ForestParkReview_061125 by Wednesday Journal

Welch gets credit, and blame, as state funds $40 million spor ts complex at Proviso West

Grant could bene t the whole community, says superintendent

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ

Proviso West High School could soon be home to a new sports complex as part of the state’s recently passed $55 billion budget for 2026. And Speaker Emanuel

“Chris” Welch, a 1989 graduate of West and later the powerful school board president at the District 209 Proviso Township High Schools, is taking credit for the funding and also receiving criticism for “playing favorites.”

e $37,645 grant will fund scanners on Harlem at Randolph and Washington intersections

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Forest Park will soon have two more license plate readers. One will be near the intersection of Harlem Avenue and Randolph Street, and the other will be at Harlem Avenue and Washington Boulevard

Unanimously approved at the June 9 village council meeting, the license plate readers will scan plates and alert Forest Park police when they identify a car that is stolen or associated with a person of interest. They are funded by a $37,645 grant from the Illinois Office of the Attorney General for the 2026 fiscal year and will be overseen by the Forest Park Police Department.

At ground level in D209, the superintendent is expressing gratitude for the investSee PLATE READERS on pa ge 9

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Hello Forest Parkers,

Forest Park Review named best in Illinois

Among your reasons to be proud to call Forest Park home, let us add another:

Our Forest Park Review just brought home the Kramer Trophy as the top small weekly paper in Illinois. So says the Illinois Press Association.

Small but mighty, we say.

The Review won a dozen honors last week in Peoria. Everything from General Excellence to news re porting, beat re porting, features, pictures, columns, special section.

What did we cover to win so many awards? All the local stuf f. The ins and outs of local zoning. How Forest Park keeps getting bluer in national elections. The Casket Races. Our obit on Dave Novak, the long-time parks director. And we took first and second place for our columnists Tom Holmes and the now retired John Rice.

cover the hard issues and the softer stories that give this town its heart.

We don’t do this hard work to win awards. We do it for our readers. But when it happens it feels good.

Maybe you know, maybe you don’t, but five years ago the Review, and its three sibling publications in Growing Community Media, became a nonprofit. That means we now proudly rely on our readers to help fund our scrappy newsroom.

Lots of people made this happen. First among them is Jessica Mordacq, our lead re porter at the Review. Week in and week out, Jess is there to

This is a better moment than most to make the ask.

If what you know about our village comes significantly from reading the Review online, we need you to become a member of this hometown club. That’s our future. That’s how local news will continue, maybe thrive a little, going forward.

Best case scenario for us is for you to sign on as a monthly donor. Ten dollars a month would be great. Helps us build a strong foundation and make our plans. You’ll hardly miss $10 but your local news will keep on coming.

That’s the ask. Now’s the

EMMA CULLNAN

Jessica Mordacq holds the Kramer Trophy, anked by Stacy Coleman, Jav ier Govea, Dan Haley and Andy Mead. e Illinois Press Association named the Forest Park Rev iew the Best Small Weekly newspaper in the state.

A new art installation is coming to Constitution Court

Arts Alliance commissioned the painting of ve small tables on Madison Street, and selling additional ones to businesses

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

The Arts Alliance of Forest Park unveiled Little Perspectives, its first public art installation, at Constitution Court in April. Though the piece was taken down for Memorial Day weekend, the group will create a follow-up installation at the same location next month.

With the village council unanimously approving the Arts Alliance’s use of public way at a June 9 meeting, the art will consist of five painted metal tables – each less than two feet in diameter – with two chairs, decorating the fountain space on Madison Street. Next, the Arts Alliance will request proposals from artists. Selected artists will be given primed tables and paint to create their decorated furnishings this month and early next.

The Arts Alliance said that local establishments can pay to have a painted table in front of their business, too, expanding the installation across town.

The cost to businesses would be $350 per table, and they would provide their own chairs. They also must individually apply for a permit with the village to have seating on the sidewalk or a patio.

The Constitution Court installation is expected to cost $2,500 – including, per table, $63 for the table itself, a $250 artist fee and $50 for materials. The Arts Alliance expects to fund $1,000 of that, with the rest coming from a Forest Park Chamber of Commerce allocation. Both groups are also setting aside $500 for signage and potential overage for the

cost of materials.

The Arts Alliance intends to create a map with the locations of all the painted tables

Once the tables at Constitution Court are removed at the end of September, businesses can keep theirs out front, or choose to auction them off.

The Arts Alliance met with Sal Stella, director of the village’s department of public works, to determine the best location for the five tables in Constitution Court. According to the Arts Alliance’s preliminary concept presented to the council, Stella said the two benches that currently exist in the space can be removed during the length of the art installation. He added that existing hardware can be retrofitted to secure the tables, and that the proposed layout allows sufficient room for pedestrians passing by.

At the village council meeting June 9, Arts Alliance representatives said a volunteer would lock up the tables and chairs every night. They said they’d also monitor the area for excess garbage after Jessica Voogd, commissioner of public property, expressed concern.

“I know you don’t expect it to create more trash, but this is something that could create more trash,” Voogd said. Though there are six trash cans at Constitution Court, Voogd said “historically, people aren’t always using them.”

Forest Park’s public works department picks up trash at Constitution Court every Friday and Monday, but Voogd added, “On weekends, Madison gets hit pretty hard.”

Village Administrator Rachell Entler said the Forest Park Police Department usually

e Ar ts Alliance w ill present its second public ar t installation at Constitution Cour t in the form of ve painted two-foot-wide tables and 10 chairs. e rst installation, pictured here, was Little Perspectives, a box w ith w indows that reveal several scenes inside

lets the village know if trash overwhelms that area of Madison Street, especially on the weekends. At the most recent council meeting, village staff confirmed they would work with the Arts Alliance to monitor and

clean up garbage during the duration that their installation is up.

There will be a ribbon cutting for the Arts Alliance’s newest public art installation at Constitution Court on July 12.

TODD BANNOR

No Kings in Forest Park

roughout the country, locals are gathering this weekend for protests against what they call an authoritarian Trump administration

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

This weekend, people around the country are gathering in their communities for No Kings, a national day of defiance against authoritarianism.

Forest Park is no exception, as Tom Holmes – a longtime Review columnist – hosts a rally he helped organize on June 14 at Madison Street’s Constitution Court from noon to 4 p.m.

June 14 is President Donald Trump’s birthday, as well as Flag Day – commemorating the day in 1777 when the American flag was adopted. To celebrate turning 80, and the U.S. Ar my turning 250, Trump is hosting a military parade near the White House that will re portedly cost $30 to $45 million.

Those observing No Kings Day are mobilizing to reject the alle ged corruption of the Trump administration and

support democracy, according to the No Kings website.

“We’ve watched as they’ve cracked down on free speech, detained people for their political views, threatened to deport American citizens, and defied the courts,” the No Kings website says.

“They’ve done this all while continuing to serve and enrich their billionaire allies.”

The website also notes that nonviolence is one of No Kings’ core principles, and that organizers expect participants to de-escalate confrontations.

Ahead of the protest in Forest Park, Compound Yellow Arts Organization is hosting two days of sign making at 244 Lake St. in Oak Park. The group will meet on June 12 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and June 13 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Attendees should bring their own art supplies, and light refreshments and pizza will be provided.

Pride (and glamor)

June was busting out all over with the annual Pride Month Drag Queen extravaganza in Constitution Court last weekend.

Photos by TODD BANNOR

and daughter enjoy the show, and Drag queen

Above: Mayor Rory Hoskins

Clockw ise from top right: Drag queen Fox E. Kim, Drag queens Angel LeBare and Fox E. Kim, Drag queen Britney Taylor, a father

Akasha Voyer.

CRIME

Man attempts to set re to Elgin Ave. garage

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

On May 31, a man came into the police station to re port an arson attempt at his home on the 500 block of Elgin Avenue. The man told police that, around 5:30 a.m. the prior morning, his Ring camera activated. A recording showed an unknown man walk into his backyard, sit on the porch while erratically talking to himself, urinate on the garage, then light a piece of paper and drop it next to the garage. According to the police re port, the fire quickly died out. No one had been charged at the time of the report.

Car accident

Police responded to an accident with injuries at 1400 Des Plaines Ave. on June 1 around 7 a.m. When police got to the scene, they re ported that a red Jeep was facing east in the northbound lanes of Des Plaines, and a black Ford was facing west in the same lanes. A witness told police that he was driving behind the Jeep, which started traveling south down Des Plaines’ northbound lane when it hit the northbound Ford. While the Ford driver complained of neck pain and was transported to a hospital, the Jeep driver was pacing outside her car, where police re ported that she smelled of alcohol and had slur red speech. They took her into custody, and at the police station, she ag reed to perform Standard Field Sobriety Tests and exhibited numerous clues of being inebriated. She took a breath test and had 0.136 Blood Alcohol Concentration. She was charged with driving under the influence, having a BAC over 0.08, failure to reduce speed, improper lane usage and operating an uninsured car.

Burglar y from car

A man in the 7600 block of Harvard Street called police on June 2. He said that, around noon, he parked his car and, about an hour later, got a notification from Chase about possible fraudulent activity. He said he returned to his car, which he left locked, to get his wallet, only to find his car unlocked and the wallet missing. The wallet contained debit cards and $300 of cash, and

$700 worth of quarters was also missing from the car. The man told police that he owns several laundromats and was collecting coins. He said he’d sign complaints if the offender was located.

Suspicious circumstances

On June 8, a man came to the police department to re port that, for the last two weeks, he’s seen a man continually park an unmarked car behind his restaurant, the Golden Steer on Roosevelt Road. The restaurant owner told police he’s seen the man try to gain access to the restaurant through its back door, which is always locked. Though he said there had been no damage to his property or signs of forced entry, he requested extra police presence at his restaurant and said he wanted the offender identified, according to the police re port

Battery

Police responded to the CTA Blue Line station in Forest Park on June 5 for a report of a battery. Upon arrival, the victim identified a woman who was riding the train. She said the woman walked up and punched her in the face unprovoked. After making contact with the offender, police found that she had a warrant for her arrest out of Will County. She was taken into custody and arrested for an in-state warrant. The woman who was punched said she didn’t want to press charges against the woman.

On June 6, a woman came to the police department to re port a domestic battery. She said she went into the basement of her Forest Park home and found her daughter, who is on electronic monitoring, in bed with the father of her children. After the woman woke them up, her daughter grabbed her neck and shoulders, pushed her to the ground, then got on top of her and held her down before leaving the residence. Police re ported that they had responded to the home twice after the incident, but the woman refused to make a re port then, saying she was torn about filing a re port against her daughter. She decided to come to the police station because she needed a police re port to relocate her

daughter from her home while she is on electronic monitoring and still refused sign complaints against her. Police were dispatched to Roos ation Center on June 6 for a domestic battery. Upon their arrival just before p.m., they found the victim and her son standing outside the building. The woman told police that she and her ex-husband had a verbal altercation inside. When she walked out to the playg round, he follo and slapped her across her face. He then got in his car and drove away, according to the police re port. A witness confirmed the interaction. Police re ported that the man will be charged with domestic battery when he’s located.

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These items were obtained from Park Police Department reports dated May 30 - June 8 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Library ready to help neighbors with digital skills workshops

Forest Park Public Library classes to increase ‘digital equity’

By MOLLIE JAMISON Contributing Reporter

(Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of stories about the Forest Park Public Library’s digital inclusion efforts. The series is underwritten by a grant from the Cook County Digital Equity IMPACT Small Grants program. The grant is a shared effort between the library and Growing Community Media, publisher of the Forest Park Review.)

Even though technology has become a necessity for everything from education to banking, people still lack the skills, resources, or both, to confidently navigate through everyday life – making digital equity more important than ever before.

Forest Park Public Library continues to work towards decreasing this digital divide and making technology available and understandable to those who need it most. It does this by offering computer and device access to all comers, organizing one-on-one tech appointments and supporting monthly Tech Empowerment programs for older adults.

The latest addition to their outreach is a series of handson digital resilience workshops. These two six-week courses, led by instructor Xandi Wright, will include about 12 participants in each and cover topics such as password management, digital storage, online safety and more. Additionally, each participant will receive guidance for configuring their new laptop, supplied by PCs for People. Contact the library directly for more info rmation on op-

portunities to improve your knowledge and access to technology and the digital world.

Wright wants to create a safe space for attendees to discuss their feelings about technology use. During the first few sessions, many expressed no longer wanting to feel overwhelmed by modern technology.

“The way that we feel about what we’re learning impacts our ability to learn,” said Wright. “If you are in a stressed out, panicked, frustrated state, how well are you internalizing new processes?”

Barb Etchingham, a retired librarian, joined the first cohort hoping to feel more independent and learn how to find IT support.

“It’s the vulnerability,” said Etchingham. “Who do I ask? Do I have to get the Geek Squad in? Do I come to a class like this? Where? Where do I look now? I want to have confidence that I can wait longer before I have to ask for help. That I have a toolbox.”

Etchingham believes digital skills can also help people stay infor med and reco gnize misinformation online.

“I’ve gotten fact-checked on Facebook,” said Etchingham. “So I have to find out why that happened to me. If I’m going to have a presence in the digital world, then I want to have a more intelligent one.”

Another workshop attendee and part-time desk assistant at Forest Park Public Library, Marie Weinbrecht, said she and her husband were initially hesitant to keep up with technology. But after seeing the benefits of having digital devices at their fingertips, they began to seek out opportunities to educate themselves.

“I think you get in a pattern when you’re older,” said Weinbrecht. “I think you truly don’t want to learn as much

as when you’re younger. I’ve come to the conclusion in the last couple of years that you should never stop learning.” Weinbrecht is excited about learning in a collaborative environment and encourages others to do the same.

“You can’t be afraid to fail and make a fool of yourself,” said Weinbrecht.

Kathleen Ogundipe, a long-time English teacher, did not use computers for most of her career. Now, working as a substitute, she says everything is done digitally. She took the course to learn more about tech terminology and device communication.

“What’s the difference between Bluetooth and WiFi?” said Ogundipe. “How dangerous is it when you don’t set the phone password on your phone to get into it? How to get the screen on the phone to open up long enough so you can actually use them? I just have a lot of technological gaps.”

At the beginning of the course, many participants felt similar to Ogundipe. Some attendees felt there were gaps in their knowledge after leaving the work world and others said their high schools failed to prepare them for continuing education.

“I want to feel empowered and computer smart,” said Ogundipe. “Smart enough to be able to help other people.”

De

ning digital equity

■ The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) defines digital equity as “a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy. Digital equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.”

■ The NDIA defines the digital divide as “the gap between those who have af fordable access, skills, and support to effectively engage online and those who do not. As technology constantly evolves, the digital divide prevents equal participation and opportunity in all parts of life, disproportionately affecting people of color, Indigenous peoples, households with low incomes, people with disabilities, people in rural areas, and older adults.”

■ Tools like Cook County’s Digital Equity Map can be used to help identify disparities to inform policy, advocacy and resource allocation. The Map gives Forest Park a Digital Equity Score of 49/100, revealing that one-fourth of the community lack access to broadband internet and more than one-fifth of households are still without computers.

Elmwood Park sets the stage for summer Cars,

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

Each summer Elmwood Park pulls out all the stops to entertain, feed and wow community and guests. The first event that revs up the season is the annual car show on June 13. With vintage, muscle, motorcycles, exotics and more, it’s a sight to behold on Conti Parkway Circle, just north of Grand Avenue and 76th Street.

“We have a lot of variety of different vehicles,” said Jim Sabatine, Elmwood Park lead mechanic and car show organizer. “And it keeps getting bigger and bigger every year.”

Anyone can showcase a vehicle with a $10 registration prior to the event. Cars are on display from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

“We’ve added a few things for the kids now, bikes, skateboards. Now we’ve kind of brought the kids more involved,” Sabatine said. “We got good food, good cars, good people, good atmosphere and the backdrop of the community.”

At 7 p.m. the excitement amps up with a concert by Libido Funk Circus. Billing themselves as the ringleaders of a funky good time, the band combines a flare for showmanship, genuine musical talent into a high-energy party. Their song selections please kids, grandparents and everyone in between.

The fun doesn’t stop that weekend.

“If you’re looking for a good time this summer, Elmwood Park is the place to be,” said Village President Skip Saviano. “From festivals, to movies, to al fresco dining, there’s never a dull moment, especially in our Village Cir cle which has great bars, res taurants and events all season long.”

The concert series continues on June 19 with 7th Heaven rocking out hits of the 1970s and 1980s. Famous for their

music, food, drink. That’s summer

medley of 30 songs in 30 minutes, a concert by this band never slows down.

July 10 features 90s Pop Nation. The name says it all. From Britney to Blink, Spice Girls to TLC, this band gets it done – without backing tracks. It’s all out there live and in person.

July 24 Hello Weekend rocks the Circle. Their goal is to get you dancing and keep you in the groove. Their sets range from Guns n’ Roses to The Beach Boys, Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga.

On Aug. 2, the summer comes full circle with the annual D.A.R.E. car show. Got a car you want to show off? Register and

Beauty and inspiration in 8 local gardens

31st Garden Walk covers River Forest and Oak Park on June 22

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

Rain or shine: The Oak Park and River Forest Garden Walk is the place to be Sunday June 22 if you are seeking to be inspired by the beauty and variety of area gardens.

This, the 31st annual walk sponsored by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory (FOPCON) and the Garden Club of Oak Park and River Forest, will focus on eight private gardens in the two villages.

Proceeds of the walk benefit both the conservatory and the Garden Club, which uses its share of the money to fund scholarships for graduates of OPRF High School.

Sue Boyer, one of the co-chairs of this year’s walk, said that the garden walk continues to attract an increasing number of visitors.

“We had a tremendous year last year, and we’re thrilled that more and more people are so interested in gardening,” she said.

Each year, the Garden Walk Committee starts looking for the next year’s gardens during the peak of the summer garden season. This year, they chose a mix of styles and sizes of yards that are sure to inspire.

Boyer noted that the garden walk differs from typical housewalks because of the living nature of the yards and encouraged visitors to see all eight on this year’s walk.

“Every garden is so unique, and you see a lot of eclectic styles. There’s really something for everyone,” she said.

Homeowner Pe gg y Kell has been gar-

dening in her Oak Park yard for 48 years. She said that her garden has evolved over the years. Ever since she and her husband ved into the home, they’ve made changes little by little.

“I call ourselves serial renovators,” she said. “We’ve changed the house itself, adding on a lot over the years. We’ve done the same with the garden.”

When the couple moved in, there was no rage, and they made two large ve getable lots in the backyard. Eventually, they added rage to the back yard and moved the vegetable plots to the front yard

When she started gardening, Kell was pregnant with her youngest child; now her four-year-old grandson is an avid helper

in the garden, especially when it comes to picking raspberries. Her yard has other fun finds for children, including railroad trains and a fairy garden.

This is Kell’s third time on the garden walk, each time, she said she has a different garden. “Stuf f dies, or I find a new piece. Gardening is a journey.”

In River Forest, Marilee Unruh has been working on her garden since 2001. She slowly replaced the lawn until she had gardens but no lawn in the front and back of her home.

A native of California, Unruh loves discovering the variety of perennials that can be grown in Illinois’ climate, but she had to reconsider her planting methods when she real-

ized how close to nature her garden really is. She not only has plenty of rabbit and deer visitors, but a deer was born in her backyard. “A lot of perennials say they’re deer resistant, but they are not that resistant to deer who think your backyard is their home,” she said laughingly

In recent years, Unruh has “become addicted to bricks,” she said. She creates circles with brick and gravel, filling in spaces with a variety of flowers and non-blooming plants in various shades of green. She said working in the garden with her hands is one of her favorite activities and a great way to connect with the outdoors.

Also in River Forest, Marylen Marty-Gentile has seen her garden evolve over the 40

TODD BANNOR

POND AND RAILS: Pegg y Kell’s garden includes both a fountain and a model train.

TODD BANNOR

Peggy Kell in her Oak Park garden.

Marylen Marty’s River Forest garden.

years that she and her husband, Michael, have owned their home. When they first moved in, much of the yard was shaded by a large elm and ash trees

After spending lots of time trying to grow grass under those trees and failing, she turned to Scott McAdam of McAdam Landscape Professionals, and that made all the difference.

“Scott said, ‘Let’s think about your yard in terms of rooms.’ We started at the front with a section that was about shade. Over time, we got rid of all of the grass in the front and most of the lawn in the back rd,” she said.

trial and error involved in gardening. “It’s been fun, and it’s been an adventure, and we’ve made tons of mistakes,” she said.

In the summer the yard can get a bit of a Dr. Seuss look, she said. “It has a wacky, wild look to it, which please us a lot.”

Before You Go

T he Garden Walk takes place on Sunday, June 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Marylen Marty and her husband

Michael Gentile .

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 after 5 p.m. on June 21. Children 12 and under can attend for free. FOPCON and Garden Club members receive a reduced ticket price of $17 prior to 5 p.m. on June 21.

Tickets can be purchased online via credit card at: https://gcoprf.org/

Prior to June 16, tickets are available by mail. Make checks payable to GCOPRF and mail to GCOPRF at P.O. Box 5633, River Forest, IL 60305. All ticket purchases are non-refundable.

The day of the walk, ticket holders and those looking to purchase tickets can visit the Cheney Mansion, 220 N. Euclid in Oak Park, or the Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield in Oak Park, to pick up garden guides and maps between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The walk is not cancelled due to inclement weather. Any questions can be directed to (708) 725-2460.

TODD BANNOR

PMSA’s new principal brings world of relatable experience

Sanchez will begin his new role on July 1

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Contributing Reporter

If you would have told Jorge J. Sanchez that his life would take him down the path of becoming a high school principal, he would not have believed you. But Sanchez is about to begin his new role as principal at Proviso Math and Science Academy in Forest Park on July 1, and he is confident his life experience has made him the right person for the job.

The son of migrant parents from Puebla, Mexico, the Little Village native said he was left to navigate the academic space on his own as his parents didn’t “necessarily understand the American education system” despite their wishes for him to pursue a higher education.

“That is predominantly what drove me to seek to make a difference and become an educational leader,” said Sanchez, recalling he was heavily into the hip-hop scene and graffiti art. “I always had the grades but because of this lack of connection with academia I would get into trouble.”

Sanchez, who was working two jobs while a senior in high school, remembers a conversation with his counselor where she said he should make his fast-food jobs at Taco Bell and Checker’s his career because he was not “colle ge material.”

“Culturally educators are subject matter experts so you truly believe they have the best interest at heart, which 99 percent of educators who I have come across do,” Sanchez said. “In this instance, I listened to my counselor and didn’t apply to college and instead I enlisted in the military.”

Sanchez recalls that experience as one he never wants another student to face.

After two years in the Ar my as a communication specialist, Sanchez felt like he had to play “catch up” to focus on school fully and reach his goal of receiving his bachelor’s de gree.

Sanchez attended Morton Community Colle ge before pursuing his de gree in accounting and marketing at DePaul University.

Upon graduation, Sanchez found a career in advertising, working on big accounts such as Kraft and Jello, but eventually found himself drawn back to the classrooms he had worked at as a paraeducator while he was pursuing his undergraduate de gree.

It was during his time as a paraeducator at Morton East High School that Sanchez began getting heavily involved with the student population, especially the undocumented and English Learner population.

“There was this thing I was missing and that was the connection to students and that social good that you get in helping students,” Sanchez said. “There is a social benefit here aside from figuring out the best way to communicate the benefits of Kraft cheese.”

ing and marketing and a masters of arts in teaching for business.

Sanchez served as an academic advisor at the University of Illinois Chicago and then taught business at the Austin Business and Entrepreneurship Academy on the West Side before transitioning into administrative positions.

He is finishing his assistant principal of teaching and learning contract with East Leyden High School before bringing his knowledge over to the Proviso community, a driving force in his interest in the principal position at PMSA.

“Proviso is this gold nugget and the way I approach education and my philosophy of education really centers a true community aspect of relationships,” Sanchez said. Supt. Krish Mohip said Sanchez’s background stood out during the hiring process.

partment.

T he grant also includes $3,000 for an overtime detail, where officers can sign up for a shift in addition to their usual eight-hour workdays.

In 2022, Forest Park installed four license plate readers at the intersections of Harlem and Roosevelt, Harlem and Madison, Desplaines and Roosevelt, and First and Roosevelt.

In September, the village’s police department was awarded another grant from the Illinois Office of the Attorney General. That $12,758 funded the installation of three cameras at the Forest Park Dollar Tree, Walgreens and Walmart – areas identified as having a high amount of retail theft. With the cameras, there has been a higher police presence in those areas, as the grant also funded $5,000 wor th of overtime pay.

T he most recent Attorney General grant that Forest Park received will run from July 1 through June 2026.

After his return to the classroom in 2008, retur ning to Morton East as a teacher for a few years as a bilingual social studies teacher, Sanchez went back to school himself to receive an education de gree.

Sanchez now holds a Ph. D in Educational Leadership and two master’s de grees in Educational Administration and Higher Education Policy to add to his previous de grees, an MBA with a focus in account-

“Dr. Sanchez can really relate to our students. … he comes from a background of a hard-working family and he understands the importance of education,” Mohip said. “He has some exciting ideas on how to reengage our students and our families and the broader community to gain additional support for PMSA.”

Sanchez said he is excited to be part of the Proviso community and he aims to not only build but also strengthen that support “[The] Proviso’s community, especially PMSA, has such a strong community. … I am excited about things that are happening there and I think I am able to make a difference there,” Sanchez said.

JORGE J. SANCHEZ

SPORTS COMPLEX

promises transparency from page 1

ment in the community

While already passed, if signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, the budget includes $40 million in funding to build a new facility at the Hillside school that would transform the space into a “top-tier facility” and include outdoor athletic spaces as well as a multi-use event venue for both school and community programming

“I was more than pleasantly surprised to see that this was included,” Supt. Krish Mohip told Forest Park Review. “Because I think it is really a great thing, not only for our school but for the Proviso community and even extended outside of the Proviso community extending to the surrounding area.”

Mohip said the need for a new facility at Proviso West is noticeable as there are inequities between the facility at West and the one at Proviso East High School as well as compared to other districts within the district’s athletic conference.

Mohip said he has had complaints from student athletes who have expressed their concern about baseball fields flooding and

not being available for practices or games as well as from those who use the soccer field

“We are hoping that through the funding of the $40 million for the outdoor sports complex we would be able to not only improve these conditions but really start becoming leaders in this area,” Mohip said.

Welch, 7th District of Illinois, said in a press release that he has seen how “projects just like this” have been able to transform entire communities

“Sitting on the border of Cook and DuPage county, this project is truly an investment in regional economic growth,” he said. “A world-class sports complex on the Proviso West campus creates a multifaceted space for our student athletes as well as for youth and intramural leagues across our area.”

Welch said the sports complex would be a positive for even those outside the Proviso school community

“The local, regional and statewide events this complex can attract will benefit our business community as well,” Welch said.

According to Illinois Policy, the budget passed with a 75-41 House vote on Saturday, May 31.

However, the project is not without criticism as NBC Chicago reported Tony McCombie, a House Republican, said Welch was playing favorites.

“$40 million because he is the speaker and is playing favorites, picking winners and losers,” McCombie said. “I would probably bet the farm that there is not another school in the entire state that is getting $40 million.”

Additionally, according to NBC, McCombie said the funds being allocated to Proviso West allow the school board to “skip” the issuing of bonds via a public referendum and the money could be better used elsewhere.

Mohip said he had full trust the state budget was carefully thought out and that they would put out a budget that makes the most

WHEN MEMORY FADES

sense for the entire state of Illinois.

Development of the sports complex will be a lengthy process but also one that would involve active community input, said Mohip.

“I really want to make sure everyone understands this is going to be really transparent and no decisions have been made,” he said. “We are looking forward to the opportunity to really work deeply with the community with a multitude of ways to gain information so that we are going back to my main priority that this is reflective of the needs and wants of Proviso Township.”

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Prov iso West FILE

OPINION

OUR VIEW

Speaker’s prerogative

IISpeaker’s prerogative

n a tight budget year in Springfield, finding a way to send $40 million to the District 209 Proviso Township High Schools for a sports complex at Proviso West could not have been easy.

Ah, summer, welcome back

SAh, summer, welcome back

ummer is a season we welcome, not endure, armed with SPF 50 (under a hat if you’re me), iced coffee, and the kind of delusional optimism that says, “Sure, let’s take a road trip with the dog and a 2006 GPS.” The glitter confetti chaos of Pride, the inexpensive glory of minor-league baseball, and the panting joy of the dog park, ankle-deep in grass clippings and wet tennis balls.

n a tight budget year in Springfield, finding a way to send $40 million to the District 209 Proviso Township High Schools for a sports complex at Proviso West could not have been easy.

Summer is a season we welcome, not endure, armed with SPF 50 (under a hat if you’re me), iced coffee, and the kind of delusional optimism that says, “Sure, let’s take a road trip with the dog and a 2006 GPS.” The glitter confetti chaos of Pride, the inexpensive glory of minor-league baseball, and the panting joy of the dog park, ankle-deep in grass clippings and wet tennis balls.

That the idea came from Chris Welch, speaker of the Illinois House and a proud 1989 graduate of West, certainly made it easier.

Welch’s career has been entwined with D209. He was the all-powerful school board president in the district for many years. In that role he did some good but he also ran the place like a fiefdom, even as it became a less stable school system, with falling scores and an ever-changing cast of dubious administrators. He used that Proviso base to nar rowly win a seat in the state legislature – very nar rowly beating then Forest Park commissioner Rory Hoskins in that race. Elections have consequences. Welch went to Springfield where he has been a notably better state rep than he was a school board leader. And with charm and smarts, he parlayed that seat into the speakership as Michael Madigan finally got what was coming to him.

That the idea came from Chris Welch, speaker of the Illinois House and a proud 1989 graduate of West, certainly made it easier.

Let’s begin with road trips, that great tradition of fleeing our own neighborhoods to spend $200 on snacks and gas to stare at a cor nfield where some minor pop cultural note happened between 40 and 10,000 years ago. Somewhere around mile 47, the dogs and people get bored, and then the game is re rationing pretzel sticks like it’s post-apocalyptic and trying to remember the beer has to stay in the cooler till you stop. But hey, it beats folding laundry. And there’s always the reward of a roadside custard stand with the health rating labeled “Pending.”

Let’s begin with road trips, that great tradition of fleeing our own neighborhoods to as to stare at a cor nfield where some minor pop cultural note happened between 40 and 10,000 years ago. Somewhere around mile 47, the dogs and people get bored, and then the game is re rationing pretzel sticks like it’s post-apocalyptic and trying to remember the beer has to stay in the cooler till you stop. But hey, it beats folding laundry. And there’s always the reward of a roadside custard stand with the health rating labeled “Pending.”

Again, Welch has, so far, been an effective speaker in the tripartite Democratic leadership of Illinois – Pritzker, Welch and Harmon.

And so it is not a surprise, or the worst thing, that he siphoned off $40M for his alma mater. A new sports complex on the Hillside campus would be a huge upgrade. Is it essential in a state with many needs? No, but it will give a school district just now restarting its hoped-for comeback a big and unexpected shiny object to focus on and build off of.

Again, Welch has, so far, been an effective speaker in the tripartite Democratic leadership of Illinois – Pritzker, Welch and Harmon.

No Kings

Both Forest Park and Oak Park will be re presented this Saturday as defiant opposition to President Donald Trump rises up across America in the No Kings protest.

That Oak Parkers will crowd Scoville Park and Lake Street is hardly a surprise. It was just in April that a large crowd gathered in the same place to object to the early months of the second Trump presidency. We expect a large, boisterous and peaceful crowd at Oak Park’s effective town square.

More interesting to us is the nascent effort to draw a crowd to protest Trump at Constitution Cour t in Forest Park. We don’t doubt Forest Park’s increasingly progressive mindset. This is the week the village enthusiastically supported an exuberant Pride event and marked Juneteenth as well.

More interesting to us is the nascent effort to draw a crowd to protest Trump at Constitution Cour t in Forest Park We don’t doubt Forest Park’s increasingly progressive mindset. This is the week the village enthusiastically supported an exuberant Pride event and marked Juneteenth as well.

Turns out that Tom Holmes, a longtime Review opinion columnist, has a hand in this along with others. We’ll be curious to see who gathers at Forest Park’s “town square” on Madison Street this Saturday.

ALAN BROUILETTE

Then comes Pride, Forest Park-style. If you’ve never seen a rainbow flag hanging between two dive bars while the Chi-rish brigade stay inside, you haven’t lived. The parade is a fabulous tor nado — glitter, body paint, and at least one overly ambitious inter pretive dance troupe. God bless Madison Street — anything that increases the bar revenue is welcome. Minor league baseball, meanwhile, is the sport of the people — if “the people” are just there for dollar beers, nacho cheese product, and watching a man in a mascot suit lose a fight with a T-shirt cannon. We pile into Chicago Dogs games like a religious rite. No one really knows the players’ names, and by the seventh inning, we’ve all become ar mchair managers yelling things like “Let the kid pitch!” even though the “kid” is a 32-year-old journeyman from Tallahassee. We don’t care. The hot dogs are real, the stakes are fake, and the parking is free. That’s winning. And finally … the dog park. The canines gather to settle scores, hump, and ignore commands. (Who says we don’t have a high school?) Yoga moms and dads in cargo shorts bond over poop bag brands and hor ror stories about do gg y diarrhea. My own beloveds have a running feud with a goldendoodle that has reached Cold War levels of strategic ball possession. You haven’t known true civic engagement until you’ve tried to mediate a three-way growl-of f at 8 a.m. on a Tuesday

Then comes Pride, Forest Park-style. If you’ve never seen a rainbow flag hanging between two dive bars while the Chi-rish brigade stay inside, you haven’t lived. The parade is a fabulous tor nado — glitter, body paint, and at least one overly ambitious inter pretive dance troupe. God bless Madison Street — anything that increases the bar revenue is welcome. Minor league baseball, meanwhile, is the spor t of the people — if “the people” are just there for dollar beers, nacho cheese product, and watching a man in a mascot suit lose a fight with a T-shirt cannon. We pile into Chicago Dogs games like a religious rite. No one really knows the players’ names, and by the seventh inning, we’ve all become ar mchair managers yelling things like “Let the kid pitch!” even though the “kid” is a 32-year-old journeyman from Tallahassee. We don’t care. The hot dogs are real, the stakes are fake, and the parking is free. That’s winning. And finally … the dog park. The canines gather to settle scores, hump, and ignore commands. (Who says we don’t have a high school?) Yoga moms and dads in cargo shorts bond over poop bag brands and hor ror stories about do gg y diarrhea. My own beloveds have a running feud with a goldendoodle that has reached Cold War levels of strategic ball possession. You haven’t known true civic engagement until you’ve tried to mediate a three-way growl-of f at 8 a.m. on a Tuesday.

But that’s summer here. It’s slightly chaotic, oddly sticky, mildly inappropriate. (Like me!) The best things about it are the things we didn’t plan — the spontaneous hose fights, the convertible karaoke, the 6-year-old in the “Pride is for everybody!” shirt covered in Sno-Cone dye and glitter. Even the cicadas scream in agreement. Loud, obnoxious, and impossible to ignore. They’re quieter this year, I assume having moved their droning to Facebook.

So if you see me, sunburned and over-caffeinated, a rainbow flag in one hand and a souvenir bat in the other … don’t judge. Join me. Summer only lasts until someone throws up in the back seat of the road trip van, and then we’re back to school supply sales. Until then, let the sunscreen be thick, the bratwurst be overcooked, and the chaos be glorious.

OB ITUARIES

Betty Peaslee, 94

Peaslee Ha rdware co-proprietor

Betty B. Peaslee (nee Wine), 94, of Lombard, for merly a longtime resident Oak Park, died on May 23, 2025. Born on May 13, 1931, she graduated from Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in 1951 and worked as a secretary for many years for John Hoppe, an appraiser in Oak Park. After her 1975 mar riage to Donald Peaslee, she became the manager of the houseware department for Peaslee Hardware Company in Forest Park and worked alongside her husband. After their retirement in 1987, Betty and Don enjoyed traveling, taking many cruises abroad as well as touring the country.

Betty was an outgoing, welcoming woman who generously gave of her time and talents. She was active in Oak Park’s Infant Welfare Society, the 19th Century Club, First United Church of Oak Park, and Phi Sigma. An avid Bridge and Scrabble player, she had fun hosting family parties and decorating her home for every event. She especially enjoyed choosing and giving gifts to her friends and family, as well as making muffins to give away. She loved attending her grandchildren’s many music and sporting events and will be greatly missed.

Betty was the wife of the late Donald E.; the mother of Katharine Barr Tyler (Robert), Diana (Chris) Flee ge, Kristin Barr (Arien Malec), the late Susan (Mark) Marotta, and Andrew L. Peaslee; the grandmother of Tim Tyler (Jonathan Schildt), Charlie Tyler (Eric Shetzen), Christine (Chris) Pellegrini, Katharine J. Long, Thalia Bar r-Malec, Xavier Bar r-Malec, Anthony Marotta, Michael (Gianna) Marotta, Lisa (Brandon) Davis, and Abigail Peaslee; and the great-grandmother of Wesley, Antonio, Vinny, Gigi, Celia, Giuliano, and Jaylen.

A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 11 a.m. on

Saturday, Aug. 16 at First Cong re gational Church of Glen Ellyn, 535 Forest Ave., Glen Ellyn and all friends and family are welcome to attend. Interment will be private and will take place in the memorial garden of First United Church of Oak Park. Please consider memorial donations in Betty’s name to the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, TSC Alliance, 8737 Colesville Road, Ste 400, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or to the Infant Welfare Society of Oak Park, 28 Madison St., Oak Park, IL 60302.

Garnet Gri n, 86

Musical performer, active volunteer

Garnet Griffin (nee Eichler), 86, fory of Forest Park, died peacefully on Jan. 13, 2025 in her Virginia residence with her daughters by her side. A talented dancer, singer and actor, the mer Forest Park resident performed many local musical productions with her sister and daughters at St. Bernardine School. She was instrumental in obtaining funding for the first Forest Park Pool renovation, and active in local politics, women’s softball leagues, bowling leagues, the St. Bernardine Mothers Club, and a Meals on Wheels volunteer. She retired after 30 years working as a full-time Unit Clerk at Our Lady of Resur rection Hospital.

Garnet was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Mary Eichler (nee Mammay); her husband, William; her son, Michael, and her brothers Thomas, Donny, and David. She is survived by her daughters Cheryl (Michael) Woltjen and Laura (Edward) Zimmerman; her granddaughters, Sigourney, Brigitte, Maxine, Madison, and Lainie (Matthew) Burak; her great-grandson Jackson; her siblings Bill (Joanne), Bob, Dennis (Paz), and Karen; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at St. Joseph Cemetery, Belmont and Cumberland avenues in River Grove, on July 18 at 11 a.m.

Interim

Executive Director Max Reinsdorf

Sta Repor ter Jessica Mordacq

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Contributing Editor Donna Greene

Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, Robert J. Li a

Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls

Marketing & Adver tising Associate Emma Cullnan

Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Operations Associate Susan Babin

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Senior Advisor Dan Haley

Board of Directors

Chair Eric Weinheimer

Treasurer Nile Wendorf

Deb Abrahamson, Mary Cahillane Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson, Darnell Shields, Audra Wilson

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

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)

LEGAL NOTICE

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS

Case Number 2026-0002

Public Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) of the Village of River Forest, County of Cook, State of Illinois, on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Community Room of the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois on the following matter:

Diamond in the Ruff of River Forest, Inc. is seeking a Special Use Permit to establish a facility for Pet care (except veterinary) services in the C-1 Commercial District, in the existing building at 7355 North Avenue, in River Forest, Illinois.

Section 10-18-4 of the Village Code provides the Zoning Board jurisdiction to hold public hearings and offer recommendations to the Village Board concerning applications for a Special Use Permit.

The legal description of the property at 7355 North Avenue is as follows:

LOT 3 IN BLOCK 3 IN ROSSELLS

BONNIE BRAE ADDITION TO RIVER FOREST, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF THE NORTH HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 1, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, (EXCEPTING FROM THE WEST 33 FEET AND THE SOUTH 33 FEET THEREOF DEEDED TO THE VILLAGE OF RIVER FOREST FOR STREET PURPOSES) IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. For public comments to be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Village Board of Trustees in their decision, they must be included as part of the public hearing record. Interested persons can learn more about how to participate in the hearing by visiting www.vrf.us/guides/guide/ DevelopmentGuide

Sincerely,

Clifford Radatz Secretary, Zoning

Board of Appeals

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER� 11�25�Z

HEARING DATE� July 2, 2025 TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, The Economy Shop, seeking a variance from Article 7�7�15�D� �3� of the Oak Park Sign Code allowing a sign to be painted directly on the building’s north exterior façade located at the premises commonly known as 103 S Grove Avenue, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�07� 305�012�0000 �“Subject Property”) in the DT�2 Sub-District of Downtown.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal, June 11, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER� 12�25�Z

HEARING DATE� July 2, 2025 TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Andrew R. Vidikan and Lia H. Daniels, seeking a variance from Section 4.3 �Table 4�1� Residential Districts Dimensional Standards) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance requiring that the maximum building coverage for the lot shall not exceed 1635 square feet �40%� to construct a two-story addition to the existing residence and construct a coach house on the property.

The proposed building coverage is 1,845 square feet �43.67%� at the property commonly known as 308 S Kenilworth Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index

Number 16�07�319�003�0000

(“Subject Property”), in the R�5 Two-family Zoning District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal, June 11, 2025

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS 24-14982 SCHROEDER PARK SPLASH PAD

Notice is hereby given to potential Bidders that the Broadview Park District will be receiving sealed bids for the Site Improvements at Schroeder Park Splash Pad located at 2600 South 13th Avenue, Broadview, IL 60155. IDNR Project # OS 25-2581. The Project is being financed, in part, with funds from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, “Open Space Lands Acquisition & Development” (OSLAD) grant program.

The scope of this project is as follows and identified in the document.

1. Demolition/Removal

2. Grading/Drainage/Water Service

3. Electrical and plumbing

4. Concrete

5. Splash Pad Development

6. Site Furnishings

7. Fencing

and rejected. The Owner will require the successful bidder to furnish a satisfactory Performance and Materials Bond for the total contract amount. Once submitted, no bids will be withdrawn without written consent from the Owner’s Attorney.

MBE/FBE PARTICIPATION

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

8. Landscape Plantings & Restoration

9. Alternate: Synthetic Turf

Specifications may be obtained beginning at 10:00 AM on June 11, 2025 through the BHFX planroom, https://www.bhfxplanroom.com between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. A non-refundable fee will be charged for each requested bid package. See BHFX’s planroom for the cost of both a printed copy and PDF download, or $65.00 for only a PDF download.

Each bid must be placed in a sealed envelope clearly marked “Sealed Bid: Schroeder Park Splash Pad” and addressed to the Broadview Park District, 2600 S. 13th Avenue, Broadview, IL 60155, Attention: Darion Hills, Executive Director. Bids will be received until 2:00 P.M. on June 10, 2025, at which time the bid proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud at 2600 S. 13th Avenue, Broadview, IL 60155.

The Park District Board of Commissioners reserves the right to waive all technicalities, to accept or reject any or all bids, to accept only portions of a proposal and reject the remainder. Failure to make such a disclosure will not result in accrual of any right, claim or cause of action by any Bidder against the Broadview Park District. Bids shall not include federal excise tax or state sales tax for materials and equipment to be incorporated in, or fully consumed in the performance of, the Work.

The Broadview Park District encourages minority contractors to submit bids for this project. The successful contractor is encouraged to utilize minority businesses as sub-contractors for supplies, equipment, services, etc.

Questions will be answered in the form of written addenda and provided to all Bidders, as per State of Illinois statutes. Submit questions regarding the bid in writing to sarah.dreier@jsdinc. com, no later than 3:00 p.m. on June 20, 2025

Published in Forest Park Review June 11, 2025

US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST

Plaintiff vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF WILLIE G. HENRY; FLORENCETTA HENRY; TCF NATIONAL BANK; ANITA HENRY; COURTNEY HENRY; EBONEE HENRY; MERCEDES HENRY; TIARA HENRY; JACK LYDON, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF WILLIE G. HENRY; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF FLORENCETTA HENRY, IF ANY; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendant 17 CH 13529 CALENDAR 61 NOTICE OF SALE

An Exemption Certificate will be furnished by the Broadview Park District on request of the Bidder, for use in connection with this Project only.

The Work of this Project is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq. A prevailing wage determination has been made by the Broadview Park District which is the same as that determined by the Illinois Department of Labor for public works projects in Cook County.

A Certified or Cashier’s check payable to the Owner, or a Bid Bond in an amount equal to Ten Percent (10%) of the total bid amount must accompany each bid. In addition, each Bidder shall submit a proof of insurance demonstrating the Bidders insurability. Failure to provide a Bid Bond or proof of insurance shall render the bid incomplete

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION ATHENE ANNUITY & LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY Plaintiff vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS OF JOYCE A. ROBINSON, CITY OF CHICAGO, CAPITAL ONE, N.A. SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), N.A., MIDLAND FUNDING LLC, RONALD ROBINSON, JUVONA ROBINSON, AMIR MOHABBAT AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendant 23 CH 1793 CALENDAR 59 NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on July 21, 2025, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-09-315-063-0000. Commonly known as 635 Rice Avenue, Bellwood, IL 60104. The real estate is: 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: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Codilis & Associates, P.C., 15W030 North Frontage Road. Suite 100, Burr Ridge, IL 60527. (630) 794-5300. 14-23-01315 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3267950

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on July 21, 2025, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-17-113-013-0000. Commonly known as 236 N. FOREST AVE., HILLSIDE, IL 60162. The real estate is: 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: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Suite 201, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 357-1125. 2300555

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3267963

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Wine Down

WITH THE SHERIDAN

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18 | 4:30 – 5:30 P.M. 800 N. HARLEM AVENUE | RIVER FOREST, IL 60305

We’re popping the corks, and you’re invited! Join us for an evening of wine, appetizers and great conversation. It’s the perfect opportunity to “wine” down, meet residents and team members, and discover how life at The Sheridan at River Forest can really sparkle.