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Vol. IV No. 42 Westchester Food Pantry looking for new home, PAGE 4

Broadview gets creative to protect polls during pandemic Village partners with company to install Retrotec Blower doors at polling place entrances to improve air quality, decrease COVID-19 risk

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

The village of Broadview has partnered with two Black-owned environmental sustainability firms to help protect voters and poll workers during the Nov. 3 election by installing what are called Retrotec Blower doors at the entrances of four of its five polling places.

The Retrotec Blower door is typically used to test homes for air leakages, said See BROADVIEW VOTING on page 7

OCTOBER 14, 2020

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Maywood couple dies from furnace malfunction, PAGE 4

EQUITY NOW: On Saturday, Maywood Fine Arts held its first-ever walk for equity and opportunity in arts in lieu of hosting its annual Pumpkin Patch Parade.

More photos on page two.

Shanel Romain

Owners of popular Maywood business looking to sell

Joe and Theresa Wilson say they’ll keep operating T&JJ until they find a buyer

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Joe and Theresa Wilson, the beloved

owners of T&JJ Supreme Steaks and Catering Services, 718 S. 5th Ave. in Maywood, stood in a hallway inside of their facility on Oct. 9 to take stock of its history.

The couple, married nearly 20 years ago, had their wedding reception in the banquet hall. Familiar faces, some famous locally and internationally, have cycled through these doors.

“We’ve got pictures of Jerry Butler, Adele Givens, Eugene Moore, Sam Chatman,”

Theresa said. “We’ve had a lot of people come through. It’s a wall of fame.”

T&JJ’s has been a Maywood culinary and entertainment institution for 30 years (for their first 10 years, they were housed in another location), but that run may be ending soon — or at least in its current form. The couple have put the business and the building up for sale for $675,000, but See T&JJ on page 4

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Village Free Press | October 14, 2020

OUT and ABOUT the village free press Editor & Publisher Michael Romain Senior Sales & Strategic Consultant Kamil Brady 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. © 2020 Village Free Press We’re proud to partner with Growing Community Media, NFP.

Maywood Fine Arts’ equity walk attracted hundreds of participants. The walk started at the organization’s Stairway of the Stars Dance Studio, 20 N. 5th Ave. in Maywood. Below, the Westchester Social and Service committee hosted a food truck on the parking lot of the Westchester Community Church, 1840 Westchester Blvd. in Westchester. d delivered to hospital workers throughout the area.

Publisher Dan Haley CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

“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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Maywood board votes to halt water shutoffs

Board votes 6-1 to stop shutoffs until Oct. 15 finance meeting, although officials insist shutoffs not a threat for most residents

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

During a regular meeting on Oct. 6, the Maywood Board of Trustees voted 6-1 in favor of a motion to halt any water shutoffs before a Finance Committee meeting on Oct. 15, where the board will discuss just how many residents face immediate water turnoffs due to unpaid bills amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The village has suspended water shutoffs after issuing an emergency declaration on March 17 to address the pandemic.

That declaration has since been lifted.

Maywood Mayor Edwenna Perkins was the only vote against the motion, which was introduced by Trustee Nathaniel Booker, who has been vocal in recent weeks about the 750 Maywood homeowners, roughly 10 percent of the village’s households, who earlier this month received water shutoff notices, because they’re at least 60 days behind on

their bills.

Booker said that the village should be directing residents toward resources to pay their water bills, instead of sending shutoff notices. He said that many of the 750 homeowners who received the notices were still waiting on emergency assistance from the county and the state.

But during the Oct. 6 meeting, Maywood Finance Director Lanya Satchell told board members that those 750 homeowners who received notices are not in imminent threat of having their water shutoff, despite WGN 9’s report on Oct. 5 that “as many as one in 10 households in Maywood could have their water shut off.”

“No, we don’t have the resources to shut off 750 [homes],” Satchell said. “We don’t have the staff to do it. And if we outsource it, we wouldn’t have the financing to pay someone to do it. But if we don’t send out the notices, folks won’t pay.”

Satchell said that since March, when the COVID-19 shutdown began, the village has only conducted five water shutoffs. She said many people who had not received notices all year long may have been alarmed when they received the notice that the village sent out earlier this month.

“If you get a notice and you haven’t received one all year, then that’s what’s alarming, because now you feel that something is

different, that the next step or action will occur, but it isn’t,” she said. “The water apartment is also impacted by COVID. Our staffing levels are [minimal], but we do have to ask and demand.”

After all, Satchell added, Maywood has its own water bills to pay Chicago, which is the source of the village’s water, and Melrose Park, which the village pays to transport the water. She said the village asked both Chicago and Melrose Park if it could defer its water payments to them and both declined.

She said that typically homeowners who find themselves at least 60 days behind in payments can make a payment arrange by paying at least 20 percent of what they owe up front.

“If you can’t put that down on the date you call us, we still want you to sign an arrangement stating when you can pay [the minimum 20 percent] on a date certain,” Satchell said.

Satchell said that the village directs residents who ask to resources that may help them pay their late bills, but often times those resources aren’t enough.

“A lot of times, the money they’re able to get isn’t enough to bring the bill down, because they’ve let the bill get out of hand,” she said, adding that despite the hundreds of notices sent out, the village “is not doing that bad, folks are still paying their bills on a monthly basis even though some don’t.”

She said that, to date, the village has lost

approximately $350,000 due to residents not paying their water bills.

Trustee Isiah Brandon chided Booker for short-circuiting the process. Brandon said that while he supports the idea of getting more resources into residents’ hands and doesn’t want to see people’s water shut off, the matter should have been brought to the board’s Finance Committee, where village staffers could weigh in on the issue and provide details similar to what Satchell provided during the Oct. 6 meeting.

“This is not even an urgent matter,” Brandon said. “[You’re] putting this fear out to residents that 750 people’s water will be turned off this week. That is not the case.

There will not be 750 people’s water getting shut off in Maywood.”

Perkins said she voted against Booker’s motion, because she disagreed with the village uniformly applying a standard to all 750 people in arrears, as opposed to dealing with those people on an individual basis.

“To take it and make it a blanket situation, I disagree with that,” she said. “If we’ve got x amount of people with problems, we need to work with those individuals to make sure they’re taken care of.”

The Oct. 16 Finance Committee meeting will be held at 6 p.m., at 125 S. 5th Ave. in Maywood.

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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

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Village Free Press | October 14, 2020

NEWS briefs

Westchester Food Pantry looking for new home Just when its needed the most, the Westchester Food Pantry faces one of its biggest challenges yet. The pantry, which serves residents from eight communities in Proviso Township, is losing its small space inside of Westchester Village Hall, 10300 Roosevelt Rd. in Westchester.

The town’s municipal facility is moving to a new location in 2021, but the pantry won’t be moving with it and must find a new space

by February 2021, the organization stated in a GoFundMe campaign it created about a week ago.

“We are open to sharing and leasing space with another organization, but due to specific site requirements enforced by the Greater Chicago Food Depository, we have not had luck finding a match,” pantry leaders said in a statement on the GoFundMe page. “This has led us to search for a commercial space. While this is a more expensive option, it will give us the freedom to adapt and modify the space to fit our needs, as well as set our own hours, days of service, and expand our services in the future.”

The pantry has a goal of raising $100,000 to fund capital investments necessary to continue operating, particularly when a pandemic and resulting economic crisis has made the 25-year-old organization’s role so critical to community members in need. Since March, the pantry has seen a 65 percent increase in the number of clients it serves each Friday night, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Broadview and Melrose Park awarded Cook County infrastructure grants The village of Broadview and Melrose

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Park were among roughly 30 municipalities across Cook County that received a total of $8.5 million Invest In Cook infrastructure grants designed to fund a diverse array of transportation and transit projects, Cook County officials announced in September.

Broadview received $158,585 that will help complete improvements to the village’s Braga Drive corridor, from 16th Street to 17th Avenue. Braga Drive connects 25th Avenue to 17 Avenue and is surrounded by heavy industry. According to the project description, “due to recent funding delays and shortfalls, the project has had difficulty moving forward.”

The county funds will assist with stage two construction, including storm sewer and other utility improvements, pavement installation and sidewalk restoration, among other work. Construction was scheduled to start as early as August.

The village of Melrose Park received $525,000 from the county, which will help fund roadway improvements and street widening along 25th Avenue, from Lake Street to North Avenue.

“Planned improvements will provide a much efficient flow of traffic to all users, create a safer, more pleasant environment for bicyclists, and create a more aesthetically pleasing and accessible location for developments along 25th Avenue,” according to the project description. “Preliminary planning for the project was undertaken several years ago.”

Melrose Park has secure prior Invest In Cook funding for 25th Avenue improvements and is working on acquiring “right-of-way adjacent to the project area.” The village is applying for federal funding to pay for the design phase of the project.

“The County’s investment of $8.5 million leverages an additional $17,784,477 in federal, state and local funds. The commitment of County transportation resources will enable $26,284,477 in project activity across all phases to get under way in the coming year,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s office announced in a statement released Sept. 25. To promote diversity in transportation modes, projects were evaluated and ranked by type.

deadline is Oct. 16.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced the new program, which is funded by the federal CARES Act, during a press conference in Chicago on Oct. 8.

“By some estimates, up to 20 percent of mortgage-paying homeowners nationwide have missed a mortgage payment,” Preckwinkle said. “That’s 1 out of 5 households. As Congress seems nowhere near ready to approve continued unemployment benefits and even though nationally we’re facing the highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression in the 1930s, we know that we have tremendous challenges.”

The new mortgage assistance program totals $20 million, with up to $10,000 payments going directly to mortgage providers. Eligible homeowners must live in suburban Cook County, have experienced COVID-19-related financial hardship, have income at or below $127,400 before and after their COVID-19-related financial hardship, have went into mortgage arrearage after March 27, and cannot have accepted any other CARES Act emergency mortgage assistance funding, according to the county’s website.

To apply for the funding or to receive more information on the program, visit: https:// www.cookcountyil.gov/recovery.

Deadline for mortgage assistance relief Oct. 16

Butterfield Road in Berkeley, Pace is moving one of its westbound bus stops, according to the transit agency and the village of Hillside, which put out an announcement about the relocation last month.

The Pace Route 301 stop at the northwest corner of Butterfield and Darmstadt roads

Suburban Cook County homeowners who need assistance with paying their mortgages can apply for the Cook County Mortgage Assistance program. The application

Route 301 bus stop serving Berkeley and Hillside relocated amid expressway construction Due to ongoing construction work on the Tri-State Tollway bridge that extends over

will be moved to Butterfield Road and High Street until the work’s expected completion in 2026, at which time Pace will decide whether to move the bus stop back to its original position or place it somewhere else.

The Butterfield/Damstadt is the only stop located inside the triangle-shaped interchange between the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) and Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), serving several industrial businesses in the portion of Hillside on the south side of Butterfield Road and a few residential homes in the portion of Berkley on the north side of Butterfield Road.

Route 301 is one of the major Proviso Township routes, primarily running along Roosevelt Road. Most of the buses run between Forest Park Transit Center (which doubles as a Blue Line ‘L’ station) and the Roosevelt/Ardmore intersection in Oak Brook Terrance, serving Broadview, Westchester, Hillside, Berkley and Elmhurst along the way.

While riders have traditionally been able to board and disembark at any intersection where it’s safe to do so, Pace has been increasingly shifting to a “posted stop only” arrangement, where buses only stop at designated bus stops.

Route 301 is one of those routes, which means that, with the relocation, the westbound buses simply pass through the triangle without stopping.

The interchange project is part of a larger Tri-State Tollway project to widen the highway, reduce congestion and repair several major bridges. The widening is expected to reduce back-ups and the interchange ramps will be reconfigured to reduce the need to merge between lanes. In addition, the Tollway bridge over Butterfield Road would need to be widened.

Since the westbound stop is located near the bridge, it has to be moved. The eastbound stop, on the other hand, is on the southwest side of the intersection of Butterfield and Darmsladt roads – far enough away not to be affected.

According to the notice on Pace’s website, the transit agency will “re-evaluate this stop location” once the construction is finished.

In the meantime, Pace has been working to put stops in locations that are more accessible to pedestrians, especially people with mobility devices.

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NEWS briefs

Maywood man dies in Oct. 10 shooting on 17th Avenue

A shooting that happened on 17th Avenue in Maywood on Oct. 10 is now a homicide after the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office reported that the victim later died from his wounds.

Law enforcement authorities had 17th Avenue, between Madison Street and the Prairie Path, blocked off on Saturday evening after reports of a shooting that happened in the area just after 5 p.m.

Witnesses say the shooting happened after an argument between two groups of individuals erupted into violence. One person went into a vehicle, pulled out a gun and shot someone on the sidewalk before driving off, they said.

Bobby Lewis, 35, of Maywood, died from a gunshot wound to the head, the medical examiner’s office said. Lewis was pronounced dead at 5:27 p.m. on Saturday.

Maywood Police could not be immediately contacted for comment on Sunday evening.

Medical Examiner’s office.

Alan C. Williams, 37, died at 2:34 a.m. on Oct. 10 from a gunshot wound to the head, the medical examiner’s office reported.

The office listed the incident address as J’s Sports Bar & Grill, 2101 Mannheim Rd. in Northlake. The Melrose Park Police Department is listed as the reporting agency.

When contacted on Saturday afternoon, Melrose Park police referred questions to a Melrose Park spokesperson, who said that Williams was killed by a “single fatal shot.”

The incident, he said, happened at around 2 a.m.

The spokesperson said that no one is currently in custody and that Melrose Park police have brought in the West Suburban Major Crimes Task Force to lead the investigation into the shooting, which is ongoing.

Maywood man charged with First Degree Murder in connection to 2019 homicide

21, on Dec. 14.

The shooting happened on the 1400 block of S. 6th Ave. in Maywood.

Evans has been charged with First Degree Murder for Newsome’s death. He was due in bond court on Thursday.

Maywood couple married 56 years dies after furnace malfunctions An elderly couple was found unconscious inside of their home on the 1200 block of S. 15th Ave. in Maywood on Oct. 4. They were pronounced dead at 2:27 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Leevell Robinson, 80, and Ora Robinson, 78, died from hyperthermia related to a malfunctioning furnace, the medical examiner said, adding that both had underlying cardiovascular conditions, including hypertension.

The couple’s middle son, Torvis Robinson, 53, said during an interview on Oct. 5, that his parents had noticed problems with the furnace late last week and even had a

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Bensenville man killed in shooting near Northlake bar

A Bensenville man is dead after an apparent shooting that happened near a Northlake bar, according to the Cook County

Maywood Police announced on Oct. 8 that they have arrested a man in connection to a murder that happened in 2019.

Police said that they arrested Michael Evans, of Maywood, on Oct. 6. Evans is alleged to have fatally shot Shannon Newsome,

repairman out to look at it a few days before their deaths.

Torvis said that his brother discovered the married couple unconscious Sunday afternoon, after walking into the house and noticing that it was unusually warm.

Maywood Fire Chief Craig Bronaugh said that paramedics transported the couple to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood after their son discovered them.

Torvis said his father was retired from International Harvester and had been in Maywood “before I was born.” They had three children and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, he said.

“They enjoyed retirement,” said Torvis, who was still at a loss for words on Oct. 5.

“This is still hard to process.”

The couple was married for 56 years, their children said.

The Robinsons’ tragic deaths made news worldwide, with outlets from the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times to People magazine and the UK’s Daily Mail reporting on the story.

“My parents lived a good life,” Terri Robinson, the oldest of the children, told the Chicago Tribune in a phone interview. “It’s a loss for us. It’s a big hole in our hearts. But we’re going to be strong because that’s the way they raised us.”

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T&JJ

A long journey from page 1

WALL OF FAME: Theresa and Joe Wilson, shown top left, has put their restaurant on the market after 30 years in business. Below right, Theresa points to the restaurant’s “wall on fame” that shows the many people who have cycled through its doors over the years.

Michael Romain

they’ll continue doing business until there’s a buyer and perhaps even if one doesn’t materialize.

“We’ll be here until we can’t operate no more,” said Joe, who cited the couple’s rising age, the village’s high property taxes and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as factors contributing to the couple’s decision to put the business on the market.

“We’re old and it’s time to give it up,” he said. “We’ve talked to people who said they wanted to franchise, but it never came to fruition … It’s time for us to move on. I’ll be 80 in January and Theresa’s 65. For this to continue on, we need some young people.”

Joe said that the restaurant is on the hook for $31,000 in property taxes this year, but that the Cook County Assessor’s office “is talking about taking it to $64,000.”

Theresa said that she and her husband, who have been together for more than 40 years, employ six part-time employees and have only had to lay off one since the pandemic hit. They have, however, reduced employees’ hours since the pandemic. She said that when the pandemic hit in March, people who had booked events in the banquet hall at least six months in advance and put money down were demanding refunds all at once, a situation that strained their finances.

The owners secured the federal government’s Paycheck Protect Program funding, but that hasn’t been enough to

stanch the bleeding.

Joe said that he believes that higherincome people have their sights on Maywood, which could potentially mean more upended residents and businesses.

“The politics of Maywood is that the sixfigure salary people want this village,” he said. “It’s prime real estate.”

He said that the pandemic and the result economic recession have only exacerbated an already predatory economic system that abuses workers and small business owners alike.

“The capitalist system is centered around production at a profit motive,” Joe said.

“That’s why they have for-profits and nonprofits and for-profit corporations run this country. How does this system benefit us as working people? We produce the wealth of society, but we have no say-so how it’s distributed. It’s those who own [capital] and they use the government to legislate laws in their own best interests.”

Despite the challenges, there are some bright spots for would-be buyers of the restaurant, including the fivestory apartment building that’s nearing completion just across the street at 800-820 S. 5th Ave., which would be a captured market for the restaurant, which is known for its cold cuts and fried chicken, among other tasty items.

“I’m trying to let this stay in business, because it’s a good one,” Theresa said. “If you get the sandwiches going, you’re going to make some money, especially if you follow the right recipe.”

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Dem leaders being held to account Black lawmaker says Sen. Lightford’s remarks made as third pillar of antracism 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.

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Maywood Park racetrack welcome sign gets new home Last week, Melrose Park Public Works employees installed arching sign at entrance to library

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

When the Maywood Park Racetrack facility closed permanently last year to make way for new retail and commercial enterprises, Melrose Park Public Work Director Gary Marine did what he’s done for years now — figure out a way to salvage a key part of the area’s history.

“When I was told that it would be demolished, I approached the contractor

and asked if I could take [the sign] since they were going to scrap it,” Marine said on Oct. 8. “I also approached the mayor [of Melrose Park, Ron Serpico] for his permission to salvage it.”

Marine said he stored the sign in a yard in Melrose Park and made some modifications, so that it would fit its new home and new purpose — greeting drivers as they entered the parking lot of the Melrose Park Public Library, 801 N. 19th Ave. Public works employees finished installing the sign on Thursday. Marine said that workers will eventually paint the arch and install internal lighting on it, as well.

“It’s a landmark and I try to save things that are disappearing, because a lot of our history is going away,” Marine said.

That spirit of conservation also motivated Marine to help save the iconic neon Kiddieland sign that hangs on the exterior wall of the library that faces the parking lot.

The Kiddieland sign, which once greeted passersby on North and 1st avenues before the amusement park closed in 2009, was unveiled and rededicated by the Melrose Park Historical Society in 2012.

“The Kiddieland sign was a little more difficult to put somewhere, because it had a huge base,”

COMING THROUGH: Above, the Maywood Park racetrack welcome sign now welcomes visitors to the Melrose Park Public Library. Bottom left, orkers removing the Maywood Park racetrack sign last year before the park was fully demolished.

Courtesy Gary Marine/Melrose Park Public Works

Marine recalls, adding that workers also made some modifications to that sign before it was attached to the library’s wall.

“We do all the work in-house, myself and public works guys,” Marine said. “We

worked on it in between other projects.

Anytime I can salvage a piece of Melrose Park history, I do.”

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Maywood nonprofit returns to its roots with training program

Operation Uplift’s Project Ascension designed to train at-risk young people in Proviso Township for careers

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Operation Uplift, 104 S. 5th Ave. in Maywood, was founded in 1968, in order to train Blacks for careers in Corporate America. In the decades since its founding, however, the nonprofit’s focus has been less centered on training than on maintaining the West Town Museum of Cultural History that Operation Uplift’s co-founder, Northica Stone, started

in 1995.

Stone died in 2018, but her dream of reviving Operation Uplift’s original purpose lives on through her son, George Stone II, the nonprofit’s executive director.

During an interview last week, Stone said that Operation Uplift received state funding to operate a program he’s calling Project Ascension.

“We were able to tap into the Illinois Youth Investment grant through the Department of Human Services, which will allow us to train 17 minorities, specifically young Black youth,” Stone said, adding that the program is targeting Proviso Township youth and young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 who are at-risk.

Stone said that the program will merge Operation Uplift’s two main functions. On the one hand, the young people will receive

BROADVIEW VOTING

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critical training for long-term careers in areas such as carpentry, plumbing and masonry. On the other hand, they’ll also receive cultural enrichment that you will help build their self-esteem.

“What makes our program a little unique is we can put a little Black culture in it and raise self-esteem,” Stone said. “We’ll let them know who they are and fold that into skills training, because our kids are suffering from low self-esteem.”

PARTNERSHIPS: Stacey Johnson, Mayor Katrina Thompson, Byron Payne, Darnell Johnson and Clerk Kevin McGrier stand in front of the Retrotec Blower door on Oct. 8 outside of Broadview Village Hall.

Getting innovative from page 1

Stacy Johnson, the president and director of field operations for Urban Efficiency, one of few firms in the burgeoning green energy industry owned by an African American.

“This depressurizes the home,” Johnsons said during a demonstration of the door at Broadview Village Hall, 2350 S. 25th Ave. in Broadview, on Oct. 8. “Typically, we used it to test for air leakages — every crack and open spot that leads to the outside. This pulls air through those cracks so we can go around the home and find where the leaks are at and seal those leaks up, so that the home can be more energy efficient.”

Johnson said that, instead of tracking leaks, the Retrotec Blower door will be used to increase ventilation and lower people’s risk of contracting COVID-19 while inside of Broadview’s polling facilities.

“We’ll open all the doors on the inside, open all the windows and turn this fan, on and it will suck all the fresh air in through the openings and push all the stale air on the inside out,” he said. “You’ll have three air changes per hour.”

A study by researchers at the University of Florida that appeared over the summer shows evidence demonstrating that COVID-19 can “hang in the air in smaller, aerosolized droplets,” according to a report published by Advisory Board, a medical research and data firm.

“Seema Lakdawala, a respiratory virus expert at the University of Pittsburgh, said

FULL CIRCLE: The exterior of Operation Uplift, which is returning to its roots with a new job training program that will launch this year.

Michael Romain

the study’s results should encourage people to take precautions to prevent the coronavirus’ transmission, such as improving indoor ventilation,” Advisory Board reported.

Darnell Johnson, who owns Urban Efficiency Group, which is a separate firm from Urban Efficiency that focuses on providing free environmental sustainability consulting services to local governments, particularly in underserved communities of color, said on Oct. 8 that installing the Retrotec Blower doors at Broadview’s polling places are part of the two firms’ Healthy Voting Initiative.

The Retrotec Blower door isn’t typically used to protect against viruses, he said, but present circumstances necessitated getting creative in order to protect people from the virus, particularly African Americans, who are getting sick and dying from the disease at disproportionate rates.

“The purpose by which we’re using this is

not the purpose for what it is normally used, but we’re talking about using this to make sure we get ventilation and the proper air changes, so we can bring all of that bad air sitting in the polling room and get fresh air in to reduce the contaminated droplets,” said Darnell Bellwood native who graduated from Proviso West High School.

The initiative, Darnell said, is the first of its kind that he’s aware of in the country.

“This initiative was something created by us — this isn’t being done across the country, this is a new concept,” he said. “We brought the need for this to the attention of the Building Performance Association, which is a national organization that’s focused on home and commercial performance. I said to them that we need to do something in our under-resourced communities that will allow the voters and poll workers to feel safe.”

Stone said that he named the program Project Ascension, because “it will raise them from the levels they’re at now and help them get to a higher level and a higher purpose.”

The program lasts 39 weeks and classes start on Oct. 19. For more information, interested applicants can contact Randall McFarland, the program’s head of outreach and recruitment, at (708) 906-7736.

CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

Broadview Village Clerk Kevin McGrier said that the village is taking some aggressive steps to make sure that voters and poll workers are safe. In addition to installing the doors, village interns will regularly sanitize the polling places.

“We’re going to take it from every angle as far as preventing COVID from being in Broadview,” he said, adding that the precautions are in stark contrast to the March 3 election held at the beginning of pandemic, when not as much was known about the virus.

Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson said that the village signed a memorandum of understanding with Urban Efficiency Group in September. Darnell Johnson will provide consulting services related to environmental sustainability at no charge to the village.

“We partnered with Urban Efficiency Group to put a sustainability plan in place,” Thompson said. “We just launched a weatherization program for the community, so residents can get their homes weatherized.

We’ve also partnered with Cook County, as it relates to lead-free housing or pregnant women or mothers with children under 6 years old.”

Darnell said that he and his firm is also looking to help the village implement more sustainability initiatives in the future.

In the meantime, if Broadview residents are interested in the weatherization program, they can call (888) 506-0036 or visit the website www.econetworkproject.com to schedule an appointment.

To schedule an appointment for a free home lead inspection and repairs, they can call (847) 969-0561.

CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

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Village Free Press | October 14, 2020

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Village Free Press to host forum on COVID and voting

Virtual forum to take place via Zoom Oct. 17, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., will be livestreamed on Facebook

§ § § § § § §

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Publisher

On Saturday, Oct. 17, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Village Free Press will host the third virtual town hall in its Circle Talks series, this time on COVID-19 & Voting. You can register for the Zoom conversation here. We’ll also livestream the dialogue on our Facebook page (please ‘Follow’ and ‘Like’ if you haven’t done so already).

We’re going to be talking to a diverse slate of guests – including Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough and Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia — who will talk about some pretty important issues during this election.

Feel free to peruse the Circle Talks agenda below.

If you want to submit questions for us to pose to the guests beforehand, email them to: info@vfpress.news. If you’re in the Zoom you’ll also be able to post your questions in the chat.

Here are our list of guests:

§ § §

Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia Connie Riales, Proviso community leader Gay Chase, former judge Ray Williams, SEIU organizer Rose Ocampo, Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership Eira Sepulveda, Democratic candidate for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Ivoryana Neals, Justice Troopers Shettima Webb, Model Esteem Moderator: Michael Romain, Village Free Press

Voting 101 (the basics) § What are some of the basics that first-time voters need to know before heading to the polls? § What’s mail-in voting? Is it different from absentee voting? § Can people bring in information (i.e., voter guides) into the polling booths with them? § Can felons vote? § How can people stay safe at the polls? § Any new technology that’s being rolled out that in-person voters might expect to see at the polls? § What are some safeguards that governments are taking to protect people who want to vote in person?

§ How is Cook County preparing to safeguard mail-in ballots? § Do we have an adequate number of poll workers? Do we need more? § How can senior citizens, in particular, vote safely? § Dropping off ballots. § Providing transportation to seniors who need it.

§ Should Latinx residents be concerned about voting due to fears related to deportation threats? § Are you both concerned about Latinx voters showing up to vote? Are they disenchanted with the political process or engaged with the process? § Has either political party made sure that Latinx voters have easy access to the polls?

What’s on the ballot? § Where can I get a sample ballot? § What is the Fair Tax? How will it affect me as a taxpayer? § Local referenda: § Northlake § Stone Park § County races contested (i.e., Cook County State’s Attorney’s race, I.e.). § Why is it important to look closely into the judges on the ballot before casting my vote for any of them? How do those judges affect me on a daily basis? § What are resources to evaluate judges?

Voter suppression, young voters and political apathy § Do voters in Illinois have anything to fear about reports of possible voter suppression tactics by politicians? § What if my ballot is challenged? § What are poll watchers? § What are some alarming signs I should be looking for at the polling site? § If I see something suspicious at my polling site or have questions about voting, who should I call? § Are you as a young person and/or someone who is not regularly involved in the political process excited to vote this time? If so, why? If not, why not? § What can politicians and other leaders do to get young people more involved in the political process?

Voting, COVID-19 and the Latinx community § Are there any bilingual services at the polls for Latinx residents for whom English is not their first language? If they need interpreters, can those people accompany them to the polls?

CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

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Village Free Press | October 14, 2020

SHAKESPEARE General Contracting

New Maywood clothing store opens doors with a bang

Community celebrated ribbon-cutting of Goddess Accessories on Oct. 10

By SHANEL ROMAIN Contributor

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

On Oct. 10, Maywood village officials and community members gathered outside of Goddess Accessories, 709 S. 5th Ave. in Maywood, to celebrate the grand opening of one of the village’s newest fashion stores.

Zenitra Dunning, who owns Goddess Accessories, said that her brick-and-mortar enterprises — which has clothing and accessories for men and women — stems from a deep motivation she has to inspire other women.

“I was working full-time and doing this part-time for three years,” she said. “I had an online boutique. But I got laid in November 2018 and then the pandemic hit.

I started focusing on this and realized that this is what I wanted to do. I life uplifting other women.”

Dunning said her goal “is to help other women build self-confidence. I like when women come in here and don’t want to leave.”

Dunning, a graduate of Proviso East who

grew up in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, said that she’s been creative since she was a child.

“I actually started off in the music industry, but I’ve liked to dress since high school,” she said. “Growing up, my mother gave me all kinds of nicknames like Lola Falana and Cyndi Lauper, because I was always dressing weird.”

Dunning said that while operating her online boutique, too many people were coming to her house to pick up orders.

“So, I was like, ‘OK, I gotta open a shop.

And I just went from there.”

Marilyn White, who has shopped with Dunning for at least three years, was on hand Saturday to show her support and peruse the new store.

“She’s amazing and we love her,” White said, referencing Dunning. “And God is gonna take her to heights she’s never seen before. I bought pieces for everybody for Christmas from her.”

“Zenitra is my cousin and I’ve been watching her grind selling her accessories,” said Tyrise Cavanaugh. “I try to support her.

She has always been a fashionista and very beautiful, very goal-oriented. She’s a beast, for lack of a better phrase. She’s very strong.

Whatever she wants to do, she accomplishes it.”

CONTACT: thevillagefreepress@gmail.com

FRESH OPENING: Zenitra Dunning, third from left, along with Maywood officials, including Mayor Edwenna Perkins, second from left, during the grand opening of her new clothing and accessories store in Maywood.

Shanel Romain

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Village Free Press | October 14, 2020

PUBLIC REAL ESTATE NOTICES FOR SALE BID NOTICE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Memorial Park District, Bellwood, Illinois that sealed bid proposals will be received for the following Project: “EISENHOWER PARK IMPROVEMENTS”

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR TOWD POINT MASTER FUNDING TRUST 2018-PM16 Plaintiff, vs.

GRADY RIVERS AKA GRADY A. RIVERS, JR.; GLENDA L. RIVERS AKA GLENDA RIVERS; Defendants, 18 CH 11332 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, November 16, 2020 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-11-317-010-0000.

Commonly known as 406 South 7th Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a multi-family residence.

The successful purchaser is entitled to possession of the property only. The purchaser may only obtain possession of units within the multiunit property occupied by individuals named in the order of possession.

Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 18-034750 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3157667

Sealed bid proposals will be received up to l1:00 A.M. on Wednesday, October 28th, 2020 in the Park District Administrative Office at Stevenson Park Center located at 3101 Washington Boulevard, Bellwood, Illinois. All bids submitted shall be identified “Eisenhower Park Improvements.” All sealed bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time in the Stevenson Park Center.

The scope of work of the Project includes furnishing all materials, labor, and equipment to construct a tennis courts, a shared-use path, fitness equipment concrete pads, tree planting and regrading adjacent areas for drainage purposes in accordance with the bidding specifications.

Specifications, Bid Proposals, and Plans for this project are available from the office of Edwin Hancock Engineering, located at 9933 Roosevelt Road, Westchester, Illinois, upon payment of the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50.00), which is not refundable. The Director and/or Engineer have been authorized to refuse to issue plans, specifications and proposals to any person, firm, or corporation that he considers to be unqualified.

Bid proposals must be submitted on the forms provided. No bidding documents will be issued after 4:00 P.M. on Monday, October 26th, 2020.

All bidder must provide proof that they are prequalified with the Illinois Department of Transportation to perform the work before being issued bidding documents.

This project is being financed, in part, with funds from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, “Open Space Lands Acquisition & Development” (OSLAD) grant program.

The Memorial Park District strongly encourages minority business firms to submit bids, and also encourages the successful bidder to utilize and employ minority businesses and persons for supplies, equipment, services, and construction.

All bid proposals must be accompanied by a bid bond, cashier’s check, or certified check payable to the Memorial Park District in an amount not less than Ten Percent (10%) of the total amount of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid proposal is accepted, a contract will be entered into and the performance of the contract properly secured. No bid proposal shall be considered unless accompanied by such bid bond or check.

A payment bond and a performance bond in the amount of One Hundred Percent (100%) of the contract price will be required from the successful bidder to guarantee the full performance of the contract. The Memorial Park District reserves the right to determine the lowest responsible bidder, to waive irregularities, and to reject any or all bid proposals.

BY ORDER OF MEMORIAL PARK DISTRICT Mari Herrell, Board Secretary Published in Village Free Press 10/14/2020

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

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

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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?

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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.

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

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Village Free Press | October 14, 2020

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