ForestParkReview_072325 by Wednesday Journal

Truck in ux raises tra c concerns

Bulk Mail Center on Roosevelt Road recently renovated to handle additional services from two closed facilities

trucks parked near the Chicago Bulk Mail Center? Village Administrator Rachell Entler explained why at the village council meeting on July 14.

Entler said that, earlier this month, the village discovered that two other U.S. Postal Service bulk mail facilities have recently closed, rerouting their services

“The Forest Park facility renovated and remodeled to accommodate for the increase in postal service traffic,” Entler told the Review after the council meeting. She added that, while the village was aware of the renovations, the increase in truck traffic could pose a safety concern.

was blocking a fire hydrant.

“That was a red flag immediately,” Entler told the Review.

Entler said the Forest Park Fire Department is working with the Bulk Mail Center to determine, after renovations,

See MAIL TRUCKS on page 7

Hubbird interim superintendent

By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter

On short notice, Forest Park’s elementary school board unanimously appointed Dr. Robert Hubbird as interim superintendent during a special board of education meeting on July 14. The meeting was held in response to Dr. Elizabeth Alvarez’s announcement that she was voluntarily stepping down from her role as District 91’s superintendent, effective immediately. Alvarez left her position at D91 to join Proviso Township High School District 209, where she was hired as deputy superintendent of operations.

Shannon Wood, president of the D91 school board, said the board had “very little notice” about Alvare z’s departure.

“The timing was surprising,” Wood said. “We had to schedule an emergency meeting because

See HUBBIRD on page 8

Trucks waiting to be loaded at the Chicago Bulk Mail Center

JESSICA MORDACQ

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Village to plant twice as many trees this fall

e increase comes from a Trees Forever Illinois Community Canopy-Tree Planting Partnership grant

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Come fall, instead of planting 20 trees around Forest Park like they do every year, the village’s public works department will be putting 40 trees in the ground.

Stella said there are multiple ways his department is deciding where to plant the trees. A few weeks ago, the village started asking for tree requests in its weekly email newsletter

“If you want a tree in your parkway, look on the GIS map on our website and see if there’s a planting space available,” Stella told the Review.

On the map, black circles with blue pins show where there are open planting plots, where the village will provide and plant a tree at no cost. Residents may request parkway trees outside those areas but will be responsible for the cost.

The village completed a GIS Tree Inventory of 3,335 trees and a Forestry Comprehensive Management Plan in 2022 with financial assistance from a grant. Stella says he uses the GIS system daily and will do so to identify empty plots for trees after Forest Park residents have submitted requests.

“I’ll go to those locations, and I will put a flyer on the door saying that we want to plant

The doubled tree count is financed by Trees Forever’s Illinois Community CanopyTree Planting Partnership grant, which was unanimously approved at the last village council meeting on July 14. Commissioner Maria Maxham was absent from the meeting Sal Stella, director of public works, said his department usually plants 20 trees every fall. But with the Trees Forever $4,845 grant, they’re able to double that number.

a tree at this location if we have their permission,” Stella said.

As in past years, the village will get the trees from Doty Nurseries in Maple Park. In September, the nursery will send out a list of the trees it has available, which residents who requested a tree will get to choose from.

Once residents’ location and tree selection are approved, they will be added to this year’s planting schedule. Those whose requests can’t be filled this year will be considered for next season.

After resident requests are filled, Stella will use the GIS to pick trees for the remaining plots

“I can narrow down block by block the diversity of trees, and I can pick certain trees for certain blocks,” Stella said of the GIS system. He added that, while the nursery has trees like elms and lindens every year, they rotate more ornamental options annually.

Last year, Stella connected with Trees Forever for the first time and was awarded the village’s first grant from the nonprofit. Then, the grant paid to remove 26 unhealthy trees. In March, the village also got a grant

from the National Association of Realtors to plant a pollinator and rain garden across the street from Village Hall. This second Trees Forever grant marks the third grant the public works department has received in the past year

Stella said the village has also not received a couple grants they’ve applied for, like to install pavers or update the fountain at Constitution Court.

“There’s only so many grants that are ever available for public works,” Stella said. “There’s never anything available for building maintenance or equipment or anything like that.”

Stella added that there are also occasionally forgivable money opportunities. For example, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District often provides a portion of the funds required for the village’s green alley projects Before Stella was director of public works, he said he doesn’t remember the department applying for as many grants. He added that it helps that the village now contracts a company to help them write grants.

Door-to-door, D209 works to boost enrollment, connections

Volunteers needed for Saturday, July 26

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Contributing Reporter

Proviso Township High School District 209 is actively looking for volunteers to continue their big steps in moving the district forward through community engagement for this Saturday’s Community Engagement Walk.

Cori Hobbs, parent and community engagement coordinator for Proviso East, said the walk is a way of “reaching people where they are.”

“Under the leadership of Superintendent [Krish] Mohip, he talked about launching a wide-range and proactive community re gistration campaign,” Hobbs said. “We understand that our re gistration numbers are currently lower than we like, so it is more than just paperwork, it is about building bridges and meeting the community and parents where they are.”

The “people-centered” initiative aims to

connect families before the 2025-26 school year starts as part of a district-wide “We Are Proviso” back-to-school campaign.

Volunteers and D209 staf f will be walking through local neighborhoods and sharing information re garding resources as well as promoting registration and student support services.

The district held the first Community Engagement Walk on Saturday, July 12 and were able to canvas the Bellwood and Maywood communities, said Hobbs

The event had about 50 volunteers including teachers, staff, security members and students, Hobbs said. Hobbs said they received positive feedback regarding the approach, which allowed for the district to have a stronger presence in the community.

“The door-to-door is a more proactive approach,” Hobbs said, adding that parents are still registering and enrolling in traditional ways, like coming into the school, but it is still not enough. “We are [making phone] calls and calling parents individually.”

But organizers are hoping for a larger volunteer turnout this Saturday to be able

to reach other communities in the D209 communities.

“We are looking to hit the other 10 [communities] that Proviso has,” Hobbs said.

“This is to ensure that families are be ing registered but also combine that outreach effort with on-the-spot support answer questions, guide parents through the online form and connect them to our school resources.”

The next walk is scheduled for Saturday, July 26 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Volunteers will be meeting at the dis trict of fice, 8601 W. Roosevelt Rd. in For Park and will canvas designated neigh borhoods to distribute signs and back-toschool materials while wearing “We Are Proviso” shirts in hopes of “shifting public perception.”

Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to reach out to Hobbs directly at chobbs@pths209.org and 708-8343982 or Kristine Vandenbroek at kvandenbkvandenbroek@pths209.org.

La Shawn Ford won’t run for 8th District state representative again

Mulch: A Key Ally to Beat the Heat

He announced the news July 15 a er ling to run for U.S. Congress in May, but will retire from politics if Danny Davis runs for reelection

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

his district.

leads,” Ford said.

On the heels of the intense heat we’ve experienced recently, one obvious response is supplemental watering to ensure your landscape stays healthy. But don’t overlook another key component: mulch, which plays a vital role in helping your landscape thrive. What benefits does mulch provide?

1. It acts as an insulating layer that will keep your soils cooler. Cooler soils = happier roots and plants.

2. It reduces the evaporation of moisture from the soil, thereby helping reduce your watering needs as you retain moisture.

3. It helps reduce weed growth. Weeds will compete for moisture and nutrients, so anything that limits their presence is positive for the landscape.

4. Mulch being a natural product helps improve the soils. As mulch breaks down, it can assist in improving soil structure and supplying essential nutrients for plant uptake.

We offer a variety of natural, shredded hardwood mulch products that not only beautify your property but protect the investment in your home’s landscape. For any mulch needs you might have, McAdam offers bulk delivery and pick-up service.

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

After 17 years as a state representative for Illinois’ 8th district, La Shawn Ford said on July 15 that he won’t be running for reelection come November 2026.

The announcement comes nearly two months after Ford filed with the Federal Elections Commission on May 21 to run for United States Congress in Illinois’ 7th district, a position held by Danny Davis since 1997. Ford said that, if Davis runs next November, he won’t run against him and instead plans to retire from politics

“Once I filed those papers that I was considering running for Congress, I knew at that time I would not run for reelection as state representative,” Ford told Growing Community Media

Last November, Ford was reelected as state representative, a position he’s held since 2007. But with the first day to circulate nominating petitions for his current position coming up on Aug. 5, Ford wants to prepare those who want to be the next state representative for

“It’s only fair that I am able to give full notice before the process starts of circulating petitions so that, if there are people who are interested in running, they have that information,” Ford said. He added that those interested in running for state representative of the 8th district should contact his office for an opportunity to receive some mentorship from Ford

“Being connected to the community is most important, and hopefully [my successor] will continue a relationship with me so that I can be of assistance,” Ford said. Not only does Ford want to collaborate with his own state representative, but also to share what he’s learned from his constituents over nearly two decades in the position. “I hope that anyone who takes on that will continue to have open communication with the district.”

Ford sends out a daily email, full of updates about what he’s doing in office, constituent polling and job opportunities.

“We’ve helped thousands and thousands of people get employed based on our daily job

Dealing with local government and community members in such an intimate way will be one of the biggest things Ford misses about being a state representative. He mentions his role in passing Illinois’ evidence-based model for educational funding, prioritizing schools with the greatest need. He was also involved in passing bills that have brought infrastructure to his district — like the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation and Christ the King Jesuit College Prep, both in Austin.

“I’ve helped bring money home to those entities and not-fo r- profits, ” Fo rd said. “ Springfield is a p lace where a lot of impactful things happen, and being able to p ass public poli cy is an honor.”

Even if Ford’s political run could be nearing its end, he plans to continue to have a presence on Chicago’s West Side and in the wester n suburbs

“It makes sense to let the community that voted for me 10 times know that I thank them for the years that they’ve entrusted me to re present them in Springfield,” Ford added. “I hope that they’ve been satisfied, and I look forward to working with them more.”

As Ford plans state house exit, open seat draws early bids

The announcement last week, reported exclusively by Austin Weekly News, that state Rep. La Shawn Ford would relinquish his seat in the Illinois House has brought the first contenders the seat in next year’s Democra primary.

Thomas Gary, an Oak Park who has served on the Triton C lege board and in the U.S. Navy Reserve for 27 years, announced late last week that he will run Ford’s seat.

Pastor John J. Harrell, a p tor with both Austin and Provis Township roots, has also filed to run. Harrell is an Austin resident and p of New Hope Baptist Church in Austin. He also leads Proviso Baptist Church in May-

wood and is on the board of Loretto Hospital and Hire 360 Workforce Development. He filed his candidacy with the state on July 10.

Gary currently serves as director of the State Treasurer’s local ver nment investment pool, Illinois Funds. During his tenure, Illinois Funds has grown from under $7 billion to over $22 billion in assets under management.

“Public service is the price pay to make the lives of our neighbors and our communities stronger and safer than how we ound them,” Gary said. “I have voted my life to serving my neighbors and communities. And I have used my deep well of knowledge in government finance to help communities in Austin,

the wester n suburbs, and around Illinois.

“Public service isn’ t just about numbers – it ’s about communities,” Gary said.

“I’ve spent my career making sure taxpayer dollars go further and serve the public better. I’m running to bring that same le vel of inte g rity and impact to the General Assembly.”

Gary has volunteered in Austin serving as Economic Development Task Force co-chair in developing Austin Coming Together’s Quality of Life plan. He also serves on the board for Beyond Hunger, the anti-hunger nonprofit serving swaths of the 7th District. Gary raised his two children, Alex and Maya-Gabrielle, in Oak Park. He lives with his wife, for mer Deputy Gover nor Cristal Thomas, in Oak Park.

— Dan Haley

LA SHAWN FORD

THOMAS GARY

Scott McAdam Jr.

Davis brings back Congressional App Challenge

Congressman Danny Davis is launching the annual competition for middle- and high-school students in the 7th District on Aug. 16

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

W hen two students at Walter Pay ton C olle ge Prep aratory High School on Chicago ’s N ear North Side saw individuals who we re unhoused or seeking asylum in their c ommunities, and that they lacked the necessary suppo rt to secure jobs, they made an app where under-resourced p eople c an c onnect with businesses fo r employment.

T he Eve rybo dy Wi ll Wo rk app wo n Pranav Kota and Desmond Opoku- Wa re last year ’s C ong ressional App C halleng e in the 7th district, and their wo rk has b een displ ayed at the United States Capitol in Washington, D. C. for a year.

Fo r a chance at the same reco gnition, m iddle and high school students in the 7th c ong ressional district c an attend C ong ressman Danny Davis’ Te chnolo gy in the Pa rk : Back to School event on Au g. 16 in C olumbus Pa rk of f C entral Avenue T here, they will learn about this year ’s C ong ressional App C hallenge and the b asics of how to develop their own apps, even if they do n’ t have any app development experienc e.

T he kickof f event will begin at 10 a.m. with C ong ressional App C hallenge activities starting at 12:30 p. m ., where attendees c an learn how to d esign apps fo r p hones, social media and we bsites. Th e back-to-school c elebration will also include free backpacks and school supplie s.

T he U. S. House of Re presentative s launched the C ong ressional App C hallenge in 2015 to teach students around the c ountry about coding and encourag e them to pursue c omputer science careers. In 2013, House Resolution 77 p assed, outlining p lans for annual district-wide app c ompetitions. Two years later, the C ommittee on House Administration p assed the challenge’s r ules and re g ulations.

T he I nternet Education Foundation is the of ficial outside sponsor of the challeng e. Eve ry year, winners of the C ong ressional App C hallenge are invited to the annual House of Code fair in Washington D. C ., where they d emonstrate their apps for members of Cong ress

L ast year, a record number of 382 of the 435 House of Re presentative member s hosted c ompetitions in their districts. It was also the most students the app challenge has seen in the decade since it firs t launched — 12,682 students, who created 3,881 apps.

T he Congressional App Challenge aims to reach underserved communities and has successfully done so. One in three challenges are held in areas with large rural populations, and about 44% of participants describe themselves as beginners in app development and computer science.

T hose i nterested in re gistering for the 2025 C ong ressional App C hallenge c an do so at https://www.cong ressionalappchalleng e. us/students/student-registration/ T he competition deadline is Oct. 30.

AARON SCHWARTZ

What ’s next for 7410 Madison Street?

e building that formerly housed Casa de Puros cigar lounge will soon be occupied by the Chamber

of Commerce

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

If you attended the Historical Society of Forest Park’s garden walk earlier this month, then you’ve seen the inside of the updated 7410 Madison St. The building used to house the cigar lounge Casa de Puros, but will soon be home to the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce and available to host village-related and community events for those who request it — like the Historical Society.

At the last village council meeting on July 14, Kristen Lyons gave public comment. The Forest Park resident, who’s on the board of directors of the Historical Society, thanked the village for letting the organization use 7410 Madison St. as a check-in location for those participating in the garden walk on July 12.

“We had so much foot traffic, people asking about the Historical Society, what we do, and we had this beautiful space to do it in,” Lyons said during her public comment.

Lyons said the Historical Society used to do garden walk check-ins at Centuries & Sleuths, which closed last summer, and it was helpful to use another Madison Street location. She said the Historical Society put posters detailing the village’s history in the building’s windows and suggested

that the village could allow organizations to do the same, requesting advertisements or announcements cal events.

“I saw how many people saw that as a giant billboard,” Lyons said. She added that such a display would “show that the space has movement and life to it planning the next phase of that beautiful space.”

At the end of the July 14 council meeting, Commissioner Michelle Melin-R in said she volunteered with the Historical Society at the garden she spent part of the day St., where she sold tickets to residents and people from surrounding communities.

“We had a lot of walk-in traffic, and residents who weren’ t ready to go on the garden walk yet looked and found out about other Rogovin said. “It was a wonderful day to see how organizations and residents from other communities came to much we knew about our own community and how well we worked together to support and promote our community.”

According to Village Rachell Entler, the village is working with the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce to create a use ag reement before the organization fully moves in.

The Chamber previously had a Madison Street office, but when rent doubled, the organization moved to the basement of Forest Park Bank at 7331 Roosevelt Rd. That is where Executive Director Laurie Kokenes and a part-time staf f member of the chamber work. But they will soon move back to Madison Street.

“Our downtown business district

showcases the unique mix of independent shops and paints a picture of Forest Park’s small-town charm. It’s a place where people gather and connections are made,” Kokenes previously told the Review. “Madison Street is the perfect place for the village to meet with prospective business owners or investors.”

“We should have a presence in the middle of Madison,” Steve Glinke, director of public health and safety, previously told the Review. He called the donated property “a le gacy move for the village.”

The previous owners of 7410 Madison St. donated the 1,800-square-foot first-floor space to the village last year, and the village closed on the property in December. The village has cleaned the ductwork and HVAC system of what used to be the cigar lounge and has mentioned the need to install alarms, cameras and new awnings.

“The village isn’t going to be doing any renovations to the space,” Entler said in an email. “A few things need to be fixed, and we do need to get internet in there, but other than that, the space is usable as-is.”

FILE PHOTO

e former Casa de Puros Cigar Shop location on Madison Street will be available for use by other organizations on request

MAIL TRUCKS

Tra c concerns

from page 1

where the fire suppression system is located and where the fire department has access to the building. She added that they’re having the same conversations with the Illinois National Guard, which has moved into the Armed Forces Reserve Center building.

The Illinois National Guard previously told the Review that it would initially make small re pairs to the building with larger alterations in coming years. Because of such re pairs, Entler said she’s discussing with the Illinois National Guard an opportunity to get village police and fire fighters a tour

of the property so they can appropriately respond in case of emergency.

“Because the building has been vacant for so many years, we want to make sure that, now that it’s in use again, our departments know the layout,” Entler said during her administrator’s report at the last council meeting.

Entler told the Review that the village is currently updating its emergency operations plan, and the team working on that is considering the Chicago Bulk Mail Center in its conversations.

“We are reaching out to them. We want to try and get a handle on this truck traffic that’s coming into Forest Park,” Entler said at the council meeting. “We want to make sure we’re doing our part to make sure it’s not disrupting the neighborhood and that we have a better understanding of what’s going on.”

JESSICA MORDACQ

Chicago Bulk Mail Center on Roosevelt Road in Forest Park

PTO president steps in as D91 engagement director

Rachel Ernst replaces Nurys Uceta-Ramos

By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter

Rachelle Ernst, previously the president of the PTO in Forest Park, has been hired as director of engagement for Forest Park School District 91. Her last day heading the PTO was June 30. She started her new post at the district on July 1.

Dr. Robert Hubbird, newly promoted as interim superintendent of the elementary schools, said Ernst will bring a robust and deeply relevant portfolio of experience and community-building expertise to her role as director of engagement.

“Her background demonstrates a clear and sustained commitment to equity-centered family and community engagement, student success, and collaborative district-

wide initiatives,” said Hubbird.

Hubbird served as the district’s assistant superintendent of finance and operations until last week when the school board tabbed him to serve as interim superintendent after Elizabeth Alvarez left the district to join the Proviso Township High Schools District 209.

Ernst, who has a master’s de gree in education, has worked in various school settings throughout her career. For the past two years, she held the position of school engagement coordinator for D91. She applied for her new job after learning that the district’s previous director of engagement, Nurys Uceta-Ramos, would be transitioning out of the role.

As director of engagement, Ernst will work directly with D91’s superintendent, schools, families, and the broader community to foster a culture of engagement that enhances student achievement. This role will lead ef for ts to build sustainable relationships, implement strategic initia-

HUBBIRD

Interim D91

superintendent from page 1

school starts in a month.”

In a letter addressed to the Forest Park community, Wood expressed the board’s gratitude to Alvare z for the work she did during her four years as the district’s superintendent.

“We sincerely thank her for her dedicated service to Forest Park School District 91 and wish her all the best as she embarks on new professional adventures,” Wood said. Wood said the board had a thoughtful discussion during the emergency meeting on July 14 and decided that Hubbird was the ideal candidate for the interim superintendent position.

Prior to being named interim superintendent, Hubbird served as D91’s assistant superintendent of finance and operations, a position he has held since June 2022. In addition to his new title as interim superintendent, Hubbird has also been appointed as the district’s chief school business official.

“I’m going to do both roles,” Hubbird said. “I will continue to do the finances for the district and will also take on the interim superintendent role. It’s a lot but I’m up for the challenge.”

Wood said Hubbird brings a wealth of experience, passion, and deep commitment to his new position.

“He is uniquely positioned to lead Forest Park schools with strength, stability, and vision,” Wood said. “Under his leadership, we will continue the incredible momentum of our current Strategic Plan through June 30, 2026, and begin building a bold and inclusive new vision through an engaging process with the entire Forest Park community.”

tives, and create a positive district culture that strengthens family and community involvement.

“I feel so for tunate to be in this role,” Ernst said. “I’m really excited to dive in and start speaking with our district leaders, our community partners and our f amilies.”

Originally from eastern Iowa, Ernst and her husband moved to Forest Park a decade ago. With three children currently enrolled in D91, Ernst has been an active and dedicated member of the D91 community for years. She has worked with the PTO for six years, serving as president for the last two. Although she stepped away from that job in June, Ernst said she will continue to participate with the PTO as a parent volunteer.

In her role as director of engagement, Ernst plans to focus on ensuring that families have open channels to express their input, and opportunities to have a meaningful voice in district decisions.

“I’m very committed to the Forest Park community and the children here,” Hubbird said.

As he steps into his new role as interim superintendent, Hubbird said he is dedicated to keeping the district’s momentum going.

“For the past four years, we’ve had great momentum in terms of putting in effective and efficient systems and procedures,” he said. “We’ve had some great growth and established a learning environment where all are supported. We’ve also built collaborative partnerships with the local community, the village, and local organizations. And we will keep growing and strengthening those relationships.”

“In order to be of service for them, I think it’s really important for myself and the other three coordinators who are in our department to provide open avenues to have those conversations,” Ernst said. “So my initial goal is really to build on that foundation and then work to create new opportunities for our families and students.”

Other aspects of the job will entail serving as a liaison for parent and care giver concerns on behalf of the superintendent, organizing and facilitating key district events in conjunction with the PTO, leading and managing parent coordinators, building and maintaining relationships with principals to support school-level engagement ef forts, and ensuring alignment with community agencies.

“I really want to support our school culture and one of my big goals is to make sure everyone feels like they belong,” Ernst said.

The board has not yet begun discussions about what the search for a permanent superintendent will look like, but Wood said more information will be shared in the near future.

Although no potential candidates for the permanent superintendent role have been discussed, Hubbird said he would be “very interested” in the job if the opportunity were to arise.

During the upcoming school year, Hubbird said he is also committed to completing the district’s strategic plan, which extends through June 2026.

“This is the final year of the strategic plan, so I’m focused on making sure that we wrap up hitting the rest of those goals within that plan,” Hubbird said.

Additionally, Hubbird said he is eager to listen to and engage with the community

as the district begins developing its next strategic plan.

District 91 includes Betsy Ross Primary School, Garfield Primary, Field Stevenson Intermediate and Forest Park Middle School.

Despite being made up of four different schools, Hubbird said a strength of District 91 is that the schools all work together and function as one ensemble.

“I love the uniqueness of this district,” Hubbird said. “Forest Park is very diverse and welcoming. It’s such a great community.”

Hubbird said students and families are encouraged to attend D91’s Back to School Bash on Tuesday, Aug. 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will take place behind the Roos Recreation Center (7329 Harrison St., Forest Park) and will provide an opportunity to reconnect and celebrate the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

Alvarez letter to Forest Park

Outgoing Supt. Elizabeth Alvare z penned a letter to the Forest Park community as she departed to take on a role at Proviso Township High Schools. You can read that letter on page 11.

ROBERT HUBBIRD

Groovin’ in the Grove

Locals dance during the second of three summer concerts on July 15

With the recent intense heat, it’s clear Forest Park is in the middle of one sweltering summer. Another indicator of the season was the second of three Groovin’ in the Grove concerts. The first one, featuring rhythm and blues music by R-Gang, kicked off this year’s series on June 17.

On July 15, the Chicago Catz performed at the Forest Park picnic grove at 7824 Madison St. Dozens of Forest Parkers gathered with their picnic blankets and lawn chairs to listen to an evening full of music.

The next, and final, free Groovn’ in the Grove concert of the year will feature Velvet Rose’s R&B, Motown and funk music. It will take place on Aug. 19 at the same location from 7 to 10 p.m.

--Jessica Mordacq

Photos by TODD BANNOR

CRIME

Apt. residents report smoke, ignited reworks in structure re

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Forest Park police and fire responded to 644 Marengo Ave. on July 16 around 3 a.m. for a structure fire. Everyone was evacuated from the apartment building, and River Forest, Oak Park and North Riverside departments helped put out the fire. The person who called police said he saw smoke coming into his unit and heard fireworks, and other residents said the same. The resident of the unit was called to the scene and told police that he left his apartment the previous evening to go to the Staybridge Suites Chicago-Oakbrook Terrace with a woman. The man said his child’s mother left the apartment around the same time with their son, taking him to a relative’s home before going to work. He also said there were fireworks against the wall in the kitchen, and that a wax warmer was left on. The woman and the landlord were unable to be reached at the time of the police report Police said no tenants were injured.

Death investigations

On July 11, police reported to a Dunlop Avenue residence, where a care giver said she arrived at the apartment and found the woman whom she was caring for in the bathroom against the door. The Forest Park Fire Department removed the bathroom door to find the woman deceased, according to the police report. Police reported that there was an oxygen machine on the unit’s back porch with a long tube running to the woman. They do not suspect foul play

On July 14, police responded to a Harlem Avenue residence for a welfare check after a woman called to say she hadn’t heard from her brother in the past two days. She told police that he usually calls back within a few hours but hasn’t. According to the police report, the sister said her brother had Parkinson’s disease and a leaky heart valve after triple bypass surgery a few years ago. Forest Park Paramedics helped open the first-floor apartment window, and police found the man lying on the bedroom floor deceased. They didn’t observe any signs of foul play

Suspicious circumstances

A man living in a Troost Avenue residence

came to the police station on July 12 to tur n in shotgun ammunition that he found while mowing the grass. He told police that he thought it came from the house next door, whose residents he said often throw things in his yard. According to the police report, officers have had several recent dispatches to the adjacent house for criminal damage and loud music.

DUI

Police were dispatched to the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Thomas Avenue around 11 p.m. on July 12 for a car crash with the offending vehicle fleeing the scene Police pulled over the car at Garfield Street and East Avenue in Oak Park. The victim, who called in the crash, told police that he was driving on Roosevelt Road when the car hit him from behind. The driver of the offending car told police that he was mourning his uncle’s death, hit the car and drove away. He said he wasn’t intoxicated and refused to complete any standardized field sobriety tests. Police report that the man smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech. The man later said he had two shots his relatives to honor his uncle before ting behind the wheel. He also complied with providing a breath sample, which he had a blood alcohol content of 202, twice the legal limit of 08. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, having a BAC over .08, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, and possession of cannabis in the car outside an appr container

Proper ty damage

given citations for failing to reduce speed, improper lane usage and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department re ports dated July 11 - 20 and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Any-

one named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port 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

July Concert: Louie Kertgen Friday, July 25th

Police responded to the 800 block of Plaines Avenue on July 19 after midnight when a car crashed into a tree on the park way and the driver fled the area. According to the police report, officers found a man walking on Des Plaines and, when they pulled up to him, he started jogging but stopped with officers’ verbal commands. The man told police that he thought people were chasing and trying to har m him when he lost control of his car. He also said he ingested cocaine around 8 p.m. According to police, he appeared paranoid. The man was taken to Rush Oak Park Hospital and

5-7pm in the Ballroom

July Concert: Louie Kertgen Friday, July 25th 5-7pm in the Ballroom

Louie Kertgen is a singer, songwriter, drummer, middle school teacher, chef, dog owner, part time bartender and guitarist. His music ranges from folk and country to punk and pyschedelic. He is the front man and guitarist in the Chicago band Coyote Fire! Snack provided

5-7pm in the Ballroom July Concert: Louie Kertgen Friday, July 25th

5-7pm in the Ballroom

A farewell from D91 Supt. Alva rez

Dear Forest Park School District 91 Community,

It is with deep gratitude that I write to you today. Thank you for granting me the profound honor of leading this incredible school district. Serving as your superintendent over the past four years has been one of the greatest privileges of my career.

Together, we have accomplished so much. Our students’ academic scores have improved at a rate four times faster than the state average — a remarkable testament to the dedication of our staf f, the support of our families, and the resilience of our children.

We have aligned our curriculum, established state-of-the-art STEAM labs in two of our schools, and built a unified Parent-Teacher Organization that truly reflects our shared commitment to children, staff, and community

We empowered student voices by creating platfor ms where their ideas, concerns, and leadership could thrive. We now celebrate all our children and take great pride in their diverse achievements — from our athletes competing in the Special Olympics to our brilliant spellers advancing to re gional spelling bees.

We have also been intentional in fostering a culture of belonging — you can feel it as you walk through the front doors of our schools.

We developed a comprehensive stra-

tegic plan with clearly defined goals, and it fills me with pride to see how many have already been realized. These accomplishments speak volumes about what we can achieve when we work together with intention and heart.

This letter has not been easy to write. After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to step away from my role. I leave D91 proud of what we have built together. The systems, protocols, and structures we put in place have created a solid foundation — like a well-oiled machine — that will continue to support the district’s progress. Your next leader will benefit from the strong groundwork we have laid as an ensemble, and I am confident that D91 will continue to thrive.

To our incredible students — you are the heartbeat of this district. Your curiosity, your voices, and your joy have been a constant inspiration to me. I will deeply miss our conversations, your bright smiles, and the many ways you reminded me why we do this work. Know that you are in good hands and that I will always be cheering for you. Thank you again for your trust, your partnership, and your belief in me. We have so much to be proud of. It has been an honor to serve you.

Respectfully,

Elizabeth Álvarez

Postal service overdelivers

The federal gover nment just can’t give up on Forest Park. We’d have loved seeing the military walk away from the large and underused facility it owns on Roosevelt Road

But branch-by-branch, some unit of our ar med forces always puts in a claim on the parcel before it can be put to a better, more prosperous use. Most recently, the Illinois National Guard grabbed the 6-acre site. Not that we’ve noticed a living soul on site.

Meanwhile the U.S. Postal Service closed two Chicago area Bulk Mail Centers and tilted all the truck traffic that used to head to those facilities toward the remaining Bulk Mail Center just off Roosevelt Road in Forest Park

How did we get so lucky? Lines of 40-foot trailers filled with Lands End catalogs are now clogging traffic all the way back to Roosevelt. Came to the village’s attention when the fire department could not reach a fire hydrant. We’ve noticed more of those trucks turning off the Ike and onto Desplaines Avenue in recent weeks. Which raises the question of how many semis does it take to break down the pavement on a road? And who will pay for those repairs?

Stand up for public media

If there was a moment’s doubt that there is a determined effort out of the Trump administration to upend independent, fact-based news reporting in America, the clawing back by Congress of $1.1 billion in already approved funding to public media across this country dispels any illusion.

Our deep concern goes out to public radio and TV stations, especially those in small towns where local funding and programming are most limited

This won’t be easy either at the combined WBEZ/Sun-Times nonprofit newsroom or at WTTW. Like many of you, many of us at Growing Community Media are already donors to these essential Chicago news operations. And we’ll likely try to dig a little deeper. Hope you will, too.

Growing Community Media receives no dollars from the federal gover nment. So we don’t face any loss of revenue.

What’s clear to us though is that building out a model for sturdy, authentic local news in America has never been more important than right this minute. And our nonprofit model relies on you, each reader, to consider investing in our reporters, in our hard work

We choose to see this as an additive process. We want you to support BEZ. Now. And we want you to become a monthly recurring donor to the Review in Forest Park, the Jour nal, Austin Weekly, or our Riverside-Brookfield Landmark. A monthly donation at any dollar amount is valuable to us

All of us, right now, need more reporting, more eyes, more holding power to account.

Stand up straight with public media and Growing Community Media

OPINION

Which Jesus are you talking about?

While Tom Holmes recovers from his recent illness, we’re running the following column from July 26, 2023:

Afocus group of 16 Iowa Republicans was featured on PBS Newshour last week. When the moderator asked the group, “Is it possible to be a liberal and at the same time have a deep Christian faith,” everyone said, “No.”

When I’m with my friends, most of whom are progressives, and the conversation tur ns to MAGA voters and religion, what I hear repeatedly is, “I don’t understand how anyone can claim to be a Christian and vote for Trump.”

HOLMES

It’s one more example of how polarized we are in this nation, but it led me to ask the question, “Which Jesus are you talking about?”

Here’s the problem: if both Evangelical and Progressive Christians claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, why do they describe that following so differently?

To that end I will employ the assistance of Sigmund Freud — who was definitely not a Christian. From his Age of Enlightenment, rational perspective, he claimed that believers in God are merely projecting on a heavenly screen their own wishes.

Freud was right in the sense that we Christians are tempted to create Jesus in our own image rather than the other way around. We tend to frame our picture of Jesus with our own ideologies. We cherry-pick from the Jesus narrative words and actions that support our world views

In this column, I’ll start with white evangelicals Since they make up Donald Trump’s base, the two categories are almost interchangeable.

To begin, white evangelicals declare that, to be saved, people have to be born again. The Billy Graham Association explains that the term means “that one turns from sin and, with his or her whole heart, trusts in Christ as personal Savior and Lord. God makes that one a new person.”

So far, so good. Folks can quibble about the details, but that is more or less what Jesus did say.

But because the devil is in the details, let’s look at how evangelicals, as Trump voters, act out that original spiritual rebirth. Let’s see if what Jesus actually said and did squares with MAGA doctrine and action.

Guns: Can you imagine in your wildest fantasies picturing Jesus carrying an assault rifle?

Rights: Jesus never used the word or the concept. The concept of rights came into the Western vocabulary

as a result of the Enlightenment about 300 years ago. Jesus showed concer n for the poor, the marginalized and the vulnerable big time, but he did not talk about them as having “rights.” Instead he gave the commandment to love. In the Kingdom of God, said Jesus, voluntary servitude is a virtue Instead of declaring that we have the right to bear ar ms, the Jesus question would be: Is that what love dictates?

Freedom: An important concept for Trump voters. What I hear them saying when they use the word is, “Don’t you Easter n, liberal elites tell me how to live. Don’t impose your world view on me.”

The problem with using Jesus in defense of that view of freedom is that he declared that if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. In other words, obedient following, paradoxically, makes you free. The challenge is in choosing the right leader to follow.

LGBTQ: Jesus never used the term. There is no “proof text” in the gospels on what he thought about the issue that is so fraught these days. On the one hand, he seemed to assume the traditional, binary gender identity model. On the other hand, his compassion for folks living on the margins of society seemed to trump his judgment of their behavior. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone

Big Government: Jesus seemed to assume the legitimacy of the Roman Empire! He apparently thought that rulers were there to keep order in society. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. In fact, he did not resist the unjust execution of an innocent man, namely himself, by a gover nor who lacked character. Trump and his followers, meanwhile, seem to think of big gover nment per se as evil.

Big gover nment might be evil, but don’t call on Jesus as your star witness in the court of public opinion.

MAGA: I can’t see Jesus carrying an AK 47. Neither can I see him wearing a Make Israel Great Again T-shirt. I can see him wearing a T-shirt with the words, “Thy Kingdom Come.”

Patriotism: Somehow, evangelicals make “Love America” a corollary of “Love God.” The problem with that theological logic is you can’t use Jesus’ words or actions to support it. He said of a Roman Centurion that he had greater faith than anyone in Israel, and a Samaritan is held up as an example of altruism.

Jesus seems to be saying that loving one’s country is fine, but thinking that America is God’s chosen nation cannot be traced back to having originated with Jesus

A home-run-hitting pitcher

PInterim

Executive Director Max Reinsdorf Sta Repor ter Jessica Mordacq

Senior Audience 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

Wagner

itcher Pat Whealy (third from right) congratulated by teammates after he “helps himself out” with a home run. This Forest Park over-30 team, sponsored by Ferrara Candy Co. was full of locals, including Bobby Buf fa, Tino Fernandez, Lou Guer ro, Mike Hanlon, Jim Henning, St eve Johnsen, Tony Lope z, Rich Lungren, Craig Marousek, Jeff Oswalt, Tom Payonk, Emil Reyes, Kevin Rodenbostel, and Tony Sansone. The Review recorded the recap of winning games as they traveled locally playing 16-inch softball against Lyons, Berwyn, La Grange, Cicero, Forest View and other area teams in 1990.

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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Public notice is hereby given that the Proposed Combined Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance of the Broadview Park District, Broadview, Illinois, for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2025, and ending on April 30, 2026, has been available for public inspection at the Broadview Park District Administrative Office at 2600 South 13th Avenue, Broadview, Illinois, and the District’s website from and after June 25, 2025.

Notice is further given that a public hearing on the adoption of said proposed Combined Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance will be held at 2600 South 13th Avenue, Broadview, Illinois on July 28th, 2025, at 7:00 P.M. Any person desiring to appear at the public hearing and present testimony to the Park District may contact Executive Director Darion Hills at 708-343-5637.

SECRETARY

BROADVIEW PARK DISTRICT

Published in Forest Park Review July 23, 2025

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR SOUNDVIEW HOME LOAN TRUST 2005-OPT4, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-OPT4 Plaintiff, -v.-

CHARLES E. SILMON, CASSANDRA SILMON, DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE OF HSI ASSET SECURITIZATION CORPORATION TRUST 2006-OPT2, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-OPT2, STATE OF ILLINOIS - DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS

Defendants 2020CH05803 529 49TH AVE BELLWOOD, IL 60104

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 16, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on August 20, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 529 49TH AVE, BELLWOOD, IL 60104 Property Index No. 15-08-408-0510000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-20-05247

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2020CH05803 TJSC#: 45-1755

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2020CH05803 I3270109

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC., Plaintiff, -v.-

AMALEK V. SMITH; FELICIA SMITH; ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AN AGENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; Defendants. 2024CH00915 915 Ferdinand Ave., Forest Park, IL 60130

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on 2/4/2025, an agent of Auction. com, LLC will conduct the auction in person at 12:00 PM on August 20, 2025 located at 100 N LaSalle St., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60602, and will sell at public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate. Commonly known as 915 Ferdinand Ave., Forest Park, IL 60130

Property Index No. 15-13-408-0240000

The real estate is improved with a Single Family Residence. The judgment amount was $236,725.20 Sale Terms: 20% down of the high-

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

est bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to Auction. com, LLC, No third party checks will be accepted. All registered bidders need to provide a photo ID in order to bid. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. (relief fee not required) The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a certificate of sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property, prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by the Condominium property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9 (g)(l) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by the Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

For information, contact Plaintiffs attorney: Diaz Anselmo & Associates, LLC (630) 453-6960 please refer to file number 6706-196067. Auction.com, LLC 100 N LaSalle St., Suite 1400 Chicago, IL 60602 - 872-225-4985 You can also visit www.auction.com. Attorney File No. 6706-196067 Case Number: 2024CH00915

NOTE: PURSUANT TO THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT, YOU ARE ADVISED THAT PLAINTIFF’S ATTORNEY IS DEEMED TO BE A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

I3269944

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR RENAISSANCE HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-3 Plaintiff, -v.-

UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR LEGATEES OF HENRY C. FLOWERS A/K/A HENRY FLOWERS A/K/A HENRY CALVIN FLOWERS, DECEASED, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR LEGATEES OF HENRY J. FLOWERS, JR., RITA ROBINSON, FRANCES PERRY, GLADYS MANCE, ANNA TOLBERT, ANNA WHITE, CAREL ROBINSON, LENNEL ROBINSON, JOHN LYDON, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF HENRY C. FLOWERS A/K/A HENRY FLOWERS A/K/A HENRY CALVIN FLOWERS, DECEASED, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Defendants 24 CH 10945 833 SOUTH 21ST AVENUE

MAYWOOD, IL 60153

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on June 18, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on August 12, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 833 SOUTH 21ST AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153

Property Index No. 15-10-328-0110000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $130,452.34.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 151701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact The sales clerk, LOGS Legal Group LLP Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 2801 LAKESIDE DRIVE, SUITE 207, Bannockburn, IL, 60015 (847) 291-1717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm.. Please refer to file number 24-101013.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

LOGS Legal Group LLP 2801 LAKESIDE DRIVE, SUITE 207 Bannockburn IL, 60015 847-291-1717

E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com

Attorney File No. 24-101013

Attorney Code. 42168

Case Number: 24 CH 10945

TJSC#: 45-1681

Case # 24 CH 10945

I3269405

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION CITIMORTGAGE, INC. Plaintiff, -v.-

FELICIA DEGRAFFENREID, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE CORPORATION OF AMERICA, ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Defendants 20 CH 01174 1540 N. ROHDE AVE. BERKELEY, IL 60163

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 6, 2023 and amended on June 12, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on August 11, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1540 N. ROHDE AVE., BERKELEY, IL 60163 Property Index No. 15-08-113-0500000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $137,055.10.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in ‘’AS IS’’ condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g) (1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act,

765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

For information, contact HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 601 E. William St., DECATUR, IL, 62523 (217) 422-1719. Please refer to file number 403024. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC 601 E. William St. DECATUR IL, 62523 217-422-1719

Fax #: 217-422-1754

E-Mail: CookPleadings@hsbattys. com

Attorney File No. 403024

Attorney Code. 40387 Case Number: 20 CH 01174 TJSC#: 45-1639

I3269617

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

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

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

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

Submit events and see full calendar at forestparkreview.com/events

A Good Wood elder evades a Moneyline baserunner attempting to break up a double play at the 56th Annual Forest Park Invitational No Glove National 16-inch Softball Tournament on July 26, 2024.

No Glove NATIONALS

Annual Forest Park InvitationalJuly 24-27, 2025

PHOTO BY TODD BANNOR

It is going to be a great tournament!

Welcome back players and visitors to the 57th Annual No Gloves National Softball Tournament. On our 57th year we are excited to celebrate another successful tour nament!

We want to start out thanking approximately 100 volunteers that made this event happen! They help us prepare our famous beef sandwiches. They serve great refreshments, keeping our fans cool. The shifts can begin as early as 8 a.m. Sometimes the evenings can be long. Volunteers may stay until after midnight. Without the volunteers this event would not be what it is!

When the planning began this year, we looked at exciting improvements for the year. Planning for this event begins in the spring. Staf f plan for months to ensure we have all the logistics planned and implemented in a timely manner. Over that four-day period staf f begin their days as early as 7:30 a.m. Some nights they are not home until the next day! For staf f this is something they enjoy being part of.

This summer the park district employs over 250 staf ensure the park operations are of the highest standard. These employees all ste p up and help us with this great event.

You may have a life guard serving you a hot dog or a concession staf f member selling you a T-shirt. These are our great staf f that make our park district operations go round during the busy season. They maintain a high standard and it is showcased at the tournament each year.

successful operations of this event. We thank them for their support!

Look forward to visiting our honor wall this year. Along the pathway on Harrison Street are displayed banners of those that have supported and made an impact on this eat tour nament. This will also display our great sponsors that support the event.

p af f to era hes h u our ke ourpark th a a i g s H c w o t r tournamt ur and m g re w fo It hono

March’s second baseman Roberto Villalobos elds the ball against Circus during a men’s league 16-inch so ball game at Robert Dowd Field, July 7, in Forest Park. See more photos on page B17

McElligott wants women’s game to get stronger again

Brackets

Slow-pitch softball saga continues for Lentine family

For Tony Ward, No Gloves tourney is the ultimate event

REVIEW

Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf

Having sponsors contribute ensures we can maintain affordable prices. It continues to be an honor to provide the greatest tournament. We cannot wait to see everyone. Look forward to great softball, good food and great company!!

See you in the Park!

Each year we continue to have the support of our Park District Board of Commissioners. They support the logistics, safety and funding that en-

Jackie Iovinelli Executive Director/Co-Tournament Director

Park District of Forest Park

Contributing Reporters Melvin Tate, Bill Stone

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Lead Project Designer Susan McKelvey

Senior Audience Manager Stacy Coleman

Contributing Photographers

Steve Johnston,Todd Bannor

Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls

Marketing & Advertising Associate Emma Cullnan

Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Senior Advisor Dan Haley

Board of Directors

Chair Eric Weinheimer

Treasurer Nile Wendorf

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

Communications Manager Adam Cumbee

Recreation Supervisor Ryan Vilanova

■ Board of Commissioners

President Tim Gillian

Vice President Kristen Lyons

Treasurer Roy Sansone

Commissioner Cathleen McDer mott

Commissioner John Doss

Arenas thrives in slow-pitch softball

STEVE JOHNSTON

With red bat in hand, Arenas thrives in slow-pitch softball

Little Village product behind Creators, Forty Deuce, founds B nationals

OBy BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

n Dec. 23, 1993, Francisco Arenas was Christmas shopping late at Meijer’s when an item in sporting goods caught his attention. A hanging softball bat colored a distinctive fire engine red was on clearance for only $9.99.

New to 16-inch softball at the time, Arenas has been playing – and using that discount bat – ever since.

“I’m like, ‘$9.99 for a bat? I’ll take it.’ That’s been my bat. Everyone knows me as ‘Oh, I’ve got that red bat.’ It’s been the love of my life to a certain de gree,” Arenas said.

“There’s a saying it’s not the clothes that makes the man. It’s the man that makes the clothes. I feel the same way about softball. It’s af fordable to anybody who just wants to go out there and develop a good coping skill for whatever life throws at you.”

Arenas returns to the 57th Annual No Gloves National Softball Tournament as a pitcher with Forty Deuce, a team renamed this year in honor of his good friend’s teammate who died.

Forty Deuce has plenty of experience while enjoying one of its best seasons with a combined 15-7 record for leagues in Forest Park, Melrose Park and Cicero.

Shortstop and long-time teammate Josh Sias is about to turn 54. The third baseman and short center fielder also are 56.

“The left side of our infield, we joke around that we’re 200-plus years old,” Arenas said. “I think we still play relatively young for our age. We’ve called ourselves the Over the Hill Gang.”

Arenas grew up playing baseball in Chicago’s Little Village and just retired working in juvenile probation for Cook County His second year on the job, Arenas joined his de partment’s softball team and won the Cook County employees league with Arenas star ring at shortstop.

Arenas next joined a co-ed team. Then he learned of a men’s league forming that would play at Chicago’s Piotrowski Park

Arenas for med the Creators. The team played in numerous leagues until he retired the name about three years ago.

“Since we were creating it from scratch,

Forty Deuce’s Francisco Arenas has a long histor y w ith men’s 16-inch so ball in Chicagoland.

we called it the Creators,” Arenas said.

Arenas moved to Chicago Ridge five years ago. Retired from working for Cook County, he now is senior director of programs for SGA Youth Services, a non-profit organization associated with his previous job.

Playing softball has remained a constant.

“For the most part, softball is kind of the blue-collar man’s golf so you get to meet a lot of people. I can tell you I bought my house through someone I met in softball, purchased my car, got my house fixed. If you need anything from a haircut to your dog getting groomed, everyone knows a

guy,” Arenas said.

“Once I’m on the diamond and having that camaraderie with my friends, that’s my addiction. When you win, the ride home is even that much better. And then when you lose, everyone takes a bite of humble pie.”

Arenas also has created softball opportunities for others. This past weekend marked the ninth annual Slow-Pitch Softball B nationals he envisioned and organized for new and up-and-coming teams not yet ready for the Majors or A levels.

This year’s tournament featured 25 teams “I probably could have had 30 teams but it

gets to be a lot of games and with only two fields, it’s hard,” Arenas said.

“There’s guys now playing in the Majors level that started in B nationals. It’s a good feeder system but also some of those teams have stayed together.”

When Arenas first proposed his idea, he was told to expect maybe 10 teams. With funding from foundations through his work, Arenas had 29 throughout the Chicago area for the first B nationals, which he named Playing for Peace.

See ARENAS on page B6

STEVE JOHNSTON

Forty Deuce’s pitcher Francisco Arenas delivers a pitch during

“In general, as a world, we’re se gregated, we’re divided,” Arenas said. “My goal was just to bring people together to just enjoy the game of softball and maybe make a friend. It’s really blossomed into that.”

Arenas still plays league games five days a week and re gularly fills in on Wednesdays and also Sundays in an unlimited-arc league at Chicago’s Hor ner Park

Always a player-coach, Arenas said he’s becoming more of a manager. He’s been a relief pitcher six times in which the team has come from behind to win.

Still in good shape and looking younger

ia — one in Los Angeles and the most through Humboldt s State Park

“That might have been my fastest time just because there wasn’t that many people and I had to sign a waiver consenting that I acknowledge I may get attacked by bears,” Arenas said.

At the No Glove Tournament, look for Arenas wearing his uniform with Coach on the back and using that red bat.

“I’ve had that bat for a long time and it’s worked for me,” Arenas said. “I have a joke from a fellow player. He said, ‘I’ve had three marriages but I’ve had one bat.’ (My bat) kind of found me.”

STEVE JOHNSTON

Papa Magoo’s CountryFest • Aug 16th

Welcome to Papa Magoos Bar & Grill, Shorewood’s newest and most exciting destination for food, fun, and unforgettable memories! Situated in Shorewood, Illinois, and connected to the new Go Pro Sports Dome, Papa Magoo’s boasts a beautiful, brand-new establishment designed to be the ultimate gathering place for friends, families, and everyone in between. On top of our beautiful bar, we offer state-of-the-art Golf Simulators. For our 21+ guests, we offer a thrilling video gaming section where you can try your luck on our state-of-the-art gambling slots!” — Jim Moretti (Owner)

luck

Uncle Jimmy & Cousin Donnie have been around since 2023. We are both players in the game and our focus is about growing the game of 16 inch softball.

Bringing you entertaining, informative and just plain ol’ fun weekly broadcasts. The Uncle Jimmy Cousin Donny Show is committed to growing our great game. Join and follow us on your favorite social media platforms:

Take off the gloves...Put away the tools... Plant yourself here at The Altenheim... And enjoy the beneﬁts of a carefree lifestyle!

| thealtenheim.com

Studio Apartments | 1 Bedroom & 2 Bedroom APARTMENT LIVING FOR INDIVIDUALS OVER 55. GET TO KNOW THE ALTENHEIM! Not just an address but a Destination! WE INVITE YOU.

Come for a community visit… Stay for the Lifestyle…enjoy the charm and many advantages of living at The Altenheim.

Call today to schedule your community visit (708) 366 -2206

If you have a permanent physical disability and want to play Chicago’s great game of 16” softball, come join our wheelchair softball programs for youth and adults.

For more information, contact :

Dan Ferreira @ 312-745-2055 or daniel.ferreira@chicagoparkdistrict.com

For more information, contact :

Dan Ferreira @ 312-745-2055 or daniel.ferreira@chicagoparkdistrict.com

Larry Labiak @ 312-742-5097 or larry.labiak@chicagoparkdistrict.com We’re Recruiting Wheelchair Softball Future Hall Of Famers

If you have a permanent physical disability and want to play Chicago’s great game of 16” softball, come join our wheelchair softball programs for youth and adults.

Larry Labiak @ 312-742-5097 or larry.labiak@chicagoparkdistrict.com

McElligott wants women’s game to get stronger again

Hall of Famer has spent over 50 years in the game

TBy MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

hroughout her 50 years being involved in softball, Joanie McElligott has seen a lot evolve with the game. Yet she’s as devoted as ever

“It’s been the best times,” McElligott told Forest Park Review in an interview. “I’ve made lifelong friends and met a lot of people. It’s been great competition and I’ve had a lot of fun playing.”

McElligott, now a Brookfield resident, has had a decorated career as both a player and a manager. Consequently, she was inducted into the Chicago 16-Inch Softball Hall of Fame in 2022, an honor she still finds humbling today

“It was a great feeling,” McElligott said. “That’s not what I played for, in fact, back then it wasn’t around. It was a tremendous honor.

“It was an even bigger honor when my team, Chaos, got

McElligott first started playing when she was 14 years old on the Northwest Side of Chicago. That’s when she says her love af fair with softball began.

“I grew up across the street from Athletic Field (a Chicago Park District facility),” McElligott said. “I would go watch the g ames and eventually I started playing in a (women’s) leagu e.”

McElligott went on to DePaul University, where she played volleyball and softball. But the Blue Demons played with a 12-inch ball and gloves, which meant McElligott had to make an adjustment.

“The g ame was different,” she said. “The coach noticed the hitch in my swing.”

After colle ge, McElligott continued to play across several leagues in the city and suburbs. She also became a manage r, and her teams enjoyed plenty of success due to their focus on playing to g ether and having fun. For years, McElligott has participated in the Y-Me Tournament in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood neighborhood. Not

See JOANIE MCELLIGOTT on page 11

PROVIDED

Chicago 16-Inch Hall of Famer Joanie McElligott in action at the 2022 Y-Me Tournament in Chicago.

PROVIDED

Joanie McElligott at her induction into the Chicago 16inch Hall of Fame in 2022.

JOANIE MCELLIGOTT

from page 9

only is it the largest all-women tournament in the area, it also serves as a f undraiser for or ganizations dedicated to fighting breast cancer.

Fo r a wh il e, women’s leagues enjoyed great popularit y. But McElligott f eels the q uality has b een diminished in recent year s, and she has a c ouple of good reasons for it

“What happened is that there’s a lot of coed softball now, ” she said. “Women do n’ t have an opportunity to pl ay as much, and if they do it ’s co-ed.

“Girls pl ay with 12-inch b alls in school and on club teams,” she added. “We don’ t have as many parks offering 16-inch leagues for women as we used to. The parks are where we learned how to pl ay.”

Chicago 16-inch Hall of Famer Joanie McElligott in action, from the 1990s.

To combat this challeng e, McElligott hopes that clinics of fered through the Hall of Fame will help turn things around and g et women’s interests peaked

“It’s pretty much word of mouth. We need to introduce the girls to (16-inch softball),” McElligott said. “E veryone that plays 12-inch in high school and colle ge isn’ t going to be a professional. My thing is, they need to understand that’s going to go away eventually, and 16-inch softball will always be available to them.”

But besides the focus on building interest for the women’s g ame, McElligott feels overall that softball itself is thriving in the Chicago area.

“Particularly the men’s g ame,” she said. “There are tournaments all over the place and there are 50 leagues.”

McElligott, who also sits on the Hall of Fame committee, has attended many No Gloves Nationals tournaments. Howeve r, she won’ t be at this year’s tournament – but it’s for a good reason.

“I’ll be playing in a Senior Division 11-inch tournament in Des Moines, Iowa,” she said. “I’m playing with No Pressure, which is new to me. I took a little break from softball and I’m coming back into it now. I just turned 64 so I’ve got to watch it.”

Glove Nationals 2025

Slow-pitch softball saga continues for Lentine family

Tom Lentine followed father Frank, passed on love to sons and daughter

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Tom Lentine seemed destined to lead a slow-pitch softball life. As the oldest of eight children, he was raised watching and eventually playing with his father, legendary Chicago 16-Inch Softball Hall of Famer Frank Lentine

“I probably started going to the games when I was 4. I was the batboy, went to all of the national tournaments,” Tom Lentine said. “I started playing when I was 17 or 18.”

For 40-plus years, Lentine has continued playing daily as he approaches his 59th birthday in August. And his joy of slowpitch softball has been passed along to his three children – sons Tommy and Chris and daughter Ashley

Lentine and Tommy Lentine currently are teammates on the March Manufacturing team, which will play at the 57th Annual No Gloves National Softball Tournament. Chris Lentine will be playing with the 45s.

During the mid-2010s, Lentine and all three children re gularly played together for the Impact team and manager Stan Patek.

“It’s a dream come true (playing with them). My daughter plays with us, too, if we’re shorthanded,” Lentine said.

“Winning nationals in 2009 (in Crystal Lake) was probably the biggest highlight for me. Forest Park is still on my bucket list. I’d like to win one before I stop playing 16inch at the Majors level. A couple of thirds, fourth, but not a championship.”

Being among the handful of players still able to play with their children adds to the enjoyment. Lentine’s understanding wife Michelle makes it a complete family af fair. She re gularly attends games as “the big team mom,” and also because it’s a chance “to see the kids.” There’s also the community of the entire slow-pitch family

“To me, it’s the biggest return out there. The friends you make in softball last a lifetime. It not only helps in softball but it helps you in the job market, everything,” Lentine said.

“You can’t go anywhere and not run into someone you’ve played with, you’ve played against. It’s funny. Now I’m playing against

March’s pitcher Tom Lentine Sr. (above) has a long family histor y w ith 16-inch so ball. His father, Frank, is a Hall of Fame member and both his sons, Chris and Tom Jr., also play.

the kids whose fathers I played against. They’ll ask, ‘Did you play against my dad? And you’re still playing?’ That’s how it works.”

When Lentine first started playing, he was an outfielder. Now he serves as playermanager and generally pitches, catches and is an extra hitter.

Lentine is content to “let the young kids run around (in the outfield),” but he thinks offensively he’s as good as ever

“I think I’m a better hitter now at 58 or 59 then when I was 25, 30,” Lentine said.

See TOM LENTINE on page 16

March’s Tom Lentine Jr. pitches batting practice as his father Tom Lentine

ts ball before their game against Circus during a men’s league 16-inch so ball game at Robert Dowd Field, July 7, in Forest Park.

STEVE JOHNSTON

Sr. collec

STEVE JOHNSTON

March’s Tom Lentine Sr.delivers a pitch against Circus during a men’s league 16-inch so ball game at Robert Dowd Field Monday, July 7, in Forest Park.

TOM LENTINE

from page B15

“I think I see the field better. I have a better understanding of what I can, can’t do. When I was younger, I kind of pigeonholed myself and now I’ve expanded (my range).”

Lentine’s children were standout athletes at Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, where he served as athletic director until retiring in 2020. This coming school year, Lentine becomes interim athletic director at Elmwood Park High School.

Tommy and Chris, one year apar t in school, played baseball at Montini and were members of state championship football teams. After Tommy redshir ted as a colle ge freshman following shoulder surgery, they were baseball teammates for four years at Ave Maria University (Naples, Fla.). Ashley was a Montini softball standout and played at Loras Colle ge (Dubuque, Iowa).

For the March team, Lentine calls Tommy the “Swiss Ar my knife” -- playing infield, outfield, “whatever makes the team better.” Chris also provides multiple roles for the 45s.

The last couple of years Tommy has added responsibilities.

“I told him I’m at the end of my career. I want this to keep going so he’s going to have to take more of a managerial role,” Lentine said. “He’s done a great job with that.”

At 85, Frank Lentine still is active in the local softball world, umpiring four days a week. For its 50th anniversary, the American Softball Association named Frank Lentine among the top 22 players of the last half century.

Frank Lentine played in the No Glove National Tournament from 1965-81, winning two championships with the Bobcats and one with the Stompers along with numerous titles in Forest Park. Initially retiring in 1982, he made a comeback in 1995 with Seniors softball, adding 29 more national championships.

Frank Lentine retired from competitive softball at age 77.

“My goal is to play until at least 78. I’ve got to beat him at something. I’ll never catch him as far as championships,” Tom Lentine said laughing. “The one thing about me and my boys is we can hit. If you can hit, you can play in this game a long time.”

John Rice contributed to this story.

Congratulations to the Park District of Forest Park on 57 years of the longest running softball tournament in the nation!

STEVE JOHNSTON

PHOTO S BY STEVE JOHNSTON

Forty Deuce’s shortstop Josh Sias makes the throw to rst base during a men’s league 16-inch so ball game at Bulger Park Monday, July 7, in Melrose Park. Josh Sias (inset) connects for a hit.

Forty Deuce’s Hector Diaz delivers a pitch during batting practice.

March’s le elder Morris Greco res the ball back into the in eld against Circus during a men’s league 16-inch so ball game at Robert Dowd Field, July 7, in Forest Park.

March’s Tom Lentine Jr. connects for a hit

March’s Nick Burt heads out of the batters box during his game against Circus.

Ninety painters, potters,

makers,

and other artists will showcase their creativity in more than 40 garages located throughout Forest Park neighborhoods. Enjoy strolling the village’s quirky streets and alleys while supporting local artists.

For Tony Ward, No Gloves tourney is the ultimate event

Advocate for Black teams playing so ball

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Fifty years ago, Tony Ward and some of his football teammates at Wendell Phillips High School in Chicago decided to participate in a youth softball tournament at the conclusion of the season. That was when he first fell in love with the spor t.

“We were 16 years old and started a team called the Kings,” Ward told Forest Park Review in a phone interview. “We played up until we were 19 years old. We went our separate ways, but I stuck with

softball. My passion for the g ame goes far and wide.”

Ward, who was an accomplished player in several leagues, maintains his connection to softball today as the manager of BTA (Best Talent Assembled), which will participate in the 57th annual No Gloves Nationals Tournament. He says softball has been really good to him over the years.

“It’s been great,” said Ward. “I’ve met people of all kinds. You’d be surprised at the conversations you get out of guys you meet through softball.”

Gloveless softball was originated in Chicago many years ago, and that’s something Ward – whose brothers and cousins have also played the t -- especially takes pride in “It’s our g ame,” he said. “We’ re trying to show other parts of the country our g ame. My passion has always been playing without es. I hated it when leagues brought in gloves in the 1970s It was very disappointing, and I ’t by myself in expressing that. Gloves don’t belong in the

“My brother and I played toether for years in the (Chicago Transit Authority) league,” he added. “It brings on a good family atmosphere. The CTA league is the longest standing in Chicago softball history. It started in 1969.”

rd is looking forward to seeing BTA play at Forest Park He has guided several teams to the No Gloves, a tournament he describes as special.

“It’s the ultimate experifor a softball player at this stage,” he said. “It’s one of the most profound tournaments of all-time. Guys get more jacked up for this tournament than any

other. Everyone is wearing their best apparel with their uniform. New gloves, new shoes, they come out at No Gloves time It’s dress to impress, and above all else, play your (butt) of f.”

BTA sought out the best talent in the Black community, and Ward likes the increased participation of Black teams in the No Gloves.

“I’m very encouraged by that,” he said. “I feel like it’s good for the g ame. I think Black softball needs to expand more with

the No Gloves. I think Black softball was brainwashed into putting on the gloves and steered in the wrong direction for so many decades. That’s what put us behind the eight-ball in this tour nament.” Ward is confident in BTA’s chances at the No Gloves. But he’s also somewhat concerned about injuries to a couple of his top players that will prevent them from competing

Tony Ward

Tony Ward in his playing days w ith Steel Gold

TONY WARD

from page B1

“One of the best leftfielders in all of ball and one of the fastest guys in the he was in a car accident,” said won’t be able to play for us. He was MVP of the tournament four years ond baseman has a rotator cu won’t play again this season. I’m into the tournament, but I ha we’ ll play well. I’m optimisti

In its’ heyday, virtually eve area had a league that play With that no longer being the case, has been a fierce debate about is going. There are those w ing, while others say it’s g to thrive again.

Count Ward among the latter believes as long as elementary and schools in the city sponsor softball, will ensure the sport’s futur

“I think it’s thriving because of lic schools having leagues. help,” Ward said. “I umpire in (Chicago Public Schools) and see the be more involved with the game. The more we expand the game, it’s got a good chance of expanding to suburban leagues. All it takes are a bat and a ball.”

To championship trop season.

Tony Ward (#55) gathers his BTA team on the mound to discuss st game this season.

No glove? No problem. We’ve been catching what matters for businesses and individuals all across Forest Park for decades. And for the last 57 years, we’ve been right there beside you, cheering on the No Glove Nationals! Thanks to the organizers, teams, and fans for all the memories and excitement—here’s to the next 57!

Ask us about game-winning coverage for you!

(708) 383-9000

7310 Madison St, Forest Park, IL 60130

Forest Park Highlights

The 16” Hall of Fame Museum is proud to celebrate its 16th year!

The Chicago 16 Inch Softball Hall of Fame was founded in 1996. It is a 501(c)3 nonproﬁ t dedicated to preserving the history, recognizing the best of the best on and off the ﬁ eld, and to fostering the growth of the 16 inch game.

The 16 Inch Hall of Fame is located in Forest Park, IL. at the corner of Des Plaines and Harrison. Inductee Park was unveiled in 2009 and the museum opened in 2014. Since its inception, the HOF has inducted over 700 former and current softball men and women players, umpires, managers, fans, teams and organizers at annual dinners averaging 500 attendees. Come see our historical photos, videos, uniforms, artifacts and interactive displays on Saturdays from noon to 4pm; with extended hours during the Forest Park Tournament. Always looking for memorabilia, sponsors, and donors; support will allow us to add displays and be open longer.

Legendary Brown Bombers 1940s

ForestParkReview_072325

Truck in ux raises tra c concerns

Hubbird interim superintendent

Rush North & Harlem — Expert Care, Right in Your Neighborhood

Village to plant twice as many trees this fall

e increase comes from a Trees Forever Illinois Community Canopy-Tree Planting Partnership grant

Door-to-door, D209 works to boost enrollment, connections

Volunteers needed for Saturday, July 26

La Shawn Ford won’t run for 8th District state representative again

Mulch: A Key Ally to Beat the Heat

As Ford plans state house exit, open seat draws early bids

Davis brings back Congressional App Challenge

What ’s next for 7410 Madison Street?

of Commerce

MAIL TRUCKS

PTO president steps in as D91 engagement director

Rachel Ernst replaces Nurys Uceta-Ramos

HUBBIRD

Interim D91

Alvarez letter to Forest Park

Groovin’ in the Grove

Locals dance during the second of three summer concerts on July 15

CRIME

Apt. residents report smoke, ignited reworks in structure re

Death investigations

Suspicious circumstances

DUI

Proper ty damage

A farewell from D91 Supt. Alva rez

Postal service overdelivers

Stand up for public media

OPINION

Which Jesus are you talking about?

HOLMES

A home-run-hitting pitcher

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

No Glove NATIONALS

It is going to be a great tournament!

CONTENTS

REVIEW

With red bat in hand, Arenas thrives in slow-pitch softball

Little Village product behind Creators, Forty Deuce, founds B nationals

Papa Magoo’s CountryFest • Aug 16th

McElligott wants women’s game to get stronger again

Hall of Famer has spent over 50 years in the game

JOANIE MCELLIGOTT

Slow-pitch softball saga continues for Lentine family

Tom Lentine followed father Frank, passed on love to sons and daughter

TOM LENTINE

For Tony Ward, No Gloves tourney is the ultimate event

Advocate for Black teams playing so ball

TONY WARD

Forest Park Highlights