W E D N E S D A Y
December 28, 2016 Vol. 35, No. 19 ONE DOLLAR
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
2016: A year of champions Sports, page 44
@O @OakPark
Economy 2016 front and center again in 2016
Rallying cry
YEAR IN REVIEW
More than 100 people gathered in Oak Park on Nov. 10, two days after the presidential election, for a Love Trumps Hate rally to celebrate the village’s diversity and call for unity. For more photos from 2016, please turn to page 10.
Real estate, medical cannabis and higher taxes dominate headlines By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
Another year has almost passed, and over the last 12 months real estate development again dominated the news in Oak Park. This year, Oak Park got its first high-rise apartment building in decades with the opening of Vantage Oak Park, a 21-story, 270unit mixed-use apartment building at the corner of Lake Street and Forest Avenue. Vantage is the tallest new development in Oak Park and the only major structure built in the village in 2016, but it’s merely one of several major real estate deals in the works over the last year. Clark Street Real Estate broke ground this year on Elevate Oak Park just down the street, near the corner of Lake Street and Harlem Avenue. Once completed – sometime next year – Elevate will be five-stories tall with 271 luxury apartments. The project made See OP YEAR IN REVIEW on page 11
WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer
D200 hires permanent superintendent Board approves a 3-year contract for Joylynn Pruitt-Adams
By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
During an emotional Dec. 22 regular meeting, the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 school board unanimously approved the hiring of Dr. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams as its permanent superintendent.
Pruitt-Adams, who had been serving as acting superintendent since July 1, replaces former D200 superintendent Steven Isoye, who left in June for a job as superintendent for Niles Township High School District 219. Pruitt-Adams, who announced recently that she’ll use her married name going forward, was selected by the board after a national search that lasted several months and
attracted 48 candidates from 12 states. That field was then narrowed to six candidates, from which two finalists emerged. Pruitt-Adams’ contract begins on Jan. 1, 2017 and lasts until June 30, 2020. Her starting salary will be $225,000. The vetting process, which was facilitated See OPRF SUPT. on page 8
NEW YEARʼS EVE LIVE MUSIC & SPECIAL MENU Reserve at mayadelsol.com
708.358.9800 | 144 s oak park ave
2
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Every Story Deserves a Great Beginning.
Naturally.
The Alternative Birthing Center at West Suburban Medical Center gives mothers more choices –– from nitrous oxide for pain control to water births. Our certified nurse midwives and staff provide a safe, highly personalized experience for your and your family. We also offer round-the-clock obstetrics and anesthesiology. And should the need arise, neonatal experts from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago are always available.
Begin your story your way at the Alternative Birthing Center.
To learn more, visit WestSubMC.com/NaturalBirth or call (866) 938-7256.
Client ID: WSMC Component: 10.25x11.33 Space Ad WSMC 10.25x11.33 Nayurally 10.25x11.33 Space Ad 012116.indd Project Number: WSMC012116 Colors: cmyk1
Flat Size: 10.75x11.83 Finished Size: 10.25x11.33
1/21/16 3:01 PM
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
I N S I D E
R E P O R T
Top 10 stories online
2016
First there was the death of David Bowie, then Prince, then George Michael. Also, there was a little election that has left IN the world wondering if we’re living in an episode of The Twilight Zone. So 2016 wasn’t exactly our best year, but what were the top stories in Oak Park? Do you really want to know at this point? Google Analytics gives us an idea by ranking the year’s news by the number of clicks received. And the results are almost as depressing. Murder, shootings and more were among the top stories in this year’s Wednesday Journal online edition. Without further ado, here are the top stories that readers flocked to in 2016. Hey, there’s always next year.
1. Man’s body found in Oak Park main library (April 11) 2. Oak Park cop shot, gets wages cut by village (July 28) 3. A mom’s immediate response to murder (Aug. 30) 4. Details of Spilotro murders revealed in mob trial (Aug. 14) 5. Woman carjacked at gunpoint in River Forest (Sept. 27) 6. OPRF security monitor killed on his birthday (Aug. 7) 7. OPRF senior killed in Austin (Aug. 30) 8. Target store coming to downtown (Nov. 29) 9. Oak Park library hires social worker (Feb. 11) 10. Trombone man faces symphony of complaints (July 12)
YEAR REVIEW
River Forest mourns loss of former librarian
Cards and letters are coming in to the River Forest Public Library to show support and express condolences to the family of its former director, Sophia Anastos. Anastos, who was credited with restoring the library’s place in the community during her eight years at the helm, died Dec. 16 after a long illness. Services were private, said library Director Sue Quinn. Cards and SOPHIA ANASTOS letters can be brought in during library hours, which are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The library is located at 735 Lathrop Ave. “We will send them on to the family,” Quinn said. Anastos went on disability leave in early January for health reasons. She returned to the library this summer to witness the dedication of a plaque in her honor in the Smedinghoff Garden, Quinn said. Whether the library will hold a memorial service or plan other events is uncertain. “Sophia empowered the staff 100 per-
Vigil for life
Timothy inklebarger
cent,” said Quinn. “She encouraged us to take on new challenges. Her default answer was yes.”
Deborah Kadin
Disney and superheroes dominated at The Lake
Each year, Classic Cinema’s marketing manager, Mark Mazrimas provides us with the provides with the most popular movies shown at Lake Theatre. This year, Mazrimas said, there was “a very strong family and superhero showing with six of 10 films coming from Disney: 1. Finding Dory 2. Captain America: Winter Soldier 3. The Secret Life of Pets 4. Zootopia 5. Jungle Book 6. Batman vs. Superman 7. Suicide Squad 8. Dead Pool 9. Dr. Strange 10. Rogue One Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (was in the #10 spot but in the final week is sure to be bumped by Star Wars). “Disney ruled the box office this year,” Mazrimas said, “placing six movies in the Top Ten which is unprecedented. On a positive note, two adult movies did well at the Lake this past weekend with #3 Fences and #4 La La Land, so there is hope [for adult viewers].
Ken Trainor
WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer
People raised their phones and candles during a candlelight vigil for Elijah Sims who was shot in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. Elijah was a student at OPRF High School and worked at Pete’s Market. The vigil was held on Aug. 31, which would have been his 17th birthday. More Year in Review photos from 2016 on page 10.
Pardon our ‘Frances’
In an article, thatt should have been n titled “What would Francis do?” which ran online on Dec. 20 and in the Dec. 21 print edition of Wednesday Journal, Pope Francis’ name was acciden-tally spelled with an n “e,” which is the female version name. n of the name Wednesday Journal regrets the error.
Michael Romain
3
4
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Dec. 28-Jan. 4
BIG WEEK New Year’s Eve Eve Friday, Dec. 30 from 5 to 6 p.m., Oak Park Public Library: Dance and sing in the new year with Old Town School of Folk Music artists Maryanne Johnson and Diana Laffey. All ages. No registration 8-383-8200 for mo ore. 834 Lake St. required. Free admission. Call 708-383-8200 more.
Unchained Memories Wednesday, Jan. 4 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Oak Park Public Library: The main library presents a screening of Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives as part of the More Than a Month: Martin Luther King Jr. Film Festival.
CALENDAR EVENTS ■ As you’ve likely noticed, our
Bee Gees Night Friday, Dec. 30 at 9 p.m., Wire in Berwyn: Wire at 6815 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn, presents live mus music by Tributosaurus as they become the Bee Gees. Call 708-669-9473 or visit ww www.wireismusic.com.
Noon Year’s Eve Saturday, Dec. 31 from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m., River Forest Public Library:
The library presents a Noon Year’s Eve Party for kids of all ages with a caregiver from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Call 708-366-5205 for more. 735 Lathrop Ave.
Thank-You Note Workshop Thursday and Friday, Dec. 29 and 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., River Forest Public Library: For kids, no registration required. Drop by the Children’s Room to write your own personalized holiday thank-you cards. Supplies will be provided. Grades K-4. For more information, call 708-3665205. 735 Lathrop Ave.
Calendar has changed to Big Week. Fewer items, higher profile. If you would like your event to be featured here, please send a photo and details by noon of the Wednesday before it needs to be published. We can’t publish everything, but we’ll do our best to feature the week’s highlights. Email calendar@wjinc.com.
New Year’s Eve Party Saturday, Dec. 31 from noon to 5 p.m., Wonder Works Children’s Museum: Wonder Works is ringing in the New Year with the largest kid’s party in Oak Park. Families can party all day with kid’s games, crafts, a family parade, singing, food and general merriment. All of this for just $2 a person plus general admission to the museum ($8). All ages welcome, registration not required. 6445 W. North Ave. Call 708-383-4815 for more or visit www. wonder-works.org.
Adult Improv Workshop Tuesday, Jan. 3 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Maze Branch Library: All skill levels welcome. 845 Gunderson Ave. in Oak Park. Call 708-386-4751 for more.
Finding Dory Wednesday, Dec. 28 from 2 to 4 p.m., Main Library Veterans Room:
Singing in 2017 Saturday, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m., FitzGerald’s Nightclub: FitzGerald’s rings in the New Year in style with party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Brickstone Beverage sponsors the evening. In the Club, rock in the New Year with Expo ’76 & the Total Pro Horns and their list of hits and obscure cover tunes. Kelly Hogan joins the band for the evening. Doors open at 8 p.m.; music starts at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Free champagne toast at midnight. No cover. SideBar opens at 5 p.m. FitzGerald’s is at 6615 W. Roosevelt, Berwyn. Tickets are available at the club (in person) and TicketWeb http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/ VenueListings.action?venueId=32814&pl=. For more information on FitzGerald’s, go to http://www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.
A screening of the film, Finding Dory. Dory searches for her parents, with help from friends Nemo and Marlin. (PG, 2016, 103 minutes). The Oak Park Public Library is located at 834 Lake St.
Winter Break Public Skate Sunday, Jan. 1 from 1 to 3 p.m., Ridgeland Common Ice Rink:
All ages, registration not required. $7 per time slot or free with season pass. Skate rental available for $3 or by rental pass. 415 Lake St. Call 708-848-9661.
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
River Forest residents line up to run in 2017
Contested races for village and township trustee, park board
Kevin Crowell will run for a two-year vacancy. Incumbent Claudette Zobel, who has served as library board president, will not run for another six-year term.
By DEBORAH KADIN Contributing Reporter
Three contests will be competitive, several are uncontested and two races will have vacancies after the Dec. 19 deadline for filing nominating petitions to run in the April 4 consolidated election in River Forest. Here’s the way the races stack up:
PATTY HENEK
River Forest Village Board After a contentious campaign in 2013 that led to her landslide win, Catherine Adduci will run unopposed for a second term as village president. Four people will vie for village trustee. Incumbents Tom Cargie, Tom Dwyer will run for second terms. Patty Henek, who came within 20 votes of beating Carmela Corsini in 2015, is vying again for a seat on the board. A newcomer stepped forward for trustee, attorney Respicio F. Vazquez. No one has stepped forward to replace Sharon Halperin as village clerk.
TOM CARGIE
River Forest Park Board Four candidates are running for two seats as park district commissioner, all of them newcomers. They include Cheryl Cargie, the wife of former park district commissioner and village Trustee Tom Cargie; Lynn Libera; Gerald Dombrowski; and Calvin Davis, who is active in District 90 schools. Incumbents who decided not to run again were Paul Koester and Beth Dunne.
CARMELA CORSINI
River Forest Township Another competitive race will be for River Forest township trustee. Newcomer Holly Economos, an independent, is running, as are Mark Kelty, Anna Romeo and Helene Connolly. Karen Taubman, who recently resigned as township clerk, will also run for trustee. Running unchallenged are Carla Sloan, township supervisor; Pam Kende, Accessor and Abby Schmelling, clerk.
RESPICIO F. VAZQUEZ
River Forest Library Board The race for the River Forest Library Board will be uncontested in 2017. Three sixyear terms are open, with incumbent trustees Deborah Hill and Tom Smedinghoff and a newcomer, Eleanor Long, running for them.
ANNE GOTTLIEB
Four for D90 Four people filed nominating petitions with the Cook County Clerk to run for seats on the River Forest Elementary School District 90 Board of Education. There are four fouryear terms up for election in 2017. Anne Gottlieb will run for a second term, and Stacey Williams, who replaced Pat Meyer last summer, will run for a full fouryear term. In addition, Judith DeoGracias, who cochaired the Community Caucus process two years ago, has filed, along with Nicole Thompson. Other names could come forward through the write-in process, which happened two years ago, with the candidacy of Lori Coplan. The Community Caucus will select its preferred slate of candidates in late January. Incumbents Roman Ebert and David Latham are stepping down this year after serving eight years each on the school board. Residents can still file to be write-ins candidates in any contest. The deadline is Feb. 2. Applications are available on the Cook County Clerk’s website.
HAPPY
s y a d i l o H From Your Friends at
Forest Park National Bank & Trust Co.
7348 West Madison Street 7331 West Roosevelt Road 708-222-2800 | forestparkbank.com
LASER AVAILABLE FOR FUNGAL NAILS • Mention this ad for FREE initial consultation (new patients only) • Medicare covers shoes for diabetics
Happy Feet... begin with gentle, friendly care for your feet Louis J. Chi, D.P.M.
Mary M. DiSomma, D.P.M.
Ruth A. Chi, D.P.M.
Open Monday-Saturday • Free Initial Exam for Laser Fungal Nails
www.disomma.com 708-383-5554
Most Insurances & PPO’s Accepted Outpatient Foot Surgery Affiliated with Rush Oak Park Hospital
5
6
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Looking high school? school? Looking for for more more than just aa high Lookingfor for more more than than just just aa high school? Looking high school? Looking for more than just a high YOU FOUND IT!school?
YOU FOUND IT! YOU FOUND IT! YOU IT! YOU FOUND IT! Help your childget get Help your child
Help your childschool. get out of more out ofhigh high school. Help your your child childget get moreSet out ofup school. them for Set them uphigh forsuccess. success. more of high school. out of high school. Give Give them themthe theadvantage advantageofofa a Set them up for success. Walther education. Setthem them up for them up forsuccess. success. Walther education. Give the advantage of a the advantage Give them them the advantage Walther education. ofofaa Walther Walthereducation. education.
The Class of 2021HOUSE is forming NOW! OPEN
OPEN HOUSE OPEN HOUSE Thursday, October Thursday, October20, 20,2016 2016 OPEN HOUSE OPEN 7:00pm 7:00pm 20, 2016 Thursday, October There are two days to choose from in January to take the Placement Test; Saturday, January 7th at 9am and a Thursday, October 20, 7:00pm learn about scholarship and2016 Thursday, October 20, 2016 specialCome Placement Test/Visitation Day on Come learn about scholarship and 7:00pm financial aid deadlines. 7:00pm learn 27th about scholarship and Friday,Come January 8am-2:45pm. financial aidfrom deadlines. Come learn about scholarship and aid deadlines. Comefinancial learn about scholarship and
ComePREP learn about scholarship SEE WHAT MORE THAN COLLEGE LOOKS LIKE and financial aid deadlines. financial aid deadlines. SEE WHAT MORE THAN COLLEGE financial PREP LOOKS LIKE aid deadlines. SEE WHAT MORE THAN COLLEGE PREP LOOKS LIKE 900 CHICAGO AVE. SEE WHAT MORE THANWWW.WALTHER.COM COLLEGE PREP LOOKS LIKE 900 SEE CHICAGO AVE. MELROSE PARK, IL 60160 WHAT MORE THAN COLLEGE PREP LOOKS LIKE WWW.WALTHER.COM 900 CHICAGO AVE.
MELROSE PARK, IL 60160 (708) 344-0404 MELROSE PARK, ILAVE. 60160 900 (708)CHICAGO 344-0404 900(708) CHICAGO AVE. 344-0404 MELROSE PARK, IL 60160 MELROSE PARK, IL 60160 (708) 344-0404 (708) 344-0404
WWW.WALTHER.COM WWW.WALTHER.COM WWW.WALTHER.COM
You’re Invited!
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is holding public hearings on the I-290 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS documents the need for transportation solutions for I-290 from west of Mannheim Road to Racine Avenue and the evaluation of alternatives for addressing those transportation needs. Further, it addresses the potential effects on environmental resources and the potential effects on future traffic operations caused by proposed alternatives as well as the “no-build” alternative. The findings of the CTA’s Blue Line Vision Study will also be presented. The public hearings will be conducted in an open house format, and interested persons may attend anytime between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. There will be a continuous audiovisual presentation, and the public is invited and encouraged to attend to review and comment on the: • • • •
Purpose and need for the improvement Alternatives under consideration Preferred Alternative Preliminary road closure plan for Harrison Street and Bataan Drive at 1st Avenue • Social, economic, and environmental effects and proposed mitigation strategies
• Proposed Section 4(f) de minimis impacts for improvements at public parks (Veterans Park, the Dog Park, and the proposed Recreation Center site at Circle Avenue) in the Village of Forest Park • Air Quality • Noise Analysis
OPRF wrestlers rally support after rival coach’s house burns Continues connection established after 2013 tornado By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
The Oak Park and River Forest High School varsity wrestling team may have defeated Washington Community High School on Dec. 23, but the headline from that day isn’t about what happened on the mats. The previous day, on Dec. 22, the home of Washington’s coach, Bryan Medlin, burned down. According to the Peoria Journal Star, the house wasn’t occupied at the time. “It took the combined efforts of about 50 firefighters about an hour and 20,000 gallons of water that had to be brought to the scene to extinguish the fire,” the Journal Star reported. In Washington, a small town in central Illinois less than 20 minutes away from Peoria, community members approached Medlin’s tragedy with the same all-handson-deck mentality. The high school’s football coach mobilized an effort to collect Visa and gift cards, which area residents have been dropping off at a local downtown market. Even the business community has kicked in, with a restaurant called Big Zig’s BBQ announced on Facebook a day after the fire that it would be selling pulled pork $12 a pound, with the proceeds going to the Medlin family. And those are just a few among many efforts. For the two powerhouse programs, each of which are defending state champions, and are ranked No. 1, in their respective classes — Washington is in Class 2A and OPRF is in Class 3A — a house fire won’t deter the action on the mats or the bond between the
two programs off of them. On the way to their match last Friday, the OPRF wrestlers arrived in Washington bearing money and gifts, according to former D200 board President John Phelan. The wrestlers also shared a Go Fund Me account that, as of Tuesday, had generated close to $31,000 in four days. The OPRF wrestlers’ generosity has roots, Phelan explained. In 2013, when Washington was among the Illinois towns to be devastated by one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in state history, OPRF wrestlers traveled to the central Illinois town to help with the cleanup efforts. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
Join the conversation Please send Letters to the Editor to ■ ktrainor@wjinc.com or ■ Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 Include name, address and daytime phone number for verification.
The Division of Highways will process a permit for construction in a regulated floodway whenever such permits are required for the project. Attendees are encouraged to provide verbal or written testimony to be included in the public record. IDOT and study team representatives will be available to answer questions. In addition, a question and answer forum will be held at 7:00 p.m. each day. Court reporters will be available to record public comments. The I-290 DEIS is available for public review and comment beginning December 30, 2016 at EisenhowerExpressway.com, local libraries located within the study area and the IDOT Region One office. A complete listing of these locations can be found on the project website. Comments on the DEIS will be accepted through February 13, 2017.
The dates, times, and locations of the hearings are as follows:
Wednesday, January 25, 2017* 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Proviso Math and Science Academy 8601 Roosevelt Road Forest Park, Illinois 60130
(Pace Bus route 301 and 308 stop at the south-west corner of the Academy)
Thursday, January 26, 2017* 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Marriott Chicago- Medical District 625 South Ashland Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60607 (Just east of the Racine Blue Line Station)
All correspondence regarding this project should be sent to: Illinois Department of Transportation Attn: Mark Peterson, Project Manager 201 West Center Court Schaumburg, IL 60196
* In the event the hearing is canceled due to a major snow event that requires the closing of public/private facilities, the alternate dates will be February 1, 2017 at Proviso Math and Science Academy and February 2, 2017 at the Marriott Chicago – Medical District. This meeting will be accessible to persons with disabilities. Anyone needing special assistance should contact Lisa Mentzer at (630) 812-1724. Persons planning to attend who will need a sign language interpreter or other similar accommodations should notify the TTY/TTD number (800) 526-0844 or 711; TTY users (Español) (800) 501-0864 or 711; and for Telebraille dial (877) 526-6670 at least five days prior to the meeting.
www.EisenhowerExpressway.com
advertise • 708-524-8300 • www.OakPark.cOm
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
See Us during our Special Holiday Hours
Proud to be part of a vibrant and diverse community
I-290 & Harlem • Oak Park, IL 60304 (708) 848-8500 • www.volvooakpark.com Look for the Tower!
7
8
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
D97 approves referendum questions There will be two separate initiatives on the ballot in April
By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
At their Dec. 20 regular meeting, members of the Oak Park District 97 school board unanimously approved two separate ballot referendum questions for the April 4, 2017 ballot. The first referendum question seeks to increase the district’s tax levy by $13,344,415 to a total of $66,481,876 in order to provide the necessary revenue to fund the district’s operations, the costs for which have increased along with the district’s enrollment. Since 2007, according to D97 officials, the average daily attendance at district schools has increased by nearly 24 percent. The net impact of the new tax levy, if approved by voters, would be $74 for every $1,000 of a homeowner’s current tax bill. It’s designed to get the district’s total fund balance to 27.5 percent of total operating expenses within five years.
The district’s fiscal policy requires the operating fund balance to be at least 25 percent of operating expenses. The district’s fund balance is projected to go negative by 2018. The second question seeks voter approval to issue up to $57.5 million in bonds for a variety of facilities improvements and building expansions. District officials said that the additional financing will have no impact on tax bills. “It’s basically extending the current debt payments that are being made on 1999 middle school bonds out for another 20 years in order to fund the capacity expansions we need, basic maintenance to ensure buildings will function, 21st century learning spaces and climate control [updated air and heating systems] at the elementary schools,” said board member Graham Brisben at the Dec. 20 meeting. Brisben said that running both ballot questions would present a challenge for the district when it comes to informing
OPRF SUPT.
Pruitt-Adams becomes permanent from page 1 by the superintendent search firm BWP & Associates, included interviews and public meetings with dozens of community stakeholders, including students, parents, faculty, staff, administrators and area residents. In addition, two board members conducted a site visit to the School District of University City in Missouri, where Pruitt-Adams worked for nine years before retiring and taking the temporary position at District 200 this year. During Thursday night’s board meeting, Tom Cofsky described Pruitt-Adams as “someone who has proven experience in the role as a superintendent” and who is “goals and results oriented, has an understanding of what cost-containment means and has courageous leadership.” Board member Steve Gevinson, who along with board member Fred Arkin traveled to University City for the site visit, said that the 20 stakeholders they spoke to about Pruitt-Adams gave glowing reviews. “I really have not heard, ever, testimony that was so loving, respectable and deeply appreciative,” Gevinson said. “My comment to Fred was, ‘You won’t hear that outside of funerals.’” According to a statement released by D200 officials Thursday, while at University City, which is located in the St. Louis area near
the public about the measure, but that the board believed this to be the best approach. “The board determined that this was the best course of action first and foremost because it provides the greatest and most transparency,” he said. “Secondly, it allows the ask to be no more, no less than the minimum necessary to meet the needs of the surging enrollment and comply with District 97’s fiscal policies, as well as [state] guidelines.” If both questions pass, the district would be prohibited from co-mingling the funds generated from the referenda. Capital expenses would go only toward capital projects and operating funds would only be spent operations. The board is expected to formally adopt the questions on Jan. 10 in order to meet the Jan. 17 filing deadline. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
Washington University, Pruitt-Adams was responsible for “improving reading assessment results, increasing enrollment in Advanced Placement courses, implementing restorative justice and alternatives to suspensions, curbing an uptick in youth violence, overseeing a multitude of professional development programs, creating partnerships with a broad base of roughly 70 community groups, and passing two referenda for expansion and replacement of facilities with more than 70 [percent] approval.” Several board members fought back tears when talking about the incoming superintendent. “We are excited,” said D200 Board President Jeff Weissglass, shortly before becoming visibly choked up. “We believe you are the leader to take this district forward.” During her stint as acting superintendent, Pruitt-Adams played a prominent role in the recent establishment of a new community outreach committee that was approved by the board earlier this month in the wake of a failed referendum on Nov. 8, which would have partially funded the construction of a new swimming pool and parking garage at the high school. Pruitt-Adams’ experience establishing a similar committee in University City will likely be critical to the one at OPRF, which village officials said will take a comprehensive look at issues, such as equity and long-term facilities improvements, that go beyond the school’s two nearly 90-year-old swimming pools. “When people ask me why I want to be here, when people say you could retire, I tell them I’m having fun,” said Pruitt-Adams
D97 board president withdraws as candidate
Citing personal reasons, James Gates, the Oak Park District 97 school board president, has withdrawn his bid for election to a third term. He joins incumbent board members Graham Brisben and Amy Felton in his decision not seek re-election, which means that all three seats that will be open during the April 4, 2017 election will go to newcomers. With Gates out of the running, the race for those three open seats narrows slightly to 10 candidates. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve my community for 33 years as a public school educator and as a D97 board member for the last eight years,” Gates said in a statement released Monday. “I am grateful for the opportunity to develop the working relationships and friendships I have made with my remarkable colleagues across all six Oak Park governmental units.”
Michael Romain
Photo submitted
Dr. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams during brief, at times tearful, remarks following her appointment. “It’s hard work, but it’s fun,” she said. “It’s a great community. We have phenomenal kids and we have a great staff. I knew the first day when I walked in the door … that this is where I want to be and this is where I’m meant to be. I have felt a part of the staff and the community from the very, very start. People have spoken to me in the grocery store.”
Pruitt-Adams has a doctorate in educational policy and leadership, and a master of education in elementary administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education/special education from HarrisStowe State College. Her husband, Charles Adams, recently retired as police chief of University City, Missouri. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
When the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 school board introduced Acting Superintendent Joylynn Pruitt-Adams as its permanent superintendent at a Dec. 22 school board meeting, several board members, and Pruitt-Adams herself, were brought to tears. The hire capped off a year loaded with emotions, during which local tensions over high school swimming pools overlapped with racially charged headlines from around the country. If in 2015 Oak Park seemed poised to finally grab the bull of racial inequity by the horns, in 2016 community members and school district officials seemed to have finally gotten a hold of some keratin, if only barely. Oak Park will close out this year with African-American women helming its elementary and high school districts. Without strenuously digging through the historical record, one could probably safely conclude that this is a historic first. But the milestone wouldn’t rise above the merely symbolic if there weren’t also rumblings of an organic, bottom-up impatience among community stakeholders of diverse interests who believe that the time for resolving the problem of racial inequities in a wide range of areas — including academic
2016 was the year of equity
2016
proficiency and rates of discipline within the schools — has for too long been just around the bend. “A strange thing is happenIN ing,” said John Duffy, a longtime Oak Parker and member of the Committee for Committee for Equity and Excellence in Education, during a December District 97 school board meeting. “For the first time that I know, we’re talking about racial equity in similar terms at the high school and at District 97.” The similarities abound, from an increasing emphasis on a restorative justice approach to student discipline at both D97 and D200 to the dominant role that equity played in the appointments of Pruitt-Adams at OPRF and of Carol Kelley, who was hired in 2015, in D97. The growing discontent could be due to a variety of forces, many of them converging. This year, Oak Park seemed vulnerable, perhaps in a way that it’s never been before, to the record gun violence happening just east of its border. The August murder of OPRF student Elijah Sims seemed to crystallize the racial and economic divide separating Oak Park and Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. In July, as police-involved shootings roiled the country and presidential candidate Donald Trump mobilized for a historically controversial national campaign, an alleged in-
cident of racial insensitivity at a local bar -- part of what some people consider a pattern of abuses -- ignited a march. From that demonstration, a new, aggressive nonprofit called Suburban Unity Alliance, created by OPRF teacher Anthony Clark, was formed. Clark and Duffy, along with other grassroots activists, have kept constant pressure on district officials at both D97 and D200 to change some longstanding, but highly controversial, practices within the schools — from the pattern of academic tracking at OPRF to some punitive forms of discipline at the elementary schools that may disproportionately harm minority children. Alongside the equity-related activist pressure, there’s also been the consistent pressure of D200 Pragmatic Pool Solutions, the group of residents formed in late 2015 to protest the high school’s decision to a build a new swimming pool without putting the planned project to a referendum. This year, the group, led by former news anchor Monica Sheehan, was influential in defeating a referendum put on the ballot by the high school that would fund an alternative plan. The plan’s defeat, which means that a community conversation around replacing OPRF’s two nearly 90-year-old pools will likely start anew, has made way for what high school
YEAR REVIEW
officials are promising will be a more expansive conversation about more than pools. It will also encompass, Pruitt-Adams said in December, a host of issues directly related to racial equity, such as academic achievement and early childhood education. A pathway to directly confronting racial inequity has also seemed to open up at D97. In an interview in December, Kelley acknowledged that students in D97 experienced the learning environment in a different way. “It’s blacks, whites, Hispanics, Asians,” she said. “They’re all saying, ‘Our friends, us, everyone, experiences D97 in a different way. “Now, more than ever, it’s going to be imperative for local agencies to put into action what we say we value,” she said. “In Oak Park, what I’ve heard from the community is that we value equity, inclusion, focusing on the whole child and those learning experiences for each student.” Much of this paradigm shift, if it happens, will have occurred outside of the camera lenses and boomers of acclaimed documentarian and Oak Parker Steve James, and his crew, who in 2016 finished their year of filming at the high school for a documentary series, called America to Me, about the persistence of the color line despite the best intentions. If a revolution is really happening in Oak Park, it will likely not be televised. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
NEW YEAR NEW YOU! KADAMPA MEDITATION CENTER CHICAGO in Oak Park
9
13 Harrison St Oak Park, IL 60304
meditateinchicago.org
10
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
W E D N E S D A Y
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
J O U R N A L
1
2
P H O T O S
F R O M
2 0 1 6 1. A moment shared at the vigil in Scoville Park following the Orlando mass killing in June. | Photo by Bob Simpson 2. Hatch Elementary’s Steel Drum Band created a song for the Cubs, Oct. 17. 3. Kuumba Kids perform a collective dance titled ‘Rhythms of Nia’ during the 10th Annual Harambee Celebration at Longfellow School on Feb. 26.
3
4
5
6
7
4. Tyanna Norman is comforted by her sister Alexis Norman during a vigil for Elijah Sims on Aug. 31. 5. Scouts hold an American flag at the end of the River Forest Memorial Day Parade, May 30. 6. Dominican students showed solidarity with black students after several incidents occurred on campus. The protest was held in front of the school’s entrance on Oct. 28 7. Children hula hoop during Family Fireside Halloween in River Forest on Oct. 14.
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
OP YEAR IN REVIEW New buildings go up from page 1 headlines in late November with Clark Street’s announcement that it had secured Target as the anchor tenant to take up 22,000 square feet of its ground-level retail space. The Elevate project was in jeopardy earlier this year with the discovery that it would cost the village about $3 million to clean up leaking oil tanks beneath the village-owned parking lots where the development is being built. The village was successful, however, in convincing Oak Park’s two school districts to approve using funds from the Downtown Tax Increment Finance District to pay for the environmental remediation. Real estate development didn’t stop there, though. Oak Park’s beloved fast-food restaurant Tasty Dog, 700 Lake St., was demolished in November to make room for Ranquist Development Group’s District House project – a fivestory condo building with ground-level retail. The village also moved forward with a massive overhaul of Madison Street at the intersection of Oak Park Avenue, naming Jupiter Realty the preferred developer for the project.
2016
The project, which will include property on both sides of Madison Street, is still in the early stages of development, but is expected to feature 40 condoIN miniums, 25,000 square feet of retail space and a grocery store. The village is planning to narrow the road to two lanes and bend a section of Madison to increase the size of the parcel to the south to make room for the grocery store. Some residents have opposed the project and are discussing hiring a lawyer to fight it. Expect to hear more on that in 2017.
opened at 155 S. Oak Park Ave. a few months later, and plans are in the works for a third brewery by Greg Sorg of Pioneer Property Advisors at the Austin Boulevard and Lake Street. The village approved $385,700 in tax incentives for that venture to help bring economic development to the area. The Oak Park Arts District on Harrison Street also moved forward this year with the marketing of several properties on the commercial corridor. The business district has been stymied for decades by delinquent storefront properties owned by Chris Kleronomos, who lost majority ownership of the properties in foreclosure in fall of 2015. Those properties were put back on the market in late 2015, and the new majority owner, Harrison Street Ventures, is open to either leasing or selling them. Laura Maychruk, a real estate broker and owner of Buzz Café in the arts district said in September that she is showing the properties to interested buyers.
YEAR REVIEW
Brewing up business It also was a big year for retail and restaurant openings in Oak Park, with numerous new businesses setting up shop in the village. Most notably, perhaps, was the opening of Oak Park’s first and only marijuana dispensary, Seven Point Medical Cannabis Dispensary, in August. The dispensary is located downtown at 1132 Lake St., across the street from the site of Elevate Oak Park. Oak Park also got it first brewery in early 2016 with Kinslahger Brewing Co. at 6806 Roosevelt Rd. Kinslahger wasn’t the only new brewery in the village, though. Oak Park Brewing and Hamburger Mary’s
Crowded field In village government news, candidates are lining up for a municipal election set for April 2017. Seven candidates are running for three open seats on the Oak Park Board of
Trustees; five candidates for village clerk; and 10 for library board. But Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb will run unopposed. Incoming candidates will get more for their service to the village in 2016, following a pay raise approved by the board of trustees in October. The mayor’s pay will jump from $10,800 a year to $25,200, and trustee pay will also more than double from $7,200 to $15,000 annually. Village residents can also expect a tax increase next year, a result of the board of trustees approving a $135 million budget in December. The tax hike – largely a result of increased pension costs – will raise the village’s portion of the tax bill – about 15 percent of the tax burden – by 8.9 percent. Trustees noted in the final board meeting of the year that the village has had a structural deficit for 12 of the last 15 budget cycles. In police news, 2016 saw the retirement of longtime Oak Park Police Chief Rick Tanksley, who served more than three decades on the force, 16 as chief. He was succeeded by Deputy Police Chief Anthony Ambrose. The police got good news in late 2016 with the budget that included $90,000 in 2017 for Tasers – Oak Park is the only municipality in the area to not equip their officers with the weapons. Cops also began carrying Narcan this year, a life-saving drug that prevents opioid overdoses.
River Forest set stage for development in 2016
New TIF district, development approvals top list By DEBORAH KADIN Contributing Reporter
Economic development dominated the discussion in River Forest in 2016 as trustees continued focusing attention on increasing the value of commercial property and stabilizing property taxes. One major initiative took root and others have been started or approved. Where the village ultimately goes and how it gets there will depend on the course officials take when they begin setting a strategy early next year for the Madison Street Tax Increment Finance District (TIF), the village’s second TIF district. Revenue generated from the growth of commercial and residential property values from Thatcher east to Lathrop could be used to bring in new businesses, upgrade existing ones and improve public infrastructure. The updated streetscape between Desplaines and Park avenues in River Forest and Forest Park, completed in 2016, also could spur commercial prospects. The TIF, which was in the planning stages for better than two years, was not without controversy and spurred fears of the village taking residential property through eminent domain. But the village decided to restrict eminent domain to single-family homes located just behind Madison. The language was includ-
2016
ed; trustees created the TIF in November. Construction on The Promenade, a 29-unit townhome development on the former Hines IN Lumber site on Madison Street began in 2016, and Bonnie Brae Place, a 15-unit luxury condominium project near Concordia University, also got the goahead. Construction could begin in spring 2017. However, two redevelopment priorities that officials hoped would be further along have stalled. Staff is looking at the redevelopment application Tim Hague’s Keystone Ventures filed for a multi-use project at Lake and Lathrop. Cleaning property contaminated by a dry cleaners could delay the project even more. Hague was tapped as the developer in 2010. In 2015, after months of discussions and review, Hague also became the preferred developer of village-owned land at Lake and Park. As of now, there has been little if any progress on purchasing the land. His proposal -- to build a mixed-use project with condos, townhomes and commercial -- won out over an 80-unit high-end rental building and a independent senior living facility last year. ■ Historic preservation, seen as a way of strengthening property values, took some steps forward when village trustees added teeth to the existing historic preservation ordinance. Demolition of a home on the significant properties list can be delayed up to six months to find ways of preserving it. Residents wanting to alter or raze significant homes would have to explain their plans to the Preservation Commission. Members
also began plans to expand community engagement. But the commission also lost a driving force when one of its founding members, Laurel McMahon, resigned to move out of town. ■ One major frustration in 2016 was up on North Avenue, where officials had hoped a Fresh Thyme Farmers Market would finally open in the former Dominick’s Finer Food building. Build-out delays became complicated when a facade collapsed in February, forcing work to stop. In the intervening weeks, the village, growing impatient of a lack of information about the extent of repairs, took Mid-America and Fresh Thyme to court to get a timetable on completing the work. Build-out now is expected to start in March. The chain anticipates opening the store in July 2017, nearly three years after trustees approved a Cook County property tax exemption to renovate the property. ■ The River Forest Park District Parks Foundation Sustainability Committee asked the village to establish a commission. Two years ago, the village and the parks foundation forged a partnership, but supporters believe that creating a commission would offer continued leadership on sustainability and more permanent governance over environmental stewardship. ■ In Elementary School District 90, after more than four years of meetings and heated debate, the exterior project at Roosevelt Middle School was completed. The number of parking spaces in the north lot, a big bone of contention, re-
YEAR REVIEW
11
mained at 36 and the nearby Lathrop lot got 14. Other amenities were added, but not the student gathering space that some parents had fought for. The school district took some steps to reduce the achievement gap between white students, students of color and low-income pupils on standardized tests. The National Equity Project, based in Oakland, is working with District 90 on staff development and helping foster best teaching practices. The company also may work with the district to recruit and hire teachers of color. District 90 also brought on Allison Hawley as curriculum director to replace Martha Ryan-Toye, a veteran teacher and administrator who left the district after more than 20 years. ■ Park district plans to build a long-needed indoor recreation center were shelved after residents voiced opposition to losing a play area at Keystone Park. Commissioners also are looking ahead to build two new platform tennis courts next year. One iteration was scotched after platform tennis players expressed their preference for a different orientation of the proposed facility. ■ In April, Sue Quinn was named the director of the River Forest Public Library. Quinn had been interim director and then acting director earlier this year after Sophia Anastos went on disability leave. Anastos, who led the library for eight years, died on Dec. 16 after a long illness. She was 61 years old. ■ Addison Osta Smith, as a fifth-grader at Roosevelt Middle School, outlasted competition from around the country to become the fourth MasterChef Junior in February.
12
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
C R I M E
Ceramic pig, electronics stolen in burglary
Life Insurance • Retirement Savings • Mutual Funds • IRAs • Annuities • College Savings Plans
A residence was burglarized in the 700 block of South Grove sometime between noon and 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 20. The offender entered the residence through an unlocked dining room window and stole a black messenger bag, a 15-inch and a 17-inch silver HP laptop computer, a blue children’s backpack, a white Apple iPad, an Apple iPod, a blue Kindle Fire, and a ceramic pig. The loss was an estimated $3,855.
Why did 1.3 million families refuse to buy life insurance online? They had an Allstate Agency they trusted to help them get it right. An Allstate Agent like me. Let’s sit down and talk about your life insurance needs today. I’m happy to answer questions, explain the details and help you choose the right policy for your family and budget. Call me today.
Theft
Garfield Phillpotts 708-452-4117
Life insurance offered through Allstate Life Insurance Company & Allstate Assurance Company, Northbrook, IL; Lincoln Benefit Life Company, Lincoln, NE; and American Heritage Life Insurance Company, Jacksonville, FL. Securities offered by Personal Financial Representatives through Allstate Financial Services, LLC (LSA Securities in LA and PA). Registered Broker-Dealer. Member FINRA, SIPC. Main Office: 2920 South 84th Street, Lincoln, NE 68506. (877) 525-5727. © 2015 Allstate Insurance Co.
Apartment living with congregate services
114 South Humphrey Oak Park, IL 60302
T
his property with its architecturally award-winning atrium, provides seniors and persons with disabilities with parking, library, laundry room, wellness center and other conveniences. A service coordinator is on staff to assist tenants who may need additional services. The units are studio and one bedroom, each with electric appliances, tile bath, and wall to wall carpeting. Modern fire and safety systems are installed in each apartment and common areas of the building. There are 8 accessible one bedroom units for the mobility impaired. The Oaks is owned and operated by the Oak Park Residence Corporation and is funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development through the 202/section 8 Program. Residents pay approximately 30% of their monthly income for rent. For additional information, please visit our web site at www.oakparkha.org or contact us at 708-386-5812.
202703
7621 W. Lake St. River Forest gphillpotts@allstate.com
■ A star shower motion laser light Christmas decoration valued at $40 was stolen from the front lawn at a residence in the 1100 block of N. Humphrey sometime between 10 p.m. on Dec. 21 and 6 p.m. on Dec. 22. ■ An iron patio bench and iron patio chair were stolen from the front yard of a residence in the 100 block of N. Austin sometime between 8 p.m. on Dec. 23 and 11:15 a.m. on Dec. 24. The loss was an estimated $330. ■ A package containing a J. Crew multicolored bandana was stolen from the doorstep of a residence in the 700 block of N. Linden sometime between 8:50 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. on Dec. 20. The loss was an estimated $20. ■ A package containing a white Xbox game console, an Xbox controller and a Madden 2017 Xbox game was stolen from the front of a residence in the 6900 block of Roosevelt Road sometime between noon and 6 p.m. on Dec. 13. The loss was an estimated $499. ■ A business in the 1000 block of Lake Street was the target of a thief who stole $919 from an unsecured cash box at the front desk sometime between 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 and 2 p.m. the next day. ■ A gray Iron Horse Maverick mountain bike was stolen from a bike rack in the 300 block of South Boulevard sometime between 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 20 and 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 23. The loss was an estimated $250.
Retail theft ■ Two women were observed stealing an unknown amount of children’s clothing from The Gap, 435 N. Harlem, at 1:40 p.m. on Dec. 23. The two entered a gray and beige Dodge Grand Caravan and drove eastbound on Lake Street. The loss was an estimated $240.
■ A 42-inch LG flat-screen television valued at $180 was stolen from Cash America, 6303 W. North Ave., at 5:02 p.m. on Dec. 19.
Possession of a stolen motor vehicle arrest Burban M. Ebrahim, 35, of the 800 block of S. Austin Boulevard, was arrested in the 1100 block of S. Lyman at 1:39 p.m. on Dec. 25 for possession of a stolen motor vehicle, burglary to auto and criminal damage to state supported property. He was processed and held for bond hearings.
Burglary to motor vehicle A white Toyota Highlander was burglarized in the 100 block of North Lombard Avenue overnight on Dec. 19-20. The offender smashed the passenger side front door window to gain entry to the vehicle and stole a Garmin black GPS unit, Christmas cards and pair of prescription sunglasses. The loss was an estimated $670.
Garage break-ins ■ A garage was burglarized in the 500 block of North Humphrey Avenue sometime between 1 a.m. and 10:18 a.m. on Dec. 20. The offender forced open the side service door to the garage and stole an orange and black leaf blower. The loss was an estimated $250. ■ Someone used a pry tool to damage the side service door and frame of a garage in the 200 block of South East Avenue sometime between 8 p.m. on Dec. 19 and 5:45 p.m. on Dec. 20. The loss due to damage was an estimated $500.
These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports, Dec. 13-25, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
— Compiled by Timothy Inklebarger
SSEND END LE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR | E-MAIL: ktrainor@wjinc.com MAILL Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 MAIL:
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
13
SPONSORED CONTENT
Getting Down To Business
with the Oak Park - River Forest Chamber of Commerce December 26th, 2016
Interstate Commerce, Local Style
W
By CATHY YEN, Executive Director
hen the postman rings the doorbell Christmas morning, it can only mean one thing. My Christmas present from Dad is here. My large, extended family lives in New Jersey. While we don’t make a big deal about presents, Christmas is a festive time for us. Everyone gathers to enjoy each other’s company, share a meal and celebrate. Maybe because I rarely make it back east to join them, I still exchange token gifts with my parents. And every year, my parents – still together after fifty-three years – each send me something separately. My mother sends something lovely and it always arrives a week before Christmas. For my dad, however, December 25
sneaks up on him like snow in Chicago. All of a sudden, it’s here. Which goes to explain how most years I receive an overnight package arriving Christmas Day. He loves the Post Office Priority Mail Express with holiday delivery. It’s “the thought that counts” rings true, as the most memorable gift was the personalized sweatshirt with my name misspelled. He did that two years in a row. Shipped to me for a flat rate of twice the cost of the garment. Still, it makes me smile. Knowing my dad rushed around thinking about me on Christmas Eve? Priceless. This year, he changed things up a bit. He knows how important shopping locally is to me and he wanted to purchase something from the store he loves visiting – Olive and Well. At age 80, online ordering is not his strength and anyway he was well past the deadline for holiday delivery. So, he picked up the phone.
Fortunately, Olive and Well’s owner Kay was able to help him out. He didn’t quite have my address right and he was hoping to avoid a big shipping charge – couldn’t they figure something out and get it to me? After some conversation, Kay realized that Catherine is Cathy and “is that your daughter?” and indeed the Chamber office is right down the block. She called me, we had a laugh and I received a wonderful gift of gourmet olive oil. From my dad. Before Christmas. Top that, Amazon.
Friday, Jan. 27, 2017
5:30pm-9:30pm at the Nineteenth Century Club, Oak Park, IL
Bite Nite tickets are now on sale! www.foodiefest.net Foodie Fest, our local “restaurant week,” is Jan. 27 - Feb. 9
Restaurant Owners: Contact Alicia to take advantage of this FREE opportunity! aplominspitler@oprfchamber.org
14
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
D97 use of Title I funding comes under fire
By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
A recent reduction in the amount of federal funding designed to help low-income and low-achieving students at Oak Park District 97 schools has some parents, teachers and community members sounding the alarm. During a regular board meeting last month, dozens of residents demanded that the district identify where the federal Title I funding is being used, and that it immediately restore 100 hours of tutoring for K-5 students, which the residents believe has been taken away. “Something along the lines of Title I is a necessity for the many. That was taken away. How do we justify that?” said Anthony Clark, a teacher at Oak Park and River Forest High School and founder of the nonprofit Suburban Unity Alliance during the Dec. 6 regular meeting. Title I funds are designed to “supplement instructional services and activism in order to improve the educational opportunities of educationally disadvantaged or deprived children,” according to the U.S. Department of Education. D97 officials explained in a statement that individual school districts don’t control “money they receive or how that money is allocated among their schools.”
According to district officials, the actual reduction of Title I funding was less significant than the fact that the formula for distributing the funds had changed since last year. According to officials, D97 received $566,736 in Title I funds in 2014-15, $536,617 in 2015-16 and $530,162 in 2016-17. Traditionally, the funding has been distributed to elementary schools in D97 which have percentages of low-income students that are higher than the district average. This year, Beye, Irving, Holmes and Whittier — all of whose low-income percentages were higher than the 20.5 percent district average — qualified as Title I schools. Longfellow, which had qualified in the past, is no longer eligible for the funding since its percentage of low-income students has dropped below the district average for two straight years. In addition to the elementary schools, this is the first year the district has identified both Brooks and Julian middle schools as Title I schools. “Instead of four elementary schools, there are now six schools because we included the middle schools,” said Felicia StarksTurner, senior director of academic and administrative services. “So the same pot of funding divided by six schools, instead of four, is going to yield less money. And
because the middle schools have larger enrollments, they’ll get a larger percentage of the funds.” In addition, district officials said, there were several factors that impacted the availability of Title I-related staff and services in the district for the 2016-17 school year. “In terms of staffing, those factors included a delayed response from the state about whether it would officially recognize some of our Title I positions,” the district statement explained. “We need this information because it would determine the number of staff members we could fund using Title I money.” District officials said two schools that aren’t eligible to receive Title I funds requested using money donated by their PTOs “to pay for tutors who would support reading interventions for their students.” According to the district, there was a delay in processing those requests “because we needed to determine if there were any legal or policy implications associated with using donations to pay people for these services.” The requests were eventually approved in October. But according to a group of community members, some of whom spoke during public comment at the Dec. 20 meeting, the PTO funding “causes inequities because
some PTOs may not have the funds.” They also said the district should have taken money from its own budget to cover the funding gap so that K-5 tutoring hours wouldn’t be diminished — a program, the group added, that has experienced cuts while the district’s gifted and talented support program, “which serves a nearly all-white demographic,” remains “intact.” The group requested that the district show them where all Title I funds are being used and that K-5 tutoring services be immediately restored. In an interview on Dec. 19, district officials said Title I funding, which is spent at the discretion of school principals, is used to fund more than K-5 tutoring services. After the Dec. 6 meeting, they released a statement that included a list of some of its Title I-funded and targeted intervention programs designed to help low-income and low-performing students. “It’s not just tutors giving services,” said Chris Jasculca, D97’s senior director of policy, planning and communication. “The money is used for Title I breakfasts, for software to help with math intervention [and] leveled literacy intervention for language arts.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
Experience the Nineteenth Enrichment Programs & Special Events
Monday, January 2 – 7-10 pm English Country Dance
Social dancing with a long history and vibrant modern presence, frequently accompanied by live music. No partner is needed and all dances are taught and called. $10 adults, $5 seniors and students.
Sunday, January 8 – Winter Brunch Social: 1:00 p.m., Brunch: 1:30 p.m., Program: 2:30 p.m. Home: The Early Years – Julie Andrews’ Memoir And at the Altenheim, you’ll be able to protect it with rent that is reasonable. But the Altenheim is so much more… it is surrounded with beautiful grounds and wildlife, seniors who look out for one another and apartment selections and activities to suit your lifestyle. You’ll be as happy as a lark here; come visit us to find out why.
Arborwood 2 bedroom apartments now available.
7824 West Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130 708.366.2206 www.thealtenheim.com
Jenny Riddle, entertainer extraordinaire, dramatizes the life of Julie Andrews. Who was she before she was Mary Poppins, or Maria Von Trapp? How did she rise to have decidedly one of the most recognizable voices in the world? $40, reservations required by January 3.
Sunday, January 22 – 3:30 PROGRAM TO BE RESCHEDULED Musical Journeys with Stephen Kleiman
Great Music of the Cinema –What led to the cross-over from background music in a theater to imbedding music that was fitting to specific scenes on the screen? Listen to some of the best cinema composers: Max Steiner, Bernard Herrmann, Alex North, Henry Mancini and more. $25 at the door.
Monday, January 23 - 7-10 pm English Country Dance
Social dancing with a long history and vibrant modern presence, frequently accompanied by live music. No partner is needed and all dances are taught and called. $10 adults, $5 seniors and students.
Sunday, January 15 - 3:00 pm The Free Readers Ensemble
Monday, January 23 – 1:15 pm There’s a Song in My Heart
Monday, January 16 – 1:15 pm
Monday, January 30 – 1:15 pm Portrait of an Iconoclast – Archibald J. Motley, Jr.
Time Stands Still - When Sarah and James, a photojournalist couple, come back from covering the Iraq War they are physically bruised and emotionally beaten. While they are recovering, their best friend, brings his new, young girlfriend to visit. Their burgeoning relationship makes James and Sarah examine their own relationship and way of life. The Brief History of the GAR. Brian Flora and Kay Kuhlman portray Oak Parkers Wilbur Crummer, Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), and his wife Ema. This powerful political and social veteran advocacy group secured the election of six U.S. presidents and created our military pension system.
American lyric soprano Susan Nelson is praised by critics for her “full, powerful voice – agile and pliant”. Here she presents some of her favorite pieces. Accompanist Michael Costello is the Cantor at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest and Artistic Director, Chicago Choral Artists.
Dr. Amy Mooney, Associate Professor of Art at Columbia College, discusses Motley’s unique vision reflecting an era of change from the Great Migration to the Civil Rights Movement. Mooney’s discussion focuses on Motley’s portraits…unflinching investigations of race, class, and gender that remain relevant and inspiring. $10 suggested program donation. Lunch precedes Monday programs at 12:00. Lunch: $20. Reservations required.
178 Forest Ave., Oak Park | (708) 386--2729 | www.nineteenthcentury.org
I N
M E M O R Y
Some of the many who made us who we are By KEN TRAINOR
2016 YEAR IN REVIEW
15
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
A
Staff Writer
s usual, many who have contributed mightily to the tapestry that is Oak Park and River Forest left us during the past 12 months. Here is just a small sample of those who will be remembered:
3 9: ve E s ar e Y
N E OP
w Ne
We’ll Beat ANY Deal on ANY New Chevy EVERY Time! ~
HURRY IN! Offers End at the End of the Year!
Nice People To Do Business With
0 84 20 % X
% OFF
APR
mo^
MSRP †
ON OVER 1000 NEW CHEVYS IN ONE LOCATION! John Thorpe, 71, preservation architect who co-founded what is today the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust and led the effort to save and restore the Wright Home & Studio.
Phil Rock, 78, former longtime state senate president and influential Democratic Party politician.
John Lattner, 83, Fenwick and Notre Dame sports legend who won the Heisman Trophy in 1953 and played in the NFL.
Jean-Claude Poilevey, French chef and restaurateur, who owned La Sardine and Le Bouchon restaurant.
George Woywod, 83, retired U.S. Army major general and longtime Ascension parishioner.
NEW 2017 SONIC
LS
11,998 $99
$
**
/mo
x 36 Months* or Lease For *10,000 miles/year. $2500 due at signing + $0 sec. dep. plus tax, title, license, and doc fees. Mileage charge of $0.25/mile over 20,000 miles. Stk. #B2592
Gloria Merrill, fair housing advocate who served on many Oak Park commissions.
Gerri Brauneis, 85, attorney who fought for social justice.
Joe Walsh, 71, Ascension Parish deacon and former District 97 school board president.
NEW 2017 TRAX
LS
17,997 $129
$
**
/mo
x 36 Months* or Lease For *10,000 miles/year. $1000 due at signing + $0 sec. dep. plus tax, title, license, and doc fees. Mileage charge of $0.25/mile over 30,000 miles. Stk. #B3032
NEW 2017 CRUZE
LS
13,497 $99
$
**
/mo
x 36 Months* or Lease For *10,000 miles/year. $2500 due at signing + $0 sec. dep. plus tax, title, license, and doc fees. Mileage charge of $0.25/mile over 30,000 miles. Stk. #B2245
NEW 2017 EQUINOX
18,892 $139
$
LS
**
/mo
x 36 Months* or Lease For *10,000 miles/year. $2400 due at signing + $0 sec. dep. plus tax, title, license, and doc fees. Mileage charge of $0.25/mile over 20,000 miles. Stk. #B2710
NEW 2016 MALIBU
16,998 $109
$
LS
**
/mo
x 36 Months* *10,000 miles/year. $2500 due at signing + $0 sec. dep. plus tax, title, license, and doc fees. Mileage charge of $0.25/mile over 20,000 miles. Stk. #B1576 or Lease For
NEW 2016 SILVERADO CAB WT
REGULAR
19,988 $179
$
**
/mo
x 36 Months* *10,000 miles/year. $2500 due at signing + $0 sec. dep. plus tax, title, license, and doc fees. Mileage charge of $0.25/mile over 30,000 miles. Stk. #B1685 Nice People or Lease For
T
Nice People To Do Business Nice People To Do Business With
Nice People To Do Business With Nice People To Do Business Nice People To Do Business With With
Marilyn Lehman, 89, former District 97 school board president who helped racially balance Oak Park schools by leading the move to a junior high school system in the 1970s.
Bob Walsh, 57, the first openly gay member of the District 97 school board.
Elijah Sims, 16, OPRF High School senior who worked for Pete’s Market. He was murdered in Austin just before his 17th birthday.
See IN MEMORY on page 16
TEXT US AT 708-628-5903
CurrieChevy.com
Harlem Ave.
866-883-7149
Roosevelt Rd.
38
Des Plaines Rd.
Harriet Ziegenhals, 90, Heritage Chorale director, singer and music teacher.
290 294 1st Avenue
FOREST PARK, IL
SERVICE: SALES: M-Th 7-7 M-F 9-9 Fri. 7-6 SAT. 9-7 SAT. 8-4
Mannheim
8401 ROOSEVELT RD.
(Roosevelt Just East of 1st Ave.)
Cermak
Dealer not responsible for errors in this advertisement. Photos for illustration purposes only. All rebates are in lieu of other offers. Offers do not apply to fleet, wholesale or prior sales. Offers and prices expire two days after publication date. ^0% for 84 months is not exclusively sponsored or subsidized by the manufacturer. To qualified buyer with approved credit. $10,000 maximum amount financed. Dealer buy down participation may affect final cost. †Valid on all Spark, Sonic and Impala models. To qualified buyers with approved credit. Stand-alone offer, not valid in conjunction with any other offers. Offer expires 1/3/17. ~Must be an identical equipped vehicle in stock. Dealer reserves right to verify deal. **Plus tax, title, license & doc fee to qualified buyers with approved credit. Offers expire two days from publication.
16
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
I N
M E M O R Y
Mildred McDonald, 103, matriarch of Ascension Parish.
Deneita “Dee Dee” Farmer, 65, longtime Longfellow pre-K teacher.
Joe Scully, 76, former CEO of St. Paul Federal Savings and Loan, fair housing advocate, and smalltown theater owner.
Art Perry, 86, longtime OPRF High School dean of students.
Paul Razzino, 45, longtime Oak Park police officer and former Marine.
Lee Brooke, 86, prolific local history author, former librarian, fair housing activist and chronicler.
Dr. Paul Schreckenberger, 69, director of Loyola Medical Center’s Clinical Microbiology Laboratory.
M aya - G a b r i e l l e Gary, 18, OPRF High School senior and talented theater performer.
■ Marie Kuda, 76, Chicago gay history archivist and member of the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. ■ Mary White, 93, co-founder of La Leche League.
Audrey Warnimont Brown, 92, longtime Oak Park Art League member and instructor.
Ernie Thompson, 75, member of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame.
Loretta Walsh, 93, realtor and coowner of P.M. Walsh & Co.
How to Keep in Touch with Us in 3 Steps
1
2
3
Sign up for Twitter!
Follow us on Twitter
Get your daily dose of your local news straight from home!
twitter.com/OakPark
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
17
Homes
NEED TO REACH US?
oakpark.com/real-estate editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 ktrainor@wjinc.com
2 0 1 6
Y E A R
I N
H O M E S AUG. 24: (Left) The Victorian stick-style Blatchford House has a distinctive keyhole entry to the porch. It is located at the corner of Forest and Elizabeth Court. JAN. 20: (Below) The 110-year-old house on the 300 block of South Humphrey won a Historic Preservation Award this year.
COURTESY OF ©VHT STUDIOS
Nosy Neighbors 2016
WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer
Another look at a few of the homes that we loved looking at By KEN TRAINOR Homes Editor
Though the official name of this section is Homes, we unofficially think of it as “Nosy Neighbors.” Like many of you, we can’t help being curious about the many and varied residences in the unofficial “living house museum” that is Oak Park and River Forest. Fortunately, we’re in a position to indulge our curiosity — and hopefully satisfy yours as well. So join us on one last “housewalk” through a selection of some of the homes that intrigued us. See THE YEAR IN HOMES on page 21
COURTESY OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST/JAMES CAULFIELD
PROVIDED
FEB.10: The Carter House on the 400 block of North East Avenue has seen some changes. Over the past 140 years, the Italianate style has given way to Greek Revival.
HELP PROGRAM (HOMEOWNER’S EDGE LOAN PLUS) Call today to find out if your property is an eligible census tract.
708.383.2280 Available in Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Lake and Kane Counties.
PROGRAM SUMMARY • Purchase transactions: Lender will pay 5% of loan amount to assist with closing costs and/or down payment • Refinance transaction: 5% of loan amount to cover applicable closing costs • No income restrictions* *Must follow underlying product guidelines
• Borrowers do not need to be first time homebuyers • No purchase price limit
MARCH 9: The William E. Drummond House (William E. Drummond, 1910), River Forest. The personal residence of Frank Lloyd Wright’s key associate was inspired by Wright’s Fireproof House. The home was on this year’s Wright Plus housewalk.
ANDREW G . PALOMO MORTGAGE PLANNER, PERL MORTGAGE, INC.
P: 708.383.2280 x101
C: 847.489.1900 F: 847.241.0061 andrew@mympgroup.com
224 S. Marion St. Oak Park, IL 60302
perlmortgage.com/apalomo PERL Mortgage, Inc is an Illinois residential mortgage licensee (MB0004358) and equal housing lender. Licensed by the California Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. NMLS #19186 - Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Banking, 100 West Randolph, 9th Floor, Chicago, Illinois, 60601, 844-768-1713, 2936 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 MB0004358 - NMLS #19186 - NMLS #: 190447; IL: 031.0004041
18
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
In The Village, Realtors®
189 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 386-1400 HomesintheVillage.com
April Baker
THIS WEEK’S FEATURED PROPERTIES
Joelle Venzera
Mike Becker
River Forest • $1,499,000 4BR, 3.1BA Call Jane x118 Roz Byrne
River Forest • $1,485,000 6BR, 4.1BA Call Gary x125
Oak Park • $849,900 4BR, 3.1BA Call Steve x121
Oak Park • $339,800 4BR, 2.1BA Call Kyra x145
Kris Sagan
Haydee Rosa
Tom Byrne
Oak Park • $329,900 3BR, 1.1BA Call Kerry x139
Forest Park • $289,000 4BR, 1.1BA Call Dorothy x124
Oak Park • $220,000 2BR, 2BA Call Laurie x186
Oak Park • $152,500 1BR, 1BA Call Kelly x113
Happy New Year!
Kelly Gisburne
May you soar into a new year filled with health and happiness!
Laurie Christofano
…and maybe even a new home -don’t forget the spring market is just around the corner.
Kerry Delaney
Linda Rooney
Kyra Pych
Elissa Palermo
Steve Nasralla
Marion Digre
Morgan Digre
Harry Walsh, Managing Broker
Anna Gillian
Dorothy Gillian
Ed Goodwin
Joe Langley
Dan Linzing
Gary Mancuso
Jane McClelland
Keri Meacham
Alisha Mowbray
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
19
Serving Our Community For Over 70 Years HOLIDAY HOURS: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31ST - 9AM-12PM SUNDAY, JANUARY 1ST – CLOSED MONDAY, JANUARY 2ND – 9AM-1PM
OAK PARK. NEW YEAR, NEW HOME! Enjoy front porch, lovely entry, huge kitchen, 4 or 5 BRs, 3+BAs, many blt-ins, C/A - screened porch, fenced yd. Close to OPRF, parks, trains. x .................................................. $1,100,000
114 North Oak Park Avenue Oak Park, Illinois 60301
RIVER FOREST. PICTURE PERFECT 6BR, 3.2BA Tudor. This stunning home combines one-of-a-kind architectural details with today’s timeless modern amenities. Must see! x .................................................. $1,460,000
708.524.1100
www.gloor.com
RIVER FOREST. THE ULTIMATE HOUSE. Stunning Tudor on massive lot 200x188. Rehab offers all the modern amenities. Make an appt today. x...............................$2,999,000
FOREST PARK. LOVINGLY MAINTAINED & UPDATED. 3+1BR, 2.1BA farmhouse. Refinished hdwd flrs, new C/A, new washer/dryer. Parklike yd. x .........$319,900
HAPPY NEW YEAR! OAK PARK. BRICK 3-FLAT close to school with a big living rm, formal dining rm. Excellent condition! Great income! ..........$729,000 OAK PARK FANTASTIC ESTATE HOME w/meticulous renovation & expansion. Charming historic feel + today’s updates. Huge 101 x 268 private yd. 1st flr FR, Cook’s kitchen, MBR ste, library, 6BR, 3.2BA, porches, decks. More! x ....................................................$1,925,000 SPACIOUS 4+1 BR, 3 BA bungalow beautifully finished on 3 levels. Chef’s eat-in kitchen: granite counters, SS applncs & lrg island. Family rm. Finished bsmt. x .......................................................$672,500 BRIMMING WITH LIGHT & comfort this elegant 4BR, 3.1BA home is move-in ready. Frplc. C/A. Fin’d bsmt. Lots more! See it! x........................ $639,000 UNIQUE CLASSIC Prairie-style home. Updated kitchen, stately family rm w/floor-to-ceiling bookcases, skylights, WBFP. Nice Loc’n. x......$599,000 UPDATED 3BR, 3.1BA w/lovely woodwork, leaded glass windows, large FR, French drs & much more! x ..................................................................$599,000 ENJOY LIFE IN FLW Historic District. 5BRs, 1½BAs. Spacious LR w/FRPLC. Family rm. Great yard! x .................................................................. $519,000 CLOSE TO EVERYTHING LOCATION! 4BR, 2BA. New kitchen, family room. Large yard. Side drive. Practically maintenance free. x..................$507,700 SWEET HOME to love. Spacious, romantic Queen Anne bungalow updated for you. 4BRs, 2BAs. Huge eat-in kitchen. New roof & windows. 2-car gar+pkg pad. x..........................................................$399,999 ALTERNATIVE TO CONDO LIVING or downsizing. 2 BR’s, 1 BA. Cheery kitchen w/great cabinet spc & SS applncs. Full bsmt & attic. x ..................................................................$309,000
RIVER FOREST
PERFECT ATTENTION TO DETAIL. 5BR, 2.1BA home w/coach house. Chef’s kitchen w/ over-the-top amenities. Family rm. Much more! x ................................................................$1,165,000
QUEEN ANNE Victorian w/open front porch on large lot! 6BRs, 2.2BAs. Stunning foyer w/fireplace & striking staircase w/balcony. Much more! x ..................................................................$599,000 VERY COOL RETRO RANCH w/open floor plan on a large lot. 3 BRs, 2.2BAs. WBFP. MBR suite. 1st floor laundry. C/A. Attached garage. x ................................................................. $594,000
FOREST PARK MOVE-IN CONDITION. 4BRS, 2 BAs, New kitchen, baths, roof, furnace, finished lower level, 50 ft lot. 2-car gar + pkg spcs. x...................... $379,500
OTHER AREA HOMES BERWYN. AM 4-SQ, 3 BR, 1.1 BA near Proksa Park & train. Huge deck & patio w/parking for 3 cars. x ..........................................................................$259,000 ELMWOOD PARK. LIGHT & BRIGHT, beautiful floors, C/A & 3 BR, 1.1 BA Great space! x ..................................................................$338,000 ELMWOOD PARK. ROOM FOR EVERYBODY! Lovely, large brick bungalow. 4BR w/3 full BAs & updated kitchen. Move right in. x .......... $285,000 NORTHLAKE. IT IS ALL HERE! 4BR, 3.1BA, fab living rm, sep dining rm, eat-in kitchen, deck, yd. 2nd kitchen, family rm in bsmt & good storage. x ..........................................................................$299,900
INCOME RIVER FOREST. MUCH MORE THAN A 2-FLAT. Side-by-side living. 3BRs, 2.1 BAs in each unit. Hdwd flrs. C/A. 3½-car garage. x .................................................................. $749,000
OAK PARK. IN THE HEART OF TOWN, 2BR, 1BA condo w/view of lovely lndscpd NICELY UPDATED eat-in kitchen in this bright courtyd. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Open flr & spacious 2BR condo. Great location. Parking. plan. Pkg. ...........................................$155,000
OAK PARK CONDOS/TOWNHOUSES NEW LISTING! ONE OF THE LARGEST FLOOR PLANS in the Santa Maria. 2BRs, 1BA. Updated kitchen. Fireplace. Lots of light. Pkg spc available. x ..................................................................$160,000 EXCLUSIVE 2BR, 2BA multi-level skylit condo in the Oak Park Club! Open family rm overlooks LR/DR. Frplc. 2 deeded garage spcs. x ..................................................................$480,000 STRIKING UPDATED vintage condo w/3BRs, 2BAs. Stunning kitchen, SS applncs, in-unit lndry & parking. x .......................................................... $295,000 STYLISH & SPACIOUS Decker bldg. unit on 2nd flr. 3BR, 2.1BA. Well-maintained. Move right in! x .................................................................. $279,900 IDEAL OP LIVING! Contemporary 1BR + den, 1½ BA condo features open plan, designer kitchen & BAs, W/D, garage pkg, balcony & C/A. x .................................................................. $215,000 CLEAN CORNER CONDO facing south and east. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths. Large closets. Eat-in kitchen. Covered pkg. A deal at .................................$164,900
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
HOMES ELMWOOD PARK. SPACIOUS COLONIAL w/3BRs, 1.1BAs. 3 levels of living. Updated kitchen & BAs, fireplace, hdwd flrs & C/A. ..............$2,500/mo FOREST PARK. SWEET 3+1 BEDROOM, 2.1BA FARMHOUSE. Gleaming hdwd flrs, new C/A, new W/D, finished bsmt & huge fenced yd. ...................................................................... $2,375/mo
COMMERCIAL RENTALS
OAK PARK. OFFICE SPACES in lovely Art Deco bldg. 2 Elevators. Entry handicap equipped. Tenants pay electric. Public pkg. Call! Rent ranges from .................................................$2,616/mo to $898/mo WESTMONT. CLASSIC STORE FRONT/walk in office on busy street. 2 blocks from Metra train. In-suite restrooms and kitchen. Great exposure. ..................................................................... $1,525/mo
Showroom Located at 139 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park ONLY
Open 10am–4pm M-F or call for appointment
3
LEFT!
COMMERCIAL OAK PARK. MIXED USE BLDG. 1st flr: lrg commercial spc – approx. 3000SF. 2 apts on 2nd flr: 3BR, 1BA /1BR, 1BA. 2-car gar. 1st flr handicapped access. Call for more info. .........................................$395,000
x ..................................................................$153,000 WELL-LOCATED STUDIO features hdwd flrs, CONDOS/ APARTMENTS new SS fridge, new portable washer. Murphy’s bed. RIVER FOREST. NEW RENTAL! SUNNY 1ST ........................................................................... $69,900 FLOOR UNIT in Victorian 2-flat. 3BRs, 2BAs. Hdwd CONDOS/TOWNHOUSES flrs, Hi ceilings, gas frplc, 1 gar & 1 ext pkg spc. OTHER AREAS .......................................................................$2,200/mo ELMWOOD PARK. LOCATION, LOCATION, RIVER FOREST. NEW RENTAL! INVITING 4/5 LOCATION! MBR w/BA & large living space, BR, 2 bath Victorian 2-Flat. 2 levels of living space, in-unit W/D, C/A, elevator bldg. - check it out! 10 rms, high ceilings, hdwd flrs, remodeled BA, huge x ................................................................. $139,000 yd & garage pkg. ........................................$3,300/mo LOMBARD. HIGH-END & GORGEOUS 3BR, 2BA OAK PARK. 2 BEDROOM furnished apt has everyspacious corner unit in newer building. Tons of stor- thing. Perfect for a short term rental. Includes heat, age. Well-maintained. x...........................$310,000 water, electric, WIFI & cable. Minimum 3 mo stay. ......................................................................$1,800/mo RENTALS
Starting at $654,900 EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
A New Standard of Luxury in Oak Park. • • • • • • •
11 spacious, deluxe residences Close to vibrant downtown Oak Park 3 bedroom units 2 indoor parking spaces 1808-2969 sq. ft. units Spacious terraces Eco-efficient- LEED certified
Don’t Miss Out on Pre-Construction Pricing!
20
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Sunday, January 1, 2017 RARE FIND IN OAK PARK! Well maintained 2-unit residence, income potential for owner occupied or shared family living. 2 car garage, separate heat & utilities, newer roof & A/C.....$325,000 Realtors bring your clients!
Call Dawn 773-269-9473 Listed by Hansen Realty • MLS 09309890
For sale
by owner 643-3 Ontario St, Oak Park $175,000 LIGHT AND AIRY 1 Bedroom/one bath unit in vintage Prairie /John VanBergen building at Ontario and Linden, Linden Landmark Condominiums. This unit has original finished woodwork throughout including bathroom, enclosed sun porch and kitchen porch, rear deck and stairs to landscaped generous yard, storage and laundry rooms in well maintained basement. Generous living and dining rooms are divided by original leaded glass doors on four bookcases. Kitchen has Poggenpohl cabinetry, 2015 new Liebherr built in refrig/freezer, new DW, cooktop, oven within last 6 years; new casement windows installed in 2008. Parking rented off alley next door.
For sale by owner: 630-215-6213.
See LindenLandmark.org News Events
This Directory brought to you by mrgloans.com Discover all our bloggers at OakPark.com
Providing financing for homes in Oak Park and surrounding communities since 1989. Conventional, FHA, and Jumbo mortgages Free Pre-approvals
7544 W. North Avenue Elmwood Park, IL 708.452.5151
Mortgage Resource Group is an Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee. NMLS # 207793 License # 1031
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
21
COURTESY OF COLDWELL BANKER
MAY 4: (Above) The former Jesuit chapel is now a solarium in the Hales Mansion at Oak Park and Chicago avenues. APRIL 27: (Right) Cary McLean designed the kitchen in her 1892-vintage Oak Park farmhouse. It appeared on this year’s Parenthesis Kitchen Walk. MAY 25: (Below) Enterprising architects turned a barn, squash court and chicken coop into a single family home in 1921. The building was moved to 711 Superior from Elizabeth Court. PHOTO BY MIKE ANZALDI FOR PARENTHESIS
SEPT.14: (Left) Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fricke House in Oak Park has been restored to its 1901 glory by Fortune Restoration. OCT.5: (Below) The back end of the Art Moderne Davis House on the 200 block of South Euclid is a stark contrast to the Depression-era front. Inside, it’s all very contemporary.
COURTESY OF VHT STUDIOS
PROVIDED
COURTESY OF RE/MAX
JUNE 15: Jerome Cerny’s French “cottage” at 1135 Ashland is unlike any house in River Forest.
PROVIDED
22
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
PRICE REDUCTION
1142 Franklin Ave, River Forest $1,600,000 :: 4 bed :: 4.5 bath Custom modern 6000 sq. ft. home. Dramatic design and unique detailing throughout.
847 Clinton Pl, River Forest $1,149,000 :: 4 beds :: 3.5 baths Beautifully designed center entrance brick colonial with a gourmet kitchen. Walk to train.
SOLD
SOLD
Performing Arts Center
PRICE REDUCTION
730 Linden Avenue, Oak Park 1416 Ashland Ave, River Forest $769,000 :: 4 bed :: 3.2 bath $1,599,000 :: 5 bed :: 4.3 bath Oak Park landmark with a light-filled, open Grand French inspired stone estate on extra large lot. Large bedrooms and open floor plan. floorplan. Beautiful home in a great location!
KATHY & TONY IWERSEN 708.772.8040 708.772.8041 tonyiwersen@atproperties.com
peace. EVENTS AND CONCERTS
THEATRE ARTS LAB SERIES
Saturday, January 28, 2017
October 28 - 30, 2016
Step Afrika!
The Addams Family A New Musical
Friday, April 21, 2017
The Pedrito Martinez Group
February 23 - 26, 2017
Beautiful Bodies by Laura Shaine Cunningham
SPECIAL EVENT Saturday, March 11, 2017
April 6 - 9, 2017
Steppin’ Out with
Waiting for Godot
Ben Vereen
by Samuel Beckett
events.dom.edu 7900 West Division Street
•
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
River Forest, IL 60305
•
FREE PARKING
•
BOX OFFICE (708) 488-5000
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Wishing all our tenants, neighbors and friends a Wonderful New Year! OakParkApartments.com
For over 30 years, Oak Park Apartments has been committed to breathing life into old buildings and making a home in Oak Park and the near western suburbs for our tenants. Oak Park Apartments currently manages almost 1,500 units in 53 buildings. In 2016, we welcomed over 500 new residents to the community.
May 2017 bring continued growth and peace to our community and beyond.
35 Chicago Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 • (708) 386-7368 • OakParkApartments.com
23
24
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
A Community Giving Guide
S
The Most Wonderful Guide of The Year!
eason of Giving is a campaign organized by Wednesday Journal and the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation to encourage local charitable giving during the holiday season. It has long been recognized that when we shop local, our money recirculates
Animal Care League No matter how long it takes, the Animal Care League keeps an adoptable animal until we find that right loving home. We take proactive approaches to animal care and adoption as well as preventative measures to help reduce the number of homeless animals in our communities. The Animal Care League provides medical treatment for over 1,000 animals each year ranging from routine vaccinations to emergency, life-saving surgery. Make a meaningful difference in the life of a homeless animal. Visit animalcareleague. org, where you can sign up to be a volunteer or donate. You can also donate your gently used items to the 2nd Chance shop, and attend one of many fun special events.
The Collaboration for Early Childhood The Collaboration for Early Childhood is your resource for early childhood information in Oak Park and River Forest. We provide the connections vital to every child’s opportunity for success in learning and in life. We work with more than 60 organizations so that parents and their children receive critical information and support services, children are screened for developmental delays, teachers in child care centers, preschools and family child care homes provide high quality programs and our most vulnerable children and their families experience a strong web of support. For more information, or to make a donation, please visit us at collab4kids.org or follow us on Facebook.
Cluster Tutoring
through the local economy reaping dividends for the entire community. The same is true for charitable giving. When you donate to local nonprofits, your money goes to work in your own neighborhood. Your donations feed local families, offer safety and learning to local children, and enrich the beauty and
potential through learning in an environment that strengthens the students, the tutors, and the community. The program’s emphasis is on reading as a means to academic success and the development of mentoring relationships between caring adults and youth. Tutors receive training and ongoing support. Tutoring space is donated by First United Church of Oak Park and Pine Avenue Church. To volunteer or to donate, please contact Kara Kalnitz at 773-378-5530 and visit clustertutoring.org.
Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation encourages giving locally, providing donors with many ways to contribute to the sustainability and vibrancy of Oak Park and River Forest. We manage scholarships for students and provide enrichment grants for young people. We make grants to local nonprofit organizations, provide Impact Excellence seminars for them as well as manage many of their agency funds. We accept large gifts and small gifts. We work with donors to match their philanthropic interests with needs. We create spaces for donors to collectively give for impact through our Women Leaders in Philanthropy, Entrepreneur Leaders in Philanthropy and NextGen Leaders in Philanthropy Giving Groups. All of this is possible thanks to generous and thoughtful donors who value our community. www.oprfcf.org www.facebook.org/OPRFCF Twitter: community@oprfcf 708-848-1560 1049 Lake Street, Suite 204, Oak Park, IL 60301 Donate on line at: http://tinyurl.com/kf2rcnn
College Mentoring Experience The Cluster Tutoring Program is a community-based organization that provides free, one-to-one tutoring for youth in grades K through 12 from the Austin neighborhood. Our mission is to help students realize their
Studies show that children in mentoring programs are less likely to be engage in deviant activities and relationships with parents often increase. College Mentoring
art that surrounds us all. Over the coming weeks, we hope that you will take a moment to look over the listings in this Giving Guide. Find an organization that resonates with you. Check out their website. Consider making a donation or volunteering. Spread the word. Don’t just shop local—give Local.
Experience is a 501c3/non-for-profit community based mentoring program servicing the Austin community. Through one-on-one mentoring to at-risk students ages 11-22, CME’s focus is to provide our mentees with the resources and tools needed to get them TO and THROUGH college; providing tutoring, career exploration and life skills development as alternatives to negative learning behaviors. This Season of Giving, won’t you please help us by donating? For more information visit www.collegementoringexperience.org for additional information about our organization and donations. EVERY gift of EVERY SIZE matters!
Concordia University Chicago Founded in 1864, Concordia University Chicago is a comprehensive liberal arts-based Christian university in the Lutheran tradition. Through its College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, College of Education, and College of Graduate and Innovative Programs, Concordia-Chicago offers more than 100 areas of study in small classes taught by professors who are passionate about teaching and student success. Concordia-Chicago equips men and women to serve and lead with integrity, creativity, competence and compassion in a diverse, interconnected and increasingly urbanized church and world. More than 5,000 full-time undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled at Concordia-Chicago, located in River Forest.
Oak Park Festival Theatre Since 1975 Oak Park Festival Theatre, the Midwest’s oldest professional outdoor classical theatre, has brought the magic of dramatic masterpieces to generations of our neighbors. Whether performing under the stars in beautiful Austin Gardens as we do each summer or at any of the many local venues where we partner with local philanthropic agencies (such as Housing Forward, Oak Park Housing Authority or Nineteenth Century Charitable Association), Festival Theatre breaths fresh air into timeless texts for Oak Park and beyond. With ticket prices kept friendly for every budget and free admission for all under 13,
we rely on the generosity of our audiences to continue our dynamic community dialogue. Donations can be made on-line at oakparkfestival.com or mailed to us: Oak Park Festival Theatre, P.O. Box 4114, Oak Park, IL 60303.
Forest Park Historical Society The Historical Society of Forest Park is dedicated to the preservation, collection and celebration of Forest Park History. We study the past so we can understand the present so we can shape the future. The Historical Society in Forest Park is an important part of the social infrastructure of our community. We partner with many groups to enhance the quality of life in our village. 1000 Elgin, Forest Park IL 60130 To make a donation, volunteer or to get more information, go to forestparkhistory. weebly.com.
Frank Lloyd Wright Trust Inspiring tomorrow’s architects today. Our D97 program has introduced thousands of students to Wright’s design legacy. Our community’s vitality is enhanced by the mission of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. Through its stewardship of the Home and Studio, the Trust continues to preserve an Oak Park treasure as a source of community pride and inspiration. To learn more or donate, go to flwright.org 931 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory The Oak Park Conservatory is a gem in our community. The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that helps make the Conservatory a community destination. We have over 150 volunteers and a membership over 450. We offer guided tours by volunteers, free children’s programming, including Exploration Station and Toddler Exploration Time, and host Uncorked in the Summer. We are proud of
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
our Discovery Garden and Rubinstein Garden and partnership with the PDOP in supporting the Conservatory. Please visit fopcon.org to donate or volunteer. 615 Garfield, Oak Park, 60304. Contact Beth Cheng, Executive Director at 708-725-2460.
Hephzibah
Hephzibah Children’s Association was founded in 1897. We serve more than 1,000 children and families each year through innovative, community-based programs. Hephzibah provides a Group Home for children who have been taken from their families due to profound abuse or neglect. Our skilled staff recruits and trains foster parents, and offers ongoing support to help all family members navigate challenges. Our after-school Day Care operates on a sliding scale to serve working parents in Oak Park, with programs based at each elementary school. To make a real difference in the lives of children and families, please donate today at hephzibahhome.org.
Housing Forward The mission of Housing Forward is to transition people from housing crisis to housing stability. By emphasizing prevention, supportive services, employment readiness and supportive housing, we are able to offer a comprehensive, long-term solution that moves clients into housing quickly and keeps them there. This housing-first approach to homelessness is more efficient, more fiscally responsible and less traumatic to clients who are typically facing extraordinary hardship. It is also beneficial to the communities being served who do not have to bear the costs of homelessness in the form of expanded social services, health care and public safety costs. We offer an attractive return on your investment — measured in terms of human lives and futures. To donate, please visit housingforward. org/give, or contact Janet Gow, Director of Development & Communications, at 708.338.1724 ext. 262.
L’Arche Chicago L’Arche Chicago is a community where people with intellectual disabilities live together with direct support professionals, in homes, as family. We strive to merge quality care and mutual relationships, building a community where everyone has a genuine place of belonging. L’Arche seeks to be a sign of hope, revealing the truth that all people, including those with intellectual disabilities, have gifts to share. Your contributions enable each core member (person with intellectual disability) to live an independent, full life in our vibrant homes of love and compassion in the OPRF area.
25
To donate or get involved, visit LArcheChicago.org/OPRF
The Neighborhood Giving Project Many parents are eager to teach their children about the importance and the rewards of helping others. The Neighborhood Giving Project is a 501c3 non-profit organization providing community service opportunities for busy families in the Oak Park-River Forest area. Our mission is to inspire our children to be better citizens of the world by providing hands-on, hands-together community service opportunities; to enrich their learning with civic responsibility, social justice, and charitable action. Partnering with local organizations, NGP develops service projects that are developmentally appropriate for children, and also genuinely fun. Topics include hunger and homelessness, education and literacy, family health, animal care, and more. To learn more about getting involved or to make a donation, go to neighborhoodgivingproject.org
Nineteenth Century Charitable Association The Nineteenth Century Club was established in 1891 and the spirit of the founders continues today in the work of the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association through community outreach grants, scholarships, and public programming in five areas: music, art, literature, science, and social sciences. The NCCA is the owner of 178 Forest Avenue, commonly referred to as the Nineteenth Century Club. Our charitable and cultural activities are supported by our members, volunteers, donors, and by the events held at the Club. Programs are open to all and we welcome men and women of all ages to join. If you would like information about volunteering, joining or donating, please call us at 708-386-2729 email to info@nineteenthcentury.org.
Oak-Leyden Developmental Services In 2016, Oak-Leyden Developmental Services helped nearly 600 children and adults with developmental disabilities reach their highest potential. Our multi-disciplinary Early Intervention Program provides therapies to help prepare young children for their years ahead, as well as education that supports the entire family. Our enriching, adult day programs offer community activities, life skills coaching, and vocational training. In our 12 group homes, adults receive residential care, social and recreational opportunities, and access to healthcare providers. Please volunteer, donate items on our wish list, make a contribution, or become an Oak-Leyden Enrichment Partner at oak-leyden.org or call 708-524-1050 x102.
Laura Gutierrez
A Chicago native, Laura Gutierrez now lives in Forest Park. She sees how local nonprofits are working to meet the needs of her community and the surrounding villages and towns. While she works for a nonprofit in downtown Chicago, Laura volunteers locally at Sarah’s Inn and the Oak Park-River Forest Food Pantry. She gives locally, too, and her gift is matched two for one by her employer, so every dollar she gives becomes a three dollar donation. Laura is also member of NextGen Leaders in Philanthropy, a Giving Group of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation. (www.oprfcf. org/next-gen). Laura really likes being a member because her contribution is magnified by the collective giving of the group. As a member she can identify and address social issues and have a bigger positive impact. She is also pleased that NextGen Leaders in Philanthropy provides the opportunity for local nonprofits to easily apply for capacity building grants. Being an active member of NextGen allows to her collaborate with
Oak Park Art League Founded in 1921, the Oak Park Art League (OPAL) is one of Oak Park’s first cultural institutions and fulfills its mission through its offering of high quality art education to people of all ages and skill levels, programs and guest lectures, artist demonstrations and critiques, plus monthly exhibitions in OPAL’s historic Carriage House art gallery. On Giving Tuesday, leave your legacy of support by sponsoring a Century Club limited edition brick in OPAL’s garden courtyard. Purchase a personalized brick for yourself, a business, or honor a loved one and help pave the path to OPAL’s centennial anniversary in 2021. 720 Chicago Avenue/708-386-9853 oakparkartleague@gmail.com oakparkartleague.org
The Oak Park Education Foundation (OPEF) Strong schools are at the heart of a strong community. Established in 1989, OPEF is a privately funded, nonprofit organization that brings artists, architects, scientists, and technology experts into K-8th grade classrooms at every District 97 school. Our professional partners share their passion for learning while conducting
a diverse network of emerging professionals, engage in social and fundraising events and directly participate in the group’s grant-awarding process. As a volunteer and a donor, Laura is maximizing her ability to strengthen the local nonprofits’ ability to serve.
Laura Gutierrez
Give oPRF free, hands-on residencies with more than 4,200 students annually. OPEF also runs BASE Camp, exceptional summer and day-off enrichment. Learn more, volunteer or donate at opef.org. 260 Madison St., Oak Park, IL 60302 Contact: Deb Abrahamson, Exec. Dir., dabrahamson@opef.org. 708-524-3023
Oak Park Public Library Support literacy, learning, and community connection When you give locally, you can choose to share a gift that nurtures ideas and spreads knowledge in and around Oak Park. You can support the freedom to read, to learn, and to grow. Loyalty to your local public library helps a 113-year-old institution, dedicated to literacy and community connection, continue to be free and accessible to all. To learn more about how you can make a difference and keep Oak Park’s center of information, local history, and civic engagement strong, contact Executive Director David J. Seleb (d.seleb@oppl.org, 708.697.6911) or Deputy Director Jim Madigan (jmadigan@ oppl.org,708.697.6909).
26
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
Oak Park Regional Housing Center The Housing Center promotes and sustains the racial integration of Oak Park. We help over 3,500 households and 250 landlords annually. The Housing Center provides the foundation for equity and inclusion in Oak Park. Your gift helps keep Oak Park’s promise of diversity that we all cherish. To donate visit: oprhc.org/donate or make checks payable to OPRHC, 1041 South Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60302
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry $1 = 3 meals, is an equation only you can make possible. With your help, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry has been reducing local hunger for nearly 40 years. Your support means we are able to meet the needs of nearly 16,000 families struggling with hunger each year. It means we can provide over 50 pounds of nutritious food plus access to vital programs and services to help people stretch limited food budgets in healthy ways. It means that even a little goes a long way: every $1 donated can feed a neighbor for an entire day. To make a donation, visit oprffoodpantry. org or send checks payable to OPRF Food Pantry to Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301.
PACCT PACTT Learning Center is committed to empowering people challenged by autism with choice in regard to where they live, learn and work. PACTT’s mission is to assist individuals with autism in becoming as independent as possible with the ability to integrate effectively into their homes and community. At the core of this mission is to see each individual as a unique gift and then provide the person-centered supports that foster learning and growth. PACTT programs include a therapeutic day school, residential services for children, transition program for older teens, vocational training/job placement and residential services for adults. To learn more about PACTT or make a donation, go to pactt.org or call 773-338-9102 ext. 2424
Pillars Pillars is the largest nonprofit provider of mental health and social services in the western and southwestern suburbs. The agency serves 10,000 people each year through direct client services, including Mental Health, Addictions, Domestic & Sexual Violence, Child & Family Services, and Community Housing. Untreated mental illness and addiction can lead to hospitalization, encounters with law enforcement, violence, and even early death. Pillars’ programs empower people to break out of those cycles and lead healthy, productive, independent lives—which ultimately saves the community money. Stand
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM together as Pillars, with us. Donate online or pledge a monthly gift today at www.pillarscommunity.org/donate.
Ping! PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation) is an all-volunteer organization that loans musical instruments to students in need in grades 4-12 in Oak Park-River Forest school districts 90, 97, and 200 so that they can participate in their school band or orchestra. PING! also provides music enrichment for its students through workshops, mentoring, summer music camp scholarships, private lessons, and field trips. PING! serves between 125 and 150 students each year who would not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in the music programs at school. PING! depends on the community for donated instruments and financial contributions to maintain our instrument inventory and program funding. For more information or to make a donation, go to pingoprf.org. If you have an instrument to donate, send us an email at pingoprf@ gmail.com.
Pleasant Home Pleasant Home Foundation, a non-profit organization, restores and preserves our National Historic Landmark house museum while offering a wide variety of educational opportunities, cultural programming and free community events. Financial support is crucial to sustain Pleasant Home as an important resource for tourism and as a center for the community. 217 Home Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302 pleasanthome.org, hruehlemay@pleasanthome.org, 708-383-2654
Pro Bono Network Access to justice should not depend upon one’s income. During this time of need, there are not enough lawyers to help people with human rights needs. These include safety from an abuser, adequate housing, and the ability to get a job. Pro Bono Network, a locally-grown and new kind of organization, has brought over 200 attorneys to pro bono work by making legal representation practical. As a result over 1000 clients have received legal aid services which often encompass human rights. Learn more at pro-bono-network.org. Donating will make a difference!
The River Forest Library Foundation Since 1905, the River Forest Public Library (RFPL) has been transforming lives and nurturing a love of reading and learning in children, teens, and adults. Today, as a 21st century library, the RFPL not only provides the latest books and periodicals, but also digital content, remote online access, onsite computer technology, and interactive educational programs
By giving to the RFPL Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, you can honor a parent, child, or other family member; a cherished teacher or mentor; a dear friend; or your own love of learning. Your gift will inspire others and help to ensure that the Library will always be here to grow and change with us. Mail donations to the RFPL Foundation at 735 Lathrop Ave, River Forest, IL 60305, or go to riverforestlibrary.org/donate.
Sarah’s Inn Since 1981, Sarah’s Inn has worked to improve the lives of those impacted by domestic violence and to break the cycle of violence for future generations. Our Intervention Program provides bi-lingual services for families affected by domestic violence in order to safely navigate crisis, effectively process trauma and ensure self-sufficiency. Our Training and Education Program creates a network of skilled bystanders to appropriately intervene as first responders and community advocates. Our Together Strong Project was created to prevent relationship violence by teaching youth about the impact of their choices, giving them the tools to lead healthy lives, and empowering them to make a difference in their community. To donate, visit donatenow.networkforgood. org/sarahsinn, or make a tax-deductible donation through postal mail by sending a check to: Sarah’s Inn, PO Box 1159, Oak Park, IL 60304
The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest Each year The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest receives support from loyal patrons and generous friends. Ticket sales provide less than half the funds needed for the Symphony’s performances. Your gift keeps this award-winning orchestra going strong, allowing us to keep our ticket prices low and provide free tickets to students through college to our concerts held at Dominican University. This year we celebrate our 85th Anniversary and your help is needed to ensure our future. We will reward donations of $100 (or more!) with a complementary ticket to our February 12 BEETHOVEN’s 9th concert or a free CD of our April Symphony Center concert. Make your end-of-year tax-deductible donation at symphonyoprf.com, or: P.O. Box 3564, Oak Park, IL 60303-3564.
Thrive Counseling Center Thrive Counseling Center (formerly Family Services of Oak Park) has provided community mental health services for 118 years. Located in the heart of Oak Park, our mission is to build healthy minds, families and communities by empowering people to attain mental and emotional well-being. Hope, resilience and recovery form the heart of our programs and services. Last year we provided critical services to approximately 2,000 friends, neighbors and family members including…
• counseling for youth and adults • psychiatric care and medication management • 24/7 crisis intervention • in-home counseling for older adults • case management and supportive housing • psycho-social recovery day program • stress reduction courses To learn more or donate, please visit thrivecc.org. or call 708-383-7500, ext. 316. Follow us on Facebook!
UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago 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 send gifts to UCP Seguin, 332 Harrison Street, Oak Park IL 60304
West Cook YMCA It’s our passion at the West Cook YMCA that financial need should never stand in the way of anyone who wants to achieve vitality and improve their well-being. YMCA scholarships cover everything from memberships and class fees to after-school programs and summer day camps for children. Community support makes it possible for us to provide more than $120,000 in scholarships to local residents for Y programs and memberships each year. Your holiday donation will help even more neighbors receive the gift of healthy living. To donate, visit WestCookYMCA.org/donate or send your check to West Cook YMCA, 255 S. Marion St., Oak Park, IL 60302,
708-383-5200
Wonder Works Children’s Museum Creative and imaginative play are vital to a healthy child and Wonder Works Children’s Museum provides countless opportunities for both, giving children a safe space to explore. Wonder Works is committed to providing an environment where early learning flourishes through thoughtfully designed “experience zones” and educational programming. Rachel Rettberg CEO Wonder Works Children’s Museum 6445 W North Ave, Oak Park IL 60302 773.636.7971 rrettberg@wonder-works.org wonder-works.org, facebook.com/wonderworkschildrensmusem
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
We help you give back. How is up to you. “This is a great time for the entire community to invest in the Community Foundation.”--John & Linda Tibensky, donors
If you or your family has had a liquidity event or significant income this year, consider establishing a Donor Advised Fund with us right here in your community. We have the staff and experience to work with you to give locally and/or elsewhere around the country. A donor-advised fund, or DAF, allows donors to make a charitable contribution and receive a tax deduction this year and then recommend grants from the fund over time. Establishing a DAF with the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation in 2016 is a smart move. With uncertainty on the tax front – including potential limitations on the charitable contribution deduction – 2016 is an excellent year to give into a DAF, take the deduction this year, and continue to make meaningful contributions to organizations in future years. A donor-advised fund is like a charitable savings account: a donor contributes to the fund as frequently as they like and then recommends grants to their favorite charity when they are ready. While we can manage any size DAF over $10,000, DAF’s of $500,000+ can continue to be managed by your current Financial Advisor. Set up with us is easy and takes a minimum amount of your time. Connect with Kristin Carlson Vogen or Rhea Yap kcvogen@oprfcf.org | ryap@oprfcf.org 1049 Lake Street, Suite 204, Oak Park | 708-848-1560 or visit us at: www oprfcf.org | facebook.com/OPRFCF
Donate to the Fund for Now https://v.gd/7cO3Kb
Donate to the Fund for Forever https://v.gd/BR71VE
27
28
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Join the Y today and start 2017 off with BiG savings west cooK YmcA
Now is the
Best time to JoiN
& RediscoveR YouR Y! through January 31st, join the west cook Y and pay No JoiNeR’s Fee. Plus, you will receive a FREE fitness consultation and a FRee swim assessment! Join today and find out why the West Cook Y is a great value. west cooK YmcA 255 S. Marion St., Oak Park, IL 60302 | 708 383 5200 | westcookymca.org | facebook.com/westcooky | @WestCookYMCA
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M. Call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 ktrainor@wjinc.com
F
The man who modeled fatherhood
VIEWPOINTS 2 0 1 6
Y E A R
I N
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
More Shrubtown p. 31
S H R U B T O W N
or the last couple of weeks I’ve been thinking about my dad who would have been 99 years old on Jan. 2. I thought he was going to be 100. Yikes! They say memory is the first thing to go. He was 91 when he died. My dad was my last hero. First there was Eddie Matthews, the third baseman for the Milwaukee Braves. I played third base in Little League. Then there was Woodrow Wilson who turned out to be a racist, and then JFK who had the morals of a tomcat. My dad was raised poor. I’m not certain if he ever graduated high school. He ate rancid meat and put cardboard in his shoes during the Depression. He enlisted In the Navy, the day after Pearl Harbor. He was excommunicated from the Catholic Church for marrying my mother because she had been divorced at 16. He worked 12-hour days, and laddered up from driving a meat truck to become the plant manager. He never hit my mother. I never saw him drunk. He never went out with “the boys.” He taught me oldschool values. He loved me. But then I got older, married, and had a family of my own. I moved away to Oak Park. I changed. He changed. I began to see him as flawed. He was racist and homophobic. He believed men ran the family. He was not the person I thought he was. He could be petty and cruel. And then he got old. His robust vigor diminished. He stopped playing golf. He couldn’t remember stuff. Our weekly Saturday, 6:30 a.m. phone calls shortened from an hour to 15 minutes. At the end he accused me of stealing his money. I much preferred the father of my youth. The fall of this hero was not pretty. He died on March 21, 2009. I have felt guilt about all this. I am not consoled by the notion that he was the best he could be. My dad could have been better, but then so could I. However, I have begun to revise my thinking about my dad. His story is written, but mine isn’t. We like to think we are self-made, and our parents have little real influence on who we are. As I have aged, I appreciate my father more than I ever did when he was alive. He may not be my hero, but his influence on me was and is enormous. If nothing else, he helped me answer the question: What do you want to be when you grow up? A dad.
JOHN
HUBBUCH
See YEAR IN SHRUBTOWN on page 31
by Marc Stopeck
29
30
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
O U R
V I E W S
Trump and our towns
A
s we approach the reckoning that is Donald Trump’s presidency, let’s focus not on the perversions of America’s common-sense policies toward the U.N., NATO, Russia, China and Israel. Let’s focus intensely instead on Trump’s conscious choice to sow division, to trade in denigration toward a purposeful goal of dismantling of our shared American community. That community is, by design, complex and riddled with deep-rooted issues. But Trump has worked the crevices to steal from us the possibility of headway, of keeping at the work of strengthening this fragile union. While much on our mind, national politics is seldom the domain of this page. And still today our point is not about the policies but about the fever of Trump and ways in which we see that unhealthy heat at work in these communities that we love and serve. While America will be challenged by Trump’s malignant ways, the nation will, we know, come through and, we pray, come through stronger and clearer in resolve. But in small towns like ours the fabric of our connectivity is more intimate and therefore more fragile. We have created a history of genuinely good government, of involved citizens, of boisterous discussion. And this has served us so very well. Oak Park has stared down such worries that have left other communities hobbled and divided. River Forest has evolved into a progressive and increasingly purposeful village. But in each town, we have in recent years seen unseemly and not useful fights that leave us concerned. In just the past few months, River Forest has finally, after years of battles, finished improvements to the campus of Roosevelt Middle School. The row over this upgrade, which focused on safety, parking, and outdoor learning space, became super-sized and profoundly personal. Odd, worrisome and so far from the River Forest we much admire. Right now in Oak Park we have two fronts where debate has devolved into derision. The continuing saga of the high school swimming pool has split the two villages in ways that are unhealthy and unnecessary. This page has been unsparingly critical of the meandering path that OPRF — its school board and its staff — have taken over years to accomplish the necessary goal of a new pool. But our criticism has not called into question the motivations of those elected volunteers. The debate that played out in the recent and narrowly failed referendum campaign, is continuing now as the school regroups in the shadow of an upcoming April school board election on Facebook and on OakPark.com. And it is as accusatory and meanspirited as ever. Not helpful. We’ve heard enough of that tone. There is a new, and remarkably inclusive planning process being presented by the high school. There is a contested election in four months. Let it play out. Be involved but can those accusations. At Oak Park and Madison, the corner that represents all of Oak Park’s failed and expensive migrations into real estate development, there is finally a plan for new development. While most of Oak Park celebrates this possibility, a handful are angered and suspicious of the process, of the inevitable ways that a major development has peripheral impacts on street design, on traffic flow. These are problems to be talked through, to be solved as best they can be. But keep your elbows at your sides. Don’t indulge in conspiracy theories. For 36 years, this editorial page has operated from the position that strong opinions are welcome, that Oak Park and River Forest are stronger for the debate. We know this is true. But we also know that, in a Trump moment when civics and civility are being tossed aside, it is imperative that our towns rise higher, embracing difference but always respecting allies and opponents.
V I E W P O I N T S
@ @OakParkSports
To all Electoral College dropouts …
A
second term draws to a close. Maybe Lord s Connecticut Governor Wilbur Tweet and Lady Plagiarism will learn Cross said in his famous 1936 something from them. Thanksgiving proclamation 80 There are many ways to win and lose. years ago this November, “Time Over the years I’ve lost much that I needed out of mind at this turn of the to — anger mostly (though not completely) seasons when the hardy oak leaves rustle and other forms of emotional negativity. in the wind, and the frost gives a tang to Winning, I’ve learned, often looks like losthe air, and the dusk falls early, and the ing at first. And the best things are hardfriendly evenings lengthen under the heel won. Grandfathering, for instance. I lost of Orion, it has seemed good to our people sleep and a good portion of my weekends to join together in praising the Creator and for the first couple of years to babysit the Preserver, who has brought us, by a way we boys. What the three of us won is a bond did not know, to the end of another year.” that can be built only by being there. If ever it could be said of a year that we The Cubs put themselves and their fans came to the end of it by a way we did not through a lot of losing in order to build know, this would be the year. The only silver lining in my mother’s this year’s remarkable team, and the fans’ death last December is that she didn’t have to endure happiness is greater for all those years of futility. the Great American Electoral Catastrophe of 2016, Unfortunately, this country is currently mired in a which would have sent her to her grave believing the “win-lose” mindset, which is why the “I win-you lose” country she loved had gone completely mad. candidate won. The “win-win” candidate lost, but in Which, of course, it has. Well, a quarter of it anythe long run win-win will win — just as soon as we way. Just enough, as it turns out, to send us over the put a functioning democracy in place and change our brink. national default setting from “either-or” (inequality) She would have thoroughly enjoyed the Cubs’ World to “both-and” (inclusivity). Series victory, however. None Inclusiveness will win beof us, I suspect, ever thought cause it must, and always has, we would live long enough to throughout our history (which witness such an epic event, is why I strongly recommend and, given what transpired reading Why Liberals Win the six days later, it’s hard not to Culture Wars – Even When They see the Cubs’ victory as the Lose Elections by Stephen Procosmic concussion that set off thero. It will provide the thing the Apocalypse. needed most following this elecWhatever the downside, the tion: historical perspective.) Cubs won the series and they The book underscores the fact won it the hard way, turning that we are on our way to bethe W on their battle flag from coming a more inclusive people a perpetual plea (“Win!”) to a and creating a more inclusive triumphant “Won!” world where everyone is treated You win some and lose some, with dignity and respect. Believwhich made 2016 just like eving it will happen is the catalyst ery other year — only more so. that makes perseverance posWinning and losing was sible, that makes patience pospretty much the meme of the sible, that in the long run makes year. The Cubs won it all, endprogress possible. ing their historic World Series Christmas is the story of drought at 108, and Cleveland a divine spark erupting in a lost, extending their drought dark world, the same spark to 68. Except Cleveland also that erupts with every birth won, the Cavaliers rebound— which feeds our belief that ing from a 3-1 deficit to beat we will win, that we are, in the Golden State Warriors in fact, winning, even when it the NBA finals this past June, looks like we’re losing. There ending the longest major is simply too much goodness in Tyler and Bryce watch the Cubs win. sports championship drought the world. It is insurmountable. (51 years). The course is set, the outcome A lot of winning (and losing) took place in Bradecided. zil this summer. Rio de Janeiro won by hosting the The only thing to be determined is how long it will Olympic Games when many doubted they could pull take for the arc of the universe to finish bending it off. The Russians lost most of their Olympic team toward justice (for all). At the moment, it looks as if because of cheating, but their hackers helped win the that will take … somewhat longer. American election for Vladimir Putin, proving that “As my suffering mounted,” said Martin Luther sometimes cheaters do win — or at least have the last King Jr., “I realized there were two ways I could relaugh. spond to my situation: either react with bitterness or Tweet won (the system was rigged — in his favor), seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I but he lost the respect of anyone still capable of decided to follow the latter course.” making a rational character judgment. Barack and We move forward, hand in hand, stronger together, Michelle Obama, meanwhile, won our regard by giva creative force, knowing only that we will win — all ing a tutorial on character, grace and integrity as their of us — by a way we did not know.
KEN
TRAINOR
V I E W P O I N T S 2 0 1 6
Y E A R
I N
S H R U B T O W N
by Marc Stopeck
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
W E D N E S D A Y
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Associate Publisher Dawn Ferencak Staff Reporters Michael Romain, Timothy Inklebarger Viewpoints/ Real Estate Editor Ken Trainor Sports/Staff reporter Marty Farmer Columnists Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, John Hubbuch, May Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West Staff Photographer William Camargo Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes Editorial Designers Jacquinete Baldwin, Javier Govea Business Manager Joyce Minich IT Manager/Web Developer Mike Risher Advertising Production Manager Philip Soell Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead Advertising Designers Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak Advertising Sales Marc Stopeck, Joe Chomiczewski Media Coordinator Kristen Benford Inside Sales Representative Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Distribution Coordinator Caleb Thusat Comptroller Edward Panschar Credit Manager Laurie Myers Front Desk Carolyn Henning, Maria Murzyn Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs
About Viewpoints Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, fire you to action. In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing. Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay. If you have questions, call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 708-613-3310 or email him at ktrainor@wjinc.com.
Visit us online at www.OakPark.com
LETTER TO THE EDITOR ■ 250-word limit ■ Must include first and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)
‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY ■ 500-word limit ■ One-sentence footnote about yourself, your connection to the topic ■ Signature details as at left
Email Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com or mail to Wednesday Journal, Viewpoints, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302
31
32
V I E W P O I N T S
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
The real casualty is the art of dialogue Because of the recent presidential election and the political “echo chambers” that we have created and live in, one thing I’ve observed is the deterioration of authentic discussion — the clash of ideas. Those on either extreme (left or right) of the political spectrum are trapped in their own perception of reality and express their views as the indisputable Truth. “If you’re not careful, you might learn something” has become the mantra for the two extremes.
Today the extreme ideologues (The Right and The Left) speak without listening and hear without listening. Aside from their ideological differences, their behaviors and communication styles are often indistinguishable. The real casualty in this approach is the art of dialogue. As for me, after attentively listening to another’s perspective or point of view, I am still willing to say. “You could be right!
Kwame Salter Oak Park
Why keep publishing Milstein’s letters? I’m writing about Robert Milstein’s most recent letter [The Grand Poobah’s transparent plans, Viewpoints, Dec. 7]. I believe this is the second letter that Wednesday Journal has chosen to publish from Mr. Milstein that is nothing but a rant against the current Oak Park Board of Trustees and Mayor Anan AbuTaleb. In this most recent letter, Mr. Milstein does not even deign to refer to the Mayor by name; instead he calls him “The Grand Poobah” throughout his letter. I could take issue with Mr. Milstein for using Trump-like tactics of name-calling, disrespect, and allegations with-
out providing facts. I could also remark that as a longtime resident of Oak Park, I recall that Mr. Milstein’s tenure on the board of trustees was characterized by animosity and a total lack of accomplishments. But my real issue is with Wednesday Journal for giving Mr. Milstein space in its print publication. Mr. Milstein has already made known in the Journal what he thinks of the Mayor; his rants are no longer news, if they ever were. With space at such a premium, why devote any of it to letters such as Mr. Milstein’s?
Roberta Arnold Oak Park
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Setting the record straight on my D200 stance
Elsewhere in today’s newspaper is a correction to the Dec. 21 story on the race for the four open seats on the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education. I am among the D200 candidates and that correction should briefly set the record straight: although I voted against the high school’s recently defeated referendum, I have never been a “vocal” opponent of it. In fact, over the many months leading up to the vote, I made a conscious decision to refrain from making any public comments about the referendum. As president of the Oak Park Public Library Board, I believe strongly that remaining quiet on the issue was not only appropriate but imperative, lest anyone draw an inaccurate inference that I was expressing an official library position. As has been reported extensively,
that referendum sought voters’ permission to borrow up to $25 million as part of a $44.5 million facilities spending package. The bulk of the plan (more than $37 million) called for demolishing the parking garage on the south end of the high school campus to make way for a smaller garage and the construction of a 40-meter pool to replace OPRF’s two 88-year-old pools. I absolutely support a new pool — just not one that comes with such a high cost and overreaching footprint. Doing so would inherently come at the expense of other priorities essential to achieving the school’s aim of “excellence and equity” for all students. Thank you, Wednesday Journal, for affording me the opportunity to supplement your correction with this further clarification.
Matt Baron Oak Park
Call Belmont Village for Respite Care Needs A short term residence at Belmont Village is a convenient, reliable option for families and caregivers with senior care needs. It’s the perfect solution for business or vacation travel, or for respite care following a hospital stay or injury. It also can be a comfortable way to introduce the benefits of community living to senior family members. Best of all, loved ones are cared for in a licensed community supported by a well-trained, responsive staff.
The perfect temporary care solution for families and caregivers • • • • •
Fully furnished apartments Licensed nurse on-site around the clock Medication management Diabetic Insulin management Personal care services
• • • • •
Fresh chef-prepared meals Housekeeping and laundry Free scheduled transportation 7 days a week Professionally supervised senior fitness center Minimum stay required
For more information, call a sales associate at 708.848.7200 or email salesop@belmontvillage.com.
OA K PA R K
© 2016 Belmont Village, L.P. | SC 0052076 WedJournal_respite_12_2016.indd 1
12/13/16 1:54 PM
V I E W P O I N T S
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
The village should keep our sidewalks clear
Today is the first official day of wintry weather and once again I ask myself, “Why is a property owner responsible for maintaining public space?” At various times of the year, the village plows streets, clears storm drains (rarely, but I have seen it done), plants and prunes trees in the causeway, removes refuse (for a fee) and other such activities when it comes to ensuring the public space is maintained and safe. Shoveling sidewalks is another story, and I would like to know why this rests on the homeowner. I rarely use the side-
walk in front of my house, yet I am held accountable for the maintenance during the winter. My time, resources and other expenses to perform this “civic duty” are a form of taxation that unfairly penalizes the homeowner. Since this is public space, the village needs to find a way to maintain it themselves and share the cost appropriately. Or handle it like plowing snow in the alleys — do nothing.
Mark Schlosser
Oak Park
Y L K E WE ! S L A I C E P S O TWOSDAY NLY // DINE-IN O O L IL J A U G HICKEN BEEF AND C O R E H C N RA
Let go of ‘Marshall Field’ It is absolutely time for Wednesday Journal to stop referring to the building on the northeast corner of Harlem and Lake as the “Marshall Field building.” Marshall Field closed more than 30 years ago. They are not coming back, and the continued use of their name simply stokes the fires of those in Oak Park and River Forest who long for the “good old days.” As one who helped lead the restreeting ef-
fort of years ago, I can tell you that it was difficult to fight the old image then. It is worse for the village to have to continue to battle the name now. We need to move on to future uses, and your journalistic leadership is important in focusing the communities on future goals, not long-gone retailers. Let’s call it 1144 Lake St.
Send letters to the Editor Ken Trainor, Wednesday Journal 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 E-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com Fax: 708-524-0047 Please include name, address and daytime phone number for verification.
$2 TAC
Steve Herseth Oak Park
S A T I R A G R A Y $3 M A D S E N D E S W A I A R T I G R N A A G S R 3 A M AY $ D S R U H T E N WI BEER 3 $ Y A D N U DOMESTIC SPERATION: HOURS: COLOFSEOD
MONDAY : 4PM - 9PM S R U H T S E U T AM - 10PM FRI - SAT: 11 - 9PM SUN: 11AM ICAGO.COM
IOSPLACECH WWW.SERG 73 622 5555O IL 60707
7
AVE. CHICAG LE! H T B R O A N T L S I E A W 6 V 6 9 6 ING A
CATER
33
34
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
O B I T U A R I E S
Rosanne Bailey, 66
Air Force brigadier general, University of Alaska vice chancellor Rosanne (“Ro”) Bailey, 66, of Fairbanks, Alaska, a former Oak Park resident, died on Nov. 1, 2016 after a brief illness. Born in Chicago on July 10, 1950 to the late Richard W. and Rosemary W. Bailey (nee Wright), she graduated from St. Edmund School and Oak Park and River Forest High School. She received a B.S. degree from Purdue University, with honors, in Economics and earned her M.S. degree in ROSANNE BAILEY Engineering Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology as a distinguished graduate. She entered the Air Force in 1977 and served in positions of leadership and responsibility, such as commander, 354th Logistics Group, Eielson AFB Alaska; commander, 435th Air Base Wing, Ramstein Air Base and Kaiserslautern Military Community, Germany; and commander, Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, Cheyenne Mountain AFS Colorado. She retired from the Air Force in 2006. Her military awards and decorations include Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and National Defense Service Medal with bronze star. She
was also a Distinguished Graduate of the Defense Systems Management College as well as Air Command and Staff College where she received two research awards. While serving at Eielson AFB in 1996, she fell in love with Alaska, and after her retirement in 2006, made Fairbanks her permanent home. In 2006 she joined the University of Alaska Fairbanks as vice chancellor for Administrative Services, then became special projects coordinator at UAF where she was instrumental in developing standards, policies, and guidelines for Department of Justice use of unmanned aircraft for law enforcement agencies nationwide. She also worked closely with the Department of Interior to develop standards and inspection criteria for unmanned aircraft use by all agencies nationwide. Recently, she was a key proponent of developing partnerships with the Department of Defense and Alaska Department of Public Safety to integrate unmanned aircraft into emergency response operations. Her experience with large acquisition projects for the military led to her deep involvement in UAF’s acquisition of the R/V Sikuliaq, the National Science Foundation vessel hosted and operated by UAF’s Seward Science Center. She enjoyed her role in bringing the optimally-equipped, ice-hardened vessel to Alaska to conduct the Arctic research it was designed to achieve. She retired from the University of Alaska in 2016 and was supporting the unmanned aircraft project part-time and pursuing a second master’s degree in counseling at the time of her death. Active at First Presbyterian Church of Fairbanks, she served as an elder. A memorial service will be held there in early 2017,
followed by a memorial and interment at Arlington National Cemetery in the spring of 2017. Ro Bailey was the dear friend of William Selah; the sister of Richard Fiske Bailey, Barbara (Michael) Walsh, Susan Bailey, Stephen Bailey, and Patricia (Robert) Houston; the aunt of Christopher and Patrick Walsh, Nicholas and Casey Dallas, Patrick and Sean Folliard, Cassidy, Jeremy and Cade Bailey, Blake Jannett, and Jack and Charlie Houston; and the cousin of Andrea Wright Krajack and the late William Wright. Two nonprofit cancer awareness groups are accepting donations in Rosanne’s name: Let Every Woman Know (www.leteverywomanknow.org), an Alaska organization where Rosanne was a board member; and the Foundation for Women’s Cancer (www.foundationforwomenscancer.org).
George Kolodziej, 91 Mechanical engineer
George C. Kolodziej, 91, of Grinnell, Iowa, formerly of Oak Park, died on Dec. 17, 2016 at the Mayflower Community Health Care Center in Grinnell. Born on Feb. 22, 1925, in Chicago, the son of Joseph and Frances Ciesla Kolodziej, he was raised in Chicago and attended public school there. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and served during World War II. The GI Bill gave him the opportunity to pursue a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Illinois Champaign/ Urbana. He worked in research and development at a number of firms until he retired in 1989 from American National Can Com-
W E D N E S D A Y
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
You’re just one click away from... Getting the latest news updates • Purchasing photos Searching past issues • Searching Classified ads
www.OakPark.com
pany. He was very comfortable at his drawing board, where he planned and created many innovations during their 43 years in their Oak Park two-flat. He was united in marriage with Velna Lewis on July 27, 1968, in Arlington Heights. The couple moved to Oak Park in 1971 and later moved to Grinnell in 2014. Mechanically minded, he was a wonderful carpenter and a good craftsman. He was very precise in his thinking and work and his designs were elegant. Fascinated with the history of Chicago and architecturally designed buildings, he enjoyed traveling frequently to Europe and had a passion for downhill skiing. Survivors include his wife, Velna; his four children, Gary (Cecilia Knight) Mertens, Paul (CynGEORGE KOLODZIEJ thia Von Orthal) Von Mertens, Matthew Kolodziej, and David (Andi Anderson) Kolodziej; and his grandchildren, Rita, Jane and Ellis Mertens, Avalon Von Mertens and George, and Molly and Sophie Kolodziej. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Frances Kolodziej; and his five siblings, Charles Kolodziej, Florence Zukowski, Edwin Kolodziej, Matilda Kielbasa, and twin sister Lorraine Arnold. His Celebration of Life is pending at the Mayflower Community in January. Memorial contributions may be directed to the ACLU, Alzheimer’s Association or the Mayflower Community Human Needs Fund.
To run an obituary Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com, or fax: 708/524-0447 before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Happy Holidays!
VISIT OUR SALES CENTER!
Open daily from 12-6PM | 805 Lake Street in Oak Park We will be closed New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day
Frank Vihtelic 708.386.1810 fvihtelic@jamesonsir.com
Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.
35
36
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
PlaydateITION
Be part of our special day!
SPECIAL NEEDS ED
Tickets: $5 (ages 3-14) Adults & Kids under 2 are FREE!
Chicago Parent brings our popular Playdate event to families with special needs.
Swimming! (first come, first serve) • Bouncy Houses • Entertainment Stage • Quiet Room • Vendors
Saturday, Jan. 28
2 sessions: 10am-12:30pm/1pm-3:30pm JCC Chicago | 300 Revere Drive, Northbrook
Judy Katz OTR/L & Associates
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services
entertainment stage sponsored by:
Visit ChicagoParent.com/specialneedsplaydate for advance tickets and info!
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Miss a week‌
miss a lot. If you don’t have a subscription JOURNAL to Wednesday Oak Park police to car anti-overdosrye Journal, drug you’re missing a lot. Each week Wednesday Journal covers local news, local people, local sports and the local ads you want to see. Village hall, police, OPRF, the elementary schools, business, religion, we have Oak Park and River Forest covered. So why are you waiting— subscribe today! Three easy ways to subscribe: 1) call (708) 524-8300 2) visit OakPark.com/subscribe 3) mail in the form below. *Sign up today to receive Breaking News email updates! W E D N E S D A Y
June 1, 2016
Vol. 34, No. 42 ONE DOLLAR
of Oak Park
and River Fores t
@O @OakPark
Special pullout
section
Oak Park Fire Depart administers Narcan ment already roughly once a week By TIMOTHY
INKLEBARGER
Staff Reporter
Oak Park police with an anti-opioi officers will soon be equipped can, confirmed d overdose drug known as Tony Ambrose. Oak Park Deputy NarParticipants Police Chief A state law wave at the that went crowd during dates that into effect WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff the annual Memorial in January all Illinois Photographer mancarrying police departme Day Parade the drug in nts begin in River Forest an effort from heroin on May 30. and opioid-bas to prevent overdoses For more photos, Ambrose ed prescripti said in a on drugs. page 10. telephone OPPD is working interview that the ment to receive with the Oak Park Fire training and Narcan program. grant fundingDepartfor the Oak Park Deputy Fire in a telephone By TOM HOLMES Chief Peter to sunset, Pilafas said interview Contributing paramedi every day that fire Reporter cs have been for four weeks. Nausheen departme can for some trained to nt sounds very Syed Mohuddin administe ator, to develop on Yom much like r NarKippur or times a monthtime and used it an a (a.k.a. Mohi) Jew patience, and his wife a Christian average of to perfect in Ahmed Lent when she Nausheen one’s character. gratitude and four Pilafas applied 2014 and 2015. during describes keeping the Akhter will a Muslim When fasting, what Muslims on May 20 month of begin are striving for during is supposed will cover for the 5. The River Ramadan 100 percent behavior, to be on their Ramadan “What people on June Forest residents avoid anger, program, . of the costs grant, which may ing without and it etc. Many bad language, best for the OPPD food or drink, will fast, go- “is that the purposenot know,� she said, people give He said now was approved three example up bad habits,lies, of Ramadan from sunrise bring you days police and will attend closer spiritually fire departme later. is to spection smoking. It is for a training nt officials to your Creand self-reflec a time of introofficers on seminar to instruct how tion on how police Earlier this to administer the to betdrug. See RAMADA year, Oak Park Township N on page 12 SuperviSee NARCAN on page 13
A day of remem
An American River Forest couple says
brance
Ramadan
don’t make assum ptions about Muslim s
Fathe r’s Day brunch 9a-2:3 | Sund ay 0p Reservations:
Start delivery of
6/19
dinner 5-9pm
708.358.9800
or mayadels ol.com
today!
Enclosed is my payment of ¨$32 for 12 months Name _______________________ Address ______________________ City_________________________ Zip _________________________ Phone _______________________ *Email ______________________
Religion Guide Methodist
Check First.
First United Methodist Church of Oak Park
First Congregational Church of Maywood
400 N. Fifth Avenue (1 block north of Lake St.) Come join us for Sunday Morning Worship at 11 am Pastor Elliot Wimbush will be preaching the message. Refreshments and fellowship follow the service. 708-344-6150 firstchurchofmaywood.org When you're looking for a place to worship the Lord, Check First.
You’re Invited to A Church for All Nations A Church Without Walls SERVICE LOCATION Forest Park Plaza 7600 W. Roosevelt Road Forest Park, IL 60130
William S. Winston Pastor (708) 697-5000
324 N. Oak Park Avenue 708-383-4983 www.firstUMCoakpark.org Sunday School for all Ages, 9am Sunday Worship, 10am Children’s Chapel during Worship Rev. Jenny Weber, Pastor Professionally Staffed Nursery Fellowship Time after Worship Presbyterian
Fair Oaks
Lutheran—ELCA
United Lutheran Church 1 5LGJHODQG *UHHQ¿ HOG Oak Park Holy Communion with nursery care and Children’s Chapel each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Dennis Bushkofsky, Pastor Handicapped Accessible www.unitedlutheranchurch.org 708/386-1576
Sunday Service 7AM, 9AM & 11:15AM
LIVE Webcast - 11:15AM Service Believer’s Walk of Faith Broadcast Schedule (Times in Central Standard Time) Television DAYSTAR (M-F)
3:30-4:00pm
Nationwide
WJYS-TV (M-F)
6:30-7:00am
Chicago, IL.
WCIU-TV (Sun.)
10:30-11:00am
Chicago, IL.
Word Network
10:30-11:00am
Nationwide
(M-F)
www.livingwd.org www.billwinston.org
West Suburban Temple Har Zion
1040 N. Harlem Avenue River Forest Meet our Rabbi, Adir Glick Pray, learn, and celebrate with our caring, progressive, egalitarian community. Interfaith families are welcome. Accredited Early Childhood Program Religious School for K thru 12 Daily Morning Minyan Weekly Shabbat Services Friday 6:30pm & Saturday 10:00am Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 708.366.9000 www.wsthz.org
Lutheran-Independent
Grace Lutheran Church
7300 W. Division, River Forest David R. Lyle, Senior Pastor David W. Wegner, Assoc. Pastor Lauren Dow Wegner, Assoc. Pastor Sunday Worship, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Ed. 9:45 a.m. Childcare Available
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
744 Fair Oaks Ave. Oak Park 386-4920 Rev. Daniel deBeer, Interim Pastor Sunday Schedule Christian Education for All Ages 9:00am Worship Service 10:00am
Roman Catholic
St. Bernardine Catholic Church Harrison & Elgin, Forest Park
CELEBRATING OUR 105TH YEAR! Sat. Masses: 8:30am & 5:00pm SUNDAY MASSES: 8:00am & 10:30am 10:30 Mass-Daycare for all ages CCD Sun. 9am-10:15am Reconciliation: Sat. 9am & 4pm Weekday Masses: Monday–Friday 6:30am Church Office: 708-366-0839 CCD: 708-366-3553 www.stbern.com Pastor: Fr. Stanislaw Kuca Traditional Catholic
Child care available 9-11am
fairoakspres.org
OAK PARK MEETING OF FRIENDS (Quakers) Meeting For Worship Sundays at 10:00 a.m. at Oak Park Art League 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park Please call 708-445-8201 www.oakparkfriends.org
Roman Catholic
Ascension Catholic Church
The Traditional Catholic Latin Mass
Our Lady Immaculate Church 410 Washington Blvd Oak Park. 708-524-2408 Mass Times: Sat. 8:00am Sun. 7:30 & 10:00am Operated by Society of St. Pius X. Confessions 1 hr. before each mass
Third Unitarian Church 11am Service: “Celebration of Life� thirdunitarianchurch.org (773) 626-9385 301 N. Mayfield near Austin and Lake
Grace Lutheran School
Preschool - 8th Grade Bill Koehne, Principal 366-6900, graceriverforest.org Lutheran-Missouri Synod
Christ Lutheran Church
607 Harvard Street (at East Av.) Oak Park, Illinois Rev. Robert M. Niehus, Pastor Sunday Bible Class: 9:15 am Sunday School: 9:10 Sunday Worship Services: 8:00 and 10:30 am Church Office: 708/386-3306 www.christlutheranoakpark.org Lutheran-Missouri Synod
St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 Circle Ave, Forest Park Sunday Worship, 8:30 am and 11:00 am Adult Bible Class, 10:00 am Wheelchair Access to Sanctuary Leonard Payton, Pastor Roney Riley, Assistant Pastor 708-366-3226 | www.stjohnforestpark.org
808 S. East Ave. 708/848-2703 www.ascensionoakpark.com Worship: Saturday Mass 5:00 pm Sunday Masses 7:30, 9:00, 11 am, 5:00 pm Sacrament of Reconciliation 4 pm Saturday Taize Prayer 7:30 pm First Fridays Feb.– Dec. & Jan. 1 Holy Hour 6:00 pm Third Thursdays
Unity
UNITY CHURCH OF OAK PARK 405 North Euclid Ave.
The love of God enfolds you.
Rev. James Hurlbert, Pastor
Sunday Services 9 am & 11 am Youth Education 11 am
Roman Catholic
St. Edmund Catholic Church
708-848-0960 — unityoakpark.org
188 South Oak Park Ave. Saturday Masses: 8:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Sunday Masses: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Weekday Mass: 8:30 a.m. Holy Day Masses: As Announced Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15 p.m. Parish Office: 708-848-4417 School Phone: 708-386-5131
Upcoming Religious Holidays
Dec. 28 30 31 Jan 1
Holy Innocents Christian Holy Family Catholic Christian Watch Night Christian Mary, Mother of God Catholic Christian Feast Day of St Basil Orthodox Christian Gantan-sai (New Year’s) Shinto
Visa/MC/Discover # _____________
Fire Escape Counseling
____________________________
Psychotherapy & Life Coaching Services
Exp Date _____________________ Signature_____________________ ____________________________ Mail to: Circulation Dept. 141 S. Oak Park, IL 60302. Offer valid for new subscribers in Cook County only.
Rev. Dr. Charles E. Cairo
Master Addictions Counselor -Therapist Certified Criminal Justice Specialist www.fireescapecounseling.com 7645 W Jackson Blvd. Suite 200 Forest Park, Illinois 60130
FireEscapeEFBC@gmail.com Proverbs 13:10 - Jude 1:22-23 312. 719.6936
37
38
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
www.TENandFiT.com
266 Lake Street, Oak Park (708) 524-YOGA
301 Lake St., Oak Park (708) 386-2175
We are your Indoor Club! New Tennis Season Starts Jan. 8th-14th
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM New local ads this week
HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI
WEDNESDAY
CLASSIFIED Deadline is Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.
Place your ad online anytime at: www.OakPark.comm/ClassiďŹ ed/
39
YOUR WEEKLY AD
REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES: OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO
Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion. Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion. The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.
BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 524-0447 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COMM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM HELP WANTED ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT River Forest synagogue is looking for an outgoing individual with solid MS Office, Office Professional, and customer relations experience. Database training provided. Busy office. Need someone to work on a variety of projects simultaneously who enjoys interacting with a diverse population. This person assists members, staff and clergy. Approximately 16-25 hours per week. Weekdays and some Sunday hours needed. Email resume and references to office@wsthz.org.
HELP WANTED
CAREGIVERS Cantata Services has immediate assignments for 12/24 hr. care giving in the homes of our clients. Call 708-387-8351 or apply online at cantata.org. ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER PART-TIME Part-time Electrician’s Helper. Transportation and some tools. Call 708-738-3848.
RELIGION The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Community Relations Coordinator. This position will administer various community relations activities for the Village; to provide assistance and information to Village residents with community relations issues; and has responsibility for community relations events; helps to promote positive relations among all Village residents, among other duties within the Village of Oak Park Community Relations Department. 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 no later than January 6, 2017.
NEED A RESTART? Christmas and the New Year are perfect opportunities for each of us to jump start our year and recalibrate our priorities and relationships. Are you ready for a restart? A new beginning? Your time is now! Join us Sundays @ 11:30am New Life Community Church 3801 Madison in Brookfield newlifechicago.org/brookfield (meeting at Faith Lutheran Church)
Happy New Year!
Published in Wednesday Journal 12/28/2016
Substitute Teachers Needed for River Forest Public Schools District 90. Must have Valid Illinois Teaching License; Professor Educator License with Endorsements (PEL); or, Substitute Teaching License (SUB); or Educator License with Stipulations with a Para-professional Educator Endorsement (ELS). Required Certification: Current State of Illinois Professional Educator License or Substitute License Certificate must be registered in West Cook Region 06. Working Conditions: Available to work on an as-needed basis for Early Childhood through 8th grade classrooms, including core subjects, art, music, physical education and special education. Position not eligible for benefits. Rate of Pay: $105/day for 1-20 days $115/day thereafter Application Procedure: Interested candidates should complete the on-line application available at district90.org. Please do not send hard copies of supporting documentation, i.e.; cover letters, resumes, etc. to River Forest Public Schools.
SUBURBAN REAL ESTATE
SUBURBAN RENTALS
HISTORIC MAYWOOD MANOR
RIVER FOREST 2BR & 1BR Hardwood floors throughout. Spacious walk-in closets. Storage. Parking. Laundry in building. Heat incl. Call 708-657-4226.
902 S. 3RD AVENUE (behind Aldi) Tired of renting? Why not consider buying an affordable 2BR condo w/ 1000 sq ft of living space on this historic site at less than market rents? Savings are built in from a unique 12 year tax freeze plus lower utility costs from energy saving systems and appliances. Onsite pkg, exterior lighting and enhanced security systems included. Be among the first to benefit from this unique project in which the buyer can have input into the individual unit(s). Call 708-383-9223.
SUBURBAN RENTALS OAK PARK FOREST PARK Studio, 1, and 2 BDRM. Heated. Dining room. Parking available. Walk to El. $625-$1250.
www.oakrent.com
RIVER FOREST 2BR CONDO River Forest condo for rent. 2 BR, 1 BA, Hardwood floors, built-in microwave and dishwasher. $1350 per month includes heat + 1 parking space. 1-1/2 month security deposit. $39.95 application fee. Call Vicki at 708-714-0686 or vicki@beyondpropertiesrealty.com.
ROOMS FOR RENT AUSTIN CLEAN ROOM With fridge, micro. Nr Oak Park, Super Walmart, Food 4 Less, bus, & Metra. $116/wk and up. 773-637-5957 Large Sunny Room with fridge & microwave. Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $101.00 week & up. New Mgmt. 773-378-8888
GLA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC. LaVerne Collins Managing broker
Office located at: 320 S. Wisconsin Ave. Oak Park
708-763-9927 www.glapropertymanagement.com
Properties may be broker owned.
Call us for a complete list of rentals available.
�������� ��������
BEAUTIFUL CHURCH FOR RENT
in OAK PARK. Perfect for a congregation. Other potential uses. Corner of Scoville & Adams. 708-848-5460 MAYWOOD COUNTRY CHURCH Lovely, old fashioned country church in Maywood, on corner of Fifth and Erie is looking for a roommate or tenant. We are willing to work out a flexible arrangement if you are an appropriate tenant. Various size spaces. Call 708 344-6150, leave a message.
SPACE FOR RENT OAK PARK SPACE Suitable for not-for-profit. Varied uses possible such as school, office spaces, community services center, clinic, etc. Please call 312-810-5948
OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT * RIVER FOREST * 7777 Lake St.
- 3 & 4 room suites
7756 Madison St.
- Store: 926 sq. ft. - Medical Office Suite, 2800 sq. ft.
* OAK PARK *
M&M property management, inc.
t XXX NNQSPQNHU DPN 649 Madison Street, Oak Park Oak Park: Studios, 1 & 2 BR from $650-$2000 Forest Park: 1 & 2 BR from $725-$1,000
Apartment listings updated daily at:
A&A ELECTRIC
We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Ceiling Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est. Fans Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added Installed New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Serv. upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed
708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848
Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp | Servicing Oak Park and all surrounding suburbs
WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers-lead plastic-other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400
CLEANING Pam’s A+ Cleaning Service
A cleaner day is just a phone call away. For a detailed cleaning please call 708-937-9110
ELECTRICAL Electricians serving the greater Oak Park area. Licensed, Bonded & Insured–Reasonable Pricing & Free Estimates. Kinetic’s proud to say you have never experienced service like this! 15 years experience and dedication. No job too big or small!
6142-44 Roosevelt Rd.
FIREPLACES/ FIREWOOD
- 1, 2 & 3 room office suites - 5 room office suite
ITEMS FOR SALE KENMORE SIDE BY SIDE STAINLESS REFRIGERATOR 3 months old. 69 1/2h x 36w x 27d (including handles). $450. Call 708-288-6004.
PETS
cat calls
Oak Park’s Original Pet Care Service – Since 1986
Daily dog exercising Complete pet care in your home )PVTF TJUUJOH t 1MBOU DBSF Bonded References
524-1030
ELECTRICAL HANDYMAN
Let an American Veteran do your work
(708) 639-5271
While you’re away, your pets are okay . . . at home
Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue. Or call us toll free at 1-888-328-8457 for an appointment.
ELECTRICAL
6955-6957 North Ave.
Strand & Browne 708/488-0011
Selection Process: If your qualifications meet the District requirements, a District administrator will contact you directly for an interview and to pick up a document packet from the District office.
7776 Lake Street, River Forest, IL 60305 708-771-8282 • www.district90.org
CHURCH FOR RENT
Firewood Unlimited
Fast Free Delivery
Mixed hardwoods • $130 F.C. CBh & Mix • $145 F.C. 100% oak • $165 F.C. Cherry or hiCkory • $185 F.C. 100% BirCh • $220 F.C. Seasoned 2 years Stacking Available
847-888-9999 1-800-303-5150
Credit Cards Accepted
FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.
New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured. Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com
GARAGE/GARAGE DOOR Our 70th Year
Garage Doors &
Electric Door Openers
Sales & Service Free Estimates
(708) 652-9415 www.forestdoor.com
HANDYMAN CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair
FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small
708-488-9411
%,%#42)#!, (!.$9-!. 3%26)#%3 !LL 4YPES OF (OME 2EPAIRS 2EPAIRS )NSTALLATIONS 0ROFESSIONAL 1UALITY 7ORK !T 2EASONABLE 0RICES 0ROMPT 3ERVICE 3MALL *OBS A 3PECIALTY
+$1'<0$1 &2175$&725
:H GR TXDOLW\ ZRUN DW DIIRUGDEOH SULFHV
:D\QH
Mikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Do
708-296-2060
40
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
CLASSIFIED HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery. 708-848-9404
HEATING/ AIR CONDITIONING HEATING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Furnaces, Boilers and Space Heaters Refrigerators Ranges â&#x20AC;˘ Ovens Washer â&#x20AC;˘ Dryers Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience
(708) 613-3333 â&#x20AC;˘ FAX: (708) 524-0447 â&#x20AC;˘ E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COMM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM
PLASTERINGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; STUCCOING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.
Small & big work. Free estimates. Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services
708/386-2951 t ANYTIME Work Guaranteed
Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years
REMODELING HOME MAINTENANCE SERVICES
LBDI, INC.
Home Maintenance Services, Residential & Commercial Remodeling Ask for Barry @
630.687.3000
FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.
WINDOWS
708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000
BROKEN SASH CORDS?
PAINTING & DECORATING
CALL THE WINDOW MAN!
ALEX PAINTING &
FAST RELIABLE SERVICE
(708) 452-8929
DECORATING
Exterior and Interior All Work Guaranteed 35 Years Experience Call 708-567-4680
Licensed
Insured
CLASSIC PAINTING
Ralph Grande Elmwood Park 708-452-8929
708.749.0011
Serving Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park & Riverside Since 1974
PLUMBING
PLUMBING
Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost
PUBLIC NOTICES
WHEREAS, the Village of Forest Park (the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Villageâ&#x20AC;?) owns a certain parcel of vacant real property, comprised of approximately 5,073 square feet, generally located along the west side of Van Buren Street, south of Madison Street, Forest Park, Illinois, legally described on Exhibit â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aâ&#x20AC;? attached hereto and incorporated herein (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Real Propertyâ&#x20AC;?); and WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the Village have determined that such Real Property is surplus real estate, in that it is no longer necessary, appropriate, required for the use of, profitable to, or for the best interests of the Village; and WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the Village have ascertained the value of the Real Property, by a written MAI certified appraisal; and WHEREAS, Noah Properties, LLC (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Noahâ&#x20AC;?) has proposed to purchase the Real Property for the purpose of incorporating the Real Property into a portion of the redevelopment of adjoining property with a proposed townhome development (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Projectâ&#x20AC;?), for the sum of Six Thousand ($6,000.00) Dollars and the reimbursement of the Villageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appraisal costs and payment of any cost associated with such closing of the Real Property (all such consideration is collectively referred to as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Total Considerationâ&#x20AC;?); and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Village to sell the Real Property to Noah. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Village Council of the Village of Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois as follows: Section 1. The foregoing recital clauses to this Resolution are hereby adopted as the findings of the corporate authorities and are incorporated herein by specific reference. Section 2. Pursuant to Section 11-76-4.1 of the Illinois Municipal Code, 65 ILCS 5/11-764.1, the corporate authorities find that the Real Property is surplus public real estate and that it is no longer necessary, appropriate, required for the use of, profitable to, or for the best interests of the Village, and further find that it is in the best interest of the Village to sell the Real Property to Noah for the Total Consideration, as described hereinabove, said Total Consideration being not less than eighty percent (80%) of the appraised value of the Real Property. Section 3. Subject to the provisions herein, the corporate authorities find that it is in the best interest of the Village to sell the Real Property to Noah for the purposes of incorporating the Real Property into the Project. Section 4. The pertinent information concerning the terms of the sale is as follows: Purchaser: Noah Properties, LLC Sales Price: $6,000.00, plus costs Property: Âą 5,073 sq. ft. located along the west side of Van Buren Street, just south of Madison Street; vacant and zoned I2 Industrial District.
You have jobs. We have readers!
Find the best employees with Wednesday Classified! Call 708-524-8300
Section 5. Subject to the provisions herein, the corporate authorities of the Village hereby authorize the sale of the Real Property to Noah, pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain â&#x20AC;&#x153;Commercial Real Estate Purchase and Sale Contract,â&#x20AC;? a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bâ&#x20AC;?, and the specific terms of the sale can be found in the proposed Commercial Real Estate Purchase and Sale Contract on file in the office of the Village Clerk. Section 6. Subject to the prior receipt from Noah of the agreeable executed Commercial Real Estate Purchase and Sale Contract, The Mayor and Village Clerk are hereby authorized and directed to execute and attest to, respectively, the Commercial Real Estate Purchase and Sale Contract attached hereto as Exhibit â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bâ&#x20AC;?, with such changes therein as may be approved by the officials executing the same, their execution thereof to constitute approval of all such changes therein, with such execution and attestation to occur of the publication of this Resolution pursuant to Section 7 below. Section 7. A copy of this Resolution shall be published at the first opportunity following its passage in the Forest Park Review. Section 8. The officials, officers, employees and agents of the Village are hereby authorized to take such actions and execute such documents as are necessary to effectuate the sale of the Real Property and carry out the terms, provisions and intent of this Resolution. Section 9. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by two-thirds (2/3) of the corporate authorities then holding office in the manner provided by law. PASSED by the Mayor and Council of the Village of Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois this 19th day of December, 2016.
PUBLIC NOTICES
AYES:
5
NAYS:
0
ABSENT: 0 APPROVED: ______________________________ Mayor Anthony T. Calderone ATTESTED and filed in my office, and published in pamphlet form this 19th day of December, 2016. ______________________________ Vanessa Moritz, Village Clerk
EXHIBIT â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aâ&#x20AC;? LEGAL DESCRIPTION A PARCEL OF LAND IN LOT 1 OF NOYESVILLE, A SUBDIVISION OF THE WEST ½ OF THE NORTHWEST Âź OF SECTION 13, TOWNSHIP 39, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN AND DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SAID WEST 1/2 OF NORTHWEST Âź; THENCE DUE S0UTH ALONG THE EAST LINE THEREOF A DISTANCE OF 33 FEET; THENCE S. 89°51â&#x20AC;&#x2122; W. AND PARALLEL WITH THE NORTH LINE OF SAID WEST 1/2 OF THE NORTHWEST 1/4. A DISTANCE OF 215.0 FEET TO A POINT IN THE EAST LINE OF A 50 FT. ROADWAY (THE FOLLOWING COURSES TERMINATING AT THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID LOT 1 ARE 25.0 FEET EASTERLY OF AND PARALLEL TO THE CENTER LINE OF SAID ROADWAY); THENCE DUE S0UTH AND PARALLEL WITH THE SAID EAST LINE OF THE WEST 1/2 OF NORTHWEST Âź, A DISTANCE OF 72.57 FEET TO A POINT OF TANGENCY WITH A CURVED LINE; THENCE SOUTHEASTERLY ALONG SAID CURVE, CONVEX TO THE WEST AND HAVING A RADIUS OF 375 FEET, A DISTANCE OF 135.21 FEET TO A POINT IN A LINE THAT IS 238.0 FEET SOUTH OF (AS MEASURED PARALLEL WITH THE SAID EAST LINE OF WEST 1/2 OF NORTHWEST Âź) AND PARALLEL WITH SAID NORTH LINE OF WEST ½ OF NORTHWEST Âź, SAID POINT BEING THE PLACE OF BEGINNING OF THIS PARCEL OF LAND; THENCE CONTINUING SOUTHEASTERLY ALONG SAID CURVED LINE, A DISTANCE OF 45.87 FEET; THENCE S. 27°40â&#x20AC;&#x2122; E. TANGENT TO SAID CURVE, A DISTANCE OF 147.57 FEET TO A POINT OF TANGENCY WITH A CURVED LINE; THENCE SOUTHEASTERLY ALONG SAID CURVE, CONVEX TO THE NORTHEAST AND HAVING A RADIUS OF 425.0 FEET, A DISTANCE OF 205.22 FEET TO A POINT OF TANGENCY IN A LINE THAT IS 65 FEET WEST (AS MEASURED PARALLEL WITH THE NORTH LINE OF SAID WEST 1/2 OF NORTHWEST 1/4) OF THE SAID EAST LINE OF SAID WEST 1/2 OF NORTHWEST 1/4; THENCE DUE SOUTH ALONG SAID PARALLEL LINE, A DISTANCE OF 51.79 FEET TO THE SOUTH LINE OF THE AFORESAID LOT 1; THENCE N. 89°51â&#x20AC;&#x2122; E. ALONG SAID SOUTH LINE, A DISTANCE OF 55.0 FEET TO THE SAID EAST LINE OF WEST 1/2 OF NORTHWEST 1/4; THENCE DUE NORTH ALONG SAID EAST LINE. 78.06 FEET; THENCE N. 27°36â&#x20AC;&#x2122; W., A DISTANCE OF 387.58 FEET TO A POINT IN THE AFORESAID LINE 238 FEET SOUTH OF THE NORTH LINE OF WEST 1/2 OF NORTHWEST 1/4; THENCE S. 89°51â&#x20AC;&#x2122; W. ALONG SAID LINE. A DISTANCE OF 11.30 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING (EXCEPT THAT PORTION OF THE AFORESAID AND DESCRIBED PARCEL OF LAND LYING SOUTH OF A LINE PARALLEL TO AND 493.0 FEET SOUTH OF THE AFORESAID NORTH LINE OF THE WEST ½ OF THE NORTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 13, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN).
Published in Forest Park Review 12/28/2016
FREE ESTIMATES Service in 1 Hour in Most Cases
Lic. #0967
PUBLIC NOTICES
RESOLUTION NO. R-84-16
Plumbing & Sewer Service
t
PUBLIC NOTICES
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SURPLUS REAL ESTATE (VAN BUREN STREET)
A-All American
All Work Guaranteed Lowest Prices Guaranteed FREE Video Inspection with Sewer Rodding /P +PC 5PP -BSHF t /P +PC 5PP 4NBMM Family Owned & Operated
PUBLIC NOTICES
STARTING A NEW BUSINESS? Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice here!
Call for details: 708/613-3342
LEGAL NOTICE
Official notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received at Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Administration Buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;260 Madison; Oak Park, IL 60301 until 1:30 p.m. local time on January 11, 2017, for the following:
Monroe St.; Chicago, IL 60601. Plans are available for viewing/ download at Bulley & Andrews FTP Site. https://ftp.bulley.com username: D97LifeSafety password: bulley1891
OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT 97 LIFE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS & RENOVATIONS
Bid security in the form of a bid bond, certified check or cashierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s check in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the Base Bid shall be submitted with the bid. Certificate of Insurance may be required from the successful Bidder.
BIDS WILL BE PUBLICLY OPENED AT 2:00PM ON JANUARY 11, 2017 AT THE OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT 97 ADMINISTRATION OFFICEâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;260 MADISON STREETâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;OAK PARK, IL 60302. Scope of work for Life Safety Improvements includes, but is not limited to: site concrete, masonry repairs, roofing, carpentry, doors and hardware, drywall, acoustical ceiling grid and tile, painting, HVAC, plumbing and electrical. All available bid documents will be available December 21st and may be purchased from BEST Imaging Solutions (312-357-9050)â&#x20AC;&#x201C;55 E.
Oak Park Elementary School District 97 reserves the right to reject any and all bids or parts thereof, to waive any irregularities or informalities in bidding procedures, and to award the contract in a manner best serving the interest of the Owner. All Bidders must comply with applicable Illinois Law requiring the payment of prevailing wages to all laborers, workman and mechanics working on public funded projects. If during the time period of work, these rates change, the contractor shall be responsible for additional Published in Wednesday Journal 12/21, 12/28/2016, 1/4, 1/11/2017
costs without any change to the contract amount. The proposed contract is subject to the requirements of the Equal Employment Practices Commission and the Illinois Human Rights Act (IHA) Illinois Revised Statute, Ch. 69, Par. 1-101, et. seq. Offers may not be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days after closing date. Any Bid submitted unsealed, unsigned, fax transmissions or received subsequent to the aforementioned date and time, may be disqualified and returned to the bidder. The Oak Park School District 97 reserves the right to reject any and all bids or parts thereof, to waive any irregularities or informalities in bid procedures and to award the contract in a manner best serving the interest of The Oak Park School District. Dated: 12/21/16 Jason Stonchus Bulley & Andrews, LLC
VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Village of Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission on January 12, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. at the Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois on an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness filed by Tom and Michelle Gill to construct a two-story frame addition on the south side of 238 S. Kenilworth Avenue, located in the Ridgeland/Oak Park Historic District. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard. The hearing may be adjourned by the Historic Preservation Commission to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes of the hearing fixing the time and place of its adjournment. The Historic Preservation Commission shall issue or deny the Certificate of Appropriateness within fifteen (15) days following completion of the public hearing. For further information, contact the Development Customer Services Department, Planning Division, Village of Oak Park, Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois during normal business hours. Published in Wednesday Journal 12/28/2016
LEGAL NOTICE Chertkow and Chertkow (22019) Attorneys for Petitioner 1525 East 53rd Street Chicago, Illinois 60615 STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss County Department, Domestic Relations Division. In re the marriage of Maria Adela Ruiz, Petitioner and Alejandro Reyes, Respondent, Case No. 2016D-011584. 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 Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West 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 30, 2017, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition. DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk. Published in Wednesday Journal 12/28/2016, 1/4, 1/11/2017
SELLING YOUR HOME BY OWNER? Call Us For Advertising Rates! 708/613-3333
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
PUBLIC NOTICES The corporate authorities of the Village of Riverside (the “Village”) will hold a public hearing on February 2, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., at Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois (the “Hearing”), to consider whether to designate the following described property (the “Proposed Harlem Avenue Business District”) as a business district as set forth in the Illinois Business District Development and Redevelopment Law, 65 ILCS 5/11-74.3-1, et seq. (the “Law”), and whether to approve a business district plan for the Proposed Harlem Avenue Business District as set forth in the Law: THAT PART OF THE EAST HALF OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 25, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, BEING DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE POINT OF INTERSECTION OF THE EAST LINE OF SAID EAST HALF OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 25 AND THE EASTERLY EXTENSION OF THE NORTH RIGHTOF-WAY LINE OF BERKLEY ROAD (a.k.a. BERKELEY ROAD); THENCE SOUTH ALONG SAID EAST LINE TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH THE EASTERLY EXTENSION OF THE SOUTH LINE OF A 16-FOOT-WIDE ALLEY LYING SOUTHEASTERLY OF LONGCOMMON ROAD; THENCE WEST ALONG SAID EASTERLY EXTENSION AND SAID SOUTH LINE OF THE 16-FOOTWIDE ALLEY TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH THE SOUTHEASTERLY EXTENSION OF THE SOUTHWESTERLY LINE OF LOT 1 IN KIRCHMAN AND JEDLAN’S RIVERSIDE PARKWAY AND HARLEM AVENUE SUBDIVISION OF PART OF LOT 2 AND ALL OF LOTS 3 AND 4 IN CIRCUIT COURT PARTITION BEING A SUBDIVISION IN SAID SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 25; THENCE NORTHWESTERLY ALONG SAID SOUTHEASTERLY EXTENSION, THE SOUTHWESTERLY LINE OF LOT 1 AND THE NORTHWESTERLY EXTENSION THEREOF TO A POINT ON THE
PUBLIC NOTICES Public Notice Pursuant to 65 ILCS 5/11-74.3-2(b) NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OFWAY LINE OF SAID LONGCOMMON ROAD; THENCE NORTHEASTERLY ALONG SAID NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE TO A POINT ON THE WESTERLY LINE OF A 16-FOOT-WIDE ALLEY LYING WEST OF HARLEM AVENUE; THENCE NORTHWESTERLY AND NORTHERLY ALONG SAID WESTERLY LINE OF THE 16-FOOT-WIDE ALLEY AND ITS NORTHERLY EXTENSION THEREOF TO A POINT ON THE NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF AFORESAID BERKLEY ROAD (a.k.a. BERKELEY ROAD); THENCE EAST ALONG SAID NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF BERKLEY ROAD (a.k.a. BERKELEY ROAD) TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, ALL IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS (PINS): 15-25-407-013-0000 15-25-407-014-0000 15-25-407-015-0000 15-25-407-016-0000 15-25-407-017-0000 15-25-407-018-0000 15-25-407-019-0000 15-25-407-020-0000 15-25-413-013-0000 COMMON ADDRESSES: 2704 S HARLEM; 2710 S HARLEM; 27202728 S HARLEM & 539 LONGCOMMON STREET LOCATION: GENERALLY LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF HARLEM AVENUE FROM BERKLEY ROAD ON THE NORTH TO THE ALLEY APPROXIMATELY 150 FT SOUTH OF LONGCOMMON ROAD TO THE SOUTH IN RIVERSIDE, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, AS MORE FULLY DEPICTED IN THE MAP ATTACHED TO THE BUSINESS DISTRICT PLAN ON FILE WITH THE VILLAGE FOR REVIEW AT VILLAGE OFFICES, 27 RIVERSIDE ROAD, RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the Hearing. The business district plan for the Proposed Harlem Avenue Business District under consideration at the Hearing provides, gen-
PUBLIC NOTICES erally, that the Village may provide or enter into an agreement with developers or business owners and tenants to provide certain public and private improvements in the Proposed Harlem Avenue Business District to enhance the immediate area and to serve the needs of development and the interests of the Village and its residents. The Village intends to develop the Proposed Harlem Business District to further contribute to the long-term economic health and vitality of the Village. Proposed Village projects in the Proposed Harlem Avenue Business District may include but shall not necessarily be limited to: improvement of public utilities including water mains, sewer related system improvements and storm water retention; property acquisition by contract or eminent domain; environmental remediation and site preparation; rehabilitation of building exterior and interior components; improvement of roadways, alleyways and sidewalks; beautification and installation of identification markers, landscaping/ streetscaping; and relocation and/ or extension of utilities. A copy of the business district plan under consideration for the Proposed Harlem Avenue Business District is available at Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Rd, Riverside, Illinois, for review. Any party interested in submitting an alternative proposal or bid for any proposed conveyance, lease, mortgage, or other disposition by the Village of Riverside of land or rights in land owned by the Village and located within the Proposed Harlem Avenue Business District, should contact Jessica Frances, Village Manager, at (708) 447-2700. Any alternative proposals or bids must be addressed to and submitted to Jessica Frances, Village Manager, at the above-listed Village Hall address, no later than Friday before the Hearing, January 27, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. Village of Riverside Jessica Frances Village Manager
Published in Landmark 12/28/2016, 1/4/2017
LEGAL NOTICE
LEGAL NOTICE
Chertkow and Chertkow (22019) Attorneys for Petitioner 1525 East 53rd Street Chicago, Illinois 60615
Chertkow and Chertkow (22019) Attorneys for Petitioner 1525 East 53rd Street Chicago, Illinois 60615
STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss
STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss
Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.
Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.
In re the marriage of Oscar Chavez, Petitioner and Susana Arellano Reyes, Respondent, Case No. 2016D-011185.
In re the marriage of Sergio Jimenez, Petitioner and Silvia Jimenez, Respondent, Case No. 2016D-007640.
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 Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.
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 Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.
Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before January 17, 2017, 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.
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 24, 2017, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.
DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.
DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.
Published in Wednesday Journal 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2016
Published in Wednesday Journal 12/21, 12/28/2016, 1/4/2017v
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: D16148978 on December 8, 2016. Under the Assumed Business Name of BLUE TRAIN with the business located at: 833 S LOMBARD AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: PETER DONALD TODD 833 S. LOMBARD AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304 Published in Wednesday Journal 12/14, 12/21, 12/28/2016
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: D16148969 on December 6, 2016 Under the Assumed Business Name of EN PRODUCTIONS with the business located at: 2729 KENILWORTH AVE, BERWYN, IL 60402. The true and full real name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: NICHOLAS ROBERT PROVOST 2729 KENILWORTH AVE BERWYN, IL 60402. Published in Wednesday Journal 12/21, 12/28/2016, 1/4/2017
Happy new year!
41
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT–CHANCERY DIVISION BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC Plaintiff, -v.DUSTIN M. PARK, SARAH R. MILLER, MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., AS NOMINEE FOR PERL MORTGAGE, INC., AN ILLINOIS CORPORATION, CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), N.A., VILLAGE OF LANSING, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Defendants 15 CH 13234 1013 S. HARVEY 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 November 17, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 17, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive–24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1013 S. HARVEY AVE., Oak Park, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-17-310-026-0000 Vol. 143. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $319,106.13. 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 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 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 Plaintiff’s attorney: JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC, 230 W. Monroe Street, Suite #1125, Chicago, IL 60606, (312) 541-9710 Please refer to file number 15-2479. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 606064650 (312) 236-SALE 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 230 W. Monroe Street, Suite #1125 Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 541-9710 E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com Attorney File No. 152479 Attorney Code. 40342 Case Number: 15 CH 13234 TJSC#: 3613463 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. I708988
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 13, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 18, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive–24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 420 S. KENILWORTH AVENUE UNIT #3, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-07326-025-1003. The real estate is improved with a residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for 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 identifica-
tion for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-16-06735. 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. 14-16-06735 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 16 CH 008186 TJSC#: 36-12490 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. I708868
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT–CHANCERY DIVISION MTGLQ INVESTORS, L. P. Plaintiff, -v.JEANELL P. EDWARDS, 420 SOUTH KENILWORTH CONDOMINIUM BUILDING ASSOCIATION Defendants 16 CH 008186 420 S. KENILWORTH AVENUE UNIT #3 OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION FIFTH THIRD MORTGAGE COMPANY; Plaintiff, vs. JAMES E. FORD AKA JAMES FORD; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 16 CH 2424 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 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. 16-17-330-012-0000. Commonly known as 1180 Lyman Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois 60304. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 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 The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Anselmo Lindberg Oliver LLC, 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563-1890. (630) 453-6960. For Bidding instructions visit www.falillinois.com 24 hours prior to sale. F16020148 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I710283
MORTGAGE DIRECTORY
MORTGAGE RATE DIRECTORY LENDER COMMUNITY BANK OF OAK PARK - RIVER FOREST
(708) 660-7006 1001 Lake St., Oak Park IL 60301 www.cboprf.com
AMOUNT
RATE/YR
80% 80% 80% 80% 80% 80%
4.375% / 30 yr. fixed 4.125% / 20 yr. fixed 3.500% / 15 yr. fixed 3.750% / 5 yr. ARM 3.875% / 7 yr. ARM 4.125% / 10 yr. ARM
POINTS/ APP. FEE 0%/$550 0%/$550 0%/$550 0%/$550 0%/$550 0%/$550
A.P.R.
4.445% 4.221% 3.621% 3.978% 4.009% 4.148%
· Approved IHDA Mortgage Program Lender · Financing available up to 97% LTV Construction Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit available – call for terms.
Mortgage rates are accurate as of Monday afternoon. Due to the fluctuation of mortgage rates, the rates may vary before publication. Contact your mortgage lender for complete details. Mortgage rates vary in APR and other qualifying factors.
To Advertise your Mortgage Rates, call Mary Ellen Nelligan: 708/613-3342
42
S P O R T S
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
New friendships make season bright Attending OPRF and Fenwick football games opens door to circle of friends
T
his week’s edition of “Tate’s Take” is sports-related in a way, but it actually isn’t. This column is about the friendships that I made during this past football season and what they mean to me as we prepare to celebrate Christmas. Before I get to the point of this column, let me describe my personality. I’m a warm, quiet, gentle giant of a guy (I’m about 6-foot3) who admittedly has been a bit shy over the years. It’s not because I don’t like being around crowds and socializing. I enjoy being out and about. I feel that I’ve been shy because of my speech disorder. I tend to have some trouble with my articulation. I have to sometimes think about what I want to say instead of letting it flow naturally. When I was growing up on the South Side of Chicago, I got teased and picked on a lot because of my speech issues. Most people who didn’t know me would call me handicapped or retarded. Although I didn’t show it on the
outside, it hurt me deeply. But it also motivated me to overcome adversity. I took speech therapy to alleviate my stuttering issue. I also knew that the people that called me names were ignorant because if I truly was retarded, I wouldn’t have been on the Honor Roll and in the National Honor Society at Mendel Catholic/St. Martin de Porres High Schools. And I wouldn’t have graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in history. Yet what is still bothersome is the fact that there are many folks who hear me speak and still call me names. Not just kids, but adults. I work at the CTA as a train operator and whenever I have to break up a disturbance, the offender usually says things like, “You’re a goofy, retarded dummy!” What I’m saying is that there are those who judge me by my speech instead of getting to know a person better. They’re missing out on making friends with a guy who’s got a heart of gold and strives to always do what’s right.
MELVIN TATE
File photo
Continued from page 43
Huskies’ Ungaretti, 200 medley take state The OPRF girls swimming team enjoyed its most successful state meet in nearly three decades, finishing fourth in the team standings and winning a pair of historic state championships. The Huskies’ 200-yard medley relay of senior Hanna Blankemeier, juniors Alex Gill and Samm Neilson and sophomore Natalie Ungaretti became just the third relay team in program history to win a championship. Ungaretti later became only the third OPRF girl to win an individual title when she captured the 50-yard freestyle. Blankemeier and Gill also won individual medals during a virtuoso performance that was the program’s best since 1989, when the Huskies won their second of back-to-back team state titles. “Me and the girls always have this joke about wanting a blue banner because at
Fenwick forward McKenzie Blaze is a triple threat player who can score, pass and rebound. OPRF they have blue banners on the wall for state title winners,” Neilson said. “So before the race we said we want a blue banner to be at OPRF forever.”
NATALIE UNGARETTI OPRF swimmer
Friars edge Huskies on hardwood
The Fenwick and OPRF boys basketball teams squared off on Dec. 2 at the Chicago Elite Classic hosted by the UIC Pavilion. The Friars emerged with a 63-57 overtime win as Keller stuffed the stat sheet with 20
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
I compare myself to former Chicago Bulls legend Bob Love. He was a great player that earned several accolades in his career. He had a stuttering problem. Once his NBA career ended, he worked as a dishwasher for some time. But he persevered and didn’t use his speech defect as a handicap. It’s only a handicap if you let it become one. Love didn’t, and now he works in the Bulls front office as Director of Community Relations and as an ambassador for the team. And I don’t let my speech defect define me either. That’s why I’m looking at the friendships I’ve made during the high school football season as gifts. They’re the best gifts I’ve gotten in a long time, more so than anything material. These are gifts from the heart. They’ve encouraged me, and they’re forever a part of my life. From the Scotts, Hunts, Molinas, Whites, and Borgdorffs at Oak Park and River Forest, to the Kellers, Lilligs, Kulhaneks, and Hendzels at Fenwick, I say thank you for accepting me and welcoming me into your lives. The fact that you saw a lot of good qualities in me despite my speech impediment means a lot to me. Being around you guys has made me a better and more confident man. I am sure that I’ll make more friends as I will try to attend events at both schools as often as possible. My final take? As we get ready to celebrate the reason for the season, don’t judge a book by its cover; judge it on what’s inside. After all, none of us are perfect. If you do that at this time of year, you may just be giving someone the best present they’ve ever had. Merry Christmas!
points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals, two blocks and a spectacular dunk in 31 minutes. OPRF senior forward Jared Scott led the Huskies with a team-high 17 points (making 7 of 9 field goal attempts), seven rebounds and a steal. Although Fenwick has dominated the matchup since coach Rick Malnati’s arrival, the real winner this winter has been basketball fans in Oak Park. The Huskies and Friars are 17-2, collectively, heading ents season. into the holiday tournaments Last winter, the Friars finished 28-3 and nal behind advanced to a sectional final m All-State stellar performances from ward Mike guard Mike Smith and forward meron Gross, Ballard. Led by Scott, Cameron Breshawn Wilkerson and Conner Fuller, OPRF finished last season with al final apa 17-12 record and regional pearance.
career at Proviso West in 1977. He moved to now-defunct Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1982 and won his first state championship in 1987 When Fenwick went co-ed in the early 1990s, Power was hired to start the girls basketball program and has led it ever since. The Friars won state titles in 2001 and 2007. They finished second in 2003 and third in 2000 and 2010.
Fenwick baseball makes Elite 8
Power gets 900th winn Fenwick guard Kate Moore oore enscored 23 points and McKennzie Blaze and Kelly Carpens, ter added 12 and 10 points, respectively, as the Friars knocked off DePaul Prep 61-46 in GCAC Red action in Chicago. ick With the victory, Fenwick coach Dave Power becamee just all coach the second girls basketball ch the in Illinois history to reach 900-win plateau, joining Marshall’s Dorothy Gaters, who has 1,044 wins. ne PingaSt. Joseph boys coach Gene tore, who has 978 wins, iss the only th more boys basketball coach with than 900. oaching Power began his head coaching
JARED SCOTT
Although the Fria Friars finished a seemingly med mediocre 20-20, their record di didn’t begin to tell the story of their inspirturnaround. ing turnarou auspicious 6-3 After an au Fenwick inexplicably start, Fenwic lost 10 games in a row. It worst losing was the w streak iin coach Dave Hogan’s 36-year caHoga reer at Fenwick. ree But the Friars rrediscovered their mojo during the d second half of the sec season. In the playoffs, Fenwick o outscored opponents 26-6 26 en route to regional and an sectional titles. Though Fenwick lost to St. Viator 12-4 in Via the 3A North Central N College Supersectional, S the team still produced one of the best seasons seaso in program history. histo
S P O R T S
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
BEST
Trinity third in hoops
Standard of excellence from page 44 and Kaitlin Aylward (both basketball) excelled among a remarkable group of athletes. And in coaching, Fenwick girls basketball coach Dave Power (perhaps the greatest of them all) reached 900 career wins. So here’s a look back at 2016, yet another compelling chapter in the storied traditions of OPRF, Fenwick and Trinity sports.
OPRF softball wins epic final The Huskies had the most dominant season of any team we covered. OPRF finished with a 37-2 record, including 27 wins in a row, en route to claiming the Class 4A state title. For all their lopsided victories during the regular season, the Huskies outlasted Normal West for a 4-2 victory in 10 innings in an instant classic 4A championship game that lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes. Freshman second baseman Fiona Girardot smashed a two-out, two-run double that lifted OPRF to a 4-2 lead in the 10th inning. Junior Chardonnay Harris pitched eight shutout innings in relief of Emily Richardson to earn the win. “It brings me to tears,” Harris said. “It’s probably the best thing I’ve ever felt so far in my life, maybe until the day I get married.” Head coach Mel Kolbusz, who has guided OPRF to five state trophies since 2003, including two in the past two years, had high praise for his players. “It might be my all-time favorite team,” Kolbusz said. “This is an awesome group of girls.”
File photo
Jason Renteria won an individual state title at 120 pounds. (Inset) Isaiah White (30-0) took the 160-pound individual title. at the end of regulation incorrectly kept Plainfield North’s hopes alive. With Fenwick holding a slim lead and looking to run out the clock, the officials called an intentional grounding penalty on Keller during the last play and awarded Plainfield North the ball and an untimed down on the Fenwick 5-yard line. The Tigers kicked a game-tying field goal. In overtime, Fenwick regained the lead at 17-10 on Conner Lillig’s 1-yard run. Dillon McCarthy scored a TD and added a two-point conversion run, lifting Plainfield North to victory. Here’s the rub:
KELLY FRUMKIN
Bad call spoils Friars’ run The Fenwick k football team finished 11-2 with a Chicago o Catholic League Green title, state ate semifinals appearance, and nd two AllState players (quarterback quarterback Jacob Keller, wide receiver Michael ael O’Laughlin) among many notable players. s. And yet 2016 will always be remembered ass the season the Friars were flat-out at-out robbed of a Class ass 6A state title gamee appearance. In the state semifiJACOB nals, Plainfield d North KELLER defeated Fenwick ick 18-17 in overtime me at Triton College ege in River Grove after fter a controversial play
43
The rules state a game gam can end on an offensive penalty (like pen Keller’s intenKel tional tiona grounding); it can’t can’ end on a defensive defensi penalty. In fact, fac the officials’ incorrect ruling shouldn’t have sh been allowed allowe since the game was over after the th clock struck triple zeros. In short, the Friars made mad the right play and should have won the t game. Fenwick appealed to the IH IHSA, but the IHSA refused to hear it and claimed that its cl by-laws would not allow a reversal of the reve
outcome. Fenwick then sued the IHSA and went to court in an effort to get the team into the finals, but that, too, failed.
Three-peat for OPRF wrestling The Huskies are in the midst of a dynasty. In honor of a third straight team state title in Class 3A, OPRF lands in our third spot this year. The Huskies defeated Marmion 33-24 in the IHSA dual team tournament. OPRF (28-3) used six seniors in the final, and the five who wrestled were victorious. The lineup had three individual 3A state champions — senior Isaiah White (30-0) at 160 pounds, junior Jason Renteria (22-0) at 120, and Allen Stallings (343) at 220 — six more top-six, all-state finishers and two additional state qualifiers. “It’s 10 times better winning a team state title than individual,” Stallings said. “These are my brothers. These are the guys I work with all year. Even though wrestling is an individual sport, it’s really all about the team at the end of the day.”
Senior guard Annie McKenna turned in a brilliant performance with 25 points on 9-of-11 shooting to power the Blazers past Whitney Young, 63-47, in the semifinal at Redbird Arena in Normal. Kaitlin Aylward rd added 20 points and six rebounds as Trinity (30-6) capped pped a tumultuous season ason (head coach Eddie die Stritzel resigned d during the season on and was replaced d by Mike Valente) e) by tying the school ool record for wins while earning the first state KAITLIN trophy in program history. AYLWARD “Everything that’s hat’s happened this year ear makes us the team we are today,” Valente said. “I know what these girls have been through and how hard they’ve worked and what they’ve overcome and how we’ve bonded as a family.”
Cronin closes career in style
Fenwick girls water polo on top Fenwick senior Catie Wallace scored the game-winning goal in a 13-12 double-overtime victory against Stevenson in the water polo state final. “It feels pretty awesome,” Wallace said of her game-winner, her 102nd goal of the season. “It was a team effort.” It was the ninth state title in the past 13 years for the Friars (30-5-1), who improved to 9-1 in state title games. Along with Wallace, Eryn Kulik, Jillian Wickham, Kelly Frumkin, Clare Durkin and Shannon Forst played key roles for the Friars. Fenwick ended the season on a 20-game winning streak, which included an upset of top-seeded/rival OPRF in a sectional final.
File photo
Grace Cronin Fenwick senior Grace Cronin, now at Notre Dame, finished her high school career last spring by winning the 300-meter hurdles at the state meet. She ran a schoolrecord time of 42.91 seconds to become the Friars’ first girls state champ in track. “That’s a good feeling. I love representing my school and it’s so nice to bring them a state championship for track,” Cronin said. “It just felt really good to finally get it. Not to fall short of it, but to actually get it.” Cronin has a program-best seven all-state medals. Continued on page 42
44
Wednesday Journal, December 28, 2016
@ @OakParkSports
SPORTS
New friendships make season bright 42
2016: Year of Champions OPRF softball and wrestling and Fenwick girls water polo were state champs
CHARDONNAY HARRIS
COurtesy Ellen Nelson
CHAMPS: The OPRF softball team went 37-2 en route to winning the Class 4A state championship. The Huskies celebrate their title with OPRF principal Nathaniel Rouse. By MARTY FARMER
C
Sports Editor
onsidering the plethora of talented high school coaches and athletes at Oak Park and River Forest, Fenwick and Trinity, it’s not surprising to have multiple state
FIONA GIRARDOT
championships won by the schools, collectively, in a given year. 2016 was certainly no exception as both the OPRF softball and wrestling teams, as well as the Fenwick girls water polo squad, each earned a state title. Stellar athletes like OPRF’s Isaiah White (wrestling/state champ), Maeve
Nelson (three-sport star) and Natalie Ungaretti (swimming/state champ); Fenwick’s Mike Smith (basketball), Jacob Keller (football/basketball) and Grace Cronin (track & field/state champ); and Trinity’s Annie McKenna See BEST on page 43
We Are Your Resolution Solution
301 Lake St.
www.TENandFiT.com
266 Lake St.