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REVIEW JANUARY 27, 2021

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Council approves Altenheim demolition grant No ‘cloak and dagger conspiracy’ in $750K plans By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

Several members of the village council directly shot down the notion that secret plans for the Altenheim property exist during the Jan. 25 village council meeting. “There’s no cloak and dagger conspiracy,” Commissioner Ryan Nero said in a conversation leading to a unanimous vote on accepting the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the village for $750,000 to demolish the decrepit Altenheim buildings. Mayor Rory Hoskins and Village Administrator Tim Gillian also stated unequivocally that no secret plans are being made. “There’s a group trying to suggest that the mayor and this council already know what they’re going to do with that property. And that’s just flat-out false,” Gillian said. “I wish we had that kind of a crystal ball.” Hoskins agreed, stating that simply because he has a meeting with the nearby CTA, for example, doesn’t mean that anything is automatically going to happen. “It’s just a question of starting the process,” Hoskins said. “There’s no done deal as to what potentially could go into the Altenheim. But until these hazardous buildings come down, it’s really hard to do anything with the property.” Based on what he’s heard, said Nero, there are no plans for any particular development on the property. “So rest assured, all those residents who are lisSee ALTENHEIM on page 6

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

PATIENTS FIRST: Dr. Natasha Diaz (left) examines Waits Longbrake at Roots Health DPC on Madison Street.

Direct primary care practice opens on Madison

‘Profit can’t come before patient care’ By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

When Dr. Natasha Diaz, who opened Roots Health DPC on Madison Street in August, went to medical school at the University of Illinois, she did it to fix

IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 THIS Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

what she saw as a broken medical system. She envisioned a system with transparent pricing that patients knew about before they received services, a system in which people had direct access to their doctors, not just the front desk. She imagined patients creating a relationship with their primary care physicians, establishing trust over years, and doctors who could see patients for

same-day visits, so rushing to an urgent care center where you might see a doctor you’ve never met before wouldn’t be necessary. She didn’t want to see waiting rooms filled with patients flipping through magazines, checking the time every five minutes. In fact, she didn’t want patients to have to wait at all.

D209 going hybrid

Art gallery exhibition

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See NEW DOCTOR on page 4

Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

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Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

Coping with the dark cloud lifting

’m detecting a sense of relief among friends and family now that there has been a change of administration. Many of them feel like a dark cloud has lifted and the future looks much brighter. I don’t recall feeling relief after the 2016 election. I just felt the urgent need to disconnect from politics. I switched from talk radio to a strict diet of classical music. After a few years, though, I OD’d on opera and got sucked back in by politics. This past year, I spent too much time and emotion watching political shows. I endlessly scrolled the news on my phone, reading about the latest outrages. I devoured the morning papers, despite the indigestion they caused. Now that the election is over, I’m once again taking a break from the news. Besides feeling relieved by the election, people are seeing signs that the dark cloud of COVID is lifting. Vaccines will again allow us to socialize in public. Our restaurants have resumed allowing indoor dining on a limited basis. This couldn’t happen soon enough for businesses and diners alike. The last time I ate out, it required a parka, gloves and a blanket. I realize that restaurants and bars need more than 25%

capacity to survive but it’s a baby step in the right direction. I’m also encouraged by the partial reopening of museums and movie theaters. It’s inspiring that our park district is hiring lifeguards and will be reopening the pool. I’m personally grateful that District 91 teachers and staff are returning to our schools. This brought about a minor miracle on Monday morning. For the first time in months, my wife left to go to work. This was a common occurrence for the past 20 years but hadn’t happened since March. I finally woke up to have the place to myself. Going to work was also good for my wife. It’s easier to get work done at an office, rather than a kitchen table. She also gets a chance to socialize with co-workers. I’m sure they appreciate my wife’s presence like I do. She has somehow kept a positive attitude throughout the pandemic. She is not only positive but productive, tackling household projects and keeping up with her school duties. I don’t know how she does it because I’m defeated by the slightest setback. Women seem to handle stress better than men. When men face adversity, we are limited to the “fight or flight” strategy,

JOHN RICE

L O O K

B A C K

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whereas women can be more resilient and see the big picture. I’m reminded of Ma Joad’s view of life in The Grapes of Wrath: “With a woman, it’s all in one flow, like a stream.” Meanwhile, her defeated husband, Pa, feels like he just struck another dam. As much as I value my wife’s positivity, it was nice to wake up to solitude. It had been my routine for decades. I could sip coffee and watch TV if I wanted, or blast music. There was something about having the space to myself again that was refreshing. On Monday morning, it also helped that I had gotten a good night’s sleep. The pandemic has disrupted my sleep patterns and I hear the same complaint from friends. The human body was not designed to take three naps a day and fall into restful slumber at night. A friend told me he falls asleep easily during the day but only manages a few hours at night. Sleep disruption and problems with diet are among the minor difficulties I love to complain about. If my wife stops home for lunch, I’ll tell her all about it. ■ John Rice is a columnist/private detec-

tive, who has seen his business and family thrive in Forest Park. He thoroughly enjoys life in the village and still gets a thrill smelling Red Hots, watching softball and strolling through cemeteries. Jrice1038@aol.com

T I M E . . .

FOREST PARK FIRE, 1912 In 1912 a fire swept through Gaden’s Hall, at the southeast corner of Madison Street and Desplaines Avenue. The blaze, which started at 11 p.m., burned until the next morning. There were nine men on the fire department force at that time; two were paid (Fire Chief John Pries and Assistant Chief Charles Armburst), and the other seven were volunteers. Forest Park’s horse team, Tom and Jerry, were the two large black horses that pulled the fire equipment to the scene. Two other fire departments, Austin and Oak Park, came to the aid of the Forest Park firefighters. Oak Park engines were pulled by dappled grays, and the Austin engine company 96 boasted sleek white teams. Austin fire department had a steam pump that pressurized the water to spray it higher and farther; that pump was drawn by another set of horses. Gaden’s Hall was a restaurant, saloon, dance hall and had a large picnic grove behind it. Gaden’s served the many mourners who came to town. In addition, the local farmers (as much of the land west of DesPlaines was farmland) frequented Gaden’s.

F O R E S T PA R K

REVIEW Editor Maria Maxham Senior Editor Bob Uphues 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 Designers Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA 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: $28 per year. $42 for two years, $58 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $36 per year. Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2020 Growing Community Media NFP. F O R E S T PA R K

REVIEW Share photos on Instagram using #fpreview or email alexa@oakpark.com. All photos become property of Forest Park Review for possible future use in print or digital capacities.

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Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

CHANGING MEDICINE: Dr. Natasha Diaz, who opened Roots Health DPC in August, wants to improve the way patients receive medical care.

NEW DOCTOR

Patients are priority from page 1 Mostly, Diaz wanted personalized, affordable care for patients with no hidden prices. “There should never be the incentive not to get the care you need because it costs too much,” she said. Consumers often don’t make informed decisions when it comes to medical care, said Diaz, because they don’t have all the information. They don’t have access to pricing, for example. And oftentimes, many large medical corporations are managed by businesspeople who might have MBAs but don’t have medical degrees. “They didn’t take the oath I took when I became a physician,” she said. “They are trained to care about profit most of all. But in medicine, profit can’t come before patient care.”

Her office at 7314 Madison St. (accessible through the back, where parking is available) has natural light and a gigantic rainbow mural on the wall. There are toys for kids — in fact, you can bring your whole family to your appointment, if you wish. Diaz’s practice follows the Direct Primary Care (DPC) model, a growing trend in the medical field. In the DPC model, there’s a flat membership fee. At Roots, it’s $78 per person, and there are family and children’s rates available. That membership includes no-fee services and visits, plus being able to contact Diaz directly. Labs and some procedures come at additional expense, but since there is no thirdparty billing, the costs are low. At Roots, a thyroid blood test will run you only $5.75, as opposed to the retail cost of $65. To test your cholesterol, it’s $3.50. Diaz prescribes and dispenses medication too, and the cost is low. Ninety tabs of Wellbutrin, for example, only costs $15 at her office, as opposed to the retail price of $123.37

It might seem like an ideal service for someone without insurance. But Diaz said many of her patients have insurance. They see her because they like the personal care she provides, the same-day appointments, the fact that they can call her directly and don’t have to wait. “Health-related questions should be answered right away,” she said. Patients are never scheduled to overlap, so a patient or family will be the only ones in the office at one time. Diaz likes to know her patients well because a strong relationship between doctor and patient is at the very heart of good medicine. “It improves the quality of care and changes and alters the course of treatment and, ultimately, health,” she said. While she is a general practitioner and sees men and women of all ages, she considers women’s health her specialization, and she loves families. “I like to see people grow up,” Diaz said.

As a mother herself — she has three sons — she understands the demands placed on working parents, which is another motivation to make health care as stress-free as possible. “I get how busy people are,” she said. Diaz lived in Forest Park while she attended medical school at the U. of I. She moved to California for her residency and worked there for a few years before returning to Forest Park, where she and her husband bought a two-flat they still own, though her family now resides in River Forest. She opened her practice in August, and it felt, she said, like “coming full circle.” She’d gone into medical school wanting to fix a broken system. She worked in that system for years, and finally was ready to open a practice based on a model she believes in. “My individual actions can make a difference in people’s lives,” she said. “It feels like this is my purpose.” And when it comes to making change, she said, “Let it begin with me.”

Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE FOREST PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Cozy meals on Madison Street

Menu items with winter flair are easy to find on Forest Park’s main street

ndoor dining restrictions are finally easing, and there’s no doubt local Forest Park eateries have been clamoring to welcome guests back into their socially distant dining rooms. Even if you are not quite ready to dine inside, five Madison Street restaurants are serving up fare designed to warm your soul in the cold winter months whether you carry out or sit in a dining room chair. Nothing keeps folks Food Writer more comfortable than cozy comfort foods. Things are “souper” at Starship Restaurant, 7818 Madison St. Co-owners Paul McKenna and Henry Laskowski typically offer a flight of four soups as a January special for dine-in customers, but COVID-19 has made such dining opportunities elusive. Thankfully, Starship’s food makes for cozy carryout fare. In addition to out of this world subs and “stick to your ribs” daily specials like beer cheese and pulled chicken on a pretzel roll or an indulgent prime rib sandwich, the beloved sandwich shop still offers four warming soups daily. The shop also boasts a freezer full of 80 frozen house-made soups making Starship soup flights a breeze to create at home.

MELISSA ELSMO

A spin on tradition at Fatduck Tavern and Grill, 7218 Madison St. Few things spark thoughts of winter faster than a homey pot roast dinner, and Fatduck Tavern and Grill is putting a spicy spin on tradition with a platter full of pot roast nachos. There’s nothing old-fashioned about the popular starter featuring warm tortilla chips piled high with braised beef and garnished with pickled jalapeno, pico de gallo, queso Chihuahua, sour cream and guacamole. Dennis Miller, co-owner of Fatduck, is also proud of Chef Danny Sandoval’s array of hickory smoked meats and top-quality burgers. The popular duck fat burger features a comforting combination of imported brie cheese, applewood smoked bacon and house-pickled onions. No matter the dish you decide on, Fatduck’s quality ingredients are destined to curb any cold weather craving. Savor a steak at Chirrion Mexican Grill, 7510 Madison St. Family owned and fiercely COVID-compliant, Chirrion Mexican Grill, has been awaiting the news their diminutive dining room can reopen at limited capacity. Frank Garcia, coowner of the well-appointed eatery known for serving gourmet tacos, is ready to make you feel like Chirrion is your second home. Whether you order for carry out or take advantage of dine-in opportunities, be sure to check out the Carne Asada a la Tampiquena. The robust and warming plate is brimming with chargrilled premium outer Skirt Steak prepared to your desired doneness. The wellseasoned and tender steak is served with a cheese enchilada, rice, beans, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, and grilled scallions—a perfect

Lunchtime line up at Starship Restaurant in Forest Park. Inset: Stick to your ribs specials like the pulled chicken and beer cheese sandwich keep Starship co-owner, Paul Mckenna, feeling creative in the kitchen.

Fatduck owner, Dennis Miller and Chef Donny Sandoval dish to fill you up on a chilly evening. Slurping noodles from Panda Café, 7600 Madison St. A twisted nest of noodles floating in a savory broth provides an ideal winter warm up and Panda Café has you covered. The Forest Park restaurant offers an extensive menu of thoughtfully curated Chinese favorites like pot stickers, sesame chicken, and hot black pepper beef, but also offers an array of customizable noodle soups. Savory soups studded with fresh vegetables and meat comes with your choice of pho, egg, or ramen noodles. Served spicy or all photos by Melissa Elsmo

Cocktails are ready to carry out at O’Sullivan’s

Szechuan beef noodle soup shown here with ramen noodles can be served spicy to heat you up on a cold day.

Carne Asada a la Tampiquena is a house specialty at Chirrion Mexican Grill. mild, the Szechuan beef noodle soup is more than suitable for slurping. Cozy bar vibes at O’Sullivan’s Public House, 7244 Madison St. Snag a basket of O’Sullivan’s wings in the barroom. No matter if you’re eating them on the heated patio or taking them to-go, the generously sized wings, served with a choice of sauce, are sure to be a warming precursor to the much-lauded Hugh burger or cheesesteak sandwich. “We sell a lot of wings, but our menu is largely focused on hot sandwiches,” said Anthony Crawford, O’Sullivan’s general manager. “We take pride in serving comforting pub food designed to be enjoyed with a beer.” O’Sullivan’s offers growlers of beer and cocktails available for pick up. Try out their premixed naked and famous, Manhattan, old fashioned, or side car. Each bottled cocktail comes with proper garnishes and a QR code designed to take you to a video of Crawford sharing tips and techniques to serve the drinks properly. *All food credited to Melissa Elsmo was ordered via carry-out and plated at home.

Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

Indoor dining and drinking allowed again, with limits Region moves into Tier 1 By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced on Saturday, Jan. 23, that Region 10, suburban Cook County, had moved into Tier 1 of the state’s COVID-19 mitigation plan. The move was long-awaited for many businesses, especially restaurants and bars which were prohibited from serving customers indoors at all during Tier 3 and 2, which the region had been in since Nov. 20. Last week, the state moved temporarily into Tier 2, which allowed the loosening of some restrictions for some business, but restaurants and bars were not included. With medical beds being removed from the metrics by which tiers are decided, Region 10 was quickly able to move down to Tier 1. Under Tier 1, bars and restaurants can once more serve people indoors, with a limit of 25 percent capacity or 25 persons per room, whichever is less. Seating at tables may not exceed four people indoors. For restrictions to be loosened even farther, the region must move into Phase 4, which requires: - COVID-19 positivity rate of less than or equal to 6.5 percent for three consecutive days (on a seven-day rolling average), - ICU bed availability of at or greater than 20 percent for three consecutive days (on a seven-day rolling average), and - No sustained increase of hospitalized COVID-19 patients for at least seven out of 10 days (on a seven-day rolling average) In Phase 4, restaurant capacity is determined by arranging seats a minimum of six feet from each other or service areas, with a 10-party limit per table. Bar capacity is determined by arranging seated parties at a minimum of six feet apart. There is a limit of 25 percent of standing area capacity for unseated customers.

Photo by JASON MAXHAM

NO SECRET PLANS: There are no secret plans for future development of the Altenheim property, said village officials during a Jan. 25 village council meeting.

ALTENHEIM

Grant approved from page 1 tening in or talking or having discussions, there’s no cloak and dagger conspiracy behind the back as to what’s going on with this particular parcel of land, at least that I know,” Nero said. “It’s as simple as let’s get the money, let’s drop the buildings.” The IGA for the grant was approved, but not without discussion about the single line relating to future use of the land. That line states that the village “will prepare the site for a future mix-use that will consist of residential, commercial, and green space, to be paid via other funding sources.” But it’s that “caveat,” as Commissioner Jessica Voogd described it, that necessitated clarification. Voogd wanted to know if there was a timeline for that future development. Also, since the grant is for money to tear down specific structures, does the future development referenced in the IGA need to be on the area where those buildings existed? For example, could selling off the north end of the property, commonly known as The Grove, still be a possibility after signing the IGA? Village Attorney Nick Peppers said the only timeline dictated in the IGA is two years for the village to complete the demolition, but nothing about the timing of future development is specified. And he said that future development does not have to be done on the spot of the demolished buildings. Voogd also made it clear that economic development and green space aren’t mutually exclusive. “Green space is economic development,”

Voogd said. “It increases property values; it brings businesses and retains them. There are countless studies that I found and am happy to share with people about how making green space and parks and trails and all of these different things actually helps the community; it increases jobs, it creates revenue, it reduces municipal overhead. I mean, there’s so much economic value with green space.” Peppers agreed, saying he thinks the specific terms of future development of the property may have been left open purposely for that exact reason. “Green space has a value,” he said. Bids for the demolition will be opened on Jan. 27, and Commissioner Dan Novak questioned what would happen if the bids were above the grant value. Peppers explained that since this is a reimbursement grant, the village can simply choose not to do the work. Village Engineer Jim Amelio said he felt confident that the bids would be competitive. “We’ve had around 12 general contractors who are qualified and have met the pre-bid qualifications, so we feel optimistic that we’re going to get a lot of interest, which should give us very competitive numbers,” Amelio said. “Just knowing where the current market is, based on COVID, and people really looking for work, I would be optimistic that, you know, out of these 12 contractors, someone is going to be hungry, and be very aggressive in their submittal.” A final outstanding issue on the IGA is an unchecked box regarding historical objects. Amelio said that relates to one or two engraved marble slabs on the property of the derelict buildings that will be maintained in a location to be determined. The village, he said, will follow through on the preservation.

The buildings coming down are a first step, Nero said, and although he assured residents that there’s nothing nefarious going on behind the scenes, any next steps should involve what he called “the customer.” “I think that the important thing is to remember the voice of the customer, which is the village residents here,” Nero said. “Now I think the piece that’s going to be very crucial for the village of Forest Park, for this council, is the planning exercise.” Rather than asking developers to look at the land and provide suggestions, he wants the village to be proactive in deciding what it wants and then go to developers and ask for feedback. “I think it’s important for us, as council members of department heads and residents, to look at that 11 acres, to say what makes sense for the village of Forest Park,” Nero said. “And then we can turn that over to a developer and say, ‘Now tell me what we could do with that.’ That gives us options on preservation of greenspace development and all the rest of it.” Peppers reminded the mayor and commissioners at one point that whatever ultimately happens on the Altehneim property will happen by council vote. The idea that no decision about future use of the property could be made without the majority vote of the village council was brought up by Gillian too. “You know that no single person can do anything by themselves,” Gillian said to the commissioners. “The mayor could say tomorrow, ‘Guess what, guys, we are going to build eight of the nine acres as houses [with] a one-acre park.’ It takes three of you folks to agree to that, and don’t ever forget that. You know, each of you has only one vote. So you all have a voice. That’s what you’re there for.”

Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

Armed robber asks for ‘double cheese’

An unknown offender walked up to the McDonald’s drive-through window on Jan. 21 at 11:45 p.m., asked for a “double cheese,” and presented a black handgun before the employee could tell him they do not accept walk-up orders. The employee immediately closed the drive-thru window and walked away from the offender’s view. The offender’s hand got stuck in the window as the employee was closing it, but he managed to pull it out and fled on foot.

Aggravated vehicular hijacking at car wash An aggravated vehicular hijacking occurred at Crystal Car Wash, 901 Harlem Ave., on Jan. 21 at 7:54 p.m. The victim said his car was parked at the vacuums on the northeast part of the car wash alongside Harlem Avenue when a dark gray vehicle, possibly a Chevy Impala, with heavily tinted windows entered and parked directly behind his and another vehicle. Two males exited the Impala and entered the victim’s vehicle, reversing the car and hitting the Impala on the way. They exited, in the stolen car, northbound on Harlem Avenue. The driver of the Impala, according to the victim, displayed a handgun when the victim tried to approach his car. The Impala also fled the scene.

Ten felonies for drugs A man was processed on 10 drug-related felony charges on Jan. 22. He was originally pulled over at 6:27 p.m. for unlawfully using his cell phone while driving. The car smelled like fresh cannabis, and bags consistent with narcotic packaging were in plain view in the front seat of the car. Although the man had no identification on him and originally lied about where he lived, he was searched, as was his vehicle

and two properties he owns. In total, the following amounts of narcotics were recovered from his person and property: - 220 pills of suspected Hydrocodone - 150 pills of suspected Adderall - 75 pills of suspected Ecstasy - 6.2 pounds of suspected THC edibles - 17.73 pounds of suspected cannabis Police also found $2,615 and Viagra, not a controlled substance, on his person. Much of the marijuana found was sealed and labeled with names like Wedding Cake, Keylime Pie, Golden Teacher, and Peanut Butter Breath.

Threatening phone calls at Walmart On Jan. 21, an employee at Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave., received a threatening call about another employee. The caller said, “I’m gonna go there and stab that bitch.” Two hours later, the same unknown subject allegedly called again. He asked for the employee, and when told nobody was there by that name, he said he was going to come with a gun and “shoot up the place.”

Car stolen A woman on the 100 block of Circle Ave. discovered her car missing on the morning of Jan. 15. She’d parked it in the driveway at 5:30 p.m. the previous day. She was unable to locate her car keys and suspects she accidently forgot her keys in the front door lock.

House burglarized, but no footprints found in snow Residents on the 1500 block of Elgin Avenue called the police on Jan. 17 at 6:05 a.m. when they heard someone in their basement. They let their dog out in the back yard, when they allegedly heard someone

running northbound down the alley and saw a “dark shadowy figure” headed that way. Officers, however, observed no footprints in the snow in the alley. The residents believe someone entered their basement through an unlocked door. Allegedly, toys were taken out of closets and placed on the floor. An attachment to the television mounted on the way was partially unhooked. The subject also allegedly managed to gain access to the residents’ computer, somehow getting through the password protection, and located a financial file that contains credit card and bank information, according to the resident. Additionally, a checkbook and a laptop, valued at $900, were missing. Officers were not able to locate the offender.

Cars graffitied in garages A resident on the 1400 block of Circle Ave. reported his car had been vandalized in his garage during the overnight hours between Jan. 16 and 17. He discovered an unknown person had spray painted graffiti on his car, including a smiley face on the hood. He also reported that two lighters and “a couple cigarettes” were missing. Another car in a garage on the 1300 block of Circle Ave was vandalized. The owner discovered the damage on Jan. 17 and called the police. The offender used red spray paint to write “in large letters an indistinguishable word beginning with the letters ‘CHE’ on the front hood of the vehicle,” according to the police report.

Car window smashed The window of a vehicle on the 1500 block of Elgin Ave. was smashed while parked in the rear of the residence. The owner called police on Jan. 17 when he discovered the driver’s side window was broken. A blue wallet containing an unknown amount of cash was missing.

Window broken by suspected BB gun shot A man on the 1400 block of Circle Ave. called police after hearing what he believed to be a BB gun shot and observing that the outer pane of his window was shattered on Jan. 20 around midnight. These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Jan. 19-24, 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 Maria Maxham

D209 sets Feb. 18 return date, teachers union says not so fast Teachers, staff and (maybe) students over 16 will be vaccinated By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

Some students in Proviso High School District 209 may return to the classroom part-time beginning Feb. 18, according to an announcement from Superintendent James Henderson on Jan. 22. The original date for students to return to school was Feb. 1, but in the announcement, Henderson cited availability of 3,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine for the district and talks with the Proviso Teachers’ Union

that spurred the decision to push back the return-date. “After speaking with the Proviso Teachers’ Union, we have decided to push the return to in-person learning date back to February 18,” reads the announcement. The Proviso Teachers’ Union, however, said they have not agreed to the return date of Feb. 18. “We are still negotiating with the district,” said union president Maggie Riley. She said the union is meeting with Henderson and his team on Jan. 27 to discuss, among other things, the return date for students. “Health and safety concerns will be part of that discussion,” Riley said. The hybrid model in D209 will consist of students attending classes in-person two days a week and learning remotely the other three. An option will be given and parents and students can opt to continue remote-

only if desired. At the Jan. 12 board meeting, member Theresa Kelly announced that the district was planning to bring students back to the hybrid learning situation on Feb. 1. However, on Jan. 23 it was announced that returning to school will be postponed until Feb. 18 due to vaccine administration for teachers, staff and students that will be occurring within the next few weeks. According to the announcement, D209 is receiving 3,000 doses of the COVID-vaccine “in the next few weeks and will establish a plan for safe distribution.” The district plans to provide the first round of vaccinations to teachers and staff and will then “make determinations about providing vaccination to students who are over the age of 16.” According to the announcement, the plan is to begin administering vaccines during

the first week of February. “We expect that District 209 will be used as one of the vaccination sites in our area,” Henderson announced in a second announcement on the issue on Jan. 25. He also stated that although the district won’t require employees to be vaccinated, it is strongly encouraged, and anyone who chooses not to won’t be exempt from returning to work. “All District 209 employees are encouraged to receive the vaccine as soon as it is available,” Henderson wrote. “Our current planning does not require employees to be vaccinated, but it our sincere hope that everyone will do so to protect themselves, their families, and our school community. Employees making the personal choice not to be vaccinated will not be excused from returning to work onsite.

Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

Jan. 27 - Feb. 3

BIG WEEK “Explosion of Color” Art Exhibition Step out of the January cold and into an evening of inspired creations; replace the grey of winter with a palette of color at Sarah O Gallery, 7502 Madison, on Jan. 30 from 5 to 8 p.m. Masks are required for this event that features artists Carmella LoCascio, Phil Malhiot, DeMar Brown and Sarah O’Neill.

Be a Fake News Buster! The library, fppl.org, is hosting a virtual event on Zoom to go over the basics of telling the difference between real and fake news. Learn how you can be better prepared to spot fakes, to identify the most common tricks, and take a quiz to see if your detective training has paid off. The event, geared for kids, is on Feb. 3 from 4 to 5 p.m.

Cards y a D ’s e n i ing and DIY Valent paper craft

ntine vent, our of Vale h n a in p.m. This e te 8 a ip to ic 7 rt a m P 2 fro ill g on Feb. r Zoom, w card makin adults and held ove u hniq es. ward rafting tec c r e geared to p a p w simple ber of kits feature a fe have a limited num s. Bring l ic wil aking bas The library me card-m o s and glue! h it rs o w s e scis m o available s d n a s te pun your favori nts. pl.org/eve fp t a p u n Sig

Explore Your World Storytime Join the library on Facebook live on Jan. 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. for a storytime that uses reading to explore the world around us. Each week, a different place, thing or concept is explored through songs, games and books. Find out more at fppl.org/events.

Virtual Stuffed Animal Workshop and Storytime Join the Forest Park Public Library on Jan. 31 from 2 to 3 p.m. for a virtual story time and build your own polar friend stuffed animal. Space is limited, so be sure to register for a spot at fppl.org/events. A materials kit for the stuffed animal will be available for pickup at the library, but you must be on the registration list to get one.

Exploring Teen Dating Violence in a Digital World Riveredge Hospital hosts Sarah’s Inn prevention educators Nathalie Bertoncin, BA, and Tara Crawford, BA, in this presentation on Feb. 5 from 9 to 11 a.m. For today’s youth, navigating the world of dating and romantic relationships can sometimes feel complicated, and dating online or maintaining a relationship virtually can also provide its own set of challenges. In this workshop, Sarah’s Inn Prevention team will cover the basics to understand digital abuse, the unique challenges of online dating as it applies to youth populations, and more. Preregistration is required at tinyurl. com/yyuw68ov, and the cost is $10. Two CEUs available for LSW, LCSW, LPC, LCPC.

Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

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E D U C AT I O N & E N R I C H M E N T G U I D E Special Advertising Section

January 27, 2021

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E D U C AT I O N & E N R I C H M E N T G U I D E

January 27, 2021

Special Advertising Section

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Ascension School

Shaping Children into Independent, Successful Learners Staying Safe Today - Preparing Leaders of Tomorrow Virtual Open House - February 2nd through 4th

Ascension School

or generations, parents have chosen Ascension School for their children’s education because of our reputation for excellence. Today, we stand as a vibrant community, proud of our history and ready to serve the needs of each child who joins us.

Virtual Open House - February 2nd through 4th

Ascension School offers a faith-based and comprehensive curriculum for students ages 3 through grade 8. At each level children are prepared and nurtured to ensure their success as they continue through their education. Their days are enriched through exposure to the fine arts, physical education, music, technology and Spanish language. Students can choose to participate in a variety of clubs, athletic teams and extracurricular activities to explore their individual interests. Our experienced faculty and dedicated parents are committed to providing Ascension students with a unique community that fosters our values of Love, Kindness and Respect.

With both in-person and virtual learning options, we proudly provide an excellent, faith-based education to students in preschool through eighth grade. Our accomplished faculty and staff ensure the safety of our students, giving them the opportunities they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom. For more information about our Open House or on how to enroll for the 2021-22 school year, visit our website at: school.ascensionoakpark.com

Kindness

Respect

601 Van Buren Street Oak Park, IL 708.386.7282 www.school.ascensionoakpark.com

winter ad 21.indd 1

Love

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teachers mouths moving as they interact with them? How will they handle the changes emotionally? They returned in June 2020 to a ‘new’ normal. Fast forward seven months later, as I walk through the hallways and peek inside the classrooms, what I see are strong, happy children. They are thriving and have adapted well to the changes, which gives me hope that their future is secure. The outside world is full of uncertainty and anxiety. However, while in our care the children have stability, structure, calmness and safety. With the vaccine rollout, my prayer is that we’ll soon get back to the way things were prior to when COVID-19 disrupted all of our lives. In the meantime, we’ll continue to be a safety net and support for our children and their families. Better days are coming, I can feel it! Bernadette Hicks, M.Ed. Executive Director, ABC Toon Town

Compassionate, Comprehensive, Innovative, Exceptional

Staying Safe Today - Preparing Leaders of Tomorrow

Love

e will make it to the other side of this. It’s what I have to keep telling myself as I see the daily COVID-19 updates. Not being able to see my family (my parents, especially) and having things shut down is disheartening. However, the one thing that keeps a smile on my face, is to witness the resilience of the children in our care. Prior to the mandatory shutdown in March 2020, the children were able to play freely, interact with their friends, give hugs to their teachers, explore their environment, etc. Today they have to wear masks, play in small groups, and practice social distancing. As an early childhood educator, I was very concerned as to how this would affect their development. I pondered things like how does a 2 to 5-year-old practice social distancing? How do children play with masks on all day? How will the infants and toddlers develop language skills if they can’t see their

In addition to an excellent elementary school education, Ascension provides: • A wonderful preschool led by certified teachers with full and half-day classes • An outstanding Extended Day Program before and after school from 7 am to 6 pm • Two classes per grade with a 12:1 student – teacher ratio • Athletic teams, starting in grade 3 with a ‘no cut’ policy to encourage teamwork and collaboration • An emphasis on service and social justice articipation at all grade levels in the •P Olweus Bullying Prevention Program We know that parents have many wonderful options when choosing the right school for their children. When you choose Ascension School, be confident that you are providing your children with more than an academic experience, you are giving them a foundation for a lifetime of success.

E D U C AT I O N & E N R I C H M E N T G U I D E Special Advertising Section

Grace Lutheran, a nurturing and faith-filled environment

race Lutheran School, at the corner of Division and Bonnie Brae in River Forest, offers a nurturing and faith-filled environment for students from preschool through 8th grade. Early childhood programs. Preschool and junior kindergarten classrooms at Grace provide flexible morning and afternoon options for families with young children. Three-year-old preschoolers attend morning classes two, three, or five days a week. Fouryear-olds attend junior kindergarten every morning, Monday through Friday. An afternoon program is available one to five days per week for both 3- and 4-year-olds. All-day kindergarten. Senior kindergarten, for children age 5, is a full-day program at Grace, focused on academics and social and emotional development. Grades 1–8. Grace’s students consistently perform above national averages on standardized tests and go on to succeed at competitive high schools in the city and suburbs. A strong core curriculum challenges children

academically while high expectations and appropriate supports help students achieve their best. The faculty includes a full-time resource teacher. Students of all ages learn about God’s word every day and are encouraged to live out their faith through service. Students participate in art, music, library, P.E., and German classes. Band and orchestra are also available. After-school enrichment classes offer a variety of fun and creative learning experiences. Grace sports teams are open to all and include basketball and volleyball for grades 5–8. Track and cross country teams are open to students in grades 3–8. Extended care is available until 6pm for all children. Before-school care opens at 7am. Visit our website to register to attend the Open House on Sunday, January 31, 12:30–3:00pm, or check out a virtual tour option. For more information or to schedule a personal tour call the school office (708-366-6900) or click on School at GraceRiverForest.org.

West Suburban Home Daycare Association - Our Philosophy

est Suburban Home Daycare Association advocates for professional family childcare on behalf of providers and offers professional family childcare as a viable community resource to children and their families. WE ARE an equal opportunity organization serving families and family childcare providers in these near-west suburbs and Chicago neighborhoods: Austin, Bellwood, Berwyn, Broadview, Cicero, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, Galewood, Maywood, Melrose Park, MontClare, Oak Park, River Forest, River Grove, and other nearby suburbs. OUR PROVIDERS PROFILE The members of the West Suburban Home Daycare Association are committed childcare providers who have chosen to care for young children as their profession and see themselves as more than babysitters. West Suburban Home Daycare Association’s childcare providers are encouraged to offer care which is warm, caring, sensitive, attentive, and responsive to children.

We require our members to be licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, who sets basic health and safety procedures, as well as requiring each home to have enough capable adults to give children the attention and care that parents want their children to have. Illinois standards set maximum group sizes and childto-caregiver ratios, as well as minimum requirements for caregiver trainings, such as CPR and 1st Aid. They also set requirements for age-appropriate activities, nutrition, discipline, space, equipment, supplies, policies, and records. Licensed childcare providers know what they must do to comply with the law. We offer our members opportunities to work with and learn from their colleagues through training programs and workshops, including enhanced training to further their caregiving skills. Monthly meetings to satisfy the Department of Children and Family Services’ continuing education requirements and an informative newsletter are provided to our members.

WEST SUBURBAN HOME DAYCARE ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX 1156 Oak Park, IL 60304 708-848-8931

January 27, 2021

Grace Lutheran School 7300 Division Street Faith

▪ River Forest

▪ Academics ▪ Character

Early Childhood age 3 to 5 All-day kindergarten Half-day or full-day preschool Play-based curriculum We learn about God’s love! Elementary grades 1–8 Caring, experienced teachers Challenging curriculum Support for individual learning Music, art, and sports teams Before and after-school care

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Apply now! Call 708-366-6900 to schedule a visit or virtual tour

WEST SUBURBAN HOME DAYCARE ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 1156 Oak Park, IL 60304 (708) 848-8931

Independent, committed family childcare providers, licensed by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. DCFS sets basic health, safety, activity, and policy requirements for family childcare to which our members must adhere. Call our referral line (708) 848-8931 to get the telephone numbers of providers who have a vacancy to serve your needs. Schedule an interview in various providers’ homes to find one who is most compatible and meets the qualifications you desire.

E D U C AT I O N & E N R I C H M E N T G U I D E

January 27, 2021

Special Advertising Section

Using an equity lens, giving every child the opportunity to succeed

y age ﬁve, a child’s brain has completed 90% of its development. That means that the foundation of her future learning and life habits take shape at this crucial early stage of life. If we get these ﬁrst years right for our children, we have optimized their ability to problem solve, communicate, practice self-control and retain strong relationships. This age period is also the time when executive functioning skills skyrocket – these are the skills that help us manage the many moving parts of life to be successful family members, employees, and community members.

By focusing on early childhood health, development, and education using an equity lens, we give every child the opportunity to succeed – and thrive. This is what the Collaboration for Early Childhood knows, and this was Oak Park’s vision when all six of its governing agencies came together to start the Collaboration for Early Childhood. Built from local partnerships, the organization

improves outcomes for Oak Park and River Forest children in these ﬁrst amazing years of life by supporting the families, educators, health professionals and systems leaders that care for them.

If you are new to Oak Park or River Forest and have young children (-- or are expecting to! --) contact the Collaboration by visiting www. collab4kids.org/contact or calling 708-613-6122. Take a look at the Collaboration’s Early Childhood Resource Directory on our website to see listings of child care centers, music, art, and other enrichment opportunities for children in Oak Park and River Forest. Oak Park and River Forest provide affordable, high-quality preschool to children whose families meet eligibility criteria such as veteran status, income level, or if their child has a disability or developmental delay. If you believe you may be eligible for public preschool, reach out to us and we will help you with next steps.

The following Catholic Elementary Schools are opening their doors to parents from Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities during

National Catholic Schools Week January 31–February 6, 2021

For parents seeking a value-based education and academic excellence for their grade school children, the following open house events are the perfect opportunity to learn more about the many advantages of sending your children to Catholic School. Parents can tour buildings, get familiar with individual curriculums and other program enhancements including: computer training, foreign language programs, athletics, band, summer enrichment classes, and affordable preschool and after-school day care. Most of all, hear from administrators, faculty and students about what a difference the Catholic environment can make in the positive development of your child.

ASCENSION SCHOOL

Love, Kindness, Respect 601 Van Buren St. • Oak Park, IL 60304 • 708-386-7282 school.ascensionoakpark.com Principal: Maryanne Polega Administrator: Rev. Carl Morello Assoc. Pastor: Rev. Rex Pillai • PK3 through Grade 8 • Full and half day preschool classes • Comprehensive Extended Day Program from 7 AM to 6 PM • Innovative STEM offerings • Extensive programs for Fine Arts, Athletics and extracurriculars • National Blue Ribbon School Virtual Open House: Feb. 2nd through Feb. 4th. See website for more information Call for a private tour: 708-434-1558

ST. LUKE SCHOOL

Excellence – Faith - Service 519 Ashland Ave. • River Forest, IL 60305 • (708) 366-8587 • www.school-stlukeparish.org • Half and full day preschool options for 3- and • Highly experienced and credentialed teachers 4-year-olds with full day kindergarten through 8th • Affordable before and after school program grade • Resource center to support student learning • Rigorous curriculum challenges students to reach needs new heights • Fine Arts Program includes music, art and Spanish • More than 60% of our recent graduates were • Nurturing environment which promotes kindness placed in high school honors and Advanced • Focus on spiritual development Placement courses • Emphasis on giving of self encourages a • No cut sports program for students in grades dedication to service to others 4-8

Private Tours Available Call the school office at 708-366-8587 or email admissions@stlukeparish.org to schedule your visit today. Coffee with the Principal February 3 Prospective families are invited to join us for a virtual meeting on Thursday, February 3 at 10:00 am. Visit www.school-stlukeparish.org to register for the event.

Special Advertising Section

E D U C AT I O N & E N R I C H M E N T G U I D E

January 27, 2021

The River Forest Public Library offers something for everyone

esearch shows that reading has many beneﬁts, including strengthening the brain, improving vocabulary, stimulating imagination, and even reducing stress. With over 90,000 items in our physical collection, as well as access to millions more through the SWAN system, there’s something for everyone. Our expert team of librarians can also guide you in your selections, perhaps steering you to a title you might not otherwise have chosen, supporting you in a school project, or even providing resources for career development. To encourage reading, River Forest Public Library (RFPL) has several reading programs throughout the year. There are summer and winter programs for all ages, as well as the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten and 100 Books Before High School programs that run all year long. You can register at the library or on our website. River Forest Public Library (RFPL) is more than just books, however. One of our main strategic objectives is to “foster learning and personal growth” for all age groups.

Visit our Digital Library (riverforestlibrary. org/digital), where you can learn a new language with Mango Languages, prepare for a wide variety of tests such as the SAT or GED with the LearningExpress Library, and learn about practically any subject through the vast collection of online resource databases. Of course, you can also access digital books, movies, documentaries, music, magazines, and more through our streaming services which include Libby, hoopla, Kanopy, and Flipster. Despite a pandemic, we continue to offer stimulating and educational virtual programs. Children can enjoy live story times and educational programs on our YouTube channel, or do a virtual craft or STEM challenge. Teens can learn to cook with only a microwave, or join a virtual book club. For adults, we have several book clubs and many historical and cultural programs. Learning is a journey, and we hope that journey starts here at the Library. The River Forest Public Library is located at 735 Lathrop Avenue in River Forest, or visit www.riverforestlibrary.org.

Join the fun in the Early Childhood Program at the River Forest Community Center!

he River Forest Community Center provides an age-appropriate curriculum designed to encourage positive group interaction as well as foster individual growth. Our teachers thrive on creating a safe and fun learning environment through play in which children are encouraged to explore and develop their cognitive, language, social-intellectual and motor skills. Our mission is to provide a hands-on approach to learning which allows the children to explore their environment while enhancing their social, emotional, cognitive and motor development. Classes start as young as 15 months of age. The Early Childhood Programs include: • Munchkins • Playschool • Preschool (Half-Day & Full-Day) • Pre-Kindergarten (Half-Day & Full-Day) • Before & After School Programs

The River Forest Community Center is located at 8020 Madison Street in River Forest. For more information about the Early Childhood Programs, call 708-771-6159.

River Forest Community Center Early Childhood Learning Center RiverForest Forest Community Community Center River River Forest Community CenterCenter Early Childhood Learning Half-Day & Center Full-Day: Early Childhood Learning CenterCenter Early Childhood Learning Preschool & Pre-K

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Half-Day & Full-Day:  Before and After Preschool && Pre-K Half-Day Full-Day: Preschool & Pre-K

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 Summer Camps Full-Day Infant—Preschool Full-Day Infant—Preschool Infant—Preschool Full-Day Programs at our OPRF HS Programs at our OPRF HS  Parentatand Programs Programs our Tot OPRF HS location location location Full-Day Infant—Preschool 8020 Madison Street 8020Madison Street HS 8020 Street Programs our OPRF River Forest , Madison ILat60305 River , IL, 60305 RiverForest Forest IL 60305 (708) 771-6159 www.rfcc.info location (708) 771-6159 www.rfcc.info Bring in this ad to receive $10.00 off your www.rfcc.info (708) 771-6159 initial registration fee! wj21 Bring in this ad to receive $10.00 off your

Bring initial in thisregistration ad to receive $10.00 off your fee! wj21 initial registration wj21 8020 Madisonfee! Street

River Forest , IL 60305

E D U C AT I O N & E N R I C H M E N T G U I D E

January 27, 2021

Special Advertising Section

A history of excellence, a future of faithful leaders. 14

CLASS OF 2020

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OF THE GRADUATING CLASS ARE RECEIVING ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS

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COLLEGE APPLICATION AND ESSAY WRITING SEMINARS DURING THE SUMMER AND THROUGHOUT 1ST QUARTER

Educating students in spirit & mind since 1929! fenwickfriars.com

E D U C AT I O N & E N R I C H M E N T G U I D E Special Advertising Section

January 27, 2021

Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois

enwick High School, founded in Oak Park in 1929, is a collegepreparatory secondary institution with a co-educational enrollment of approximately 1,100 students. Guided by Dominican Catholic values, our mission is to inspire and educate each student to compassionately lead, achieve and serve.

Over nine decades, we have maintained a strong academic tradition, with a 100% college acceptance rate and attendance to top universities around the world. Members of the latest Class of 2020 attend schools in 31 states, Washington, D.C., Scotland and Poland; 75% are receiving academic scholarships. Last year, 14 of our students were recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and 31% of the class (85 students) were Illinois State Scholars. Fenwick has a Golden Apple teacher on its faculty and an alumni list that includes a Skylab astronaut, Rhodes Scholars, Pulitzer Prize winners, a Heisman Trophy recipient and other leaders making positive impacts nationally and internationally. The Friars are celebrating their 92nd academic year, proclaiming a history of excellence and a future of faithful leaders committed to justice and peace in a challenging global society.

Inclusion Statement

With Saint Dominic as our guide, Fenwick continues the great Dominican tradition of inclusion and welcome for the common good. This process is rooted in interaction with those of different backgrounds, cultures and ways of life. Experiencing racial, gender, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic diversity enriches everyone involved in the educational enterprise. Fenwick commits itself to welcoming

ST. LUKE SCHOOL Celebrating 100 Years of Excellence in Catholic Education Registration now open for all programs, including half and full day preschool and full day kindergarten through 8th grade. Visit our website to schedule a private tour or to complete an application. St. Luke School 519 Ashland Ave, River Forest 708-366-8587 www.school-stlukeparish.org

every student who would flourish by embracing our Dominican, Catholic, college-preparatory curriculum. Fenwick pledges that no one will face discrimination based on race, gender, religion, culture, ethnicity or sexual orientation. A Fenwick education is marked by diversity, equity and inclusion. www.fenwickfriars.com

The St. Luke School Difference

t. Luke School has been providing families an excellent, Catholic education since 1921. We are proud of our 100 year legacy and look forward to educating children for generations to come. At St. Luke, each child is encouraged to learn at their own pace led by teachers who are highly experienced and credentialed. We provide a rigorous curriculum that challenges our students to reach new heights in both their creative thinking and academic skills. These high expectations in the classroom lead to matriculation to top high schools where our graduates excel. Our graduates leave as young, independent leaders filled with academic confidence, spirituality, and a sense of service. Complementing our exceptional education, St. Luke offers: • Early Childhood Program options including half and full day preschool options for 3- and 4-year-olds, as well as full day kindergarten, all of which focus on play-based learning • Classroom community building program that integrates academic and social emotional skills and creates an environment where students do their best learning

• Nurturing environment where kindness is promoted • A no-cut sports program for students in grades 4-8 promoting athletic participation, personal growth, teamwork, and leadership •An affordable extended day program before and after school • Wide variety of extracurricular activities including our award-winning Speech Team, Art Club, and a variety of musical programs. We focus on the values of faith, hope, love, and community. Teachers talk openly about these values and give children a daily opportunity to learn, share, and understand the consequences of good behaviors and poor choices. Service projects allow our students to understand the meaning of community life, interdependence, commitment, and service for others while being challenged to think critically for real-life problem solving. There are many alternatives to Catholic school, but St. Luke School’s exceptional education and nurturing environment make it an unparalleled choice. We invite you to come and experience the St. Luke difference. Visit www.school-stlukeparish. org to learn more.

Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

OPINION O U R

V I E W

Open Altenheim planning

udos to Commissioner Ryan Nero for stating plainly that the next step in planning for the future use of the village-owned property at the Altenheim is “talking to the customer.” That would be you, Forest Park resident and taxpayer. At a village council meeting where the council signed off on a pact with the state to provide $750,000 in grant funding to demolish the remaining derelict buildings on the 11- acre site, a succession of elected officials swore up and down that there is no development plan in the village’s back pocket. Outgoing Village Administrator Tim Gillian reiterated that it will take a majority of the council to approve any future plan for the site. We could have done without the insinuation that residents paying close attention to plans for Forest Park’s village-owned and largest unplanned and open green space are somehow conspiracy theorists. We’d call them skeptics and suggest that the skepticism is well earned by the actions of both the current mayor and the former mayor over what is now decades of odd inaction. Opening up the next step in the process, as Nero suggests, is long past due. It should be welcomed by the council, not seen as threatening. The mayor and council ultimately will make the decisions. That’s what voters elected them to do. And there is, it seems to us, now a consensus that the final plan for this green gem will combine some portion of residential and commercial development along with a well-thought-out park space and gathering space for community events. We want to hear details on how that planning process will take place. What’s the timeline? Who will facilitate? There is a lot of interest in this project. That’s all good. We were also heartened by the comments of Commissioner Jessica Voogd who proclaimed the economic development value of green space. She could not be more correct. Well planned and well executed, the future park at the Altenheim will be a selling point for Forest Park for decades to come. Meanwhile, it is good news that, after years of delays brought on by bad Springfield politics and worse state finances, the demolition money is now locked in. Bids on the demolition project will be opened before the month ends. While it is sad to see these once treasured buildings leveled, there is no question that they are too far gone for reclamation. This is all an opportunity for inclusion, for collaboration (welcome, park district), for invention and, yes, for some fun. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build something new and wonderful for this village.

Empathy for Trump voters ost of us in this area would label our political leaning as being liberal or progressive. As evidence of that, most of us voted with 80 million of our fellow citizens for Joe Biden — 82.4% of us in Forest Park and 89.3% in

Oak Park. Now it seems to us that we have a president who thinks a lot more like we do than the one who is playing golf in Florida. But in his inaugural address, Mr. Biden talked quite a bit about embracing folks — 70 million of them — who neither think nor even view reality in the same way we do. The new president said, “And so today, let us start afresh. All of us. Let us listen to one another. Hear one another. See one another. Show respect to one another. Politics need not be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn’t have to be a cause for total war.” That is relational language. A joke: They say that when two people get married, the two become one. The question is, which one? If the relationship of marriage is going to work, both participants need to accept if not celebrate their differences. What our new president is asking us to do is first to figure out if we really do want this relationship called the “United” States to work. Second, are we willing to let some folks in this relationship think differently than we do? Third, are we willing to listen intently to them, to get underneath the political talking points to what is really going on inside them? Fred Dust is a communication consultant who facilitates conversations between people who are different in terms of the cultural lenses through which they try to discern what is real and true and what is not. One characteristic of creative conversations, he has observed, is what he calls commitment. Most of us go into conversations with only one goal: convincing everyone else we’re right and they’re wrong. And why shouldn’t we? Sticking to our beliefs makes us feel safe and powerful. But creative conversations are very different. They’re about open-ended exploration. Letting go of our own ideas, or at least not holding on to them so tightly. Committing to the conversation itself. Committing to the people we’re in conversation with. “Is it possible,” asks Arlie Russell Hochschild in Strangers in Their Own Land, Anger and Mourning on the American Right, “without changing our beliefs, to know others from the inside, to see reality through their eyes … that is, to cross the empathy wall?” I think Joe Biden is encouraging us to engage in what Dust would call creative conversations with people who think and view reality different than we do. Are we willing to try to cross that empathy wall? Dr. King, in a 1961 speech in which he outlined his philosophy of nonviolent resistance, said, “When one rises to love on

this [agape] level, he loves men not because he likes them, not because their ways appeal to him, but he loves every man because God loves him. And he rises to the point of loving the person who does an evil deed while hating the deed the person does.” Are we willing to love our enemies enough to restrain our strong urge to show our conversation partners that we are right and they are wrong, and listen to them with the goal of trying to understand what is really going on in their “deep story,” as Russell Hochschild would call it? “A deep story is a feel-as-if story,” Hochschild explains. “It’s the story feelings tell, in the language of symbols. It removes judgment. It removes fact. It tells us how things feel. Such a story permits those on both sides of the political spectrum to stand back and explore the subjective prism through which the party on the other side sees the world. And I don’t believe we understand anyone’s politics, right or left, without it. For we all have a deep story.” What she is arguing is that neither Trump nor Fox News fully represents the values and dreams of most poor and working-class whites, even though many voted for 45 and most get their news from Fox. “None of the people I talked to … over five years used the extreme language I heard on Fox,” she wrote. “They were victims without a language of victimhood.” And Trump filled that void with a narrative that resonated. Sarah Smarsh, in Heartland, A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth, writes, “Our [i.e. white poor people in Kansas] struggles force a question about America that many were not willing to face: If a person could go to work every day and still not be able to pay the bills and the reason is not racism, what less articulated problem was afoot?” “We were … distasteful to better-off whites, I think, for having failed economically in the context of their own race. And we were of a place, the Great Plains, spurned by more powerful corners of the country as a monolithic cultural wasteland. Its people were backward, rednecks, maybe even trash.” If we build trust with those who vote differently than we do by listening not to what first comes out of their mouths, and especially not to the demagogues who take advantage of their fears, we might discover that the issue after all is not the issue. That underneath all the lies and denials of evidence, are poignant stories of feeling shamed and left behind. Stories which, after all, we can really empathize with.” The trouble with living in a lifestyle enclave like ours is that there aren’t many articulate people around who think differently than we do, and those who are here stay in the closet or under the radar for their own emotional well-being.

TOM HOLMES

L E T T E R S

T O

T H E

E D I T O R

Email to ktrainor@wjinc.com, or mail to Forest Park Review, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Ill., 60302.

Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

L E T T E R S

O B I T U A R I E S

Report of our demise has been greatly exaggerated How sad that a pillar of the Forest Park community has allowed itself to succumb to sensationalism to garner readers. Your “view” of the St. Bernardine parish church and community is short-sighted and worse, it is inaccurate. St. Bernardine parish remains a dynamic, multicultural, financially stable and physically beautiful place of worship. Mass attendance remains constant, despite COVID-19, and the region’s overall decline in Catholic Mass attendance. Donations are robust and have recently supported a $450,000 renovation of the parish hall. It is true that St. Bernardine and St. Luke parishes are currently in a discernment process to determine the best option for continuing to provide Catholic services and education to invested families in both communities. It is also true that Cardinal Cupich asked the pastors at both St. Bernardine and St. Luke to identify a “Group Discernment and Feedback Team” comprised of members from both worship sites to research, discuss, pray, and ultimately share recommendations on what both communities feel is needed to continue offering Catholic worship in these difficult times. The team has spent months meeting together, sharing details, strengths, concerns, and potential scenarios for a combined St. Luke/St. Bernardine Parish. Actual data was used during the evaluation process to objectively discern an optimal approach going forward, as opposed to the unenlightened opinion of the writer of the Our View editorial. The Renew My Church process is archdiocesan-wide and not exclusive to the communities of Forest Park and River Forest. The necessity of this process in not directly related to either parish and the writer would know this if they spent even a few minutes researching the facts. The members of St. Bernardine Parish are understandably upset by the necessity to change; it is likely that members of St. Luke Parish are, too. We go to church to worship and we go to church to commune with our Catholic friends. Unless you are immersed in either community, it is naïve and frankly unkind to impose your poorly constructed and inaccurate opinions on the readers of the Forest Park Review.

Paul Jargstorf, 73 Teacher and coach Paul M. Jargstorf, 73, of Johnsburg, Illinois, died on Jan. 17, 2021 in McHenry. Born on Oct. 3, 1947 in Melrose Park, the son of Henry and Barbara Jargstorf, he grew up at 1440 Circle Ave. He attended Betsy Ross Elementary School and graduated from Proviso East in 1965. He played Pony League and then softball for many years in Forest Park. He was well known for his work in the small parks around town. On March 1, 1969, he married the love of his life, Karen Thorson, at St. Louise de Marillac Catholic Church in LaGrange Park. A teacher at Carl Sandburg Junior High in Rolling Meadows for 35 years, he coached various sport teams, as well as at Johnsburg High School. He was a board member and coach in the Johnsburg Pigtail League for many years. An avid fan of the Chicago White Sox, Bears and Blackhawks, when he was not cheering for one of this favorite teams, he enjoyed reading, bonfires and traveling. He was affectionately known by many as Mr. J or Coach J. Paul is survived by Karen, his PAUL JARGSTORF wife of 51 years; his four children, Paula (Tim) Adamson, Michelle Jargstorf, Paul Jargstorf and Christopher (Melissa) Jargstorf; his grandchildren, Chelsea, Raymond, Colton, Presley, Brady, Olivia, Caroline and Dylan; his sister, Linda Cascio; his sister in-law, Kathleen Thorson; his nieces and nephews, Debra, Cheryl, Ron, Mark (Louise), Michael (Debbie) and David; as well as many grandnieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Barbara Jargstorf; his brother, Henry (Linnea) Jargstorf, and his sister, Carol Jargstorf. Paul will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Chapel Hill Garden West Cemetery in Oakbrook Terrace on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the University of Wisconsin Hospital Transplant Program www. uwhealth.org/givehope.

FOREST

PARK Rev. Stanislaw Kuca Pastor

Deb Michalak Julia Doloszycki Mary Richie Mike O’Brien Della DeSonia

REVIEW Group Feedback and Discernment Team Members

Richard Perry, 80 Richard Palese Perry, DDS, 80, of Forest Park, formerly of Oak Park, died on Jan. 18, 2021. Born on April 7, 1940, he grew up on Chicago’s West Side attended Austin High School, Roosevelt University, and graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago Dental School in 1968. He had a long career and lasting love for dentistry, practicing for 52 years. His practice touched many lives and provided more than just dental care. He was both a professor and general practitioner. A much loved teacher at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Dentistry, he rose to dean of Clinical Affairs and had a distinguished career with many leadership roles. A former president of the Illinois State Dental Society and chairman of the board of Delta Dental of Illinois, he received many accolades, but he took more pride in encouraging young minds and filling them with the love he had for dentistry. His private practice started on Western Avenue, in the neighborhood he grew up in and finished only a few miles away in Oak Park, where he raised his family. He took great pride in providing care for all, no matter their condition and regardless of their ability to pay. He practiced dentistry well into his 80th year and only a pandemic could slow him down. He lived a life filled with joy, family, friendship and love. He loved a delicious meal, a good joke, baseball and a hot cup of coffee. He was never sleeping, just resting his eyes, always had a smile on his face and a sunny disposition. He had a big heart and a generous soul. Richard Perry was the husband of Eleanora (nee Bruni); father of Katherine Lutz, Sara (John) Schoff, and Teresa (Cody) Crase; papa of Andrew, Caitlin (Kevin Nutley), Evan, Aidan and Charlotte Lutz, Liam, Jack and Ryan Schoff, and Noah, Sammy and Henry Crase; great-grandpa of Maeve Nutley; brother of the late Dr. Robert (Zoila) Perry; brother-in-law of Martha (Ron) Walczyk; and uncle, cousin and friend of many. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the CDS Foundation Clinic are appreciated. Arrangements were handled by Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home.

To run an obituary Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com, or fax: 708/524-0447 before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.

Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

St. Bernardine, St. Luke want to keep both churches open in merger Recommendation goes to archdiocese in February; cardinal’s decision comes in March By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

St. Bernardine parish in Forest Park and St. Luke parish in River Forest, grouped together to be merged by the Archdiocese of Chicago, have written an official, joint recommendation on how they would like to proceed. Their choice is to be joined as one parish under a single staff and pastor but to continue to hold mass and social activities within the two separate churches. The recommendation was one of two choices offered by the archdiocese. The other was to combine the parishes in one location, St. Luke’s church in River Forest. St. Bernardine church would then be closed. The letter will be submitted to the Renew My Church Standards and Recommendations Commission of the Archdiocese of Chicago on Feb. 8. A final decision on how the two churches will be combined will be made by Cardinal Blase Cupich and announced in March. “We recommend the creation of a single parish with two worship sites, i.e. St. Luke Church and St. Bernardine Church would continue to provide the liturgies that are critical to the retention of our parishioners,” reads the letter from the St. Luke-St. Ber-

We are Open!

nardine Grouping. “We understand that there will be a single staff team to manage the critical activities of the parish. We believe that approval of our recommendation will enable us to retain the membership of a diverse assembly that, over time, has the potential to unify, learn from each other and build on one another’s strengths.” The letter to the archdiocese stresses that the new combined parish, Photo by ALEXANDRA MAXHAM with two separate ONLY CATHOLIC CHURCH IN TOWN: The Archdiocese of Chicago can keep the doors of St. Bernardine church open or physical churchclose them permanently, under a grouping with St Luke in River Forest. A decision by the cardinal will be made es, should “build in March. on the strengths of the past and present.” The separate churches represent “two risk of failure to unite as a parish, potential village rather than go to River Forest. decidedly different communities, each with loss of parishioners (especially for St. Ber“Under either of the scenarios which we strengths that should not be forfeited in nardine church), and integration support were asked to consider, St. Bernardine’s the merger since they hold the roots of our from leadership. identity as an independent parish will faith.” The letter points to recent census data change, and if it also loses it its worship site, Both churches, it was pointed out, have a that indicates River Forest residents are there is grave concern that it will lose some robust offering of social activities and min- more likely than Forest Park residents to parishioners,” reads the letter. “St. Bernaristries that have built relationships among be college educated. River Forest residents dine already experienced the closure of its parishioners for years and served those in also tend to have higher household incomes school in June 2013, a loss over which some need. and the village has a higher median home parishioners continue to grieve.” Concerns raised in the recommendation value. Support in integrating the two parishes letter included demographic differences, “These socioeconomic differences impact will be needed, and strong leadership will

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the ways the parishioners socialize and raise funds for parish needs,” states the letter. “Concern has been expressed that because of these socioeconomic differences, parishioners from St. Bernardine will not feel welcomed at St. Luke. On the other hand, St. Luke parishioners may not feel welcomed at St. Bernardine. This is a critical matter that cannot be left to chance and requires leadership from both communities to establish trust and confidence in each other.” In merging the parishes under either scenario, but especially if St. Bernardine’s physical church is no longer used for worship, there is the fear that St. Bernardine parishioners will go elsewhere. Oak Park residents who are parishioners at St. Bernardine, for example, might decide to attend mass in that

be essential, the group stated. The letter makes it clear, however, that both parishes wish to keep both churches open. “Forcing these two distinctive parishes to abandon one of the worship sites brings with it the specter of disaffiliation by some, which would work against achievement of the three mission imperatives of Renew My Church.” St. Bernardine Renew My Church committee members include Rev. Stanislaw Kuca (pastor), Michael O’Brien, Della DeSonia, Julia Doloszycki, Deb Michalak and Mary Richie. St. Luke members include Rev. John Szmyd (pastor), Rev. Ed Fialkowski (associate pastor), Julie Bauer, Joe Bobek, Sarina Butler, Benjamin Keith, and Andrew DiMarco, principal of St. Luke School.

Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021 New local ads this week

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PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is00given, 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: Y21005627 on January 14, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of CHAD KEAST HAIR with the business located at: 31 G HARRISON ST, OAK PARK, IL 60304. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: CHAD KEAST 1028 RANDOLPH ST 1NW OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA. Published in Wednesday Journal 1/20, 1/27, 2/3/2021

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: Y20005512 on December 29, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of PANDA STUDIOS with the business located at: 1913 S. MANNHEIM RD, WESTCHESTER, IL 60154. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: PATRICIA ANN REIS 10518 CANTERBURY ST, WESTCHESTER, IL 60154, USA. Published in RB Landmark 1/13, 1/20, 1/27/2021

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLIONIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Dylan Stephen Weinand Case Number 2020CONC000687 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Dylan Stephen Weinand to the new name of: Dylan Stephen Weinand-Flannery The court date will be held: On March 17th, 2020 at 9:30 at Daley Center, 50 W Washington Street, Chicago, IL, 60602 in Courtroom # 1706. Published in Wednesday Journal 1/13, 1/20, 1/27/2020

PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE SERRANO LEGAL SOLUTIONS, LLC Attorney for Petitioner P. O. Box 3581 Oak Park, IL 60303 Attorney for Petitioner STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division. In re the marriage of LAURA VALDEZ, Petitioner and LINO CHIMALPOPOCA-ABARCA, Respondent, Case No. 2021D430022 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 February 19, 2020 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 1/20, 1/27, 2/3/2021

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLIONIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of JULIAN RICHARD ANDREOTTI Case Number 2020CONC000961 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Julian Richard Andreotti to the new name of: Julian Richard Topete-Andreotti The court date will be held: On February 17, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom Video-conference. Please use the information below to access the hearing. ZOOM MEETING ID:970 3250 0245 ZOOM PASSSWORD: 895226 CALL IN: 3126266799 Published in Wednesday Journal 1/20, 1/27, 2/3/2021

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Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

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Let the sun shine in...

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In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year ForestParkReview.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com PUBLIC NOTICES INVITATION TO BID LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOILER REPLACEMENT Notice is hereby given that the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, hereinafter known as Owner, is seeking bids for Boiler Replacement work at Lincoln Elementary School located in Oak Park, Illinois. Lump Sum Bids will be publicly opened and read at the District Office of Oak Park Elementary School District 97, 260 W. Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Bids received after designated time and date of bid opening will not be considered. Bidders must comply with all of the requirements set forth in the Project Manual. Bids mailed or delivered shall be marked to the attention of: Ms. Jeanne Keane Oak Park School District 97 260 Madison Street Oak Park, Illinois 60302 The front of the envelope should be clearly marked “Lincoln Elementary School Boiler Replacement”. Bid security, in the form of a bid bond or certified check, in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the base bid shall be submitted with the bid. Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds and Certificate of Insurance,as required by the Owner, will be required from the successful bidder. The Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 reserves the right to waive any informalities, qualification or irregularities and/or reject any or all bids, when in its opinion, such action will serve the best interest of the Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District 97. All bidders must comply with applicable Illinois Law requiring the payment of prevailing rate of wage to all laborers, workmen and mechanics working on public funded projects. If during the time period of work, these rate changes, the contractor shall be responsible for additional costs without any change to the contract amount. The proposed contract is subject to the requirements of the Equal Employment Practices Commission and the Illinois Human Rights Act (HRA) Illinois Revised Statutes, Ch. 68, Par. 1-101, et. seg.”(Including the requirement thatevery party to a public contract shall have adopted written sexual harassment policies, P.A. 87-1257). Bidding Documents will be available on January 27, 2021. To view and obtain bidding documents please visit Best Imaging Solutions’ planroom at http://www.bestimagingplanroom. com/jobs/public. Bidders are strongly encouraged to attend a pre-bid conference on February 8, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. as detailed in the Project Manual. Sheryl Marinier Board of Secretary Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Published in Wednesday Journal 1/27/2020

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park –Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302– will receive electronic proposals until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2021 for Project: 21-5, Oak Park Public Work’s Rain Garden. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, the improvements consist of site grading and excavation, erosion control, installing amended soils and gravel pathways, installing landscape plantings for creating a rain garden, and all appurtenant work thereto.

PUBLIC NOTICES

local employees...

REAL ESATE

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REAL ESTATE R SALE

Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oak-park.us/yourgovernment/budget-purchasing/ requests-proposals or at www. questcdn.com under login using QuestCDN number 7499464 for a non-refundable charge of $30.00. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. No bid documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening.

The bidder is specifically advised that the Village is a Subgrantee of a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) grant, pursuant to an agreement entered into and between the MWRDGC and the Village. The MWRDGC requires that contractors entering into contracts shall have a performance bond and a payment bond. The Contractor shall furnish a satisfactory performance bond in the sum of the amount of the contract in dollars guaranteeing the proper completion of the work and the maintenance of the work during the period of one (1) year from and after the date of the completion and acceptance of the same. The Contractor shall furnish a satisfactory payment bond in the full amount of the Contract guaranteeing payment of all material used and for all labor performed. The Contract will be subject to the requirements of the Multi-Project Labor Agreement. A copy is on file at the offices of the Engineer and may be requested from the Engineer. The Contractor shall execute the form entitled “Certificate of Compliance with Multi Project Labor Agreement (MPLA)” as found in the Bid Proposal Submittal Packet. The work to be performed pursuant to this Proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq. THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer Published in Wednesday Journal December 23, 2020

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Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

INC., REALTOR

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928 S. Kenilworth Ave. Oak Park ....................$275,000

SOLD!

Property has been owner occupied by the same family for 50+ years. 1st fl has spacious living rm and dining rm, kitchen and 1/2 bath. 2nd floor has three bedrooms and full bath. Stucco exterior and 2 car detached garage. Great location in south west Oak Park. Needs some updating but livable as-is. 935 Elgin Avenue, Forest Park ........................$489,000 This is a money maker! This early 1970s brick four flat houses two one bedroom apartments on the top floor, a large three bedroom two bath apartment on the first floor, and a large two bedroom two bathroom apartment in the lower level. Tandem parking for 8 cars. Meticulously maintained by the current owner for several decades. The numbers work! This one really won't last long.

SOLD!

1117 Marengo Avenue, Forest Park .......................$263,500 What a great opportunity to get into Forest Park at an affordable price! This home offers four total bedrooms, two on the second floor and two on the first floor. The home is in perfect condition! Living room, dining room, and eat in kitchen, plus a finished basement. Huge deck off the back of the house and a very large two car garage!

SOLD!

1028 Beloit Forest Park ....................$289,000 This 3 BR, 2.1 BA home has not been available in over 55 years. It has been meticulously maintained within the same family for that time. This home offers two first floor good sized bedrooms and a large second floor master. Each floor has a full updated bathroom. The first floor living room, with it's vaulted ceilings, fill with sunlight pouring from the front foyer windows. 337 Marengo Avenue, Forest Park ......................$275,000 Fantastic location alert!! Just a stones throw from Madison Street shopping, restaurants, and night life makes this a very desirable piece of real estate! This is two flat is ready for some love and attention. Just stuck in time is all. Or a fantastic de-conversion to single family! So bring your decorating ideas, and be prepared to fall in love!

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Forest Park Review, January 27, 2021

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