ForestParkReview_091025 by Wednesday Journal

O cials discover Forest Park

Rat outbreak in Forest Park

Steve Glinke, director of the village’s department of public health and safety, says the number of rodents is unprecedented

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

While rats are active year-round, sightings tend to increase from late summer to early winter, as the animals prepare to find a war m place to nest and gather a food stash for colder months.

That’s no different in Forest Park, where Steve Glinke, director of the village’s department of public health and safety, says he’s hearing an increasing number of re ports of rats around town.

“We’ve had an outbreak of rats that’s literally without precedent. It’s randomly distributed from north to south, east to west,” Glinke told the Review. “Never have I seen anything like this,” he added, saying that residents are re porting rats in locations that historically haven’ t experienced them.

Glinke said the spike in the number of rats See RATS on page 6

Escape Factor has the ‘it factor’

A er nearly a decade in business, the Forest Park institution is on USA Today’s list for Top

10 Best Escape Rooms nationwide

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Behind the door at 7228 Madison St., there are four rooms of themed, timed puzzles — one full of dark wood, exposed brick and clocks; a faux graveyard with lanterns as the only light; a model of the inside of a treehouse; and a gameshow studio with a spinning wheel and Scrabble board.

These are the four scenes that customers can choose from at Escape Factor in Forest Park. The Filipino-American business, owned by Jonathan Biag and Dexter Cura, has been open for nearly a decade and is now nominated as one of 20 finalists for USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in the category of Top 10 Best Escape Rooms nationwide.

“Wouldn’t that be cool to say, ‘Forest Park has the number one best escape room in the country, according to USA Today,’” said Biag, who added he was excited for Escape Factor to receive the nomination. “It helps shine a national spotlight on Forest Park.”

Escape rooms are often mission-based w

complish a series of puzzles to get out of the space before the hour is up. Escape Factor allows two-to-nine players in a room and often sees groups of families, friends or co-workers participating in the challenge.

“It’s an experience that really brings people together to actually communicate,” Cura said.

Biag and Cura, friends since middle school, designed the four escape room narratives and puzzles themselves. They teamed up in 2015, after Biag got laid off as a programmer and Cura, a self-described serial entrepreneur, enjoyed doing an escape room with Biag

The duo says that, around the time they started their business, escape rooms were popping up around the country, but few had challenges that were new to them. Biag and Cura said they wanted to create better puzzles than the over 250 escape rooms they’ve completed to-date.

“Some of the puzzles weren’t that great,” Biag said. “We thought we could bring something that made people feel like they got challenged, whether they were new players that have never played before or enthusiasts that have played over 100 games.” He added that about half of Escape Factor’s customers are first-time escape room participants, and over 75% are from Forest Park or surrounding communities

Biag and Cura make the puzzles difficult but doable for all players, even kids. While each group of participants can get three hints to complete the escape room, if someone asks for more, staff will always give another clue

“Our goal is not to stump someone,” Biag said. “Our oal is to make sure that the

about us for the next year and convince other people to come here. In order to do that, they need to have fun, they need to not get frustrated, they need to feel accomplished.”

“And if they totally want us hands-off, we’ll let them play how they want,” Cura added.

Escaping the clocks, gameshow studio, treehouse and graveyard

Of the four family-friendly escape rooms, The Timekeeper’s Trapped came first. Elements of the room were in Escape Factor’s initial location in Oak Park, which opened in 2016. But the first spot had a small footprint with little space for additional rooms, and the limited area for decor didn’t correspond with what Biag and Cura wanted to explore with their puzzles. So, the pair moved Escape Factor to Madison Street the summer of 2017.

At the Forest Park location, Biag and Cura developed a new storyline for The Timekeeper’s Trapped. Next, they added the Bonus Fun Time Game Show Challenge that’s set in a 1970s game show studio. Then came The Treehouse Raid at Fort Knocks, where participants are inside a teenage punk’s treehouse, searching for valuables he stole from the town. Finally, the Ghost in the Graveyard room, a challenge set in the cemetery at midnight, launched in 2020. Cura said the idea came from Forest Park having more dead residents than living ones.

The Bonus Fun Time Game Show Challenge is most popular — and Biag’s favorite escape room, mostly because it reminds him

of watching game shows as a child with his grandfather — because of its rarity.

“It’s really hard to find something very unique,” Cura said. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Biag and Cura said they likely won’t add any additional escape rooms, since the four existing ones are already a hit among customers.

“Every room has its own redeeming qualities,” said Cura, who has a hard time picking a favorite. But the co-owners change up puzzles periodically to keep them challenging, but solvable. “We tweak all the time. If we find that our game masters are having to hint at the same puzzle every time, perhaps there’s something wrong with that. Let’s simplify it.”

Future goals for Escape Factor’s co-owners include catering more to businesses — both those who might want to bring workers in for an escape room experience, and those in Forest Park that want to partner with Escape Factor

“Here in Forest Park, we do hear from a lot of the restaurants,” Biag said, where escape room participants often dine afterwards. “I think we’ve been able to successfully bring a lot of business to this area, specifically to Madison Street.” He added that they’ve spoken to Madison Street restaurants about partnering to offer a game-and-dinner deal. To vote for the USA Today award, go to https://www.escape-factor.com/voteUSAToday and vote once a day through Sept. 22. Results will be announced Oct. 1.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Dexter Cura and Jonathan Biag in the Bonus Fun Time Game Show Challenge escape room.

JESSICA MORDACQ

e Treehouse Raid at Fort Knocks escape room, where participants must nd items that a punk teenager stole before he retur ns to his treehouse.

Mint Cannabis, Forest Park’s third dispensar y, opens this fall

e dispensary replaces a currency exchange at Roosevelt and Harlem

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Have you noticed construction where the currency exchange once was at the corner of Harlem and Roosevelt?

A new business will soon occupy 7202 Roosevelt Rd. once Mint Cannabis dispensary opens this fall, likely in November, according to a Mint spokesperson. With improvements nearly finished, dispensary leadership hopes to request a final inspection from the village and the state this month.

Mint Cannabis completely renovated the interior of the old currency exchange. Now, the building includes a sales floor, where most of Mint’s products are visible to customers. According to the spokesperson, that’s a unique setup for an Illinois dispensary, most of which don’t display sales products as extensively.

Mint Cannabis started in Arizona in 2016. The Forest Park location will be the dispensary’s 32nd throughout Illinois, Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Missouri and Nevada, but only the second in the Chicagoland area after its Willowbrook location.

With a wide range of cannabis products, Mint says it has donated more than $3 million to nonprofits, families and individuals in need to break down stigmas associated with cannabis. The dispensary regularly of-

fers discounted and free product programs for seniors, cancer patients and veterans

Forest Park dispensaries

Mint Dispensary will be Forest Park’s third to open in a year. Parkway Dispensary opened at 7432 Madison St. last October, and Bloc Dispensary at 7216 Circle Ave. opened in June. Steve Glinke, director of the village’s department of public health and safety, said the three are within one square mile of each other

After the planning and zoning commission recommend the village council approve the dispensary’s conditional use last October — and the village council did so in November, allowing Mint to reside in a commercial district since Forest Park zoning code only allows dispensaries in industrially zoned areas — commissioners mentioned putting a cap on the number of dispensaries in Forest Park

At the November council meeting where the dispensary was approved, Commissioner Maria Maxham shared her concer n about the pressure to approve whatever the PZC recommends.

“We’re often told that, as a council, if we say no to something that gets approved conditionally through the PZC, then it puts us at legal risk of being sued because we said no to someone who met the requirements,” she said.

Though there hasn’t been any public discussion about the cap since, Glinke said he thinks the cannabis market is hitting a saturation point. He added that it’s hard to say how much money dispensaries will bring to

e cur rency exchange at 7207 Roosevelt Road, where a new dispensar y is approved to move in.

Fo cannabis tax.

“It’s very difficult to predict projected revenues,” Glinke said. “It’s a very, very tricky business I’m learning.” He added, “The market is going to drive what happens here.”

The Mint spokesperson ag reed about how hard it is to project revenue from a cannabis tax, “given that this dispensary hasn’t opened yet, it would be challenging to speculate.”

In the process of gaining its conditional use permit, Mint Cannabis has addressed multiple requests by Forest Park residents

Locals who spoke at the September and October plan commission meetings, and the November council meeting, shared concerns about public safety. But when commissioners approved Mint dispensary in November, they spoke about how, based on what they’ve seen from other dispensaries, there’s nothing that links marijuana businesses to increases in unwanted behavior. They said dispensary security measures likely improve

According to Mint, the dispensary will have security cameras, motion sensors and glass break sensors among other safety measures

Residents also spoke about how they worried about increased traffic in an area that already has a busy intersection.

To address traffic concerns, cars will only be able to exit the Mint dispensary parking lot either by turning right on Harlem or right on Roosevelt.

Though Mint wasn’t required to do a traffic study, the dispensary’s traffic impact statement found that traffic generated by the business would increase cars on adjacent roadways by less than 1%. According to the dispensary in October, an average customer will spend no more than 10 minutes in the store, with an average of 23 people expected to visit during the busiest hour in the morning and 41 during the busiest evening hour.

Mint Cannabis operating hours will be 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

PROVIDED

QuikTrip seeking permit to redevelop Mohr site

Gas station giant QuikTrip moves forward in its bid for blighted Mohr Concrete site that’s in foreclosure in sout h

Oak Park

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park’s plan commission is set to review an application to build a major gas station at the long-vacant for mer Mohr concrete site.

QuikTrip, a nationwide gas station chain with re gional offices in Naperville, is looking to redevelop the for mer H.J. Mohr & Sons Co. concrete site which sits along Maple Avenue, Harlem Avenue, Garfield Street and Lexington Street just south of the Eisenhower Exspressway in Oak Park. Their interest was first re ported by Wednesday Journal in July. The corporation’s proposal will be the subject of Oak Park’s Plan Commission’s next public meeting Thursday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at village hall.

The Plan Commission holds public hearings concerning planned developments, re zoning, special uses and other development matters. QuikTrip’s nearly 400-page proposal for the site is available to the public ahead of the meeting.

The proposed site would include a 6,445 square foot convenience store building and 16 fueling positions. There would be no diesel fueling for trucks on the proposed site, according to the proposal documents.

The corporation would have to demolish all the existing structures on the site.

The proposed site would have three entrances — one on Harlem Avenue, one on Garfield Street and one on Lexington Street. This design would require special approval as village ordinances typically only allow for two curb cuts at gas stations, according to proposal documents.

While the Plan Commission will weigh in on the proposal this week, Oak Park’s village board will have the final say on the future of the project down the line.

The old concrete plant has sat rusting since the Mohr company closed its doors in 2018 amid financial woes. Once home to

one of the longest running businesses in Chicagoland, the vacant site is among the only large plots of land available for development in Oak Park

Last month, Oak Park’s assistant village manager for economic vitality John Melaniphy said that redeveloping the Mohr site is a major oppor tunity for the village

“Certainly, the village would like to see that property redeveloped and returned to productive use,” he said.

As the proposal has moved forward in the permitting process, some south Oak Park neighbors and other community members have expressed a variety of concerns about the proposed gas station. A new gas station on the site could worsen traffic on an already congested Harlem Avenue, conflict with Oak Park’s sustainability goals and re present a loss of a potential mixed-use development opportunity for the village, critics have argued.

A Change.org petition asking village leaders to block the proposed development has over 1,000 signatures. Petition organizer Brooke Reavey — who lives a few hundred feet away from the for mer Mohr site — said that the village can af ford to wait for a better redevelopment opportunity for the site.

“There’s just a better use of the space, it’s an entire city block and it doesn’t make sense to give it all up to a giant gas station,” Reavey said. “We have the opportunity to do so much with it. It’s not like we went fishing and we caught a bunch of fish and if we don’t sell them in a couple days, they’re going to go bad. We can wait around for it. We’re in such a populous area and somebody will develop this.”

In May, Wednesday Journal obtained documents related to the termination of for mer economic vitality administrator Brandon Crawford that mentioned a possible Tax Increment Financing zone surrounding the Mohr property. The documents, dated April 11, 2025, indicated that discussions about the potential TIF had begun a year earlier, but that work analyzing the prospect had “not progressed as expected,” according to the village documents. Any sale and redevelopment of the property will happen in context of the foreclosure case involving KrohVan — the site’s last set of would-be developers — and the Mohr family.

Karen Richards, daughter of Dot and

Bud Mohr, told Wednesday Journal that the case was still ongoing last month.

Last October, H.J. Mohr & Sons Co. filed a foreclosure suit against the developers, saying that KrohVan still owes on the mortgage loan ag reement that matured last summer.

“The defendants have not paid the balance of the loan which matured on June 2, 2024,” the October filing said. “Current principal balance due on the note and

mortgage is $4,026,830 plus interest, costs, advances for taxes, insurance and fees; and less any credits for payments received.”

H.J. Mohr & Sons Co. also claimed that the developers owed $157,241 in unpaid interest in their October foreclosure filing. The parties had extended the mortgage’s maturity date twice. The developers were also hit with a Mechanic’s lien for more than $7,000 in unpaid contractor work last summer, according to the filing.

MEMORY CARE SHELTERED CARE SKILLED NURSING RESPITE CARE

can likely be attributed to garbage buildup or feeding wildlife.

“The community-wide spike went up during Covid because [people] never left the house and they were g enerating double the garbage at home than they normally did,” Glinke said.

He mentions a recent rat outbreak in the 500 block of Circle Avenue, where one resident was “pouring birdseed on the ground,” Glinke said.

To address the issue, Glinke said he goes door-to-door to affected houses, offering a free rodent treatment sponsored by the village. He also suggests an ongoing treatment plan with Smithereen Pest Management Services for $150 for three visits, a 50% discount from the usual price.

Glinke said the village quelled the rat issue on the 500 block of Circle Avenue in about a week, g etting no new hits on set

bait traps or re por ts of rat sightings. If you see a rat, rather than calling the village to re port a sighting, try to first have an idea about where it’s nesting or eating. If you can provide such infor mation, Glinke said he’ll come to the property to tell residents what to look for and avoid.

“We need to jump on these things,” Glinke said. “You can try to educate, but there are still going to be people who let their garbage overflow or feed wildlife,” he added about what he usually tells residents dealing with rats.

In order to decrease the number of rats in Forest Park, residents can do a few simple things. Make sure your garbage isn’ t overflowing and compost bins are rodentproof. If you have a bird feeder, be sure to re gularly swee p up seed s, and pick up do g poop so the rodents don’ t have anything to feed on. And re gularly mow your grass and manage weeds to restrict the options rats have to burrow. If you have infor mation about rat nests or food sources, contact the health and safety department at (708) 615-6284.

LICENSE PLATE

the license plate readers,” Hoskins told the Review. “I think the concern is that, given the current climate with rumors of the National Guard coming, with ICE enforcement on the increase, that this happened and that ICE had access.”

Illinois Gover nor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have both recently spoken out against the potential increase of federal agents in Chicago, perhaps as soon as last weekend. Forest Park officials assure locals that area police have been instructed to uphold the Illinois Trust Act, which states that local law enforcement is prohibited from participating in immigration enforcement.

On Sept. 5, Secretary of State of Illinois Alexi Giannoulias sent out a press release reporting that, during one of his office’s audits, officials found that Forest Park was sharing automated license plate reader data with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“License plate reading cameras serve as powerful surveillance technology, and as Secretary of State, I’m committed to ensuring that everyone involved in data sharing is following the law and protecting Illinoisans’ right to privacy,” Giannoulias said in a statement. “These audits are one of the most important tools we have to ensure accountability and compliance with Illinois law, and our office will continue to conduct them in an effort to protect people’s private data.”

According to the Secretary of State’s press release, Giannoulias directed Motorola Solutions to work with the village to turn off data sharing capabilities with ICE and other federal agencies.

This isn’t the first time the Secretary of

“The department is well aware of its obligations under the Illinois Trust Act,” Hoskins said, adding that “it’s pretty routine for a department like Forest Park to share information with other law enforcement agencies.”

“Upon confirmation of the violation, the Village of Forest Park took immediate corrective action to ensure full compliance with state law. The village remains committed to protecting the privacy and civil liberties of all individuals and will continue to work closely with state authorities to strengthen safeguards around ALPR data usage,” the village’s statement said. “We appreciate the diligence of the Secretary of State’s Office and Motorola Solutions in identifying and addressing this issue. The village will continue to review its internal protocols to prevent any future unauthorized data sharing.”

State has caught security issues with license plate reader data.

On Aug. 25, the Office of the Secretary of State reported that an audit revealed that Flock Safety, which operates the largest automated license plate reader system in the nation, allowed Customs and Border Protection to access its cameras. Giannoulias ordered access to the gover nmental agency to be shut down immediately. Since, Flock halted a nationwide project to share data with federal agencies.

The Secretary of State’s audits came out of his effor ts to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code two years ago. The amendment prohibits sharing data from license plate readers with agencies who investigate people based on their immigration status or whether they access lawful healthcare services, like abor tions

ADDRESS PRICE SELLER BUYER

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

On Sept 3, Sal Stella, director of the village’s public works department, called police to re port that, the previous morning, employees noticed damage at the pumping station at 7644 Jackson Blvd. Stella told police that there was damage to an overhead door, door lock, and that the bathroom was in disarray. Police re ported that a person who is unhoused may have been sleeping there over the weekend. Stella re ported that his department already re paired the damaged lock and cleaned up. On surveillance footage from the Howard Mohr Community Center, village staf f saw a man leaving the area behind the pumping station early on Aug. 30. Stella told police he’s since locked the gates to the area to minimize access, and police have issued extra watch and patrol for the area.

Motor vehicle theft

Police were dispatched to the 1200 block of Harlem Avenue on Sept. 1 for an attempted car theft. A man told police that he parked his car the evening before and, right before calling the police, discovered

Unidenti ed man breaks into public works pumping station

it was damaged and burglarized. He said the car’s passenger side lock was damaged, along with the ignition. He re ported that his Sony TV radio screen, valued at $350, was stolen. While the man uses the car for work, and it has an ignition switch in the glove compartment that must be pressed to turn the car on, he said his brother ’s truck across the street was stolen overnight. He said he’d sign complaints if offenders were located.

A man called police on Sept. 3 to re port his missing car. He told police that he parked in the 1000 block of Des Plaines Avenue in his building’s designated parking spot the evening before. But when he returned to the spot on Sept. 3, his car was missing. He said he’d sign complaints if the offender is located. According to the police re port, a license plate reco gnition camera last observed the car around 2:30 a.m. traveling eastbound on I-290.

Aggravated ee

While on patrol after midnight on Sept. 3, police saw a man operating a non-streetlegal mini-motorbike in the 7900 block of Roosevelt Road. Police re ported that the

motorbike lacked headlights, taillights and mirrors. Police attempted to pull the motorbike over, but the driver fled. Backup officers arrived and re ported that the motorbike traveled from the sidewalk to the road, in the opposite lane of traffic, and nearly 30 miles per hour over the speed limit. The driver crashed the motorbike into a promotional banner at the corner of Roosevelt Road and 17th Avenue in Broadview. Police handcuffed the man, who said he lived in Maywood and was trying to get home. He was charged with aggravated attempt to elude police officers, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, failure to reduce speed, speeding, failure to signal, improper land usage, not having vehicle re gistration, and four Illinois Vehicle Code violations.

Criminal damage to property

Police responded to the Taco Bell on Harlem Avenue on Se pt. 1 for a re port for damage to property. There, the complainant told police that a shirtless man came into the store, and an employee asked him to put on a shirt and pull up his pants, since his butt was exposed, according to the police re port. The man became irate and

threw Taco Bell’s touchscreen monitors of f the counter, breaking them, and left the store. Police identified the man a short distance from Taco Bell and detained him. At the police department, he was charged with criminal damage to property.

On Sept. 4, police were dispatched to the CTA Blue Line station around 11 p.m. for damage to property. There, a Pace bus driver told police that she saw a man drinking alcohol on the bus. When she told him he couldn’t drink alcohol on CTA property, he became upset, exited the bus and punched the door window, shattering it. Officers canvassed the area for the man but couldn’t find him. The woman said Pace would sign complaints if he was located.

These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated Sept. 1 through Sept. 4 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

National Guard not currently in Forest Park

Residents

expressed concern that federal troops were at the former Armed Forces Reserve Center on Roosevelt Road

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

merous calls Monday after residents spotted activity at the for mer Armed Forces Reserve Center building at 7402 Roosevelt Rd.

At the village council meeting Sept. 8, Village Administrator Rachell Entler confirmed that there is no National Guard presence in Forest Park. However, the Illinois National Guard facility is undergoing construction as the group prepares to move into the long-vacant site as soon as early next year

“We were in contact with members of the Illinois National Guard, and they reassured us that the National Guard was not deployed to Forest Park,” Entler said.

“There are things that need to be remodeled and remedied in that building. That is construction that the village of Forest Park was aware was going to be taking place.”

A handful of construction workers interviewed by the Review in the facility’s parking lot on Monday said they were state contractors working on minor projects to improve the parking lot.

The Illinois National Guard will station drilling units at the Forest Park building, which train to deploy to national emergencies or war. Illinois National Guard officials estimate that 400 to 600 people could be stationed at the site

Concerns about the National Guard’s presence in Forest Park stem from rumors that the Trump Administration may deploy the federal troops to help United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to Entler, Cook County is aware that ICE was deployed across southwest Chicago and suburban Cook County for “Operation Midway Blitz” immigration raids.

“Forest Park is not aware of any ICE deployment here,” Entler said. “However, should our law enforcement officials or myself become aware of that, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

Can local journalism survive? Thrive?

An important discussion sponsored by the League of Women Voters Oak Park and River Forest and Growing Community Media

The internet killed off many newspapers and other legacy publications are struggling to survive. Meanwhile a new wave of young online publications is attempting to ﬁll the vacuum and cover their communities. If democracy is to survive, voters need to know the candidates running for ofﬁce and their positions. Readers, local donors and foundations have stepped into the fray, but will their philanthropy be enough?

Join the discussion

Tracy Baim Executive director of Press Forward Chicago, a pooled fund helping local journalism

Max Reinsdorf Interim executive director, Growing Community Media

April Alonso Co-founder of Cicero Independiente

Amethyst Davis Founder of the Harvey World Herald

Judith Crown Co-president, League of Women Voters Oak Park and River Forest, will moderate the discussion

Fall Performing Guide Arts 2025

Unwind Connect Explore

Something New

Enjoy an evening of enrichment in Park District of Oak Park’s Historic Homes.

Scan the code to register or visit pdop.org/adults

Dining & Dancing • Music & Cocktails • Culinary Adventures • Sip & Create • Live Entertainment • And More Each Month

Dancing at the (Cheney) Mansion

Intro to Ballroom or Latin Rhythms

Mondays: Sep 16-Oct 20

Mondays: Nov 3-Dec 8

Cooking Around the World

A unique theme every class

Thursdays: Sep 11, Oct 9, Nov 20

Harvest Moon Wine, Dine, & Dance

A moonlit evening on the Cheney patio Thursday, Oct 2

The Magic Parlor with Bill Cook

A world-class illusionist and charismatic magician Friday, Oct 24

A Charlie Brown Christmas Cocktail Hour

Holiday jazz by the Chris White Trio Saturday, Dec 13

Holiday Jazz Magic

Timeless favorites by the Garfield Park Jazz Collective Wednesday, Dec 17

Mark Your Calendar for our Holiday Concert

holiday concert. Sun, Nov 23, 2025 4:00 p.m. St John Lutheran Church, Forest Park

Sun, Nov 23, 2025 • 4:00 p.m. • St John Lutheran Church, Forest Park

A Ceremony of Carols

Paul Laprade, Artistic Dir, Conductor

With special guests: Nichole Young, harpist

Paul Laprade, Artistic Director, Conductor, with special guests: Nichole Young, harpist

St John Lutheran Church & School Choir of Chicago with Katrina Jurica

We welcome the holiday season with a concert of carols, notably, Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, and accompanied by the highly-talented harpist, Nichole Young. The program includes lovely works by Peter Warlock, Libby Larsen, Javier Busto, Eriks Esenvalds, Stacey Gibbs, and others. We are excited to collaborate with a wonderful choir from St. John Lutheran Church & School of Chicago, Katrina Jurica, director, who will perform selected works and join OPCC for a mash-up of Lo How a Rose and The Rose, arranged by Craig Hella Johnson. Hope you can join us for an enchanting evening of artistic and amazing carol settings!

Oak Park Concert Chorale is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, and a grant from Oak Park Area Arts Council in partnership with the Village of Oak Park and the Illinois Arts Council.

Oak Park Concert Chorale is a 501(c)(3) not-for-pro t organization partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, and a grant from Oak Park Area Arts Council in partnership with the Village of Oak Park and the Illinois Arts Council.

If it won’t fit, then remove the sponsorship text and just show the 3 sponsor logos.

Senior Movies – 1:00pm - Free

Thursday, September 11th – “13 Minutes” // Thursday, October 9th - “Senior Moment” Popcorn will be served. Reservations not required.

Wednesday, September 24th

Paramount/Come From Away

“Come From Away” is a hit musical that tells the remarkable true story of 7000 airline passengers that got stranded in Newfoundland during the 911 attacks. The small local community welcomed the travelers with music and an open bar. This musical explores the generosity and kindness of the locals, but also the clashes of cultures and language. We will have lunch before the musical at Two Brothers Roundhouse, a favorite historic eatery. Sugar cookies for a treat after lunch.

Cost: $125.00 (Resident) • $128.00 (Non-Resident)

Wednesday, October 1st

The Disco Circus/ Jacob Henry Mansion

Come join us for a day at the historic Jacob Henry Mansion. First, we start with a self-guided tour of the mansion, followed by a fabulous lunch. The Chicago based “Disco Circus” show begins at 1:00pm. This show combines the energy and excitement of a 3-ring circus with the grooviest music from the 1970’s! Let’s all go to Funkytown!

Cost: $105.00 (Resident)

$108.00 (Non-Resident)

Thursday, October 16th

Grease/Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Pub

Today we will visit the Metropolis Performing Arts center in Arlington Heights to see “Grease”. Step back to the fabulous 50’s! Join bad boy Danny and new girl Sandy and their friends as they navigate their senior year at Rydell High. This show has all the unforgettable hits from the blockbuster movie and the Broadway play. Lunch will be before the show at Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Pub in Arlington Heights.

Chocolate Chip cookies for a treat after lunch.

Cost: $110.00 (Resident) $113.00 (Non-Resident)

October

BEETHOVEN

Michelle

BEETHOVEN

JAY FRIEDMAN, conductor

RAVEL

October

BEETHOVEN

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3, Eroica

JAY

RAVEL

BIZET

As the village seeks to answer the question of what to do with the Altenheim property, we are confronted once again by the “Quiet Enjoyment Clause.”

This clause allows the village to develop 8 of the 11 acres of land it purchased from the Altenheim on August 21, 2001.

Additionally, any development must conform to R-1 or R-2 zoning as long as it does not disturb the reasonable, quiet enjoyment of the residents of buildings “A” and “B” and the surrounding area retained by the Altenheim. Building “C” and the land surrounding it on the west side of the property was not listed as protected by the “Quiet Enjoyment Clause.” What would zoning allow to be built?

Under R1 and R2 zoning, low to medium density housing is allowed. Zoning also includes supporting uses such as public parks, cemeteries, churches, farms, schools, etc. All

LETTERS

The ‘Q uiet Insanity Clause’

of these uses bring with them impacts to the area such as population growth, increase in public activity, traffic and noise.

Typically, parks come in many shapes, sizes and activities. They include baseball fields, soccer fields, football fields, open green space, music events, far mers markets, walking and bike paths, open space, etc. Parks produce varying levels of activity, noise and traffic, as should be expected.

When the “Quiet Enjoyment Clause” was drafted, the Altenheim was aware that parks are allowed under R1 or R2 and all of the associated activity and noise that they bring. I would encourage anyone who is interested to read the Altenheim “Quiet Enjoyment Clause” and Forest Park’s R1 and R2 zoning’s allowable uses and make up your mind as to what can and should be developed.

It is my belief that the village needs to move forward with the development of this property with a portion of the property to be used for park space.

In my role as an Illinois Prairie Path Executive Board Member, I am also advocating for the creation of a bicycle path on the western border of the Altenheim property. This path would allow the village to create a dual trailhead for two re gional bike paths; the Prairie Path that reaches to the Fox River on the west and the DesPlaines River Trail that travels north, nearly to Wisconsin.

If a park and trailhead were included as a part of the overall development of the Altenheim property it would be a significant achievement for Forest Park

Why Forest Park should oppose Oak Park gas station

Dear Mayor Hoskins and Forest Park village commissioners,

I am writing to express my concern and opposition to the proposed QuikTrip gas station/market on the Oak Park (Southeast corner) side of Harlem at Garfield and to ascertain that you are aware of this commercial project that would ne gatively impact the public health and safety of residents of Forest Park as well as our friends and neighbors in South Oak Park

I hope that once you familiarize yourselves with the particulars of this project (if you are not yet familiar) you will use your voices with your Oak Park colleagues to emphasize that approval of this commercial development would significantly increase risks to residents in three primary ways:

1. Tra c congestion/safety:

This is an extremely congested and dangerous intersection (as we are ALL aware) with folks, many of whom are very stressed, harried and hurried, working to enter and leave the Eisenhower Expressway. The potential increases for ‘fender benders’ and worse, as well as an extremely increased risk to the many pedestrians and bicyclists who

cross at that corner, is enormous. Note: Oak Park school children walk to and from school near or at this intersection daily.

Putting a gas station with limited access (access/egress is proposed with one entrance/exit on Harlem approximately mid-point between Garfield and Lexington and one of f Garfield approximately mid-point between Harlem and Maple) will serve to encourage aggressive, dangerous, and likely illegal driving behaviors that will put residents and all drivers at extreme risk.

Although the QuikTrip would be located in Oak Pa rk, if a traffic accident occurs and a car (or bike or pedestrian) lands on the west side of Harlem, it becomes a problem for the Forest Park police, making it a practical issue as well as a humanitarian one.

2. Crime and securit y:

I probably do not need to review issues of drug trafficking and other illegal behaviors in the area around Harlem/ Harrison both from the CTA Blue Line station as well as “visitors” from other areas of the Near West and further east who arrive by auto — not to mention the well-documented problems at the nearby Thorntons gas station.

At a meeting with QuikTrip marketers on Sept. 2 (at the 19th Century Club in Oak Park) they assured the assembled Oak Park and Forest Park residents that they would have security in the store. However, our concerns focus on what happens when unruly or criminally minded individuals flee or wander away into the surrounding neighborhoods.

3. Environmental impact/pollution:

The intersection in question already suffers from poor air quality due to extreme congestion from cars, buses, trucks, etc. The addition of off-fumes from idling cars in the station will only make the situation worse. With the new day-care center that serves families from both Oak Park and Forest Park, a further decrease in air quality should be of significant concern.

This Thursday, Sept. 11, the Oak Park Plan Commission will meet to review the (397 page) full proposal for a special permit for this development. Residents from Oak Park and Forest Park will be in attendance to oppose the facility

Our Community Needs Community Journalism

Ralph DiFebo Forest Park

Micki Leventhal Forest Park

OPINION

OUR VIEW

ICE and sur veillance

The news last week that Forest Park police inadvertently opened the backdoor of its license plate reader technology to ICE is disturbing confirmation that, in this moment of vicious overreach by the Trump administration, when it comes to our immigrant neighbors, strong questioning of this technology is warranted.

ICE had access to local data for over a year before the Secretary of State discovered the situation and contacted the village’s technology provider and Forest Park officials to shut the door. The Illinois Secretary of State Alex Giannoulias’office issued a press release on the situation.

We trust the village’s explanation that a police detective investigating a case er rored in allowing perhaps 200 outside entities access to the local data.

We’re less convinced of the efficacy of this intense surveillance technology as essential to local crime fighting. We would ask the mayor to ask the police chief for a thoroughgoing presentation which makes plain why this is an essential tool.

As Mayor Rory Hoskins said candidly in an interview last week, Forest Park is surrounded by villages with large Hispanic populations, like Berwyn, Cicero and much of Proviso Township. Those residents inevitably pass through Forest Park re gularly and have their license plate data captured

As we see each day, and now with ICE intensifying its assault on immigrants in Chicago, this out-of-control agency needs no provocation for grabbing people off our streets. Forest Park, as a rightly progressive community, should take clear steps to make sure it is not inadvertently providing any basis of support for the immoral actions of the Trump administration.

How many dispensaries?

The Review reports today that Forest Park’s third dispensary, Mint Cannabis, will open by late fall at Harlem and Roosevelt. We are in favor of legal cannabis, and we see this new commercial use as an upgrade from the obsolete currency exchange which has served as a gateway to Forest Park for decades. That said, the story by our Jessica Mordacq raises some concerns as she quotes both a Mint Cannabis spokesperson and Steve Glinke of village hall acknowledging that it is not possible to predict how much revenue the third dispensary will generate in local pot taxes for the village

It was only a few years back, when Illinois legalized the regulated sale of cannabis, that towns clamored for licensed dispensaries amid speculation of the sales tax bonanza they would fuel. As the number of outlets has proliferated and the overall cannabis industry has hit the doldrums, those rosy predictions may be unreachable.

ICertainly, it is time for Forest Park to figure out a way to cap the number of local dispensaries at three Forest

Back to school is no cause for celebrating

t’s the first week of September. It’s still light out late enough for a twilight nine or a softball game. The pool still smells like sunscreen and charcoal smoke. Baseball is still in the regular season. And yet, children everywhere are dragging their sneakers against the sidewalk like a prisoner headed for duty on a road gang. And what are adults doing? Throwing “Back to School” parties. Posting smug memes about getting the kids out of the house. The shameless display of callous (and terminal) grown-uppiness that pretends the first day of school is a holiday.

ALAN BROUILETTE

Let me be clear: This is not a celebration. This is an execution. Summer is dead, and you killed it, parents.

Don’t act like you didn’t. The same parents who swore they’d make every summer “the best summer ever” are now sprinting through Target like contestants on Supermarket Swee p, shoving spiral notebooks into their carts like they contain free Ozempic, giggling about how “nice it’ll be to have a quiet house again.”

Congratulations. You’ve officially sided with the administration. With power. With The Man.

And before you accuse me of being dramatic: I am being dramatic. School is dramatic. It’s nine months of institutionalized endurance testing. It’s fluorescent lighting, behavioral directives, and math problems involving trains that no longer exist. It’s learning to write in cursive even though the only people who still do are conspiracy theorists with time on their hands. It’s an office job with less luxurious cubicles; a prison with smaller cells and a more dangerous yard

Do you think kids don’t notice how gleeful you get when the calendar flips? They notice. They notice when you sip your iced latte and chuckle about “structured activity”. They notice when the pool is still open and the cicadas are still buzzing, but they’re packing gym shoes into a backpack that still smells faintly of last year’s locker and you’re celebrating

And honestly, shame on you. If adults had

any memory of what school was actually like, they’d be in mourning right now. ’d be holding candlelight vigils. ’d be drafting petitions to extend summer until at least the first frost. Instead, they’re taking photos of their children on the front porch, wielding chalkboards that say things like “First Day of Third Grade!” as if documenting the slow creep of institutionalization is charming. Here’s what you should be doing: telling kids the truth.

Tell them you know it’s unfair that summer is shorter every year. Tell them you know no one actually enjoys middle school, or even looks back on it fondly. Tell them that adults once staged revolutions over smaller injustices, and maybe someday kids will too. Tell them you see them, trudging toward the school doors like extras in a prison movie.

And then, console them. Tell them summer will come back. That the dog park is still open, and the dogs don’t check report cards. That there will still be baseball games where you’re allowed to eat nachos for dinner. That daytime playtime will still exist; proof that joy doesn’t need a hall pass.

Most of all, tell them adults are hypocrites. Because you are. You moan about Mondays, fantasize about early retirement, and yet somehow celebrate sending kids back into the exact same grind. “Going to school is your job!” Kiss my ass, lady. At least the kids are honest — they groan, they resist, they drag their feet. Adults could learn something from that.

So to the kids: I’m sorry. I’m sorry your summer has been confiscated like contraband. I’m sorry the adults are laughing about it. I’m sorry you have to sit still in desks designed for Victorian factory workers. And I’m sorry the first thing anyone’s going to ask you is, “How was your first day?” when the answer is, and always will be, “Worse than yesterday.”

But take comfort: school can’t last forever. Just feels like it. And someday you get to send the people who sent you to school to retirement homes.

Interim 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

Social Media and Digital Coordinator Maribel Barrera

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker Senior Advisor Dan Haley

Board of Directors

Chair Eric Weinheimer

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

HOW TO REACH US

ADDRESS: PO Box 6670, River Forest, IL 6035

PHONE: (708) 366-0600

EMAIL: forestpark@wjinc.com

CIRCULATION: Jill@oakpark.com

ONLINE: ForestParkReview.com

Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Forest Park Review, PO Box 6670, River Forest, IL 60305.

Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS No 0205-160)

In-county subscriptions: $48 per year. $88 for two years, $118 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $82 per year.

A LOOK BACK IN TIME

News from Harlem, September 1898

The Harlem Post was a local weekly newspaper printed in German for the local German population. Its first edition was published on Sept. 12, 1895. The paper’s Sept. 8, 1898 edition contained the following news about events in Harlem:

■ Dr. [Clarence] Hemingway is away on a vacation touring Michigan [Ernest Hemingway’s father had his office for a time on Madison Street in what is now Forest Park].

■ The Chittenden Family of River Forest grew by one member, a little girl!

■ Paul Wilke, Nr. 11 North Des Plaines Avenue, Harlem, has numerous ducks and is trying to trade them for 1-2 year old chickens. There was also the following ad: Attention!

Big Garden Concert on Sunday, Se pt. 10, 1898 at John Ackerman’s, 844 S. Des Plaines Avenue! Fine cabinet beer on tap. Free admission. Start 3 p.m. Dancing in the evening. All friends and acquaintances are cordially invited. Translated by Uli Leib

LETTER

This Pro Bono Month, be the di erence

October is Pro Bono Month, so it’s a great time to celebrate the important role volunteer attorneys play in helping people navigate legal challenges. Imagine a senior without an advance directive, a survivor of domestic violence trying to leave an abusive mar riage or get an order of protection, or an immigrant facing complex legal systems without the support of a lawyer. These situations happen every day, and too often, there’s no one to help. According to a 2022 Justice Gap re port, for low-income Americans, 92% of their civil legal needs go unmet due to no legal aid attorneys available to help. Volunteer attorneys are needed now more than ever. Proposed federal budget cuts could cost legal aid agencies in Cook County over $20 million, leaving thou-

sands of Illinois residents without the help they desperately need. Staff at le gal aid organizations are already stretched too thin and volunteers make a real difference by helping families, seniors, and survivors of domestic violence get the legal support they need.

That’s where Pro Bono Network (PBN) comes in. Since 2011, we’ve been making it easy for attorneys, whether new, experienced, taking a career break, or retired, to use their legal skills to volunteer in ways that change people’s lives while also fitting it into their already busy schedules. With training and support, our volunteers provide critical legal help. Just last year, PBN volunteer attorneys donated 2,852 hours, assisting 811 clients across 20 different project areas.

If you are an attorney interested in pro bono work, on Wednesday, Oct. 15, you can join PBN downtown to lear n more about what we do and also g et trained in many of our volunteer opportunities. We’re hosting a free, one-day Pro Bono Network Training Conference in Chicago with CLE-accredited sessions in family law, immigration, elder law, and more. By the end of the day, you’ll be ready to jump in, get involved, and transform lives.

To lear n more and register for our October event, go to https://www.pbnetwork. org/pbntc.

Have a question? Contact our Pro Bono coordinator, Ronak Maisuria, at info@ pbnetwork.org.

Molly MacCready Executi ve director, Pro Bono Network

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: M25000838 on August 26, 2025 Under the Assumed Business Name of KATE LOVES CODE with the business located at: 510 S HUMPHREY AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: KATIE DONALDSON, 510 S HUMPHREY AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304, USA

Published in Wednesday Journal

September 3, 10, 17, 2025

BID DOCUMENTS

FOR Park District of Forest Park Indoor Facilities - Cleaning Service

September 22, 2025

Park District of Forest Park 7501 Harrison St. Forest Park, IL 60130

Contact: Jackie Iovinelli (708) 366-7500 x 121

Invitation to Bid

The Park District of Forest Park (“Park District” or “Owner”) will receive bids for the Park District of Forest Park Cleaning Service, located at the 7501 West Harrison Street, Forest Park, Illinois 60130. Bid Documents, including Instructions to Bidders, Drawings, Technical Specifications, General and any Special Conditions, and Bid Forms, including required Contractor Certifications and Prevailing Wage Determination and Supersedes Notice, are available at Park District of Forest Park Administration Building, 7501 Harrison St., Forest Park, Illinois 60130 beginning on September 22, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

A Pre-bid Meeting will be held at Administration Building, 7501 Harrison St., Forest Park, Illinois, at 9:00 a.m. on September 16, 2025. This meeting will be used to review the Specifications and give any Bidders the opportunity to discuss any concerns with the Owner. Attendance at this meeting by all persons desiring to bid on this Project recommended.

Each bid shall be placed in an opaque sealed envelope and clearly marked “Park District of Forest Park Indoor FacilitiesCleaning Service.” The envelope shall be addressed and delivered to and received by the Park District at the following location: Administration Building, 7501 Harrison St., Forest Park, Illinois 60130. No responsibility shall be attached to any person for premature opening of a bid not properly identified.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Bids will be received until 9:00 a.m. September 23, 2025. Immediately thereafter, the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bids received after that time or at a different location will be rejected and returned to the Bidder unopened.

The Park District of Forest Park reserves the right to waive technicalities, to accept or reject any or all bids, and/or to accept only portions of a bid and reject the remainder. Owner will award the Contract to the lowest most responsible and responsive Bidder, as determined by Owner.

In considering the Bidder’s responsibility, the Owner may evaluate, among other factors, the ability of the Bidder to provide experienced labor sufficient in numbers to timely and properly complete the services, the financial capability of the Bidder, and the performance of the Bidder on other projects.

Bids shall not include federal excise tax or state sales tax for materials to be incorporated in, or totally consumed in the prosecution of the Work. A tax exemption certificate will be furnished by the Park District at the request of the Bidder. The Park District’s tax exemption number shall only be used by the successful Bidder for the Work of this Project.

After the bid opening time, no bid shall be withdrawn or canceled for a period of sixty (60) calendar days.

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

The Contract entered into for the Work will be drawn in compliance with said law and proposals should be prepared accordingly and provide for payment of all laborers, workmen, and mechanics needed to perform the Work at no less than the prevailing rate of wages (or the prevailing rate for legal holiday and overtime work) for each craft, type of worker, or mechanic.

The Contractor(s) selected will also be required to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations and executive orders, including but not limited to those pertaining to equal employment opportunity.

Direct questions to Jackie Iovinelli, Executive Director, Park District of Forest Park, jiovinelli@pdofpstaff. org, 708-366-7500 x 121.

Published in Forest Park Review September 10, 2025

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

U S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR RESIDENTIAL ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION, HOME EQUITY MORTGAGE ASSET-BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-KS3 Plaintiff, -v.-

LARRY BROWN, PATRICE LOVE-COLEMAN, STATE OF ILLINOIS - DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS

Defendants 2024CH10706 218 SOUTH 15TH 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 May 30, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 29, 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 218 SOUTH 15TH AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153

Property Index No. 15-10-401-0230000

The real estate is improved with a residence.

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 Con-

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

dominium 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 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, 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) 236-SALE

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. 14-24-07262

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2024CH10706

TJSC#: 45-1499

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 # 2024CH10706 I3272406

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

U S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF AND WITH RESPECT TO AJAX MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2021-G, MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES, SERIES 2021-G Plaintiff, -v.-

TERRENCE L. POWELL, ROBIN BRITT-POWELL

Defendants 2019CH13244

509 NORTH 4TH AVE 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 February 18, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 22, 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 509 NORTH 4TH AVE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153

Property Index No. 15-11-113-0130000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

(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.

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) 236-SALE

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. 14-19-10752

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2019CH13244

TJSC#: 45-2085

Case # 2019CH13244 I3272077

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

TOWD POINT MORTGAGE TRUST

2018-1, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE

Plaintiff, -v.SONJA D. MCCOY, KEVIN L. MCCOY

Defendants

2024 CH 11073

1929 S. 7TH AVE. 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 July 1, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 2, 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 1929 S. 7TH AVE., MAYWOOD, IL 60153

Property Index No. 15-14-310-0270000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $231,114.17.

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 CHAD LEWIS, ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 6400 SHAFER CT, STE 325, ROSEMONT, IL, 60018 (561) 241-6901. Please refer to file number 24-229815. 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.

CHAD LEWIS ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC 6400 SHAFER CT, STE 325 ROSEMONT IL, 60018 561-241-6901

E-Mail: ILMAIL@RASLG.COM Attorney File No. 24-229815 Attorney ARDC No. 6306439 Attorney Code. 65582 Case Number: 2024 CH 11073 TJSC#: 45-1752

Case # 2024 CH 11073 I3272061

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

FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION

Plaintiff, -v.CARLOS CORTEZ, LUBIA SANCHEZ, VILLAGE OF MAYWOOD Defendants 24 CH 01358 1127 NICHOLS LANE 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 30, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 3, 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 1127 NICHOLS LANE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153 Property Index No. 15-02-338009-0000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence. 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.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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).

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT

PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088.

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.

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT

PIERCE, LLC

One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-346-9088

E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com

Attorney File No. 2316946IL_1005559

Attorney Code. 61256

Case Number: 24 CH 01358

TJSC#: 45-1808

Case # 24 CH 01358 I3272128

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

Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC

Plaintiff, -v.-

Tontaneshia F. Bouie; Timothy Sharperson; Unknown Owners and Nonrecord Claimants Defendants. 2025CH00071 14 52nd 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 7/17/2025, an agent of Auction. com, LLC will conduct the auction in person at 12:00 P.M. on October 22, 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. LOT 27 IN CASTLE HOMES ADDITION TO BELLWOOD, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF PART OF LOTS 4 AND 5 IN THE SUBDIVISION OF THE NORTHEAST FRACTIONAL

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

QUARTERS AND THE NORTHEAST QUARTERS OF THE FRACTIONAL NORTHWEST QUARTER OF FRACTIONAL SECTION 8, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Commonly known as 14 52nd Ave., Bellwood, IL 60104 Property Index No. 15-08-101-0300000

The real estate is improved with a Residential Property. The judgment amount was $198,662.83 Sale Terms: 20% down of the highest 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: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES PC (630) 794-5300 please refer to file number 14-24-07648. 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. 14-24-07648

Case Number: 2025CH00071

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. I3272385

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION SELENE FINANCE LP Plaintiff, -v.-

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

TORSHAUN STAMPS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ACTING BY AND THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, CORTEZ REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT, LLC Defendants 23 CH 08261 1046 32ND AVENUE 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 January 17, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 3, 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:

LOT 18 IN BLOCK 4 IN SHELKETON BROTHERS THIRD ADDITION, A SUBDIVISION OF THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF THE NORTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 16, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDAIN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Commonly known as 1046 32ND AVENUE, BELLWOOD, IL 60104

Property Index No. 15-16-209042-0000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $225,269.72.

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.

Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.

er 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 1683418. 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. 1683418

Attorney Code. 40387

Case Number: 23 CH 08261

TJSC#: 45-1884

Case # 23 CH 08261 I3272565

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

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, F/K/A, THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITIES TRUST 2006-4, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-4 Plaintiff, -v.-

ERIC B. CRAWFORD, YOLANDA CRAWFORD, VILLAGE OF MAYWOOD

Defendants

2024CH03889 2112 S. 8TH 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 July 9, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 14, 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 2112 S. 8TH AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153

Property Index No. 15-14-324-0170000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $300,822.07.

Sale terms: If sold to anyone other than the Plaintiff, 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.

For information, contact JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650, Chicago, IL, 60602 (312) 541-9710. Please refer to file number IL 21 9061. 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.

JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC

30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650 Chicago IL, 60602 312-541-9710

E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com

Attorney File No. IL 21 9061

Attorney Code. 40342

Case Number: 2024CH03889

TJSC#: 45-2002

Case # 2024CH03889 I3272716