Village Free Press_100720

Vol. IV No. 41 Tour de Proviso rolls on PAGE 2

Maywoodbased Housing Forward checks into hotel Nonprofit entered year-long lease with Write Inn in Oak Park to provide temporary housing for clients

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Housing Forward, the nonprofit headquartered at 1851 S. 9th Ave. in Maywood, has made a major stride in its battle to upend homelessness by entering into a year-long lease with the Write Inn in Oak Park. Housing Forward, which works to transition people experiencing homelessness into stable housing, will use the hotel to house clients in its interim See HOUSING FORWARD on page 7

OCTOBER 7, 2020

theVillageFreePress.org

Maywood mayor seeks re-election, PAGES 10

GIVING BACK: Members of Westchester Community Church’s Music Board hosted a food drive on behalf of the Westchester Food Pantry on Sept. 27. Read more on page 3.

Shanel Romain

Westchester voters to weigh in on $42M referendum Nov. 3 The bond measure, perhaps largest in village’s recent history, to fund infrastructure improvements

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

During the Nov. 3 presidential election, voters in Westchester will be deciding on more than candidates. They’ll also be asked to approve a referendum that would

generate up to $42 million in bonds to fund long overdue infrastructure improvements in the village.

“The infrastructure and streets of the village are in need of some work,” said Westchester Village Manager Paul Nosek

during a telephone town hall about the upcoming referendum held Sept. 22. Nosek said the total cost of projects actually turns out to be closer to an estimated $44 million, when inflation is factored into the cost See WESTCHESTER on page 3

2

thevillagefreepress.org

Village Free Press | October 7, 2020

OUT and ABOUT Pet blessings mark beginning of Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi weekend

the village free press Editor & Publisher Michael Romain Senior Sales & Strategic Consultant Kamil Brady

On Oct. 2, more than 90 Archdiocese of Chicago parishes hosted outdoor pet blessings to mark the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. The Feast Day will take place on Sunday, Oct. 4.

One of those parishes participating in the pet blessings was Sacred Heart, 819 N. 16th Ave., Melrose Park. Father Francisco Ortega sprinkled holy water on at least a dozen pets lined up in their owners’ cars. The animals ranged from dogs (of course) to a pet turtle. All attendees were instructed to wear masks and maintain physical distance.

Editorial Designer Andrew Mead Advertising Design Support Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney 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 thevillagefreepress.org 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.

A Mariachi band and tacos make for a census fiesta On Sept. 30, community members gathered in Burton Park, located on the corner of 16th Avenue and Washington Boulevard in Maywood, to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and to encourage residents to complete the 2020 Census.

One of the features at the celebration was a Mariachi band.

Organizers of the event said that the band was in attendance in order to draw people into the park and to engage them with the census. Attendees also enjoyed traditional fried tacos and folkloric dancers.

© 2020 Village Free Press We’re proud to partner with Growing Community Media, NFP. 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

Tour de Proviso rolls through suburbs On Oct. 3, Maywood Trustee Miguel Jones, Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson, and Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey joined forces for the 1st Annual Tour De Proviso for a community ride that started at Broadview Village Hall before finishing at 718 S. 5th Ave. in Maywood.

CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

thevillagefreepress.org

Village Free Press | October 7, 2020

3

Westchester church confronts new pandemic normal Westchester Community Church hosted donation drive Sept. 27, as they ease back into in-person worship

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

On Sept. 27, members of the Music Board at Westchester Community Church, 1840 Westchester Blvd. in Westchester, gathered in the church’s parking lot to collect food and monetary donations that would go to the Westchester Food Pantry.

In normal times, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the church would be having its annual music extravaganza. This year, however, the music was served from someone’s phone that piped spiritual tunes out and into the sunbathed fall air.

“We kept putting the musical off, because of the virus, so we said, ‘Why don’t we still have it. Let’s play some music and have a food drive,’” said Barbara Mills. “We were trying to think of something we could do.”

Mill’s husband, Pastor Joe Mills, said that the idea for a food drive couldn’t be more timely, considering the explosive need for food and supplies in the Proviso Township area since the pandemic plunged the country into an economic recession and provoked an unprecedented unemployment crisis.

“I’ve talked to the people who run the pantry and they have consistently said there is a desperate need for basic supplies for people — paper goods, soap, that kind of thing,” said the pastor.

Between July and September, the Westchester Food Pantry helped feed 1,011 families, a nearly 65 percent increase compared to the same time period last year, according to a statement on the Pantry’s website.

The Pantry serves families from eight

WESTCHESTER Choices ahead from page 1 estimate.

“We’ve put together a comprehensive longterm plan, so we can get to a maintenance schedule that is possible given our current funding levels,” Nosek said. “This bond issue addresses three major concerns of our residents: the streets; the water mains, sanitary lines and residential flood mitigation; and the alleys.”

Nosek said that if residents approve the referendum — possibly the largest in the village’s history — the village will be able to help seal 21 miles of the village’s 51 miles of sanitary water system lines that will keep rainwater from backing into residential homes and prevent the pooling of stormwater on the street after heavy rains.

The money will also allow the village to

communities in Proviso Township — including Bellwood, Berkeley, Broadview, Hillside and Westchester — each Friday night, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

During the first Friday in October, Pantry officials said, 89 families were served.

“Since the start of the pandemic, the Pantry has received and distributed 81 tons

update its water mains, which Nosek said are close to 100 years old and subject to frequent breaks. He said roughly 50 percent of the referendum funds will be spent on water system improvements.

Around 40 percent of the funding will go toward paving the village’s streets, bringing them up to a condition that’s “good or very good,” Nosek said.

Currently, according to village officials, roughly one-third of Westchester’s roads are in poor condition. In five years, without comprehensive improvements, roughly half of the village’s roads will be in poor or very poor condition, officials said.

Roughly 10 percent of the bond referendum will go toward repairing and replacing alleys, he said.

Tom Reedy, a director with Stifel Financial Corp., the brokerage and investment banking firm that will be helping the village issue the bonds if the referendum is approved, said that this is the largest bond issuance in the village’s recent history.

“The village has three bond issues that are outstanding that have been issued in

the pandemic shut down commenced in March. Despite returning to in-person worship, the church still Zooms its services for members at home, she said.

Barbara said that the first week back, there were just four worshippers in the sanctuary, the next week 12 congregants joined and that week there were roughly two dozen.

“On a regular Sunday, before the pandemic, we averaged between 50 and 75 people,” Barbara said. “But it’s been neat with the Zoom. We have people from Florida and North Carolina listening every week.”

Kathy Marinier, a longtime church member, said that she’s also appreciated the Zoom worship, but that she’s happy to see her fellow congregants in person again.

“We held off for a long time,” she said.

Shanel Romain “Pastor was always very conscious of how to do it. We have a lot of older people, so HELPING OUT: Barbara Mills, shown in the Zoom has been working wonderfully. the green t-shirt in top left photo, and her We did the Zoom for like six months.” husband, Pastor Joe Mills, shown in the tie The 70-year-old church is more than speaking with a parishioner, were joined by a place of worship, Marinier said. members like Kathy Marinier, shown above It’s a gathering place for community right, on Sept. 27. organizations and outreach efforts — from rummage sales to local Scout gatherings.

Now, Pastor Mills said, the church is of food, which equates to over 134,000 meals uniquely positioned to step up to help fill a for our clients,” according to the online desperate need as the pandemic rages on, statement. particularly as it relates to getting food and Barbara Mills said on Sept. 27 that the supplies to area residents in need. church was slowly restarting live services “I’d encourage people to volunteer to help in its sanctuary after roughly six months of the Pantry,” the pastor said. “They always worshipping by way of Zoom. That Sunday need people to help.” was its third live worship service since CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

the last 10 years or so, but given the village’s non-home rule status and debt limitations for statutory restrictions, the village doesn’t have this large of a bond issue outstanding at this point,” he said.

Reedy added that the referendum’s passage would authorize the village to issue bonds over five years and they’ll be paid off over 20 years — from 2021 through 2044.

From 2021 to 2025, the cost of the bonds on the average taxpayer is estimated to range between $191 a year for the owner of a home valued at $200,000, $231 a year for the owner of a home valued at $235,000 and $248 a year for the owner of a $250,000 home.

That annual tax impact will decrease by $2 for homeowners between 2026 and 2044, Reedy explained in a presentation he presented during the Sept. 22 town hall.

Reedy said that now is a good time to issue bonds due to “historically low interest rates,” which reduce the cost of borrowing and, by extension, lessens the taxpayer burden.

Nosek said that the $42 million bond issue “is approximately $10 million

worth of projects each year for five years straight.” Once the village completes those improvement projects, Nosek said, maintenance of the town’s infrastructure will be paid for by sales taxes and motor fuel taxes.

The village has created a special landing page on its website dedicated to the referendum that you can access by going to westchester-il.org/456/2020-ReferendumInformation. There, you can watch the video of the town hall, view an interactive presentation and type in your address to view when and where roadwork will be completed.

If you have any more questions about the referendum, you can email: bonds@ westchester-il.org.

If you’d like to share your thoughts about the upcoming referendum with Village Free Press (on- or off-record), email us at: info@ vfpress.news or call (708) 316-8147.

CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

Open.

More than 2M mail in ballots requested in Illinois Trusted.

Here to Help.Open.

4

thevillagefreepress.org

Village Free Press | October 7, 2020

About a quarter of state’s registered voters had requested vote-by-mail as of Sept. 30

Capitol News Illinois

Many of the applications have already been distributed to voters, and vote-by-mail and early voting periods began last week.

SPRINGFIELD – More than 2 million Illinois voters have requested vote-by-mail ballots and more than 26,000 such ballots have already been returned, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

That means about a quarter of the state’s registered voters had requested vote-by-mail ballots as of Wednesday afternoon.

ISBE reported that 2,077,594 ballots were requested, with 26,872 returned and 55,751 persons having voted early.

The number continues to grow as public health guidance advises against congregating in indoor places due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19. Earlier this year, state lawmakers passed a law requiring election authorities to send applications for vote-bymail ballots to registered voters who voted in recent elections.

Applications must be sent back to the election authority to receive a mail-in ballot.

Once the ballot is received, it must be sent back to the election authority to be counted. While the new law for the 2020 election allows an election authority to install drop boxes for the return of ballots, a spokesperson said only 54 of the state’s 108 election jurisdictions have such a drop box.

Those who have requested mail ballots but change their minds and would like to vote in person instead have avenues to do so, according to ISBE spokesperson Matt Dietrich, who said there are safeguards in place to ensure no double voting occurs.

A voter who received a mail ballot but wishes to cast a ballot in person must surrender the ballot at an early voting location or polling place on Election Day and will be given a regular ballot.

A voter who does not surrender the ballot must cast a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are not counted until all the mail

By JERRY NOWICKI

ballots have been processed and it is assured that the voter’s ballot is not among them.

According to Dietrich, if someone has requested but not yet received their mail ballot and wants to vote in person, the voter can sign an affidavit at the polling place or early voting location attesting that they have not received a mail ballot. The voter will then be given a regular ballot.

“This happens most frequently with voters who request their mail ballot very late in the process and don’t receive it as of Election Day, though a voter can do this anytime as long as they haven’t received the ballot,” he said.

Voters using this method are instructed to discard the mail ballot if it arrives, but if they do sign and return it for voting, they’re committing vote fraud and are subject to Class 3 felony charges, Dietrich said.

Gov. JB Pritzker was asked at a virtual news conference Wednesday if he had any concerns about rhetoric from President Donald Trump in Tuesday night’s presidential debate in which Trump

Trusted.

Open.

Trusted.Here to Open.

Here toHelp.

continued to raise questions about the validity of a November election that has already smashed mail-in voting records in many states.

Pritzker said he would feel “confident in the system we have” if he were voting anywhere in the state, noting that the new law has made the process “safer and easier.”

“We’ve had vote-by-mail in Illinois for some number of years,” he said. “And so there’s, I think, a reasonable high confidence level of people who have done it have done so successfully. We have not had situations of voter fraud in Illinois caused by vote by mail.”

All mail-in ballot requests must be received

by Oct. 29 ahead of the Nov. 3 election, but officials recommend submitting requests earlier to ensure a ballot is received by Election Day. Returned ballots must be postmarked

by Nov. 3 and received by the local election office by Nov. 17 in order to be counted.

CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

As always, we’re here for you — open, trusted and ready to deliver a superior behavioral healthcare experience.

Help.

Trusted.

Here to Help.

If you or someone you know is in need of mental health treatment, call us or 708-209-4181 As always, we’re heretoday. for you open, we’re here for you — open, As —always, visit our website trusted and ready to deliver a superior trusted and ready to deliver a superior behavioral healthcare experience.

708-209-4181 behavioral healthcare experience. riveredgehospital.com riveredgehospital.com If you or someone you know is in need of mental health treatment, call us or visit our website today. If you or

someone you know is in need 708-209-4181 of mental healthriveredgehospital.com treatment, call us or With limited exceptions, physicians are not employees or agents of this hospital.

708-209-4181 visitassistance, our website today.and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website.

For language disability accommodations 203216-4487 7/20 riveredgehospital.com

With limited exceptions, physicians are not employees or agents of this hospital.

For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website.

203216-4487 7/20

thevillagefreepress.org

Village Free Press | October 7, 2020

5

Lightford: Dem leaders ‘held accountable’ for vowed support Remarks made as third pillar of ant-racism legislative agenda unveiled

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Chair state Sen. Kimberly Lightford said the caucus is holding Gov. JB Pritzker, House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, accountable for their pledged support for the ILBC agenda.

At a news conference on Oct. 1 in Chicago’s Englewood community to unveil the third pillar of the ILBC’s four-pronged legislative agenda for the upcoming veto session, Lightford, D-Maywood, was asked whether she believed Madigan’s promise “to try” to support the ILBC’s initiatives to combat systemic racism in Illinois and whether the Black Caucus would support his re-election as House speaker.

“He didn’t say he would try,” Lightford

answered. “He said he would. Let’s not water down his statement, or the statement of the Senate president or the governor. They’re all being held accountable for the support they said they were going to lend to this initiative, and we need their support and we’re calling on all of our colleagues to support the Black Caucus agenda to end systemic racism.”

When pressed again on whether she believed him, Lightford replied “a man is only as good as his word, and that’s the word the man gave us.”

Last Thursday’s event focused on economic access, equity and opportunity with a joint Senate committee hearing on housing and gentrification following in the afternoon.

Two other pillars of the agenda – criminal justice reform, violence reduction and police accountability; and education and workforce development – have both been formally unveiled in separate news conferences and been the subject of six joint Senate committee hearings to delve into more specific topics such as sentencing reform and funding for early-childhood education.

The fourth pillar, health care and human services, will be formally announced at a

later date.

State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, who serves as the chair of the House Economic Opportunity and Equity Committee, and Sen. Christopher Belt, D-Centreville, the Senate ILBC chair, will lead Black Caucus initiatives related to the economic equity pillar.

“At a time when organizations and residents are ready and working to rebuild and organize, our communities deserve the attention they need,” Harper said. “Black people should no longer be considered or treated as a commodity or just a consumer, but an actual partner in the economic success of this country with equal and equitable access to all the state has to offer.”

According to Lightford, all four pillars will be addressed with legislation during the upcoming veto session, which is scheduled for Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3.

Some legislation will actually be repeated, or there will be newer versions of bills the Black Caucus has filed in the past “5 years or so” but were unsuccessful for various reasons.

“It’s either held in rules, or it can pass

one chamber but cannot pass the other, or passes both chambers and the governor vetoed it, or it passed and became law and agencies don’t implement,” Lightford said.

“I think our advantage this time is the times that we’re in. It started with George Floyd being murdered on May 25, and there’s been a major shift in how injustice and inequities have been at the forefront. The pandemic exposed

everything

disproportionately

impacting black people in health care, and all of the nuances.”

Asked where the money to fund new initiatives to end systemic racism would come from, Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, said legislation would focus on reallocating existing resources to areas of the state with Black communities that have historically faced disinvestment or purposeful underallocation of resources.

Lightford had a shorter answer.

“It’s going to come from the same place the white caucus gets their money from,” she said.

CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

6

thevillagefreepress.org

Village Free Press | October 7, 2020

Village Free Press is now covering your community

We’re expanding our coverage area to regularly produce news about Berkeley, Hillside and Westchester

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Publisher & Editor

Hi there!

This is Michael Romain, the publisher of Village Free Press. If you’re reading this in Berkeley, Hillside or We s t c h e s t e r, chances are MICHAEL ROMAIN that I dropped off a copy on your porch or in your mailbox myself.

I figured that’s the best way to grab your attention. And while you won’t necessarily be getting home delivery of this paper

every week, we are working to build up our capacity to make that a permanent option.

So, stay tuned.

But let me tell you more about this newspaper. Since I started this small enterprise a news blog in 2013, Village Free Press has been hyper-focused on Maywood, my hometown. A few years later, our focus expanded to covering its neighbors of Bellwood, Broadview and Melrose Park — all communities that don’t have full-service newspapers.

In the last couple of years, however, we’ve discovered that Proviso Township as a whole is a news desert and we’re in the unique position to help fill a critical need when it’s needed most.

After all, a functioning, independent local press is absolutely essential to a functioning democracy. We’re realizing that as a nation more and more these days.

So, we’re taking the leap of expanding our coverage area once more to include nine suburbs in Proviso Township and we’re breaking those suburbs into what we’re calling Coverage Pods.

Each Coverage Pod includes three affinity suburbs, so-called because they share very similar demographics and common physical boundaries.

SHAKESPEARE General Contracting

enochshakespeare.es@gmail.com ROOFING // SIDING // GUTTERS // TUCK-POINTING // DRYWALL & PAINTING // HARDWOOD FLOORS // SANDING & VARNISHING SIDEWALKS & DRIVEWAYS // CONCRETE & ASPHALT TREE REMOVAL // SNOW PLOWING

§ POD 1: Bellwood, Broadview and Maywood. § POD 2: Berkeley, Hillside and Westchester § POD 3: Melrose Park, Northlake and Stone Park Although you may not get the paper each and every week, know that we still publish every week and that it’s likely at your local library and/or municipal building. We’ll follow-up with a list of drop-off locations in the weeks ahead.

And, of course, you can also get the news at our website – vfpress.news – and in your email inbox by signing up for it.

You should see a popup box asking you to subscribe to our email newsletters once you get to the website. If you don’t, please let us know by emailing info@vfpress.news, thevillagefreepress@gmail.com (that’s our old main email, but we still check regularly) or by calling me personally at (708) 359-9148, and I or one of my teammates will walk you through the process over the phone.

We’d love to hear your insights, feedback, needs and any news tips you might have and events you want to promote (we publish community events during the week on our website for no charge and we’ll soon resume publishing our weekly ‘Big Week’ section in print each week).

We want tell your stories in a way that

honors, edifies and uplifts our shared community of Proviso Township.

And while I have you, let me tell you about an upcoming online conversation we’re hosting on Oct. 17 about COVID-19 and voting. I’ll be moderating an open dialogue about the upcoming Nov. 3 election with a range of experts, including Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough. To register for the Zoom discussion, which is part of our Circle Talk series, go to: https://bit.ly/3d7T9jd.

We’ll also be livestreaming the conversation on our Facebook page as it happens. You should go to our Facebook (@ maywoodnews) and ‘like’ and ‘follow’ our page, so that you get our content piped into your Facebook feed.

Lastly, I and my team of reporters, News Ambassadors and salespeople are open to speaking to you either over the phone, on Zoom, via email or in-person at a distance of at least six feet. Tell us what makes your town great, because we want to share that enthusiasm with your neighbors.

Take care, Mike

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news.

thevillagefreepress.org

Village Free Press | October 7, 2020

7

Berkeley board passes diversity statement On Sept. 15, board also adopted Ten Shared Principals of Policing

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

The village of Berkeley’s Board of Trustees unanimously passed a diversity statement “condemning hate in any and all forms (racism, bigotry, etc.)” at a regular meeting on Sept. 15. In addition, the Berkeley Police Department adopted the Ten Shared Principals of Policing, which were developed in conjunction with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.

The measure comes in the wake of national protests over the death of George Floyd, the Minnesota man who was killed by Minnesota

HOUSING FORWARD Moving in from page 1 housing program.

“We’re super excited,” said Lynda Schueler, Housing Forward executive director. “This is a game-changer for us.”

The interim housing program provides temporary housing for clients until a permanent residence becomes available. The 65-room hotel will not act as an emergency shelter. Housing Forward will use it strictly for interim housing. The individuals who will soon move into the Write Inn have already been screened and approved by Housing Forward for permanent housing.

“We want to make sure that homelessness is rare and brief and short-term,” said Schueler.

Once permanent apartments become available, the individuals will move out of Write Inn and other approved clients will take their place.

“We can provide them with short-term accommodation, and set people on the right path,” said Schueler. “We don’t want anyone to be acclimated to the circumstances of homelessness.”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Housing Forward operated emergency night shelters at rotating locations and did so for 27 years.

The highly infectious nature of the virus made that traditional model untenable.

Since March 23, Housing Forward has been operating with great success out of hotels, including the Carleton of Oak Park on Pleasant Street. The Write Inn is on Oak Park Avenue north of Scoville Park.

“This is going to be our future,” said Schueler.

FOLLOW THROUGH: Berkeley residents hold signs while protesting in the village on June 13. The demonstration was organized by young people who were affi liated with the Black Lives Matter movement. The board approved a diversity statement after the demonstration.

File

by the Proviso Township chapter of the Black Lives Matter held a peaceful protest on the corner of North Taft and Electric avenues in Berkeley, less than a block away from the village’s police station.

“We had the Black Lives Matter protest and with that we felt this was something we wanted to say, but we wanted to do it right,” said Rudy Espiritu, Berkeley’s village administrator, during a phone interview on Oct. 2. “This really was an extension of the protest

Police Officer Derek Chauvin in May. On June 13, a group of Berkeley residents led

we had.”

Espiritu said that diversity is the village’s

Under the new hotel system, Housing Forward clients have increased their engagement with the organization’s services, including its employment readiness program.

“This is one of those silver linings that have come out of the pandemic,” said Schueler.

Case managers check in daily with the clients staying in the hotels. The rotating shelter model made it difficult for case managers to keep track of people’s whereabouts.

The individuals utilizing Housing Forward also prefer the hotel system, according to Schueler.

“We’re going from a model where people slept on a two-inch thick pad on the floor, where they were sleeping eight inches away from a stranger,” said Schueler.

The number of people Housing Forward has to turn away has also decreased since abandoning the rotating shelter system.

“People aren’t having to wait in line for shelter,” said Schueler.

Now, if someone is in need of shelter, Housing Forward is able to screen them and identify any other options that person may have before putting them up in a hotel.

“We’ve been able to divert about 20 percent of those who have called us or have been referred to us,” said Schueler.

In the course of the past seven months, Housing Forward has served 196 individuals and provided 19,860 nights of shelter.

“Which is 50 percent more than we would normally even be able to provide in the course of a normal shelter year,” said Schueler.

Housing Forward pays for the hotels that replaced nightly shelters at a monthly rate.

The agreement with Write Inn is unique in that Housing Forward pays based on a daily

rate.

“We have a monthly rent based off a negotiated daily rate,” said Schueler.

And can afford to do so, in part, using a combination of state and federal funding, including grants from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Of the almost $1 million in CARES Act funding the village of Oak Park received, the village board gave $400,000 to Housing Forward to fund a program of apartment rental assistance for local residents unable to pay rent to their landlords due to COVID-19.

The agreement with Write Inn is distinguishable from Housing Forward’s other hotel agreements in that the use of the Write Inn is strictly for the interim housing program.

“I really want to get clear that it’s not an emergency shelter,” said Schueler.

After being accepted into the interim housing program, Housing Forward clients sign an agreement stating they understand the rules and intend to follow them. It is against the rules to engage in loitering or panhandling.

“There’s no reason to do that when they have their own room in the building,” said Schueler.

Schueler does not anticipate Housing Forward having to evict anyone.

“We don’t plan on doing evictions because we’re going to make sure everybody has a path to housing,” said Schueler.

Housing Forward will begin moving people into the Write Inn in a week or so.

Under the leasing agreement, Housing Forward has exclusive access to the Write Inn, which has been closed to guests since March due to COVID-19.

“We really see this as a win-win,” said Schueler. “We’re helping a local small business.”

greatest strength.

“Right now, the village residents are approximately one-third Black, one-third Hispanic or Latino, and one-third white, so we are very much a melting pot of different races and ethnicities here in Berkeley, which proves that people of different backgrounds can live harmoniously and be accepting and respectful of each other.”

The diversity resolution points to Espiritu’s hiring in 2016 as an example of its commitment to diversity.

“In appointing Rudy Espiritu, the Village made history by employing the first AsianAmerican Chief Administrative Officer in municipal government in the State of Illinois,” the resolution states.

The statement also “denounces injustices in the United States of America” and condemns “bigotry and hate in all forms and desire that the Village be a safe place for everyone.”

CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com The hotel’s owner, James Bushouse also owns the building on the southeast corner of Oak Park Avenue and Lake Street. His tenants include Oberweis and Mulata.

Housing Forward will staff the Write Inn 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Staff will be supplemented by volunteers.

The organization has a network of 1,200 volunteers, most of whom live in Oak Park and attend local churches, according to Schueler.

Clients living in the Write Inn will enter through an entrance separate from the hotel’s restaurant, Hemmingway’s Bistro.

“We encourage everybody to patronize them,” said Schueler.

The Housing Forward entrance will be controlled by a keycard like a hotel, giving staff and volunteers knowledge of who comes and goes from the building. Cameras have also been installed on the interior and exterior of the Write Inn. While the agreement lasts a full year, living in the Write Inn is meant to be a very transitory experience for interim housing program clients. Schueler expects individuals to live there for no more than 90 days.

“Our goal is when people move into the program that we begin to work on their exit strategy, which is getting them into the pipeline for permanent housing,” said Schueler.

Housing Forward has not yet made a decision on whether it will continue its agreements with the other hotels it has been using.

“We want to be very mindful of our capacity at the Write Inn and if we need to continue at the other hotels, we may do that,” said Schueler. “But that’s not in our immediate future.”

CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

8

thevillagefreepress.org

Village Free Press | October 7, 2020

Proviso school districts get nearly $1M in tech grants Districts 87, 88, 89 and 209 got Digital Equity Formula Grants from state

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education recently announced that nearly 500 local school districts in Illinois will receive a total of roughly $80 million in Digital Equity Formula Grant funds to “help close the digital divide among Illinois students,” according to a statement released Sept. 21.

Pritzker’s office said money for the grant comes from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Congress passed earlier this year. At least four school districts in Proviso Township received the funds.

“With this commitment of $80 million in funding to closing the digital divide, we are building on the same goals we’ve pushed since the beginning of my administration, creating a pipeline of high-quality learning from cradle to career,” the governor explained in the statement. “Throughout this crisis, I have been so impressed to see

all the creative ways superintendents and teachers adapted to the pandemic, a spirit of ingenuity that stretched up into our higher education institutions, too. This pandemic has heightened every inequality and injustice in our nation and our educators are on the frontlines of seeing our young people through this moment.”

Carmen I. Ayala, the state’s superintendent of education, said that “closing the digital has been a priority for the agency since March, when the pandemic forced schools statewide to suddenly shift to remote learning. We saw in the spring that many schools did not have the technology or internet access necessary to connect students and teachers in realtime and to facilitate meaningful remote instruction. We have learned and prepared a lot since the spring, and we are excited to provide our highest-need schools the Digital Equity Formula Grant to strengthen their digital infrastructure this fall and for years to come.”

Berkeley School District 87, Bellwood School District 88, Maywood-Melrose Park-

Broadview School District 89 and Proviso Township High School District 209 were among the school districts in Proviso Township that received funding.

Districts can “use the grant to purchase additional devices and connectivity or to cover purchases made since March 13, 2020,” Pritzker’s office said.

Berkeley District 87 got roughly $174,000, Bellwood District 88 got roughly $161,000, Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview School District 89 got around $288,000 and Proviso Township High School District 209 got $123,000.

Luisa Berardi, D89’s communications coordinator, said that the district “will use the funds to purchase devices and increase accessibility for students.”

Victoria Hansen, D88’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said that the district will use the funding to purchase more “Google Chromebooks, headphones, bags to protect the Chromebooks (this will be implemented once students return to a hybrid and/or

full in-person instruction) and hot spots to ensure that our families in need have internet connectivity. We have already utilized other various funding sources, thus far, to ensure that we have enough Chromebooks for all students. So far, we’re in a great place.”

Nicole Wilson, D209’s communications director, released a statement about the grants on behalf of the district last week.

“We are committed to providing students with the tools they need to fully engage and be successful with remote learning experiences,” the statement reads. “To date, we’ve issued more than 4,400 laptops and 140 hotspot devices to our students in the D209 footprint. We’re thankful for the additional funds awarded through the Digital Equity Formula Grant, which augment the cost of these technology devices.”

A representative with Berkeley School District 87 could not be immediately reached for comment on last Thursday evening.

CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

Global Business Center has the solution for your business needs:

• Coworking spaces • Conference room • Wi-fi, and more!

We’re located at 840 S 17th Avenue Maywood, IL 60153 For more information, go to www.globalbizctr.com

thevillagefreepress.org

Village Free Press | October 7, 2020

9

VILLAGES persepctives Healthy debate key to reaching Black boys in the classroom As Americans continue to grapple with the numerous unjustified murders of African American males (including Jacob Blake, George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Ahmaud Arbery), academic leaders must dig deeper to understand how to better engage African American males in the classroom.

Educators must accomplish this while fully supporting Black boys’ social, emotional and behavioral health, as well as their need to reconcile with the American systems unfolding on social media and news feeds daily.

As beautifully expressed in Malcolm Jenkins’ new movie, “Black Boys,” African American males often have a great many concerns about their own physical safety and worth; to help them avoid the hopelessness that could so easily overwhelm them, educators need to cultivate agency within this unique student group. Inside high school and middle school classrooms, educators must develop curricula and incorporate teaching practices that can help these students comprehend how legislation impacts the descendants of America’s system of chattel slavery, and how it is imperative to use their voice and vote to improve those policies.

As the former principal of a small urban, high-needs, extremely trauma-impacted high school, and later a comprehensive, majority

Black and Brown suburban high school, I have witnessed firsthand the power of classroomlevel debates on controversial current events to heal wounds, while simultaneously engaging African American males in rigorous academic instruction that prepares them for college, career and civic life.

Debate is natural for Black boys Throughout any high school or middle school cafeteria, vigorous debate about the best sports team, the best dancer, the best player, the best musician, etc., can be heard echoing throughout the halls. Thus, integrating this discourse into the classroom should be a no-brainer. By acknowledging that boys don’t learn in the same manner as girls, middle- and high school-level educators can foster boys’ love of competition, movement and interactive discussions to build their literacy skills, which is critical for authentic civic engagement and college readiness.

Having experience as an academic leader of two high schools, I had the pleasure of introducing students and staff to a schoolwide focus on argumentative literacy: the ability to make and understand arguments. To facilitate this, I engaged the teaching faculty in a comprehensive review of data and facilitated protocols to support the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of each school’s instructional focus.

In both schools, we noted low levels of literacy achievement, especially for African

American males. Upon further examination, both faculties reached a similar conclusion: Classroom instructional practices should be revamped to improve student engagement in rigorous work that pushed students’ academic thinking and encouraged productive academic struggle. Faculty members also considered strategies to improve students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Schoolwide focus on argument and debate By reading articles such as “Lasting Impressions: Targeted Learning Plan Has a Maximum Impact on Teacher Practice” by Jeff Nelson and Amalia Cudeiro and “Leading With Inquiry and Action: How Principals Improve Teaching and Learning” by Matthew Militello, Sharon F. Rallis and Ellen B. Goldring, our instructional leaders led their departments to facilitate a school-wide focus on classroom argument and debate.

Naturally, the social studies departments flourished within the debate realm; consequently, after less than eighteen months of adult learning and preparation, I witnessed students, male and female, African American and Latinx, fully engaging in controversial debate questions, such as “Should the United States Pay Reparations for Slavery and the History of Anti-Black Racism?” and “Should Public College in the United States Be TuitionFree?”

How did this engagement look? § Classrooms filled with dialogue and

collaborative movement without a single student opting out of lively discussions. § Students closely reviewing multiple resources on their debate topics. § Teachers circulating throughout the classroom to provide feedback on written responses. § Students strengthening their literacy skills and everyone experiencing flow.

The students and teachers hated when the classes ended. In response to the death of George Floyd, the shooting of Jacob Blake, and the historic protests that have engulfed numerous cities around the world, I fully expect my former schools in the coming months to embrace the most recent controversial questions: “Should American Cities Divest Funds From Their Police Forces?” and “Should Monuments to the Confederacy Be Removed?” These topics not only engage Black boys in the classroom, they strengthen their agency in the fight against systemic racism and provide answers to the myriad questions they may have.

Across this country, African American males are not flourishing at the same academic levels as their white counterparts; argumentative literacy could be the salve to heal their wounds and diminish the literacy achievement gap over time.

— Dr. Nia Abdullah, Westchester

CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

Bitty Basketball held on Saturdays, September 12-December 19, 9am to 12pm for young aspiring basketball players. This years’ focus is on skills & drills while adhering to CDC guidelines.

Registration fee of $55 is being accepted in person at Eisenhower Community Center in Hillside.

Questions, Call (708) 547-3900 x4 Memorial Park District Fall Special Events: Scarecrows on Parade display along the path & trails in Hillside on the Eisenhower Community Center campus. T-Frames will be available October 1st and all displays will be removed November 30th. Register $15. per T-Frame at Eisenhower Community Center in Hillside. Questions, Call (708) 547-3900 x4 Halloween Drive Thru bring your child by car and your goblins will receive a treat bag! For children in costume up to 9 years of age. Saturday, October 31, Noon to 2pm while treats last at Stevenson Center Park 3105 Washington Blvd, Bellwood. Questions, Call (708) 547-3900 x4

10

thevillagefreepress.org

Village Free Press | October 7, 2020

NEWS briefs Maywood mayor announces she’s running for third term Maywood Mayor Edwenna Perkins announced over the weekend that she’s running for re-election. Perkins held a brief campaign kick-off on Sept. 27 in front of a new affordable housing complex that’s nearing completion at 800-820 S. 5th Ave. in Maywood.

Perkins, who is in her second term as mayor, said that she’s running on a new slate called Maywood Strong, which features three trustee candidates: Penny Evans, Patrick Winters and Nia Sanders. There is no clerk candidate on the slate.

When reached for comment on Sept. 29, Perkins said the slate “is looking to move Maywood forward with more economic development and additional police to make the community safe.”

The mayor’s announcement came a day after Maywood Trustee Isiah Brandon formerly announced that he was seeking to replace the mayor, a longtime mentor of his, and several weeks after Maywood Trustee Nathaniel George Booker held a formal campaign kickoff.

Perennial mayoral candidate Mary “May” Larry, a Maywood liquor commissioner, has also been circulating leaflets announcing her bid to unseat Perkins. So far, those are all of the Maywood mayoral candidates Village Free Press knows about.

Two people shot in Maywood Two people were injured in a shooting that took place on the 1500 block of S. 8th Ave. in Maywood, at around 10 p.m. on Friday, according to emergency dispatch records.

Residents said they heard what sounded “like a machine gun” before a Maywood Police officer arrived to find someone shot on the block. Minutes later, officers confirmed a second gunshot victim. They also recovered a weapon, but records don’t reveal the type of firearm.

The status of the victims is currently unknown and it isn’t known whether any

offenders were placed in custody. Maywood Police could not be immediately contacted for comment on Saturday afternoon. More as this story develops.

State announces COVID-19 trick-ortreating guidance SPRINGFIELD – The state announced Halloween COVID-19 guidance encouraging social distancing while trick-or-treating, and the governor took questions in a virtual news conference Wednesday.

Those passing out candy should maintain six feet from trick-or-treaters and wear proper face coverings, according to the guidance, and trick-or-treating should be done in groups with household members only.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said households should consider leaving individually wrapped candy on a table in driveways or in front of walkways to allow for social distancing.

“For anyone wearing a costume – whether a child or an adult – a costume mask is not a substitute for face covering,” Ezike said. “If face coverings are worn under the costume mask, please ensure that this does not create any breathing problems, and if it does, don’t discard your face covering. Put the costume mask aside.”

Indoor haunted houses are not allowed, per Phase 4 state guidance, and IDPH suggested open-air alternatives such as oneway haunted forests or haunted walks where social distancing can be maintained.

At pumpkin patches, face coverings should be worn and hands sanitized before handling pumpkins. On hayrides, parties should be spaced six feet apart and they should not exceed 50 percent capacity.

Also per Phase 4 guidelines, gatherings of more than 50 people or 50 percent or more of a building’s maximum occupancy are prohibited, including for Halloween parties.

— Jerry Nowicki, Capitol News Illinois

Man killed after shooting outside of Stone Park nightclub A Chicago man was killed after a shooting at a Stone Park nightclub, according to news reports and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Christian Gonzalez-Castillo, 22, died from a gunshot wound to the face, the examiner’s office reported. The shooting happened in the parking lot of the Mansion Night Club, 3801 W. Lake St. in Stone Park, on Sept. 27.

Gonzalez-Castillo was reported dead at 4:33 a.m. on Saturday, the office said.

According to an ABC 7 news report, the “Stone Park Police Department, as well as the West Suburban Major Crime Tasks Force and Illinois State Police, are investigating the fatal shooting, officials said.” The report added that officials said “the incident appears to be isolated. No word on information about any possible suspects.”

Gonzalez-Castillo’s family recently started a GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds for his funeral expenses. The campaign has reached nearly $5,000 of its $25,000 goal.

New paint and sip heading to Broadview During a regular meeting on Sept. 21, the Broadview Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve a business license requested by an entrepreneur seeking to open a paint and sip establishment on the village’s Roosevelt Road corridor.

Owner Mary Ollie’s Sip & Create Studio, LLC., is planning to locate at 1821 Roosevelt Rd., in Broadview, inside of the former Yahweh Amore Health and Wellness Salon

H

e r e h t n i g an

d o o w y a M

141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 708.613.3300 | OakPark.com

Are you running for office? Know someone who is?

If you’re a candidate or know of a candidate running for a local elected office in Berkeley, Bellwood, Broadview, Hillside, Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, Stone Park and/or Westchester, please let us know at: info@vfpress.news or call (708) 359-9148.

We’re compiling an election guide for these towns that will feature key races and issues during the upcoming municipal elections in April. You know of an issue that needs to be covered? Want us to pose questions to candidates in the upcoming races? Email or call us and Spa. The business application had been before the board at a meeting on Sept. 8, but trustees tabled the motion to the next regular meeting in order to correct the application.

Ollie’s application had originally noted that the establishment would be a BYOB, as well. Broadview, however, does not have a liquor license that would allow the business to operate as a BYOB. Once that issue was corrected, the application moved forward for the board’s approval at the Sept. 21 meeting.

“I’m pleased to see we’re going to bring a paint and sip to the community,” said Broadview Trustee Judy Miller. “I’m a huge advocate of those.”

Broadview Commissioner David Upshaw said that Ollie indicated that patrons will be able to utilize the paint and sip establishment by appointment or event only.

He did not say when the business plans to open. Ollie could not be immediately reached for comment on last Wednesday evening.

CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

We are here for you!

Get local news and stay in touch at www.vfpress.news

thevillagefreepress.org Twitter: @village_free • Facebook: @maywoodnews

thevillagefreepress.org

PUBLIC REAL ESTATE NOTICES FOR SALE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE INTENT OF THE BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS OF THE MEMORIAL PARK DISTRICT, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS TO SELL $670,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION LIMITED TAX PARK BONDS PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Memorial Park District, Cook County, Illinois (the “District”), will hold a public hearing on the 20th day of October, 2020, at 4:30 o’clock P.M. The hearing will be held in the Board Meeting Room at The Center at Stevenson Park, 3101 Washington Blvd., Bellwood, Illinois. The purpose of the hearing will be to receive public comments on the proposal to sell bonds of the District in the amount of $670,000 for the payment of land condemned or purchased for parks, for the building, maintaining, improving and protecting of the same and the existing land and facilities of the District and for the payment of the expenses incident thereto.

By order of the President of the Board of Park Commissioners of the Memorial Park District, Cook County, Illinois.

DATED the 30th day of September, 2020. /S/ Mari S. Herrell Secretary, Board of Park Commissioners, Memorial Park District, Cook County, Illinois Published in Village Free Press 10/7/2020

Village Free Press | October 7, 2020

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR RESIDENTIAL ASSET MORTGAGE PRODUCTS, INC., MORTGAGE ASSET-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2006-RZ2 Plaintiff, -v.JINKY G. BARREDO A/K/A JINKY BARREDO, ALBERTO VELASCO Defendants 18CH06920 1441 SOUTH WOLF ROAD HILLSIDE, IL 60162 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 17, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 27, 2020, 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 1441 SOUTH WOLF ROAD, HILLSIDE, IL 60162 Property Index No. 15-20-112-0450000 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 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. 14-18-05254 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 18CH06920 TJSC#: 40-2202 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 # 18CH06920 I3156610

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.

Village Free Press

the village free press Vol. III No. 37

SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

A sampling of the top dishes at Taste of Melrose Park, PAGE 8

Maywood remembers Bataan, PAGE 2

theVillageFreePress.org

Proud to partner with Michael Romain and the Village Free Press

Three’s company As PMSA’s enrollment increases, D209 looks to replicate the school at East and West

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

If all goes according to an ambitious plan laid out by administrators last week, there will not be one Proviso Math and Science Academy in Proviso Township High Schools District 209 — there will essentially be three.

In a lengthy interview on Sept. 4, D209 Supt. Jesse Rodriguez explained that the district is seeking to open math and science academies at Proviso East and Proviso West that replicate PMSA’s academic curriculum while continuing to increase the student population at the selective enrollment school in Forest Park.

Rodriguez said that the expansion will benefit students in the district who have the capability of excelling in PMSA’s academically rigorous curriculum, which notably includes the International Baccalaureate Diploma program.

The program allows high school students the opportunity to earn college credits and is considered by some education experts to See PMSA on page 5

NO STOPPING HIM: Tim Bannon, 14, was born without arms, but that hasn’t stopped him from competing in a triathlon and on the football field. The Hillside teenager wants to be the kicker for the freshman team.

SHANEL ROMAIN

Proviso West football player born with no arms lights up the field Tim Bannon, 14, wants to be the kicker on the freshman football team

By SHANEL ROMAIN Contributor

Tim Bannon, a 14-year-old Proviso West High School freshman, doesn’t want or need your sympathy or stares or sentimental

statements about how inspiring he is, although he knows that he’ll get those responses. And that’s OK. Tim’s going to do what he wants regardless of how people respond to him.

The Hillside teenager spent the latter part of his summer preparing for the Chicago Triathlon (that’s a roughly mile-long run, a 200-meter swim and around four miles of See TIM BANNON on page 6

TIRED OF PAYING ATM FEES?

PAY NO MORE!

LOOK INSIDE TO FIND OUT HOW

1759 N. Mannheim Rd. | Stone Park, IL 60165 708-483-0030 | www.provisobank.com Proviso Community Bank is a branch of Hinsdale Bank & Trust Company.

11

141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 708.613.3300 | OakPark.com

12

Village Free Press | October 7, 2020

thevillagefreepress.org