F O R E S T PA R K
GROWING COMMUNITY WEDNESDAY JOURNAL, INC.
ForestParkReview.com
Vol. 102, No. 9
$1.00
REVIEW
Village missed deadline to collect overdue fines PAGE 6
Council approves green townhomes PAGE 9
FEBRUARY 27, 2019
@FP_Review @ForestParkReview
Big changes in Forest Park religious scene The church landscape reflects an evolving society
By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter
The cornerstone of the building now owned by St. Paul Thai Lutheran Church reads, “Deutsche Evangelishe Lutheranishe Kirche, 1899.” Today Thai is the principal lan-
guage spoken at worship and a 50-foot-long mural of the life of Jesus by Thai artist Sawai Chinawong hangs from the balcony below a stained glass window with the words, “Heilige Bibel.” The changes that have taken place in that building at 7416 Dixon St. are emblematic of how much the religious land-
scape of Forest Park has changed since the dawn of the 20th century. Except in the Methodist Church, which used to be on Adams Street until it burned, German was the language spoken at See RELIGION on page 11
From Milwaukee, with love Pre-K students mailed a letter to D209 students in wake of last year’s suicides By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
Last year, the Proviso Township High Schools District 209 community was traumatized after two Proviso East sophomores — both 15-year-old Hispanics — died by suicide within three weeks. As the Proviso Township community grieved, a ray of hope came in the form of a letter from a school an hour and a half away in Milwaukee. “Dear friends,” the letter begins. “We heard you are feeling sad. We hope you feel better soon. Maybe one day we will meet See MILWAUKEE on page 10
SEBASTIAN HIDALGO/Contributor
RESPONDING IN KIND: Proviso students and Supt. Jesse Rodriguez before boarding a bus bound for Milwaukee to thank pre-k students for their support.
A good neighbor has your back.
Life’s a combination of good days and bad. I have your back for both. And who has my back? The company more people have trusted for 90 years. CALL ME TODAY. 1606040
State Farm, Bloomington, IL
Meaghan Good, Agent 7601 Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130 Bus: 708-366-3779 meaghan@goodsgotyou.com