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■ Blue Line upgrades get boost PAGE 4

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Author re-grieves father killed in Austin 40 years ago

Kimbrough adamant she won’t let students or their parents down

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

See BOOK on page 8

Page 7

St. Angela teacher named Big Shoulders Educator of the Year

Alan Austin’s memoir ‘The Long Echo: Re-grieving a Parent Lost in Childhood’ shares how to help kids navigate the death of a loved one Earlier this year, Alan Austin released his first book on the 40th anniversary of his father’s murder in Austin, which occurred when he was 5 years old. Now 45, Austin wrote his memoir, “The Long Echo: Re-grieving a Parent Lost in Childhood,” to tell the story of how, throughout his life, he’s navigated the grief of losing his father. He hopes his memoir will educate adults on how grief affects children who don’t have the words to describe what they’re feeling — and how they can help kids navigate that heartache. Austin was inspired to start writing his memoir last year after watching “The Perfect Neighbor” documentary on Netflix. One scene showed children’s reactions when they found out their mother was dead, and Austin said, “I know exactly what those kids are going through.”

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JESSICA MORDACQ

Alan Austin at New Sound Cafe with his memoir “The Long Echo: Re-grieving a Parent Lost in Childhood” on July 7.

BREAKING

Ariel Kimbrough is fervent in her belief that teachers don’t want to let anybody down. That includes students, of course, especially those in her first-grade classroom at St. Angela’s Catholic School in Austin. But it’s also about their parents. Her approach creates confidence among kids and parents alike, which is one reason she was named a 2026 Impact Educator of the Year award winner from Big Shoulders Fund, which manages St. Angela’s and 37 other high-need schools. She was one of three Chicago-area teachers so awarded in the Big Shoulders Plus network, and received $5,000, plus $500 to dedicate to her classroom. Why does she teach? “The thing that I love about teaching is seeing See TEACHER on page 9

2 Austin Weekly News, July 15, 2026

Star Rock Missionary Baptist Church mourns passing of Pastor JC Marshall Beloved Emeritus Pastor, veteran, and West Side community leader was 89

PROVIDED

Pastor JC Marshall

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Pastor JC Marshall carried the discipline and honor of his military service into every part of his ministry and civic life. He went on to serve as a Chicago Public Schools teacher, including at Orr, Crane, and Westinghouse, and later worked with the United States Postal Service. In that effort he also worked to build a business and invest in the economic life of his neighborhood. Pastor Marshall’s compassion extended deeply into the disability community, where

he was a devoted advocate and caregiver for disabled children and adults, most notably his own son, John Marshall (“Junior”), bringing greater awareness and support to families across the congregation and community facing similar journeys. Pastor Marshall was honored in 2025 as the “Father of the Year” by Cong. Danny Davis. His home going will be on July 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Star Rock church, 4700 W. Rice St.

North Lawndale Restorative Justice Court celebrates latest graduates

who complete a “Repair of Harm AgreeProgram seeks to reduce ment” have any criminal charges dismissed and their record expunged. recidivism, help participants Restorative Justice courts are a prisondiversion program for youth ages 18-26 build productive lives who were charged with non-violent felony

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

The Restorative Justice Community Court in North Lawndale recently celebrated its newest graduates – and the good news is only some could attend in person because they had jobs or schools to attend. The celebration took place July 9. The North Lawndale court is held at United Christian Action Network’s (UCAN) main building, 3605 W. Fillmore St. Graduates

or misdemeanor crimes. The goal is to address any harm the person has done and support both the permeator and any victims of the crime, providing them with resources that put them in a better place. While the program allows youth to avoid prison time, making amends is an important part of the program – and so is helping them get to a place where they can lead stable, productive lives. See RESTORATIVE JUSTICE on page 5

IGOR STUDENKOV

Cook County Judge Timothy Evans, who launched the Restorative Justice Community Courts program when he was Chief Judge, encouraged graduates to become “ambassadors” for the program.

Austin Weekly News, July 15, 2026

AUSTIN WEEKLY

news General Manager Max Reinsdorf Staff Reporter Jessica Mordacq News Intern Emma Bradford

Contributing Editor Donna Greene Senior Audience Manager Stacy Coleman Reporting Partners Block Club Chicago

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Presence of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in West Side targets literacy gap A year into partnering with the ‘Imagination Library,’ Share Our Spare sees positive impact on kids ages 0-5 By EMMA BRADFORD Intern Reporter

After a year of being present in Austin, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is breaking down barriers to education by providing access to early literacy opportunities. The West and South Sides of Chicago have ranked in the top 10 for enrollment in the State of Illinois over the past three months, said S. Mayumi “Umi” Grigsby, the executive director for Share Our Spare. “We’re just growing; that’s a good sign,” she said. Founded 15 years ago by 10 Chicago moms, Share Our Spare started as a mobilization effort to help families in need of baby supplies.

“The idea was very literally, ‘let’s share our spare to give children under five in the Chicagoland area a strong start in life,’ and doing that by providing essentials,” Grigsby said. Essentials like diapers, clothing, gear and toiletries, she said. The two organizations began their partnership in April 2025, when the Imagination Library began seeking more program partners throughout Chicago. “We just saw it as such an easy match,” Grigsby said. Share Our Spare’s mission is to provide children under 5 with essentials, and “essential items for us includes books,” she added. This specific partnership program deliberately targets South and West Side communities, as they have the most barriers to education, Grigsby said. “The reason we decided to focus on the South and West Sides is that we identified those areas as having the greatest need in places where there are book deserts,” she told Austin Weekly News in April at a Milton Lil Rel Howery-led story time. As of May 22, the program serves nearly 7,000 children across 23 zip codes, ac-

cording to internal program data from Share Our Spare, provided by Grigsby in an email. Two of those zip codes are Austin’s very own. These two zip codes are among the 10 primary target zip codes Share Our Spare launched in. The other West Side primary zip codes are 60624 (Garfield Park) and 60623 (North Lawndale/Little Village). “Having books present in the home is an indicator for kindergarten,” Grigsby said. Research shows that 61% of lowincome families report having no books at home, she said. According to NeighborhoodScout/U.S. Census-derived neighborhood analytics provided by Grigsby in an email, 57% of Austin’s population is low-income. “The fact that we know that the most development happens in those first five years, to us, means that we really are fulfilling our mission of ensuring that the people have access (to books),” Grigsby said. Emma Bradford is an intern for NEWSWELL CHICAGO through Report for America’s Local News Internship Program.

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HOW TO REACH US PO Box 6670, River Forest, IL 6035 PHONE (773) (708) 613-3300 CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com ONLINE www.AustinWeeklyNews.com Austin Weekly News is published digitally and in print by NEWSWELL. It is distributed free of charge at locations across Austin and Garfield Park. Our hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advertising rates are available by calling our office. Printed entirely on recycled paper. © 2026 NEWSWELL

4 Austin Weekly News, July 15, 2026

CTA, IDOT sign off on design prep for long-awaited Blue Line improvements Transit board also approves Austin/Division bus facility refresh

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

The Chicago Transit Board, the governing board for the CTA, has unanimously approved two intergovernmental agreements that have implications for the West Side and western suburbs. The board, at its July 8 meeting, approved an agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to allocate $18 million toward the design phase of the long-awaited improvements of the section of the Blue Line that serves North Lawndale, East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, Austin, Oak Park and Forest Park. IDOT is currently in the process of applying for federal funding to help cover the costs of the actual construction. Once completed, the improvements are expected to significantly speed up service, which has been plagued with delays due to track conditions. The board also approved an agreement with the City of Chicago to improve the bus turnaround at the southeast corner of Division Street and Austin Boulevard. The goal is to make the facility safer and more hospitable for passengers and bus drivers alike. Construction is expected to begin this fall. Blue Line’s Forest Park branch is the section of the line that runs either in the median or alongside Eisenhower Expressway. CTA and IDOT have been working on im-

proving the tracks and the stations as part of the broader Eisenhower Expressway rehab. So far, they have completed work on the section between UIC-Halsted and Illinois Medical District stations. Now, they are trying to tackle a portion between IMD station and the Forest Park terminal. That part of the line has been notorious for “slow zones,” sections where CTA has the ‘L’ trains slow down due to deteriorating track conditions. According to the transit agency, “more than 84% [of the branch] is under a slow zone.” During the July 8 meeting, CTA acting president Nora Leerhsen acknowledged that “it is s place where we lost riders because of slow zones.” She added that, as a Green Line rider, she could attest to some riders who would normally take the Blue Line taking that line instead. CTA budgeted $28.2 million for the design phase. The latest agreement directs $18 million in federal funding IDOT secured on CTA’s behalf toward the project. CTA will cover the rest using the combination of state and federal sources. The design work is expected to begin this fall, but CTA spokesperson Maddie Kilgannon indicated that there is no firm deadline for when it might be completed. The design phase would pave the way for the first complete track replacement since the Forest Park branch opened in 1958, as well as drainage systems and power upgrades.

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On the longer run, CTA is planning to make Western, Pulaski, Cicero, Austin, Oak Park and Harlem stations fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The project does not include any funding towards restoring the Central Blue Line ‘L’ station and the rehabbing the Cicero station’s Lavergne Avenue entrance – an unfunded mandate included in last fall’s NITA Act transit funding bill. In a recent interview with this newspaper, Camille Lilly (D-78th), a major supporter of the two projects, didn’t rule out some state funding – but she indicated that those discussions likely won’t happen until the new transit boards are sworn in and the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (a rebranded Regional Transportation Authority) will assume more authority over infrastructure projects this fall. In the statement to the media, Leerhsen and Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi hailed the agreement as a major milestone. “This agreement is a testament to what strong partnerships can accomplish,” Leerhsen said. “Thanks to IDOT securing federal funding on CTA’s behalf, we can all look forward to this project moving ahead.” “We look forward to this next step in modernizing the Blue Line and improving the overall I-290 corridor,” Biagi said. “Reaching this stage has required tremendous teamwork and will ultimately make

the corridor more accessible, safe and reliable for everyone who relies on it.” The Austin/Division bus turnaround is a spot where, as the name suggests, CTA bus route 70/Division turns around and heads back east. Riders can transfer to CTA route 91/Austin. Work will include replacing the existing canopy used to shelter passengers, repairing concrete, sidewalks and curbs, upgrading the windbreak and gutters, and renovating the employee restroom. The funding for the project will come from Austin Commercial TIF, the district that spans most of the portion of Central Avenue between Ferdinand Street and Nroth Avenue, as well as most of the Austin sections of Chicago Avenue, Division Street and North Avenue commercial corridors. It is currently scheduled to expire in 2031. Under the terms of the agreement, the city will use the funds to reimburse the CTA for up to $1.066 million in construction expenses. The CTA Board approved the agreement without discussion. In the press release following the meeting, Leerhsen touted the project as “an investment into our employees and our riders.” “The planned repairs and renovations will enhance accessibility, comfort and the overall rider experience while ensuring this neighborhood transit hub continues to serve the community for years to come,” she said.

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Austin Weekly News, July 15, 2026

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE Inspired progress from page 2 The city’s first-ever Restorative Justice Court opened in North Lawndale in 2017. Two more Restorative Justice courts have since opened in other parts of the city, and a fourth opened in south suburban Sauk Village. Last Wednesday’s ceremony had 11 graduates, though only two attended in person. According to the court staff and organizers, this was a good thing – the rest were at school or work, which meant that the program worked as intended. Those who did attend said that they appreciated the help and opportunities the court gave them, even when they didn’t necessarily embrace the program right away. The court was launched by then-Cook County Circuit Courts chief judge Tim Evans with support from UCAN and several other North Lawndale community organizations. Eligible youth are offered an opportunity to take their case to the Restorative Justice Court. As part of the process, the youth take part in Peace Circles, which also include members of the community and family members. If the crime had a victim, the victim has an option to participate. Together, the circle develops a Repair of Harm Agreement that requires the participant to complete certain tasks that seek to address the harm their actions caused, as well as to help them with whatever issues they are facing. For example, a participant may be required to get treatment for substance abuse. The court helps them with any needs both the perpetrator and the victim may have, such as help with finding stable housing, or mental health services.

IGOR STUDENKOV

Jada Willingham (right) receives her certificate of completion from North Lawndale Restorative Justice Community Court coordinator Audrey Dunford (left). Judge Beatriz Santiago (middle) who heads the Avondale Restorative Justice Court, stepped in for Judge Patricia Spratt, who heads the North Lawndale court but was unable to attend the ceremony due to illness. If the participant completes everything outlined in the agreement, their case is dismissed and record is expunged. The graduation ceremony is meant to celebrate their success, but the attendance is not required. Jada Willingham told Austin Weekly News she ended up in court because, during a traffic stop, the police discovered she had a gun she legally bought but didn’t have a Concealed Carry License for. She said that she was under impression that her Firearm Owner’s Identification Card was enough to allow he to carry her gun everywhere. While this was Willingham’s first brush with the legal system, she had siblings who did prison time. She thought for sure that there was no way she would avoid prison, and while Willingham agreed to partici-

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pate in the Restorative Justice Court, she readily admitted that she didn’t believe it would make a difference – at least at first. “I thought the program was fake,” Willingham said. Her younger sister, Eshanti Willingham, attended the graduation with her. She recalled “just trying to speak a love of life into her” as her elder sister struggled with depression. “She was very discouraged,” Eshanti Willingham said. “She thought her life was over.” After about a year in the program, the elder Willingham got the point where she was ready to fully commit to. In her speech during the graduation ceremony, Jada Willigham said she appreciated that she got that time, instead of being thrown out of the program by a certain deadline.

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“ First year, I was playing around, then I [realized] that those people are on my side,” she said. “I picked up the pace, I did what needed to be done, and now I’m here.” Jada Willigham said that she appreciated that the staff wrote her a letter of recommendation. If she has any message for anyone who is in the program, or is thinking about joining with program, is to stick with it and trust the staff and volunteers to do right by them. “I just want to tell everyone - keep going, don’t ever give up,” she said. The other graduate, James Mason, echoed Willingham’s comments. “I feel like it was a good experience, ‘cause everybody don’t get a second chance,” he said. “I’m really blessed, grateful that now I can move on and do better things.” Evans was among several judges who attended the graduation ceremony. He said that, without the Restorative Justice Courts, the graduates would “go downstate somewhere, they get locked up downstate somewhere, they don’t get services.” “They have gone through trauma, they come from communities where disinvestment has taken place,” Evans said. “Yeah, they made a mistake, but we recognize with them that they knew themselves somewhere inside that they could be better than the mistakes they made. They repaired the harm that their mistakes have caused.” He encouraged the graduates to go into the community and talk about the program. He and other judges also encouraged them to take part in the future peace circles and support future participants. Eshanti Willingham told Austin Weekly News that she was proud to attend her older sister’s graduation. “I’m proud of Jada,” she added. “I appreciate this program a lot. I’m proud of my sister and her progress, and her journey has been beautiful.”

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F R O M

T H E

G E N E R A L

M A N A G E R

Grant offers new opportunities for Austin Weekly News When our publications joined NEWSWELL earlier this year, we talked about building a stronger, more sustainable future for local journalism. Today, I’m excited to share one of the first major signs of that future taking shape. NEWSWELL Chicago has received a transformative three-year grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation that will allow us to expand our newsroom with three additional fulltime reporters and an editor - greatly expanding our reporting corps. We thank the MacArthur Foundation for their generosity and their belief in our work. This investment is transformative for both our newsroom and for the communities we serve. It reflects a growing belief that local journalism matters and that our neighborhoods deserve strong, independent reporting that informs residents, strengthens civic life and holds institutions accountable. Just as importantly, it demonstrates the value of

being part of NEWSWELL. Their commitment to preserving local journalism, combined with the scale and reputation of a national nonprofit, has opened doors that simply weren’t available before. Together, we’re building something stronger than any one newsroom could build alone. The impact will be felt across every community we cover. These additional journalists allow us to deliver not just more coverage, but better coverage. We’ll spend more time in our schools. We’ll deepen our reporting on local governments and public agencies. We’ll tell more stories about neighborhood businesses, nonprofits, arts organizations and the people who make our communities thrive. We’ll pursue more enterprise and accountability reporting while remaining present for the everyday stories that connect neighbors to one another. In Austin, for example, a dedicated full-time reporter means more in-depth, authentic storytelling for a community of nearly 100,000 residents.

This is an exciting milestone, but it isn’t the finish line. This investment gives us the ability to grow our newsroom and better serve our communities, but there is still important work ahead. The long-term health of these publications depends on a broad coalition of readers, local businesses, community partners and philanthropists who believe this work matters. If you’ve supported our work before, thank you. You helped make moments like this possible. We hope you’ll continue to be part of this journey. If you’re considering supporting us for the first time, there’s never been a better time to invest in local journalism. Every dollar raised locally strengthens our ability to serve our communities, expands our reporting and helps ensure these publications remain a trusted civic institution for generations to come. We’re relying on you. With gratitude,

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Austin Weekly News, July 15, 2026

8th House candidate Franklin introduces herself to local Dems By BILL DWYER

And even though the 8th House district covers just a small section of six precincts in Oak Park south of the Eisenhower Expressway as well as swaths of the West Shantel Franklin didn’t have Side, Franklin wanted to let the to be at the Democratic Party of Democratic activists know she Oak Park bi-monthly meeting was ready to listen and learn as Saturday morning. she waits to be sworn in as Re. After a remarkably strong La Shawn Ford’s successor in performance in the March 17 Springfield in January. Democratic primary, where she Franklin got a healthy round out-polled the closest of her three of applause when she noted that opponents by more than 20%, she’d be the first woman to repreFranklin faces no Republican sent the 8th District. And one of challenger in the Nov. 3 general election. SHANTEL FRANKLIN the youngest. She’ll soon have a direct say But Franklin didn’t win her in other legislation, and said four-candidate primary race by the overwhelming margin that she did by taking anything for granted. See FRANKLIN on page 9 Contributing Reporter

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8 Austin Weekly News, July 15, 2026

GRIEF

Many faces of grief from page 1 It was 1986 when Austin’s father, then 26 years old, was murdered in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, “killed by a so-called friend,” he said. Austin’s family lived in North Lawndale at the time, and he remembers the moment his aunt knocked on their door and “all the adults in the room just crumbled.” Though he said he didn’t understand what was going on, “I started crying because everybody else was.” While Austin said he didn’t see it as grieving at the time, he remembers associating fear with his father’s death. “When I saw him in a casket, I remember immediately becoming afraid of somebody that I loved,” he said. And after seeing his father’s obituary picture, Austin refused to be in family photos for several years. “In my little young mind, I was like, ‘Maybe if I don’t take pictures, this won’t happen to me.’” As a child, Austin remembers falling asleep to the sound of sitcoms on TV, “constantly wanting to hear laughter to cope,” he said. And in the following years, Austin grieved his father in different ways. Around age 8, Austin said he understood the finality of death and that his father wasn’t coming back. While Austin had three half-siblings at the time of his father’s death, he said he didn’t talk in-depth with them about the murder, largely dealing with his thoughts and emotions by himself. Though, he remembers having morbid conversations around age 10 with his brother about how “we’ll both be dead by the time we’re 18,” he said. Past age 13, Austin started grieving experiences he would never have and knowledge he would never receive from his father. “My father is not going to be here telling me about girls or how to drive,” Austin said. “I felt like my manhood had been stripped away from me.” While he had a loose road map from his father about what not to do when it came to street life, Austin was never directed with a course of action when it came to big moments in life. “I grieved milestones. I grieved when my daughter was born, that she’d never meet her grandfather,” Austin said. For much of his life, Austin said he felt like he was on autopilot, “thinking I was owed something because my father

PROVIDED

A photo of Alan Austin’s father, who died in Austin in 1986. was murdered,” he said. Only later in life did he realize “grief is not a vending machine. It’s not ‘This is what happened to me, so I get this in return.’” In adulthood, Austin began feeling he needed to be super successful in order to make his family’s sacrifices surrounding his father’s death worth it, especially those of his mother, who worked two jobs seven days a week until he was 29. “I didn’t want to come around. I didn’t want to be seen because I didn’t feel like I had gotten enough for the loss,” Austin said. “I didn’t feel like I had done enough with what people had poured into me.” He added, “There’s very much a sense of urgency for me to make an impact, something worthwhile, so I can make the people I love happy.” Nearly 20 years older than his father when he died, Austin is still learning to

deal with the pain of losing his dad. He describes moments when he’s laughing or joking around before his grief creeps in. “It’s almost like sabotaging your joy,” he said. “You never get over it. You learn how to carry it.”

How to help a grieving child Writing his memoir has helped give Austin purpose. He hopes his book will help fathers living with questionable lifestyles — “If you’re not going to raise your kids, grief will” — and surviving relatives to understand childhood grief, giving kids who have lost loved ones the voice to describe what they’re going through. “I can’t stress how delayed I feel because of grief. I didn’t live. There was a lot of hyper-vigilance,” Austin said. Growing up, he was invited to many get-togethers

he didn’t attend because he felt like “If something bad was going to happen, it would happen to me.” Austin said he was a good, quiet kid, and knows there are a lot of children like him who are hurting, and no one knows it. “It feels like shackles. Grief makes a child think that there might not be much in the future,” Austin said. As a kid, Austin said he didn’t have the language to tell people how he felt but also didn’t want to share his feelings so as to not cause his family additional pain. “I don’t know if I grieved or I was just controlled by everybody else’s grieving,” Austin said. To not bring up pain associated with grief, Austin didn’t ask too many questions of his mother or grandmother in the years following his father’s death. “So much of my experience was wrapped up in silence — not because nobody told me not to talk about him, but what stuck out so much in my mind was pain. I didn’t want to say anything to trigger that again.” But Austin said one of his biggest regrets is not asking his grandmother more questions before she passed — in order to keep both her and his father’s memories alive. He also emphasized the importance of asking questions to children who are dealing with trauma. That, Austin said, is how West Side residents can navigate the perception of resiliency that’s so ingrained in their neighborhoods. “The culture has branded significant loss as normal,” Austin said. “That’s how my story connects to the West Side — the people who are just regular people dealing with problems the best way we know how.” Many, though, he said don’t have the language to process their problems. And though there’s increasing access to therapy on the West Side, “We just feel like we don’t need it,” Austin said. As he better understands his own childhood grief, Austin is starting to have more conversations with other adults who experienced something similar in their childhood, or with parents of children who have experienced trauma. To young people who have experienced childhood grief from losing a loved one, Austin advises them to live their life to the fullest, dream big and ask questions of your family members. “You have to work to be happy,” he said. “Make smart decisions and try to live the best life you can.” Buy a copy of “The Long Echo: Re-grieving a Parent Lost in Childhood” on Amazon and visit https://the-long-echo.com/ to learn more.

Austin Weekly News, July 15, 2026

TEACHER

Creating connections from page 1 the light go off,” she said, “seeing them really absorbing everything I’m saying. “Teaching kind of made me in a sense grow up. It has made me come out of my shell.” The Dominican University graduate is a little unique in that she has taught at St. Angela for five years and prior to that, did her student teaching at the school. Thus, she’s ingrained in St. Angela’s culture as a teacher, but also as the school’s cheerleading coach, overseeing first through eighth graders. Tim Gallo is managing director for Plus Schools and Leadership for Big Shoulders Fund. He said there are three qualities inherent to the award – making a strong academic impact, making an impact beyond the classroom and being invested in the school’s mission, through a teacher’s presence and actions. “Ariel had all of those qualities,” he said, adding she was so awarded because of “her commitment to the St. Angela community and willingness to go above and beyond.” One of the favorite parts of Gallo’s job is announcing the award. With Kimbrough, Gallo and the St. Angela team secretly recruited her parents to be there when the award was announced in St. Angela’s gym in May. “It is the highlight of the year,” he said. “The lead up to it, you want to make sure it’s a lot of fun. Teachers work so hard and are often unrecognized, and it’s fun to recognize

FRANKLIN

More doors to knock from page 7 she’s keeping an eye on the West Suburban Hospital situation. The 8th House District is ground zero for the ongoing financial and legal debacle that threatens to take a major safety net hospital permanently off the board for West Side residents. She will soon represent much of the Austin neighborhood east of Austin Boulevard, areas heavily impacted in numerous ways by the closure of West Sub. “It’s something that I’m following,” she said. “The communities need these hospitals. They need them open.”

them in a public way.” For her own example, Kimbrough was caught completely off guard when she heard Gallo announce her name. “I was completely taken aback,” she said. “Tim Gallo was speaking about the award and the person, listing off these qualities. And then he said my name. I had to look around. Is there another Ariel here?” A funny story, to be sure, but teaching is serious business for Kimbrough, who finished at Dominican and did her student teaching at the tail end of the pandemic. In addition to more documentation that has become necessary over the past five years, she said the focus must not only be on students, but parents. “It’s very crucial because if anything happens within the school or classroom, parents have to trust their teacher to make sure their students are safe,” she said. “I want them to know we create a connection.” Christine Molina, St. Angela’s executive director, said Kimbrough is a role model for the entire school, as a first-grade teacher and as cheerleading coach. “All of us at St. Angela are proud to work with an educator who consistently shows up for her students with such a strong sense of resilience and empathy that goes beyond expectations,” Molina said in a Big Shoulders Fund press release. Kimbrough said a key to her success, and for any young teacher, is to have a goal and keep working toward it, come what may. In other words, never get complacent. “Move up, mentor somebody, give them the skills you possess and challenge yourself,” she said. “Take on responsibilities that make you better. It forces you to learn.”

Ariel Kimbrough, a St. Angela Catholic School first-grade teacher who was named Big Shoulders Educator of the Year, sits outside St. Angela Catholic School on the steps on July 6.

“I live in Austin,” Franklin said. “Our safety net hospitals are really under attack.” While she feels strongly about the need to protect healthcare assets like West Sub, she said she’s working to better understand all the issues before weighing in on how she thinks the state needs to proceed. “There’s a lot of information we don’t know,” Franklin said. “So one, I try not make decisions or say what needs to be done when I don’t know. There’s a lot of things that are going on, infighting between ownership.” “I do think there needs to be continuing conversation. I do think eventually the government will need to step in, but I do think we need to evaluate what that will look like, because right now it looks like a private fight that’s happening in the court.” Asked if she thought the state needed to take a firmer hand in assessing the viabil-

ity of individuals and organizations that apply to take over local hospitals, Franklin said that while she’s not yet well versed on the myriad details related to West Sub, “I would support legislation, if it’s applicable, for us to have a stronger hand in who gets to take these hospitals over.” “I’m watching. I’m ready to work,” she said. Following her primary victory in March, Franklin credited her success to old school political leg work in the precincts, and networking with people. Despite her connections made during seven years of working for Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, she said she remains intent on never being outworked by a political opponent. “My strategy was ‘get your (butt) on those doors. I knocked on over 25,000 doors,” she said in March.

EMMA BRADFORD

Saturday she said she was looking to build on that success, not rest on any laurels. “We’ve built a really strong coalition over the past year,” she said. “We’re still working, we’re still out there.” “What we know is people like (to see you), they like to know you’re out there doing the work, so I want you all to know that we’re still doing it.” “There’ll be many opportunities this fall to door knock, to connect, to continue to spread the word across the 8th District and I’d love to have your support.” Franklin worked hard starting last summer to gain the trust and support of five suburban mayors miles away from her West Side base in the long, drawn out 8th House district, including Countryside, Hodgkins, North Riverside, LaGrange and LaGrange Park.

10 Austin Weekly News, July 15, 2026 Let the sun shine in...

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION NEIGHBORHOOD LENDING SERVICES, INC Plaintiff, -v.LARISSA JAMES F/K/A LARISSA ELLICK, GREGORY JAMES, AQUA FINANCE, INC., UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF PAULA Y. ELLICK, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, GERALD NORDGREN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR PAULA Y. ELLICK (DECEASED) Defendants 2025CH01732 4915 WEST MONROE ST CHICAGO, IL 60644 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on May 8, 2026, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on August 11, 2026, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 4915 WEST MONROE ST, CHICAGO, IL 60644 Property Index No. 16-16-205011-0000 The real estate is improved with a residence. Sale terms: If sold to anyone other than the Plaintiff, 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, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in ‘’AS IS’’ condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g) (1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE

THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE 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. 14-25-00119 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2025CH01732 TJSC#: 46-1162 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 # 2025CH01732 I3290142

required by subsection(g-1) of Section 189.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% (or 25% if so ordered in the Judgment of Foreclosure) down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property is sold AS IS subject to all liens or encumbrances. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the circuit court case record, property tax record and the title record to verify all information before bidding. IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER THE ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(c) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC Plaintiff vs. VERNETTA M WILLIAMS; STATE OF ILLINOIS; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendant 25 CH 11890 CALENDAR 56 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on August 24, 2026, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty's office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell, in person, to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-16-205-039-0000. Commonly known as 4930 West Adams Street, Chicago, IL 60644. The real estate is: 2 unit building. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments

For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorney, McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLP, 333 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1820, Chicago, Illinois 60606. 312-346-9088. 25-23342IL INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3290705 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION FREEDOM M O R TGAG E CORPORATION Plaintiff vs. MANUEL CRUZ HERNANDEZ; INEZ MARTINEZ; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendant 25 CH 12771 CALENDAR 63 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on August 4, 2026, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell, in person, to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-27-312-001-0000 and 16-27-312-002-0000. Commonly known as 3003 South Kenneth Avenue, Chicago, IL 60623. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection(g-1) of Section 189.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% (or 25% if so ordered in the Judgment of Foreclosure) down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property is sold AS IS subject to all liens or encumbrances. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bid-

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

ders are admonished to check the circuit court case record, property tax record and the title record to verify all information before bidding. IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER THE ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(c) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLP, 333 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1820, Chicago, Illinois 60606. 312-346-9088. 25-23954IL INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3289555

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

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12 Austin Weekly News, July 15, 2026

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