Big Week

Friday Films at the Library Friday Films is starting up again! Movies are shown in the Austin Room at the Forest Park Public Library, 7555 Jackson Blvd., from 1 to 4 p.m. March lineup: March 6 – “Operation Petticoat” with Cary Grant and Tony Curtis March 13 – “Young Frankenstein” with Gene Wilder and Madeline Kahn March 20 – “The Man with the Golden Arm” with Frank Sinatra and Kim Novak

Future Lounge Leaders Pizza Meet & Greet

If you’re between the ages of 11-13 this is your chance to be seen and get your say as you take your place as the upperclassmen and women of the lower level. We will be talking about plans for the spring and beyond and choosing our oŸ cers. Tuesday, March 10 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Forest Park Public Library, 7555 Jackson Blvd.

BIG WEEK March 4-10

25th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Don’t miss it! On Saturday, March 7, come on out for a fun lled day on Madison Street. Join us at the 25th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. With over sixty entries including bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local businesses, Medinah Shriner parade units, and local police &  re departments our parade is the best in the western suburbs. The parade kicks o…at 1 p.m. from Madison and Van Buren and travels east on Madison Street to Elgin Avenue.

Documentaries & Discussion for Teens

Thursday, March 5 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Forest Park Public Library, 7555 Jackson Blvd., in the young adult lounge. Join us as we watch interesting true-life documentaries, then stick around for snacks and discussion.

Friday Funk Sessions Come out to Lantern Haus, 7414 Madison St., on March 2 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. to see the Veltway Allstars and special guests. Set the night on  re with soulful grooves, improvised jams and tunes to make you move! No cover, but tips are appreciated!

After Hours at the Roos Join us for a special night just for tweens and teens from 5th through 8th grade! On March 7 from 8 to 10 p.m., pre-register or drop in for a night dedicated for tweens and teens. A PG or PG-13 movies will be shown, the gym will be open, pizza, popcorn and a beverage will be served. Come hang out with friends (or make new friends) as you watch a movie, play gaga ball or basketball or try something new. $7 for residents and $10 for non-residents. Pre-register at pdofp.org/tween-teen-movie-night.

PASO works to educate Latinx population about census

Fear, misunderstanding the benets may cause undercount

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

Forest Park Commissioner Jessica Voogd stood in front of the TV cameras with a large group of community officials, clergy and rights advocates at a press conference at the PASO main office on North Avenue in Melrose Park on Feb. 24. She was showing solidarity with the advocacy group in opposing what she called “bullying and intimidation tactics” used by the Trump administration, “an obvious attempt to reduce participation in the 2020 Census.” PASO (Proyecto de Accion de los Suburbios del Oeste or West Suburban Action Projection) is, according to their website, “a community-based social justice organization that works to engage community members to address issues that affect them.” Anna Marin, organizing director for PASO, confirmed news reports that state many in the Latinx community are afraid if they complete the census forms and send them in, they will be risking deportation. Marin said it has been a challenge for PASO staff members to assure the Spanish-speaking immigrant population that a “citizenship question” will not be on the census forms and the information they give will not be used against them. It’s been a challenge because of a lack of trust in civic institutions like the police and government at all levels, a lack of trust which is based on a long history of being treated unjustly. Prominent on a banner hanging on the wall in PASO’s main office at 3415 North Ave. in Melrose Park are the words sin papeles, sin miedo — “without papers, without fear.” Marin and her fellow advocates are trying to spread the word that even if people lack documentation, they don’t have to be afraid of completing the forms. “I hope my attendance at the Feb. 24 press conference,” Voogd said, “demonstrates my solidarity with communities that have been historically marginalized and also honors our Forest Park resolution, which states, in part, that it is the policy of the village to welcome and treat all persons entering or living in our community with the same respect, fairness, and dignity, and to continue providing municipal services and enforcing the law on an equal basis to all people, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or nation of origin or descent or federal immigration status.” Part of PASO’s message to their target population is that not only are the negative rumors about the citizenship question untrue, but it is also in their self-interest to participate in the decennial population count. Marin repeated what census workers have been emphasizing for the last several months. Federal funding for local village projects and programs is in large part dependent on the number of residents counted. The federal government gives $1,400 dollars to local governments every year for every person counted in the census for the next 10 years. That means, if you do the math, for every person not counted this year, Forest Park will lose $14,000 during the next decade. “In the 2010 Census,” Marin said, “a million children up to the age of 5 did not get counted nationwide. The numbers are astronomical, but it means that billions of dollars have been lost for programs like health care, free lunches and Head Start.” Marin said it is in the interest of every Illinois resident to be counted because repJESSICA VOOGD Forest Park Commissioner

resentation in the U.S. Congress is determined by the results of the census. Because of a net loss in population, she said, Illinois is probably going to lose one representative and maybe two. We don’t want to lose any more. In their education programs, PASO presenters provide a timeline. On March 12, every household in Illinois will begin receiving notifications from the Census Bureau with a unique code which can be used to go online and fill out the census or do it by phone using the same code. If by the end of April, residents have not responded, the Census Bureau will start contacting them, and after six unsuccessful attempts they will send an enumerator, as they are called, to knock on your door. Marin declared, “If you are an immigrant who doesn’t want someone from the government knocking on your door, fill out the census and send it in.” In the end, she concluded, it’s not only about money or programs. “This is about our humanity,” declared Marin. “We count as individuals. It is important that we achieve increased visibility as an important part of our society.” PASO is located at 3415 W. North Avenue, Suite D in Melrose Park and can be reached at 708-410-2000 or on their Facebook page at facebook.com/pasoaction.

Let us know - we’ll hold your paper! Road Trip on the Horizon?

Email: circulation@ForestParkReview.com

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W h e n Y o u W i n W e A l l W i n ! FUNDRAISER Online Auction 2020

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Need a helping of

Aftanas acknowledged there have been lawsuits against the Forest Park police department. With cameras, he said, exactly what happened would have been recorded, leaving far fewer questions and less ambiguity. Aftanas has spoken to police departments of neighboring towns who use body cameras, and he said that in many cases, reports of complaints about police have gone down with cameras in use. Broadview, Bellwood and Berkeley are three nearby towns where the police already wear body cameras. Oak Park and River Forest police do not. Lieutenant Christopher Chin, who has worked with Aftanas on bringing the cameras to the department, said that another reason the department has seen little resistance is because technology is so much more prevalent today. “Ten years ago, there probably would have been a lot more push-back,” said Chin. “But these days, people record everything on phones anyway.” Aftanas said when the midnight shift officers go into a bar just to do a premises check, automatically patrons pull out their phones and start recording, just in case something exciting happens. Now, the police will have their own official recording as well. Chin added that although the body cam is always recording, once an officer presses the “record” button, the last 30 seconds of events are automatically included in the specified segment, a feature that is also part of the squad car cameras currently in use. Aftanas and Chin hope to have the cameras in use by the end of the summer at the latest, though it’s a comprehensive process and takes about a year, from start to finish, said Aftanas. The grant was approved in September 2019. “We have to develop policy regarding the use of the cameras, which is pretty much done,” he said. “The next step is having all employees review the policy and making any necessary changes. Then we get it approved by the Department of Justice. Once that happens, the funds are awarded, allowing us to go ahead and order the equipment. We install it, train, and go live.” He said he expected that, with any new technology, it might not be flawless in the beginning and there may be glitches here and there. And it will take a little time for the officers to get used to the system. But Aftanas said he’s glad to be bringing this new technology to the department and that he thinks the body cameras will be a positive change. “They’re for our protection and everyone’s benefit,” said Aftanas. BODY CAMS Everyone bene ts from page 1

TOM AFTANAS Forest Park Police Chief

Call Jill at (708) 524-8300 or visit ForestParkReview.com/subscribe

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formerly The Scottish Home

Dear Oak Park Residents and Surrounding Community, This year we are giving back to you with an amazing one time offer (in celebration of our 25th anniversary)!

Special 2020 Offer!

$248 per month Private Lessons in ANY subject we offer! $199 for the first month!

Perfect for children, teens, and adults!

All Languages, All Instruments, All Subjects for Academic Tutoring! All AGES!

Spanish Immersion - no Spanish experience necessary. Our Summer Camp’s waitlist has been eliminated, with all the space we have at the new Mansion! Preschool Group (ages 2-4) Kindergarten through 2nd Grade Group (ages 5-8) 3rd-5th grade group (ages 9-11) Monday through Friday 9:30am-2:30pm, choose your weeks $250 per week. Before and after care available. Two-week minimum, 8-week recommendation for language acquisition. Language and Music Summer Camp!

Don’t forget to ask about our other programs and offerings: • Before and Afterschool “Homework Cafe” at The International Mansion • Language and Fine Arts Preschool and Elementary School (Homeschool-style in School) • Our Recording Studio • Translations and Interpretations

LEAP DAY FESTIVAL

Organizations and businesses were represented during the Forest Park Leap Day History and Community Festival on Feb. 29 at the Howard Mohr Community Center, 7640 Jackson Blvd. Groups that participated included the 2020 Census Committee, the Forest Park Arts Alliance, Go Green Forest Park, the Forest Park Public Library, …e Forest Park Review, the Harlem Maenner und Damen Chor, the Kiwanis, the Environmental Commission, the Cub Scouts and the Proviso Eagles.

189 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 386-1400

HomesInTheVillage.com

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Religion Guide

You’re Invited to

A Church for All Nations A Church Without Walls

SERVICE LOCATION Forest Park Plaza 7600 W. Roosevelt Road Forest Park, IL 60130

William S. Winston Pastor (708) 697-5000 Sunday Service 7AM, 9AM & 11:15AM LIVE Webcast - 11:15AM Service

Believer’s Walk of Faith Broadcast Schedule (Times in Central Standard Time) Television

DAYSTAR (M-F) 3:30-4:00pm Nationwide WJYS-TV (M-F) 6:30-7:00am Chicago, IL. WCIU-TV (Sun.) 10:30-11:00am Chicago, IL. Word Network 10:30-11:00am Nationwide (M-F)

www.livingwd.org www.billwinston.org

ELCA, Lutheran Good Shepherd Worshiping at 820 Ontario, Oak Park IL (First Baptist Church) 9:00a-Worship 10:30a-Education Hour All are welcome. goodshepherdlc.org 708-848-4741

409 Greenfi eld Street (at Ridgeland Avenue) Oak Park Holy Communion with nursery care and children’s chapel each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. www.unitedlutheranchurch.org 708/386-1576 Lutheran—ELCA United Lutheran Church

Lutheran-Independent

Grace Lutheran Church 7300 W. Division, River Forest David R. Lyle, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Ed. 9:45 a.m. Childcare Available Grace Lutheran School Preschool - 8th Grade Bill Koehne, Principal 366-6900, graceriverforest.org

Lutheran-Missouri Synod

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church 305 Circle Ave, Forest Park Sunday Worship, 9:30am Christian Education Hour 8:30am Wednesday Worship 7:00pm Wheelchair Access to Sanctuary Leonard Payton, Pastor Roney Riley, Assistant Pastor 708-366-3226 www.stjohnforestpark.org

Methodist

First United Methodist Church of Oak Park 324 N. Oak Park Avenue 708-383-4983 www.firstUMCoakpark.org Sunday School for all Ages, 9am Sunday Worship, 10am Children’s Chapel during Worship Rev. Katherine Thomas Paisley, Pastor Professionally Staffed Nursery Fellowship Time after Worship

on the corner of  omas and Fair Oaks Ave. worship on Sundays @ 10am nursery care available fairoakspres.org 744 Fair Oaks Ave. • 708.386.4920

OAK PARK MEETING OF FRIENDS (Quakers) Meeting For Worship Sundays at 10:00 a.m. at Oak Park Art League 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park Please call 708-445-8201 www.oakparkfriends.org Roman Catholic

St. Bernardine Catholic Church Harrison & Elgin, Forest Park CELEBRATING OUR 108TH YEAR! Sat. Masses: 8:30am & 5:00pm SUNDAY MASSES: 8:00am & 10:30am 10:30 Mass-Daycare for all ages CCD Sun. 9am-10:15am Reconciliation: Sat. 9am & 4pm Weekday Masses: Monday–Thursday 6:30am Church Office: 708-366-0839 CCD: 708-366-3553 www.stbern.com Pastor: Fr. Stanislaw Kuca

Roman Catholic

St. Edmund Catholic Church 188 South Oak Park Ave. Saturday Mass: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Masses: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. Weekday Mass: 8:30 a.m. M–F Holy Day Masses: As Announced Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15 p.m. Parish Office: 708-848-4417 Religious Ed Phone: 708-848-7220 stedmund.org

St. Giles Family Mass Community We welcome all to attend Sunday Mass at 10 a.m. on the St. Giles Parish campus on the second floor of the school gym, the southernmost building in the school complex at 1034 North Linden Avenue. Established in 1970, we are a laybased community within St. Giles Roman Catholic Parish. Our Mass is family-friendly. We encourage liturgically active toddlers. Children from 3 to 13 and young adults play meaningful parts in each Sunday liturgy. Together with the parish, we offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based religious education program for children in grades K-8. For more information, go to http://www.stgilesparish.org/ family-mass-community or call Bob Wielgos at 708-288-2196.

Roman Catholic Ascension Catholic Church

808 S. East Ave. 708/848-2703 www.ascensionoakpark.com Worship: Saturday Mass 5:00 pm Sunday Masses 7:30, 9:00, 11 am 5:00 pm at St. Edmund Church Sacrament of Reconciliation 4 – 4:45 pm Saturday Taizé Prayer 7:30 pm First Fridays Feb.– Dec. & Jan. 1 Rev. James Hurlbert, Pastor

Third Unitarian Church

10AM Sunday Forum

11AM Service

Rev. Colleen Vahey

thirdunitarianchurch.org

(773) 626-9385

301 N. Mayfield, Chicago

Committed to justice,

not to a creed

To place a listing in the Religion Guide, call Mary Ellen: 708/613-3342

Data by District 209 ACCEPTED: A breakdown of incoming freshmen at D209’s math and science academies by feeder district, based on data provided by D209 o cials.

D209 Ready to go

from page 1

them on the plan’s progress. “We’ve gotten off the ground and we are ready to go,” she said. As of Feb. 11, she said, 100 students each were invited to attend the Proviso West Math and Science Academy and the Proviso East Math and Science Academy while 253 students were invited to attend PMSA. Seventy-five students accepted the invitation to attend the West academy while 75 students accepted the invitation to attend the East academy. She said that the acceptance process was still in progress as of Feb. 11. A maximum of 400 students will be accepted across the three academies, she said. Students were given a first and second option, Karvelas said, adding that 18 students within D209 chose to attend their home school. Karvelas also broke down enrollment data by feeder school. The analysis showed that most students poised to attend the three selective enrollment academies come from Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview District 89 (174), followed by Berkeley District 87 (78), Bellwood District 88 (62), Westchester District 92.5 (56) and Forest Park District 91 (17). “The cutoff score for each Academy selection process is derived from the applicant pool and is not generated before the selection process. Applications who present the strongest combination of credentials and have the highest application score are invited to attend the Academy of their choice,” she said, explaining the selection process. During the Feb. 11 meeting, Supt. Jesse Rodriguez said that the enrollment data disproved the beliefs of some skeptics who didn’t think that students would want to attend selective academies if they were at East or West. “Believe in your people, because these are the results you’re going to get,” he said. “I believe firmly that excellence starts with us.” Karvelas said that with the creation of the two additional academies at East and West, the district “more than doubled opportunities for families to be part of the selective enrollment academies.” She said that each academy will have five teachers while the two academies will share one counselor, one program director and one IB coordinator. The latter had already been hired as of Feb. 11, Karvelas said. She said that the district was in the process of planning a parent meeting for parents and students to understand the programs and curricula, tour the classrooms and discuss coursework, among other things. “It was a herculean task, but we’ve gotten pretty far in a short time,” Karvelas said of the academies. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Who says smoke, fat, whiskey are bad for you? Bar/restaurant mash-up is both downhome and indulgent

By MELISSA ELSMO and MARIA MAXHAM Oak Park Eats and Staff Reporter

Shortly after sidling up to a table at Duffy’s Tavern in Forest Park, owner Joe Sullivan greeted us with a broad smile and deposited an unlabeled bottle on our table. “That’s the brisket whiskey,” Sullivan announced. “We made it with white corn whiskey and dehydrated smoked brisket from Small Batch and let it sit for 10 days before freezing it and removing the fat.” We smelled the whiskey, noted its slightly different viscosity, and observed some protein particles floating in the bottle. We would have to wait for a taste, but the mere thought of “brisket whiskey,” with its flavors of ancho chili and garlic, perfectly encapsulated the theme of Forest Park’s latest food-and-drink mash-up. Smoke, Fat, and Whiskey brought Small Batch Barbecue and Duffy’s Tavern together to deliver a quartet of food and drink pairings to interested folks on Sunday, March 1. Greg Stinton, owner of Small Batch Barbecue, kicked off the afternoon when he placed his hot link corndog bites alongside Sullivan’s oatmeal bourbon cocktail. Sullivan steeped Knob Creek rye whiskey with cinnamon and oatmeal before serving it with Orgeat syrup, frothy egg whites and a dash of nutmeg. Orgeat syrup, made from almonds, rose water, orange water and sugar, brought both floral notes and earthiness to the mix. The cocktail, lovely on its own, only benefitted from the smart corndog pairing. A diminutive version of a regular Small Batch menu item, the corn dog bites smacked of a county fair thanks to sweet hushpuppy batter and housemade, smoked hot link sausages. “The pairing works because of the sweetness in the hushpuppy batter and the spice in the sausage,” said Stinton. “Both balance out the nuttiness in the drink.” A smoked Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned served alongside a smoked prime rib slider proved to be the standout pairing of the day. Gentle but notable smoke flavor permeated the cocktail, evoking camping trips and backyard bonfires. Stinton’s prime rib slider, garnished with caramelized onions and creamy Dijon, tasted like a proper Sunday dinner and offered enough richness to temper the authoritative cocktail. The pairing felt indulgent and timeless. Next up, the brisket whiskey transformed into a “brisketini.” Pickled vegetable garnishes brought a sense of whimsy to the cocktail, finished with dry vermouth. Look, not everyone wants meat in their drinks, but as far as bold choices go Sullivan brought undeniable flair to the table with his cocktail offering. A pork and pineapple slider with gouda cheese and house-made bacon jam brought needed sweetness to the savory drink. “Did you make the bacon jam?” we asked. “Yes,” said Stinton. “Shut up!” we said in surprise and appreciation. “We don’t buy anything we can make ourselves,” replied Stinton. The final offering, “Grandma’s Candied Whiskey,” featured Wild Turkey spiked with Werther’s candies.

Photo by Jason Maxham DYNAMIC DUO: (Top) Greg Stinton (le) of Small Batch Barbecue and Joe Sullivan of Du y’s Tavern collaborated on a whiskey and barbecue pairing event on March 1 at Du y’s, 7514 Madison St. (Bottom) e menu featured creative cocktails and o-menu food items, like an oatmeal bourbon cocktail served with hot link corndog bites.

“We chopped up 23 Werther’s candies and added them to the bottle,” said Sullivan, “and from there the whisky did the work.” The buttery shot paired nicely with Small Batch Barbecue’s cinnamon sugar donuts. Duffy’s Tavern boasts a laid-back, welcoming, community-minded focus. Sullivan was wearing a flannel shirt and jeans with a straw fedora. He’s got a hipster beard and an ease with people that draws them in. And he’s always ready for a laugh. Duffy’s has a cool young-person vibe while still being a Forest Park neighborhood bar. Sullivan said he and Stinton came up with the idea for the event after his friend Ed Pogue, who was present to help prepare the beverages, smoked the whiskey at a New Year’s Eve party. It’s actually called “hacking” whiskey, i.e. changing the liquor to add a different taste dimension. In this case, smoke. Sullivan’s son recently gifted him with the book “Hacking Whiskey” by Aaron Goldfarb, and Sullivan started experimenting. A ticketed event could be a lot of fun, the trio thought, and focused on the slower months in the winter when not much was going on and people needed to get out of the house. Sullivan and Stinton met 12 years ago. Their work cubicles were next to each other, Sullivan a graphic designer and Stinton a programmer. They became friends and now both own businesses on Madison Street. Sullivan even convinced Stinton to move to Forest Park, and they live a few houses from each other. “Now? I wouldn’t live anywhere else,” said Stinton. For Small Batch, Stinton added that his goal is to main

tain high quality — but also to experiment. “Monotony is a killer,” he said. He plans to bring the offerings from the pairing event to the restaurant. The prime rib slider may soon be available on Sundays. If it is, do not miss it.

Stinton also talked about the importance of sustainability and moves he’s been making to increase environmental measures at the restaurant. He pointed out that the small plates used to serve the food are compostable. In response to Stinton’s abilities, Sullivan didn’t hold back.

“That boy can cook,” said Sullivan. Their friendship brought a unique pairing of food and drink to Duffy’s. Both the environment and the drinks paired perfectly with low and slow barbecue offerings. Here’s hoping these types of collaborations occur more frequently in Forest Park. Editor’s note: Oak Park Eats and Forest Park Review writers purchased their tickets to this event and contents of this review reflect the opinions of the writers.