GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA, NFP ForestParkReview.com Vol. 104, No. 17
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D209 board president sends mailer on district dime PAGE 8 New Thai restaurant opening on Harlem Ave PAGE 10
APRIL 28, 2021
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D209 awards no-bid, minimum $33K contract to Texas food consulting firm ‘Professional skill’ cited as justification for no RFP By MARIA MAXHAM Editor
The Proviso Township High Schools District 209 school board approved awarding a contract to Walker Quality Services (WQS), a Texas-based LLC, to consult with the district to get in-house food service up and running by the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. The recommendation to use WQS came from Supt. James Henderson, who in the action item before the board wrote that a consultant was necessary to ensure that district facilities are properly equipped and staffed with appropriately trained individuals and that menu, ordering and inventory software programs are implemented. Henderson did not mention during the April 13 open board meeting that, while superintendent in his previous job in Holmes County Consolidated School District in Mississippi, he had tried to award a contract to WQS there. Online minutes from the June 11, 2020 Holmes County meeting show WQS on the agenda, although the motion failed and WQS was not hired. In D209, six board members voted unanimously in favor of the contract on April 13. Board member Claudia Medina had left the meeting immediately prior to the vote. See FOOD SERVICES on page 4
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
COMING DOWN: Construction crew members remove the spire from the Altenheim chapel during an April 26 ceremony celebrating the demolition of the derelict buildings.
Before it collapses, Forest Park begins demo at Altenheim Local leaders gather to watch removal of chapel spire By MARIA MAXHAM Editor
In a symbolic ceremony on April 26, the Altenheim chapel spire was removed, celebrating the ongoing demolition of the dilapidated structures on the
IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 THIS Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
village-owned land. The Altenheim property, just south of Madison Street along Van Buren Street, surrounds the functioning and separately owned Altenheim senior-living rental community. Village property includes almost 11 acres and five derelict
D209 board members sign resolution supporting supt. PAGE 4
structures – including the chapel – that will be demolished. The event was attended by many involved and/or interested parties, including Mayor Rory Hoskins; Village See ALTENHEIM on page 9
COVID-19 cases in District 91 PAGE 6
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Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
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A Life-Changing Partial Knee Replacement at Rush At Rush, knee and hip replacements are so common they are a part of everyday life for the trained medical team. According to Vasili Karas, MD, MS, a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, that’s why there’s no better place in the Chicago area — and Illinois — to have these procedures done. “The most important thing when it comes to selecting your care provider is to find a practice that does a high volume of these procedures,” Karas explains. “There’s a lot of research on which hospitals and what kind of training results in better outcomes, and we consistently see that providers who perform more joint replacements have better outcomes. Rush University Medical Center is the No.1 hospital in Illinois for joint replacements because we do a lot of them, and it makes us very good at it.” For Paul Morris, 66, this common procedure was life changing. Paul has always been active and athletic, participating in sports like shot put, track and judo in his younger days and playing golf and hitting the gym as an adult.
Then, five years ago, he started to experience a tremendous pain in his left knee that he couldn’t relieve. He went to a Chicago-area hospital to have it checked out.
me; he didn’t tell me what to do,” says Paul. “It was evident I was having problems, and he went through all of my options with me, including not performing surgery at all.”
“I was told that I needed a knee replacement and there was nothing I could do about it,” Paul says. “I didn’t like my experience with them, so I put it off and bought about 20 different knee braces so I could keep golfing with my friends on the weekends.”
After the consultation, Karas, his surgical team and Paul decided that he might benefit from a partial knee replacement instead of a full one. Paul’s team noted that this option offered an easier recovery and higher retention of function and feeling.
Finally, he couldn’t ignore the discomfort anymore. Between golfing, talking walks with his wife and playing with his family, he was constantly limping. When he felt that he could no longer keep up with his grandkids, he called Rush on the advice of friends and neighbors who had positive experiences with their own knee and hip replacements.
Paul was up and walking the same day as the surgery, though he stayed in the hospital overnight so his care team could monitor him for some pre-existing health conditions.
A resident of the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Paul was grateful to have the option to have the procedure performed at Rush’s Oak Park or downtown location. He and his family decided that Oak Park was more convenient for him. Paul’s care team discussed all his options, which was incredibly reassuring. “Dr. Karas listened to
And the result of his procedure? “Now that the weather is nicer, I’ve been walking with my daughters and their kids without any pain at all,” says Paul. “I’m looking forward to golf season this year.” The only regret Paul has about his knee surgery is not doing it sooner. “It changed my life,” he says. “Looking back, if I had proceeded with this five years ago, I might have lost more weight and been in less pain.”
Join Vasili Karas, MD, MS, for a free webinar on June 7 to learn more about knee replacement. Register at rsh.md/knee-1. Call (312) 432-2598 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Karas.
Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
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Want to make your town a better place?
ver since we moved to Forest Park in 1982, litter has been a problem. When we lived on Beloit, there was fresh layer of litter on our lawn every morning. Lately though, the litter problem has gotten much worse. This prompted Kristen Lyons to organize a clean-up for April 8. I was planning to attend but wimped out because of the rain. When Kristen organized a second clean-up for April 18 at Madison and Harlem, I came with mask, gloves and garbage bag. The volunteers who showed up were an ethnically diverse bunch, ranging from toddler to senior citizen. I joined a group policing the north side of Madison Street. I planned to work for an hour, or until we reached Desplaines Avenue, but it took me a half hour just to get to Circle. That’s because there were so many cigarette butts on the pavement. They were especially plentiful in front of bars. Can there be a connection between drinking and smoking? People are using our tree planters as ashtrays. They’re also using planters and manhole covers. These are all round and made of metal, but we have other round metal containers that are more suitable. Many trash containers appeared to be overflowing but we learned to simply push the garbage down. I also learned that bending over to pick up litter is exhausting. It was the closest I’ve ever come to doing yoga. I envied the
young kids who were helping. They barely had to stoop to snag garbage. Jeremiah Manzanares reported finding three chicken bones and his sister, Rosabella, reported that “cigarette sticks are gross.” I didn’t mind picking up butts but, unlike Elf, I avoided wads of gum. I also took Kristen’s advice and steered clear of sharp objects. While we cleaned Madison, other groups picked up along Harlem Avenue. One group headed north from Madison and filled five bags before they reached the Green Line. Altogether, the volunteers packed 16 bags with trash. People on the street were surprised to see us picking up trash. Business owners thanked us. I almost made it to Desplaines before my hour was up. Afterward, I felt great. After months of inactivity, it was good to get some vigorous exercise. Kristen felt the same way and said it was getting her in shape for gardening. She talked about the litter problem on her 1000 block of Lathrop. She believes the culprits are passing motorists, as she recently found three full fast food meals that had been tossed into the middle of the street. Littering is a breakdown of values, Kristen said. She sees it as another sign of the erosion of dignity in our society. It reflects a growing lack of respect for people as well as property. She believes littering is learned behavior and children are following the poor example of the adults around them. Adults can also set good examples, like Commissioner Joe Byrnes who picks
L O O K
B A C K
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REVIEW Editor Maria Maxham Senior Editor Bob Uphues Equity Editor/Ombudsman Michael Romain Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Lifka Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes, John Rice Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Digital Strategist James Kay Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designers Mark Moroney, Javier Govea Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
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Rosabella and Jeremiah Manzanares
Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich
up trash every morning. When Kristen was growing up in a closeknit South Side neighborhood, she would help her dad pick up trash. So organizing clean-ups comes naturally to her. She is planning her next pick-up for Sunday, May 2 at 1 p.m. Volunteers will gather at Circle and Randolph. Students, she noted, can use clean-ups for community service hours. Scouts can use them to earn badges. She is planning five additional pick-ups, but she pointed out that we don’t have to join group efforts to make a difference. Just grab a bag and gloves and go for a walk.
T I M E . . .
Before the ‘Green Line’
The most northwest corner of Forest Park is where Circle Avenue and Harlem Avenue meet with Oak Park’s South Boulevard and the entrance to the “Lake Street el.” This photo from the Historical Society is dated circa 1959. Visit the Forest Park Review history blog for additional photos and history.
— Jill Wagner
GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA Board of Directors Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-366-0600 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 EMAIL forestpark@wjinc.com CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com ONLINE ForestParkReview.com TWITTER @FP_Review Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Forest Park Review,141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS No 0205-160) In-county subscriptions: $28 per year. $42 for two years, $58 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $36 per year. Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2020 Growing Community Media NFP. F O R E S T PA R K
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Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
D209 board president pens resolution in support of district supt. Five of seven board members sign By MARIA MAXHAM Editor
At the April 13 Proviso Township High School District 209 board meeting, President Rodney Alexander said he’d come up with a plan to show the public that, in the midst of drama and accusations surrounding Supt. James Henderson, the board supports the “well qualified, over accomplished” administrator. Alexander said there have been many lies told about Henderson, but “they’ve all been debunked,” although he didn’t mention specifics. As a result, Alexander wrote a resolution in support of Henderson and asked board members to sign it. “I wanted to send a clear message to this district that this board stands behind Dr. Hen-
FOOD SERVICES No-bid contract from page 1 The agreement between D209 and WQS is for $6,600 per month until at least the end of September, when the contract can be extended in writing by both parties, for a total of at least $33,000, assuming a start date of May 1. The $6,600 per month includes a consultant from WQS on-site four days each month. That figure includes lodging, meals, travel and transportation. If additional on-site time is needed, WQS will seek approval from district staff. In that case, WQS will charge $1,600 per day per consultant plus costs for lodging, meals, travel and transportation. According to the contract, WQS will work with the school food authority (SFA), who was not identified in the document, to consult with the district on getting in-house food service set up. This includes creating a timeline and budget, providing recommendations on
derson 100 percent,” Alexander The resolution mentions analysaid during the meeting. “Doesn’t ses and work performed by Henmatter what one or two board derson since he’s come to the dismembers say or do. They’re not trict and “declares that James L. the board. The board is a quorum Henderson Ed.D is a competent of at least four.” leader.” The resolution was signed by Achievements listed in the Alexander, board Vice President document that are attributed to Theresa Kelly, and board memHenderson’s leadership include that he: bers Della Patterson, Sam Valti■ Is performing analyses in errez and Ned Wagner. AMANDA GRANT D209 that have uncovered “very Neither Claudia Medina nor D209 board member hard truths about current operaAmanda Grant signed the resotions, technology, and academic lution, though Alexander said about Grant, “I believe [she] still supports Dr. performance”; ■ Has partnered with food banks to ensure Henderson in her own way.” He added: “That’s a six to one board, people; it doesn’t get any food was provided to district students over school breaks; better than that.” ■ Has “ensured financial solvency and Medina has been publicly outspoken about her distrust of Henderson, so her refusal to identified $9.5 million in cost savings and corrected departmental procedures and internal sign was no surprise. Grant declined to comment at this time on financial control measures”; ■ Has secured COVID-19 vaccinations for her reasons for not signing.
staff; and ■ Has “demonstrated a commitment to invest in the teacher workforce and bringing increased diversity to classrooms across the district.” After reading the resolution, Alexander defended Henderson more, saying of him, “He’s only doing what the board says. And we know as of April 6, that the community doesn’t have a problem with what the board says because you elected us again.” The April 6 election in which Alexander, Grant, Valtierrez and Kelly were reelected was uncontested. Alexander added: “So to continue to fight against this board is to fight against your very community. Get on the train, there’s room, we still got a couple seats … Come on over. Come on over and ride with us. Because all we’re trying to do is improve outcomes for students.” A version of the resolution can be found on the district’s website at https://tinyurl. com/4w926t7j
necessary remodeling and equipquotations, from Chicago-areament, coordinating bids and hirbased firm Training Solutions, ing of contractors, and giving inLLC and Louisiana-based School put on hiring programs for staff Food and Wellness Group, a wellto run the in-house food service. known company with two fullThe total amount of the contime team members based in the tract is over the $25,000 threshChicago area, according to the old above which state bidding proposal sent to the district. procedures must be followed, reTraining Solutions, LLC quiring necessary legal notices quoted a total cost of $13,500 for of a request for proposals (RFP), their consulting services. School JAMES HENDERSON sealed bids and selection of the Food and Wellness quoted $150 D209 Superintendent lowest responsible bidder. an hour for between 70 and 115 However, Henderson’s recomhours, a range of between $10,500 mendation for WQS pointed to Board Policy and $17,250. 4:60, which allows exceptions to state bidding Both firms’ quotes were significantly lowprocedures, such as “contracts for the servic- er than the minimum $33,000 proposal from es of individuals possessing a high degree of WQS, but since the district claimed the “proprofessional skill where the ability or fitness fessional services” exemption, they are not of the individual plays an important part.” under any obligation to choose the cheapest This wording is pulled directly from state consultant. code ILCS 5/10-20.21. The proposal from WQS included this: “In In such cases, according to the board poli- the pages that follow, we have addressed the cy, “when possible, the district will solicit at district after our walk through of the facilities …” least three (3) written quotations.” The Review reached out to the two other The district did receive two other written
firms that submitted proposals to see if they’d also done walk-throughs of the facilities. One of the firms responded, stating that they had not done a walk-through and, in fact, had been given less than 48 hours’ notice to prepare a proposal if they wished to be considered for the contract. However, by using the state bidding law exemption, D209 was under no legal obligation to hire the lowest bidder, nor does there appear to be any requirement that equal opportunity, time, or tours are required to be given to consultants providing quotes. In March, the D209 board approved payments of $7,500 to Ernest Clark, former CFO of Holmes County Consolidated School District, and $16,000 to Mississippi-based Samac Technology Networking Solutions to assist in the internal audit of technology. These payments were between $5,000 and $25,000 so were not subject to official RFP policy. According to board regulations, in such cases three competitive quotes should be sought. But the district identified Clark and Samac as sole source providers and was thus exempt from the need to seek additional quotes.
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April 28 - May 5
BIG WEEK Wellness Walks in Thatcher Woods Join Roberta Jannsen, Univ. of IL Extension volunteer, for a mindful and calming forest walk at Thatcher Woods in River Forest. The program is for adults only, with masks and physical distancing required. Call Trailside at 708-366-6530 to register and for directions to the meeting location. Hope you can join us! The dates are Saturday, May 1 and Wednesday, May 12 at 1 p.m.
Stories of Kindness: Library Celebrates Kindness Week Join the Forest Park Public Library on April 29 from 11 to 11:30 a.m. in an online event honoring Kindness Week. Library staff will share a couple of stories and songs about friendship, acceptance and kindness. Learn more at fppl.org/events.
WSSRA Derby Day West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA), together with legislators, mayors and village presidents of the near-west suburbs, will be holding the 20th Annual Derby Gala on Saturday, May 1, virtually. The auction opens on April 28 at 5 p.m. and closes May 1 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit https://one.bidpal.net/WSSRADERBY2021. Since 1976, WSSRA has been committed to providing quality recreation services to individuals with disabilities. WSSRA enables children and adults to get out into the community, take part in life-enriching activities, and most importantly, make friends and have fun. Each year, over 1,400 individuals benefit from WSSRA programs and activities.
D91 Board Meeting Rescheduled Forest Park’s elementary school District 91 board is rescheduling its May 13 meeting to May 4. Time, location and Zoom meeting link, if available, will be provided at www.fpsd91.org.
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Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
Two COVID-19 cases at D91 schools Students at Garfield and middle school test positive By MARIA MAXHAM Editor
Two students in elementary school District 91 have tested positive for COVID-19, according to information from the district sent to families on April 22. One is a student at Garfield School and the other at Forest
Park Middle School. Additional correspondence has been sent to parents of students in the affected classrooms through a notification from the school health coordinator, according to the district. D91 is taking steps to prevent further spread of the virus. These steps include
identifying, notifying, and quarantining, for 14 days, anyone who was within six feet of the infected individuals for 15 minutes or longer. The schools will monitor students and staff for signs of COVID-19, and areas of potential exposure to the virus will be deepcleaned and disinfected.
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Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
P O L I C E
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R E P O R T S
Gun discovered in car of sleeping man Police were dispatched to Roosevelt Road and Circle Avenue for a report of a “slumper,” someone unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle, on April 19 at 11:58 p.m. Reporting officers arrived to find a man unconscious in the driver’s seat. They were able to rouse him to consciousness, but as he began to wake up, officers observed the handle of a firearm inside the pocket of the driver’s door. Police immediately removed the man from the car, then took possession of the gun, a fully loaded 9mm Glock 17. The driver of the car, however, did not possess a valid FOID or CCL. Officers also found a bag of what appeared to be cannabis. The subject told police that he’d fallen asleep because he’d been up for 24 hours and denied being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He said he’d stolen the gun from his stepfather, with whom he lives. In the station, he fell asleep on a bench in the detention room, then fell off the bench onto the floor. Paramedics were called to take him to the hospital for observation. Felony charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon were approved.
CTA passenger attacked with baton A CTA Blue Line passenger was the victim of an assault by a deadly weapon on April 20 at 5:46 p.m. at 701 Harlem Ave. When police arrived, the victim was holding his bleeding head. Paramedics were called, and while they tended to the man, he told the police that he had gotten off the train af-
ter work and was walking eastbound up the platform ramp when an offender blocked his path. The offender allegedly then lunged at the victim, who, feeling threatened, punched the offender in the face. The offender then got out a collapsible baton and hit the victim in the head. Although police did not observe any parked or departing Blue Line trains, the offender could not be located.
NARCAN administered to unconscious man on train Police administered NARCAN to an unconscious man on a CTA train car at 711 Desplaines Ave. on April 21 at 7:46 p.m. Two subjects who were with the victim told police that the victim had consumed an unknown amount of heroin prior to the arrival of the officers. He regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital.
had another employee call 9-1-1 while he investigated, finding the tarp, which was rolled around a large plastic pipe (18-24 inches in diameter, according to the police report) on fire. A nearby garbage can was also in flames. The reporting officer used his fire extinguisher to put out the fire in the garbage can, but then his extinguisher ran out. The fire department showed up, finished extinguishing the fire, and determined no investigation was needed.
Rock thrown through woman’s window Open alcohol citation given A man on the 7300 block of Circle Avenue was given a citation for open alcohol on April 19 at 2:16 a.m. when he was spotted with a clear plastic cup with a liquid substance inside it. He apologized to the police and was issued a ticket.
Tarp catches fire at park A rolled-up tarp in the baseball diamonds at the Park District of Forest Park caught on fire on April 19 at 9:50 a.m. A park worker saw black smoke rising from the area. He
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A woman on the 7300 block of Harvard Street called the police on April 19 at 8 p.m. when an unknown subject threw a rock through her window. These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, April 19-23, 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 28, 2021
D209 board member confirms 8-page color mailer funded by district Board prez uses mailer to debunk alleged lies of fellow board member
“KEEP TALKING Medina – GOD has the last word! YOU don’t understand whose we are – We [Alexander and Henderson] are not only highly qualified for this work but are anointed for a time such as this to lead this work,” reads one part of the document. The document also accuses the Forest By MARIA MAXHAM Park Review, specifically Maria Maxham its Editor editor, of being a mouthpiece for Medina. Medina and Maxham, says AlexAmanda Grant, a member ander, “continue to double-down of the Proviso Township High on their lies, as if it’s going to Schools D209 school board, conmake the lies true.” firmed that the 8-page, doubleThe document further accussided, 8.5 x 11, color “Setting the es the Mississippi State AudiRecord Straight” mailer sent tor of participating in “a smear recently to families across Procampaign against Dr. Henderviso Township was paid for by son’s name for not utilizing a the school district. particular legal firm” after the She did not indicate how state entity released an audit much that cost was, but the they said showed “widespread Review has sent a Freedom of RODNEY ALEXANDER problems” and issued a press Information Act request for inD209 Board President release regarding such. formation related to the mailer, The Review reached out to all including the cost of designing, printing and mailing the document, which board members regarding the mailer, and is presented in both English and Spanish by time of publication had heard from two, and has the official district logo and address Grant and Ned Wagner. Grant said, via email, that she had no idea on it and was sent with non-profit postage. The document appears to be an attempt the mailer existed until she received it in to debunk what the author, Board President the mail. “I had absolutely no involvement in this,” Rodney Alexander, calls “lie, after lie, after lie, after lie” on the part of board member she said. When asked what her knowledge Claudia Medina and accuses her of having was of who funded the document, she re“revealed herself to be someone who hates plied: “Unfortunately, the district paid for this.” Black men in leadership.” Wagner, too, said he wasn’t aware of the Alleged lies Medina is accused of in the document are claims that Supt. James Hen- mailer ahead of time. “I had no idea it was being developed,” derson’s previous school district is bankrupt, claims that she isn’t receiving infor- Wagner said. “I would not have authorized mation from the district and thus needs to it, but I will continue giving everyone the request it via FOIA, and calling attention to benefit of the doubt. I’m trying to be supprevious news articles that show Henderson portive of everyone, inclusive of Claudia in a bad light. [Medina].” He added: “I’m going to give [the
Do you want to keep your public officials accountable?
MARIA MAXHAM/Editor
ON DISTRICT DIME: One D209 board member confirmed that this “Setting the Record Straight” mailer was created and/or distributed using district funds. mailer] a pass. I don’t want to add fuel to the fire. We need to heal.” Residents in Proviso Facebook groups posted pictures of the mailer, overwhelmingly expressing the opinion that it was a waste of taxpayer money. Comments ranged from “Another Monty-Pythonesque example of failure, waste, and corruption” to “Totally inappropriate and a waste of taxpayer
money. I’d like to know how much this mailing cost and who approved it” to “This the most unprofessional mess I have seen, I pray more people decide to run, this is terrible and a waste of taxpayers’ money.” More information on the costs and distribution of the mailer will be printed once the Review receives information from the district.
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Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
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ALTENHEIM Spire removed from page 1 Administrator Tim Gillian; Commissioners Ryan Nero, Jessica Voogd and Joe Byrnes; Village Clerk Vanessa Moritz; Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson; Christopher Burke, head of the village’s engineering firm; and Laurie Kokenes, chamber executive director. For Hoskins in particular, the event was notable, as the demolition of the buildings was at the forefront of his campaign for mayor. Gillian, who was a commissioner when the property was originally purchased, spoke briefly at the spire-removal event. “There’s a lot of people who never thought they’d see this day,” Gillian said. He said that when the village purchased the land, officials weren’t actually sure what they were going to do with it, but they wanted to stop a developer from putting in tract housing. “Once the buildings are down, there’s a lot to do,” Gillian said. “But getting them down is a huge first step.” Brandon Johnson applauded the village for its vision. “It’s vision just like this that continues to motivate our efforts to make sure there’s funding available for neighborhoods like this one,” Johnson said. He added that the demolition and subsequent land presents a great opportunity for “a mixed-use space.” In fact, the intergovernmental grant agreement between the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the village of Forest Park has wording in it that refers to future use of the land postdemolition. It states that the village “will prepare the site for a future mix-use that will consist of residential, commercial, and green space, to be paid via other funding sources.” There is, however, no stipulation regarding how much acreage must be allocated to any of those aforementioned uses. The asbestos removal within the five structures on the village owned Altenheim prop-
PHOTOS BY ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
HARD HAT CELEBRATION: Village leaders and community members gather to watch the removal of the Altenheim chapel spire on April 26. erty began in March and is being done by KLF Enterprises, Inc. which submitted the lowest demolition bid at $546,970 and was awarded the demolition contract at a Feb. 9 village council meeting. According to Gillian, the asbestos removal in the buildings will require a few more weeks of work, after which time the “real” demolition will begin. This reporter’s hoping for a wrecking ball.
Dawn Sanchez, director of the Altenheim senior living community, left, and Mayor Rory Hoskins watch as construction workers remove the chapel spire.
PROVIDED
Village Administrator Tim Gillian addresses the crowd at the Altenheim on April 26.
This map from the village engineers shows, with red hatch marks, the buildings that will be demolished.
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Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
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will feature more commonly served offerings but will have innovative items as well. “We like to be creative in everything we do,” Bee said. “Some customers always order the most interesting thing on the menu. But we also know some customers come for dishes that are familiar.” By MARIA MAXHAM That creativity, they said, is what is drivEditor ing them, in both the design of the restaurant space and in what the menu will offer. Forest Park will be home to a new Thai The Suptaveeyings both have extensive and sushi restaurant as White Crane Creexperience in the restaurant business. In ative Thai and Sushi is anticipated to open 2012 they opened Thai Classic restaurant in around the beginning of June at 819 Harlem Lakeview, but it was destroyed in a fire that Ave., the previous location of Mom’s Place. began in a hookah lounge two doors down in The restaurant owners are applying for a liOctober 2013. quor license and will also serve smoothies They currently co-own Thai Spoon and and bubble tea. Sushi in downtown Chicago, a restaurant that persevered throughout COVID-19 slowdowns. White Crane on Harlem Avenue, though, will be the first time they’ve completely started everything from scratch, said Sinchai. Although they owned Thai Classic and co-own Thai Spoon and Sushi, they bought or bought into already-existing businesses. White Crane will be all their own, from the interiFOCUS ON CREATIVITY: Bee (left) and Sinchai Suptaveeying or design of the restaurant are putting a creative spin on the physical space and the (they hired an architect) to menu at White Crane Creative Thai and Sushi, 819 Harlem the menu. Prior to owning a restauAve., which is expected to open around June 1. rant, Bee worked as a servPhoto by Maria Maxham er and Sinchai as a chef, including learning the art of sushi at two Japanese Husband and wife team Sinchai and Bee restaurants in Colorado Springs. But he Suptaveeying, who have since 2018 owned tells a story about how he originally became the building that formerly housed Mom’s a chef, something he had to fight to do. Place, are bringing their experience and Sinchai said he came to the United States creative flair to the space in what will be from Bangkok as a student in 2000. He got a a fully renovated restaurant, with an open job as a dishwasher but really wanted to be kitchen and industrial-style design. They a server. The manager said no server spots even “chased down” a famous restaurant were available but offered to let Sinchai muralist from Chicago to create a giant mustart doing deliveries, in addition to his dish ral of cranes on the north interior wall. washing duties, to make extra money. Their three- and four-year-old sons were Sinchai accepted but found that the chef with them at the restaurant on April 24 gave priority to dine-in orders, so Sinchai’s when the Review stopped by to see the space delivery orders were taking a long time. He and talk to the Suptaveeyings about their began to sneak into the kitchen when the plans and background. chef was otherwise occupied to cook the The restaurant, they said, will offer both orders himself. Then, before going out on Thai food and sushi. On the Thai side, a delivery, he’d quickly do a load of dishes they’ll have popular dishes like Pad Thai because the water tank was so small that and curries. Recipes used by Sinchai and the restaurant would run out of hot water Bee include those from a friend who is a quickly, and he wanted to be sure he’d have well-known chef in Bangkok and from Bee’s hot water again when he returned. mother. All of it, he said, was a balancing act that But they plan to get creative with the forced him to organize his time and taught menu too and include items like steamed him many different aspects about how a ressea bass and a Thai style pizza and burger. taurant functions. The same goes for their sushi menu, which
Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
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NOTE FROM THE EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
Romain named Equity Editor, education reporter added From the first conversations two years ago about transforming our legacy for profit community publications into a pioneering nonprofit model, the goal has been to grow our newsroom. We want to expand our coverage, sharpen our storytelling and stay focused on coverage that no other newsroom can offer. So it is with great enthusiasm that Growing Community Media announces that we have created the post of Equity Editor and Ombudsman and have promoted the terrific and thoughtful Michael Romain to that position. Michael will continue as editor of MICHAEL ROMAIN our Austin Weekly Equity Editor News. But he will step aside as the Journal’s education reporter covering OPRF and District 97. Joining the staff and growing the newsroom is F. Amanda Tugade as our education reporter. Amanda is a F. AMANDA TUGADE veteran of community journalism havEducation reporter ing worked at Shaw Media, 22nd Century media and as a fellow at City Bureau. Amanda has been freelancing for the Journal in recent months and has done great work. As our education reporter, Amanda will add coverage of River Forest’s District 90 elementary schools, a beat where our coverage has been thin. She will also cover early childhood education stories, mix in private school news and she won’t overlook the three colleges serving our communities – Dominican, Concordia and Triton. Michael’s role as Equity Editor and Om-
Advertise in the
budsman will be wide ranging. He will be regularly reporting on equity related news. His remarkable page 3 column will continue in the Journal. And he will also be working with our editorial staff to ensure that all of our coverage reflects an equity lens. Michael will have a role in advising our organization on ways Growing Community Media can become more equitable. Finally, Michael will become our Ombudsman, our connection between the newsroom and readers. Only a few newsrooms have an Ombuds-
man, and we haven’t yet found a community newsroom that has brought this focus to transparency and accountability between the news gathering process and readers. This growth is only possible, is directly attributable to the generous, passionate investment that so many people and organizations in our seven neighborhoods have mustered. We offer a special thanks to the Good Heart Work Smart Foundation for its notable three-year pledge to help fund this initiative.
You invested in us. We’re investing in our newsroom. Our gratitude is deep and our plans are ambitious. If you are a reader and would consider investing in our independent community newsroom, I’d love to hear your ideas. My email is dhaley@wjinc.com. All the best, Dan Haley Editor and Publisher Growing Community Media
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Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
All Forest Park police officers to be wearing body cams this summer Program currently up and running on trial basis By MARIA MAXHAM Editor
Plans to bring body cameras to the Forest Park Police Department have been in the works for well over a year, when a $33,000 grant to partially fund them came from the federal Department of Justice. COVID-19 slowed down production of body cameras, and then a new model hit the market, so the FPPD opted to wait a few months longer for “the latest and greatest,” said Lieutenant Christopher Chin. Today, three FPPD officers, one on each shift, are wearing and using body cameras, a trial program that began with one officer in February. The purpose is to work out the kinks before rolling the cameras out to all officers, which is expected to happen around June 1. The department is also still waiting on redaction software from Panasonic, the brand of cameras they’ve purchased, to come in prior to the roll-out to the entire department. Redaction software is a legal requirement that allows the department to blur out faces, license plates, or other private infor-
mation before making footage available publicly. Chin, who is in charge of the program within the FPPD, explained how the cameras work. Officers will wear the camera unit, which is square and about the size of a pack of cigarettes. The unit has a button that, when pressed, not only begins recording, but, using a buffering system, pulls and records the prior 30 seconds as well. So in case an officer can’t or doesn’t press the button immediately, once he or she does, the prior half minute of footage, without audio, automatically becomes part of the recording. In addition to pressing the button to begin recording, there are several other ways that the body cameras are activated. Body cameras have both GPS and Bluetooth capability and are synced with the officer’s squad car, which also has a camera. When emergency sirens are activated, both the squad car camera and the associated body camera automatically begin recording. Additionally, the squad car camera and body cameras are activated when the squad car begins traveling over 60 mph. The camera keeps recording until manually turned off by the officer. When the Review interviewed Police Chief Tom Aftanas in Feb. 2020 about body cameras, he said he was enthusiastic about
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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INTERN The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Environmental Health Intern in the Health Department. This full-time seasonal position will provide assistance to the Environmental Health Practitioners in the inspection and local businesses, homes and other establishments to enforce state and local laws and ordinances related to public Health safety; to respond and resolve citizen complaints regarding nuisances and reported epidemics. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/ jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than April 30, 2021. SEASONAL FARMERS’ MARKET ASSISTANT The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmers’ Market Assistant in the Development Customer Services Department. This position will provide administrative support to the Farmers’ Market Manager to allow growers and producers of food to sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This position requires work in inclement weather conditions; some heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds; walking or standing for sustained periods of time. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http:// www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled
BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG
them, and even without grants from the Department of Justice, he would have pursued them all the same because, he said, they’re for the protection of everyone. Last week, Deputy Police Chief Kenneth Gross and Chin expressed similar sentiments. “The population wants us to have them,” Gross said. “It’s a part of being transparent.” And officers are eager to begin using them. “They’re chomping at the bit,” Chin said. “No officers in our department don’t want it.” That eagerness, said Gross, reflects how much times have changed. He recounted that soon after he joined the department in 2000, Forest Park began installing and began using in-car cameras. Nobody wanted them, he said. The officers pushed back on the idea of their traffic stops being recorded. “So when we brought up body cameras, we expected there would be pushback. But there was none,” Gross said. In part, said Chin, he thinks the officers’ enthusiasm to wear body cameras is because the younger generation of police officers grew up with technology, so it is not something new to them. Additionally, faced with ubiquitous cell phone cameras and people recording interactions with police regularly, officers appreciate having their own recording of events. And lately, courts want to see body cam-
era footage. In April, FPPD officers were assaulted outside a bar on Madison Street. But because they couldn’t provide body camera footage to the state’s attorney, felony charges against the suspect were not approved. The total cost of the body cameras and related equipment is $92,000. $33,000 is being paid through a grant from the Department of Justice; $15,000 through a Justice Assistance Grant; and $10,000 through a Safety Grant from the village’s insurance company. Despite the notion that all or most police departments are utilizing body cameras nowadays, locally that’s not the case. Chin said Bellwood and Broadview currently are using body cameras. Berkeley was for a while, but the company from which they purchased cameras went out of business, and as their cameras break or need repair, they don’t have the option to replace them. Neither Oak Park nor River Forest have body cameras. Neither do Riverside nor North Riverside. Brookfield will be getting them this summer. But municipalities can’t wait too long to get them. The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation this year requiring police departments across the state to implement body cameras and necessary equipment. Smaller municipalities have until 2025 to comply.
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Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
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Businesses and churches inch back toward normal Whatever ‘normal’ means, that is By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter
On April 17, spring was in the air along Madison Street. The sun shined in a blue sky; parents with kids in strollers increased foot traffic on the sidewalks; teenagers with skateboards hung out in Constitution Court; and an estimated 70 well-wishers gathered in front of the Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor for a grand reopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. It was easy to feel hopeful as Forest Park’s main business street clearly seemed to be coming back to life. Connie Brown, Brown Cow’s owner, said she is planning to hire 10 more employees in the coming weeks to increase her staff to 22 or 23. With the entrance to her business festooned with balloons, Mayor Hoskins present to assist in the ribbon-cutting, and free ice cream for the crowd, it did feel like things were returning to normal. Paul McKenna, who has run Starship with Henry Laskowski since 1977, noted that though their restaurant is known for their soups and sub sandwiches, a large percentage of their business is in catering, with the prohibition of large gatherings, that source of revenue shrunk to almost zero. He hopes, with the weather warming up and increasing numbers of people getting vaccinated, that business will return. But business owners temper their optimism with ambivalence regarding the future. Louie’s Grill, Jimmie’s Place, and Caffe de Luca have returned to indoor dining, which is progress, but Jim Jodoin, owner of Jimmie’s, said business is only about halfway back to where it was in 2019. His staff wears face masks and, asked when he thinks his popular restaurant will be “back to normal,” he rolls his eyes. Valaiporn Pinyo, who owns the Yum Thai restaurant, is looking forward to being able to serve customers indoors and reported that loyal customers have helped increase her take-out business, but her inability to find workers has tempered her enthusiasm about the future. “They are waiting for their unemployment compensation to run out,” she explained, repeating the complaint of restaurant owners up and down Madison Street, “before they want to come back to work.” Dexter Cura, one of the owners of Escape Factor, said he sees signs of the economy coming back, but in his business, which in-
PHOTOS BY ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
BACK IN BUSINESS: Alex Contreras (above) works the counter during Brown Cow’s reopening celebration on April 17. (Below) Rebekah Gaskill, left, and Brenna Goliath scoop ice cream.
volves groups of people doing an activity for an hour or more, it all depends on the virus. “After everyone is vaccinated and/or all restrictions have been lifted,” he said, “then we can schedule multiple groups at the same time and have more groups in a day because we won’t have to take additional time between games to clean and disinfect.” Leaders in Forest Park churches are telling the same story. Things are getting better. At this time last year, Living Word Christian Center was allowing a maximum of 120 worshipers to attend each of its services in a
sanctuary that can accommodate 2,500. A year later it’s up to 400. Last March, Pastor Pongsak Limthongviratn was leading virtual worship from his home. Last Sunday St. Paul Thai Lutheran Church was prepared to welcome a maximum of 35 worshippers while continuing to broadcast worship on YouTube. Pastor Leonard Payton emphasized the word “cautious” when he said that at St. John Lutheran Church, “We are conducting regular worship services but with cautious spacing and sanitization measures and anticipate doing that for some time to come. Many of the other parts of congregational life remain closed down. I suspect we will begin Bible studies again soon, as those are small groups and we can have windows open.” When asked when life will get back to normal at Forest Park Baptist Church, one of the elders, Sean Blaylock replied, “No one inside or outside the church truly knows the answer to this question.” Not being able to predict the future — that’s one thing church leaders and business owners have in common. Nancy, a server at Louie’s Grill, on the one hand, is glad to be serving customers again. Louie’s now has
plexiglass shields separating all the booths and staff members are all wearing masks. On the other hand, the diner is only half full many days when customers, pre-pandemic, would be waiting in line for a table. Asked about when things would return to normal, she sighed and said, “One year. Maybe two. Who knows?” In the midst of the grand-reopening celebration, Brown commented, “It will never be back to normal.” She intended that comment to be realistic. During the pandemic the owner of the popular ice cream spot made several changes to keep up with a business climate that was changing. She installed a “factory” in the back of the shop where now she makes her own ice cream. She arranged for large cement lane barricades to block off three parking spots where she placed outdoor tables and chairs, and she reconfigured her staffing. Rev. Stan Kuca is in some ways on the same page — adapting to change as creatively as possible. He finds himself the pastor of both St. Bernardine in Forest Park and St. Luke in River Forest and admitted that he, along with almost everyone else in town, has no crystal ball when it comes to predicting the future. “It is hard to give you any honest answer when it comes to that,” he said, adding, “and I don’t know how ‘normal’ will look like and when it will come. God willing, soon.”
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Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
By TOM HOLMES
Progress Center advocates ‘good trouble’
Contributing Reporter
Larry Biondi, the advocacy coordinator at the Progress Center for Independent Living (PCIL) on Madison Street, is a “troublemaker” in the late John Lewis’ meaning of the term. Biondi will be going to Springfield — virtually, online — this week to give testimony before the Senate State Government Committee in support of Senate Bill 921 (SB921) on behalf of the 19% of Illinois residents who have a disability. Clark Craig, a Community Organizer at PCIL, explained the importance of the bill for the disability community by saying it “creates an Access and Functional Needs Advisory Committee to address the challenges people with disabilities in Illinois have faced and continue to face during disasters and emergencies.” If you live in a multi-story rental building, for example, you are aware of a sign posted by each elevator door telling you to use the stairs in situations where the power goes out. So what is Biondi, whose disability is caused by cerebral palsy and who gets around in an electric wheelchair, supposed to do in times like those if he lives on the fourth floor? Newscasts during the pandemic have often pointed out that the elderly living in congregate settings and Black and Brown people have been disproportionately ravaged by the virus. Craig contends that one more cohort should be added to the list. “The COVID-19 pandemic,” he said, “has [also] revealed the major inequities facing persons with disabilities, particularly in emergency preparedness and response. The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies found people with disabilities and older adults making up over 42% of COVID-19 deaths.” According to Craig the emergency operations plan of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA is the state version of FEMA) does not include specific language or inclusive disaster strategies that address the needs of people with disabilities. Additionally, none of IEMA’s training courses address disability concerns in emergency management.” What SB921, which was submitted by Sen.
PHOTO PROVIDED
THE GOOD KIND OF TROUBLEMAKER: Larry Biondi, advocacy coordinator at the Progress Center for Independent Living, is testifying in support of SB921 on behalf of Illinois residents who have a disability. Julie Morrison, does to address inequities is to begin by creating an Access and Functional Needs Advisory Committee which would be tasked with: ■ Recommending ways to respond to the needs of people with access and functional issues before, during and after a disaster. ■ Ensuring that people with disabilities are included in the plans of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. ■ Providing recommendations for IEMA
to integrate access and functional needs into its emergency operations plan. If approved by the committee where the bill is currently waiting to be addressed, it will move to the whole Senate for a vote and, if approved there, will go to the House of Representatives. At the time the Review went to press, Biondi did not yet know when he will give his testimony before the committee. Because his speech is difficult to under-
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stand by most people, he uses two forms of communication to get his thoughts verbalized. One is a speech device that must be programmed in advance and sounds something like the mechanical voice we hear when calling a pharmacy. When Biondi wants to make a spontaneous comment not programmed into the device, he asks Clark Craig, who understands his speech his better than almost anyone because they share an office, to repeat what he said in a way that is easier to understand. The officemates are what Marshall McCluhan would say is an example of “the medium is the message.” Craig himself has a mild speech impediment, so the two fearless partners in advocacy create an impact on legislators just by being present. When the two advocates learned of the invitation to testify before the committee, they quickly went into action urging the disability community to submit what are called witness slips, i.e. a way supporters of a bill can influence the legislative process. “In just two days,” Craig reported with a smile, “166 proponents participated, including sign-ons by both individuals and disability service, health & advocacy organizations- such as Progress Center, Access Living, Equip for Equality and The Arc of Illinois.” Craig said that, currently in Illinois, at least one in five people have a disability. More than 25,000 Illinois residents receive home and community-based services to live outside of institutions. Due to lack of PPE and support, these communities have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. “The past year,” he declared, “has demonstrated the need for emergency responses that prioritize the rights and lives of people with disabilities and older adults. We can do better.” To request Personal Protective Equipment, call Progress Center at 708-209-1500 or email Kira Meskin at kmeskin@progresscil.org. Emergency Back-Up Provider Line: 833-4911418 (Toll Free). Vaccination Appointment Hotline: 1-833-308-1988 and will be open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
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Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
OPINION O U R
I
V I E W
Who anointed you?
Anoint: to choose by, or as if by, divine election; anoint him. n all the strange and inappropriate weirdness of the eight-page rant excoriating a sitting board member and mailed last week to taxpayers across Proviso Township by the superintendent and school board president of the local public high schools, we were stopped by the paragraph that read: “KEEP TALKING [Claudia] Medina — GOD has the last word! YOU don’t understand whose we are — We [Rodney Alexander, board president, and Supt. James Henderson] are not only highly qualified for this work but are anointed for a time such as this to lead this work.” Excuse us. Anointed by whom? The Review, also heavily criticized in this leaflet/screed, has filed FOIA requests to find out just how much it cost the taxpayers of Proviso to design, print and mail this fullcolor testament to these school officials’ qualifications. We have to file Freedom of Information Act requests because, as we reported last week, in a highly-efficient and low-cost harangue emailed to us, the district said it would no longer speak to the local paper. Let’s hear it for email. All the burn for just pennies. Two District 209 board members reached by the Review had the common sense to distance themselves from the district leaders’ decision to so thoroughly take down an elected school board member. We’ve seen a lot of things over our years in community journalism. This we’ve never seen. Amanda Grant said in an email to the Review, “I had absolutely no involvement in this.” We asked who paid for it, hoping Dr. Henderson had dipped into his retirement savings to foot the bill for his attack on one of his employers. But no. “Unfortunately, the district paid for this,” said Grant. Ned Wagner, a board member, said, “I had no idea it was being developed. I would not have authorized it.” Well, who needs authorization when you’ve been anointed?
In other Proviso news
W
ho knew the only qualified consultants to advise Proviso Township High Schools on any topic come from Mississippi or Texas? We’ve already reported on the no-bid hiring of Ernest Clark, a former employee at Dr. Henderson’s past school district in Holmes County, Mississippi, and of Samac Technology, also of Holmes County, to audit technology in District 209. This week comes the RFP-less hiring of Walker Quality Services of the great state of Texas. This firm will advise the district on how to bring its food service back in-house from a less than delectable outside vendor. Two other bids were solicited — one 48 hours before the deadline, and both were substantially less expensive than the Texas outfit. If James Henderson had earned any credibility, maybe we’d accept that all the good consultants come from the Deep South. He hasn’t and we don’t.
If they made a movie of the Chauvin trial
I
f someone decided to make a movie out of what we saw at the Derek Chauvin trial, who would the main characters be? George Floyd, of course. Although not in the courtroom in person, he was very present in other ways. Derek Chauvin; the three officers who stood by and did nothing to intervene; Darnella Frazier, the young woman who recorded the whole 9+ minutes on her phone; Philonise Floyd the victim’s brother; and others As you watch the tragic drama unfold, with which characters would you identify? Personally, I found myself relating to many of the players in one way or another, even Derek Chauvin. If you are feeling victimized, you might identify with George Floyd. I felt like a victim after my first divorce, then when I was diagnosed with my progressive neurological disorder, and many other times. When forces over which I don’t have control have overwhelmed me, I too, to use an analogy, felt like I couldn’t breathe. If you’ve lost a loved one recently, it might have been difficult to watch the parts of this drama in which Philonise, George Floyd’s brother, appeared. His and his family’s palpable grief may have stirred up painful memories of losses that you have experienced. What about Jerry Blackwell, Steve Swisher, and Matthew Frank, the tag team of prosecuting attorneys? As they methodically demolished the defense attorney’s weak attempts to make a case, did you vicariously exult in good defeating evil for a change? To tell you the truth, I felt sorry for Eric Nelson, the defense attorney. He was being asked to play a high-stakes game and was dealt a very weak hand. The scenes filmed on location showing the three other officers — Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng who stood by and watched Floyd’s life slowly ebb and did nothing to intervene — were the parts of this drama that troubled me deeply. I’m mostly German, and my people are, on the whole, good neighbors who care about their families. Ninety years ago in Germany, if a Jewish family moved in next door, my ancestors most likely would have acted in a neighborly way toward them. The thought of sending them to a death camp would not have entered their minds. The problem, of course, is that in their passive, go-withthe-flow posture toward the world, they aided and abetted one of the worst examples of evil the world has ever seen. You get the analogy. Ibram X. Kendi reminded us in How to be an Antiracist that to stand by passively in the face of evil amounts to perpetrating it. “There is no neutrality,” he wrote, “in the racism struggle.”
“We must always take sides,” wrote holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.” I will not be convicted in a court of law of two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter. But in the court of morality, I could be convicted on many counts of neutrality and passivity — of saying, “Don’t blame me. I was just minding my own business.” The character in this whole Derek Chauvin/George Floyd tragedy with whom I identify the most is Darnella Frazier, the young woman who recorded the whole 9+ minutes on her phone. “It’s been nights,” she shared on the witness stand, “I stayed up apologizing and apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more and not physically interacting and not saving his life.” She did much more than the three cops who stood passively on the sidelines, but what gave her nightmares after that kairos moment — that critical moment of deciding to act or to stand by — was her conclusion that she had not done enough. I can really relate to that profound ethical question: “How much is enough?” Erich Fromm was a German Jew who fled from Germany to the U.S. in 1933. According to the Britannica website, his book Escape from Freedom “attempts to show modern man still is anxious and tempted to surrender his freedom to dictators of all kinds, or to lose it by transforming himself into a small cog in the machine, well fed, and well clothed, yet not a free man but an automaton.” Freedom brings with it a blessing and curse. The curse is that ultimately we have to take responsibility for our own behavior — we can’t even say, “The devil made me do it.” Attorneys at the trial spent time asking, “What was Chauvin’s training?” Ms. Frazier was, in effect, saying that in the end we can’t escape our existential freedom and ethical responsibility by hiding under the cover of training or “that’s the way I was brought up.” Finally, the most prominent character in the drama is Derek Chauvin himself. I felt a great sense of relief when I heard that he had been convicted on all three counts, but as he put his hands behind his back, was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom, I felt sadness. Most will say, “My God, I would never kneel on a vulnerable person’s neck like that.” Maybe, maybe not, but as I watched the former Minneapolis police officer led off to jail to await sentencing I, as a privileged white male, saw him as a tragic character in a cautionary tale. There but for the grace of God go I.
TOM HOLMES
L E T T E R S
T O
T H E
E D I T O R
Letters to the editor can be sent by e-mail to ktrainor@wjinc.com, or by mail to Forest Park Review, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Ill., 60302.
Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
O B I T U A R Y
Vern Barg, 87 Grocery store meat cutter He also enjoyed traveling to FlorVernon Lawrence Charles ida, Wisconsin, and Paw Paw, Barg, 87, of Forest Park and Michigan, as well as special exOak Park, died on April 24, 2021. Born to parents Elmer and Lily cursions to Hawaii and Germa(Buelow) Barg on Sept. 24, 1933, ny. He loved all Chicago sports he was the youngest of four chilteams but was most thrilled to dren in his childhood home on watch the Cubs win the World south East Avenue in Oak Park. Series in 2016. He attended grade school at Vern is survived by his three Christ Lutheran in Oak Park daughters, Karen (Mike) Baldand graduated from Oak Park win, Donna (Eric) Hartin, and VERN BARG and River Forest High School in Wendy (John) Kuenster; his 1951. After high school, he studgrandchildren, Emma and Owen ied at local community colleges while begin- Baldwin, Annaliese, Callen and Ciel Hartin, ning his career as a meat cutter. and Ella, JJ, Cameron and Ava Kuenster; He served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to his former wife, Diane Gasper Marston; his 1958, where he worked as a medical assis- cousin, Glenn Strohschein; and many nieces tant in orthopedics, followed by four years and nephews. He was preceded in death by of service in the Army Reserves, and went his parents, Elmer and Lily (Buelow) Barg; on to a long career as a meat cutter and his siblings Edgar Barg, Lavonne Groth and department manager for both Jewel Foods Shirley Barg; and his nieces Elisa Barg Gas(over 10 years) and Dominick’s Finer Foods kill and Esther Barg. (over 30 years). Visitation will be held on Sunday, May Dedicated to his family, faith and fun, he 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Zimmerman-Harnett never missed a birthday, holiday or family Funeral Home in Forest Park, with a wake gathering. An avid sports fan, he could con- service at 6:30 p.m. Lying in state at St. John sistently be found on the sidelines cheering Lutheran Church in Forest Park on Monday, on his daughters and grandchildren. A pa- May 3, will take place from 10 to 11 a.m., folrishioner of St John Lutheran Church in lowed by a service at 11 a.m., with interment Forest Park for the last 38 years and Christ at Concordia Cemetery. Please remember to Lutheran in Oak Park prior to that, he vol- follow COVID guidelines. unteered in many capacities. An avid fisherIn lieu of flowers, the family requests doman and card player, jigsaw and crossword nations to St. John Lutheran Church (www. puzzler, he participated in the church dart stjohnforestpark.org/stewardship) or the and bowling leagues, acted and sang in Act Belmont Village of Oak Park Staff AppreIV and other church groups, and spent Sat- ciation Fund (1035 Madison St., Oak Park urday nights at the old Santa Fe Speedway. 60302).
To run an obituary Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com, Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.
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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF STICKNEY, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA
IMPORTANT NOTICE: As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Governor of the State of Illinois’ declaration of an emergency, the below described public hearing will be conducted in person and via Zoom in compliance with P.A. 101-0640. All persons attending the meeting in-person will be required to wear a face mask at all times while in the building and will further be subject to strict social distancing (6 feet separation). Electronic attendance via Zoom is strongly encouraged. The information for the Zoom meeting is as follows: Website: Zoom.us Meeting ID: 312 915 7558 Password: 768782
PUBLIC COMMENT: Persons not attending the meeting in person may submit “Public Comment” to the Village Clerk no later than one (1) hour before the scheduled start of the meeting. Please send public comments to the Village Clerk at villageclerk@villageofstickney.com. Notice is hereby given that on the 18th day of May, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. at the Stickney Village Hall, 6533 Pershing Road, Stickney, Illinois, a public hearing will be held to consider the approval of the proposed redevelopment plan (the “Redevelopment Plan”) and the designation of that certain proposed redevelopment project area to be known as the Cicero-Pershing Redevelopment Project Area (the “Redevelopment Project Area”). The Redevelopment Project Area consists of the territory legally and generally described below: THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 33 TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, AND THAT PART OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 4, TOWNSHIP 38 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, LYING NORTHERLY OF THE SOUTHERLY LINE OF LOTS 54, 56, 58 AND 60 OF THE SANITARY DISTRICT TRUSTEES’ SUBDIVISION, RECORDED MARCH 31, 1908 AS DOCUMENT 4180218, EXCEPT THAT PART LYING EAST OF THE EASTERN BOUNDARY LINE OF THE VILLAGE OF STICKNEY; (SAID EXCEPTION BEING THAT PART OF THE EAST 649.14 FEET OF SAID NORTHEAST QUARTER LYING NORTH OF THE NORTH LINE OF SAID LOT 54, AND BEING THE EASTERLY PART OF SAID LOT 54), IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The proposed Redevelopment Project Area (RPA or Project Area) is located in the easternmost portion of the Village and is generally bounded by 35th Street to the north, Cicero Avenue to the east, the I-55 Expressway to the south and Laramie Avenue to the west. Land uses in the proposed RPA consist of industrial, commercial and residential uses. Hawthorne Race Course is located in the northern portion of the RPA. The RPA’s western, northern and eastern boundaries are contiguous with the Town of Cicero. The RPA’s eastern boundary is contiguous with the City of Chicago.
There will be considered at the hearing approval of the Redevelopment Plan and Project for and the designation of the proposed Redevelopment Project Area and adoption of tax increment allocation financing therefor. The proposed Redevelopment Plan and Project is on file and available for public inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, Stickney Village Hall, 6533 Pershing Road, Stickney, Illinois. Pursuant to the Redevelopment Plan and Project the Village proposes to alleviate blighted area conditions in the Redevelopment Project Area and to enhance the tax base of the Village and the taxing districts having taxable property within the Redevelopment Project Area by utilizing tax increment financing to fund various eligible project costs to stimulate private investment within the Redevelopment Project Area. These eligible project costs may include, but may not be limited to, studies, surveys, professional fees, property assembly costs, construction of public improvements and facilities, financing, administrative and other professional costs, all as authorized under the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act, as amended. The Redevelopment Plan objectives include promoting and protecting the health, safety, morals and welfare of the public by establishing a public/ private partnership, establishing economic growth, development and training in the Village by working within the guidelines of the business attraction and retention strategies developed by the Village, encouraging private investment while conforming with the Village’s comprehensive planning process, restoring and enhancing the Village’s tax base, enhancing the value of the proposed Redevelopment Project Area, improving the environmental quality of the proposed Redevelopment Project Area, and retaining and attracting employment opportunities Published in Landmark April 28, and May 5, 2021
within the proposed Redevelopment Project Area. To achieve these objectives, the Redevelopment Plan proposes to provide assistance by paying or reimbursing costs related to the acquisition, construction and installation of public facilities, property assembly, site preparation and improvement, job training and other eligible redevelopment project costs, the execution of one or more redevelopment agreements, and the payment of financing, administrative and other professional costs. Prior to the date of the hearing, each taxing district having property in the Redevelopment Project Area and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may submit written comments to the Village, to the attention of the Village Clerk, 6533 Pershing Road, Stickney, Illinois 60402. There has been duly convened by the Village a joint review board that considered the proposed Redevelopment Plan and Project for and the designation of the proposed Redevelopment Project Area and the adoption of tax increment allocation financing therefor. The joint review board consists of a representative selected by each community college district, local elementary school district and high school district or each local community unit school district, park district, township, fire protection district and county that will have the authority to directly levy taxes on the property within the Redevelopment Project Area at the time that the Redevelopment Project Area is approved, a representative selected by the Village, and a public member. The first meeting of said joint review board was held at 3:00 p.m. on the 16th day of April, 2021, at the Stickney Village Hall, 6533 Pershing Road, Stickney, Illinois. At the hearing, all interested persons or affected taxing districts may file written objections with the Village Clerk and may be heard orally with respect to any issues regarding the approval of the Redevelopment Plan and Project for and the designation of the Redevelopment Project Area and the adoption of tax increment allocation financing therefor. The hearing may be adjourned by the Mayor and the Village Board of the Village without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes of the hearing fixing the time and place of the subsequent hearing.
PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division. In re the marriage of DIANA ITZEL COSS y LEON, Petitioner and CARLOS BLADIMIR LOPEZ MUNOZ, Respondent, Case No. 2021 D 002918. The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, CARLOS BLADIMIR LOPEZ MUNOZ Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, DIANA ITZEL COSS y LEON, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending. Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your Appearance and Response electronically to said Petition with the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, on or before May 12, 2021, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition. DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk. Published in Wednesday Journal April 14, April 21, April 28,2021
PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y21006573 on April 9, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of GRAF JANITORIAL AND MAINTENANCE with the business located at: 1047 DUNLOP AVENUE, FOREST PARK, IL 60130. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: DAVID L GRAF 1047 DUNLOP AVENUE COACHHOUSE BEHIND 1045 DUNLOP, FOREST PARK, IL 60130, USA. Published in Forest Park Review April 14, April 21, April 28, 2021
Village Clerk Village of Stickney Cook County, Illinois
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PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y210006472 on April 1, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of TOULA’S with the business located at: 632 WOODBINE AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: RENEE ELENA HAAS 632 WOODBINE AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA.
LEGAL NOTICE Invitation to Bid MOP AND TOWELS
Published in Wednesday Journal April 14, April 21, April 28, 2021
PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of VARSHAWN CHRISTOPHER HANSEN Case Number 2021 CONC 000527 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: VARSHAWN CHRISTOPHER HANSEN to the new name of: VERSHAWN CHRISTOPHER HANSEN The court date will be held: on July 12, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Daley Center, Chicago, Cook County in Courtroom # 1704, Calendar 9. Published in Forest Park Review April 28, May 5, May 12, 2021
LEGAL NOTICE: Harrison Street Bible Church has ceased operations and is dissolving effective June 7, 2021. Any person with a claim against the church should contact the church at P. O. Box 4532, Oak Park, IL 60304. Published in Wednesday Journal April 28 & May 5, 2021
PUBLIC NOTICE Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to collocate wireless communications antennas at a top height of 116-feet on a 120-foot building at the approx. vicinity of 715 Lake St, Oak Park, Cook County, IL, 60301. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Trileaf Corp, Stephanie, s.hubacek@trileaf.com, 1821 Walden Office Square, Suite 500, Schaumburg, IL 60173, 630- 2270202. Published in Wednesday Journal April 28, 2021
Public Notice: Your right to know • In print • Online • Available 24/7/365 PublicNoticeIllinois.com
The Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District #97 will receive sealed MOPS AND TOWEL bids at the Administrative Office located at 260 West Madison Street – Oak Park, IL, 60302, until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday May 12th 2021. 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 “MOPS AND TOWEL”. Additional information or specifications may be obtained by contacting Ms. Keane at (708) 5243125, or by email jkeane@op97.org commencing on May 7th, 2021. Bid Due Date: Wednesday May 12th, 2021 at 2:00 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. Lonya Boose Board Secretary Published in Wednesday Journal April 28, 2021
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING The Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, located at 201 N. Scoville will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation Meeting which will take place remotely via video/telephone conference on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 4:00p.m. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private/parochial schools and who are home schooled within the district for the 2021-22 school year. If you are the parent of a home-schooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability and you reside within the boundaries of Oak Park & River Forest High School District 200, you are urged to attend. If you have would like to join the meeting, please contact Marilyn Thivel at mthivel@oprfhs.org or call (708) 434-3706 to request the Zoom Link information. Published in Wednesday Journal April 28 & May 5, 2021
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION CITIMORTGAGE, INC. Plaintiff, -v.CALVIN L. SMITH, VILLAGE OF MAYWOOD Defendants 2020CH06802 813 SOUTH 21ST AVENUE MAYWOOD, IL 60153 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 18, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 13, 2021, 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 813 SOUTH 21ST AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153 Property Index No. 15-10-328-0050000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common
OakPark.com • RiverForest.com
Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021 Wednesday Journal, April 28, 2021
CLASSIFIED
19 39
(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM
INC., REALTOR
(708) 366-8989 7342 MADISON ST, FOREST PARK, ILLINOIS 60130
928 S. Kenilworth Ave. Oak Park ....................$275,000
SOLD!
1028 Beloit Forest Park ....................$289,000
SOLD!
Property has been owner occupied by the same family for 50+ years. 1st fl has spacious living rm and dining rm, kitchen and 1/2 bath. 2nd floor has three bedrooms and full bath. Stucco exterior and 2 car detached garage. Great location in south west Oak Park. Needs some updating but livable as-is. 935 Elgin Avenue, Forest Park ........................$489,000 This is a money maker! This early 1970s brick four flat houses two one bedroom apartments on the top floor, a large three bedroom two bath apartment on the first floor, and a large two bedroom two bathroom apartment in the lower level. Tandem parking for 8 cars. Meticulously maintained by the current owner for several decades. The numbers work! This one really won't last long.
SOLD!
This 3 BR, 2.1 BA home has not been available in over 55 years. It has been meticulously maintained within the same family for that time. This home offers two first floor good sized bedrooms and a large second floor master. Each floor has a full updated bathroom. The first floor living room, with it's vaulted ceilings, fill with sunlight pouring from the front foyer windows.
1117 Marengo Avenue, Forest Park .......................$263,500 What a great opportunity to get into Forest Park at an affordable price! This home offers four total bedrooms, two on the second floor and two on the first floor. The home is in perfect condition! Living room, dining room, and eat in kitchen, plus a finished basement. Huge deck off the back of the house and a very large two car garage!
SOLD!
337 Marengo Avenue, Forest Park ......................$275,000 Fantastic location alert!! Just a stones throw from Madison Street shopping, restaurants, and night life makes this a very desirable piece of real estate! This is two flat is ready for some love and attention. Just stuck in time is all. Or a fantastic de-conversion to single family! So bring your decorating ideas, and be prepared to fall in love!
SOLD!
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In print • Online • Available to you 24 / 7 / 365 OakPark.com | RiverForest.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
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interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300
E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-19-12025 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2020CH06802 TJSC#: 41-438 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 # 2020CH06802 I3166754
tion to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-06-323-025-0000. Commonly known as 615 North Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 19-024425 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3166929
VICTOR Defendants 19 CH 12066 817 S. CUYLER AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60304 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 5, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 18, 2021, 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 817 S. CUYLER AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-17-124-0200000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $691,465.75. Sale terms: 100% of the bid amount shall be paid in certified funds immediately by the highest and best bidder at the conclusion of the sale. The amount owed also includes 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. 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 certified check must be made payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. 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(g1).IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF
POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, Megan K. Gajewski, KELLEY KRONENBERG Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 150 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2800, Chicago, IL, 60601 (312) 216-8828. Please refer to file number CM19055. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE
You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. Megan K. Gajewski KELLEY KRONENBERG 150 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2800 Chicago IL, 60601 312-216-8828 E-Mail: Mgajewski@kelleykronenberg.com Attorney File No. CM19055 Attorney ARDC No. 6276927 Attorney Code. 49848 Case Number: 19 CH 12066 TJSC#: 41-551 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. I3167637
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION TRUST; Plaintiff, vs. JOANNA SENTER AKA JOANNA D. SENTER; NICHOLAS M. SENTER; POPLAR BANK FKA BANCO POPULAR NORTH AMERICA; Defendants, 19 CH 8670 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, May 17, 2021 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auc-
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS INDENTURED TRUSTEE FOR ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE TRUST I, LLC 2018PB1 Plaintiff, -v.ECHELON INVESTMENT CORP., PATRICK OCENAS, SERENA
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Forest Park Review, April 28, 2021
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