Village Free Press_070721

JULY 7, 2021

Vol. V No. 27 West Lake Urgent Care officially opens, PAGE 8

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Officials seek to build roughly $4M reservoir in Broadview

Broadview-Westchester Joint Water Agency says reservoir critical to increasing water storage capacity

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Officials with the Broadview-Westchester Joint Water Agency are looking to construct a 1 million-gallon above-ground reservoir on the site of the 10th Avenue pump station in Broadview. The site is also where the water agency is housed, in a building at 2222 S. 10th Ave. The water agency — which provides water from Lake Michigan to properties in Broadview and Westchester, as well as Hines VA Hospital and Madden Mental Health Center in Hines, and Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood — has been discussing the need for additional See RESERVOIR on page 10

Choose an account you can rely on.

The Answer Inc. is on the move, PAGE 4

THE 2021 4×400 METER RELAY WSC GOLD CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS (LEFT TO RIGHT): J’Lynn Gay, Jaloni Johnson, Javon Johnson and Kadher Kessougni. Read the story on page 6.

Provided photo

Aldi, Starbucks likely headed to Westchester Village sells land where Village Hall sits to private developer seeking to build up parcels at Roosevelt and Mannheim

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Some major development projects are coming to the corner of Roosevelt and Mannheim roads in Westchester, if the

terms and conditions of a series of purchase and sale agreements hold up.

During a regular meeting on June 22, the Westchester Village Board voted unanimously in favor of two purchase and sale agreements that would turn over 1107 S. Mannheim Road and 10300 W. Roosevelt Road to AG Westchester LLC. The latter property is the current site of Westchester’s Village Hall and police station. The board agreed to sell the land to Westchester LLC for $2.7 million. According to the purchase and sale agreement, Westchester LLC plans to build an 18,000- to 22,000-square-foot commercial building for the operation of an Aldi Foods.

According to the agreement, the developer is expected to lease the facility to Aldi for at least 10 years.

The village sold four parcels of property located at 1107 S. Mannheim Rd. to Westchester LLC for a total price of $2 million.

According to the purchase and sale agreement, and the redevelopment plan for the site, Parcel A will consist of an approximately 2,200- to 2,400-square-foot commercial building for the operation of a Starbucks coffee shop.

The other three parcels will include commercial facilities ranging from 2,200 to 7,000 square feet for the operation of upscale retail and/or service businesses. Unlike the See DEVELOPMENT on page 9

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WHEN YOU OPEN OUR MOST POPULAR CHECKING ACCOUNT enroll in online banking, activate e-statements, and have at least monthly occurring direct deposits totaling $500 or more for the 2 consecutive calendar months following the month of account opening.2

Stop by our two Proviso Township branches, or make an appointment with a banker today at 708-483-0030.

1759 N. Mannheim Rd. | Stone Park 1111 W. Madison St. | Maywood 708-483-0030 | provisobank.com

Proviso Community Bank is a branch of Hinsdale Bank & Trust Company, N.A. 1. Total Access Checking Bonus Information. This Total Access Checking account bonus offer is valid for new accounts opened January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. This Total Access Checking account bonus offer is not available to existing or closed checking account customers of WTFC and its subsidiaries or its active employees. Limit 1 bonus payment per customer, regardless of the number of accounts opened. If you qualify for this Total Access Checking account bonus offer, you are ineligible to receive this Total Access Checking account bonus offer from any other Wintrust Financial Corporation (‘WTFC’) location. If you qualify for any other WTFC savings offer it may be combined with this Total Access Checking account bonus offer. Your new account must be open, in the same product, and have a balance greater than zero to receive the bonus payment. Balance is determined as of the end of each Business Day as the funds currently in your account including deposits and withdrawals made in the Business Day. The $300.00 bonus payment is subject to IRS 1099-INT reporting and may be considered income for tax purposes for the tax year in which the bonus was paid. 2. Total Access Checking Bonus Qualifications. (i) Open a new Total Access Checking account; (ii) tell us you are aware of this Total Access Checking account bonus offer at account opening; (iii) have at least monthly occurring direct deposits totaling $500.00 or more each month made to your new account for 2 consecutive calendar months after the calendar month your new account was opened (‘Qualification Period’). For example, if you open your new account in January, you would need to have “Direct Deposits” made to your new account in February totaling $500 or more and in March totaling $500 or more; and (iv) enroll in online banking and activate e-statements within the Qualification Period.

A direct deposit is defined as any payment made by a government agency, employer, or other third-party organization that is made via an electronic deposit. A direct deposit does not include teller/ATM/mobile or remote deposits, wire transfers, online banking/telephone transfers between accounts at WTFC, external transfers from other accounts at other financial institutions or ATM/debit card transfers and deposits. After you have completed all the above bonus qualifications, we will deposit the bonus payment into your new account within 30 calendar days after the Qualification Period. BANKER INSTRUCTIONS: Enter offer code WFC00DMAP300 during account opening.

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Village Free Press | July 7, 2021

OUT & ABOUT the village free press Editor & Publisher Michael Romain Senior Sales & Strategic Consultant Kamil Brady Editorial Designer Andrew Mead Advertising Design Support Mark Moroney, Javier Govea HOW TO REACH US Village Free Press c/o Wednesday Journal 141 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE: 773-626-6332 FAX: (708) 467-9066 vfpress.news Twitter: @village_free Facebook: @maywoodnews The Village Free Press is published weekly

by Michael Romain. It is distributed free of charge at locations throughout Maywood. © 2021 Village Free Press

PLCCA, Bishop Claude Porter celebrate Teen REACH scholars On Friday, June 24, at the Double Tree Hotel in Oak Brook, the Maywood nonprofit PLCCA held the End of Year Celebration for its Teen REACH scholastic program.

The special guest was

Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, the award-winning journalist and Temple University professor.

Dr. Hill gave remarks virtually.

Among the individuals receiving awards included:

§ Kidz N Klubs Award Dr. Anita C. Morris and Travis L. Morris § Teacher Recognition Award April Maeweather § Most Improve Student Award Latrese Hart § Parent Involvement Award Loconnda Blockman § Activity Award Sean Holmes

We’re proud to partner with Growing Community Media, NFP.

§ Summer Camp Award Xposure Runs

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

Publisher Dan Haley

“To learn to be human is to develop through the give and take of communication an effective sense of being an individually distinctive member of a community.”

—John Dewey

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Village Free Press | July 7, 2021

Proviso Township Ministerial Alliance Network “Committed to Community Transformation”

& UFCI’S EDGE 10AM – 2PMPROGRAM (Educational Development to Grow Economical)

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Village Free Press | July 7, 2021

‘I’m not just Black, I’m autistic’

The Answer Inc. helps autistic residents during pandemic, post-George Floyd unrest

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

If these last few years have been tough for people who don’t have developmental disabilities, just imagine what they’ve been like for those people who do.

That’s a reality that often gets lost in the larger narrative about the pandemic’s impact on young people’s ability to learn and socialize, said key members of the Answer Inc., the popular Proviso Township nonprofit dedicated to servicing families affected by autism and other developmental disabilities.

Maywood resident Debra Vines, the Answer’s founder and CEO, said during a recent interview that her organization’s services are perhaps more needed than ever, particularly for individuals who need the stability of routine physical relationships.

Vines started the organization after her adult son, Jason, was born with autism and she needed specialized services. Noticing that those services weren’t readily available in Proviso Township, Vines eventually turned herself into an advocate for her son and other families dealing with developmental disabilities.

“Before the pandemic, Jason was going to a day program,’ Vines said. “He hasn’t been to a day program in over a year. At first, he was really discombobulated. You know, ‘What do I do now?’”

Vines said her son now has gotten extremely comfortable accompanying her to her Forest Park office most days, where she executes the nonprofit’s numerous events, initiatives and programs.

Throughout the pandemic, the Answer continued to provide its critical programming to the roughly 50 participants who utilize its services, Vines said.

FINDING A WAY: Dana Bryant, Amanda Toles and Debra Vines in the Answer Inc.’s Forest Park offices. Left, Vines’ son, Jason.

Provided

The organization hosts a range of initiatives, such as a 10-week exercise, dance and nutrition program called Music N Me for children and adults with developmental challenges.

The nonprofit’s Spectrum University provides developmentally challenged individuals with writing, reading, math, social and life skills.

In addition, the organization provides training to first responders and other people on how to interact with individuals with developmental disabilities. During the pandemic, some of that training took place virtually while some took place in person.

Amanda Toles, an executive assistant with the Answer, said her son has ADHD and benefits from the nonprofit’s services, which often supplement the resources that he gets in school.

“A lot of virtual learning for both parents and kids was very difficult, especially for ones who have younger kids,” Toles said.

“My son is 15 and, for the most part, I can tell him what to do,” she added, “but a lot of parents who have younger kids who are very low-functioning — I can only imagine the struggles they had trying to make sure the child does what they need to do, especial-

ly parents who were working from home and taking of care of special needs children.”

Dana Bryant, the Answer’s program coordinator, recalled going to Vines for help with her special needs daughter roughly five years ago.

Bryant, whose daughter is now 11, said navigating through the various school resources designed to serve special needs students was confusing, at best.

“They gave me so much misinformation,” Bryant recalled. “They wouldn’t even allow my child’s therapist to come in to express what she had.”

That confusion and chaos, pre-pandemic, has only been exacerbated as COVID-19 disrupted many people’s daily lives, the women said.

To stave off the chaos, the Answer got creative, Vines said. They hosted a variety of virtual events, including a special needs expo, an online gym shoe ball, a virtual comedy show and they still put on their annual walkathon. This year, the latter event, which constitutes one of the nonprofit’s largest fundraisers, generated roughly $32,000 that will go toward sponsoring a weeklong trip to California for the Answer’s participants, Vine said.

Most of the nonprofit’s staple program-

ming was also done remotely, but the Answer conducted regular wellbeing checks and grocery drop-offs. The women also made referrals to their participants for counseling services.

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder last year, the Answer initiated a public awareness campaign and local social justice movement called “I’m Not Just Black, I’m Autistic.”

“Right after George Floyd was murdered, I started about all of the things that were happening — the social unrest with the disability community,” she said.

“It’s been so many murders by the police of people who have disabilities and they aren’t getting the attention they need,” Vines explained. “So we started this movement.

We have t-shirts [with the mantra] and started working with Loyola Law School students to identify organizations that have needs in the community.”

But now, as pandemic restrictions ease, the nonprofit is ready to start offering its services in person again. Vines — fresh off a campaign for village trustee, which she only lost by a coin toss — said she also has plans for expanding the Answer’s services while staying involved in her local community.

Recently, the nonprofit received a $10,000 grant from the Chicago Foundation for Women Giving Circle that will help fund the Answer’s Spectrum Socialite Program, an initiative designed to provide girls on the autistic spectrum with training in etiquette, social skills, public dining and maintaining healthy relationships.

Vines said she would like to start a special needs commission in Maywood, in order to mobilize more resources and awareness to support residents with disabilities and special needs.

“We hope to partner with Maywood in order to move the village forward as it relates to the special needs community,” Vines said.

For more information on the Answer Inc., visit: theanswerinc.org/.

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

NEWS briefs Grassroots Garden Group’s 3rd Annual Garden Walk set for July 10 The Grassroots Garden Group, a spirited collection of green thumbs in Westchester, will hold its 3rd Annual Westchester Garden Walk on Saturday, July 10, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This year’s garden walk takes place in neighborhoods bordered by the streets of Canterbury, Mayfair, Windsor, and Belleview.

Six gardens will be featured, many of which are within walking distance of one another. The garden walk starts at the Westchester Public Library located at 10700 Canterbury Street.

“We are thrilled to host this community

event again after having to go virtual last year,” said Grassroots Garden Group founder, Bethanny Alexander. “Get ready for a beautiful day of gardens and see how people in Westchester are enhancing their yards, and their lives, through beautiful landscaping.”

Tickets for the garden walk cost $10 in advance and $15 the day of the garden walk.

Tickets to the garden walk and five raffle prizes may be purchased online, with net proceeds benefitting the Westchester Food Pantry. All garden walk details can be found at www.grassrootsgardengroup.org.

“Our annual Westchester Garden Walk is more than a means to show off our beautiful village; it is yet another way our group is

able to support the work of the Westchester Food Pantry,” Alexander said.

Serving eight local communities and run entirely by volunteers, the Pantry serves hundreds of local food insecure households every month. By donating the net proceeds of this event directly to the Westchester Food Pantry, the Grassroots Garden Group has contributed over $3,500 the past two years.

To learn more about the 2021 garden walk and Grassroots Garden Group, visit www. grassrootsgardengroup.org; email grassrootsgroup2015@gmail.com; or follow on facebook.com/grassrootsgardengroup and Instagram @grassroots_garden_group.

Semi backs into Bellwood print company, wall collapses A semi-truck backed into Richards Graphic Communications Inc., 2700 Van Buren St. in Bellwood, on July 2, resulting in the collapse of a portion of a building wall. Witnesses said no injuries were reported. The accident happened sometime after around 10 a.m.

“I was at my desk and all of a sudden I heard a big bang,” said Jon Richards, whose family owns the business. “It felt like an earthquake. I literally thought that’s what had happened. My back was to the wall and so I couldn’t really see anything.”

Richards said there were about 10 people

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Village Free Press | July 7, 2021

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NEWS briefs inside of the building at the time of the crash. All of them made it out safely. He said the truck was backing up when the accident happened.

“He wasn’t making a delivery to us,” Richards said. “He was backing up and all of a sudden, the walls started crashing in.”

Richards is a fourth-generation, family-owned printing company. Jon Richards said the company’s operations will “absolutely” be affected by the crash, but the magnitude and specific nature of the accident on the business is currently unknown.

State construction projects around Proviso poised for completion Commuters traveling in and around Proviso Township can expect delays this summer as work on state highways heats up. The projects are part of the state’s $33.2 billion Rebuild Illinois infrastructure program, designed to improve the state’s aging transportation system, state officials said.

“These projects represent a significant investment in central Cook County and are a big step forward in our work to improve safety, mobility and create economic opportunity for years to come,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman.

“We’re asking drivers to be patient, slow down and pay extra attention driving in and around any work zone.”

The following are projects that are expected to be underway in the Proviso Township area this summer. § Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) at Des Plaines River Ongoing pump station replacement project. The project involves removal of the existing pump station superstructure and the construction of a new larger pump station, wet well and building south of the existing Station No. 4.

The new pump station is designed to improve the sewer system along the I-290 corridor. The project started in summer 2019 and is anticipated to be completed by the end of this year. § Cermak Road over Gardner Avenue/ Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, 25th Avenue and Addison Creek The ongoing project involves replacing the bridge over Addison Creek as well as rehabilitating the bridges over Gardner Avenue/Indian Harbor Belt Railroad and 25th Avenue, along with installing new guardrail, resurfacing and replacing deteriorated sidewalk and curbs.

Cermak Road is reduced to one lane in each direction between Norfolk Avenue and 17th Avenue with lane widths reduced to 11 feet.

The project started earlier this spring and is anticipated to be completed in late 2022.

§ 25th Avenue over Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad Ongoing bridge repair project with new deck overlay, joint and structural steel repairs.

One lane in each direction will be maintained during construction, which started earlier this spring and is anticipated to be completed this fall.

Berkeley scholarship program accepting applications The Village of Berkeley is pleased to award its annual academic scholarship to graduating seniors or individuals wishing to pursue higher education for the first time.

Scholarship recipients will be selected on the basis of school and community involvement, work experience, academic standing, and need for financial assistance.

Applications can be downloaded or picked up at Berkeley Village Hall, 5819 Electric Ave. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 23, 2021 for the 2021-22 school year.

For more information about the program please go here: https://tinyurl.com/ecvfcjvu.

Loyola’s Niehoff nursing school gets $2.2M grant Loyola University Chicago’s Marcella

Niehoff School of Nursing received a $2.2 million, four-year Nursing Workforce Development grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the primary federal agency charged with improving health care for people who are geographically isolated or economically and medically vulnerable, Loyola officials announced last month.

“With significant funding from this grant, we will focus on recruiting Black and Latino students and faculty in our four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, develop a student success center, and address social determinants of education and other structural factors that impede the academic and career success,” said Loyola Nursing Dean and Grant Project Director Lorna Finnegan.

Loyola officials said the institution will expand its partnership with Loyola’s Arrupe College, a two-year program that offers a liberal arts education for students who are underrepresented in higher education.

In 2019, the schools teamed up to launch a pathway program for Arrupe students to begin Loyola Nursing’s BSN program while pursuing their associate degree at Arrupe College. The first cohort began the BSN program through this pathway model in the fall 2020 semester.

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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Village Free Press | July 7, 2021

These athletes went up against the pandemic and won Proviso East track and field athletes J’lyn Gray, Kadher Kassougni, Jaloni Johnson and Javon Johnson won the 4x400-meter relay at conference

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

It was a season like no other for the Proviso East High School Boys Track and Field team.

Like all other district sports teams, they had to sit out most of their 2020 season, and the 2021 season was truncated. The team only had eight runners, significantly less than the average of 25 to 30 runners the team would field in any other year.

But that didn’t stop them from racking up a few regional accomplishments. Four runners earned first-place finishes at the West Suburban Conference 4×400-meter relay race and one of those runners made it to state. Marc Jones, the head coach for Proviso East’s Boys Cross Country and Track, said that he was impressed with the runners’ dedication.

J’Lyn Gay, of Maywood, and Kadher Kessougni, of Forest Park, graduated this spring. Jaloni Johnson, of Forest Park, will be a junior this fall, while his older brother, Javon Johnson, also of Forest Park, will be a senior.

son starts on the week of Martin Luther King Day, but, with the pandemic restrictions, the 2021 track season didn’t kick off until April 13.

Another issue was that, because of the pandemic restrictions, they couldn’t do as much training.

Jones said that, once the season started, they did regular temperature checks and asked students a range of questions about possible COVID-19 symptoms. Everyone wore masks and hand sanitizFINISHING STRONG: A Proviso East athlete competing in a track er was readily available.

Jones said that none of event earlier this year. The boys’ track and field athletes at East the runners tested posiperformed well amid the pandemic, their coach said. tive for the virus, and the Provided photo runners and the school staff all got vaccinated The runners said that All four played other sports while doing returning to sports after months without track. The Johnson brothers both play bas- having a chance to practice was challengketball while Kessougni played soccer and ing, and so was the shortened season, the Gay played football. They said that they small team and the fact that all sports had joined the track team because it was a good their seasons in the final three months of way to stay in shape. the school year. The athletes also said that “If you’re doing any sport, track helps you it was strange to race without fans in the out with endurance, speed and flexibility,” stands and while wearing masks, but they Javon Johnson said. “Track is central to my added that things worked out well in the end. body.”

“The coaches always pushed us to do betJaloni Johnson added that seeing his ter every day,” Kessougni said. “That played older brother run track made him curious a big part in what we can do as a team.” enough to try it.

“Yeah, it’s different, definitely a rushed Jones said that, normally, the track sea- and a difficult year, but I got to build new

friendships with new teammates, and it was a fun experience,” Jovon said.

“This was a good experience for me, meeting new people, forming new friendships,” Jaloni said. “And it’s definitely something different, instead of just basketball.”

All four runners said they were impressed with how fast the runners from the other schools were.

Kessougni was the only one of the four who wound up taking part in the state championship. While he got 20th place, he said he was glad to make it that far.

“The fact that this happened this year amazed me, because I didn’t expect to be going downstate this year,” he reflected.

The Johnson brothers said that they intend to keep doing track and that they look forward to a more normal season.

Gay, who is going to Ellsworth Community College in Iowa on a football scholarship, said that he would like to keep doing track, if he can commit to the sport along with other commitments. Kessougni, who is going to Bradley University in Peoria said he is keeping his options open.

Jones said that, while East track athletics is no stranger to conference championships and state competitions, he said his athletes over-achieved this year, particularly amid all of the pandemic challenges.

“I’m really proud of our student-athletes district-wide, because of the work and commitment they put in this year,” he said. “The best I expected from this season was just to have fun, because we had such a short season.”

CONTACT: igorst3@hotmail.com

College athletes can now be paid for name and likeness

Pritzker signs SB 2338, hailed as ‘dramatic, meaningful change’

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers, collegiate athletes and athletic directors from some of the state’s most prominent universities on June 29 hailed the governor’s signing of a bill allowing college athletes to be paid for the use of their name and likeness as innovative and equity centric.

University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman called Gov. JB Pritzker’s signing of Senate Bill 2338 into law “the most dramatic, meaningful change to come to the collegiate model since the adoption of athletic scholarships.”

The bill had wide bipartisan support in the Illinois General Assembly, and Pritzker signed it at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s State Farm Center, ac-

companied by lawmakers including former college athletes House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, and Rep. Kambium Buckner, D-Chicago.

“We’re very proud to be able to host this very important and special day, not only in the history of college athletics here in our state, but in the history of college athletics across all of the states,” Whitman said.

“And this is one of those days that allows us to begin to usher in the new era of college athletics.”

Athletic directors from Northwestern University and DePaul University were also present at the news conference Tuesday.

The new law, which took effect July 1, allows Illinois college athletes to be paid for the use of their name, image or likeness, such as appearing at autograph signings at local businesses or appearing in advertising. It would also allow the athletes to hire an agent, but would not consider them employees of the schools they attend and would not allow them to be compensated for athletic performance.

Buckner, who played football at the Uni-

versity of Illinois, said the new law “is not just a win for the star quarterback or the star point guard.”

“This gives the women’s tennis player an opportunity to be compensated for teaching lessons back in her hometown during summer breaks,” he said. “This creates an apparatus for the women’s softball player to lend her image to the local pizzeria for fair market value.”

The new law will allow universities to prohibit a student from obtaining any sponsorships from wearing logos from certain brands during a competition. For example, if the university has a contract with Nike, it can prevent in-game Adidas sponsorships of individual athletes.

It prohibits endorsements for gambling, sports betting, controlled substances, marijuana, tobacco, alcohol, e-cigarettes, performance-enhancing supplements, adult entertainment, “or any other product or service that is reasonably considered to be inconsistent with the values or mission of a postsecondary educational institution.”

Universities and colleges would be pro-

hibited from adjusting scholarship offers for students who receive compensation for their name and likeness. And organizations such as the NCAA, which oversees major college athletics, would be prohibited from punishing athletes or schools that accept or allow compensation.

Illinois joins 20 other states having passed such legislation, according to businessofcollegesports.com, although many of them have later effective dates.

In a narrow decision, the U.S. Supreme ruled 9-0 last week that the NCAA cannot restrict education-related benefits to student athletes, such as laptops and paid internships. The ruling did not touch on athlete compensation.

Thus far, neither the NCAA nor U.S. Congress have set nationwide rules governing college athlete compensation, although the Associated Press reported last week that the NCAA is working on temporary rules that could be in place by July.

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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Village Free Press | July 7, 2021

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Riveredge CEO resigns to start private practice

Carey Carlock looking to open Mosaic Counseling and Wellness in early 2022

By MARIA MAXHAM Forest Park Review

Carey Carlock has resigned as CEO of Riveredge Psychiatric Hospital in Forest Park after 13 years in that capacity. Her resignation letter to coworkers and staff was more like a love letter than a resignation letter, she said, and she plans to stay connected and involved. She’s still on the board of UHS, the parent organization overseeing Riveredge.

“My position at Riveredge has been the privilege and responsibility of my career, but it’s time,” Carlock said. “The team is in a good place, and I will stay connected.”

Her plans now include starting a private therapy practice, featuring what she calls “care navigation,” a sorely needed service for families dealing with mental illness.

Construction will begin in July on her new office space in the Oak Park Arts District, and Carlock expects Mosaic Counseling and Wellness to open in early 2022.

“A mosaic is created when lots of broken pieces come together to create something

beautiful,” Carlock said about the name.

The focus of her practice will be “wellness, not illness,” she explained, “care that’s infused with hope because treatment works.”

Many people who try to access mental health care discover it’s not as easy as it should be. There’s no roadmap to mental and emotional well-being, and even the starting point isn’t always clear. Where do you find a therapist? How do you know if they’re any good? Will they take your insurance?

Many therapists don’t have openings for weeks, sometimes months, especially if you’re looking for a child specialist. Med management is generally done through a psychiatrist, who is seen separately, and patients have to sign releases so that doctor can talk to the therapist and vice versa for dose adjustments. But communication isn’t always effective or efficient. And, of course, there’s the stigma of mental health in gen-

eral.

“People are struggling,” Carlock said.

“Compassionate care is out there, but there’s not enough timely, safe, culturally appropriate access to care. That’s why I’m doing this.”

Carlock’s idea of care navigation means Mosaic will be a one-stop-shop for mental health care. The practice will have a psychiatrist and therapists on staff, so med management can be done in one place by professionals working together.

“I want to make accessing the mental health system more welcoming,” Carlock said. Part of that is providing resources. If someone comes to Mosaic needing help that Carlock can’t provide, like intensive outpatient services or care for an eating disorder, the treatment team at Mosaic will provide recommendations on where the individual will best be served.

Mosaic will serve people of all ages and include family and group counseling. Family therapy will be available not just for family units having trouble in their relationships, but also because the mental health of one family member can affect an entire household, and parents, for example, might need advice on helping their child.

“It’s about how to partner with a loved one even if there is no family conflict,” Carlock said.

Group therapy will be available at Mosaic, too, and the setting of the arts district in Oak Park lends itself to that well as with plans to integrate art therapy such as music, drama and dance into her practice.

“Some people aren’t as open to talk-therapy,” said Carlock, who admits to having “an unbridled bias toward creative arts.”

Over the past 13 years at Riveredge, she said, the hospital itself has gone through changes.

“Riveredge has participated in its own recovery, in a way,” Carlock said. When she arrived, she realized the importance of creating bonds within the community so that Riveredge wasn’t just a hospital sitting alone on Roosevelt Road. She worked hard to establish relationships with village officials, the Chamber of Commerce, and other businesses.

“It’s been rewarding to see Riveredge emerge as a place of integrity and a place willing to listen to what the community needs,” she said. And that goes back to her overarching goal in mental health in general: Expand the narrative about access to timely, safe, culturally appropriate care.

Riveredge is currently searching for a new CEO, with Kurt Gunther serving as the interim.

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

PLCCA AND FREE COVID CARE GIVING FREE RAPID TESTING Free Rapid Testing will be given daily at PLCCA, 411 West Madison Street in Maywood Monday thru Friday from 8 AM to 6 PM. No insurance or appointments needed.

PLCCA Y COVID CARE GRATIS DANDO PRUEBAS RÁPIDAS GRATIS Los exámenes rápidos gratuitos se realizarán todos los días en PLCCA, 411 West Madison Street en Maywood, de lunes a viernes de 8 A.M. A 6 P.M. No se necesita seguro ni citas.

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Village Free Press | July 7, 2021

Melrose Park clinic holds ribbon-cutting West Lake Urgent Care, a clinic built with doctors’ hands, made it official on June 26

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Dr. Kathleen Ward can tell you the story behind just about every piece of furniture, equipment and art inside of West Lake Urgent Care, 1419 W. Lake St. in Melrose Park.

“I bought all of the chairs, this desk was donated, that baby table was donated, I bought all the waste baskets,” Ward said, as she walked through the refurbished space on June 26.

The clinic has been open since February, but last Saturday the clinic’s founders made it official and hosted a ribbon-cutting, which was attended by Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch.

Shellye Pechulis, a former emergency room nurse at the shuttered Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park, now heads the clinic.

She said the clinic takes all forms of insurance and that uninsured patients can pay by cash.

Pechulis added that West Lake Urgent

Care is different from the rash of other urgent care clinics opening up in that they have actual emergency room physicians on staff to attend to patients’ needs.

Ward said the clinic was entirely funded by herself and three other doctors who comprise the clinic’s nonprofit board. She estimated that they put around $250,000 of their own money into the effort. Ward added that the doctors also contributed their own elbow grease.

“We built all of this ourselves. We cleaned, we scrubbed, we even put in the toilets,” she said, adding that much of the artwork that hangs on the clinic’s walls come from her own home.

Dr. Nabil Saleh, a pediatrician who once worked at Westlake Hospital and who sits on the West Lake Urgent Care board, now has his offices inside of the clinic.

“I feel overjoyed and proud,” he said on June 26. “I feel that God gave us a mission and we succeeded in achieving that with the help of God showing us the right path.

We managed to rally the troops, with the support of the local government, the mayor, and Welch.”

Ward said outpatient care is similar to emergency room care, but patients typically come for injuries that are non-life threatening. Urgent care is also much less expensive

IT’S OFFICIAL: Doctors and staffers at West Lake Urgent Care cut the ribbon on their Melrose Park facility on June 26.

Michael Romain

and faster than going to the ER, she said.

“A lot of people come here and tell me that they just don’t want to wait in an ER,” Ward explained. “They come in and most of the time we have them in a room in five minutes and they are seen immediately. Usually

they’re out within 15 to 20 minutes.”

West Lake Urgent Care is open 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. On Sunday, the clinic closes at 5 p.m.

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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Village Free Press | July 7, 2021

DEVELOPMENT Soon

from page 1 Starbucks, specific retailers for those parcels were not specified in the agreement.

The board’s approval of the purchase agreements is the latest in a more comprehensive plan that Westchester officials are looking to execute.

In April, the Village Board voted unanimously in favor of borrowing $4.6 million in order to purchase the commercial properties that they sold earlier this month for redevelopment.

The $4.6 million credit agreement with Republic Bank of Chicago allowed Westchester the funds to purchase 2305 and 2315 Enterprise Drive, which is the site of the future Village Hall.

Redeveloping the corner of Roosevelt and Mannheim roads, considered one of the busiest commercial spots in the village, has long been an ambition of Westchester Village President Frank Perry.

Perry, a former trustee who ran uncontested for village president in April, laid out his economic development vision during an interview in January.

“In a perfect world, my goal is to keep

Westchester the bedroom community that everybody who lives here wants it to be, nice and quiet; but on the outskirts and near major roads, I would like to see those businesses come in that will provide tax relief and revenue for funding infrastructure and pensions, so that the tax burden isn’t all on the back of residents,” he said.

During an interview on June 30, Perry said he’s excited about the coming economic development and anticipates more in the future.

“I’m very excited about this development and its only the beginning, because there should be four more parcels that will go over in that area,” he said. “This is just the beginning and once we break ground with the Starbucks and Aldi, there will be major interest on that corner.”

Perry said he believes the Aldi and Starbucks developments will provide momentum for the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district the village created in the area to attract developers.

The village president said that, so far, timelines for when the Aldi and Starbucks locations will be completed are not set in stone.

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Village Free Press | July 7, 2021

RESERVOIR

Critical infrastructure from page 1 water storage at the pump station site for at least several months now.

During a public meeting on May 19, representatives with Hancock Engineering and Ciorba Group Consulting Engineers, the firm the water agency contracted to provide professional engineering services for the reservoir project, explained the need for a new pump site.

“There’s need for additional storage over there,” said James Goumas, a principal with Hancock, Broadview’s contracted engineering firm. “Right now, there are three underground water reservoirs over there that store one-and-a-half to two days of storage.

There’s been a need and it’s been in the plan for a while.”

Goumas said the pump station site has been fenced in since 2001, when the 9/11 attacks prompted government officials across the country to take extra security precautions. He said current regulations require for a new reservoir to be built above ground.

Luke Mattson, the water resources project manager for Ciorba, said during the May meeting that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), which regulates and facilitates permitting for the project,

nance authorizes up to $3.3 million in bonds in order to refund an existing loan issued by the IEPA, and up to $2.3 million for construction of the new 1 million-gallon water reservoir.

CAPACITY NEEDED: The site of the 10th Avenue pump station in Goumas said Broadview, where officials are planning to build a 1 million-gallon they may start water reservoir. going out to bid

by September, File with construction anticipated said the reservoir will be roughly 120 feet in diameter and about 10.5 feet from the to be complete sometime toward the end of 2022. Goumas said that construction will imground to the middle of the reservoir.

State regulations require that half of the pact the entire park when it starts next year.

“This is a critical construction need for water column be above ground for maintethe agency and the villages to make sure nance purposes. Mattson said there’s no getthey can provide abundant water to their ting around that requirement.

Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson, communities,” he said. “This is a great opwho chairs the joint water agency (the agen- portunity to do it. We will do our best to mincy board also includes Westchester Village imize the impact, but we’ll go forward.”

Matt Ames, the Broadview Public Works President Frank Perry), said the reservoir will cost “just under $4 million” to con- director, said on May 19 that another reason why the new reservoir has to be built is bestruct.

“The Broadview Westchester Water Agen- cause the city of Chicago mandated that if cy will use $2 million in agency cash to fund an agency is selling water the city supplies, it needs to have more than a day’s supply in the project,” she explained in an email.

She added that a parameters bond ordi- reserves.

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But sometimes, Ames said, that reserve supply gets interrupted, such as when Broadview’s 1.5 million-gallon water tower located near Village Hall was undergoing renovations.

“We started renovations late last summer,” Ames said. “We did the interior, meaning we took it offline, we drained it, added some structural members to it, such as a ladder, and some other things it was lacking.”

While the water tower was offline, however, it did not have any storage capacity, so Broadview was dependent on the reserve water supply of Westchester, with which it shares cross connection feeds, in case of an emergency. The water tower’s paint job has since been completed.

Ames said the cross connection feeds help maintain water pressure and “act as an emergency feed if, in fact, we were to have a catastrophic emergency, such as a break on one of the transmission lines, which I have experienced at least once in my tenure.”

“Guess where we’re using water from in case we have an emergency?” said Thompson. “From Westchester. They are supplying us while our water tank is down.”

Wesley Barber, who supervises the joint water agency’s operations, said on May 19 that, on average, Broadview and Westchester each use about 1.5 million gallons of water a day, while Loyola, Hines and Madden use a combined 1 million gallons a day.

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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Village Free Press | July 7, 2021

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION BANK OF AMERICA Plaintiff, -v.KENNETH DENNIS A/K/A KENNETH L. DENNIS, ANJENETTE L. DENNIS, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 14 CH 13689 900 S. 9TH 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 May 3, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on August 4, 2021, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 900 S. 9TH AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153 Property Index No. 15-10-440-0080000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $375,305.82.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition

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

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

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

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

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

Please refer to file number 112825.

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

POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610 Chicago IL, 60606 312-263-0003 E-Mail: ilpleadings@potestivolaw. com Attorney File No. 112825 Attorney Code. 43932 Case Number: 14 CH 13689 TJSC#: 41-883 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 # 14 CH 13689 I3171175

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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.

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.

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Village Free Press | July 7, 2021

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