ForestParkReview.com Vol. 109, No. 37
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Special Performing Arts section Guide inside PAGE 11
SEPTEMBER 16, 2026
D91 superintendent search boils down to community alignment
Two new members appointed to school board By GREGG VOSS Staff Reporter
The key for Steve Rummel in Forest Park School District 91’s superintendent search is alignment. Not just with staff, administration and students, the board of education president said, but the community. “When you start to get down to vision and communicating that vision, is (the candidate) able to update that vision based on the environment they are in?” Rummel said Friday. “We all have visions and dreams and hopes and goals, but at the end of the day, can I articulate what that vision is and best serve the community?” District 91’s superintendent search is being headed by the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) and Dr. Carmen Ayala and includes an online survey that will end Friday. In addition, IASB planned to host focus groups Monday at Forest Park Middle School involving See SUPERINTENDENT on page 6
2027
Forest Parkers call for ICE-free zones, update to welcoming resolution
Officials support petition requests, which come after ICE agent entered Village Hall in July By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
GREGG VOSS
Some Forest Park residents want ICE-free zones in the village, and for it to update its welcoming resolution after, on July 30, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer entered Village Hall and was escorted out the back to avoid being filmed. The following week, Forest Park resident Betty Alzamora had a petition ready to present at the first council meeting in August. Now
Christina Hunt and Burhan Syed were sworn in as new members replacing Shannon Wood and Andrea Marello, who stepped down last spring.
See ICE-FREE ZONES on page 10
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
A look back in time: News from Harlem, September 1897
Tom Holmes: Why do people risk their lives?
Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
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IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 THIS ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
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Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
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Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
Oak Park residents’ vehicles struck by fleeing driver in Forest Park police chase
P R O P E R T Y
T R A N S F E R S
The following property transfers were reported by the Cook County Clerk from July 2026. Where addresses appear incomplete, for instance where a unit number appears missing, that information was not provided by the clerk.
The offending driver got away and no one was injured
By SYDNEY LOVAN Staff Reporter
What started as a garage burglary in Forest Park became a vehicle pursuit into Oak Park where three cars were hit by the fleeing suspect, one of which had the driver still in the front seat. On Sept. 8, around 12:30 p.m., Forest Park police responded to an in-progress garage burglary on Circle Avenue according to the police report. The person was described as a man in a yellow utility vest, and the resident of the home using a NEST security camera saw the car back into the garage. The resident began yelling through the camera and contacted a neighbor about the incident. The neighbor then confronted the alleged burglar in the garage while he was taking things from shelves and then left through the alley. The witness reported seeing a woman in the front seat of the car as well, and the only reported item stolen was a snowblower. According to the report, Forest Park police units saw the car at Harlem Avenue and Jackson Boulevard. Police attempted to curb the car but did not succeed and continued to pursue. The pursuit went into Oak Park where three cars were struck and the fleeing car got away. The car crashes were within Oak Park’s jurisdiction, so the Oak Park Police Department responded. According to the Village of Oak Park, the fleeing car sideswiped one car which caused them to hit another parked on the opposite side of the 100 block of South Grove Avenue. As the pursuit continued, the fleeing car allegedly hit another car near South Boulevard and Oak Park Avenue, but the owner declined completion of a report. The supplemental report on the pursuit is not available from the Forest Park Police De-
1527 Elgin Ave., Forest Park
FOREST PARK partment as it is a continuing investigation, however, Wednesday Journal interviewed the driver of one of the struck cars for a first-hand account. We are withholding the name of that person for reasons of privacy. According to the driver, the back bumper of their car briefly pinned the offending vehicle before they were able to drive past and police cars followed. A witness to the event was able to help the driver out of the car and to contact family and police. The driver, who was trying to look for parking on South Grove Avenue when struck, described the “scary experience” sharing they “couldn’t speak, and I was very shaken up.” They shared their surprise and frustration with the police pursuit as they felt the narrow street conditions and high speed made for reckless conditions. “I don’t know how fast they were going, but they were driving very recklessly through a huge part of town, and luckily, all the kids were in school, and nobody that I know of was seriously hurt,” said the driver. “But that’s all I keep going back to, is this should never have happened, and if this ever happens again, a kid or somebody, could get killed or seriously hurt.” Garage burglary is a forcible felony which is grounds to initiate a police pursuit, according to Forest Park Police Department policy.
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ADDRESS
PRICE
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BUYER
314 Lathrop Ave 850 Des Plaines Ave 300 Circle Ave 311 Burkhardt Ct 7736 Monroe St 1527 Elgin Ave 120 Lathrop Ave 427 Marengo Ave 840 Dunlop Ave 917 Elgin Ave 210 Des Plaines Ave 925 Harlem Ave 1105 Dunlop Ave 1037 Dunlop Ave 527 Grove Ln 1125 Marengo Ave 7230 Washington St 7210 W Franklin St 813 Circle Ave 7753 Van Buren St 215 Marengo Ave 7251 Randolph St 7320 Dixon St 7525 Adams St 839 Lathrop Ave 7449 Washington St 122 Circle Ave
$92,000 $88,000 $86,000 $626,000 $599,500 $590,000 $585,000 $560,000 $545,000 $465,000 $436,000 $430,000 $420,000 $405,000 $400,000 $387,000 $383,000 $360,000 $345,000 $320,000 $295,000 $249,000 $220,000 $211,500 $160,000 $142,000 $120,000
Grandview Cap Llc Johnson Brandon J Schlichting Eric C Lauer Andrew Tr Mitchell Gregory K Tr Greystoke Dev And Inv Llc Pellikan Nicholas P Bowhill Llc - Marengo Henry Evanda Clear Skies Homes Llc Janes Emily Light George Mccormick Matthew Rosso Sylvia Swindal Natalie A Hlo Prop Llc Alegre Arlene Schmitz John David Gill Kennedie L Clay Courtney P Knier Julia A Kikas Mariana Grant Ivy Tr Smith Michael Pacheco Socorro N Martinez David Kolasa Edward Extr
Kumbulla Mimoza Strader Jennifer G Hampton Yvonne Janes Emily Mcmahon Brian Clay Courtney Skgja Holdings Llc Wassel Jerome Kimble Levell C Garcia Litzy E Sell Jacqueline Campbell Julia Sitowski Samantha Gedvilas Emily Palmer Beverly Ramirez Mary Origuela Diogo Rafael Miranda Agliata Iii Nick Jack Colucci Alison J Gsljkl Llc Sugg Ann Auld Megan M Davis Joyce Palm Brodie Garcia Eduardo Zermeno Slezewksi Suzette Boezio Wayne
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Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
Dance Moore Studio starts 1st season in Forest Park space
Owner and former professional dancer Danielle Moore wants students ‘to know that hard work does have its rewards’ By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
When River Forest resident Danielle Moore’s daughter, now 8, said three years ago that she wanted to start taking dance classes, Moore, a former professional dancer, was excited. But after her daughter began dancing at a local studio, Moore said it wasn’t exactly the experience she was looking for. “I was disappointed with the lack of technical skills they were teaching my child, so I would actually make her learn with me at home,” Moore said. On Aug. 31, Moore officially opened the doors to Dance Moore Studio at 413 Des Plaines Ave., where Old School Records used to be. There, she offers ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap and hip-hop dance classes to children of any age and experience level. Moore also teaches weekly adult ballet and jazz classes and, once a month, recreational Moms Night Out dance events. This summer, Moore also launched Dance Moore Studio’s first official competition team and will hold auditions later this month on Sept. 24. “I want them to know that hard work does have its rewards and how to actually work towards something,” Moore said of what she hopes students take away from her dance classes. “I always get frustrated when I feel like no one’s pushing my kid, so I’m going to push your kid like my kid — in a very healthy way.” She also aims to set Dance Moore Studio apart by making herself and multiple styles of dance accessible to students and their parents. “It’s just giving that open and honest feedback in a way that’s respectful to the kid, to the parent, and even to myself,” Moore said, all while “giving you exposure so that you can see there’s more than one area that you can go into.” And because she and her family have lived
in River Forest for over seven years, Moore has known some of her students from before she opened her studio. “Because I am so ingrained in the community … I genuinely look at these kids and they’re not just kids. That’s my friend’s daughter,” Moore said. “I see these kids all the time. They see me at the schools, they see me at the grocery store.” Though Dance Moore Studio can host up to 10 kids per dance class, Moore said each class currently averages about six children. She teaches pre-ballet to 3-to-5-year-olds and, once they understand certain terms and movements, they can graduate to ballet classes, which are an hour-and-20-minutes long. “All my other classes — ballet one, jazz one, hip hop, lyrical, tap — I’m calling them levelone classes, but there’s nothing really level-
JESSICA MORDACQ
Danielle Moore inside Dance Moore Studio.
PROVIDED BY DANIELLE MOORE
Dance Moore Studio students at class inside the new space. one about it for the kids because we all progress very differently,” Moore said. “We allow for growth in our areas of potential and we make sure that we’re getting a good foundation and basis for all of that before we move forward.”
About Danielle Moore Moore started dancing at age 7 after watching figure skating greats like Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan and learning they took ballet to help them prepare for the ice. In elementary school, Moore attended Wi-
nans Academy, a charter, performing arts school in Detroit. As a child, Moore got summer scholarships for dance programs and even performed in Moscow Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” “All of these little moments in which I would see my work being rewarded kind of kept me going,” Moore said. “It was also like therapy for me. I didn’t grow up rich. I grew up very poor. I’m the oldest of seven siblings.” After performing with Michigan State University’s dance club in college, Moore danced professionally as a cheerleader for the Detroit Lions. On the side, she and other NFL dancers choreographed and performed in Michigan. “I actually never wanted to open my own studio,” Moore said. But that changed after she moved to Chicago eight years ago and, three years ago, her daughter started dance classes at a local studio. “I don’t think the studio was bad. I think it depends on what your motivations are. I’m a very technical person, so I wanted something like that for her, but I also didn’t want to have to drive all the way to the city for it,” Moore said. So last year, Moore began teaching dance classes three days a week out of Analog Yoga and Studio 19 Barre and Fitness, both in River Forest. But she started looking for her own
studio “because there’s more that I want to offer, more that I want to do, and I can’t do that with what I currently have.” Moore saw the space on Des Plaines for rent and jumped at the opportunity. “I was really trying to stay in River Forest or Forest Park because it takes me like 20, 30 minutes to get to certain parts of Oak Park, and a lot of my clientele is already in the River Forest, Forest Park area,” Moore said. She added, “I like downtown Forest Park a lot.” And while Moore hopes that her dance students learn how to work hard, she aims for her studio to foster a welcoming environment, too. “I also want them to know that you don’t have to sacrifice everything else just to be able to be successful,” Moore said. She added, “You know how many birthday parties my kid has missed” for dance? I want it to be a space where they’re also like, ‘Not only did I work hard and I made progress, but I saw that I could still do other things and be a wellrounded human.’” Discover kids and adult Dance Moore Studio classes at https://www.dancemoorestudio. com/. Moms Night Out classes are 8 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 18, Oct. 16, Nov. 20, and Dec. 11. Competitive Dance auditions will take place Sept. 24th from 6 to 7 p.m.
Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
O’Hare Flyer gets strong no from River Forest village board
Unanimous opposition to high-speed rail project By BOB SKOLNIK Staff Reporter
Monday night the River Forest Village Board unanimously passed a resolution opposing the proposed O’Hare Flyer high speed private rail service between downtown Chicago and O’Hare Airport that would run through River Forest with trains passing every 15 minutes between 4
of the newly formed group S.T.O.P. (Stop the O’Hare Passthrough). Shah and a few others said the existing train tracks which would be used by the Flyer run by their back yards and that a high-speed train would be dangerous and disruptive. The people behind the O’Hare Flyer have proposed to run a battery powered high speed train that would run on or alongside existing rail lines at speeds of around 80 mph and potentially include a stop in Forest Park. Dave Lundy, a lobbyist and communications consultant, is the CEO of
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A rendering of what a bridge will look like in River Forest for the O'Hare Flyer. a.m. and 10 p.m. The vote came after approximately 90 minutes of public comment from 20 people who spoke out against the proposed rail line. Only one person spoke in favor of it. More than 100 people attended the village board meeting that was held in the Fox Auditorium at Trinity High School to accommodate the large crowd. Opponents of the proposal said that the high-speed rail line would be dangerous and disruptive to life in River Forest. “[I]t takes a literal village to stand up to a private, politically connected company that wants to send a high-speed train nearly 24/7 past homes, schools, libraries, trauma hospitals and parks,” said Renu Shah a member of the steering committee
O’Hare Flyer LLC. The estimated cost of the O’Hare Flyer is $2.25 billion. The resolution passed by the village board urges the sponsors of the O’Hare Flyer to “cease advancing their plans and explore alternative route options for the O’Hare Flyer” and requests federal and state elected officials, including Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Chris Welch, to “not take any action allowing for the development of the O’Hare Flyer.” One public commenter, Ron Steele, called on River Foresters to pressure Harmon to oppose the O’Hare Flyer proposal calling for River Foresters to write, call and email urging him to oppose the O’Hare Flyer proSee O’HARE FLYER on page 15
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Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
SUPERINTENDENT Goal is December hire from page 1
Shop Online: Open now oakparkconservatory.org/mumbulb
Shop In Person: Beginning September 18 Rare to find, naturalizing and perennial favorite bulbs will be on hand such as Tulips, Naturalizing Daffodils, Hyacinths, Alliums, Fritillaria, Snowdrops and more.
Celebrating Ageism Awareness Day Featuring Raymond Jetson founder and author of Aging While Black The 19th Century Club 178 Forest Avenue, Oak Park, IL Friday, October 9 Doors open at 6:00pm Raymond Jetson’s keynote will be followed by a conversation with members of the Aging In Communities Commission and then questions from the audience. Food provided. Admission is free. Sponsored by the Village of Oak Park Aging in Communities Commission The Book Loft Oak Park will have copies of Aging While Black available to purchase.
Two board members appointed He’ll have new help in board selection of the new superintendent. Christina Hunt and Burhan Syed were sworn in as new members Aug. 20, replacing Shannon Wood and Andrea Marello, who stepped down last spring. Syed, who was an employee of the board of education in Calgary, Canada for five years, said he would like a candidate focused on student outcomes. “There are ways to make data-driven de-
district administrators, certified and noncertified staff and the community at large. Based on all that input, IASB will create a model candidate profile that will be posted on the district website in October, according to director of engagement Rachelle Ernst. Interviews will begin later this fall. The plan is to appoint a new superintendent by December. That person would begin their tenure July 1, 2027. Ernst added that students will also be tabbed for their insights as the process unfolds. “I can say we value student voices in the process and their experiences in District 91 should inform the candidate,” she said. “They are the ones who are experiencing the education in District 91.” Dr. Timothy Kilrea GREGG VOSS and Dr. James Gay, both Burhan Syed and Christina Hunt retired, are the district’s co-interim superintendents until a new superintendent is hired. cisions to see where our gaps are,” he said. Kilrea, former superintendent of Lyons “That flexibility of thought is super imporTownship High School District 204, said tant to me. Budget-wise, a superintendent there is a lot to like about the District 91 has to make things work. We as a board position. will set up the vision and some of the gov“I can tell you what’s good about it is ernance, but it’s up to the superintendent there are great people here, strong com- to execute. munity support, healthy fund balances “I would like to have someone engaged and a focus on doing what’s best for kids,” with the community,” he added. “They he said. “Here, there is a pervasive feeling need to be accessible for people, they need that it is all about the kids, and that’s nice.” to be visible and listen to the parents and Rummel, whose youngest graduated forge strong partnerships with the district eighth grade last year, agreed and went with the village, libraries and other disback to the community focus. tricts. That ties into the think out of the “We’re a small enough town and the dis- box, how can we meet our goals?” trict is small enough and we’re well supKilrea said he and Gay are not involved ported by the community and taxpayers in the search process, but he understands and we do our best to use those resources how such matters work and he credited the to best effect,” he said. “We have a really board with taking its time to gather the apdiverse community. propriate input to make the best possible “If you look at our test scores, they are decision. Added Ernst: “This is not a pause year getting better and that’s a metric, not a measure,” he said. “We have a high focus for us. We still have high expectations for on equity and social-emotional learning, students and staff and they are supportwhich is laying the groundwork for the ing us on this journey. It’s a really exciting time in Forest Park.” education (students) have a right to.”
Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
PROVIDED
Last year, the People’s Choice award winner was “Wizard of Oz” by Ricky Ponsaa and Mark Ferraro.
Scarecrows are invading! Again!
Orders open for this year’s 100 Invasion of the Scarecrows kits; decorating starts Oct. 1 By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
This October, expect to see more spooky, colorful and downright creative scarecrows than ever around Forest Park – up to 300! The annual Invasion of the Scarecrows fundraiser launched over the weekend at the Park District of Forest Park’s Fall Fest. There, locals who ordered a scarecrow kit this year had their first chance to pick it up, and the money went toward the Historical Society of Forest Park and Forest Park Arts Alliance. Starting Oct. 1, Forest Parkers will begin installing their decorated scarecrows in the front yards of local homes and businesses. This year, 100 scarecrow kits are avail-
able. Locals can pick up their kit — which includes a location sign, instructions, a wooden frame, fabric head and plastic bag for stuffing — Sept. 19 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 7410 Madison St. After securing supplies, locals can decorate and embellish their scarecrows however they choose. Residents who have put up scarecrows in years past can reuse them and, for $10, they’ll be added to a list of participating locations. Throughout October, Forest Parkers will vote on scarecrows they deem to be Most Historic, Most Artistic, the People’s Choice and Forest Park Pride. The Most Involved Block will also receive an award. Buy a scarecrow for the 2026 Invasion of the Scarecrows at https://givebutter.com/ ScarecrowsInvasion.
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Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
O U R
Q U I E T E S T
N E I G H B O R S
’Rebel Girl’ Flynn fought the fight from her teens to her death
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n the early twentieth century, wherever workers struggled for better conditions, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn was said to have been there in the thick of the fight. Flynn, a “home-grown” radical, never wavered in her defense of American civil liberties from the time she was a teen until her 70s. After her 1964 death while in the Soviet Union, Flynn’s body was returned to Forest Park and “Radical Row” in the Forest Home Cemetery. Born in Concord, NH, in 1890, Flynn’s family moved around, eventually settling in the Bronx. She began her electrifying rise to prominence at the age of 15 when she took the platform at the Harlem Socialist Club to deliver her speech, “What Socialism Will Do for Women.” Immediately, her skills as a dynamic, persuasive orator were recognized. (She was even offered a role on Broadway which she summarily turned down.) People started calling her the “Eastside Joan of Arc.” Flynn’s first arrest, of many, was with her father in 1907 -- they were speaking on a street corner in New York City and charged with blocking traffic. (Both her parents were dedicated to the cause of socialism and the liberation of the Irish people.) The headlines read: “Mere Child Talks Bitterly of Life.” On one occasion, an older man made a point of mentioning how young Flynn was, and she replied, “That will be remedied in time!” In 1906, Flynn became a Wobbly, joining the new Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) which had been established in Chicago a year earlier. The IWW is an organization that accepts all workers as members regardless of craft, gender, race, and creed,
which was revolutionary in the early twentieth century. Flynn left school to become an IWW organizer, leading important freespeech fights. (Later in life, she said she wished she had completed her schooling.) Flynn helped develop many of the IWW’s tactics among them spreading speakers across a city to overwhelm the police force and separating defendants’ cases to tie up the courts. Very much in demand as a public orator, Flynn was uniquely talented at inspiring crowds. One worker who heard her speak said she had “a quality of greatness, of selflessness and modesty, that always reached the most distant person.” It was during a tour to protect free speech in Montana that Flynn met her husband, Jack Jones, with whom she had two chil-
AMY BINNS-CALVEY
PROVIDED BY AMY DINNS-CALVEY
dren (one died shortly after birth). In 1912, while in New York to raise her son, she became involved in the Lawrence Strike. This strike was also known as the Bread and Roses Strike because the workers were asking not only for survival wages, but
for the ability to have a better quality of life. The massive walkout was successful, due in great part to Flynn’s ability to organize tens of thousands of immigrant workers. In 1913, she was instrumental in the Paterson Silk Strike where she was arrested after giving a speech encouraging workers to unite across ethnic divisions. Flynn’s list of accomplishments is long -- in 1920, she co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She founded the Workers Defense Union to help organizers who were arrested and jailed while advocating for workers’ rights. She brought world-wide attention to the cause of Sacco and Vanzetti – two Italian anarchists believed to be unjustly prosecuted for murder because of their status as immigrants and radicals. She spoke out for racial equality. She advocated for women’s rights and birth control.
She said, “The IWW has been accused of pushing women to the front. This is not true. Rather, the women have not been kept in back, and so they have naturally moved to the front.” She also fought for the release of Joe Hill, the song-writing IWW member (or Wobbly), believed to be framed for murder in Utah as punishment for his labor organizing. Joe Hill, whose ashes are scattered in Forest Home, is himself memorialized in the stirring ballad “I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night” (or “Joe Hill,”) which has been famously performed by Paul Robeson in the 1940s, Joan Baez in the 1960s, and more recently by Bruce Springsteen in 2014. In 1926, Flynn struggled with health issues, both physical and mental. She had left her husband after only a couple of years of marriage and had become close with another activist, Carlo Tresca. When she discovered that Tresca and her sister were having an affair, she was devastated. Flynn spent10 years out of the spotlight with
Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026 Dr. Marie Equi, a radical and advocate for women’s and reproductive rights. After the 10-year break, Flynn returned to the fight, joining the Communist Party as a fierce opponent of fascism. When she turned 50, she said, “…we thought the revolution was ‘just around the corner.’ We found out, of course, that it was a mighty big corner.” Yet, she remained optimistic, saying, “It’s a great struggle, and we’ll make this a good world yet.” In 1939, during a time of “red baiting” in the United States – an era when any association with socialism or communism was suspect -- Flynn was voted off of the board of the ACLU (an action they rescinded posthumously in 1976.) This was a particularly difficult time for Flynn as not long after, her son died at the age of 29. But again, she recovered and ran for Congress in 1942. Flynn was famously imprisoned for two and a half years under the Smith Act in 1951. She represented herself in the trial and insisted on calling herself a “political prisoner” – incarcerated because of her beliefs. She wrote an ahead-of-its-time memoir exposing the injustices of the prison system. Unsurprisingly, Flynn emerged from prison still committed to the battle for
Joe Hill’s song about Flynn It was Joe Hill who gave Flynn her famous nickname when, in 1915, he wrote the song “Rebel Girl:” She’s a rebel girl, a rebel girl. She’s working class: the strength of this world. From Maine to Georgia, you’ll see Her fighting for you and for me. Yes, she’s there by your side With her courage and pride. She’s unequaled anywhere. And I’m proud to fight for freedom With the rebel girl.
PROVIDED BY AMY DINNS-CALVEY
civil rights. She became the first national chairwoman of the Communist Party of the United States in 1961. A year later, her passport was revoked for being a communist, but she took her case all the way to
the Supreme Court. The court sided with Flynn, agreeing that her rights had been violated, and she was given back her passport. Flynn became ill while on a visit to the Soviet Union and died there on Sept. 5, 1964. A state funeral was held for her in Red Square where tens of thousands paid their respects. She, like many other greats in the labor movement, requested that her re-
mains be buried in Forest Home Cemetery near Emma Goldman, “Big Bill” Haywood, and the Haymarket Martyrs. Flynn’s headstone is simple, in keeping with the others in the “Radical Row” section of Forest Home. It is a plain, flat stone engraved with: Elizabeth G. Flynn 1890-1964 “The Rebel Girl” Fighter for Working Class Emancipation. Flynn remains a controversial figure to this day. In 2023, an historical marker was unveiled in Concord to mark the site where she was born. Within two weeks, the marker was taken down, under the orders of then Gov. John Sununu. Apparently, more than 60 years after her death, even the acknowledgement of her existence and advocacy was too provocative for the state of New Hampshire. References: ACLU New Hampshire, Concord Monitor, Daily World, Iowa State University: Archives of Women’s Political Communication, The Alderson Story: My Life as a Political Prisoner, The Daily Worker, The Rebel Girl: An Autobiography, YouTube: Ellen Gave on Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, YouTube: The Life of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn with Dr. Mary Anne Trasciatti.
ONLINE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH SURVEY The Forest Park SD 91 Board of Education is conducting a search for a new superintendent. The selection of a new superintendent is probably the most important decision a board of education has to make; therefore, the Board has hired the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) to assist in this process. The Board of Education is seeking everyone’s input in the search process. The Board requests that all board members, all staff, all parents and community members complete an online survey provided by the IASB. The results will be tallied and used by the Board and Screening Team to develop a brochure to advertise the position. All survey responses and comments will remain anonymous.
The survey link for Staff, Parents, and Community Members (English) can be accessed at:
La Junta de Educación de Forest Park SD 91 está llevando a cabo una búsqueda para un nuevo superintendente. La selección de un nuevo superintendente es probablemente la decisión más importante que una junta de educación debe tomar; por lo tanto, la Junta ha contratado a la Asociación de Juntas Escolares de Illinois (IASB) para que la ayude en este proceso. La Junta de Educación solicita la opinión de todos en el proceso de búsqueda. La Junta solicita que todos los miembros de la junta, todo el personal, todos los padres y miembros de la comunidad completen una encuesta en línea proporcionada por la IASB. Los resultados se contabilizarán y serán utilizados por la Junta y el Equipo de Selección para elaborar un folleto para anunciar el puesto. Todas las respuestas y comentarios de la encuesta permanecerán anónimos. The survey link for Staff, Parents, and Community Members (Spanish) can be accessed at:
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Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
ICE-FREE ZONES Petition drive from page 1 signed by over 180 people, most of them Forest Park residents, the petition asks the village council to pass legislation that restricts ICE agents from entering certain buildings, including Village Hall, and update the village’s pledge to serve all residents equally. “It kind of boiled down to two big things that could be done fairly quickly,” Alzamora told the Review, a conclusion she came to after consulting immigration lawyers. Alzamora leads the PASO-West Suburban Action Project’s response team and coheads the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. “I got outrage from a lot of community members that live in the area. I started getting a sense of just the level of distress we were all feeling.” Forest Park resident Sharon Bloyd-Peshkin was one of those community members. “Police want people to be able to report crime. They want people to feel safe coming to them for help, and people are only going to do those kinds of things if they feel safe, that the police aren’t cooperating with ICE,” Bloyd-Peshkin told the Review. Mayor Rory Hoskins said he understands the community’s requests through the petition. “I would support designating ICE-free zones near Forest Park buildings if we have the legal authority,” Hoskins told the Review, since Forest Park is a non-home rule community and has limited authority in passing local regulations and ordinances. “I appreciate the work being done by the advocates. I support updating the welcoming resolution.” Alzamora said during public comment at the Sept. 14 meeting that organizers have shared draft language for welcoming resolutions and ordinances that would codify new amendments into the village code. “It’s an open conversation that we hope to continue to have with all of you. We’re just super grateful that you you’ve made yourself available,” Alzamora said to the village council. “We’ll be patiently waiting
for next steps from you.” Alzamora, who is also on the board of the Park District of Forest Park, said the suggestions the petition makes extend to both sides of the aisle. “This is not a political thing,” she told the Review, adding that first responders
Park, Evanston, Chicago and several other surrounding municipalities have ICE-free zones. During meetings with Hoskins and Commissioners Maria Maxham, Michelle Melin-Rogovin and Jessica Voogd, Alzamora provided officials with information about
ICE surveillance
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“may not agree with some of the politics, but I think they would appreciate procedure because that is what they have sworn to do, to uphold the constitution, to follow the municipal code.”
Passing legislation Forest Park’s welcoming resolution hasn’t been updated since it was written in 2017. Later that year, the Illinois Trust Act was signed, restricting municipalities from participating in federal immigration enforcement. And the Illinois Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Act was passed in 2018 to allow victims of crimes like trafficking and rape to request a form needed to apply for a federal visa. “I feel like this is a time to challenge the village to move beyond resolution and into codifying some of this language into an ordinance, like many municipalities have done,” Alzamora said, citing that Oak
how other municipalities have created ICE-free spaces and sample training procedures. “If we train our first responders, our village staff, the people who are most likely to interact at Village Hall with, not just a potential federal presence, but also with residents that have varying degrees of vulnerability. That should be something that feels like it’s common sense, practical and easy to implement,” Alzamora said. “Municipal employees will be better situated if they know exactly what the rules are,” Bloyd-Peshkin said. “Training is what helps people respond when they’re under pressure or stress.” And Alzamora said it should be an effort between Forest Park residents, local government and businesses. “I think it’s a collective responsibility,” she said, adding that residents and first responders have the same priority of community safety.
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Bloyd-Peshkin said it gives her hope that village staff and commissioners are working with the Forest Park Police Department. “I love the respectfulness that they won’t tell police what to do, but work with them,” she said. “The timing is perfect with the new police chief to institute policies that make everyone feel comfortable.” Lt. Daniel Pater will become police chief next month, after Chief Ken Gross retires at the end of September.
Alzamora expects ICE activity to only increase in the western suburbs and says the village should have processes in place for when it happens. “This last week has been horrendous in terms of enforcement,” Alzamora told the Review on Sept. 11. “They’re out in force. They’re starting to come out at night, which we hadn’t seen since last year. Chances are, as we deepen into the fall, we’re going to start seeing more activity.” Because of this, Alzamora hopes that appeasing the requests of the recent petition can serve as a foundation for future protections against ICE. “It doesn’t end here,” Alzamora said, rather “this is the last straw” in numerous cases of alleged misbehavior of Forest Park police officers. She said she also wants to get rid of the several license plate reader cameras in the village and was part of the effort to successfully do so in Oak Park last year. Last September, Forest Park police discovered that, for over a year, they’d inadvertently been sharing data from license plate readers in the village with ICE. Alzamora said that, last year when ICE came to the Chicagoland area, one of the first people that PASO-West Suburban Action Project’s rapid response team helped was located through cameras that capture license plates. “I’m dead certain that was license plate reader data,” Alzamora said of how ICE found the person. The license plate readers are “surveilling all of us, not just people with vulnerable immigration statuses.”
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Get Creative With Us! Forest Park Arts Alliance brings artists and residents together to enrich our lives through the joy of art. PROGRAMS
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I
Art Is Everywhere in Forest Park
n Forest Park, art doesn’t live only on gallery walls. It appears on front porches and in garages, around trees and on bistro tables. It fills local businesses, pops up along Madison Street, brings filmmakers together for a whirlwind weekend, and gives neighbors and visitors another reason to stop, talk, and experience something unexpected. Behind many of those moments is the Forest Park Arts Alliance, a community-based organization with a simple mission: “We bring artists and residents together to enrich our lives through the joy of art.” That mission comes to life through an eclectic collection of programs designed to make art accessible, participatory, and visible throughout Forest Park. Some events put local artists and makers in the spotlight. The Spring and Holiday Makers’ Markets give shoppers an opportunity to discover original art and handcrafted goods while meeting the people who create them. Garage Galleries transforms garages throughout the community into one-day galleries, creating a walkable art experience where artists exhibit their work in an informal neighborhood setting.
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Other programs turn Forest Park itself into a canvas. Garden Posts invites artists to transform ordinary posts into one-of-a-kind works of public art, while Bistro Tables combines art with gathering by commissioning artists to create functional painted tables displayed in downtown Forest Park. Fiber Flash brings colorful fiber art into public spaces, demonstrating that art can appear just about anywhere. All donated winter accessories – hats, mittens, gloves – are donated to the Forest Park Library’s Comfort Closet and other organizations. MARION SIREFMAN, ARTIST. ARTIST'S WORK USED FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. FPAA DOES NOT CLAIM AUTHORSHIP.
September 16, 2026 13
The Alliance also celebrates storytelling and performance. Tellers’
Night gives storytellers a stage to share personal experiences with a live audience. StoopSessions brings musicians and audiences together for intimate performances on Forest Park’s front porches, turning familiar neighborhood spaces into welcoming music venues. For filmmakers, the 48-Hour Film Festival presents a completely different creative challenge: write, shoot, and complete a short film in just two days. The resulting films showcase not only creativity and collaboration, but often recognizable people and places from around Forest Park. Throughout the year, the Arts Alliance also finds ways to connect creativity with some of the community’s favorite celebrations. Invasion of the Scarecrows fills town with imaginative creations each fall, while the Alliance’s participation in Pride Fest encourages residents to express themselves through art while celebrating inclusion and community. Together, these programs reflect the Arts Alliance’s larger role in Forest Park: creating opportunities for artists, introducing residents to new creative experiences, and making art a visible part of everyday community life. Perhaps most importantly, you don’t have to consider yourself an “art person” to participate. You can buy something handmade, watch a film, listen to music from a neighbor’s stoop, discover an artist in a garage, encounter public art on a walk through town—or even decide to create something yourself. That’s the joy of art in Forest Park. It’s not something you have to go looking for. More often than not, it’s right around the corner. Discover upcoming events, meet local artists and find ways to get involved with the Forest Park Arts Alliance at forestparkarts.org.
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Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
Throngs turn out for LemonAid’s 25th anniversary History and neighbors once again team up for fun and memories at event that commemorates Sept. 11 anniversary By GREGG VOSS
“It goes to show how small LemonAid used to be,” Olson, an event co-chair, added of his handprints. “It used to be two tents. Twenty-five years later, a much older Now it’s tens of tents.” Carl Olson held up his outstretched arm to Indeed, tents galore ran along both curbs the very first LemonAid banner. of Bonnie Brae Place, flanked by banners There, up in the top left corner were his from previous LemonAids, which harkens own red handprints from when he was a to history. But on this sun-splashed latebaby, just above his name, next to those of summer Friday, fun was the order of the dozens of other youngsters from way back day. when. There was Beat the Streets Chicago’s “I was really small,” Olson mused as hun- booth featuring a pullup bar. If kids could dreds made their way Friday along the 700 do 10 pullups, they’d receive swag from the block of Bonnie Brae Place in River Forest wrestling organization like T-shirts and for the 25th edition of LemonAid, an event socks. that has raised well over $700,000 for nonFun, for sure, and maybe even hilarity profits and charities primarily throughout when a reporter tried his hand at the task, the Oak Park and River Forest area. failing miserably. But look deeper and chat And that amount doesn’t include pro- with Beat the Streets program director Patceeds from this year. But like the day it rick Martinez. commemorates – the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks “I remember I was in sixth grade,” he on the World Trade Center towers – Lem- said of 9/11. “And I was a wrestler growonAid is about people and history. ing up, so that morning I was actually doing pullups in the living room with my dad when we watched the plane hit the tower.” He was clear that Friday’s pullup challenge was just a coincidence, but still, it took him back. Music drifted over the event, including an elegant piano performance from Oak Park and River Forest High School senior Helen Donoho. She, like Olson, was an event co-chair with fellow OPRF seniors Connor Chien and Mark Jung, along with Donoho’s Fenwick sophomore sister Miranda and Fenwick junior Ethan Wynne. Fifth grader Shalva Glick and fourth SYDNEY LOVAN grader Sophie Sears were A child plays in foam on Bonnie Brae during the annual junior co-chairs this year. LemonAid event on Sept. 11. Donoho and Chien were Staff Reporter
SYDNEY LOVAN
Chris Hauri, one of the LemonAid founders, smiles as a child donates money during the annual event on Sept. 11. born significantly after 9/11, but they know the story from their history classes. And while they realize it was a terrible moment in their country’s history, they also realize that some good came of it locally. “Really, the biggest way I learned about 9/11 was just going to LemonAid every year,” Chien said, “every year coming back to this event and learning more and more about what the attacks meant and what we’re doing about them, and why we’re giving back to this community.” And LemonAid will return for the foreseeable future. “With the help of the Oak Park and River Forest Kiwanis Club and River Forest Township, we are proud to announce that LemonAid will continue on 700 Bonnie Brae for 2027,” Chien announced at a bell-ringing ceremony, which included remarks from River Forest village Administrator Matt Walsh and a poem read by village Fire Chief Tom Gaertner. What future LemonAids will look like is still fluid, according to neighbors like Patty Henek and Chris Hauri, some of the founders back in 2001. River Forest Township Trustee Keith Strom, who noted his municipality has assisted with matters like permitting and insurance for LemonAid, said plans for a “LemonAid 2.0” will likely start in October. But that’s a news story for another day. What mattered Friday was that everyone
had a good time, whether it was doing pullups at Beat the Streets Chicago’s tent, sit ups at the neighboring tent of Fitness Formula Clubs in Oak Park, or dancing around in the billowing foam at Wonder Works Chidren’s Museum’s area, complete with the Foam Daddy machine. A dozen or more laughing little ones were in the middle of the fun at any given time, along with Executive Director Rachel Weber. “Who doesn’t love bubbles?” Weber said. “They’re magical. It’s one of those things where they can dive into it and hide but still be visible to everybody and touch the bubbles. It’s a whole sensory experience.” As Walsh and Gaertner and others prepared their ceremonial remarks, 78th District state Rep. Camille Lilly spoke about what the event – foam and all – means to the community. “It means togetherness, it means love, driven by the future with our young people,” said Lilly, sitting in the front row. “There is no place else doing this work.” Olson thought the turnout for this year’s event was on par with recent years. Hauri thought it was better. “This has been one of the best things in my life,” Hauri said, standing next to a jar stuffed with monetary donations, “just in the way I’ve seen kids grow up with such a great spirit of philanthropy and just the community this builds and what we’ve done as a community.”
Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
O’HARE FLYER
Not a good thing for RF from page 5 posed route. “It’s very important that Don Harmon commits to something really quick and we need to let him know that,” Steele said. “We can talk about processes and kids on bikes all we want but he could wake up tomorrow morning and just make a phone call and shut it down because he’s the Senate president. This corridor is his and he hasn’t said no. He said he’d like to hear from the neighbors so here we are. Nobody lends $2 ¼ billion against a project that the Senate President opposes in his own backyard.” When Harmon was asked for comment Tuesday morning his spokesman sent Harmon’s previous statement to Wednesday Journal. “While I appreciate the significant positive impact this project could have on Chicagoland, I’d like to hear from my neighbors who will be most directly impacted,” Harmon’s statement said. Erik Huston made the only public comment supporting the O’Hare Flyer. Huston, who was booed when he finished his comment, said that fast train service between O’Hare and downtown Chicago would bring environmental benefits. “More people relying on transit to and from the airport means fewer cars on roadways,” Huston said. Less traffic would benefit everyone, Huston said. The resolution also calls on other municipalities along the proposed O’Hare Flyer route to oppose the proposal and some have already have done so. On the same day as the village board meeting Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico sent Lundy a letter opposing the O’Hare Flyer project as proposed. Cook County Board member Maggie Trevor and Ronald Pellegrino, the executive director of the West Central Municipal Conference, also sent letters to Lundy opposing the O’Hare Flyer proposal. “[C]ommunities such as River Forest and surrounding municipalities similarly situated could face increased congestion
and longer travel times, as frequent rail closures on major north-south corridors disrupt daily commutes and slow emergency response,” Pellegrino wrote. A spokesman for O’Hare Flyer said the team behind the project would like to meet with village officials to discuss the project and clear up misunderstandings. “The O’Hare Flyer team has requested the opportunity to meet with the River Forest Village Board to present the project in detail and answer their questions,” said John Digles, a spokesman for O’Hare Flyer in an emailed statement. “We are fully committed to meeting with the River Forest community as well. We were not invited to tonight’s board meeting and have not yet received an invitation to meet with the board. We are concerned that several aspects of the project are being misunderstood or misrepresented.” Before the vote on the resolution some village trustees expressed frustration that they did not hear about the O’Hare Flyer project until recently although Village President Cathy Adduci met with Lundy last year and again this summer. Adduci said that Lundy gave her essentially no information in those meetings. Adduci said that she and Village Administrator Matt Walsh met with Lundy and Harmon at Harmon’s Oak Park office in July and that’s when she found out about the proposed route of the O’Hare Flyer but still didn’t receive any renderings. Adduci said that she never signed a non-disclosure agreement. “We were left flatfooted here,” said Erika Bachner, a village board member. Fellow village trustee Katie Brennan agreed. “I was playing catch up for sure,” Brennan said. Walsh said that he understood the frustration. “I share the board’s frustration with the lack of context,” Walsh said. “There were no renderings.” Adduci said there is still much she doesn’t know about the details of the project but said that she is opposed to it as it is presented. “This is not a good thing for us and that we need serious conversations around things like alternative routes,” Adduci said after the meeting.
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Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
C R I M E
Man threatens 7-Eleven clerk with butter knife By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
The evening of Sept. 10, police were dispatched to the 7-Eleven at 205 Harlem after a man refused to leave the store and threatened the clerk with a knife. The clerk told police that a man was sitting outside the store, banging washer fluid jugs on the front window. When the clerk asked the man to leave, the man pulled out a butter knife and threatened to kill him. When police made contact with the offender, the man reached into his pocket and threw eight butter knives on the ground before running away. Police caught the man and detained him, charging him with aggravated assault.
Possession of controlled substance Police were dispatched to the 7200 block of Jackson on Sept. 12 around 1:30 p.m. for a suspicious person looking into cars. Police made contact with the suspect, who said he was homeless. Police asked the man if they could look in his backpack, and the man pulled out a purse, and police saw two small containers containing white, powdery substance, according to police. Police searched the backpack and found a plastic bag also containing a white powder and multiple broken straws. The man was charged with two in-state warrants, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Car theft The morning of Sept. 10, police were dispatched to 7820 Madison St. for a burglary to a motor vehicle. Police reported that there were multiple vehicles on the north side of the parking lot that had been broken into. At least four cars had broken windows and peeled steering columns. According to the police report, there were no video surveillance cameras that would’ve captured the incident.
Domestic battery
reported smoke billowing from the building and employees standing outside. After the Forest Park and North Riverside fire departments extinguished the fire, the plant controller told police that a failure to a machine in the factory caused the fire. According to the police report, the fire department doesn’t suspect foul play.
On Sept. 9 before 8 a.m., dispatch told police that they got a call from a woman who was being attacked in a car. Police found the car stopped on the exit ramp at I-290 and 1st Ave. after it ran out of gas. Police reported that a man outside the car had a scratched, red face and said he had a verbal altercation with his girlfriend that turned physical when she hit him. The man said the woman struck his face after finding texts from another woman on his phone, then threw his phone out the window. His girlfriend said the man hit her multiple times in the face and chocked her to the point of losing consciousness, and police reported that she was bleeding above her eye. The woman wanted to sign complaints, so police took the man into custody. He was charged with domestic battery.
The afternoon of Sept. 12, police were on patrol when they saw a car in the 400 block of Marengo that was traveling the wrong direction on a one-way street. Police pulled over the driver, and it was revealed that his license was suspended. The man was given a citation for having a suspended or revoked license and driving the wrong way on a one-way. The car was towed.
Fire
Ordinance violation
On Sept. 8, a fire alarm went off at Thule Group on Industrial Drive. Police
Around 11 p.m. on Sept 7, police were dispatched to the Harlem Blue Line station
Traffic arrest
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after dispatch reported that a person with a gun wasn’t allowing people to leave the train. When Forest Park police arrived, Oak Park police had the suspect detained. The caller told police that the suspect was harassing her and her boyfriend on the train, threatened to pistol whip her, then blocked them from leaving the train. She said she didn’t observe a gun and didn’t wish to sign complaints. Officers also didn’t find a gun. The juvenile suspect was charged with a village ordinance violation and curfew violation. These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated Sept. 7 - 13 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.
Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
Forest Park Fall Fest brings community together Photos by JILL WAGNER
The Park District of Forest Park hosted the annual Fall Fest, an afternoon designed to celebrate the community with music, entertainment, and family activities. The free event was held from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Park District’s administration building at 7501 Harrison St. Live music, vendor booths, and local nonprofits surrounded families for an assortment of activities as the village celebrated the fall season. Food, beverages, and treats were available for purchase throughout the afternoon. Children had plenty of opportunities to
stay active with a bounce house, a gaga pit and Mr. Sidney brought his hip-hop instruction to the event, adding an energetic element for young attendees. Fall Fest was among the Park District’s featured special events in its 2026 Fall/Winter Recreation and Activity Guide and the fall night closed with a beloved fireworks show. With summer winding down and autumn approaching, the festival offered Forest Park residents an opportunity to gather close to home and welcome the new season together.
More photos on page 18
Clockwise from top right: Smokey Joel ready to supply hotdogs to the crowd. Patrons enjoying the fest. The White Sox wheel provided a booth of free gear and fun for visitors. Rosie Hapner finds festival fun giving a wagon ride to Sylas and Michael. Mr. Sydney leads the children dancing.
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Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
Fall Fest from page 17
Photos by JILL WAGNER
Clockwise from top left: Mackenzie of the Mac O’Brien Band leads the mid day fall fest entertainment Bill Moy and Judy Victor enjoy the music. The Gaga Pit was a huge draw at Fall Fest providing endless hours of playtime Happiness by Tee owner and Betsy Ross Principal Tinisa Huff sells her jackets and blankets. West Cook Wild Ones provides information and native seeds. Cesily Roland visits vendor tables including Chayil Hidden Treasures run by Lorraine Johnson.
OPINION
L
ast Friday was the 25th anniversary of 9/11. What I would like to remember is the actions of the 40 passengers and crew members on United Airlines Flight 93 who fought back against the hijackers crashing the plane in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania killing all on board but preventing the slaughter of victims in Washington, D.C. I get the chills every time I remember their sacrifice, and I wonder three things. First, I wonder how I would have behaved if I were in the same situation. I know. I know. They were going to die anyway. But the passengers on American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, the two planes that hit the Twin Towers, did not act that way. I suppose they did not know what the hijackers were up to. But still. Second, Richard M. Fierro did. He was at Nightclub Q in Colorado Springs with his family and friends to watch a drag show. The attack began when a shooter walked into the club and opened fire. Fierro used his military combat training from Iraq and Afghanistan to run through the chaos and tackle the gunman. Fierro grabbed the suspect’s own weapon, beat him with it, and told a bystander to help remove the gun. I have not had military training, but I played football, and I know how to tackle. So would I have taken the risk?
Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
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Why do people risk their lives? And third, I wonder if I would have had the courage to do what Liz Cheney did. Liz Cheney sacrificed her prominent Republican leadership role and her congressional seat to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and publicly oppose Donald Trump. She chose to speak out against Donald Trump after the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 attack. Her own party turned against her for telling the truth about these events. Republican lawmakers removed Liz Cheney from her position as the third highestranking House Republican in May 2021 because she refused to support Donald Trump’s claims about the election. Liz Cheney knew her actions would likely end her political career in Wyoming, an overwhelmingly pro-Trump state. She framed her choice as an honorable duty to the U.S. Constitution over party loyalty. Harriet Hageman defeated Liz Cheney in the Aug. 16, 2022 primary election by a wide margin after Donald Trump campaigned heavily against Cheney. Why do people risk their lives? Rick Bruno, who had a 37-year law enforcement career, said, “Sometimes it is because we choose to be protectors. We see the bullied child (or we were that bullied child) and a sense of justice compels us to
protect him. We see the pain that others endure, and a sense of anger or empathy, or both, calls us to ease it. Some of us simply cannot stand by. Tragedy is not just, and we hate injustice. We don’t just talk about it. “We run into burning buildings. We run into active shooter calls. We dive into dangerous water. We stand a post in distant lands. We parachute into hostile territory. We care for those with dangerously communicable diseases. We nurse terminally ill children. “Some of us want to be heroes. Some want to be anonymous. Some of us are just wired that way. Some of us learn it.” “People risk their lives for strangers for a mix of psychological, social, evolutionary, cultural, and situational reason,” a website called Assistant explained. “These factors interact; no single explanation covers every case. Key drivers: ■ Altruistic instincts shaped by evolution ■ Kin selection explains care for relatives; byproduct mechanisms (sympathy, caregiving) can extend to non-kin. ■ Reciprocal-altruism machinery favors helping if it increases group survival; in tight-knit or interdependent communities, risking for others had survival value
TOM HOLMES
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historically. ■ Empathy and emotional contagion ■ Seeing someone in visible distress triggers an immediate response Dan Duny, a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Chad, talked about why people risk their lives. “It starts by realizing that most people are the same as you. They love their spouses and children. They want their parents to be proud of them. They love their friends and will do anything for them. And yes, they feel protective of children and adults.” What I’ve found is that the stories we hear and tell have a way of seeping our soul and can have a profound impact on how we behave in a crisis. Dr. Dorothy Suskind wrote in The Power of Story: How the Stories We Tell Shape Our Lives, “How we tell our story provides a window into the ways in which we make sense of our experiences, assign meaning to our existence, and create unity in our life’s arc. Our tellings also offer glimpses into what we might do next.” “You know the stories that I like to tell are always interesting,” said film maker Ken Burns, “because the good guys have really serious flaws, and the villains are very compelling. My interest is always in complicating things.” Check out Tom’s ongoing Substack posts about the fictional life of Pastor Walter Mitty at https://tomholmes10.substack. com/kt
NEWSFLASH!
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Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
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F O R E S T PA R K
REVIEW General Manager Max Reinsdorf Editorial & Audience Strategist Matthew Schwerha Staff Reporters Jessica Mordacq, Hector Cervantes, Bill Dwyer, Jackie Pisano Contributing Editor Donna Greene Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, Robert J. Lifka Columnists Alan Brouilette, Tom Holmes Editorial & Digital Design Lead Javier Govea Design and Production Associate De Sergio Villalona Visual Designers Susan McKelvey, Darby Godman Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls
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B A C K
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News from Harlem, September 1897
he 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. 10, 1896 edition included the following News from Harlem’s Neighbors: ■ Henry Gerstenkom bought Mrs. Rose M. Reissig’s green house in Riverside. ■ The school building in Riverside burned to the ground on Thursday evening. Damage is estimated at $25,000. ■ That edition also included ads by well-known architect Henry G. Fiddelke and by the midwife Anna Yost. ■ Fiddelke’s ad mentions his office (203 Marion St. in Oak Park) and home (45 Franklin, corner Marengo in Harlem) and promises prompt building plans and cost estimates. ■ Anna Yost’s simply mentions that she is a German midwife located at 139 N. Marengo in Harlem.
Translated by Uli Leib
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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK S/B/M TO TCF NATIONAL BANK Plaintiff, -v.SHONTE BURGIE A/K/A SHONTA BURGIE, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF YVONNE PERRY GIPSON, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, TODD BURGIE, SHAWN BURGIE, STATE OF ILLINOIS - DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, TODD BURGIE, AS INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF YVONNE PERRY-GIPSON Defendants 2024CH06106 324 50TH 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 2, 2026, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 29, 2026, 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 324 50TH AVE, BELLWOOD, IL 60104 Property Index No. 15-08-117028-0000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. 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. 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-
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. 14-24-03685 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2024CH06106 TJSC#: 46-1903 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 # 2024CH06106 I3293179
highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate. Commonly known as 842 MARSHALL AVENUE, BELLWOOD, IL 60104 Property Index No. 15-16-101-0370000 The real estate is improved with a Single Family Residence. The judgment amount was $147,637.47 Sale Terms: Full Sale Terms are available on the property page at www.auction.com by entering 842 MARSHALL AVENUE into the search bar. If sold to anyone other than the Plaintiff, the winning bidder must pay the full bid amount within twenty-four (24) hours of the auction’s end. All payments must be certified funds. No third-party checks will be accepted. All bidders will need to register at www.auction.com prior to placing a bid. 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(g1). 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 Plaintiffs attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES PC (630) 794-5300 please refer to file number 14-25-06310. 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. 14-25-06310 Case Number: 2025CH09954 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. I3293282
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NewRez LLC d/b/a Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing Plaintiff, -v.Larry Lee Branch; Citizens Bank, N.A.; Unknown Owners and Nonrecord Claimants; Unknown Heirs and Legatees of Lee Garner; Julie Fox, as Special Representative for Lee Garner (deceased) Defendants. 2025CH09954 842 MARSHALL 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 6/12/2026, an agent of Auction. com, LLC will conduct the Online Only auction at www.auction.com, with the bidding window opening on 10/5/2026 at 10:00 AM CDT and closing on October 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM subject to extension, and will sell at public sale to the
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Trustee for ABFC 2006OPT2 Trust, Asset Backed Funding Corporation Asset Backed Certificates, Series 2006-OPT2 Plaintiff, -v.Brenda Williams, as Independent Administrator of the Estate of Mattie Beatrice Williams; Brenda Williams; Andre Williams; Unknown Heirs and Legatees of Mattie B. Williams a/k/a Mattie Beatrice Williams; Unknown Owners and Nonrecord Claimants Defendants. 2025CH11407 162 MAPLE AVE, HILLSIDE, IL 60162 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on 7/1/2026, an agent of Auction. com, LLC will conduct the Online Only auction at www.auction.com, with the bidding window opening on 10/5/2026 at 10:00 AM CDT and closing on October 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM subject to extension, and will sell at public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate. Commonly known as 162 MAPLE AVE, HILLSIDE, IL 60162 Property Index No. 15-17-304051-0000 The real estate is improved with a Residential Property. The judgment amount was $185,250.90 Sale Terms: Full Sale Terms are available on the property page at www. auction.com by entering 162 MAPLE AVE into the search bar. If sold to anyone other than the Plaintiff, the winning bidder must pay the full bid amount within twenty-four (24) hours of the auction’s end. All payments must be certified funds. No third-party checks will be accepted. All bidders will need to register at www.auction.com prior to placing a bid. 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(g1). 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 Plaintiffs attorney: Codilis & Associates,
P.C.,15W030 North Frontage Road, Suite 100 Burr Ridge, IL 60527(630) 794-5300 please refer to file number 14-25-07186. 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. 14-25-07186 Case Number: 2025CH11407 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. I3293504
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 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. 14-26-00538 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2026CH01069 TJSC#: 46-1871 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 # 2026CH01069 I3293188
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.SHAWN RATLIFF, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF EMMERSON W. RATLIFF A/K/A EMMERSON RATLIFF, NP201, LLC, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, CASSANDRA RATLIFF OUBRE, AMIR MOHABBAT, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR EMMERSON W. RATLIFF (DECEASED) Defendants 2026CH01069 1209 S 15TH 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 August 3, 2026, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 29, 2026, 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 1209 S 15TH AVE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153 Property Index No. 15-15-211004-0000 The real estate is improved with a residence. 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 SUBJECT TO A PRIOR RECORDED 1st Mortgage 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
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, -v.KRYSTAL LANDFAIR A/K/A KRYSTAL JESSICA NECOLE LANDFAIR; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; MONTINI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, Defendants. 2026CH01349 2025 HIGH STREET, 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 6/24/2026, an agent of Auction. com, LLC will conduct the Online Only auction at www.auction.com, with the bidding window opening on 10/12/2026 at 10:00 AM CDT and closing on October 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM subject to extension, and will sell at public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate. Commonly known as 2025 HIGH STREET, BERKELEY, IL 60163 Property Index No. 15-18-100003-0000
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE The real estate is improved with a Single Family Residence. The judgment amount was $295,501.02 Sale Terms: Full Sale Terms are available on the property page at www.auction.com by entering 2025 HIGH STREET into the search bar. If sold to anyone other than the Plaintiff, the winning bidder must pay the full bid amount within twenty-four (24) hours of the auction’s end. All payments must be certified funds. No third-party checks will be accepted. All bidders will need to register at www. auction.com prior to placing a bid. 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). 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 Plaintiffs attorney: McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLP (312) 346-9088 please refer to file number 24-17983IL. 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. 24-17983IL Case Number: 2026CH01349 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. I3293293
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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC Plaintiff, -v.YVONNE A WINT, MYRON WINT Defendants 2025 CH 01742 218 SOUTH 23RD 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 12, 2026, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on October 19, 2026, 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 23RD AVENUE, BELLWOOD, IL 60104 Property Index No. 15-10-114-0180000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. 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. 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 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. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 333 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1820, Chicago, IL, 60606. 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 333 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1820 Chicago IL, 60606 312-346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 24-17727IL Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 2025 CH 01742 TJSC#: 46-1953 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 # 2025 CH 01742 I3293955
must pay the full bid amount within twenty-four (24) hours of the auction’s end. All payments must be certified funds. No third-party checks will be accepted. All bidders will need to register at www. auction.com prior to placing a bid. 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). 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 Plaintiffs attorney: LOGS Legal Group LLP (847) 291-1717 please refer to file number 25-103892-FC01. Auction. com, LLC 100 N LaSalle St., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60602 - 872225-4985 You can also visit www. auction.com. Attorney File No. 25-103892-FC01 Case Number: 25 CH 10469 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. I3293299
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION LAND HOME FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. Plaintiff, -v.MARK FAJKS; COOK COUNTY BUREAU OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants. 25 CH 10469 400 Geneva 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 6/26/2026, an agent of Auction. com, LLC will conduct the Online Only auction at www.auction.com, with the bidding window opening on 10/5/2026 at 10:00 AM CDT and closing on October 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM subject to extension, and will sell at public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate. Commonly known as 400 Geneva Avenue, Bellwood, IL 60104 Property Index No. 15-08-403035-0000 The real estate is improved with a Single Family Residence. The judgment amount was $185,834.55 Sale Terms: Full Sale Terms are available on the property page at www.auction.com by entering 400 Geneva Avenue into the search bar. If sold to anyone other than the Plaintiff, the winning bidder
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NEWREZ, LLC Plaintiff, -v.GERALDINE CASTREJON, SALVADOR GARFIAS Defendants 26 CH 01509 1127 HERBERT 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 May 18, 2026, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 28, 2026, 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 HERBERT AVE, BERKELEY, IL 60163 Property Index No. 15-06-307009-0000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $304,201.25. 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. 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 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 HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC Plaintiff’s
Attorneys, 601 E. William St., DECATUR, IL, 62523 (217) 422-1719. File No. 2073564 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 Code. 40387 Case Number: 26 CH 01509 TJSC#: 46-1954 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 # 26 CH 01509 I3293365
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). 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 Plaintiffs attorney: McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLP (312) 346-9088 please refer to file number 23-15387IL. 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. 23-15387IL Case Number: 2025CH10422 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. I3293802
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff, -v.ALBERTO PEREZ; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, Defendants. 2025CH10422 271 EAST DICKENS AVENUE, NORTHLAKE, IL 60164 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on 7/20/2026, an agent of Auction.com, LLC will conduct the Online Only auction at www.auction.com, with the bidding window opening on 10/19/2026 at 10:00 AM CDT and closing on October 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM subject to extension, and will sell at public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate. Commonly known as 271 EAST DICKENS AVENUE, NORTHLAKE, IL 60164 Property Index No. 12-32-113-0090000 The real estate is improved with a Single Family Residence. The judgment amount was $322,888.13 Sale Terms: Full Sale Terms are available on the property page at www.auction. com by entering 271 EAST DICKENS AVENUE into the search bar. If sold to anyone other than the Plaintiff, the winning bidder must pay the full bid amount within twenty-four (24) hours of the auction’s end. All payments must be certified funds. No third-party checks will be accepted. All bidders will need to register at www.auction. com prior to placing a bid. 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,
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
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Forest Park Review, September 16, 2026
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