lessons and Carols, recounts the joyous Christmas story through scripture readings, candle lighting, and music offered by the Chancel Choir, a string quartet, and congregational hymn singing.

First United Church of Oak Park 848 Lake Street, Oak Park firstunitedoakpark.com facebook.com/firstunitedoakpark 708-386-5215

C H R I S T M A S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

—— all are welcome ——

Christ Episcopal Church

Advent Worship, 10:30 am Family service, 5 pm (Child-friendly service)

Traditional Candlelight, 11 pm

(Pre-service music begins 10:30pm)

ST. GILES Christmas Services 515 Franklin Ave. River Forest IL SEASON CHRISTMAS

December 23

Christmas Eve

C H U R C H

LITURGICAL SERVICES

CHRISTMAS EVE • Saturday, Dec. 24 8:00AM - Morning Prayer 3:00PM - Faith &December Family Christmas24 Mass Monday, 5:00PM - Faith &Eve Family Christmas Mass Christmas ~ 4:00 p.m. 7:30PM - Family Mass Community Mass in Gym Choral Eucharist Family Service (Carols at & 7:00PM) (Carol10:30PM Singing ~ 3:45 p.m., no incense) - (Carols at 10:00PM)

Save the Dates in 2019:

January 18, Jazz Prayer– Freedom, 7:30 pm February 10, 7th Annual Gospel Concert, 3 pm Intergenerational celebration with choirs from Chg/Milw.

Good Shepherd

Lutheran Church, ELCA Temporarily located at 820 Ontario St. Oak Park • 708-848-4741 goodshepherdlc.org

CHRISTMAS • Sunday, Dec. Tuesday,DAY December 25 25 8:30AM, 10:30AM (No 5:00PM Mass)

Christmas Day ~ 10:00 a.m. SOLEMNITY MARY, The Mother of God HolyofEucharist

Christmas Worship

Christmas Eve Family Candlelight Service 5:00 p.m. A Service of Lessons and Carols 10:00 p.m.

Christmas Day Communion Service 9:30 a.m.

United Lutheran Church 409 Greenfield Street (at Ridgeland) Oak Park

Christmas Eve December 24 at 5 p.m. Holy Communion with candle lighting and children’s story

Christmas Day December 25 at 10 a.m. Holy Communion

New Year’s Eve

The EPIPHANY of the LORD 4:30PM - Saturday, Jan. 7 7:45, 9:30, 11:15AM, 5:00PM - Sunday, Jan. 8

Rev. Carl Morello, Pastor Rev. Edward Salmon, Resident

Join us for Christmas worship

The Peace the World Cannot Give

NEW YEAR’S DAY • Sunday, Jan. 1 7:45, 9:30, 11:15AM (No 5:00PM Mass)

Glad tidings for Christmas and a happy New Year!

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church

NEW YEAR’S EVE • Saturday, Dec. 31 8:00AM, 4:30PM

Weekly Confessions: Saturdays 8:30-9:00AM

G U I D E

Service 7:00 p.m. www.unitedlutheranchurch.org

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church

305 Circle Avenue, Forest Park (708) 366-3226 Rev. Leonard R. Payton, Pastor St. Giles Church, 1045 N. Columbian Rev. Avenue, IL Pastor RoneyOak Riley,Park, Assistant On the corner of Columbian and Greenfield (Two blocks south of North Avenue - Three blocks east of OakAccess Park Avenue) Wheelchair to Sanctuary Ph: 708-383-3430 • Web: stgilesparish.org www.stjohnforestpark.org

Christmas Eve 5 pm Family Friendly Service 7 pm Traditional Candlelighting Service First United Methodist Church of Oak Park

324 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park (708) 383-4983 www.firstUMCoakpark.org

Holiday Services at Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation 7:00pm

Come home for the holidays and connect. Sunday Service is at 11:00 am. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service • Sunday, December 24th at 7:00pm

Friday December 21st :: Winter Solstice Celebration

Christmas Morning Service at 11:00am

Christmas Eve Services Monday, December 24, 2018 3:00pm

Christmas Pageant & Worship for All Ages

7:00pm

Family Candlelight Service

First Congregational Church of Maywood

10:30pm Organ Recital 11:00pm Candlelight Service with Carols and Readings 875 Lake Street | Oak Park IL | 708 848 6225

Please like us on Facebook

400 North 5th Avenue • Maywood, IL 60153 (708) 344-6150 www.firstchurchofmaywood.org

Keep Christmas with us.

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

C H R I S T M A S

C H U R C H

G U I D E

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

The Catholic Parishes of Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park welcome you with open arms to our Advent and Christmas Season Services Come and f

n with us! o s a e s s i h t f o y o j l a e r eel the

Ascension Catholic Church

808 S. East Avenue, Oak Park (708) 848-2703 - ascensionoakpark.com

Advent Evening Prayer Wednesday, December 19 at 7:00 pm Contemplative Prayer Saturday, December 22 at 8:30 am Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays from 4:00 – 4:45 pm Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Christmas Eve – Monday, December 24 Mass at 4:00 pm – with Schola Mass at 6:00 pm – A Children’s Focus Mass with Choristers Mass at 11:00 pm; Carols at 10:30 pm with the Adult Choir Christmas Day – Tuesday, December 25 Mass at 9:00 am and 11 am– with Organ and Instruments The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Saturday, December 29 – Mass at 5:00 pm Sunday, December 30 at 7:30, 9:00, and 11:00 am, and 5:00 pm In honor of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt, we will honor All Refugee Families with a display of over 40 crèches or nativity scenes from around the world – each telling the same Nativity Story. Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement services will be present. Refreshments will be served. After all Sunday morning Masses in the Pine Room. Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God – New Year’s Day Tuesday, January 1 - Mass at 9:00 am Taizé Prayer for the World Day of Prayer for Peace at 7:30 pm

St. Bernardine Church

7246 W. Harrison Street, Forest Park (708) 366-0839 - stbern.com

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Christmas Eve – Monday, December 24 Family Mass at 5:00 pm Caroling at 10:00 pm High Mass at 10:30 pm Christmas Day – Tuesday, December 25 Masses at 8:00 am and 10:30 am The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Saturday, December 29 at 5:00 pm Sunday, December 30 at 8:00 and 10:30 am Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God— New Year’s Day Tuesday, January 1 - Mass at 9:00 am

St. Catherine-St. Lucy Parish 38 N. Austin Blvd., Oak Park (708) 386-8077 - stcatherinestlucy.org

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Christmas Eve – Monday, December 24 Masses at 8:30 am and 5:00 pm Family Christmas Mass (Prelude at 4:30 pm) Christmas Day – Tuesday, December 25 Masses at 8:30 am and 10:30 am The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Saturday, December 29 at 5:00 pm Sunday, December 30 at 8:30 and 10:30 am Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Monday, December 31 - Masses at 8:30 am and 7:00 pm Tuesday, January 1 - Mass at 10:00 am

St. Edmund Parish

188 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park (708) 848-4417 - stedmund.org

Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord Christmas Eve: Monday, December 24 4:30 pm Vigil: Family Mass Choral music and carols begin at 4:00 pm. 10:30 pm Vigil Lessons and Carols begin at 9:50 pm. Christmas Day: Tuesday, December 25 Masses at 9:00 am and 11:00 am Choral music and carols begin at 10:50 am. The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Saturday, December 29 at 5:30 pm Sunday, December 30 at 9:00 and 11:00 am Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God New Year’s Day Tuesday, January 1 - Mass at 10:00 am.

St. Vincent Ferrer Parish

1530 Jackson Avenue, River Forest (708) 366 -7090 - svfparish.org Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long December 22nd at 3:00 pm in the Church Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Christmas Eve – Monday, December 24 Mass at 4:00 pm Mass at 10:30 pm – Adult Choir Christmas Day – Tuesday, December 25 Masses at 7:30 am, 9:00 am and 11:00 am The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Saturday, December 29 at 5:30 pm Sunday, December 30 at 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 am, and 5:30 pm Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God— New Year’s Day Tuesday, January 1 - Mass at 9:00 am 12:00 pm

St. Giles Parish

1045 Columbian Avenue, Oak Park (708) 383-3430 - stgilesparish.org

Eucharistic Adoration Thursday, December 20 from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm in Church Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday, December 22 from 8:30 – 9:30 am Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Christmas Eve: Monday, December 24 3:00 pm Children’s Christmas Mass in Church 3:15 pm Parish Christmas Mass in Gym 5:00 pm Youth/Teen Mass (with Teen Choir) in Church 7:30 pm Family Mass Community Mass in Gym (Carols at 7:00 pm) 10:30 pm Christmas Vigil Mass in Church (Carols at 10:00 pm) Christmas Day: Tuesday, December 25 Masses at 9:00 and 11:00 am The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Saturday, December 29 – Mass at 4:30 pm Sunday, December 30 – Masses at 7:45, 9:30, 11:15 am & 5:00 pm Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Monday, December 31 at 4:30 pm Tuesday, January 1 at 9:00 am

St. Luke Parish

7600 Lake Street, River Forest 708-771-8250 stlukeparish.org Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord Christmas Eve – Monday, December 24 4:00 pm – Family Mass Preceded at 3:30 by “A Child’s Christmas,” a program music by our children’s choirs 6:00 pm – Mass with Sounds of the Season provided by flute, brass and voice 10:00 pm – Mass Preceded at 9:30 pm by “A Classic Christmas,” festive choral music and traditional carols with organ, brass, flute and violin Christmas Day - Tuesday, December 25 9:00 am Mass: Contemporary Christmas - Modern sounds of the season with our Contemporary Choir and guitar, brass and flute 11:00 am Mass: Traditional Christmas with music by the Chancel Choir with organ, flute and brass The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Saturday, December 29 at 5:00 pm Sunday, December 30 at 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 am Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God— New Year’s Day Monday, December 31 - Mass at 5:00 pm

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

NEED TO REACH US?

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

Homes

How suite it is East Avenue home wins Historic Preservation Award

PHOTOS BY ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

By LACEY SIKORA

Contributing Reporter

he sign on Kathy Capone’s front door reads, “Ring Bell and Win a Dog,” and it’s not really a joke. The devoted Animal Care League volunteer regularly fosters dogs, and at last count the total number of fosters housed over her family’s 32 years in the house topped 300. As she opens the door for a tour, Harriet, the current foster, joins in to give a tour of the recently renovated digs. Over their three decades in the 1925-era home Kathy and her husband, Jim, had tackled many projects, including redoing their kitchen, but it wasn’t until last year that they made structural changes to the home. Their addition of a master suite bathroom with the aid of architect Debra McQueen and contractor Pam Whitehead of

P&P Construction recently was awarded a Historic Preservation Award by the village of Oak Park. At some point in the home’s past, previous owners added a Tudor-style deck above the first-floor breakfast room. The deck, which was accessible through a door in the master bedroom, had seen better days and appeared to be falling off the rear of the house. In her walks through the neighborhood, Capone had seen Whitehead’s work overhauling another home down the street, and she gave her call. Whitehead says she accidentally deleted the message on her phone, but recalled that Capone referenced living on the 900 block of North East Avenue. “She left a note in every single mail box on the block asking the owners to please contact her if they’d recently left See PRESERVATION on page 23

VINTAGE: Kathy Capone (top) and her husband, Jim, wanted to add a second-floor master suite to their 1920s-era home. The solution blends in perfectly with the original home, down to the vintage-looking new stainedglass windows in the master bath (above).

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

The name you know and trust. Steve Scheuring is proud to announce his move to Compass

Steve Scheuring Realtor and Local Expert, Oak Park & River Forest steve.scheuring@compass.com 708.369.8043

Steve Scheuring is a real estate agent affiliated with Compass Real Estate. Compass Real Estate is a licensed real estate broker and abides by federal, state and local equal housing opportunity laws.

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

PRESERVATION Attention to detail from page 21 her a message,” Capone said. Oak Park architect Deb McQueen also joined the team and says that it was immediately apparent that the Capones needed to do something to the deck, and soon. “There was this breakfast room with a flat roof, and someone had added a deck over it that was falling apart,” McQueen said. “Kathy and Jim had to do something.” Since they had to tear off the deck, it seemed like the time was right to make their bedroom into a true suite and add a master bathroom. Capone credits McQueen’s experience with historic architecture for immediately sensing what the house needed in terms of scale and appearance. “Debra looks at it, and she instinctively knows what to do in the first one or two minutes,” Capone said. “The balcony was larger than the breakfast room beneath it, and she knew it wasn’t intended to look that way.”

Choosing the right materials As with all old home renovations, there was a consideration of what materials to choose to get the project done right but also an awareness that some materials cost more than others. McQueen says this was something she, Whitehead and Capone gave a lot of thought to. “There was a question of materials because the original materials on the house were beautiful,” McQueen said. “There was brick, limestone and integrated copper gutters.” The group toyed with the idea of doing

PHOTOS BY ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

BEFORE AND AFTER: The Capones replaced a Tudor style balcony (left) that had been placed above the first-floor breakfast room with an addition that melded with the home’s original design (above). Lower left, Capone (right) takes a look at the renovated home with contractor Pamela Whitehead and architect Deborah McQueen.

a stucco addition or adding a parapet style roof to the addition to save money, but at the end of the day, McQueen says that none of those plans were ideal.

“You could save some money, but you’d regret it for the rest of your life,” McQueen said. “It just wouldn’t have looked right.” Their attention to detail in the plans and workers’ attention to detail in the implementation resulted in a second-story addition that looks completely original to the house. They used yellow brick on the exterior, and when that proved a not-quite precise match to the original brick, Whitehead had

it stained to match. Her workers employed the same thin mortar joints found on the rest of the house to make the bricks blend in. They also lucked out and found the tiled roof to the breakfast room still in existence under the demolished deck, and were able to reuse those tiles to roof the new bathroom. See PRESERVATION on page 25

2018 Preservation Awards 232 S. Kenilworth Ave. Edward Scheck & Carrie Hageman Debra McQueen, Architect Maldonado Construction Overall 426 Forest Ave. Anne & Ron Paluck Steve Matticks Remodeling Restoration 400 Home Ave. Rachel & Dan Stark Thomas Restoration Restoration

304 N. Scoville Ave. Lauren & Jonathan Tulbert Restoration (honorable mention)

121 S. Kenilworth Ave. Carol Jackson G. Michael Gold Sustainability (honorable mention)

316 Washington Boulevard Mike Fox Garapolo & Associates Architects Rehabilitation

948 N. East Ave. Kathleen A. Capone Debra McQueen, Architect Pam Whitehead, P&P Construction Addition

341 Harrison Street Rick & Mimi Comerford Sustainability

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

1147 FOREST AVE, RIVER FOREST

731 BELLEFORTE AVE, OAK PARK

500 WILLIAM ST, RIVER FOREST

6 br, 4.1 ba $1,400,000

5 br, 4.1 ba $999,000

5 br, 5 ba $793,000

Pauline Sharpe 708.848.5550

Cory Kohut 708.848.5550

Monica Dalton 708.848.5550

406 LATHROP AVE, RIVER FOREST

325 N GROVE AVE, OAK PARK

946 FERDINAND AVE, FOREST PARK

847 S KENILWORTH AVE, OAK PARK

1100 N OAK PARK AVE, OAK PARK

4 br, 3 ba $700,000

5 br, 1.1 ba $514,900

7 br, 4 ba $479,000

4 br, 1.1 ba $475,000

3 br, 2.1 ba $455,000

Jannie Earl 708.848.5550

Alice McMahon 708.848.5550

Mark Hosty 708.848.5550

Kelly Fondow 708.848.5550

Jeanette Madock 708.848.5550

Get Noticed. World-Class Marketing that moves your home from Listed to Sold. 101 N. Oak Park Avenue | 708.848.5550

936 MARENGO AVE, FOREST PARK

107 S EUCLID AVE A, OAK PARK

1414 MARENGO AVE, FOREST PARK

1157 GUNDERSON AVE, OAK PARK

1142 WENONAH AVE, OAK PARK

8 br $447,500

3 br, 2.2 ba $435,000

3 br, 3.1 ba $425,000

3 br, 1.2 ba $406,000

3 br, 1 ba $375,000

Jeanette Madock 708.848.5550

Kelly Fondow 708.848.5550

Dorothy Gillian 708.848.5550

Tabitha Murphy 708.848.5550

Cory Kohut 708.848.5550

1120 LATHROP AVE, FOREST PARK

156 N OAK PARK AVE 2H, OAK PARK

1020 RANDOLPH ST 3W, OAK PARK

7251 RANDOLPH ST B6, FOREST PARK

7432 WASHINGTON ST 602, FOREST PARK

3 br, 2.1 ba $369,900

2 br, 2 ba $349,000

3 br, 2 ba $320,000

2 br, 1 ba $119,900

2 br, 1.1 ba $117,500

Tabitha Murphy 708.848.5550

Sarah O'Shea Munoz 708.848.5550

Monica Dalton 708.848.5550

Armando Vargas 708.848.5550

Akinleye Famoyegun 708.848.5550

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

SO LD

WE’LL SELL YOUR HOME FAST

Stylish brick English Tudor. Beautifully designed.

Fabulous kitchen - centrally located.

Updated Victorian - renovated kitchen & master bath - huge park-like yard. SO LD

131 GALE AVE, RIVER FOREST $781,000 :: 4 bed :: 2.5 bath

SO LD

728 N ELMWOOD AVE, OAK PARK $850,000 :: 4 bed :: 2.5 bath

SO LD

1104 N ELMWOOD, OAK PARK $687,500 :: 4+ bed :: 3.5 bath

PHOTOS BY ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

OLD WITH THE NEW: The new master bathroom takes its stylistic cues from the home’s 1920s roots, with hexagonal floor tiles and art-glass windows, but its level of luxury – with a standalone shower and radiant floor heating – is 21st century.

PRESERVATION Seamless match from page 23

Interior choices When it came to choosing finishes for the bathroom, Capone says that Whitehead, who rehabilitates six to 10 houses in the area every year, knew the right choices for the era of the home, eliminating the need for a designer. With a soaking tub, hex tiled floor, and grey beveled subway tiles, the bathroom looks at home in the 1920s house. A standalone shower and heated floors make the room a bit more luxurious that bathrooms from 100 years ago. McQueen notes that the window choice was another point of collaboration. The Ca-

pone house is full of original art glass, and they contemplated having a glass designer come up with a matching pattern, but knew it would be cost-prohibitive. With some research, they found a commercial company that made an art glass-like product that suited the room and the style of the home. Capone, Whitehead and McQueen were all pleased and surprised to find out that the project had been awarded historic preservation recognition. None of them submitted the project for consideration, but they all agree the seamless tie-in of old and new on the exterior was the contributing factor. Whitehead, who says she regularly showed up on the job site with dog treats in hand to woo Capone’s menagerie, says that finding a good client-contractor fit makes the end product that much better. “With a great client, you get great results.”

119 KEYSTONE, RIVER FOREST $805,000 :: 4 bed :: 2.5 bath

1011 FRANKLIN, RIVER FOREST $575,000 :: 3 bed :: 3.5 bath

1 GALE AVE #4A, RIVER FOREST $790,000 :: 4 bed :: 5.5 bath

Awesome newer construction, newer designer kitchen and baths. Great location - walk to train.

Classic mid-century tri-level. Awesome location.

Huge condo with over 5000 sq ft of beautifully finished space with balcony & 4 parking spaces. Walk to train.

KATHY & TONY IWERSEN 708.772.8040 708.772.8041 tonyiwersen@atproperties.com

Road Trip on the Horizon? Let us know we’ll hold your paper!

Email: circulation@oakpark.com

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cleared for gift off. HAPPY HOLIDAYS

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Generations of Excellence since 1958 708.771.8040 â&#x20AC;˘ 7375 W. North Ave., River Forest 7375 West North Avenue River Forest, Illinois 60305 708.771.8040

From our Family to yours...

Donna Barnhisel

Alisa Coghill Nick Bolognia Dan Bogojevich

Anne Brennan

Carol Brown

Karen Byrne

Tom Poulos

Andy Gagliardo Broker Owner

Broker Owner

Kevin Calkins

Tom Carraher

Pat Cesario

Joe Cibula

Don Citrano

Julie Cliggett

Kay Costello

Jolyn Crawford

Maria Cullerton

Julie Downey

Kurt Fiedler

Yvonne Fiszer-Steele

Dan & Sharon Halperin

Greg Jaroszewski

Vee Jaroszewski

Colleen Navigato

Rosa Pitassi

Susan Ponzio-Pappas

Have a Joyous Holiday! May the New Year bring you Peace & Prosperity!

Ramona Fox

Laura Gancer

Lisa Grimes

Noa Klima

Sherree Krisco

Jack Lattner

Susan Maienza

Iris McCormick

Vince McFadden

Charlotte Messina

Elizabeth Moroney

Mike Roche

Jenny Ruland

Laurel Saltzman

Laurie Shapiro

Tom Sullivan

Debbie Watts

George & Nancy Wohlford

Antonia Zamula

Our Roots are Here.

Randy Ernst 773-290-0307

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The NEXT SAY Connects Community Conversation What the young OPRF community has to say about their community and what actions they are taking to make it better.

Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 7 p.m. Percy Julian Middle School Auditorium RSVP required - oakpark.com/sayconnects

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In The Village, Realtors®

189 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 386-1400 HomesintheVillage.com

Featured Listings for This Week

Harry Walsh, Managing Broker

Mike Becker

Oak Park • $639,998 4BR, 4.1BA Call Keri x127

Oak Park • $469,000 3BR, 3BA Call Roz x112

Forest Park • $439,900 Multi unit Call Joe x117

Oak Park • $425,000 3BR, 1.1BA Call Roz x112

Roz Byrne Joelle Venzera

Tom Byrne

Oak Park • $375,000 3BR, 1.1BA Call Kyra x145

Oak Park • $319,900 3BR, 2.1BA Call Elissa x192

Forest Park • $369,900 3BR, 3BA Call Elissa x192

Laurie Christofano

Forest Park • $199,900 2BR, 1BA Call Kris x101

Hillside • $185,000 3BR, 1BA Call Harry x116

Oak Park • $150,000 2BR, 1BA Call Steve x121

Oak Park • $110,000 1BR, 1BA Call Mike x120

Berwyn • $315,000 Multi unit Call Laurie x186

Wishing All in Our Community Joy, Happiness and Peace!

Kris Sagan

Linda Rooney

Marion Digre

Morgan Digre

Ed Goodwin

Joe Langley

Jane McClelland

Kyra Pych

Keri Meacham

Mary Murphy

Steve Nasralla

Elissa Palermo

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This Directory brought to you by mrgloans.com

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The Joyful Giving Catalog

Coordinated by the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation

We connect giving to impact!

AgeOptions AgeOptions helps to empower older adults in Suburban Cook County by connecting them to information and resources so they can thrive as they age. AgeOptions has served older adults since 1974 reaching more than 155,000 older adults and caregivers last year alone. AgeOptions partners with community-based nonprofits serving older adults and their caregivers to ensure that every aging person has access to in-home care, adult day services, nutritious meals, intervention and prevention of fraud, abuse, and neglect, and advocacy to protect their right. To donate, volunteer, or simply find out about the many services and programs available to you or your loved ones, go to www.ageoptions.org or call us at 708-383-0258.

Animal Care League Animal Care League offers a safe haven for pets in need. Founded in 1973, Animal Care League takes a proactive approach to animal care and adoption as well as preventative measures to help reduce the number of homeless animals in our communities. With over 1000 pets coming to our doors each year, Animal Care League counts on supporters to ensure that we can provide what is needed from routine vaccinations to life saving surgery. Make a difference in the life of a homeless animal by visiting www.animalcareleague. org where you can sign up to volunteer, make a donation, view our adoptable pets, and learn about upcoming events.

Austin Coming Together (ACT) Austin Coming Together (ACT) exists to create a thriving Austin community. ACT’s mission is to increase the collective impact of our member organizations on improving education and economic development outcomes in the Austin community. ACT provides backbone support for a network of more than 50 non-profit, faith-based, public, and private entities committed to improving

the quality of life in the Austin community. Since 2010, we have helped our members take a strategic and collaborative approach to achieving outcomes together.

For more information about membership, volunteering, or to make a donation please contact Executive Director, Darnell Shields, at 773-417-8613 or dshields@ austincomingtogether.org

BUILD, Inc. Since 1969, Austinbased BUILD, Inc. has helped thousands of Chicago youth escape gang violence to become positive community leaders. BUILD is a second family to young people who face steep obstacles, yet succeed every day with the help of caring mentors who share similar backgrounds. Programs like the Block 51 Arts Academy, Austin Summer of Opportunity, and BUILDing Girls 2 Women foster creativity, socialemotional health, and academic success of youth ages 6 to 24. Gifts to the Attitude of Gratitude campaign support expansion of programs in Austin, Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Hermosa, Logan Square, and Fuller Park. Visit www.buildchicago.org or call 773-227-2880.

Celebrating Seniors In May 2011 Celebrating Seniors launched its first Celebrating Seniors Week, which has since become a vibrant annual tradition in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park. Celebrating Seniors is dedicated to honoring, recognizing and serving local seniors. The organization concentrates on four main objectives: • To facilitate cooperation between the business community, government agencies and non-profit organizations for the benefit of the senior population. • To promote senior groups and organizations that serve persons 60 and older. • To raise public awareness of issues affecting seniors. • To generate funds to support at-risk and vulnerable elders. To volunteer to support our Celebrating Seniors Week or to contribute financially to our community mission, visit us at www. celebratingseniors.net.

The Children’s Clinic/ Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society Will you join us? We’re on a mission to advance the health and well-being of children in need. When you support the OPRF Infant Welfare Society, you help vulnerable children in our community and surrounding areas access critical healthcare, including pediatric, dental and behavioral health services. Our Children’s Clinic is an important safety net for 3,500 children each year, and your generosity is key. Your gift of $50 will provide a toddler with two essential vaccines. Or for $150, a young patient with autism can receive specialized preventive dental services. Make a gift at www.oprfiws.org or call 708406-8661.

Cluster Tutoring For more than 27 years, the Cluster Tutoring Program has been providing free one-to-one tutoring to students in grades K through 12 who primarily come from the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. Our dedicated volunteers meet with students for 30 weeks throughout the school year to provide literacy instruction, homework help, and mentoring. We also offer a summer reading program and additional academic enrichment opportunities through community partnerships with Concordia University and the Mathnasium in Oak Park. Your support of Cluster assists us in fulfilling our mission, which is to help young people realize their potential through the power of learning in an environment that strengthens the student, the tutor, and the community. For more information or to make a donation, please go to our website: www. clustertutoring.org or contact Executive Director, Kara Kalnitz, at 773-378-5530.

The Collaboration for Early Childhood The Collaboration for Early Childhood is your resource for early childhood information in Oak Park and River Forest. We provide the connections vital to every child’s opportunity for success in learning and in life. We work with more than 60 organizations so that parents and their children receive critical information and support services, children are screened for developmental delays, teachers in child care centers, preschools and family child care homes provide high quality programs and our most vulnerable children and their families experience a strong web of support. For more information, or to make a donation, please visit us at collab4kids.org or follow us on Facebook.

Concordia University Chicago Founded in 1864, Concordia University Chicago is an affordable, comprehensive liberal arts-based Christian university based in the Lutheran tradition. Through its College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, College of Graduate Studies, and College of Innovation and Professional Programs, Concordia-Chicago offers more than 100 areas of study through traditional, blended or online classes leading to a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree. Classes are taught by professors who are passionate about teaching and student success. Currently, more than 6,000 full-time undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled at ConcordiaChicago, River Forest. Make your secure donation by visiting www. cuchicago.edu/givenow. Your support ensures the best and brightest programs for our next generation of teachers, church workers, business leaders, gerontologists, and a host of other vocations!

Oak Park Festival Theatre Since 1975 Oak Park Festival Theatre, the Midwest’s oldest professional outdoor classical theatre, has brought the magic of dramatic masterpieces to generations of our neighbors. Whether performing under the stars in beautiful Austin Gardens as we do each summer or at any of the many local venues where we partner with local philanthropic agencies (such as Housing Forward, Oak Park Housing Authority or Nineteenth Century Charitable Association), Festival Theatre breaths fresh air into timeless texts for Oak Park and beyond. With ticket prices kept friendly for every budget and free admission for all under 13, we rely on the generosity of our audiences to continue our dynamic community dialogue. Donations can be made on-line at oakparkfestival.com or mailed to us: Oak Park Festival Theatre, P.O. Box 4114, Oak Park, IL 60303.

Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory Since 1986, the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory has been inspiring and educating visitors. We manage over 150 volunteers. We offer free tours through the showrooms and free educational programs for kids. We sponsor two free events at the Conservatory KidsFest and FallFest. We host the Uncorked summer-series and we are celebrating the 30th annual plant sale this coming spring. We give grants to the park district to make improvements to the Conservatory. We rely on volunteers, members and donors to make these events, programs and grants possible. Please consider helping us grow. Join. Donate. Volunteer. For more information about membership, volunteering, or to make a donation please contact Executive Director, Beth Cheng, at 708.725.2460 or director@fopcon.org.

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A Tale of Two Hearts

hen Oak Park resident Kathleen Sheehan first met Chance through Hephzibah’s “Heartmate” program, she had no idea how enriching the relationship would be for both of them. Then 6-year old Chance arrived at the Diagnostic Treatment Center after leaving an abusive home situation. Kathleen volunteered to become his “Heartmate,” committing to spend an hour per week with Chance to play games, talk, and spend time with him in order to provide him with a steady, reliable adult role model - and to have some fun. “I think she likes my personality,” Chance says of Kathleen, and he’s right. When Chance transitioned to foster care a year later, Kathleen wanted to continue the relationship and became his Mentor,

Green Community Connections The most recent United Nations report shows that the worst effects of climate change will hit by 2040 if we don’t act now. Go “all in” for the planet with your donation to the 8th annual One Earth Film Festival, an OPRF grass-roots effort that inspires climate action, resilience and environmental justice in communities throughout Chicagoland. In 2018, we hosted 60 film screenings, and 95% of surveyed attendees reported being inspired to get involved in issues or solutions. Protect the planet by joining One Earth today: oneearthfilmfest.org/give. Memberships start at $25. Bill Reilly of The Reilly Group at Merrill Lynch will generously match your donation now through #GivingTuesday.

Ernest Hemingway Foundation Of Oak Park The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) literary arts and educational foundation dedicated to thoughtful reading and writing. The foundation offers a wide variety of programming, all open to the public, to nurture and encourage creative expression for students and for people of all ages. Through tours and exhibits at Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace museum, the foundation fosters an understanding of his life and work, his Oak Park origins and his impact on world literature. Your gift supports creative outlets for people of all ages through professional teacher development, local author and performing artist programs, inter-generational engagement, a writer-inresidence program, as well as student writing workshops, mentorships, and scholarships. For more information about us or to donate online go to www.hemingwaybirthplace.com or mail us at Ernest Hemingway Foundation

visiting Chance in his new home in Chicago on a weekly basis and having adventures in the city. “I love when we go to Pumpkin Moon and buy things with my allowance. I like going to the Harold Washington Library where we made a marble run and played,” says Chance. The continuity in their relationship has been special for both of them. It gives Chance stability with an adult role model, something he rarely had in his young life, and it gives Kathleen the opportunity to watch Chance develop as he heals and thrives during his journey after Hephzibah Home. “He seems really happy,” says Kathleen. “He clearly loves his foster parents, giving them big hugs before we go out for the day. He can focus and play for a long time of Oak Park, P.O. Box 2222 Oak Park, IL 60303

Hephzibah

Hephzibah Children’s Association was founded in 1897. We serve more than 1,000 children and families each year through innovative, community-based programs. Hephzibah provides a Group Home for children who have been taken from their families due to profound abuse or neglect. Our skilled staff recruits and trains foster parents, and offers ongoing support to help all family members navigate challenges. Our after-school Day Care operates on a sliding scale to serve working parents in Oak Park, with programs based at each elementary school. To make a real difference in the lives of children and families, please donate today at hephzibahhome.org.

Historical Society Forest Park

The Historical Society Forest Park was founded in 1975 for the purposes of “collecting and preserving the rich heritage of Forest Park.” The historical society offers tours of Haymarket Martyr’s Monument in Forest Home Cemetery every Saturday in the summer, collect oral histories of Forest Park Veterans of Military service, hosts several historical events a year and celebrates Forest Park. For more information about us or to donate visit us at www.forestparkhistory.org or mail us: Historical Society of Forest Park PO Box 311 Forest Park IL 60130 Search our website for exciting events and programs You can also become a member of the Society and/or volunteer.

now, and he’s very kind to other kids.” Chance summed it up perfectly when asked if he could describe Kathleen in one word, what would it be? “Love,” he said, without a second of hesitation. Last year Hephzibah’s volunteers spent nearly 4,000 hours interacting with children in all of our programs, providing invaluable healthy adult relationships in their lives. We are grateful for our over 200 volunteers like Kathleen, who give of their time and heart to Hephzibah kids. For more information on how to volunteer, or financially support our programs for Hephzibah children, visit www.hephzibahhome.org.

Kathleen Sheehan with her family.

The Historical Society of

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest The Historical Society of

2018 has been a remarkable year for The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest as we celebrated our golden anniversary and our new facility Oak Park River Forest Museum at 129 Lake in Oak Park. We launched the exhibit “Open House: The Legacy of Fair Housing” which will continue until the end of 2019 and our “Ghosts of Christmas Past” exhibit until Jan. 12. And Illinois Association of Museums named us Small Museum of the Year! But our work has just begun, with new exhibits, programs, and a new elevator being planned. We need your support with a gift toward 2019 operations. Learn more at oprfmuseum.org or 708-848-6755

Housing Forward The mission of Housing Forward is to transition people from housing crisis to housing stability. By emphasizing homelessness prevention, supportive services, employment readiness and supportive housing, we are able to offer a comprehensive, long-term solution that moves clients into housing quickly and keeps them there. Housing Forward is the only nonprofit organization in west Cook County with a comprehensive, long-term solution for preventing and ending homelessness. Founded in 1992, the agency provides integrated services to at-risk and homeless individuals and families in six areas: emergency assistance, employment readiness, supportive housing, outreach and engagement, supportive services, and emergency shelter. To learn more, visit www.housingforward. org or to donate, www.housingforward. org/give, or contact Janet Gow, Director of Development & Communications, at 708.338.1724 ext. 262.

L’Arche Chicago L’Arche Chicago is a community where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life together in homes, as family. In our group homes in the OPRF neighborhoods, we strive to merge the highest quality of care and genuine friendship. We seek to create a world that welcomes difference and celebrates the unique gifts of all people, where each person has a genuine place of belonging. Support L’Arche Chicago and help us to create that kind of world right here in Oak Park River Forest. larchechicago.org/2018

New Moms Since 1983, New Moms has been interrupting the cycle of poverty for two generations: young moms and their children, by offering supports in the most important areas of the life of a family – stable housing, job training, and family support. These supports, along with a loving environment, equip young moms as they work to create strong families. Through our holistic approach, young moms experience a transformation of heart and mind as their life stories change from ones of hopelessness to lives filled with stability, health and vision for a strong future. Learn more at newmoms.org.

The Joyful Giving Catalog

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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Getting involved and building a stronger community at IWS

“T

here is no such thing as other people’s children,” says Erinn McKune, Board Member of the OPRF Infant Welfare Society, quoting one of her favorite activist/authors, Glennon Doyle. Growing up in Oak Park, Erinn heard about IWS and observed its impact through the participation of her mother, Julie McKune. It was not, however, until after Erinn herself joined IWS Circle 80 in high school that she came to truly understand the organization’s role in the community and the fullness of her mother’s commitment. Over the years, Erinn’s involvement in IWS has continued to grow, and she is now, at age 27, a member of the board. “When we choose to advocate,” Erinn says, “we

Nineteenth Century Charitable Association

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association strengthens our community through learning, giving, and sharing our landmark building. We provide community outreach, scholarships, and public programming in five areas: music, art, literature, science, and social sciences. The NCCA is the owner of 178 Forest Avenue, commonly referred to as the Nineteenth Century Club. Our charitable and cultural activities are supported by our members, volunteers, donors, and by the events held at the Club. Programs are open to all and we welcome all ages to join. If you would like information about volunteering, joining or donating, please call us at 708-386-2729 email to info@ nineteenthcentury.org.

Oak-Leyden Developmental Services The mission of OakLeyden Developmental Services is to help children and adults with developmental disabilities meet life’s challenges and reach their highest potential. The organization offers life-changing support in three areas: Children’s Services, Residential Services, and Lifelong Learning. Empower people with developmental disabilities today at https://www.oak-leyden. org/get-involved/donate.

Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry $1 = 3 meals, is an equation only you can make possible. With your help, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry has been reducing local hunger for nearly 40 years. Your support means we are able to meet the needs of nearly 16,000 families struggling with hunger each year. It means we can provide over 50 pounds of nutritious food plus access to vital programs and services to help people stretch limited food budgets in healthy

reflect the strength of our community. This strength is what I find in the OPRF Infant Welfare Society (IWS). It is why I became a Society Member and then a Board Member.” The IWS Children’s Clinic meets critical health needs for area children without access to care. From birth to age 18, from the routine to the complex, the clinic provides Heartfelt Healthcare to 3,500+ children annually, including pediatric, dental and behavioral health services If you care about children’s health, social justice and local impact – join Erinn by supporting IWS. To learn more or pledge a gift, visit www.oprfiws.org.

ways. It means that even a little goes a long way: every $1 donated can feed a neighbor for an entire day. To make a donation, visit oprffoodpantry. org or send checks payable to OPRF Food Pantry to Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301.

Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation The Oak Park – River Forest Community Foundation is based on a powerful promise: to create an enduring institution where people can come together and pool their resources to meet our community’s most pressing needs; not just now, but forever. For sixty years, generations of thoughtful and caring donors and residents have empowered the Foundation’s work to safeguard and advance the community in which we live, raise our families and work. From helping donors with legacy gift planning, to managing donor advised funds, to strengthening local non-profits, we connect. Visit oprfcf.org or call 708-848-1560 (ask for Rhea Yap) to start a fund, discuss your charitable estate plans, or make a donation today.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center Since 1972, the Oak Park Regional Housing Center (OPRHC) has been an advocate for fair housing. Our mission is to achieve meaningful and lasting diversity in communities. The OPRHC works to counteract steering and encourages pro-integrative housing options. We promote Oak Park as a community for all races, attracting people who respond to and strengthen that kind of climate. We work with local entities to coordinate a multifaceted effort to promote and sustain the community’s rich diversity. Support our work with a donation at https:// oprhc.org/donate/oprhc.org • 708-848-7150 info@ oprhc.org • 1041 South Boulevard Oak Park IL 60302

Julie McKune, Patrick McKune and Erinn McKune at the annual IWS Tee It Up For Health Kids Golf Classic.

Opportunity Knocks Opportunity Knocks is dedicated to providing opportunities and resources for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they may pursue their educational, occupational and social interests. Our approach to programming is personcentered, peer-led and community-based. Due to challenges in relying on the State of Illinois as a funding partner, we rely on our community for that partnership and support. We are nearly entirely privately funded. That fact makes your support that much more important. To learn more about Opportunity Knocks or to make a donation in support of the Warrior Mission, please visit us online at opportunityknocksnow.org.

PING! PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation) is an all-volunteer organization that loans musical instruments to students in need in grades 4-12 in Oak Park-River Forest school districts 90, 97, and 200 so that they can participate in their school band or orchestra. PING! also provides music enrichment for its students through workshops, mentoring, summer music camp scholarships, private lessons, and field trips. Founded in 1998 PING! is celebrating its 20th Anniversary and over the past two decades has served more than 600 students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in the music programs at school. PING! depends on the community for donated instruments and financial contributions to maintain its instrument inventory and program funding. For more information or to make a donation, go to www.pingoprf.org. If you have an instrument to donate, send us an email at pingoprf@gmail.com.

Pro Bono Network We believe access to justice should not depend upon your ability to afford an attorney. There are simply not enough legal aid lawyers to help people in dire need of legal aid. These include issues of safety from an abuser, adequate housing, and the ability to get a job. Over Pro Bono Network’s fairly short existence we have enabled 300+ attorneys to give more than 16,500 pro bono legal hours to over 2,500 clients in need. Learn more and donate at pro-bononetwork.org. Your support will make a difference in the lives of others!

Pro Musica Youth Chorus Pro Musica is the ONLY community children’s chorus in the greater Oak Park area for kids in 1st grade through high school. For over 25 years Pro Musica has brought music education, performance opportunities, and youth empowerment programming to over 1,100 children. Evidence shows that kids who sing in chorus get better grades, are happier, and become more community involved adults than their peers. Yet about half of area school children do not have access to chorus. Pro Musica is committed to reaching more children in our community by driving youth music education across socio-economic barriers. • $25 provides sheet music for 1 singer for a season • $50 provides rehearsal space for our singers for 1 week • $100 provides 10 free tickets for seniors to our Spring Concert Help us make a difference in a child’s life – go to promusicayouthchorus.org and donate today!

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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The River Forest Public Library Foundation “A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people,” said Andrew Carnegie. That’s why he funded thousands of public libraries a century ago to help people help themselves through selfdirected learning. Today, the River Forest Public Library (RFPL) carries on that core mission by providing not just books and periodicals but also a wide array of digital resources (onsite and remotely), interactive programs, and other transformative learning opportunities. Honor a family member, a cherished teacher or mentor, a dear friend, or your own love of lifelong learning by giving to the RFPL Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, at 735 Lathrop Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305 or rfplfoundation.org/donate. Your gift will inspire others and transform the lives of so many in our community.

Sarah’s Inn

‘tis the season.

Give.

Since 1981, Sarah’s Inn has worked to improve the lives of those impacted by domestic violence and to break the cycle of violence for future generations. Our Intervention Program provides bi-lingual services for families affected by domestic violence in order to safely navigate crisis, effectively process trauma and ensure self-sufficiency. Our Training and Education Program creates a network of skilled bystanders to appropriately intervene as first responders and community advocates. Our Together Strong Project was created to prevent relationship violence by teaching youth about the impact of their choices, giving them the tools to lead healthy lives, and empowering them to make a difference in their community. To donate, visit donatenow.networkforgood. org/sarahsinn, or make a tax-deductible donation through postal mail by sending a check to: Sarah’s Inn, PO Box 1159, Oak Park, IL 60304

St. Angela School At St. Angela School we have been called to serve the families of Chicago’s west side, a neighborhood that is too often underserved. We provide our boys and girls with a safe and loving environment, challenging academics, counseling services, a focus on early literacy, and the strong sense of belonging to a school family. As we prepare to begin our second century, we’re proud to

voice our commitment to Austin by continuing to invest in our future here: in our people, our programs and our campus.

UCP Seguin Of Greater Chicago

Learn more about us at www.saintangela. org; we hope that you’ll feel called to help!

The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest

Named “Community Orchestra of the Year” in 2018, The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest, under the leadership of award-winning conductor, Jay Friedman, continues to bring extraordinary and accessible concerts to our community. Ticket sales provide less than half the funds needed for the Symphony’s performances. Your gift keeps the orchestra going strong and allows us to maintain affordable ticket prices, including free admission for all students through college. Please help us continue and strengthen our 86-year tradition of bringing beautiful and inspiring music to Oak Park and River Forest. Make your end-of-year tax-deductible donation at symphonyoprf.org, or: P.O. Box 3564, Oak Park, IL 60303-3564.

Thrive Counseling Center Thrive Counseling Center (formerly Family Services of Oak Park) has provided mental health services to our community for 120 years. Located in the heart of Oak Park, our mission is to build healthy minds, families and communities by empowering people to attain mental and emotional well-being. Hope, resilience and recovery form the heart of our programs and services. Last year we provided critical services to approximately 1,400 friends, neighbors and family members including… • counseling for youth and adults • psychiatric care and medication management • in-home counseling for older adults • psychosocial rehabilitation day program • 24/7 crisis intervention • Suicide Safer Community Program • adult and youth group therapy, including: • art therapy • stress management • coping with anxiety • grief support • Sibshops To learn more or donate, please visit www. thrivecc.org or call 708-383-7500, ext. 322. Follow us on Facebook!

UCP Seguin believes that all people, regardless of ability, deserve to achieve their potential, advance their independence and act as full members of the community. So we stop at nothing to provide life skills training, assistive technology, meaningful employment and a place to call home for people with disabilities, as well as specialized foster care for children. Our goal: life without limits for people with disabilities. Make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Donate online at ucpseguin.org or send gifts to UCP Seguin, 332 Harrison Street, Oak Park IL 60304

Way Back Inn/ Grateful House

Since 1974, Way Back Inn and Grateful House have successfully provided residential and outpatient treatment for men and women in Oak Park and surrounding communities who are trying to overcome an addition to alcohol, chemical substances such as opioids, and gambling. Our mission is to rebuild lives damaged by addiction in a personalized healing environment, where men and women’s lives are transformed and relationships are healed. Our recovery program focuses on the integration of the body, mind, and spirit. For more information or to make a donation, go to: www.waybackinn.org or call us at 708-345-8422.

West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA) West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA) provides recreational programming for individuals with disabilities who reside in Oak Park, River Forest and nine other surrounding communities. Donations to WSSRA, help provide financial assistance to those participating in our yearround programs and summer day camp. To make a donation, please visit wssra.net.

Coordinated by the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation OAK PARK-RIVER FOREST

Community Foundation

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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Giving groups are a popular way for donors with common goals to raise awareness and grant money to causes they care about. At the Community Foundation, we are fortunate to have three passionate groups who strive to positively impact our community through collective giving. In 2018 alone, our three giving groups, comprised of almost 150 individuals, granted $114,500 in support of causes identified be each group’s members.

“As entrepreneurs and leaders in our community we were looking for a way to leverage our ability to give back in a meaningful way. The Big Idea allows us the opportunity to fund and encourage meaningful change.“ -Laura Maychruk, Entrepreneur Leaders in Philanthropy

The power of collective giving.

“Joining a giving group made my individual contribution go further than it would on its own. The NextGen capacity-building grants benefit small organizations with a specific need to help them expand their efforts.” –Diana Shea, NextGen Leaders in Philanthropy

Working together, there is so much we can do to transform lives and grow prosperity in and around Oak Park and River Forest, now and for generations to come.

Contact Rhea Yap

to learn more about how our expertise can fuel your passion

708.848.1560 or ryap@oprfcf.org

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation sponsors the Season of Giving in support of nonprofit organizations serving our communities.

www.oprfcf.org

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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GOING OUT OF BUSINESS (CLOSING AFTER 33 YEARS)

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Email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor, ktrainor@wjinc.com

A G I N G

y Christmas started about a week ago on a quiet Saturday morning. As usual, I got up early, fixed coffee, turned on my Christmas lights and sat in the 14th floor windows of my high-rise, my favorite place on a winter morning. It was dark at 6:30 a.m. when I saw the el leaving Oak Park Avenue and heading to Harlem. It had red and green blinking lights all over it and a big red decoration on the front. I don’t think it was the whiz-bang Christmas el, but I loved watching it move in and out of the buildings. Then I looked down at the fence surrounding Mills Park and Pleasant Home, which has strings of lights its entire length. No cars that early, just lights. Then I looked down at the houses on Home Avenue, roofs all white with morning frost, and I watched as lights came on in the houses one by one. I wonder if I should keep watch on Christmas Eve to see if the Polar Express pulls up on Home Avenue to pick up one of the kids. Maybe I could run out in my best granny gown and beg to get on board. An all-time favorite movie scene is where the waiters serve hot chocolate to the kids on the train. However, on its way to the North Pole, I think there are some scary moments on bridges and in mountains and I’m not up for those. Here’s a lovely story about my Encore Chorale’s recent performance (90 singers, full-house audience at Pilgrim Congregational Church). One of my fellow altos had missed almost every rehearsal due to illness. When she showed up for the concert I asked her how she managed to learn the music. She said that she and her husband (an Encore bass) would practice when he came to see her in the hospital. Speaking of Pilgrim Congregational, chorus members stowed their coats in the chapel. I had never been in the chapel. It was mid-afternoon and the sun was streaming through the ground-level stained glass windows. Who knew about this treasure? When I walk into the YMCA for my pitifully sporadic workouts, there is always an original flower/plant arrangement on the front desk. They’re donated by the exquisite Tulipia florist, which recently made its new home on Chicago Avenue near Harlem. Let’s keep them there. I have a Christmas wish for the Art Institute to celebrate its 125th anniversary by giving a gift to Chicago. The Charles White exhibit this past summer was stunning. I went twice, but I was so moved I could not really finish either time. Those faces are consuming. Here’s my idea: move the large collection of antiquities that overlooks the railroad yard and devote that huge space permanently to Charles White, the brilliant black Chicago artist. It would be such a stirring and appropriate first impression for visitors and the rest of us, although it might create a (good) traffic problem. Speaking of brilliant artists, Lin Manuel Miranda. Simply the best. Just lovely. He understands America’s past and represents America’s future. So what do I want from Santa Claus? Well, I guess it’s hopeless that my grandchildren will ever wear footed pajamas again, but I would love to afford to take them all to see Hamilton.

MARY KAY O’GRADY

VIEWPOINTS

D I S G R A C E F U L L Y

Christmas notes in the winter of life

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

OPRF and tracking p. 40

Things white anti-racist allies can do about racism now

ear White Anti-Racist Allies: Let me start by telling you my truth: I am tired. Racism is exhausting! With Nazi signs painted on garages, racist graffiti at OPRF, and a banana, blackface, BobMarley Becky in our community, this black woman needs a break. So I am asking white allies who are anti-racism, can I take a rest? Can you, my white allies, do the excruciatingly hard and frustrating job of working on and fixing white racists? From my experiences with well-meaning, yet woefully-underprepared white allies, I’d like to offer my top three helpful anti-racist actions you can take to help stop racism. And the great thing is, if you don’t like my suggestions, there are literally hundreds of other suggestions out there!

my white friends that once they confront someone’s racist speech or action, they think they are done, even if the racist person doesn’t respond. But confronting a racist once is not enough. In fact, if you only write once and then let it go, you have actually made racism harder. That racist person (your friend or family member) is now angry, and guess who will take the brunt of that anger? Hint: Not you. Answer: Black people and People of color.

SHARHONDA DAWSON One View

Say something, and say it repeatedly My first tip is simple but probably the most difficult: If you are anti-racist, you need to say you are anti-racist as much as possible. Every time something racist happens in our community and my white friends don’t publicly denounce that racism, it has the same effect as supporting racism. This is the hardest one for many of my white friends. White etiquette dictates, “Don’t make waves with friends and family.” Saying something like “racism is wrong” or “you are a racist” is really uncomfortable and hard. The other thing you will have to do is keep speaking out against racism repeatedly. I often hear from

Create an anti-racism event A lot of white people like doing service projects “to help those less fortunate.” Well, the folks who need a service project now are white people. Create an anti-racism event in your neighborhood with those you think most need the education. Have a party where you teach white people how not to be racist. We need you to put your energy with those who most need your help: other white people. We don’t hear a lot about white anti-racist efforts but they exist. Check out Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) and the Catalyst Project.

Support people of color without trying to lead

This tip is a great practice for anti-racist white folks. White people need to humble themselves and allow themselves to participate in a group where they are not leading, their feelings are not centered, and where they take directions from people of color. I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard, “I don’t like it when people tell me what to do. I prefer doing anti-racist work my own way.” Yeah ... that’s part of the problem. Follow the lead of black people or other people of color on dismantling racism. We have over 400 years in this anti-racism game. Try one or all three of my tips! Or do something else. But for the love of God, do something! Racism needs to stop. I’m tired and so are the spirits of my ancestors. Black people have been working to end white racism for 400 freaking years! You can see for yourself how much progress has been made. This is a marathon, not a sprint. And white allies, we need you to run with us for the long haul. ShaRhonda Knott Dawson, ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer formerly of Oak Park, is a ALLIES: Concerned parents and community members gathered with Broadview resident and educasigns on Nov. 9, during a rally outside the main entrance at Oak Park tion blogger.

and River Forest High School in Oak Park.

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

O U R

V I E W P O I N T S

V I E W S

A class on equity

he schools we build slowly over time, the systems within those schools that operate day to day, mirror what we believe as a community. That’s an observation, a truth, often expressed this past year as Oak Park and River Forest begin to actively grapple with what we mean by equity in educa-

tion. At Oak Park and River Forest High School those beliefs and systems reflect a school built over a century, largely unexamined, and crafted to benefit the white elite families of our villages. A second observation, a second truth, often noted recently is that schools are ridiculously hard to change. Most large institutions are. Seldom do they change of their own accord. External forces must be brought to bear, possibly, slowly allowing bottled up internal forces to go to work. That is beginning to happen at our public high school. What’s the DNA in a school? Not board members who come and go. Not administrators who have relatively short shelf lives. Maybe the faculty, working their 30-plus years to reach retirement, is part of that DNA. Certainly, though, you find the DNA of an educational institution in the curriculum which endures. That’s why the real stuff of equity work at OPRF right now can be seen in the determined remaking of curriculum, division by division. Last week the school board gave its thumbs-up to an interim report on the ongoing work to add a course to the curriculum next fall focused fully on teaching equity. Remarkable. More remarkable is that creation of this class is being driven by a small band of current students, members of the group Students Advocating For Equity (SAFE). At their side is Greg Johnson, the school’s assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. As planned right now, it would be a one-semester course open to juniors and seniors. But clearly understanding that the need is great to promulgate an understanding of what racial equity and inequity look like right now in our high school, the design builds in a structure that would take those students into classrooms across the school to talk about equity. We’re impressed and we’re excited by this effort. It acknowledges an immediate need to teach equity. And it makes real the pronouncements of the superintendent and the board that they respect the voices of students in creating real change in this school.

Election a go-go This is the moment when in other years we were likely despairing over the lack of competitive races for local village government boards, school boards, park boards. “Whither democracy?” might have been our staple deadline. But not this year. Not as the filing deadline has just passed. Not as the calendar flips to 2019 and eggnog and champagne give way to debates and discussions among a bumper crop of candidates for most every office up for grabs come April. How to explain this abundance of candidates? We could thank Donald Trump for reminding us that elections have consequences, that democracy is worth putting yourself out for, and maybe especially close to home. We can point to intense, and not conflicting, concerns about finally taking bold action on equity in our schools and villages while also being frustrated with property taxes that are just too high. We can point to debates in Oak Park and River Forest about just what too high or too dense means when it comes to new buildings and how more intense development can be a partial answer to rising taxes. Whatever the combination of reasons, it is gratifying to see so many of our neighbors step up to offer themselves in service.

@ @OakParkSports

Rudolph has a better nose, but we smell better

play gently as our musical friend had he holiday season officially artaught him. He settled on a few keys in the rived in early November as the middle and kept fingering them, back and boys stood looking out the window forth in different patterns, coaxing sounds in mid-narrative ramble and Tyler that conveyed surprising feeling. made a startling remark: “This is a song about the Grinch in the “Reindeer are better than people … and place where kids don’t have parents,” people smell better than reindeer.” he said, seemingly grasping musicality, Long pause. Then Bryce took the words emotional resonance, and empathy all at right out of my mouth: once. Let’s face it, kids are smarter than “How do you know that?” And we were off — like coursers we we think. flew, rooftop to rooftop, in search of The week after Thanksgiving, we had Christmas. The boys, for the second year our first full-fledged snowfall, which are fascinated by reindeer, Rudolph in only intensified the ambiance — and the particular. That very shiny nose. They anticipation. The first week of December, don’t understand why he wasn’t in the we started opening the Advent calendar rotation when Clement Moore wrote doors and crossing off the days with red “A Visit from St. Nick.” They’re also not sure why and green markers on my wall calendar, heading for he’s called St. Nick. You know why. I know why. But the holy grail, the big number 25. splaining that to two 5-year-olds can be a bit tricky. We also bought a 5-foot Frasier fir from the YMCA, Santa Claus, that most improbable put it up and wrapped it in lights. We and fragile yet enduring of myths, saved the ornaments for the followis precarious enough as it is (How ing week — except for two they each can he get around to that many just “had” to put on, beginning with chimneys in one night? How many the typewriter ornament they gave seconds does that break down to per me last year because I have an old chimney? “Magic” can only explain manual in my living room for them so much. And by the way, why don’t to peck on. you have a chimney, Papa Ken?). They’re crazy about tree-decoratYet we are willing co-conspirators, ing, so the following week I put on and it’s worth every pretzel-twisting the Christmas song station (93.9 FM) rationale we can muster because and we began excavating my closet. you can see the magic in their eyes They can hook ornaments on a tree — and through their eyes I get see so fast, it makes your head spin, but the world with magic still in it. somehow they got through without The following week, Dylan and I breaking a single bauble. took them to see the 12:45 showing “Do you have any more ornaof The Grinch at the Lake Theatre. ments, Papa Ken?” they kept asking, Front and center in the big theater, so we rummaged around in the we had the place to ourselves, closet for anything hang-able. If they all 700-plus seats of it. One other had hooks, we would have hung all middle-aged couple eventually the plastic Easter eggs, too. settled in a few rows back. And that As it is, we found some used ribBryce looks for reindeer tracks. bons was it. So the boys could give full left over from last year’s gifts throat to their awe. The new verand draped those on the tree with sion of the Grinch story is like the old animated one great artistry. … on steroids. They can do a lot more with animation Afterward, we stood back and speculated on what these days, and they took full advantage. The film Santa would think when he saw it. They were pretty even provides the backstory on the Grinch’s smallsure he would nominate it for a prize, maybe the Ruheartedness: growing up lonely in a sad-sack orphandolph the Reindeer Award. age — not very original, but it made you sympathize. “Now Dasher, now Dancer … and Rudolph with The film was pretty dazzling even through my your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh toeyes, so it must have been breathtaking to the boys: night?” The color, the characters, the colorful characters, the Santa is immortal, but we’re not quite sure about detail, the wildly diverse perspectives. The boys were, the reindeer. to say the least, visually stimulated. Even their bigWe’ve taken the boys to see the Illuminations show screen TVs at home pale compared to this wall-sized at Morton Arboretum. Kristen took them to see image filled with cartoon splendor and surrounded by Christmas Around the World at the Museum of Scimega-speakers. Of course, they still had the presence ence and Industry. We browsed Geppetto’s Toy Box in of mind to decide, midway through, that they needed Oak Park and they had me take notes to add to their popcorn. They sat in our laps, knelt in their seats, and growing list. They’ve written letters to Santa and stood up because they were too excited to stay seated mailed them in the special box in front of the Scoville for long. The couple behind us seemed unfazed by Square building. their running commentary on the film in progress. For the boys, this is all about getting to the big day. Afterward, we visited Grandma at Brookdale, It can’t get here soon enough. But not for me. I don’t where there is a piano on the 13th floor. Bryce ever want the day to arrive. I live for the lead-up. climbed up on the bench and I reminded him to Christmas is fun again.

KEN

TRAINOR

V I E W P O I N T S D O O P E R ’ S

W E D N E S D A Y

M E M O R I E S

Wiggling my feet in the Wieboldt’s X-ray machine

uring my elementary and high school years, my shoes were purchased at Wieboldt’s on the River Forest side of Harlem and Lake. I needed new shoes frequently because not only did my feet grow swiftly but I ruined my everyday shoes playing basketball and bounce-or-fly on cement surfaces. I also often used my feet as brakes when stopping my bike. The Oxford shoes my mother bought for me were always the same — one pair of brown shoes for everyday wear and one pair of black shoes for church and other special occasions. I wore this style and colors until I graduated from high school. When we entered the shoe department in Wieboldt’s, a clerk greeted us like we were old friends, knowing full well that we were buyers, especially after he saw the condition of the shoes I was wearing. The first thing the clerk did was remove both of my shoes and slide a measuring stick under each foot and move the metal guide up to the top of each big toe. Much to the clerk’s delight, he discovered that I needed a larger-size shoe. My mother told the clerk the style and colors she would buy for me. The clerk then went into the back room of the department and soon emerged with two or three shoe boxes. The clerk’s next move was to whip out a shoe horn from his back pocket and slip my foot into the shoe, and then he would do the same with the shoe on my other foot. I would stand and walk a dozen or so steps to a floor length mirror to gaze at the familiar style

shoe. Both my mother and the clerk would ask me how the shoes felt, and if I could wiggle my toes. Most of the time, the first pair fit. The next step was the fantastic X-ray machine. The clerk would tell me to step up and slide my feet into the machine. I thought this was the best part of the shoebuying experience because when I looked down and through the viewer, I could see through the shoes and see the bones in my feet dancing around while I wiggled my fat toes. Then my mother and the clerk peered into their respective viewers until they were satisfied that the fit was a good one. When everyone was happy, the purchase was made and we went home. My mother was so pleased with the friendly and competent service, she bought her shoes at Wieboldt’s for many years, and even convinced my family members to do the same whenever they needed to buy shoes. Even though most of my friends wore loafers, I stuck with the sturdy oxfords until I went to college, and then I switched to more casual shoes, but I have always kept a pair of black oxfords and a pair of brown oxfords to wear to church and for special occasions. Wieboldt’s has been gone for many years, but to this day I have clear memories of seeing my pudgy toes wiggling inside the X-ray machine. John Stanger is a lifelong resident of Oak Park, a 1957 graduate of OPRF High School, married with three grown children and five grandchildren, and a retired English professor (Elmhurst College). Living two miles from where he grew up, he hasn’t gotten far in 78 years.

JOHN

STANGER

The Golub project must be stopped I have been following the news in Wednesday Journal since the first announcement of the Golub project. I was encouraged by Mayor Abu-Taleb’s letter and the reports of other village board members’ response to their position on the proposed 28-story building. I am 100% opposed to the project. If the village keeps approving taller and taller buildings, it will not be able to stop the ever-increasing height of new buildings dwarfing everything around them. The next developer will want 40 stories, then the next 48, etc. Is any federal financing or program involved in the present proposal? In the 1970s, when Jonas Stankus proposed two 40-story buildings at Forest and Lake Street, as chairman of the Landmarks Commission I requested an Environmental Impact Study required because FHA funds were involved. Other preservationists and nearby neighbors supported the request to the U.S. government and the study was undertaken. The study delayed the Stankus project, which could not be approved until the study was finished.

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

The study included the shadow impact on Unity Temple, which was a perceived negative affect. The recommendation of the report was not binding on the federal agency involved in the Stankus project, but by the time it was completed, the real estate market had changed and the project was put on hold after a huge excavation was made. When the property was sold to the developer of 100 Forest, the proposed design was much less dense and, thankfully, about 15 stories, the height of the Mills Park Tower, the only building of that height in the village at that time. Golub must be stopped. This project does not have a negative impact just on Unity Temple; it affects all the adjacent neighbors and has a negative impact on the future of the village. Height limits need to be made law and enforced as in Washington DC; Paris, France, etc.

Bob Bell

Unity Temple UU Congregation Member, former BAG Chairperson, first chairperson of the Oak Park Landmarks Commission, Oak Park resident for 56 years

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Associate Publisher Dawn Ferencak Staff Reporters Michael Romain, Timothy Inklebarger, Nona Tepper Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Sports/Staff reporter Marty Farmer Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, John Hubbuch, May Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West, Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley, Cassandra West, Doris Davenport Staff Photographer Alexa Rogals Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes Editorial Designers Jacquinete Baldwin, Javier Govea Business Manager Joyce Minich IT Manager/Web Developer Mike Risher Advertising Production Manager Philip Soell Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead Advertising Designers Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak Advertising Sales Marc Stopeck, Bill Wossow Inside Sales Representative Mary Ellen Nelligan Event Coordinator Carmen Rivera Ad Coordinator Nonna Working Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Distribution Coordinator Wakeelah Cocroft-Aldridge Front Desk Carolyn Henning, Maria Murzyn Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

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

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

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

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

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

Keep out party-affiliated candidates Wow! Eleven candidates are running for village trustee! In 2003, I believe 10 people ran for the board. Choice is always good. However, one candidate stands out, but not in a good way. When one person looks at a loophole to run as a partisan, he is not a good first choice. First, nonpartisan elections are important. We do not need the Democratic Party running a candidate; we do not need partisan divides at a local level. Our divisions are deep enough. For the record, I am a Democrat. Is it possible the Democrat can be knocked off the ballot for filing a partisan petition in a nonpartisan race? Did he need to run in a primary? I admit I don’t know the answers to these questions. The courts would likely back the candidate’s right to run and rule that there is no remedy provided by the state. Judges usually do not want to thwart the

legislature or the voters. With just 29 signatures, the Democrat is on the ticket, gets the top spot on the ticket (established partisan party) and skips any effort at having to get 627 signatures, like everyone else who is running. Hmm? Any more tricks coming our way? We have 10 other citizens about to engage in a political race. It is a tiring process. It is also exhilarating. You have to know more than just your personal viewpoint: urban design, policy making, taxation, economics, budgeting, the role of local government among others. Each candidate will have their chance to ask for votes. It is going to be an interesting election. Any Republicans running?

Those passing, poignant milestones

Robert Milstein

Former Oak Park trustee

Pooling his puns

Thanks to Eddie Pont for his One View [Another mile marker passed, too soon, Viewpoints, Dec. 12]. His account of teaching his youngest child to drive was both amusing and poignant. It brightened my day. (P.S. Thanks to Wednesday Journal for publishing it!)

I have concluded that District 200 is applying the Greater Pool Theory, hoping to mani-pool-ate the community into getting stuck with a Taj McPool. The whole thing is re-pool-sive. Someone hasn’t gotten the message from the last referendum that “No means No.”

Oak Park

Joanne Selden

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Bob Stigger

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Truth & reconciliation commission is a must

I read with interest, and sadness, Jack Crowe’s narrative of his experiences with sexual assault and inappropriate sexual contact within the Catholic Church [Catholics need a Truth & Reconciliation Commission, Viewpoints, Dec. 5]. I could not agree more with his call for a truth and reconciliation commission within the Catholic Church. I too, however, am not optimistic that the Catholic Church will ever give an honest accounting. I recently took note of the church’s public relations effort to rewrite history with regard to how credible allegations of sexual abuse have been handled within the Catholic Church. It happened two Sundays ago in the parish bulletin published by St. Giles where I read, in a column written by Fr. Carl Morello, that the procedures for reporting credible accusations of sexual misconduct and assault dating back to the era of Cardinal Bernardin were “model policies.” I was stunned to read this since I knew from my own experience that this was not the case. I grew up in St. Cletus Parish in LaGrange where Fr. Thomas Job raped many seventh- and eighth-

grade altar boys during the 1980s. When these credible allegations were reported to the archdiocese by one of the boy’s mothers and also by the school principal, Fr. Tom was transferred to another parish where he was able to continue to rape young boys. This was all under the supervision of Cardinal Bernardin. This can hardly be described as a model policy. When I questioned Fr. Carl about his column he told me he was passing along information that was provided to him by the Archdiocese. If you want to read more about Fr. Tom, you can find more information about him here: https://www.andersonadvocates.com/ Documents/timelines/Job%20Thomas%20final.pdf What I see on the part of the Catholic Church is an effort to gloss over this sad and awful history. I guess they figure that if they repeat the lie enough, people will just accept it as fact. They are closing ranks to protect their own because a full accounting of the truth would require that this broken institution radically change.

Elizabeth Johnson Oak Park

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Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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High-rise opponents deserve better treatment

In last week’s Wednesday Journal, one of the main topics of interest was Golub & Co.’s proposed 28-story luxury high-rise apartment at 835 Lake St., one property parcel between it and Unity Temple and directly across the street from Scoville Park and the Main Library. There was coverage of Unity Temple’s proposed response to the matter, Oak Park Call to Action’s projection of F.L. Wright quotes on the north side of temple, Village President Abu-Taleb’s “Dear Community” letter in which he states that he does not “envision” or “support” the current Golub proposal “on this site” and asks Golub “to revisit its plans and explore other options ... in this location,” and finally, a story summarizing the letter and including commentary from Abu-Taleb and responses from five of the six other members of the board of trustees (all of whom expressed opposition to the height and density of the proposal). But what really caught my eye were two other places in WJ that referenced the Golub proposal and used it as an opportunity to mock citizens who have spoken out against this highly inappropriate development. In his column on page 6, Dan Haley, speaking about Abu-Taleb’s letter

of non-support, says, “Conspiracy-minded neighbors believe this is all a ruse to get an eventual OK on a 20-story building which will be touted as a compromise” and then, just in case we readers didn’t get the message, he re-phrases himself on page 18’s editorial with “Conspiracy theorists who believe the fix is always in and in favor of developers on these projects should take note. Wasn’t the case this time.” Well, time will tell how true that is. But in the meantime, in this current media climate where the terms “conspiracy-minded” and “conspiracy theorists” are often used in a negative way to speak of a person or group, why does Dan feel the need to use these loaded words to describe people who are actively using their voices to prevent the construction of yet another unsuitable high-rise? I attended Golub’s public meeting on Nov. 26 at the 19th Century Club, and if the 150 or so attendees are an example of the opposition to this project, I’d say the concerned citizens of Oak Park deserve better treatment from the editor of their community newspaper.

Lorraine Owles Oak Park

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V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

‘America to Me,’ OPRF and tracking

o its credit, America to Me (ATM) raises the issue of academic tracking, a century-old practice aimed to accelerate the learning of all students. At OPRF High School, this means students experience either transitions, college preparatory, honors or advanced placement (AP) curriculums — an arrangement that is replete with racial inequities. Yet rather than giving any significant time to research-based critiques of tracking, ATM defers to former interim principal Don Vogel’s claim that the community would not accept any changes, implying change means dumping honors and AP courses. Tracking continues here and elsewhere, to a great degree driven by white fears, racial stereotypes, and distorted beliefs about student merit and ability. The tracking status quo also feeds on what Amanda Lewis and John Diamond call “opportunity hoarding” in their much-studied and locally-discussed book, Despite the Best Intentions (2015). But rather than going deeper into the racial inequities of curriculum tracking, ATM plows forward, accepting the dominant culture’s prevailing beliefs. This all happens while many in the community including teachers, board members, parents and students meet at school to unpack the history and rationale around tracking and consider alternatives while reading Carol Burris’ book On the Same Track (2014). Dan Haley, editor of Wednesday Journal, in a key scene points to what community advocates for change throughout 2016 were asserting — that OPRF is stuck in racially inequitable practices other districts have abandoned. Nonetheless, ATM chooses not to share with any detail how districts like Evanston High School have heeded the compelling research on the racial inequities of curriculum tracking. Instead the series defaults to a historic system of inequity so many at OPRF defend and hold dearly — results be damned. They needed to go no further than OPRF’s own quantitative and qualitative research. A fuller look at the charts and graphs of Director of Re-

One View

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Slowly asserting the dignity of each person

search and Assessment Amy Hill’s 2016 report on tracking, and the district’s Blueprint Assessment (2011), available online, could reveal much to viewers. As Hill’s charts on tracking make clear, there is little, if any, upward academic mobility from lower tracks to more academically demanding tracks, and student achievement in lower tracks flat-lines over their four years at OPRF. As research supports, and some teachers in ATM argue, tracking at OPRF fosters racially segregated learning that is intensified by “white flight” from the college prep track to the honors track. A look at respected national research could more fully inform viewers. In literacy education, for example, tracking has one of the lowest impacts on overall student achievement, actually having a negative impact (Hattie, 2012). In mathematics education, tracking diminishes the learning and academic future of low-tracked students, with inequitable disparities in learning opportunities and achievement tied to a student’s race, and socio-economic status (NCTM, 2018). At schools like Evanston, “de-tracking” has not ended honors and AP courses. In fact all students, especially students of color, show increased presence and success in these classes (Bavis, 2016). In the wake of ATM, and in light of what we know from our own and national research, we support District 200 teachers developing a more racially equitable freshman curriculum as proposed in the current strategic plan. Securing equitable opportunities for all students challenges our community to examine entrenched beliefs and to act differently. An essential first step is for families who have benefitted from the status quo to face prevailing fears that any changes in curriculum tracking diminishes OPRF. If that makes us uncomfortable, we need to embrace that discomfort. As student Charles Donalson counseled participants at the New York Times ATM Town Hall — comfort and change do not and cannot live in the same house. John Duffy is chairperson of the Committee for Equity and Excellence in Education (CEEE).

JOHN DUFFY

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

As I see it, these statements [A new birth and Words that stir something in us, Ken Trainor, Viewpoints, Dec. 5 and 12] all reflect a belief that prior to, beneath, or within a society’s corrupt features, shaped as they are by power, class exploitation, racism, or the oppression of women (even when, in Jefferson’s case, the writer doesn’t recognize his own racism), there is an enduring, eternal realm established by God that is slowly, progressively revealing and asserting the dignity and equality of each person. Love activates this second realm’s — or Kingdom of Heav-

en’s — power in the world and makes freedom and democracy possible, even when their establishment might, in any particular context, be limited, and even when that love might draw scorn or hatred from those benefiting from the existing, flawed present. I think each of the writers you quoted, in one way or another, believed in this deeper, enduring realm of God, even though how he or she would have articulated it would have varied. Thanks for stimulating such an important discussion.

Rich Kordesh

Chicago (former Oak Parker)

No more need for the assault weapons ban Thanks to Sandra Shimon and Maarten Bosland, the first step toward a solution to gun violence in Oak Park has been proposed (Why Oak Park needs a safe gun storage ordinance, Viewpoints, Dec. 5]. Mandating safe storage of firearms will keep criminals, terrorists and the crazed from stealing guns. Already, Illinois FOID cards are only issued to non-criminals, non-terrorists and the sane. Hence, assault weapons will not end up in the hands of criminals, terrorists or the crazed in the village of Oak Park. Therefore, no need to ban possession of modern safety rifles

(aka assault weapons) by Oak Park residents, since they will be legally owned, used safely and no longer stolen. And ... the safe storage ordinance is easily enforced by mandating demonstration of completion of the NRA Basic Pistol Course (or its equivalent) upon request of village police. (It’s really just a tax, not a mandate.) Trading safe storage for the assault weapons ban will not only solve the problem, but is a compromise that everyone can live with.

John Erickson Oak Park

How the RF Community Center functions

Editor’s note: We printed an incomplete version of this letter last week. Here is the complete version. The article from three weeks ago regarding the future of the River Forest Community Center [River Forest agencies mull Community Center’s future, Viewpoints, Nov. 28] was intriguing and also missing some important information that citizens of the village, as well as some individuals of the agencies cited in the article, seem unaware of. The River Forest Community Center is the primary tenant of the River Forest Civic Center Authority building and has a long-term lease management agreement to operate the

facility. The lease management agreement requires the River Forest Community Center to be directly responsible for building maintenance, paying the rent, paying utilities, and the operating costs. This distinction is important because the village board and other taxing bodies cited have a tendency to ignore this reality. The River Forest Community Center is a self-supporting organization that relies on program user fees, not tax dollars to complete its mission. They cannot and do not tax village residents. This is important to the conversation because many of our residents are completely unaware of this simple but major fact.

I think everyone welcomes input on how the facility could be improved, especially since space in the building is currently maxed out. As an employee, I am aware of the daily schedule and know firsthand this building is being operated in an efficient and effective manner that benefits all of our clients, our tenants and our village residents. The future of the River Forest Community Center, with support from the River Forest Civic Center Authority as well as the local community at large, will continue to provide for, and be an asset to, our village.

Tom Ames

Oak Park

V I E W P O I N T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

Mental health, alcohol, and college

s a college student, it’s hard to deny the enormous presence of alcohol on campus. Campus town main streets are filled with bars and liquor stores, social media accounts market the lifestyle directly to us, and lax university/ local ordinances make it easy to get access, making alcohol a staple of college culture for the foreseeable future. But hiding the dangers that it brings should not be. College students and their non-college peers stand far apart from one another when it comes to alcohol. A University of Michigan study says that 80% of college students have reported consuming at least one serving of alcohol within the last two weeks; their noncollege peers only reported about 60% in this same category. The two groups stood further apart when the same researchers looked at how much they drank and when they did drink. About 50% of the college students surveyed reported

having five or more drinks within the last two weeks in order to get drunk, which is classified as binge drinking in this study. In the group of similar-aged individuals not in college only 30% of respondents reported doing this. Alcohol use plays a role in the worsening effects of mental illness, with many researchers warning of the potential danger. Both groups examined report a general mental illness rate of about 45%, but a study conducted by the American Medical Association includes “Alcohol Disorders,” i.e. addiction and dependency disorders, are caused by extreme use of drugs and alcohol, as well as other psychiatric problems that may come from their prolonged use. About 21% of college students in the study were classified as having an alcohol disorder, compared to only 16% of their non-college peers. Alcohol disorders were the place where these two groups

stood apart the most. Efforts have been undertaken to limit binge drinking on college campuses with substantial funding of around $68 billion in grants coming from the Department of Education to help create programs to try and curtail the frightening statistics. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services has given out around $22 billion to fund grants to help establish better mental health services on campuses. Binge drinking prevention programs, a class that most college freshmen will sit through, teaches students about the great harm that can come from excessive alcohol use, rather than the long-term effects and impact it can have on their mental health. Mental health resources and counseling centers on campuses are often underfunded, over-crowded, and under-staffed, such that

students are often unable to receive the care and treatment they deserve. Students suffering from alcohol disorders rarely seek them out. A solution lies in how these existing programs, can work together. The safe-drinking classes that every freshman must take can work to better incorporate mental health into their curriculum and educate students on how to get help if they need it. Schools and the federal government can make a greater effort to invest in campus mental health resources and work to give students better access to resources, prevent hurdles, shorten wait times, and provide better oversight to ensure that these problems do not occur. Mental health is the next epidemic on campuses across America, and steps must be taken to prevent it before the already existing problems worsen. Gordon Young is a resident of Oak Park.

O B I T U A R I E S

sity basketball team. He attended Bradley University in Peoria and the University of Arizona, where he fell in love with Tucson and the Southwest desert. A first vice president at CBRE, he had a successful career WILLIAM DIVITO in commercial real estate that spanned more than three decades. Highly respected and admired by his peers, clients, and partners, he was intelligent, and wickedly witty, with street smarts from growing up in the Chicago area. He was a creative, resourceful, and charismatic leader who loved doing deals. Running, hiking, basketball, playing his sax, and following sports, were the things he loved. He had season tickets for University of Arizona basketball for decades and was a lifelong, loyal Cubs fan. He and MJ were world adventure travelers and enjoyed boating. Family was very important to Bill, and he was a mentor and friend to many.

Bill DiVito is survived by Mary Jo (MJ) Sheldon-DiVito, his wife, soul mate, and partner of 45 years; his cockatoo, Granville; his siblings, Janice Baldwin (Allan) and Daniel DiVito; and he was the uncle of many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his honor to the Steven M. Gootter Foundation working to defeat sudden cardiac death. The family will be hosting a celebration of life service at 12 p.m. on Feb. 2, 2019 at St. Phillips in the Hills, 4440 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, Arizona. Please bring your favorite story to share. Arrangements were by Adair Funeral Homes, Dodge Chapel.

Dotson; her grandchildren, Heather (Phil) Mainz, Jessica (Adam) Farber, and Brooklyn Hoshell; her great-grandchildren, Tessa, Lia, Danny, Henry, Penelope and Charlie; and many nieces, nephews and cousWILMA SHARTZER ins spread across the country. She was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin A. Shartzer; her daughter, Sandra Hoshell; her parents, Russell and Ruth (Moore) Dotson; and her siblings, Roger, Delbert and Loren. She will be greatly missed by all. At Wilma’s request there will be no services. Burial was private at East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Bloomington. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in her name to your local animal rescue or shelter. Arrangements were by Zimmerman Harnett Funeral Home.

Willie Brown Jr., 80 Oak Park resident

Willie Brown Jr., 80, of Oak Park, died on Dec. 11, 2018. Born on March 10, 1938, he was a U.S. Army veteran. Willie was the husband of Sharon (nee Mansky); the father of Christine Diaz, William (Mira) WILLIE BROWN JR. Brown, Elizabeth (Christopher Waco) Brown and Aaron Brown; the grandfather of Matthew (Hannah), Christopher, Lucas, Jacob, Adam, Kyle, Alexander, Tyler, Elliot and William; the brother of Blanche Hamm, the late Bernice Brown, and the late Nora (the late John) Watson; and the uncle of Pastor Eric (Diane) Brown Sr. and many nieces and nephews. Visitation and funeral Mass were held Dec. 18 at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church in Oak Park, followed by interment at Oakridge Cemetery.

William DiVito, 67 OPRF grad, class of ’69

William Lee DiVito, 67, of Tucson, died suddenly at his home on Dec. 3, 2018 doing what he loved: working out. Born and raised in Oak Park, the son of the late Jan and Evelyn DiVito, he grew up surrounded by a large Italian family. A graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School, class of 1969, he was the captain and most valuable player of the var-

GORDON YOUNG One View

Wilma Shartzer, 93 Resident of Oak Park

Wilma Elizabeth Shartzer, 93, of Oak Park, formerly of Bloomington, died in her sleep on Dec. 8, 2018. Wilma is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Larry) Czyz; her sister-in-law, Valeria

Robert P. Gamboney Funeral Director

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

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

RELIGION GUIDE Presbyterian

Check First.

First Congregational Church of Maywood

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

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

William S. Winston Pastor

ELCA, Lutheran

Good Shepherd

Worshiping at 820 Ontario, Oak Park IL (First Baptist Church) 9:00 a.m.—Education Hour 10:30 a.m.—Worship

All are welcome. goodshepherdlc.org 708-848-4741

Lutheran—ELCA

United Lutheran Church

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

Sunday Service 7AM, 9AM & 11:15AM Believer’s Walk of Faith Broadcast Schedule (Times in Central Standard Time) Television DAYSTAR (M-F)

3:30-4:00pm

Nationwide

WJYS-TV (M-F)

6:30-7:00am

Chicago, IL.

WCIU-TV (Sun.)

10:30-11:00am

Chicago, IL.

Word Network

10:30-11:00am

Nationwide

(M-F)

www.livingwd.org www.billwinston.org

West Suburban Temple Har Zion

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

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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

Child care available 9-11am

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

Roman Catholic

Ascension Catholic Church

www.unitedlutheranchurch.org

708/386-1576

(708) 697-5000 LIVE Webcast - 11:15AM Service

Fair Oaks

Lutheran-Independent

Grace Lutheran Church

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

Grace Lutheran School

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

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church

305 Circle Ave, Forest Park Sunday Worship, 9:30am Christian Education Hour 8:30am Wednesday Worship 7:00pm Wheelchair Access to Sanctuary Leonard Payton, Pastor Roney Riley, Assistant Pastor 708-366-3226 www.stjohnforestpark.org Methodist

First United Methodist Church of Oak Park

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

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

Rev. James Hurlbert, Pastor

Roman Catholic

St. Edmund Catholic Church

188 South Oak Park Ave. Saturday Mass: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Masses: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Weekday Mass: 8:30 a.m. M–F Holy Day Masses: As Announced Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15 p.m. Parish Office: 708-848-4417 Religious Ed Phone: 708-848-7220

St. Giles Family Mass Community

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

Third Unitarian Church 10AM Sunday Forum 11AM Service Rev. Colleen Vahey thirdunitarianchurch.org (773) 626-9385 301 N. Mayfield, Chicago Committed to justice, not to a creed

Roman Catholic

St. Bernardine Catholic Church Harrison & Elgin, Forest Park

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

Upcoming Religious Holidays

Dec 2-24 Advent 16-25 Posadas Navidenas

Christian Hispanic Christian 21 Yule Christian Yule - Litha Wicca/Pagan Northern and Southern hemispheres

To place a listing in the Religion Guide, call Mary Ellen: 708/613-3342

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Congratulations to Centre Physical Therapy on their opening! 207 Harrison St., Oak Park * (708) 210-9800 * centrephysicaltherapy.com Among the celebrants at the ribbon cutting: Bob Stelletello, Right At Home Oak Park / Chicago / Hinsdale; Craig Failor, Village of Oak Park; Lynn Palmgren, Palmgren Acupuncture; Emily Haglage, Centre Physical Therapy; Erik Stegemann, Cloud Nine Realty Group; Sarah Stegemann, Centre Physical Therapy; Sol Salinas, Centre Physical Therapy; Cliff Osborn, Jack Carpenter Realtors; Viktor Schrader, OPEDC; Caty Stegemann, Centre Physical Therapy; Matthew Stegemann, Centre Physical Therapy; Liz Holt, OPRF Chamber of Commerce; Jonathan Biag, Escape Factor; Chris Grumboski, CMIT Solutions; Rose Mattax, Arbonne; Pat Koko, Celebrating Seniors Coalition

For your own ribbon cutting contact us on oprfchamber.org

GET TO KNOW US BETTER IN 2019! LEAD . LEARN . PROMOTE

Look for these icons to guide you through our Chamber.

No time? Do one thing this week to help your business.

Info & direction about Chamber & community resources.

Info about opportunities to grow your business & participate in professional development.

Info & activity about affinity groups to get involved with.

join us at oprfchamber.org

News & activity in the districts around the Village.

Learn about most relevant biz news & be in the "conversations that matter most."

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

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

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:00 P.M. MONâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;FRI

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED

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

Deadline is Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

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

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

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

ACCOUNT CLERK The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Account Clerk II. This position which performs a variety of accounting clerical duties involving financial record keeping and/or transactions including accounts payable and receivable and to provide a variety of accounting support to the Development Customer Services Department. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website http://www.oak-park. us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than December 31, 2018.

PART TIME DRIVER Local company looking for part time parts driver/receiving clerk.Must be drug free & have valid IL DL. Must be able to lift 75lbs. $12/hr email resume to hr@sievertelectric.com

PUMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BARBERSHOP Barber Wanted 773-889-9811

Dentist (Burbank, IL) Examine, diagnose & treat teeth & gum diseases, injuries & malformations of teeth, gums & rltd periodontics for adults & children; prescribe antibiotics & meds as warranted; administer anesthetics during procedures; Reqs DDS or DMD & rltd exp. Must have IL lic. CV, Attn: Dr. Nagaraj, TruBlu Dentistry, 5307 W 79th St, Burbank, IL 60459. Full Stack Software Developer, F/T (Chicago, IL) Translate bus. & technâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l reqmts into well-engineered, tested, & deployed bus. applic. systems. Analyze, dsgn, dvlp, test, install, & maintain consumer & back office systems. Must have Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deg in Comp. Sci, Engg, or rltd technâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l field + 5 yrs progressive exp in s/ware dvlpmt positions performing the following: translating bus. & technâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l reqmts into well-engineered, tested, & deployed bus. applic. systems; analyzing, dsgng, dvlpg, testing, installing, & maintaining consumer & back office systems; dsgng complex s/ ware architecture & create technâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l dsgn specs; dvlpg & maintaining high qlty s/ware products supporting organization stds; managing work time & priorities in accordance w/ aggressive timelines & budgets; working w/ numerous JS frameworks for building complex transactional systems; using container technologies such as Docker; dvlpg inside large legacy code bases efficiently; applying expert-level exp w/ Single Page Applics & Responsive Dsgn; working directly w/ QA teams to address s/ware defects efficiently; utilizing expert-level Ecmascript s/ ware engg inclâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;g functional prgmg paradigms; interfacing w/ RESTful APIs & consuming various data protocols / payloads; laying out semantic markup using best of class CSS/HTML; & utilizing exp w/: CSS animations & dynamic styling; various build/packaging tools, inclâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;g Maven &/or Grunt; frontend state mgmt systems; open-source tools & technologies; Java, MYSQL & / or Informix; & Unix/Linux. In the alternative, employer will accept a Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s + 3 yrs of exp in s/ware dvlpmt positions performing the aforementioned. Send resume to Kate Kiely, HR Generalist, Peapod Digital Labs LLC, 300 S. Riverside Dr, #600, Chicago, IL 60606. FULL TIME MAINTENANCE PERSON Downtown Chicago company looking for full time maintenance person. Good pay & benefits. Hours: Monday thru Friday, 7:30am to 4pm. If interested please call Tony at 312-942-2686

SOA/ Portal Developer wanted by health insurance co. (Naperville, IL). Research, construct, dvlp, & test comp. applics using knowl. of Java J2EE/JEE technologies, SQL, XML technologies, ADF web center, & SOA technologies incl SOAP & WSDL. Analyze reqmts & dsgn s/ ware. Maintain applics, & evaluate new s/ware. Perform technâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l review, & provide technâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l leadership. Reqs: Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deg. in Comp. Sci, Electronic Engg, or closely rltd field, & 2 yrs exp in job offrd or as Prgmr Analyst, OR a combo of Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deg., & 5 yrs of progressively resp exp in the field incl 2 yrs exp in job offrd or as Prgmr Analyst or any other suitable combo of education, training, &/or exp. Send resume to: HR, MultiPlan, Inc., 115 5th Ave, 7th Flr, NY, NY 10003. YOUTH SPORTS INSTRUCTORS The Park District of Oak Park is hiring Youth Sports Class Instructors and Youth Sports Semi-Private Instructors. Both positions are seasonal, Dec-May 2019, 12-19 hours/ week, $14/hour. The Class Instructor leads classes in basketball, football, soccer, floor hockey & t-ball for ages 4-9. The Semi-Private Instructor leads participants (max of 4) in a specific sport-currently offering baseball, basketball, tennis, volleyball for ages 7-14. To apply, go to www.pdop.org/jobs JOB ID 1463 & 1465

SUBURBAN RENTALS FOREST PARK 1BR STUDIO Garden Apartment w/ heat & parking. $700 per month. 708-227-7007

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

SUBURBAN RENTALS

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Apartment listings updated daily at:

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT THERAPY OFFICES FOR RENT Therapy offices for rent in north Oak Park. Rehabbed building. Nicely furnished. Flexible leasing. Free parking; Free wifi; Secure building; Friendly colleagues providing referrals. Shared Waiting room; optional Conference room. Call or email with questions. Shown on Sundays. Lee 708.383.0729 drlmadden@ameritech.net

CEMETERY LOTS CONCORDIA CEMETERY Two lots near entrance in Concordia Cemetery in Forest Park. $1600 for both, or best offer. Email: russ.home@gmail.com

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

TO BE GIVEN AWAY CHINA CABINET FREE to a good home! 2 piece glass and mirror china cabinet. Light in color. Call 708-383-7518.

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

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PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,â&#x20AC;? as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: D18156001 on November 26, 2018. Under the Assumed Business Name of THE RUSTIC WINDOW SHOP with the business located at: 1116 WASHINGTON BLVD APT 305, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: CICELY V. FORD 1116 WASHINGTON BLVD APT 305, OAK PARK, IL 60302. Published in Wednesday Journal 12/5, 12/12, 12/19/2018_

The Bid Opening will be on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at the Oak Park Elementary School District #97 Office located at 260 Madison Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302. At this time sealed bids will be publicly opened and read. A Bid Security of 10% of the Bid is required with the proposal. The Contractor must pay the Prevailing Wage Rates for all work per Illinois Law. A Pre-Bid Meeting is scheduled on Thursday, December 27, 2018. Pre-bid Meeting will be starting at Lincoln Elementary School at 9:00 a.m. Copies of specifications may be secured prior to the Pre-Bid Meeting date from the offices of Jacob & Hefner Associates, Inc., 1333 Butterfield Road, Suite 300, Downers Grove, IL 60515, (630) 652.4680. Cut-off date for picking-up plans is 4:00pm, Wednesday, December 26, 2018. Contractor shall demonstrate experience of at least five IDPH asbestos abatement projects in projects with a contract value of $100,000 or greater within the last 5 years. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive irregularities in the bidding procedure, or accept the Bid that, in its opinion, will serve the best interest of the School District. Any such decision shall be considered final. The Owner reserves the right to set aside a Bid from a Contractor who, in the Ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion, does not exhibit past experience equal to the size and scope of this project. The bidder shall have a written sexual harassment policy in place in full compliance with Section 2-105 of the Illinois Human Rights Act. All questions shall be directed to Jacob & Hefner Associates, Inc., 1333 Butterfield Road, Suite 300, Downers Grove, IL 60515, (630) 652.4680. Published in Wednesday Journal 12/19/2018

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In print â&#x20AC;˘ Online â&#x20AC;˘ Available to you 24 / 7 /365 OakPark.com | RiverForest.com PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,â&#x20AC;? as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y18000107 on December 12, 2018. Under the Assumed Business Name of JANET VARN TRAVEL CONSULTANT with the business located at: 1123 PLEASANT STREET, UNIT 4, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: JANET VARN 1123 PLEASANT STREET, UNIT 4, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal 12/19, 12/26/2018, 1/2/2019

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of Oak Park on Wednesday evening, January 9, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois on the following matter: Cal. No. 01-19-Z: 320 Chicago Avenue, SAC Wireless (Joe Goldshlack) o/b/o AT&T Property Index Number: 16-05-321-031-000 Applicant SAC Wireless, as contractor for AT&T, filed an application pursuant to Section 8.3 (Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, requesting the issuance of a special use permit authorizing the attachment of a small wireless facility to an existing Com Ed utility pole on private property at the premises commonly known as 320 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois. Those property owners within 300 feet of the Subject Property and those persons with a special interest beyond that of the general public (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Interested Partiesâ&#x20AC;?) wishing to cross-examine witnesses must complete and file an appearance with original signatures with the Village Clerk no later than 5:00 PM on the business day preceding the public hearing. All papers in connection with the above matter are on file at the Village of Oak Park and available for examination by interested parties by contacting the Zoning Administrator at 708.358.5449. The Zoning Board of Appeals may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof. Published in Wednesday Journal 12/19/2018

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PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE LAW OFFICE OF LINDA EPSTEIN Attorney for Petitioner 722 W. Diversey Parkway Ste. 101B Chicago, IL 60614 STATE OF ILLINOIS, COUNTY OF COOK, ssCircuit Court of Cook County, County Department Domestic Relations Division In re the Marriage of KORNELIA ERDELYI, Petitioner, and LEO RIVERA, Respondent. No. 2018 D 010236 The requisite affidavit for Publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, Leo Rivera, Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, Kornelia Erdelyi, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief: and that said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before January 9, 2018, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage Entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition. DOROTHY BROWN, Clerk. Published in Wednesday Journal 12/12, 12/19, 12/26/2018

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; CHANCERY DIVISION THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF THE FDIC 2013-R2 ASSET TRUST Plaintiff, vs. DIANA R. DEGORI, AKA ROSE DEGORI; KENNETH P. DEGORI;

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BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.; JOHN WILLIAM LEVINE, AKA JOHN LEVINE Defendants, 18 CH 7120 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-07-323-052-1006. Commonly known as 426 WISCONSIN AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g) (1) and (g)(4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 18014935 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3106357

Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-18-313-020-0000. Commonly known as 1015 S. Kenilworth Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304. The mortgaged real estate is a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: Bidders must present, at the time of sale, a cashierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or certified check for 10% of the successful bid amount. The balance of the successful bid shall be paid within 24 hours, by similar funds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Mr. James M. Crowley at Plaintiffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Attorney, Plunkett Cooney, P.C., 221 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60601. 312-670-6900. INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3106349

South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 522 NORTH HUMPHREY AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-326-0080000. The real estate is improved with a residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in â&#x20AC;&#x153;AS ISâ&#x20AC;? condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; CHANCERY DIVISION WINTRUST MORTGAGE A DIVISION OF BARRINGTON BANK AND TRUST Plaintiff, vs. SARAH GULLETTE-JOHNSON; AARON N. JOHNSON; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 17 CH 10102 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; CHANCERY DIVISION STERLING NATIONAL BANKAS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO ASTORIA BANK Plaintiff, -v.CARL M. WAHLSTROM A/K/A CARL M. WAHLSTROM JR., SUSAN I. WAHLSTROM, PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, TARGET NATIONAL BANK, CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), N.A. Defendants 17 CH 009087 522 NORTH HUMPHREY AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on July 2, 2018, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 25, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One

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Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

CLASSIFIED

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In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year OakPark.com | RiverForest.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com REAL ESTATE FOR SALE issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-17-07164. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-17-07164 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 17 CH 009087 TJSC#: 38-9287 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. I3107527

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newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

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Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

S P O R T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Fenwick wrestlers headed in the right direction Four pillars of strength in Friars’ promising program By MARTY FARMER

Sports Editor

n his second season as the head coach of the Fenwick High School wrestling team, Pete Kowalczuk believes the program is probably a year away from being truly competitive. “It’s a numbers game,” Kowalczuk said. “In basketball, you need five guys to start. In wrestling, you need 14 [starters]. I think a healthy wrestling program has between 35 and 40 wrestlers. That’s about 10 kids per grade and 40 overall. Right now, we are at 25. “To be honest, I’m not really too concerned what our record is at this point,” he added. “The primary focus is on building a winning program. I think our kids are getting better. They wrestle with passion and a lot of fight, which is all I can ask for as a coach.” Kowalczuk’s patience is admirable, considering all he has ever known is winning on the mat. A 2007 Oak Park and River Forest High School graduate, Kowalczuk went 40-2 and placed second in the state tourney in the 285-pound weight class that year as a standout for the Huskies. He also wrestled globally, including stops in Finland and Bulgaria, along with a strong showing in Greco-Roman wrestling at the World University Games. In 2010, he was a U.S. Open Wrestling champ. The Friars’ arrival for success appears to be a question of when rather than if. Fenwick currently has the most wrestlers in the program since 2009. The Friars had three state qualifiers (Jacob Kaminski, Matt Zuber, Liam Mahon) last year, the most in 10 years. Kaminski, also an outstanding defensive end/linebacker, won the 195-pound class state title in Class 2A and finished with a 31-2 record overall. He left Fenwick after his sophomore year and now attends Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania. Zuber went 23-18 at 132 and Mahon 23-10 at 285 last season. “I think the program is going in the right direction,” Kowalczuk said. “I am really focused on retention of the kids in the program and getting as many kids out as I can. If we project to next year, I think we will have 13 to 14 kids in the starting lineup which should make us competitive.” Despite the loss of nine starters, four

Photos courtesy of Pete Kowalczuk

(Above) Top Row L-R, Billy McGee, Coach Gamino, Coach Nehmzow, Coach Kowalczuk, Coach Uphues, Max Daley. Middle Row Brandon Navarro, Caleb Argamaso, Matt Zuber, Manager Ciara Herber, Jimmy Liston, Anton Torchia, Charlie Sullivan, Bottom Row, Martin Paris, Tommy Sullivan, Conor Paris, David Capron. (Left) Fenwick’s Matt Zuber on the mat. (Right) Brandon Navarro placed first at Hinsdale South. wrestlers are in the fold as varsity anchors this season. “We have four kids who are studs,” Kowalczuk said. “They are pillars of the program and going to be around for a while. We build our depth a bit more and we can be very competitive next season.” According to Kowalczuk, the hardest worker on the team is Zuber, who moved up to the 145-pound weight class this year, and also runs cross country at Fenwick. “Matt is a leader, captain and go-getter,” Kowalczuk said. “Conditioning is a weapon for him. He’s super long and lean. He just gets after it as a grindy wrestler who never stops moving.” Sophomore David Capron (160) and Brandon Navarro are two other wrestlers that the Friars will rely on. Both won their weight class titles at Hinsdale South a few weeks ago, while Zuber finished second at the same invite. “Capron has freakish athleticism,” Kowalczuk said. “He’s really exciting to watch

and very dangerous in a lot of positions. He’s only a sophomore and never wrestled before. David knows judo, so he’s still figuring out how judo works into wrestling.” Like Capron, Navarro is a promising underclassman with natural tools to excel on the mat. “Brandon has a great mix of power, strength and quickness,” Kowalczuk said. “Even though he is very young, he’s learning each day as a coachable kid who gives maximum effort at all times.” Freshman Jimmy Liston is the fourth key grappler. He is a freshman heavyweight, who also started at center on the Fenwick football team during the fall. Injuries have limited his impact on the varsity level, but Kowalczuk already likes what he sees. “A freshman two-sport varsity athlete is impressive,” Kowalczuk said. “Jimmy will bring a lot of leadership, strength and power to the heavyweight position. I’m excited to see what he can do on the varsity level.” Before his current stint coaching the Friars, Kowalczuk spent five years as an

assistant at OPRF. He learned much about the sport from coaches like Mike Powell and current Huskies’ head coach Paul Collins. “I had a great experience coaching at OPRF and have so much respect for the coaches over there,” he said. “I don’t really see any reason why Oak Park can’t have two great high school wrestling programs in town.”

S P O R T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

HUSKIES

Strong as ever from page 52 In the heavier weight classes, senior Jaylan Pascascio and Ashford Hollis both came in fourth, respectively, at 220 and 285. DeKalb was second (239.5) and Sandburg third (197) at Whitlach. Among these highly regarded Huskies, Rundell owns the most impressive resume. Last year, Rundell won the 106-pound weight class state title in Class 3A. Rundell (42-2 last season) defeated Marmion Academy’s Diego Sotelo 5-2 in the championship bout. The junior standout also placed fifth at the Cadet Freestyle National Championships and third at the Cadet Greco National Championship last summer. He may see action at both 113 and 120 this year. “I’m really excited for this year because we have so much talent on the team,” Rundell said. “The guys (last year) tasted the championship and are ready to fight for it this year.” OPRF has always excelled with tremendous balance and depth in the lineup. This year is no exception as returning state qualifiers Eddie Bolivar, Chapman, Ogunsanya, Nico Bolivar and Middlebrooks are back on the mat. “I am very excited for this year because we can take the team title once again,” Nico Bolivar said. “It’s unfortunate we lost some tough seniors like Jack Fisher or Eddie Ordonez, but for the most part, we have a strong lineup back that is hungry for a title.” The Huskies, who finished runner-up in the Class 3A dual team state finals last season, had eight state qualifiers in the individual tourney. “Our wrestling team did remarkably well in the team

Photo by Jamil Smart

OPRF senior Eddie Bolivar, a state runner-up last season, is 15-0 this year. state competition,” Ogunsanya said. “It gave us an opportunity to finish off the season strong. It was an opportunity not wasted. Despite not being able to take home the firstplace title, I’m very proud of the work the team has done.” Other than Rundell winning state, the Huskies’ top performance last season was Eddie Bolivar taking second in the 132-pound state final. He won his first three matches before losing to Montini’s Real Woods by a 16-1 tech fall in the state title bout. Bolivar will wrestle at Indiana University next year. Woods finished his career with the Broncos as a 3-time individual state champion. Chapman split six matches at state to earn sixth at 152 last season. Other OPRF wrestlers in the mix this winter include Malakye Rodriguez, Connor Nagela, David Deyro, Max Walton, James Murphy, Clayton Smith, Jake Cagnina, Cam-

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eron Rigden and Fabian Gonzalez. Off to a 14-0 start this year, including a 4-0 record in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division. The Huskies have also won both the New Trier and Washington Quads in convincing fashion. Looking ahead, OPRF hits the road for stern tests at the Powerade Tournament in Pittsburgh (Dec. 28-29) and The Clash in Rochester, Minnesota (Jan. 4-5). Then the Huskies return home for the debut of the Beat the Streets Chicago Wrestling tourney (BTS). The premier wrestling event will feature nationally-ranked teams Bergen Catholic (N.J.), Lake Highland Prep (Fla.), Poway (Calif.), Montini (Ill.) and OPRF, plus a clinic held by wrestling legend Tony Ramos, an NCAA Champion and USA World Team member. The event will also include an exhibition match between former OPRF stars Kamal Bey and Ellis Coleman. Bey is training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, while Coleman competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics. “This is an unbeatable opportunity for young athletes to learn from Tony Ramos and then watch some of the most explosive high school teams in the country,” said BTS Chicago Executive Director Mike Powell in a press release. “In addition, the tournament supports our mission of promoting and providing top quality wrestling programs in the Chicago area.” An OPRF alum, Powell guided the Huskies to multiple state championships before Paul Collins replaced him as the wrestling head coach. OPRF has won four state titles overall (2009, 2014, 2015, 2016). After running the gauntlet of three straight elite national competitions, the Huskies will close out the regular season with conference dual matches on the road at York (Jan. 11) and Hinsdale Central (Jan. 17), plus their annual Huskie Invite on Jan. 19 in the OPRF Field House at 8 a.m. *www.oprfwrestling.com contributed to this story.

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Wednesday Journal, December 19, 2018

Fenwick wrestlers headed in the right direction 50

@ @OakPark

SPORTS

OPRF wrestlers ready for road tests

Undefeated Huskies to compete at Powerade, Clash tourneys By MARTY FARMER

Sports Editor

ith the toughest portion of their schedule on deck, the Oak Park and River Forest High School wrestling team underwent ideal preparation at Hinsdale Central’s annual Rex Whitlach Invitational over the weekend. The Huskies produced five individual champions and scored 293 points to claim the team title at Whitlach. Unbeaten wrestlers Jake Rundell (15-0 at 113 pounds), Josh Ogunsanya (12-0 at 126), Eddie Bolivar (15-0 at 132) and Daemyen Middlebrooks (13-0 at 182) each earned an individual championship in the 24-team event. Nico Bolivar (14-1 at 120) won the 120-pound title. Joe Chapman (15-1) finished second at 152, while juniors Torry Early (16-1 at 138) and Danny Lingen (12-1 at 170) and senior Brian Ziech (12-3 at 195 all took third place.

OPRF junior Jake Rundell won the 106-pound state title in Class 3A last season.

See HUSKIES on page 51

Photo by Jamil Smart

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