Big Week

April 13-20 BIG WEEK

Frog frolic

Jump over to the Trailside Museum of Natural History, 738 Thatcher Ave. in River Forest, to get a look at the friendly amphibians that inhabit the Thatcher Woods at this event on Saturday, April 16 at 10:30 a.m.

Attendees at this free event are promised a chance to “explore the springtime happenings and meet our amphibian friends.” Guests will learn about frog calls and get to meet some “froggy ambassadors” while exploring the great outdoors.

Pre-registration is required by calling 708-366-6530.

Sensory-friendly magic show

Magician and autistic self-advocate Cody Clark will take the audience through a virtual performance hosted by the Forest Park Public Library on Wednesday, April 13 at 4 p.m.

Clark’s show combines his lived experiences as a magician, consumer of the arts and autistic adult, and the result is a 30-minute show dedicated to the special needs community. In this show, which he calls a Sensory-Friendly Spectacular, the magic is gentle, there are no jarring images and no sudden sounds, but the magic is just as impressive.

Clark also weaves some of his personal stories into the show and explains what being autistic is like for him. He promises audiences will be “amazed and inspired.”

The show is open to kids of all ages and their families. View the show live on the library’s Facebook page.

The Bama Lamas

These Chicago-based, horn-honking frat rockers return to action with this show at Outta Space, 6840 32nd Street in Berwyn, on

Friday, April 15 at 8 p.m.

Led by the tag-team vocals of Chris Holtane and Gabrielle Sutton, this band was last seen in Uptown at the Green Mill, where they laid waste to a packed house during the Paper Machete variety show in February. That was a mere sampler of what this septet could do; you can get the full experience at this Outta Space show. Tickets are $10.

An evening with Emery Lehman

Olympic medal winner, speed skater and Oak Park resident Emery Lehman will be present for a special question-and-answer session at the Cheney Mansion, 220 N. Euclid in Oak Park, on Wednesday, April 20 from 6:45 to 8 p.m.

There will also be a brief presentation about the park district’s new community recreation center, which is scheduled to open in spring 2023.

Reservations are requested by emailing parksfoundationofoakpark@gmail.com.

Outdoor storytime

Join the Forest Park Public Library for this toddler-focused reading at Remembrance Park, 7341 Randolph St., on Friday, April 15 at 10:30 a.m.

This storytime is designed to get your kids moving, so come in your playtime clothes and prepare to move and groove.

Pre-registration is requested so that the library can notify attendees of any cancellations due to rain or cold temperatures. To register, visit fppl. org, or call 708-689-6126 with any questions.

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT

Fast day, fun rides

It was Pinewood Derby Day in Forest Park on April 9. The annual Cub Scout event features Cub Scouts racing small, driverless wooden cars down a sloped track. The cars are powered only by gravity.

With an adult’s help, each Pinewood Derby car is built by a Cub Scout using a kit that includes a wooden block, plastic wheels, and metal axles.

The scouts race in heats organized by den (age/grade), then a final race of den winners to determine the overall fastest car.

The derby was held at the Forest Park Community Center.

The scouts offered shout outs to the Forest Park Kiwanis, Karen Dylewski, director of the Community Center, Mayor Rory Hoskins, BSA Scout Troop 107 volunteers, and a special shout out to Melissa Hurley who organized food and snacks for the event, and John Hegg, the one-man pit crew, who kept all the cars on track throughout the day.

Grand Champions Isaac Wood - Lion - First place Ellis Murray - Wolf - Second place Jeremiah Manzanares - Bear - Third place

Category winners Funniest Car: Henry DePriest Most Realistic Car: Max Bozman Kid’s Choice: Henry DePriest Most Scout Pride: Audie DePriest

1st, 2nd, 3rd rankings for the individual dens Lion Den (Kindergarten) Isaac Wood Isaac Cooper Maeve Hurley

Tiger Den (1st Grade) Jackson Alexander Ramona Cross Max Bozman

Wolf Den (2nd Grade) Ellis Murray Michael O’Donnell Frankie Hepner

Bear Den (3rd Grade Jeremiah Manzanares Henry DePriest Nathaniel Rainey-Bouie

Webelos 1 Den (4th Grade) Alex Kouimelis Owen Rummel

Webelos 2 Den (5th Grade) Audie DePriest Ben Angelo Jimmy Hepner

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer

Forest Park raises water rates, keeps sewer rates the same

5% hike is the maximum allowed under pact with Chicago

By IGOR STUDENKOV

Contributing Reporter

Forest Park’s village council voted unanimously April 11 to approve a 5% water rate hike that will take effect on June 1.

The Village of Forest Park buys its water from the City of Chicago, and the increase is in direct response to Chicago increasing its water rate. Under an agreement in effect since 2016, the rate the village pays Chicago is adjusted based on the annual changes in the Consumer Price Index, but the increase can’t be higher than 5%. Since the CPI rose by more than 5% this year, this limit will save the village some money.

According to the water rate schedule included in the ordinance, the rate for commercial and industrial buildings will go up from $13.72 per 100 cubic feet to $14.41 per 100 cubic feet. The rate for residential homes and condos will go up from $7.96 per 100 cubic feet to $8.36 cubic feet, while the rate for apartment buildings will go up from $10.01 per 100 cubic feet to $10.51 per 100 cubic feet. The discounted residential rate for senior citizen customers will go up from $6.16 per 100 cubic feet to $6.76 per 100 cubic feet.

For the large meter commercial and industrial buildings, the rate will go up from $137.24 per 1,000 cubic feet to $144.10 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Since 2018, the village pegged the water rates charged to its customers to the changes in Chicago water rates. Between 2015 and 2018, Forest Park kept the rates the same, absorbing the increases out of its pocket, until it determined that such an approach was unsustainable amid growing budget deficits and rising costs.

The previous 2021 increase, which was approved on July 12, 2021, raised the fees by 1.1%. That year also saw the village raise the late fee from 1.5% a month to 10% from the date of payment – which, at the time, was set up to encourage customers to pay on time and reduce staff time that went into sending and delivering water shut-off notices. The April 11 ordinance doesn’t make any changes to the penalties.

The village council approved the new rates unanimously and without discussion.

Council hopes to tighten license language for local bars

Village council delays decisions on May licenses

By IGOR STUDENKOV

Contributing Reporter

Almost six months after the village government updated its regulations on live entertainment at bars and other liquorserving businesses, ambiguities in the legal language started to crop up – but any major changes would have to wait for the larger update of the village liquor code.

Section 3-3-12 of the village municipal code requires liquor license holders to apply for an entertainment license – known as the “amusement license” until the Oct. 12, 2021, update – if it wants to hold a live event of any kind. The provision was seldom enforced until the summer of 2021. On July 2, 2021, the village council imposed a moratorium on such licenses to give the village time to update the rules, only to let the moratorium expire Sept. 15, 2021, without taking action. On Oct. 12, 2021, the village overhauled that section, explicitly adding DJs, karaoke events and band performances to the definition of “entertainment” and requiring that indoor entertainment end no later than 11 p.m.

But the April 11 meeting revealed that the overhaul still left some ambiguities. Several applicants mentioned that they were planning to “self-DJ” – using a phone or some other device to play pre-programmed playlists. The council broadly agreed that this wasn’t the kind of DJing they wanted to regulate, and that establishments shouldn’t have to get permission for that. Commissioners also raised concerns that some applicants were submitting broad descriptions that gave them enough leeway to defeat the point of the oversight the licensing process was supposed to provide.

Mayor Rory Hoskins agreed that the guidelines could be improved and encouraged commissioners to submit ideas. But he told the Review that he didn’t expect to have any significant overhaul until the village attorneys review the rest of the liquor code – which he didn’t have a firm timeline for. In the meantime, Hoskins did say that the village was looking on improving the application forms, so that applicants could fill them out and potentially submit them digitally instead of having to print them out and fill them out by hand.

As it’s currently written, Section 3-3-12 requires liquor license holders to get an entertainment license in order to “sponsor, conduct, or permit entertainment,” which the code defines as “includ[ing] but not be limited to, any public show, theatrical, animate or inanimate exhibition, live bands performing music (maximum of five (5) performers), DJ’s, karaoke, or any other amusement, diversion, production, etc. offered, operated, presented or exhibited to the public.” The municipal code doesn’t explicitly define the term “DJ’s.”

The village council considered five applications, all for the month of May. Blueberry Hill, 427 Des Plaines Ave., and Carole’s Next Best Thing. 7307 Roosevelt Rd., which are both co-owned by Lynn Sorice, asked for permission to “occasionally have customer birthday parties that we self-DJ” on weekends within the 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. time slot. Lathrop House Café, 26 Lathrop Ave., wanted to hold acoustic duo performances in their back yard from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday live jazz performances from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

While the council didn’t take issue with the first three applications, several commissioners raised concerns that the other two were too broadly worded. Pioneer Tap, another Sorice-owned bar, this one at 7445 Randolph St., asked to be able to play music every between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m.

“We employ DJ or self-DJ by playing music from the laptop,” the application stated.

Sorice-owned Shortstop Lounge, 7425 Madison St., wanted to be able to play music on Fridays and weekends during the same time slot to accommodate “groups of customers who enjoy occasional DJing or playing acoustical live music.”

“It feels like you’re applying for a license and you don’t know if you’re going to use it,” said commissioner Jessica Voogd, adding that she wasn’t comfortable approving a license that would “blanket-cover” several different types of performances.

“Unfortunately, I think, as a village, we weren’t specific enough when we asked people to fill these [applications] out,” said Commissioner Maria Maxham. “I don’t want to say ‘no,’ but I’m going to say ‘no.’”

The council agreed to hold off on the decision until the April 25 meeting to give Sorice a chance to address their questions.

How square can you get?

For over a hundred years, the “Review” was a rectangle. Now it’s suddenly a square. I had no idea this would impact every aspect of my life.

The first thing I did was buy new threads. I not only stocked up on turtlenecks, I bought summer clothes. There’s nothing like the classic look of black knee socks with Birkenstocks. To further enhance my appearance, I asked my hairdresser to go short in front and the sides but to leave my hair long in back. I really miss my mullet and can’t wait to get that party started in the back.

It was also time for a new set of wheels. Our Prius was getting great mileage but you can’t beat the look and feel of the Buick Regal. Plus, that baby can really burn rubber. It also has plenty of trunk space for bringing our new beanbag furniture back to the pad.

The whole vibe of our place is different, starting with the music. No more hip-hop or techno, Alexa only plays orchestral versions of classic rock songs. You haven’t rocked out, until you hear the Boston Pops play “Gimme Shelter.” We also put the kibosh on cable TV. I was tired of watching indie films, cutting edge documentaries and French cinema. We went back to the rabbit ears. As long as we can get re-runs of Frazier and Friends, I’m tickled. We also stopped ordering gourmet dinner kits and went back to the basics. Instead of preparing dinners with fresh seafood and vegetables, we bought Chef Boyardee Pizza kits. Who knew that such authentic Italian flavor could come from a box? We also stocked up on canned vegetables and other treats we missed. Have you tasted Manwich lately?

Our lives were so copacetic, we stopped buying pricey cups of coffee. Can you believe they’re still making Ovaltine? There’s nothing like sipping a cup, while catching up on the latest issue of “Reader’s Digest.” We also renewed our subscription to “TV Guide.”

We still have our AOL email account. Can you believe it’s free now? We traded in our smartphones for the flip kind. They came with belt clips. Now when we’re on the horn, we don’t have to worry about taking pictures of our ears. Our place is no longer Dullsville. We host Tupperware parties and I still play a mean game of Pong. We don’t serve those fancy craft beers anymore. There’s nothJOHN ing like the timeless taste of Hamm’s. All we need now is to win our prize from PubRICE lisher’s Clearing House and we can buy all the Amway products we ever wanted. We also enjoy the activities Forest Park offers, although Bingo is a little rich for our blood. We’re thinking of trying Pickleball but only if helmets are included. If they ever bring back square dancing, I’m down with it. We’re more than content to simply stroll to our local restaurants. Our favorite place makes a mean egg salad sandwich. I’m not sure how the change in shape is going to affect the “Review.” But in the immortal words of Huey Lewis and The News, “It’s hip to be square.”

A L OOK BA CK IN TIME

Forest Park’s rst female candidate

The local village elections in April 1971 featured the first female candidate for village council, Mrs. Patricia Hemstreet. Her campaign was sponsored by the “Throw the Rascals Out,” committee and she was one of eight commissioner candidates.

Her campaign ad in the Review focused on the “bashfulness” of elected officials in addressing litter, streetlights, street repair, abandoned sidewalk projects and abandoned automobiles in town. While her campaign never mentioned her gender, she was breaking ground for future female leaders in Forest Park. She was the sixth highest vote getter, with 1,995 votes, falling short and placing in sixth place. The newly elected Mayor Howard Mohr joined Sana Rizzo, Ed Lamke, John Hanley and Jim Sansone would kick off their leadership with the announcement of three volunteer lead committees: Finance, Youth and Environment.

FOREST P ARK REVIEW

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

Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich

Board of Directors Chair Judy Gre n Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-366-0600 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 EMAIL forestpark@wjinc.com CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com ONLINE ForestParkReview.com TWITTER @FP_Review Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Forest Park Review,141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS No 0205-160) In-county subscriptions: $30 per year. $44 for two years, $60 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $38 per year. Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2022 Growing Community Media NFP.