Wednesday Journal 122122

Closed Sears site to ge t $100M medical facility, grocery store

Apartments, townhomes also par t of the plan

By IGOR STUDENKOV & TREY ARLINE Contributing Reporters

Redevelopment plans for the site of the for mer Harlem and North Sears store and other nearby vacant land have expanded to include a 62,000-square-foot medical facility as well as a free-standing grocery store and some new housing. Developers and city officials attended a virtual community meeting about the redevelopment project organized by Ald. Chris Taliafer ro (29th) on Dec. 14. Residents have waited years for the now-demolished Sears store to be re placed with new development. Plans for a mixed-use development fell through in 2020, and officials at the time promised a grocery store was coming. The pandemic has slowed the project, however. During the meeting, the developers of the property and two adjacent sites said a yet-to-be-finalized grocery

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer

History’s gi (if heeded)

There’s a particular feeling I used to get while watching certain movies, my body molded to a bed or comfortable lounging chair, wrapped in warm blankets, swaddled in the comfort of progress.

I would watch wester ns depicting the harsh life of pioneers and cowboys on the rugged plains and bask in the negative pleasure of being so distant from that reality . I would watch movies about wars and feel anxiety for those cinematic bodies forced to fight and die in trenches and on foreign beaches, but also a visceral relief that I was watching them on Netflix or HBO, multiple decades and peace treaties removed from that awful history.

ROMAIN

“Most of us in cities are now so specialized in our skills and so utterly dependent on complex technologies that we’re quickly in desperate straits when things go really wrong,” Dixon wrote “When we can’t drive, catch a cab, or take the subway, we have to fall back on such age-old methods of walking to meet our immediate needs.

“When, next, will we see people walking out of our cities — in the darkness of a mid-after noon?”

Homer-Dixon writes.

I don’t know if there’s a ter m for this feeling I once felt, but it’s gone now — whatever it was. I can no longer watch movies about cowboys and Indians, and wars, and Nazis, and plagues, and lynchings, and Jim Crow without feeling a sense of dread and thinking these cinematic depictions seem like premonitions of a wild and chaotic future that is becoming harder and harder to distinguish from the increasingly unstable present.

This week, NPR reported that COVID-19 “is spreading faster than ever in China,” which could exacerbate global supply chain issues and hasten a worldwide recession and potentially pave the way for an even deadlier viral variant. Here in the U.S., experts are warning of a “tripledemic,” or the fear that cases of the flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are rising simultaneously.

There’s the war in Ukraine, which is fed by and feeds into the global rise of authoritarianism. The threat of artificial intelligence. Nuclear annihilation. Climate change. Species extinction. Inflation. Crippling debt

Upside -downside

About a decade ago, I read Thomas Homer Dixon’s 2006 The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization, in which the Canadian author and professor pointed out our debilitating dependence on complexity. The book’s message is more prevalent now than ever

What’s happening to cities now might be even more disruptive than what happened in the wake of 9/11. Central cities are hollowing out, with COVID-19 and the ever-looming threat of yet another viral pandemic increasingly rendering them obsolete (Crain’s Chicago Business reported in April that Chicago’s central business district had a record-high office space vacancy rate of 21 percent in April). And what is a skyscraper without people working in it? Hint: It is wildly energy inefficient and of no practical use without easily accessible and cheap fossil fuels

Homer-Dixon pointed out in 2006 that there have been five “tectonic stresses” accumulating beneath the surface of our moder n societies. They include population stresses “arising from differences in the population growth rates between rich and poor societies, and from the spiraling growth of me gacities in poor countries”; energy stress, and “above all the increasing scarcity of conventional oil”; environmental stress “from worsening damage to our land, water, forests, and fisheries”; climate stress; and economic stress “resulting from instabilities in the global economic system and ever-widening income gaps between rich and poor people.”

The resulting cascading and interconnected calamities we’re witnessing stymy our collective ability to articulate this chaotic reality. For instance, in a recent interview with the Financial Times, the American author Annie Proulx expressed her frustration with fictional nar ratives in the face of the real world’s overwhelming awfulness and absurdity.

“What was going on with the world — in ter ms of the natural world — just seemed so enor mous and so compelling that my thoughts couldn’t get with the fiction,” she said. “It seemed frivolous and silly.”

Draining the swamp

Her most recent book on the history of wetlands, Fen, Bog and Swamp, might be read as a metaphor of our much larger biospheric loss and the author’s attempt to salvage a language for describing what’s happening to life on Earth.

“Proulx hypothesises [sic] that the loss of natural wetlands is key to understanding so many of the current disasters that plague us (‘runaway fires, viral pandemics, headaches, depression’) and that the ‘gulf of esoteric language’ has created a disconnect between ordinary readers and the climate science,” the Times’ Courtney Weaver writes.

Earlier this year, Homer-Dixon helped popularize a ter m that may or may not make it easier for the average person to think about our crisis-ridden moment: “polycrisis,” which occurs “when crises in multiple global systems become causally entangled in ways that significantly degrade humanity’s prospects. These interacting crises produce har ms greater than the sum of those the crises would produce in isolation, were their host systems not so deeply interconnected.”

Over the last several months, an array of idiosyncratic thinkers have written columns and books either introducing the ter m “polycrisis” or playing on the theme of “multiple cascading shocks,” as the economic historian Adam Tooze defines the ter m in a recent Financial Times column.

Plenty of books published this year have emphasized overlapping and interconnected crises, including Me gathreats: Ten Dangerous Trends That Imperil Our Future And How to Survive Them, by the prescient Turkish economist Nouriel Roubini (who predicted the 2007-08 crash).

Roubini focuses on a range of shocks, each of which “affir ms all the others.” They include historically massive levels of private and public debt, rapidly aging populations in the West, deglobalization, climate change, wealth inequality, and pandemics, among others.

I’ve recently been reading history for some consolation (old newspaper clippings, in particular) and for a break from the mind-numbing habit of scrolling through the detritus of our era of peak distraction.

Last week, while scanning the Dec. 23, 1936 edition of The Herald newspaper, which appeared less than a decade after the onset of the Great Depression, I was struck by its optimism.

“Merry Christmas!” announces the publishers just under the masthead and above “A Christmas Meditation,” and another story titled, “Gayest Yule Spirit in Many Years Finds Everybody Jubilant.”

There’s a distinct sense of material progress in the days leading to Christmas 1936.

“[Real] Candles as decorations on Christmas trees are a thing of the past, and from the safety point of view it is for tunate that such is the case,” notes one reader. “Electric lighting sets can add just as much to the decorative ef fect and are far safer.”

A building boom was happening across the west suburbs For instance, the value of home building and re pair permits in Oak Park jumped from $9,495 in November 1935 to $49,515 in November 1936.

And on the cover of the 1936 issue, The Herald reported on a new Oak Park organization for med “for the special purpose of eliminating trolley cars on tracks” and replacing them with buses with rubber tires.

“Prevailing public opinion is that the trolley car on steel tracks is obsolete, a nuisance, and should join the hansom cab in the limbo of the ‘one-hoss shay,’” the paper writes

And yet a Herald reader was already complaining that they missed the oldfashioned Christmas, with the real candles and non-consumerist decorations. There are echoes of this lament everywhere nowadays. Nothing may be so uniquely American as our tendency to throw away things before realizing how much we’ll re gret it. In our rush to re place trolleys with private cars, we forgot the value of public transit. In debt and politically dysfunctional, all we can do now is re gret not having a better plan.

“The old-time family,” the reader noted, “gathered together to fashion tree decorations while they munched popcor n and homemade fudge, shared a holiday experience that knit them closer together for the entire year and made the occasion what it is really meant to be — a mer ry Christmas.”

I shouldn’t gloss over the fact that the world would be at war again in less than four years, fighting over stuf f and space. Many of our grandparents, great-grandparents and great-greatgrandparents would be stor ming beaches, creating the ugly stuff of cinematographic beauty — the movies I can no longer bear to watch without feeling a sense of dread.

But I’m not wholly pessimistic. Engaging with the past always provides a uniquely human gift, which is the knowledge that we have the power to shape our future, perhaps principally through language and meaning-making.

So, this Christmas, give the gift of history.

CONTAC T: michael@oakpark.com

BIG WEEK

December 21-28

Light in All the C Unit y Stor ytime

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Scoville Park

Oak Park and neighboring communities will come together Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 3:30 p.m. in Scoville Park for an anti-hate rally and unity event. At the same time, the library will hold an all-ages discussion and storytime celebrating love, kindness, and community. All ages welcome. Register now at oppl.org/calendar 800 Lake St., Oak Park.

Outta Space Winter Holiday

Open House & Music Part y

Friday, Dec. 23, 6 p.m., O utta Space

This annual holiday hootenanny is hosted by the One Night Stand Band, with Maggie Dahlberg, Tommy Rivera, Tommy Valenzano, plus a few special guests and “regional all stars” dropping by. 6840 32nd St., Berwyn.

Expo ‘76 Big Xmas Bash

Friday, Dec. 23, 8:30 p.m., FitzGerald’s Expo ‘76 is one of the better, more intelligent cover bands in the Chicago area. If they decide to throw a special holiday show, you know it will be a special event. Especially with an “ugly Christmas sweater” contest. Can’t lose! $20 advance, $25 day of show. 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn.

Longest Night Ser vice

Grace Lutheran Church, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m., in River Forest

This evening (Dec. 21), Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 Division St. in River Forest will hold a Longest Night Service that will begin at 7 p.m.

“We have this ser vice,” explained Troy Medlin, associate pastor at Grace, “as a way of acknowledging that the holiday season is often di cult for many people. Whether folks are living with illness, grief, a recent loss, or a family that is fractured or does not accept them, the holidays can be a time of deep pain and loneliness, not joy and merriment.

“We believe that in the darkness we nd God dwelling there with us and leading us into a future where it all belongs. Many folks nd this to be a peaceful place to pray, sing, lament, and hope together with others.”

Winter Secrets Hike

Wednesday, Dec. 28, 1:30 p.m., Trailside Museum of Natural History Winter can appear barren of wildlife, but much is happening above, within, and beneath snow. Join us for a walk to see what’s happening. Family program. 708-366-6530, trailside.museum@cookcountyil.gov. 738 Thatcher Ave., River Forest

Master Copy Nights: Jean Michel Basquiat Pez Dispenser

Dec. 23, 6-8 p.m., Dole Center Studio riday night club, geared toward ar t students, focuses on one image by a famous artist. Students don’t the “master,” but they also learn tricks and techniques to create their very own version. $22-$27, 255 Augusta St., Oak Park

Algoritmo

Thursday, Dec. 22, 7 p.m., FitzGerald’s An evening of Latin jazz designed to warm you up and keep the cold snap away. 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn.

Listing your event

Wednesday Jour nal welcomes notices about events that Oak Park and River Forest groups and businesses are planning. We’ ll work to get the word out if you let us know what’s happening by noon Wednesday a week before your news needs to be in the newspaper

■ Send details to Wednesday Jour nal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, 60302

■ Email calendar@wjinc.com

election for OPRF school board will be contested

D90 race also contested but not D97

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Sara Dixon Spivy decided to run for another ter m on the Oak Park and River Forest High School Board of Education after all. Just 18 days after she told Wednesday Jour nal that she wasn’t intending to run for another ter m on the school board, the two ter m OPRF school board member filed nominating petitions to run for a third ter m late on Monday after noon eight minutes before the filing deadline Dixon Spivy did not immediately respond to an email sent to her OPRF email address asking why she changed her mind and decided to run after all.

Also filing to run for the OPRF school board in the April election were newcomers Tim Brandhorst of River Forest and Oak Parkers Graham Brisben, Jonathan Livingston and Brian Souders so there will be five candidates battling for three seats on the OPRF school board.

Incumbents Gina Harris and Ralph Martire are both stepping down after one ter m on the OPRF school board.

On Tuesday mor ning, the Cook County Clerk’s office announced it was still processing some petitions for school board seats across the county Final rosters of candidates will not be available until after the Jour nal’s print deadline

Brandhorst and Souders have both been frequent letter writers to Wednesday Jour nal’s Viewpoints section but have very different perspectives. Brandhorst, an attor ney who primarily represents non-fiction book authors, was a member of the Imagine OPRF working group and has been an outspoken supporter of the $99.4 million Project 2 construction plan.

“I really am committed to ensuring that every student, every faculty member is provided with the lear ning spaces that they need and that are appropriate for today’s educational needs,” Brandhorst told Wednesday Jour nal in a telephone interview. “I also want to ensure that OPRF has lear ning spaces that are flexible enough that they’ll be suitable for learning needs in coming decades, not just for today.”

In 2016 Brandhorst voted against the $44 million referendum to build a new swimming pool that was narrowly defeated. He said he wasn’t comfortable with the process that led to that proposal.

“In 2016, I think I, like a lot of people, was really uncertain about the process that the district followed,” Brandhorst said. “It may have been a great solution but I knew it wasn’t a great process.”

Brandhorst said the work of the Imagine OPRF working group that was created after the defeat of the 2016 referendum was rigorous, transparent and inclusive.

“I think that people can have a huge degree of confidence in the process that we followed to arrive at this solution” Brandhorst said.

Brandhorst said he would like the school board to look at all funding options for Project 2 and spell out the pros and cons of each method

Brandhorst, 56, has two children, one of whom graduated from OPRF last year and one who is currently a senior at OPRF.

He says he wants to continue the equity work begun by the current school board.

“I really do admire the progress the board has made in the last few years on the equity front and I would dearly love to continue that progress,” Brandhorst said.

Souders, a freelance marketing professional who is the father of two current OPRF students, believes OPRF has overtaxed residents and has been a critic of the Project 2 plan saying that it is too expensive

In an email Souders said “he is running to ensure every student’s OPRF experience enriches their lives; to work rebuilding the district’s trust with the community, especially through transparency, communications and finances; and to address facility needs in a pragmatic way.”

Brisben served on the Oak Park District 97 school board from 2013 to 2017. In 2019 he ran for the Oak Park Village Board but finished last in an 11-candidate field. He is the founder and CEO of a logistics and supply chain consulting fir m.

Wednesday Jour nal could not immediately find information about Livingston.

The Oak Park Elementary District school board races appear to be uncontested with incumbents Jung Kim, Gavin Kear ney Cheree Moore, and Holly Spurlock running for reelection and newcomer Colleen Bur running for a two-year ter m on the school board.

In River Forest District 90 four candidates will fight it out for three seats on the school board. The candidates are incumbent Cal Davis, and newcomers Ayesha Ahmad, Jo se ph Cor tese III, Kristine Mackey and Eric Isenberg.

Distro nightclub shooting alarms Oak Park residents

Another instance of Berwyn bar brawling spilling into Oak Park

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park residents near the Berwyn border are once again alar med by the neighboring municipality’s bar scene after a shooting broke out in a Berwyn nightclub this past weekend. The Berwyn Police Department is investigating the incident, which left two injured.

“Just because we live on the other side of the street from Berwyn does not mean that we should be subjected to these life-or-death situations,” said Jason Koransky, an Oak Parker who lives within walking distance of where the shooting occurred.

Berwyn police have confir med the shooting stemmed from an altercation between patrons of Distro Music Hall, 6815 Roosevelt Road. Police have recovered one firearm and several individuals were detained pending further investigation, according to a statement released by Berwyn Police Chief Michael D. Cimaglia.

Officers arrived at the nightclub at approximately 2 a.m., Dec 18, following reports of gunfire. Shots could be heard in the immediate area from what appeared to be patrons leaving Distro. The Oak Park and Forest Park police departments assisted Berwyn officers in responding to the shooting.

“The scene was chaotic with large groups of people exiting, yelling and running in all directions,” Cimaglia said in the statement.

During the frenzied incident, two individuals were shot, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. They were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The shooting happened so close to Oak Park homes that some residents’ Ring security cameras captured the commotion.

“You can hear the gunshots in the background, which is very disturbing,” said Mike Stewart, who lives nearby on the Oak Park side.

Requests for comment have been made to the Berwyn and Oak Park police departments and the nightclub Wednesday Jour nal has also reached out to Berwyn Ald. Joe Carmichael, whose ward includes Distro Music Hall.

For merly the site of Wire, Distro Music Hall has only been open for a matter of months The property went up for sale last

Distro Music Hall, 6815 Roosevelt Road, Berwy n.

January, after COVID-19-related financial struggles prompted the closure of Wire, a bar and music venue.

“It’s dumbfounding that you can have a place that so quickly after opening has attracted people who bring guns and shoot people,” said Koransky.

Neighbors are in the process of organizing, according to Stewart. An impromptu meeting was held at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, following the Distro shooting.

“Safety is our number one concer n,” Stewart said.

The Distro incident happened within days of Wednesday Jour nal’s coverage of south

CRIME

Oak Park residents’ frustration over Berwyn bar-based criminal activity spilling into the village Bargoers regularly park their cars in Oak Park. After imbibing over in Berwyn, they retur n to their vehicles and disrupt neighbors by urinating in public, breaking bottles and playing loud music, according to those who live in the area.

Around midnight on Memorial Day, a fight at Mike’s Place, 6319 Roosevelt Road., another Berwyn bar, resulted in a shootout between two moving vehicles that traveled through Oak Park. A 34-year-old man was shot in the leg. One man was arrested and charged with reckless discharge of firearm.

Reckless discharge, property damaged

Oak Park police of ficers are investigating the reckless discharge of a firear m in the 100 block of Garfield Street that occur red last Wednesday No injuries were re por ted. While responding to re por ts of gunfire, of ficers ar rived on the scene at 8:39 p.m., Dec 14, and canvassed the area. Of ficers identified damaged property and collected evidence, according to the Oak Park Police De par tment.

Aggravated robbery

An Oak Park resident was robbed by three men, one of whom implied he was ar med, at 11:04 p.m., Dec 12 in the 1000 block of Hayes Avenue. The victim handed over his Apple iPhone 8, his keys, and his wallet, which contained credit cards and

identification. The of fenders fled in a red four-door sedan, possibly with Indiana license plates. The estimated loss is $1,150.

Burglar y

■ A 38 Special Ruger revolver, a 1-ounce gold nugget and a birth certificate were stolen after an intruder entered into a residence through an unlocked window in the 1000 block of Randolph Street between 5 and 11:45 p.m., Dec. 18. A Black & Decker jigsaw, a Microsoft laptop and a pair of AirPods were also taken during the burglary. The estimated loss is $5,000.

■ Someone removed a toolbox containing various tools from US Bank, 6729 North Ave., between 4 p.m., Dec. 13 and 8 a.m., Dec. 15. The value of the loss is estimated at $5,151.

Motor vehicle theft

A 2015 Hyundai Sonata was removed from the 500 block of Nor th Taylor Avenue between 5 p.m., Dec. 13, and 6 a.m., Dec. 14.

Theft

■ The catalytic conver ter was cut from a 2008 Honda CRV, parked in the 1200 block of Rossell Avenue between 12:25 and 12:30 p.m., Dec. 17.

■ Someone took a package from the front porch of a residence in the 1000 block of South Elmwood Avenue between 5:45 and 6:30 p.m., Dec. 18.

■ Three UPS packages were removed from a front porch in the 200 block of South Elmwood Avenue between 3:57 and 4:02

p.m., Dec. 15.

■ A witness observed two individuals cutting the catalytic conver ter of a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe at 3:52 a.m., Dec 17 in the 300 block of South Cuyler Avenue

These items we re obtained from Oak Park Police De partment re ports, Dec. 1319, and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases ha ve not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest

.

Compiled by Stacey Sheridan

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer

WELCOME BACK!

Thanks to overwhelming community support, GCM is inching ever closer to meeting our lofty goal, but we need to raise $9,000 this week. We are hoping as readers and subscribers you will consider adding “donor” to your GCM resume before 2022 comes to a close.

The MatchMakers and GCM Champions listed here made gifts of $250 or more – we are grateful for those who donated early to set up our $40,000 matching fund and appreciate the generous contributions that arrived later in the campaign and helped us meet our match.

Now, we are looking to you to help us get to the bonus round – we need you as an active partner in building our non-profit newsroom. Whether you donate $5 or even $500 our gratitude will be the same. If you believe in the work our small and mighty newsroom does every day, then please join in – we know you are our perfect match!

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Donald Coe

Gary Collins

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Hephzibah is celebrating its 125th anniversary celebration with a series of stories about the children and families whose lives were transformed by our programs and services, as well as some of the “Hephzibah Heroes” who help make our mission possible. We hope you nd these stories as inspiring as we do!

Peter Murphy, the subject of this story, talks about his journey from an orphaned ve-year-old in foster care to a belove d residential counselor who has helped more than 2,000 other vulnerable youngsters nd hope and healing at Hephzibah Home.

Peter Murphy’s Journey of Hope and Healing

The year was 1982 and it was shaping up to be the worst year ever for five-year-old Peter and his older siblings John, Marita and Anne Marie, who had just lost their single adoptive mom, Elizabeth, to pneumonia.

Peter, now 46, remembers that loss vividly. He and Anne Marie had been at home watching Bozo’s Circus with Elizabeth when her breathing became labored. After a fierce bout of coughing, she looked over at her youngest child and whispered his name. Peter looked up at her and they locked eyes.

“Then she passed over,” he says quietly more than four decades later. “It was the first time I felt emptiness.”

In the aftermath of their mother’s death, the four orphaned youngsters were placed in temporary foster and group homes. The children were all in good hands, but they were reeling from the death of their mom and the loss of the comforting presence of their siblings When night fell, they lay alone in unfamiliar beds, wondering if they’d ever be together again.

“I felt so lost at the time,” Peter confides. “My temporary foster family was very kind and loving, but I missed my brother and sisters terribly.”

Meanwhile, Mary Anne Brown, Hephzibah’s executive director at the time, was also lying awake at night worrying about the sibling group’s future. The children had just been referred to Hephzibah for placement through the agency’s newly launched Foster Care and Adoption program and Peter was now living at Hephzibah Home. Would she have to split up the siblings permanently to find them forever families? She had to find a better way.

Brown mentioned the children’s plight to her friends, Dennis and Bunny Murphy, who had already adopted three children. Although Peter, John, Marita and Anne Marie were not related by blood, the Murphys felt that the children should be placed in the same foster/adoptive home because they’d been living together as a family before Elizabeth’s death. When Brown voiced her concern that it would be difficult to find a foster family willing to adopt and raise all four children together, Dennis and Bunny Murphy said quietly, “We will do it.”

FROM HEARTBREAK TO HAPPINESS

Those four simple words changed the lives of four extremely vulnerable youngsters and forged Hephzibah’s first forever family

“I still remember the day that Mary Anne Brown drove me over to the Murphys’ house in her yellow convertible to introduce me to my new family,” says Peter. “I was the first of the siblings to arrive When we pulled up in front of the house, a child jumped out of the bushes and ran toward me, screaming ‘I have a new brother! I have a new brother!’ That

was Michael, one of the three children who had already been adopted by the Murphys.”

That joyous greeting caused something to shift inside of the five-and-a-half-year-old, dislodging the grief that had blunted his other emotions. Peter describes it as the moment when everything began to change for the better.

“I had always been an active, outgoing kid. But during the six-month period after my mom died and before the Murphys took us in, I had become kind of an ‘inward’ person,” he explains. “I wasn’t able to process what had happened to me or put the hurt into words, so I spent a lot of time alone, throwing a ball up in the air and catching it for hours on end, day after day.”

Michael Murphy’s enthusiastic welcome reawakened Peter’s innate optimism and zest for life.

“I felt that warm, happy feeling again,” he confides. “Those feelings of love and acceptance that I’d felt before my mom died came flooding back when Michael jumped out of the bushes. I leaped out of the back of the convertible and I was just a little boy again, excited and happy and ready to have some fun.”

When Peter’s siblings arrived, his happiness was complete

“I was thrilled that we were all together again. But I was also excited to be a Mur phy because I felt loved and accepted I had everything I needed and wanted—and I knew that I was home.”

Hephzibah residential counselor Peter Murphy, photographed in front of a viaduct mural featuring his likeness outside of Hephzibah Home

GIVING BACK

Today, Peter and his siblings see Dennis and Bunny Murphy as the stabilizing force in their lives. So it makes sense that Peter is carrying on their good works by serving as a stabilizing force for other vulnerable youngsters as a residential counselor at Hephzibah Home Peter found his way back to Hephzibah at the age of 19—purely by chance.

“I was a Triton College student at the time and I was riding the CTA Green Line train from Ridgeland Avenue to Harlem,” he says. “I was studying for a test later that day and I happened to look up from my textbook just as the train passed a building with a lot of windows. The building looked familiar, but I didn’t know why. So I got off the train to check it out.”

As he climbed the stairs of Hephzibah Home and opened the red brick building’s double white doors, that vague sense of recognition began to coalesce into a memory.

“I was immediately hit by a comforting smell that I remembered from a long time ago—a smell that I associated with homecooked food, happiness and warmth,” says Peter. “I asked the woman at the front desk what kind of a place this was. She told me it was Hephzibah Home, and I said, ‘I think I used to live here.’”

He left his name and phone number with the receptionist, asked if “the boss” could give him a call and headed back out through the double doors.

“I had walked maybe 50 steps when I heard someone calling my name,” he recalls. “When I turned around and saw Mary Anne Brown, the memories came flooding back—and the tears started flowing.

“Mary Anne took me back inside, we chat ted for a while in her office and she asked me what I was doing with my life. I told her that I was going to Triton to become a PE teacher or coach and she asked me ‘Well, do you want to work here instead?’ I be gan working for Hephzibah two weeks later.”

That was 26 years ago. Today, when Peter talks about his work caring for young survivors of severe neglect and abuse at Hephzibah Home, it’s obvious that he sees his work as a calling.

“Within six months, I knew it wasn’t just a job anymore,” he says. “It was a way to help other children in the same way that Hephzibah and the Mur phys had helped me.

“Dennis and Bunny filled the emptiness that I felt after my mom died in so many ways,” he adds. “My mom was always cooking and my dad was always riding bikes and

playing sports with us. They taught me to be the person I am today: self-disciplined, gentlemanly and noncombative. Even their discipline was gentle. If I broke a rule or had a bad day, they would say, ‘Tomor row, make sure you do better’ as they tucked me into bed at night.

“That’s the kind of person I try to be with the children at Hephzibah Home. I have so much empathy for these children. The only thing that I don’t have in common with them is the neglect and abuse. But I remember the feelings of loss and sadness in the months after my first adoptive mom died. That’s what the children at Hephzibah Home go through every single day.”

ever family forged through Hephzibah oster care (l-r): Peter, John, Marita and Anne Marie in 1982, when they were placed with Hephzibah’s rst foster parents, Dennis and Bunny rphy.

After more than two decades of helping traumatized children heal, Peter allows that the work can be intense

“Once I go through the doors of Hephzibah Home, my own life is no longer important because I have 10 different spirits and identities to listen to, love and support. The minute I arrive, I hear the kids screaming ‘Peter!’ and then they are all jumping on me at once. I’ll have two kids hanging on my ankles and more hanging from my arms and I’ll pretend to be King Kong for a couple of minutes to make them laugh and then say, ‘Okay, guys, I’m happy to see you too.’ Like every member of Hephzibah’s child care staf f, I am totally here for the kids, to give them someone to laugh with and lear n from and, when necessary, a shoulder to cry on. This is a really emotional job. If you can’t deal with emotions

on an hour-to-hour or sometimes minute-tominute basis, this job isn’t for you.”

“Every time Pete comes into work, he changes the mood,” says Program Coordinator Re gina Harbor. “His energy is always happy and jolly. He’s a jokester and a fun person to be around. Whenever he’s working with children who are struggling, he goes in with that positive energy and the kids often forget why they were angry or sad. If those feelings persist, they will open up to him and tell him what’s going on.”

Peter’s own early hardships—from the loss of his biological parents to the death of his first adoptive mom—also give the children hope. When they hear Peter’s story, they often feel less alone and more optimistic about the future because this cheerful, compassionate, playful adult is evidence that hard times aren’t forever and happy endings are still possible.

“I think that being a ‘Hephzibah kid’ has helped Pete learn patience and really get down and help these kids on a different level,” notes Harbor. “I’ve seen him share tears and parts of his own story with the children when they are in crisis. This has helped them open up to him so that they can process their feelings. Pete builds relationships with these kids that continue long after they leave Hephzibah Home.”

“I’ve been where they are, so I really appreciate and admire these kids for their strength and their ability to keeping moving forward, despite their losses,” Peter confirms. “I was 12 or 13 years old before I began to process my grief about Elizabeth’s passing. The Murphys really shored me up during that time. Just like the Murphys did with me, I try to shore up the children at Hephzibah Home as they grieve their losses and show them that they, too, can heal and do amazing things with their lives.

“Every evening, before I leave to go home, I tell each child, ‘I believe in you. You did a good job tod ay and tomor row can be even better. Always keep your head up and stay positive and shine bright on your path.’ I’m always trying to think of new ways to share the love and support I got from Hephzibah and the Murphys with the next generation.”

MAKE A GIFT

For 125 years, Hephzibah Children’s Association has helped children thrive and families ourish. Your donation today will make a di erence in a child’s life and allow us to continue to help children heal and families succeed.

Four lives changed for the better: Peter and his siblings in 2015.

High on still life

Students of Oak Park Ar t League instructor Jesse Howard have work on display inside Oak Park library’s galler y

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Karen Mansfield, a retired labor attorney, had never taken an art class before stepping inside of Jesse Howard’s drawing class at the Oak Park Art League several years ago.

“I had absolutely no talent and I really had to push myself, but it’s something I wanted to conquer,” Mansfield said. it. It’s a challeng

The fruit of along with the several other ad students who ha Howard’s class years, is on displ “Mark Making Piccolo,” an exhibitio that runs through Jan. in the second-floor Mai Gallery at the Oak Public Library, 834 La St Mansfield d one of her piece playful drawing of Democratic Ve Senator and for mer presidential candidate Bernie Sanders at the 2021 inauguration of President Joe Biden. The famous photograph of Sanders “sitting masked, cross-legged and bundled up in a bulky coat and mittens against the frigid weather,” according to a Washington Post description, turned into a popular meme.

“He looked so poignant and I thought about what may have been going through his mind,” Mansfield said during the exhibition’s opening reception on Dec. 17. “Probably, ‘It should’ve been me.’”

All of the pieces on display are homework assignments that the students drew for Howard’s class. The pieces are all cases in mark making (the “lines, dots, marks, patterns and textures that artists use,”

according to the Tate Modern) and piccolo, which refers to a “pop of color or an item that stands out in a composition,” according to a description on the library’s website.

For instance, in the case of Mansfield’s drawing, Bernie’s brown knitted mittens comprise the piccolo, which draws the viewer’s attention to Mansfield’s humorous riff on the original photo. In her drawing, the Democratic Socialist is knitting his own hand-warmers.

“When you look at the show, we try to have different social issues and a little still life,” said Howard, who is an accomplished artist himself. “When we put the pieces together, we wanted them to contrast one another.”

John Dames, another Howard student, displayed a drawing of pillows next to a drawing of “highway trash with a butterfly,”

“I don’t tell them what to draw,” Howard said. “They have to solve that themselves.”

Dames said the class has been life-changing for him.

“I have learned so much from this man, I get choked up, because it’s spiritual, it’s enlightening, it’s encouraging, it’s growth, its compassion, it’s love,” he said. “And the critiques … You learn so much from those critiques. It’s such a wonderful educational experience. It’s a high.”

CONTAC T: michael@oakpark.com

SHANEL ROMAIN/Sta Photographer

INSPIRATION: Jesse Howard (far right) has mentored budding artists at the Oak Park Art League, and their

is now on display at the Oak Park Library through Jan. 7.

Austin Harvest preparing for spring brick-andmortar reveal

Student-led fresh food market building located on Laramie

By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

Austin Harvest, a produce market in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, started as a 12-week pop-up experiment. Three years later, the youth-led, mission driven market is one winter away from opening a per manent brick-and-mortar location on the site of a for mer liquor store at 423 N. Laramie Ave.

What started as a temporary solution to combat Austin’s lack of access to fresh and affordable food in 2020 has evolved steadily to fill a critical community need. In June 2021 Austin Harvest, with support from Sam Acho, a for mer Chicago Bear, and Athletes for Justice, participated in a WSCR-AM radiothon hosted by talk host Danny Parkins. The Score radio event generated more than $650,000 in donations to help build a per manent home for the popup market. Organizers secured additional capital through city grants to bring the project budget closer to $1,000,000.

“These students were inspired to do something different when they started counting the number of liquor stores versus grocery stores in Austin,” said Rodney Williams, director of entrepreneurship and development at By the Hand Club for Kids, 415 N. Laramie. “The kids are leading the way and are bought into this. They are super-duper creative and have lots of ideas Once the market started there was increased demand and we needed to grow.”

The forthcoming building will be 2,500-square-feet and will maintain the look and feel of Austin Harvest’s outdoor pop-up market. Even the design process was youth led, with Austin Harvest staff working with architects to offer input into the building’s design and functionality The design incorporates the pop-up’s original orange shipping container and will have a retractable roof to give the community gathering space an open feel. The per manent structure will also include dry storage space and state-of-the-art refrigeration units, allowing students to offer a wider array of fruits, vegetables and fresh flowers.

Though Williams said they have not pinpointed an exact completion date, he is pleased to report construction is being

led by Structure Re-Right Inc., a woman- and minority-owned general contractor located on Chicago’s West Side. Construction is ongoing, but the foundation has been laid and the plumbing is complete.

Fourteen high students affiliated with By the Hand Club are responsible for all aspects of the market’s operations including planning, staf fing, ordering and inventory management. To ensure the experience is “transparent and healthy” for the student entrepreneurs all revenue is invested back into market operations and student stipends. Participants are hand selected based on academic performance. The youngest are in eighth grade while the oldest are colle ge students and alumni of Austin Harvest, who are continuing their work in a leadership capacity.

As the team anticipates their brick-and-mortar grand opening they have remained busy. Students have completed a series of pop-up produce markets featuring popular $5 grab bags and have been making the most of entrepreneurship development opportunities through field trips and workshops. The teens hosted a sweet potato pie cooking demo with Veah Larde, owner of Two Sisters Catering and are in the process of building an Austin Harvest training manual designed to help with on-boarding new students selected for the program.

During the first two market seasons Austin Harvest was

open three after noons per week. More than 100 shoppers visited the market each week and students rung up more than 2,400 transactions When Austin Harvest opens in spring 2023, Williams said the team plans to ease into operations and will consider expanding their hours of operation gradually. He pointed out that this is the first year since the market’s inception that it has operated without pandemic-related limitations

“We don’t want to rob students of their school experience,” said Williams “It’s all about balance. We want to serve in excellence and don’t want our students to be overwhelmed.”

To stay up to date on the opening of Austin Harvest follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok.

By the Hand Club: https://bythehand.org/location/austin/

C ORREC TION

A caption about deliveries of gifts from the annual Holiday Gift Basket project in the Dec. 14 issue of Wednesday Jour nal incorrectly listed the name of the church where deliveries were org anized.

As they have every year, the donated gifts filled the sanctuary at United Lutheran Church, 409 Greenfield, Oak Park

Our apologies for the mistake.

MELISSA ELSMO/Food Editor

IN THE BAG: Austin Har vest student entrepreneurs o ered $5 grab bags at the last pop-up market of the season on Dec. 17. e next market w ill be held in their new brick-and-mortar market. From le : Neveah Hester, Donovan Allison, Camar i King, Laquinton Wooten, Johnny Reyes, Rodney Williams, and Azariah Baker.

Oak Park considers ranked choice voting

Proponents of the system believe it will decrease political polarization

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Those eligible to vote, and who take part in exercising that right, know ballots of fer minimal choice. Yes or No, this candidate or the other. The process is essentially the same across the U.S. Winner takes all.

Enter ranked choice voting: a system that, simply put, permits voters to rank multiple candidates from most favorable to least favorable.

It has been adopted elsewhere. Now the village of Oak Park is considering putting the new method up for a referendum, with Trustee Jim Taglia leading the charge.

“If we can help people become interested in voting, it’s our duty to do that,” he said.

Ranked choice voting is actually centuries old, but interest has been building lately. Ranked choice voting (RCV) for general elections was implemented in Alaska earlier this year A similar measure to implement RCV passed in Nevada this year. In Maine, voters use it for primaries and federal general elections. RCV is being implemented closer to home, too; in the Nov. 8 election, 82.58% of Evanston residents voted in favor of RCV.

For cine philes, ranked choice voting is the system used yearly by the Academy of Motion Picture Ar ts and Sciences to determine which film will be awarded the Best Picture Oscar.

Taglia told Wednesday Jour nal he has seen a remarkable groundswell of public interest in ranked choice That led him to request the presentation of an educational program on the subject to the village board, Nov. 7. Trustee Ravi Parakkat seconded the request.

Parakkat attributes the interest in ranked choice to the public’s frustration with the inef ficiencies of this country’s cur rent gover nmental logjam and the limitations of having only two major political par ties

“The reason why [RCV] is gaining some ground, I believe, is because of our twopar ty system, and the level of polarization that we’ve seen in our politics at various levels,” said Parakkat. “This seems to counter some of that.”

If the system is adopted in Oak Park, both Taglia and Parakkat believe voter dissatisfaction would decrease, leading to larger tur nout. They also believe it will help to reduce political polarization, a view

River Forest, Oak Park village trustee candidates le petitions

River Forest incumbents running unopposed

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The period in which to file candidate petitions of ficially ended at 5 p.m., Monday, but one person who previously announced their River Forest village trustee candidacy will not appear on the April ballot.

Fenwick High School alumnus, Mike Santoro, did not file a petition for River Forest village trustee All three incumbent candidates

shared by RCV proponents

The village board cannot simply implement ranked choice for future election cycles, however. It’s up to the voters. Any changes to the current voting system must be adopted through a referendum. This is required under the Illinois Constitution, which stipulates that a “home rule municipality shall have the power to provide for its of ficers, their manner of selection and ter ms of of fice only as approved by referendum.”

The village board does have a major hand in the process, however. It must vote to put the referendum on the ballot, but it is unlikely such a referendum will be in the April 4 consolidated election. The village board, aside from Taglia and Parakkat, voted down a motion to direct staff to draft an ordinance that would put it on that ballot.

That wasn’t because the majority of the village board is against ranked choice. Rather, those members believed staf f would not have enough time to put to gether an ordinance and adequately educate voters ahead of the election.

The village board instead directed staf f to schedule a study session in the first quar ter of 2023. That could happen as early

as February, according to Village Manager Kevin Jackson.

While Oak Pa rk often follows Evanston’s lead, as with discussions on re parations, our referendum would be dif ferent.

“The referendum adopted by the voters of the city of Evanston at the November 2022 election is not necessarily a fit for the village due to the method that Evanston elects its alder persons,” said Village Attorney Paul Stephanides

Evanston has a total of nine wards and voters elect alder persons per ward, whereas Oak Park voters elect village trustees at large, three at a time.

The method by which weight will be distributed among ranked votes in a way that works for Oak Park will be discussed in the study session. Will Cook County be prepared for the change?

Taglia isn’t wor ried. If a referendum passed in April, he said, it wouldn’t go into ef fect until the following year or so. But a fir m deadline would compel the county to enact standards and procedures to accommodate RCV.

“If you wait for them to be ready, it’ ll be 100 years,” he said

Pete’s Market sewer work re ows Madison St. tra c

Fur ther prep for grocery store construction

did, however meaning, Erika Bachner, Katie Brennan and Bob O’Connell are running for reelection unopposed. Wednesday Jour nal has reached out to Santoro for comment.

There were no sur prises when it came to Oak Park village trustee candida tes, however Newcomer Brian Straw and for mer village trustee Simone Boutet filed their petitions simultaneously on Dec. 12. All three current village trustees – Susan Buchanan, Jim Taglia and Cory Wesley – also filed their petitions

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Madison Street traf fic will be a little funky in Oak Park this month, as drivers may have already noticed. Sewer work associated with the construction of the new Pete’s Market grocery store prompted a change in the traf fic patter n on Madison Street between Oak

Park Avenue and Wesley Avenue, according to the Village of Oak Park

Traf fic has shifted to the far south por tion of the roadway, with crews maintaining one lane of traf fic in each direction. Traf fic control set up the changes Dec 12 and work be g an the next day. The sewer work is expected to last about one month.

Parking has been prohibited on Madison Street within the construction zone. The village has posted signage to inform drivers and businesses in the area have been notified.

SEARS SITE

Possible Rush involvement

from page 1

store is still coming, and shared details of a medical facility that was first announced in Aug. 30.

Ald. Taliaferro and executives with Novak Construction, which owns the North and Harlem site, declined to share the name of the medical tenant. They said the tenant will be revealed within the next three months once that entity gets the necessary state approvals.

However during the meeting a Novak executive dropped several clues as to the identity of the health provider. Attendees were told the organization has been around for 180 years, is a well-known teaching hospital and is “a hospital that you know well.” That description might best fit Rush University Medical Center Contacted by Wednesday Jour nal, a spokesman for Rush would neither confir m nor deny its intentions about the property. Rush currently operates Rush Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park

John Novak, CEO of Novak Construction, said during the meeting that the medical facility could cost up to $100 million and be done by late 2024.

The grocery store and a residential area with 125 apartments and 25 townhomes would be built nearby at Neva and Wabansia avenues, with construction set to begin next summer

Taliaferro and Novak representatives said the hospital and the other projects represent new community development and investment.

“I want to build something that we’re going to be proud of,” Novak said. “I think this is going to set the stage for our work on the West Side and bring a lot of value to the community.”

The proposed medical building would stand three stories and be 60 feet tall. It would have 300 parking spaces It would provide same-day appointments and services such as X-rays, MRIs, mammograms and ultrasounds. It stops short of being a fully realized hospital, however, as it would not provide surgeries, 24-hour care, or beds for over night stays

“Our goal was to design a building that was an asset for many years,” said Jake Paschen, senior vice president of Novak Construction. “We wanted to get high-profile healthcare to the community, to offer quick and convenient care. We believe it was

worth it to get this healthcare provider and they will be a tremendous asset to the community.”

When reached for comment, a Rush spokesperson neither confir med nor denied the speculation that their institution was considering building at the cor ner of North and Harlem.

Rush, he said, is “regularly evaluating opportunities for collaboration and clinical space, but we do not speak to any such ventures until the timing is appropriate. Partnership opportunities and new care sites are thoroughly evaluated with an overarching goal of making it more convenient for people living and working in the region to receive the most coordinated, advanced health care available.”

When Sears closed, the property was owned by Seritage Growth Holdings, Sears’ real estate ar m. Seritage eventually spun off into a separate company and hired Tucker Development, which decided to pursue a mixed-use development on the site that would incorporate the refurbished store building and apartments on the east parking lot. In September 2020, Seritage sold the

property to Novak.

Bringing the grocery store to the site has been Taliaferro’s priority since Sears closed and a grocery store was once part of Tucker’s proposal. But during his Aug. 30 community meeting, the alder man said that, while Jewel-Osco expressed strong interest, Novak decided to go with a medical tenant. During the Dec 14 meeting, Paschen said that Novak has had “several extensive discussions” with grocery tenants that eventually fell through before noting that the fir m is still actively looking for a grocery store tenant. He declined to say whether or not they were still in negotiations with Jewel-Osco.

The vacant lots sit on the wester n edge of the city between Austin’s Galewood neighborhood and the intersection of suburban River Forest, Oak Park and Elmwood Park. Neighbors were largely receptive to the changes being made, with one resident welcoming the medical facility He said lack of healthcare access would force him to often go to Northbrook for treatment.

“That area has been an eyesore so I’m glad that something is finally being done with it,” J. Bosco said. “I’m really excited for this; it

will be a great addition to the community.

One resident, Charley Nelson, told Block Club he’s concer ned about traf fic coming from busy North Avenue Nonetheless, he believes it is a net positive for the area.

“There’s so much potential for the North Avenue cor ridor and I hope that the Sears site can be a catalyst for the whole cor ridor’s development and livability,” Nelson said.

Steve Green, chair of the Galewood Neighbors community organization’s board of directors, said he was pleased with the way Novak responded to residents concer n about site cleanliness

“It’s nice to see something coming to fruition,” he said. “It’s a beautiful building.”

Judith Alexander, the chair of The North Avenue District business development organization, said she has no issue with the proposal, and that she wants to make sure that any development is pedestrian-friendly and aesthetically pleasing

“Whatever fronts North Avenue, please don’t make it a blank wall,” she said.

CONTAC T: igor@growingcommunitymedia.org

PROVIDED

Conceptual renderings of the proposed development on the site of the fo rmer North and Harlem Sears.

OPRF test scores still split on racial and income lines

Math, English scores lag pre-pandemic levels

By BOB SK Contributing

In April 2021 the school board at Oak Pa High School adopted a for gaps in achievement by race may manifest in any academic ized tests use for college admission, to the SAT.”

The performance of OPRF Illinois School Report Card tendent Greg Johnson in his state of Dec 15 school board meeting gaping achievement gap b and Asian students and Black and, to a lesser de ic students

Last April OPRF juniors took the SA dated testing. In English L evidence-based reading and of white OPRF students met tions compared to just 20.4% of

The state groups students’ exceeds expectations, meets tations and partially meets expectations, which is the lowest grouping.

In ELA 43.9% of Asian OPRF students scored in the highest category, exceeding expectations, compared to 36% of white students, 26.8% of mixed race students, 12.5% of Hispanic students and 5.4% of Black OPRF students.

Meanwhile, 38.6% of white students, 29.9% of mixed race students, 27.7% of Hispanic students, 24.4% of Asian students and 15% of Black students scored in the second highest category, meeting expectations. That resulted in 42.5% of Black OPRF students scoring in the lowest category, partially meeting expectations, in ELA compared to just 5% of white students, 11.3% of mixed race students, 12.2% of Asian students and 19.6% of Hispanic students.

The gaps were even wider in math. Asian students outperfor med their classmates in math with 39% of Asian OPRF students exceeding expectations in math compared to 20% of mixed race students, 19.3% of white students, 7.1% of Hispanic students and just 1.8% of Black OPRF students

Johnson said math was one area where Black OPRF students did better than last year This year 16.4% of Black OPRF students met or exceeded expectations an increase of four percentage points over 2021 when 12% of Black OPRF juniors met or exceeded expectations But the percentage of Black students in the lowest category of partially meeting expectations actually increased in 2022 to 65.2%, up from 60% in 2021. In 2021 3.2% of Black OPRF students exceeded expectations in math compared to just 1.6% this year

Among other students, 75.6% of Asian OPRF students met or exceeded expectations in math compared to 67.3% of white students, 50% of mixed race students, 33.9% of Hispanic students and 16% of Black students

Some school board members said they were disappointed

with the continuing wide racial gaps in academics.

“I would like to see more progress,” said Sara Dixon Spivy. Fred Arkin agreed. “It’s still troubling and progress has been very slow,” Arkin said.

Kebreab Henry also was troubled by the racial disparity in student performance. “It’s not the capacity, being able to lear n, it’s other factors,” Henry said.

In an attempt to reduce the racial gaps OPRF has revised its freshman curriculum to eliminate College Prep level classes putting most freshmen in Honors level classes in English, science and history in an effort to expose more Black and Hispanic students to high level course work.

But Black students at OPRF remain overrepresented in the lower-level transitions classes designed for students who need extensive help. Black freshmen make up 49 of the 90 OPRF freshman enrolled in a transitions level English class this year and 45 of the 77 OPRF freshmen enrolled in a transitions level math class according to school data the Wednesday Journal obtained by making a public records request.

Low income students also struggled with the SAT with only 18.5% of low income, as measured by qualifying for a free or reduced lunch, OPRF students meeting or exceeding expectations in ELA and just 16.4% doing so in math.

Overall 57.6% of OPRF students met or exceeded expectations in ELA and 51.4% did so in math. Test scores remain below where they were in the pre-pandemic year of 2019 when 65.6% of OPRF students met or exceeded expectations in ELA and 58.5% did so in math.

“Overall student achievement is not where we want it to be,” Johnson said.

The district is in the process of revamping its math program.

“We’ve just begun to make those changes,” Johnson said.

OPRF’s performance was far better than the state average across all racial groups. Across the state only 29.9% of high school juniors met the proficiency standard in ELA and just 25.8% did so in math. At OPRF 20% of Black students were considered proficient in ELA compared to just 12.1% statewide and 16.2% of Black OPRF students were considered proficient in math compared to just 6.8% statewide

For the first time since the Illinois State Board of Education began the classification, OPRF was named an exemplary school meaning that it ranked in the top 10% of Illinois public high schools according to a metric that weighs eight factors. Graduation rate counts for half of the score that deter mines a school’s classification while math and ELA proficiency counts for 7.5% each. Last year OPRF had a graduation rate of 94% compared to the state average graduation rate of 87%.

Johnson noted that the state proficiency standards are tougher than the college ready standards developed by the College Board, the company that produces the SAT exam. Johnson also said there is no research backing up the state standards, but there is research backing up the College Board’s college ready standards.

According to the state of the district report that is posted on the OPRF web site 74% of OPRF juniors met the College Board’s college ready benchmarks.

Advanced Placement exam results were a bright spot for OPRF last year. Of 79% of AP exams taken by OPRF students last year students received a grade of three or better which is a higher percentage than three of the last four years. OPRF students also took more AP exams last year than they did in any of the past five years. The number of OPRF students taking AP classes and exams remained similar to the past several years.

But there are also racial disparities in AP results with Black and Hispanic students scoring worse than their white and Asian classmates.

“Racial disparities are seen in our Black and Hispanic students scoring three or better (approximately 12-17 percentage points different than our white population); however the gains for our varying groups of students is noticeable,” the state of the district report states

Racial disparities are also evident in the freshman on track metric which measures the percentage of students who pass all their freshman classes Last year, 94.3% of white OPRF freshmen passed all their classes compared to 78.8% of Black freshmen. The percentage of Hispanic freshmen on track rose 10 points last year to 91.8%. Overall 90.8% of OPRF freshman were on track to graduate last year

Recognizing that disparities in student performance begin well before high school OPRF administrators and teachers have been meeting more frequently with their counterparts in their feeder districts, Oak Park District 97 and River Forest District 90, to better coordinate and align their efforts and curriculum.

“We think that’s a good thing,” said Laurie Fiorenza, the assistant superintendent for student lear ning at OPRF “Everybody is at the table and doing the work.”

River Forest, Elmwood Park launch North Ave. streetscape project

Initial design phase being done with eye to obtaining grants

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

Officials from the villages of Elmwood Park and River Forest are teaming up on a streetscape improvement project on North Avenue where it passes through the two municipalities

North Avenue between Thatcher and Harlem avenues is the municipal boundary between the two communities

The River Forest Village Board took its first step toward the project at the Dec. 12 meeting, with the five trustees present voting to enter into an intergover nmental agreement with Elmwood Park. Trustee Bob O’Connell did not attend the meeting

Brian Murphy, River Forest’s village administrator, explained in a memo to the village board that there is a “shared desire to create a more walkable and pedestrian friendly environment” along North Avenue.

Under the intergover nmental agreement, River Forest agrees to split the $274,303 cost of a Phase 1 engineering study for streetscape improvements along North Avenue. Elmwood Park officials previously contracted with Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. of Rosemont to conduct the study.

According to the agreement, Elmwood Park will be responsible for monthly payments to Burke Engineering and will invoice River Forest for 50 percent of the total.

Murphy said River Forest will cover its half of the project cost with funds from the North Avenue Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District that was created in August 2018.

Because North Avenue is Illinois Route 64, the project will involve the participation of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Although Burke Engineering estimates a 12-month timeline, according to Murphy, that timeline will depend on input from IDOT.

Burke Engineering officials said in a memo to Paul Volpe, Elmwood Park’s village

manager, that North Avenue is under IDOT jurisdiction and is a Class II state-maintained truck route carrying over 30,000 vehicles per day including bus transit service on Pace bus Route 318.

“The objective of the streetscape enhancements is to create a more walkable and pedestrian-friendly environment along this vital economic retail/commercial and transportation corridor,” the memo stated. “The objective of completing the Phase I engineering study is to improve the project readiness scoring on future grant applications as well as advance the project funding that has been made available through Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity appropriations.”

Burke Engineering officials said the overall scope of work includes streetscape improvements from Thatcher on the west to Harlem on the east. Improvements to those two intersections will be omitted as all legs of those intersections are fully under IDOT jurisdiction and improvements are being made to those intersections prior to the implementation of the North Avenue project.

Detailed improvements may include curb line modifications, bump-outs, sidewalks/ pavers, crosswalk/curb ramps, planters/ trees, wayfinding, gateway features, bus stop enhancements and roadway lighting.

The existing lane configuration of North Avenue will be maintained. The objective of the project is to work within the existing North Avenue right-of-way and avoid property acquisition.

The project will start with data collection, which includes traffic counts, crash analysis, a topographic survey and required environmental surveys. Some additional environmental studies will be required due to the proximity of the Des Plaines River to the Thatcher Avenue intersection and its associated floodway/floodplain and fringe wetlands.

Burke Engineering’s project team will conduct a survey of property/business stakeholders along North Avenue to obtain information of existing issues they have and desired improvements

A public information meeting also will be held to seek input from the general public on the proposed recommended improvements

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Larr y Ritser t’s 2022 Tour de Suburbs

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

By his own admission, Larry Ritsert isn’t much of a competitor. He thinks of himself merely as a recreational biker. That may sound ridiculous to the average person upon lear ning that the humble 71-year-old Oak Parker has racked up serious mileage on his two bicycles. Ritsert cycled 6,213.7 miles (thus far) in 2022 alone

“For a couple of days, it was just a thought experiment,” Ritsert said. “Then I decided, let’s see what happens.”

Ritsert took up biking seriously in 2017 when he retired. He was overweight, out of shape and in need of some physical activity. His knees and hips could no longer take high impact exercising after years of running Easy on the joints, riding a bicycle seemed like a good alternative, so he borrowed a neighbor’s bike and went for a ride with his friend

“I rode a mile and I died,” he recalled. “I thought, ‘This is terrible.’”

He stuck with it though, and soon enough he began riding with a group of cyclists affectionally known as the Oak Park Old Pharts or OPOP for short.

About a month into his r lost his 25-year-old son. Biking and his ridin companions provided the structure and sup port he needed in his time of profound g He became a stalwart member of

group. Fellow OPOP rider Donald Jensen, who pitched Ritsert’s story to Wednesday Journal, called him the “glue that holds the group together.”

“Larry’s outgoing personality, his enthusiasm, and how, how friendly he is to everybody, I think is just really infectious for the whole group,” Jensen said. “It keeps everybody wanting to go back for the next ride and the next ride and the next ride.”

Like Ritsert, most OPOP members are retired and over the age of 60. Its oldest member, a very active 88, is in “fantastic shape,” Ritsert says. The group bikes about three or four times a week — as long as the weather is above 30 degrees and dry

At 7 a.m., the cyclists start in Oak Park at Harrison Street and East Avenue, then cut through Berwyn and into Riverside. Sometimes they halt briefly to watch deer in the forest preserve, then continue to LaGrange, where they stop for a scone and coffee at Blackberry Market, or in Western Springs for BB’s Baby Donuts. Then back home.

The weekly visits are a pleasure for BB’s owner Debbie Feiller, who coined the group’s name and wears her OPOP shirt every Friday. Feiller even attended the OPOP Christmas Party, hosted by Ritsert.

“Oh, I love them!” she said, noting that Ritsert took it upon himself to fix one of the picnic tables belonging to the real estate agency

oup that Ritsert beonsidering taking on the challenge of ould eventually ellow OPOP member, Paul Openheim, shared an email in late May from

a friend in Arizona who planned to bike 5,000 miles. Ritsert found himself wondering what he would have to do to achieve such a goal, especially during the winter months when Illinois weather is far different from Arizona.

“It’s funny because I’m not that type of guy,” he said.

He got serious about riding 5,000 miles in June, waking up at 5 a.m. to get in some biking before meeting with OPOP. Taking advantage of the warm weather, summer proved his best months, racking up over 2,000 miles during June and July, riding both in the mornings and the afternoons. Some days, he would bike close to 50 miles, keeping track of his daily totals in an old three-ring notebook.

“It was hard,” he said. “I’m not self-disciplined.”

He got a lot of support from OPOP, which

kept him going, and by October he hit the 5,000-mile mark. He decided to push himself further, logging 6,213.7 miles by Dec. 7.

“It’s not an easy thing to do, believe me,” said Jensen, who is no slouch. “I’m very proud of him for what he’s done. It keeps us all motivated to go out for the next ride.”

Ritsert himself said he was relieved more than anything but admitted to being a little proud of himself too. He not only surpassed 6,000 miles this year, but also lost 30 pounds since he started biking five years ago.

With the cold wintry weather of late, he hasn’t been biking much this month. He confessed he needs a break, but he’ll be back in the saddle soon enough. Perhaps he’ll even try to surpass his personal record

“I don’t know,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer

THERE AND BACK: Larry Ritsert has exceeded his w ildest expectations since retiring ve years ago.

Teacher’s trip to Africa is an eye-opener

Sees poverty but also grace and hope

By JESSICA MACKINNON Contributing Reporter

An inveterate volunteer and philanthropist supporting several nonprofits here at home, Kay Lewellyan, a retired teacher, was overwhelmed by the level of poverty she saw during a recent trip to Africa.

“The experience opened my eyes and my heart about how much of the world struggles to survive on so little — and they do so with such grace and hope,” said Lewellyan.

A retired middle-school teacher, she has lived in Oak Park for more than two decades.

Attracted by the community’s diversity, she moved here from Glen Ellyn shortly after adopting two African American girls as a single mother. Now adults, her daughters have embraced her lifelong interest in social justice. One daughter is a teacher in Chicago and the other is a social worker

Lewellyan has been involved with a number of local nonprofits, including Housing Forward, where she served on the planning committee that launched the organization 30 years ago; Hephzibah Children’s Association; and YEMBA (Youth Educational Mentoring Basketball Association). In addition, she has been involved with Exodus World Service, an organization that helps refugee families acclimate to life in America— she recently “adopted” an Afghan family with seven children.

Lewellyan visited Kenya this fall with Project Harambee, a nonprofit organization founded 15 years ago by Kathleen “Keen” Harrison, who, like Lewellyan, is a longtime member of St. Giles Catholic Church. Lewellyan brought with her suitcases full of children’s clothing, musical instruments,

computers, and toys.

Harambee, the Swahili word for “pull together,” serves African families impacted by HIV through sustainable community projects focusing on education, health care and economic development. Its signatur program, “Plant a Seed, Grow a Doctor,” provides scholarships for students pursuing education in medical fields. The program has 28 graduates and 22 current students in training.

During her three-week visit in Kenya, Lewellyan stayed at Nyumbani Children Home in Nairobi. The program provide comprehensive services for more than 4,000 HIV/AIDS survivo and more than 14,000 affected orphans and children each year providing housing, medical clinic, library kitchen, greenhouse and pig and poultr pens

She spent seve days in Kibera, sprawling settlement in Nairobi, housing more than 200,000 people in 12-squarefoot shacks made of mud and corrugated tin. Families share outdoor latrines with up to 50 other families and only 20 percent of the area has electricity. Access to clean water is rare. The life expectancy of community residents is 30 years.

Lewellyan visited several projects supported by Project Harambee, including a free medical clinic and a women’s crafts cooperative. She also visited a school where 45 children were crowded into a tiny classroom with few desks or materials.

“The people I met were so generous with what little they had. I learned that the women in the cooperative were donating 10 percent of what they were earning in sales to help a colleague who was having surgery. At the

school, the older children helped the younger children even if they didn’t know them. We gave the students candy, which they treated like gold,” Lewellyan said.

At Upendo Village, a complex outside Nairobi, Lewellyan had the opportunity to distribute goats and chickens to local villagers. And at the Thika School for the Blind, located northeast of Nairobi, she distributed musical instruments, including recorders and harmonicas. The school recently won awards in the Kenya National Music Festival.

Now that Lewellyan is back home, she plans to raise greater awareness of Project Harambee’s work and coordinate fundraising initiatives for Mirror of Hope Foundation, an organization that provides entrepreneurial training for women and educational scholarships for children in Kibera Her daughters are sponsoring a female student for the next four years and Lewellyan is

supporting another student through his high school years.

“I believe that education is one of the major answers for transforming lives. The young people I talked with in Nairobi, who had received scholarships to attend university, insisted that they were going to go back to their community to help others,” she said.

When Lewellyan left Africa, she left behind everything but the clothes on her back. She hopes to return to Africa.

“It just brings me great joy to be of service to others,” Lewellyan said.

Learn more

You can lear n more about Project Harambee at http://projectharambee.org/help_african_women/.

PROVIDED

COOPERATING: Lewellyan with a woman from the women’s cooperative.

PROVIDED

Kay Lewellyan with an elepha nt from the David Sheldrick Elephant Or phanage, which she visited at the end of her tr ip.

OPRF boys drop conference opener to Hinsdale Central

Huskies go into Pontiac Holiday Tourney on a 4-game skid

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Oak Park and River Forest High School boys basketball coach Phil Gary knew there would be some early growing pains this season given the young and mostly experienced roster he has But that doesn’t make losing g ames pecially in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division, any easier. Ag ainst ing Hinsdale Central on Dec. 16, the kies fought back from a large deficit ultimately fell 79-75.

“We’ re still waiting to play four quar ters of basketball,” Gary said.

OPRF (3-6, 0-1) jumped out to an lead, but Hinsdale Central (8-2, 2-1) closed the first quar ter on a 7-0 run to take the lead.

The Red Devils led 36-31 at halftime, then seemed poised to break things open as they went on an 8-0 spur t to take a 48-36 lead with 4:27 left in the third quarter With OPRF big men Rodney Mur phy

and Alex Vincent in foul trouble, Hinsdale Central took advantage inside for several baskets.

“[The foul trouble] threw a wrinkle into

our defense,” Gary said. “It af fected the packages we like to do. But we’ve still got to be able to guard people.”

Hinsdale Central maintained a 12-point

lead for most of the final quar ter, but OPRF made a surge in the final three minutes. However, the Huskies could draw no closer than the final score.

Ben Oosterbaan scored 19 of his g amehigh 25 points in the second half for the Red Devils, who had all five star ters in double figures Chase Collignon had 14 points, Emerson Eck and Patrick Graham 12 points each and Evan Phillips 10.

Mehki Austin led OPRF with 17 points. The Huskies had three other players in double figures: Justin Bowen and Max ohnson with 13 points apiece and Mur phy 12.

“Honestly, our of fense isn’t the problem,” Gary said. “It’s being able to get timely stops on defense.”

On Dec. 17, OPRF lost 57-47 at Lake Forest. Bowen and Vincent each had 11 points and Johnson 10 points for the Huskies in defeat.

OPRF is of f this week due to final exams The Huskies’ next g ame comes during the Pontiac Holiday Tour nament on Dec 28 against Benet Academy

Things won’t get any easier at Pontiac, which is loaded with several top programs such as Benet, Joliet West and Simeon.

“We just need to get a win soon,” Gary said.

Trinity continues to hum while OPRF struggles continue

Blazers hand Huskies 11th straight loss in crosstown showdown

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

The Trinity High School basketball team continued its solid star t to the season with a 52-17 victory over host Oak Pa rk and River Forest High School on Dec. 17. The Blazers (8-3) scored the g ame’s first 11 points and ended the first half on a 9-0 run to take

a commanding 28-8 halftime lead.

“I thought we did a good job of playing our g ame and playing smar t,” said Trinity junior forward Lauren Miller, who had another double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. “We moved the ball well.”

Miller said it’s impor tant for Trinity to build up as much momentum as possible heading into the Montini Holiday Classic and the Grow the Game tour naments over the holidays. They feature several of the Chicago area’s top programs.

“We need wins for our confidence because we’re going to be playing some tough competition,” she said.

Ag ainst OPRF, Cierra Richardson had 10

points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals; Chloe Santos had 10 points, five rebounds, and two steals; and Sophia Rodriguez added eight points, three rebounds, four assists, and three steals for the Blazers.

“I thought we could’ve played a lot better,” said Trinity coach Kim Coleman said. “But we’ ll take it, a win is a win.”

Genevieve Simkowski and Libby Majka each had four points for OPRF (0-11), who made eight baskets for the g ame. The Huskies struggled from the free-throw line, connecting on just 1 of 10 attempts

“We keep shooting ourselves in the foot,” said OPRF coach Carlton Rosemond. “We

missed so many layups and free throws. It’s not a good feeling.”

Coleman can sympathize. She went through a similar situation when she took over Trinity a few seasons ago and had to build things up gradually.

“When you’ re trying to change the culture of an entire program, it takes time. I’ve been there,” Coleman said. “I think highly of Carlton’s passion and work ethic, and he’ ll be all right.”

Rosemond says he needs to build up OPRF’s feeder system as West Suburban Silver rivals such as Downers Grove

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer

OPRF’s Jaziah Harper dr ives the baseline against a Hinsdale Central defender dur ing the Huskies’ 79-75 loss on Dec. 16 in Oak Park.

Young OPRF wrestlers make statement at Whi tlatch Invite

Freshman Zev Koransky 2nd at 113 to lead Huskies

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Freshman Zev Koransky is off to a successful start for the Oak Park and River Forest High School wrestling team.

One of his few losses Saturday especially shows his bright future.

Koransky’s defeat came in the 113-pound championship match of Hinsdale Central’s prestigious Rex Whitlatch Invitational.

“I think it’s always good to lose sometimes, just to gauge where you’re at, know what you need to work on,” said Koransky, now 15-2 overall. “If you’re always rolling through every match, you don’t know.”

Sophomore Joseph Knackstedt (16-3 at 132) and freshman David Ogunsanya (14-4 at 126) finished fourth and senior Kole Sneed (7-12 at 220) finished eighth. The Huskies (83 points) were 16th among the 25 teams.

For the younger Huskies, this was their first major invitational. The Huskies missed last season’s Whitlatch because of COVID-19.

“It was good to be here, see some really good competition,” Knackstedt said. “It was kind of good to see where we’re at individually and less as a team.”

In his championship final, Koransky (15-2 at 113) lost to Sandburg sophomore Madden Parker (16-1) by technical fall in 4:23 (170). Parker was seventh at 120 at the 2021 Whitlatch.

Koransky won by an 11-3 major decision in the semifinals after star ting with two pins, the first in 39 seconds

“It’s a good accomplishment as a freshman, I think. I just need to keep working to get to first place, so I’ ll be back next year,” Koransky said.

Ogunsanya lost 10-1 to Neenah (Wiscon-

sin) sophomore Jacob Heer n (14-2) after a pin following an 11-9 semifinals loss.

“It just goes to show some goals and gives me a chance to see how I can improve in the future,” Ogunsanya said. “The weight class was very tough but overall I think there’s a lot to improve upon. I think our team is very strong.”

Knackstedt lost 12-6 to Neenah senior Jayden Sheppard (17-1) for third. Knackstedt lost 11-6 in the quarterfinals but then had two pins and a 7-4 decision.

“I’ve probably just got to come out of the gates swinging,” Knackstedt said. “The two matches that I lost, I kind of sat back in the be ginning, fell behind and just couldn’t really recover.”

Sneed lost his opener but then won three straight decisions Sneed was pinned by Sandburg senior Mike Rydell (13-5) in 2:48 for seventh.

New girls volleyball hired at Fenwick High School

Assistant Tee Pimsarn named as O’Laughlin’s successor

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Fenwick High School announced the hiring of a new member of it athletic coaching staff and the de parture of another recently. Th school welcomed Tee Pimsar n as its new girls volleyball coach Dec 15 while girls cross country coach Kevin Roche will step down after more than a decade at the helm.

Pimsar n, an Oak Park native via Thailand and Hawaii, has mor than 15 years of experience coaching the high school and club levels He an assistant this fall for Kathleen O who retired at season’s end after spending years in the program, including the last 12 as head coach.

“Coach Pimsar n has a wealth of experience coaching high school girls volleyball at a very high level,” said Fenwick Athletic Director Scott Thies in a press release “We are really excited to have Coach Pimsar n leading our program and building off of what Coach ’Laughlin accomplished at Fenwick.” pportunity to lead student-athletes to be onfident young women in the world to be members of our comeat honor,” Pimsar n elease. “The program is and I will do my best tradition and stanolleyball program sport within our com-

enwick, Pimsar n was Montini as a junior assistant and at Nazareth and Trinity, where he was junior varsity head coach.

At the club level, Pimsar n has been a 17U

eighth grades.

Nor th, Lyons Township and York have done To that end, he’s star ting basketball clinics for local girls in third through

“Par t of building up the culture is trying to create opportunities for younger girls to play basketball and develop their skills,” Rosemond said. “I’m excited for what’s to come, but it doesn’t take away from the sting of the struggles we have now. It’s hard to go into every g ame thinking you have a

head coach with 1st Alliance Volleyball Club since 2014. His teams placed in the Top 10 at the American Amateur Union National Volleyball Championships in 2014, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

A graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School, Pimsar n attended Lewis University and Souther n Illinois University, where received a Bachelor of Arts degree in aviation management.

Roche leaving for personal reasons

Fenwick girls cross country coach Kevin Roche announced in an Instagram post on Dec. 11 he is stepping down for personal reasons after 12 seasons leading the program.

“I’ve loved working with the kids,” Roche said in a phone interview with Wednesday Jour nal. “There’s nothing like supportive families that Fenwick has, and it’s been such a joy.”

Under Roche’s guidance, the Friars had four top 20 finishes in the IHSA Class 2A state meet and 12 all-state athletes, the most recent

chance with a great g ame plan but then not going out and executing it.”

After taking this week of f due to finals, OPRF will participate in the Mor ton Colle ge Christmas Tour nament. T he Huskies’ first g ame is Dec. 27 ag ainst Fremd.

On Dec 19, T rinity rolled to a 57-17 home victory over Jones Colle ge Prep Miller

being Bella Daley the last two years.

“People know about those who make allconference or all-state,” said Roche, who graduated from Fenwick in 2005. “But they don’t know the stories of the doubts the kids had to overcome, or the patience they had to have It was a joy watching those journeys.”

Roche thanked his assistant coaches for their help in building the program. He also thanked his competitors, such as Trinity High School coach Johann Gonzalez.

“The coaching community in cross country and track is tight-knit,” he said. “Yes, we compete against each other, but we also try to figure out how to bring out the best in each other. When we run well, the other teams get better, and vice versa. There’s great camaraderie and knowledge among us, and each of the other coaches have been welcoming.”

had 13 points and four rebounds, Rodriguez 10 points, six rebounds, and four steals, and Richardson six points, six assists, and seven steals

T he Blazers will be at Payton Prep on Dec. 21, then have a first-round g ame against Plainfield Central in the Montini Holiday Classic on Dec. 27.

ZEV KORANSKY JOSEPH KNACKSTEDT DAVID OGUNSANYA

TEE PIMSARN

KEVIN ROCHE

Ken Trainor at 613-3310

Everyday blessings and kindness

Ioften complain about unpleasant behavior, and I realize I rarely compliment folks for the everyday niceties af forded me. This mor ning my physical therapist and her helpful husband (who drives me, as needed) brought me a lovely holida bouquet of flowers. How do I adequately thank them for such thoughtfulness?

There are other people I should be thanking for their kindnesses. My ry man always places my paper at my doorste p so I do not need to search for it outside. I have tw eekly trash pick-up men who retrie rbage at my side door so I need not find someone to haul my g arage cans to the street. There are also three very kind non-English speaking men who wn and do snow removal. they can help me with anything else when they are here.

I have a postal delivery person who always greets me with a pleasant smile and helps me with my mailings. Last but not least are the emergency services provided by the River Forest police and fire depar tments. They have helped me personally and also with wildlife that invaded my house: raccoons, a possum, and a squir rel … Oh My!

HAUSMAN

I’m chag rined that I sometimes take these kindnesses for granted and sometimes forget to express my gratitude. Cer tainly, this should not be just a Christmas-time thought.

I often complain about our political leaders and forget to commend some of them when they take great steps to strengthen our democracy. Whether our leadership be Re publican, Democratic, or Inde pendent, I should acknowledge those who are the stabilizers of our nation. Just this week, Re publican Re presentative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois presented a stir ring speech to Cong ress about American values that deserves our attention and gratitude. Unfortunately, Kinzinger chose not to run for re-election. We must hope and pray the re presentative who re places him will have his vision, his knowledge, and the courage to fight those in Cong ress who desire the destruction of our democracy

I also need to thank you, the folks who read Wednesday Jour nal’s Viewpoints sections. These writings reveal how we who voice our opinions feel about various subject s. We often dif fer. That said, we use our writing to disagree without being disagreeable. I hope I can remember those everyday kindnesses on an everyday basis.

In the meantime, I am grateful for all of my daily blessings and want to wish all of you kindness in your lives and happy holidays

e reason behind the season’s lm

One of the mainstays of holiday movie viewing each December is the unpretentiously named, A Christmas Story, the adventures of Ralphie Parker and his quest for the “Holy Grail of Christmas gifts,” the Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot range model air rifle. A BB-gun, in other words. T he film doesn’t please everyone It’s about a gun, after all, a politically incor rect gift in many quar ters these days and understandably so. There is also bullying (courtesy of Scut Farkus and Grover Dill) and, of course, the infamous fishnet-stockinged le g lamp, which the nar rator describes as “the soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window.” And it was, after all, directed by Bob Clark, whose previous claim to fame was a tasteless (but wildly popular) teen sex romp titled, Pork y’s No matter. After a slow star t finding an audience in 1983, it caught on in a big way. Now it is revered. The house on “Cleveland Street” where it was filmed

became a shrine for the movie’s devoted pilg rims, and the setting for this year’s sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas, on HBO Max, star ring Peter Billingsley, the actor who por trayed Ralphie 40 years ago.

I’m a fan of the original, despite my aforementioned qualms, but I’ve always felt that most of the film’s fans do not fully appreciate the true reason for its success: Jean Shepherd.

If you’ re not familiar with Shepherd, look him up on Wikipedia. It’s quite a story because Jean Shepherd was quite a character. His fans consider him one of America’s great humorists Shepherd cowrote the script and served as the film’s nar rator (as the adult Ralphie looking back). He also had a cameo as the stranger at Higbee’s de par tment store who infor ms Ralphie and his brother Randy where the line to see Santa be gins (“all the way back to Terre Haute”).

A Christmas Stor y ... w ill Ralphie shoot his eye out? What about soap poisoning?

OUR VIEWS

More chaos on Roosevelt

Distro Music Hall, a newly opened music venue on the Berwyn side of Roosevelt Road, saw gun violence within its walls late Saturday night and then chaos in the surrounding Oak Park residential neighborhood as frightened patrons scattered to the sound of the gunshots

Two patrons were wounded, non-life-threatening. Police from Berwyn, Oak Park and Forest Park responded. Witnesses were detained When the official police statement out of Berwyn reads, “The scene was chaotic with large groups of people exiting, yelling and running in all directions,” you get a sense of the panic loosed.

That panic and upset spread into Oak Park where immediate neighbors are frustrated and angry. Rightly so. There was an impromptu gathering of neighbors just north of Roosevelt on Sunday after noon. More organized action and demands will follow. Neighbors want meetings with the club’s owners, and with Berwyn and Oak Park police leaders.

There would be lots to talk about in a public meeting with Oak Park and Berwyn police officials as this is now the second Berwyn nightspot that has spilled gunfire and danger across Roosevelt Road. The Jour nal has been reporting for years, and as recently as this month, on chronic issues at Mike’s Place on Roosevelt near Highland. Neighbors there feel unheard by Oak Park elected officials and police.

We are a nation and a community awash in cheap guns. There is no simple solution. But at our block-by-block level, there are fair expectations of safety and of action. Bar closing times – the violence at Distro happened at 2 a.m. – bolstered private security, an enforced ban on guns in an establishment with loud music and hard liquor, stepped up local police presence are all fair responses

Step one, though, is for police chiefs in Oak Pa rk and Berwyn to sit in a room with their angry constituents and explain their next steps.

North Avenue? Pedestrians?

North Avenue as it fronts both River Forest and Elmwood Park from Harlem to Thatcher is, to our untrained eye, a good place for a lot of cars to drive as fast as they can. And they’ve got four lanes to do it in. So news this week that the two towns have joined up to hire a consultant because there is a “shared desire to create a more walkable and pedestrian-friendly environment” along the stretch seems an impossible, though worthy, aspiration.

Add in that, because North Avenue/Route 64 is a state route, there can be no diminishing of lanes, and there is no plan to acquire any land, we’re looking at a potential plan that puts a lot of heavy-lifting on bump-outs, planters and brick sidewalks to accomplish its goals

Now if the plan is to make Elmwood Park’s quite phenomenal Restaurant Row look more handsome and more walkable with paving bricks, then we have a goal that can be accomplished. If you want a patron to park on the south side of North Avenue and cross over to New Star then we’re going to need some bridges

Perhaps we are underestimating the tools available to a consultant. And we’re always happy when two communities work as one. In the meantime, we will wait and watch for North Avenue to become pedestrian-friendly

TRAINOR

A tribute to Jean Shepherd

from page 21

The script is based on Shepherd’s book, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, about his childhood growing up in Hammond, Indiana (he was born in Chicago). The writing is ter rific — one critic described it as “oh-so-drolly exaggerated.” It has an edge and doesn’t over-romanticize middle-class American life, as Christmas movies tend to do. Without that nar ration, the film would have longago been forgotten.

Because Jean She pherd never fully received his due — and as my present to all of you — here are some of my favorite lines from A Christmas Story Enjoy.

Kids clustered around a storefront window in the opening scene: “Christmas was on its way, lovely glorious, beautiful Christmas, around which the entire kid year revolved. Higbee’s cor ner window was traditionally the high-water mark of the pre-Christmas season. First-nighters, packed earmuff to ear muf f, jostled in wonder before a golden, twinkling display of mechanized, electronic joy.”

Mom’s BB-gun block: “I struggled for exactly the right BB-gun hint. It had to be fir m but subtle. ‘F lick said he saw some g rizzly bears near the candy store.’ They looked at me as if I had lobsters crawling out of my ears. I could tell I was in imminent danger of over playing my hand. … Maybe what happened next was inevitable. ‘Ralphie, [Mom said], what would you like for Christmas?’ Hor rified, I heard myself blurt it out. … ‘No, you’ ll shoot your eye out.’ Oooh, it was the classic mother BBgun block, ‘You’ ll shoot your eye out.’ That deadly phrase, uttered many times before by hundreds of mothers, was not sur mountable by any means known to kiddom. … Mothers know nothing about creeping marauders burrowing through the snow toward the kitchen, where only you and you alone stand between your tiny huddled family and insensate evil.”

One colorful father figure: “Some men are Baptists, others are Catholics. My father was an Oldsmobile man. … My old man was one of the most feared fur nace fighters in nor ther n Indiana. … In the heat of battle, [he] wove a tapestry of obscenity that, as far as we know, is still hanging in space over Lake Michig an.”

Warren G. Harding School playground etiquette: “‘Oh yeah? Well I double-dare you!’

“The exact exchange and nuance of phrase in this ritual is very impor tant.

“‘Are you kidding? Stick my tongue to that stupid pole? That’s dumb.’

“‘That’s cause you know it’ ll stick. … Well I double-dog dare you.’

“Now it was serious, a double-dog dare. What was left but a triple-dare-you and the coup de g race of

all dares, the sinister triple-do g dare

“‘I triple-do g dare ya!’

“Hmmm. Schwartz created a slight breach of etiquette, skipping the triple-dare and going right for the throat.”

The old man, upon opening his ‘major award’ (the notorious le g lamp): “The old man’s eyes bo ggled, overcome by ar t. The snap of a few sparks, a quick whif f of o zone, and the lamp blazed for th in unparalleled glory.”

Suffering a flat tire on the way home from buying a Christmas tree: “Actually, my old man loved it. He always saw himself in the pits at the Indy Speedway in the 500. [His] spare tires were only tires in the academic sense. They were round; they had once been made of rubber.”

Ralphie getting his mouth washed out with soap: “Over the years, I got to be quite a connoisseur of soap. My personal preference was for Lux, but I found Palmolive had a nice piquant after-dinner flavor, heady but just a touch of mellow smoothness. (Pause) Lifebuoy, on the other hand … Yuck!”

Telling his mother where he learned the word “fudge” (he didn’t say “fudge”): “Now I had heard that word at least 10 times a day from my old man. My father worked in profanity the way other ar tists might work in oils or cl ay. It was his true medium, a master.”

In line to see the jolly old elf at Higbee’s: “The line waiting to see Santa stretched all the way back to Terre Haute, and I was at the end of it. … Let’s face it, most of us were scof fers, but moments before zero hour it did not pay to take chances.”

Finally getting to Santa’s lap: “My mind had gone blank! Frantically, I tried to remember what it was I wanted. I was blowing it!

“‘How about a nice, uh, football?’

“Football? What’s a football?”

Putting up the tree as all the lights go out: “The old man could re place fuses quicker than a jackrabbit on a date. He bought ’em by the gross.”

After the Bumpuses’ dogs from ne xt door invade the kitchen and de vour the Christmas turke y: “The heavenly aroma still hung heavy in the house, but it was gone, all gone! No turkey, no turkey sandwiches, no turkey salad, no turkey gravy, turkey hash, turkey ala king, g allons of turkey soup, gone, all gone!”

I won’t spoil the ending for you.

Jean Shepherd died in 1999. He did write, and narrate, a sequel in 1994 (also directed by Bob Clark) titled, It Runs in the Family, with Charles Grodin and Mary Steenburgen as the parents and Kieran Culkin as the older Ralphie (by 11 years). And now we have this year’s A Christmas Story Christmas, with the original Ralphie but without Jean She pherd’s wonderful words, which, as Sh epherd says in the original film — when Ralphie is assigned to write a school theme about what he wants for Christmas — “Oh, rarely had the words poured from my penny pencil with such feverish fluidity!”

Have a mer ry, alliterative, and most Charitable Cherishable Christmas

Christmas stories, told and retold

When I was a very little boy, Dad built a miniature Christmas stable. I grew up seeing the brown wood structure sitting under the soft, green, pine branches each December, with the infant Jesus lying in the manger, Joseph and Mary standing by their son’s side, cattle and sheep resting indoors and out, and a vigilant angel poised on the roof.

RICH KORDESH

One View

As I got older, I never thought to ask Dad whether the sticks that comprised the outer walls and served as the entrance posts had been cut by him from one of our own yuletide trees.

It wouldn’t have surprised me if he did. He was creative like that.

That’s how Christmas stories begin, isn’t it? Their origins can be murky, spawned in mixes of imagination and fact. I can fancy Dad clipping of f two brown perpendicular cuts from a branch after the family tree had been taken down, maybe in January of ’53 or ’54. He would have measured them carefully. They’d serve opposite one another as rails and posts at the stable’s opening. Sure, that’s how he did it. Or I’d like to think so.

Holiday gatherings now with grandparents, moms, dads, uncles, aunts and kids bring to gether a fl ow of many stories. You do this every year, once a year, over decades and the tales run and change. You might recall a turkey dinner Mom served that turned out a certain way — maybe it was kind of dry.

sherif f with a blue piece of chalk!

I got over it. But the story lived forward into many mor nings and present-opening sessions with my parents, sisters and brother. I’d tease Mom about it. She’d groan. I’m sure I’ll bring up the Christmas of ’57 at sister Mary’s this year.

And then there are the ornaments. Over the years, don’t some of them become like old friends? You put them away after the tree comes down and bring them out again in December. Here’s the gold and white dragon from Ljubljana. Here’s the lace snowflake tatted by Grandma Kordesh. One by one, you get reacquainted as you hang them. When the branches are full of them, they’ re aglow with stories.

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Michael Romain

Senior Editor Bob Uphues

Digital Publishing and Technology Manager Briana Higgins

Staff Reporters Stacey Sheridan

Staff Photographers Alex Rogals, Shanel Romain

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Big Week Editor James Porter

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

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey

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

Donor Relations Manager/Food Editor Melissa Elsmo

Sales & Digital Development Manager Stac y Coleman

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

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Judy Gre n Treasurer Nile Wendor f

Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

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, re you to action

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

A holy family heirloom .

But what you most remember is that she apologized for it not being juicy enough. That was Mom’s way. The story gets told now, years later with Mom gone, and all you really care about is embracing the reality of what a sweet woman she was. The particular bird’s moistness fades into the shadows. What Mom was like is what matters.

Some enduring surviving narratives remain funny. Like my annual recounting of my “Christmas of ’57”. I was four. Mom and Dad had asked me what I wanted for Christmas that year, and I told them excitedly about a toy gun and holster set, complete with a sherif f’s badge. They seemed to take note as if that’s what they would get me. But when I went down to the tree that special morning, they happily showed me, already set up and ready to use, a standup drawing board with colored chalk and an eraser. I was incredulous … crestfallen even. I couldn’t be the

What new stories will we begin to write this season? They might be shaped by who unexpectedly shows up. They might be fl avored by a new main dish for dinner. Maybe we’ll convene in a different setting: a new house or a city to which someone in the family has recently moved.

How much does it matter that our stories adhere to the literal truth? Myths build over time, fed by real events but colored by embellishment and changing interpretations of what’s relevant.

I’ ll see that stable again at Mary’s during the party for our extended f amily. I’ll continue to wonder where Dad got those pieces for it. Did they once grow on our own Christmas tree? That would be an appealing addition to its story. But what matters most is that he built it for us.

Years later we get to keep telling new, little arrivals in the family that their great-grandpa did just that.

That’s enough for me

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

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

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In the Holy Land, hummus stays hot

At Inti Humussia, a tiny restaurant in Israel’s Ne gev Desert, we sat down at a long table with local students, laughing and shouting and digging into colorful bowls of hummus, drizzled with olive oil, complemented with varying combinations of chopped olives, chunks of chicken, paprika, pine nuts, onion, garlic and parsley.

To me, hummus has always been an appetizer or a side dish. In Israel and other parts of the Middle East, however, it’s a versatile carbohydrate platform, kind of like mashed potatoes, upon which one can add proteins and ve getables and … whatever. All around me at the little restaurant were platters of hummus looking better than hummus ever looked before, and this hummus — studded with olives and other condiments — was not an app or a side: it was the main course.

HAMMOND

that the “hometz” mentioned in the Old Testament Book of Ruth is, in fact, the hummus that’s so popular today. Indeed, hummus is believed to have been eaten in Egypt over 7,000 years ago. And the popularity of this fundamental Middle Eastern foodstuf f is still going strong.

Hummus is best when made fresh, and there are many hummus recipes online. You basically put the cooked chickpeas through a food processor with garlic, tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil. You can use canned chickpeas, but if you want to make truly fabulous hummus, start with good quality dried beans.

Hummus remains a hot menu item in the Holy Land. A recent survey found that 93% of Israelis eat hummus at least once every week and sometimes much more frequently. In Israel, you see platters of hummus everywhere — breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s delicious, filling, and, pound for pound, it has two-thirds the protein of beef.

Though the dish’s origins are difficult to determine, the recipe is probably thousands of years old. Some believe

We dribbled the hummus with Novello extra virgin olive oil, which has a deep green, pepperiness that plays of f the subtle flavor of the chickpeas. Next time around, I’m going to hit the hummus with enough evoo to create a light green pool in the center, just as they do at Inti Humussia. More oil means more fl avor and a smoother, moister plate of hummus. Making pita is also a relatively simple task for anyone who knows how to bake bread. And homemade pita is much, much better than the preservative-heavy versions at most grocery stores. In Israel, hummus is sometimes served warm, and with pita, it’s quite welcome on a chilly night in Chicagoland or the Ne gev Desert (where night-

time temps can sink to 25 F).

We served our hummus and pita with a big bowl of fresh cut ve ggies for dipping. In this season of feasting, having a super-healthy ve g-forward dinner feels really good.

Don’t care to make your own hummus and pita? Go to Jerusalem Café (1030 Lake St.) and order hummus, served straight or topped with beef or chicken shawarma, or whatever else you care to add-on. Hummus is versatile, ancient, delicious, and good for you.

Happy holidays!

Photo David Hammond

A beautiful bowl of hummus at Inti Humussia

Local Dining & Food Blogger

Lights, please Support the assault weapon ban, HB 5855

I began volunteering with Moms Demand Action after becoming a mother for the first time in 2016, and have been active in the gun violence pr evention movement ever since. I am hopeful because, here in Illinois, we have a rare opportunity to pass meaningful legislation that will help keep our families safer from gun violence with the Protect Communities Act (House Bill 5855.)

HB 5855 proposes important provisions to state law, including banning assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, raising the age to obtain a firearm owners identification (FOID) card to 21, improves the process for petitioning firearm restraining orders, and addresses gun trafficking in Illinois.

While high-profile school shootings and public mass shootings often are the catalysts that drive folks to our membership meetings, my work has exposed me to the tragic complexities of gun violence in America, as well as in our own community

Gun violence is the leading cause of death for American children. Gun suicide, which comprises roughly 60% of gun violence in America, largely impacts white Americans, while gun homicide largely impacts Black and Brown Americans

This is a complex issue that requires layered solutions, comprehensive laws, and education campaigns. And so while HB 5855 doesn’t address every aspect of gun violence, it will absolutely save lives in our state. I look forward to also seeing future legislation that increases funding for city gun violence prevention, and continued state investment in programs that address the root causes of this publichealth crisis

Your voice matters! Urge your Illinois state representative to vote Yes on HB 5855 and stay tuned to local gun violence prevention advocates for future action items to support this initiative

Jenna Leving Jacobson Oak Park

anks for supporting ‘Boycott’

We want to thank the large number of people who attended the showing of the award-winning documentary Boycott at the Lake Theatre on Dec. 5. Many of you were appalled to learn about legislation, passed by 38 states — including Illinois — intended to silence boycott and other nonviolent measures aimed at pressuring Israel on its human rights record. As the film and discussion make clear, these bills specifically target the growing movement for Palestinian human rights but

also threaten the free speech rights of all Americans.

The Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine and other Chicago-area organizations are committed to educating the public about this issue and organizing against this type of legislation in Illinois. We plan to reach out to the community in the new year to discuss further education and action opportunities.

CJPIP Steering Committee Oak Park

Whose decision is it?

Near the end of the editorial “OPRF’s big decision” [Our Views, Viewpoints, Dec. 14] are two integral sentences: “Funding major overhauls of the campus after 50 years of not investing in the school’s facilities need other methods and approaches. In the early months of 2023, the school board will need to decide on that funding.”

Wouldn’t it be better to first determine

what “major overhauls” should be the priorities for investment? The new pool and all its trimmings still seem to be the main priority, funding be damned. The OPRF High School board is twisting itself into knots to devise a scheme to pay for it all and hell-bent on thinking all of it is only their decision.

Chris Donovan, Oak Park

It starts just after Halloween now. You’ve noticed, right?

A few lights in stores, a jolly Santa standee, a little shakeup in the playlist of four or five ra dio stations, and it starts. Earlie than ever come the reminders of what’s coming, and thus earlier than ever my least favorite thing about my most favorite holiday begins: People bitching about Christmas. Here’s some ammunition to help you argue of f the joyless, humorless, and uncreative.

“Christmas starts too early!”

ALAN BROUILETTE

Are you kidding me? Whaddayawant, more time to savor the weather? We should start the hype the first time the temperature drops below 40 de grees as far as I’m concer ned. January, February and March are bleak and horrible, and so would November and December be without twinkly lights and eggnog. Why anyone complains about anything that brings color and light to two months of grey freezingness is beyond me. Not only would I like to see Christmas start earlier, I’d like to see it last longer. I’d be very happy moving Christmas to March and having music and lights run through till spring training.

“It’s too religious/not religious enough!”

Here is what I would like for Christmas this year: I would like all those of you who complain about Christmas being too inclusive and those of you who complain about Christmas being too exclusive to pair off. You all share a common interest in imposing your viewpoint on others, so this should be easy. Find your opposite number, pair off, and argue about theology, in private and with that person only, until Dec. 26.

This is an everybody-wins scenario: You both get to jump up and down and shout at someone about religion and the rest of us can go about being happier without either of you.

“It’s too commercial!”

All you people tutting “tHe tRuE mEaNiNg Of cHrIsTmAs hAs BeEn LoSt!” in the face of rampant consumerism are talking out of your butts. Let’s get something straight. Christmas as a fun day is not a new development. Christmas has been about g ettin’ stuf f since Day One. Witness: “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped

him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew

at is quite literally chapter se on Christmas, and those 40 words that are the final authority on what is and is not “Christmas” specifically mention:

■ Presents

■ Spoiling children

■ Product placement

■ Celebrity endorsements

And obliquely reference:

■ Getting drunk with friends and coworkers

■ Holiday parties

■ Gift competitiveness

■ Houseguests

Furthermore, if you include Matthew 2:10, “They were overjoyed at seeing the star,” you can add “displays of light” to the list of things that have been part of Christmas since the day Christmas was invented.

So stuf f it about Christmas being too much about lights, parties, and presents. Christmas has always been about lights, parties, and presents.

So bring it on. All the best things about Christmas. Bring on a million tiny lights Bring on eggnog and mulled wine and hot cider. Bring on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story and Gremlins. Bring on the Jingle Cats and Bootsy Collins’ Christmas album and holiday hiphop and A Very Techno Christmas. Bring on cheese logs and chocolate Santas and cookies. Bring on lines for Santa and giftwrap for charity and mobbed malls. Bring on Santa hats and reindeer antler headbands and neckties with wreaths on them. Bring on trees: real, artificial, and really artificial. Bring on the glass ball ornaments and hundred-foot tinsel garlands and HAPPY HOLIDAYS written in 10-foot light-up letters. Bring on the office parties where somebody was dumb enough to bring mistletoe and the family time where somebody was dumb enough to bring wine. Bring on Frosty and Alvin and Rudolph and that sanctimonious twit Linus.

All of it.

For the grinches among you … patience. It’ ll be February soon enough.

Alan Brouilette is a Forest Park resident who writes a column for our sister publication, the Forest Park Review

anks for a thought-provoking column, Michael For folks whose Christmas is not merry

I want to commend Michael Romain for an extraordinarily insightful and thought-provoking column regarding the Hulu TV series, Fleishman is in Trouble Not only did I find his observations about our culture astute, but I must admit that his column forced me to look at myself more closely.

Two disclaimers: 1) when I first read the column, I hadn’t watched the show, and 2) I am an elderly white male (aka “old white guy”). I have now watched several episodes and am even more impressed by Michael’s column and his observations about the current state of our American civilization, what we as a people value, and how we measure success

There is a through line from Thomas Frank’s 2007 book What’s the Matter with Kansas, to the 2016 election, to Fleishman. The subtitle of Frank’s book is “How Conservatives Won the Heart of America,” and that’s the subtext to so many recent events.

Michael asks, “What are the social consequences for the winners in a winner-take-all world that lavishly rewards the most likely to succeed by its

pathological, sociopathic, psychosomatically toxic and ultimately pointless rules while impoverishing the rest?” Good question, and the flip side is, why do so many Americans, ordinary and extraordinary, buy into those rules?

As Michael asks us, “Why have we allowed the world to stay this way?” As the column points out, from U.S. tax law, health-care policy, and business regulation to gun laws and abortion, to name just a few, the majority of Americans (as counted by the popular vote in national elections) have allowed a minority of conservative Americans to rule. Huh?

Why?

The other point I would like to add is about myself. I had kinda pigeonholed Mr. Romain as someone who focused on racial issues. He is obviously an astute observer of American culture beyond race. I owe him an apology, and myself a look in the mirror. It’s so hard to be color blind; should that even be a goal?

Thanks for making me think about so many important issues.

Ed Liss, Oak Park

Festival welcomes a new artistic director

After a nationwide search, Oak Park Festival Theatre is delighted to announce that Peter G. Andersen will be our next artistic director.

“Oak Park Festival Theatre has set a vision for the coming 3-5 years tha includes broadening our audience and our perspective to be more divers and inclusive,” said Board President Barbara Cimaglio. “Peter was the one candidate who had the breadth of experience and the vision to lead us in a direction of growth and exploration. He brings a deep knowledge of classical theater as well as experience directing in both small and larger venues and, importantly, he is enthusiastic about Oak Park Festival Theatre and guiding us forward to serve our patrons in the Chicagoland area better.”

“I have been a long admirer of Oak Park Festival Theatre,” said Peter. “It’s a company that has an outstanding reputation within the theater community of Chicago, and one I feel a great sense of kinship with. OPFT is approaching its 50th season, and I am thrilled to lead it into its next chapter. This company has a long history of producing ‘classical’ plays, and I plan on bringing my years of experience working with the classical canon to produce fresh productions for modern audiences In addition, I am eager to explore what constitutes ‘classical’ or ‘canonical’ plays by producing works by Queer artists and artists of color who have his-

torically been excluded. This is a thrilling time to be working in American theater because there is a collective examination and conversation around the ype of work theatres should produce.”

Peter obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting from Emerson ollege and recently graduated from the John Wells Directing Program at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama, earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in Directing. Prior to joining Oak Park Festival Theatre, he was the education manager at Writers Theatre in Glencoe and worked at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as the education apprentice and multicultural fellow.

His previous directorial projects include The Kennedy Plays, 21, a rock-musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, The American Myth, At Your Own Risk, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Queer Shakespeare, The Cafe Collections, O/A: The Sophocles Project, As You Like It, Macbeth, and Measure for Measure. He has also worked at TimeLine Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Yale Re pertory Theatre, Writers Theatre, and American Players Theatre as an assistant director.

He will hit the ground running in January, 2023, as we make final plans for our 48th Season.

Welcome aboard, Peter.

This evening (Dec. 21), Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 Division St. in River Forest will hold a Longest Night Service that will begin at 7 p.m.

“We have this service,” explained Troy Medlin, associate pastor at Grace, “as a way of acknowledging that the holiday season is often difficult for many people. Whether folks are living with illness, grief, a recent loss, or a family that is fractured or does not accept them, the holidays can be a time of deep pain and loneliness, not joy and merriment.

“We believe that in the darkness we find God dwelling there with us and leading us into a future where it all belongs. Many folks find this to be a peaceful place to pray, sing, lament, and hope together with others.”

Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church, 744 Fair Oaks in Oak Park, held their Longest Night Service last Saturday. On a bitterly cold night, 11 worshippers quietly filed into the darkened sanctuary. The Call to Worship set the tone: Leader: Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing. All: Listen to the sound of my cry. Leader: It is to you, you alone, I pray. All: Be gracious, and hear my broken prayer.

Pastor Ben Lynch, one of the co-pastors of the congregation, lit the first of the four Advent candles and said, “Sometimes hope feels impossibly distant. Hear our cry of hopelessness, O God, and break into our lives once again.”

To which the people responded, “Lord, have mercy upon us.”

The service continued with more candle-lighting, a reading from Psalm 22, 15 minutes of silence and a blessing.

Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St. in Oak Park, held their Longest Night service on Monday evening

“It is a holy night,” said Colin Knapp, Pilgrim’s senior pastor, “when we’re given a safe place to cry out to God and to name our longings for a new day, for light, for hope. A time to sit through the beautiful darkness with each other, waiting on God, waiting for hope.

“Pilgrim has had a Longest Night Gathering since 2017 — we usually have about 50 people show up. For some, it feels like the holiest thing, the most authentic thing we do all year.”

Tom Holmes Forest Park

anks for 50 years of support

On Saturday, Dec. 10, the Housing Center celebrated its 50th anniversary leading the fight for residential inclusion, housing equity and racial diversity by honoring the leaders who continue to “Move the Le gacy Forward.”

Our 50th anniversary honorees: Sandra Sokol is a proud pioneer in racial equity activism, for mer Oak Park village clerk, community leader and visionary, who not only envisioned but also worked tirelessly toward the vibrantly diverse Oak Park village we see today

the powerless.

Ayesha Jaco is a change-maker, fighting for a future that leaves no one behind, a gifted educator and groundbreaking leader on health equity who will empower BIPOC residents throughout the Greater West Side to achieve their life potential.

Oak Park Festival Theatre

Nick Brunick is an Oak Park resident and attorney activist, leveraging his skills and training to build inclusive, equitable communities. He is a fearless community org anizer, speaking truth to power on behalf of

Attendees enjoyed food and beverages catered by local Takeout 25 restaurants: Daly Bagel, Mora Asian Kitchen, Kribi Coffee, Top Butcher Market, and Twisted Cookie while listening to music from Val’s halla Records, who are also celebrating their golden anniversary in 2022, and Deonte Baker, a for mer standout on the music contest show, American Idol

.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center Oak Park

PETER G. ANDERSEN

Sandra Marshall, 80

39-year Oak Park Village Hall sta member

Sandra J. Marshall, 80, a lifelong resident of Oak Park, died peacefully on Nov. 24, 2022. Bor n on June 21, 1942, she was the daughter of the late LeRoy and Har riet Rehfeldt. She graduated from Irving Elementary School in 1956 and from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1960. She was a dedicated employee for the village of Oak Park for over 39 years.

Sandy was the wife of the late Gerald; the mother of Cindy (Kevin) Wolthusen; the grandmother of Jessica and Jer ry Wolthusen; the sister of Sheri Leinbach and the late Roy (Sandy) Rehfeldt; the aunt of Wendy Stricker (Kevin Callahan), Bruce (Suzy) Leinbach and the late Jeff Rehfeldt; and the great-aunt of Katie (Ryan) Klenovich, Sarah Stricker, Jonny Stricker, Emily Callahan, Christie (Wayne) Seaton, Stephanie (Phil) Gallig an and Laura Leinbach. Services have been held

Bennie

Whiten Jr., 89

UCC minister and administrator

Rev. Bennie E. Whiten Jr., an Park resident 1976 to 1991, again from 2016 2022, died peacefully on Dec the Memory Center at Sheridan of Ri Forest. Bor n Louisiana on 26, 1933, he ear Colle ge and Ho Divinity, graduating Magna Cum Laude from both. Ordained in the newly-for med United Church of Christ (UCC) in 1957, he pastored the First Refor med Church in

Cincinnati until the early 1960s before taking a series of leadership roles in the UCC.

As a Life Member of the NAACP, he was involved in the struggle for civil rights and justice wherever he lived. He and his family moved from New York to Oak Park in 1976 after he became associate executive director of the Community Renewal Society, a faith-based community org anization committed to social justice He was active in Oak Park civic af fairs, serving on the Community Relations Commission from 1979 to 1984, including par ticipation in the Racial Diversity Task Force. He subsequently served as one of three members of the Fire and Police Board starting in 1984.

A role leading the 437 churches of the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC took him to the Boston area in 1991, retur ning to Chicago after his retirement in 2000. In retirement he served on the boards of Interfaith Worker Justice and Protestants for the Common Good. In addition, he served briefly as interim executive director of Wider Church Ministries UCC and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and as acting executive director of the UCC Insurance Board.

He and his wife, Sue Sporte, have been active members at Pilg rim Cong re gational Church UCC, in Oak Park since 2002. He was diagnosed with mild co gnitive impairment in 2008 and moved to the Memory Care Unit at The Sheridan of River Forest in 2021.

Bennie is survived by his wife, Sue Spor te; his sister, Dr Joyc elyn Whiten; his daughter, Leslie M. Whiten; his son, Bennie E. Whiten III; his ste pchildren, Scott Spor te and Lisa Spor te; seven grand- and ste p-g randchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one niece.

A memorial service will be held at Pilg rim Cong re gational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park, on Dec 31 at 10 a.m. The service will be livestreamed, and it can be viewed on the church website (at https:// pilg rimcong re ga tionalchurch.l iv econtrol.tv/515be108) or the church YouTube channel (at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=kIwMEL7WIPc), where it will also be available for later viewing Peterson-Bassi Funeral Chapels of Chicago (petersonfuneralhome.com) is handling ar rangements

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Pilg rim Cong re gational Church UCC (Pilg rimOakPark.org) or JointheMovementUCC.org, which expands racial justice ministries of the UCC.

Nancy Vertuno, 80 Nurse for the Navy and Gottlieb Hospital

Nancy J. Vertuno (nee Reardon), of River Forest, died suddenly on Oct. 1, 2022. Bor n on March 29, 1942 in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania, she matriculated at Mount Mercy College (now Carlow University) in Pittsburgh in the baccalaureate in September, 1960. She received her commission in the Navy Nurse Corps in December, 1964. After graduation in May, 1965, she was assigned to the Naval Hospital at Portsmouth, Virginia. After leaving active duty in the Navy, she practiced nursing for over 25 years at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital.

She will be remembered for her infectious sense of humor and greatly missed by all who knew her and were touched by her life.

Nancy was the daughter of the late Robert Reardon and Mary Tyce Reardon; the wife

of Leonard Vertuno, M.D., for 55 years; the mother of Maria (Paul Bur meister) Vertuno, Elizabeth (Ajay) Masih, Michelle Bruggenthies and Katie Vertuno; the grandmother of Audrey and Luke Bur meister and Bridget, Brady and Ireland Masih; the sister of Robert (Jan) Reardon and Janet (the late Charles) Bassler; the sister-in-law of the late Edward (Beveille) Vertuno, Anthony (Hiroko) Vertuno, and Theresa Vertuno; the aunt of Robert (Carlin) Reardon, Christopher Reardon, and Kimberly (Jack) Cunningham, Laura (the late James) Cota, Colleen (William) Fitzgerald, Maureen (Steven) Lieber man and Susan (Michael) Goodhue, Edward (Tammy Poole) Vertuno and James (Jyll) Vertuno, John Vertuno, and Anthony Swain and David (Megan Wolfe) Swain; and friend to many others.

Family and friends will be received at the Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cer mak Road, Westchester on Tuesday, Dec. 27 from 3 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass on Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. will be celebrated at St. Luke Church, 7600 W. Lake St., River Forest with private entombment at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorials to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association are greatly appreciated

Arrangements were handled by Peter B. Kennedy & Co., Funeral Directors.

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

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

DEFINITION

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

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Reports directly to the Information Technology Services Director.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:

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

Essential duties and responsibilities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

software and other forms of systems and data.

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

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

13. Participate in research and recommendation of technology solutions.

Other important responsibilities and duties

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

2. Participate in the preparation of various activity reports.

3. Travel and support remote facilities and partner agencies.

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

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

6. Complete projects on a timely and efficient manner.

7. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

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

9. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

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

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

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

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

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

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

VB scripts.

Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Technical writing, office productivity tools and database packages.

Ability to:

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

- Walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time

- Operating assigned equipment

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

- Working in and around computer equipped vehicles

Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:

- Making observations

- Communicating with others

- Reading and writing

- Operating assigned equipment and vehicles

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

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

Experience and Training Guidelines

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

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

Possession of a valid Illinois Driver

License is required at the time of appointment.

Vaccination against COVID-19 strongly preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

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

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

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

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

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

Salesforce Tech Lead sought by Enova Financial Holdings, LLC in Chicago, IL to wrk w/ stkhldrs in Sales & Loan Support to scpe efrt ndd to add nw ftrs. Telecomm prmtd. Apply @ jobpostingtoday.com #33758

Financial Manager sought by a Financial services company in Chicago, IL. to: Work with business leaders across the organization, driving financial planning, business forecasting, and analysis around key initiatives and growth opportunities; Complete ad-hoc business projects and financial modeling analyses such as revenue & logo retention.

Requirements: Master degree in Science in Finance, Economics, or related field, 1 year of experience in the job offer or related occupations; 1 year of experience working with proficiency in financial modeling, large data sets, detailed & dynamic operating or forecast models, revenue and logo retention analyses, cohort analyses, unit economics, user engagement, or other relevant KPIs for technology companies; Send resume to: Klover Holdings, Inc, attention Timothy Ghosh, 222 W Hubbard St, Suite 210, Chicago, IL 60654

Shipping Manager

Manufacturing

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

FINANCE COORDINATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Finance Coordinator. The ideal candidate will perform a wide variety of responsible and complex administrative, secretarial and clerical duties for the Finance department; and will provide information and assistance to the public regarding department to which assigned. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. This position is open until filled.

COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVISOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Community Health Advisor. The professional in this position is responsible for a variety of tasks including; promoting a safe health care environment; including health education, outreach and promotion which includes disseminating information, making referrals, and counseling as well as managing caseloads, and performing a variety of tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. First review of applications December 19, 2022.

FULL-TIME POLICE RECORDS CLERK FOREST PARK, IL

The Forest Park Police Department, seeks a Full-Time Civilian Information Management Records Clerk reporting to the Lieutenant of the Criminal Investigations Division. Eligible candidates will be required to pass an aptitude test and an extensive background check. Qualifications include excellent organizational skills, computer skills, the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines,

good knowledge of English language, and adherence to all police department policies and procedures.

Responsibilities and duties include subpoena fulfilment, evidence room duties, data entries, general office functions, report creation, and other duties as needed our assigned. Open until filled. Applications are available at Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Ave. or at www.forestpark. net and should be returned Attn: Vanessa Moritz, Village Clerk, Village of Forest Park, 517 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130. Email: vmoritz@forestpark.net

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Oak Park, Illinois (Chicagoland) www.collab4kids.org

Since its beginnings in 2002, the Collaboration for Early Childhood (the Collab) has embraced the vision that all children should arrive at kindergarten safe, healthy, ready to succeed and eager to learn. The Collab’s focus has always been on how much impact the organization could have on the youngest among us in the community.

The Executive Director will be charged with taking the organization into its next phase of organizational life. He/She/They will have the opportunity to leverage the organization’s expanded influence and funding, potentially beyond the state of Illinois. The Executive Director will enhance the organization’s advocacy profile and will help shape a policy agenda for early learning. He/She/ They will help expand the organization’s opportunities for revenue generation, diversification, and strategic partnerships. Most significantly, the Collab will continue to serve as one of the state’s primary thought leaders in early childhood education.

The minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required, though a master’s or advanced degree is preferred.

The salary range for this position is between $120,000 and $140,000

and will be commensurable with experience. The Collab offers a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to 12 paid holidays, vacation days and group health insurance, as well as a retirement plan.

It is the policy of the Collaboration to afford equal employment opportunities regardless of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, religion, marital status, disability, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, order of protection status, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. This policy of equal employment applies to all aspects of the employment relationship, including but not limited to: initial consideration for employment; job placement and assignment of responsibilities; performance evaluation; promotion and advancement; compensation and fringe benefits; training and professional development opportunities; formulation and application of human resource policies and rules; facility and service accessibility; and discipline and termination.

Applications are being received by Kittleman & Associates, LLC. For more information or to apply, please

HELP WANTED • NETWORK SPECIALIST

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss

Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, County Division.

In re Nicholas J. Russo and Isui Dawn Russo, Petitioner and JeanCarlo Munoz-Ordaz, Respondent, Case No. 2022COAD000505.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Adoption and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before January 20, 2023, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Adoption entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal December 21, 28, 2022, January 4, 2023

NOVENAS

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved & preserved throughout the world now & forever.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. By the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you Jesus. Thank You St . Jude. GLK

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notice

STATE OF ILLINOIS, COUNTY OF COOK, ssCircuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division

In re the Marriage of: Nina Obi, Petitioner, and Innocent Obi, Respondent, Case No. 2022 D 005212.

The requisite affidavit for Publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, Innocent Obi, Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, Nina Obi, for Dissolution of Marriage and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent file your Appearance and Response electronically to said Petition with the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, on or before January 4, 2023, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage Entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

IRIS Y. MARTINEZ, Clerk.

Published in the Wednesday Journal December 14, 21, 28, 2022.

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.

Request of Ryan Cavario Isom Case Number 20224005929

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Ryan Cavario Isom to the new name of: Rian Isom

The court date will be held: On January 31, 2023 at 11am at FOURTH MUNICIPAL DISTICT COURT OF COOK COUNTY 1500 MAYBROOK DRIVE, MAYWOOD, COOK COUNTY, IL via Zoom.

ZOOM ACCESS CODE: 914 3462 0283 PASSWORD: 988648

Published in Wednesday Journal December 7, 14, 21, 2022

Public Notice

ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDDING Request of bids for the Park District of Oak Park 228-230 Lot Restoration, 228-230 Madison St., Oak Park.

Owner: Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302

The Park District of Oak Park will accept sealed bids for the 228-230 Madison Lot Restoration, 228-230 Madison St., Oak Park. The project consists of removal of sidewalk, asphalt, curb and gutter; grading, new driveway approach, paving, sidewalk, masonry, drainage, pavers, striping, bike racks and more. The Park District of Oak Park will receive individual sealed Bids until 9:00 a.m. (Central time) on Wednesday, January 4 th , 2023, at 218 Madison St., Oak Park, IL. The bidding documents and requirements will be available on the link below as of 9:00 am Wednesday, December 21 st , 2022.

Bid bonds will be required by bidding contractors. Copies of the bidding specifications are available via this link: https://www.demandstar.com/ app/buyers/bids/406688/details

For additional information, contact Chris Lindgren at chris.lindgren@ pdop.org or (708) 725-2050. Only the bids prepared in compliance with the bidding documents will be considered. This project must adhere to the Prevailing Wage Act of 2022. The Park District of Oak Park strongly encourages minority and women owned business firms to submit bids for this project.

Park District of Oak Park

By: Chris Wollmuth, Secretary Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal December 21, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y22009963 on December 16, 2022. Under the Assumed Business Name of SLOAN COFFEE ROASTING with the business located at: 261 HERRICK RD, RIVERSIDE, IL 60546. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: MATT SLOAN 261 HERRICK RD RIVERSIDE, IL 60546, USA.

Published in RB Landmark December 21, 28, 2022, January 4, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR FORMATION OF A BANK HOLDING COMPANY

Brookfield HoldCo, Inc., 9136 Washington Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513, has applied to the Federal Reserve Board for permission to form a bank holding company and acquire control of First National Bank of Brookfield, located at 9136 Washington Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513. The Federal Reserve considers a number of factors in deciding whether to approve the application, including the record of performance of banks we own in helping to meet local credit needs.

You are invited to submit comments in writing on this application to Colette A. Fried, Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, 230 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60604. The comment period will not end before January 20, 2023 and may be somewhat longer. The Board’s procedures for processing applications may be found at 12 C.F.R. Part 262. Procedures for processing protested applications may be found at 12 C.F.R. 262.25. To obtain a copy of the Federal Reserve Board’s procedures, or if you need more information about how to submit your comments on the application, contact Jeremiah Boyle, Assistant Vice President for Community and Economic Development at (312) 322-6023; to request a copy of an application, contact Colette A. Fried at (312) 322-6846. The Federal Reserve will consider your comments and any request for a public meeting or formal hearing on the application if they are received in writing by the Reserve Bank on or before the last day of the comment period.

21, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION

DOCKET NUMBER: PC 22-09

HEARING DATE: January 5, 2023 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

SUBJECT PROPERTY

ADDRESSES: 6500-6538 Roosevelt Road, Oak Park, Illinois 60304 (“Subject Property”)

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Parcel 1: Lots 137 and 138 in South Ridgeland in South Ridgeland being a subdivision of a part of the Southeast quarter of Section 18, Township 39 North, Range 13 East of the Third Principal Meridian, in Cook County, Illinois. Parcel 2: Lots 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 and that part of the West half of vacated Gunderson Avenue lying East of and adjoining said Lot 43 in South Ridgeland being a subdivision of a part of the Southeast quarter of Section 18, Township 39 North, Range 13 East of the Third Principal Meridian, in Cook County, Illinois. Lots 139, 140, 141, 142 in South Ridgeland, a subdivision of the Southeast quarter of Section 18, Township 39 North, Range 13 East of the Third Principal Meridian, in Cook County, Illinois.

P.I.N.s: 16-18-426-040-0000, 16-18-426-041-0000, 16-18-427036-0000, 16-18-427-037-0000, 16-18-427-038-0000, 16-18-427039-0000, 16-18-427-040-0000, 16-18-427-041-0000, 16-18-427042-0000, 16-18-427-043-0000, 16-18-427-044-0000, 16-18-426037-0000, 16-18-426-038-0000, and 16-18-426-039-0000.

PROPERTY OWNER(S): Berwyn Properties, LLC and Dei Cugini, LLC, 6501 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, IL 60402

PETITIONER(S): Berwyn Properties, LLC and Dei Cugini, LLC, 6501 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, IL 60402

REQUEST: The Plan Commission will conduct a public hearing on an amendment/major modification to Planned Development Ordinance Number ORD 18-386 to include property commonly known as 6536 Roosevelt Road (former Salvation Army location) abutting the Subject Property to the west of the existing

Planned Development in order to expand the existing surface parking lot. The Applicant seeks the following seven (7) allowances from the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance associated with the Planned Development amendment/major modification: (1) relief from Article 5.4 (Roosevelt Road District Dimensional and Design Standards), Section G.2 (Side and Rear Setbacks: Parking Located Adjacent to Buildings), to reduce the required five-foot parking setback along the north property line to one foot; (2) relief from Article 10.2 (Location of Off-Street Parking Spaces) Section B.2(e) to allow parking within the boundaries of the Village of Oak Park for a building or use being served outside the Village of Oak Park boundaries (i.e., eight van-sized route truck vehicles); (3) relief from Article 10.3 (Off-Street Parking Design Standards), Section G (Landscape and Screening), to allow a reduction in parking lot landscaping requirement set forth in Article 11 (Landscaping); (4) relief from Article 10.3 (Off-Street Parking Design Standards), Section B.2 (Access), to not provide internal pedestrian circulation in the parking lot; (5) relief from Article 11.7 (Required Parking Lot Interior Landscaping), Section A, to allow for a reduction of three required landscape islands; (6) relief from Article 11.7 (Required Parking Lot Interior Landscaping), Section B, to reduce the required parking lot landscape area from 10% to approximately 7.4%; and (7) relief from Article 11.7 (Required Parking Lot Interior Landscaping), Section C, to reduce the number of required landscape areas at each end of a parking row. A copy of the application and each of the applicable documents are on the Village Website at www. oak-park.us and also on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during current business hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission 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, December 21, 2022

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2018-G-CTT Plaintiff, -v.-

ANN W. BELL, MARTIN F. BELL, COMMUNITY BANK OF OAK PARK RIVER FOREST Defendants 2022 CH 02068 1152 HOME AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60304

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on September 6, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 13, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1152 HOME AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60304

Property Index No. 16-18-326-0020000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $130,513.82.

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

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE

RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact Alexander Potestivo, POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610, Chicago, IL, 60606 (312) 263-0003. Please refer to file number 314605.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

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

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

POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610 Chicago IL, 60606 312-263-0003

E-Mail: ilpleadings@potestivolaw. com

Attorney File No. 314605 Attorney Code. 43932 Case Number: 2022 CH 02068 TJSC#: 42-4397

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2022 CH 02068 I3208865

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION CASCADE FUNDING MORTGAGE TRUST HB5 Plaintiff, -v.-

UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW AND LEGATEES OF WILLIE L. ADAMS, DONNY ADAMS A/K/A DONALD ADAMS, THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, THOMAS QUINN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIE L. ADAMS, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2021 CH 05255 806 S. TAYLOR AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60304

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on September 23, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 5, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 806 S. TAYLOR AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-17-129-0050000; 16-17-129-006-0000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $470,390.58.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

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

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

For information, contact JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650, Chicago, IL, 60602 (312) 541-9710. Please refer to file number 21 8680.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

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

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

JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650 Chicago IL, 60602 312-541-9710

E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com Attorney File No. 21 8680 Attorney Code. 40342 Case Number: 2021 CH 05255 TJSC#: 42-3674

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Col-

lection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2021 CH 05255 I3208368

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

Nationstar Mortgage LLC Plaintiff, vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF LACEY WILLIAMS AKA LACEY A. WILLIAMS; ARTIST SQUARE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION; OLIVE MARIE RIVERA, A MINOR, BY LANGSTON WILLIAMS, JR. AND ALTHEA WILLIAMS, HER GRANDPARENTS AND NEXT FRIENDS; ALTHEA WILLIAMS; LANGSTON WILLIAMS, JR.; JULIE FOX AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF LACEY WILLIAMS AKA LACEY A. WILLIAMS; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 21 CH 5815

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 Monday, January 9, 2023 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. 16-07-323-055-1011.

Commonly known as 1041 Susan Collins Lane, Unit 304, 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 Law Clerk at Plaintiff’s Attorney, The Wirbicki Law Group, 33 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. (312) 360-9455. W20-0232 ADC

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

intercountyjudicialsales.com I3208202

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2007-23CB MORTGAGE

PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-23CB

Plaintiff, -v.-

RORY L VALENTINE, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS

Defendants 2022 CH 05449 1178 S SCOVILLE AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 5, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 13, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 1178 S SCOVILLE AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304

Property Index No. 16-18-427-0150000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

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

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no

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

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

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

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

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-22-04053 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2022 CH 05449 TJSC#: 42-3886

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2022 CH 05449 I3208571

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR GSAA HOME EQUITY TRUST 2006-14, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-14 Plaintiff, -v.-

ELIZABETH SMITH, LARRY E. SMITH

Defendants

2018 CH 03138 646 LYMAN AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on July 27, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 19, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 646 LYMAN AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304

Property Index No. 16-17-114-0150000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales

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

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

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

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

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-18-00602 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2018 CH 03138 TJSC#: 42-4547

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2018 CH 03138 I3209538

Let the sun shine in... Public Notice: Your right to know In print • Online

Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year

• OakPark.com

• RBLandmark.com • ForestParkReview.com

• AustinWeeklyNews.com

PublicNoticeIllinois.com

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF OAK PARK

Saturday, December 24

4:00pmatSt.LukewiththeChildren'sChoirandCherubChoirandcarolsbeforeMassat3:30pm 6:00pmatSt.Bernardinewithavocalensemble/trumpetandcarolsbeforeMassat5:45pm 10:30pmatSt.LukewiththeFestivalChoirandtrumpetandcarolsbeforeMassat10:00pm

8:00amatSt.BernardinewithCantor/trumpetandfestiveinstrumentalmusicbeforeMass 9:30amatSt.LukewithContemporaryChoir,flute,violinandcarolsbeforeMassat9:15am 11:00amatSt.LukewiththeFestivalChoirandtrumpetandcarolsbeforeMassat10:45am

MerryChristmasfromSt.Lukeand St.BernardineParish! St.LukeandSt.BernardineParish

Christmas Eve 6:00 pm Welcome the newborn king! Our Christmas Eve service starts at 6 pm and will feature our diverse music ministry (including traditional pipe organ, handbells, choir, contemporary and gospel selections by our Praise Team) during our candle-light service.

Sunday, December 25

N. OAK PARK AVE., OAK PARK, IL 60302 • www. rstumcoakpark.org

Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Christmas Eve Services

Saturday, December 24, 2022

3pm Christmas Pageant and Worship for All Ages

6pm Choir & Candlelight Service

Services will be both in-person and live streamed. To learn more go to: www.unitytemple.org

Holidays at Grace Lutheran Church

Christmas Eve Saturday, December 24

Two children-led services with music

4:15 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

A service of Holy Communion 8:00 p.m.

A candlelight service of Holy Communion 10:45 p.m. Prelude music at 10:30 p.m.

Christmas Day Sunday, December 25

A service of Holy Communion in celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord 10:00 a.m.

7300 Division Street River Forest, Illinois, 60305 gracechurch@graceriverforest.org 708-366-6900

New Year’s Eve

Saturday, December 31

A service of Holy Communion 7:00 p.m.

Name of Jesus Sunday, January 1

A service of Holy Communion 10:00 a.m.

Epiphany of Our Lord Friday, January 6

A service of Holy Communion 7:00 p.m.

Baptism of Our Lord Sunday, January 8

A service of Holy Communion 10:00 a.m.

Ascension Church 808 S. East Avenue, Oak Park St. Edmund Church 188 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park

The Parish of Ascension and St. Edmund C E M T L :

Saturday, December 24

with

Schola at

with the St. Edmund Choir at

Church

St. Edmund Church (Confessions at 4:30 pm) Sunday, January 1, 2023 8:00 am and 10:30 am at Ascension Church 11:00 am at St. Edmund Church P S T W D P Sunday, January 1, 2023 at 7:30 pm at Ascension Church

St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church 38 N. Austin Boulevard, Oak Park St. Giles Church 1045 Columbian Avenue, Oak Park

Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church “And this will be a sign for you: you will �ind an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” ‐Luke 1:12

Animal Care League

Animal Care League offers a safe haven for pets in need. Rooted in the community since 1973, Animal Care League takes a proactive approach to animal care and adoption as well as preventative measures to help reduce the number of homeless animals in our communities. With over 1000 pets coming to our doors each year, Animal Care League counts on supporters to ensure that we can provide what is needed from routine vaccinations to life saving surgery.

Make a difference in the life of a homeless animal by visiting animalcareleague.org where you can sign up to volunteer, make a donation, view our adoptable pets, and learn about upcoming events.

The Answer

The Answer Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to providing support, resources, education, recreation, and advocacy for families in the greater Chicago area that are challenged with supporting family members with Autism & Developmental Disorders. In addition to providing essential resources & services for parents and caregivers, our agency strives to help contribute to the continued growth, educational and recreational inclusion for the children and relatives specifically impacted.

Learn more about The Answer at theanswerinc.org

Austin Coming Together

Austin Coming Together (ACT)’s mission is to increase the collective impact of our 50+ member organizations on improving education and economic development outcomes for Chicago’s Austin community. Since 2010, we’ve been connecting residents to services, attracting investments for the community, and building capacity for policy change. After the pandemic made long-standing inequities even worse, we started addressing growing needs through efforts like the Austin Eats Initiative, a 20+ group focused on strengthening the community’s food access infrastructure.

Learn how Austin is leading efforts to move forward together, and how you can support, at //AustinComingTogether.org/AustinCares

Beyond Hunger

For over 40 years Beyond Hunger has created solutions to end hunger at every stage of life. Our programs now include providing emergency food to families in need, summer meals for kids who lack them when school is out, connecting individuals to valuable benefits like SNAP (“food stamps”), conducting nutrition education and cooking classes to combat chronic illness, and delivering groceries to homebound older adults. Organization-wide we focus on health and nutrition. We provide food that families love, that nourishes and sustains.

To donate, visit GoBeyondHunger.org or send checks payable to Beyond Hunger, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301.

BUILD

Since 1969, BUILD has helped Chicago’s most vulnerable youth escape gangs and violence to become positive leaders in their communities. These young people face enormous obstacles and trauma, so we surround them with the counseling, mentoring, training, and opportunities they need to build a future and succeed. We engage youth at every stage, with specialized teams dedicated to street violence interventions, gang detachments, creative after-school programming, academic school and college support, mental health care, community violence crisis response, and enrichment activities ranging from art and music to sports, podcasting, engineering and gardening. Potential doesn’t discriminate, neither should opportunity. Join us in BUILDing a better future. Visit www.buildchicago.org

Cicero Independiente

News for the people by the people. Cicero Independiente is a bilingual news organization that investigates underreported issues, elevates stories of people in Cicero and holds the powerful accountable through community-rooted journalism. Donations help us pay local residents so that they can learn journalism skills and report on issues that matter to them. We foster and support civic participation and a sense of belonging in a community that has traditionally been divested in. We’re creating opportunities for more BIPOC storytellers and working collaboratively to make our town a better place to live.

Support community-rooted, bilingual journalism by making a contribution at https://donorbox.org/cicero-independiente.

The Coalition for Spiritual & Public Leadership

The Coalition for Spiritual & Public Leadership (CSPL) is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-generational spiritually-rooted organization that labors to transform racial, economic, social and environmental systemic structures through grassroots coalition building, community organizing, and liberative formation. CSPL is based in Maywood and works with community residents to bring about change and helps incubate worker cooperatives.

To learn more or join our efforts, visit csplaction.org.

The Collaboration for Early Childhood

The Collaboration for Early Childhood turned twenty this year! Thank you for your two-decade-long commitment to striving towards a day where every young child has the care, relationships, and resources needed to thrive and to begin school safe, healthy, and empowered to succeed. We need your support to write the next chapter of our children’s success story. There is so much opportunity for our little ones just over the horizon. Consider setting a recurring donation to keep the good going all year long.

Learn more about our impact and make a donation at www.collab4kids.org.

Concordia University Chicago

Founded in 1864, Concordia University Chicago has equipped students

to serve and lead with integrity and compassion. Concordia-Chicago is a Christ-centered Lutheran university where truth, freedom, and vocation form students for lives of influence and service for the common good. Historically a college for teachers, it now offers more than 100 areas of study through traditional, blended or online classes.

Students can earn a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees through one of four colleges: the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Health, Science & Technology, and the College of Theology, Arts & Humanities.

To learn more, please visit CUChicago.edu or CUChicago.edu/GiveNow to support our students.

D97 PTO Council and Diversity Council

the academic, social-emotional, and physical development that leads to school readiness. You can help lay the foundation today for successful adults tomorrow.

To learn more about us and to donate, visit www.thedaynursery.org

Deborah’s Place

Deborah’s Place has opened doors of opportunity for women who are homeless in Chicago since 1985. Supportive housing offers women the key to healing and moving on from the experience of homelessness. With more than 200 units of housing and over 600 women served yearly, Deborah’s Place is the largest provider of permanent supportive housing in Chicago exclusively for unaccompanied women. After 37 years of service, there is still a great need for Deborah’s Place. Women experiencing homelessness are still an underserved population. With donor support, unaccompanied women will achieve their goals and greater self-determination.

To learn more, volunteer, or donate, visit deborahsplace.org, email info@ deborahsplace.org or call 773.722.5080.

Defy Ventures Illinois

Equity and Transformation

Equity and Transformation’s (EAT) mission is to build social and economic equity for Black workers engaged in the informal economy: the diversified set of economic activities, enterprises, jobs, and workers that are not regulated or protected by the state. Our strategy seeks to empower individuals who know about the issues firsthand because they live them. Concretely, EAT makes space for Black informal workers to imagine new possibilities and empowers them with the tools to realize them.

Learn about how EAT ensures Black informal workers play essential roles in Illinois’ decision-making processes and about how you can support at: eatchicago. org.

Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park

The Frederick Law Olmsted Society of Riverside, IL

The entire Village of Riverside, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1869, is a National Historic Landmark. For over 50 years, the dedicated members and volunteers of the non-profit Olmsted Society of Riverside have strived to preserve, protect, and promote its fascinating history, beautiful landscapes, and outstanding architecture through landscape workdays, educational programs, tours, and special events. This very special American place hosts visitors from around the world who come to experience its many charms, and to learn about Olmsted’s principles.

To learn more or to donate online, visit olmstedsociety.org or mail us at Olmsted Society, P.O. Box 65, Riverside, IL 60546.

The D97 PTO Council and Diversity Council (DIVCO) Angel Fund provides financial support to D97 students, prioritizing students whose families qualify for free or reduced lunch, as well as those who face socioeconomic or cultural barriers, so that all students have a fair chance to participate fully in their school communities. The Angel Fund ensures that all students have a fair opportunity to engage their best selves in academic activities, school events, and traditions, and that they have their essential needs met during the school day. Please donate to be part of our community of care.

Tax deductible donations can be sent via: Lincoln PTO

ATTN: D97 STUDENT ANGEL FUND 1111 S Grove Ave, Oak Park, IL 60304

The Day Nursery

What if YOU were known for the worst thing you’ve ever done? Do you believe in second chances? Defy Ventures Illinois shifts mindsets to give people with criminal histories their best shot at a second chance. Using entrepreneurship, career readiness, and

The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park is a non-profit 501(c)(3) literary arts and educational foundation dedicated to thoughtful reading and writing. The foundation offers a wide variety of programming, all open to the public, to nurture and encourage creative expression for students and for people of all ages. Through tours and exhibits at Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace museum, the foundation fosters an understanding of his life and work, his Oak Park origins and his impact on world literature. Your gift supports

Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory

Built in 1929, the Oak Park Conservatory is a Historic Property of the Park District of Oak Park. Free to the public with 50,000 visitors annually, the Conservatory is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Conservatory offers three indoor showrooms featuring more than 3,000 plants and two outdoor gardens including a play area for toddlers. The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory offers a wide range of programs

Since 1912, The Day Nursery has provided exceptional early childhood education in an environment that welcomes all children, enhances individual strengths, and fosters

Growing Community Media

Growing Community Media connects residents through reader-supported journalism--our stories are based in facts, rooted deeply in our neighborhoods and reflective of voices not always heard. Through Austin Weekly News, Wednesday Journal, Forest Park Review, Riverside-Brookfield Landmark and Village Free Press, GCM provides a vital civic service worthy of public support. Our journalists tell compelling stories that strengthen the fabric of our democracy by holding local governments and institutions to account. GCM’s non-profit news sources grow political engagement, create shared culture, and connect community members to businesses and local events. It’s about more than news. Donate for news that matters to you at growingcommunitymedia.org/donate/

Hephzibah Children’s Association

For over 125 years, Hephzibah has served vulnerable children and struggling families. Hephzibah Home, located in the heart of Oak Park, is where children receive intense therapeutic support to heal from extreme abuse and neglect and is the only program in Illinois designated to care for young children ages 3-11. Our Family Based program supports hundreds of foster care children and stabilizes families in crisis in the Chicago metro area. The after school and summer day camp program delivers quality, affordable care for over 500 elementary school children in Oak Park every year. Change a child’s life with us at hephzibahhome.org

The Historical Society of Forest Park

The Historical Society of Forest Park collects, preserves, and shares the rich heritage of Forest Park. Through history we explore the past to understand the present and shape the future. We offer experiences of history through events, displays, and programs. Virtual tours, presentations, and films about Forest Park are found on our website. They include Forest Park Amusement Park, Bloomer Girls, Veteran History, Haymarket Martyrs’ Monument, Cemetery Symbolism,

and others. Our members support our mission and our programs including the Garden Walk, Prohibition Event, History Hangouts, bicycle tours, and weekly lookbacks to bring history to the community throughout the year.

Visit ForestParkHistory.org to become a member or to learn more about Forest Park

Housing Forward

Housing Forward is passionately focused on one vision – ending homelessness.

We believe in bold, comprehensive approaches to prevent homelessness whenever possible, respond to the housing crisis, and create stability through permanent housing. We offer a coordinated response that allows people experiencing a housing crisis to quickly resolve their situation. We offer comprehensive services including homelessness prevention, outreach and diversion, interim housing, medical respite, housing, and wraparound support. Last year, we served nearly 3,000 individuals and families with personalized support and services. Housing Forward also has programs that specifically address the housing needs of families, youth, and veterans.

To learn more, volunteer, or donate, visit housingforward.org, email development@ housingforward.org, or call 708.338.1724

Infant Welfare Society

Help us care for the whole child and create greater health equity! At the OPRF Infant Welfare Society and IWS Children’s Clinic, we serve publicly insured/uninsured children and address their whole health through sick and well child visits, dental care, behavioral health services, nutrition classes and other wrap-around programs. We treat more than 3,400 area children each year, including Oak Park, Chicago, Berwyn, Cicero and beyond. Support the whole health needs of children in our community today! $25 provides a mental health screening, $50 provides two vaccines, $100 provides a preventive dental cleaning.

Learn more and donate today at https:// childrenscliniciws.org/donate or 708-4068661.

L’Arche Chicago

L’Arche Chicago provides high quality care in community-integrated homes for adults with intellectual disabilities in the OPRF area. Our mission is lived through daily life shared in mutuality: afternoon walks to the park, doctor’s appointments, and dinner parties. Moreover, L’Arche is committed to life together in a way that welcomes difference. L’Arche Chicago is currently in the process of building a new ADA accessible home in South Oak Park that will extend this unique care model to four more adults with disabilities and address the accessibility needs of current members of the community. Whether you’d like to contribute a one-time gift, or commit to a lifetime of giving to L’Arche Chicago, every dollar will create a lasting impact in our community!

Make a needed local impact through our people and mission at www.larchechicago. org/larcheforlife

Maywood Fine Arts

Equity in the arts is the driving force behind Maywood Fine Arts’ programs and people. Access to affordable, high-quality instruction in dance, music, visual arts, drama, tumbling and fitness cannot be taken for granted among families MFA serves from nearby, under-resourced communities such as Maywood, Bellwood, and Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. MFA serves over 800 students ages 4 to 18 per week, the majority of whom are young people of color. MFA’s facilities anchor downtown Maywood. Families count on MFA’s safe, nurturing out-of-school time environment where children learn artistic and social skills and expand their worldviews.

To donate, visit maywoodfinearts.org or send checks payable to Maywood Fine Arts, 25 N 5th Ave, Maywood, IL 60153.

Maywood Youth Mentoring Program

Organized in 1993 as a 501c3, the Maywood Youth Mentoring Program has served hundreds of middle to high-school youth providing a variety of programs, workshops, field trips, and experiences designed to increase academic potential and instill cultural pride. Since 2008, the program has hosted free monthly youth

breakfasts with topics ranging from anger management and conflict resolution, etiquette, police/community interactions, sexual health, drug and alcohol avoidance, and academic excellence. Youths practice critical thinking skills to encourage positive life choices. Volunteer mentors interact with youths, providing positive role models for college and career choices. Funds are needed to continuously provide free services and incentives for participation.

To volunteer, or to donate, visit us at maywoodyouthmentoring.org, or contact Barbara Cole, founder/CEO, at barbaracole@maywoodyouthmentoring. org or 708-344-3577.

New Moms

New Moms’ mission is to strengthen families by partnering with young moms as they progress toward housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being. We believe in the strength, skills, and potential of all families and envision a future where all young moms and their children thrive! Coaches in our housing, job training, and family support programs partner with moms, 24 and under, to decrease stress, build social connections, and set and track personalized goals. Together with their coach, moms build the foundations of long-term well-being for their families and communities.

Join us in this essential work! www.newmoms.org/season

The Joyful Giving Catalog

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association strengthens our community through learning, giving, and sharing our landmark building through space grants to local non-profits, who account for 80% of its usage. We provide community outreach, scholarships, and public programming in five areas: music, art, literature, science, and social sciences. The Nineteenth Century is the owner of 178 Forest Avenue, commonly referred to as the Nineteenth Century Club. Our charitable and cultural activities are supported by our members, volunteers, donors, and by the events held at the building. Programs are open to all and we welcome all ages to join.

If you would like information about volunteering, joining or donating, please call us at 708-386-2729 email to info@ nineteenthcentury.org. You can also make donation at nineteenthcentury.org.

Oak Park Art League

The Oak Park Art League (OPAL) is one of the longest running non-profit arts organizations in Illinois. Since 1921, OPAL has brought arts education, appreciation, exhibitions, and artistic inquiry to the surrounding community. OPAL is committed to meaningful outreach to Oak Park and the surrounding communities through partnerships, on-site arts programming, and collaborations. The Oak Park Art League is located at 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 and online at oakparkartleague.org.

For more information about membership, exhibitions, classes, workshops, outreach, or to donate to these efforts, please contact Brad Nugent, Executive Director, at 708-386-9853 or email inquiries to oakparkartleague@gmail.com.

The Joyful Giving Catalog

Oak Park Public Library

Invest in Oak Park’s future. The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation

manages eight endowment funds for the Oak Park Public Library. Monetary donations are tax deductible. Giving to these funds connects people and builds community, educates global citizens, and sustains, shares, and respects Oak Park’s community resources.

Choose the fund that means the most to you at oppl.org/give. Or contact Director of Finance Jeremy Andrykowski at jeremya@ oppl.org.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center

Oak Park Regional Housing Center has a mission to achieve vibrant communities while promoting intentional and stable residential integration throughout Oak Park. OPRHC is the only non- profit agency in Oak Park promoting intentional integrative housing options. OPRHC is celebrating 50 years of service to the Oak Park community. Consider giving a tax-deductible year end donation so that we may reach our goal to raise $250,000 by December 31, 2022! These funds will help us continue to help integrate and invigorate the Oak Park community for up to 500 individuals in the first quarter of 2023!

You may donate at //oprhc.org/donate. To learn more, please call 708-848-7150.

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation

The mission of the Oak

Park-River Forest Community Foundation is to unite community members and mobilize resources to advance a racially just society and equitable outcomes for residents of Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities. We envision a racially just and equitable society as the full inclusion of all people into a society in which everyone can participate, thrive and prosper. In an equitable society, everyone, regardless of the circumstance of birth or upbringing, is treated justly and fairly by its institutions and systems.

Visit oprfcf.org to learn more about our services to donors, scholars, and nonprofits.

Oak Park River Forest Museum

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest is the community’s storyteller, making history relevant in tangible ways that positively impact today’s residents including walking tours, school field trips, traveling exhibits, and house research. We operate the Oak Park River Forest Museum in an 1898 Oak Park Landmark at Lake and Lombard next to Stevenson Park. We invested $1 million in private funds to create a welcoming space in a former firehouse. Exhibits include “Open House: The Legacy of Fair Housing.” We are not supported by tax dollars and a gift of any amount funds our 2023 activities, research center, and knowledgeable staff.

Learn more and donate at oprfmuseum.org or 708-848-6755.

One Earth Collective

One Earth curates vibrant environmental programming that inspires action, facilitates learning, promotes justice, and fosters equity and inclusion to create resilient communities and a healthier planet. We focus our work in 3 areas - One Earth Film Festival, One Earth Youth Voices, and One Earth Local. One Earth Film Fest’s 12th season will take place March 3-12, 2022. We’re excited to welcome Chicagoland audiences back live, in addition to our virtual screenings. Join us for captivating films, engaging discussion, impactful action opportunities and community-building. Memberships start at $35. Learn more and donate at oneearthfilmfest.org/give.

Opportunity Knocks

Opportunity Knocks was established in 2009 to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they live, work, learn, grow, and connect within their community. We believe in the strength, power, and value in the voice of every Warrior. We value the importance of an interdependent connection between each Warrior and their community, along with developing healthy relationships and social connections. We approach all of life’s

experiences fearlessly, unhinged by abilities.

We are 95% privately funded and rely on the generous support of the community. Your gift is integral in moving our mission forward. Visit opportunityknocksnow.org to learn more.

Our Future Reads

Our Future Reads was founded to promote literacy by connecting curious readers with books that interest them. We partner with other non-profit agencies and survey the recipients to create personalized book donations. Through our surveys, the members request specific genres and we fulfill those requests with our book inventory. Our personalized donations create a higher likelihood that the books will be read and shared with their families and friends. We serve youthful and adult readers that may not have the means to buy every book on the shelf but still would love to read them. Let the curious be curious!

Donate today and learn more at https:// ourfuturereads.com

Parents Against Child Sex Abuse (PAXA)

PAXA is a nonprofit that in 2022 celebrates five years of delivering on the mission of empowering parents to protect their children from sexual abuse.

PAXA offers programs like its PAXA Pointers™ Curriculum, which is a parent-focused curriculum designed to address foundational information about predatory behavior in scenarios where their child is easily accessible. The curriculum is anchored with a high quality printed P.A.X.A. Pointers™ Resource Guide that can be enhanced with a virtual or in-person presentation. The topics included are: Babysitters, Playdates, Sleepovers, Schools, Devices & Online Safety.

Learn more by visiting PAXA.online and KIDSTOO.org

The Joyful Giving Catalog

PING!

PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation), a nearly 25-year-old, community nonprofit organization, provides band and orchestra instruments along with mentoring, workshops, and access to lessons, music camps, and trips to students in need in grades 4 through 12, bringing true equity to instrumental music in Oak Park and River Forest public schools. In our community’s high-quality school music programs, PING! students can be on par with peers, regardless of their family situation, and feel like they belong. PING! serves approximately 130 young musicians annually, 70% BIPOC, bringing diversity to instrumental music classrooms and beyond.

Progress Center for Independent Living

Founded in 1988, Progress Center for Independent Living is a

cross-disability organization governed and staffed by a majority of people with disabilities. Progress Center serves people with all types of disabilities in Suburban Cook County. We assist individuals in pursuit of their self-determined goals. Progress Center recognizes the innate rights, needs and diversity of the disabled, works toward their integration into community life, and serves as an agent of social change. Progress Center is dedicated to building a society in which people with disabilities exercise the same freedoms, rights, and civil liberties as everyone else.

Donate today and learn more at http:// progresscil.org/

River Forest Public Library Foundation

In person and online, River Forest Public Library serves everyone from toddlers to seniors by connecting them with information, entertainment, and each other in a welcoming space. RFPL Foundation works to ensure the vitality of the Library through advocacy, fundraising, and grants. Foundation grants have enabled the Library to refresh the Children’s and Teen spaces, maintain the Memorial Garden for gatherings, offer community events like the Dooleys Band concert, explore the feasibility of re-purposing indoor space for community use, and more.

Please donate at rfplfoundation.org and help your Library continue to serve and connect our community for generations to come.

Sarah’s Inn

Donate: pingoprf.org/ donate. Instrument donations: info@ pingoprf.org.

Pro Bono Network

Access to justice should not depend upon your ability to afford an attorney. There are simply not enough legal aid lawyers to help people in dire need of civil legal aid. These include issues of safety from an abuser, adequate housing, critical care documents, and more.

Pro Bono Network has enabled 425+ attorneys to give more than 28,000 hours of free legal assistance to 5,000 clients whose lives were meaningfully changed. Let’s transform lives together by increasing access to legal representation.

To get involved or donate, visit pro-bononetwork.org. Your support will make an

Race Conscious Dialogues

Race Conscious Dialogues are designed to deepen awareness of identity, power and privilege, then to integrate learning with everyday life. This nonprofit community resource offers a variety of cohorts both in-person and virtually, and the foundational workshop series consists of 4 sessions with light readings to be done in preparation. Conversations are framed around understanding Whiteness – our own racial identities, the historical and current harm being caused by Whiteness, and guided discovery of how we show up and work collectively to eradicate racism. Thank you for considering a donation as well as participation! www. raceconsciousdialogues.org

Sarah’s Inn is a community-based organization whose mission is to improve the lives of those affected by domestic violence and to break the cycle of violence for future generations. We offer services in three areas of program focus: Intervention services for families affected by domestic violence that includes Advocacy and Counseling; Prevention education for youth to give them the tools to develop healthy relationships; and Training and Education for professionals and community-based organizations to create a network of skilled ambassadors. Intervention services are confidential, bilingual (English/ Spanish), and offered free of charge to survivors and their children.

Learn more and donate at sarahsinn.org

St. Angela School

St. Angela has served the families of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood for more than five generations,

enriching the lives and futures of their children. We have a storied history and an extended family of generous alumni whose philanthropy provides scholarship funds and whose engagement keeps our campus beautiful. We are richly blessed and deeply grateful for the partnerships that have sustained us through the years. Now, early in our second century, we are proud to reaffirm our commitment to love and serve all those who choose to be part of our community. We ask those partners to recommit to our cause as well. Thank you!

Learn more about St. Angela School at saintangela.org or call us at (773) 626-2655.

Silk Road Rising

Silk Road Rising is a community-centered artmaking and arts service organization rooted in Pan-Asian, North African, and Muslim experiences. Through storytelling, digital media, and arts education, we challenge disinformation, cultivate new narratives, and promote a culture of continuous learning. Our work expands and enriches the American story and explores how we understand both Americanness and belonging. In so doing, we create opportunities for communities of diverse backgrounds to experience cultural interchange, challenge racism and coloniality, and upend polarization.

Learn how Silk Road Rising uses stories to help our world heal, and how you can support us by visiting www.silkroadrising. org.

The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest

The award-winning Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest and its

esteemed conductor Jay Friedman, continues to bring extraordinary and accessible concerts to our community. Ticket sales provide less than half the funds needed for the Symphony’s performances. Your gift keeps the orchestra going strong and allows us to maintain affordable ticket prices, including free admission for all students through college. Please help us continue and strengthen our 91-year tradition of bringing beautiful and inspiring music to Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park and neighboring communities.

Make your end-of-year tax-deductible donation at SymphonyOPRF.org, or: P.O. Box 3564, Oak Park, IL 60303-3564.

Thrive Counseling Center

Thrive Counseling Center has provided

mental health services to the greater Oak Park area for over 120 years. We build healthy minds, families, and communities by empowering people to attain mental and emotional well-being, regardless of their ability to pay. Hope, resilience, and recovery form the heart of our programs and services for youth and adults.

Individual therapy • Group therapy Psychiatry and medication management 24/7 Crisis intervention Case management Suicide awareness and prevention training

Thrive Talks community education programs

Open Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm, Friday 9am-5pm, and Saturday from 9am-2pm. To learn more or donate, please visit thrivecc. org or call 708-383-7500.

UCP Seguin

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

Way Back Inn

Since 1974, Way Back Inn has successfully provided long-term residential and outpatient treatment for substance and gambling use disorders. Our mission is to rebuild lives damaged by addiction in a personalized healing environment. This holiday season, we ask that you gift responsibly with the youth in your family. Children who have early exposure to gambling experiences, including lottery tickets, are more likely to develop a gambling problem later in life.

For more information or to make a donation to our program, go to: www.waybackinn.org or call us at 708-345-8422 ext. 22.

West Cook YMCA

A life best lived includes helping others experience a better life. When you give to the West Cook YMCA, you give to our community. 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes directly to providing scholarships to children, adults, and seniors- your friends and neighborstransforming their lives through access to health screenings, chronic disease prevention programs, after-school programs, swim lessons, life-skills training for residents, and Y memberships that can open the door to help each person become their best self. Make a difference right in your own community today through your support of West Cook YMCA’s scholarship fund.

To donate, visit WestCookYMCA.org/donate or send your check to West Cook YMCA, 255 S. Marion St., Oak Park, IL 60302. (708-383-

West Suburban Special Recreation Association

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

Wonder Works

For 20 years, children have learned through PLAY in the safe, enriching environment of Wonder Works Children’s Museum on North Avenue. We put great care into creating a child-sized environment with 8 permanent exhibits that spark curiosity, creativity, and learning in the areas of science, math, literacy, and the arts for children from birth to 8. Your donations support special programs, exhibit improvements, free and discounted admissions for families in financial need, and more! Please join us in our mission to spark curiosity and innovation through play-based learning experiences.

Visit Wonder-Works.org to donate and support the power of play

YoungLives Chicago

YoungLives Chicago is a mentoring ministry devoted to loving and supporting teenage mothers and their babies.

YoungLives mentors walk

community of belonging for young families to thrive. Teen moms meet twice a month with their mentors for YoungLives club and have the opportunity for a summer camp experience specifically designed as a respite for teenage moms. The cost of a week of camp is $500 for the whole family. Your gift impacts two generations at once! Please consider sponsoring a teen mom and her baby today. Thank you for being a part of our YoungLives village.

If you would like information about volunteering, please contact kimberly.y.graves@gmail.com. You can also make donation at giving.younglife.org/ youngliveschicago

Youth Crossroads

Youth Crossroads supports youth, guiding them through life’s challenges, and inspiring them to discover new opportunities for personal development, healthy relationships, and positive community involvement. We provide youth in Chicago’s near west suburbs with the services they need to achieve success at home, in school, and in life. All services are free, in English and Spanish, including In-School and Community Counseling, Crisis Intervention, Youth Leadership Training, Workforce Development, After-School Enrichment, Food Pantries, and Summer Camp.

Your donation makes it possible for youth to get the guidance, support, and inspiration they need to build meaningful lives. Visit youthcrossroads.org for more information.

Property transfers

Homes

e history of a home

Oak Park, River Forest homeowners can enlist local museum to help ll in the blanks

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

They say the cobbler’s children have no shoes, and the old saying seems to fit this Homes re porter as well.

As an Oak Park resident for 20-plus years and a Homes re por ter for Wednesday Jour nal for more than 15, I was well aware of the opportunities residents have to delve into the history of their houses, but until recently, I never ventured too far beyond Google.

My one previous step of research had been looking up my home on the Oak Park village website, which has a number of resources for homeowners interested in historic preservation.

Our house is located in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District, so I was able to use the link to historic resources at ruskinarc.com/oakpark/oakpark to determine that my home was built sometime betw een 1920 and 1929 by the architects White and Christie.

The database also listed the original owner as William Lees, the name of the house as William Lees No.2, and the style as colonial revival. Our next-door neighbor’s house, also designed by White and Christie, is listed in the database as the William Lees House No. 1 and was built between 1910 and 1919.

From my work at Wednesday Journal, I knew that White referred to architect Charles White, who briefly worked in Frank Lloyd Wright’s studio before going out on his own in 1905. His work dots the village and includes the Cheney Mansion and the Lake Street post office.

This fall, I finally made an appointment with the Oak Park River Forest Historical Society at the OPRF Museum to see what I could find out about the history, architectural and otherwise, of my home. Rachel Berlinski had pulled relevant records for me and walked me through some basic re-

search steps available to any local homeowner.

Phone and city directories as well as editions of the Oak Leaves and the Wednesday Journal, along with village permits, painted a more detailed history of the home. In addition, the OPRF Museum maintains files of realtor listing sheets from the 1920s to the 1990s, and street files org anized by block. The museum keeps a file of photos, and the Barclay Photo Collection includes photos taken by Philander Barclay of structures existing in 1903.

The owners of our house are not listed in local directories until 1922, when they are listed as Warren S. and Grace N. Corning. An Oak Leaves mention from Dec. 11, 1920 provides more detail.

On that date, William Lees sold the house to Mrs. Grace Corning, the daughter of F.A. Hill, a well-known real estate broker. The listing describes a 60-by-175-foot lot, a two-story brick and stucco home with seven rooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage. The home sold for $32,000.

In 1926, the owners expanded the garage,

and in 1933, then-owner Chas. A. Walter sold the home for $15,500. An obituary shows that Walter, an executive at Sears Roebuck, died in 1944.

There are no records indicating when the home next changed hand s, but in 1954, the owner Otto Behimer had an apar tment above the garage inspected. Behimer died in 1968, and his estate sold the home in 1970 for $37,900.

HISTORY on pa ge B12

PROVIDED

Lacey Sikora knew her Oak Park home dated from the 1920s. Using resources available at the Oak Park River Forest History Museum and the village of Oak Park, she was able to lear n more about its ownership history, improvements made over the years and how the property was used by previous owners.

listing cards (below) and newspaper articles (at right) revealing the names and personal details of previous owners.

HISTORY Many resources

from page B11

In 1975, the owners Robert and Mimz Hick sold the house for $69,500. By 1976, the owners are listed as Malcolm Deam, who sold us the house in 2014, after his wife Catherine Deam’s death in 2013.

Berlinski points out that the village can be a good source for information on renovations and changes, as it maintains a history of building permits. Sanborn maps can also help pinpoint construction dates for many homes in the village For those looking to ascertain chain of title, she says a visit to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds can provide records back to the time a lot was purchased

While I hoped to find historical photos of our house, the museum only had two photos of our home, most likely from the 1960s or 1970s. It was nice to see that our choice of paint colors for the shutters aligns with what an earlier owner chose and sad to see two

large trees on the front lawn no longer remain, but other than removal of a wall of ivy, our house today looks largely as it did in the past.

We’ve all seen those tongue-in-cheek plaques on buildings that read some-

thing to the effect of, “On this spot in 1920, nothing happened.” Such a plaque would be apt for the insignificant history of our home, but for us, finding out some of the details and imagining the lives of the people who lived here before us is significant enough.

Oak Park home and painter earn ‘Painted Lady’ award

As part of the Chicago’s Finest Painted Ladies & Her Court competition sponsored by the Chicago Paint & Coatings Association, Oak Park’s Travis Nelson won an award for his home at 312 Clinton Ave.

Painted by Oak Park-based Ronbo’s Fine Painting Inc., the home won in the category for “Best Use of Craftsmanship of Paint Application Professionally Painted.”

PROVIDED

Oak Park home sells for $1,150,000

The following property transfers were re ported by the Cook County Clerk from August and Se ptember 2022. Where addresses appear incomplete, for instance where a unit number appears missing, that information was not provided by the clerk.

OA K P ARK

ADDRESS PRICE SELLER BUYER

320 Wisconsin Ave $10,000,000 Gla Bon Villa Llc West Cedar Llc

1112 Clinton Ave $1,150,000 Ndumele Uche D Gomez Amanda 908 N Kenilworth Ave $1,125,000 Hosomizu Mika Killian Timothy 620 S Scoville Ave $995,000 Mullins John J Woodworth Mark R Tr 1019 Woodbine Ave $899,000 Galo Matthew G Spahn Philip C 431 Clinton Ave $849,000 Murphy Stephen J Beal David D 1048 N Oak Park Ave $805,000 Mcqueen Dana Porter Waylon C 1040 N Lombard Ave $800,000 Mclaughlin Clayton Gregory Bell Justin 726 S Lombard Ave $780,000 All In 800 Llc Gallo Timothy J 240 Clinton Ave $779,000 Friedman Elizabeth M Tr Convey Timothy 134 S Kenilworth Ave $760,000 Strand Elizabeth H Kenilworth 124 Llc 741 S Scoville Ave $759,000 Anicmcka Ndudi C Senser Aaron P 1033 Augusta St $750,000 Strom Martha A Schenone Thomas 944 N Euclid Ave $745,000 Gorman Robert J Kroshus Connor James 1200 N Elmwood Ave $735,000 Brehm Je rey R Levey Jordan 247 Home Ave $735,000 Hopkins Steven J Buesser Frederick G Iv 512 S Kenilworth Ave $735,000 Sarpy Ann K Dharmapuri Sadhana 1014 Erie St $720,000 Dagostino Michelangelo Vincent King Vincent 422 S Lombard Ave $665,000 Fiddler Morris Richmond David L 1154 S Elmwood Ave $660,000 Looking Good Investments Llc Rajagopal Nimmi 421 N Oak Park Ave $660,000 Oharrow Edwin Extr Cedercreutz Claes Kettil 518 Clarence Ave $650,000 Kandabarow Alexander Maxwell Sauer Katie M 224 S Harvey Ave $650,000 Risch Cindy Tr Kinkley Jonathan 304 S Ridgeland Ave $637,500 Chranko Christopher J Murkhardt Daniel J 515 Jackson Blvd $632,500 Portno Murray A Helser Andrew D 729 S Oak Park Ave $620,000 Erickson Ryan Osorio Sandra Lucia 828 S Highland Ave $620,000 Morris Michael James Hruszkewycz Stephan 925 N Euclid Ave $609,000 Gale William N Davis Matthew W 635 Wenonah Ave $607,000 Rand Gary E Tr Sutherland Daniel J 49 Chicago Ave $600,000 Mccormick Homes Llc Peebles Tonya T 829 N Humphrey Ave $576,000 Heneghan Brendan John Marmon David Christopher 430 N Humphrey Ave $565,000 Mowbray Alisha Prazich Andrew David Tr 810 Fair Oaks Ave $530,000 Rivera Juan B Zimmer Michael 614 Belleforte Ave $517,500 Meyer Diane L Lau James N Tr 942 S Euclid Ave $515,000 Hubbuch Marsha C Dipietro Justin 1175 S Kenilworth Ave $510,000 Cassinelli Jedidiah Tijerina Bonnie L 712 N Lombard Ave $505,000 Beasley Ian Parker Jean-Luc 810 S Highland Ave $500,000 Ryniewicz Steven E Bower Alison J

1112 Clinton Ave., Oak Park

OA K P ARK

1222 N Marion St $495,000 Downward Simon Berin Maria C 646 N Harvey Ave $485,000 Scullin Kelly A Delgado Eleazar 1040 Clinton Ave $480,000 Baldonado Erika G Morrison Ellen Joanna 835 Wenonah Ave $475,000 Woods George F Kratz Ryan 314 Wesley Ave $470,000 Kuzmicki Leo P Patel Ramesh 1123 Wesley Ave $470,000 Volini Anthony G Kaar Elizabeth K 931 Hayes Ave $460,000 Mikelsons Guntis Dsilva Rohini M 905 Wenonah Ave $450,000 Hd Mabss 14 Llc-72 Osemene Kevin 215 S Oak Park Ave $446,000 Chicago Title Land Trust Co Waitkus Luke Dzimidas Tr 1085136 923 Home Ave $430,000 King Whitney Jackson Corby J 425 S Kenilworth Ave $437,000 Chicago Title Land Trust Co Bam Oak Pk Llc Tr 8002364769 304 S Kenilworth Ave $428,500 Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 13934 Bam Oak Pk Llc 1117 S Humphrey Ave $425,000 Parra Maria C Tr Zeb Dev Llc 801 S Highland Ave $422,000 Little Linda L Potekin Alan 1010 N Lombard Ave $405,000 Coughlin John Waggoner Samuel 1018 Randolph St $402,000 Wagner Zachary Wygonik Edward J Tr 1136 S Taylor Ave $400,000 Trudell Jeannette K Oo Chozin 1121 S Harvey Ave $399,000 Diehl Nina A Pearlman Nasra 925 S Grove Ave $395,000 Durazo-Arvizu Ramon Mor n Edgar 946 S Elmwood Ave $393,000 Karkut Marzena Berrios Benjamin 425 S East Ave $386,500 Fannie Mae Sow Comm Dev Corp 917 S Grove Ave $384,000 Blanchard Lisa M Newman Erin Maureen 713 N Humphrey Ave $380,000 Hermann Peter M Dougherty Douglas 1156 S Harvey Ave $375,000 Buehler P Terrence Thomas Kandrell Tenette 1231 N Euclid Ave $368,000 Murphy Dana A Tr Aceron Christine 844 N Austin Blvd $350,000 Hollis James R Stanton Nathaniel 118 Home Ave $348,000 Deutsche Bk Natl Trust Co Tr 118 Home Corp

OA K P ARK

ADDRESS PRICE SELLER BUYER

741 S Cuyler Ave $345,000 Meagher Mark Brandon Brittani B

824 N Ridgeland Ave $344,000 Williams Rita M Tr Macias Norma

221 N Kenilworth Ave $340,000 Marmer Patience Y First Amer Bk Tr 117102

1034 S Maple Ave $338,000 Collier Charles J Ballard Dana Kelly

927 Ontario St $332,500 Stahl Jennifer L Petertil Kerry

22 S Austin Blvd $330,000 Vil Nichayette Moore & Assoc Llc

324 N Marion St $308,000 Wagner Rhonda Dickerson Gayle

946 N Harvey Ave $300,000 Allen James P Morrow David

1109 S Lyman Ave $294,000 Scott Kara Extr Westing Corinne 1183 S Harvey Ave $275,000 Salgado Henry Pagacs Eva 222 N Marion St $260,000 Adams Adrienne C Longstree Pamela D

1104 S Austin Blvd $250,000 Pilati Dominic Johnson Jay D

427 S Taylor Ave $232,000 Bergeron Aurelien Eppley Alecia M

1136 S Cuyler Ave $230,000 Seaks Catherine R Tr Grandview Cap Llc 228 N Oak Park Ave $225,000 Forrest Jennifer F Kremer James

444 Washington Blvd $215,000 Jones Brittany Mance Matt J

735 Gunderson Ave $200,000 Hoover Deborah K Vondrasek Thoma A

801 Washington Blvd $195,000 Comi Samuel Giuntoli Tina 840 S. Oak Park $175,000 Oshea Padraig B Quadrat Amra

1033 Ontario St $175,000 Hernandez Juan P Perera Kathleen A 928 S Lyman Ave $170,000 Perry Jeanne Marie Grandview Cap Llc

912 S Maple Ave $165,000 417 Op Llc 616 Oak Pk Llc 813 Lake St $155,000 Boyer Nedra Brophy George Brian 823 Lake St $155,000 Chicago Title Land Trust Co Kornutick Lauren Tr 131501

949 Lake St $152,000 Oneill Patricia A Tr Porlier Zachary T 7007 North Ave $116,500 Robinson Gloria Taldone Dominic M 1026 N Grove Ave $387.50 Dirico Pasquale Robert Trask John 6839 North Ave $3,273,000 Gw Oak Pk Llc Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 8002389372 510 N Euclid Ave $1,235,000 Peppler Jon Doobay Chad R 317 S Elmwood Ave $1,100,000 Pikowski Jennifer Tr Mink Tyler 1022 Hayes Ave $900,000 Sanguma Nyenemo Sanguma Jessica 822 Forest Ave $850,000 Doobay Chad Maddrell Rebecca 641 N Kenilworth Ave $830,000 Boyle Malachy Tr Cross Timothy 1041 N East Ave $830,000 Judge Bernard Bgrs Llc 1041 N East Ave $830,000 Bgrs Llc Snel Kenneth J Tr 502 Carpenter Ave $812,500 Central-Division Llc Oak Pk Commons Cohousing Llc 801 N Lombard Ave $760,000 Bartley Paige Bronwyn Morrison Stefanie

OA K P ARK

ADDRESS PRICE SELLER BUYER

811 N Ridgeland Ave $549,000 Worley Carrie Tr Kirk Tyler 119 Le Moyne Pky $538,000 Aubym Patrick S Bowles Edward C 1044 S Grove Ave $525,000 Province Mary T Tr Warrior Const Inc 541 S Humphrey Ave $519,000 G & F Dev Llc Grandaw Elizabeth Kristen 602 Wenonah Ave $515,000 Winans Elizabeth Von Drehle Jennifer H 904 N Harvey Ave $500,000 Sorensen Lisa G White Brian Christopher 614 Carpenter Ave $497,500 Kerwin Diane M Bruni Jacob M 1006 S Kenilworth Ave $475,000 Canavan Robert D Bovo Elisa 311 South Blvd $450,000 Loftus Michelle Orton Tappa Melissa R 1172 Wenonah Ave $440,000 Nzinga Sekile M Richter Kristen 422 N Taylor Ave $379,000 Taylor Carla Hays Andrew 1126 S Lombard Ave $376,000 Zapler Thomas A Carr Kenneth L Tr 226 N Austin Blvd $375,000 Riddle Robert J National Fwe Vtrents Solutions Llc 1164 S Cuyler Ave $374,000 Key Real Estate Dev Llc 1166 Cuyler Llc 825 N Harlem Ave $365,000 Bhatia Sundeep B Shames-Yeakel Michael Williams 822 Belleforte Ave $337,000 Von Drehle Charles W Sanders Ti any 931 N Harvey Ave $320,000 Scanlan Patrick W Jr Barker Bhrianna Sakari 300 N Oak Park Ave $305,000 Ettedgui Hilda Andreoli Lisa 1407 N Harlem Ave $295,000 Citrix Chicago Holdings Llc Ogbuokiri Ngozi 1005 Washington Blvd $280,000 Przybyla Adriana Jung Eugine 1182 S Kenilworth Ave $280,000 Chan Nina Y P Prime Holding Ab Llc

802 S Taylor Ave $280,000 Ennis Sarah Ptacek Zoe Schwartz Stephen

140 N Ridgeland Ave $280,000 Tate John Fanning Jamarcus L 1164 S Elmwood Ave $280,000 Pietrus Daniei Czopek Byron

401 S Grove Ave $269,000 Saylor Paul L Hussaini Akbar

147 N Ridgeland Ave $268,500 Vantassell Karen Rhianna Darins Kelsey 1151 Westgate St $252,000 Russo Gregory H Padgett Marcus

747 S Humphrey Ave $250,000 Homna Gary Robles Abel 1425 N Harlem Ave $240,000 Bradshaw-Castillo Bianca Monique Planetrec Investments Llc 644 Lake St $225,000 Miller Laura Surges Austen 928 S Lyman Ave $225,000 Grandview Cap Llc Revain Llc

222 N Marion St $217,000 Paluchniak Prop Llc Pruitt Alonzo Clemons

167 N Marion St $160,000 Ponder Alvina Jjir Oak Pk Llc

426 S Lombard Ave $149,000 Rao Wenjing Terry James M 429 Wesley Ave $131,000 Thon n Dwight M Melnychuk Andriana 854 Washington Blvd $125,000 Vargas Lorena Alvarez Silvana 1107 Holley Ct $120,000 Diaz Christopher L Gaspar Kim San 426 S Lombard Ave $116,500 Price Christine E Reed Tiphany Nicole 405 Home Ave $105,000 Zamora Hugo Misuer Margarita Decd 938 Ontario St $98,000 Perduto Genevieve K Ernest Opella Finley Trust 1018 N Harvey Ave $90,000 Bendowitz Catherine Lynne Bendowitz Catherine L Tr 420 Home Ave $90,000 Jpmorgan Chase Bk Natl Assn Patterson Donald 651 South Blvd $80,000 Newnert I Llc Perry Ernest Prop Llc 1103 Holley Ct $65,000 Stevenson Stuart M Jjir Oak Pk Llc 464 Lenox St $40,500 The Judicial Sales Corp Yeboah Samuel 1024 S Ridgeland Ave Unknown The Judicial Sales Corp Wilmington Sav Fund Soc Fsb Tr 1131 S Elmwood Ave Unknown Intercounty Judicial Sales Corp Cl Dev Llc

Continued from page B17

RIVER FOREST

FOREST P ARK

ADDRESS PRICE SELLER BUYER ADDRESS PRICE SELLER BUYER

1326 William St $2,000,000 Collins Gary S Tr Durham James

1030 Park Ave $1,850,000 Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 6943 Wendeln Casey F Tr 839 Lathrop Ave $1,625,000 Deziel Daniel J Barthwell David A 1201 Park Ave $1,350,000 Durham James L Dvorak Matthew

726 William St $1,250,000 Mcconnell Gregory A Garcia-Gonzalez Jose Maria

539 William St $1,110,000 Koch Christopher C Treatman Elizabeth

335 Franklin Ave $975,000 Wendeln Casey F Tr Jumic Allison

1435 Franklin Ave $940,500 Gaddipatl Emma L Tr Poirier Ryan E

1115 Forest Ave $870,000 Kirk Tyler Q Behan Brian C 632 Forest Ave $752,000 Poirier Jessica Barton Jordan M 726 Park Ave $637,500 Grady Pamela G Tr Kerr Ryan T

946 William St $540,000 Bhaumik Runa Mustafa Mohamad

1514 Lathrop Ave $520,000 Chicago Title Land Trust Co Al Zahabi Mohannad Tr 8002345206

7575 Lake St $464,500 Ryan Angelina Tr Laine Herbert W

325 Franklin Ave $442,500 Steinhauer Martin Joseph Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 3801

415 Franklin Ave $317,000 Gihtgp Llc Racaneli Gina M

415 Park Ave $295,000 Heckel Robin R Rotstein Lorin D

1420 N Harlem Ave $280,000 Wirth Jakob Nathaniel Hall Jeremy

311 Forest Ave $278,000 White Anne E 311 Forest Ave Llc

1539 Franklin Ave $168,000 Moorchead Mia Helene Lewis Brandon

425 Edgewood Pl $161,000 Napier Tavye Celeste Lazzaroni Sophia

434 Clinton Pl $160,000 Medina Ivan Stephan Rod

7210 Oak Ave $125,000 Franzen Barbara Boyd Laura

7200 Oak Ave $82,500 Malhiot Robert D Tr Marroquin Norma 7200 Oak Ave $72,000 Furda Zoya Cllins-Mccoy Linda D

7200 Oak Ave $70,000 Scaro Frank Rowe Corey H

914 Ashland Ave $1,790,000 Chicago Title Land Trust Co Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 8002385042 Tr 8002389759

1410 Clinton Pl $1,300,000 Dolan Erin Ca ey Parris

755 William St $1,275,000 Manning Lydia K Cosky Elli D Tr

1421 Forest Ave $1,080,000 Nikolov Magdalina B Pacurar Emil E 1407 Clinton Pl $1,000,000 Wisniewski Wlodzimierz M Sofu Tanju

302 Ashland Ave $700,000 Foster Charles E Kaufman Elizabeth Laura 505 River Oaks Dr $699,500 Digre Marion English Bryan M 115 Park Ave $550,000 Hummel Zachary J Ciesielski Thomas

722 Monroe Ave $491,000 Paytuvi Stephanie Ann Oxtoby David W Tr 121 Park Ave $440,000 Bixler Erich Orton Michelle D

546 Park Ave $400,000 Gerulat Ferne Rummans Caroline S

1020 N Harlem Ave $355,000 Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 3568 Kpekpe Edvige

414 Clinton Pl $255,000 Jorge Joseph Barnaby Angela

7352 Lake St $220,000 Dihl Timothy J Limeira Roberto

1543 Monroe Ave $218,000 Jones Ebony Cipolletta Massimo

405 Lathrop Ave $142,500 Butauskas Vilius Busch Sara

7213 W Division St $104,000 Kuntson Lynn Parra Virginia

1540 Park Ave $95,000 Kadziolka Piotr Goralski Michael

7200 Oak Ave $87,000 Lee Hyunsoo De Leon Gilberto

7901 Roosevelt Rd $4,625,000 Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 7279 Tri-State Land Partners Llc

439 Thomas Ave $830,000 Struck Christopher Knierbein George J

155 Rockford Ave $650,000 Robert Amanda Walters Ryan P

936 Marengo Ave $518,000 Castaneda Jose F Santos Arias Chris

7647 Jackson Blvd $415,000 Mcconachie John H Jr Henderson Whitney

832 Elgin Ave $397,500 Allain Jason P Schuler Nathan R

823 Harlem Ave $350,000 Borcher Jeremy M Williams Shamil L

528 Thomas Ave $335,000 Huebner Stephen Tr Terra no Amanda

34 Marengo Ave $330,000 Robichaud Julie Tr Ulozak James

1530 Elgin Ave $310,000 Victorson Emily C Fisher William G

1111 Circle Ave $260,000 Chicago Title Land Trust Co Qi Qian Trust Tr 001180

906 Dunlop Ave $270,000 Dsouza Austin Tr Cp Prop Investments Inc

1013 Des Plaines Ave $170,000 Anderson Francine R 1005 Dp Equity Holdings Llc 215 Marengo Ave $140,000 Ursini Michael Extr Coleman Dolores Freeman

320 Circle Ave $130,000 Junge Terilynn Tr Martinez Laura

315 Des Plaines Ave $127,000 Zysko Krzysztof Voratanirkitkul Kusol

839 Harlem Ave $119,000 Bsh Endeavors Llc Il Noble Casa Grp Llc

320 Circle Ave $97,000 Ferrell Tracey L Ibarra Natalie Aileen

300 Circle Ave $95,000 Fannie Mae Joudeh Investments Llc

512 Beloit Ave $62,150,000 Emstead Inc Dersch Sara 320 Circle Ave $9,750,000 Maria Megan Paulette Sta Apalkova Anastasiya 440 Thomas Ave $642,000 Abernathy Robert Alexander Anastasia 206 Lathrop Ave $637,000 Cliggett Kevin P Stearns Katherine Suzanne 922 Marengo Ave $602,000 Graham Sean Khan Sanila 7657 Wilcox St $580,000 Hegna Matthew A Tr Nelson Anders Armstrong 1117 Elgin Ave $480,000 Flores Baltazar Buckner Raysson 840 Beloit Ave $480,000 Moroney Colleen Moroney Rico 516 Ferdinand Ave $445,000 Brown Samuel E Mccoy Reginald J 1015 Beloit Ave $430,500 Fox Jorie Blanchard Lisa 321 Burkhardt Ct $415,000 Haukas Sally Williamson Jill 926 Beloit Ave $400,000 Harris Richard Taylor Tr Shah Julie R 7501 Madison St $380,000 Krenek Thomas E Extr Padron Enterprises Inc 1235 Elgin Ave $353,000 Armstrong Jonathon P Sandel Matthew 1006 Hannah Ave $335,000 Narayanan Vishwanath Kent Robert Warren Jr Tr 1110 Dunlop Ave $329,000 Jones Damien D Tobias Aurelio 936 Thomas Ave $325,000 Sacharski Michael Villagran Jaime 927 Harlem Ave $320,000 Red nnow Borrower Llc Ross Tennie 7617 Harvard St $275,000 Wagner Richard A Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 8002389760

1503 Marengo Ave $240,000 Cunningham Timothy B Jackson Jewel 1220 Elgin Ave $180,000 Old Natl Bk Tr 14665 1220 Elgin Ave Llc 7432 Washington St $140,000 Mensah Evelyn A Tr Runnels Joyce 300 Circle Ave $111,000 Patel Jash A Palaparty Eugene 315 Marengo Ave $105,000 Wiedow William R Wiedow Roy 7637 Jackson Blvd $95,000 Manor Claire Gawlik Jacquelyn 850 Des Plaines Ave $64,000 State Bk Of Texas Osorio Joaquin 136 Lathrop Ave Unknown The Judicial Sales Corp Us Bk Natl Assn Tr

As COVID-19 emerged in March 2020, Amanda, resident of a UCP Seguin group home in Oak Park, was presented with a major dilemma. With a dual diagnosis of intellectual disabilities and bipolar disorder, she asked the question: how would she cope with challenges brought on by the pandemic?

Initially UCP Seguin closed its day services sites, including the Levinson Center in Oak Park where Amanda received life skills training and other services to promote community integration. She was relegated to her group home to “shelterin-place.” Amanda faced social isolation and the potential of worsening mental and physical health. UCP Seguin deployed day services staff to her group home to ensure around-the-clock provision of enrichment activities, therapy, and other

Overcoming Social Isolation…with

interventions.

Using her iPad, Amanda participated in remote Zoom video activities, such as cooking and fitness classes, conducted by day services staff. With assistance from UCP Seguin Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Dana Pavlik, Amanda helped conduct a class for other participants every Thursday afternoon called “Fun Times With Dana: Let’s Get Social!” In these classes, participants were presented with a basic understanding of the new norm and how best to cope with it. In this way, Amanda has served as a role model for other individuals with disabilities.

As the pandemic has waned in severity, Amanda has returned to in-person community activities, while continuing some virtual learning and fun engagements with others. With UCP

Help From UCP Seguin

Seguin support, Amanda has been “Alone Together” with the community, succeeding in overcoming the challenges of her dual disabilities and the COVID-19 pandemic.

UCP Seguin believes that all people, regardless of ability, deserve to achieve their potential, advance their independence and act

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,

UCP Seguin • ucpseguin.org

Getting ready for a Zoom class, where Amanda engages, participates, and encourages others.

Amanda shopping for Friday’s Cooking Challenge at Pete’s Market on Lake Street in Oak Park, pictured by mural of “House of Rock.”

2022

Holiday Spectacular!

Scan to see tons of local shopping options

Your Guide to Holiday Shopping & Dining in Oak Park, River Forest & Forest Park