Forest Park Review 071421

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA, NFP ForestParkReview.com Vol. 104, No. 28

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Forest Parker in native garden tour

F O R E S T PA R K

REVIEW

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Hideaway on Roosevelt Rd. condemned

JULY 14, 2021

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Tiffany Brunson resigning as D91 principal

District creates new community engagement role

By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

Forest Park is losing a well-loved and highly respected principal as Dr. Tiffany Brunson is leaving Forest Park School District 91 where she has served as the principal of Field Stevenson and Forest Park Middle School. The board will consider her resignation at the July 8 meeting. Brunson has been with the district since 2012.

Superintendent Elizabeth Alvarez said D91 is “working fast” and already looking for someone to take Brunson’s place.

“Please know we are currently conducting interviews to find a highly qualified principal,” AlTIFFANY BRUNSON varez told the Review in a July 7 email. “We hope to be finished by the end of July.”

She added that the district is “losing a significant leader and truly it is our loss.

D91 has also made some changes in communications and marketing for the district, eliminating the position of Public Relations and Communications Manager, previously held by Scott Dunnell, who has left D91, and instead creating a Family and Community Engagement Manager position. Nurys Uceta Ramos has been hired for that position and will begin July 19.

“She will support the district in relationship building for our families and community,” Alvarez said.

Dunnell was hired in 2018 to replace Rebecca Latham who’d served in a similar capacity for about three years prior to that.

Forest Park’s a stage

Shakespeare ensemble to perform ‘As You Like It’ this summer ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

FOREST PARK THEATER COMPANY: From left, actors Kaylah Crosby and Freya Trefonides and director Rick Corley talk with actor Joseph Johnson about a scene from “As You Like It” during a rehearsal on July 10. The play will run at the Roos Pavillion at the end of July and beginning of August.

By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

The Park District of Forest Park is famous for its 16-inch softball tournaments and popular for its aquatic center.

But this summer, professional theater will be added to the park’s offerings in a project between the park district and the Forest Park Theater Company, a newly formed ensemble of trained actors, led by resident and professional director Rick Corley.

Four full-length performances of Shakespeare’s ‘As You

IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 THIS Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Like It’ will be performed free of charge outdoors at the Roos Pavilion on July 31, Aug. 1, Aug. 7 and Aug. 8.

The play, which will be about two hours in duration, including an intermission, will begin around 5 p.m. Corley said it will be held during daylight, because that’s the way plays were performed during Shakespeare’s time. Without the need for stage lighting, Corley said, the emphasis will be on the actors and storytelling.

Corley and his wife Tanera Marshall moved to Forest Park See SHAKESPEARE on page 12

D91 schools opening in-person

Get ready for Ribfest

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Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

No gloves but plenty of love

I

t’s back! The No Gloves National 16-inch Softball Tournament will commence on the evening of July 22, featuring four teams competing for the final slots in the 24-team field. It will continue through the weekend, with the championship game on Sunday the 25th. No one is happier about the return of the tournament than Park District Executive Director Jackie Iovinelli.

Jackie recalled how heartbreaking it was to cancel what would have been the 52nd Annual tournament even though it was for the best. The games would have been played without food, fans, or cold beverages. The players would have been required to wear masks, and they would have been barred from their dugouts. “It would have destroyed the whole tradition of the event,” she said.

That was last summer.

“This year, we hit the ground running at 100 mph,” she said, “The staff is excited, the players are excited, and the community is excited. Everything will be like 2019.”

The food tents will be back serving tacos, rib sandwiches and chicken. The beer stands will be back dispensing Miller Lite products. Most importantly, premier softball will be played on The Park’s pristine fields.

Jackie and Grace Kenney are co-directors of the tournament.

They also constituted the selection committee, which reviewed statistics for each team’s record in league and tournament play. Of the 23 teams selected, there are stalwarts like the 45’s, Signature, and Chicago Dynasty.

“We’re also inviting younger teams, like YTD, to keep the sport alive,” Jackie said. “This is their dream!”

The long-range weather forecast is for cloudy and cool conditions, which would be ideal for players and spectators alike.

They’re expecting the tournament to draw thousands of fans. Jackie likens the event to a giant “family reunion.” It will be even more special this year because members of the softball “family” haven’t seen each other in a long time.

The only change from past years is behind the scenes. “Mr. Stats,” who tirelessly compiled statistics for each game, has retired. Staff members will serve as scorekeepers and statisticians using a new software program to replace Mr. Stats’ manual methods.

Besides the action on the fields, there will be plenty for kids to do at the pool and playground. They can also play pick-up games with the softballs they scrounge.

Jackie expects players and fans to re-

JOHN RICE

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spect the tournament’s family-friendly environment and show respect to residents.

Of all the social gatherings the village hosts, No Gloves seems immune to rowdy behavior. Keeping the tournament running smoothly can be exhausting for park staff, including the busy grounds crews, but no one’s complaining. That’s because the pandemic was the greatest challenge they ever faced.

They had to work twice as hard during the pandemic, Jackie recalled. They would spend months planning events, only to see them cancelled due to safety restrictions.

“Facing the unexpected was so challenging, but we learned it’s OK to make changes. We became more adaptable and flexible.”

For example, planning for the tournament usually starts in February. This year, they waited until May when they were certain it would be played.

The pandemic also crystalized their mission at the park district. “People need to be in the parks,” Jackie said. “They need the health and wellness and socializing. We know the importance of what we do.” Of all the sporting events that were cancelled

by COVID, the loss of the tournament hit closest to home.

So this year’s No Gloves should be especially joyous.

Even for teams who lose their first game and have to fight their way through the loser’s bracket.

T I M E . . .

BICENTENNIAL BILLBOARD The spirit of ‘76 could be found all around Forest Park 45 years ago, as locals celebrated the Bicentennial. Residents painted garages and grew beards, and the park hosted a donkey softball game. This Roy Strom garbage truck became a Bicentennial billboard that year. It was painted by Roy Strom, left, grandson of the firm’s founder under the admiring eye of his father George, right. The rig made appearances in several area parades and was in the Strom fleet, never refusing refuse.

JILL WAGNER

F O R E S T PA R K

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 Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Mark Moroney Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich

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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: $30 per year. $44 for two years, $60 for three years.

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Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

Not your mother’s garden Forest Parker participating in July 24 native garden tour

By LACEY SIKORA

T

Contributing Reporter

he West Cook chapter of Wild Ones, is holding its annual garden walk on Saturday, July 24 from 1 to 5 p.m. The walk, which celebrates, birds, bees and butterflies, will include eight gardens in Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park and Berwyn.

During the walk, host gardeners will be on hand to give guided overviews of their gardens and answer questions about native gardening, sustainable landscaping, edible gardening, DIY versus professional designers and urban homesteading.

This year, West Cook Wild Ones is celebrating the year of the butterfly, and the walk aims to give participants practical information they can use in their own yards to attract and nurture butterflies, create yearround beauty, grow their own food and fight climate change.

One of the gardeners, Candace Blank, says her garden is living proof that anyone can grow a native garden. When she moved into her home in Berwyn in 1990, she says that all she did was mow her lawn. Around 2006, she said, “I finally decided to do something.

I always liked plants, so I hired a landscaper who recommended an English garden and a butterfly garden because they looked pretty.

I didn’t know anything then about natives.”

She joined the national chapter of Wild Ones, a nonprofit formed “to promote environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration and establishment of native plant communities,” and learned about the importance of planting native pollinators one garden at a time.

Shortly thereafter, the West Cook chapter of Wild Ones opened.

“I learned more from their programs, added more natives to my garden and became a convert,” Blank said.

Since then, she’s served on the board of West Cook Wild Ones and has transformed her yard. What started out as a plan to make her yard pretty turned into something with more meaning. Climate change and the collapse of habitats for insects and birds mean her garden has more purpose while looking good, too.

As she looks out into her yard to see a nesting Cooper’s Hawk with a baby, she says seeing the birds and insects enjoy her garden makes her happy and fulfills West Cook Wild Ones’ mission of healing the earth one yard at a time.

In Forest Park, Gretchen Jankowski has a garden that was inspired by her aunt and uncle’s field of wildflowers in rural Illinois.

She grew up loving visits to their farm.

When her parents purchased a home on a lot and a half that received full sun, she knew that she wanted to create her own wildflower prairie in a more urban setting.

An art teacher a Governors State University, Jankowski says that gardening and art have a lot of similarities.

“I like organized chaos, and I like native plants because they do their own thing but also benefit from a bit of structure,” she said.

She’s populated her garden with seeds and plants from her aunt and uncle’s property, with plants from her grandmother’s home and with shared plants from those in the gardening community.

After a few years of nurturing the landscape, she is learning that like art, nothing ever works out exactly as planned with a garden, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While the end result might not be the same was the vision in your head, it might end up being even better.

Oak Park gardener Judy Klem helped organize this year’s walk for West Cook Wild Ones, and while she has been a native gardener for years working with the Oak Park Temple on their gardens, this is the first time she’s opening up her personal garden.

Klem got her start with native gardening when she was raising four children and looking for a way to avoid chemicals in her landscaping. Visits to Lurie Gardens, with its masses of native plants and pollinators, inspired her.

“It was close enough to Oak Park to visit,” Klem said. “I pulled up their plant list, got a book and then I was this crazy lady asking for native plants at the garden store.”

At that point, it was challenging to find

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

BUZZING WITH WILDLIFE: Gretchen Jankowski (top) said her Forest Park garden was inspired by her aunt and uncle’s field of wildflowers in rural Illinois. She planted seeds from her aunt and uncle’s property and plants from her grandmother’s home, creating a garden full of native species that attract birds and insects. native plants at big-box retailers, but she got involved with West Cook Wild Ones and learned from other members and began attending seed swaps and plants sales.

She started small, and eventually converted her yard and the entire parkway along Division Street. What started with one plant has evolved into an escape for the entire neighborhood.

“Once you step out on the parkway, you can just get lost,” she said, adding that neighborhood children can walk through

and look for caterpillars or enjoy the section devoted to berries.

At the end of the day, Klem says that native gardening is something that’s attainable for other home gardeners and has brought her joy.

“It’s been really rewarding,” Klem said.

“When you make a commitment to plant with a purpose, you start to look at gardening through a whole different lens. It’s not just about how it looks but about what it does. This is not your mother’s garden.”

Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

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Pritzker signs bill expanding covered Medicaid services

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois residents who have health coverage through Medicaid now have access to a broad range of services including mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, smoking cessation and dental services.

Gov. JB Pritzker on July 6 signed Senate Bill 2294, which passed unanimously out of both chambers during the spring legislative session.

“This legislation that I’m signing into law today is a product of our passionately dedicated, bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators who are part of the Medicaid legislative working group,” Pritzker said at a bill signing ceremony in suburban Chicago. “… For all the naysayers that always seem to bad-talk the state of Illinois, few other states can say that they have an annual commitment shared across both sides of the aisle to hash out how to make health care access for millions of Illinoisans who rely on Medicaid even better.”

Among many provisions, the bill provides that people covered under Medicaid will continue to be eligible throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency and for up to 12 months after the emergency expires.

It also calls on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish a program for implementation of certified community behavioral health clinics by Jan. 1, 2022, and to develop a “comprehensive behavioral health strategy” that is to be submitted to the governor and General Assembly by July 1, 2022.

Other provisions include recognizing veteran support specialists as mental health professionals under the state’s Medicaid plan; coverage of both individual and group tobacco cessation programs; requiring inpatient treatment for anyone experiencing an opioid overdose or withdrawal if it’s determined to be medically necessary; coverage of kidney transplant medications regardless of a patient’s U.S. residency status; and providing a 10 percent increase, through March 31, 2022, in reimbursement

Photo provided by Blueroomstream.com

EXPANDING SERVICES: Gov. J. B. Pritzker signs a bill into law expanding coverage under the state’s Medicaid plan for mental health, substance abuse treatment and a number of other services. rates for supportive living facilities, to be paid for with federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. House Majority Leader Greg Harris, a Chicago Democrat and member of the Medicaid working group, said this year’s bill is aimed at addressing many of the health care disparities that have existed in Illinois for years but which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s something we in the legislature do every year to improve health care for people in every corner of the state of Illinois, but this will be really the first post-COVID omnibus bill,” he said. “And in this, we’ve learned a lot of lessons from the last year about inequities and disparities and communities hardest hit by COVID. Many of these are covered by Illinois Medicaid. Some of these folks were not covered at all. So today is a step one of many steps to expand coverage and access to make it more user friendly and reduce disparities for people to get health care.”

Critical blood shortage Last week’s bill signing took place at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, a southwest suburb of Chicago,

where health care officials were also conducting a blood drive to address a critical shortage that’s being experienced throughout the state and the country.

Bill Rhoades, chief medical officer at the hospital, said blood usage nationwide has risen about 10 percent recently, due largely to increased visits to emergency rooms.

Joy Squier, regional communications officer for the American Red Cross in Illinois, said the shortage is especially critical as the nation heads into the peak of summer activity.

“While summer is traditionally a time when blood donations do decline, this year is particularly challenging as many Americans receive their vaccinations, resume summer activities, and after more than a year of limited interactions, are doing what’s fun and what we all want to do,” she said. “But it’s leading to lower turnout.”

She said people can schedule an appointment to donate at a blood bank in their area by visiting the website RedCrossBlood.org, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-7332767).

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

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Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

Lil’ Red Wagon keeps rolling along Snack shop relies on butter, sugar, flour, love and God

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

In a society in which size matters, Valorie Mitts, owner of the Lil’ Red Wagon snack shop, contends that being small is key to her success.

The shop is indeed small. Located at 810 S. Beloit Ave. just a few steps from the entrance to The Park on Harrison Street, there

We are Open!

is room for only two people inside the door, and Valorie is owner, manager and lone employee all rolled into one.

Unlike ice cream shops that feature a wide variety of flavors, the Lil’ Red Wagon has five flavors of Italian ice for customers to choose from. Currently they are mango, kiwi strawberry, blue raspberry and lemon.

The 50-year-old entrepreneur says quality not quantity keeps her customers coming back. She bakes her muffins fresh every day and uses real butter. She is also creative and a little whimsical. Among the 100 different cookies she has offered are peanut butter and jelly and potato chip,

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SO SWEET: Valorie Mitts, owner of Lil’ Red Wagon, 810 Beloit Ave., serves Italian ice and homemade baked goods. along with classics like chocolate chip and lemon zinger.

Valorie contends there is one ingredient in her cookies that can’t be found on a grocery store shelf — love. She sometimes prays over the batter she is mixing, and she says there is a little bit of herself in everything she bakes.

What she serves to customers is a personal relationship. “I’m small and intimate and can build rapport.”

“One thing I have learned,” she explained, “is that people want to be acknowledged and accepted. They remember how you treat them as a person.”

Valorie knows most of her patrons, their kids and their dogs by name. Some think of her as a second mother to their children. “If I see the kids doing something wrong,” she said, “I whip them into shape. I feel that’s my responsibility.”

“I describe my business,” she explained, “as a family shop with an old-school twist. I do have the gift of gab and the gift of making people happy. They come in for a cookie and I feed their soul. People look forward to my smile and sense of humor. As they pass the store they might even catch me dancing and singing while I’m baking.”

Entrepreneurs will tell you the three most important factors to consider when starting a business are location, location and location.

Chipotle chose to build at the corner of Madison and Harlem for that very reason. Thousands of cars pass by that corner every day.

So how is it possible for a seasonal business — June through September — hidden away on a residential street with little traffic, next to Jeff Russell’s barber shop and two blocks north of Ed’s Way, make itself known to the public, especially when the owner does zero advertising?

There is some traffic from the pool and tennis courts to the north and the elementary school to the south, and she does post frequently on Facebook, but her main exposure comes from word of mouth. People have even posted pictures of different flavors of her Italian ice on social media.

Thanks to word of mouth and her blend of product and personality, many become return customers. During the interview she noted that recently a loyal customer drove all the way from 95th street to get an Italian ice and a butter cookie.

Valorie comes from a long line of bakers including her grandmother and mother who included her in the baking they were doing.

“There are a lot cookies out there,” she said, “but there’s only one Lil’ Red Wagon.

I use quality ingredients: butter, flour, sugar, love and God. With that recipe you can’t go wrong.”

Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

C R I M E

Woman bit in parking spot dispute Police were called when a fight over a parking spot broke out at the park district, 7501 Harrison St., on July 6 at 4:26 p.m. The incident allegedly began over a dispute about a parking spot. According to the police report, a woman reported that she was holding a pool parking spot for a friend when another woman pulled up and attempted to park there. The woman holding the spot told her she was saving the space for someone else, at which point the woman in the car allegedly got out and started fighting with her.

During the confrontation, the driver struck the other woman in the face and then bit her hand.

When officers tried to break up the fight, the driver did not comply, and attempted to push the officer away so she could continue punching the other woman, despite being ordered continuously to stop.

She was eventually restrained and handcuffed. The other woman had blood on her and a bite mark on her hand.

The driver was arrested for battery and has a court date in August.

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The Dos and Don’ts of Summer Lawn Watering

A diamond ring estimated to be worth $2,000 and a Rolex watch estimated at $9,000 were reported missing from a home on the 900 block of Hannah Avenue on July 2 at 3:45 p.m. Residents noticed the watch and ring missing at the end of June. A caretaker had been in the home several times, and one of the owners stated nobody else had had access to the residence since the items went missing.

asked to exit the vehicle. He said he knew nothing about the baggie. Officers asked him to take off his shoes, and when they removed his socks, three baggies of suspected heroin were discovered.

Officers then asked the driver if he had any drugs, and he said he had some in his underwear. He retrieved four medium Ziplock bags from his shorts.

The men said they’d bought heroin in Chicago and were taken into custody. They were processed on charges of possession of controlled substances and will attend bond hearings later this month.

Bicycle taken

Ferrara Candy Company defaced

A bicycle worth $600, which was chained up outside a residence on the 7400 block of Madison Street, was reported missing by the owner on July 2.

Ferrara Candy– Company, 7301 Harrison St., was the victim of graffiti. Police were called by a security guard on July 2 at 10:12 a.m. The guard said an unknown subject was caught on video defacing the building by painting “FREE WORLD-Never Lose” on it.

Jewelry stolen from home

Open alcohol on Madison Street A man on the 7400 block of Madison Street was caught with an open can of Bell’s Oberon beer on the sidewalk. He had previously received a warning from police regarding the same offense and was given a local ordinance citation for open alcohol.

Heroin arrest made Two men were arrested for possession of heroin on July 2 at 8:42 p.m. after being pulled over near Thornton’s, 600 Harlem Ave., for no front license plate and suspicion of driving on a license suspended for a previous DUI. When the reporting officer looked in the front passenger window with a flashlight, he observed a small green plastic baggie with white residue on the tip next to the passenger’s shoe. The passenger was

Window broken by bullet A resident on the 400 block of Beloit Avenue called police on July 7 at 3:15 p.m. after discovering a suspected bullet hole in his second-floor bedroom window. Police arrived and observed a hole in the window’s screen. They then discovered a 9mm bullet with what appeared to be white paint transferred from the interior window ledge on it.

Car windshield shattered, possibly by bullet On July 6 at 12:40 p.m. police were called when the owner of a vehicle discovered his windshield had been broken by what he said appeared to be a bullet. The car was parked on the 7400 block of Washington Street on

July 4 at 3 p.m. and the man found the windshield broken on July 5 at 6 p.m.

Illegal barbecuing melts garbage can The Forest Park Fire Department and police were called to the park district, 7501 Harrison St., on July 6 at 10:12 p.m. when a garbage can was discovered to be on fire in the north end of the playground area. According to the police report, a brown Ray Strom plastic garbage can was seen smoking and melting. The fire department extinguished the fire and determined that hot coals had been placed in the can, setting it on fire.

A park ranger said earlier he’d spoken to a woman who was barbecuing in the park.

He told her it was against park ordinance to grill there and told her to stop barbecuing.

It is believed that instead of putting out the coals, she disposed of them in the plastic garbage can.

Suspect with ‘beer gut’ breaks window A resident on the 7200 block of Madison Street was in his back yard on July 5 at 6:21 p.m. when he saw a subject throw something through the rear window of his car. Police discovered a rock inside the vehicle, which is what was most likely used to break it. Descriptors of the subject include him or her having a prominent “beer gut.”

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, July 2-7, 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

With the arrival of the summer heat, watering your lawn is important—but watering it correctly is even more so.

Many people incorrectly think that watering more Scott McAdam Jr. frequently is better, but it creates more problems than it resolves. Follow these recommendations to ensure proper growth, health, and longevity: The DOs • DO water your lawn twice per week (every third or fourth day) • DO water for 45 to 60 minutes per irrigation zone. Long, deep watering periods that get deep into the root zone.

• DO water in the pre-dawn and early morning hours. This limits evaporation and allows surface moisture to dry during the daytime hours, which limits the potential for diseases.

• DO utilize a rain gauge to ensure you are getting adequate moisture (1 ½ inches per week) The DON’Ts • DON’T water at night or in the late afternoon (vulnerable to possible development of various diseases) • DON’T water shallow. 15 to 20 minutes per zone won’t cut the mustard. Much of this water will evaporate before it can make it to the root zone, resulting in turf that appears un-watered.

• DON’T water too frequently.

Oversaturation leads to shallowrooted grass that is susceptible to disease and poor tolerance to the throes of summer heat.

Follow us on

2001 Des Plaines Ave. Forest Park • 708-771-2299 www.mcadamlandscape.com

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Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

July 14-21

BIG WEEK Ice Cream Social and Outdoor Movie at the Park Join the Park District of Forest Park on Friday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. for a free ice cream social, followed by the movie “Trolls: World Tour,” beginning at dusk. Ice cream will be available on a first come, first served basis. 7501 Harrison St.

Grow a Pollinator Garden

Author Discussion and Signing with Robert Goldsborough Robert Goldsborough will be discussing and signing copies of his book “Trouble at the Brownstone” at Centuries & Sleuths, 7419 Madison St., on July 18 at 2 p.m. The book stars Archie Goodwin, assistant to a legendary private detective, who goes undercover. Goldsborough is an author from Chicago, who had a career as a journalist and writes mysteries. For more information, visit centuriesandsleuths.com.

Mystery Discussion Group Come out to Centuries & Sleuths, 7419 Madison St., on July 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. for a discussion of “The Death of Mrs. Westaway” by Ruth Ware. Visit centuriesandsleuths.com for more information.

Join the Forest Park Public Library and Conservation@Home on July 17 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. for a presentation on pollinator gardens. Plant a “pocket” of flowers that attract and nurture pollinators in your own yard. Learn more about various blooming plants for all seasons, the pollinators needed for survival and their larger role in our eco-system. Led by Illinois Extension Master Gardener Barb Harris and Master Naturalist Navraaz Basati. A Cook County Conservation@Home Presentation. Pollinator garden starter kits are available at the library while supplies last. The program will take place over Zoom. Learn more at fppl. org/events or email coordinator mcline@fppl.org for more information.

Forest Park Annual Garden Walk Join the Historical Society of Forest Park on Saturday, July 17th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as beautiful outdoor spaces and gardens of Forest Park are showcased. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $20 day of the event.

All tickets purchased will be picked up at Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore, 7419 Madison St., on the day of the event. Your ticket will also enroll you in free giveaways and prizes. Safety protocols and social distancing will be followed for the event.

Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

D91 announces full in-person instruction to begin in the fall District following ISBE guidance for reopening, safety

By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

Forest Park Elementary Schools District 91 will be starting the school year on Aug. 24 with a return to in-person instruction. This includes regular academic classes as well as a full offering of extracurricular activities, according to a July 8 communication from Superintendent Elizabeth Alvarez.

No remote option will be provided for the general population of students, although in special circumstances involving medical needs or restrictions and following strict guidelines, allowances will be made.

The district is following direction from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and is still waiting on specific guidance regarding some safety requirements, including mask wearing, social distancing and transportation provisions, but Alvarez said families will be informed throughout the summer as updates are available.

“Our health services personnel have been working diligently to stay on top of related health and safety guidance, and to include necessary adjustments to our plans,” wrote Alvarez in her July 8 communication to families.

The traditional schedule will be followed, with all schools in attendance from 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. except for Forest Park Middle School, whose hours are 8:05 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

In May, ISBE determined that all Illinois public schools will return to full in-person learning. Schools are only required to provide a remote learning option for students who aren’t eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine and who are also under a quarantine order by the local or state health department, stated Alvarez in her communication to families.

In other words, there are strict rules that the district will follow in providing remote learning; it will not be an option presented to all students this year.

At this point, the district will not require staff or students eligible to receive the vaccine – currently those 12 and up – to get the shot. Nor, said Alvarez at the June 8 school board meeting, can the district require teachers to indicate whether they’re vaccinated. District administration has asked but cannot require a response.

As for students getting the shot, Board President Kyra Tyler compared the COVID-19 vaccine to the flu shot in terms of it

File photo

BACK IN PERSON: Students at Forest Park Middle School, 925 Beloit Ave., will return to in-person learning on Aug. 24 like all District 91 children. being recommended but not required. Currently, the COVID-19 vaccine is not part of the required childhood vaccine schedule.

But Tyler pleaded with families in the district to get vaccinated if possible, to protect the health and safety of students and staff and to allow for the school year to run as smoothly as possible.

“COVID is still out there,” Tyler said during the meeting. “We are lucky that we are in an area with really good vaccination rates … But I just want to say very clearly that if you are eligible, and you can receive the vaccine safely, I am begging you to please take it because what we want to do is bring our kids back for a consistent school year that hopefully is not upset by giant swings in COVID transmission rates that then forces us back to a remote situation.”

Alvarez acknowledged that the return to school may present emotional difficulties or stress and that the teachers and staff are preparing to ensure the back-to-school experience is as smooth as possible.

“We acknowledge the transition back to full-time, in-person instruction may be stressful for all, and we also know that the effects of the pandemic will be felt differently by individual students,” wrote Alvarez.

“Our staff is committed to learn all they can about post-pandemic needs and supports, ensuring that students who may be feeling scared, nervous, anxious, or hesitant about the return to school know exactly where to find support. A top priority of our planning effort is the social and emotional aspect of our students’ learning and development.”

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Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

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Hideaway bar on Roosevelt Rd. condemned

By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

On July 7, the village of Forest Park posted notice that Hideaway, 7301 Roosevelt Rd., has been condemned and is under an emergency order of demolition.

Director of Building, Planning and Zoning Steve Glinke said bricks had fallen from the façade this week, raising concern that the structure may be unsafe. He hopes the demolition will occur within the next few weeks.

George Grivas, who owned the property when the Hideaway was still an active bar, died in 2016. The Cook County Treasurer’s office website lists the current owner as Vasiliki Grivas, but a relative of George Grivas told the Review on July 7 that the property was in George Grivas’ name only, and no family member owns it today.

In 2018, said Glinke, the village sent an order for demolition to the owner’s last known

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address but received no response. Now the village will do the work and foot the bill, since ownership of the property is uncertain.

Glinke said he estimates demolition to be around $40,000. The village, he said, will put a lien on the property. “But we might not see that money again,” Glinke said.

Without time for competitive bids to demolish the building, an ordinance waiving competitive bidding will be presented to the village council, hopefully at the July 12 meeting, and approval for the work to begin will be voted on as well, Glinke said.

Safety tape has been put up around the property, and fencing will be erected on July 8 to keep people away from the building.

In its heyday, the Hideaway was a lively bar, but it’s been closed since April 2014 after the village shut it down for over 40 building code violations, both inside and outside.

Grivas died two years later. For years, the property has sat empty and boarded up, inhabited only by rats, according to neighbors.

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DEMOLITION IMMINENT: The Hideaway at 7301 Roosevelt Rd. has been condemned.

Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

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New law requires public schools to teach Asian American history Legislation comes amid rising anti-Asian sentiment from pandemic

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – All public schools in Illinois will soon be required to teach a unit on Asian American history and culture as part of their social studies curriculum.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Friday signed a bill known as the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History, or TEAACH Act, into law, making Illinois the first state in the nation to enact such a requirement.

“It’s a historic moment for our state and for our nation, as we elevate Asian American voices teaching history to include those who have been historically silenced,” Pritzker said during a bill signing ceremony at Niles West High School in Skokie.

The bill, House Bill 376, was sponsored by two Asian American legislators, Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, and Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago.

Gong-Gershowitz, a third-generation Chinese American, said the bill was prompted in part by the rise of anti-Asian sentiment in the United States that arose during the pandemic.

“Like a lot of legislation, this has been a topic of conversation for a while,” she said.

“But it occurred to us and the TEAACH coalition and (Asian Americans) Advancing Justice Chicago that this was the best way for us to respond to the rise in anti-Asian hate and xenophobia that we have seen in the pandemic. And so the strategy to pass this legislation now was very much motivated in part by what we saw happening in the world.”

Gong-Gershowitz related her own family history from the time her grandfather came to the U.S. in the 1920s, about 40 years after Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, the first major federal legislation restricting immigration. But she said she never learned about that, or about the constitutional issues surrounding the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, until she was in law school.

“Throughout elementary, high school and college, none of this history was covered in my social studies classes,” she said. “I had no idea that these laws existed, much less how deeply they had impacted my own family. My family’s history had been deliberately hidden by my grandparents, who like many other first-generation Americans, were desperate to survive and saw the discrimination that they endured as an impediment to the success of the next generation. They never talked about their struggles.”

Under the new law, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, all public elementary schools and high schools in Illinois will be

required to teach one unit that focuses on the events of Asian American history from the 19th century to the present, including the history of Asian Americans in Illinois and the Midwest, as well as the contributions Asian Americans have made toward advancing civil rights.

The law also provides that the course work will include the contributions made by individual Asian Americans in government, art, humanities and science as well as the contributions of Asian American communities to the economic, cultural, social

and political development of the U.S. It also tasks the State Board of Education with preparing and distributing instructional materials that local districts can use as guidelines as they develop their own curriculum.

That new law comes on the heels of legislation Pritzker signed earlier this year expanding the teaching of Black history in public schools, including the history of African civilization before enslavement, as well as a law Pritzker signed in 2019 requiring schools to include the contributions of

LGBTQ individuals in history lessons.

Carmen Ayala, the state superintendent of education, praised passage of the new law and noted that the majority of Illinois students – about 53 percent, according to data from ISBE – are now people of color.

“I strongly believe in the intrinsic value of sharing the stories and the contributions of our cultures that weave the beautiful tapestry of our state and of our nation,” she said.

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Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

SHAKESPEARE

Coming to the Roos from page 1 about four years ago. They are both longtime teachers in the theater department at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Corley as a Shakespeare, acting and theater history professor and Marshall in voice and speech.

Corley has over 35 years’ experience as a director and producer of theater, including theater and art director roles in theater companies in Wisconsin and New York.

Marshall is a professional and renowned dialect coach, with an extensive history of working with actors on shows and movies you’ve probably heard of, like “Fargo” and “Army of the Dead.”

At UIC, Corley said he’s oft engaged in conversations within the School of Theater and Music about the need to create a bridge for students from school to the professional world.

“We give the students four years of intense training, and then send them out and tell them to go make a living,” Corley said.

What’s missing, though, are more concrete avenues for students to get experience after they leave school.

This project, said Corley, marries his desire to create that bridge for students and his vision of bringing theater to Forest Park.

“When I moved to Forest Park, I’d walk by the park and think, ‘There should be theater here,’” Corley said.

When he approached the park district about partnering with him, Executive Director Jackie Iovinelli and Recreation Supervisor Rachell Entler were extremely interested and excited about the project.

Entler and Corley’s initial conversations

focused on how to make the theater experience unique to Forest Park, and they both realized that accessibility – having the performances free – was the goal. Oak Park Festival Theater, for example, a long-running and highly respected theater company, puts on outdoor Shakespeare performances, but the general admission price is typically $35.

Corley said he didn’t want any barriers to people seeing the plays in Forest Park.

“All art should be responsive to the community,” Corley said. “And Rachell and I wanted theater here to be responsive to Forest Park.”

The actors who will be performing in the play share this sentiment.

“The point of theater is to welcome people into different worlds,” Yourtana Sulaiman, who will play the part of Rosalind, said. “How can you do that if your ticket prices make it impossible for some people to come?”

The fact that the performances will be free doesn’t mean the play won’t be professional. Actors have begun rehearsing and will spend in total more than 20 hours a week for at least a month practicing.

The quality of the performance, Corley said, will be the same as any professional production. The actors are almost all recent graduates or current students of the theater department at UIC. “They’re capable and skilled and need an opportunity to work,” Corley said.

But not charging for the performances comes with a price for the actors, who aren’t getting paid. Some travel from the city, taking public transportation to get to Forest Park for rehearsals. They say it’s worth it, though. Being a part of the ensemble will be invaluable in terms of experience and, as Corley said, a bridge between school and moving into the professional world.

Elijah Newman, one of the actors in the play, graduated in 2019 from the theater department at UIC. He took classes from both

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

REHEARSAL: Kaylah Crosby, right, works on a scene from “As You Like It” with Joseph Johnson during a July 10 rehearsal.

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

MUSIC TOO: Elijan Newman and Zoe Srebnick play guitar during a July 10 rehearsal for “As You Like It. Corley and Marshall and calls the two his “college mom and dad.”

“This will be more artistically fulfilling than any role I could be paid for,” Newman said. Coming out of COVID, where there was little opportunity to perform in person, being back on stage with other actors is something he said he’s “desperate” for. But he added that he believes in the goal Corley and Entler have, to ensure anyone who wants to see the play can do so.

“We want the show to be free so people have access to it,” Newman said. “We want to build relationship and become a family in Forest Park. That prospect is what brings me out here every day to rehearse. I’m excited to see myself in Forest Park for a long time.”

Newman and fellow actor Andrea Muriel are talking with Entler about setting up a theater workshop for kids with the park district and are already developing a lesson plan. He said tentatively the program, which is still in the works, would be open to kids aged 8 to 14 and would have a “sprinkling” of Shakespeare.

Corley said he chose ‘As You Like It’ because it’s one of his favorite Shakespeare plays, which he’s directed before. But the theme, he said, is particularly relevant now.

“It’s a comedy that is about our relationship to nature and the way we relate to each other as men and women and how we’re all both men and women in our bodies,” Corley said. “In our time right now of gender questioning and fluidity, it’s a wonderful play to perform.”

He added that it’s a story of redemption, of our struggle with coming to terms with what it means to have a home and to be exiled.

“The play has songs and dancing,” Corley said. “Everything is there. It has everything.”

Sulaiman said, “It’s a really beautiful play about people and the love they have for each other, and the lengths they’ll go to for each other. Shakespeare shows everything about human nature, not just the nice bits.”

Corley said this is only the beginning.

He hopes to expand the offerings next year, including several plays, possibly incorporating new work in addition to classics.

Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

Start up those grills

Ribfest making a comeback in September

By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

Think you’ve got the best barbecue around? Put your grill skills to the test by registering for the 2021 Forest Park Ribfest, which will be held on Sept. 11. Applications are available on the village website at forestpark.net.

Last year’s event was cancelled due to COVID-19, but this year grills and smokers will be out again in full force. Slots for contestants are limited, and applications will be accepted on a first come, first-served basis.

The entry fee is $185 and must be submitted with the application. A 10 x 10 tent is provided for all contestants.

Some basic rules: ■ Contestants can start setting up at 6 a.m. the day of the event.

■ Contestants must use pork ribs only (baby back or spareribs).

■ All cooking must be done on the premises.

Judging will be done blindly. In other words, judges won’t know who made the ribs they’re sampling and rating. Ribs will

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be judged using the following criteria: taste, tenderness, and visual presentation.

Contestants can sell 2-rib samples to the public for $4 and keep the proceeds, but a full slab of 12 ribs is required for judging.

First prize is $1,000, second is $700 and third is $300.

File photo

BBQ’S BACK: Chris Chin from the Forest Park Police Department and owner of Beach Avenue BBQ in Brookfield competed in 2019’s Ribfest.

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14

Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

OPINION O U R

Boys of summer (will be boys)

V I E W

Brunson a hard loss for D91

T

he hope in a new school administration is that it builds off inherited strengths. For Forest Park’s District 91 elementary schools and its new superintendent Elizabeth Alvarez that would mean growing with Tiffany Brunson as principal of Field Stevenson and the middle school.

Sadly, Brunson has announced her resignation after nine years. We don’t know the ins and outs of her decision, though to us she would have made a strong candidate to have become this district’s new superintendent.

That wasn’t to be and we are, so far, impressed by Alvarez who from the moment of her hiring has exuded a welcoming and collaborative attitude toward every constituency in this district. That honest reflection included her comment on news of Brunson’s departure. “We are losing a significant leader and truly it is our loss,” said Alvarez. That is a generous and a true statement, which reflects so well on Alvarez.

It also sends an affirming message to district staff that good work is recognized and valued.

The new superintendent told the Review last week that she is actively interviewing candidates for the top job at Field Stevenson/Forest Park Middle School. Her leadership background at the Chicago Public Schools undoubtedly brings many connections to be plumbed for principal candidates.

In critical moments of a full reset — and that is what we are looking for in D91 — we’re not fans of interim leaders in essential posts such as this principalship. We are confident that Dr. Alvarez can choose a strong and vital leader for this role.

Meanwhile, we offer thanks to Dr. Brunson for her outstanding work in what is likely the toughest job this district has. She has been strong and straightforward in her leadership, visible and accessible to parents and staff, tough but caring with students.

It truly is our loss.

Why not Shakespeare?

One of the lovely and inspiring changes in Forest Park over recent years is the organic growth and increasing visibility of the arts community.

Whether it is Garage Galleries, Echo Theater Collective, partnerships with the Chamber to bring art to Madison Street, or the community-building paint job on the Circle Avenue bridge, it’s all good, all inspiring, all affirming of the talent and the diversity in this village.

This week Maria Maxham reports on a new initiative to bring Shakespeare to The Park.

As You Like It will be performed four times — July 31 and Aug. 1, 7 and 8 — by a troupe of actors gathered by Forest Parker Rick Corley. Corley is on the theater faculty at the University of Illinois Chicago. Says he has been walking by The Park and always thought it should host theater.

The leaders at the park district agreed when he approached them. Their focus was that the performances need to be accessible to all residents. So the price of admission is zero. The performance time is 5 p.m. And the welcome is enthusiastic.

Editor’s note: This week, we’re rerunning an old column of Alan’s.

I

mentioned my love of baseball on the radio recently, and it has come to my attention that many of those reading are unacquainted with this particular art form. Radio baseball, properly executed, reaches its absolute peak when it becomes apparent to the listener that the hosts have gotten so into their tangential discussion that they are, at best, only peripherally aware that 1) there is a baseball game going on in front of them, and 2) they are supposed to be describing the action therein. Ideally, it’s a bit like sitting with your grandpa and his friends at the VFW, listening to them talk while watching a ballgame on a tiny soundless TV over the bar.

Pat Hughes and the much-missed Ron Santo were the all-time best I’ve ever heard at this. (For a slightly different take, dial in 620AM during a Brewers game to hear the one-man band, Bob Uecker.) For those of you unacquainted with Pat & Ron, here is a fictionalized, but highly realistic, “transcript.”

Pat: Your barber has a gumball machine?

Ron: Oh, yeah. One of the old-fashioned kind, with the round top. [modest crowd noise] Pat: Struck him out. I haven’t seen a real old-fashioned penny gumball machine in years, Ronnie.

Ron: They’re not a penny anymore.

The one at the barber is a quarter. You believe that? A quarter!

Pat: Twenty-five cents for a gumball?

[Crack of the bat, crowd noise increases] Ron: [over the crowd] It’s a big gumball. I remember when 25 cents would’ve kept me in gum for a month.

Pat: Ruggiano makes the catch to retire Walker.

Two gone and that brings up Pedro Alvarez. Twenty-five cents used to get you a lot more. I remember buying two candy bars with a quarter.

Ron: Oh, I’d’ve thought you could get more than that, but I don’t eat much candy anymore, y’know. [both chuckle] Pat: No you don’t, Ronnie, and it’s saved you a lot of money.

Ron: I wonder how much I’ve saved on candy in my life.

Pat: Enough to keep you in haircuts for a long time! [both chuckle] Ron: I wonder what Jose paid for his haircut.

Pat: Speaking of Jose, the count is two-and-two to Alvarez.

Ron: If he had it done in the clubhouse like I used to, it wouldn’t have cost him anything!

Pat: I wonder if they still do clubhouse haircuts grounder to Castro at short, the throw over to Rizzo and that’s the game. We’ll have to ask them during the postgame show, coming up next, on the Cubs radio network!

ALAN

BROUILETTE

*** Pat: We’re back on WGN Radio here at Wrigley Field on a beautiful summer afternoon in Chicago.

Cub closer Jose Veras on the mound to start the top of the ninth to face Pittsburgh left-fielder Starling Marte.

Ron: Looks like Jose has a new haircut.

Pat: It sure does, Ronnie. Handsome job, too.

Strike one to the hitter. Wonder who his barber is?

Ron: We had a guy in the clubhouse who did them, back when I was playing. You’d go to the locker room and get a trim between innings.

Pat: A good haircut can make you feel strike two 10 years younger.

Ron: Oh, man, that’s the truth. I had a haircut a couple of weeks ago that still makes me feel good today. My grandson went with me. He got a gumball from that machine.

L E T T E R S

T O

Letters to the editor should include the author’s first and last name, town of residence and phone number for authorization purposes only. The Review will not publish phone numbers. All letters are subject to editing for space and content purposes and typically will be printed in the order they are

*** It’s like electronically transmitted Xanax. So perfect.

T H E

E D I T O R

received. While the Review does not impose a word limit, we encourage comments be held to 300 words.

Letters to the editor can be received by e-mail at ktrainor@wjinc.com, or by mail to Forest Park Review, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Ill., 60302.

Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

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Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year ForestParkReview.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@FORESTPARKREVIEW.COM PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF COOK VILLAGE OF FOREST PARK

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: Y21007299 on July 1, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of JOYFUL NOISE MUSIC STUDIO with the business located at: 256 WASHINGTON BLVD #2, OAK PARK, IL 60302, 411 PARK AVE #3, RIVER FOREST, IL 60305. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: OLIVIA MULLINS 256 WASHINGTON BLVD #2, OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA.

I, VANESSA MORITZ, CLERK OF THE VILLAGE OF FOREST PARK, DO HEREBY STATE, that on Monday, July 26, 2021, at 6:45 PM at the Forest Park Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, a public hearing will be held to consider the proposed adoption of the Appropriation Ordinance for fiscal year 2021-2022 for the Village of Forest Park. At the public hearing, all interested persons may provide comments concerning the appropriation of the sums of money the Village of Forest Park deems necessary to defray all its necessary expenses and liabilities. The appropriation document will be available for public inspection no later than July 16, 2021, in the Village Clerk’s Office at the Village of Forest Park, 517 DesPlaines Ave., Forest Park, Illinois.

Dated this 14th day of July, 2021 Vanessa Moritz Clerk, Village of Forest Park Published in Forest Park Review July 14, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) is proposing to install two new light pole telecommunications facilities within River Forest, Cook County, IL 60305 near the following addresses: (1) approx. 36ft light pole near 1022 Harlem Ave (6121004576) and (1) approx. 32ft light pole near 435 Williams St (6121004577).

Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Project 6121004576and 6121004577- MW c/o EBI Consulting, 6876 Susquehanna Trail South, York, PA 17403, mwiginton@ebiconsulting.com, or via telephone at (678) 481-6555.

Published in Wednesday Journal July 14, 2021

Published in Wednesday Journal July 7, 14, and 21, 2021

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

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

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

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

Wednesday Journal • Landmark • Forest Park Review

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       

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR HIS ASSET SECURITIZATION CORPORATION TRUST 2007OPT1, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-OPT1; Plaintiff, vs.

CHARLES T. GRANT; JUANITA J. GRANT AKA JUANITA LACOURT; PRAIRIE PLACE AT 6436 ROOSEVELT CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 19 CH 14415 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 Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-18-428-043-1019 & 16-18428-043-1064.

Commonly known as 6436 Roosevelt Road, Unit 311, Oak Park, IL 60304.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9 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 Law Clerk at Plaintiff’s Attorney, The Wirbicki Law Group, 33 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. (312) 3609455. W18-0641 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3171912

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Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

CLASSIFIED

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

HELP WANTED River Forest Public Schools District 90

District 90 is seeking qualified and experienced applicants for the following positions:

• English Language Learners Teacher (Full-time at Roosevelt Middle School and Parttime FTE 0.50 at Lincoln Elementary School) • Social Worker (Roosevelt Middle School) • Speech and Language Pathologist (Roosevelt Middle School) • Physical Education Teachers, ( Full-time at Roosevelt Middle School and Part-time FTE 0.77 at Willard Elementary School) • STEM Teacher, Grades 6-8 (Roosevelt Middle School) • Instructional Specialist (Roosevelt Middle School) • Kindergarten Teacher Part-time FTE 0.50 (Willard Elementary School)

For detailed qualifications requirements and job duties, please visit our website at https://www.district90.org/about/ employment for our complete list of employment opportunities.

General Qualifications: Valid Illinois Professional Education License with endorsement in field of study, a Master’s Degree is preferred and successful teaching experience with students in a classroom setting is preferred.

General Duties: Provide excellence in education by developing and implementing activities that encourage students to be life-long learners. Possesses knowledge of District policies and regulations relating to areas of responsibilities. Create an environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to the developmental maturity and interests of each student.

Application: Apply online at www.district90.org. Application Procedure: Interested candidates should complete the online application available at district90.org. Please do not send hard copies of supporting documentation, i.e. cover letters, resumes, licensure, etc. to River Forest Schools District 90; instead, upload these materials onto the online job application system for proper processing.

BAND SAW WELDER TECH, GENL LABORER OPENINGS Local sharpening service has two openings: Band Saw Welder Technician and General Laborer position. Apply at 1233 Circle Ave. Forest Park, IL 708-209-1636 GRANTS SUPERVISOR The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Grants Supervisor in the Development Customer Services Department.

This position will perform a variety of responsible for developing. Administering and coordinating activities related to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and other grant-funded programs for the Village. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than July 16, 2021.

POLICE RECORDS CLERK The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Police Records Clerk in the Police Department. This position will perform a wide variety of specialized clerical duties in support of the Police Department including processing and maintaining documents, correspondence and coding reports; and to provide information and assistance to the public. 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 no later than July 16, 2021.

OFFICE COORDINATOR The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Office Coordinator in Information Technology. This position will perform a variety of responsible and complex administrative duties for the IT Department; provide information and assistance to Village staff regarding requests for service; and provide administrative support to the IT Director and the IT staff. 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 July 16, 2021.

PART-TIME ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER Must have own transportation.

For more information CALL 708-738-3848

CAREGIVER SERVICES WANTED HOME HEALTH ASSISTANCE River Forest family seeking overnight in-home healthcare assistance.

Nursing students, Respiratory Therapists, CNAs, LPNs, RNs, etc. welcome. For more information, contact kpatterson10@gmail.com.

MARKETPLACE WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400 Lost & Found, Items for Sale, and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-334

Hire Local.

Place an ad on Wednesday Classified’s Local Online Job Board.

Go to ForestParkReview.com/classified today!

Contact Mary Ellen Nelligan for more information.

(708) 613-3342 maryellen@oakpark.com

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Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

CLASSIFIED

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG R E N TA L S & R E A L E S TAT E

SUBURBAN RENTALS Apartment listings updated daily at:

SUBURBAN RENTALS

ROOMS FOR RENT

DOWNTOWN OAK PARK 1BR

Large Sunny Room with fridge, microwave. Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $125.00. New Mgmt.

312-212-1212

Small 1BR apartment in DTOP. Renovated and freshly painted. Harwood floors. Walking distance to El. No pets. $850/mo, utilities included.

708-657-4226

SUBURBAN REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue.

Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.

STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR Best Selection & Service

OAK PARK & FOREST PARK

708-386-7355

MMpropMgmt.com

CITY RENTALS AUSTIN RENAISSANCE APARTMENTS

A HUD subsidized affordable Apartment property announces the opening of its waiting list for both One and Two Bedroom Apartments! Resident rent is approximately 30% of gross household income, some restrictions apply. Our property is located on Washington Blvd in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

Apartments offered with an occupancy of one to four persons. Properties feature modern kitchens, include appliances, and offer onsite maintenance. Austin Renaissance will accept requests for application packages by U.S. Mail postmarked no later than , September 15, 2021. Send or email a written request for an application package that includes your name, mailing address. Daytime telephone number, Email address, and the number of persons in your household to: Town Center Realty Group LLC, PO Box 64, Huntley IL 60142-0064 or Email requests to mrpaul.tcrg@gmail.com Application packages available by mail or email delivery only. No walk-ins accepted.

Town Center Realty Group LLC

COMMERCIAL/RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT

RIVERSIDE 3 FLAT FSBO Three above grade 2BR apts. Unfinished basement w/ laundry & 1/2 BA. 4 car brick garage. Zoned for residential and office, if desired. Well maintained. $529,000

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 708-446-1324

RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT A RETAIL SPACE FOR LEASE IN SHOPPING CENTER! 315-325 S. Harlem Ave. Forest Park, IL. 1,000 sq ft. Good cond. *Recently Updated. Heavy Business/Traffic Area. (Min. Monthly Rent in the area: $17.50 sq ft.)

OUR PRICE-NEGOTIABLE! TEXT, EMAIL or CALL Mr. B.(708)828-6491 If leave a message: Include Your Name, #, and Type of Business.

OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. * 1116 sq. ft. * 1400 sq. ft. Dental Office RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. * 960 sq. ft.

OAK PARK–6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. * 3 & 5 room office suites FOREST PARK–7736 Madison St. *2500 sq. ft. unit Strand & & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION FOREST PARK HIGHLY VISIBLE OFFICE/STORE AVAILABLE FOR LEASE 1350 SF w/ AC & HIGHLY VISIBLE MADISON STREET EXPOSURE. 7607 Madison Street. Village parking lot next door. Bright, clean office. Great Madison Street exposure! Call Francis 708-3838574.

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT THERAPY OFFICE OAK PARK Free wifi; flexible leasing, and offices nicely furnished right down to the Kleenex. Secure building & friendly colleagues, often giving referrals to other office mates. Shared Waiting room, Conference room & option to join Peer Supervision Group. Ideal for new practice or 2nd location.

708-383-0729

!

S W E N !

H S A FL

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

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

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

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

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Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

INC., REALTOR

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

320 Circle Ave Forest Park $111,400 Fourth floor unit with balcony facing east. Great building within walking distance to Madison St. shopping and bus transportation. coin-op laundry in building. Covered parking space!

337 Marengo Ave Forest Park $655,000

1039 Troost Ave Forest Park $350,000

Completely remodeled four bedroom three and a half bath home!

August delivery!

Huge three bedroom home in need of rehab.

Three car plus garage!

Enormous 75 foot lot.

HOME SERVICES CEMENT

CEMENT

MAGANA

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N “QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION” ESTABLISHED IN 1987

COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL

708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 )281'$7,216 3$7,26 67(36 &85% *877(56 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est.

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining.

Low prices, insured.

Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

HANDYMAN

HANDYMAN Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

773-637-0692 Ask for John

Mike’s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

708-296-2060

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

HAULING

LANDSCAPING

BASEMENT CLEANING

BRUCE LAWN SERVICE

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

AIR CONDITIONING AIR CONDITIONING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Air Conditioning Automotive A/C Refrigerators Ranges • Ovens Washer • Dryers Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

Spring Clean-Up Aerating, Slit Seeding Bush Trimming, Lawn Maintenance brucelawns.com

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

708-243-0571

NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP

Evergreen trimming & more. Clean-ups.

Garden weed removal.

Storm Branch Tree Removal.

708-447-1762

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING

Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

708.749.0011

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

708-488-9411

YOUR WEEKLY AD

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES:

OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST,FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

Public Notice: Your right to know • In print • Online • Available to you 24/7/365

PublicNoticeIllinois.com

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Forest Park Review, July 14, 2021

SPONSORED CONTENT

Advanced joint care — we make it personal Is hip or knee pain keeping you from leading a full, active life?

U.S. News & World Report ranked Rush University Medical Center No. 5 in the nation and best in Illinois for orthopedics.

At Rush, we want you to know that you don’t have to live with the pain. Orthopedic surgeon Vasili Karas, MD, MS, offers a full range of treatment options for hip and knee arthritis, including robotic joint replacement surgery, at Rush Oak Park Hospital. So you can get world-class joint care, customized for you, close to home.

Vasili Karas, MD, MS, sees patients in Chicago and Oak Park. Call (312) 432-2598 to schedule an initial consultation or second opinion.