Village Free Press_060122 by The Village Free Press

Vol. VI No. 22 Dog vs. dog, PAGE 3

JUNE 1, 2022

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Northlake senior citizens host a prom, PAGE 4

Broadview Oak Park man steps up mom to the plate, revives collecting Bat A Ball baby formula amid shortage ShaRhonda Knott-Dawson started the Chicagoland Baby Formula Collection in midMay to distribute formula to parents in need By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

ShaRhonda Knott-Dawson, who lives in Broadview and has two daughters, 13 and 9, knows what it’s like to need baby formula. Knott-Dawson said she’s had trouble breastfeeding and knows what parents of infants are going through amid a historic national shortage of baby formula caused by a recall of infant formula in February. “My worry is that there was no coordination or direction from the state,” Knott-Dawson said on May 27. “I didn’t see a plan.” As a result, Knott-Dawson, who sits on the Broadview library board and is active in a range of community organizations and initiatives across the west suburbs, took matters See FORMULA on page 9

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Scott Friesen bought Bat A Ball Batting Range in Melrose Park last year, reopening the range in April as Sam’s Batting Cages By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

In 2001, the Chicago Tribune interviewed Kevin Sherrod, a former Proviso East High School baseball player, while hitting balls with his 8-year-old daughter, Araina, at the Bat A Ball Batting Range, 1425 N. 1st Ave. in Melrose Park.

At the time, the Tribune reported that places like Bat A Ball “once dotted the area but are now scarce. Coming upon one now is always a surprise.” The batting ranges, the Tribune noted, “are dreamy places, where baseballs batted never reach a destination (whether a fielder’s glove or a bleacher seat) but are rather captured by the heavy netting that envelops the nine cages and the contraption that gathers balls and tosses them, at speeds from 35 to 85 miles per hour, toward batters positioned in nine cages.” By 2021, vines had overtaken the complex, which had also turned into a dumping ground for construction crews. Oak Parker Scott Friesen saw an opportunity in the eyesore. “The property was unavailable for the

better part of a decade,” Friesen said during a recent interview. “The owner died in 2011 without any direct heirs, so it was a court battle for ownership for years. That finally got settled at the end of 2019 and it went on the market last year. My wife called me and said, ‘Hey, that batting cage we drove past for years had a for sale sign on it.’ That’s when the insanity began.” Friesen, who runs analytics for a logistics company in Chicago by day, is into pinball and baseball and tall, tall tasks. The father of two (his son recently graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School, where his daughter is currently a sophomore) bought the old Bat A Ball See BATTING on page 4

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Village Free Press | June 1, 2022

PLEASE JOIN STATE REPRESENTATIVE PLEASE JOIN REPRESENTATIVE PLEASE JOINSTATE STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Emanuel “Chris” Welch Emanuel “Chris” “Chris” Welch Emanuel Welch FOR HIS

Editor and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Michael Romain Senior Editor Bob Uphues

Digital Publishing and Technology Manager Briana Higgins Photographers Shanel Romain, Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey

Sales Representative and Community Engagement Kamil Brady Sales Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Development and Sales Coordinator Stacy Coleman Circulation Manager Jill Wagner | Email: jill@oakpark.com Business Manager Joyce Minich Publisher Dan Haley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Proviso

FOR HIS FOR HIS

ANNUAL

JOB FAIR

Saturday, June 11

10 AM - June 2 PM Saturday,

11 Saturday, JuneBring11 your resume!

Math & Science Academy Deb Abrahamson,8601 W. Roosevelt Rd. • Forest Park

Dress to impress!

10 AM - 2 PM 10 AM - 2 PM

Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer Representative Welch is helping local job connect with employers. Multiple Proviso & Science Academy HOW TO REACH seekers US Math vendors from state agencies to local Village Free Press Proviso Math &that Science Academy 8601 W. Roosevelt Rd. • Forest Parkto companies are actually looking 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 hireRoosevelt will be there.Rd. Attendees can network, 8601 • Forest Park ■ FAX:W. 708-467-9066 PHONE: 773-626-6332 VFPress.news submit their resume, and receive information about resources the unemployed and Representative Welch for is helping local job TWITTER: @village_free FACEBOOK: @maywoodnews underemployed. seekers connect with employers. Multiple

Dress to impress! Dress to impress! Bring your resume! Bring your resume! Emanuel “Chris”

WELCH

Representative Welch is helping local job vendors from state toMultiple local This event is freeagencies and open to everyone. seekers connect with employers. 7th District Close to public transportation. companies that are actually looking to vendors from state agencies to local STATE REPRESENTATIVE Emanuel “Chris” hire will be there. Attendees can network, Masks required. companies that are actually looking to SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE submit their resume, and receive information Emanuel “Chris” will be there. The Village Free Presshire is published digitally and in print by Attendees can network, about resources for the unemployed and Growing Community Media, NFP. The print editionresume, is distributed and receive submit their w w w information .emanuelchriswelch.com across Proviso Township at no charge each Wednesday. underemployed. about resources for the unemployed For more information, please and contact Rep. Welch’s constituent service office at © 2022 Growing Community Media NFP. 708-450-1000 or Rep Welch@EmanuelChrisWelch.com underemployed. This event is free and open to everyone. 7th District Close to public transportation. This event is free and open to everyone. 7th District STATE REPRESENTATIVE Close to public transportation. Masks required.

WELCH WELCH

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Village Free Press | June 1, 2022

NEWS briefs Cook County Clerk launches ‘Trusted Source’ webpage to combat election misinformation Ahead of the upcoming Gubernatorial Primary Election, the Cook County Clerk’s Office is launching a new “Trusted Source” webpage “to combat harmful election misinformation and provide voters with detailed facts on all aspects of election operations, from questions about voting by mail to the final tabulation of election results,” Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough announced May 25. The webpage, which is available at cookcountyclerk.com/TrustedSource, includes FAQs to address voter concerns about allegations of election fraud and questions about voter identification, the processing of ballots, and mail ballot drop boxes, the clerk’s office said. There are separate, detailed sections that focus on questions about voting by mail and methods used to ensure election transparency and integrity. The page also provides a list of other trusted election sources at the national, state, and local levels. The new webpage is part of a national effort by the NationalAssociation of Secretaries of State and other election authorities to promote election officials as the trusted sources of election information.

Important Upcoming Dates for the June 28 Gubernatorial Primary Election for suburban Cook County voters: § June 1 – June 27: Voter Registration and Early Voting at suburban Cook County Courthouses as well as 69 W. Washington in downtown Chicago. § June 12: Last day to register to vote by online application. § June 13 – June 27: Expanded Early Voting at more than 50 locations in suburban Cook County as well as 69 W. Washington and Union Station in downtown Chicago. § June 23: Last day to apply for a Mail Ballot. § June 28: Election Day/Last day Mail Ballots can be postmarked.

Secretary of State mobile unit coming to Maywood library June 4 On Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Maywood Public Library, 121 S. 5th Ave. in Maywood, Secretary of State officials will be available for a variety of services, including: driver’s license renewal/correction, state ID renewal/correction/new issue, motor vehicle registration, and organ donor registration, among others. Property identification is required for those services. Seniors, age 75 and older, must visit a permanent Secretary of State driver services’ facility to renew drivers licenses. Due to enhanced security require-

ments, REAL ID compliant drivers’ licenses and ID cards must be processed at a drivers’ services facility. “Illinois driver’s licenses, instruction permits and identification cards that have an expiration date between January 1, 2020 and July 31, 2022 have been extended until July 31, 2022,” Secretary of State officials said on the office’s website. “This deadline is approaching. Avoid having an expired ID by making an appointment for our mobile unit.” Appoints are required. Call (708) 343-1847 (ext. 19) to schedule one for the mobile unit event.

U.S. Covid death toll surpasses 1M, in Proviso suburbs it’s nearly 300 On May 17, the United States officially surpassed 1 million reported COVID-19 deaths, according to data from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, which has been collecting and analyzing COVID-19 cases, test, hospitalization, deaths and vaccines since the start of the pandemic in 2020. “The United States has reached the once unthinkable grim milestone of one million COVID-19 deaths,” said William Moss, the vaccinology lead and executive director of the Johns Hopkins International Vaccine Access Center. “Equally tragic, and also once unthink-

able, are the recent WHO estimates that the pandemic resulted in nearly 15 million excess deaths globally in 2020 and 2021,” Moss said. According to public data available by the Cook County Medical Examiner, 297 of those 1 million COVID-19-related deaths were residents in the nine Proviso Township suburbs in the Village Free Press readership area. According to the data, Berkeley, with only one death, has had the least number of fatalities among the nine suburbs while Melrose Park, with 71, has had the most. Bellwood had 33, Broadview had 17, Hillside had 10, Maywood had 66, Northlake had 51, Stone Park had 19 and Westchester had 29. The Medical Examiner data spans from March 2020 to May 25, 2022. The data is incomplete for a number of reasons. In April, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ended its “jurisdiction over hospital, nursing home or hospice COVID-19 deaths unless there is another factor that falls within the Office’s jurisdiction,” according to the Medical Examiner’s data website. “Data continues to be collected for COVID-19 deaths in Cook County on the Illinois Dept. of Public Health COVID-19 dashboard,” the website adds. CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

Portillo’s Garden Dog vs. traditional dog

A case can be made for both By DAVID HAMMOND Oak Park Eats

May 17, 10 a.m., the Garden Dog, Portillo’s vegetable-based alternative to the traditional hot dog, went on sale. Around 11 a.m., I step to the counter and order one … along with one of Portillo’s traditional allbeef hot dogs. In a side-by-side tasting of the Garden Dog and the traditional Portillo’s hot dog, we came to three conclusions: 1. With the signature condiments (pickle spear, tomatoes, pickled sport peppers, mustard, raw onion, iridescent green-blue relish, celery salt) and the regular poppy seed bun, if your first bite was of the Garden Dog, you might mistakenly believe

it was a traditional dog. The flavors are *close*. 2. In the bun, Garden Dog and traditional dog look almost identical; upon closer examination, however, you’ll see that the Garden Dog is darker, almost brown, and drier-looking, while the traditional dog is reddish pink, moist and more visually appealing. 3. Garden Dogs don’t have the same texture as traditional hot dogs; the meat for Garden Dogs is a little looser and the casing doesn’t have the longed-for “snap.” Traditional dogs, by contrast, have a lusher mouth-feel and a somewhat snappier bite because they use sheep and hog sausage casings. Condiments play a key role with the Garden Dog, as they do with many other foods. If you have a hankering for sushi, you can assuage some of that urge by adding

soy sauce and wasabi to Krab Stix or even canned tuna: the flavors will not, of course, be the same, but the condiments will push some of the same buttons. Having the traditional condiments in place makes it harder to discern that the Garden Dog is not, in fact, a traditional dog. In his book Eating Animals (2009), Jonathan Safran Foer observes that sometimes when omnivores/carnivores hear talk of vegetarianism, they feel as though “their backs are against the wall.” There will be pushback against vegetable alternatives. I get it. I prefer traditional dogs, but there is not a gaping difference between traditional and Garden Dogs, and Garden Dogs provide personal and planetary health advantages. Made with pea protein, Garden Dogs have the same amount of protein as Traditional Dogs, with less sodium and no ni-

trites, so that’s a plus. Caloric differences, however, are negligible: Garden Dog, 320 calories; Traditional Dog, 340 calories. Beef is my favorite food, but we eat too much red meat in this country, and beef production requires vast quantities of water and land. So for the sake of the planet, and the people who live on it, maybe we should try to eat a little less meat. It certainly won’t kill us to eat more vegetables, though it might if we don’t. Anyway, I applaud the efforts of Portillo’s and their Garden Dog, just as I applaud Buona Beef for their Italian Beefless sandwich. We’re not yet fully accustomed to vegetables standing in for beef, but maybe, at least occasionally, we should try meat alternatives — many taste better than just “OK,” and they are definitely better for all of us.

Village Free Press | June 1, 2022

SAM’S

A new legacy cage? from page 1 property for about $275,000 and spent at least another roughly $150,000 on fixing the place up. He installed new netting, new roofing on the sectioned cinderblock building that houses concessions, and other operations and new plumbing. And then there’s the metallic octopus that is the heart of any batting cage, the conveyor system that sorts and shoots balls in nine different lanes and at different speeds. The hydraulic machine that was in the old Bat A Ball turned out to be a jerry-rigged contraption made of car tires and other found parts, Friesen said. He had to call a company named Automated Batting Cages based in Oregon for the new octopus he had installed. The ABC workers drove up from Georgia only to tell Friesen that they couldn’t start the job, because the steel posts on the rigged contraption were the wrong size. So, he had to frantically search for welders that afternoon. Friesen and a crew of friends like the electrician Mike Herwitt turned the old batting cages into a construction site. They hauled token machines (still full of tokens) weighing at least 250 pounds. Friesen himself commandeered a 60-foot boom lift to do work on a tall column that hovers over the octopus. “My wife jokes that I now own nine boats,” Friesen said of the multi-tentacle metal contraption. “There’s always something wrong with a boat.” About a year and many hours of hard labor later, Friesen officially opened Sam’s Batting Cages, so named after the family’s beloved 13-year-old dog, last month. Friesen said he wants Sam’s to be a gathering space for the whole family. In an open area near the cages, he installed two raised platforms for people to throw bags and picnic tables for people to congregate. Inside the building, there’s an arcade machine that plays classics like Pac-Man and Galaga, and a pinball machine. “This is kind of like my homage to Generation X,” Friesen said. The walls are festooned with sports posters. Friesen is a native of New York who has also lived in South Dakota (Minnesota Twins territory), so on the wall is team art referencing the Yankees, the Twins, the Cubs and the White Sox. Sam’s is an amalgamation of rare local craftsmanship. Friesen sells ice cream that

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comes from the Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor in Forest Park. He’s been in touch with someone from nearby Westchester who will convert the token machine into a quarter dispenser. He banks at Pan American in Melrose Park. He contracted with Mike Hedges in Oak Park for the paint job. For those familiar with Bat A Ball and looking to revel in some nostalgia, Friesen sells retro Bat A Ball t-shirts and baseball caps in concessions. The original sign still hovers over the batting cage property, at least for now. Since its opening last month, Sam’s has attracted people from all over the west suburbs. According to Friesen’s analysis, Sam’s target market includes at least 2,000 registered youth baseball and softball players in suburbs that include Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park. On a recent Saturday, Jeff Weiner, 44, visited Sam’s with his son. Weiner said he used to hit balls on the property when it Scott Friesen stands in the fastball lane inside of Sam’s Batting Cages in Melrose Park. Below, was Bat A Ball. “I remember this being here and I re- Scott shows off the classic pinball machine inside of one of the property’s buildings. The walls are member it closing,” said Weiner, who festooned with sporting memorabilia. played youth baseball in River Grove. “I’m glad this is open again.” CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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Village Free Press | June 1, 2022

Elegance meets romance at Northlake senior prom

Seniors at the Concord Place Retirement Community in Northlake gathered for a prom on May 24 By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Jeanette Woods, 75, and her partner, Raymond Lopez, 79, met nearly four years ago even though neither of them were looking for romance. “We had both been single for 20 years,” Woods said. “We met and started having lunch together and so forth and so on. Then we decided we liked each other enough to get an apartment together. We’ve been in the same apartment going on three years.” Woods and Lopez were among a group of senior citizens gathered atop the Concord Place Retirement Community, 401 W. Lake St. in Northlake, for a senior prom on May 24. Rachelle Blough, Concord’s activities di-

rector, said the event was months in. The making and done in partnership with Proviso Math and Science Academy, Elmhurst College and Cinderella’s Closet. The latter entity donated over 100 dresses for seniors wanting to participate in the magical night, Blough said. Woods said the prom was a perfect excuse to leave the confines of their apartment after two years of pandemic confinement. “This is wonderful,” Woods said. “I was in a nursing home two years before I came here and I wanted to get out so bad and the social worker at the nursing home said you don’t belong here and she told me about Concord. “They’ve always had lots of activities around here before Covid, so it was quite a trial to go through lockdowns and the lack of activities, even living together, but we survived without killing each other. This is a good place.” Carol Whitlock, 78, and Bob Gaines, 74, were also enthused to finally get out of the apartment they share at Concord. “This is a wonderful facility that took special care to make sure we were safe,”

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Whitlock said. “We didn’t like being locked down, but we’re all here.” Cheryle Seiling, 70, hatched the idea for the prom and worked with Blough and some other staffers to plan the special night. “I had the idea a couple Cheryle Ceiling, 70, a resident of Concord Place Retirement Community in of years ago Northlake had the idea of a senior prom that finally came to fruition on May pre-Covid and 24. More photos on page 11. then covid shut Shanel Romain us down and weren’t able to go through with “To give residents the opportunity to it,” Seiling said. When restrictions were lifted, Seiling said, she decided to bring the dress up and enjoy an elegant evening [is great],” she said. “Everything is elegant.” idea back to Blough. During the May 24 event, Seiling was able to savor the fruits of her labor. CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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Village Free Press | June 1, 2022

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West suburbs to form environmental collaborative

Broadview is spearheading the Cross-Community Climate Collaborative By IGOR STUDENKOV Forest Park Review

Forest Park is poised to join Broadview, Oak Park and River Forest to form the Cross-Community Climate Collaborative (C4), which would work together to help member communities implement environmental sustainability projects, such as buying charging stations for electric cars and shifting electricity supply toward solar panels. Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins laid out the proposal during the May 23 village council meeting. He said the collaboration would help the communities achieve economies of scale and get better contracts. The collaborative set the ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2023, and by 100% by 2050. The four villages are planning to hold a public Memorandum of Understanding signing at Triton College on June 1 at 10 a.m. The Forest Park village council didn’t discuss the collaborative during the May 23 meeting, and there will be no meeting before then. Hoskins told the Review that, if any of the commissioners tell him they weren’t interested in joining, he wouldn’t participate. But he said that he didn’t anticipate any opposition and emphasized that the terms of the memorandum will allow Forest Park to leave any time. Hoskins told the council that the C4 proposal was spearheaded by Broadview mayor Katrina Thompson. Broadview, Oak Park and River Forest presented the plans at the West Central Municipal Conference four weeks earlier, inviting member municipalities to participate. The memorandum describes C4 as an agreement between western Cook County suburbs, but otherwise doesn’t impose any membership requirements.

Under the terms of the memorandum, each member community will establish a local sustainability working group to figure out how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and set targets and strategies for making the municipality more environmentally sustainable. The community representatives will meet monthly to develop regional strategies. C4 will contract Gary, Ind. based Urban Efficiency Group and Oak Park-based Seven Generations Ahead consultants to help with the planning. The memorandum also frames C4 as a way to achieve equity between more welloff communities like Oak Park and the communities that struggled to attract investment, such as Broadview. “C4 is designed to bring together BIPOC and non-minority communities across income lines to share ideas, secure resources, and drive large-scale projects within and across communities that achieve agreed upon greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions, equity, and sustainability goals,” the document introduction stated. The document also mentions that minority communities tend to be disproportionately impacted by pollution, so a collaborative approach makes sense. Hoskins gave the electric vehicle charging station as an example of how C4 could benefit Forest Park. He said that he has seen parking garage owners develop charging stations, with some even approaching the village – but pricing becomes an issue. “This village has already been approached, but rather than deal [with those companies] individually, it would be possible for Forest Park and other suburbs to work a better deal,” he said. Hoskins said that village administrator Moses Amidei already had one meeting with his counterparts in the other three villages. In an interview before the meeting, Hoskins said that C4 was exactly the kind of collaboration between western suburbs that he would like to see more of. CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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Village Free Press | June 1, 2022

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Village Free Press | June 1, 2022

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Editor and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Michael Romain Senior Editor Bob Uphues Digital Publishing and Technology Manager Briana Higgins Photographers Shanel Romain, Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Sales Representative and Community Engagement Kamil Brady Sales Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Development and Sales Coordinator Stacy Coleman Circulation Manager Jill Wagner | Email: jill@oakpark.com Business Manager Joyce Minich Publisher Dan Haley

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from page 1 into her own hands, starting the Chicagoland Baby Formula Collection in mid-May. Knott-Dawson created an online form that people seeking to donate unopened, unexpired baby formula could fill out. Since starting the form, Knott-Dawson said at least 100 people have offered to donate formula, which prompted her and a few other volunteers to temporarily cut off new responses in order to manage the load. “We had to drive to people and pick the formula up,” Knott-Dawson said, adding that the work of picking up and delivering formula became exhausting for her small team of moms. As of Friday, the Collection is relying on partner organizations to help facilitate donations. Anyone looking to drop off formula for parents that need it can do so at places like New Moms and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrants, Knott-Dawson said. Volunteers can also drop off baby formula at community fridges in Maywood and Oak Park, including the Feed ‘Em All fridge outside of the Hampton House, 804 S. 17th Ave. in Maywood; the fridge outside of Carnival Grocery, 824 S. Oak Park Ave.; and the fridge outside of Euclid Church, 405 S. Euclid Ave. in Oak park. Knott-Dawson said she hopes her decentralized effort can function in a similar way to the breakfast programs run by the Black Panther Party in the 1960s. “You educate to liberate,” she said. “Like the free breakfast program. My friend Billy Che Brooks (a former Black Panther) told me that they knew they couldn’t feed every kid in Chicago, but they knew they could shame the people who are supposed to be feeding the kids, but aren’t doing enough.” The national formula shortage started in February, when Abbot, the multinational healthcare company that controls 40% of the U.S. infant formula market, closed its largest baby food manufacturing plant after “a bacteria linked to the hospitalization and death of several babies was found in the plant,” according to Time. On May 24, the Wall Street Journal

ShaRhonda Dawson, pictured left with her husband, Brian, at the Oak. Park Public Library earlier this year. Dawson recently launched an initiative to help parents in the Chicago area obtain baby formula amid a nationwide shortage. File

reported that Abbot “will release about 300,000 cans of a specialty infant formula for children in urgent medical need, while U.S. health regulators cleared the import of about 2 million cans of formula from the U.K. to try to mitigate a shortage.” Time reported that roughly three-quarters of babies born in the United States are fed some formula, according to 2020 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The parents of many of those babies are enrolled in the “Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant, and Children, also known as WIC, which is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.” Through state agencies, WIC provides families earning at or below 185% of the federal poverty level vouchers and digital cards to buy baby formula paid for by government subsidies, Time reports. In a statement on May 17, Gov. JB Pritzker said the state has “partnered with our suppliers and continues to ramp up our support centers to ensure our residents, especially low-income families, have what they need to care for their babies.” The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has provided trained caseworkers to assist families with formula questions through the IDHS Helpline at 1-800-843- 6154. The Help Line is designed for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and WIC

customers, but is open to all residents of Illinois, state health officials said. “We have a special obligation to WIC families,” said IDHS Secretary Grace B. Hou. “About one-half of babies born in Illinois participate in WIC in the first year of their lives. We will continue to do everything possible to safeguard their development and access to safe, nutritious formula.” As of March 2022, nearly 44,000 infants were enrolled in the WIC program, state health officials said. Officials added that “Illinois contracts with Mead Johnson, the Chicago-based manufacturer of ‘Enfamil’ to exclusively supply standard infant formulas for Illinois’ WIC customers. Mead Johnson has ramped up production of its two most used products by over 10% in March and April and 60% in May as compared to pre-recall.” For tips on finding baby formula, read the full article on our website at vfpress. news. CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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Village Free Press | June 1, 2022

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION BYLINE BANK FKA NORTH COMMUNITY BANK, AN ILLINOIS BANKING CORPORATION SUCCESSOR-BYMERGER TO PLAZA BANK; Plaintiff, vs. FRANK J. BARRETT; DARLENE A. BARRETT; APEX MORTGAGE CORP.; WELLS FARGO BANK, MINNESOTA, N.A.; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants, 18 CH 13221 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: PIN Nos. 15-21-301-206-0000 and 15-21-301-209-0000 Common Address: 1600 Westchester Boulevard, Westchester, Illinois 60154 THE SOUTH 34.23 FEET OF LOT 1 AND THE VACATED ALLEY LYING WEST OF AND ADJOINING SAID SOUTH 34.23 FEET OF LOT 1 IN GEORGE F. NIXON AND COMPANY’S CENTRAL ADDITION TO WESTCHESTER, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF THE NORTH 12 ACRES OF THE WEST ¬Ω OF THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 21, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. PIN No. 15-21-301-207-0000 Common Address: 1606 Westchester Boulevard, Westchester, Illinois 60154. Commonly known as 1600 Westchester Boulevard and 1606 Westchester Boulevard, Westchester, Illinois 60154. P.I.N. 15-21-301-206-0000 and 1521-301-209-0000; 15-21-301-2070000. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence and a single-story medical office. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection For information call Mr. Scott H. Kenig at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Randall & Kenig LLP, 455 North Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60611. (312) 822-0800. INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3194800

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS TRUSTEE OF UPLAND MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST A Plaintiff, -v.ROBERT L. MCCOY, ROBERT L. MCCOY, JR., VILLAGE OF MAYWOOD, AN ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, STATE OF ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Defendants 19 CH 8184 2128 SOUTH 11TH AVENUE MAYWOOD, IL 60153 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on February 16, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 6, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 2128 SOUTH 11TH AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153 Property Index No. 15-15-429-0250000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $136,221.51. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and

in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact The sales clerk, LOGS Legal Group LLP Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL, 60015 (847) 291-1717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm.. Please refer to file number 18-087482. 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. LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn IL, 60015 847-291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 18-087482 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 19 CH 8184 TJSC#: 42-1961 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 # 19 CH 8184 I3195558

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FREDDIE MAC SEASONED LOANS STRUCTURED TRANSACTION TRUST SERIES 2019-1 Plaintiff, vs. ULYSSES SIMMONS; TOYE L. SIMMONS; UNKNOWN OWNERS, GENERALLY AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 21 CH 3821 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-15-228-025. Commonly known as 1640 S 15th Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Mr. Matthew C. Abad at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Kluever Law Group, 225 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 236-0077. SPS001100-21FC1 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3195327

as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 424 FREDERICK AVE, BELLWOOD, IL 60104 Property Index No. 15-09-300-0910000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.JANEAN MCCURRY, TCF CONSUMER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Defendants 2019 CH 10056 424 FREDERICK AVE BELLWOOD, IL 60104 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 28, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on June 30, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder,

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. 14-19-07753 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019 CH 10056 TJSC#: 42-1497 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 # 2019 CH 10056 I3195384

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE 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. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

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This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. VILLAGE FREE PRESS

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Village Free Press | June 1, 2022

A Prom to remember Clockwise from middle right: The Concord Place Retirement Community in Northlake held their senior prom on May 24 inside of a ballroom in the facility overlooking the west suburbs. Rachelle Blough-Kowalczyk, Concord’s activity director, alongside her husband, Daniel Kowalczyk, at the senior prom. Raymon Lopez, 79, alongside his partner, Jeannette Woods, 75. Bennetta Spencer, 83, enjoying her first senior prom. Carol Whitlock, 78, dancing with her partner, Bob Gaines, 74, at Tuesday’s senior prom.

Village Free Press | June 1, 2022

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