Village Free Press_102021

Vol. V No. 42 Berkeley library poised for improvements, PAGE 4

After D209 suspends live-stream, residents step in

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SHANEL ROMAIN

By MICHAEL ROMAIN

A remembrance of the Panthers at Maywood’s Hampton House

Editor

See COOPERATIVE on page 9

Meet the Bears’ new chaplain, PAGE 5

Young people enjoy a train ride during Autumnfest, the two-day event hosted by the villages of Berkeley and Hillside on the Prairie Path on Oct. 17. See more photos of Autumnfest on page 2.

The Proviso 209 Cooperative launched after D209 board President Rodney Alexander suspended practice of livestreaming meetings The District 209 school board president’s decision to stop live-streaming and recording board meetings may have backfired into a burgeoning grassroots movement that so far has taken the form of a closed Facebook group, an online petition and a call for volunteers to fill the information void that decision has created.

Kathleen Franzwa, the parent of a Proviso Math and Science Academy student, was inside of her Westchester home preparing to watch the Oct. 12 District 209 school board meeting on her laptop, when she got a text from her husband.

“My husband was at the meeting and I was home with the kids and he started texting me

OCTOBER 20, 2021

Unveiled projects meant to realize Panthers’ legacy

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

On Oct. 15, dozens of community members gathered outside the childhood home of Illinois Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton, 804 S. 17th Ave. in Maywood, to mark the 55th anniversary of the revolu-

tionary party’s founding.

The Friday event wasn’t merely a commemoration, said Hampton’s son, Black Panther Cub Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. The day was an exercise in realizing Hampton’s and the Black Panther Party’s legacies of bottom-up activism rooted in community.

“A hero does something and you say, ‘Wow,’ but you can’t emulate it,” Hampton Jr. said. “These brothers and sisters came from our community and transcended geo-

graphical, gender and generational lines.”

On Friday, Hampton Jr., along with his mother, Mother Akua Njeri, gathered to unveil and dedicate a new People’s Bench, an official Little Free Library, an improved “Feed Em’ All Community Fridge” and a Little Free Pantry. They also unveiled original artwork created from the original Hampton Family Bench.

The projects were the result of a collaboSee HAMPTON HOUSE on page 3

It’s never too early to start saving.

Help your kids build smart habits, and they’ll earn interest on every dollar.

Get $10 when you open an account!

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Proviso Community Bank is a branch of Hinsdale Bank & Trust Company, N.A. Junior Savers Club. Membership is for those under the age of 22 with a customer relationship. See a personal banker for more details. 1. Junior Savers Account Bonus Information. This Junior Savers account bonus offer is valid for new accounts opened January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. This Junior Savers account bonus offer is not available to active employees of Wintrust Financial Corporation (‘WTFC’) and its subsidiaries. Multiple Junior Savers accounts opened and titled in the same name, will only qualify for 1 bonus payment. Your new account must be open, in the same product, and have a balance greater than zero to receive the bonus payment. Balance is determined as of the end of each Business Day as the funds currently in your account including deposits and withdrawals made in the Business Day. The $10.00 bonus payment is subject to IRS 1099-INT reporting and may be considered income for tax purposes for the tax year in which the bonus was paid. 2. Junior Savers Account. At account opening, child(ren) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and present a valid Social Security number(s). BANKER INSTRUCTIONS: Enter offer code WFC00DMJS010 during account opening. A listing of WTFC locations can be found here: https://www.wintrust.com/locations.html.

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

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Village Free Press | October 20, 2021

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

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

An evening of good food, good wine and conversation On Oct. 9, Maywood resident Nichole Black transformed her backyard into an upscale dining experience you’re more likely to see on the Gold Coast than in Proviso Township.

The occasion was Black’s debut wine tasting, an intimate evening with friends the burgeoning and

taste-maker plans on continuing each month by invitation only.

The menu on Oct. 9 included Black Girl Magic Wines, hors d’oeuvres, a charcuterie board, lamb, mashed potatoes and asparagus. You can follow Black on her lifestyle blog at: https://nicholeblack.godaddysites.com/.

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

Autumnfest on the Prairie Path On Oct. 16 and Oct. 17, community members converged on the Prairie Path near Taft and Electric avenues for the annual Autumnfest hosted by the villages of Berkeley and Hillside. There

was good music, good food and some interesting pets.

Photos by Shanel Romain

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Village Free Press | October 20, 2021

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HAMPTON HOUSE

Self-empowerment in action from page 1 ration between eight different local community organizations across Proviso Township and Berwyn.

Their collective goal is to transform the Hampton House into a space “to teach young people as well as adults about the legacy of Fred Hampton, the Hampton family as well as the significance of this space and what it means to Maywood, Proviso Township and to American history,” according to a statement released ahead of the event.

“When you show up to a Black Panther Party Cubs event, you’re going to see a rainbow coalition,” said Randall McFarland, the founder of Best of Proviso Township, one of the partner organizations.

McFarland said Emanuel Lutheran Church in Hillside teamed up with a partner organization to stock the free food pantry outside of Hampton’s boyhood home. The pantry, he said, will be stocked with non-perishable food items.

Benjamin Henning, a community organizer with the community group Engaged Berwyn, said his group was involved in creating the new artwork out of the original Hampton Family Bench and helping to restore the new bench. They also installed the Little Free Library, he said.

RIBBON-CUTTING: Black Panther Party Cub Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. (shown speaking in the black jacket) and Mother Akua Njeri (show seated to his right) during Friday’s dedication outside of the Hampton House in Maywood. The event marked the unveiling of a variety of community projects, including the free refrigerator outside of the Hampton House.

Paul Goyette

Oak Park activist Anthony Clark, whose Suburban Unity Alliance was responsible for partnering with Hampton Jr. on the free community refrigerator setup outside of the Hampton House, called for community members to channel the legacy of Hampton Sr. and the Black Panther Party.

That legacy dates back to Oct. 15, 1966, when Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seal formed the Black Panther Party for Self

Defense in Oakland, California, in response to rampant and unchecked police brutality.

With virtually no recourse or government intervention to count on, they took matters into their own hands and became their own advocates and protectors.

“I thank my parents for truly teaching me what our school systems are not,” Clark said. “When I reached out to the Chairman about the fridge, he said, ‘Right on. Let’s do

it.’ We cannot wait on anybody else to do the work we can do for ourselves. We truly can’t.”

Maywood Mayor Nathaniel George Booker said he has had conversations with Congressman Danny K. Davis (7th), who was also in attendance on Friday, about ways of preserving the legacy of Hampton and the Panthers.

“Since becoming mayor there have been multiple conversations we’ve been having … about the preservation of the house, the revitalization of the pool space and working on a cultural arts facility that can help with our youth,” he said.

“Wauconda is [a town] in [Illinois],” Hampton Jr. said. “They’re booming [because of the film “Black Panther”] … You’ve got living, real history right here! … Let the world know. Geographically Maywood is small, but politically it’s a giant.”

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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Village Free Press | October 20, 2021

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Berkeley library poised for major improvements

Library officials planning Oct. 30 public meeting to talk about the upcoming enhancements

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Officials with the Berkeley Public Library, 1637 Taft Ave. in Berkeley, are preparing for the first modernization effort in the institution’s history.

During an interview on Oct. 14, Ryan Cox, the library’s director, said the effort is part of the five-year plan that runs from 2019 through 2024.

Cox said the library tapped Itasca-based Williams Architects to conduct a condition assessment. The architects found that the 50-year-old building is structurally sound, so demolition won’t be needed.

But there are plans to make the library more accessible, particularly for people with disabilities. First phase improvement projects are estimated to cost around $190,000 and may include lowering the library’s main service desk, widening bathroom doors and installing an entry into the library right off of the building’s parking lot, among others.

Cox said the first phase improvements are

already funded thanks, in part, to a $50,000 state grant. The money will come from the library’s general fund, said Isabel LaBarbera, the library’s assistant director.

Cox and LaBarbera said the preliminary cost estimate for all five phases of capital improvements is around $3.2 million.

Library officials will host an informational session at the library on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Residents will be able to hear library staffers, trustee members and Williams Architects representatives speak about the upcoming changes and provide more details on the remodeling process.

They’ll also be able to ask questions about the capital improvements.

Cox and LaBarbera said library officials plan to address community needs in a way that has the least fiscal impact. They said the COVID-19 pandemic really brought some of those needs into focus.

Cox said the pandemic particularly highlighted the number of people in Berkeley who don’t have cars or aren’t comfortable driving or being in public.

“We’ve had a homebound delivery system for years and it was very infrequently used, but COVID forced us to reevaluate that and reach out to patrons telling them that this is a service we have,” Cox said.

“We don’t have one of those drive-up windows where people can just drop off, which was something that was really felt in the

community — not having the ability to just drop and go,” LaBarbera said. “So, we added a book drop to cover [that need] temporarily to the best of our ability, but I think that’s going to be looked at, too, once the construction happens.”

Broadband access was another need Cox and LeBarbera said they noticed during the pandemic.

“We had kids working remotely for school for that period of time and maybe they don’t have broadband internet at home,” Cox CHANGES AHEAD: A patron inside of the Berkeley Public said. “There were many Library in Berkeley on Oct. 14. mornings when we were Michael Romain still in the thick of the pandemic, when many cars would be in the parking lot hoping to catch the modernization effort.

Cox and Andy Tokin, of Williams Archia WiFi signal.”

LaBarbera said library officials respond- tects, presented the library’s renovation ed by moving the building’s WiFi closer to plans to the Berkeley village board on July the windows and doubling up on the num- 20. During the meeting, Berkeley Mayor ber of hotspots available for patrons to Robert Lee said the library’s renovation efcheck out, so “people would have technology forts will have his support.

For more information on the Berkeley at home.”

Still, she said, the 50-year-0ld building Public Library, visit www.berkeleypl.org/. isn’t wired for the 21st century — something CONTACT: info@vfpress.news library officials are looking to address with

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Village Free Press | October 20, 2021

Proviso pastor now Bears team chaplain to impact influencers. ‘Open the door Lord and I’ll show you what I’ll do with it.’ I wanted to impact people who impact the world.”

In 2008, Anthony Johnson, a former NFL player and longtime team chaplain for the Jacksonville Jaguars, told ESPN that the job of chaplain is rather all-encompassing.

There’s holding chapel during training camp and before games, one-on-one counselBy MICHAEL ROMAIN ing and Bible study, among other responsiEditor bilities.

The Chicago Bears’ newest team chaplain “We’re also available for pastoral care — pastors right here in Proviso Township. baptisms, wedding preparations, deaths,” Rev. Teddy Matthews, the pastor of EmJohnson told ESPN. powerment Church — which worships virMore than a decade later, Johnson’s detually and also holds services at Thurgood scription of the job pretty much mirrors the Marshall Elementary School, 2501 Oak St. in experience that Matthews shared. He said as Bellwood — accepted the position in July. He the team’s made the anonly chapnouncement lain he’s on on his social call 24/7. media ac“I travel counts while by request he was at and I’m Halas Hall, with them the Bears’ twice a Lake Forest week every training faweek,” Matcility. thews said.

“My expe“It’s like a rience has church, but been great,” I balance it Matthews in that what said during I do with an interthe Bears view on Oct. is an exten10. “I get to sion of my see what ministry eve r y b o dy HIS TIME, HIS TEAM: Rev. Teddy Matthews at the stadium — not an adelse doesn’t dedication of the new football field at Proviso East on Oct. dition to it. get to see. I 10.

I gained 63 get to work Michael Romain new memwith the bers, plus husband, staffers.” the son, the brother — the man nobody takes Matthews said he had to tighten up the into consideration off the field.” staffing infrastructure at Empowerment Matthews said that when he’s often asked and make sure he has a tight grip on a schedhow he landed the plum position, he has a ule that’s a lot busier these days. The pastor simple answer. said the work is well worth the effort.

“A common question I’m being asked is, “I can’t believe I have the opportunity to ‘How did you do that?’ My answer is, God minister to people with that level of impact opened the door for me.’ I was recommendand influence,” he said. “That they trust the ed to them,” the pastor said. “I don’t know a voice of God through me to lead them — I traditional path. God opened the door.” am still in awe of that. I serve the organizaMatthews said he wasn’t even much of a tion — coaching staff, players, anybody and football fan before becoming the team’s new everybody who needs me.” spiritual leader. He added that he knows Matthews said he wouldn’t be able to do former Bears team chaplain Rev. Jonathan his new job if his Empowerment leadership Wilkins, who was chaplain for several years team hadn’t stepped up. before the pandemic (and who publicly con“I have to give them major credit,” he said. gratulated Matthews on social media). Be“It speaks to the leadership we have and our yond that, Matthews said, the best explanapeople. Empowerment was never about me tion is divine. and my personality. Even the work I do with “I’m a basketball guy. That’s how you the Bears isn’t about me. I’m a channel.” know this is a God thing. I wasn’t looking CONTACT: info@vfpress.news for this. I wasn’t praying specifically for

Rev. Teddy Matthews, the pastor of Empowerment Church, has been in the position since July

this. I had been praying for an opportunity

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Village Free Press | October 20, 2021

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Village Free Press | October 20, 2021

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Home of Percy Julian, former Maywood resident, in jeopardy Percy Julian’s daughter has started a GoFundMe to raise funds to save famous scientist’s Oak Park home from next year’s tax sale

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

The Oak Park home of famous chemist Dr. Percy Julian, who lived in Maywood before moving to the suburb a little further east in the early 1950s, is in jeopardy due to back taxes.

Faith Julian, Percy Julian’s daughter, has created a GoFundMe campaign in order to raise money to help pay down the unpaid taxes on her family’s famous home and for other living expenses.

At the time, she said she was led to believe that her home would be included in the annual sale of properties with delinquent taxes that starts on Nov. 5. Julian said she owes about $118,000 in unpaid property taxes on the home. The delinquent taxes are from the 2018, 2019 and 2020 tax years, she said.

On Oct. 1, however, she updated the GoFundMe, announcing that the home will not be included in this year’s tax sale.

MOBILIZING SUPPORT: The historic Oak Park home of famous scientist Percy Julian is in jeopardy due to unpaid property taxes.

File

During an interview on Oct. 12, Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar confirmed that his office helped Julian file for a disability exemption in March 2020, which also included the 2018 tax year.

By law, if a certificate of error exists for a designated year, then the county treasurer must remove the property from the sale. A list of properties in Oak Park Township scheduled to be on the upcoming tax sale did not

include the Julian home.

“This is just buying time,” ElSaffar said, adding that the Julian house will likely go to tax sale in May 2022, when the tax sale for delinquent 2019 taxes will be held.

“But that doesn’t mean she’ll lose her house in May 2022,” ElSaffar said. “For owner-occupied homes, there are a lot of protections. The house probably wouldn’t be sold to a tax buyer for two-and-a-half years after May 2022.”

During that period, ElSaffar said, Julian will have the opportunity to redeem the taxes on the home, but that won’t come without additional costs.

“The longer it takes [for Julian to redeem the taxes], the more interest, charges and fees,” the assessor said.

In an interview on Oct. 11, Julian said she’s doing everything she can to avoid the May 2022 tax sale.

“I certainly don’t want to have to pay somebody [very high] interest to buy my house back,” she said. “I’ve reached out to a lot of organizations and I have some friends reaching out for me to different organizations, but nothing has come of that yet.”

As of Oct. 18, Julian had raised roughly $18,000 of her $1.2 million goal, which includes not only the amount required to pay down the taxes, but also funds needed for home repairs and medical expenses accumulated after suffering a decline in her health in 2017.

The Julians were among the first Blacks

to integrate Oak Park, when they purchased their East Avenue home in the village in 1950.

Shortly after they purchased the home, there were two attempts to set it on fire. Dr. Julian, however, refused to move.

During an interview earlier this month, Faith reflected on her time growing up in Maywood before moving to Oak Park.

“Back then, Maywood was pretty well integrated,” she said. “Our next door neighbors were white, the people across the street were Italian. It was an integrated neighborhood, but I had issues with racism even in Maywood back then.”

Faith recalled an incident when she was around 5 years old. She said an elderly woman, the grandmother of a white friend of hers, called her a n—. The racist moment, however, paled in comparison to what she would experience in Oak Park Faith said, adding that her family fought hard to remain in the village she now calls home. Years later, she’s still fighting to remain, albeit for different reasons.

“I know that my parents — they’d be turning over in their graves at the thought of this house going up for tax sale,” Julian said, during a phone interview with Wednesday Journal in September.

To access the GoFundMe online, visit: https://bit.ly/3ibgbcI. CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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Village Free Press | October 20, 2021

Community assists Melrose Park family after fire

Resugio Torres may have saved lives during Oct. 16 fire, now community members are helping him out

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Resugio Torres, 42, was sleeping at around midnight on Thursday inside of his apartment on the 100 block of North 13th Avenue in Melrose Park, when he smelled smoke.

The married father of four children who attend Lincoln Elementary School in Maywood said he looked out of the window and saw flames in the reflection of parked cars.

That’s when he leapt into action.

“I went knocking on all of the doors and screaming for people in the building to come out,” Torres said.

Torres may have saved lives.

On Oct. 16, a woman stood outside of the apartment complex. She said she lived in the third-floor unit where the fire originated. She said she and her boyfriend were having a dispute when she heard Torres knocking.

Both Torres and the woman said no one was injured during the fire, but multiple families, including the Torres family, are now displaced. A representative with the Melrose Park Fire Department could not provide comment on the fire when reached on Saturday afternoon.

When Rose Ocampo, a family liaison at Lincoln, heard about the Torres family’s sit-

MOVEMENT

Groundswell developing from page 9 and alumni were heard during those town hall meetings.”

After the public comments, Alexander apologized for his conduct during the meeting.

“We’re all human,” he said. “If you had to endure personal attacks without people getting to know you while you attempt to serve and do your best — it would be a bit much.”

During an interview the following day, Alexander said as long as he’s board presi-

dent, he’ll use his authority to discontinue the recordings of both regular board meetings and board committee meetings in what he described as an effort to get them under control.

“That was not the community that was represented last night,” he said. “That was a concerted, planned effort. Those were teachers from the union. They’re always disrespectful to us.”

“They just believe they can come and air their union concerns and try to embarrass and hurt us. People have a right to speak, we’re just going to keep asking for some decency and respect in the district,” he said.

Alexander addressed the complaints about fighting and disrespectful behavior at East, which have been echoed by other teachers who have spoken with this publica-

tion about their experiences. They requested anonymity out of fear of retribution.

“They said that when Dr. Hardy was here,” Alexander said, of the safety concerns.

“Change is hard. We were out of school for a whole year. What do you think these students are going to do? Nobody is the same, so we have had to give our students a chance to readjust. We have two classes of students who have not been adjusted to the high school environment [due to the pandemic].”

Alexander said that 12 security guards at East “should realistically be enough. What are we saying? We need more? We shouldn’t have to hire more security. Parents control your children. Teach your children how to behave.”

The board president said he has no plans to host the town hall meetings that were

uation she, too, leapt into action.

“I called the school clerk to see if there was a family in need and learned that the Torres family had to stay in a hotel last night,” Ocampo said on Oct. 15.

“They’re in a tough situation,” she added.

“The kids don’t have uniforms or book bags.

I reached out to the community first and got a very good response. Community members found clothes, book bags and gym shoes.”

When Ocampo learned that people wanted to give cash donations, she asked the Torres family if she could start a GoFundMe campaign. The family agreed and, as of Oct. 16, the campaign has garnered $500 of its $5,000 goal.

Torres said he learned about what Ocampo and other community members were doing for his family while making a Facebook Live video.

“I was talking about Jesus and why this happened and how there’s nothing God can give you that you cannot bear,” Torres said.

“That’s when my wife called and said someone from the school will help us. I felt such relief.”

The Torres’ four kids are 6, 7, 8 and 10.

Anyone seeking to donate can drop off items at Lincoln Elementary School, 811 Chicago Ave. in Maywood. The following are shoe and clothing sizes for the children: 6-year-old (5-6 shoes, 12 boy); 7-year-old (708 shoes, 2 boy); 8-year-old (7-8 shoes, 13 girl); 10-year-old (10-12 shoes, 2 1/2).

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

requested at Tuesday’s board meeting, but said “if there’s a desire of the people” to have the district’s long standing practice of live-streaming meetings reinstated, he’ll reconsider.

“If there is a concerted desire by the community at large to have these meetings recorded, they should let us know,” he said.

“Email and let us know.”

This is Alexander’s last year serving as board president. His term ends in April.

Since 2017, it’s been a courtesy of the board to allow presidents to serve two years, which Alexander said he plans to do — albeit with reservations.

“I would step down now, if I could,” Alexander said. “It’s a bit much. I don’t want it.”

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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Village Free Press | October 20, 2021

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D209 board prez stops live-streaming meetings

Board President Rodney Alexander says he’ll stop recordings as long as he’s board president

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Since 2017, the District 209 school board has live-streamed its regular board meetings. On Tuesday night, however, that practice came to an abrupt and chaotic halt.

District 209 board President Rodney Alexander said he and D209 Supt. James Henderson made the decision to not record the Oct. 12 regular meeting—a decision that Alexander said will stand as long as he’s president of the board.

“We don’t by law have to record at all,” Alexander said during an interview on Oct. 13. “The superintendent and I are responsible for setting up the meetings. We knew the crowd was coming. We knew that the teachers union was putting together these theatrics or whatever.”

During Tuesday’s meeting, a crowd of several dozen people lodged a variety of complaints about the school board and administration that ranged the gamut — from an

COOPERATIVE

New Facebook group forms from page 1 saying that he didn’t see any cameras setup,” Franzwa recalled. “A couple more people at the meeting were texting me telling me cameras were not set up and we were alarmed.”

So Forest Park business owner and community advocate Connie Brown tapped Jordan Kuehn, another well-known community member involved in D209 issues, to live-stream the meeting onto the page of a Facebook group that Franzwa created that night.

That’s how the Proviso 209 Cooperative was launched. A week into its existence, the closed Facebook group already has more than 450 members and counting.

“There are so many people across the district impassioned about our schools over this issue and many others,” Brown said, before emphasizing that she’s played a very minor supporting role in the Proviso 209 Cooperative. “The organic groundswell of interest is amazing to watch. When people pay attention and get involved for the greater good of our schools, incredible growth happens.”

Jenny Barbahen, a D209 parent who administers the group with Franzwa, said the Proviso 209 Cooperative is also behind a change. org petition created in order to persuade D209 board President Rodney Alexander to immediately resume live-streaming and recording the district’s regular board meetings, commit-

outbreak of regular fights at Proviso East to teachers complaining of working without contracts (the teachers’ union and the district are currently in the middle of contract negotiations) to a lack of transparency.

Since the district did not live-stream the Oct. 12 board meeting, a resident recorded and uploaded the meeting to the Facebook group, Forest Park Advocate Community.

After learning about Alexander’s decision, some community members have vowed to step in and start recording the meetings themselves.

At one point, the Facebook video shows, the meeting devolved into a shouting match between some board members and audience members, prompting D209 board President Rodney Alexander to recess the meeting before reconvening shortly afterward.

Several students and teachers complained about what they described as an unsafe environment at Proviso East, where fights are now so frequent that they overwhelm the school’s 12 security guards.

“I feel like our school is not safe at all,” said Terry Bowers, a student at East. “There’s about five fights every day. People throw water bottles in the lunchroom. People get hurt every day. There’s this stupid [TikTok] challenge with kids stealing teachers’ stuff.”

Another East student, whose name could not be made out, said extracurricular clubs

at the high school haven’t started due to teachers working without contracts and, echoing Bowers, fights are common.

“Ever since [former Proviso East principal Dr. Patrick Hardy] left, I’ve been seeing more and more fights,” the student said.

“Some of these security guards don’t have relationships with these students. That was the only thing keeping these kids on track and y’all are firing them.”

Other people who commented demanded that the board host more town halls to talk about some of the changes that have happened in the district since the school board voted in February in favor of a series of major administrative realignments proposed

by Supt. Henderson.

Some of those changes included a proposal to bring food and transportation services in-house and to begin the process of outsourcing information technology (IT) services.

Most of the speakers were teachers working without contracts as the union negotiates with the administration.

“I am a teacher working without a contract,” said Carissa Gillespie, who teaches English in the district.

“It was never this bad,” she said, before lambasting what she described as inadequate staffing levels, poor or nonexistent food service and a lack of transparency in

the wake of the superintendent’s realignments.

Gillespie said the changes have been “chaos we are trying to pass off as restructuring,” adding that her “teaching, mental, physical and counseling capabilities are being stretched to the brink.”

Several people who spoke asked that the school board host town hall meetings for community members to provide input about the issues within the district.

Randall McFarland, the founder of Best of Proviso, a local nonprofit, spoke out in favor of more town halls, adding that they were essential to the Facility Master Plan the board developed during the tenure of former superintendent Jesse Rodriguez.

The plan resulted in what has so far been $77 million worth of construction projects, among which the newly constructed football stadium was one.

“When we had the master facility plan, we had town hall meetings,” said McFarland, an East alum and student advocate. “All of us were able to give input. When you stifle input, you stifle greatness. Look at what came out of those master facilities plans.”

McFarland, referencing the new Proviso East football stadium that was dedicated on Sunday, said “to see that field, to see that stadium, I know the ideas of the community

tee meetings and any public forums it hosts.

They’re also calling for volunteers to livestream and possibly even take notes at D209 meetings, as long as Alexander refuses to livestream and record them.

In an interview on Oct. 13, Alexander said that, as board president, he has the authority to suspend live-streaming district meetings — a practice in place since at least 2017. He pointed out that live-streaming meetings is not a legal requirement, adding that he made the decisions to stop the practice because board meetings were getting too disorderly, a reality he blamed on the teachers’ union.

Alexander said he and D209 Supt. James Henderson made a joint decision not to livestream the Oct. 12 meeting, because they knew a crowd would show up at the behest of the teachers’ union. The district is currently in the middle of contract negotiations with the union.

The board president said as long as he’s in charge, he doesn’t plan to resume live-streaming, but that he’ll reconsider his decision if enough community members express a desire to resume the practice.

Barbahen said when they learned that the board president was open to reconsidering his decision, the group figured creating an online petition would be the quickest way to register community concern. As of Oct. 17, the petition had garnered 417 signatures — less than 100 shy of its goal of 500.

Barbahen added that anyone who wants to volunteer to live-stream or take notes at meetings should contact her on Facebook.

Both she and Franzwa said the group’s

ground rules are evolving as it grows. They’ve already added a few requirements for membership. One, no current D209 school board members are allowed to join.

And anyone else who wants to join the group has to explain their relationship to the D209 community, provide their zip code and agree to group rules (no bullying, no hateful or hurtful comments, no promotions or spam, etc.).

Barbahen and Franzwa said the group has plenty of D209 teachers and administrators who are members, but they’re careful to point out that the group is meant to be a modulating force in the often tense dialogues about district issues.

“If anything, we want to show that there is a middle ground,” Barbahen said. “We can be with Supt. Henderson and question the things he’s doing. This is not a group that is picking sides. We just really need transparency.”

The irony that she’s part of creating yet another movement to reform District 209 isn’t lost on Franzwa, who volunteered with Brown and Proviso Together in its infancy.

Brown was one of the driving forces behind the creation of Proviso Together, which evolved from a Facebook group called Forest Parkers For Better Schools created in 2014.

Some members of the group would eventually meet in person at Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor in Forest Park, which Brown owns.

The group is informally known as the Brown Cow 20 and their organizing efforts resulted in the election of board members Claudia Medina and Ned Wagner to the D209 board in 2015. Longtime member Theresa Kelly won

reelection with the Proviso Together slate.

The next year, the board discussed the possibility of live-streaming its meetings, which has become a standard practice in the district ever since.

Eventually, Proviso Together recruited Amanda Grant, Rodney Alexander, Della Patterson and Sam Valtierra to run for board seats. In the 2017 election, all four of them won. What started as a Facebook group had snowballed into a school board supermajority.

Now, four years later, Franzwa is feeling déjà vu.

“Disappointment is an understatement,” she said. “I worked really hard to campaign for these board members in my community, so I am more than disappointed — I’m devastated.”

But Franzwa said starting the fight anew is also invigorating in a sense. She’s still friends with some of the pivotal Proviso Together players, such as Brown and Smith, who along with Medina and Wagner have indicated that they’re against Alexander’s decision to suspend live-streaming.

Franzwa said she often relies on Brown for advice and support. She’s also become more connected to the many teachers, students and parents in the district who are trying to make a difference, she said.

“I’m a little overwhelmed, because we have to start over, but I’m also optimistic,” Franzwa said. “If we did it once, we can do it again.”

See MOVEMENT on page 8

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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Village Free Press | October 20, 2021

OCTOBER 20-26

Big Week tions. If your bag has not been picked up by 1 p.m., please email: cspack73@gmail.com.

Food contributions will be distributed to Westchester area food pantries, including the Westchester Food Pantry and St. Vincent De Paul. Used eyeglasses will be distributed

by Lions Club International to people in developing countries. Old US flags will be respectfully retired by the Scouts.

There’s a lot happening in Proviso Township this week. Here’s a small list of family friendly events taking place near you. If you’d like to add an event to Big Week, email us at: info@vfpress.news.

Enjoy Proviso East’s homecoming On Saturday, Oct. 23, 9 a.m., Proviso East High School, 807 S. 1st Ave. in Maywood, will kick off its homecoming parade. And at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., the high school’s sophomore and varsity football teams will play their very first homecoming games in the new Theresa L. Kelly Stadium. What’s more, the games will be against cross-town rival Proviso West, making the games the first cross-town clashes to happen at the new stadium.

Those interested in participating in the homecoming parade should go online at https://bit.ly/EastParade21, complete the form and return it to the school by noon on Thursday, Oct. 21.

Attend the ribbon-cutting for Maywood’s Peace Garden murals

Participate in a Scout donation drive On Saturday, Oct. 23, 9 a.m., Westchester Community Church Boy Scouts Pack 73 and Troop 73 will be going around Westchester to collect non-perishable grocery/food items (i.e., baking mixes, canned food, cereal, etc.) and personal care items (i.e., tooth brushes, paper products, etc.), as well as used eyeglasses and old US flags.

A Scout will be by to pick up your dona-

On Sunday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Peace Garden on 17th Avenue and Madison Street in Maywood, Barbara Cole and Maywood Youth Mentoring will host the ribbon-cutting for the Peace Garden murals.

Engage in Halloween crafts at area libraries October’s craft kit for kids at the Berkeley Public Library, 1637 N. Taft Ave. in Berkeley, is slime. Stop by the library this month to get a kit for your kid(s). Each kit contains a jar, premixed glue and water, stickers, in-

structions and activator. Supplies are limited, so pick one up or call and ask about homebound delivery today. For more info, call the library at (708) 544-6017.

Meanwhile, the Maywood Public Library, 121 S. 5th Ave. in Maywood, will host the last of its Crafty Afternoons for the month of October on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 4:30 p.m.

Come to the library and enjoy Halloween Night Lights. Participate limit is 15 and registration is required. To register, call (708) 343-1847. You can also visit: maywoodlibrary. org/happeningnow.

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

Living Word now operating Living Fresh Market Former owner Ken Casaccio confirmed Oct. 11 that the Roosevelt Road store was sold to the megachurch

By ANDY VIANO Forest Park Review

Living Word Church has entered the grocery business.

Living Fresh Market’s now-former co-owner Ken Casaccio confirmed on Oct. 11 that he and his partners have sold the eastern anchor store at Forest Park Plaza, 7600 Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park, to its landlord, Living Word Christian Center, in a deal that closed Friday, Oct. 8.

Melody Winston, the daughter of Living Word founder Rev. Bill Winston, was traveling but confirmed the transaction in an email.

“Yes, the rumor is true,” Winston wrote.

“Forest Park Plaza has a new grocery tenant run by new management. More details to come as this store is currently making its transition.”

The store was open for business on Oct. 11 with mostly full shelves and modest inconveniences, notably the inability to process electronic benefit transfer (EBT) transac-

tions or sell alcohol. A sign on the front door said a still-processing liquor license was to blame for the store’s roped-off liquor section.

Mayor Rory Hoskins said the church could rebrand the location in the coming months and that the now-owners have already applied for a liquor license in order to resume alcohol sales. Those licenses do not automatically transfer between owners.

Self-described supermarket consultant Joseph Welsh said he has been brought in by church leaders to oversee the newly formed business.

“We’ve got a transition phase that we’re undergoing,” Welsh said. “We’re going to be in transition for a while, a few weeks at least, and then the shelves will start to replenish.

We have a new supplier and we should have the store in good shape by the holidays.”

Welsh said he had been consulting with Living Word for “a couple months” before taking the keys Friday. He declined further comment on any future plans for the location.

Living Word, the Forest Park megachurch founded by Rev. Winston, acquired the Forest Park Plaza shopping center in the 75007600 block of Roosevelt Road in 1998. The multi-acre property includes the church itself, a handful of church-affiliated businesses and several commercial tenants.

The 70,000-plus square foot Living Fresh Market location at 7520 Roosevelt Road was occupied by a different grocery brand, Ultra Foods, until 2017 when Ultra’s parent company, Strack & Van Til, filed for bankruptcy.

Living Fresh Market’s arrival and a partnership with the Casaccio brothers, who also own Chicago’s Leamington Foods under a separate LLC, was heralded as a “new beginning” for the location by former mayor Anthony Calderone when it opened in May 2018.

Casaccio, speaking from one of Leamington Foods’ locations Monday, declined to comment in detail on the sale, directing questions to the church.

“I would let them answer that question,” he said when asked why the business was sold. “The church was very good and we’re willing to help them any way we can.”

Melody Winston had previously expressed hope for a long-term partnership between the church, the Casaccio brothers and the village.

“We knew what you needed and as a landlord, we like to give something to the community of substance,” she said at the store’s 2018 ribbon-cutting ceremony. “In naming this grocery store Living Fresh Market, they intentionally wanted it to live and go on for generations and generations and genera-

tions, as they have in the past.”

Living Fresh Market is located less than a mile from Forest Park’s Walmart Supercenter, which offers an array of grocery and produce offerings, something that Hoskins speculated could have made operating the Living Fresh store more challenging.

Hoskins said despite any possible overlap, he and the village would support the new Living Fresh Market as much as possible.

“We want to see every store succeed and the village tries to cut red tape and work with operators,” Hoskins said. “We pull for all of our businesses.”

Forest Park Plaza’s other anchor location has been empty since late 2018 when Home Owners Bargain Outlet (HOBO) exited the storefront at 7630 Roosevelt Road after less than a year. The Cook County Department of Public Health used the site as a major COVID-19 vaccination clinic this spring.

The Winstons and Living Word have multiple business and real estate holdings in addition to their ministry, including the Joseph Business School and Royal Christian Bookstore and Cafe within Forest Park Plaza. Living Word also owns a 13-acre mall in Bill Winston’s hometown of Tuskegee, Alabama, and a fixed-based airfield operation, flight school and museum under the name Golden Eagle Aviation, also in Tuskegee.

CONTACT: info@vfpress.news

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PUBLIC REAL ESTATE NOTICES FOR SALE PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y21007893 on September 28, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of UNRECOGNIZABLE FIT with the business located at: 2109 S 21ST AVE, BROADVIEW, IL 60155.

The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: JADA WATTS, 2109 S 21ST AVE, BROADVIEW, IL 60155, USA. Published in Village Free Press October 6, 13 and 20, 2021

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION Plaintiff, -v.SANDRA A. SIMONETTI TRUST NO. 1 U/T/A DATED 11/1/2013 A/K/A THE SANDRA A. SIMONETTI TRUST NO. 1, PERFORMANCE CREDIT CORPORATION, MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., UNKNOWN SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF THE SANDRA A. SIMONETTI TRUST NO. 1 U/T/A DATED 11/1/2013 A/K/A THE SANDRA A. SIMONETTI TRUST NO. 1, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2021CH01087 3301 MONROE ST BELLWOOD, IL 60104 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on September 29, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 23, 2021, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 3301 MONROE ST, BELLWOOD, IL 60104 Property Index No. 15-16-104-0200000 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

Village Free Press | October 20, 2021

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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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. 14-21-00638 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2021CH01087 TJSC#: 41-1762 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 # 2021CH01087 I3178757

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR SECURITIZED ASSET BACKED RECEIVABLES LLC TRUST 2007-BR2, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-BR2 Plaintiff, -v.JOHN LYDON, APPOINTED AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR RAYMOND PREWITT (DECEASED), LINDA JOHNSON, DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR SECURITIZED ASSET BACKED RECEIVABLES LLC TRUST 2007-BR2, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-BR2, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF RAYMOND PREWITT AND MAUDIE PREWITT, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2019CH01954 458 RICE AVENUE BELLWOOD, IL 60104 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on May 6, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 16, 2021, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 458 RICE AVENUE, BELLWOOD, IL 60104 Property Index No. 15-09-310-0770000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $122,748.17.

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

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

to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

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

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

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

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

Please refer to file number 309210.

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.

POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610 Chicago IL, 60606 312-263-0003 E-Mail: ilpleadings@potestivolaw. com Attorney File No. 309210 Attorney Code. 43932 Case Number: 2019CH01954 TJSC#: 41-1820 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 # 2019CH01954 I3178653

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION STATE BANK OF TEXAS, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, AS RECEIVER FOR SEAWAY BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, AS RECEIVER FOR FIRST SUBURBAN NATIONAL BANK Plaintiff, -v.CHICAGO TITLE LAND TRUST COMPANY, AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO SEAWAY BANK AND TRUST COMPANY AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO FIRST SUBURBAN NATIONAL BANK, AS TRUSTEE UNDER TRUST AGREEMENT DATED DECEMBER 27, 1996 AND KNOWN AS TRUST NO. 96-8000, CLARENCE MICHAEL REED, A/K/A CLARENCE M. REED, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UNITED STATES SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, UNKNOWN OWNERS, AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 18 CH 9068 2 NORTH 5TH AVENUE MAYWOOD, IL 60153 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to an Agreed Entry of Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on June 25, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 17, 2021, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 2 NORTH 5TH AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153 Property Index No. 15-11-135-0190000 The real estate is improved with a mixed-use commercial / residential property.

The judgment amount was $580,329.12.

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 es-

tate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g1).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, Sandra A. Aguilera and/or Vanessa E. Seiler, ARONBERG GOLDGEHN DAVIS & GARMISA Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 330 N. WABASH AVE., SUITE 1700, Chicago, IL, 60611 (312) 755-3165.

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.

Sandra A. Aguilera (saguilera@agdglaw.com) Vanessa E. Seiler (vseiler@agdglaw.com) ARONBERG GOLDGEHN DAVIS & GARMISA 330 N. WABASH AVE., SUITE 1700 Chicago IL, 60611 312-755-3165 Attorney Code. 30375 Case Number: 18 CH 9068 TJSC#: 41-1662 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.

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