Wednesday Journal 092524

Tra c-calming comes to Gunderson

Residents express concerns about safety but data doesn’t agree

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Oak Park trustees approved a staf f recommendation to install traffic-calming measures on Gunderson Avenue after residents on the 600 block expressed concerns about excessive speed, increased traffic and general safety in the area.

“The adults on the block, and I expect this commission as well, would be completely remiss and entirely hear tbroken if we did not petition for a traffic-calming measure and one of the children on the block were struck by a speeding car,” Alissa Nowinski, a resident of that block, wrote to the transportation commission in September 2021.

Ron Burke, chair of the transportation commission, did not immediately re ply to a Wednesday Journal inquiry about the delay in action re garding those concerns.

Trustees unanimously opted for a more limited staf f recommendation that contrasted with a transpor tation commission recommendation with stronger measures. A motion to do both failed on a 3-4 vote.

Ronnie Preston, American Indian Center Cultural and Education Programs director, blesses sweet grass before harvesting by sprinkling tobacco on it at the Food is Medicine event at atcher Woods Trailside Museum on Sept. 20. See more photos on page 6. See TRAFFIC-CALMING on pa ge 10

TODD BANNOR

WEDNESD

AY

Village helps fund youth mental health services through Township

Program o

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Oak Park trustees approved an ag reement Sept. 16 between the village and Oak Park Township to help fund the youth engagement program that offers free mental health services to youth ages six to 18 across Oak Park and River Forest.

Trustees approved spending up to $15,333 annually on the program. According to Megan Traficano, the township’s youth services director, the village previously spent up to $55,000 annually on the program. The cost was able to come down after Traficano restructured the program.

The village previously participated in the program for 20 years, up until 2019, accord ing to village officials. And it left, accordin to Vanessa Matheny, the village’s community services administrator, partially because of the cost of the village’s portion.

The youth eng agement program, previously known as the youth interventionist program, was started in 1996 to address youth gang involvement, substance abuse and violence in Oak Park and River Forest, Traficano told the village board Sept. 16.

Oak Park Township

that 35 of those clients were from Oak Park, six were from River Forest and one individual is experiencing homelessness.

Today, the program provides free mental health counseling to youths experiencing anxiety or depression, crisis or trauma, behavioral issues, are involved in gangs or who need short-term mentoring. The township program provides in-school services, home visits, support groups and bilingual services

And it goes beyond that, too. The program partners with 10 taxing bodies, now including the village, and provides resources for them, too. Those include data sharing capabilities, consulting about youth needs, educational sessions and community crisis response help.

Any data shared among intergovernmental partners protects the identity of the clients, Traficano said. Data shared could be things like how many kids were treated for anxiety or depression in the last 12 months but would not include identifying information.

In August 2024, Laura Devitt, the youth eng agement program manager, said the program saw 42 clients. Their data shows

In the township’s fiscal year 2024, which is from April 1, 2023, to April 1, 2024, the program had 95 total clients

“Some of it is COVID related,” Traficano said, refer ring to an uptick in some mental health needs. “Our kids were just thrown out the window. A lot of people forgot about our kids during the pandemic. T heir whole lives stopped, changed No graduations, no proms, no dances, no plays, no seeing friends … T hey’re still struggling to this day to overcome some of those things.”

Traficano also said the program has never had a waitlist, as a lot of services provided are short-term. The focus is to stabilize clients and achieve short-term goals, she said, and then identify a need for long-term services if it exists.

The township also works with community partners, such as Thrive Counseling Center, she said. Sometimes when Thrive has a client on a waitlist, she said, the township will step in for a bit to help until a spot opens up.

“We really do work and function as a team and help each other out as best as we can because we just want to make sure the kids of the community are seen,” Traficano said.

Traficano also said the township does not charge clients’ insurance for this free program. She said it’s her understanding that townships cannot charge for mental health services. And waitlists can be long for mental health services, she said, so the township tries to help people as much as they can.

“We’ re supposed to provide the social services to the community,” she said. “That’s [for] any of our programs … That’s what we use our tax dollars [for], is to provide those services.”

Matheny also said this program will help align the village with its ef for ts to implement its alternative police response to calls for service program. That’s because the youth can also be part of 911 calls made to police. So, by having village-employed social workers collaborate with the township, the two bodies can better share data and provide accurate referrals and mental health services.

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GOOGLE MAPS

Sip & Stroll

Wednesday, Sept. 25, 9 a.m.,

The Co ee Shop Oak Park

Moms, join us for a morning of connection, ca eine, and casual strolling. Start at Co ee Shop Oak Park and end at Randolph Tot Lot with a playground. Bring your stroller if you like and invite your friends. 163 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park

Supported Storytime and Family Social Hour

Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

This storytime is designed for children with disabilities, ages 3+ with caregiver support. Structured with visual schedules, the session includes picture books, songs, and movement activities. Sensory supports like lap weights and dget toys are provided to assist children in enjoying the experience. Siblings are welcome. Learn more and register at oppl.org/ calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park

The OK Classic

Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Veterans Park

The OK Classic is a full-on, fun, and competitive co- ed, 14-inch softball tournament with a focus on inclusion. On the eld, we feature a 16-team softball tournament. O the eld, we feature a festival atmosphere with fun for everyone. All together in bene t of the warriors at Opportunity Knocks. 7550 W. 26th St., North Riverside

West Side Stories Walk

Saturday, Sept. 28, 10–11:30 a.m., Edgewood Place

Join The Historical Society of Oak Park-River Forest for a repeat of the popular West Side Stories neighborhood walk. Explore Edgewood Place and Thatcher Avenue, home to remarkable architecture and village history. Hear stories of past residents and the renowned architects who shaped this area. Register at oprfmuseum.org. Corner of Edgewood Place and Lake Street, River Forest

BIG WEEK

September 25- Oc tober 2

Kids Chess Class

Saturday, Sept. 28, 11:30 a.m., Oak Park Public Library

Green Living: Learning from Your Neighbors

Sunday, Sept. 29, 1:30 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

Interested in greening your home or lifestyle but not sure where to start? Join this event, part presentation, part information fair, to hear stories and ask questions from neighbors who have taken various green steps. Topics include hybrid and electric cars, home audits, solar panels, Community Solar programs, and more. 834 Lake St., Oak Park

Comedy Mirror

Friday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m., Madison Street Theater

Chicago Chess Academy hosts weekly chess sessions for kids ages 6-12. Learn and play in a fun, safe, and supportive environment, no experience needed. Sign up for each session you plan to attend. Classes will build skills, but you do not need to attend every time to bene t. 834 Lake St., Oak Park

Literary Themed Yoga Event & Book Launch

Saturday, Sept. 28, 12:30 p.m., YogaSix Oak Park

Join New York Times published author Ashley Jordan and certi ed yoga instructor Kristen Wojhan for a literary-themed yoga workshop. Ashley will read from her new book Unhappy Achiever, while Kristen leads a heart-opening yoga ow. The $40 entry fee includes a copy of the book. Call 708-328-3780 or sign up at https://tinyurl.com/555c52pc. 1006 Lake St., Oak Park

Join us for an evening of hilarious stand-up comedy, where you will connect and laugh along with comedians sharing their crazy life experiences. No need to head downtown for top-notch comedy. Doors open at 7 p.m. and general admission tickets are $15. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/43xt7pcn. 1010 Madison St., Oak Park

Compiled by Brooke Duncan

Listing your event

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

■ Email details to calendar@wjinc.com

Oak Park approves energy-e ciency grant program

The

program will aid low- and moderate-income households

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Oak Park’s village board unanimously approved the use of Community Development Block Grant funds to org anize a new energy-efficiency grant progr am for low- and moderate-income households star ting Oct. 1.

The village has previously done three residential energy-efficiency programs. Started in 2021, these programs supported energy-efficiency upgrades for multi-family buildings, small rental buildings and single-family homes, according to village officials. Funds for those programs were fully allocated.

The new program will offer a maximum of$5,000 to residents looking to reduce their home energy consumption to offset the financial burden on lower-income homeowners. According to village officials, these improvements help provide

savings on utility bills, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“The $5,000 would still cover a fair amount ofenergy-efficiency upgrades that could be done for an individual household, but also allow the village to be able to serve more households,” said Jonathan Burch, the village’s neighborhood services director. Previous village energy-efficiency programs of fered a maximum of $10,000.

Residents must qualify to participate. They’ll need to provide proofofproperty ownership, energy-efficiency improvements and be income eligible, meaning they make less than 80% ofthe area’s median income. Upon completion of applicable work, the participant will submit a request for reimbursement fo rm.

T he village will cover costs for supplies and installation. That includes aid with insulation, weather stripping, conservation costs, energy-efficient lighting and windows, high-efficiency f aucets, elec-

tric heating and cooling, upgraded water heaters and air sealing, according to village of ficials

Sustainability and resiliency is one of the six goals Oak Park’s village board laid out for 2024-2025. In Climate Ready Oak Park, the village has stated its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The total amount budgeted for the new program from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2025, is $100,000, all coming from grant funding.

CDBG funds must be used to meet one of three objectives: to benefit low- and moderate-income individuals, to aid in the prevention or elimination ofslums or to meet a need having urgency. Burch also said that any unspent funds could be reallocated to future programs.

Trustee Ravi Parakkat said he thinks a roadblock with previous village energyefficiency programs was the availability for residents to participate. He said he’d

like to make it easier or more practical for folks to have the work done even with scheduling constraints.

Trustee Cory Wesley asked ifthe village could provide residents with a list of typically re putable contractors for the energy-efficiency work Burch said the closest the village can do is to provide a list ofentities that have signed up to help residents with the work, but can’ t directly say which to support

“Often people don’t do things because they don’t know where to start,” Wesley said, echoing Parakkat, who said it would be beneficial to provide participants with additional information and resources from ComEd or other entities about making their homes energy efficient in a cost-effective way. Ifthe program runs out of grant funds allocated, Trustee Brian Straw said, he would be supportive of village staf f coming back to the board to make the case for additional funds.

Ronnie Preston, American Indian Center Cultural and Education Programs director relates the legend of sweet event at atcher Woods Trailside Museum on Sept. 20. Participant (right) blesses sweet grass by sprinking tobacco.

S BY TODD A. BANNOR

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PHOTO

Sankofa Wellness Village holds groundbreaking for new center

The rst part of the Madison Street project will be the Sankofa Wellness Center

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Public officials, partners, funders and nearly 200 others attended the Sankofa Wellness Center groundbreaking Sept. 16 in West Garfield Park

The Sankofa Wellness Center at 4305 W. Madison St. is the first part of the larger Sankofa Wellness Village. Its construction aims to improve the health of Garfield Park residents, who on average live 13 years less than those in Chicago’s Loop five miles east, according to officials.

“Garfield Park is a beacon of light and resiliency, despite having the lowest life expectancy in the re gion,” said Ayesha Jaco, executive director of hospital collaborative West Side United. “We believe that Garfield Park, and the entire re gion, has the right to inherit communities that will increase healthcare access, jobs and career pathways that generate wealth, small business capital and support that lead to stronger and new businesses like Fillmore Linen.”

Expected to be completed by the fall of 2025, the Sankofa Wellness Center — in addition to providing a health center with primary medical, behavioral, dental and re productive care — will house a gym, credit union, programs for childhood development and health education, mental health services and training for health care workers.

“This investment along the Madison corridor is long overdue,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said at the groundbreaking. “This area once thrived with businesses and activity, and tod ay’s groundbreaking is just the beginning of a larger revitalization.”

Other public officials attended the groundbreaking, along with Sankofa Wellness Center’s partners Erie Family Health Centers, Rush University System for Health, and the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. Many of those who spoke praised the community ef fort that it took to get the Sankofa Wellness Village of f the ground.

“This center is a powerful symbol of what community-led projects can achieve when we bring together all of our partners,” Johnson said.

“To have this big collaboration of public, private, nonprofits, community-led — the vision that’s being implemented here just shows how powerful we are and how much we need

Marshall Hatch Jr., co-founder of the MAAFA Redemption Project and board chair of Gar eld Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative, with members of the MAAFA Redemption Project.

each other,” said State Senator Lakeisa Collins

The Sankofa Wellness Center was largely funded by the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, which gave $10 million to the wellness center’s ownership team: the West Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative, which includes several West Side groups, plus the Community Builders and MAAFA Redemption Project.

At the groundbreaking, Johnson said the City of Chi-

cago is investing over $7 million in the Sankofa Wellness Village.

The 50,000-square-foot Sankofa Wellness Village will be more than just the Sankofa Wellness Center. It also aims to address the root causes of the health disparity in Garfield Park by including recreation services, financial and business support, plus access to the arts and healthy food.

About $8 million of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation’s donation will go toward the Sankofa Wellness Center. The rest will fund other portions of a larger Sankofa Wellness Village. These include the MAAFA Center for Arts and Acvism — a spot for workforce development and arts inside a renovated New Mount Missionary Baptist Church — a business incubator, and the Community Grocer Initiative, which is a series of pop-up markets.

“Today is the beginning of the realization of a long-held dream and vision for this community,” said Illinois Senate President Don Harmon. “A community with better health outcomes when people are able to easily access care, exercise, and to purchase healthy food. A community with a vibrant art scene, creating performance opportunities for residents and drawing visitors from other neighborhoods. A community that trains up young leaders, preparing them for successful careers.”

“West Garfield Park is an amazing community,” said Ald. Jason Ervin of the 28th Ward, which covers most of Garfield Park. “While it has not had the resources that others have had, our time is now.”

“West Garfield Park is on the move,” Ald. Ervin added. “West Garfield Park will continue to rise.”

JESSICA MORDACQ

Public o cials help break ground on the Sankofa Wellness Center, the rst part of the Sankofa Wellness Village.

BERNARD LILLY SR.

Bey re ects on Summer Olympic experience

Former OPRF student participated in Greco-Roman wrestling

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

For for mer Oak Park and River Forest High School wrestler Kamal Bey, being in Paris to take pa in the Summer Olympics last month is something he wo

“An amazing experience and super-e -opening,” said Bey, who was at OPRF last week to conduct a the Beat the Streets wrestling club. “Being surrounded so many great athletes is always a huge honor. Being present America, the Ar my, and Illinois is everything I’ always wanted to do.” Bey, who competed for the Huskies from 2012 through 2015, moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado just before what would have been his senior year to train at the U.S. Olympic Training

S AMANTHA SMART

Former OPRF wrestler Kamal Bey addresses participants at a Beat e Streets wrestling clinic, held Sept. 12 at the high school. Bey competed in the Greco-Roman 77-kilogram weight class at the Summ

participants at the

pion in the 74-kilo gram weight division at the 2017 Junior World Championships.

Moving up to 77 kilo grams, Bey was a gold medalist at the 2018 and 2019 U.S. Open championships; the 2019 U.S. national championships; the 2023 Pan American championships; and the 2023 Pan American Games.

At this year’s World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey, Bey initially just missed out on qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team, losing a qualifying playof f match and becoming the first alternate. But then

“Due to the International Olympic Committee’s vetting process, the wrestler who previously had the qualifying spot was ineligible,” Bey said. “So I got bumped up into that spot.”

In his opening match, Bey faced Akzhol Makhmudov of Kazakhstan. Though he lost 3-1 and was eliminated from the singleelimination tournament, he appreciated his journey to Paris.

“It was a super-g reat experience,” he said. “It’s always good to go through something like that once so you’ re more prepared for the next time around.”

Speaking ofthe next time around, the next S ummer Olympics take p lace in 2028 in L os Angeles. Th at ’s something Bey is targeting

“Oh yeah, absolutely,” he said. “That’s what I’m g etting ready fo r.”

But first, he’s preparing for the Military World Championships in Armenia, which take place in November. And Bey, who also played football at OPRF, is proud of one ofhis for mer teammates who’s also doing well.

“Dallis [Flowers] was always a superstar talent,” he said. “It makes sense that he would end up playing for the Indianapolis Colts. I wish him good luck in his career. … It’s about the journey to get to your destination and Dallis is where he wants to be.”

Bey has a simple message for the current OPRF wrestlers and football players.

“Remember the hard work that the people who built the gym and field up, who gave us our name,” he said. “They worked hard, so you have to work hard too.”

S AMANTHA SMAR

Bey (le ) instructs

Beat e Streets wrestling clinic.

TRAFFICData does

MISSING�

Rain �Liquid Precipitation)

Description: Liquid falling from the sky, known to be wet and create puddles, and allow plants to grow.

Last seen of substance on August 27th. If found, contact the detectives (meteorologists).

As of this writing �Sept. 20�, we received 0.04 inches of rain this month. Larger storms, more intense heat and droughts, more volatility: all indicate we need to be prepared for continued anomalies. We desperately need rain and even the most seasoned landscapes are suffering. Plants are getting stressed, which weakens them and makes them more prone to disease and insect pressure.

Whether trees, shrubs, perennials, or turf, all are struggling. So, what can you do?

1. If you water your turf, water deeply �45�60 minutes per area) twice a week to allow deep saturation of soils.

2. Provide supplemental irrigation to trees, shrubs, and perennials.

3. A fresh layer of mulch in beds will help the soil retain moisture and decrease evaporation, and retain some surface moisture.

4. Area-wide turf damage will likely result in spots, so repairing the turf this fall will be critical for a healthy, spring lawn. Even when moisture returns, there is a possibility that plants and turf will struggle. If you have concerns or need help revitalizing your landscape, we are one call away!

Forest Park • 708-771-2299 www.mcadamlandscape.com

The transportation commission viewed the resident petitions April 8. The commission voted 5-0 to ploying temporary speed radar feedback signs and installing paint and post bumpouts, or curb extensions, according to village officials. The commission proposed bump-outs at son Avenue and Adams Street.

But village bump-out recommendation said their data shows the intersection has neither a speeding issue nor accidents, and it has a low number of pedestrians that cross there, Village told trustees Sept. 16.

There have b 600 block of Gunderson five-year period, he said. And there’s an erage of 400 cars per day on Gunderson enue, which is lo dential streets, he told the He added that drivers on the street are going 27-miles-per-hour ther

The car volume, speed and pedestrian data was collected May 16, 2023, but McKenna said it was compared to historical data on that block, as well.

Instead, village staf f recommended installing a paint-and-post pinch point on Gunderson Avenue south of the alley next to Madison Street. Pinch points nar row the roadway mid-block. McKenna said this could serve as a visual indication to drivers that they are entering a residential neighborhood and should slow down.

The transportation commission’s recommendation would cost approximately $7,000. Village staf f’s recommendation is expected to cost about $3,000. The village has available funds to cover the improvements as part of the 2024 capital improvement fund budget.

Burke said the village staf f recommendation of pinch points were not discussed at the commission’s meeting in April, but he’s supportive of it and believes the commission would be, too.

Many streets are designed to create a better traffic flow for cars, Burke said. But across a lot of Oak Park, he said the village could benefit from implementing traffic calming measures and improving residents’ safety.

“We are kind of awakening, in some

ways, to traffic safety risks, in ways that we hadn’t before,” Burke said. “We had sort of overlooked them as a society … Our tolerance for that kind of risk is dropping.”

During discussions, Trustee Susan Buchanan said she wondered why this block is getting special attention while others don’t.

Burke said the village doesn’t have the capacity to identify and treat all the areas that might need traffic calming measures yet, so in the meantime, they focus on the areas where residents are petitioning for changes, and where there is community buy-in. Ideally, there will be a way to prioritize these ef for ts later, Burke said, but for now, this is a chance to pilot treatments, see what works and better inform decisions.

“I have no problem making cars go slower and would really hesitate to vote against anything like that,” Buchanan said.

Trustee Brian Straw said he would like both the transportation commission and village staff’s recommendations to be implemented. Trustee Cory Wesley agreed, saying that if residents feel that people are driving too fast on their street, it’s likely the case.

“Way too many [cars] drive way too fast on our streets and it’s apparent to me every day when I sit on my porch,” Wesley said.

“I have no problem doing both,” Trustee Chibuike Enyia ag reed, too. “Trying to figure out any ways that we can slow some people down and making sure that we’re able to have some calming around those areas, I’m open to.”

Village President Vicki Scaman said she’s not sure this is the best intersection to study, and recommended the village look into measures at Ridgeland Avenue and Adams Street or Oak Park Avenue and Adams Street.

“For a lot of the residents, they’re going to see some change, and they’re going to be like ‘Cool,’” she said. “I’d rather test something like this on a street … where we’re going to know what the impact is a little bit more.”

Straw, Wesley and Enyia voted to implement both the transportation commission’s and village staf f’s recommendation, but with only three votes in favor, the motion failed. Then the entire board voted in favor of implementing the staf f’s nar rower recommendation.

GOOGLE MAPS

View of Gunderson Avenue looking north from Adams Street.

Scott McAdam Jr.

Oak Park celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

The second annual ¡Viva! Festival will be held Sept. 28 at village hall

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

The second annual ¡Viva! Festival celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Oak Park will feature entertainment, food and activities showcasing various Latin American cultures

The event will be from noon to 3 p.m. Sept 28 on Oak Park Village Hall’s south lawn at 123 Madison St. National Hispanic Heritage Month is from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. According to a village news release, the month celebrates Americans whose ancestors are from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Anyone is welcome to attend the free event. At the festival, dancers from the Center of Peruvian Arts will perfor m at noon and then the Trabuco Salsa Band will perform from 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Attendees can also expect local food trucks or vendors, face painters and a pinata, according to the release Danielle Walker, the village’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, said community members helped to organize the festival in partnership with her team.

“[We’re] really excited to partner with them,” Walker said. “They really were such a wonderful group to work with because of their passion and dedication to … celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.”

Community members are also welcome to volunteer to help with this festival or pitch other events to Walker’s office, she said. Events like this can help the community be responsive to other’s needs and grow in collective cultural awareness, Walker said, and pointed out her office is always open to new ideas.

The ¡Viva! Festival will be similar to last year’s, Walker said, which had great community attendance with more than 400 individuals participating. She said she expects a similar turnout this time around. Vendors were reaching out in the spring about the festival, she said, wanting to be involved

“When we’re thinking about how are we

really living the values of a diverse and equitable and inclusive community, it’s so important to embed ourselves with them and [lear n] more about the different cultures that represent and make Oak Park so diverse,” she said. “It’s such a great opportunity to get to witness the meaning that it has for [community] members who identify along the Hispanic, Latinx spectrum.”

The village is, however, still finalizing which food vendors will be participating, but Walker said attendees can expect items like tacos, empanadas and ice cream. The festival is a great time for the community to come together and welcome everyone, Walker said.

“The energy is so uplifting and such a powerful reminder about what we all can do when we come together,” she said. “It’s really, really important for people of all backgrounds to come out, to celebrate, to learn and engage with other diverse community members.”

Oak Park’s village board also read a proclamation celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month during its Sept. 16 meeting

“The Village of Oak Park is a community with a significant population of Hispanic and Latino descendants who enhance the rich diversity of our community and it is the responsibility of our community to celebrate this historic event to deepen and strengthen our cultural ties,” the proclamation states.

And Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs presented a Hispanic Heritage Month award to Antonio Martinez, Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Oak ParkRiver Forest Community Foundation. Martinez received an award for outstanding commitment to community service, according to an Illinois State Treasurer’s Office news release. Frerichs presented awards to eight Latino leaders.

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High court: Smell of burned cannabis is not cause for warrantless vehicle search

The state supreme court rules unanimously in case stemming from 2020 tra c stop

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois

Law enforcement officers in Illinois cannot rely on the smell of bur nt cannabis alone to justify searching a vehicle without a warrant, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled on Thursday.

The decision was unanimous, though Justice Lisa Holder White did not take part in it. Writing for the court, Justice P. Scott Neville pointed to Illinois’ landmark 2019 law legalizing recreational cannabis, which decriminalized the possession of the drug up to 30 grams.

“The laws on cannabis have changed in such a drastic way as to render the smell of bur nt cannabis, standing alone, insufficient to provide probable cause for a police officer to search a vehicle without a warrant,” Neville wrote in a 20-page opinion.

The case stems from September 2020, when Ryan Redmond was pulled over by an Illinois State Police trooper on Interstate 80 in Henry County, just east of the Quad Cities. Redmond’s license plate was alle gedly not properly secured to his vehicle, and he was driving three miles above the speed limit, according to court records.

But during the interaction, the trooper alle gedly smelled bur nt cannabis in Redmond’s vehicle and upon searching the vehicle, he found approximately a gram of cannabis in the car’s center console.

Redmond was later charged with a misdemeanor for failure to transport cannabis in an odor-proof container.

The court found that the trooper’s detection of the “burnt cannabis” odor in the vehicle “certainly established reasonable suspicion to investigate further,” but noted that the officer’s further investigation yielded nothing more, including no signs that Redmond’s driving was impaired. Therefore, Neville wrote, the officer ’s reasonable suspicion should have never advanced to “probable cause to search.”

Though the court acknowledged the trooper’s initial suspicion that Redmond could’ve “smoked cannabis in the car at some point” was not out of the realm of possibility, Neville pointed out that the officer not only “observed no signs of impairment” but also found no drug paraphernalia or evidence of cannabis use in the car on further investigation.

The trooper “also did not smell the odor of bur nt cannabis on Redmond, which undercuts the reasonable belief that Redmond had recently smoked cannabis inside the vehicle while on an Illinois highway,” the opinion said.

The court heard Redmond’s case in January, alongside

arguments in a related case focused on the section in Illinois law that requires cannabis be stored in a sealed, odorproof container if being transported in a car.

In that case, an Illinois State Police trooper pulled over a car for speeding in rural Whiteside County, also near the Quad Cities, and then arrested the passenger of the vehicle for unlawful possession of cannabis. According to court records, Vincent Molina’s December 2020 arrest came after the officer found a small box of rolled joints in a vehicle search predicated on the smell of raw cannabis in the car, though Molina told the officer he had a medical cannabis card.

Though the Supreme Court heard the cases in consolidated arguments earlier this year, the justices only ruled on Redmond’s case Thursday. The decision briefly mentioned the Molina case in a footnote saying the court was not addressing “the validity of the odor-proof container requirement” in the Redmond decision.

Ahead of the joint oral arguments in January, national and state-level chapters of the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed a brief in support of Molina and Redmond, writing that allowing the odor of cannabis as cause for searching a vehicle will lead to biased enforcement against Black and Latino Illinoisans.

“There is a decades-long pattern of police in this state

using pretext like cannabis odor to disproportionately stop and search Black and Latino drivers,” the brief reads. Illinois’ stop and search policy “unfairly subjects (Black and Latino drivers) to at-will intrusions of their privacy and rele gates them to second-class citizenry.”

The organizations argued the legalization of cannabis means its presence is not indicative of contraband or crime.

Last Thursday’s opinion also noted that other states ag ree, holding up a Kansas Supreme Court decision from earlier this year as an example. High courts in other states, including Minnesota, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Vermont have ruled similarly, though Wisconsin’s Supreme Court decided the opposite in a 2023 ruling.

Other states have also passed laws prohibiting warrantless searches of vehicles based solely on the smell of cannabis. But a similar ef fort in Illinois stalled last year as the Redmond and Molina cases were pending.

Dilpreet Raju contributed.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service cov ering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCor mick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.

Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Wa es adds BYOB

They ’re taking advantage of the village’s new nod to corkage fees

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

When it comes to liquor in Oak Park, the times they are a-changing. The village has had BYO (bring your own) licenses since 2018. But recently, the law was amended to allow establishments to charge a corkage fee, something that they couldn’t do before.

Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles was the first to secure this new license.

“The fact that Oak Park cares enough about its restaurants, small business owners, to say, hey, we want you guys to be able to generate some income of f of BYOB, we really appreciate that thoughtfulness,” said Tonya Johnson, co-owner of Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles.

The change is part of the village’s probusiness plans.

“We are looking at the liquor code and modernizing it from the lens of economic vitality and nightlife,” said Emily Egan, the village’s development services director. “We want to make sure that our restaurants can be competitive with restaurants in other villages.”

Tonya Johnson and her husband Darnell opened their restaurant at 543 Madison St. in Oak Park in 2010. It was their second location, with the first in Chicago’s Bronzeville.

The license allows customers to bring in beer or wine only. That’s fine with Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles.

“Our slogan is ‘welcome to our home.’ When people come in, we want them to have that homey feeling,” Tonya Johnson said.

“We get so many customers saying I can’t believe my grandma’s not in the kitchen.”

The menu is full of authentic sold food without a lot of frills, according to Johnson. A five-e gg omelet is the star of breakfast. For dinner there are specials, like the

See WAFFLES on pa ge 15

Quila Wembley, manager, Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Wa es

River Forest alters parking on Park

O cials attempt to address concerns of those living near Dominican University

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

River Forest officials responded to complaints from some residents living near Dominican University by approving an ordinance at the Sept. 23 Village Board meeting that adds parking restrictions on Park Avenue near the school’s River Forest campus

Residents Gerri Humbert and Pierangela Murphy first raised concerns about parking in their neighborhood at the Sept. 9 village board meeting, then they and other residents repeated their concerns at the Sept. 18 traffic and safety commission meeting and presented a petition supporting their claims.

Humbert, who spoke in favor of the proposed change at the Sept. 23 meeting, as did fellow resident Michael Anderson, said the petition had been signed by residents of ev-

ery house on their block with the exception of one neighbor who is out of the country.

In a memo to Matt Walsh, village administrator, Jack Bielak, director of public works and engineering, explained that staff members had received inquiries from residents expressing concerns about parking and safety along Park near the campus following the start of the school year, leading to discussions with residents and Dominican representatives. During those discussions, Dominican officials acknowledged their parking challenges and shared that other operational changes or solutions were being considered.

At issue is parking on the west side of Park, which currently has no parking restrictions, and parking on the east side of Park, which is prohibited. The east side is residential with several driveways accessing single family homes.

Walsh said the goal of the changes is to direct Dominican students and staff members to park on campus

At the commission meeting, residents explained why they believed resident-only parking was the only way to relieve congestion on the street and provide residents with parking

on their block, Bielak said. After discussing options to address the concerns, commissioners recommended modifying parking regulations on Park to “residential parking only on weekdays from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on school days only from Division Street to Greenfield Street on the west side of Park.”

When it came up for a vote Sept. 9, however, officials debated the language of the recommendation with trustee Rescipio Vazquez suggesting that “school days” be expanded to “Dominican University school days” to better reflect the intent of the change and relax parking restrictions when classes are not in session, such as over winter break. However, trustees Erika Bachner and Bob O’Connell took it a step further and suggested changing “school days” to “Monday through Friday” and make the restrictions year round.

Trustee Katie Brennan questioned identifying Greenfield as the northern boundary of the parking zone. Not only is Greenfield an offset intersection at Park but the entrance to the Dominican parking lot also is there. Humbert also noted that parking restrictions are different with parking prohibited in one section and restricted in another

Officials compromised by establishing the northern boundary of the parking zone from Greenfield to “the south end of the Dominican University driveway” and approved the revised ordinance unanimously.

Bielak explained that the village board in July 2020 had adopted an ordinance that implemented the recommendations of the commuter parking study. The study analyzed several neighborhoods in the village, including Dominican and the surrounding residential area. One of the options in the study recommended removing the two-hour parking limit on Park along the university. The stated objective was to compress parking impacts to campus objectives rather than on other residential blocks further from campus

In response to a question from trustee Ken Johnson, Walsh said the ordinance will take effect as soon as new signs can be erected. He added that police would be issuing warning tickets for a brief period to allow drivers to adjust to the new restrictions

Village President Cathy Adduci thanked Dominican officials for working with the village to address the issue and thanked residents for working with the university.

Village waives inspection fee for water meters in lead line replacement program

No cost for low- to moderate-income households who qualify

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Village trustees waived the inspection fee for new water meters as part of the lead line replacement program for low- to moderateincome households in Oak Park.

T he village progr am re places lead water service lines with copper ones for households making less than 80% of the area median income. Funding for the program comes from Community Development Block Grant funds. For those who

WAFFLES

Ma Betty which comes with salmon, catfish or chicken, three sides and co rnbread. Choosing sides is harder than you’d think: candied yams, collard greens, mac and cheese, Cajun rice and beans, rice and gravy, potato salad, are all among the options.

They serve a full menu all day long.

“If you want to have breakfast at 10 p.m. you can. Or if you want to have a full-blown dinner at eight o’clock in the morning, you can have that too,” Johnson said In fact, it’s that all-day vibe that was the genesis of the magic combination of fried chicken and waffles.

“Chicken and waffles became popular back in the day, like in the ‘20s,” Johnson said. People would leave jazz clubs in the early morning hours unsure of whether they wanted breakfast or dinner, “so they started combining chicken and waffles and it just took of f like crazy and spread through the South.”

Dessert can’t be missed. They serve the Southern triumvirate of peach cobbler, banana pudding and sweet potato pie.

qualify, there’s no cost to participate. A full income table can be found online.

This year, the size of the water line is increasing, according to Jonathan Burch, the village’s neighborhood services director, so the water meters also have to be re placed to fit the new pipe size. Trustees waived the fee associated with inspection of new water meters, $250, for program participants in 2024 and 2025, according to village of ficials.

The fee could not be paid by CDBG funds, according to village officials, and could have presented a financial burden to the low- to moderate-income households the program works to help with this work

For 2025, the proposed capital improvement plan allocates $100,000 for this program, which allows the village to assist 10 to 12 households. In 2024, the village aided 14.

The village said it hopes that the new license provisions are a sweetener for other restaurants as well. Ciro on Pleasant Street in Oak Park has already gotten one.

“We are going to provide information to restaurants that would be eligible,” Egan said. “That’s a routine process whenever we change the code just to make sure that they know they’re eligible and it could be an option for them.”

“It’s going to help our fellow restaurant owners,” Johnson said. “We’ re a small group and we have to all band together. I’m hoping more people will come out and enjoy some BYOB in the community.”

Address: 543 Madison St., Oak Park Hours:

Sunday: 8 a.m. – 8:45 p.m.

Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 8:45 p.m.

Friday – Saturday: 9 a.m. – 9:45 p.m.

Chance the Rapper buys lunch for West Side students

Raising Cane’s donated $100K to SocialWorks, a nonpro t that empowers local youth

By ATAVIA REED Contributing Reporter

Dozens of Michele Clark High School seniors gathered near their new state-of-the-art football field earlier this month for a special surprise: hot lunch from Raising Cane’s served by Chance the Rapper.

The South Side rapper teamed up with Raising serve two-piece chicken finger combos from a food truck. In side the principal’s office, Chance shared another treat the intercom.

“There is no homework tonight,” Chance said. “This has already been signed off by Principal Anderson and now Principal Chance the Rapper.”

Raising Cane’s donated $100,000 to SocialWorks day to aid the nonprofit’s mission to empower young through the performing and literary arts, education civic engagement. Chance founded SocialWorks in 2016 with friends Justin Cunningham and Essence Smith.

Chance stopped by the chicken chain’s Wrigleyville shop 3700 N. Clark St., to accept the donation and serve customers before visiting the West Side school.

Michele Clark High School, 5101 W. Harrison St., is one of local schools the rapper supports through his nonprofit “This $100,000 donation to SocialWorks will help continue empowering Chicago youth and providing them with opportunities to thrive,” said Todd Graves, CEO of Raising Cane’s. “Chance and his team have made such a positive impact in the community, and I’m looking forward to seeing all the lives he continues to change through SocialWorks.”

no one cares,” Anderson said. “I’m hoping the message ets across that people care and we’re here with you.” he $100,000 donation from Raising Cane’s comes days afelease of the Grammy Award-winning rapper’s newest single, “3333.” The song, which he said was “recorded and dropped maybe a day later,” intimately reveals how the rapper sold 3,333 tickets at the Minnesota State Fair — a venue that can hold 14,000 people.

people lined up early in the morning to greet him outside the Wrigleyville restaurant was “a reminder of peole supporting me,” Chance said.

Initiatives at SocialWorks like the New Chance: Arts & Literature Fund and the Kids of the Kingdom summer camp “have been a great connector and community builder,” Chance said in a brief interview.

SocialWorks partnered with Michele Clark in 2019 to launch My State of Mind, a program that prioritizes mental health wellness. The goal is to continue expanding on those existing programs, Chance said. Donations, both small and large, help make that possible.

“I think the fact that Raising Cane’s was able to see SocialWorks and say, ‘We want to collaborate and bring a platform to what you guys are doing,’ is dope,” Chance said. “It’s also

Chance the Rapper founded SocialWorks in 2016 with friends Justin Cunning ham (le ) and Essence

them doing their part.”

Students at Michele Clark have been participating in Good Looking Out, a workshop that promotes mental health wellness and teaches students how to help each other, Principal Charles Anderson said. September is Suicide Awareness Month.

Chance’s food truck visit was “amazing” and will hopefully convey to students that there are people who care about them, Anderson said.

“I’m hoping they’ll see that they’re not alone,” Anderson said. “A lot of times, when people are experiencing suicidal thoughts or having a mental health crisis, they feel isolated

eel like when you do take those chances to live in your ose and be brave, good things come,” Chance said. “The that this [donation] is coming right after is a huge blessing to SocialWorks. I think it’s a reminder of the community e been building and what we’re building around It’s a testament to me, but also to Raising Cane’s as a patron and supporter of SocialWorks, and a huge signal that SocialWorks is doing great things.”

Earlier this year, Chance hosted a spring concert at the Ramova T heatre in Bridg eport to raise funds for his nonprofit Chance, Jennifer Hudson and Quincy Jones were among the investors and co-owners who gave the for mer movie house a $30 million makeover and transformed it into an 1,800-capacity concert hall and events space.

One of the South Side rapper’s dreams is to bring events other than concerts to the venue hall, he said.

“In terms of sound, house lighting [and] the overall feel and aesthetic of the theater, to me, it’s the best room to play for that size for 1,800 people,” Chance said. “I think it could be configured in a lot of different ways, from traditional concerts, all the way over to comedy or theatrical shows.”

ATAVIA REED/BLOCK C LU B CHIC AGO t SocialWorks.

ATAVIA REED/BLOCK C LU B CHIC AGO

Smith (right).

ree men with guns rob Oak Park resident

On Sept. 16, an Oak Park resident was working on the 600 block of Clinton Avenue when a black Ford Escape stopped in front of his work van. Three men with handguns got out of the car and “announced a robbery.” The men ordered the Oak Parker to get on the ground and went through his pockets. The men stole two cell phones, a black wallet with debit cards and a key ring. The men got back in the car and were last seen southbound in the alley. The estimated loss is $2,000.

Armed robbery

On Sept. 19 on the 700 block of Linden Avenue, a man approached a Beach Park resident and displayed a firearm, demanding their property. The victim handed over a Samsung cellphone, an iPhone and a wallet containing money and other items. The man fled in a white crossover SUV/hatchback and was last seen heading north on Oak Park Avenue. One of the phones was later recovered near Elmwood Avenue and Division Street. The estimated loss is $1,900.

Criminal damage to property

Someone got into a local’s apar tment through an unlocked door between Sept. 17 and 18 on the 400 block of South Maple Avenue. The person damaged a framed movie poster and a television set. The estimated damage is $1,600.

Attempted theft

A man attempted to steal a Chicag o resident’s pizza out of their hands wh il e riding a Divvy bike Sept. 18 on the 0 – 100 block of Chicago Avenue. T he man fled after failing and was last seen ridin g west on Chicago Avenue.

Catalytic converter theft

Someone stole the catalytic converter from an Oak Park resident’s 2008 Honda Fit on Sept. 18 on the 800 block of Ontario Street. The estimated loss is $1,200.

Burglary

■ A man entered a Berwyn resident’s white 2013 Nissan work van Sept. 16 on the 800 block of Washington Boulevard. The man stole a wallet with credit cards, a driver’s license and money. He then got into a tan Dodge minivan and drove away. The estimated loss is $2,050.

■ Someone shattered the rear drive r’s s ide wind ow of an Oak Pa rk resident’s 2018 Toyota Corolla b etween Sept. 16 and 17 on the 100 block of North Humphrey Avenue. T he person then stole a pin k stun g un. T he estimated loss and d amage are $400.

Motor vehicle theft

■ Someone stole an Oak Park resident’s silver 2014 Ford Escape between Sept. 16 and 18 on the 100 block of North Humphrey Avenue. The estimated loss is $12,000.

■ Someone got into an Oak Park resident’s unlocked garage between Sept. 17

and 18 on the 900 block of Hayes Avenue. The person then stole a silver 2017 Honda CR-V. The estimated loss is $20,000.

Arrests

A 51-year-old Chicago man was arrested Sept. 18 on the 400 block of South Maple Avenue for domestic battery to an Oak Park resident. The man was held for bond hearings.

These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department re ports dated Sept. 16 –20 and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Luzane Draughon

Infant Welfare Society welcomes new executive director

John McIlwain says he leads with a passion for social justice

By ZOË TAKAKI Contributing Reporter

John McIlwain said he has wanted to help people since he was young.

“I decided at the age of 12 that I was going to become a minister. The minister at my church put his hand on my head, and he said, ‘I won’t be surprised if this kid preaches someday,’” McIlwain said.

And he did. But the job behind the pulpit led McIlwain through a circuitous route in his career that serendipitously led him to the Infant Welfare Society. The 59-year-old Oak Park resident started his job Se pt. 3 as executive director of Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society

“John is a values-driven executive leader focused on and experienced in evolving organizations to adapt to changes in their environment” said Suzanna Schrader, president of the OPRF IWS Board of Director s.

McIlwain said commitment to social justice makes him the right person for the job.

been successful, hear what the staf f says needs to change,” he said.

McIlwain said he has clear goals as executive director, including increasing the usage of the clinic, strengthening the brand and building a more sustainable business model.

“The infant Welfare Society has been one of the one of the not-for-profit organizations that embodies the persona of Oak Park — an incredibly caring, giving a community that in general has a higher level of disposable income in general population, and really does care about using those resources in a way to make society better,” McIlwain said.

Growing up, McIlwain saw the church as a way to help people as well.

“Many of us start with an upper hand, and some of us start in a de cit, and I know that the Infant Welfare Society is one of the social responses to that de cit.”

JOHN MCILWAIN IWS executive direc tor

“Many of us start with an upper hand, and some of us start in a deficit, and I know that the Infant Welfare Society is one of the social responses to that deficit,” he said.

McIlwain said his ministerial skills as a listener will benefit him in this position.

“I think it’s important for me to listen to hear what has been done, hear what has

“What drove me to become ordained was the civil rights movement,” McIlwain said. “I’m too young to have marched, but while I was developing into a more cognizant member of society, reading newspapers, and watching TV, I began to really believe that the world is unfair, and that there were certain segments of society that were just not given a fair shot.”

He said he committed to trying to right those wrongs, and saw the church as an institution that had the ability to do that.

After growing up in Margate City, a small community just five miles from Atlantic City, McIlwain moved to Chicago in 1987, craving a big-city environment.

After 5 years in the city, McIlwain moved to Berwyn, where his wife grew up

There, he became a pastor at the First Cong re gational Church of Berwyn.

“The first thing I did when I got to my

church in Berwyn was build a community-wide movement that gave birth to a human rights ordinance for the city of Berwyn,” he said. This was after the Campbell family, who were Black and Jamaican, were pushed out of Berwyn because of their race.

The church asked McIlwain how they can fight against racism in Berwyn, and from there, the human rights ordinance for Berwyn was born

After serving many years as a minister, McIlwain said he needed more consistent hours and decided to g et into commercial real estate. Then in 2007, the economy collapsed, and McIlwain had to star t fresh.

“I was af forded the opportunity to figure out what I really want to do,” he said.

He combined his career in social justice and philanthropy with his transactional experience in commercial real estate, and decided to try his hand at fundraising, becoming the head fundraiser for a Hillside nonprofit called Aspire.

There, McIlwain transformed Aspire to

be what it is today

“Aspire used to be called Proviso Association of Retarded Council. Not great. So that had to change. And before I got there, if you were to ask anybody on staff what Aspire does, they would have said, ‘We take care of those poor people that can’t take care of themselves.’ The executive director and I both knew that that had to change, that that’s not forward thinking,” he said.

He helped move the organization toward a more progressive goal of creating a community where people of all abilities live, learn and grow together.

He then worked for Equal Hope, a health equity advocacy organization connected to Rush University. There, he worked on the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force, an entity that studied why Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer, and attempted to correct it.

Today, McIlwain is looking for his next challenge at IWS

“I was looking for somewhere I can continue to learn, and continue to develop as a leader,” he said.

PROVIDED

John McIlwain

Pair honor ‘aging reimagined’ podcast with a symposium

Catherine

Marienau of Oak Park and Gail Zelitzky of Chicago celebrate women over 70

By LEAH SCHROEDER Contributing Reporter

Catherine Marienau of Oak Park and Gail Zelitzky of Chicago first met when Marienau served as Zelitzky’s faculty mentor while she studied for her master’s de gree at DePaul University. T he two quickly bonded over their shared passion for women’s issues and went on to create a podcast to g ether, Women Over 70 - Aging Reimagined.

Now, 300 episodes later, the co-founders and co-hosts are celebrating the milestone with a symposium called Celebrating Who We Are as We Age Oct. 19.

Since the podcast launched in 2019, Marienau and Zelitzky have interviewed a variety of female artists, authors, activists and academics from the ages of 70 to 110.

“We’ re all about having women see that there’s a future between 70 and however long you live. Our mission is to shatter the myth that women become irrelevant as they age, and also to reframe the conversation around aging,” Zelitzky said. “We want our listeners to be inspired and become more creative and curious about what they can do to make their longevity be an exciting time of life, which it really is.”

serve as role models for other older females, as well as for the younger g eneration of women.

“We talk with women who are in all different locations, different stages of l ife, really, to hear their stories about paths they’ve taken, choices they’ve made during their l ife, b ut especially how they are living now in these later decade s, ” Marienau said. “We want to hear their stories about wh at they ’re involved in, wh at they care about, how they ’re c ontributing, and new things that they’re lear ning.”

“Our mission is to shatter the myth that women become irrelevant as they age, and also to reframe the conversation around aging.”

GAIL ZELITZKY Podcaster

Five years after launching, the podcast has been streamed in 120 countries and has over 400,000 downloads. To celebrate their success and the milestone of 300 episodes, the two women are holding their first symposium called “Celebrating Who We Are as We Age,” which will take place in LaGrange. The event will feature a packed schedule of exhibits, authors’ showcases, lectures and interactive workshops on topics including health, creativity and personal growth.

Catherine

& Gail Zelitzky

The podcast features interviews with older women about their life stories and experiences and aims to help women shift their perspective about life after 70. Marienau said that podcast hosts women who are involved in life and who can

T he event will also feature a virtual lecture by keynote speaker author and activist Ashton Applewhite, who was featured in podcast e pisode 250, titled “Ageism Harms Us and Obstructs Equity.” T he co-hosts said they see the symposium as an opportunity to unite a community of women with shared interests and strengthen bonds within the community.

“I’m just imagining the energy in the room when you get 100 or more women

who are embodying the theme celebrating who we are as we ag e,” Marienau said. “Every person will g et something meaningful out of it. I think it’ll be something that people will remember for a long, long time.”

After five successful years of podcasting, the two women said they don’t plan to slow down any time soon.

“I don’t think we’ll ever run out of interesting women to talk with,” Marienau said. They plan to continue featuring stories from older women, which they say are under re presented.

“One of our goals is to create a le gacy

for the women we interview. Our interest is in showcasing their stories. We want our listeners to hear them and say, ‘wow, we didn’t know aging could be so cool,’” Zelitzky said.

“If we can accomplish that, and people come away with a different way of thinking about aging, I think the entire world will be better for it.”

Tickets for the “Celebrating Who We Are as We Age,” symposium are available at an early bird rate with the code ebsymposium24. The event will be held at Plymouth Place, 315 N. LaGrange Rd. For more information, see WomenOver70.com.

Marienau

Fall Performing Guide Arts 2024

What's Inside

Chicago a cappella | Comedy Plex

Dominican Performing Arts

International Mansion

La Caccina

North Riverside Players

Oak Park Concert Chorale

Robert's Westside

The Symphony of OPRF

Trinity High School

On the cover: Sones de Mexico Ensemble, photo provided by Dominican Performing Arts

Music Meets Movement: Chicago a cappella presents “Lamentations” feat. Ballet 5:8

Chicago a cappella kicks off its 2024/25 season in September with Lamentations, a concert exploring themes of displacement, longing, and rebuilding. The program features an innovative collaboration between CAC’s ten singers and five dancers from Ballet 5:8, presenting a modern interpretation of Thomas Tallis’ Lamentations of Jeremiah A performance will take place on Saturday, October 5, at 7:30 PM at Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park, with additional performances in Chicago, Evanston, and Naperville from September 27 to October 6.

The program’s first half includes traditional folk songs, Wayfaring Stranger and Farewell to Nova Scotia, arranged by CAC Artistic Director John

William Trotter, alongside Renaissance masterpieces by Palestrina and Victoria. Russian composer Pavel Chesnokov’s Spaseniye and contemporary works by Sarai Hillman and Saunder Choi round out the first half. Hillman’s Psalm 59:16: Refuge and Safety and Choi’s The New Colossus highlight CAC’s commitment to new choral voices.

The second half features Tallis’ Lamentations, performed with choreography by Ballet 5:8’s Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager. The program concludes with O Lux Beatissima by Howard Helvey, evoking themes of light after darkness. Tickets range from $38 to $48, with student and Pay What You Can options available. For more information and tickets, visit chicagoacappella.org

LAMENTATIONS

Songs of yearning for home, including an evocative collaboration with Ballet 5:8 on Thomas Tallis’ Lamentations of Jeremiah

SATURDAY | OCT. 5 | 7:30 PM

Grace Episcopal Church | 924 Lake St.

Additional Performances Sep. 27 – Oct. 6 in Chicago, Evanston, and Naperville

Women’s Choir Presents Joan of Arc Concert on November 2

La Caccina, a 9-member treble vocal ensemble that champions and performs diverse, innovative repertoire for women’s voices, will present The Lark, the first concert of its 13th season, at Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park on Saturday, November 2 at 7:00 pm. As part of a season-long exploration of visionaries - those who see past their present circumstances to imagine a world of greater justice, equity, and peace - this program honors the legendary courage and determination of Joan of Arc. The concert is centered around Leonard Bernstein’s The Lark, newly-arranged for treble voices by Artistic Director Carling FitzSimmons. To complement Bernstein’s iconic music, La Caccina sings pieces by Carlos Cordero, Darius Lim, Marie-Claire Saindon, Marques L. A. Garrett, and others, as well as a premiere commission from Venezuelan composer/conductor Mariana Romero Serra.

FitzSimmons, who grew up in Oak Park, is thrilled to be performing in her hometown. “Oak Park is such an arts-rich community,” she says, “and I had many opportunities to hear and make beautiful music growing up here. To perform with my own ensemble in a place that fostered my love of music in the first place is a dream.”

La Caccina will return to Grace Episcopal Church in March for the second concert of the season, Francesca & Friends.

Season subscriptions available now at www.lacaccina.org/season. Single tickets go on sale October 1; student and community discounts will be available.

BBobby’s Eastside is your new favorite Cocktail Bar!

obby’s Eastside is the newest addition to Robert’s Westside.

Robert’s Westside was founded and is operated by Donnie Biggins, a lifelong Oak Park and Forest Park resident. You are familiar with his prior work booking the American Music Festival, keeping music alive during the pandemic by curating community pick-up truck & drive-in concerts and programming the annual Oaktoberfest in Downtown Oak Park.

Conveniently located inside Robert’s, Bobby’s Eastside offers a full service bar featuring handmade cocktails, craft beers and premiere non-alcoholic drinks to provide something for all patrons.

Bobby’s Eastside offers free concerts, board games, your favorite sports teams on our TVs, and is available for private events. Like Robert’s, Bobby’s Eastside is another option for families to

gather for milestone achievements and celebrations of life, as well as a space offered to the community for non-profit fundraisers and mutual aid benefits.

We do not serve food, however outside food is welcome. We encourage you to order takeout from our neighboring restaurants and meet up with friends before you catch a show on the mainstage at Robert’s.

Our hours of operation are Wednesday - Sunday. Open @ 3PM on W/TH/F and 11AM on Saturday & Sunday. Happy Hour runs from 4pm - 6pm on W/TH/F.

New Festival Alert: Weekend @ Bobby’s on Friday October 25th & 26th. Come experience two unforgettable nights of live music featuring 12 bands, two stages, themed Halloween costume contests + Ghosts Of Rockstars Past Lip Sync Contest! For information on all our events, visit www.robertswestside.com

Dominican University Performing Arts Center: Where Creativity Soars and Passion Meets Purpose

Located in the heart of River Forest, the Dominican University Performing Arts Center (DUPAC) stands as a dynamic cultural hub where worldclass performances meet community engagement. Guided by Dominican University’s mission to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world, DUPAC’s programming reflects this commitment in every performance, concert, and family-friendly event it presents.

Family-Friendly

Programming for All Ages – DUPAC takes pride in offering performances and events that appeal to audiences of all ages. The center curates a wide range of experiences, from captivating theater productions to lively musical concerts, designed to entertain, inspire, and educate. Families seeking an afternoon of fun or an evening of cultural enrichment will find a welcoming atmosphere at DUPAC, where the magic of live performance can be shared by all generations.

Affordable and Accessible – Access to the arts is a cornerstone of DUPAC’s mission. Affordable ticket prices, PayWhat-You-Can options, and free summer concerts, ensure families and individuals from all walks of life can experience the transformative power of the arts without financial strain.

Convenient Location and Free Parking

– DUPAC’s convenient location on the beautiful campus of Dominican University makes it easily accessible from both downtown Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Visitors appreciate the ease of attending events without the typical hassles associated with city venues. The added benefit of free parking ensures a stress-free experience from arrival to departure, making an evening or afternoon at DUPAC even more enjoyable.

Exciting Programs That Inspire – Each season, DUPAC offers an exciting lineup of programs that not only entertain

but also reflect Dominican University’s mission of social justice and community building. From thought-provoking plays and concerts by renowned musicians to vibrant community events, the center is a place where creativity truly soars. The programs aim to engage audiences in meaningful ways, encouraging both reflection and celebration. Every event at DUPAC is designed to be more than just entertainment—it’s an opportunity to feed the soul and inspire positive change.

An Invitation to Experience DUPAC – Whether for art lovers, families, or individuals seeking an affordable cultural experience, the Dominican University Performing Arts Center offers something for everyone. Here, creativity and purpose come together in ways that inspire and uplift, fostering a deeper connection to the community and to the world. Visitors are invited to experience DUPAC for themselves, where the combination of programming, affordable pricing, convenient location, and free parking creates an unmatched environment for the arts.

At DUPAC, where creativity soars and passion meets purpose, every performance is an opportunity to participate in something bigger—an experience that enriches both the mind and the spirit. For a list of upcoming programs and performances visit events. dom.edu.

Dominican University

Performing Arts Center

7900 W. Division Street River Forest, IL 60305

(708) 488-5000 • boxoffice@dom.edu

Private Lessons for Music, Languages, Academic Tutoring, Theater, Voice, Audition Prep, Karate, Comic Art and more!

$150 off registration fee if used before Sep 30th

The Wedding Singer takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room. Based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, The Wedding Singer’s sparkling new score does for the ‘80s what Hairspray did for the ‘60s. Just say yes to the most romantic musical in twenty years!

Performances:

October 4 at 7:30pm • October 5 at 7:30pm

TheWeddingSinger takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was collars were up and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in Based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, TheWeddingSinger's new score does for the '80s what Hairspray did for the '60s. Just say yes to the most romantic musical in twenty years!

Presented by

October 6 at 2:30pm • October 11 at 7:30pm October 12 at 7:30pm • October 13 at 2:30pm

October 4 at 7:30pm

Theater is located at

Scheck Village Commons

October 5 at 7:30pm

2401 S. DesPlaines Ave., North Riverside, IL 60546

October 6 at 2:30pm

October 11 at 7:30pm

We

October 12 at 7:30pm

October 13 at 2:30pm

ANNOUNCING OUR 2024-2025 CONCERT DATES:

ANNOUNCING OUR 2024-2025 CONCERT DATES:

Sunday, October 13

Sunday, October 13

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

Sunday, December 15

Sunday, December 15

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

Sunday February 16

Sunday February 16

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

Monday, April 28

Monday, April 28

SYMPHONY CENTER

SYMPHONY CENTER

Sunday, June 8

Sunday, June 8

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

Go to https://tinyurl.com/24useyzr for subscriptions to our four Sunday Concordia location concerts 1124 Bonnie Brae Place, River Forest SC tickets go on sale 3/1/2025.

Go to https://tinyurl.com/24useyzr for subscriptions to our four Sunday Concordia location concerts 1124 Bonnie Brae Place, River Forest SC tickets go on sale 3/1/2025.

g our 30

TheWeddingSinger takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room. Based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, TheWeddingSinger's sparkling new score does for the '80s what Hairspray did for the '60s. Just say yes to the most romantic musical in twenty years!

Scheck Village Commons 2401 S DesPlaines Ave North Riverside, IL 60546 Theater is located at

We reserve the right to release unpaid reservations 5 minutes before show time.

We will hold tickets at box office unless self-addressed, stamped return envelope is included.

Order

7:30pm

October 6 at 2:30pm October 11 at 7:30pm October 12 at 7:30pm October 13 at 2:30pm

FALL EVENTS:

Fall Choir Festival: October 10 • 7pm

Fall Band & Orchestra Concert: October 23 • 7pm

Orchestra Festival: November 20 • 7pm

Fall Play: Shakespeare in Love November 14-16 • 7pm November 17 • 2pm

City, State, Zip

All events are in Riverside Brookfield High

Paul Laprade, Artistic Director & Conductor

Choral group has a new artistic director after 23 years and bestowed an honorary position for conductor emeritus

Paul Laprade is an award-winning conductor, lecturer, and teacher of choral music and music theory/composition. He is a graduate of Eastman School of Music and Westminster Choir College with multiple music degrees. He is director of music of the New England Congregational Church in Aurora, artistic director of Tutti Voce Collective in Joliet, and president of the Illinois American Choral Directors’ Association.

Founded in 1981, Oak Park Concert Chorale is a classical choral ensemble that specializes in both a cappella and accompanied performances. Our new artistic director and conductor, Paul Laprade, will continue to foster the traditions lovingly cultivated by Paul Lindblad during his many years of tenure: classical a cappella music, premiering works by local composers, and music education. Paul Laprade will seek to continue improving and expanding the sound, choral programming and singing membership of OPCC.

In appreciation of his 43 years of commitment to OPCC, the Board of Directors bestowed upon Paul Lindblad the honorary title of conductor emeritus. We appreciate his advice and guidance and look forward to his participation in future concerts by conducting one of the program selections.

We hope you will join us for our Christmas concert A Feast of Carols:

A Festive Concert in Honor of Paul Lindblad on November 24 at 4pm at St John Lutheran Church in Forest Park. Hear a concert of unique settings of classic carols, from arrangers old and new, to

Paul Lindblad has been with OPCC since its inception in 1981, and the chorale’s director since 2001. Trained at Concordia University Chicago, where he received his undergraduate and master’s degrees, he has done extensive studies in organ performance, vocal technique, and conducting, including with international Kodály music education specialist Katinka Daniel. In 2024 he stepped down from OPCC, which bestowed on him the title of conductor emeritus.

bring the season to light in our hearts and minds. The program includes Elizabeth Poston’s setting of the early American carol Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. We will premiere three exciting carol settings by Paul Lindblad-O Radiant Dawn, Harvey Hahn-In the Bleak Mid-Winter, and Paul Ayres-This is the Truth Sent from Above, as well as the first performance of a lovely MagnificatandNunc Dimittis from the archives of Carl Schalk. We look forward to having you join us for this festive performance. Watch our website in mid-October for updates and a link to Eventbrite to purchase advance tickets. (oakparkconcertchorale.org/concerts)

Auditions for spring semester take place on Saturday December 14 between 10am-1pm

If you love to sing, consider auditioning to join us for our spring semester that starts January 7, 2025 with a concert on Sunday April 6 titled Death, Prophesies, and Spirituals. For more details, please fill out our online audition request form or email us. Alternate audition dates can be arranged.

oakparkconcertchorale.org/concerts

oakparkconcertchorale.org/auditions

OPCC is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and a grant from Oak Park Area Arts Council, in partnership with the Village of Oak

and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Park, the Illinois Arts Council Agency

Paul Lindblad, Conductor Emeritus

What changes in real estate practices mean for buyers

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

This March, the National Association of Realtors reached a legal settlement of $418 million, resolving lawsuits re garding broker commission payments in residential real estate sales.

As a result of the settlement, in Illinois, changes in the commission structure were put in place a few weeks ago with local industry groups announcing what the changes mean for buyers.

Illinois Realtors® announced that the rules that took effect Aug. 17 include:

■ Homebuyers working with Realtors® will be required to sign a written ag reement detailing the work the broker will do for them, the rate of compensation and how it will be paid.

■ Real estate agents will stop including shared compensation information on the MLS. Instead, brokers must communicate this information, in writing, privately or on their own websites. The amount of compensation will remain ne gotiable.

The changes have been in effect for a little more than a month, but local real estate experts say there are some immediate changes in their practices.

The most obvious change is that real estate agents working with buyers are now required to have the buyers sign a written re presentation ag reement before permitting a buyer to tour a property in person or virtually.

See REAL ESTATE on pa ge 31

REAL ESTATE

Buyer’s agreement

from page 29

Oak Park-based John Lawrence, Vice President and Designated Managing Broker of Berkshire Hathway HomeServices Chicago said the written ag reement is not a new practice for BHHS agents.

“We have always taught our agents to use a written buyer’s ag reement because Illinois license law requires all exclusive agency ag reements to be in writing. We also feel that agency ag reements are important for creating transparency for the consumer and are important in building professional relationships,” Lawrence said.

Laura Ellis, strateg y office and president esidential sales Baird and Warner, added: “We’ve encouraged yer agency mandatory. Buyers they can tour a home.”

ompass said it has always been her practice to use a bu ag reement with clients, but noted that in light of the NAR settlement, her agenc created a firm-wide ag reement for agents to use.

Spelling out compensation and duties

Lawrence, Ellis and Dalton all said that while different agencies use different language for buyer’s ag reements, the ments must include language explaining the duties of the agent, a termination date and an outline of compensation for agent and how that compensation wo

Commission fees remain ne gotiabl

“The compensation that brokerages agents charge is fully negotiable between the two parties and can take on a variety of forms,” Lawrence said. “There is no onesize-fits-all when it comes to compensation.”

they believe is fair based on the services they provide.”

Although it is typical for the buyer’s compensation to remain a percentof the sales price of the property, that

“Right now, our reements are all based on a percentof sales price,” Ellis said. “We have not done any flat fees yet, but that ’t mean we

Dalton said that rs and their an negotiate a percentage comending on the , but she emphasized that while buyers might negotiate a lower rate for fewer services, agents have to abide by the Illinois Real Estate License Act and provide “minimum services” for clients

contract terms, helping buyers navigate multiple offers, connecting with lenders, and working with inspectors and attorneys. I can’t imagine saying, ‘You’ re not paying for this part, so I can’t help you.’”

Who is paying commissions?

Prior to the NAR settlement, real estate agents were typically paid from the proceeds of the sale of the property, by the seller of the property. All three agents said this practice is continuing.

At Baird and Warner, Ellis said the brokerage sets a minimum amount of compensation, and agents are free to tailor compensation above that amount.

Dalton said her c ommission rate is up to her

“Our brokerage allows agents to negotiate their compensation directly with cli-

“As a full-service broker, I find it difficult to consider doing only pa rt of my job,” she said. “Real estate is more than just showing properties—it’s about being deeply knowledgeable about the local market on a daily basis, guiding clients through the entire process, and ensuring they make infor med decisions. Our job has many layers,

“What we are seeing now is many buyers are building compensation into their offer and are asking the seller to pay,” Lawrence said. “As long as the property appraises at the purchase price, it will allow the buyer to essentially roll the cost of re presentation into the loan.”

While stressing that the settlement has been in place for only a month, Ellis said that in her experience, almost 100% of buyers are asking sellers to pay the buyer’s agent.

“Prior to the settlement, the commission was paid for through the transaction and it

to have a conversation about it. The buyer knows the services are not for free.”

In the weeks since the settlement has taken effect, Ellis said that she has seen seller’s agents charging a bit more than they did before the settlement, and buyer’s agents charging about the same.

While emphasizing the new rules have only been in effect a few weeks, she added, “It was a fallacy that home prices would fall because of the settlement. Housing prices are determined by supply and demand.”

She noted that both buyers and sellers want re presentation and that it is vital in places like Illinois where prices are going up and home inventory is low.

Looking ahead

Ellis said shethinks that the NAR settlement is only the beginning of more changes to come.

“To boil it down, it’s going to be a little bit of the Wild West. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

She added that she thinks the changes will cause a shake up in the industry, as well.

“I’m in the camp that there will be fewer agents, but they’ ll be better agents.”

These changes will end up benefitting the industry, buyers and sellers.

“I’m really positive about the future,” Ellis said.

MONIC A DA LTON

JOHN LAWRENCE

LAURA ELLIS

Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

e League of Women Voters OPRF is marking 100 years of service and we’re looking forward to our gala celebration on Sunday, October 20 at the 19th Century Club

Harriet Hausman Sponsorship $2,500

Kathryn and Al Nesburg

Ida B. Wells Sponsorship $1,000

Brookdale Oak Park

Byline Bank

Oil-Dri Corp.

W.S. Darley & Co.

Other Centennial Donors

ank you to our generous business and individual sponsors Individual

Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care

Lynch Dental

Prairie Title

Reeg Plumbing

State Farm Colin Fane

Ste Plumbing

Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC

Jane Addams Sponsorship $1,500

Good Heart Work Smart Foundation

Grace Wilbur Trout Sponsorship $500

Baird & Warner

Gagliardo Group/Compass & Compass Oak Park

Laura Maychruk Real Estate

Oak Park Arms

Oak Park Fire ghters Local 95

River Forest Animal Hospital

Ida B. Wells Sponsorship $1,000

Catherine Adduci

Nancy L. Clark

Ann Courter and Norman Hirsch

Judith Crown and Richard Rothschild

Judy and Bill Gre n

Pauline Koch

Elizabeth and Alex Lippitt

Carlotta and Ron Lucchesi

Joan and Je Petertil

Grace Wilbur Trout Sponsorship $500

Deb and Tom Abrahamson

Tina Birnbaum

Jane and John Hastings

Susan Ja ee

Visit www.lwvoprf.org/centennial to learn more about the centennial gala. And stop by your local library or the OPRF Museum to see exhibits on the League’s history.

What hunger action looks like

September is Hunger Action Month, an annual campaign led by anti-hunger organizations across the U.S. While the injustices of hunger and food insecurity impact our neighbors year-round, Hunger Action Month is an occasion to drive more awareness to the issue, inspire people to join the movement and celebrate the countless heroes working to feed their communities.

The Oak Park and River Forest communities are home to many such heroes:

■ volunteers who help pack and deliver food for local pantries,

■ donors who give generously to area and national nonprofits that address hunger and its root causes,

■ mutual aid organizers who connect our neighbors with meals and other essential resources, and

■ advocates who raise their voices to demand more than the status quo.

I’d like to highlight two local individuals who have made an immense impact on food insecurity during their careers. Recently, I had the honor of presenting Beyond Hunger CEO Michele Zurakowski and Illinois Senate President Don Harmon with the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Hunger Champion Awards

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with Michele for a long time. At Beyond Hunger, she has guided the organization for merly known as Oak Park-River Forest Food Pantry through tremendous evolution and impact. For decades, Beyond Hunger has been a reliable lifeline for neighbors and families at risk of hunger. And under Michele’s leadership, they do so much more.

Michele played a critical role in Beyond Hunger, fully embracing advocacy as a central focus of their work while centering and elevating the voices of neighbors they serve. The Beyond Hunger team is at every lobby day in Springfield and Washington DC. They participate in every letter-writing campaign, every call-in day, and every get-out-the-vote effort.

In addition to advocacy, Michele has led Beyond Hunger in developing innovative approaches that connect neighbors with the food they need. From home delivery to nutrition education, food rescue, benefits enrollment and more, Beyond Hunger has become a local force in the movement to end hunger

Senate President Harmon has been a longtime champion for policy solutions to address hunger and its root causes. In 2010, he sponsored SB 4158, a bill that created the Illinois Commission to End Hunger. Over the last 14 years, this public-private partnership has connected more Illinoisans with food resources, helped optimize safety net programs in the state, and strengthened collaboration among public offices and human service organizations

Textile waste is a massive and growing contributor to our climate crisis — 92 million tons of textiles end up in landfills each year, and textile waste is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. We increasingly buy more stuff, use it less often, and then throw it away — not exactly a recipe for reducing our carbon impact

And yet, as a busy working parent of two growing girls, I know how easy and “cheap” it is to buy stuff from Amazon, on demand, to serve a short-ter m need If you’re like me, you want to do better but have trouble even finding the time to know where to start.

Luckily for us Oak Parkers, we have an incredible set of local circular economy resources at our disposal, brought to you by beloved nonprofits, resident entrepreneurs, and the village itself. These sources make it almost as easy, and much more affordable, to keep you and your family clothed and responsibly recycle items that have run their course

The semi-annual Hephzibah Kids Resale Event, for instance, which took place last weekend in Forest Park, regularly raises five-figure sums for their incredible foster care program. It also provides affordable clothing options to the community and keeps thousands of

pieces of clothing out of the landfill — an incredible win-win for community and environmental impact. My girls’ wardrobe is almost 100% Hephzibah-sourced (which makes me feel much better when their style changes mid-year and they refuse to wear half of it!). Meanwhile, women who have invested in higher quality items for their kids or themselves can earn some cash when they are ready to part with them. Selling on sites like eBay and Poshmark takes a lot of work, comes with big fees, and requires shipping. The easiest and most sustainable approach is to sell locally.

For years the Oak Park Mom’s Resale page has been a helpful resource, but I’m particularly excited by a new Oak Park-specific resale platform called Project Preloved. Founded this year by an Oak Park mom, Project Preloved is looking to create a community-centered approach to online resale that’s more user-friendly than the traditional Facebook listing. If you can’t find a buyer, someone will surely take it for free on the Free to a Good Home Oak Park Facebook page.

Eventually, of course, many of our clothes, shoes, and other textiles become stained, worn, ripped, and not

Speed or safety?

Once in a while a very small decision by a local government opens a wider and overdue conversation. That seems to be true in a decision by Oak Park’s village board to approve a minor traffic calming measure on the 600 block of Gunderson Avenue in the neighborhood south of Madison Street.

The board approved a staf f recommendation to install a “pinch point” on Gunderson at the east-west alley just south of Madison. The village’s transportation commission had recommended more stringent measures, but a vote to OK both staf f and commission recommendations was nar rowly rejected by the village board.

We’re glad to see the action that was taken and we presume other residents in the neighborhood will clamor for similar precautions as the development successes along Madison Street could spill auto traffic onto adjacent residential streets.

What’s more interesting is the conversation at the board table about the broad issue of slowing auto traffic through Oak Park. Ron Burke, the chair of the commission and a noted re gional leader on alternative for ms of transportation, told the board he sees Oak Park at the start of rethinking traffic safety. “We are kind of awakening, in some ways, to traffic safety risks, in ways that we hadn’t before We had sort of overlooked them as a society. … Our tolerance for that kind of risk is dropping.”

He’s right. Over decades, the charge of commissions such as his was to find ways to smooth and speed the flow of cars through the community. Pedestrians and those on bikes or scooters were annoyances to be planned around.

This view that we’ll all be safer if auto traffic is “calmed” through various interventions clearly has suppor t on the village board.

“Way too many [cars] drive way too fast on our streets and it’s apparent to me every day when I sit on my porch,” said Trustee Cory Wesley. Similar views were expressed by Trustees Chibuike Enyia, Susan Buchanan and Brian Straw.

The village engineer has data that suggests the 600 block of Gunderson is not particularly risky despite the petition for help from residents. Bill McKenna, village engineer, re ported there have been no accidents on the block over the past five years, that the 400 cars using street each day is somewhat lower than other residential streets and that 85% of drivers on the street travel at 27 miles per hour or less

All good information. But while useful, it feels like the foundational expectations of many residents about prioritizing cars over safety for others is quickly evolving. As Trustee Susan Buchanan said, “I have no problem making cars go slower.”

Summer’s fond, and kind, farewell

It was the summer of insects, cicadas and their after math, the oak leaf itch mites. It was the summer of Wednesday adventures with my grandsons, downhill-cycling, woodsy-hiking, maze-navigating, mini-golfing, water-sliding, dolphin-watching, art-appreciating, ice creamslurping, bumper-bowling, sand-castling, animalcarouseling, Bean-mirroring, Grant Park-orchestrating, dinosaur-hunting, fireworks-gazing, and one unforgettable ride on the Metra. Trips to the zoo and the arboretum and the Art Institute, and Millennium Park and Lighthouse Beach and Bahai Temple and dreaming of college on a campus like Northwestern.

Early-mor ning meditations in Mills Park, Shakespeare al fresco in Austin Gardens, surviving the night of 10 tornadoes and weather neither oppressive nor dangerous but occasionally ideal, late-evening backdeck birthday celebrations, lunches with friends at Hemmingway’s, browsing the Hyde Park Art Show, long walks, films in the cool dark of movie theaters, the ripeness of Far mers Market, bidding adieu to the last of my parents’ generation with a cousins’ luncheon outside of Il Vicolo

Much to savor and store up for the soon-returning, coat-wearing chill that consumes two-thirds of the year, global war ming notwithstanding. Technically, autumn has arrived, post-equinox, with the cold creeping toward us under the cloak of lengthening night.

To hold off its return a while longer, I take refuge in my notebook and find enough notes for an impressionistic summer summary:

KEN TRAINOR

Wind plays the trees, the world’s oldest musical instrument, swaying boughs the world’s oldest dance. Songs sift through the leaves, dressing the invisible. Clouds play the world’s oldest game of peekaboo, shapeshifting moods — dark to bright, catch and release, promise to fulfillment, stillness to restlessness

Amazing what you can see and hear when you inhabit the world, when what you love preempts what you forgot to do yesterday and need to do today. …

Our last Wednesday before school starts: Playing in the sand at Lighthouse Beach, Bryce and Tyler imbedded in their surroundings — wave, wind, sand, seagulls and, of course, abundant sunshine. Their true selves emerge — not in isolation but within the surrounding All. Entirely, seamlessly, organically, holistically — what all of us are, though we forget. They build a sandwall or fortress or embankment. It is evolving, with input from the dissolving waves. It’s not the end result that matters. Not the noun but the gerund. Building more than “the building.” Abstract architectural form … or maybe a beached whale … with a moat.

Surrounded by sound, our edges melt into everything else. Uninterrupted sunlight splashes the greenscape like an impressionist painting. Or, more accurately, paintings splash objects with light based on this sunlit beach. A steady breeze feels like some sea deity blessing the attacking waves, the invaders immediately tamed by their intersection with the shore. The ceaseless sonic bath overwhelms inter nal chatter, rinses away neurotic thinking, mesmerizes the mind.

A mid-September, Midwestern late evening: Awash in light, beneath the haloed moon, surrounded by trees and crickets, festival revelers stumble home in contented conversation past construction horses blinking by newly rebuilt curbs. Things as they are, asking nothing more. Walkers feel their way home through the shadowy tableaux under leafy awnings, sensing the pavement ahead, like a writer waiting for sentences to surface in the midnight dark — or questions, the mind’s flashlight; or dreams, shining with their own reflective surfaces; or stars, hidden behind the urban glowscape. All is as is — perfect, not how it ought to be, paying no heed to imperfections, just momentary perfection, when the way it is matches the way it must be, not life living up to our expectations and requirements, but life as it is, re-entering the beautiful world that waits just outside our thoughts with the ripe readiness of a farmers market, eager to be plucked.

…

Driving home a week later at dusk: A Harvest Super moon perches like a giant peach above the horizon, silent, unobstructed, as if it had patiently waited eons for this moment to command my attention above the car hoods in the endless succession before me. This close encounter of the fourth kind, or maybe the fifth, rises like yeast in the east to its creamy apex, a MilkMoon, spilling its light over everything and everyone. Nothing to cry over.

…

At the tail end of a long, noisy but too-short summer, with its many ups and downs (I have had it with cicadas) and a topsy-turvy, upside-down election campaign, we were gifted, out of nowhere, with 12 consecutive days of bright sun, cool mornings leading to 80-degree but nottoo-humid war mth — stable, consistent, welcome, like a payoff for our patience. As if to say, “All is forgiven.” A dozen days bouquet, a string of pearls, a gift from God knows where.

As if summer were bidding us its fondest farewell.

SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck

“A stark presidential divide”

anks for making our lm fest a success

There can be little doubt that the Oak Park Illinois Film Festival, which took place Sept. 12 and 14, could be termed an incredible success

Hundreds of people enjoyed a Hollywood feature, guest speakers, 17 independent films, plus other events in a supportive atmosphere. Some came for just an hour or two. Others spent many hours with us. Everyone there was very enthusiastic about the experience. It was one of those times when everything fell into place. So many people gave us outstandin support, including Wednesday Jour nal. The management at both venues we rented, Madison Street Theater and the Lake Theatre were so supportive, and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a rental space. They continually went above and beyond what they had to do

dinner for many of us. They are listed on our website. Visit Oak Park provided us with amazing public relations, including features on three TV shows. Inter net reviewers also showed up.

Anyone who would like to see the press can go to our website. There you can also find lists of some of our many other supporters.

Finally, thank you so much to the board members who went all in and provided outstanding professional services. Nothing, other than printing, had to be outsourced. They knew how to perform their technical wizardry and other skills I lack and/or man hours that no one person could handle They are Michael Awe, Jill Dahl, Eric Henry, Byron Leonard, Chris Rooney, Charlie Sweitzer, Matt Soble and Mike Wendling. It was truly a team effort

WEDNESD AY

of Oak Park and River Forest

Viewpoints Guidelines

e goal of the Viewpoints section is to foster and facilitate a community conversation and respectful dialogue. Responsible community voices are vital to community journalism and we welcome them. Space is at a premium and readers’ attention is also limited, so we ask that Viewpoints submissions be brief. Our limit for letters to the editor is 350 words. For One View essays, the limit is 500 words. Shorter is better. If and when we have su cient space, we print longer submissions, but when space is limited — as it o en is — we may ask you to submit a shorter version or hold the piece until space allows us to print it.

We reser ve the right to edit submissions. We do not have time to allow the writer to review changes before publication. We also do not have time to do more than super cial fact-checking, and because of our national epidemic of misinformation and conspiracy theories, when writers include statistical evidence to support their opinions, we require them to include the source of that information, such as credible websites, print publications, titles of articles and dates published, etc. Be as speci c as possible so that we and our readers have some way of assessing the credibility of your claims. Links may also be included for the online version. We follow the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics: seek the truth and report it and minimize harm. As a result, we will do our best not to publish pieces that espouse doubtful or debunked theories, demonstrate harmful bias, or cross the line into incivility. While we will do our best not to engage in censorship, we also do not intend to be used as a platform for misinformation. Your sources for fact-checking are a critical step in keeping the discourse honest, decent and respectful.

All submissions must include your rst and last name and the municipality in which you live, plus a phone number (for veri cation only). We do not publish anonymous letters. One View essays should include a sentence at the end about who you are.

If we receive your submission by 5 p.m. on Sunday, you can expect your opinion to be included in that week’s paper (and online), space permitting.

Pieces can be submitted through our online form at oakpark.com or directly to Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor, ktrainor@wjinc.com. For the latter, we prefer attached Word les or plain tex t included in the email.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

■ 350-word limit

Thanks to our sponsors, especially Hoyne Savings Bank, Swati Saxena of Baird & War ner, and the village itself for a big assist in making this possible. Generous food donors provided so much food that breakfast and lunch also provided

Thanks to all for the support and see you next year.

Joyce Porter Founder and president of the board Oak Park Illinois Film Festival

■ Must include rst and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for veri cation only)

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

■ 500-word limit

■ One-sentence footnote about yourself and/or your connection to the topic

■ Signature details as at left

Not a priority?

In reading the September 18, 2024, issue of the Wednesday Jour nal article concerning Oak Park’s capital improvement plan (CIP), I was struck by the discussion concer ning alley upgrades. Village Engineer Bill McKenna said there are about 660 blocks of alleys in Oak Park and that the village only makes 15-20 upgrades per year, based on current funding. He also said there are 150-200 alleys in “more desperate need of repair.” The article says, “Many residents have complained about the state of their alleys, according to several trustees.” But Trustee Susan Buchanan said alley resurfacing is not a priority to her and she would rather focus on funding sustainability initiatives. Based upon my brief drive around Oak Park and totally non-scientific survey, there are about 10 houses per block in Oak Park, or 20 houses per alley (not including the FLW Historic District). If 150-200 alleys are in “more desperate need of repair,” that means 3,000 to 4,000 households are paying high taxes to the village and, in return, are receiving, according to several trustees, substandard services from the village

Assuming each household consists of a man, a woman and 2.3 children, we are talking about 12,000 to 16,000 residents who are, once again, paying high taxes and in return getting crumbling and potholed alleys they have to navigate every night to put their cars in their garages or stumble through when walking dogs, taking out their garbage, etc. According to the 2020 Census, Oak Park has approximately 54,300 people. Rounding off, 16,000 out of 54,000 is 25%.

Which brings us back to Trustee Buchanan, who once again demonstrates her complete and total disregard for the daily needs of 25% of the residents of Oak Park to push her own single-issue “sustainability” agenda that may not have provided any improvement in the daily lives of the citizens of Oak Park.

Oak Park’s trustees should decide for themselves what is more important: listening to the needs of Oak Park’s residents, or following Trustee Buchanan’s questionable, single-issue sustainability goal, which currently is turning Oak Park’s alleys into areas that pose a threat to public safety, and turning the alleys into areas more appropriately found in a slum.

Alan E. Krause Oak Park

A ordable vs. available housing

Iwant to respond to Susan Buchanan’s statement [Ways to grow affordable housing in Oak Park, News, Sept. 4] that “the capitalists” have failed and we need to “make” them build affordable housing.

JEREMY

WEST

One View

In the case of expensive housing, I would not cite the failure of capitalism, but rather strong demand to live in Oak Park, and our progressive tendencies to regulate and subsidize. In Oak Park, we have a lot of people who want to live here and limited supply, which has driven up housing prices. The most effective ways to make housing more affordable are to either make fewer people want to live here or build more housing units.

I much prefer the second of those options, and almost anything that would make it less cumbersome to build housing would get my vote. Unfortunately, we have a complex set of regulations governing what you can build here, which makes housing more expensive than it needs to be

We cannot regulate our way to affordable housing. Look at the results of the current inclusionary zoning ordinance. Every developer who has built a 25+ unit building in Oak Park since 2019 has opted to pay the $100,000 per required unit penalty. That means each of these buildings has been more expensive than it would otherwise be. This is the opposite of making housing more affordable, and our cumbersome regulations mean that fewer buildings get built.

We take the fee and use it for various subsidies through the Housing Trust Fund, but we cannot subsidize our way to making housing affordable. A subsidy can help the few people who receive it, but this is often a small per-

centage of the people who need it, and it serves to make that thing more expensive for everyone else

A subsidy is not a “big picture” solution.

Progressive folks often portray the issue as “affordable housing” vs. the “greedy developer.” This is not useful. If what we need is more housing units and a developer will build them, I don’t care if they’re “greedy.” For lots of reasons, it’s really expensive to build new buildings

We’re not likely to address all of those reasons anytime soon, so most new housing built is going to be expensive. That’s OK. Our best chance of maintaining affordable housing options is to keep existing apartments and condos along corridors such as Washington Boulevard as decent-but-not-fancy units.

If every upscale buyer or renter can find a new unit, this takes pressure off of existing buildings to be rehabbed and their prices increased.

If you are an existing homeowner whose main goal is to maximize your property value, then our current situation is A-OK. But we say that we want housing to be more affordable. You as an individual and we as a village need to decide which one we actually want.

In a village with limited vacant land, if we are serious about increasing housing supply, we need to build taller buildings. This may mean that a big building gets built at the end of your block. We cannot pay lip service to “affordable housing” if what we actually want is a system that keeps housing limited and expensive

Jeremy West is a resident of Oak Park

Is ‘obviously’ really necessar y?

The “Harris-Walz, Obviously” signs popping up on well-tended lawns hereabouts trouble me. Think about it. Obviously 49% or so of the American public doesn’t consider the upcoming presidential election an obvious matter. Calling it obvious dismisses and belittles those who think otherwise by suggesting that they lack the rudimentary moral and intellectual capacity required to grasp such a simple matter.

Don’t get me wrong: I’d sooner jump off the Sears Tower than vote for the dangerous delusional dictator wanna-be and his increasingly unmoored sidekick. But if we really

Whole Foods’ 30th anniversary

This week is the 30th annive r sary of W hole Foods Market (WFM) c oming to Rive r Fo rest. It was a big d eal. So fa r, the store has of fered no signs of acknowledging the annive r sar y. This was only the second W FM store in the Chicago area, and at that time co rp orat e spent more money on this store than on any in the c ountr y. So they wanted i mmediate profits li ke the Lincoln Pa rk S tore, and that didn’t happen. It took a wh i le for p eople to understand about buying q uality food s. In pa rt , it was my job to help educate about whole foods and whole health.

T here is still such great value at W FM, including the A mazon P rim e sales, other sales, many value i tems and their 365 house brand, especially the 365 organics. Get to know prices at all of the local food stores and you’ll find that every store has some great values and sales, wh i le other i tems in the store are overpriced. Fo r example, do n’ t assume that something at C ostc o is the lowest price in town. I do n’ t bu y processed and co nvenience foods at any store, but I do find Jewel to be a relative ly expensive store.

want to win an election and live in a governable country afterward, we should do our best to understand, not condescend to, those who vote differently, and engage, not ignore them. To do that, we’ll have to change our approach — and our signs. If we don’t, we’re merely displaying the abundant civic virtues already on such prominent display in our fine village, all the while falling into the irrelevance of preaching to the converted by doing nothing more difficult than advertising our luxury beliefs.

Steve Ingersoll Oak Park

Yet since A mazon took over W FM, some q uality is slipping. Je ff Bezos, open up your budg et to suppo rt the stores and staf f adequately, especially during the holidays! T here is no reason we need to stand in line 25 minutes during the holiday season. And du ring the last two year s, it was hard to g et turke y parts for the holidays. Why? Now more and more meats and p oultr y products are pre-packaged in p lasti c, rather than being able to buy these fresh at the c ounter and have it packaged in paper. A mazon seems to be diluting the WFM brand . T he health c ommunity ag rees that whole, real, nutrient-dense foods that are free of chemicals help to create and maintain vital health. Overall, I have b een gr ateful for W hole Food s Market, wh ich helps enhance health with so many d elicious q uality whole food s, co nvenient meal ideas and great value.

Happy Annive r sary!

Gina Orlando Former (and initial) Ri ver Forest WFM mark eting & communications director

Project 2025, if Trump wins

At a recent neighborhood meeting, I gave a report on the status of Trump’s proposed “Project 2025.” I summarized the 922-page “project document” into about eight pages of handout material. Subsequently at a later neighborhood meeting, we continued our discussion from which we developed 31 major “goals” being promoted by Project 2025 supporters, including for mer president Trump himself. Many of these are already being implemented at the state level but can be summarized as below, what we can all look forward to in 2025 if Trump wins re-election:

1. End of no-fault divorce

2. Complete ban on all abortions, no exceptions

3. Ban contraceptives

4. Additional tax breaks for corporations and the 1%

5. Higher taxes on the working class

6. Elimination of unions and worker protections

7. Raise retirement age

8. Cut Medicare

9. Cut Social Security

10. End Affordable Care Act

11. Raise Prescription Drug Costs

12. Eliminate the Department of Education

13. Use public, taxpayer money for private religious schools

14. Teach Christian religious beliefs in public schools

15. End free and discounted school lunch programs

16. End civil rights and DEI protections in gover nment

17. Ban African-American and gender studies in all levels of education

18. Ban books and curriculum regarding slavery

19. Ending climate protections

20. Increase Arctic drilling

21. Deregulate big business and the oil industry

22. Promote and expedite capital punishment

23. End marriage equality

24. Condemn single mothers while promoting “traditional families”

25. Defund the FBI and Homeland Security

26. Use the military to break up public protests

27. Mass deportation of illegal residents and incarceration in camps

28. End “birth right citizenship”

29. Ban Muslims from entering the country

30. End federal agencies like the FDA, EPA, NOAA and more

31. Continue to pack the Supreme Court and lower courts with right-wing judges

Jeanne Matthews, Oak Park

e EV charging dilemma

When it came time to trade in our two old cars last year, my husband and I didn’t hesitate to go electric. Finding a supercharger on long drives has, happily, not been an issue, and 90% of our local charging we do easily, in our own garage, over night. But as single-family homeowners we know how lucky we are and understand how challenging going EV is for most people living in multifamily units

That understanding recently hit close to home when we declined to put an offer on an Oak Park condo because charging wasn’t allowed in the building garage and the association hadn’t yet figured out how to deal with this issue. Had there been super-chargers within a more reasonable distance, as well as more abundant level 2 charging options around the village (especially ones that didn’t require also paying for parking), we would have made that offer.

EV charging not well thought out

The Electric Vehicle Charging Act (EVCA) went into effect in 2024 and mandates that all new construction in Illinois must be “EV ready,” i.e., must be able to support charging stations for electric vehicles. Unfortunately, before the act went into effect, our state assembly saw fit to amend it to include existing multifamily buildings. Both renters and condo unit owners now must be permitted to install EV chargers, if they so desire

I fully support making it easier for Illinois residents to own and charge electric vehicles. However, many existing buildings simply cannot, practically speaking, be retrofitted to support EV charging systems at all. Take my own building, for example

As president of my HOA, I have consulted many expert charging station installers about options for my building, completed in 1980. We are a small building with 19 units. There is no room or enough electric power to add chargers in our garage. There aren’t enough outside

spaces to support EVs and no guest spaces to support shared chargers. All spaces are deeded to specific units. Who is going sell a space back to the HOA and lower their property’s value? No one, as it turns out.

The addition of the clauses pertaining to existing multifamily buildings in the EV Charging Act was ill-conceived. It was added literally three weeks before the act went into effect, leaving no time for any of us to work through our options or to protest.

Technology is evolving rapidly. No doubt charging technology will improve to a point where there may be less onerous, less expensive options available for older buildings.

In the meantime, I encourage other HOAs and landlords with “problem” buildings to write to your elected officials. Let them know that the EVCA, as currently written, is impractical, if not impossible, for many of us to comply with.

Remembering Gina’s

Even a year after she finished her storied business run, the war m weather always brings to my mind the wonderful Gina’s Italian Ice. It was a nice family outing for our foursome on a warm summer day to walk about 5-10 minutes to get a sweet treat.

In recent years, I came to enjoy Gina’s even more, especially as they created a larger variety of flavors, like mango, guava, and country lemonade. I would go there often to make my way through the array of flavors.

Increasing access to EV charging and parking for community members who do not own a garage is a stated short-ter m goal in section TS02 of the Climate Ready Oak Park plan, adopted in 2022. I encourage village leaders to work to more quickly expand existing charging options and seek new ones such as www.itselectric.us.

Charging your electric car should be as easy as finding a nearby filling station is for gas cars.

The cost of EVs is dropping dramatically and will drop further when the market increases. But until charging in urban areas is made easy and abundant, we aren’t going to see the expansive buy-in needed to help combat climate change.

Laurie

Bunkers

Volunteer coordinator for Third Act Illinois Member of Oak Park Climate Action Network (OP-CAN)

Gina’s drew a significant fan base in the local area, and she was loved to the end. My brother and I stood in a long line on its final day of the last season, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023.

My Aunt Terri was a big fan, and looked

Louise Mezzatesta, River Forest

Italian Ice

forward to it when she came back for visits to Oak Park. My Grandma Dottie enjoyed it, too. One time, after a Labor Day visit, traffic was so good going back to her residence that she almost tur ned around and headed back to Gina’s. The last time I visited my Grandma before her passing, I took some lemon-flavored Gina’s Italian ice.

A few days afterward, my good college friend Matthew came to visit and I offered to take him to Gina’s. I brought other college friends there, too

I am so grateful for the many wonderful memories at Gina’s.

Paul Rubio, Oak Park

Why do we protect the gun rights of murderers?

It is ridiculous to criticize the Secret Service whenever candidate Trump is shot at. It is clearly impossible to prevent wackos from shooting guns in the general vicinity of a candidate who travels around in search of crowds. Every mor ning the local news reports the latest shootings in our area. Guns are fired within a few miles of our Oak Park home every single day. Both of Trump’s would-be assassins shot from 500 yards away. Many

Chicagoans live in neighborhoods where they are this close to gunfire at least every week. Because the Republican Supreme Court religiously defends the “right” of sociopaths to buy and carry automatic weapons, abuse of guns is inevitable. Being injured or killed by guns is simply a statistical fact of life in this country that values the “rights” of psychopathic murderers over human life

Tom DeCoursey, Oak Park

And the bells ring

Every day, the church bell tower near Lake Street and Kenilworth Avenue marks the passing of time. I can hear the bells from my desk –– an unexpected comfort in this transitional year –– the year we uprooted our life in England to retur n to our beloved Oak Park

SHELBY WAGNER

One View

During the last four years, my days were filled with the sounds of magical Oxford –– birds always singing, boats on the River Thames and bikes on the towpath announcing their presence through horns and dings, and always the bells would ring. We lived a nor mal, everyday existence in not-so-normal surroundings. We carried home groceries past centuries-old stone buildings. In taking the children to school, we cycled with double-decker buses across the famed Folly Bridge. And we met up with friends at one of the many historical pubs. In Oxford, with its cobblestone streets, longstanding bookstores, and world-class museums, the air always tingles with possibility –– to learn, create, and dream.

We moved to Oxford for my husband to pursue his PhD, but I spent the time dreaming and healing. Shortly before our move to England (mid-2020), I uncovered trauma from my childhood. While that is another story for another day, the result was that my life fell apart. I couldn’t care for myself or my children. I couldn’t function in the day-to-day. I couldn’t remain as I had always been. I needed to break from the constraints I had unknowingly carried for decades and dare to believe I wasn’t a burden or that my passions weren’ t ridiculous When I lear ned the truth about my past, I

was suddenly free to dream about my future.

And then we moved to Oxford, the City of Dreaming Spires. And I dreamed of writing, of creating art, of hosting meaningful gatherings in beautiful settings, of starting a bookstore, of being confident, of setting a strong example for my three young children.

And I started to grow

I started writing. I practiced watercoloring. I researched brick-and-mortar bookstores (part of my 5-year plan). And I decided to start a business to create and host beautiful events and gatherings

But I couldn’t fully pursue those dreams in Oxford.

Oxford is the City of Dreaming Spires, but for me it was not the City of Realized Dreams It felt like a fantasy world, a beautiful dream, the setting for a long chapter of my life, and a place to find healing before retur ning to the “real” world –– my real world — of Oak Park. So here I am –– four years older, more whole –– starting the next chapter of my life. A chapter where I become a woman entrepreneur. I plan to carry the dreams and beauty of Oxford into my business –– Myrtle & Sage Events. I hope my children watch me both struggle and succeed. And as I settle into America, missing England, I’m grateful for the small reminder of those magical years every time the bells ring on the corner of Lake Street and Kenilworth Avenue

Shelby Wagner, an Oak Park resident, is a mom of three children between the ages of 2 and 7, considers herself an amateur hobbyist

Leaf pickup is gone, trash next?

While I appreciate Oak Park’s decision to stop allowing leaf piles in the streets, it doesn’t go far enough. To that end, I suggest we eliminate all trash pickup in Oak Park. There are many benefits to this change:

1. Safety is a concer n. Trash collection can be dangerous! What if a child was hiding in a bin and they got tossed into a trash truck. Tragic. Or if someone throws a lit cigarette into the trash, it could easily start a fire.

2. The cost of running large trash trucks is significant. By moving away from traditional trash collection, we could redirect these funds to more essential services, benefiting the entire community.

3. Eliminating traditional trash pickup

would benefit the environment and lower our carbon footprint. Now Oak Parkers can compost even more and have direct control over recyclables. The important thing is that this would represent more options, which is really what people want.

Will removing a beloved service like trash pickup cause some friction? Sure, but that’s the price of progress. I trust Oak Park leadership to pursue what’s right, even if it’s deeply unpopular. Frankly, it’s not about pleasing people, it’s about making progress, regardless of how unimportant and unwelcome that progress is.

Mike McLaughlin Oak Park

KATE MAEHR Hunger Action Month

from page 33

Earlier this year, President Harmon worked with other leaders in the General Assembly to ensure that the new Farm to Food Bank program for Illinois was fully funded. As a result, more fresh, Illinois-grown food is available for our neighbors who visit pantries and meal programs, a connection that also benefits area farmers.

He was also instrumental in making sure Breakfast After the Bell school grants were funded in the state budget this year. These grants will help schools across the state remove barriers between Illinois children and their most important meal of the day.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude for the role President Harmon played in the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s recent construction of a prepared meal center. While the majority of our capital campaign was privately funded, he helped us secure a critical investment from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. That funding took our campaign over the finish line. As a result, we now have the capacity to prepare up to 10,000 healthy, scratchmade meals per day for our neighbors at greatest risk of hunger

Michele Zurakowksi and state Senate President Don Harmon have dedicated an enormous amount of their careers to addressing hunger and its root causes. But you don’t need to be the CEO of a human services organization or an elected official to be a local hero. Every action makes an impact

If you have time, volunteer with a local organization. If you can donate, give generously. But most importantly, raise your voice and advocate for lasting solutions to poverty and hunger

Kate Maehr, and Oak Park resident, is executive director and CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

NICOLE CHAVAS

Old clothes network from page 33

fit for donation or sale. Thanks to a new village textile recycling service, you never have to throw these away again. As an Oak Park resident, you can log in to https://simplerecycling. com, schedule a pick-up, and put your bag o’ stuff on your porch. Done

To make this as easy for me as possible, I now have three bins in my basement: one for semi-annual Hephzibah donation, one for recycling, and one for resale. The minute an item no longer works for us, I immediately toss it in the appropriate bin. Twice a year, I bag up and donate whatever is in the Hephzibah bin. When the recycling bin is full, I bag it, schedule a pick up and put it on my porch. And when I find a spare moment, I promise I will post items on Project Preloved and hope my pre-2020 professional wardrobe can find a new life

* Close readers may notice that these resources are primarily focused on women’s and children’s clothing. I’m admittedly not aware of any local men’s resale sites, which, if my husband is at all re presentative of the broader Oak Park male population, I assume is because men wear clothing up until the point that it just disintegrates into thin air.

Nicole Chavas, an Oak Park resident with a background in urban planning, is president and co-founder of Greenprint Partners, a firm that manages climate resiliency and stormwater management projects.

To bag or not to bag

It seems our Bilandic-wannabe Oak Park Village Board still have their heads in their paper bags. Now the leaves are falling, but where do we put them? On Sept. 18, I saw my first pile of leaves of the season on the street. The pile was outside a church! Surely this is a sign from Providence that our village board’s plan for fall leaf pickup is folly.

If you decide to obey the board’s misstep by bagging your leaves, consider marking

your bags with a large “B” for Board, so the trustees can see their “Board Bags” handiwork as they walk around Oak Park. And maybe next to those bags, a bag painted with “S” for Village Board President Vicki Scaman, who is up for re-election in April These simple visuals might help our elected representatives find their way out of their bags

Peter Manikowski Oak Park

Vote Yes for property tax relief amendment

Ben Franklin once said death and taxes are inevitable, but he never said it’s inevitable to be taxed to death — especially by Illinois’ complicated and unfair property tax system with its bewildering array of ter ms, rules, and deadlines designed to be confusing and intimidating to the average property taxpayer

Illinois has the second highest property taxes in the nation. The typical Illinois homeowner paid about $5,055 in proper ty taxes in 2022, more than double the typical American homeowner’s bill of $2,547, according to the most recent census data from 2022.

The Illinois property tax system is not based on ability to pay and places a regressive tax burden on everyday people who live from paycheck to paycheck. As a result, Illinois’ excessive reliance on property taxes makes our tax code one of the 10 most unfair codes in the country.

It’s time for Illinois’ 3,077,768 residential property taxpayers to take charge and reform our state’s upside-down tax code to give guaranteed annual property tax relief to millions of Illinoisans who are struggling to stay in their houses.

This November marks the first time ever that Illinois voters will have a direct referendum opportunity at the ballot box to demand mandatory property tax relief. Earlier this year, the Illinois Property Tax Relief Amendment Referendum was placed on the ballot as a statewide advisory referendum by the

Illinois General Assembly.

The referendum asks, “Should the Illinois Constitution be amended to create an additional 3% tax on income greater than $1,000,000 for the purpose of dedicating funds raised to property tax relief ?”

By voting yes, Illinois voters will call for passage of the largest property tax relief measure in state history.

According to the most recent data, Illinois has 77,323 millionaires whose annual income tax returns exceed more than $1,000,000 in adjusted gross income. These millionaires account for only 1.2% of Illinois’ 6,286,664 income taxpayers but bring in more than 20% of our state’s individual income. Year after year, the top 1% take in a rising percentage of the state’s total individual income.

A 3% surcharge on this millionaire income would fund at least $1.5 billion in annual property tax refunds for distribution to more than 3 million Illinois residential property taxpayers. Indeed, a recent millionaire surcharge in Massachusetts enacted by voter initiative and referendum has generated even more revenue for that state’s treasury than estimated

Homeownership and home-buying are essential to the Illinois economy, especially with today’s challenges to the cost of liv-

ing. When I served as Illinois gover nor a decade ago in 2014, I proposed a tax reform plan to give every Illinois homeowner an annual property tax refund of at least $500, a refund that would be substantial, permanent, and adjusted to inflation.

The General Assembly did not act on my property tax relief proposal back then, but in 2021 passed legislation creating a special fund in the state treasury called the Illinois Property Tax Relief Fund. Under the law, monies in the fund may be used by the State Comptroller to pay rebates to residential Illinois property taxpayers eligible for the homestead exemption.

Thus, with the hopeful passage of the Illinois Property Tax Relief Amendment, an efficient mechanism already exists in state gover nment to deliver annual and per manent tax relief to the 3,077,768 Illinois households eligible for residential homestead exemptions.

In addition, 29 states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota, have circuitbreaker options for modest income and senior property taxpayers. Circuit-breakers prevent homeowners from being “overloaded” by their property tax bills by rebating property taxes paid over a certain amount of their income.

The Illinois Property Tax Relief Amend-

ment can provide funding for both annual property tax refunds and circuit-breaker options for Illinois’ 3 million residential property taxpayers. But this property tax relief will only come with strong taxpayer organizing to pass the property tax relief referendum this November.

In the course of my public life, I have organized voter referendum campaigns that have enacted important and overdue reforms, including the Cutback Amendment that reduced the size of the Illinois legislature in 1980, the Citizen Utility Board (CUB) referendums to take on utilities on behalf of consumers in 1983, and the Recall Amendment for gubernatorial recall in 2010. Each time it was the power of voter referendum that broke through legislative gridlock to get the job done for Illinois voters.

For decades, the Illinois property tax law has violated the biblical principle that taxes should be based on ability to pay. This November, we the people of Illinois have the power to use voter referendum to build a taxpayer movement that refor ms Illinois’ unfair property tax code in a meaningful way. Anyone interested in helping the cause should visit IllinoisPropertyTaxReliefNow.org

Pat Quinn served as Illinois’ 41st Governor from 2009-2015. As a county tax appeal commissioner from 1982-1986, he decided 150,000 property tax assessment appeals and taught property tax law at Chicago Kent Law School for 24 years.

SPORTS

Owen Petrzelka’s legacy lengthens

Weekend run celebrates his life, raises awareness of cancer

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Owen Petrzelka was your typical 6-year-old boy in 2020: eager, full of energy, and loving life.

But in April of that year, Owen developed a rare disease called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Occurring in children between 4 and 11, it is a cancerous brain tumor, and there is currently no cure for it. After fighting for six months, Owen died in October 2020.

“During this time, my cousin Ethan Briggs was on the Fenwick (boys) soccer team,” said Owen’s mother, Amanda Shaker. “Since it was COVID, Ethan and his friends, many of whom were his soccer teammates, spent a lot of time with Owen, from playing video games, joining us on trips, as part of our memory-making tours. They were amazing and made his final months incredibly special. They made an impact on Owen, and in turn, I think Owen made an impact on them.”

Following a soccer match at the Fenwick Priory in River Forest the next fall, Briggs and his Fenwick teammates made the walk to the Petrzelka home in Oak Park. They were joined by the Friars’ opponents that day — East Avenue neighbor Oak Park and River Forest High School.

Although Briggs has moved on to Creighton University, Fenwick continues to be there for Shaker and her husband and Owen’s father, Adam Petrzelka, an OPRF alum.

“At the end of the 2021-22 season, Fenwick created an Owen’s Courage Award, which is presented to the player who shows the most positivity in that season,” Shaker said. “Ethan was the first recipient, and last year’s recipient was Ryan Agozo. Coach [Craig] Blazer kindly invites

us each year to the award dinner, which is really wonderful. We’re honored to attend and love that Owen’s le gacy is still so strong within the team and is tied to kindness.”

For Blazer, it was important that the Friars continue to show the family support, given what Owen meant to the program.

“We continue to remember Owen and his life, everything his family and friends have done to bring awareness to kids dealing with cancer,” he said. “We’ re going to walk this year, and the guys just want to help. They want to be part of something special, and Owen’s Run is that.”

Shaker appreciates the support from Blazer and the Fenwick soccer program.

“Owen played Edge soccer and wanted to be just li ke his cousin Ethan,” she said. “He always loved watching Ethan and his friends play, and I know he is proud to still be pa rt of the team’s story. To see them take time away from the pitch to support us, their for mer teammates, and frankly the community, is a beautiful thing.”

Owen’s Run is a virtual 5K race that takes place Sept. 28. It is part of a larger national event called ChadTough’s Run Tough Event, which benefits the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation.

“It funds game-changing research around the world so that one day, parents, friends, families, and communities won’t experience what we did when hearing a kid has a DIPG diagnosis,” said Shaker, who attended both Fenwick and OPRF. “Team Owen has raised over $1 million for the organization and now there’s more research being done than ever before.”

Since 2021, Owen’s Run has evolved into a daylong event. In addition to the virtual run, there’s a family-friendly

Owen and Ethan Brig gs

party with food, crafts and music. Moreover, there’s a dunk tank, and Shaker says the Fenwick team will take part.

“We’ve had village leaders participate. Principal [Hussein] Ali [Mann Elementary] always attends and lets the kids do something silly with him,” Shaker added. “Many of our family, colleagues, and the parents of Owen’s friends graciously volunteer to put on this wonderful celebration.”

T he Owen’s Run event starts at 10 a.m. and g oes until 7:30 p. m ., Sept. 28, on the 900 block of North Grove Avenue in Oak Pa rk . T hose who would li ke to pa rt icipate in the virtual 5K r un or make d onations c an go to TeamOwen.org.

For more information on DIPG, visit ChadTough.org.

Fenwick football grinds it out on the gridir on

Friars knock o Montini in CCL/ESCC White opener

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Since Matt Battaglia became Fenwick High School’s football coach in 2020, his teams have gone by the motto of “Fenwick FAST,” which features a high-octane offensive style of football that gets downfield in a hurry and can put up a lot of points.

But more often than not in one of the state’s best leagues, the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference, games are decided the old-school way: physical, hard-hitting defense, and running games capable of chewing up time.

On Sept. 20 at Triton Colle ge in River Forest, the Friars used a drive that took up

the final five minutes to salt away a hardearned 14-10 CCL/ESCC White Division victory over visiting Montini.

“Defense played great,” Battaglia said, “but the offense had too many mistakes, too many turnovers. It took us too long to wake up in the first half.”

Indeed, things started inauspiciously for Fenwick (3-1, 1-0 in CCL/ESCC White)

as Jamen Williams threw an interception on the Friars’ second drive to Montini DB Max Bell, who returned it 44 yards to the 1-yard line. The Broncos (2-2, 0-1) immediately cashed in on the next play as JoJo James ran in for a 7-0 Montini lead at the 6:49 mark of the opening quarter.

Huskies, unbowed, host their annual invite this weekend

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

At first glance, the Oak Park and River Forest High School field hockey team’s record of 2-6-1 would indicate a rough start. But eighth-year head coach Kristin Wirtz says the Huskies have played better than the results show.

“Our record d oesn’t reflect the season we are having,” she said. “We’ve b een within one g oal in almost every g ame we ’ve pl ayed.”

Indeed, a closer look at the results shows

OPRF eld hockey hangs in

that four of OPRF’s last five losses have come by a single goal, and the other came in overtime. That gives Wirtz reason to be optimistic.

“This really is a great team,” she said. “I have high hopes for the rest of the season, including the postseason. We have competed and improved in each match we’ve had.”

OPRF returned 14 players from last season’s varsity roster. Wirtz says seniors Siena Alfonsi, Ari Boyer, Ava Gallagher, Abby Najera, and Rosie Ondria are the leaders of this year’s team.

“Rosie has been a force for us on the midfield line. Ava is great at seeing the field and creating of fense for us inside the circle,” Wir tz said. “Ari has been having an amazing season with huge saves against very competitive teams.”

T he Huskies have gotten contributions

from newcomers, sophomores Maeve Carmody and Maeve Fishburne; juniors Annie Barnes, Delaney Cherikos, and Grace Moroney; and seniors Blaire Brown and Bailey Mosbacher

“They’ve brought high energy and great attitudes,” Wir tz said.

Traditionally, OPRF has used its annual Huskie Invitational to provide momentum for the balance of the season. This year’s tournament, which takes place Sept. 27 and 28, includes Lake Forest, Ann Arbor Huron, Ann Arbor Pioneer, L ouisville Ballard, L ouisville C olle giat e, L ouisville DuPont Manual, and Milwaukee Divine Savior Holy Angels

In a marke d difference from years p ast, the Huskie Invitational will be pl ayed at three on-campus sites: La ke St. Field , Oak Pa rk S tadium, and the recently-

opened OPRF track and field facility, wh ich has a tur f field in the m iddle that c an be used for field hocke y, football, lacrosse, and soccer.

“It’s great to have the [extra] field space. We’re very excited,” Wir tz said. “Honestly, all of the g ames will be very competitive. DuPont, Lake Forest, and Pioneer are always very tough competitors.”

Wir tz adds that the Huskies’ key to success the rest of the season is trust. She states each player needs to trust herself and each other.

“Success is not always defined by wins and losses,” Wir tz said. “We’ re focusing heavily on our goals and finding success T he more we achieve those, the more wins I believe we will see. This team wants to compete in state and I absolutely believe we can get there.”

OPRF alum fares well at international track meet

Reese Garland nishes ninth in discus

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Reese Garland, a 2023 Oak Park and River Forest High School graduate, competed in the women’s discus at the World Athletics U20 Championships held in Lima, Peru, Aug. 27-31.

FOOTBALL

Friars win a close one

from page 41

Fenwick’s offense finally found its way in the second quarter as Williams (18-of-26, 145 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT passing; 11 carries, 73 yards rushing) connected with Raphiel Stewart (three rece ptions, 36 yards) for a 25-yard touchdown with 6:37 to play. Then with seven seconds left before halftime, Williams hit Emmett Romeus (five rece ptions, 37 yards) for a nine-yard touchdown and a 14-7 Fenwick lead.

“It was good to see us executing a one-min-

Garland, currently a sophomore on the women’s track and field team at the University of Southern California, qualified for the finals with a toss of 165 feet (50.3 meters). She placed ninth in the finals with a best throw of 165 feet, 10 inches (50.31 meters).

OPRF football

In its Homecoming game against York, Sept. 20, OPRF football fought valiantly and never quit. But the Huskies were un-

ute situation before halftime,” Battaglia said.

“Jamen did great,” said Fenwick sophomore running back Jalen Morgan (24 carries, 84 yards). “Obviously, we’ve all got things to clean up, but he’s a great leader, and I’m grateful for him.”

Midway through the third quarter, Montini went on a 20-play march that started from its own 8. The Broncos made it to the Friars’ 11, but stalled and settled for a 28-yard field goal from Owen Berberich, which made the score 14-10 going into the final 12 minutes.

A promising drive by Fenwick was halted when Montini’s Vince Irion picked off Williams at the Broncos’ 11 with 7:56 left. James quickly got Montini into Fenwick territory with a 36-yard run, but the Friars’ defense stiffened and forced a punt, giving the offense

able to recover from an early 21-0 deficit and fell to the undefeated Dukes 42-21.

Junior quar terback Johnny Nelson threw two touchdown passes for OPRF (1-3, 1-1 in West Suburban Silver), which goes on the road for the first time this season, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m., at Downers Grove North.

OPRF boys soccer

Since suffering a season-opening 1-0 defeat to Addison Trail on Aug. 29, the OPRF boys

the ball back with 5:18 left.

Thanks to good, hard running by Morgan and Williams, Fenwick picked up three clutch first downs and was able to eat up all the remaining time.

“I already knew wh at time it was,” Morg an said. “I was thinking, ‘run through everybo dy,’ and ke ep the b all as long as p ossibl e. ”

“The offensive line had to calm down and do what we do,” Williams said. “Jalen’s been amazing. He’s really stepped up a lot and won us a lot of our games to be frank.”

The victory atoned for a 14-13 loss at Joliet Catholic the previous week. Williams felt it was important for the Friars to finish a close game.

“[Joliet Catholic] was a heartbreaker,” he

soccer team has gone unbeaten in six consecutive matches.

In the past ten days, the Huskies (4-1-2) have notched a victory and two draws. On Sept. 14, OPRF tied Leyden Township 1-1. Two days later, Noah Barnett’s two goals were the difference in a 2-1 Huskies victory over Timothy Christian. Then on Sept. 18, Kingsten Petersen’s goal gave OPRF a 1-1 draw against Stagg. T he Huskies travel to Bettendorf, Iowa, to participate in the Great River Classic, Sept. 27-28.

said. “We were in a close game and didn’t pull it out. This week, we were in another close game and pulled it out, so it feels good.”

Defensively, Aidan Burns and Jack Paris each had a sack for Fenwick, while punter Noah Sur boomed a 64-yard punt.

“I was really proud of Noah,” Battaglia said. “He had a couple of missed field goals last week. We were encouraging him this week because we believe he’s one of the best kickers in the state.”

Even with the victory, Fenwick knows there’s room for improvement.

“We’re still far from playing our best football,” Battaglia said. “We just need to continue to get better each day, each week.”

Fenwick welcomes De La Salle for Homecoming, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE

FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.

Request of Robert Mulloy Thompson

Case Number 2024CONC001473

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Robert Mulloy Thompson to the new name of: Jack Mulloy Thompson

The court date will be held: On January 9, 2025 at 9am via Zoom. Meeting ID 92302509713

Password 709022 Court room 1707.

Published in RB Landmark

September 11, 18, 25, 2024

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: G24000482 on September 13, 2024 Under the Assumed Business Name of HARMONY TREE YOGA with the business located at: 1249 DEERFIELD PKWY, BUFFALO GROVE, IL 60089. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: MEGAN BRANCATO 1249 DEERFIELD PKWY APT 303 BUFFALO GROVE, IL 60089, USA

Published in Wednesday Journal September 18, 25, October 2, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.

Request of Sarah Jennette Nieman Case Number 20244005683

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Sarah Jennette Nieman to the new name of: Sasha Jennette Nieman

The court date will be held: On November 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at 1311 Maybrook Dr, Maywood, Cook County, IL 60153 in Courtroom # 0112.

Published in Wednesday Journal September 25, October 2, 9, 2024

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed Proposals will be accepted for:

Electric Vehicle Charging Station Site Planning

The Village of River Forest is seeking a professional engineering firm (FIRM) to assist the Village with design engineering services for the installation of Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure necessary to delivery electrical power to Electric Vehicle charging stations at five Village-owned locations as reviewed in its 2023 Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Network Study. It is the goal of the VILLAGE to contract with a qualified FIRM that has substantial experience in this type of work.

The RFP is available for download starting Thursday, September 19, 2024, at: www.vrf.us/bids

Proposals must be submitted by Friday, October 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. to:

Village Hall –Public Works, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305

Proposals will be considered based on the criteria set forth in the RFP.

No Proposal shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled deadline.

The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these Proposals to waive technicalities and reject any or all Proposals.

Published in Wednesday Journal September 25, 2024

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

e Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. is newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

PUBLIC NOTICE

ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDDING

Request of bids for the Oak Park Maintenance Facility Solar PV Installation, 947 S. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park.

Owner: Park District of Oak Park

218 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302

The Park District of Oak Park will accept sealed bids for the Maintenance Facility Solar PV Installation, 947 S. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park. The project consists of the design and install of a 25 kW solar photovoltaic array with structural design fees included. The Park District of Oak Park will receive individual sealed Bids until 2:00pm (Central time) on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 218 Madison St., Oak Park, IL. The bidding documents and requirements will be available on the Demand Star website as of 5:00 pm Friday, September 27, 2024. A non-mandatory pre-bid walk-thru is scheduled for October 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at 947 S. Ridgeland Ave, Oak Park, IL 60304. Bid bonds will be required by bidding contractors. Copies of the bidding specifications are available via the Demand Star website at: https://www.demandstar.com/app/ buyers/bids/475739 For additional information, contact Nelson Acevedo at Nelson.Acevedo@pdop.org or (708) 725-2053. Only the bids prepared in compliance with the bidding documents will be considered. This project must adhere to the Prevailing Wage Act of 2024. The Park District of Oak Park encourages minority and women owned business firms to submit bids for this project.

Park District of Oak Park By: Sandy Lentz, Secretary Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal September 25, 2024

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION US Bank Trust National Association, Not In Its Individual Capacity But Solely As Owner Trustee For VRMTG Asset Trust Plaintiff

Deadline: Monday at 5 p.m.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

vs. Anne S. Hiter; James C. Hiter; USAlliance Federal Credit Union d/b/a USAlliance Financial; TD Bank USA, N.A.; Unknown Owners and Non Record Claimants

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST Plaintiff, -v.-

Defendant 22 CH 3421

CALENDAR 60

NOTICE OF SALE

CHRISTOPHER J. HANSON, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

Defendants 2022 CH 09656 1138 ERIE ST. OAK PARK, IL 60302

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on October 15, 2024, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-17-328-003-0000. Commonly known as 1154 South Lombard Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304. The real estate is: 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: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, The Wirbicki Law Group LLC, 33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1540, Chicago, Illinois 60603. (312) 360-9455. INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on July 22, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 A.M. on October 24, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: THE WEST 37 FEET OF LOT 4 IN SCHULTZS SUBDIVISION IN THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF BLOCK 6 IN KETTLESTRINGS ADDITION TO HARLEM, BEING A SUBDIVISION IN SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Commonly known as 1138 ERIE ST., OAK PARK, IL 60302

Property Index No. 16-07-106-0180000

The real estate is improved with a residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-22-04152 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2022 CH 09656 TJSC#: 44-2028

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2022 CH 09656 I3252359

Preschool Children learn their first Hebrew songs and blessings in our highly acclaimed and DCFSlicensed preschool. Our small class size allows our teachers to provide the attention children require to grow and thrive. We tailor educational experiences to meet each child’s needs based on their emerging skills and interests.

Religious School Our dynamic religious school presents a comprehensive, supportive, and fun curriculum leading children to their bar and bat mitzvahs and beyond. We help them discover their spirituality, learn to live the rhythms of Jewish life, and become anshe chesed — people of kindness. They study Jewish values, history, identity, and in-depth Hebrew language, and learn about the land, culture, and people of Israel. Lessons are enhanced through music, art, theater, and community activites.

Adult Education We offer many choices for adults to grow in their Jewish education. In addition to regular classes taught by clergy and staff, we host guest speakers, both in person and virtually, who offer insight and inspiration that foster intellectual, experiential, and spiritual growth on a wide variety of subjects from Israel to the Jewish diaspora, Talmud to Kabbalah, baking challah to preparing holiday meals, and more.

Enjoy a day of fun, food, and music by Latin Grammy award-winning Ben Gundersheimer, known as MISTER G!, one of the world’s most widely distributed Jewish artists for children. His 12 albums of original, multicultural music have received numerous accolades including a Latin Grammy Award and five Parents’ Choice Gold Awards. His dynamic, interactive performances aim to foster cross-cultural connections.

Visit our website at harzion.org or scan the QR code above for details and tickets.

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Davening Team Community Concert

November 10, 3:00pm, Temple Har Zion

Join us at Har Zion for an afternoon of uplifting prayer, song, and dance. Our community concert combines liturgical melodies and traditions from across the Jewish world – from the Kabbalists of Morroco, to the Hassidic chants from Eastern Europe, to new wave Jewish spiritual music. All are welcome as we introduce spiritual melodies and prayers from the Shabbat prayerbook.