the village free press Vol. III No. 19
A timeline of the Westlake tragedy, PAGE 5
A YMCA could be headed to old North Ave. Menards The West Cook YMCA has started a 6-month feasibility study to see if building is a good fit
MAY 8, 2019
PMSA 7th in state, PAGE 8
theVillageFreePress.org THE LONG FIGHT: Anthony Garrison, a Maywood resident who works at Westlake Hospital, said that he’s still committed to the employer despite its recent woes and plans by its new owner, Pipeline Health, to close the nearly century-old institution. SEBASTIAN HIDALGO
By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
The West Cook YMCA is considering another location within the west suburbs, the organization announced during its annual fundraising gala, held April 27 in Oak Brook. During an interview on Monday, West Cook YMCA President and CEO Phillip Jimenez said the YMCA is poised to finalize a purchase and sale agreement this week with the owner of the vacant Menards, 8311 W. North Avenue in Melrose Park. Jimenez said the agreement gives the West Cook YMCA six months to conduct due diligence, which would include holding numerous stakeholder sessions to get community input about the project, See WEST COOK YMCA on page 3
Westlake Hospital stories Anthony Garrison is there ‘until the wheels fall off ’
By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
Anthony Garrison, 35, of Maywood, is a shift supervisor in environmental service who is responsible for making sure that Westlake Hospital is clean and wellorganized. During an interview last month, he said
the village free press
that his paychecks “have been getting shorter and shorter,” with one short by $200. Pipeline’s decision to close Westlake had thrown his life into chaos, but he continued going to work, because he enjoyed his job. In his own words, Garrison explained why he continues to fight even as the prospects of his nearly century-old workplace become
dimmer with each new day.
Working life before Westlake Before Westlake, I worked at Fresh Express in Streamwood. That was rough. I was working six days a week, basically 3:30 See WESTLAKE STORIES on page 6
“A man has only one life and if during it he has no great environment, no community, he has been irreparably robbed of a human right,” -Paul Goodman
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