Forest Park Review 030922

F O R E S T PA R K

ForestParkReview.com Vol. 105, No. 10

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REVIEW

Green streets policy Page 3

Cajun fare comes to Madison Street Page 8

MARCH 9, 2022

Park expands with purchase of Pines/ Oak Leaf site on Harrison

HAPPY DAY, HERE AGAIN

Decrepit buildings coming down, day camp building planned

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

It looks like the Park will be growing across Harrison Street.

On March 3 the Forest Park park board unanimously approved an agreement to pay $1.25 million to purchase the property at 7400-7412 Harrison St., just across from the district’s tennis courts. That site currently houses the former Pines Restaurant and Oak Leaf Lounge as well as the still operating Forest Park Foreign Car Repair shop. The sale is expected to close in about six weeks.

The sale to the park district comes after failed attempts to develop the nearly two-thirds of an acre property into an apartment building.

“We tried our best but the neighborhood didn’t appreciate it so we’re not disappointed,” said Tony Kaldis, who has co-owned the property with Tim Loucopoulos for the last 15 years. “It’s time for us to move on and do something else and let them have a park there.”

After seeing neighborhood opposition sink the proposed apartment building project park district staff began thinking about trying to buy the property. The park district wants to build a building there to house its day camp program and other programs.

See THE PARK on page 4

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Sandy Byrnes tosses candy to kids during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Madison Street. The weather couldn’t have been finer and Irish eyes were smiling. See more photos on page 12.

Proviso teachers strike for first time in two decades Started Friday, continued into Wednesday as contract talks between union and superintendent stall

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

On Friday, March 4, members of the

IN Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 THIS Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Proviso Teachers Union (PTU) Local 571, which represents 280 teachers and other staffers, including social workers and school counselors, picketed outside

of all three high schools in District 209 — the first time a strike has happened in See STRIKE on page 5

John Rice: Forest Park’s resilience on display

Obit: John Vlahos, 82, opened Golden Steer

PAGE 15

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Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

Villages dust off plans for Harlem Ave. viaduct replacement Funding may be available, but stakeholders need to parse details

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

With $17 billion expected to be available to Illinois through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act approved last November, officials in Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest are dusting off dormant plans for a multimillion dollar project to replace the century-old railroad bridge at the intersection of Harlem Avenue and South Boulevard.

The three municipalities have applied previously for such funding, most recently in 2017, but have been consistently turned down.

Cathy Adduci, River Forest village president, said at the Feb. 28 village board meeting that federal funding should be available, adding that she is working with her counterparts, Mayor Rory Hoskins of Forest Park and President Vicki Scaman of Oak Park “to put pressure on” Illinois senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.

In a memo, Jeff Loster, director of public works and development services, said the project was introduced in 2008 when the three municipalities entered into an intergovernmental agreement to complete Phase 1 engineering for the project although a feasibility study was conducted in 1999.

The bridge was originally built in the 1920s to carry the Chicago and Northwestern Railway tracks over Harlem Avenue. It now carries tracks for Metra, Union Pacific Railroad and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) trains.

The purpose of the reconstruction project is to eliminate the congestion caused by the configuration of the existing structure, which has remained essentially unchanged since its construction despite significantly increased traffic along Harlem Avenue.

Phase 1 engineering has been funded at 80 percent through the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) with the remaining 20 percent divided among the three munici-

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AESTHETIC DECAY: The Harlem/Lake CTA Green Line viaduct (above and left) at South Boulevard and Harlem Avenue. palities.

Tasks included conceptual design, intersection/accident studies and analysis and project renderings. Also initiated during Phase 1 engineering were discussions with other stakeholders, including Metra, Union Pacific, the CTA and IDOT. Though much of the Phase 1 engineering has been completed, the project stalled due to an inability to get all stakeholders to agree in concept to an overall intergovernmental agreement for the project.

Some of the issues that arose include Union Pacific/Metra/CTA concerns regarding operations during construction, Union Pacific requiring substantial review fees prior to furthering discussions and identification of the party responsible for ownership and ongoing maintenance of the bridge after construction.

Loster said Union Pacific currently owns the bridge but would prefer not to after completion of the project.

Estimated cost of the project has risen since it was first proposed in 2008 and now stands at $30 million. Loster said there are facets of the Phase 1 work that are already completed that will need to be updated, mostly related to traffic impact studies due to variable rates of traffic over the years and area development that has since occurred.

Plans from 2018 when the three municipalities unsuccessfully sought grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation called for replacing the existing bridge, lowering the Harlem roadway to reduce truck strikes to the viaduct and adding pedestrian and aesthetic enhancements. The support column in the middle of the viaduct also would be removed in an effort to improve traffic flow.

Loster said with known issues unrelated to funding currently holding up the project, the optimal path forward would be to re-

JAVIER GOVEA/Staff

solve these issues first. If the project is to proceed, he recommended that the impacted agencies by contacted to continue discussions regarding an intergovernmental agreement for the project in the following order – Union Pacific, IDOT, CTA and Metra.

This appears to be the optimal sequence for attempting to resolve this issue or discovering any nonstarters in an efficient manner.

Bill McKenna, Oak Park’s village engineer, said that that village is “on the same page as River Forest” on the status and next steps for the project.

Moses Amidei, village administrator of Forest Park, said officials of his village support the effort but noted the challenge will be to obtain the support of the CTA, Metra and Union Pacific.

Illinois officials are estimating that $17 billion of the $1.2 trillion available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act would come to the state. Illinois could have an advantage because Rebuild Illinois, a $45 billion multiyear state spending plan paid by gasoline and vehicle taxes, will provide matching funds to attract more federal grants.

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

No one hurt in Forest Park apartment fire Damage primarily limited to one unit’s kitchen

By BOB UPHUES Senior Editor

No one was hurt after a fire ignited inside a Forest Park apartment inside the building at 328-330 Desplaines Ave. on the morning of March 2.

According to Fire Chief Phil Chiappetta, the fire was contained to the kitchen of one of the units in the building, and the tenant of that unit had evacuated by the time firefighters arrived shortly after 8 a.m.

Units arriving at the scene observed heavy smoke coming from a second-floor window on the south side of the building where the unit was located.

Chiappetta said two people were taken to the hospital for “observation” due to the smoky conditions

inside the building. Neither person taken to the hospital lived in the unit where the fire was located.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Chiappetta said.

River Forest, Oak Park and North Riverside sent mutual aid units to the scene. The fire was quickly extinguished and firefighters could be seen wrapping up operations there around 8:35 a.m.

Steve Glinke, the village of Forest Park’s health and safety director, said the unit involved in the fire was above a ground-floor utility area, which kept water damage to dwellings to a minimum. Apart from the unit where the fire was located, the rest of the apartment building remains habitable, said Glinke.

The building at 328-330 Desplaines Ave.

F O R E S T PA R K

REVIEW Editor Andy Viano Senior Editor Bob Uphues Equity Editor/Ombudsman Michael Romain Digital Publishing & Technology Manager Briana Higgins Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Lifka Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes, John Rice Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Development & Sales Coordinator Stacy Coleman Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Publisher Dan Haley

Green Streets policy, tree inventory grant OK’d by village When feasible, infrastructure work would add green features

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

Forest Park’s village council took a few steps toward fixing up village streets and making it more environmentally friendly during its Feb. 28 meeting, adopting a Green Streets policy and authorizing Village Administrator Moses Amidei to apply for a grant with Morton Arboretum to do a village-wide tree inventory.

The Green Streets policy states that, when an infrastructure improvement project comes before the village, it will consider what environmentally friendly features the project could incorporate. The policy specifically does not require Forest Park to add those features in every instance – if the features are not “reasonably feasible and practicable (including financially),” the village may decide not to add them. Amidei said that having a Green Streets Policy would also help the village secure grants.

For the purpose of the policy, green streets can include features that keep rainwater from overwhelming sewers during storms, such as permeable pavement, water detention tanks and rain gardens. It can also include features to make the streets pedestrian and/or bicycle friendly and to add trees. The village would review any projects involving road construction or streets improvements, as well as “significant capital improvement

projects” built within the street rights-ofway. The review would specifically not apply to routine street maintenance projects.

Any environmentally friendly features the village approves would need to be “environmentally, physically and economically sustainable.”

Amidei told the council that the village engineer and the village public works director would meet with him to discuss the projects, including the area needs. For example, if the area is flood-prone, flooding mitigation measures would get higher priority. They would also look at other things, such as whether there is room to add rain gardens.

Amidei also said that green street improvements would help improve water quality. Road salt, he said, is a major contributor to water pollution in the area so it would make sense to have something to filter salt out.

Commissioner of Public Property Jessica Voogd, whose purview includes oversight of sidewalks, parkways, forestry and villageowned pocket parks that haven’t been leased to the Park District of Forest Park, said that, given increased flooding, Forest Park would have to rethink its approach to infrastructure no matter what, and that she was glad that the village was taking this step.

“To me, that just seems like a great commitment to the future of Forest Park and

our infrastructure,” she said.

At the same meeting, Amidei asked for authorization to apply for a Morton Arboretum grant that would reimburse Forest Park for half the cost of a professional contractor doing an inventory of all Forest Park trees.

The cost is currently estimated to be $19,500, plus $750 to collect the data for the village’s Geographic Information System. The village estimates that, after reimbursements, the project would cost $9,375.

One of the grant conditions is that the village would have to use a contractor the arboretum selected.

Commissioner Maria Maxham wondered whether it would be cheaper for the village to hire a village arborist to do the inventory.

Sal Stella, the village’s public works director, said the previous arborist let his certification expire, and he is currently trying to figure out if any current staff members would be interested in getting the certification – which will take time. And even if there was an arborist currently available, it would be “more time-consuming” than having a contractor do it.

Stella also said that it would cost twice as much to collect GIS data in-house.

The commissioners ultimately agreed to let Amidei proceed with the application.

The village council would still need to vote to accept the grant agreement.

Business Manager Joyce Minich

Board of Directors Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-366-0600 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 EMAIL forestpark@wjinc.com CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com ONLINE ForestParkReview.com TWITTER @FP_Review Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Forest Park Review,141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS No 0205-160) In-county subscriptions: $30 per year. $44 for two years, $60 for three years.

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Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

March 9-16

BIG WEEK

Community Garden Seed Swap 2022

Sunday, March 13, 2 to 4 p.m., Austin Room, Forest Park Public Library

WDCB’s Jazz Thaw series in Oak Park Michele Thomas Saturday, March 12, 5-8 p.m., Tre Sorelle Ristorante This jazz vocalist has gone far beyond reinterpreting the Great American Songbook, working with a more personal style that incorporates her own compositions, in the improvisatory spirit that jazz is known for. 1111 Lake St., Oak Park.

Andy Brown Saturday, March 12, 1-3 p.m., Lea French Café Andy Brown is a very adept jazz guitarist who plays every Wednesday at Andy’s Jazz Club (no relation!) as part of a quartet, bi-weekly at Winter’s Jazz Club with a trio, every Thursday at the Green Mill as a solo, and for this show, he’ll be half of a duo. 106 N. Marion St., Oak Park.

Sohn Saturday, March 12, 3-6 p.m. Little Gem Café This trio is led by violinist Ethan Adelsman, who has played with the wide-ranging likes of the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir and the Western Piedmont Symphony. With the band Sohn, he turns his attention to the jazz realm. The band also includes Graham Nelson, who proves that the harmonica is good for other genres besides the blues, and guitarist Mason Jiller. 189 N. Marion St., Oak Park.

Andy Pratt Saturday, March 12, 5-8 p.m., Kalamata Kitchen Not to be confused with the 1970s rock musician of the same name. However, this Andy Pratt is a local jazz guitarist who has so many diverse styles that he could be confused for himself. From the ethereal to the earthbound, Pratt covers plenty of ground. 105 N. Marion St., Oak Park.

Acquisition on Harrison from page 1

“We found an opportunity at this time so we kind of took advantage of a time when they were not sure what they were going to do with it,” said Jackie Iovinelli, the executive director of the park district.

“We’re lacking indoor space and we’re lacking outdoor space that we can build on.

Why take away our open space when we can build across the street,” she said.

Iovinelli said the park district needs more space for its day camp program which is now housed in a cramped little building that was built for storage.

“We have a day camp building that the kids don’t fit in anymore,” Iovinelli said.

“Most importantly, what drives this is our day camp program.”

The park district will pay for the purchase out of its reserve funds so the land purchase will not result in any increase in taxes.

Iovinelli said the park disPARK DISTRICT trict would tear down the now shuttered buildings that once housed the Pines Restaurant and the Oak Leaf Lounge and then look to build a new building for the park district’s day HARRISON ST. camp and other programs.

“Within the next six months the goal is to get it torn down, cleaned up and then over the next year or so find money so it’s going to be sometime before we see anything,” Iovinelli said.

The park district has spoken with the West Suburban Special Recreation Association about creating a partnership with the special education coop and perhaps renting space GOOGLE MAPS in the new building.

It will take some time to EXPANDING: The park district has sights set on the come up with a plan for a new former Pines Restaurant & Lounge property. building. Iovinelli said she will talk to architects after the deal closes and the park district actually Pines and Oak Leaf Lounge have been shutowns the property. tered for about five years.

“Our goal is to find as many grants as pos“This will certainly be a welcome change sible,” Iovinelli said. for that corner,” said Tim Gillian, a new She said she didn’t know how large a park board member and former village adbuilding the park district would build. ministrator. As administrator Gillian dealt “We’re going to maximize the space be- with neighbor complaints about the lattercause you don’t want to underbuild,” Iovi- day uses of the property as an entertainnelli said. ment venue.

The Forest Park Foreign Car Repair rents Iovinelli said the purchase is a win for evits property on a month-to-month lease so it eryone. is not clear how long it will be able to oper“We’re excited, we’re excited to see the ate at its current location once the park dis- growth,” Iovinelli said. “Since we’re coming trict owns the property. out of Covid our programs have been burst“We’re going to see what the park district ing at the seams. We advertise a program is going to say,” said Foreign Car Repair and it’s full. We just need more space to offer owner Vladimir Rejman who founded his the services to the community and the other car repair shop in 1978 at its present loca- thing is we need to clean up a dilapidated tion. space over here for the community.”

HARLEM AVE.

The Forest Park Seed Swap is back. Join the Forest Park Community Garden and the Forest Park Public Library for this free event where you can get some new seeds for your garden.

The seed swap is a free, public event where gardeners can bring excess or unwanted seeds and swap them for something new. Don’t have any seeds to swap? That’s OK too. There are always plenty to go around. Please RSVP in advance. This year’s swap will take place in the Austin Room, on the lower level and accessible via an elevator and stairs. Everything is free. 7555 Jackson Blvd.

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THE PARK

Iovinelli said that once the deal closes and the park district owns the property she will sit down with Rejman and discuss the future.

“We will be a good neighbor,” Iovinelli said.

The park district could also be interested in purchasing the property at 805 Hannah where H and R Auto Repair is located just south of the Foreign Car Repair shop. The 805 Hannah property is not owned by Kaldis and Loucopoulos.

“It depends on price,” Iovinelli said of the park’s interest in the H and R Auto Repair property. “Obviously right now we’ll still have to build. We’ll see what the price is, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there if that is even something that they would even be interested in. The table’s open if they want to come sit at the table.”

The purchase will eventually clean up and improve what some have considered a dilapidated and contentious property as the

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

STRIKE

Contentious negotiations from page 1 the district in 22 years.

Teachers did not picket on Monday, which was a student non-attendance day due to the Casmir Pulaski holiday. They did, however, resume picketing on Tuesday after contract talks on Monday failed to produce an agreement.

After the federal mediation session on Monday, District 209 school board president Rodney Alexander said the district did not accept the PTU’s new proposal of a “12.75% increase over the three-year contract (4% in the first year, 4.25% in second year, 4.5% in third year).”

Earlier, representatives with the PTU and the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the PTU’s parent organization, said District 209 Superintendent James Henderson, the district’s lead negotiator, turned down their offer to meet last Thursday.

“We had offered a session yesterday to meet before today to try to avoid the strike and he refused to meet with us,” said Rachel Esposito, the president of Local 571 West Suburban Teachers Union, which includes 18 councils across Cook County and DuPage.

Esposito, who was picketing across the street from Proviso East High School in Maywood, is among seven members of the PTU’s negotiating team.

Supt. Henderson has declined multiple requests for comment to the Review throughout the

negotiating process.

As Esposito talked, PTU members paced the sidewalks holding signs that read “Proviso District 209 teachers need more than apples” and “Supporting teachers = supporting students.”

In a statement released March 4, the school board’s Alexander said the district has increased its salary proposal, meeting the union’s demand for a three-year contract.

The district has also offered annual pay raises of 3% in each year of the contract, which is up from the district’s previous offer of 2% in the first year of the contract and 2.5% in the second and third years.

The union also wants bonuses for all teachers of $1,250 in the first year and $600 in the second year, Alexander said.

“The district remains firm in our position that salary increases at the level being demanded by the union are neither sustainable, nor in the best fiscal interest of our parents and other local resident taxpayers,” the board president stated.

Maggie Riley, the president of the PTU, has been picketing with her colleagues outside of Proviso West High School in Hillside, where she teaches. Riley said on Friday that, in addition to the bonuses, the union and district are also at odds over class sizes. The union wants smaller class sizes.

“We wanted to avoid a strike, but [the district] didn’t want to meet,” Riley said on March 4. “We stand ready to meet any day this weekend, because we want to be back in the classrooms.”

Neil Rutstein, a teacher at Proviso Math and Science Academy in Forest Park, took a break on Friday from holding his picket sign that read “Working without a contract!”, before pointing to the high school’s parking lot.

“The superintendent is in the building right now,” Rutstein said.

“You can see his BMW parked right there in the premium parking spot. We’re paying for that.

He’s got a $6,000 car allowance.

The kids of Proviso are paying for his 7-series BMW.” Rutstein and other teachers have regularly pointed out that while administrative salaries ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer within District 209 are among the highest in the region, teacher Proviso teachers and supporters march together on Friday, March 4, during a teachers’ strike salaries in the district are among outside of Proviso East High School on First Avenue. the lowest.

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They’ve also pointed to the disparity in contract lengths between the teacher’s contracts and the superintendent’s contract.

Last year, the D209 school board increased Henderson’s original 3-year, $250,000 contract to a 5-year, $262,500 contract, in addition to an unspecified pension contribution paid by the district, according to previous reporting.

Proviso teachers have been working without a contract since last June. The average teacher salary in D209 is around $76,000 — nearly 30% lower than the roughly $87,000 average of high school districts in the Chicago area, according to an analysis of state data provided by teachers. The average teaching experience in the district is roughly 13 years and about three quarters of teachers in D209 have a master’s degree.

The PTU postponed its strike date of Feb. 18 after reviewing an update offer from the district. Contract talks, however, collapsed again.

Rutstein and other union members and veteran teachers said the negotiation process and the workplace under Henderson are at the lowest point they’ve ever been.

They referenced the superintendent’s many misrepresentations, including unsubstantiated claims that union members were behind a student-led walkout held in support of teachers last month and that the district offered $60,000 starting salaries.

“This is very demoralizing,” Rutstein said. “This has become a toxic workplace.

It’s really hard to block that stuff out of your mind and still do your job effectively.

It’s really stressful and not just for us. Last [month], the kids couldn’t deal with it either and walked out. I don’t know what they’re waiting for. You can’t have a bigger disaster than a school on strike.”

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

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Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

Empowering Gardens raising money to own garden center Deadline this month to increase down payment fund

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

Ana Solares and Richard Biggins had the vision of building a permanent greenhouse and gift shop on the land they were renting at 7730 Madison St. even before they opened Empowering Gardens on April 23, 2016.

Their nonprofit corporation employs only “people who have a broad range of disabilities.”

Six years into the venture and Empowering Gardens has saved up $100,000 and decided to take the next big step toward making that dream a reality. The nonprofit has a contract with Charlie Barbari, who owns the property and from whom they have been renting for six years. In addition to the $100,000, the nonprofit has secured $65,000 in pledges and donations toward the purchase price which is set at $400,000.

What remains is a whopping $235,000, a huge financial burden for a small entity. The urgency, according to Solares and Biggins, is to raise as much money in the month of March to make the down payment through donations and pledges as large as possible and therefore the loan it has applied for at Forest Park Bank as small as possible.

Everyone at Empowering Gardens is sprinting toward the fund-raising finish line this month.

Buying the land is important, said Solares, because to qualify for the grants which they need to build their dream facility they need to own the property on which they want to build. No grants are available for the land itself, they said.

The two nonprofit leaders are used to dreaming big and taking small steps each day toward reaching the goal. “We were taking a risk,” said Biggins. “We were fully aware that 45% of new businesses fail with-

We are Open!

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Ada Krasinsky, left, and Jani Westcott shop for plants at Empowering Gardens on Madison Street in Forest Park. in the first five years of their existence.”

Solares explained why the two decided to take the risk by saying, “Sometimes you see that something needs to be done, but out of fear you hesitate. Sometimes you have to just jump in and do it.”

Visions can be empowering but positive signs along the road are also encouraging.

“We’ve developed a great deal of faith and trust in the people of Forest Park and the surrounding communities,” said Biggins, “because each year they support us more, we get better volunteers, more customers walk in the door and we get bigger dona-

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“Another thing which is motivating is our staff, “ said Solares, “Because when you see our employees with disabilities come to work, they put their music on and they sing while they work. They build relationships and friendships here, and they have improved in their lives in many ways.”

“There have been many encouraging signs along the way which have been extremely gratifying,” said Biggins. “On those days when we are exhausted those signs kind of soothe your soul,” The six year journey has had many detours and bumps in the road. The property at 7730 has no building, which worked fine as a garden center during the months with warm weather, but during the winter

months, it was the generosity of property owners -- like Art Sundry, Tony Aiello, and Jack Strand, who own the building which is currently housing Empower Gardens until April 30 — which provided space for the nonprofit.

Two years ago, the co-owners had to make a major detour. When no space became available for the winter, Solares and Biggins actually rented three shipping containers at $1,500 per month to provide office space and a sales room for house plants. Biggins laughed when he said the space they are using now at 7736 even has two heated bathrooms — much better than the porta-potties they had to use during that shipping container winter.

“We don’t give up easily,” said Solares.

Here’s how to help If you want to donate, go to empoweringgardensinc.org and click on “DONATE NOW;” or mail a check to PO Box 2161, Oak Park, IL 60303; or visit in person at their temporary store at 7736 Madison. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you would prefer to make a pledge for up to five years go to empoweringgardensinc. org/support-us, print out the pledge form and get it to them by mail or in person. “Any amount you can donate at this time,” said Solares, “will bring us closer to purchasing the land. Please send the commitment letter back to us before Saturday, March 19.”

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

7

C R I M E

Man hospitalized after accidentally shooting himself

A 61-year-old man was reported to be in stable condition at Loyola University Medical Center after apparently shooting himself accidentally in the leg in the 7400 block of Roosevelt Road on March 2 around 5:10 p.m.

Police responding to the scene said the victim was lying on his back in the driver’ seat of his black 2013 Cadillac with a gunshot wound to his upper left thigh/groin area. One police officer recovered the gun, a 9 mm Bersa BP9CC pistol, from the back seat while two others administered first aid until paramedics arrived.

While on scene, police spoke with the victim’s brother who said he dialed 911 after the victim called him to say he accidentally shot himself. The victim reportedly told police that he obtained the handgun from his nephew, who purchased it in Ohio. Police, however, were unable to get any other information about what happened due to the man’s condition at the scene.

Possession of stolen firearm Devante D. Howery II, 29, of Chicago, was charged with a pair of felonies – possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful use of a weapon – after reportedly fleeing a traffic stop on foot in the 500 block of Beloit Avenue on March 5 at about 12:35 a.m.

According to the police report, “due to recent vehicular hijackings and armed robberies at businesses in town,” police stopped the vehicle Howery was a passenger in because it had dark-tinted windows and was driving slowly through the alley behind the 600 block of Harlem Avenue.

After police curbed the vehicle on Beloit Avenue, Howery reportedly exited the passenger side and began running southbound on Beloit while carrying a firearm with an extended magazine.

Police eventually apprehended Howery in a nearby alley where he allegedly stashed the gun behind a trash can. Police said they recovered a Mac-11 Ingram 9 mm handgun with a fully loaded 32-round extended magazine. A computer search indicated the gun had been stolen in Chicago in March 2021.

Howery did not possess a firearm owner’s ID card or concealed-carry license, police said.

Shots fired, no injuries reported Forest Park police say someone fired eight rounds in quick succession near the intersection of Madison Street and Beloit Avenue just before 12:30 a.m. on March 6.

Two officers on patrol reported the gunshots and immediately checked the area nearby. A witness told them someone driving a white SUV fired the rounds into the air before fleeing southbound on Beloit Avenue. Another witness described the vehicle as a white Dodge SRT and said it had been parked directly in front of 7502 Madison St.

Police reported finding eight spent shell casings on the street in front of that address.

Armed robbery Two men, one of whom displayed a handgun and threatened an employee, robbed 7-Eleven, 7749 Roosevelt Road, making off with cash and cigarettes on March 3 at 3:15 a.m.

Police responded to the scene after a witness called 911 and initiated a pursuit of the white Ford Edge the two men fled in, but the vehicle was able to elude officers who said it was last seen eastbound on Harrison Street from Desplaines Avenue. According to police, a female was driving the Ford with the alleged offenders as passengers.

A witness told police that the front door to the store was locked but that a clerk opened the door for her, because she is a regular customer and the two offenders walked in behind her and began walking around the store as if shopping.

As the witness walked out of the store, one of the offenders went around the counter. An employee told police one of the offenders lifted his shirt to display a handgun in his waistband and said, “I’ll shoot you if you don’t open the register.”

The offenders then took money from two cash registers as well as cigarettes from behind the counter before fleeing.

The March 3 incident marks the third time in the last month that the store has been robbed.

Alleged train taggers hit with felonies Forest Park police arrested two men for tagging CTA train cars parked in the Blue Line train yard on March 4 at about 1:30 p.m.

Steven D. Balli, 37, of Douglasville, Georgia, and Michael J. Preissing, 32, of Rolling Meadows were apprehended after police located them in Forest Home Cemetery after a foot chase through the train yard. Each was charged with felony criminal defacement.

A witness had notified police that unknown people had jumped a fence along I-290 to gain entry to the train yard. A police officer reported locating two people tagging a train car and then initiating a foot pursuit with three people after the officer’s presence became known.

Police lost sight of the three, but another witness reported seeing two of them getting into a Chevy Equinox with Florida plates, which police observed a short time later driving slowly along I-290 inside Forest Home Cemetery.

Preissing reportedly was found trying to hide in the rear of the vehicle, while Balli exited the vehicle and walked toward a grave. When approached, he reportedly told police he was “visiting a friend” who he named from a gravestone. Police noted the gravestone indicated that person had died in

the early 1900s.

In addition to the two being identified by the initial responding police officer, Preissing also reportedly possessed a key ring with a master key to all CTA yard locks and a key that also could open all doors, restrooms and terminal gates for all CTA lines.

Delivery driver’s vehicle stolen Forest Park police responded to the 500 block of Harlem Avenue on March 2 at about 12:45 p.m. after a 56-year-old man who was delivering flowers said his 2004 Chevy Trail Blazer had just been stolen.

The victim told police he had left his vehicle running and unlocked in a small lot just south of the address where he was making a delivery. As the victim was walking from the vehicle, a man approached and asked him for a dollar. The victim said he gave the man a dollar and continued walking to make the delivery when he heard a car door close. He turned around to see the man he’d just given the dollar drive off in his vehicle southbound on Harlem Avenue.

Theft from vehicle ■ A manager at Elite Staffing, 1215 Harlem Ave., called police on the morning of March

2 to report that the catalytic converters were removed from two company vehicles, a 2021 Chevy and a 2017 Ford Econoline van, parked overnight in the lot.

■ A 26-year-old man contacted Forest Park police to report that someone had removed the radio from the dashboard of his 2008 Dodge Avenger, which had been parked in the rear of his residence in the 500 block of Desplaines Avenue, during the overnight hours of March 4-5.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Feb. 28-March 6, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded.

Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

Compiled by Bob Uphues

8

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

Cajun fare (with a Texas flair) lands in Forest Park Brookfield resident opens a restaurant inside a bar

By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

Inspired by childhood adventures collecting and cooking crawdads, turtles and the occasional alligator, Rich Ortega developed a deep appreciation for shrimp boils, andouille spiked jambalaya and crawfish etouffee.

He grew up in Humble, Texas approximately 100 miles from the Louisiana border and admits Cajun food traditions were alive and well in his hometown. Today, Ortega, a chef with 17 years of industry experience, is bringing his brand of Cajun fare to Forest Park.

“Food doesn’t stop at an imaginary line,” said Ortega. “I grew up in Texas, but we cooked all the same foods they have in Louisiana. I wanted to give my restaurant a name that would feel familiar to people.”

Located inside of Angelo O’Leary’s, 7522 W. Madison St., NOLA Louisiana Kitchen opened at the end of February and brought with it a considerable following thanks to a Westchester steppingstone, a Brookfield pop up dinner and a history of slinging shrimp boils to-go.

In early 2020, along with his fiancé and business partner, Kayla Hernandez, the single father was looking for a way to bring in some extra money. The duo began working out of a shared kitchen to cook and deliver traditional shrimp boils. Ironically Ortega is allergic to shrimp, but that doesn’t mean he can’t cook it and

the straightforward Cajun dish made with shell-on shrimp, garlic butter, Andouille sausage, potatoes, and corn on the cob, resonated with the Brookfield community. Soon the couple was serving shrimp boils by the hundreds.

Eager to build on their shrimp boil success, Ortega and Hernandez began contemplating restaurant ownership, but didn’t want to make that leap without a trial run.

They partnered up with Sebastian’s Ale and Whiskey House, 8900 Fairview Ave. in Brookfield, to host a pop-up dinner on a Monday evening in March 2020. Ortega led the kitchen and Hernandez handled front of house operations.

“We wanted to bring in our servers, our cooks and our menu,” said Ortega, who worked at Sebastian’s at the time. “We wanted to see how people felt about our simple menu and suddenly we were 300 deep on a Monday night.”

According to Ortega the response to their

MELISSA ELSMO/Oak Park Eats Editor

Po’Boy sandwiches and Beignets are on the menu at NOLA Louisiana Kitchen in Forest Park.

MELISSA ELSMO/Oak Park Eats Editor

Chef Rich Ortega, owner of NOLA one-night event was positive, but just days ing, NOLA Louisiana Kitchen has enjoyed after their successful restaurant take-over steady business with the bulk of guests beCOVID-19 closed Illinois dining rooms. The ing first time customers. Ortega is quick couple put their restaurant dreams to point out seafood boils, while on the on hold and returned to offering menu, appear to be less popular than they their shrimp boil deliveries. were in Westchester and Brookfield. For“Our shrimp boils became even est Park customers have been drawn to rice more popular during the pandemic and roux-based offerings as well as NOLA’s because everyone was looking for Pasta Orleans featuring pappardelle, blackdelivery options,” said Ortega. ened shrimp, crawfish tails and andouille “We had enough support that we sausage in Cajun alfredo sauce. Ortega’s felt ready to have our own space.” “croissant-style” beignets are a fitting end On Sept. 1, 2021, Nola Louisiana to any meal at NOLA Louisiana Kitchen inKitchen opened inside of Anna’s side of Angelo O’Leary’s.

Place, 10261 W. Roosevelt Rd. in “It has been a lifelong goal to have a resWestchester. Business was quite taurant,” said Ortega. “We knew this was good inside the diminutive gaming going to be good, but Kayla and I didn’t café, but with only four tables on- know it would be this good. We work well site they outgrew the space rapidly. together, and this has been even more fun “Out of nowhere we were just than we thought it would be.” slammed and we needed to be able to do more than 20 covers a night,” said Ortega.

Armed with more than 3,500 Facebook followers, Ortega relied on a pre-existing relationship with the owner of Angelo O’Leary’s to bring their menu of Cajun favorites to Forest Park. O’Leary’s was looking to serve food and Ortega was attracted to the 60 covMELISSA ELSMO/Oak Park Eats Editor ers he could do every night in the Madison Chef Rich credits Kayla Hernandez, his fiancé and business Street bar. Since open- partner, with being the heart of their restaurant inside Angelo

O’Leary’s.

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

Support for connecting River Trail with Prairie Path River Forest and Forest Park push for final piece of a long puzzle

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

Officials have identified sections of Forest Park and River Forest as the final pieces of the puzzle that will connect the 55-mile-long Des Plaines River Trail with the 61-milelong Illinois Prairie Path, creating a continuous trail from the Wisconsin/Illinois border to Wheaton.

Originally, the Des Plaines River Trail stopped at North Avenue. However, plans have been developed to continue the trail through River Forest and connect with a planned bike path along Van Buren Street in Forest Park.

River Forest officials expressed support for the project at the Feb. 28 village board meeting, allowing the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to pursue funding opportunities to complete design/construction and permitting through the Illinois Department of Transportation. Jeff Loster, director of public works and development services, told officials that the River Forest and Elmwood Park sections are planned to undergo Phase 2 engineering and construction in 2022 or 2023, depending on funding.

The River Forest section of the trail will mainly run along Thatcher Avenue between North Avenue and Madison Street with a smaller section running along Madison between Thatcher and Van Buren Street, where it will connect with a proposed biking/walking path in Forest Park.

The Forest Park Van Buren Street Multi-Use Path Improvement Plan calls for construction of 1,600 linear feet of a 10-foot-wide, asphalt, multi-use path along the west side of Van Buren between Madison and the CTA’s Des Plaines Avenue Blue Line Station, also called the Forest Park Transit Center.

Forest Park officials learned in November that the village would receive a $247,500 Invest in Cook grant from Cook County to cover approximately half of the $540,000 estimated cost. The village will pay the remaining $292,500 from the Village Improvement Program fund. Bicyclists and walkers can access the Prairie Path through the Transit Center parking lot.

“Not everything is 100 per-

cent right now in terms of plans being ready to go,” said Moses Amidei, village administrator. “We have to do some coordination with ComEd regarding some utility pole relocation west of Van Buren, just south of Madison, and we will be talking to the owner of the adjacent property regarding the placement of the path and potential right-of-way needs.

“The ComEd relocation will take a few months, so we’re looking to later this year in terms of scheduling. There still are some semantics that need to be worked out before we can go to construction. We’re looking at a time frame of later this summer or fall for the project. It’s not imminent, but it’s something we’d like to take care of it by the end of this year.”

Amidei said he hopes to work with Maywood in the future on improving signage directing bicyclists and walkers from the Transit Center parking lot to the Prairie Path.

“It would be nice in the future if the path between the CTA parking lot and First Avenue could be better delineated,” he said.

“That would require a joint effort by our village and Maywood but it won’t be pursued this year.”

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10

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

S P O N S O R E D

C O N T E N T

Inari is on a (Maki) Roll on Restaurant Roll Elmwood Park Sushi spot embraces an abundance of creativity

A

ccording to The Story of Sushi: An Unlikely Saga of Raw Fish and Rice

by Trevor Corson, the very first traditional sushi restaurant popped up in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. The establishment named Kawafuku catered primarily to Japanese immigrants and earned a robust following. As a result, Japanese chefs started flocking to Food Writer California to open similar restaurants and by the 70s health-conscious American celebrities had discovered the delicacy. Sushi began gaining considerable traction on the West Coast as chef ’s capitalized on locally available ingredients like crab and avocado. Once the perennially popular California Roll took hold of the burgeoning sushi-loving community, creativity and accessibility took

MELISSA ELSMO

No flames needed: The diablo roll from Inari looks unassuming but packs a spicy punch thanks to spicy tuna and fresh jalapeno.

All photos Melissa Elsmo

Feeling firey? Real flames are on the menu when customers order the flaming dragon specialty roll at Inari Sushi in Elmwood Park.

hold of American sushi menus.

Over the past 50 years colorful maki rolls, nigiri morsels and subtle sashimi have been gaining in popularity across the country. In fact, the number of sushi focused establishments in the United States has grown to more than 15,000 in the past half century. When served in Japan, sushi is a celebration of simplicity and freshness while in America extravagant maki rolls tend to dominate menus. Building on a traditional trio of ingredients including seaweed, seasoned rice and fresh fish these rolls create opportunities for creative chefs to distinguish themselves from the multitude of spots serving up sushi in the states.

Inari Sushi and Sake Lounge, 7428 W. North Ave., has created a place of prominence on Restaurant Row in Elmwood Park over a decade. Sara Kate, the spot’s owner, spent years in management at Tank Sushi in Lincoln Square and maintains industry ties to the folks behind Sushi Wabi — the standard-setting sushi bar located on Randolph Street in Chicago that closed in 2012. Relying on the wisdom of chefs from some of the great Chicago sushi houses has helped Kate and her devoted team embrace creativity in their array of custom maki rolls.

Sure Inari keeps with tradition by offering straightforward sashimi, nigiri and maki rolls that honor Kate’s career long devotion to souring quality ingredients,

but their specialty rolls have evolved well beyond the typical California roll. Consider Inari’s Flaming Dragon Specialty Roll -- this baked inside-out roll is stuffed with shrimp tempura, scallions and sweet spicy mayo before being topped with fresh salmon, super white tuna, black and red tobiko, scallions and sesame seeds. The offering is literally set on fire before landing on a customer’s table; the showy offering is a favorite among Inari’s regular customers.

Folks looking for a different type of heat will appreciate the Diablo Roll filled with spicy tuna, avocado, cucumber, cilantro and fresh jalapeno. This spicy offering, garnished with tempura crunch, spicy mayo and sweet soy, is sure to please hot heads everywhere.

The creativity continues with Inari’s alphabetically inclined S.T.A.Y Rolling Roll featuring letter focused ingredients: salmon, tuna, avocado, and yellow tail.

The offering is a delicious spelling lesson.

The festive X’mas Specialty Roll lets a wellknown color palate drive the dish. Look for ruby-hued tuna, snow crab and tobiko to join green-hued cucumber and avocado in this ode to a festive time of year. The memorable roll is meant to be enjoyed all year long.

Precede any Inari maki roll offering with a piping hot bowl of house-made miso soup or innovative appetizer offering. A healthy summer roll, found among Inari’s rotating

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

11

OPEN FOR DINE IN, TAKE OUT, & DELIVERY

The summer roll is among the rotating daily specials on Inari’s menu. The colorful dish offers a healthy alternative to rice heavy rolls.

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Artful offering: spicy tuna ravioli from Inari sushi on Restaurant Row. menu of daily specials, appeals to healthconscious visitors. In lieu of nori and rice this maki-inspired starter is wrapped in carved cucumber and sweet sauce. Inari’s spicy tuna ravioli boasts an especially memorable presentation with tuna and crab meat mixed with ponzu sauce hidden behind scales of thinly sliced avocado.

Though rooted in Japanese tradition, Inari’s offerings celebrate the best side of American sushi cuisine while remaining both elevated and refined. The decade old sushi lounge offers deceptively complex, chef driven creations with customer comfort in mind — a noteworthy combination on North Avenue.

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Keep up with Melissa Elsmo and what she’s cooking up at:

Miso soup is a warming start to any meal at Inari in Elmwood Park.

Oak Park Eats on OakPark.com

12

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

Triumphant return of St. Patrick’s Parade Biggest turnout ever and the weather was perfect Most participants and those watching it along the street gave the parade a thumbs up.

“The parade was awesome!” said Sal Stella. “The biggest one I’ve been a part of in 25 years. The huge crowd enjoying themselves was the best part.”

Police Chief Ken Gross confirmed, “It was one of the largest crowds I have seen in my nearly 22 years in Forest Park.”

Chamber of Commerce Director Laurie Kokenes Crowd estimated the crowd at 10,000.

“This was by far the largest attendance we’ve ever had for the parade,” Kokenes said. “It’s really an amazing feeling to see the throngs of people all along Madison Street. Lots of families, thousands of smiling faces and everyone having a good time.

Forest Park became a parking lot by the time the parade started at 1 p.m. with every parking space on the side streets filled north of Madison to Randolph and south to Jackson.

Monika Zamarlik, who lives just half a block from Madison Street, said, “It was great to have the parade back. It was a breath of fresh air!”

Speaking of fresh air, the beautiful weather played a big part in making the event a success.

“Being outside,” said Stella, “without a jacket was a relief from the winter we’ve had. Not wearing a mask was refreshing and finally gave me a sense of normalcy.”

Zamarlik added, “It felt strange to not have a mask on since we had to have one for so long.”

It was a new experience for Terry Crowley. “Being new to the area this is the first time I have seen all the bars and restaurants full of people; it was great to feel that energy.”

Following the honor guard were fire engines from Forest Park, Berwyn, River Forest, Oak Park and Stickney, together with police squad cars from 11 villages all with lights flashing and sirens blaring. The kids loved it.

Many adults in the parade seemed to be reverting to childhood.

Firefighters, for example, had big grins on their faces as they blasted away on their sirens.

By and large, the parade was homemade.

It featured two garbage trucks, two school buses and many SUVs festooned with handwritten posters promoting their nonprofit or a candidate running for office. The very last unit was a trailer pulled by a pickup truck with a rock band called Detta Dean and the Vaccinators, whose amps were powered by a portable generator.

Maybe half of the people on the route were wearing green. It was a day on which everyone seemed happy to identify as Irish.

A few of the units were flying Ukrainian flags, a simple acknowledgement of the suffering going on 5,046 miles away.

When asked if the police had to deal with any “incidents,” Gross answered simply, “None.”

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

GREEN AND GLOWING: Lean to green was the fashion philosophy on a dream day for Forest Park’s first St. Paddy’s Day Parade in three years. Kids were especially eager, waiting for candy dispensation from the passing floats. As for the adults, it was just great being Irish for at least one day.

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

13

Plan commission, zoning board move toward merger With limited cases, a single body seen as more efficient

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

Forest Park’s village council is expected to approve the merger of the village’s Plan Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals sometime this month after both commissions approved the move at their most recent meetings.

Both bodies serve advisory roles on zoning applications, with the Plan Commission handling development-related applications and the Zoning Board of Appeals reviewing requests for variances and Special Use permits. As the name suggests, the zoning board also considers appeals of how the village interprets its zoning codes and reviews any zoning code changes. Both bodies’ votes are advisory, but the village council usually concurs with their decisions.

Commissioner Maria Maxham has oversight over zoning matters as part of her role as the Commissioner of Public Health and Safety. She says the rationale behind the merger was simple – neither body has many cases to process, and having a single body would streamline zoning applications.

The Plan Commission and the Zoning Board unanimously approved the merger at their Jan. 31 and Feb. 22 meetings, respectively.

The village council is expected to vote on the merger in March, and Mayor Rory Hoskins is expected to reappoint most members of the two bodies to the joined board.

Maxham said that in recent years, “neither board met very often” because “there

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weren’t enough zoning issues to have monthly meetings. She also pointed to the fact that many Chicagoland suburbs already merged their Plan Commissions and Zoning Boards. In the western suburbs, the Village of Riverside merged theirs in 2013.

Originally, the vote was supposed to take place in February or March 2020, but the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic put the issue on the backburner. But since then, the situa-

tion stabilized. Maxham, a former editor of the Forest Park Review, said that, since she was appointed commissioner, she has been urging the village to resume the process.

Both bodies’ members are appointed by the mayor and approved by the village council. The Plan Commission has five members while the Zoning Board has seven. Maxham said that, to the best of her knowledge, the new board would have seven members. five

would carry over from the Plan Commission, one member would come from the currently seven-member Zoning Board, and one member would be brand-new.

During the Feb. 28 meeting the village council, the commissions confirmed that the final vote on merging the board would take place during one the March meetings, but it hasn’t been decided if it will happen during the March 14 or March 28 meeting.

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14

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

O U R

OPINION

V I E W

Growing our park

A

reinvigorated and more ambitious park district has taken what will be a neighborhood-pleasing step in acquiring property adjacent to the Harrison Street main park for development of expanded indoor programming, including its

day camp.

Neighbors of the park have long complained about both the past use of the 7400-7412 Harrison parcel as a loud and decrepit nightclub venue and the recently proposed and defeated effort to build a good-sized apartment development on the site.

Instead, after paying the current owners $1.25 million to purchase most all of the block facing Harrison, the park district plans to demolish the former Pines/Oak Leaf Lounge, tidy up the parcel and then go searching for multiple grants and maybe a potential partner to eventually construct a new building.

We applaud the park district administration and board for its foresight in adding this property. Though we’d also note that new developments paying property taxes and providing housing to grow Forest Park’s population are also worthy.

The park district says it can pay the purchase price from its cash reserves and that no increase in property taxes will be necessary. That’s good. But let’s remember the cash reserve is money paid by local taxpayers who generously backed a park district referendum several years ago.

That money has been well spent as it resulted in the purchase of the old Roos Cedar Chest company building, the construction of the recreation facility on that land, and multiple upgrades to existing park facilities.

Now the question is whether grants will be available — and there is money flowing out of Springfield — to move the building project ahead. We wouldn’t bet against the park district.

Meanwhile, we’ll return to the perpetual mystery in Forest Park of what will happen to the precious open space that is the village-owned Altenheim property. Twenty years into its ownership and there is still no plan for the future of this gem.

We would ask that the village and the park district find some basis to work together on creating park space in Forest Park that doesn’t front on Harrison Street. This is a project that needs reinvigoration and ambition.

What a parade!

Two years of waiting. Temperatures nearing 70 degrees.

Love of the Irish. A chance to hang out without a mask.

Great planning by the Chamber of Commerce and cooperation from the village.

Some combination of all those factors resulted last Saturday in happiness on Madison Street as Forest Park’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade returned.

The crowd was massive and smiling. The parade was a quintessential small-town production though it lacked the presence of the great Proviso East Marching Band, owing to the ongoing strike in the school district. We’d boast that it did feature the Review’s outstanding 1942 Buick Woody station wagon, courtesy of our friend Dan Lempa.

Mainly, though, it brought back some genuine sense of normal after this two-year horror show we have all communally endured. Here’s to more gatherings, to more candy, and always more beer.

I

Even jackasses can earn respect

never especially cared for Jackass.

Actually, that’s an understatement.

When I first heard about Jackass in 2001 or so, I was an annoying snob with a new diploma and a newer job. A show on MTV featuring morons in their early-20s endangering themselves in the name of entertainment? No thank you. I was in my early 20s right then, and had gone to college and gotten a real job, as one does. I did not have to drink horrifying smoothies or get bitten or stomped or gored. I just had to go to college and then sit in a cubicle at ABC News and I was on my way. I knew what I was doing and I knew I might be good at it, given the chance.

Twenty-six-year-old me knew it doesn’t take any talent or skill to get people to wince. Any moron can get a rise out of an audience by putting themselves in danger and/or squicking people out with grossness, right?

I felt this way about most stunt TV — looking at you, Fear Factor — and eventually most entries in what I think of as the “DIY home stunt category” in the early years of YouTube. I knew the jackasses had made some movies, and I knew there were some lawsuits and legal issues — go figure — but Jackass stayed mostly off my radar once the initial wave of hype was over.

Then I was sitting in a movie theater earlier this year, cheerfully watching trailers for coming attractions, and one of them was for Jackass Forever.

I don’t work in news anymore (besides this paper, I

guess). And my diploma is gathering dust along with the critical career wisdom I gathered in earning it, like how to edit reel-to-reel tape with a razor blade and where the cheapest parking in the Loop was if you worked weird hours. I’m in worse shape than I was and working on less exhilarating things. I’m 47. Stuff, especially fun stuff, hurts more than it used to, and I have less time to do the fun things that hurt more besides.

You start to see the finish line. It’s way off in the distance, of course, but … imagine the Las Vegas Half Marathon if it started on Fremont Street. You run the whole Strip, downtown to Mandalay Bay, and everything is amazing, and then the last 40% is just straight out into the desert. “Life finds a way” eventually starts to seem like an expression more appropriate for tones of resignation than wonder.

But here comes the Jackass crew, all grey hair and scars and stories of rehab, getting stomped by bulls and fired out of cannons and licking Tasers. And what used to look like anything-for-fame idiocy at our age Then starts to look like an act of comedically insane defiance against the dying of the light at our age Now. Imagine giving the Joker a squirting flower and a mallet and sticking him in among the Spartans at the battle of Thermopylae.

Respect is not something you give. Respect is something you earn.

ALAN

BROUILETTE

L E T T E R

Proviso teacher strike cause for concern Our community is confronted with yet another crisis. Our high school students are caught between two differing opinions. Certainly this raises concerns from all who are parents and property taxpayers.

This is not to point fingers at anyone, but this is an attempt to share another perspective. Moreover, it appears that the battle lines have been drawn. The teachers on one side and the district on the other side. Unfortunately, the students are caught in the middle.

The teachers are fighting for higher wages and better teaching accommodations. Then there is the district’s position, which is one of stewardship on behalf of the property owners who pay taxes that pay the salaries for all involved. Also, just like the teachers, the district is responsible for ensuring our children are properly educated. If we’re honest, we all would have to agree that “our children are properly educated” is where the rub is with many in the community.

For many years our students have not been the recipients of the same quality of education as those other schools that surround Proviso. The records bear that out. This isn’t a new concern. Many parents have for a long time been dissatisfied with the quality of the education from our district. Those who could afford it enrolled their children into private schools. That amounted to paying twice (taxes and tuition) for their child’s education.

Many faced the added expense of paying for remedial studies, as their child matriculated through college.

Many of you can bear witness to this. That being said, I think we realize that what we’re experiencing today is a natural effect, caused by systemic dereliction to the mission of building a quality education system in the district. This has been an issue for years; it isn’t a recent phenomenon.

Because the teachers and the district are employed by the property taxpayers of the community, we too

are complicit in this systemic hiccup. We grew comfortable with allowing our school system to underserve our children for too long. We should have demanded more of the administration and the teachers. I believe they would have met our demands adequately.

It’s not too late. I believe that a compromise will be achieved. However, to do so there must be a removal of the emotionalism from the discussions and negotiate from the facts, the truth, and keep the future of our children in mind. In the words of Nehemiah, I too call for a joint effort to build better! (Nehemiah 2:17 NKJV) Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.”

God bless.

Bishop Reginald Saffo

Proviso Township Ministerial Alliance Network

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

Forest Park’s resilience was on display Saturday

W

ho can forget our last “normal” day before the pandemic? It was March 7, 2020 and we enjoyed our annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. We celebrated Irish culture with music and dancing.

As usual, the final float carried a rock band. Their nickname was “Johnnie Corona and the Viruses.” It was the last day anyone could joke about COVID-19.

We just now celebrated our newest “normal” day, with the return of the parade. The weather was glorious on March 5. We had an enormous turnout on Madison Street. The atmosphere was especially festive because we were so grateful to be together again.

After two years of masking and social distancing, we hugged. Kids scrambled to gather candy thrown from passing floats. There may even have been some beer drinking.

It’s fun to be Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but I’m reading about a dark chapter in Irish history. I didn’t know much about the Great Famine that devastated Ireland in the 1840s until I read Paddy’s Lament, by Thomas Gallagher. I was stunned by the degree of suffering, as two million died and another million emigrated. My family was among those who escaped. We came to Chicago because we were starving to death.

I was also struck by the parallels between the famine and the pandemic. Prior to the potato blight, the Irish peasants may have been poor, but they knew how to enjoy life. They were fun-loving and lived in close-knit villages with a communal spirit.

But all that changed with the famine. As one eyewitness reported, “Sport and pastimes disappeared.

Poetry, music and dancing stopped.”

It’s like what our own convivial village suffered because many of our businesses depend on social interaction. Our economy is based on providing gathering spots where people can have a good time.

We’re so fun-loving, we come up with constant reasons to celebrate. We’ve had great times at Ribfest, German Fest and Casket Races. During the summer, we come together for the 4th of July fireworks, the No Gloves Tournament and the Groovin’ in the Grove concerts.

But for two years, we didn’t have these gatherings. We were afraid to socialize.

We isolated and lived in dread of a disease. Our bars and restaurants suffered.

Some closed their doors for good. Like the famine, the pandemic caused massive social and economic upheaval. Another parallel is that government policies made both crises worse.

Ireland was not suffering from a food shortage during the famine. Huge quantities of grain and meat were being exported from Ireland to England, while the potato-dependent Irish peasants starved to death. They also died in droves from disease.

Many sick people died alone because even their family members wouldn’t go near them.

Wakes and funerals are sacred rituals for the Irish, but services stopped being held and victims were no longer being buried in “sacred” ground.

Americans had the same bitter experience during the pandemic. We couldn’t visit our sick loved ones and funerals were remote.

Just as the British response to the famine was seen as indifferent and uncaring, our own government made missteps. The pandemic was at first downplayed. Then the CDC issued confusing guidelines. We developed vaccines but not everyone was on board for getting shots and wearing masks.

The U.S. has had a far higher death rate than other wealthy countries. But, like the Irish, we’re resilient.

Forest Park displayed its resilience last Saturday.

We came through the dark days, with our community spirit intact. As usual, the final float in our parade carried a rock band. This time their nickname was “Vinnie and the Vaccines.”

JOHN RICE

DETERMINATION: Kid repesents Forest Park’s resilience as he strides purposefully across the parade route.

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

O B I T U A R I E S

John Vlahos, 82, opened Golden Steer John Vlahos, the founder of the iconic Golden Steer restaurant in Forest Park, died Feb. 26, 2022. He was 82.

Mr. Vlahos was born in Sparta, Greece in 1939. In 1955, when he was 16, he came to the United States with only $40 in his pocket. He went immediately to work in the food industry. In a short amount of time he climbed the ranks of success from a dishwasher at Harvey’s, to become one of the top cooks at The Flame in Countryside.

He had the type of entrepreneurial spirit that he only wanted to work for himself, wanting to become his own boss. In 1969, Mr. Vlahos opened his first restaurant, The Golden Steer Steakhouse in Forest Park. The Steer quickly became a hot spot for steaks, chops, ribs, seafood, and its always popular French Onion soup.

During his ownership, there would be many famous faces that would dine at the Steer. From movie stars like Elizabeth Taylor (drank Jack Daniels neat), to numerous local politicians and many star Blackhawks players of that era including Stan Mikita and Denis Savard. The Steer was the place to be. Mr. Vlahos sold it to his brother after 10 years, to begin his next journey. The Golden Steer is now over 50 years old still serving up the same classics today.

Vlahos next opened Jonathan’s Steakhouse in Lombard. Later he founded a chain of sports bars called Half-Time, that athletes would frequent. Then came a crab and oyster house, named Harpoon Louis’, named after his father-in-law and a BBQ restaurant called Texas Smoke Shack. There were a couple of breakfast joints, Red Apple, which were home to the fluffiest baked omelets you could get. And finally JT’s Porch, which carried the initials of Mr. Vlahos and his wife Theresa.

Mr. Vlahos was the husband of Theresa (Barbato), father of Patricia (Peter) Brown and Sam (Justine) Vlahos. Son of the late Sotirios and the late Panagiota and son in law to the late Louis and the late Josephine Barbato. Brother to Peter/Taki Vlahos and the late Evelyn (Jim) Fuentes. Grandfather of Jonathan Brown, Future Baby Vlahos and Future Baby Brown.

Services were March 8 at Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church in Westchester. Interment at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery.

Helen Scharama, 99 75-year member of Calvary Memorial Church Helen R. Scharama, 99, a longtime resident of Forest Park, died on Feb. 8, 2022. Born on Oct. 21, 1922, she had recently moved to Arizona with her family, but her heart will always be in Forest Park. She was a member of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park for 75 years, loved her church family and was very involved in church activities.

She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

Her husband, George, died in September 1987. They had two children, Robert and Carol. Robert died in 1995. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Sciaccotta (Raymond); her granddaughter, Denise Buresch (Scott); and her three great-grandchildren, Brooke, Payton and Nathan Buresch.

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Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

Growing Community Media

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

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

HELP WANTED

River Forest Public Schools District 90

River Forest Public Schools District 90 is seeking a Part-time School Social Worker position will assist teachers social-emotional services to the students, Qualifications: HELP WANTED • NETWORK SPECIALIST Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class.

Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

DEFINITION To perform various network/system administration, computer support, and operational activities for the Village including computer system setup, configuration, and testing.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Reports directly to the Information Technology Services Director.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES: Essential and other important duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following: Essential duties and responsibilities 1. Ensure that best in class customer service is provided to both internal and external customers and also embrace, support, and promote the Village’s core values, beliefs and culture.

2. Configure, test, and deploy network systems, such as, firewalls, routers, switches, wireless equipment, network servers and storage arrays.

3. Configure, test, and deploy system servers, such as, file, print, Internet, e-mail, database, and application servers.

4. Configure, test, and monitor server and end-user systems for security, such as, user accounts, login scripts, file access privileges, and group policy management.

5. Configure, test, and deploy end-user systems, such as, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, printers, and software.

6. Test, configure, deploy, and support security systems, such as, facility access system, video & audio system.

7. Monitor and auditing of networks, systems, and user activities to ensure security and efficiency of systems. Create scripts and reports of detail activities for regular review.

8. Perform and participate in disaster recovery activities, such as, backup procedures, data recovery, and system recovery planning.

9. Assist end-users with computer problems or queries. Troubleshoot systems as needed and meet with users to analyze specific system needs.

10. Ensure the uniformity, reliability and security of system resources including network, hardware,

software and other forms of systems and data.

11. Prepare, create and update user/technical procedure documentations and provide computer training.

12. Assemble, test, and install network, telecommunication and data equipment and cabling.

13. Participate in research and recommendation of technology solutions.

Other important responsibilities and duties 1. Train users in the area of existing, new or modified computer systems and procedures.

2. Participate in the preparation of various activity reports.

3. Travel and support remote facilities and partner agencies.

4. Operate, administer and manage the Village and Public Safety computer systems, including E-911 center, in-vehicle computer systems.

5. Prepare clear and logical reports and program documentation of procedures, processes, and configurations.

6. Complete projects on a timely and efficient manner.

7. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

8. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

9. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: Principals and procedures of computer systems, such as, data communication, hierarchical structure, backups, testing and critical analysis.

Hardware and software configuration of. computers, servers and mobile devices, including computing environment of Windows Server and Desktop OS and applications, Unix/Linux OS, VMware, iOS/Android.

Network protocols, security, configuration and administration, including firewalls, routers, switches and wireless technology.

Cabling and wiring, including CAT5/6, fiber network, telephone, serial communication, termination, and punch-down.

Telecommunications theory and technology, including VoiP, serial communication, wireless protocols, PBX, analog, fax, voicemail and auto-attendant.

Principles and methods of computer programming, coding and testing, including power shell, command scripting, macros, and

VB scripts.

Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Technical writing, office productivity tools and database packages.

Ability to: Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following: - Walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time - Operating assigned equipment - Lift 50 pounds of equipment, supplies, and materials without assistance - Working in and around computer equipped vehicles Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for: - Making observations - Communicating with others - Reading and writing - Operating assigned equipment and vehicles Maintain mental capacity allowing for effective interaction and communication with others.

Maintain reasonable and predictable attendance.

Work overtime as operations require.

Experience and Training Guidelines Experience: Three years of network/system administration in the public or private sector, maintaining a minimum of 75 Client Workstation computers. AND Training: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in computer science or a related field. Certifications in Microsoft Server Administration, Networking, Applications and Cisco Networking.

Possession of a valid Illinois Driver License is required at the time of appointment.

Vaccination against COVID-19 strongly preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS Work in a computer environment; sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time; continuous exposure to computer screens; work in and around computerized vehicles outdoor and garage facility; lifting heavy equipment, communication cabling and wiring into walls and ceilings.

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

PART-TIME ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER

Quant Researcher sought by CTC Trading Group, LLC in Chicago, IL. Expertise in both quantitative research and trading, as you will be the primary person responsible for idea generation, strategy and executing projects based on team collaboration, and conduct alpha research for the treasuries desk.

Apply @ www.jobpostingtoday.com #14126

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago will be accepting applications for the following classification(s): Human Resources Manager (Original) Additional information regarding salary, job description, requirements, etc. can be found on the District’s website at www.districtjobs.org or call 312-751-5100.

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D

Call contracter for more info.

708-738-3848

Architect (Chicago, IL) sought by bba Architects to pln & dsgn strctrs in accrdnce w envrnmtl, sfty or othr regs. Reqs MS in architecture, civil eng or rltd. Domstc trvl to client sites as needed. Mst hv perm auth to wrk in US. Snd rsm & cvr lttr to Edward Twohey, 1010 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605.

a) Valid State of Illinois Professional Educator License

b) Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) preferred c) At least three years of successful School Social Work experience preferred.

Job Duties: The School Social Worker provides needs-based behavioral and JANITORIAL

Part-time. 5 days per week. Evening hours 5-9. $14-16/hr to start. Job located in Morton Grove, IL. Must have own transportation.

Call Larry for more information.

773-636-2505

PART-TIME SEASONAL OPPORTUNITY

The Riverside Department of Public Works is seeking energetic, responsible, and motivated applicants who enjoy working outdoors. This is a part-time, seasonal position lasting from approximately May through September. Applicants will be expected to work up to 40 hrs. per week or as scheduled by staff.

Primary tasks will include, but not limited to: cutting grass, maintaining athletic fields, general facilities maintenance, flushing hydrants, reading water meters, installing water meters, assisting full-time employees, and other duties as assigned.

Applicants must be 18 years old, possess a valid Illinois driver’s license and high school diploma or equivalent.

Applicants will be subject to a criminal background check, pre-employment physical and drug/alcohol screening.

Applications can be downloaded from the Village website at www.riverside. il.us or picked up at the Riverside Village Hall located at 27 Riverside Rd, Riverside, IL 60546. Completed applications should be submitted to the Riverside Village Hall or the Riverside Public Works Department, 3860 Columbus Blvd, Riverside, IL 60546. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. Pay rate is $15/hr.

The Village of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PARKS DISTRICT OF OAK PARK JOB FAIR

The Park District of Oak Park is hosting a job fair to find job-seekers who would like to work with us!

Learn about all our opportunities part-time, seasonal, and full-time!

We are looking for employees in Summer Camps, Maintenance, Child Care, Horticulture, Supervisory, Operations, Aquatics, and Customer Service. When: Saturday March 12, 2022 1:00PM-3:00PM. Where: Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex, 415 Lake St. Apply online: //www.pdop.org/jobs

parents, and faculty/staff of a school.

The role includes, but is not limited to, individual and group counseling with students; direct and indirect consultation with students and teachers; assessment, behavior planning and intervention implementation and monitoring; and universal screening/prevention of behavioral & social-emotional concerns.

The School Social Worker hired for this

in development and implementation of MultiTiered Systems of Support (MtSS) social/ emotional interventions, and may provide some school-wide SEL programming and parent outreach.

Interested candidates, please complete an online application at www.district90.org/about/employment

National Accounts Rep Get a job super close to home!

Top rated firm, Alpina Manufacturing LLC, founded in 1992, locally Manufacturing owned beautiful campus in Galewood, near Mars candy, 3 blocks north of Oak Park. We build and sell display framing systems to customers nationwide including Wal-Mart, Verizon, Circle K, Hospitals. We are seeking a college educated trainee to become an office professional.

Work is in person at our beautiful, safe, spread out, elegant executive offices in Galewood. We train, no travel, work in Galewood. Open to any backgrounds. Excellent pay, salary, benefits, friendly caring management, Oak Park owner. Please send resume to careers@fastchangeframes.com.

Visit www.fastchangeframes.com/careers for more details. 6460 W. Cortland Street, Chicago, IL 60707

ACCOUNTANT CLERK

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Account Clerk II. This position which performs a variety of accounting clerical duties involving financial record keeping and/or transactions including accounts payable and receivable and to provide a variety of accounting support to the Development Customer Services Department. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Public Health Nurse in the Health Department. This position will provide professional public health nursing services including health education and promotion which includes disseminating information, making referrals, and counseling as well as managing caseloads, and performing a variety of tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http:// www.oak-park.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. This position is open until filled with first review of apps 2/2/22.

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Parking Enforcement Officer in the Police Department Field Services Division. This position will perform a variety of duties and responsibilities involved in the enforcement of Village parking regulations; and to provide general information and assistance to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www. oak-park.us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

SEASONAL FARMERS’ MARKET MANAGER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmers’ Market Manager in the Health Department. This position manages the Oak Park Farmer’s Market including the vendors that sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This is a part-time seasonal position with work from January-mid November and work required on Saturday’s from May through October.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http:// www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Community Service Officer in the Police Department. This position will perform a variety of public service, customer service and law enforcement related duties and responsibilities that do not require the services of a sworn police officer; and to perform a variety of administrative duties. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

POLICE RECORDS CLERK

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Police Records Clerk in the Police Department. This position will perform a wide variety of specialized clerical duties in support of the Police Department including processing and maintaining documents, correspondence and coding reports; and to provide information and assistance to the public.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http:// www.oak-park.us/jobs.

SANITARIAN

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Sanitarian in the Health Department.

This position will perform a variety of duties including education and enforcement activities for the promotion and protection of the public health environment.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http:// www.oak- park.us/jobs.

PART-TIME FORESTRY INTERN

The Riverside Department of Public Works is seeking energetic, responsible, and motivated applicants who enjoy working outdoors. This is a part-time, Forestry intern position lasting from approximately May through September.

Applicants will be expected to work up to 40 hrs. per week or as scheduled by staff. Primary tasks will include monitoring of Village Trees for disease and insect issues, updating tree inventory records, maintaining woody and perennial plantings in parks and parkways, record keeping and administrational duties related to forestry operations, and assisting the Forester with various forestry related activities and ecological restoration.

Applicants must be 18 years old, possess a valid Illinois driver’s license and high school diploma or equivalent.

Course work and/or experience pertaining to urban forestry or a related field are desirable for the position. Applicants will be subject to a criminal background check, pre-employment physical and drug/alcohol screening.

Applications can be downloaded from the Village website at www.riverside. il.us or picked up at the Riverside Village Hall located at 27 Riverside Rd, Riverside, IL 60546. Completed applications should be submitted to the Riverside Village Hall or the Riverside Public Works Department, 3860 Columbus Blvd, Riverside, IL 60546. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. Pay rate is $15/hr.

The Village of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year • OakPark.com | AustinWeeklyNews.com | RBLandmark.com | ForestParkReview.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

CLASSIFIED

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG HOME SERVICES

MARKETPLACE

CEMENT

CARS WANTED

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MAGANA

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N “QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION” ESTABLISHED IN 1987

CLASSICS WANTED CLASSICS WANTED Restored or Unrestored

or Unrestored Cars &Restored Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Cars & Vintage Motorcycles Import Cars: Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette,Cars: Ferrari’s, Domestic / Import Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, $$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

Ferrari’s, James Jaguars,• 630-201-8122 Muscle Cars, Collector Mustang & Mopars

$$ Top $$ allWANTED makes, Etc. CLASSICS Collector James

WANTED TO BUY

Restored or Unrestored Cars630-201-8122 & Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Import Cars:

WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc. RENTALS & REAL ESTATE Collector James

SUBURBAN RENTALS 630-201-8122 STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR OAK PARK &

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OFFICE/RETAIL FOR RENT 2 SPACES FOR RENT IN SHOPPING CENTER: First: 1,000 Sq. Ft. (END CAP) 2nd: 1,635 Sq. Ft. BOTH: Excellent condition. Recently Updated. *Heavy traffic area; Serious inquires ONLY. **The 2 stores are next to each other: Can Rent alone, OR BOTH TOGETHER, for a larger business **Special Discounted RatesLimited Time!

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PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y22008651 on February 15, 2022 Under the Assumed Business Name of RHJ STRATEGY & MARKETING CONSULTING with the business located at: 609 GROVE LANE, FOREST PARK, IL 60130. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: RHONDA HUMPHREY-FINKLEA 609 GROVE LANE FOREST PARK, IL 60130, USA

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:

Published in Wednesday Journal February 23, March 2, 9, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD Notice of Public Hearing Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission March 24, 2022, at 7:00 PM NOTICE is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Brookfield on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 7:00 PM in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois to consider a request by the Village of Brookfield, as petitioner, to amend the text of the Village of Brookfield Zoning Ordinance in Chapter 62 of the Municipal Code for required parking in the SA 1 and SA 4a zoning districts.

The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/or written comments. Please check the following webpage more information: https://brookfieldil.gov/ community-developmentdepartment/planning/brookfield-development-projects/ Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the meeting to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Emily Egan, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 and at eegan@brookfieldil.gov. Oral or written public testimony may be given during the public hearing.

The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in any meeting may contact the Village of Brookfield at (708) 4857344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (south) entrance of Village Hall.

By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman.

Published in RB Landmark March 9, 2022

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Jessica Nero on behalf of Mason Lee Carter 2021CONC001688.

There will be a court date on my Request to change the name of the minor child from: Mason Lee Carter to the new name of: Mason De’Andre Robinson The court date will be held: On April 18, 2022 at 9:30am via Zoom Video Conference Meeting ID: 963 3970 2551 Password: 395850 Call in # 312.626.6799 Published in Wednesday Journal March 9, 16, 23, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y22008743 on March 4, 2022 Under the Assumed Business Name of THE CARIOSCIO GROUP with the business located at: 7915 OAK AVENUE, RIVER FOREST, IL 60305. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: MIKE CARIOSCIO 7915 OAK AVENUE RIVER FOREST, IL 60305, USA Published in Wednesday Journal March 9, 16, 23, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE WAITING LIST OPENING Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program Housing Authority of the Village of Oak Park Public Notice is hereby given to persons interested in applying for the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program (HCVP) in Oak Park that effective 8:30 a.m. on Monday, March 14, 2022 through 3:00 p.m.

Friday, March 25, 2022, pre-applications will be accepted electronically on the Oak Park Housing Authority (OPHA) website: www.oakparkha. org. During this time, pre-applications will be accepted 24 hours a day through March 25, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. The purpose of the pre- application is to obtain names of interested persons who may be eligible to receive an application for rental assistance through the Housing Authority of the Village of Oak Park’s Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program.

The Housing Authority of the Village of Oak Park will close its HCVP waiting list at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 25, 2022. The OPHA expects to receive an ample number of pre-applications to service applicants for at least the next two (2) years. The OPHA will randomly select 150 eligible pre-applications to be placed on the HCVP waiting list.

The OPHA gives preference to very low-income households who are: • Legal residents of the Village of Oak Park; or • Currently employed 30 hours or more in the Village of Oak Park; or • Hired to work 30 hours or more per week in the Village of Oak Park.

To apply: Please go to the OPHA website: www.oakparkha.org to access, complete and submit the online pre-application.

If you are a person with disabilities or elderly and require reasonable accommodations in completing the online pre-application, please call: 708-386-1464, during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Friday, March 25, 2022, 8:30am to 3:00pm.

Published in Wednesday Journal March 9, 2022

Green Alley Improvements – Phase 1 The 2021 Green Alley Improvement project consists of the reconstruction of 14 alleys in the Village of River Forest. The project will be completed in three phases to minimize resident disruption. This project consists of the reconstruction of three of those alleys. The project includes the installation of pervious pavers and concrete alley pavement. A 6” perforated underdrain is proposed through the length of each alley, with a connection to the existing storm water system.

The bidding documents are available for download starting Friday, March 4, 2022 at: www.vrf.us/bids Bids must be submitted by Friday, March 25, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at: Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305 The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.

No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.

The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.

Published in Wednesday Journal March 9, 2022

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of YANET FLORES, Petitioner and RENE ALONSO OCAMPO-BENITEZ, Respondent, Case No. 2022D001624.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before April 8, 2022, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal March 9, 16, 23, 2022

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Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

CLASSIFIED

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION MTGLQ INVESTORS, L.P. Plaintiff, -v.MARIA C. RIVERA Defendants 2019CH05114 1024 S RIDGELAND AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 17, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 4, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1024 S RIDGELAND AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-17-308-0110000 The real estate is improved with a residence.

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

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

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

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-19-03763 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019CH05114 TJSC#: 42-797 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 # 2019CH05114 I3188285

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK NA AS TRUSTEE FOR WAMU MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2005-PR1 TRUST; Plaintiff, vs.

MARY WOLFE; JPMORGAN CHASE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FKA WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK, FA; CITY OF CHICAGO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 19 CH 10876 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-17-331-015-0000.

Commonly known as 1028 South Austin Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60304.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a 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: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 21-009135 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3188797

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

INC., REALTOR

(708) 366-8989 7342 MADISON ST, FOREST PARK, ILLINOIS 60130

7618 Marengo Avenue

629 Harlem $309,000

$409,000

Brick bungalow 2-flat in the heart of Forest Park. Steps from transportation and downtown shopping and nightlife. 1st flr unit is duplexed into basement. Expansive LR and formal DR, 2 BRs both large enough for king sized beds, an eat-in kitchen, and three season porch. Finished basement has large study, deep walk-in closet, fam rm, second full BA, and third large BR. Basement laundry room has two sets of washer/dryers, one for each unit. Top flr 2 BR unit has been rented since 2006. The 2 ½ car garage has room for parking/storage. Tenants park on the driveway off the front. A flood control system keeps the basement dry. Great starter home, regular investment, or a perfect place to retire!

621 Elgin Avenue $423,000 Beautifully built and well cared for 2-flat. Two 2 BR units, fully occupied building for the next year, makes for a great investment. Rents cover the mortgage, taxes, utilities, and insurance. Large open living rms, formal dining rms, eat-in kitchens, and good sized BRs. Parking for four cars minimum up to 6 if needed! Great location just a few steps away from the transportation and downtown Forest Park.

One of Forest Park’s hidden gems. 2-flat.

Each unit has a large open formal dining room and 2 large BRs. The front living rms have eight windows and a brick faux fireplace. The rear BRs on each floor are tied into a tandem rm often used as a large closet and/or an office. Well maintained Kitchens and BAs. Basement is wide open for your first floor duplex ideas! Separate utilities each unit. Parking pad fits six cars. Next to the community gardens and a beautiful hidden gem of a park! Located 100 feet from the blue line. This opportunity will not last long. SOLD AS IS.

UNDER CONTRACT

1039 Troost Ave, Forest Park $350,000

813 Beloit Avenue $259,000 One of Forest Park’s largest bungalows is hitting the market! Classic layout with living rm, dining rm, and 3 BR,1 BA. The original ceiling height under the drop ceiling will measure out to 9 feet high! The basement was at one time an apartment but can be gutted and adjoined with the first floor, or left as is for storage. Very large partially heated attic is ready for your expansion ideas.

Located 100 feet from the FP Park District baseball diamonds, skate park, tennis courts, playgrounds and pool. A couple blocks to the Desplaines L entrance.

This home is ready for your decorating and updates!

7314 Randolph, Forest Park $179,000

Huge three bedroom home in need of rehab.

Three car plus garage! Enormous 75 foot lot.

This two bedroom and two bathroom unit is ready to sell! While dated, it is in impeccable condition. Sixth floor facing East gives that beautiful morning sunshine coming over the treetops! Great building and management. This unit does have garage parking.

RibFest Every Day! Mickey’s is the place!

Mickey’s Rib Special 1/2 Slab Dinner Full Slab Dinner B.B.Q. RIBS & CHICKEN BURGERS & HOT DOGS

$13.49

$19.79

includes fries or baked potato, coleslaw and garlic bread

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest invites you to our

Museum Gala on March 24 to honor these incredible neighbors and friends.

525 N Harlem Ave, Oak Park (708) 848-3333 11am - 9pm Daily

3 Vienna Hot Dogs w/ Fries $ .49

9

Italian Beef Sandwich w/ Fries $ .99

8

Wednesday

Gyros Plate Dinner 1 lb meat, 2 pita breads, fries & 3 cups sauce $11.99

Every day Special!

Gyros with fries $8.99

1/4 Lb Double Cheeseburger

Big Mickey! $ .49

3

McLouis and Harriette Robinet

Carlotta Lucchesi

Details and tickets at oprfmuseum.org

19

20

Forest Park Review, March 9, 2022

SLÁINTE 935 S Kenilworth Ave Forest Park | $959,000 Monica Klinke

525 Home Ave Oak Park | $650,000 Mary Carlin

747 S Ridgeland Ave Oak Park | $579,000 Ann Keeney

1618 N 78th Ct Elmwood Park | $569,000 Heidi Rogers

631 Marengo Ave Forest Park | $525,000 Cathy Yanda

905 Wenonah Ave Oak Park | $460,000 Linton Murphy

127 N Taylor Ave Oak Park | $419,900 Catherine Simon-Vobornik

2507 Wesley Ave Berwyn | $399,000 Bethanny Alexander

131 Francisco Ter 131 Oak Park | $383,000 Maya Puentes

1168 S Taylor Ave Oak Park | $375,000 Swati Saxena

824 N Ridgeland Ave Oak Park | $369,000 Edwin Wald

2126 Maple Ave Berwyn | $355,000 The Dita Group

1184 S Harvey Ave Oak Park | $299,000 Heidi Rogers

215 Marengo Ave 2D Forest Park | $210,000 Carla Taylor

1421 Bonnie Brae Pl 5B River Forest | $199,000 Arrick Pelton

1435 Harlem Ave Forest Park | $199,000 Swati Saxena

1121 S Oak Park Ave #1 Oak Park | $152,000 Patricia McGowan

621 S Maple Ave 101 Oak Park | $125,000 Swati Saxena

104 S Austin Blvd 3C Oak Park | $115,000 Swati Saxena

7231 Randolph St 1B Forest Park | $61,650 Bill Geldes

Oak Park | River Forest | 1037 Chicago Avenue Oak Park, IL 60302 | 708.697.5900 Source: BrokerMetrics® LLC, 1/1/2019 - 12/ 31/2019Detached and Attached only. Chicagoland PMSA