AustinWeeklyNews_080526 by Wednesday Journal

Brandon Johnson credits Chicago for leading progressive politics

Amid uncer whether he’ll seek re -election, Chicago ma discusses Democratic

By JESSICA MORD

The morning of candidates could start collecting 12,500 signatures to get on ballot, Mayor Brandon Johnson to answer reporters whether he would seek re-election.

“I just want to hold on to the city of Chicago a little bit longer,” Johnson told reporters, according to Politico, saying he’s focusing campaigning. “Once there’s an decision that’s made ... it the season changes dramatically.

That afternoon, Austin Weekly News sat down with Johnson at City Hall. And while he still wouldn’t disclose whether or not he would run for mayor again, he did discuss Chicago’s political influence and his hopes for progressive Democrats

When asked whether increasing support for progressive Democrats — demonstrated in Zohran Mamdani’s successful mayoral campaign in New York last year

— will show up in Chicago’s mayoral election, Johnson seemed certain it would.

“New York is a reaction and response to what we’ve done in Chicago,” Johnson said. “Chicago is second to none, especially when it comes to progressive politics.”

Johnson outlined some key progressive politicians in Chicago, from Mayor

Harold Washington through his own term as mayor.

He mentioned Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, who was elected as alderman of the 35th Ward in 2015 at age 26 — one of the youngest to join City Council in Chica-

See MAYOR on pa ge 6

‘Beyond the Door ’ foc uses on redemption Page 5

For Chris Welch, is past prologue?

acing ethical questions, house speaker has histor y in Proviso

By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter

On Nov. 12, 2001, young Hillside attorney Emanuel “Chris” Welch was sworn in as a new member of the Proviso District 209 high school board.

The week before, the D209 board had signed ag reement to purchase a 9-acre parcel of open land in Melrose Park for $2.8 million, with plans to build a magnet high school on the site. Following the new board’s organizational meeting, Welch and another newly elected board member joined two sitting board members in voting Mike Manzo out as D209 board president and installing Teresa Kelly as president and Welch as vice president.

The new board then voted to fire D209 lawyer Stanley Kusper and replace him with attorney Burt Odelson’s firm, Odelson and Sterk.

It then voted to void the prior board’s ag reement to buy the 9-acre property, a golf driving range on 5th Avenue, immediately west of the Kiddieland Amusement Park

Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico, a mentor and key Welch political supporter, had adamantly opposed a school on the property.

“Whatever we have to do on the village level,

See CHRIS WELCH on page 8

EMMA BRADFORDT

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks with Austin Weekly News at City Hall on July 28.

West Side youth study bats in Columbus Park for Project Exploration

Summer STEM projects are highlighted at Re ection of Knowledge event

By EMMA BRADFORD Intern Reporter

On a warm and humid July 30, youth from the West and South sides gathered at the Columbus Park Refectory to show of f what they had been learning all summer long. The day was filled with hip-hop dances, musical performances, cups of perfect lemonade, hatched chickens and a gallery walk of all of the other projects.

Project Exploration was founded in 1999 to provide transformative STEM learning opportunities for young people who have historically been under represented in those fields.

One of this summer’s program leaders was Stefania Briones, a Field Museum bat biologist who is both from and trained in Guatemala.

Briones’s program focused on techniques for monitoring bats in Columbus Park, because “we conserve what we know,” she said.

“We do not conserve what we don’t know, so the more we can learn and know about

the things that live in our neighborhood and that share our green spaces, the better we will be at conserving them,” said Briones.

The students learned how to make casts of animal tracks, use camera traps, ultrasonic detectors, and various software and programming tools, and even went on three bat walks.

“They did pretty well, and I’m really proud of them,” Briones said.

The organization helps youth build confidence, develop skills, and discover pathways to future education and careers through school-based programs. Programs include community STEM learning centers, career exploration, youth employment, and partnerships with schools, community organizations and STEM professionals.

During the summer, West- and Southside youth can participate in hands-on STEM learning, career exploration, leadership development and paid employment opportunities across multiple Chicago partnerships and organizations.

Aside from learning experiences, Project Exploration hired around 200 young people from the West and South sides of Chicago for the summer program, said Amber Neal, who oversees the youth employment program.

Neal said the summer program is typically the busiest, but “we are an organization that offers many different opportunities for the community.”

That includes fall, winter and spring programs along with after-school programs.

“It’s like a family organization,” said Joseph Puckett, a learning behavioral specialist and English teacher at Frederick Douglass Academy High School. “We get to really deep dive into the youth’s life outside the classroom and really help them prepare.”

After graduating from DePaul University, he and other learning behavioral specialists went to Austin to begin working with the community, to work not only with the youth in classrooms but also to

reach the whole child, he said. After some networking, they collaborated with Project Exploration to provide STEM and employment opportunities to young people on the West Side.

“These are great opportunities that allow our students to have things during the summer to do and stay out of trouble,” Puckett said. “A lot of our students, some of them, they just have different scenarios, but giving them the opportunity to be exposed to STEM programming and to make money while also learning … I’ve seen students step up in tremendous ways.”

While this session ended, Puckett said many students asked about going into the fall program.

“I’m loving just to see the things that they’re exposed to and the things that they’re learning, and the opportunities that they want to take on now,” he said.

Emma Bradford is an intern for NEWSWELL CHICAGO through Re port for America’s Local News Internship Program.

EMMA BRADFORD

A hydroponic system booth at the gallery walk for the Project Exploration summer student showcase on July 30.

EMMA BRADFORD

Karaoke venue coming this fall to Austin

By EMMA BRADFORD Intern Reporter

“Karaoke on The Ave!,” plans to take over and rehab the building located at 5234 West Chicago Ave.

The concept is a single large karaoke room that will be open to both the community and reservable for private events.

While there are other event spaces in the community, Shirley Fields, a West Side native and a trained actress from Columbia Colle ge Chicago who will be leading the project and running the business, said there is nothing specific to karaoke.

“Now you can actually have a professional stage … you can literally have a real karaoke party,” Fields said.

She said whenever she mentions the karaoke business, everyone’s faces light up, because everyone knows what karaoke is; that is how Fields knows it will be a success, because of the demand.

Fields said when she was young, she would get microphones and costumes rather than dolls for birthdays and Christmases. Later in life, she found herself hosting and participating in karaoke events,

winning virtually every competition she entered.

However, this is not her first business venture. Fields currently works in real estate and previously ran the restaurant “with a fast-food touch,” but running a restaurant business since the coronavirus pandemic has proven to be a difficult feat in and of itself.

What did Fields learn from that? She now knows she does not want to sell food in a restaurant manner. However, a prep kitchen will be available for catering, private event use and even the restaurants themselves, Fields said.

The total cost is estimated at $453,000, with the city providing $250,000 of that through the Department of Planning and Development’s prog ram, which reimburses up to 75% of expenses for projects ranging from $60,000 to $250,000.

Eleven South, Southwest and West Side businesses are recipients of over $2.1 million to support renovations and new buildouts from the city as part of a greater effort to support neighborhood commercial corridors.

“Karaoke on The Ave!” is one of three

new businesses coming to the Soul City Corridor; Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream on 5246 West Chicago Ave. and Joseph’s Place Community Theater on 5912 West Chicago Ave. also received money from the city under the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund Grants. However, Fields’s karaoke venue will be the first of its kind in Austin.

While Fields has all of the permits and financing set in place, there is still ongoing construction from the Austin Corridor Streetscape Improvements project, so Fields and her contractor are just waiting for the OK to star t on their own.

Her previous goal was to open in August, but due to the delays, she is setting it back to open sometime between October and November.

“’Karaoke on The Ave!’ is just not a venue; it’s the destination,” Fields said. “It’s a community asset and a celebration of culture, music, entrepreneurship and neighborhood pride.”

Emma Bradford is an intern for NEWSWELL CHICAGO through Re port for America’s Local News Internship Program.

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Max Reinsdorf

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EMMA BRADFORD

Shirley Fields in front of the soon-to-be renovated building, 5234 W. Chicago Ave., soon to become a ka raoke venue.

Gar eld Park stakeholders work on plan to address safety issues

First meeting tackles quality- of-life issues, teen takeovers

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

The Garfield Park Advisory Council and other area stakeholders recently began an effort to develop a strategy to address public safety in and around the iconic West Side park

The first Garfield Park Community Town Hall was held recently at the park’s Gold Dome fieldhouse, 100 N. Central Park Ave. The next meeting will be held at the Gold Dome on Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. and is open to the public Attendees were split into tables assigned at random, and each group was asked to discuss three questions:

■ What are the major issues facing the park and the community?

■ What solutions have worked and what haven’t?

■ Should “teen takeovers” be treated differently than groups of adults who party at the park?

In the ensuing discussion, the participants highlighted the importance of collaboration and sharing information to help access programs and resources. The groups were divided on what teen takeovers represented, and whether it is a force that can be har nessed or a negative trend that must be stopped.

Each Chicago park, beach and facility can have a Park Advisory Council, a group of volunteer residents that spearhead fundrais-

ing and work with the park staff to improve programs and activities. In practice, not all of them have active councils, and even active PACs tend to fly under the radar. Garfield Park Advisory Council has been one of the more active West Side PACs, holding regular community clean-ups and organizing activities.

Aside from advisory council members, the meeting included local and regional park staff, local Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) and his staff, police officers from the 11th Police District, members of various city departments, and representatives from organizations such as West Side Rising, Breakthrough Urban Ministries and Institute for Nonviolence.

In her introductory remarks, Carol Johnson, an advisory council member, emphasized that the goal isn’t just to talk about problems facing the park.

“That’s the whole point of this meeting – to talk about issues, but also to come up with solutions,” she said.

The issues that most of the groups brought up included littering, drug use and lack of resources for residents and visitors that experience homelessness and/or have mental health issues

James Diggs, local resident and owner of Tidy Up Experts cleaning company, said the issue literally shows up on his block.

“There are people who are not like us, buying drugs in the parks,” he said. “A lot of people with mental health issues – they get no support.”

When it came to solutions that worked, several groups said that Shotspotter gun detection technology helped reduce crime and removing it made the situation worse. Some spoke in favor of more security cameras

“We need more cameras on more poles,”

Diggs said.

Other things participants thought worked included more parking enforcement, violence intervention programs, as well as resource pop-ups and more activities for youth.

There was also a broad consensus that the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) is useful, but there is more demand for their services than what they can reasonably handle.

Deon Powell, the Gold Dome park supervisor, voiced something that often comes up in discussions around public safety on the West Side – the desire to bring back “officer friendly.”

“No offense, but there are officers that are not friendly,” he told the police officers in the room.

Powell also recalled that when he was a supervisor at Altgeld Park near East Garfield Park’s eastern border, often homeless people hung out in the park because an overnight shelter was located nearby. Rather than trying to chase them away, he and his staff tried to get them to take advantage of the facility, inviting them to play basketball and work out.

What they found, Powell said, is that this gave them “a sense of ownership” of the park, which meant they were less likely to do anything disruptive.

“When you’re being friendly, and allow them an opportunity to engage, you get a positivity back,” he said.

Mike Floyd, the area manager for Chicago Park District’s Central Region, which includes the portions of the West Side south of North Avenue, said that there is only so much each park can do with the resources they have This is why, he said, collaborations with local organizations such as Breakthrough

are so valuable.

The groups disagreed on the teen takeover question. Some argued that teens aren’t doing anything adults aren’t doing – the difference is the scale. Others believed that there was a difference in “age and intention.”

Several argued that adults who party at the park tend to be local and wrap things up at night, while teens are attracted by social media posts and come from across the Chicago area, and tend to party late into the night. One participant described seeing rideshare vehicles drop off teen after teen on her block.

“With the teens, [the structure] is just not there,” Floyd said. “[Adults], they are at the same place. Teens, they can up at any point.”

Advisory Council member Keith Kelley argued that teen takeovers don’t represent chaos, but energy waiting to be harnessed. After all, the takeovers show that teens will show up if there’s a reason that they find compelling, he said.

“We need to talk to the young people, find out what they want,” he said. “They represent the power that we’re not organizing. If they can take over the parks, why can’t they take over the polls?”

As the meeting started to wrap up, organizers invited Ervin to speak. The alderman asked anyone who worked for a city department, a municipal agency or a nonprofit organization to raise their hands. The majority of hands went up.

“Seventy percent of the people are here for the job or whatever else they got going on,” Ervin said. “We need to engage the regular people. There is so much happening, so many resources coming to the community, and we got to share it with them, let them know what’s going on.”

‘Beyond

the Door’ focuses on re demption

Denise Jones turned her trauma into a memoir, then a successful stage production

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Growing up in North Lawndale, then moving to East Garfield Park, Denise Jones found herself addicted to heroin at age 12, dropped out of school by fifth grade, and went to prison after hanging out with her mother on the streets.

“We were on a drug spree to g ether. We were sticking up to g ether, pimping tog ether, burglarizing and playing checks to g ether. She was no longer my mom, she was my hustler,” Jones said.

Jones took her experience with drug s, homelessness and incarceration on Chicago ’s West Side and created a story of redemption through her memoir, “Who Said It Couldn’ t Be Done?: A Diamond From the Rough.” She developed that into a play called “Beyond the Door,” produced in 2019, 2024, and now 2026. The latest iteration will show on Aug. 21 and 22 at New Life Covenant Church, 3400 W. Division St

“I always wanted to take the story back to where it originated from, and that’s the West Side of Chicago. When I drive through Madison Street, I see the for mer me. When I go up and down Pulaski and Cicero, I see the for mer me,” Jones said. T hough Jones had to relive traumatic experiences from her childhood to write her memoir in 2010 and develop it into a play six years later, she wants audiences to walk away from the production and be able to “recognize hope and know that change is real.”

“I hope that people will feel seen,” said Julisa Marcel, who’s directing this adaptation of “Beyond the Door.” “They’ll feel heard, they’ll feel loved, and that they will leave with a lot of hope. We say it in the play, but if God can do it for Denise, and if she could change her life. … anybody can do it.” She added, “We really want people to feel connected to the story and to go with us on the jour ney.”

In 2019, Jones produced “Beyond the

Door” at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center in Hyde Park. In 2024, she put on the play at the Beverly Arts Center on Chicago’s South Side. Both productions sold out.

After feedback from Steppenwolf T heatre and Goodman T heatre, Jones said the newest version of “Beyond the Door” better develops her relationship with her mother

“I think our earlier versions gave a lot of glimpses into her life experience,” Marcel said, “getting a glimpse of scenes out of the memoir. But this version feels more complete, feels more like a standalone.”

Marcel said the 2026 “Beyond the Door ” also has more of a throughline to the title of the play — what she said was one of the most challenging parts about adapting this version.

“The play hadn’ t yet been really pulled to g ether in a way that emphasized the meaning of ‘Beyond the Door,’” Marcel said. “What’s the relation to the book, what it meant to her, so that I could make that come out in the story.”

Jones said the title of the play references how much of her trauma was happening behind closed doors, not allowing her to have honest conversations about it or heal.

“When you look at most things that happen in life with trauma, it’s always pretty much behind the door, and nobody talks about it,” Jones said. But adapting her memoir into a play allows audiences to join her in emerging from behind the door to “Beyond the Door.” “These are doors that were once closed that are now open to allow you the opportunity to ste p beyond.”

“I’m a strong believer in saying what you’ve experienced and in the ability of the spoken word to release you from difficult things,” Marcel said.

This version of “Beyond the Door” also includes a new artistic consultant in Felicia P. Fields, a Tony-nominated actress

cast of the 2026 production of “Beyond the Door”

who was in the original Broadway production of “The Color Pur ple.”

‘A Diamond From the Rough’

Jones was inspired to write the story of her childhood after years of “wondering why I turned out to be the way I did,” she said. “Writing became a therapeutic point for me to be able to understand what happened to me.”

Jones grew up in a family of incest, “so that stunted my growth,” she said. And when she moved in with her mother around age 10, she was often locked in a room with a bucket as a bathroom while her mother hosted parties.

“What I saw messed me up as a child,” Jones said. “My mom introduced me to sticking a needle in my arm at the age of 12 years old, and I became addicted to drugs.”

After a home invasion case, Jones faced up to 60 years in prison. Then, she lived over 17 years of her life as a man.

“I always ke pt feeling like I could never get right,” Jones said. “I ke pt shooting drugs and drinking cough syrup because I wanted to kill myself because of all the pain.”

But in 1986, Jones found God, and with religion, a group of parishioners, counselors and ministers who supported her She started speaking at the Cook County Jail and “I asked God what other vehicle I could use to convey the message,” she said. That led her to writing her memoir, then adapting the story for the stage.

“Seeing that played out and acted out posed a question to [audiences], ‘How can I change, if she did?’ It allows them to see themselves and that this person is not ashamed about their life and they’re able to put it out there,” Jones said.

Jones went back to school to get her GED and master’s de gree. In 1997, she started a commercial cleaning company out of Lansing, and services Chicago businesses. The business now has 28 employees, and Jones said five are for merly incarcerated. In 2004, she launched the nonprofit, Tender Touch, on Chicago’s West Side to of fer mentorship programs to women experiencing addiction, incarceration and other challenges.

To buy tick ets to “Beyond the Door,” showing Aug. 21 and 22 at New Life Covenant Church, 3400 W. Division St., visit https://www.be yondthedoorplay.com/.

MAYOR

politics from page 1

go’s history. Now General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District, Ramirez-Rosa is a part of Democratic Socialists of America, as is Anthony Quezada, who succeeded Ramire z-Rosa as alderman of the 35th Ward last year.

“The progressive movement goes back to electing someone like Will Guzzardi, who took on someone who was a part of the machine on the northwest side of Chicag Johnson said of Guzzardi’s successful 2014 bid for state re presentative of the 39th District. Then 26 years old, Guzzardi beat Berrios, who held the seat since 2003 and is the daughter of then-Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Joe Berrios.

“That’s the latest iteration of progr leadership. I can go back to Cong. Danny Davis, who people forget was a Democratic socialist,” Johnson said. Davis is serving his last term as U.S. Congressman of nois’ 7th congressional district after near 30 years in the position.

“Bernie Sanders came to Chicago because he was inspired by Rev. [Jesse] son, who ran on single-payer,” Johnson said of the universal healthcare system that was the cornerstone of Jackson presidential campaign.

“This is the place that Dr. [Martin Luther] King said that, if we can do it right in Chicago around fair housing, we can do it anywhere in the country,” Johnson said. “Dr. King looked to Chicago as the epicenter of how you bring transformation to our country.”

And Johnson said he is continuing the trend of progressive politicians with his own policies.

“I’m the first executive in the entire country to create a tax on social media. I think that’s a victory for progressive politics,” Johnson said. “Reopening mental and behavioral health clinics, that’s a win for progressive politics. That’s a win for working people on the West Side of Chicago.”

Progressive opposition

When asked where on the political spectrum Johnson sees the city’s strongest opposition, he answered that the same players who have opposed progressive politics during his seat have done so for decades.

“The opposition looks like corporate interests already donating dollars into individual coffers as a way to intimidate or to frighten

people. …That opposition is no different than the opposition that worked overtime to close schools, shut down public housing, shut down mental health clinics,” Johnson said. “It’s the same individuals that want to hoard all the resources for themselves, then force working people — Black, Brown, white, Asian folks — to fight amongst ourselves with the scraps that they decide to leave over.”

He specifically mentions fear tactics against the real estate transfer tax.

On the March 2024 primary ballot, the failed Bring Chicago Home measure would’ve generated $100 million for the city to fund resources for unhoused people by placing a 2% tax on properties sold for $1 million to $1.5 million, a 3% tax on those sold for more than that, and reducing the transfer tax for properties sold under $1 million to 0.6%.

Before the referendum made its way on the ballot, real estate and development groups filed a lawsuit against it in the Cook County Circuit Court, but the Chicago Board of Elec-

tion Commissioners appealed the decision.

Johnson compares the pushback to Bring Chicago Home to that which John Stroger — the first African-American president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners — got in the 1990s as he attempted to increase the county’s real estate transfer tax. Then, Stroger also saw major opposition from home sellers and buyers. That backlash led to the state government passing a law that restricts real estate transfer tax increases without a voter-approved referendum.

Johnson said he also saw dark money opposition in Jan. 2024, when he was the deciding factor in a 23-23 City Council vote to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and release of hostages in the Israel-Hamas War — making Chicago the largest city nationally to adopt a ceasefire resolution. Following the vote, Common Ground Collective raised $10 million to counter Johnson and progressive politics, according to the Chicago Tribune

“That opposition looks like the $10 million

that was raised when I voted to break the tie, calling for a ceasefire [in Gaza] and there was immediate release of hostages, when I called it for what it was before any other major politician in the country spoke of it as genocidal,” Johnson said.

Despite those who work against progressive politics, Johnson said he’s proud of the work he’s accomplished during his term. He mentions last year’s success of the fewest homicides across Chicago in 60 years, plus a barrage of economic activity since he took office — including $780 million of city money funneled into over 800 projects on the West Side, marking $2 billion of total investment.

“I believe that our resistance and our resolve to build safe and affordable communities, and to move a progressive, pro-worker agenda is greater than any opposition that we’ve already experienced,” Johnson said.

“It’s important that our communities see that we’re able to still deliver, even when we’re faced with opposition.”

EMMA BRADFORDT

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson speaks with Austin Weekly News about city politics and his future.

No West Sub settlement until at least late August

Patlola alleges Prasad banking as much as $700,000 weekly

By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter

There were two more court hearings last week on the proposed settlement of a lawsuit between West Suburban Hospital CEO Manoj Prasad’s Resilience Healthcare and landlord Reddy Rathnaker Patlola’s Ramco LLC. But little progress was made.

The settlement, which Ramco attorney Scott Kaplan said has been agreed upon for weeks now, has been reportedly delayed due to Prasad balking at the terms. Prasad has retained his own personal attorney to represent his interests, which are said to differ significantly from those of his corporation. He subsequently dismissed his first attorney and hired a new one, Travis Richardson.

On July 28, Kaplan urged Judge Patrick Stanton to enforce the settlement he said was agreed to weeks ago.

“We’ve been at this since May,” he told the court. When Kaplan said he’d asked Resilience attorney Howard Brookins to review “red lines” of the agreement,” in order to work through differences of opinion, Brookins replied, “I just saw it.”

“I think everyone should be doing everything they can to re-open this hospital,” said Kaplan.

Stanton once again expressed his displeasure at the pace of the settlement process, telling the assemblage of lawyers, “I’ve been giving you all a lot of room to proceed.”

Stanton asked Brookins if he could “digest this and come back in two or three days.”

The judge then told Brookins and Kaplan they had until the next hearing three days later on Friday to figure out if they would “fight about this or work together” to reach a settlement. “You gotta find time with your clients so they can digest the ter ms.”

Friday afternoon when court convened, Stanton looked at the large screen where the attorneys were appearing via Zoom.\

“Ready to go forward?” he asked. No, Brookins told the judge, they would be fighting it out, not between Ramco and Resilience, but between Resilience and its co-owner, Prasad.

“It appears we’re going to have to go forward with a hearing,” Brookins said, saying that Prasad would not agree to the proposed settlement.

After a bit of back and forth and checking on personal calendars, Stanton set an Aug. 25 hearing date, giving Brookins and Richardson two weeks to work things out between Prasad and Resilience, and Ramco and Kaplan a week after that to go over the details of what Prasad and Resilience agreed upon. If, in fact, any agreement can be reached.

In the meantime, Stanton told Kaplan to go forward with filing his motion to have the judge enforce the settlement.

Kaplan has already filed a proposed settlement with the court. Kaplan noted in that filing that a “settlement in principle” had been reached following “a full afternoon and evening” of negotiations between the parties on May 29.

Kaplan said he wrote up a draft settlement agreement and provided a copy to Resilience on June 3. He is alleging that Ramco’s efforts to finalize an agreement have “been met with delay and bad faith efforts by the Resilience parties.”

Resilience, Kaplan alleged, has “expended considerable efforts in an attempt to walk away from key terms previously agreed to during the May 29 settlement conference.”

Just how much cash might be involved in an eventual settlement was suggested during a day long court hearing on May 8. The amount of money at issue is likely well into the tens of millions of dollars.

Wednesday Journal read through the 500 pages of the transcript of that proceeding recently. Patlola’s attorney Scott Kaplan said Prasad had directed the transfer “of at least

million and $10 million between Jan. 31, 2024 and May 2, 2025, and numerous other transfers continuing up to May of this year Patlola says millions more have gone to Prasad since then. “Do you have any knowledge as to whether or not West Suburban Medical Center is still receiving payments for medical procedures that previously occur red,” he was asked at the May 8 court hearing, “Absolutely,” Patlola answered. “They’re

receiving closer to $700,000 a week. $680 to $700,000 per week they’re receiving right now.”

What bills are being paid with that income is not known. Kaplan disclosed at the July 28 hearing that Prasad had finally paid $60,000 toward three of seven accounts West Sub has with Commonwealth Edison, ahead of a final shut of f notice. The sprawling medical center remains closed due to none of its 28 elevators working.

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CHRIS WELCH

His Proviso past

from page 1

we’re not going to let this happen,” Serpico said in an October 2001 news article. “We’ not going to let them rob the village of Melrose Park of a valuable piece of property.”

In a 2011 interview, Manzo, a staunch political opponent of Serpico, said that Welch opposed the magnet school in Melrose Park because Serpico didn’t want it interfering with plans for a Costco store that was eventually built nearby.

The motion to rescind the purchase ag reement was voted on despite being placed on the agenda as “new business,” which Manzo angrily pointed out could not, under Illinois law, be acted upon at the same meeting at which it was introduced.

Welch brushed aside that inconvenient fact, saying, “You cannot take away the power of the majority.”

Kiddieland would close for good on Sept. 27, 2009, and be demolished in 2010 to make way for the new Costco.

The Costco has been an unqualified success. Nearly 17 years later, the for mer golf driving range to the west remains a fallow field, fronted by a decaying building along 5th Avenue.

The issue of a magnet school open to district students who met high academic testing standards would roil Proviso Township politics over the next several years, with Welch in the middle of it all.

In June 2001, D209 had released poll results from McKeon & Associates showing a majority of the 600 respondents – 61% –deemed a magnet school “a necessary step” for the district, with another 28% agreeing a magnet school was “very necessary.”

Almost 9 out of 10 people thought a magnet school was necessary or very necessary, and 80% said they believed it would enrich the learning experience throughout the district.

That July Welch opined that while the magnet school concept was a good idea, building a separate school building “is not a wise decision at this time.”

“Do the majority of the voters in Proviso Township support building a magnet school?” Welch asked rhetorically in a letter to the editor. He noted that Melrose Park voters had rejected a third high school by a 2-1 margin in November 2000, and Maywood voters said the same in April 2001, by the same margin.

“We also know that only 28% of the re-

natures to place the issue before Proviso township voters. Welch fought the referendum, arguing that it would cause a delay in the purchase of the building and effectively kill the purchase contract.

In December 2003, the D209 electoral board, chaired by Welch, threw out 3,000 of the 7,500 signatures. Some signers, Welch ruled, were not re gistered voters, other signatures were ruled forgeries, and several hundred were rejected due to “invalid notary signatures.”

That left bond issue opponents 2,000 signatures short of qualifying for the ballot. Welch accused the leaders of the referendum drive of sour grapes and contended Manzo and others “would like to be back in office and have their friends and cronies build this school.”

Instead, Welch and his allies purchased and renovated the for mer Loyola Medicine office building. Along the way there were, as Manzo had predicted, numerous additional costs, which added up to millions of additional public dollars spent.

In September 2005 the new Proviso Math and Science Academy, at least $10 million over its initial $40 million budget, opened its doors to 126 freshman students.

Welch had also done Serpico’s bidding when, in 2004, a federal civil jury found Serpico liable for $1 million in punitive

damages and the D209 board liable for $140,000 in the firing of D209 janitor Gino Trombetta. He sued after being terminated, claiming it was the result of his political opposition to Serpico.

The school district had absolutely no legal obligation to pay Serpico’s settlement, since he was neither an elected D209 official nor an employee. But Welch forced through a $1 million taxpayer-funded payment for his political patron.

‘That’s my recollec tion’

In August 2005, a local blogger and newspaper columnist, Carl Nyberg, posted that Welch’s brother, Billy Welch, had been arrested with a drug dealer and then was indicted Welch filed a lawsuit against Nyberg, alleging defamation, accusing Nyberg of “insinuation and conjecture and guilt-by association type tactics.”

A 2006 deposition documented how Chris Welch handled his brother’s criminal arraignment. Welch’s testimony raises questions, depending on how one reads the deposition, about either his legal competence or his honesty.

“(Billy) Welch had never been indicted for the crime of drug dealing and had Nyberg checked the accuracy of his state-

ments, this information would have been readily discoverable,” Welch’s lawsuit argued.

“… my brother is not a hoodlum; he does not hang around with drug dealers,” Welch insisted in his deposition.

But Nyberg had checked the record, which showed that Billy Welch was with a drug dealer on Sept. 3, was arrested, and was later indicted on drug charges.

On Sept. 3, agents of a joint DEA/Chicago police task force observed an alle ged cocaine dealer in the River Forest Town Center, handing a duffel full of money – as much as $140,000 – to an alle ged wholesale coke supplier.

Law enforcement followed dealer and another man in a Cadillac Escalade to an apartment building on the 5500 block of W. Gladys on the West Side of Chicago and watched as the dealer took 22 pounds of cocaine from the trunk of the wholesaler’s car.

Agents stopped the dealer’s car on the 3800 block of Harrison, and when the two men were removed from the car, they discovered his passenger was Billy Welch.

The DEA affidavit stated that Billy Welch was within arm’s reach of a loaded .40 caliber handgun, two baggies containing 240 grams of crack cocaine with a street value of $29,766, and $23,500 in cash.

FILE PHOTO

Chris Welch

Chris Welch was his brother’s attorney at his Sept. 4 arraignment. The record shows Judge Kevin M. Sheehan found probable cause to detain Billy, set a $30,000 bond and continued his case to Oct. 14.

On Sept. 26, Welch and the dealer were indicted by a Cook County Grand Jury, Welch for felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Chris Welch recalled those events quite differently when deposed, when he could recall anything at all.

“You were Billy Welch’s attorney beginning Sept. 3, 2003, right?” Chris Welch was asked under oath. “Beginning and ending Sept. 3, 2003,” Welch answered.

“You were his attorney for one day?” he was asked.

“Yes, I stepped up, the case was dismissed Sept. 3, 2003 against Billy Welch,” Welch answered.

Welch was shown Exhibit 6 from the lawsuit and asked if it was a Grand Jury indictment of Billy Welch and the dealer, dated Sept. 26, 2003.

“Exhibit 6 says what it says,” Welch answered.

“You said that the case was dismissed on that day?” Welch was asked. “That’s my recollection,” Welch answered.

“Why is there an indictment naming Billy Welch?” he was asked.

“I don’t know,” Welch answered.

“You have no idea why there would be an indictment against him if the case was dismissed?” Welch was asked.

“I don’t know,” Welch answered.

Asked if he’d talked to anyone in the State’s Attorney’s office other than at the hearing, Welch answered, “No.”

Asked if he’d ever inquired “with any government agency to determine whether or not Bill Welch had been indicted” Welch answered, “No.”

Did you ask Bill Welch whether he had ever been indicted?” Welch was asked. “Yes.” He answered.

“What did he tell you?” He was asked. “He said no,” Welch answered.

Welch quietly dropped his lawsuit against Nyberg.

‘Without factual basis’

Sometime around 2006, a new bl og called the “Proviso Insider” went online. It called itself “A beacon of light in the Proviso darkness.”

The majority of posts either lambasted Chris Welch’s critics or praised his allies. The blog posts would put a positive spin on D209 news, however ne gative the actual

situation might be. In March 2010, Welch posted “Proviso High Schools Removed From Financial Watch List!!!”

“This feat is especially remarkable considering the financial crisis many schools are facing in the state of Illinois,” Welch stated, ignoring the fact that less than 1% of all high schools in Illinois were under state supervision.

Welch went on touting his successes and taking shots at his political enemies. On July 19, 2007 the Proviso Insider accused two lawyers who previously worked for D209 of having suborned perjury.

Melrose Park police commander Ric Cervone had been named in a federal indictment. The Insider posted, “Sources tell the Insider that Burt Odelson and Mark Sterk …. will be indicted next by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Sources tell the Insider that Mark Sterk was the attorney advising SD89 Board member Ric Cervone on how to lie to a grand jury.”

“Are Burt Odelson and Mark Sterk crooks?” The Proviso Insider asked. “Will they be indicted next?”

On Aug. 21, 2007 Odelson and Sterk filed a libel/slander suit in Cook County Circuit Court.

The Insider hadn’t always been so hard on Odelson and Sterk. In December 2006 an Insider headline trumpeted, “D209 Lawyer Burton Odelson Respected By All.”

“The Insider has learned that Proviso School District 209’s lawyer, Burton S. Odelson, is also the lawyer for the stars,” the website fawned. “Many think, without Odelson, Proviso would not have been able to secure and negotiate a deal for the Proviso Math and Science Academy.”

Welch denied any involvement or responsibility for the posts. That is, until a forensic examination determined the posts had been made from a computer at his law firm.

Odelson’s attorney, Michael Wall, said Welch had attempted to avoid liability for the Proviso Insider posts by alleging they were done by his law clerk Emily Robinson.

“She was told by Mr. Welch that he would take care of everything,” Wall was quoted in a March 18, 2012 news article. Robinson denied posting the defamatory comments, saying, “I didn’t do it at all.” She was not found liable for any actions.

Welch filed for summary judgment, but Judge Eileen Mary Brewer denied his motion, and ruled he had committed “defamation per se.”

Welch faced with paying a $400,000 settlement demand, did for himself what he’d done for Serpico; used his role as D209 board president to successfully pry around $50,000 from taxpayers to cover his ongoing legal bills.

But when he later attempted to have D209 foot another $40,000, as well as the $400,000 settlement, the state appointed Financial Oversight Panel blocked him, and he was forced to negotiate a new settlement using his own money.

Welch also had to admit publicly that he had lied. Or in his lawyerly wording, that he had made “statements … which were made without factual basis.”

“The Subject Statements made on the Proviso Insider … are hereby unconditionally and unequivocally retracted and the Proviso Insider re grets the publication of those statements on the blog which were made without factual basis.”

‘The Prince of Proviso’

By law, members of school boards do not have any direct authority over district employees or the daily operations of the schools outside of their authority to cast votes at board meetings.

But by August 2010, Welch saw himself, according to numerous people associated with D209 or Proviso Township politics, as a major authority figure in and of himself, to be respected and obeyed.

“He wants to be the Prince of Proviso,” one source told this re porter at the time Welch reportedly became angry after two sisters who worked in senior positions at Proviso West high school rebuffed his attempts to hug them at a football game. He responded with an angry text.

Alexis Wallace, the for mer principal at Proviso West before Welch had her trans-

fer red, sat down with the Forest Leaves in March 2012 to discuss her experience with Welch as D209 board president and a threatening text she’d received from him.

Wallace said she saved the text, making certain her phone was charged even after she got a new phone. The saved text confirms alle gations made by Wallace’s sister, Dylester Palm, a dean at Proviso West, in her federal lawsuit against Welch for complaints similar to Wallace’s. (Palm later dropped the lawsuit, citing her inability to pay for the cost of legal re presentation.)

Wallace held out her old Blackberry for the reporter to photograph. The phone number on the text was the same cell number that Welch had listed on his campaign filing documents.

“I allowed them to be employed!” Welch’s text read. “And I’m the board president! Period! End of conversation. Things better change now. I won’t tolerate disresepect.”

Welch then left no doubt that he saw himself as the primary authority at D209.

“I had a direct hand in helping them b here including u. No one else,” he said. “At the minimum, I deserve respect.”

FOIA denial helps Welch avoid accountability

In 2012 a FOIA was filed with the Hillside Police Department seeking any reports related to Welch’s alle ged arrest in 2002 for an oft-rumored domestic battery.

That FOIA was denied by Hillside officials, who claimed that Welch, who’d been handcuffed and placed in the back seat of a squad car, had nonetheless not been placed under arrest.

A subsequent appeal was successful, and Hillside was ordered to release the documents. But the release arrived 90 minutes too late, after the primary election issue of a local newspaper had gone to print.

In that moment, Welch was working to move up oliticallys and was in a contested race for the Democratic nomination in the 7th Illinois House District. On election day Welch led Forest Park Commissioner Rory Hoskins by just 36 votes out of more than 40,000 cast in the 7th Illinois House Democratic primary. That nar row margin held.

As has happened in numerous cases related to alle gations concerning questionable behavior by Welch, the story made a splash – nearly 10 years later as Welch was seeking to replace Mike Madigan as the Speaker of the House. A handful of people expressed concern and vowed to get answers and hold people accountable.

The splash was followed by silence.

PROVIDED

Chris Welch 2001 political ad

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI • Deadline: Monday at 5 p.m. BY PHONE:

Your right to know In print • Online

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION

WILMINGTON TRUST, NA, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE

TO CITIBANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF REGISTERED HOLDERS OF S TRUCTURED A SSE T MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS II TRUST 2007-AR2, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-AR2

Plaintiff, -v.UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW AND LEGATEES OF VIVIAN HUDSON, AMIR MOHABBAT AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR VIVIAN HUDSON, DECEASED, DENISE CAMP, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS

Defendants 2023 CH 05233

3352 W. FULTON BLVD. CHICAGO, IL 60624

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on June 2, 2026, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 8, 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 3352 W FULTON BLVD., CHICAGO, IL 60624

Property Index No. 16-11-405045-0000

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

The judgment amount was $189,173.92.

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 dentification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

Fo r information, c ontact

JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC Plaintiff's Attorneys, 30 N. L ASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650, Chicago, IL, 60602 (312) 541-9710. Please refer to file number 23 0324.

THE JUDICIAL S ALES 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.

JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC

30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650 Chicago IL, 60602 312-541-9710

E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com

Attorney File No. 23 0324

Attorney Code. 40342

Case Number: 2023 CH 05233 TJSC#: 46-1360

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 # 2023 CH 05233 I3291601

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION

U. S. B ANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Plaintiff, -v.UNKNOWN HEIRS A ND LEGATEES OF SYLVESTER MASSEY, DECEASED; PRECEDIA MASSEY; AMIR MOHABBAT, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SYLVESTER MASSEY, DECEASED; KATRINA MASSEY; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants. 2025CH05545

444 N Avers Ave, Chicago, IL 60624

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on 5/26/2026, an agent of Auction.com, LLC will conduct the Online Only auction at www auction.com, with the bidding window opening on 9/14/2026 at 10:00 AM CDT and closing on September 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM subject to extension, and will sell at public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate Commonly known as 444 N Avers Ave, Chicago, IL 60624

Proper ty Index No. 16-11-128030-0000 AND 16-11-128-0290000

The real estate is improved with a Single Family Residence. The judgment amount was $69,118.83

Sale Terms: Full Sale Terms are available on the property page at www.auction.com by entering 444 N Avers Ave into the search bar. If sold to anyone other than the Plaintiff, the winning bidder must pay the full bid amount within twenty-four (24) hours of the auction's end. All payments must be certified funds. No third-party checks will be accepted. All bidders will need to register at www auction.com prior to placing a bid.

The subject property s 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 s 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 proper ty Act, 765 ILCS 605/9 (g)(l) and (g)(4). If this property s 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 Proper ty 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

For information, contact Plaintiffs attorney: Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC (561) 241-6901 please refer to file number 25-269085 Auction. com, LLC 100 N LaSalle St., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60602 - 872225-4985 You can also visit www.auction.com. Attorney File No. 25-269085 Case Number: 2025CH05545 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.

I3291868

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION Plaintiff, -v.-

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ACTING BY AND THROUGH ITS AGENCY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVE LO PMEN T, U NKNOWN HEIRS A ND L EGAT EES OF E DWARD HAMP TO N, DECEASED, EDWARD HAMPTON, JOKEN YATTA HAMP TO N, AMIR MOHABBAT AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR EDWARD HAMPT ON, D ECEASE D, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS

Defendants 2025CH10088

1122 N RIDGEWAY AVENUE UNITS 1 & 2

CHICAGO, IL 60651

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 28, 2026, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on August 18, 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 1122 N RIDGEWAY AVENUE UNITS 1 & 2, CHICAGO, IL 60651

Property Index No. 16-02-304035-0000

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

The judgment amount was $336,955.49.

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. 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(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 dentification 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, contact CHAD LEWIS, ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Plaintiff's Attorneys, 6400 SHAFER CT, STE 325, ROSEMONT, IL, 60018 (561) 2416901. Please refer to file number 25-322516. THE JUDICIAL S ALES 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.

CHAD LEWIS ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC 6400 SHAFER CT, STE 325 ROSEMONT IL, 60018 561-241-6901

E-Mail: ILMAIL@RASLG.COM

Attorney File No. 25-322516

Attorney ARDC No. 6306439

Attorney Code. 65582 Case Number: 2025CH10088

TJSC#: 46-1067

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 # 2025CH10088 I3290776

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

COUNTY DE PA RTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION SELENE FINANCE LP Plaintiff, -v.BRIAN K BLASZCZYK, MONROEWESTERN CONDOMINIU M ASSOCIATION, INC. Defendants 25 CH 09277 115 S WESTERN AVE. UNIT 3 CHICAGO, IL 60612

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 16, 2026, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on August 31, 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 115 S WESTERN AVE. UNIT 3, CHICAGO, IL 60612

Property Index No. 17-18-105029-1003

The real estate is improved with a condominium.

The judgment amount was $282,316.89.

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 Proper ty 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)

cation 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. Fo r information, c ontact

HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC Plaintiff's Attorneys, 601 E William St., DECATUR, IL, 62523 (217) 422-1719. Please refer to file number 2058522.

T HE JUDICIAL S ALES 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.

HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC

601 E. William St. DECATUR IL, 62523 217-422-1719

Fax #: 217-422-1754

E-Mail: CookPleadings@hsbattys. com

Attorney File No. 2058522

Attorney Code. 40387

Case Number: 25 CH 09277

TJSC#: 46-935