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100 miles for Sarah’s Inn PAGE 9

Loyola to get COVID vaccine PAGE 13

DECEMBER 16, 2020

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Two more Forest Park residents die from COVID-19 Total since pandemic swept through in March now at 21 By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

On Dec. 7, an 89-year-old woman died of complications from COVID-19, and on Dec. 8, a 64-year-old man succumbed to the disease. That makes 21 virus-related deaths among Forest Park residents, seven in just two weeks. Of the 21 Forest Park residents that have died, 12 were residents of Aperion Care Forest Park, 8200 Roosevelt Road. Long-term care facilities and nursing homes have been hit hard by COVID outbreaks and deaths throughout the state. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Aperion Care Forest Park had one resolved outbreak of COVID-19, with no cases in the past 28 days, in which 51 people, including staff and patients, were infected. Six died. Another outbreak, unresolved as of Dec. 9 according to the IDPH website, has infected 41 individuals and so far is responsible for four deaths, according to the website on Dec. 11. More information about COVID-19 at long term care facilities in Illinois can be found at dph.illinois.gov/covid19/long-term-care-facility-outbreaks-covid-19.

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

DRIVE-THRU SANTA

The Forest Park Chamber of Commerce organized a drive-thru Santa and Mrs. Claus experience for residents on Saturday, Dec. 12, at Forest Park National Bank, 7348 Madison St.

New D91 expense protocol in place after Bears ad fiasco School board members, who signed off on invoices, grill staff who OK’d expense By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

Forest Park Elementary School District 91 Board President Kyra Tyler on Dec. 10 said she was “furious” with district staff

IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 THIS Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 ISSUE Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

who, for two years in a row, approved spending $18,000 to buy advertisements in the Chicago Bears season preview magazine. At their Dec. 10 meeting, school board members questioned Scott Dunnell, com-

munications and public relations manager for the district, and Ed Brophy, assistant superintendent of operations, asking pointed questions about why the ads were

IDPH looking for COVID Ambassadors

Mom’s Place closing after 14 years

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See D91 ADS on page 13

Making Spirits Bright ad (FPR) ForestFPSD91 Park Review, December 16, 2020

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12/14/20

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Making Spirits Bright! Happy Holidays from Forest Park School District 91

As we prepare for our holiday break,

I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to our parents and guardians, grandparents and caregivers for their incredible patience and support during this most unusual school year. I know many families struggle each day to find a balance between their jobs and helping their children with their schoolwork. However, energized students and supportive parents are the keys to the winning instructional formula we have here in District 91. We are grateful for your efforts. I am also especially proud of our teachers and staff who work tirelessly to build healthy student relationships and connections in a virtual world in order to create magical teaching moments every single day. On the one hand, remote learning has certainly brought our teachers and staff together, encouraging them to collaborate and share ideas. On the other hand, I know this remote learning experience has helped our parents and family members to appreciate the efforts of our educators. In this way, it has been a win-win! One of these days soon, we will all be back in our classrooms. Until that time, please stay safe and enjoy your time off. Sincerely,

Lou

Lou Cavallo Superintendent of Schools

fpsd91.org

Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

P.E. teacher is a Tik Tok sensation

here’s never been a more challenging year for teachers than 2020. District 91 teachers have been teaching remotely since March. Many have discovered innovative ways to keep their students engaged. Nitasha Ali, a physical education teacher at Garfield and Grant-White schools, is using Tik Tok videos to connect with her students. Nitasha’s teaching techniques are making her a bit of a national sensation. She has attracted 110,000 followers and was recently interviewed by a reporter from the New York Times. Nitasha teaches kindergarten through second grade at Garfield and third through fifth grades at Grant-White. She calls her class “P.E. With Ms. Ali.” Her goal is to get her students out from behind their computers to start exercising. She uses simple household items, like a rolled-up sock, a Solo cup, or a plastic bag to develop their motor skills. She records Tik Tok videos demonstrating the activities to her students, edits them and posts them online. So far, they have received over 100 million “likes.” Tik Tok is a platform that features shortform videos focusing on dance, comedy and education. It came to the U.S. in 2018 and has exploded in popularity. Over 2 bil-

lion Tik Tok videos have been downloaded worldwide. Nitasha began posting videos in September. They range in length from 7 seconds to one minute and have struck a chord with P.E. teachers across the U.S. She recently received a handwritten letter from a young woman in Kansas, who said the videos had inspired her to become a P.E. teacher. The Times reporter, Natasha Singer, found her by typing in “P.E. Teachers Tik Tok” and saw Nitasha at the top of the list. Singer called her at GrantWhite and interviewed her for 45 minutes. The profile, though, has not yet appeared in print. Nitasha, who is in her 13th year of teaching at D91 said, “Everyone feels like a first-year teacher this year.” Like her colleagues, she misses seeing her students face-to-face. Still, she is able to motivate them to get up and move around for 30 minutes. She has them doing jumping jacks and other vigorous exercises to get their heart-rates up. She has also established a strong rapport with them, as an adult who listens closely to their comments. “The students are so innocent,” Nitasha said, “They say the funniest things, without trying to be funny.” She recalled a student addressing her as “Mom” by mistake. She loves her job and looks forward to teaching

JOHN RICE

L O O K

B A C K

I N

F O R E S T PA R K

her daily classes. She also finds it strenuous. Nitasha doesn’t need to work out because the classes are keeping her in shape. Teaching P.E. remotely, though, has been an adjustment. She understands her students are exercising in confined spaces and cannot disturb other family members and uses soft objects in her lessons, so the students don’t break things in the home. She misses the excitement of being with students in the gym and leading them in group activities but is determined to make her classes work. Nitasha wanted to become a teacher since she was a third-grader at Field-Stevenson. After she graduated from middle school, she attended Immaculate Heart of Mary High School, then went on to get her elementary education degree and P.E. degree at Eastern Illinois University. She bought a home in Forest Park and when she sees her students on the street, she gives them “air hugs.” Besides making educational videos, Nitasha recruits family members to make videos just for entertainment. Her mom, Brenda Ali, is a D91 health aide who is not afraid to get her freak on. ■ John Rice is a columnist/private detective, who has seen his business and family thrive in Forest Park. He thoroughly enjoys life in the village and still gets a thrill smelling Red Hots, watching softball and strolling through cemeteries. Jrice1038@aol.com

T I M E . . .

REVIEW Editor Maria Maxham Senior Editor Bob Uphues Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Lifka Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes, John Rice Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designers Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA Board of Directors Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-366-0600 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 EMAIL forestpark@wjinc.com CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com ONLINE ForestParkReview.com TWITTER @FP_Review Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Forest Park Review,141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS No 0205-160) In-county subscriptions: $28 per year. $42 for two years, $58 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $36 per year. Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2020 Growing Community Media NFP. F O R E S T PA R K

REVIEW A. Peters Meat Market circa 1900. Show here are from left: Unknown, E. Schlicting, Clara Peters, A. Peters, unknown, unknown. Notice the horns hanging on the back wall and the scales and sausage makers on the counters. Sausage was made in full view of the customer. Butcher shops were pristinely clean and fresh sawdust was put on the floor daily.

–Jill Wagner

Share photos on Instagram using #fpreview or email alexa@oakpark.com. All photos become property of Forest Park Review for possible future use in print or digital capacities.

@ForestParkReview

Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

FitzGeralds rolls out Christmas Bus to a block near you By MICHELLE DYBAL Arts Editor

It may be dashing through the snow into your neighborhood, decked out with holiday décor, a real-live Santa and a band playing holiday tunes. The FitzGerald’s Community Christmas Bus is making the rounds from Berwyn to Riverside, all ends of Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park, too. It could even venture elsewhere if demand is there. While people “can’t have the same kind of family plans and holiday travel, we have something silly like this bus rolling down their street,” said Will Duncan, FitzGerald’s owner. The concept started in early April with Truck Concerts when all was shut down due to COVID-19, including the Berwyn nightclub. The music venue asked residents to sign up for a Truck Concert visit to their block when the vehicle was slated to be in their neighborhood. Based on the number of signups, the route was planned and those blocks with the most interest were paid a visit. In return, FitzGerald’s asked for a donation to support musicians and nightclub employees. While FitzGerald’s, 6615 Roosevelt Rd., was able to reopen its premises with outdoor entertainment for a while, Duncan feels that is no longer safe to do. The Truck

Concerts were so popular, that throughout the pandemic, they have continued every Saturday night. But, for December, a new twist was introduced. It was time to trade up from their mobile pick-up truck stage to a bus to protect from the winter chill. Enter Donnie Biggins, FitzGeralds head of music, who suggested they work with Opportunity Knocks, the River Forest non-profit which owns a bus that is not in use due to the pandemic. According to Duncan, FitzGerald’s has a “mutually beneficial partnership” with the nonprofit since he took ownership of the nightclub in March. Opportunity Knocks supports teens and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they pursue educational, occupational and social interests within the community. Now a portion of proceeds from donations for the Community Christmas Bus visits go to Opportunity Knocks. “The support has been heartwarming,” Duncan said. “The money raised is outstanding. And people want to see their local music venue survive.” The Bus is also bringing some much-needed holiday cheer. Duncan said that reactions have been refreshing; switching to a holiday theme felt like when they first started the Truck Concerts. “As far as energy, the response is

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

CHRISTMAS BUS: The FitzGerald’s Christmas Bus is making the rounds of Berwyn, Riverside, Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park, bringing holiday cheer and tunes to your neighborhood. spectacular. People were so cheered up,” he said. Demand has also been “staggering,” according to Duncan, with 350 houses requesting a visit in North Oak Park alone early in the month. They typically visit 10 to 12 blocks in one evening. While some dates are planned, such as a

D91 discussing phased in return to school, but timeline uncertain ‘The virus has the control here,’ says superintendent By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

At a Dec. 10 board meeting, Superintendent Lou Cavallo spoke about recent discussions within the district regarding bringing teachers and students back into the school building. But so far, he said, no date has been set for anyone’s return. According to Cavallo, a committee, consisting of the teachers’ union executive board, all the administrators and principals and board president Kyra Tyler met to discuss the district’s reopening plan. “We have a tentative plan, a draft plan,” Cavallo said. “It includes just basically some bullet points on what it looks like.” The three-tiered plan doesn’t include a

date for a return to in-person learning, said Cavallo, because that will “solely depend on the metrics and whether or not it’s safe to do so.” Cavallo said the district’s priority is to make sure everyone is safe, but he said data indicates schools aren’t the biggest culprits when it comes to COVID-19 outbreaks. “From the data that has been released recently, schools are not appearing to be the petri dishes that everyone was afraid they were,” Cavallo said. “Infection within schools is pretty rare. It’s not happening very much. It is not not happening at all; it has happened something to a very small degree, and almost always from adult to adult. Kids aren’t spreading it.” Still, with so many unknowns, such as where educators will fall on the eventual COVID-19 vaccination schedule and what COVID-19 infection rates will look like, a date hasn’t been determined, though the “how” is being planned. Cavallo said the district plans to slowly

bring kids back up to a full day of in-person learning, phasing kids in gradually. Before doing that, though, the district will survey parents again, with more targeted and specific questions than last time. And, said Cavallo, there will be an option for remote learning so parents can choose what works best for their family and comfort level. Teachers will also be surveyed again, said Cavallo. Currently, teachers are instructing from home and will continue to do so through next week when the holiday break begins. Remote teaching will continue after break, with current metrics determining whether teachers will be working from home or school. So for now, it’s uncertain when both teachers and students will return to the school buildings. “The virus has the control here, not us,” Cavallo said. “We have to see where we are, and make sure that it’s safe.”

Dec. 18 ride through River Forest and Forest Park with Mama Roux, the New Orleans style Jazz duo of Cole DeGenova and Quin Kirchner, others are still being booked. The bus will again be in North Oak Park on December 17 – an added show because demand was so high earlier this month – and South Oak Park on December 23. Demand was high in Riverside; a second date was added there, too. Duncan said they collected onlookers as the bus wound around the curving streets. He said there is potential to add shows the week of Christmas based on demand, including making a first ever appearance in Brookfield. LaGrange is a possibility too. All they need are enough emails. (booking@ fitzgeraldsnightclub.com) Besides booking the musicians, handling correspondence with neighbors, plotting the route, and even putting on the Santa suit and driving the bus is Biggins. “He puts so much thought and effort into this,” Duncan said, “and is committed to this project.” As Santa, Biggins poses for photos with the kids en route too. January will likely see more concerts, with a winterized bus making its rounds. Instead of a holiday theme, it may be artist driven, such as featuring “great original song writers.” “We’d like to keep doing something even if we’re going to have a tough winter,” Duncan said. “We want to bring joy to people. As long as we’re not losing money, we’ll keep doing it.” Once COVID restrictions are lifted, Duncan expects these traveling concerts, which include a version for private events, to continue because they are a new revenue source FitzGerald’s would not have had, they are still in demand and are so much fun. Sign up for a Community Christmas Con-

Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

IDPH looking for COVID-19 Prevention Ambassadors Volunteer program aims to increase spread of information By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

Illinois residents who are interested in peer-to-peer communication of COVID-19 prevention measures and outreach are invited to apply to become a COVID-19 Prevention Ambassador through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). According to an information sheet from the IDPH, ambassadors are Illinois residents “who play a vital role in supporting current state efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 by promoting and sharing information among their friends, family, peers and neighbors on prevention measures, testing resources and other relevant information.” The goal of the program is to empower every citizen to be part of outreach and prevention of COVID-19. The estimated monthly time commitment is about one to two hours, according to the state’s information guide on the topic.

Volunteers will participate in virtual orientation and training and in the program launch meeting. They will also be part of regular virtual meetings for ongoing training, including “peer to peer problem solving as well as the sharing of new guidance and resources.” They will be asked to provide input into outreach materials related to COVID-19 and to organize virtual outreach activities, such as Facebook events or live streams. According to the IDPH, there are multiple benefits to participation, including being empowered in the face of concerns and fears by being able to help with solutions and “contributing to a culture of health and prevention among your friends, family, peers and community.” To sign up, surveymonkey.com/r/VNFZQRC. Questions include your name, county of residence and work, social groups with which you interact (such as college students), phone number and email address. There’s also an optional field where you can talk about why you wish to participate in the program. More details can be found on the village of Forest Park’s website at tinyurl.com/y6psrwoa.

Final interviews scheduled with D91 superintendent candidates Board president stresses search is confidential By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

A special meeting has been set for the end of January to vote on a new superintendent hire for District 91, according to Board President Kyra Tyler at the Dec. 10 school board meeting. That doesn’t mean they have a final candidate selected however. Tyler said the search committee, comprised of herself, Mary Win Connor and Monique Cotton, went through a first round of virtual interviews with the search firm, School Exec Connect. A second in-person round was held last week with the rest of the board. “There’s been a lot of interest in this position, which we should all be very proud of,” Tyler said. “I think it speaks highly to what a desirable community and position this is.” Search committee member Cotton said she was amazed by the quality of the candi-

dates. Connor agreed. “After the last candidate interview, we spent two hours narrowing down the field. That’s how good all of them were,” Connor said. The next interviews will be held on Saturday, Jan. 9. Each board member was asked during the meeting to submit two questions for the finalists by the end of December; Tyler and Connor will go through them to combine multiples and clean up the way the questions are written. The Jan. 9 interviews will be in person. Tyler said, “I think we realized that as long as we felt like we could ensure the safety of each other and our candidate, that it was worth it [to meet in person].” Tyler mentioned that there have been questions from the community about the candidates, “which is fine,” she said. But details won’t be shared for now. “This is a confidential search,” Tyler said. She added that, “In some states, it’s an open process. In some states, they are required to have public searches. We are not, and we are moving forward in this direction.”

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Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

Local news connects As this hard year moves to its close, we all have a lot on our minds. Gratitude is what we are thinking about here at Growing Community Media. As we wrap up our year of transition into an independent non-profit newsroom across our seven neighborhoods, we are thankful for the opportunity we’ve had this year to provide the connective tissue, the glue that reports on our communities, reflects back the powerful challenges of this pandemic and the powerful local response to this pandemic. That response has come from local governments and schools. It has come from the thousands who rose in a pandemic to demand racial justice. We’ve seen non-profits remaking themselves on the run and we’ve written about kids auctioning off their artwork to raise money for those non-profits. We’ve reported on our entrepreneurs finding a way to hang on until we finally see the light. And we’ve told stories of readers organizing to support those small businesses. Our reporters have been there. And, in this remarkable and often brutal year, we’re grateful to so many of you who have donated, become members of this new venture in local news, who have literally paid for those reporters to be on the street observing and reporting. Between now and New Year’s Eve, we’re asking those of you who value our work but who haven’t signed on yet to join in. We have matching funds ready to double your donation. The current match we are working is from 46 of our very first donors. They’ve raised $18,000. Now we’re working steadily to match it with another $18,000. Help us. Help us build into 2021. With gratitude, Dan Haley Editor and Publisher Growing Community Media P.S. Please help us spread the word by sharing with friends and colleagues who you think would be interested in supporting our work.

To donate, visit www.growingcommunitymedia.com/donate

Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

Hit and run at Madison and Desplaines

A hit and run occurred at Madison Street and Desplaines Avenue on Dec. 12 around 2:30 a.m. Police were dispatched when a man was seen lying in the middle of the street. When they arrived at the scene, the man was standing at the corner, using a light pole for balance. He had blood coming from his nose and face and a large bump on his forehead. He was wearing only one shoe; his other shoe was recovered across the street, approximately 50 feet away, according to the police report. The reporting officer said he was disoriented and had a hard time speaking. “An accumulation of blood” was observed in the street, according to the police report. In the street the reporting officer also saw pieces of what appeared to be a headlight or reflective plastic. The victim was unable to give a description of the vehicle that hit him. He was taken to the hospital.

p.m. The owner of the residence had been punched in the face. He refused medical treatment. The owner said that he’d rented out the basement of his residence to six or seven people but became upset when they were playing loud music and being unruly. According to the owner, he asked them to turn down the music. They allegedly did not do so, and when he returned, he told them he was kicking them out. At that point, according to the owner, the tenants became upset. One, a woman, demanded a refund. The owner allegedly extended his arm, with a $100 bill in his hand, and accidentally grazed the woman’s shoulder. Immediately after, an unknown male punched the owner in the face, leaving a red marking on his eyebrow and causing his glasses to break.

Aggravated battery at party

Police responded to a report of shots fired on the 7600 block of Monroe Street on Dec. 11 at 7:57 p.m. They were told by a witness that he heard a single gunshot and a woman yelling, “Shoot me.” The witness said he saw a

Police responded to a disturbance of six or seven people yelling and screaming on the 100 block of Brown Avenue on Dec. 7 at 10

‘Shots fired’ reported, but no casing found

newer model Kia Optima without lights on fleeing the scene. A canvass of residences in the area revealed that several residents heard a “pop” but no yelling, according to the police report. Officers checked for a shell casing but did not find one.

BB gun, not bullet, puts hole in window A man on the 1400 block of Elgin Ave. was watching TV on Dec. 13 at 11:30 p.m. when he heard a noise and allegedly saw a hole, which he suspected to be either a BB or bullet hole, in the double-pane window of his sun room. He looked outside and observed a subject near the garage on the 1500 block of Marengo Avenue. That person “scampered off down the alley,” according to his description in the police report. Because it was very dark out, the victim had no description to offer the police. The reporting officer investigated the hole and determined it was made by a BB, not a bullet. These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Dec. 7-Dec. 13, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime.

Loyola to get COVID-19 vaccine Hospital selected as Regional Hospital Coordinating Center By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 S. 1st Ave. in Maywood, is among 10 Illinois hospitals selected to serve as regional distribution sites that will distribute the first doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine, state health officials announced on Dec. 4. Last Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said that the state should get 109,000 doses that will initially be distributed in the “50 counties with the highest per capita death rates,” Capitol News Illinois reported, adding that “it will be several months until there is an adequate number of vaccine doses available for the general population.” The first people to get the vaccines will be essential workers, particularly frontline healthcare workers, and people who live and work in long-term care facilities. Loyola officials stated in a statement released Friday that “immunization will require two doses, spaced three-to-four weeks apart depending on the specific vaccine,” and that the Illinois Department of Public Health has approved the vaccine for those

who are at least 18 years old. “Loyola Medicine distribution sites will eventually include Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, MacNeal Hospital and other locations,” Loyola officials stated. MARIA MAXHAM “Loyola’s capabilities will expand as COVID VACCINE COMING: Loyola University Medical Center in Maythe vaccine be- wood is one of ten Illinois hospitals selected to serve as regional comes more widely distribution sites for the first doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine. available to the public.” Shawn P. Vincent, Loyola Medicine’s ents, Capitol News Illinois reported, “a secpresident and CEO, said that Loyola “has ond phase of vaccination will include ‘other the laboratory and storage capacity and ca- essential workers and persons at higher pabilities, as well as the breadth of experi- risks of severe COVID-19 illness, including persons 65 years of age and older,’ according ence, to oversee this vital function. “We look forward to working closely with to the state’s vaccine plan. “Then it will be ‘critical populations’ as IDPH and the Governor’s office to ensure the safe, timely and appropriate distribu- defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Contion and administration of vaccines in our trol and Prevention and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP. region,” he said. Pritzker said Friday that there are 655,000 Then the general population can receive the frontline healthcare workers in Illinois and vaccine.” Loyola is just one of two hospitals in Cook approximately 110,000 adults in the state who live in congregate care settings, accord- County selected to be what the state is calling Regional Hospital Coordinating Cening to Capitol News Illinois’ reporting. After the initial group of vaccine recipi- ters.

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Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

Fine chocolates seek COVID cure As corporate gifts shrivel, local chocolatiers need local customers By MELISSA ELSMO Food Editor

Candy season is in full swing according to Tim Shanahan, owner of La Masion de Bonbon and Shanahan’s, both located at 7353 Madison St. in Forest Park. The chef/ chocolatier is stocking up on chocolate, European butter and sugar, but not to fill large corporate orders commonly associated with the holiday season. “If we keep our current pace, we are looking at corporate sales being 65% lower than they were last year,” said Shanahan. “But our community sales have been unbelievable. We are up 40% in local business and this is what is making this year survivable.” Shanahan, who took over the 100-yearold candy making business in 1990, cannot specifically account for the decline in corporate sales. He suspects small businesses are hurting financially and need to curb expenses but worries more that owners may not know where or how to deliver candy

during a pandemic. Historically, gift items now I wonder if more businesses are giving would be distributed in offices and with cash bonuses.” While the chocolate shop owner is short large numbers of people working from home Shanahan fears a factor in the decline could on answers about certain sales declines, she be as simple as not knowing where to send shares Shanahan’s appreciation for local customers. the candy. “Retail sales have Restaurant busibeen better. Sales are ness at Shanahan’s is smaller, but all the endown 80% in the last couragement to shop 60 days and 60% on local is working,” average year to date. said Fantetti-Slepicka. And while La Maison de Bonbon has lost 10“A post on Oak Park 15 smaller corporate Working Moms made accounts, Shanahan a huge one-day differremains optimistic. ence for us.” “Math is working While she feels in my favor to surthreatened by big box vive,” said Shanahan. stores offering cheap“Thanks to local super versions of her own port, La Maison de confections and canBonbon is supporting not compete with onShanahan’s right now line only or non-brick and we are fortunate and mortar shops, she we cross-trained our wants to see everystaff.” one succeed. There Since opening in is pressure to innoMARIA MAXHAM 2010, Donna Fantettivate to stay ahead, Slepicka. owner of HOLIDAY TREATS: Despite corporate but Fantetti-Slepicka River Forest Choco- sales being down, community sales works hard to keep lates, and her dedi- have been sweet for La Maison de what she has built. cated team have been Bonbon, 7353 Madison St. “This shop is evputting a sweet spin erything to me.” said on the holiday season, Fantetti-Slepicka. but they too have seen a notable dip in cor- “Shopping online is really easy, but River porate year end gift giving this year. Forest Chocolates offers a really unique “We have seen a major decline in corpo- shopping experience, and we won’t be here rate gifts this year. I’d say it is right around if people don’t come in.” 50% lower,” said Fantetti-Slepicka. “I River Forest resident and newcomer on thought corporate orders would be stronger the local business scene, Lisa Munro, was because there won’t be parties this year, but moved by the challenges local business were

facing and started Elle Belle Box in hopes of supporting the small businesses she loves. “When the world shut down, I knew many of our local shops were not set up for e-commerce and sales were probably not as robust as owners would have hoped,” said Munro. “I wanted to figure out a way to help.” Munro is trying to drum up business for local products by combining them with other themed gift items into high-end gift boxes suitable for corporate gifting or individual purchase on a local and national scale. “My initial though was to have 100% of the items sourced from River Forest, Oak Park and Chicago, but I ran into legal issues that prevented me from reselling items,” said Munro. “Now Elle Belle Box is a licensed as a wholesaler. While I still sell many local items, I supplement with other products and include gift cards from local shops and boutiques.” Early hiccups foiled some of Munro’s plans to keep her boxes fully local, but Elle Belle’s thoughtfully curated boxes consistently feature hyper-local items from River Forest Chocolates, Kribi Coffee, Olive and Well, Rare Bird Preserves and Todd and Holland Tea Merchants. Each box in the Elle Belle collection contains at least one local product. In the last two weeks Munro has been “swamped” with corporate and custom orders. “In the beginning I was worried people would view me a competition, but that hasn’t happened,” said Munro. “We all believe in community over competition.” “I encouraged the start of Elle Belle Box,” said Fantetti-Slepicka. “I think it is a good idea and in time we’ll know how much it helps struggling businesses in the community.”

Another longtime business succumbs to COVID Mom’s Place closes after 14 years By JOHN RICE Contributing Reporter

After a 14-year run, Mom’s Place, 819 Harlem Ave., closed their doors on Dec. 13. The owner, Juan Ruiz, had fought valiantly to keep the eatery open during the pandemic, but he was losing money as well as his time. His wife, Valentina, and his daughter, Rosie, who both worked at the restaurant, thought it was time to shut down. Mom’s Place had been a thriving family restaurant before COVID-19 struck in March and forced them to close for four months. They re-opened in June selling food-to-go. Finally, the village allowed them to have limited seating for patrons. The restaurant had a capacity of 89, but they never allowed more than 35 customers at a time. During this time, Ruiz applied for government loans on multiple occasions. He need-

a bakery in Summit. She literally became the breadwinner for the family. Ruiz had been a good provider when the restaurant was busy. He started working there as a cook in 2006, when it was called Tom’s Place. He purchased the business from the Skoufis family and started putting in 12-hour days serving steaks and seafood to the dinner crowd. This was not profitable, so he switched the focus to breakfast and lunch. MARIA MAXHAM The restaurant’s homeFAREWELL: Mom’s Place, which served food for 14 years on made Mexican dishes attracted a loyal following. Harlem Avenue, has closed permanently. Customers became part of their extended family. ed a $45,000 loan to stay afloat but only qualiRuiz said he will miss the good customers fied for a $5,000 loan. He and his wife used he saw on a daily basis. He hopes another stimulus checks to pay bills, but Valentina restaurant will take its place and has three ended up leaving the restaurant to work for

potential buyers who are interested in the business. If none of these deals go through, he plans to sell the restaurant’s equipment on a piecemeal basis. Ruiz is 63, too young to retire. He still feels strong enough to work. This is a man who didn’t take a day off in 14 years, with the exception of Christmas Day. The restaurant was a home away from home, where he spent half of each day. He plans to land another job, but nothing is definite until he sells the restaurant. In the meantime, Ruiz is surrounded by his family. They have a large three-flat in Berwyn, occupied by his kids and grandkids. “At home they love me a lot,” Ruiz said. “I don’t know why.” They also assure him that closing the restaurant will relieve him of stress and worries. “We don’t have a lot of money but we’re happy and we have our health.” Mom’s Place is displaying two simple signs on the front door for their Forest Park customers: “Goodbye” and “Thank You.”

Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

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AMAZING RACE: Oak Park resident and Sarah’s Inn board member Siva Balu ran 100 miles in 30 hours to raise money for Sarah’s Inn.

100 miles in 30 hours Board member goes the distance to raise money for Sarah’s Inn By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

Over the weekend, Oak Park resident Siva Balu ran 100 miles to raise money for Sarah’s Inn, a domestic violence agency located in Forest Park. An astounding feat in and of itself, it’s even more impressive since he did in under 48 hours, which was his goal, and all on a treadmill. On the morning of Dec. 11, Balu got on a treadmill in the front window of the West Cook YMCA on Marion Street in Oak Park and began to run. “I wanted to finish a challenging year with a long run,” Balu said in a press release. “Running 100 miles on a treadmill is both mentally and physically a good challenge to take on. I have not run more than 10 miles on a treadmill, so this will be very interesting.” Balu, a board member of Sarah’s Inn, said he wanted to make running such a long distance “meaningful.” So he decided to do it in

support of Sarah’s Inn and bring awareness to domestic violence. Completing the 100 miles took about 30 hours. He’s raised over $6,000 so far; contributions can be made through the Sarah’s Inn website at sarahsinn.org/donate-now. Balu said the run was more difficult than he thought it would be, but remembering his mission helped him persevere. “I underestimated how hard it can be mentally to run 100 miles on a treadmill,” Balu said after he’d finished. “Every time I hit a low point, physically or emotionally, the thought of supporting Sarah’s Inn and victims of domestic violence gave me a boost of energy and kept me going. A huge thanks to Sarah’s Inn, West Cook YMCA and all the supporters who donated, helped, stopped by to wave and sent encouraging messages virtually.” The mission of Sarah’s Inn is “to improve the lives of those affected by domestic violence and to break the cycle of violence for future generations.” Their services include crisis intervention, community education and violence prevention programs for youth. According to the Sarah’s Inn website, last year the organization provided services to over 25,000 women, men, children and families. Sarah’s Inn is in its 40th year of service.

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Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

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D91 ADS

New protocol in place from page 1 placed, whether there were any kickbacks involved, and why the annual $18,000 amount was broken down into three smaller payments of $6,000. Ultimately, Brophy denied any knowledge about the placement of the ad in 2020, though he admitted being informed of and approving it in 2019. The fact that it happened without his knowledge in 2020, he said, prompted him and Superintendent Lou Cavallo to make changes to the process through which expenses get approved, invoiced and paid so something like this doesn’t happen again. Both Dunnell and Brophy denied receiving anything in exchange for the ad purchases, such as tickets to a game, though Dunnell said he did previously know the person with whom he placed the ad. He said he’d gotten a really great deal, since the ad typically would have cost $60,000. Dunnell began with an explanation for the ad in 2019, stating that he was hired by the district for his “brand building expertise.” He said he was trying to create long-term public relations strategies. In addition to developing a local campaign, he said his goal was also to create awareness of and interest in the community of Forest Park, since District 91 had declining enrollment and bringing families in to the community could help reverse a shrinking population of school-aged children. Campaigns through billboards or direct mail ads, he said, were prohibitively expensive, anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000, so he looked at alternatives. At the time, the district was planning a “Bear Down on Math” campaign, involving educational opportunities for the students, including a visit from the Chicago Bears mascot. The ad would be part of a potential partnership “between the Bears and D91 to improve D91 math skills and promote the schools outside of Forest Park,” Dunnell said. “I believed the target audience [of the Bears ad] might consider purchasing a home in Forest Park,” Dunnell said. “My intent was to go after a publication that would have a lot of pass around, and families that have money that are probably season ticket holders also think in terms of their families.” But board members criticized his reasoning and the decision. “The idea that season ticket holders would see the ad and consider moving to Forest Park is almost an impossible belief or conjecture,” said board member Eric Connor. “I don’t understand how an ad could be placed in that magazine with such a limited circulation, with an audience that probably would never have an interest in moving to this area.” Later, Connor said the mistake would be a difficult thing to overcome for those responsible. “I’ve heard this said many times,” Connor said. “One ‘oh damn’ wipes out a hundred ‘attaboys,’ and I think that’s what’s happening here. You were hired for a job, you were on track promoting out locally. … It’s a hard thing to overcome.” “The budget wasn’t used in good conscience,” said board member Katherine Valleau. As the owner of local business Exit Strategy, she said she manages advertising with no public relations budget at all. “There are so many free options in the world now, that will provide connection and engagement and visibility and that cast wide nets,” said Valleau. Social media, she said, is by and large free. And ads placed on Facebook are relatively inexpensive and allow targeting your audience in different ways, such as by ZIP code, which would allow the district to reach out specifically to “our demographic and the demographic we’d like to see move into Forest Park instead of someone who lives in Northbrook, who has no inclination of moving to Forest Park.” Tyler, the school board president, expressed her anger

and frustration regarding the situation. “I feel like you don’t get us,” she said to Dunnell, asking him how he plans to get a better understanding of Forest Park and the district, and tasking him with reflecting on the decision and figuring out how to move forward. “This is not done,” Tyler said. “We will figure out what next steps are.” When pressed about whether, in retrospect, he feels the ad was a good choice, Dunnell said, “I don’t think it was the best idea.” Taking his turn in the hot seat, Brophy’s answers to board questions were broken by long pauses. He explained in detail how the new expense approval system will prevent something like this from happening again. From now on, a form must be submitted before any purchase. Approval must be given by two people before an invoice is even generated. He made it clear, though, that although he was consulted about the ad during the first year it was placed, he knew nothing about it the second year. “I’m supposed to be kept in the loop for all purchases,” Brophy said. “I definitely was not for the second ad.” He later added, “It should not have happened.” When asked why the $18,000 invoice was broken down into $6,000 chunks and whether that was intentional so attention wouldn’t be raised by the amount, Brophy said it wasn’t done for any nefarious purpose. “The vendor suggested that if it helped not to have to commit all the dollars up front, they could produce invoices to alleviate the burden of having to pay for it all up front, in my understanding,” he replied. Cavallo spoke toward the end of the meeting, saying the buck stopped with him. “I am the superintendent of this district right now, and anything and everything that happens, good or bad, is under my watch,” said Cavallo, who will retire at the end of the 2020-21 school year. “So when something bad happens, when something doesn’t go the way it’s supposed to, that fall squarely on my shoulders, no matter what.”

The new expense approval policy, he said, “goes a long way to fix that” and takes away the loophole that allowed some expenses to be paid without proper approval. With the new system, Cavallo said, “All purchases will now require multiple approvals. And there’s no minimum dollar amount at this point.” But even prior to the new rule, all invoices were approved monthly by the school board, which signs off on them. The Review received a copy of invoices approved in November 2019. Tyler previously told the Review the invoices in question were part of the list of bills approved as part of the consent agenda, and they never stood out to board members. “Without any information or narrative about the purchase (the line item in the bills never mentions the Chicago Bears), it wasn’t seen as anything suspicious or unusual,” Tyler said in an email, adding that $6,000 expenditures in an almost $20 million budget “is just a small fraction.” Contrary to what Tyler said, the line item in the list of bills does, in fact, mention the Chicago Bears. The vendor for the Bears ad invoice is listed on the board-approved voucher for the month as “Professional Sports Publication” and the description is listed as “Balance due on Chicago Bears Yearbook.” Additionally, although the list of invoices for November 2019 is 91 pages long, only 37 items were for amounts greater than $5,000, including one of the ad payments. A perfunctory scan along the right-hand column of the pages makes it clear which invoices might warrant a second look. The vouchers that included the $6,000 invoices were signed by the board president and secretary six times over two years. Tyler said she thinks that she, as board president, and Cavallo, as superintendent, “are fine taking on some of this responsibility as something that was missed.” But, she said, “It’s not necessarily because [Cavallo is] not engaged in what’s happening, but because of the way that our process was set up, and also because it wasn’t talked about in our meetings.”

Invoice voucher provided by D91

IT’S RIGHT THERE: On this page from a voucher of invoices approved by the D91 school board in Nov. 2019, the vendor and description of a payment for the controversial Chicago Bears ad were included.

Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

OPINION O U R

V I E W

Bears blame for everyone

here’s blame enough to go around on District 91’s $36,000 Chicago Bears advertising debacle. As we reported last week, our diminutive Forest Park public elementary school district inexplicably paid the Bears $18,000 each of the past two years for a two-page ad spread in a slick magazine aimed at season ticket holders. This week we report on the school board meeting that followed. Not surprisingly it was a bloodletting. Till now the blood being let belonged to the district’s associate superintendent and the communications director. The superintendent told the Review a week ago that he knew nothing about where more than half of the district’s modest PR budget had been spent. At the board meeting, Supt. Lou Cavallo properly fell on his sword, taking all responsibility for anything that occurs in the district. It was all very Harry Truman-like. New this week was the outrage from the elected school board. And outraged they should be. Their school district looks ridiculous. In an early interview, the school board president said board members couldn’t have known how the money was spent because the annual $18,000 bill was broken down into three invoices of $6,000 and the line item on the bill register provided monthly to school board members for their review did not mention anything about the Chicago Bears. Except that it did. When the Review FOIA’d the bill register, the line item specified Chicago Bears. That would be six invoices for $6,000 over six months that ought to have caught someone’s attention. That’s why school boards everywhere get the bill register every month. That’s where the taxpayers’ money is going, that’s why taxpayers elect school boards. Our point is that this is a 360-degree screw-up. Good that new protocols are now in place to guard against such dumb expenditures. An expensive way to learn an obvious lesson.

Mom’s Place closes As hard as it has been to watch Forest Park lose two of its tonier restaurants in Francesca’s and The Heritage to the ravages of COVID, it somehow stings more to report on the closing Sunday of Mom’s Place, the homey and homely spot tucked next to the U-Haul on Harlem, south of the Ike. Mom’s Place had a warmth and a welcome that is the essence of community. And when Juan Ruiz, the longtime owner, says he has really missed the everyday regulars during these COVID shutdowns, it rings true. And we are sure the regulars felt just the same way. Ruiz worked 12-hour days at his place, taking off, he said, only Christmas. It helped that his wife and daughter worked alongside him in this family circle. These are the spots that make Forest Park home, that build community over a bottomless cup of coffee. There is a lot we took for granted before COVID. This always-humming breakfast and lunch place was one of them. Our thanks and our good wishes to the Ruiz family.

Titles and the respect they have earned

r. Joseph Epstein wrote an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal that provides today’s talking point. He argues that Dr. Jill Biden, should drop the “Dr.” title from her name while she serves as First Lady to her husband, President-elect Joe Biden. The opinion piece can be summed up by breaking down the sentences: 12 sentences focus on Mr. Epstein and his own credentials, six sentences target the “kiddo,” Dr. Jill Biden, and 13 sentences were carefully choreographed statements of fact. All men are equally identified with the honorarium of “Mr.” Women can be “Miss,” “Mrs.,” or “Ms.,” and in this case, “First Lady,” based on the woman’s marital status and role. Like the difference between a heifer and a cow, the name indicates her value is based on her role. A title such as “Dr.” is reserved for a certain level of education achieved, but it carries no gender marker. Sure, in Forest Park there are people in the “Lou” camp and those in the “Dr. Cavallo” camp. The same is true for Dr. Brunson (not Tiffany), recently retired Mr. Milnamow (not Bill), Ms. Bogdan (not Sue) and Coach Kevin (not Kevin Bartlett). Even during the District 91 “Bears Gate” board meeting, Dr. Cavallo even corrected himself and said, “Ed (pause), Mr. Brophy,” because at that moment he was defining their relationship and roles. They were not “Lou” and “Ed,” pals in the office; they were public servants, with roles. Titles and names mean something, as Mr. Epstein pointed out, “A wise man once said that no one should call himself ‘Dr.’ unless he has delivered a child.” I am going out on a limb and assuming the wise man was implying that “no one should call himself/herself ‘Dr.’ unless he/she delivered a child.” And extending the limb a bit more, since I have actually delivered two

babies, I could be “Dr. Dr. Jill Wagner,” but I will settle for “Henry’s mom,” or “Logan’s mom,” occasionally. Facebook has been a marketplace for identity, and I am adjusting. Like Mr. Epstein, it can take a second of reflection and understanding, a moment to broaden the mind, but sometimes it is better to be quiet than write out your outrage. Sure, change your profile picture and name to Maxwell Bodenheim, Emma Goldman, Stanley Yelnats or make up a person and profile to express your opinions during election season, if that means you are more “you,” or less “you.” Whatever makes you “safe you,” by all means do “you.” The “First Lady” has a role, after all; someone has to decorate the White House for Christmas and stand by her man. If, in addition, having a doctorate in education is an honorable title included in the identity of that person’s role, I am all for it. When Dr. Atlas was put in charge of the coronavirus taskforce, even though he was a radiologist, inexperienced in epidemiology, Mr. Epstein wasn’t driven to write an op-ed then. Perhaps his silence reflected his peace of mind in having a man, a “legitimate” doctor, in charge, which was more important than epidemiological expertise. Poor Mr. Epstein is uncomfortable with a First Lady considering identifying herself with her “honorary doctorate.” I am so grateful he took the time to explain his point of view. When serving a community, the title is shorthand for the relationship and magnitude of responsibility to the people within the community. There are townies who publicly refer to the superintendent as, “Lou,” and I respect them and their choice. I will stick to the honorarium, Dr. Cavallo, (and the same goes for Mayor Hoskins and Chief Aftanas and Dr. Brunson), and I hope First Lady Dr. Jill Biden does too.

JILL WAGNER

L E T T E R S

May this haunt your dreams To the special person who decided to steal part of our Christmas display: First, we will replace it. Second you did not steal from us; you stole from the people of Forest Park. Our children are grown and we decorate for the people who come by to see our home. My wife and I cannot understand why you would sink so low as to steal from the children who come to see our

home. My wife and I hope that whatever drove you to do this will someday haunt your dreams. For the rest of our fellow Forest Park friends: Thank you for coming by and telling us how much you appreciate what we do.

Jim & Catie Urban Forest Park

Another Letter to the Editor on page 16 Mail your letter to the editor to: Forest Park Review, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Ill., 60302, or email ktrainor@wjinc.com

Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

Dec. 16 - 23

BIG WEEK

Virtual Family Cooking Class Join Sugarbeet Schoolhouse and the Forest Park Public Library for a virtual cooking class on Dec. 20 from 2 to 3 p.m. Families can learn how to make a cozy quiche, paired with a reading of How to Feed Your Parents. You must register to be a part of the Zoom experience, but feel free to catch the class on Facebook if you miss the registration deadline. Want to make sure you have your ingredients list lined up so you can cook along with us? Email us at ys@fppl.org. Visit fppl.org/events for more information and to sign up.

Dog Man & Friends Comic Book Club Fans of this series are invited to join the Forest Park Public Library on Dec. 21 from 4 to 5 p.m. for a very festive episode of Dog Man & Friends Comic Book Club. Enjoy John Patrick Green’s Hippopotamister and a discussion about what Dog Man, Petey, and Lil’ Petey would have on *their* holiday wishlists. A drawing tutorial will be inspired by Dog Man and Cat Kid. Visit fppl.org/events to register.

Drop off a Letter to Santa Mailboxes taking letters straight to Santa have been installed on Madison Street, just waiting for your friendly greetings! Be sure to include a name and return address if you’d like a reply. You can find the mailboxes, sponsored by the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce, near Circle Avenue and Madison Street (by Kribi Coffee), and on the 7500 block of Madison Street, between Jayne and Sarah O Gallery.

to:

Santaole

North P Storytime Hotline

If you missed a virtual story time at the library, you and your child can enjoy one through the Storytime Hotline. Call 708-689-6129 to hear a message and a rhyme or song from one of the regular storytime presenters. The line will be updated every Monday.

Couch Caroling Virtual Sing-along Join Ellen Bartolozzi, founder and owner of Bella Angel Music, as she leads a free holiday virtual sing-along on Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. The events will be held on Facebook Live. More information available at facebook.com/ BellaAngelMusic.

Need to Use a Computer? During the Essential Service phase, the Forest Park Public Library is limiting computer use to one computer session per floor at a time. We are asking patrons to sign up for half hour computer sessions ahead of time. To do so, visit fppl.evanced.info/spaces/ or call 708-366-7171.

Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

L E T T E R S

All adults get a slice of the ‘blame pie’ Dear District 209 community, Several members of [the District 209] board have made it clear in their rhetoric, theatrics, and actions, that D209 teachers are servants and not in the public, respected or religious sense. Certain members of this board have continued to address teachers in a way that is not befitting the educated professionals that we are. So when these same members proclaim, “adults fail children,” my ears perked up. I agree that adults fail children but let’s make sure that if this board is going to serve up a healthy dose of “blame pie,” every adult involved in the educational process gets a slice! They are right, when teachers neglect their duties and do not assist our students through this pandemic socially, emotionally, and academically, adults fail children. However, they also need to be reminded that: ■ When the federal and state governments remind us that we are in a pandemic yet expect educational institutions to operate like “business as usual,” that is when adults fail children. ■ When boards of education cannot explain to the taxpaying public why we are paying out $20,000-plus checks to entities and then get angered at the questioning of it, that is when adults fail children. ■ When parents fail to take an active part in the educational progress, or lack thereof, of their children by not checking the resources offered to them to make it easy to have an active role (PowerSchool, parent teacher conferences, remote or in person), that is when adults fail children. ■ When the district and the board continue to ignore the fact that we have a truancy

issue and not hold students and parents accountable for their absences from the very classes you accuse teachers of handing out failures in, that is when adults fail children. ■ When the leaders of the district meet up and come up with a “grade policy” yet they do none of the actual grading, that is when adults fail children. ■ When the leaders of the district can come up with a grade policy yet have failed to come up with a much needed and much requested attendance policy, that is when adults fail children. ■ When school districts think giving students “at least 50%” for doing no work is acceptable and sends the right message about accountability to students, that is when adults fail children. ■ When stakeholders only hold one entity, the teachers who are actually in the trenches, accountable for lack of student progress and no other adults even get an honorable mention, that is how we continue to fail students. ■ When students are succeeding, every shout-out and photo op and all the praise is reserved for everyone but the teachers, counselors, and staff. But when students are failing, not attending classes, or people need a political platform, all the blame is reserved for the teachers. At some point, we have to stop pointing fingers and we have to look past the nonsense and do what makes sense for the future of our district and our students. I encourage the community to get more involved with the schools and don’t be afraid to ask questions. When we keep our mouths closed, we all fail children.

Our Community Needs Community Journalism It’s not just about crime reports and board meetings. We also need inspiring, funny, heartwarming and, at times, heartbreaking stories about our friends, neighbors and children. Perhaps now, more than ever.

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Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020 New local ads this week

YOUR WEEKLY AD

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES: OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion. Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion. The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

Place your ad online anytime at: www.ForestParkReview.com/Classiﬁed/

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@FORESTPARKREVIEW.COM HELP WANTED POLICE RECORDS SUPERVISOR The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualiﬁed candidates for the position of Police Records Supervisor in the Police Department. This position will manage, supervise, plan and coordinate the activities and operations of the Police Records Division Support Services Bureau, within the Police Department including records maintenance and management services; and coordinate assigned activities with other divisions, outside agencies and the general public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http:// www.oak-park.us/jobs. First review of applications will be December 21, 2020.

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SUBURBAN RENTALS

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WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, ﬂags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

PETS PLEASE HELP! Black cat lost near Marion & LeMoyne on 11/25/20. Will be hiding, please check engines, garages, under decks, etc. Do not attempt to capture, call/text 708-415-7012

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PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY Request of Simone Michele Bartlett Paul Case Number 20206007305 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Simone Michele Bartlett Paul to the new name of: Simone Michele Bartlett. The court date will be held: On January 11, 2021 at 9:00 AM at 16501 S. Kedzie Parkway, Markham, Cook Count, Illinois] in Courtroom # 207 Published in Wednesday Journal 12/9, 12/16, 12/23/2020

Attention! Homeimprovement pros! Reach the people making the decisions. Place an ad in Wednesday Classifieds! Call 708/613-3342

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HEARING DATE: January 6, 2021 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits CALENDAR NUMBER: 16-20-Z APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“Board”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Wellie Partners, LLC, seeking variances from the following sections of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance relative to an increase in density, a reduction of the required side setback and a reduction of a required rear yard setback, to permit a three-story addition with parking on the ground floor and two levels of residential above consisting of two residential units at the premises commonly known as 420 N. Marion Street, Oak Park, IL, Property Index Number 16-07102-031-0000 in the Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District: 1. Section 5.3 (Table 5-1: Commercial District Dimensional Standards) allows one dwelling unit for each 1500 square feet of land. The subject property is 8,125 square feet and thus 8,125/1500 yields 5 dwellings units. In this case, the proposed number of dwelling units is six (6) rather than five (5) units. The property currently has a total of four (4) dwelling units; 2. Section 5.3 (Table 5-1: Commercial District Dimensional Standards) requires a five (5’) foot interior setback for multiple-family buildings. In this case, the interior lot line at issue is the north lot line. The proposed setback is 0 feet, a reduction of 5 feet from the above requirement. 3. Section 5.3 (Table 5-1: Commercial District Dimensional Standards) requires a 15-foot setback from the rear lot line when then is no alley. In this case, the rear lot line is the east lot line. The proposed setback is 5 feet, a reduction of 10 feet from the above requirement. A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., by contacting the Zoning Administrator at Zoning@oak-park.us.

The Board will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oakpark.us/commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT U-Verse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may provide written evidence, testimony and public comment on the application by email to Zoning@oak-park.us or by drop off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the main entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 6, 2021. An individual’s name and their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses, present evidence, testimony or public comment by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to sign up. Individuals who sign up to participate in this manner will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the meeting online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal December 16, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive electronicallysubmitted bids for overhead door maintenance and repair services until 9:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, December 30th, 2020 for the following: Village of Oak Park Overhead Door Maintenance and Repair Services Proposal Number: 21-100 Bid forms may be obtained by

calling 708-358-5700 or by e-mailing vics@oak-park.us between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. M-F. Proposals must be e-mailed to vics@oak-park.us . The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening. THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK

Published in Wednesday Journal December 16, 2020

Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

CLASSIFIED

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@FORESTPARKREVIEW.COM

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know

In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year ForestParkReview.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com PUBLIC NOTICES Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Oak Park, Illinois ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID Oak Park Elementary School District #97 will receive sealed bids for the: Asbestos Abatement Projects at Lincoln Elementary School, Longfellow Elementary School, Beye Elementary School and Whittier Elementary School The Bid Opening will be on Wednesday January 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Oak Park Elementary School District #97 Office located at 260 Madison Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302. At this time sealed bids will be publicly opened and read. A Bid Security of 10% of the Bid is required with the proposal. The Contractor must pay the Prevailing Wage Rates for all work per Illinois Law. A Pre-Bid Meeting is scheduled on Wednesday December 30, 2020. Pre-bid Meeting will be starting at Lincoln Elementary School at 9:00 am followed by Longfellow Elementary School, Beye Elementary School then Whittier Elementary School. Please allow at least 2-3 hours for the walk through. MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE WORN DURING ALL TIMES WITHIN THE BUILDINGS. Copies of specifications may be secured prior to the Pre-Bid Meeting date from the offices of Jacob & Hefner Associates, Inc., 1333 Butterfield Road, Suite 300, Downers Grove, IL 60515, (630) 652.4680. Cut-off date for picking-up plans is 4:00pm, Thursday, December 24, 2020. Contractor shall demonstrate experience of at least five IDPH asbestos abatement projects in projects with a contract value of $100,000 or greater within the last 5 years. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive irregularities in the bidding procedure, or accept the Bid that, in its opinion, will serve the best interest of the School District. Any such decision shall be considered final. The Owner reserves the right to set aside a Bid from a Contractor who, in the Owner’s opinion, does not exhibit past experience equal to the size and scope of this project. The bidder shall have a written sexual harassment policy in place in full compliance with Section 2-105 of the Illinois Human Rights Act. All questions shall be directed to Mr. Todd Huffer at Jacob & Hefner Associates, Inc., 1333 Butterfield Road, Suite 300, Downers Grove, IL 60515, (630) 652.4680. Published in Wednesday Journal 12/16/2020

Starting a New Business next Year? Call the experts before you place your legal ad! Publish your assumed name legal notice in • Wednesday Journal • Forest Park Review • Riverside/Brookfield Landmark • Austin Weekly News Call Mary Ellen for details: 708/613-3342

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HEARING DATE: January 6, 2021 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits CALENDAR NUMBER: 17-20-Z APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“Board”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Zude Weng, seeking variances from Section 9.4 (Table 9-1: Permitted Encroachments Into Required Setbacks) and Section 9.3 (A) (3) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, which regulate certain accessory structures permitted in required setbacks, to permit the construction of a one vehicle off-street parking space in the required front yard setback at the property located at 819 S. Grove Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Numbers 16-18-133-0190000 in the R-3-35 Single-Family Zoning District. A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Board will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT U-Verse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined

that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may provide written evidence, testimony and public comment on the application by email to Zoning@oak-park.us or by drop off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 6, 2021. An individual’s name and their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. Interested persons may also participate in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses, present evidence, testimony or public comment by emailing Zoning @oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to sign up. Individuals who sign up to participate in this manner will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the meeting online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal December 16, 2020

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MASTR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES TRUST 2007-1, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1 Plaintiff, -v.ELLEN M. RAVITZ, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 18 CH 03457 123 S. EUCLID AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on February 13, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 11, 2021, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 123 S. EUCLID AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-07-400-0160000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $657,505.06. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the

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

www.ForestParkReview.com

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE 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. 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, Alexander Potestivo, POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610, Chicago, IL, 60606 (312) 263-0003. Please refer to file number 109484. 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. POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610 Chicago IL, 60606 312-263-0003 E-Mail: ilpleadings@potestivolaw. com Attorney File No. 109484 Attorney Code. 43932 Case Number: 18 CH 03457 TJSC#: 40-924 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 # 18 CH 03457 I3155622

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR HIS ASSET SECURITIZATION CORPORATION TRUST 2007OPT1, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-OPT1; Plaintiff, vs. CHARLES T. GRANT; JUANITA J. GRANT AKA JUANITA LACOURT; PRAIRIE PLACE AT 6436 ROOSEVELT CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 19 CH 14415 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-18-428-043-1019 & 1618-428-043-1064. Commonly known as 6436 Roosevelt Road, Unit 311, Oak Park, IL 60304. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g) (1) and (g)(4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Law Clerk at Plaintiff’s Attorney, The Wirbicki Law Group, 33 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. (312) 360-9455. W18-0641 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3161076

local employees, happy employees! Hire Local. Place an ad on FPR’s Local Online Job Board. Go to ForestParkReview.com/classified today! Contact Mary Ellen Nelligan for more information. (708) 613-3342 Classifieds@ForestParkReview.com

Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

INC., REALTOR

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

SOLD!

928 S. Kenilworth Ave. Oak Park ....................$275,000

SOLD!

Property has been owner occupied by the same family for 50+ years. 1st fl has spacious living rm and dining rm, kitchen and 1/2 bath. 2nd floor has three bedrooms and full bath. Stucco exterior and 2 car detached garage. Great location in south west Oak Park. Needs some updating but livable as-is. 935 Elgin Avenue, Forest Park ........................$489,000 This is a money maker! This early 1970s brick four flat houses two one bedroom apartments on the top floor, a large three bedroom two bath apartment on the first floor, and a large two bedroom two bathroom apartment in the lower level. Tandem parking for 8 cars. Meticulously maintained by the current owner for several decades. The numbers work! This one really won't last long.

SOLD!

This 3 BR, 2.1 BA home has not been available in over 55 years. It has been meticulously maintained within the same family for that time. This home offers two first floor good sized bedrooms and a large second floor master. Each floor has a full updated bathroom. The first floor living room, with it's vaulted ceilings, fill with sunlight pouring from the front foyer windows.

1117 Marengo Avenue, Forest Park .......................$263,500 What a great opportunity to get into Forest Park at an affordable price! This home offers four total bedrooms, two on the second floor and two on the first floor. The home is in perfect condition! Living room, dining room, and eat in kitchen, plus a finished basement. Huge deck off the back of the house and a very large two car garage!

FORESTPARKREVIEW.COM

SOLD!

CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF RIVER FOREST First Presbyterian Church of River Forest is a warm and welcoming community committed to exemplifying God’s love in word and deed. This Christmas we are offering a very special virtual Christmas concert, A Thrill of Hope, released on December 18 on firstpresrf.org. The virtual concert features music by the First Pres Chancel Choir, with congregational singing, instrumentalists, and readings. Then, join us for online worship on Christmas Eve! Gather your family safely at home this year to celebrate with us the birth of our savior Jesus Christ! For more information about our Christmas concert, online services, and more, visit firstpresrf.org.

GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH What do you do when you’ve had a fire and spent eighteen months rebuilding and renewing the structure only to have a pandemic stop your plans for celebration? Stay grounded in God and move to digital worship! God didn’t leave the building when we left the structure. God didn’t leave the community of Good Shepherd when we shifted to a temporary location. God continues with us in this digital moment. We sure hope you see God’s light in Sunday worship and monthly Jazz Prayer. Visit our website at www.goodshepherdlc.org where you will find FB and more links to our Jazz Prayer, Christmas Eve services, and Nativity Display.

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Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH During the pandemic members of Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest have gathered for livestreamed worship services every Sunday at 8:30am on YouTube. Live-stream Christmas services will include special music from small groups of vocalists and instrumentalists. The Children’s Service will be presented in a new video format for 2020. It opens with the candle cross procession, a 70-yearold tradition, which was filmed outdoors this year on the church steps. Join us for Christmas worship at the Grace River Forest channel on YouTube where the 2020 Children’s Christmas Eve service video premieres at 4:15pm on December 24.

PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Pilgrim Congregational Church UCC extends warmest wishes for peace, hope, love, and joy to the entire community this holiday season. Be part of the season with us at two events on Christmas Eve: 4:30-5:00 a parade with lights, scripture, and rhythm instruments as we seek the Christ child outside the church; and a 7:00pm Service of Lessons and Carols live on our Pilgrim YouTube channel. Everyone is also invited to join us for worship online any Sunday morning at 10:00am. See www.PilgrimOakPark/org/events for details.

UNITY TEMPLE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION Worship is central to the life of our community. It reminds us of who we are, what we can become, how we want to live, as well as what we hope to give to the wider community. Due to COVID-19, our Sunday morning services are currently streaming virtually at 10am and can be accessed on our YouTube channel. Our Sunday morning services follow a regular order of worship each week, which includes a message for all ages, music, prayer, and a sermon. Each week, we seek to provide both comfort and challenge as we draw from many different sources of inspiration.

Forest Park Review, December 16, 2020

PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE FOREST PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Breakfasts to boast about in Forest Park Five options. A couple will surprise you

Rise and shine! From classic diners to hip coffee shops and restaurants with international flair, Forest Park has a bevy of breakfasts to start your day. Make the most of your next morning meal and carryout from five notable restaurants in Forest Park. For years, Patrick O’Brien of Scratch Restaurant Group would ask himself why he didn’t have a breakfast-focused restaurant in the Food Writer fold. Known for whipping up burgers, mac and cheese and woodfired pizzas, O’Brien opened Lathrop House Cafe mid-pandemic, at 26 Lathrop Ave., and began slinging egg sandwiches, fluffy omelets and even colorful chilaquiles to satisfy local breakfast cravings. Adventurous breakfast lovers will clamor for innovative items like fried biscuits and gravy or chilaquiles — made with fresh tortilla chips simmered in salsa roja. Traditionalists will appreciate the Denver omelet brimming with ham, onion, pepper, and mushroom. Looking to take a drive-thru detour? For many people coffee is an essential part of every morning, but savvy folks know a perfect cup of fresh coffee is hard to come by. Thankfully Kribi Coffee, 7324 Madison St., air-roasts beans on site and consistently brews a clean tasting cup of joe. Kribi Coffee is offering a holiday coffee

MELISSA ELSMO

blend of Columbian, Costa Rican and Sumatran beans. “Cheers Holiday Blend” brings notes of blackberry, cantaloupe, and chocolate pudding to this festive time of year. Pair a memorable cup of Kribi Coffee with a hot breakfast sandwich for just five dollars. Sandwiches come with a choice of meat and bread and vegan options are available. Coffee not your thing? Check out Kribi’s London Fog Tea Latte. A perfect pick-me-up on a gloomy winter day, the warming drink features Earl Grey tea with vanilla syrup Cactus Grill, 315 Harlem Ave., is known for churning out burritos, tacos and menudo and has recently enhanced their menu to include nacho fries, churros and house made horchata. Few folks, however, know Cactus Grill also serves a vibrant array of Mexican breakfast items. DIY-inclined customers will appreciate the huevos a la Mexicana. A pepper-spiked egg scramble served with rice, beans, and corn tortillas provides a perfect opportunity to assemble your own breakfast. Cactus Grill also turns out confident chilaquiles verde with eggs cooked to order. Louie’s Grill, 7422 Madison St., has been around for more than 20 years. The tried and true dine-in establishment was not set up for carryout business but has adapted in the face of need. Today breakfast packages are flying out the door bringing retro diner vibes to family tables in the community. You cannot go wrong with a classic breakfast from Louie’s Grill. Even after a brief ride in the car, the classic combo remained picture perfect and satisfying. Do not overlook the French toast — served with maple syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar, the dish will make anyone feel like a kid again. “Our Oreo pancakes were featured on Chicago’s Best,” said Marigo Doulas, co-owner of

Keep it classic with eggs, bacon and sausage from Louie’s Grill.

The Denver omelet from Lathrop House Café. Madison Park Kitchen, 7525 Madison St. “Everyone loves this use of a classic cookie. We use chocolate pancakes and a sweet cream cheese icing.” Doulas has shared ownership of MPK for seven years with her cousin Niko Doulas and both remain passionate about their family business being an integral part of the Forest Park community. The diner, known for serving notable morning fare like fluffy pancakes and crispy waffles, also brings a brunch vibe to their namesake burger. The MPK burger, cooked to order,

photo by Lourdes Nicholls

Grab a coffee and a sandwich at Kribi Coffee comes appropriately topped with bacon and egg! Who says you can’t have a burger for breakfast? *All food credited to Melissa Elsmo was ordered via carryout and plated at home

Feel like a kid again with French toast from Louie’s Grill.

Oreo pancakes from MPK are an indulgent breakfast treat.

Chilaquiles verde from Cactus Grill in Forest Park comes with rice and beans.

all photos by Melissa Elsmo