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Hines employees protest working conditions Workers call for hazard pay, protection, at VA hospital

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Health-care workers at five hospitals in the Chicago area, including Edward Hines VA Hospital, 5000 S. 5th Ave., stood in the cold during shift change on April 17 to protest working conditions at those facilities.

The coordinated action took place moments after state lawmakers, activists and health-care workers hosted a video press conference to highlight their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are asking for personal protective equipment (PPE), a wider availability of testing, and hazard pay.

Roughly a half-dozen Hines workers stood wearing masks outside the hospital’s gated entrance on Fifth and Roosevelt. Standing 6 feet apart, they held up signs to drivers passing by that read: “Health-care Heroes Need: PPE, Testing for Hazard Pay to Keep Us Alive.”

As of April 18, there have been 5,261 confirmed cases of COVID-19 diagnosed and treated at Veterans Affairs facilities across the country. Those facilities have had 315 COVID-19 inpatient deaths, according to publicly available data provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs. At Hines, there have been 45 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and three inpatient deaths.

Greg Kelley, president of the SEIU Healthcare Illinois union, has said in the past that hospital workers should at least be paid time and a half while working during the pandemic and should also be eligible for two weeks of paid sick leave.

“It’s important that we hear from them, protect them and give them what they need, as they all take See HINES on page 4

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

SEEDS OF HOPE

Bambi Alexander is just one Forest Park resident who’s already started gardening this year. She and her husband make their own compost, collect water in rain barrels, and use recycled and found materials for potting and growing.

Victory Gardens in uncertain times Locals start digging, planting, dreaming

By MARIA MAXHAM Staff Reporter

There’s something about seeing empty food shelves at the grocery store that

IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 THIS Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 ISSUE Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

makes a person think about being more self-sufficient.

Right now, shelves aren’t as empty as they were at the end of March, when pandemic panic took over, people filling shopping carts with canned foods and rice and beans.

Still, it provides perspective. A new take on things. A thought that maybe all those crazy preppers aren’t quite

so crazy after all. Or at least that being ready might be helpful.

Victory Gardens, popular during both world wars, were an attempt to reduce pressure on the food supply system.

They sprung up on private property and public land and provided food for the troops and those at home. But they were See VICTORY GARDENS on page 8

Westlake ready to reopen

Residents rally around Ed’s Way

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Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

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Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

‘A

Parade speaks louder than signs

ll the world loves a parade,” the expression goes, especially the members of the Garfield School community. On the sunny morning of April 20, shut-in students and families were treated to parade of their teachers and other Garfield staff members. A cavalcade of about 30 cars left the school at 10 a.m. and toured the north side of Forest Park.

The cars not only contained Garfield employees but many of their family members. They displayed homemade signs to cheer up the stuck-at-home students. The students and their families had been notified when the procession was going to pass by their homes, and they made their own signs to greet their teachers.

The students were jubilant, smiling and waving. They needed this kind of diversion after weeks of being cooped up. It showed how much the students miss school and their classmates. “The best part of the day was seeing the excitement of the students and parents,” Principal Jamie Stauder said.

She appreciated seeing their smiling faces and “wonderful” homemade signs.

“It truly was an uplifting experience of which I may have shed a tear or two,” said Stauder, one of several organizers of the parade. Kindergarten teacher Erica Whittington was also a driving force. Afterward, she said, “I know it was supposed to be for the students, but I couldn’t help thinking that it was definitely for us too.”

Whittington helped in the planning, which included getting Mayor Hoskins’ permission for the parade. It was originally scheduled for the previous week but twice cancelled due to snow.

Finally, the weather cooperated and cars started arriving at Garfield at 9:30 a.m. Parent Teacher Council President Manda Kamdar was already there serving donuts and coffee.

Forest Park Police Officer Keith Banaszak was also on hand to line up the cars and lead them in the parade. Stauder was thankful to Village Administrator Tim Gillian for providing the police escort. She also appreciated Superintendent Lou Cavallo coming out to support the Garfield staff.

As the parade wound its way through the streets, drivers sounded their horns to announce their arrival.

“I was crying, cheering and smiling,” Whittington said, “what a mix of emotions!

There were older folks coming out and thanking us, as well as moms and babies.” Whittington observed that the parade gave everyone a sense of community. “We have shown our school community that Garfield is a school that cares!”

Stauder said it was wonderful to see her staff again. “We haven’t been together in person for over a month.” The dis-

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trict’s director of communications, Scott Dunnell, who was instrumental in publicizing the parade, was on hand to take photos.

He had also arranged for professional photographer, Alan Bourgeois, to capture the event.

I know firsthand how these types of parades can lift spirits during dark times.

A parade was organized for my grandson Brody’s sixth birthday. About a dozen cars drove past his driveway. His friends and classmates were waving and cheering and Brody was beaming. It was so much fun, we took another lap.

I also listened to a psychologist talk about how isolation is impacting students. They miss their friends desperately and it’s difficult for their parents to keep their spirits up. A Garfield staff member said we all have to find our joy during these difficult times.

I found my joy watching a film about the Chicago Bulls. Garfield students and staff found their joy in just seeing the faces of the people they miss.

“Our parade spoke louder than any signs ever will!” declared Whittington.

T I M E . . .

‘Cowabunga, dude’

Jennifer Paulin, Forest Parker and Trinity High School class of 1987 senior, accepts the certificate for Best high school entry to the Domino’s Pizza state championship “Count on Domino’s.”

The 1980’s were known for the Domino’s promise “30 minutes or less,” which would be referenced by the pizzaloving Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT).

By the 90’s, the call to “Avoid the Noid” was a popular pizza ad slogan, but in 1987 two local Forest Parkers, Jennifer Paulin and Stacie McCloud along with their calculus class from Trinity High School, were busy with academics.

Their senior class of 1987 created a game called “TicTac-Calc,” which used dominos and a calculus twist on the “Tic-Tac-Toe” style game-board for a competition sponsored by Domino’s that year.

Trinity students won the Illinois best high school entry for originality and were awarded a certificate, a plaque and, of course, a pizza party after their competition.

Now, 33 years later, Forest Park has its very own Domino’s at 7656 Madison. Making a complete circle, local Domino’s owner, Greg Fischer, who grew up here in Forest Park (alumnus of St. John’s Elementary school and Proviso East High School) has come back home with his latest delivery franchise. The Forest Park branch does not offer TMNT favorite toppings like peanut butter and jelly or marshmallows, but locals are fine with that.

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REVIEW Editor Maria Maxham Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Lifka Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes, John Rice Senior Editor Bob Uphues 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 Front Desk Carolyn Henning, Maria Murzyn

Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich 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 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: $25 per year. $42 for two years, $58 for three years.

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Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

Sadness – and great hope – from graduating seniors Students talk about canceled senior events, the future

ation are being investigated.

“This is a difficult time for all of us, and certainly not the end to your senior year any of us had hoped. But it is necessary to ensure your health and safety,” said the letter. “We are in this together. Let’s be creative and put the most positive, safe, experiences

By MARIA MAXHAM we can put in place, under these circumStaff Reporter stances.”

Alexis Gomez, a senior at Proviso East COVID-19 has affected practically everyHigh School, says he was planning on atthing for students, from the way they intertending all the senior activities. act (social media is important) to the way “It’s a loss,” he said. “It’s a memory that they attend classes (remotely). Kids are resilient, it’s often said, and there’s no doubt I’ll never have.” For all the seniors, said Gomez, the cancelation of events is difficult. that when things slow“This was supposed ly go back to whatever to be our last time toour “new normal” is, gether before leaving they’ll adapt just fine. high school and beBut high school seginning independent niors will miss some chapters of our lives.” important milestones The sudden end to taken for granted, but in-person schooling highly anticipated and might be particularly celebrated, by students difficult for Gomez beduring normal times. cause he was involved Prom. A big graduin so many activities ation ceremony often at East. He was on followed by a party. the Student LeaderFinishing out the last ship Team, managed few months of school the girls’ volleyball with the people you’ve program, and volunbeen together with for teered extensively.

MISSING THE MEMORIES: Alexis Gomez, the past four years.

“You name it, I probSeeing your friends ev- Proviso East class of 2020, said he ably did it,” said Goery day before you all and his classmates are missing out on mez with a laugh. go off and do new and memories since school has switched to He’s still working different things. distance learning. as a student coordinaSure, they’ll have tor for the mentoring a cool story to tell. program, designed to “Back when I was a seassist senior students who are struggling or nior, we didn’t even get to go to prom!” they can tell their friends, their families, their are behind in their studies.

“I still talk with the students I’m helpchildren. It’s a pandemic version of “Back ing remotely,” said Gomez. “But a lot of the in our day, we walked 10 miles uphill in the mentees in the program feel a loss of motisnow to school!” vation right now with the way things are.

But for now, it’s sad.

On April 7, a letter from the Proviso Town- Some of them feel like there’s no hope. But ship High School District went out to stu- we tell them to keep pushing forward.”

Gomez’ own dreams have changed slightly dents of the 2020 graduating class.

“We regret to inform you that all senior due to the COVID-19 crisis. His heart was set activities scheduled for the month of May on going to University of San Francisco, but the pandemic shifted his finances – and have been cancelled, with the exception of focus.

He’d been counting on a scholarship, graduation,” read the letter, which went on but with the date for funding and scholarto state that alternatives to in-person gradu-

HINES

Workers strike from page 1 care of us,” Kelley said during the April 18 video conference.

The volume of COVID-19 patients along with inadequate safety conditions at the hospital has even non-frontline employees at Hines concerned about coming into work

when they can telework from home instead.

Earlier this month, a range of Hines employees — including social workers, dietitians and psychiatrists — spoke out when James Doelling, Hines’ new director, sent them an email asking them to return to work “as the center prepared for a surge of veterans in needs of services,” according to an April 5 Chicago Sun-Times report. ”I’m concerned as a clinical provider that we’re going to be risking the lives of veterans and employees as they create this COVID-19 petri dish at the hospital for no reason,” one

PROVISO EAST SENIOR: Kelly Salas, class of 2020, misses practicing and performing with the school marching band. ship notification extended, he’s decided to stay closer to home, where he’ll attend DePaul University as an American Studies major. Eventually, he said, he wants to go into politics.

But despite the need to change his plans, Gomez is able to see the silver lining. “I try to see the bright side of everything,” he said. “I’ll have a chance to live in the city [of Chicago] and experience that.”

Although he expects to live on campus as a freshman, he mentioned that some schools are already talking about starting the 20202021 school year remotely.

“I hope that doesn’t happen,” said Gomez.

“The class of 2020 has already been deprived of finishing their senior year. I hope we’re not deprived of a traditional freshman year too,” he said.

Gomez has a maturity to him, the ability to see the situation as bigger than himself.

“I’m OK with change,” he said. “But I feel for the people who don’t have a happy or safe place to go during sheltering at home.

There are people out there with problems at home. People at risk. Those are the people I worry about.”

Kelly Salas, another Proviso East senior,

says she’s sad, like Gomez, about missing out on time with her friends. She said prom wasn’t the biggest concern for her, but just spending time with other students and participating in marching band feel like big losses right now.

“Since I was a freshman, I looked forward to senior year,” said Salas. “I looked forward to graduating with my friends and ending the year together. We were already planning activities. I’m really sad about it.”

Distance learning is going well, said Salas, but she misses seeing her teachers. Talking to them via camera just isn’t the same.

And she misses marching band, which she’s been in for three years as a piccolo player.

“I just feel like, sadly, a lot has been taken away from us,” said Salas.

But, like Gomez, she doesn’t have a give-up attitude. She’s looking forward to volunteering more at an animal shelter – she plans to pursue veterinary studies in college – and maybe doing some traveling when social distancing is lifted and it’s safe.

And she, too, expressed hope for the future.

“We’ll keep our heads up,” said Salas. “We can do this together.”

social worker, who requested anonymity, told the Sun-Times.

Germaine Clarno, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 781, told the Sun-Times that Doelling’s order “is bringing employees in ‘unnecessarily’ and putting everyone at the hospital at risk.”

“They’re being told to come into Hines, sit all together in one office all day, and they can’t even go see the patients in the wards because of precautionary measures,” Clarno told the Sun-Times.

Doelling did not respond to the Sun-Times’

requests for comment and could not be reached by phone on April 18.

A Moveon.org petition urging Doelling not to ban telework at Hines had garnered 816 signatures by April 18.

“If you do not allow telework, veterans, staff, and their families will be negatively impacted,” the petition states. “Other VA’s have implemented telework and California is a clear demonstration of how this will backfire. You already have the evidence of this.”

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

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Armed robber steals cash, scratch-offs

“Give me all the money,” said a black man in his 30s, approximately 5-11, with a thin build and wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, dark blue jeans and black shoes. He held up the 7-Eleven at 7749 Roosevelt Road on April 16 at 7:09 a.m.

According to the store clerk, the man entered the store wearing a blue medical mask with blue latex gloves and revealed a black and silver semi-automatic pistol. He ordered her to give him the money from the register.

For a moment, she stood in shock.

“I’m serious. Want me to shoot you?” said the masked man, who then escorted her to the register and had her open it.

The offender removed most of the money from the drawer, then ordered her to open a second register. The victim tried to open it but was unsuccessful.

“I’m gonna shoot you in the leg!” threatened the offender.

The employee tried in vain to open the second register. The suspect then asked her if she had keys to the room with the safe.

She told him she didn’t. He then began taking scratch-off lottery tickets and ordered the employee to grab a bunch more and put them into a bag. He took the bag and exited the store, walking to Roosevelt Road, then heading east.

Glock stolen from car

A Glock 19 pistol was stolen from a vehicle on April 17 at 10:06 a.m. Police were called to a home on the 1100 block of Hannah Avenue when the owner discovered someone had entered his car and taken his firearm, loaded with a 15-round magazine plus one round in the chamber, which was stored in his glove compartment. The owner reported no forced entry to his vehicle, and he believes he accidentally left the vehicle unlocked when he went into his apartment.

House robbed with victim asleep A woman on the 400 block of Desplaines Avenue reported a break-in and a vehicle stolen on April 18, while she was sleeping.

The victim said she arrived home from work around 8:30 p.m. on April 17. She put her iPhone, iPad, keys and wallet on the computer desk just inside her door and fell asleep on the couch. When she woke up around 2 a.m. she noticed two drawers open in the kitchen, drawers she was certain were closed when she went to sleep. And she saw that the apartment door was ajar.

Upon further inspection, she noticed multiple items were missing from her computer desk, including an iPhone, iPad, house and car keys, a wallet, and a small bag of weed.

When she exited her apartment, she saw her vehicle was missing.

She admitted to the reporting officer that she’d left her residence unlocked in the past, and couldn’t be certain whether she’d locked the door that night. She did, however, notice that the apartment complex main door was functioning and locked. There was no sign of forced entry to the front door, and the rear door to the apartment was secure, according to the police report.

According to the victim, nobody else besides the landlord has a key to her apartment, she does not live with anyone, and no friends or family regularly frequent her apartment.

The police report states that a laptop and checkbook were left undisturbed on the computer table.

Police administer Naloxone Forest Park police assisted with the administration of two doses of Naloxone and sternal rubs when called to 711 Desplaines Ave. on April 18 at 3:52 a.m. A man was unconscious but breathing, lying on the ground inside the CTA station. The fire department arrived on the scene and took over medical care. The man was transported to the hospital.

Mountain bike stolen A men’s 8-speed mountain bike was stolen from a storage locker in a building on the 500 block of Circle Ave. on April 19. The victim reported an unknown subject breaking into his building’s assigned storage locker and removing his black men’s mountain bike valued at approximately $250. He said he’d heard some banging noises around midnight the previous night, which is the time he suspects the burglar gained entry.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, April 11-19, 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

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Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

‘Dear Friendly Neighbor’

Students spread message of hope

By MARIA MAXHAM Staff Reporter

Provided

TEACHING EMPATHY: Ashley Kern, reading specialist at Field Stevenson, asked students to write letters to residents of nursing homes and rehabilitation centers.

Illinois schools, including D91, closed through the remainder of the school year All Schools Picnic, graduation ceremony canceled

By MARIA MAXHAM Staff Reporter

Just after Governor J. B. Pritzker announced on April 17 that all Illinois schools will be closed for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year, District 91’s superintendent Lou Cavallo sent a note reiterating this news to parents and guardians in Forest Park.

“As superintendent this is the hardest announcement that I have had to make,” said Cavallo in his message to parents.

“I know that this is not welcome news to

many as everyone was looking forward to getting back to a normal routine. I have heard from many students who miss their friends and teachers and from teachers who miss their kids and colleagues.”

Cavallo added that the schools will continue to provide remote learning and daily lunch and that he is “currently working collaboratively with the Mayor of Forest Park to assist families with other health/ safety needs.”

The annual All Schools Picnic and the 8th Grade Graduation ceremony will be canceled, but Cavallo said the school administrative team is looking for other ways to honor graduating students. He said the administrative team has a remote meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, and more information will be communicated to families after that.

We’re all searching for statistics. Scouring the web for data and numbers that will tell us when, maybe, the pandemic will end.

There is no magic answer to that, though.

And no snap-your-fingers solution either to ease people’s anxiety about the situation.

But advice – and hope – can come from surprising places. Like kids.

Ashley Kern, reading specialist at Field Stevenson School, said her mother told her about a teacher in Park Ridge who came up with an idea for her students to write letters of hope to nursing home residents. At that time, schools hadn’t been canceled yet although visitors were being banned from nursing homes and retirement centers.

Over the past few weeks, Kern’s thought about that project, and she decided to make it a voluntary assignment for her own students at Field. She gave the kids the task of writing a digital note to people in nursing homes or rehabilitation centers, people who might be looking for companionship or just a simple message of cheer.

Then Kern compiled the notes from third, fourth and fifth grade students into an online presentation. Around the same time, Kern said, she’d read a book with the students, a story about a boy who checks his mailbox every day waiting for a letter to arrive.

It’s the same, she explained to the kids, for some people in nursing homes. There are people who don’t have family nearby, and now that visitors are limited, communication from the outside world is something they might be missing.

The assignment was a way to teach empathy.

“Even if we don’t know someone, we can reach out and offer help and support,” said Kern.

Kern didn’t edit the letters the kids wrote.

“I wanted it to be as authentic as possible,” she said, and she found the letters touching, charming, sometimes funny. And poignant too.

“The kids offer advice they’ve obviously heard from their parents,” said Kern. “To stay home. Drink chicken noodle soup if you’re not feeling well. It’s sweet.”

The slide show of letters has gone out to eight nursing homes and rehab centers, including Aperion and Altenheim in Forest Park. Most of the letters are addressed to “Dear Friendly Neighbor” though one says, “Dear Amazing Neighbor,” another “Dear New Friend,” and another, “Deal All Elderly.”

Here’s some of the good advice students offered on staying healthy.

Fifth grader Anthony’s advice was succinct: “Please stay home and take vitamins.”

Danny, also in fifth grade, had some good advice too. “Hello I am a student at field stevenson school,” wrote Danny. “You may be sad but this is a message to enlighten your day. With the help of everyone we will make it through this. Make sure you are washing your hands constantly so that you do not become sick. I hope you have an amazing day.”

Another student focused on social distancing, reminding readers to “only have a visitor if they are helping you cook food or driving you around.”

Beyond health advice, the kids had so many suggestions on staying busy and having fun while sheltered in place.

Fifth grader Madison offers these ideas to stay busy: “Some suggestions to occupy yourself at home is to play monopoly if you own it and help with family chores. You should also do something creative. Keep in touch with your relatives by, sending letters, emailing them, or doing zooms. I’ve also been playing on my nintendo switch.”

Angel’s suggestions to stay busy are “play a board game, do a puzzle, play Fortnite or COD Warzone. My last one is spend time with your family help them with the dishes or help them clean the house.”

Cleaning came up more than twice.

Fourth grader Lily said listed cleaning as her third favorite thing to do when bored, after drawing and singing.

Initially it seemed surprising how many kids mentioned missing school. It says, though, a lot about how supportive an environment their classrooms are for them, and what a source of emotional and social support it is for them. And how much they’d prefer to be learning in the classroom.

“Right now with all of this going on I think it is hard to do remote learning because I can’t keep up with all of the work. ,I am making it through and am trying my best,” said a 5th grader.

“I wish I can go back to school so I can play with [my friends],” said Jacob.

Fourth grader Negin offered a joke: “Where do pencils come from? Pennsylvania.”

And Sophie J. talked in detail about her pet parakeet. “Her name is Sunshine because she’s yellow. She can make a kissing noise if you touch her beak. She also chirps at her reflection in a mirror. She can say lots of things like “baby bird”, “I’m Sunshine”, and even says bless you when you sneeze. Do you have any birds at home or where you are right now?”

Other kids talked about their pets too, like Hollis, whose dog “is crazy and super funny.” Hollis also wrote: “I hope you are ok.

I am stuck inside too. One thing I do to kill time is to draw.” He also suggested watching movies, especially those made by Studio Ghibli.

This Review reporter thinks that’s a solid suggestion. “My Neighbor Tortoro” and “Spirited Away” are two good films to start with.

Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

7

D209 board urges minority hiring goal on summer work

But board members demand Gilbane meet 15% hiring threshold

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff

Planned construction on the first phase of Proviso Township High School District 209’s facilities master plan will proceed as scheduled this summer despite the COVID-19 pandemic and D209 board members are urging the firm overseeing the construction to make sure that local residents, particularly minorities, are well-represented in the work force once ground breaks.

During a regular board meeting on April

14, Paul Starck-King, the district’s chief business official, outlined the range of work scheduled to take place at Proviso East, Proviso West and Proviso Math and Science Academy in the summer.

According to Starck-King’s PowerPoint presentation, major construction includes parking lot renovations and reconfigurations at all three schools, among other improvements. But board members were adamant that Gilbane Building Company, the firm hired as the district’s contract manager responsible for overseeing construction, meet a minimum 15 percent minority hiring benchmark that the board set.

“We gave specific criteria that Gilbane said they would match, so we want to hold them to that contract,” said board member Rodney Alexander.

Westlake Hospital poised to re-open as COVID back-up

Community members showered construction crews with appreciation on April 17

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

News that a nearby hospital that closed last year could reopen temporarily to treat COVID-19 patients called for a bit of pomp and circumstance on Friday — a week before construction is scheduled to end.

During the April 17 parade, cars and fire trucks drove by Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park as construction workers looked on in appreciation. The parade was planned by state Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (7th) and local officials like Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico.

“I am so grateful for the round the clock work that the Army Corps of Engineers and local construction workers have put in to reopen Westlake,” Welch said. He added that the parade was also to “show support for the folks working to reopen Westlake as well as all health care workers, first responders, and essential personnel working during this time of crisis.”

During Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s daily COVID-19 press briefing in Chicago on April 10, Dr. Suzet McKinney, the CEO and executive director of the Illinois Medical District, said that the officials plan on completing updating Westlake Hospital by April 24.

The Melrose Park hospital, which was closed last year, is one of five alternate care sites that the state will temporarily repurpose

Echoing Alexander’s concern, board member Sam Valtierrez said that he wants to see how Gilbane’s hiring and subcontracting methodology works.

“We want to see the methodology they’ll use to hire minority contractors from this district,” Valtierrez said. “We want to see the plan laid out.”

Starck-King said that, based on a preliminary report from Gilbane, around 6.5 percent of sub-contractors hired to work the first phase summer construction projects are minority.

“We know that is not our target, so they’ll start giving us proposals and thoughts about how to reach that percentage,” Starck-King said. “Numbers are being tracked to address your issues. They’re disappointed, but we’re doing what we can to get those numbers up.”

Starck-King said that at a community

to treat COVID-19 patients, in case existing medical facilities run out of capacity to treat those patients. McKinney is responsible for overseeing operations for those sites.

The other four are McCormick Place in Chicago, Metro South Medical Center in Blue Island, Advocate Sherman in Elgin and Vibra Hospital in Springfield. The latter site likely won’t open until May 9, McKinney said.

“Once construction is complete, we’ll need about two days to train all the staff,” McKinney said, adding that the sites are only intended to “supplement, not replace our acute care hospitals,” in order to open up bed space at those existing hospitals “for the most critically ill.”

Pritzker, who first announced on April 2 that Westlake was among those five alternate care sites, said during his briefing on April 10 that he hopes none of the sites have to be utilized.

“We are all praying that we don’t need any of these alternate care facilities,” Pritzker said. “We’re building them out to make sure there is nobody who does not have a hospital bed, an ICU bed, or a ventilator that they may need one.”

Westlake, which was purchased by Pipeline Health last year along with West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park and Weiss Memorial in Chicago, could help alleviate the burden on hospitals in Oak Park if the COVID-19 pandemic causes them to reach capacity.

As of April 19, Oak Park had 128 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to the Oak Park Public Health Department.

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

outreach event designed to connect with potential minority contractors in the area, some prospective contractors expressed concerns that the bid package was too large and that their bonding wasn’t big enough, among other challenges.

Alexander said that those challenges should not be impediments to Gilbane meeting the board’s minimum threshold.

“I’m expecting them to modify their requirements to make sure those numbers are met in whatever way is legal, ethical and moral,” Alexander said.

The D209 board approved the district’s Facility Master Plan last year. The upcoming summer construction work is the start of the plan’s roughly $77 million first phase construction period, which is expected to last through 2022.

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

State releases long-term care COVID-19 numbers

County continues to update number of cases

By MARIA MAXHAM Staff Reporter

On April 19, the Pritzker administration released numbers related to COVID-19 cases and deaths in each long-term care facility in the state. According to a Chicago Tribune article, the data shows “at least 189 long-term care facilities in 22 counties reporting at least one case.

In all, at least 1,860 cases can be tied to nursing homes, with 286 deaths. That’s nearly a fourth of all coronavirus deaths reported in Illinois.”

The information is available online from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) at dph.illinois.gov/covid19/long-term-care-facility-outbreakscovid-19.

Aperion Care Forest Park at 8200 Roosevelt Rd. is reported as having five confirmed cases and one death related to COVID-19.

According to the Cook County Department of Public Health, as of April 19 there were “96 Congregate settings, such as long-term care facilities or nursing homes, with one or more confirmed cases.”

The IDPH website has 104 congregate homes listed with at least one case, though the discrepancy could be due to the fact that, as the Cook County website says, “all numbers are provisional and subject to change.”

Cook County continues tracking COVID-19 cases

Cook County COVID-19 information can be found at ccdphcd.shinyapps.io/ covid19/ and includes all cases under the jurisdiction of the Cook County Department of Public Health. It excludes Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie, and Stickney Township.

As of 4:30 p.m. on April 19, Forest Park was reported as having a total of 50 positive COVID-19 cases, a rate of 353 cases per 100,000 people.

The rate is essential in order to put into perspective how widespread the illness is since populations vary significantly from municipality to municipality Other nearby towns, listed by rate per 100,000 people, are below. The data is current as of April 19 at 4:30 p.m.: • River Forest: 17 cases or 152 out of 100,000 • Broadview: 32 cases or 403 out of 100,000 • Berwyn: 243 cases or 429 out of 100,000 • Maywood: 128 or 531 out of 100,000 • Melrose Park: 153 cases or 602 out of 100,000 • Bellwood: 158 cases or 828 out of 100,000 Another website at maps.cookcountyil.gov/medexamcovid19/ lists deaths related to COVID-19 by municipality. As of April 19, Forest Park had two, one on March 30 and one on April 6. Both deceased were males.

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Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

VICTORY GARDENS Empowering from page 1 also considered a morale booster, a way for citizens to feel empowered and to contribute to the stability of the nation.

Right now, the country isn’t at war, technically speaking. But the COVID-19 pandemic has created a need for people to stay home. It has affected the economy. It’s caused deaths and illness. And as a result, some people are feeling the need to empower themselves.

Gardening is a way to do that, with the extra bonus of providing fresh food, something people are, perhaps, more appreciative of these days.

The Community Garden gears up for planting Jessica Rinks, founding member of Forest Park’s Community Garden, said she’s seen more demand this year than in previous years for plots at the community garden.

People who’ve had a plot in past years get first dibs this year, and there is already a waiting list that’s pretty long. The garden has 54 plots, which includes five that grow food exclusively for the Forest Park Food Panty run out of the Howard Mohr Community Center.

“So we have plots for 49 families,” said Rinks. Generally, she said, the plots appeal to people who live in condos or apartments and don’t have a backyard for gardening.

Rinks said people might have different priorities or reasons for starting a garden this spring.

“Some people might be thinking that food should be planted to prevent going to the store so frequently,” said Rinks. Social distancing might relax during the summer months, but it’s impossible to predict what the future will bring with a pandemic the world has never seen before.

“I think in general,” said Rinks, “people are thinking more strategically about planting food.” She added that with proper rotation, you can produce food all season. Lettuce, for example, grows in cooler months. Tomatoes and cucumbers are ripe toward the end of the summer.

The Community Garden board, said Rinks, wasn’t sure what to do with opening up this year during times of social distancing. After researching what city of Chicago public gardens were doing, she said they borrowed language from Chicago gardening, specifically wording about being mindful of having no large groups and maintaining social distancing.

The board took the proposal to the village and were given approval to open, as long as proper social distancing and other rules were followed.

“If you show up to garden, and there’s a group already there, you should come back later,” said Rinks. “We’re not having shared tools this year. We’re urging people to keep their distance.”

She added that there’s usually a big opening

day celebration, which was supposed to be on May 2 this year, but that won’t happen. And although the group usually gathers to do big repairs together, that’s not in the plans this season either.

Her advice to those who’ve never gardened before? “Try it.” She wants people to acknowledge that they probably won’t replace everything they’d normally buy from a grocery store. But growing food gives people a sense of self-sufficiency.

“It’s a diversion too,” said Rinks. “It creates peace and hope. It’s relaxing. And when seeds germinate and you have plants, it feels magical.”

Home gardens growing People with back yards are already planning their gardens, either starting seeds inside, setting up green houses, or getting soil ready for planting.

Rachell Entler’s greenhouse arrived a few days ago, and she and her family are excited for what she calls their “quarantine project.”

“Growing up we had a garden and I loved going out to get fresh raspberries. We had a small garden the last few years, but with all this time on our hands [now], I got a greenhouse for my birthday so we could start some seeds and I could cultivate my own plants,” said Entler.

Her son Jaxon plans to grow peppers, including ghost peppers for a friend who owns a BBQ restaurant.

Bambi Alexander said her grandmother and mother had huge gardens in the country with plenty of land, and she’s growing as much as she can in her relatively small space in Forest Park.

“I have an idea of a Victory Garden-type thing,” said Alexander, who gardens with her three children. Her husband keeps the beds together, turns the compost and spreads it. They

also collect water in rain barrels. Their cold frame was built out of old storm windows.

She uses recycled and found materials for potting and growing, and she includes seeds from seed swaps as well as local purchases.

So far, said Alexander, they’ve got some onions and oregano starting from last year. Radishes, kale and snap peas are already coming up in the back bed, and kale and lettuces in the cold frame.

On her back porch, she’s growing cherry and pear tomatoes, a pepper plant, three eggplants, and beans. Pumpkin, cantaloupe and watermelon just went in the ground, and she’s growing herbs in pots.

She plans to add broccoli, parsley and cucumbers.

What’s different this year, said Alexander in an email, is in part her intentions in growing a vegetable garden.

“I hope to grow veggies and herbs for us to eat, partly because they are so fresh and it is really satisfying to go out with my four-year-old to pick radishes, lettuce, green beans and then make them for dinner,” said Alexander. “But also because it has been a difficult year to get groceries.” Multiple food allergies draw her to as much homemade food as possible, and it’s easier to know what you’re eating when you grow it yourself.

Denise Fullmer, who works with senior services at the Howard Mohr Community Center, is a chef by profession and a professor at Triton College since 2001. She was planning to teach a gardening class this summer, but it’s been canceled. Outdoor gardening classes don’t lend themselves well to distance learning. She will be teaching culinary math, though. And she’ll be working on her backyard garden.

Originally from Arizona, Fullmer said that Forest Park is a special place.

“If I hadn’t found Forest Park, I would have moved back to Arizona,” she said.

Her house came with a greenhouse in the backyard, a structure that was never installed properly, said Fullmer. She tried for years to use it but was ready to give up when a neighbor volunteered to help her get it going again a few months ago.

They’ve rebuilt the panels and installed raised beds, a huge help since Fullmer’s double knee surgery. With new rich soil, she’s started seeds.

Outside the greenhouse she’s putting in raised beds too, which she’ll protect with chicken wire to keep animals out.

Fullmer, who lives on Troost not far from the cemetery, says she plants her front yard full of squash and pumpkins so the animals that wander over have something to eat. It’s a decoy garden, an attempt to prevent critters from attacking the “real” gardens.

“It’s the first line of defense for animals from the cemetery,” said Fullmer, who jokes with her other garden-growing neighbors about it. “They’ll fill up at my house and leave yours alone,” she tells them.

Fullmer lives on a triple lot, and she is planning to utilize a lot of space for vegetables this year, including lettuce, carrots, brussels sprouts, beets. And like all the other gardeners the Review spoke to, she’s growing for herself but also for friends, to give away.

Gardening is a ritual. It feels, like Rinks said, akin to magic. It provides food, certainly, but peace and hope as well.

“Gardening is not a rational act,” wrote the famous author Margaret Atwood, who, within some of her many novels, created both dystopian and apocalyptic worlds. “What matters is the immersion of the hands in the earth, that ancient ceremony of which the Pope kissing the tarmac is merely a pallid vestigial remnant. In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”

Local resources for spring gardening

Village providing yard waste service, local garden centers open

By MARIA MAXHAM Staff Reporter

Village resources The village of Forest Park will begin yard waste pickup regularly starting the week of April 27. This includes composting services for those residents who have signed up through Republic. If you are interested in composting services, please contact Republic Services directly at 708345-7050.

Commissioner Jessica Voogd supplied the Review with helpful information for those who wish to compost at home. Vil-

lage code defines compost as “A mixture of decomposing materials including yard waste materials which produce humus for fertilizing and conditioning the soil. Garbage and excretion of any kind shall be excluded from compost materials.”

Additionally, “All compost piles shall be aerated on a regular basis to avoid anaerobic conditions conducive to rodent and insect infestation and noxious or offensive odors.”

Local garden centers Independent garden centers are considered an essential business and are operational during the shelter-in-place order.

Two Forest Park gardening centers, Empowering Gardens and McAdam Landscaping, are open for delivery and curbside pickup, following guidelines set forth by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Empowering Gardens’ plant offerings can be found at empoweringgardensinc.

org/merchandise.html. Customers can order online or call 708-689-8332.

Pick-up hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

When picking up your order, Empowering Gardens requests that customers maintain a 6-foot distance from anyone and stay in their cars until staff brings out their orders. Customers must load up their own car, since guidelines prohibit the store from doing it. Big or heavy orders can be scheduled for delivery, which is available Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Deliveries are to Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest only. There is a $5 delivery charge per order.

McAdam Landscaping has an updated list of plant inventory on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/McAdamLandscaping/. They are operating Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. and are available for pickup and delivery.

They can also be reached at 708-771-2299.

Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

2020 Garden Tour looking for gardens to feature The 2020 Garden Tour, in its third year, is gearing up for the annual event on July 11 and is looking for residents with gardens they’d like featured as stops along the tour.

Kristen Lyons, one of the organizers of the event, which is sponsored by the Forest Park Historical Society, said that this year there will be no “home” component to the event.

Residents surprise Ed’s Way employees with messages of thanks

By MARIA MAXHAM

“Instead of being a home and garden walk, we’re just focusing on gardens this year,” said Lyons.

This, of course, is due to the current social distancing protocols people are following. Although many are hopeful that the need for aggressive social distancing will be lifted by then, the situation is unpredictable.

Staff Reporter

Messages of support greeted Ed’s Way staff when they arrived to work Monday morning, thanks to a group of residents who decorated the sidewalk outside the store with chalk on Sunday evening.

“The event will be held exclusively outdoors,” said Lyons.

“Our hope is that social distancing will gradually be lifted by then, but since we’ll be outside, we can regulate how many people are in a garden at a time and make sure everyone’s safe.”

All types of gardens can be featured, including ponds, butterfly gardens with native plants that attract insects, vegetable gardens, firepits and brickwork, and even outdoor entertaining spaces.

“We’re looking for people to showcase what they’ve done with their outdoor space,” said Lyons. “It doesn’t have to be perfectly manicured or a poster for a professional gardening company.”

Residents interested in showing off their gardens and participating in the 2020 Garden Tour can email Kristen Lyons at attorneykristen@gmail.com.

Michelle Jensen, who’s been a Forest Park resident on and off since 1988, lives down the street from Ed’s Way, 946 Beloit. She said she’d seen the sidewalk chalk activities organized for kids throughout the town, and thought they were great. She was inspired to organize a show of support for the neighborhood grocery store.

“I wanted a way to show our appreciation for Ed’s Way. I thought, ‘Why not decorate the heck out of the sidewalk?’ to say thanks for providing us with toilet paper and bleach and being a safe place to shop?” said Jensen.

Jensen said she reached out to neighbors and friends over Facebook, and those people asked if they could share the invitation to decorate Ed’s Way’s sidewalk further.

“Everyone responded,” said Jensen. “And that’s the cool thing about Forest Park.”

* If you have questions about this event, please email Don Offermann at doffermann@forestparkbank.com

CHANGE OF DATE: This event was originally scheduled for May 2 but had to be rescheduled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Heroes Work Here Thank You Caledonia Senior Living Heroes and thank you to all the essential workers in our community.

2800 Des Plaines Avenue, North Riverside, IL 60546 (708) 477-5092 | CaledoniaSeniorLiving.org

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SHRED IT and forget it!

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2020 FROM 8:00 AM TO 12:00 NOON Forest Park Bank is sponsoring a FREE sensitive document shredding

event in its Madison Street parking lot. Roy Strom Shredding Solution Services personnel will shred your sensitive documents with a truck-mounted shredder while you watch.

You may bring up to two 12˝x12˝x18˝ boxes of documents to be shredded at no charge.

Forest Park Bank personnel and Forest Park Police Department personnel will be at the event to discuss identity security issues including ways to protect your identity and what to do if you become a victim of identity theft or financial scams. Begin purging your files now of sensitive documents you no longer need and have them ready for shredding on July 25. You don’t have to remove staples from documents to be shredded, but you will have to remove documents from notebooks or binders with metal fasteners.

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Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

FORESTPARKREVIEW.COM

S P O N S O R E D

R Thanks to Melissa’s passion and experiencing our coffee first-hand by “cupping”, we thank Oak Park Eats for the positive exposure!

Restaurant Row at the ready

estaurant Row in Elmwood Park is a dining hub, and food lovers typically flock to their popular sidewalk patios as the weather warms. Statewide stay-at-home orders may have changed plans but have not dampened the fighting spirit among owners on Restaurant Row. During these challenging times, it has become all the more important to support the vibrant collection of eateries situated on North Avenue.

Thankfully, your favorite Restaurant Row establishments have cooked up strategies and deals to get through the coronavirus crisis.

“If you enjoy our restaurants and want us to be around when the dust settles, you have to support us now or we’re not going to make it,” said Donny Greco of Food Writer Donny G’s, located at 7308 W. North

MELISSA ELSMO

C O N T E N T

CHEF’S SELECTION: Owner Sara Kate has relied on a steady stream of loyal customers to keep Irnari Sushi, located at 7428 W. North Ave, in business for 9 years. The diminutive shop is still rolling maki and serving up sushi for carry-out and delivery.

Ave. Greco pointed out Donny G’s is doing a quarter of their regular business but can stay afloat thanks to breaks in restaurant licensing fees authorized by Village President Skip Saviano. Additionally, Greco’s landlord was amenable to adjusting the rent on his restaurant property and helped connect him to large-scale catering orders through Catholic Charities.

Greco is committed to paying that goodwill forward by offering a Spring into Recovery promo giving patrons a 20% discount

- Jacques, Counter Coffee, Forest Park

Photos by Melissa Elsmo

Enjoy a cup at CounterCoffee.com Jacques Shalo, Counter Coffee

CLASSIC MOOV: Throw some love toward Burger Moovment by ordering a Classic Moov, featuring American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise on a brioche bun.

Photos by Melissa Elsmo

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

OakParkEats.com

CUBAN: In addition to offering their full menu for carry-out and delivery, including their signature Cuban sandwiches, Café Cubano is offering make-your-own Mojito kits..

Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

FORESTPARKREVIEW.COM

S P O N S O R E D

C O N T E N T

Photos by Melissa Elsmo

ARMANDS: Armand’s Pizza, located at 7650 W. North Ave., is offering a 10% discount on all carry-out and delivery orders placed online.

Photos by Melissa Elsmo

CANE ASADA AND AL PASTOR: Gringo and Blondie two taco dinner, shown here with Carne Asada and Al Pastor tacos, comes with beans and rice. on all carry-out orders through the end of April. He is also encouraging customers to help him give back to front-line medical workers. Customers purchasing two $50 gift cards and opting to donate one or both to feed doctors and nurses will receive a $20 gift card free at Donny G’s. Greco will deliver accumulated gift cards for distribution at local hospital.

“Health-care workers are making the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good,” said Greco. “I want to reward them with a night out at Donny G’s when our dining room is open again.”

Burger Moovment, located at 7512 W. North Ave., has been dedicated to building a better burger for nine years. Though it hasn’t been easy, the fast-casual joint has remained open to sate cravings during quarantine.

“It’s been extremely difficult, but I think we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Burger Moovment owner, Anthony Gambino. “Order directly from the restaurant whenever possible, so we aren’t forced to pay service fees to the delivery

companies.”

In addition to offering their Classic Moov, named among the top 20 suburban burgers by the Chicago Tribune, and their perennially popular Elmwood Park-inspired burger for carry-out and delivery, Burger Moovment is offering a Jucy Lucy as their signature April burger. Gambino encourages fans to purchase restaurant gift cards and merchandise to show support.

Gringo and Blondie, located at 7514 W. North Ave., has a family meal deal to make the most of meals at home. Ten tacos in assorted varieties, a cheese quesadilla, chips and guac, rice and beans and churros will feed a family of 4-6 for under $60 dollars. A similar deal is attracting diners at Massa Café Italiano, featuring pasta, pizza, salad and fried dough. Customers can add a pint of homemade vanilla or chocolate ice cream or gelato for just $5 at either location.

Reach out to Restaurant Row to show your support for the dynamic array of restaurants working to stay open another day.

We ARE LIVE ONLINE! Your Table is READY For sponsorships or advertising call lourdes at 708-381-1123 lourdes@oakpark.com Served fresh by

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Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

ESSENTIAL WORKER: Rebekah Gaskill wears a mask while taking orders at Brown Cow’s new walk-up window.

ALEX ROGALS

Brown Cow reinvents, innovates in COVID economy

By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats

It’s been an emotional time for Connie Brown, owner of the Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor, 7347 Madison St. in Forest Park. The COVID-19 outbreak has forced the business owner to pivot in the face of a pandemic.

Typically at this time of year, Brown Cow would have a staff of 22 employees and serve in excess of 1,000 customers per day. Today, they have reduced hours to a single shift (Tuesday-Sunday, 2-6 p.m.) and operates with a small staff of six.

“I have no idea how many people we are serving right now, but we’re doing less than a quarter of our regular business,” said Brown.

Despite the business decline, Brown engaged her creative side to simplify her business and embrace cost-cutting measures.

Days before the Illinois shelter-in-place order went into effect in March, Brown closed her ice cream parlor for 10 days in order to regroup and readjust. After assessing how best to serve customers efficiently and safely, Brown broke out her toolbox and created an 11-inch-wide walk-up window.

The simple solution made Brown and her employees feel more comfortable serving customers, young and old, during this unprecedented time. Using the window minimizes points of contact between employees and customers while ensuring guests can easily order pints, quarts, scoops and ice cream sandwiches from the sidewalk. Additionally, Brown Cow is offering sundae kits to enjoy at home. Each kit, purchased at the window, comes with ice cream, cones, sprinkles and topping in quantities designed to feed 6-12 people.

Approximately 20 percent of Brown Cow’s business comes from on-site birthday parties, and cancellations have been prevalent these days. Rather than wallow, Brown, looked to the internet to find a solution.

The Brown Cow is offering host-your-own online cake and ice cream birthday parties

geared toward children 6 and under. The shop will deliver a cake and pint of ice cream to the birthday person, along with party napkins, party blowers and candles. Since no one likes to celebrate alone, the shop will also deliver a little box to local party guests, including an individual cake, kiddy scoop of vanilla ice cream and a party blower.

Additionally, Brown Cow has partnered with Geppetto’s Toy Box in Oak Park to add some presents to the party. Parents can order from the toy shop and selected gifts will be delivered to the birthday person along with the cake and ice cream. This concept will soon be expanded to include hosting online parties on the Zoom platform, including entertainment, gifts, cake, and ice cream.

“I feel like I am reinventing my business every single day.” said Brown. “I am optimistic by nature and know I am blessed to be open.”

As Brown shifts her business model, she is also focused on giving back to the Westchester Food Pantry. The pantry serves nearly all Proviso Township and relies heavily on overstock from grocery stores to operate. Brown learned from a close friend that bread was in extremely short supply at the pantry.

“Our baker is our only full-time employee,” said Brown. “We started baking 100 loaves of bread for the pantry every week and have given some to Housing Forward.”

Brown Cow offers products like ciabatta, baguette, and white sandwich bread for sale out the front window on Fridays. Customers are encouraged to buy one loaf and donate another.

Overall, Brown acknowledges the COVID-19 outbreak has made her nimble under pressure and she feels grateful for her new perspective and ability to serve and give back to her community. Her heart is with her Forest Park community and she has hope for the future.

“Small business is a staple of America and I hope our local businesses get the help and support they need to survive,” said Brown. “I know we are ready to bond together to help our Madison Street businesses make it.”

Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

In dark days, Daly Bagel about to, finally, bloom Long anticipated Chicago Avenue bagel boutique days away

By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

Not even a pandemic can tamp down the enthusiasm surrounding the highly anticipated opening of Amanda Daly’s boutique bagel shop. Barring more unforeseen circumstances The Daly Bagel, 130 Chicago Ave. in Oak Park, will be open

by April 26.

When open, the shop will offer a limited menu of assorted “East-coast bagels with a Midwest twist,” multiple cream cheese varieties, and drip coffee between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. or until sold out. Pre-orders through The Daly Bagel website are encouraged, and the menu will be updated on the site regularly.

The coronavirus curve ball has forced Daly to adapt operations at the shop before opening for the first time. Daly was pleased, however, to discover her shop is well suited to operating with social distancing in mind.

Customers visiting the shop should expect to see Daly and her team wearing homemade masks and gloves. They will find the doors to the shop propped open and the floor marked to keep guests at a safe distance while they wait to place their order. To avoid cross traffic, patrons will enter through the front door facing Chicago Avenue and exit through the back door onto Lombard.

“We will manage the line outside as best we can,” said Daly.

“The most important thing is that people, including our staff, feel comfortable. We are prepared to adjust on the fly and will listen to advice as we go.”

Daly had hired a staff of 14, but now plans to operate with a tight team of six employees. The Daly Bagel will not contract with third party delivery partners like GrubHub or DoorDash but intends to offer independent delivery with advance notice and during limited hours. The shop will offer curbside pickup by making use of three parking spots flanking the shop on Lombard Avenue.

According to Daly, the village of Oak Park “has been wonderful” despite working at diminished capacity due to the COVID-19 slow down. In fact, village hall closed its offices in response to the shelter-in-place order the day before Daly’s final inspection. Despite the closure the inspections went through, but the punch list, while relatively minor, required workmen to return to the small bagel shop. Social distancing and furloughed workers made scheduling the repairs more complicated than they would have been in simpler times.

Daly is sorting out a final issue with venting ducts—a single duct needs to be enclosed in an upstairs hallway - -but once the fixes earn village approval The Daly Bagel will be up and running.

While waiting to open, Daly has been working on new recipes to satisfy her bagel-loving customers. She has been clamoring to make a noteworthy whole wheat bagel for years and the vista of time created by COVID-19 has brought forth a sourdough sprouted wheat bagel worthy of The Daly Bagel moniker.

“I miss people and I know everyone has been waiting patiently for us to open,” said Daly. “I went down the line at my last pop up event and hugged and kissed everyone waiting for a bagel. Knowing I can’t do that now is going to be hard, but we feel the love and will make it work.”

Pants optional

How to dress your best for video calls

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meeting!” She urges people to ask themselves the question, “How are you showing up?”

She acknowledges that people shouldn’t judge by appearance. You should be able to wear a stained shirt to a meeting and be evaluated only for your brilliant mind

By MARIA MAXHAM and world-changing ideas. Unfortunately, that’s not the Staff Reporter way it works.

“Judging on appearances is in our DNA,” said Solari.

You’re three weeks – or is it six weeks? – into the pan“Long ago, it’s how we chose a good mate. If a guy looked demic. You’ve been working from home and helping your like he could bring back a good bison, he’d be the top kids with school, and, well, the days run together. It’s choice for the women.”

Monday. Or possibly Tuesday?

And although we’re not generally choosing people The date? Forget about it. If somebody literally based on how capable they appear to be at bagging offered you a million dollars on the spot to tell wild game or birthing babies, our physical appearthem the actual date, you’d be no richer. ance is still vitally important in how we’re perBut your calendar app just binged to let you ceived by others. know you’ve got a Zoom meeting with work Second, said Solari, how your clothes make in 10 minutes. you feel can completely alter the way you presThere’s no time for a shower. Maybe not ent yourself. If you’re wearing something that even to brush your teeth. You run your boosts your confidence, you’ll come across hand through your hair and look down as more self-assured, even over video. at your shirt. No stains. Great. You’re “Clothing affects our brains,” said good to go.

Solari.

And during these times of After a last quick look in the mirunknowns, it’s important to feel as ror to make sure you’re acceptable strong and positive as possible. looking, if not exactly glowing, you sit “Shower,” said Solari. “Get out of down cross-legged on your bed, laptop those pajamas.” She focuses on somepropped on your knees, only slightly thing like a travel wardrobe, easy pieces off balance. that hold up well, ideally sourced locally.

Your sly smile? That’s because noDRESSING FOR VIDEO SUCCESS: “It’s important to support our local econbody will know that you’re still wearSuze Solari, owner and founder omy,” she added. ing your pajama pants. Suckers! They In addition to what you’re wearing, of Th e Style Lab, has insights on can’t see you from the waist down! how you set up your physical space According to a recent NPR article, looking your best during video for Zoom meetings or conference calls Walmart’s end of March sales num- conferencing. makes a big difference in how you look, bers showed increased purchases of said Solari. shirts and tops. But not bottoms.

On a video conference call, “you don’t have the luxury Dan Bartlett, VP of corporate affairs, told NPR that the increase in people teleconferencing from home while of body language,” said Solari. “You’re more flat.” Thus, sheltering-in-place means they’re dressing to impress, you need to make up for that in the way you come across but only from the waist up. If colleagues will only see your physically.

Wearing black, said Solari, washes people out in video. top, you can wear a jacket and tie, or a tailored blouse, but She recommends brighter colors and, for women specifipair it with a pair of sweatpants. Or not.

But Suze Solari, professional stylist and brand expert for cally, a V-neck, which elongates your look. “It will inthe River Forest, Oak Park and Forest Park crowd, insists stantly bring more color to your face,” said Solari.

Makeup is good if you’re accustomed to wearing it, and that you shouldn’t skimp on personal style when you’re on a video conference call. Or, to break it down to the basics, even if not, a little lipstick and mascara or a tinted moistureven if you’re simply working from home and talking on izer can heighten your color and bring out your features, it the telephone, when nobody can see you. It’s important, can keep you looking vibrant instead of washed-out.

On a technical level, Solari recommends that your camshe says, to look your best so you can feel your best.

Solari is a consultant who helps people develop their era be at eye level. Ideally, you should use a laptop, but own personal branding. Right now, she said, is an espe- a phone can be used if placed on a tripod or something cially interesting time for her business, which she’s run steady. Look straight into the camera, not down or up, for 10 years, because while so many people are shifting which can create shadows that obscure your face.

Forward facing light is best, rather than an overhead the way they work, the basic objective is still the same: lamp or light source. Natural light is good, especially if “To look and feel your best so your brand is on point.”

Right now, Solari focuses with her clients on how to put you have a north facing window.

As for backgrounds, although Solari advises against a together comfortable and stylish work from home outfits that make you feel good and look good on camera, since so busy wall with personal photographs, she also says a commany people are doing Zoom meetings and other virtual pletely blank wall isn’t a great idea.

“It will make you look like you’re in prison,” said Soonline conferencing.

“Just because you’re at home, it doesn’t mean your lari. “It’s like a mugshot.”

“Try to set up a pleasing background like a neat bookgoals have changed,” said Solari. “You still want to be successful. And you can still have a wardrobe that sup- shelf with curios or a candle,” she advises.

As for pants? It’s ultimately your choice. But as Solari ports that.”

How you dress – and dressing for success – works in two says, “Always wear a complete outfit; it’s tempting to just dress from the waist up, but when you pop up for a coffee ways, says Solari.

First, the initial physical impression we make is impor- or pee break, you’ll undo all your hard work!”

Solari’s video on looking good on Zoom is available at tant in the way others perceive us. youtube.com/watch?v=naLKVsBQk_A, and you can On video, this means, obviously, the basics, said Solari.

“Brush your teeth! Don’t wear pajamas to that online find more tips from her at suzesolaristyle.com.

14

Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

OPINION O U R

V I E W

Lessons from school interrupted

W

e are rightly focusing attention on the unfair circumstance that our high school seniors face as the final third of their final year of school was abruptly lopped off by COVID-19. The mid-March email announcing school would be temporarily shuttered did not lead to immediate worries about prom, graduation and the tender transition to life after Proviso high schools, Nazareth, St. Joe’s, Trinity, Fenwick, etc. being axed. But that realization has gradually taken hold as virtually everyone has accepted that the only way through this pandemic is to deny it the transmission that comes when we move about and gather up.

The news last week that Gov. J.B. Pritzker had taken the prudent step — really the only acceptable step — and closed all Illinois schools for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year makes our predicament very real.

But it is not just the seniors who are being deprived. This wrenching change has profound impact on all students, on all parents, on all teachers. And during what is formally recognized as Teacher Appreciation Week, we’d like to shout out not just to teachers but to the fundamental place of schools in our individual and collective lives.

It is the ultimate taking for granted that, with all their strengths and many imperfections, we don’t actively appreciate that five days a week, 10 months a year children from age 3 to 19 are taught, fed, socialized, loved and disciplined in a communal setting, hewing in evolving ways to our shared values.

Credit to the valiant efforts of teachers and administrators who have willed eLearning into something of genuine, if uneven, purpose. Credit to parents who have taken work/life balance into new realms as they work with their children to sustain learning while also working from home, or more remarkably, working outside the home on the frontlines and still somehow, some damned way, holding life together.

There are heroes among us.

Whether a child is small or is on the verge of adulthood, preschool, middle school, high school or homebound college kid, we have lost the rhythm of school. We have lost the one, sometimes two meals, necessary for sustenance. We have lost access to Spring Sings, the spring sports season, casual conversations in the hallway, human connections to adults other than parents, profound special ed services not replicated at home, ready access to physical and mental health care.

And with those losses and so many others, we may not immediately recognize that we have brought unknown stresses to children, families and institutions.

Also though, in this crucible we’ve invented teaching and learning approaches — many involving technology — that will serve us well and be incorporated into curricula going forward. We’ve come to appreciate the importance of the bond between teachers, parents and children.

Finally, since every crisis offers opportunity, perhaps we can learn a lesson with school as we know it having been ripped away. Here are two. In education, as in every aspect of our lives, there are profound inequities at work every day. Those are laid bare in this circumstance, whether it is access to meals, to technology, to hours of support from parents able to work from home.

Finally, perversely, life interrupted should also make us think, especially as kids grow older, about the intense pressures we bring to education. The standardized testing, the tracking, social cliques, the right college, the right clothes. It’s really too much.

This enforced absence is a moment to rethink priorities.

Putting it on the list, getting it done

M

ade a “to-do list,” a week ago. Have crossed off eight of the 31 items on the list, might be time to start a new list and be sure everything on it is really needed. Lists are like solitaire: it’s not about finishing, or winning, just a way to organize things through a period of time.

At the end of February, when restaurants were open and schools were humming along, both my boys were sick. Wearing my “Dr. Mom” hat, I diagnosed the fever and dry cough as the flu with respiratory features — ignorance is bliss — each of them missing a full week of school. Something about their sickness nagged at me, though, and didn’t seem ordinary, so I concluded the root cause was our shower.

Our shower was dripping to the basement. You could actually see the loose tiles in the shower where it was coming from. Because I’m not a member of the Tar Heel Club and can’t read the POTUS tea leaves, I was suspicious of the shower.

I just decided it needed to be done and made a list.

Since the shower constitutes about 1/3 of the tiled walls in the bathroom, I could really indulge in a new experience. The first step in the bathroom fix would be to retile the shower, which would mean not having a shower for a short while.

Couldn’t be too bad. I have lived outdoors with no running water for months. What could be so hard about “camping” in my own home for a couple of days? I could always use the showers at Planet Fitness as a lifeline.

With the blessing of my family, I plunged in, even took a day off from work to jump-start the project.

Following my “to-do list,” I figured it would take a few days and then, voilà, we’d be all set.

Nothing quite went according to the list, and getting sick with the flu myself didn’t help.

Spending all my free time on the project, once I was healthy, meant we had limited groceries and certainly no stockpile of toilet paper. I was completely focused on getting the shower back in action so when the pandemic began to roll out, it really did not mesh well with my situation.

It was March 15 when I finally finished tiling and grouting, had waited the 12 hours to dry, and was ready to hop into the shower. Except the handle only turned an inch and was solidly stuck on cold, so I could not shower. There was a big empty space where the sink once was, and the toilet was leaking from the supply line.

I had a choice, get some dog tags at the Army Surplus store or create some solutions for survival. The Rona was haunting every facet of life and the following day, the restaurants, retailers and bars were closed. Now Monday, unsure if the world would allow someone in my house to help, I called Stefl Plumbing. Lorette answered the call and passed the phone to Tim himself. He was so

calm and was able to tell me how to fix the issue over the phone. In less than five minutes, the shower was fixed. So I was able to cross that off the list.

Tuesday I survival-purchased a utility sink with a plastic basin and metal legs and placed it in the bathroom to get us through, and Wednesday I changed the water supply valve to stop the toilet leak.

Thursday I was not successful at my first attempt to install the sink and phoned a friend, Daniel, on Friday. He went down the checklist, then directed me to get a miracle from Schauer’s hardware. Minutes before they closed, Robert obliged with a seven-piece PVC masterpiece to create a connection to the wall. Propped the sink up on a few wood boards and had a sink in the bathroom to wash our hands by Saturday.

All this seems so long ago now. We now have painted walls and a door; the towel rack needs to go up (it’s on the list). I have decided to wait to do the floor, until after the world settles down a bit.

This project, perhaps because it was running parallel to the pandemic, has pushed my every limit and I have come out on the other side with a whole new perspective and even a touch of wisdom. I am confident that, collectively, we will come out the other side of this pandemic, too, a little stronger, a little more flexible and much more adapted.

I’ve put it on the list, so let’s be sure to get it done.

JILL WAGNER

Send letters Forest Park Review 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 E-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com Fax: 708-524-0047 Please include name, address and daytime phone number for verification.

Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

O B I T U A R Y

S W NE

Michael Doloszycki, 69 Model railroad enthusiast tie; his son, Jeff; his sister, JuMichael John Doloszycki, lia of Forest Park; and three 69, of Peoria, formerly of grandchildren.

Preceding Forest Park, died on Frihim in death were his parents day, April 17, 2020 at OSF St. and his son, Matthew.

Francis Medical Center in Memorials are suggested to Peoria. Born on April 30, 1950 your local food bank. in Chicago to Peter and VirCremation with inurnment ginia (Giuffre) Doloszycki, will take place at Queen of he worked as a salesman with Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.

Redco in Peoria for many Arrangements were handled years. An outstanding athlete in his youth, he enjoyed mod- MICHAEL DOLOSZYCKI by Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel. Condolences and el railroading and was also an memories may be shared through www. avid Cubs and Bears fan.

Michael is survived by his wife, Chris- Davison-Fulton.com.

!

H S A L F You can get local news delivered right to your email in-box.

Sign up for FREE at ForestParkReview.com

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.

Your Hometown Podiatrist for 30 Years DR. LORI LIPKIN CONSERVATIVE MEDICAL & SURGICAL TREATMENT OF: Orthopedic, Geriatric and Pediatric Foot Problems Diabetic and Vascular Foot Disorders Painful Bunions and Hammertoes Skin and Nail Disorders and Infections Heel and Arch Pain

Forest Foot Care Board Certified ABPOPPM Medicare & most Insurance Accepted House Calls Accepted Weekend and Evening Hours

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16

Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020 paid advertisement

These local restaurants are all OPEN during the current shelter-in-place order Check out their menus online, call them for delivery, carry-out, or curbside pick-up.

Now is the time to support local business!

Blackout Baking Co. (office) 842 N Harlem Ave, River Forest Bite-size gourmet cookies Our Menu: Blackoutbakingco.com Order from our website for FREE local delivery or nationwide shipping. Always accepting orders.

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Call 872-222-9519 Local PERK! 20% OFF our new DIY Cookie Box with code ‘FOOD2GO’

Buzz Café 905 S. Lombard Ave, Oak Park Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner + Sweets, Snacks & Desserts served ALL DAY! Our Menu: Thebuzzcafe.com For Carry Out, Curbside Pick-up or FREE Delivery call 708-524-2899 Deliver also available with Uber Eats 7am - 7pm, 7 days a week

Counter Coffee Air Roasters

7324 Madison Street, Forest Park countercoffee.com FRESH Coffee, Eco-Friendly, Air Roasted each day in store, hand crafted beverages, and pastries (gluten free & vegan options available). Whole bean coffee and single use pods roasted for you when you order!

Mobile order online at Countercoffee.com, call ahead, and walk-in available. We can ship coffee to all 50 states. 708-689-8896 Open daily from 7am - 4pm

Cucina Paradiso 814 North Blvd, Oak Park Italian Menus: Cucinaoakpark.com For Pickup, call 708-848-3434, curbside pickup is available For Delivery go to DoorDash or Grubhub Every night 4pm – 9pm

Eastgate Café 102 Harrison, Oak Park American Comfort Our Menu: Eastgatecafe.net For Curbside Pick-up and Delivery,

call 708-660-9091 Delivery is also available on Grubhub 12pm - 8pm; closed Monday

George’s Restaurant

145 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park Our Menu: Georgesoakpark.com/menu Serving breakfast and lunch for pick-up. One soup per day. All items won’t be available. Call ahead for availability.

For Pick-up call 708-848-4949; Delivery available through Door Dash and Postmates 8am - 3pm Monday - Sunday

Grape Leaves Restaurant 129 S Oak Park Ave, Oak Park Mediterranean, Moroccan and Lebanese cuisine Our Menu : Grapeleaves.us For Pick-up and Delivery, call 708-848-5555 We also partner with Grubhub, UberEats, Postmate.

Sunday - Thursday 12-8pm Friday and Saturday 12-9pm

Happy Apple Pie Shop

226 Harrison, Oak Park happyapplepie.com Sweet and savory pies, special orders Our menu is posted on our Facebook page and Instagram, or call us.

Call 708-606-0037 to arrange for No touch take-out, Curbside Pick-up, and Free Delivery Wednesday-Friday 11:30am to 6pm, Saturday Noon5pm.

Jerusalem Café

1030 Lake St., Oak Park Our Menu: Jerusalemcafeoakpark.com/menu Middle Eastern cuisine For Pick-up and Deliver call 708-848-7734 Delivery is also available through Uber Eats and DoorDas. 11am – 9pm Daily

Kettlestrings Tavern

800 S. Oak Park Ave Contemporary American Our Menu: Kettlestringstavern.com/eat For Curbside Pick-up, call 708-613-5044 Delivery is available through GrubHub Mon 3pm - 8pm; Tues - Thurs 3pm-8pm; Fri - Sat 11am–8pm; Sunday 10am-8pm

La Notte Ristorante Italiano 118 N Marion St, Oak Park Fine Authentic Italian Our Menu: LaNotte-op.com For Pick-up and Delivery, call 708-948-7576, or text 773-817-2858 or order online Delivery also available on UberEats and Doordash 2pm - 9pm daily Limited time offer -$100 Gift Certificates for just $80

Old World Pizza 7230 W North Ave, Elmwood Park Pizza, Burgers, Pasta Our Menu: Originaloldworldpizza.com For Pick-up, Curbside Pick-up, Delivery and Contact-less Delivery call 708-456-3000, or fax 708-456-4580 Mon 3:30pm – 9pm; Tues – Thurs 11am –9pm; Fri & Sat 11am – 10pm; Sun 11am – 9pm

O’Sullivan’s Public House 7244 W. Madison Street, Forest Park Modern American/Pub Food Our Menu: Osullivanspublichouse.net Call 708-366-6667 to order Carry-Out and Local Delivery (No Delivery Fee) Daily Specials posted on Facebook @osullivanspublichouseFP Delivery also available on GrubHub Available Daily 11am – 10pm

Puree’s Pizza & Pasta 1023 Lake St, Oak Park Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, panini, wraps Our Menu: Pureespizzaandpasta.com/ For Curbside Pick-up, take-out and Delivery, call 708-386-4949 Available Daily 11am – 9pm

Q-BBQ 124 N. Marion St, Oak Park BBQ Our menu: Q-bbq.com For Pick-up and Delivery, call 708-628-3421 or order online Open every day 11am - 8pm Delivery available with ChowNow and DoorDash

NOW OFFERING FAMILY PACK SPECIALS! Go online or call for more info

Scratch Restaurants Scratch Kitchen & Lounge 733 Lake Street • 708-434-5643

District Kitchen & Tap 220 Harrison • 708-434-5289 American/burger/sandwich/salad/mac n cheese Our Menu: Scratchfp.com For Pick up/curbside (rear entrance), call 708-434-5643 Sun - Thurs 11am - 12am; Fri - Sat 11am - 1am

The Little Gem Café 189 N Marion St. Oak Park American Bistro Our Menu: Thelittlegemcafe.com/menu For Pick-up and Delivery, call 708-613-5491 Tues - Sun 3pm - 9pm (closed Mon)

Trattoria 225

225 Harrison Street Our Menu: trattoria225.com Italian/ Vegetarian/ Seafood For Pick-up and Delivery call 708-358-8555 or use Grubhub 5pm – 8pm Monday- Saturday

Tre Sorelle Ristorante 1111 Lake St., Oak Park Homemade Pizza, Italian cuisine Our Menu: Tresorelleoakpark.com For Curbside Pick-up and Delivery call 708-445-9700 Delivery also available with Grubhub, Uber Eats Mon - Thu 11am - 9pm; Fri 11am - 10pm; Sat 3pm - 10pm; Sun 3pm - 9pm

Starship Restaurant 7618 Madison St., Forest Park Gourmet sub sandwiches, homemade soups, catering and individually wrapped items for safe distribution Our Menu: Starshiprestaurant.com For pick-up and delivery, call 708-771-3016 or order online Mon thru Sat. 8am - 9pm, Sunday 11am - 6pm

Each of these restaurants paid a very nominal fee to participate in this ad. Thank you for supporting these local businesses!

Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

FORESTPARKREVIEW.COM New local ads this week

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Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

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LEGAL NOTICE Invitation to Bid Asbestos Consulting Services The Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District #97 will receive sealed Asbestos and LeadBased Paint Consulting Service bids at the Administrative Office located at 260 West Madison Street – Oak Park, IL, (60302), until 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday May 6th, 2020. At this time sealed bids will be publicly opened and read.

Copies of specifications may be secured at the Oak Park Elementary School District #97 District Office, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 or a by emailing jkeane@ op97.org. Cut-off date for picking up or emailing scope of services is 4:00 pm, April 29th, 2020.

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 “ASBESTOS/LBP CONSULTING SERVICES”. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Ms. Keane at (708) 524-3125 or jkeane@op97. org Bid Due Date: Wednesday May 6th, 2020 at 1:00 P.M. Only those bids complying with the provision and specification of the bid will be considered. The Board of Education 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.

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed proposals via email at development@oak-park.us, until 4:00pm on Monday, May 11, 2020 for the following project: Village of Oak Park 2020 Security & Support Staffing Services for Village Parking Structures and Security Services at Village Hall Detailed specifications for this project may be obtained from the Development Customer Services Department via email at development@oak-park.us, or on the Village’s website www.oak-park.us.

The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals or to waive technicalities, or to accept any item of a proposal. The original RFP and any subsequent Addendum will be posted to the Village’s website. It will be the Contractor’s responsibility to obtain all addenda issued.

Award of a contract shall not be final until a written contract has been approved by the Village of Oak Park Board of Trustees and entered into between the Parties.

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals or to waive technicalities, or to accept any item of any proposal.

The Village of Oak Park Development Customer Services Department 123 Madison St., Oak Park, IL, 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal 4/22/2020

Sheryl Marinier Board Secretary Published in Wednesday Journa 4/22/2020

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PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given of a proposed amendment to the Village of Oak Park Citizen Participation Plan (CPP), which addresses participation; access to meetings, information and records; publishing the plan; public hearings, notice and comments; technical assistance; complaints; and amendments, all with regard to federallyfunded programs through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Changes to the document include the addition of new process information relating to COVID-19 and any other crisis that disrupts the normal, daily business of Village staff and citizens.

The Village of Oak Park is also proposing a substantial amendment to the Program Year 2019 Action Plan to enable the Village to receive and administer $980,107 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Additional CDBG funding made available to the Village by HUD through the CARES Act is unknown as this time but will be used for the same purpose of the initial allocation indicated above, which is to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19 and facilitate assistance to eligible persons economically impacted by COVID-19. Eligible CDBG activities include, but are not limited to, assisting low- and moderate-income (LMI) households with rent, mortgage and utility assistance for no more than three months; business assistance to create and retain jobs for employees that are LMI; and assisting LMI persons with Public Services, including persons experiencing homelessness who need emergency shelter and support services.

The proposed CPP amendment and the proposed Action Plan substantial amendment are listed on the Oak Park website under Housing-Grants and are available for public review and comment during business hours MondayFriday, effective April 23-27, 2020.

Any comments can be submitted in writing by 5 p.m., April 27, 2020 to Mark Dwyer, Grants Supervisor, at grants@oak-park.us. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons, as needed.

Published in Wednesday Journal 4/22/2020

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LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids at the Public Works Service Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, until 10:00 a.m. local time on Friday, May 15th, 2020 for the following: Village of Oak Park Floor Mat Services

Bid forms may only be obtained electronically at this time by submitting an e-mail request to Building Maintenance Contract Coordinator, Fred Gutierrez at fgutierrez@oak-park.us . The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening. For more information call the Public Works Service Center at 708.358.5700.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK

Published in Wednesday Journal 4/22/2020

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION SELENE FINANCE LP Plaintiff, -v.LARSENIA HORTON, NEIL SMITH, ASSURANCE RESTORATION & CONSTRUCTION, INC., PRAIRIE HOUSES OWNERS ASSOCIATION, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 18 CH 12736 14 DIVISION STREET, # 14

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 16, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 20, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 14 DIVISION STREET, # 14, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-127-0480000 The real estate is improved with a brown brick, three story townhouse with an attached one car garage.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

The property will NOT be open for

inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

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

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

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

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

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088.

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

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com

Attorney File No. 267501 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 18 CH 12736 TJSC#: 39-8007 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 18 CH 12736 I3149364

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this

newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-6699777.

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Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

INC., REALTOR

19

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

9346 LANDINGS LN

317 ELGIN

1338 MARENGO

Bright two bed two bath on 4th. fl. with balcony in gated community w 24 hr. security guard. Ceramic tile fl. in kit and dinette.

Complex offers outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and clubhouse.

Elevator building w/inside heated garage. coin laundry on 1st.fl. In Des Plaines, close to shopping, schools and highway.....................$149,900

2,450 S.F. OF LUXURY! Center unit! 4 floors of living!

Enormous master with a soaking tub and enclosed shower, walk in closet, and a private balcony. 2nd fl. offers 2 additional large bedrooms, walk in closet, storage, and full bath. 1st fl is all oak flooring, living room with a fireplace and eating area, and an eat in kitchen. Bedroom #4 is located in the fully finished basement with a family room area, and full bathroom. 1 space garage. This is the LARGEST TOWNHOME on the market IN FOREST PARK!! ....................................................................................................$389,000

First floor apartment completely remodeled with 2 bedrooms and duplex 3rd. bedroom and half bath and family room in the basement.

Second floor is two bedrooms and one bath. Outside parking for 4 cars.

Projected rent for 1st floor between ...............................$1375 & $1450

D L SO

D L SO

S W NE

D L SO

!

H S LA

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Forest Park Review, April 22, 2020

THANK YOU

MEMBERS STAYING WITH US

FOR

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For 118 years, the Y has been here for you, and during our time of need, you have been here for us and for your community. When you chose to stay with the Y by donating your membership fees, you allowed us to shift our focus and respond quickly to the needs of our community.

Thanks to you, we are ensuring a safe and healthy place for our residents and providing emergency childcare for our essential workers including our doctors, nurses, and first responders. THANK YOU. WEST COOK YMCA | WWW.WESTCOOKYMCA.ORG/STAYWITHUS