GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA, NFP ForestParkReview.com Vol. 104, No. 20
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F O R E S T PA R K
REVIEW
FDA approves vaccinations for ages 12 and up PAGE 12
Liquor license Q&A - What’s going on? PAGE 7
MAY 19, 2021
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Village council sets 11 p.m. closing for bars and restaurants
Temporary action to curb Madison St. rowdiness; bar owners call it a ‘death sentence’ By MARIA MAXHAM Editor
Despite the vast majority of public comment showing strong opposition to the proposed cutback of bar hours, the village council voted unanimously on May 12 to limit alcohol sales and consumption to an 11 p.m. closing time until June 15 for some establishments and until Sept. 6 for others. The cutback on hours begins May 16. Class A1 (taverns without food service or with limited food service), A7 (brew pubs) and A8 (special event venues) liquor license holders must close at 11 p.m. through Labor Day, while Class A liquor license holders that derive at least half their gross sales from food can go back to regular amended hours of closing at 1 a.m. weeknights and 2 a.m. on weekends on June 15. The village council meeting was scheduled after an incident early Sunday morning on Madison Street in which a crowed of around 50 people allegedly refused police orders to disperse for at least half an hour, verbally and physically harassing police officers while and after they attempted to arrest a man for choking a woman. But issues, from local ordinance citations such as drinking on the sidewalk and noise violations to fights and refusal of crowds to disperse, have been a problem on Madison Street for the past few months. See CLOSING TIME on page 6
Photo by Maria Maxham
A POP OF COLOR
The owner of 810 Beloit Ave. commissioned Oak Park artist Tia Etu to paint a mural, called “Imagine,” on the side of his building. Read more in John Rice’s column on page 3.
Principals hired for PMSA and Proviso East Administrative structure changed By MARIA MAXHAM Editor
New administrative hires were made at the May 11 meeting of the Proviso Township High Schools District 209 board meeting. Changes include not just the adminis-
IN Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 THIS Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
trators themselves, but the structure of the administration. One notable change is the addition of grade level principals at each school, who will be responsible for working with the same group of students as they progress throughout their years, from freshmen through graduation. Many residents and parents were shocked that Proviso East’s current principal Dr. Patrick Hardy will not be returning next year. The new principal
Village administrator contract approved PAGE 4
will be Rodney Hull. According to information from the district’s website, Hull is currently the principal at Hazelwood Central High School. Previously, he worked as the principal of a school in the Miami area and has also worked in Chicago communities. The four grade level principals at East will be Fred Aguirre, Dr. Alexander Brandon, Dr. Melvin Caldwell and Latoya McIntosh. Aguirre has served See ADMINISTRATORS on page 5
D209 spends $13k on mailer PAGE 5
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