11 minute read
Opinion
OUR VIEW
Open up on Army Reserve land
You wouldn’t buy a home without a home inspection.
Forest Park should not consider purchasing the multi-acre Army Reserve site on Roosevelt Road without a thorough environmental review and some sort of structural assessment of the step-up from dilapidated buildings currently on the site.
It was good news recently when the military granted an extension until Nov. 1 for Forest Park to enter a bid for the now vacant property. But the additional news that the military will not allow the village, or any other bidder, to find out what environmental hazards exist in the buildings or the extensive grounds has to be a red flag and a deal breaker.
It appears to be just that for three members of the village council — Joe Byrnes, Maria Maxham and Ryan Nero. They’ve said there can be no bid without adequate environmental review. Good for them. Common sense.
We’d go further and say there are two other gob-smacking holes in this Mayor Rory Hoskins-led process. We believe this critical property has to produce taxes for Forest Park. Property taxes. Sales taxes. Liquor taxes. Hotel taxes. Some sort of tax income for the financially pinched village. And that means the entire parcel cannot be given over to use by the village as a new municipal center.
Also, how about some sort of architectural and financial assessment of just how viable the current non-descript buildings on the site would function as a village hall, police and fire department, and public works facility. How much — ballpark — would it cost to convert the buildings to new uses? What would be the gain financially if Forest Park sold off the properties which currently house its workforce?
Finally, and perhaps most frustratingly, just what is this weird military swap meet that does not allow Forest Park to simply bid to buy this local property? Instead the village could be gifted with the property if it ponies up an untold amount of money to invest in a notable water-related infrastructure project at the military’s Fort Sheridan property in the north suburbs.
Here we need Hoskins to open up about what he knows. The mayor is inclined to hold information close to the vest. Won’t work here, Mayor. Committing Forest Park taxpayers to pay for what — sewers, retention ponds, fountains? — without explaining the scope and cost of a potential obligation, is not going to fly. Not with a majority of the village council, the Forest Park Review or with citizens.
A thorough public presentation of all phases of this bold concept has to happen. Sooner than later. The mayor should look at this as an opportunity, not an intrusion on his limited authority. Sell the plan. Make the case. Earn public buy-in.
And in the meantime, tell the military there will be no forward movement until the site is fully open to environmental review.
OPINION
The year we pulled o the pants … and an upset win
‘They snapped their pants off.” That’s the moment Ryan Russ said he knew his dreams of a five-peat was threatened in the 2016 casket race.
It was years in the making, years of watching the juggernaut park district team, with runners from all corners of the community, take down every casket team striving for the top trophy.
Although I tried to convince our journalists and support staff to train for the race, they just lacked the dedication needed to win the big race on Beloit Avenue. I took a page from the winning team and decided to assemble my own collection of unaffiliated talent over 18, committed to running. That naturally led me to the Concordia University track team, the fastest young men and women in a 10-mile radius.
It was an outlandish fantasy to convince our local Cougars to push the redecorated water heater, but I believe in miracles, and one that was delivered in the basement of First United Church at Elgin and Harvard. While waiting for the Montessori Spanish class to end, I sat in the room with another parent, Phil Kopinski. While we both had boys in the class and Cub Scouts, we had never actually officially met. So I struck up a conversation, inspired by the embroidered polo shirt he was wearing with “Concordia University,” asking if he worked there, and his reply, “I’m the Concordia Track coach,” sent a ripple of sunlight into the room, a hum from the organ above, and a flight of birds into the sky. He pledged to see if any of his sprinters would be interested, and we would reconnect in October.
The scheme was hatched. Our publisher here was more concerned about “ringers” and ethics, but I insisted he keep his naivete on that side of Harlem. I screenprinted a whole slew of T-shirts, prepped face painting, foot massages, water, pickle juice, whatever the team might need to bring home the prized concrete skull.
When Brandon Davis, Chelsee Wilson, Ladontis Turner and Tyrique Thomas arrived with their shorts hiding under their quick release snapped pants, Captain Russ and I locked eyes for a moment across the pre-
battle lines of the parking lot and I knew the fun was about to begin. It was a day that has echoed for years. The Cougars were astonishing and left a trail of dust that is still settling. This was a one-off, never to be repeated. The 2016 Casket Race was phenomenal and the Review-Concordia team still fills me with delight. The Concrete Skull Trophy proudly watches all who come through my office, surrounded by a shrine to the runners that day. This year I am pouring my miracle JILL dreams into growing a giant pumpkin for the Invasion of the Scarecrows. Planted
WAGNER the seed in the spring and am monitoring the sunlight, water, nutrients and animal activity like a helicopter mom. This clever fundraiser for the Historical Society and Arts Alliance sold out last year and the hot scarecrow kits will be picked up in just a little over a week — at Garage Galleries. This friendly neighborhood scarecrow invasion will have a rule this year to limit stuffing the ballot by allowing people only one vote per person, we are on this side of Harlem, but we have our Ladontis Turner, Chelsee Wilson, Tyrique omas and Brandon Davis limits. Anyone will be able to vote one time for “Most Artistic,” “Most Historical,” “Most Forest Park Pride,” and “People’s Choice.” In the inaugural year last year, Ghoulia Child, Bat-scrow, Munch’s Scream, Anansi, Shakespeare, Shrek, and Turnip Head were some of the delightful displays about town. The Golden Girls on the rooftop, Forest Park firefighter climbing a ladder in honor of breast cancer survivors, Scarecrow Watering with Color and Adolph Luetgert, the Sausage King took top honors. If all goes well, my pumpkin will be the center of the “Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” scene for my Scarecrow Invasion, but not to worry, I’m not eligible to be in the running for one of the prize baskets. I look forward to the creative handiwork throughout the village as our townies embrace the Invasion of the Scarecrows and support art and history.
FOREST P ARK REVIEW
Reporter Igor Studenkov Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Michael Romain Senior Editor Bob Uphues Digital Publishing & Technology Manager Briana Higgins Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Li a Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes, John Rice Big Week Editor James Porter Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck, Kamil Brady Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Donor Relations Manager/Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Development & Sales Coordinator Stacy Coleman Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
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HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-366-0600 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 EMAIL forestpark@wjinc.com CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com ONLINE ForestParkReview.com Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Forest Park Review,141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS No 0205-160) In-county subscriptions: $30 per year. $44 for two years, $60 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $38 per year. Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2022 Growing Community Media NFP.
School is starting and crossing guards are returning to their posts. There is one special person, though, who will not be at her post at Thomas and Jackson. Valerie SivelsJones has been the smiling presence there for three years, greeting the students and staff of Garfield School every morning. “Ms. Valerie,” a small woman with a big heart, died on June 20, 2022.
After her death, her big sister, Cardean Jenkins, wanted to honor her memory. The Forest Park police gave Jenkins permission to decorate the park bench on the northeast corner in memory of “Ms. Valerie. Jenkins” in a plaque that reads, “Because someone we love is in heaven, there is a little bit of heaven in our hearts.”
Students and their families also had “heaven in their hearts” and added their own tributes. “Ms. Valerie was an intelligent person,” reads one of the hand-printed signs. “She also helped me cross the street. She greeted me every time I went to school. I miss her.”
Many miss Ms. Valerie, especially her family. She had three sisters and began life in the Cabrini-Green housing project. When she was 8, her parents moved the family to the West Side. She attended Westinghouse High School and later studied at trade schools. She developed the skills that enabled her to serve as a pediatric administrator at Cook County Hospital. After working there for many years, she became a Human Resources representative at Rush Oak Park Hospital. But she felt burned out by administrative work and preferred to work outdoors as a crossing guard. Forest Park was a natural fit because Ms. Valerie had already lived here for 22 years, with her husband Kenneth Jones and their foster son Kenneth Jr. Instead of buying a house in Forest Park, they had their own built. Ms. Valerie liked everything about the village but the property taxes.
She was very close to her sisters and they gathered for birthdays and monthly dinners. She was also very active at King David Missionary Baptist Church, where she taught the New Member class for many years.
Ms. Valerie was only 4-feet-11, but she had a great spirit. She was “meek, mild and humble” said Jenkins. She loved the
students she protected and many gave her hugs. As one of them wrote, “Ms. Valerie was such a special person. She knew all the kids’ names after the first week of school. She appreciated every day, no matter the weather. She is loved and she will be missed. She always got us across safely. She made sure we watched the alley for traffic. Rest in peace. We will miss you.” It was characteristic of Ms. Valerie to JOHN never complain about health problems. She didn’t even tell her sisters. Jenkins RICE has great memories of attending her 60th birthday party on April 2, 2022. Ms. Valerie hosted a sit-down dinner and “danced all night.” She was happy and laughing as always. Few people knew she was ill until she passed away. Jenkins regularly visited Ms. Valerie at her post and still stops there on her way to and from work. The police told her the shrine to Ms. Valerie could stay up as long as she wanted. Jenkins was touched by the tributes left by Garfield kids and their families. When they met at the shrine, they gave her hugs and shared condolences. Jenkins will soon be taking down the windmills and the other festive touches she added. Because a new person will be standing there to protect the kids as they cross. Ms. Valerie, no doubt, would approve.
A L OOK BA CK IN TIME Early transportation
In the earliest days of Harlem (now known as Forest Park), transportation on the Dummy line, a track of railroad that was laid from 40th Street in Chicago in 1881 that extended west on Randolph Street, through the villages of Oak Park, Harlem and River Forest until it reached the Soo line tracks then curved back eastward on Harrison Street. It stopped at Wisconsin Avenue in Oak Park; Park Avenue in River Forest; and Desplaines Avenue and Harrison St. in Harlem.
Hundreds of Chicagoans used this means of transportation to and from the cemeteries, later the Amusement Park, and people from this area commuted to Chicago. The line was owned by a company headed by H. Vander Cook, of Austin. The steam engine took water through a hose in a ditch along the side of the tracks at Oak Park Avenue and Randolph Street.
