Local woman raises funds to take Austin youth to Africa
This is the fth year that Dyer has led a trip to Ghana
By DEBORAH BAYLISS Contributing Reporter
Zenaida Owusu-Young, 17, looks forward to connecting with her Ghanaian heritage by way of a trip to Africa that was made possible by Crystal Dyer, a board member of the Austin Chamber of Commerce.
“This is an opportunity to connect with my Ghanaian heritage,” Zenaida said. “I’m also looking forward to enjoying the food. Having Ghanaian food in Chicago is one thing but to have it there is a whole different thing.”
The opportunity to travel to Africa could be lifechanging for a lot of youth and will also broaden her own horizon, she added.
The trips to Africa are part of Dyer’s Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures nonprofit. August marks the 10-year anniversary of the organization and the fifth year that Dyer has taken youth from the West Side and other parts of the city to the continent.
Special Section, page B1 l
alt_ Chicago art center Executive
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Director Jordan Campbell and Aisha Oliver answer questions at the art center’s grand opening of their new home in the former Austin Bank on April 25.
arts hub for Austin
There’s a new arts hub in Austin that provides economic opportunities to local artists and increases af fordable arts programming on Chicago’s West Side.
Artist-led nonprofit Alt Space Chicago celebrated its grand opening at 5645 W. Corcoran Pl. over the weekend. Over 500 people attended an open house, art exhibition, One Earth watch party with a sustainability panel, artist market and Sunday worship.
TODD BANNOR
Prosecutors: man charged in re ghter’s death was recorded before and a er lighting garage fire
Charles Green, 44, is accused of lighting a re in his alley that led to the death of Capt. David Meyer
By CHARLES THRUSH Block Club Chicago
Surveillance footage led police to the West Side man accused of setting a garage fire that took the life of Chicago Fire Department Capt. David Meyer, prosecutors said.
Charles Green, 44, is facing first de gree murder and aggravated arson charges in the death of Meyer, who was killed while battling a garage fire April 23 in Austin.
A reticent Green spoke in hushed tones and averted his gaze at his pretrial detainment hearing April 26, where Judge Antara Nath Rivera ordered the man detained pending trial in a courtroom overflowing with firefighters and supporters of Meyer.
Green is accused of lighting a garbage can fire in an alley that engulfed a garage early that Wednesday behind a home in the 1200 block of North Pine Avenue in Austin, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Shelley Keane said. Firefighters were dis-
patched to the scene and extinguished the fire when the garage roof collapsed on Meyer, who later died from his injuries at Stro ger Hospital, police and prosecutors said.
“A fire is inherently dangerous,” Rivera said. “Especially a fire in a garage, in a residential area at 3 a.m. when people are sleeping. This fire didn’t spread to other buildings thanks to the immediate response of first responders … the defendant’s activity led to the demise of Captain Meyer.”
An investigation into the fire was quickly launched by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Chicago Fire Department’s Office of Fire Investigation and Chicago police. Green was identified through security footage, by multiple witnesses and, eventually, himself.
Surveillance video revealed a man dressed in a grey hoodie and skull cap, who
would later be identified as Green, leave his Austin home at 3:23 a.m. Wednesday and walk down an alley, Keane explained during the hearing.
At 3:28 a.m., Green briefly left the alleyway onto Pine Avenue before re-entering the alley for about 21 seconds, when prosectors and investigators believe the fire was started. Just over 30 seconds after Green alle gedly fled the scene, security footage showed “a flickering light in what appeared to be flames.”
T he garage was only a few houses away from Green’s home on the opposite side
COLIN BOYLE/BLOCK C LU B CHICAGO
Crews work the scene of a garage re on the West Side where veteran re ghter David Meyer died April 23.
MICHAEL LIPTRO/BLOCK C LU B CHICAGO
Chicago re ghters stand at attention at Stroger Hospital, where Captain David Meyer (right) was pronounced dead a er ghting a re on the West Side.
e Chicago Fire Department prepares for the procession of Dav id Meyer’s body to the Cook County
April 23. Meyer died while battling a blaze on the West Side
of the alley, and Green was the only person observed by security cameras in the alleyway at that time. T he view of the garage was blocked in security footage, but the sequence of events was enough of a burden of proof for pretrial detainment, Keane argued.
Green’s face was caught by surveillance video at a nearby gas station at 3:36 a.m., eight minutes after he alle gedly started the fire. A frequenter of the gas station, the gas station clerk, Green’s girlfriend and eventually Green himself each positively identified Green from the gas station footage and as the man seen walking in the alley. Police searched Green’s residence and recovered the same clothing from the security footage along with incendiary paraphernalia that included lighters, bur nt pieces of paper, lighter fluid and a possible “accelerant” on one of Green’s shirts that will be subject to further testing. Green was arrested a little after 12:30 p.m. on April 23.
Keane also argued that Green’s extensive
criminal background – including an armed robbery conviction, multiple theft charges and an active warrant for his arrest in a retail theft incident in March – made him a “real and present threat” to himself and others.
Public defender Jaclyn McAllister contended that the garage being hidden from view on security footage cast enough doubt on the prosecution’s case to warrant Green’s pretrial release. McAllister said Green is a churchgoing citizen with a part-time job as a janitor and a high school diploma who doesn’t pose a threat to himself or others. She criticized the prosecution for accusing Green of having an accelerant on his clothing without doing the proper testing.
T hose arguments didn’t pass muster for Judge Rivera, who ordered Green’s detainment and set his next court date for April 29th.
Meyer’s widow was escorted out of the court building in tears by a large group of firefighters after the hearing closed out.
The firefighter, with 28 years on the job, is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son.
“We’re a brotherhood, we’re here to support the family,” Patrick Cleary, president of the Chicago Fire Fighters union, said during a press conference after the proceedings. “It’s what we do.”
Meyer was previously a lieutenant on truck 35 on the West Side before working his way up to captain with truck 29, also on the West Side. A dedicated public servant, Austin neighbors said last week they recognized Meyer’s photo on the news as the man who rescued people from a serious car crash just days prior to his death.
Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th), an outspoken supporter of first responders, spoke to reporters and praised the judge’s ruling.
“The court system … has a very real impact on our communities,” Lopez said.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had judges not do the right thing in the past, with letting people go and commit more crimes, but today this judge did the right thing.”
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Medical Exmainer’s O ce on
5 local chefs win $9,000 grants
The money is from the rst Austin Eats culinary entrepreneurship grant to increase healthy food access in Austin
By JESSIC A MORDACQ Staff Reporter
There’s a fresh set of chefs leading the charge in healthy eating across Austin.
Five chefs were recently awarded $9,000 each from Austin Eats’ first culinary entrepreneurship grant. Austin Eats is under the leadership of Austin Coming Together and is an initiative by over 20 local partner organizations to reimagine access to healthy foods in Austin.
The winners of the Austin Eats grant were reco gnized for doing just that, increasing health and wellness education through food. They include: Jamaican restaurant Jam Grill; caterer Katr2U; KHC Culinary, which provides private chef services and cooking classes; Mafunzo Inter national Fitness and Kitchen, which offers catering, meal plans and physical training; and Vegan World Cafe, a catering company with takeout and limited dine-in seating.
“I screamed. I was so excited,” said Kyra Hawkins-Chambers, owner of KHC Culinary, about when she lear ned she won the grant. After an application process, recipi-
ents found out late last year that they won the Austin Eats grant.
“I was very surprised. I’m very grateful and honored to receive the grant,” said Ali Kleiche, chef, nutritionist and coach at Mafunzo Inter national Fitness and Kitchen.
Kleiche, an Austin resident, started Mafunzo Inter national in 2021 after hearing people on the West Side’s growing concer ns about health and diet at the start of the pandemic. Kleiche is a for mer Division I athlete who has lost many family members to chronic diseases.
“I realized that there is a need for creating something – a program, a business – that can help people eat better, train better and just be overall healthy,” Kleiche said. “That’s why I started Mafunzo.”
Kleiche volunteers with the Chicago Park District to teach boxing in La Follette Park and of fers free exercise classes full of breathing, stretching and light cardio throughout the summer around Austin. He’s also working with Austin Eats, churches, schools and community organizations to lead free cooking demonstrations and classes in the neighborhood.
The $9,000 Austin Eats grant will fund Mafunzo Inter national’s materials and food for cooking demonstrations, plus equipment for free fitness classes, like boxing gloves and water bottles.
Hawkins-Chambers started as a private chef in 2019 while she was in culinary school and launched KHC Culinary in 2023. She’s using her $9,000 Austin Eats grant to buy supplies for the cooking club at Christ the King
Jesuit College Preparatory School in Austin, where she attended high school. In addition to buying equipment to use in the club, Hawkins-Chambers purchased Instant Pots for the club’s seniors as a graduation gift.
“Whenever I am helping out students or anything, it doesn’t come at a cost to them,” Hawkins-Chambers said.
She’s also using the Austin Eats grant money to buy materials to use in the By the Hand Club for Kids after school prog ram Austin Harvest – a student-run produce market. On May 14, Hawkins-Chambers will put on a cooking demonstration at Austin Harvest and sell healthy meals to the community. She plans to host a similar event two or three times a month.
“What we’re trying to do is incorporate the fresh ingredients that they have access to at Austin Harvest,” HawkinsChambers said of the cooking demonstration. While she’s thinking of making chicken with a roasted garlic and mushroom mash, she’s sure of one ingredient she wants to use.
“One thing I want to highlight is the carrot,” Hawkins-Chambers said, adding that she’ ll present the carrots whole and Vichy-style with a sweet glaz e.
“My long-ter m goal is to end up being able to teach children how to cook while still r unning my private chef business,” Hawkins-Chambers said. She added that a self-described miniature cooking school
would be “a safe place for kids to come and to lear n. Because if we want a chang e with food and how kids see healthy things – or just how adults see healthy things –we have to target them as children. ”
Hawkins-Chambers will also be at Maryville Crisis Nursery’s first annual family and health safety fair on June 14, where she’ll do another cooking demonstration. All five grant recipients will have food demonstrations at the Austin Town Hall Far mers Market this summer, every T hursday from 1 to 6 p.m. star ting June 12
At one of his demonstrations, Kleiche said he’ ll make his specialty kale salad with blueberries, cashews, onions, garlic and olive oil. Or easy ve gan dishes with cur ry chickpeas, lentils or quinoa.
“We’re making a lot of various healthy recipes that are also flavorful,” Kleiche said on a phone call with Austin Weekly News while visiting Morocco. While he’s there, he’s stocking up on spices to use in upcoming cooking demos around Austin.
“This grant is literally a source of motivation for me to continue my work and education to our communities at large with healthy eating options and help the members of the community feel good about themselves and be the best version of themselves,” Kleiche said. “I’m not stopping here because I’m going to keep working to create better opportunities for the people of the Austin community.”
e Austin Eats grant awardees, top le to bottom right: Latricia Swoope of Vegan World Cafe, Kyra Hawkins-Chambers of KHC Culinar y, Patty Ringo of Katr2U, Lclat Baxter of Jam Grill, and Ali Kleiche of Mafunzo International.
GHANA Seeking heritage
from page 1
“The organization was founded as a career and culture program to provide youth an opportunity to travel outside the boundaries of their community and for them to learn about careers and cultures
The organization essentiall an anti-violence pr created following the death of her grandson to gun violenc
“My grandson was a victi of gun violence in 2011,” Dyer said, recalling the days after his 18th birthd was murdered. innocent bystander a birthday party. an argument before and the people c ing. He had just walked throug the door. He was the only and some were for over two months. found the people who did it.”
mouth donations from businesses and people Dyer is already acquainted with. Donations are accepted at https://givebutter.com.
Dyer was able to get a scholarship for Owusu-Young to cover most of her expenses for the trip.
As of Saturday, $25,000 had been raised in total. With the trip date so close, the focus is on raising the remaining $20,000 that’s needed by the end of May.
After retiring from AT&T, Dyer started a career as a travel advisor and traveled the world with her clients. God, she said, sent her a message to use those skills to help youth learn about the and stay out of trouble
“I opened a storefront on Chicago Avenue on the 5900 block and started of f just taking youth on local field trips with donations and then I was using proceeds from my company as it grew,” Dyer said.
“I founded my [youth] organization in 2015 and by 2018 I was volunteering at the juvenile detention center on Ogden Avenue wo trying to help them see that they have a future despite their circumstances.”
The 14-to-15-hour flight has a connection S. or another country and then on
organization, she said, ust about traveling to Afabout helping kids every
“My organization is a free proam so any youth can enroll,” said Dyer. “They have to be 14 to the scholarship. To go on the trip, they have to be 14 to 24.” outh who’ve experienced Ghana in the past, it opened their eyes to their responsibility to themselves, to their families and d, Dyer said. with what people call a e society with social media, everything just closes in and becomes about you the individual,” Dyer said. “When they go to a country like this and interact with the kids there and the different people, they learn how committed the people are to their duty to excel. They’re also very committed to their religion. Some are Muslim and there are Christians too.”
The more she interacted with people from Africa and sent clients from her travel company to Africa, Dyer said she got a message from God to use those skills to help the youth have a life changing experience.
“A lot of the kids have not been off the block so to go to another continent. …,” she said. “We made our first trip to Ghana in August of 2018.”
This year’s trip is scheduled for June 17 with 12 young people signed up to go
All the expenses for the trip to Accra, Ghana is by way of fundraising and word-of-
Dyer added how the young people there are so wise beyond their years.
“They have the wisdom of their ancestors and they believe that doing good for others will bring good to them,” she said. I named the trip ‘Juneteenth with Our Ancestors.’
oup will spend time at the slave dungeons of Elmina and Cape Coast.
Built in 1482 by Portuguese traders, Elmina Castle was the first European slavetrading post in all of sub-Saharan Africa. Elmina, like other West African slave fortresses, housed luxury suites for the Europeans in the upper levels. The slave dungeons below were cramped and filthy, each cell often housing as many as 200 captured Africans at a time, without enough space to even lie down.
“We’ll be there for two nights including Juneteenth (June 19),” Dyer said of what is a very emotional experience. “From there, we go north to Kente Village and to Kumasi
PROVIDED
I.A.B. Sackey, aka Ko Nyan (Cape Coast, Ghana) 3x-great-grandfather.
PROVIDED
Adult: Adwoa Saaba 3x-great-maternalgrandmother. Young girl: Zenaida’s greatgrandmother, Efua Baakie (Elmina, Ghana)
where the Ghanaian royalty lives. We’re also going to Tamale where the slave trade started. This is the first trip where we’re going to that city.”
They’ll also spend time at the game reserves and have an opportunity to lear n drumming
African drumming has been a vital part of African societies for centuries, weaving together social, spiritual, and artistic aspects, a way of communicating
PROVIDED Araba Eson great-great-maternal-grandmother (Elmina, Ghana)
PROVIDED Efua Asempa Nkyere (Elmina, Ghana) 4x-great-maternal-grandmother
Dorcas Owusu, Zenaida’s mother, said the trip will be a wonderful first-hand experience with all the sites they’ll visit.
“Her great, great, great grandmother and grandfather are from Elmina and Cape Coast,” Owusu said. “She’s never been there so I thought it would be great for her as she wraps up her high school years to get in tune with who she is. Even though we’ve always instilled it in her, there’s nothing like being there on the ground.”
ZENAIDA OWUSU-YOUNG
CRYSTAL DYER
Jamila Woods and members of D-Composed per form “Our Nature, e Listening Fiel d” at the Kehrein Center for the Arts eater on April 27.
PHOTO S BY ERIC A BENSON
The Bank of America Chicago 13.1 is collaborating with the West Side community to offer wellness-based activities race weekend. The goal is to support, advance and celebrate health, wellness and movement on Chicago’s West Side. Activities include a family-friendly 1.31-Mile Wellness Walk, youth running events and opportunities to showcase local West Side businesses and organizations. Activities are free with a suggested donation to the Garfield Park Advisory Council to support the park’s programs and facilities.
ARTS HUB
Artist led
from page 1
The nonprofit’s new headquarters in the historic Austin Bank building will house mixed-use space for events and exhibitions, small areas for retail, teaching space for local vendors and artists, workshops and a cafe.
The building, which alt_ Chicago bought last year with grant money and funds from the nonprofits’ projects, is currently used for community meetings and local events. It will host The House Collective, a group of artists and community members that will share resources to offer classes and workshops and put on exhibitions for the community.
“We’re offering an alternative to everything else that’s being of fered to the city but doing it in our own way through the pillars of art, faith and community,” Jordan Campbell, executive director and co-founder of alt_ Chicago, told Austin Weekly News.
Made up of five nonprofits and 10 artists-in-residence, The House Collective is a community investment vehicle, allowing its participants to use money they would’ve spent to rent their own space to
cago to rely less on grants for building operations, since that’s covered by what participants pay into The House Collective
The House Collective will also create a grant where about 10% of what it makes will go back into the community to sponsor the likes of elders with fixed income or single-parent households.
“I want us to learn what it means to be philanthropic with our abundance and to be intentional about giving back to our community in as many ways as we can to really meet the needs through our service,” Campbell said.
Creating space
Campbell and Jon Veal started alt_ Chicago in 2019 to create a healing tool for the Black community’s trauma.
Alt_ Chicago’s first community activation was Project Stamp, where Austin residents sat for family photos. They got to keep a copy, and another was used to decorate vacant spaces with images of local residents.
In 2020, alt_ Chicago became a nonprofit
art installation that also serves as a giveaway spot for free non-perishable food and hygiene items. The idea was a response to the anger that Campbell and Veal saw in Austin after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.
“Essentially, we wanted to mobilize the community, empower them, dignify them and help them to understand that what we believe is the greatest asset of any community is the people,” Campbell previously told the Weekly “Art has the ability to start those conversations or is the initiator of those movements.”
Alt_ Chicago’s Redemptive Plastics initiative has diverted over 10,000 pounds of plastic from the landfill and turned it into functional art like key chains, hammers and bus stop benches. Campbell said alt_ Chicago is finishing electric service in its new building in order to do processing for Redemptive Plastics.
Last year, alt_ Chicago hosted or participated in 24 events around Austin and paid $175,000 to contractors and artists. It also rece ived $21,000 in donations and got $400,000 in grants – which was
TODD BANNOR
Justin Redding, a friend and collaborator with alt_ Chicago, curated “alt_ Past, Present + Future,” a re ection on the nonp ro t’s jour ney.
TODD BANNOR
Executive Director Jordan Campbell and Aisha Oliver welcome visitors to alt_ Chicago ar t center, April 25.
used to purchase and develop what once housed the historic Austin Bank of Chicago, constructed by Frederick Schock, a notable Chicago architect who lived and worked in Austin.
Previously, alt_ Chicago rented space at 5339 W. Lake St. Alt_ Chicago has been allocating funds toward a permanent location since 2021, when its founders were looking to buy a building. But that process stalled when Veal passed the following year and Campbell focused on main-
Chicago’s marketing and communications lead Amanda Campagnoni, co-founder Jordan Campbell, and project lead Nick ompson.
taining operations.
Alt_ Chicago bought the old Austin Bank building with about $200,000 from consulting or working on projects for DCASE, Lurie’s Austin Hope Center and One Lawndale Children’s Discovery Center. It also got $300,000 from IFF and a credit with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, which used to operate the Father Augustus Tolton Peace Center from that location. Maryville Academy also resided in the building but has since relocated.
In the next five years, Campbell said alt_ Chicago will focus about 50% on building operations, 40% on internal operations, and the remainder on grants and community operations.
The nonprofit is looking to install infrastructure for geothermal energy or heat pump systems. Workshop spaces will likely be created in the basement once alt_ Chicago develops an accessible path to get downstairs.
Earth Paint was The House Collective’s
first tenant. It provides recycled paint that’s cheaper than market rate and job opportunities to those with special needs. Recently, Ear th Paint created a mural at T&C Fitness Club, possibly the first in Chicago to be done with 100% recycled paint.
“We’re really mindful of our footprint in terms of the materials that we’re using and who we’re sourcing from,” Campbell said, “and keeping things localized as much as we can within our processes as an organization.”
TODD BANNOR
Lobby atrium Ma
KENN COOK
TODD BANNOR
Exhibit hall
PUBLIC NOTICES
NOTICE INVITATION TO BID TO METROPOLITAN WATER
RECLAMATION DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO
Sealed proposals, endorsed as above, will be submitted back to the District via an electronic upload to the Bonfire Portal only, from the date of the Invitation to Bid, up to 11:00 A.M. (Chicago time), on the bid opening date, and will be opened publicly as described in the Invitation to Bid by the Director of Procurement and Materials Management or designee at 11:00 AM on the stated bid opening date below for:
CONTRACT 22-903-22
CENTRIFUGE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE STICKNEY WATER
RECLAMATION PLANT (RE-BID)
Estimated Cost: $5,451,597.00
Bid Deposit: $218,000.00
Optional Pre-Bid Walk-Through will be held on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Chicago Time at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant,6001 West Pershing Road, Stickney, IL 60804.
Voluntary Technical Pre-Bid Conference: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 9:00 am Chicago Time via ZOOM Link. Compliance with the District’s Affirmative Action Ordinance Revised Appendix D, Appendix C, Appendix K, and the Multi-Project Labor Agreement are required on this Contract.
Bid Opening: June 3, 2025
*******************************
The above is an abbreviated version of the Notice- Invitation to Bid. A full version which includes a brief description of the project and/or service can be found on the District’s website, www.mwrd. org; the path is as follows: Doing Business > Procurement and Materials Management > Contract Announcements.
Specifications, proposal forms and/ or plans may be obtained from the Department of Procurement and Materials Management by downloading online from the District’s website at www.mwrd.org (Doing Business > Procurement & Materials Management > Contract Announcements). No fee is required for the Contract Documents. Any questions regarding the downloading of the Contract Document should be directed to the following email: contractdesk@mwrd.org or call 312-751-6643.
All Contracts for the Construction of Public Works are subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/1-et.seq.), where it is stated in the Invitation to Bid Page.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals if deemed in the public’s best interest.
By Darlene A. LoCascio Director of Procurement and Materials Management
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.
Attorney File No. 14-24-07236
Attorney ARDC No. 00468002
Attorney Code. 21762
Case Number: 2023 CH 07167
TJSC#: 45-879
FOR SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION
U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee of the Igloo Series III Trust Plaintiff
vs. Michael Genovese; Plaza Bank; CR-FMV Investors, LLC; Illinois Department of Revenue; 1148 West Monroe Condominium Association; CR-FMV Investors, LLC as assignee to North Community Bank, successor by merger with Plaza Banks; Unknown Owners and Nonrecord Claimants; Defendant
21 CH 2048
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 May 21, 2025, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 17-17-202-025-1006. Commonly known as 1148 W. Monroe Street, #3NW, Chicago, IL 60607. The real estate is: condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g) (1) and (g)(4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act.. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Sottile & Barile, LLC, 7530 Lucerne Drive, Suite 210, Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130. (440) 5721511. ILF2103016 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3264221
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCAF ACQUISITION TRUST
Plaintiff,
-v.-
A & S HOME VENTURES, LLC, A
NEW YORK LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, KATHERINE TAVAREZ, AN INDIVIDUAL, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS
Defendants
2023 CH 07167 405 N LAWLER AVE 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 March 20, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 12, 2025, 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 405 N LAWLER AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60644 Property Index No. 16-09-227-0150000
The real estate is improved with a commercial property.
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, 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
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
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 07167 I3264240
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR FREDDIE MAC SEASONED CREDIT RISK TRANSFER TRUST, SERIES 20173, AS OWNER OF THE RELATED MORTGAGE LOAN
Plaintiff vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS OF SARA MCCOTTRY A/K/A SARA ELIZABETH MCCOTTRY, LAURA HARISON HAMLET A/K/A LAURA HARRISON HAMLET ANDDEQUINCEY HAMLET, OLD SECOND NATIONAL BANK SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO AUSTIN BANK OF CHICAGO, ARROW FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC, APPLIED CARD BANK, JOSEPH W. MCCOTTRY JR POSSIBLE HEIR, JACQUELYN J. MCCOTTRY POSSIBLE HEIR, TORKESSA S. MCCOTTRY POSSIBLE HEIR, CURTIS LEE MCCOTTRY POSSIBLE HEIR, JULIE FOX AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS
Defendant 24 CH 3245
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 May 28, 2025, at the hour 11:00
a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-09-111-010-0000, 16-09111-011-0000.
Commonly known as 631 N. LOREL AVE., CHICAGO, IL 60644. 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 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.
For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Suite 201, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 3571125. 24-00833
INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3264582
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION
U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee of the Bungalow Series IV Trust Plaintiff vs. Estate of Georgia A. Barnett; Horris M Polland Sr., individually and as independent Administrator of the Estate of Georgia A. Barnett; City of Chicago; Clear Haven 2021 Trust; Unknown Owners and Nonrecord Claimants Defendant 24 CH 1604
CALENDAR 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 June 3, 2025, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-05-420-040-0000. Commonly known as 952 North Massasoit Avenue, Chicago, IL 60651. 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 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Sottile & Barile, LLC, 7530 Lucerne Drive, Suite 210, Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130. (440) 5721511. ILF2306018
INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3265012
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Growing Green
Want to play to your strengths? Get composting
Oak Park’s composting e or ts reach new heights
By MARTHA BRENNAN Contributing Reporter
The sun is shining, birds are singing, and the warmth is upon us, which means one thing: it’s composting season. Well, this may be the case in any other town. But in Oak Park, it’s always composting season.
In 2024, the village won the Pathfinder Award from the Illinois Recycling Foundation. Erica Helms, environmental services manager in Oak Park’s public works department, said the award praised Oak Park’s “successful year-round residential food scrap collection.”
T he award noted Oak Park’s ef for ts provide “excellent guidance for other communities.”
But how does Oak Park do it? It goes back 12 years.
The village has demonstrated its ability to unite in protecting the Earth since 2013, when Oak Park implemented a “villagewide” composting ef fort, according to the Chicago Tribune The program provided participants – who pay a monthly fee that be gan at $14 and now sits at $16.31 in 2025 – with a 96-gallon container to be placed adjacent to trash and recycling bins.
Twelve years later, the program still stands. Only now, in 2025, there are fewer obstacles than in previous years, making the composting process easier than ever
This is thanks to the construction of Whole Earth Compost, a facility whose existence allows for certainty that all of Oak Park’s compost has a final destination, where it can then be tur ned into soil.
The facility is located on Chicago’s
COMPOSTING on pa ge B4
Organic Lawn Care Since 2007
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Growing Green 2025
OPRF’s geothermal system to be completed this summer
$12.5 million heating and cooling system, under the football eld, expected to save the distric and reduce carbon emissions
By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter
The installation of a geother mal heating system under the football field at Oak Pa Forest High School is expected to be c summer, in advance of the start of football practic
“The status of the project is actually going considering the cold winter that we had,” said mann, OPRF’s director of construction.
Geother mal heating and cooling systems earth’s stable temperature to ef ficiently heat buildings. The system will provide 100% of cooling, and ventilation for the high school’s education facilities, known as Imagine OPRF new facilities are currently being built in wing of the building.
An analysis comparing the geother mal system to a more traditional boiler-and-chiller system found that geothermal will save the district roughly $385,000 per year while reducing CO2 emissions by an amount equivalent to driving an average passenger car 504,984 miles
“There are big savings in the utility costs,” Bergmann said.
The $12.5 million geother mal project began in November 2024, with the removal of the turf. Since then, the instillation of 240 geother mal wells, each descending 500 feet into the earth, has been underway.
There are only 25 wells left to drill, according to Bergmann, so that portion of the project will be completed by the first week of May, with expectations that the system will be
UNDERGROUND: e geothermal system draws energy from 500 feet below ground.
fully installed in July.
The system is being installed by Veregy, a self-described provider of energy-efficient solutions Once the wells are complete, the contractors will start working on horizonal piping that will connect the wells.
Once the project is completed, the 240 geother mal wells will all contain fluid. Electric pumps will circulate that fluid in and out of the school. In the summer, heat from the
school will be transferred into the ground. During the winter, heat will be extracted from the ground and transferred nto school.
Project 2, which is part of a long-ter m capital projects lan, includes a new pool, multi-use gyms, locker rooms, PE classrooms and a weight room. The expected completion date of Project 2 is summer 2026.
“The geother mal field that we’re installing now is only designed to heat and cool Project 2,” Bergmann said.
Of the $12.5 million cost of the project, approximately $10.5 million is being spent on the actual installation, while the remaining $2 million will go toward replacing the drainage and the turf on the field. However, this cost does not inlude what are expected to be significant federal rebates.
The geother mal system aligns with District 200’s ambitious Sustainability Policy, which includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 45% of 2012 levels by 2030 and 100% by 2050. Geother mal is more ef ficient than gas or electric heat and emits no greenhouse gases.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to do another project like this in the future for a different part of the building,” Bergmann said.
The final part of the system’s installation will entail putting the turf back on the field, which Bergmann said will take three or four weeks.
“That’s anticipated to be a big project,” Bergmann said. Since the football team begins practice at the beginning of August, Bergmann said it’s important that construction of the geother mal system is complete by the July deadline.
“We should be in great shape at the end of July for when the kids come back and football practices start,” he said.
CO
Growing Green 2025
COMPOSTING
southeast side and is built on top of a for mer landfill. conclude the composting process, the facility processes composted items that have been collected by Lakeshor Recycling Systems and transfer red to a transfer station in Maywood.
Once compost arrives at the facility, it gets divided i two categories: “green” and “brown.” The “brown” category includes yard waste and “dry material”, while “green” primarily includes “wet” items, such as food scraps Helms explained the positive impact this facility on Oak Pa rk’s composting ventures
“In the past, it has been that there weren’ t that many places to take composting, but now there’s been a lot of funding and legislation that supports that,” she said.
This bodes well for the future of Oak Park’s composting ef forts.
“We’ re able to expand our progr ams and then make sure it gets composted,” said Helms.
Oak Park’s compost successes owe to the village’s multiple drop-off sites. These sites allow residents to avoid paying the $16.31 compost pick-up fee and still take part in the community’s composting ef forts.
Currently, there are five drop-off locations, but Helms is
optimistic about adding more. They are located at 1010 N. Ridgeland Ave., 1125 Ontario St., 720 North Blvd., 102 N. Lombard Ave., and 207 Garfield St.
Helms said the village is also wo rk ing on holding future partnerships with the two school districts, D97 and D200, to encourage students to c ollaborate in an ef fort to “beautify” the drop-off sites in order to increase c omp osting pa rt icipation.
Oak Park will celebrate International Compost Awareness Week, which runs from May 4-10. This will most likely be highlighted the following week at the village’s board meeting on Tuesday, May 13, according to the village clerk’s office.
Composting harvests tremendous environmental benefits, such as its contribution to reducing methane emissions, one of the most harmful greenhouse gases.
“When your trash goes to the landfill, it all just gets, like, compacted down and into an anaerobic environment that causes more methane to be released,” said Helms. “If you divert your compost to a facility that aerates it, it breaks down properly. There is much, much, much less methane coming of f of it.”
Helms made a call to action.
“The more people we get signed up and the more compost we divert from the landfill, the less methane will be released,” she said.
For information on how to get involved, and updates on Oak Park’s composting journey, visit https://www oak-park us/ Services-Parking/Waste-Recycling/Compostable-Program
Earth Day,
more than a day but a way of life
Re ections on protecting our world all year round, and advice to check out OP’s many sustainability events
ell before most scientists about climom was onserving water, ring the thermostat, the amount of plastic rything from her make-
he was a registered nurse and an avid , but in another life, she could have ved lear n-
ry episode of the PBS documentary with the intensity of a bio major cramming
PROVIDED
Germaine Caprio’s mom understood the fragility of the earth well before others paid attention. She’s seen here with Germaine’s brothers.
sneak into the kitchen to remind us not to run the water. “Kids, don’t use clean water to rinse dirty dishes,” she’d say. “Someday water will be a pricey commodity and we’ ll be fighting to save it.” Then she’d grab one of the dirty pots, place it in the sink, fill it with water and swish the dirty dishes and silverware through it before loading them into the dishwasher.
Running the faucet was no longer an option, and it still isn’t in my house
I am too young to remember the first Earth Day in 1970, but as the years went on, I remember my mom saying, “It’s great they created one day to honor our Earth, but we need to take care of it every day. They should declare an Earth Month and take more time to educate people on what’s happenrld.”
Spring Prep Alert
she was stealthily schooling us on preserving ecosystems and saving endangered species before we even knew what Earth Day was
“Kids,” she always started that way, “did you know they’re leveling a beautiful prairie just west of the city to build some awful strip mall?” We’d shrug our shoulders and scoop another spoonful of Cheerios. “Where will all the creatures tha live there go? All the butterflies, bumble bees and frogs, not to mention the birds, foxes and other wildlife that called that field home?”
We’d never thought about them before...but to this day, I can’t pass a construction site without thinking the same thing. After dinner, we’d stack the dishes in the sink when she’d
I’m pretty sure my mom would be thrilled to w that’s exactly what the Village of Oak ’s Sustainability Office and its local tners are doing. Over this month and in celebration of Earth Month, there have been at least nine nearby events to teach and inspire all of us to take care of our planet.
They have included an Eco-Extravaganza at the Oak Park Public Library to a Clean Energy Open House. The Trailside Museum showed people how to create pollinator pockets in their own yard by making a seed bomb. Currently, the One Ear th Film Festival is underway with films on how to reform school lunches and many other topics. w my mom would have been at every one of these events, urging us to go with her, because she knew by protecting our planet, she protected the ones she loved.
Come join us, bring your kids and become their stealthy science teacher, because these are the lessons that will stay with them forever.
As you are well aware, we experienced a very unseasonable winter: total snowfall of 16 inches, coupled with large variations in warm and cold temperatures.
To add insult to injury, spring has gotten off to a cold start. Because of this, here are some things to be on the lookout for:
Perennials – the cold start has delayed emergence of many perennials and ornamental grasses. It will take time and warmth to encourage them to begin their spring growth. Be patient before assuming they did not survive the winter.
Groundcover – we have seen significant dieback to groundcover, especially those that are evergreen/semi-evergreen, due to the lack of snow cover and multiple freeze/thaw events.
Turf – even with little snow cover, there has been evidence to suggest that winter fungal diseases have caused damage, dependent on conditions. Shady, less-ventilated areas may be showing more signs of damage. Insects – we anticipate more insect pests for the upcoming growing season due to lack of extended cold and longduration freeze. Be on the lookout for pest damage on plants and turf.
Unfortunately, we are at the weather’s mercy, so paying close attention to your landscape will help ensure you recognize problems early and take proper action so your landscape can thrive in 2025.
Scott McAdam Jr.
ese pins show gardens/landscapes that feature native plants and suppor t w ildlife on the West Side and near west suburbs.
Wildlife corridor stretches from the Des Plaines to West Side
Native plants bring bees and butter ies, woodpeckers and warblers
wildlife corridor is a strip of habitat that wildlife can use to get from one natural area to annonprofit West Cook Wild Ones decided to create a wildlife corridor bes West Side and the Des Plaines
A decade later, more than 200 people throughout rest and Forest Park have gardens as part of that
in a heavily urban environment with a lot of ildings and roads, so it would a continuous strip of green ve steppingstones,” said Laura Hartwell-Berlin, president of the group. “It’s like bitat patches between the West Side of r.”
is one composed of plants which are raphic re gion. These plants
have evolved to thrive in the local climate, soil, and wildlife interactions, creating a diverse and self-sustaining ecosystem. Locally, West Cook Wild Ones promotes native gardening through education and advocacy
According to Hartwell-Berlin, the reason it’s important to plant native plants as opposed to non-native plants is because native plants and native insects have evolved together for thousands of years. As a result, they have a close relationship. In many instances, native insects that eat plants can only use native species as their host plants.
“Most insects that eat plants don’t reco gnize non-native plants as a food source, which I know seems bizar re, but it’s true,” said Hartwell-Berlin. “So native plants help feed the native insects and then the native insects feed the rest of wildlife, like birds, small mammals and amphibians.”
Hartwell-Berlin said the Wildlife Corridor project is mainly focused on flying creatures, since they need to be able to get from one patch to the next.
“Unfortunately, this is not a very friendly environment for amphibians,” she said.
Examples of plants that are native to the area and help wild-
CREDIT: WILD ONES WEST COOK
Growing
WALK THIS WAY: A front yard native garden in Oak Park attracts bees and butte
life thrive are Purple Coneflowers, Browneyed Susans, Wild Bergamots, Milkweed and Prairie Dropseed. A native tree, the Bur Oak, is a great start for providing a
Stephanie Walquist, a founding member of West Cook Wild Ones, didn bees or butterflies when she first mo Oak Park in 2011, so she set out to do somewildlife corridors so decided to create this corridor linking oods to Columbus Pa
7443 Madison St, Forest Park (708) 657-4230
Wild Ones adds the addresses of the new participant to the organization’s Wildlife Corridor map.
“Our mission as an organization is to have thriving native plant communities surrounding us,” Hartwell-Berlin said.
A decade later, Walquist oflant gardens and parkways that een turned into refug es throughout the com-
I see lots of different kinds
Walquist said. “Over seemed to be a
Specific creatures she has of since the project monarch butterfl
vity and making a difference,” Walquist said “You can see, on the map, how your individual patch makes an impact. It’s kind of empowe
To learn more about the Wildlife Corridors project and to view their map, westcook.wildones.org/wildlife-corridor/
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Growing Green 2025
