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ForestParkReview.com Vol. 108, No. 50
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REVIEW
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BEST SSMALL WEEKLY WEE NEWSPAPER NEWS ILLINOIS IN ILL
Special section
DECEMBER 17, 2025
PAGE 13
7th District candidates talk health care, politics at forum
Council tables building code changes
Largely in sync on issues, candidates laud experience
The changes would reflect current international standards, and the stalled vote is reminiscent of last year’s proposed residential zoning changes
By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter
Seven candidates for the 7th District seat in the U.S. House took part in a forum focused on the country’s healthcare system, Dec. 9 at Oak Park’s main library on Lake Street. Dr. Winnia Lin, representing a physicians advocacy group which sponsored the event, opened the forum by outlining the current dire circumstances facing people relying on the American healthcare system, including looming cuts to federal assistance, spiking Medicaid and insurance costs, and the growing number of for-profit, corporate owned hospitals. “Whoever wins this seat to represent the See CANDIDATES on page 4
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
In April 2024, Forest Park’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended the council approve changes to the residential zoning code in order to more accurately reflect the current state of the village and bring hundreds PHOTO PROVIDED
Mayor Rory Hoskins at the Oak Park Public Library during the candidate forum, Dec. 9.
See ZONING on page 10
A look back in time:
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Tom Holmes: The argument for a manger in Constitution Court
Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
PAGE 20
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IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 THIS ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
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Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
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Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
7th Congress candidates survive petition challenges Decisions leave a crowd competing for retiring Davis’ seat By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter
The March 17 Democratic primary field for Danny Davis’s 7th Congressional seat will remain crowded after five of six Democrats survived petition challenges. Both Republican candidates also will remain on the ballot. As of Dec. 15. Chicago Board of Elections hearing officers have forwarded recommendations to the election board on all but one candidate. While a final vote by the election board must wait until Dec. 17, the full board generally accepts the recommendations from its hearing officers. Max Bevar, Chicago Board of Elections spokesman, said Monday that it’s likely no final report will be filed on the objection to Democrat David Ehrlich, saying, “The objector filed a motion to withdraw the objection … so that objection is now moot, and the candidate will be on the ballot.” Bevar said no final recommendation has yet been filed on the objection to Democrat Anna Mendoza’s petitions. Since mid-November, officials with the Chicago Board of Elections have been working to process formal objections, reviewing thousands of voter registration signatures and hearing legal arguments. “It was a lighter year than usual, and we expect to be wrapped up sooner,” said Bevar, who said the elections board had only 23 objections this year.. Three petition objections by Chicagoan Marlo Payne will be dismissed. Hearing officer Laura Jacksack recommended that the objection against Republican Patricia Easley be “defaulted” due to Payne having failed to appear at the scheduled hearing. Hearing Officer Mary C. Meehan found that Payne’s objection against Anthony Driver was moot because Payne “clearly resides outside the district … and therefore the objector lacks standing to file the objection.” Meehan dismissed Payne’s objection to
Felix Tello on the same grounds, finding that Payne lacked legal standing as a nondistrict resident. Other objections were recommended to be dismissed after signature reviews. Democrat Kina Collins’ name remains on the ballot after hearing officer Mathias Delort found that, despite 863 being determined to be invalid, she had 348 more valid signatures than required. Delort made the same recommendation for Democrat Jazmin Robinson, who was found to have 436 valid signatures over the number needed. Objector Omari Davis alleged that Chad Koppie, an 87-year Kane County farmer, had committed fraud by not gathering all the signatures on his 53 pages of nominating sheets himself. Koppie offered evidence, “including bank statements that showed gas purchases and White Castle purchases in the Oak ParkForest Park area.” He also produced, hearing officer Terence Flynn noted, “a notarized handwritten (by the notary” statement from the manager of the Oak Park Jewel, attesting to requesting Koppie leave the premises when collecting signatures.” “There could be other reasons for a farmer from Kane County to drive to Oak Park for gas and White Castle sliders,” Flynn reasoned, “but this hearing officer cannot think of any.” Koppie’s otherwise unchallenged 530 nominating signatures, Flynn found, were “well over the 272 minimum” number required. An electoral board’s scope of inquiry is limited solely to the issue of whether a challenged petition and papers comply with the provisions of the Election Code. Objectors in a proceeding must prove their objections by a preponderance of the evidence. Hearing officers have the same duties and powers as an electoral board, but cannot make final, binding decisions, only make recommendations to the electoral board. Jan. 8 is the last day for candidates to be certified for inclusion on the 2026 primary ballot. That deadline is based on the need for the state’s 108 local election authorities to finalize names in order to begin printing primary ballots.
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Village approves 5.5% tax levy increase
The levy will next go to the Cook County Clerk for approval By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Property taxes could go up as much as 5.5% by the end of the village’s fiscal year. At the Dec. 15 council meeting, commissioners unanimously approved the annual tax levy ordinance. Last month, the council unanimously established an estimated property tax levy at the same amount for the 2025 fiscal year, which runs May 1 through April 30. The village-approved levy will now be submitted to the Cook County Clerk, though it’s likely that the clerk won’t approve the full increase, and is used to cal-
culate future property taxes. Last year, the village approved a 5% tax levy increase, and the clerk established a 3.5% increase. The 5.5% approved levy would bring in over $10 million for both the village and the Forest Park Public Library — with over $7.7 million going to the village and over $2.5 million to the library. About 74% of the village’s levy is restricted funds, including those for pensions, which are still short of the state statutory minimum contribution. Also at the Dec. 15 council meeting, commissioners OK’d requesting that the clerk calculate separate limiting rates for the village and the library. Ahead of the meeting, commissioners held a public hearing for any resident feedback on the levy, though there was none. In 2021, a law was signed that allows a taxing district’s levy to increase annually to recapture aggregate refunds from the past year.
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Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
CANDIDATES
sisters who choose that linois House, he said, “I have always been lifestyle…” Collins took on the cutting edge of public policy to imissue with that phrasing, prove the (8th State House) district.” saying, “Trans folks don’t Collins credited current Cong. Danny choose a lifestyle, that’s Davis for sponsoring Medicare for all but from page 1 who they are.” also dunned him for taking corporate doMaalouf queried Ford nations. She said the 2026 election is a Illinois 7th in Congress will face immense specifically regarding his “once in a generation opportunity for us to challenges, but also an incredible opporturole on the Loretto Hospielect a progressive to this seat and to elect nity to reverse the course that we’re on,” tal board when its thensomebody who is not just going to vote the Lin said. CEO Anosh Ahmed was Dr. Monica Maalouf, the event moderafound to have engaged in right way, but who is going to organize the tor, noted that limited forum participation favoritism and financial right way for the people.” Driver called his candidacy “a worker from a 15-candidate field was decided upon corruption over the disusing “a fundraising threshold and viabiltribution of then-scarce centered movement” that was based on LASHAWN FORD THOMAS FISHER Covid vaccines that went coalition building. “This is about centerity criteria.” to political insiders rather ing the downtrodden, the marginalized,” “These benchmarks helped us create a serve the needs of average people. focused, manageable forum for meaningful Showalter got arguably the loudest ap- than local West Side residents. Ahmed was Driver said. “This is about giving people conversation,” Maalouf said. “We regret plause of the evening when he said Con- later federally indicted. something to fight for, and not against.” Ford said he demanded the that we weren’t able to include every can- gress needs to “ban corporate ownership Hoskins leaned on his firing of Ahmed and another didate.” She said there were candidates in- of hospitals.” nearly 20 years on the vited who chose not to attend but declined Collins noted that money is available for top official at the time, and Forest Park village counto say who. wars and tax breaks for billionaires, but when the board refused to fire cil, the last six as mayor. Participating were ER physician Thomas not healthcare, and brought up the gap in them, he resigned in protest. Calling himself an attorDriver called out the LoretFisher, union leader Anthony Driver, For- men’s and women’s healthcare, saying, “It ney, father, former social est Park Mayor Rory Hoskins, former Cook easier for (men) to get Viagra … than it is to board, including Ford, sayworker, and someone who County Commissioner Richard Boykin, for (women) to get IUDs and birth control, ing the problems at Loretto had a “broad set of rela“didn’t happen by osmosis,” current 8th District State Representative and that is outrageous.” tionships,” he said he was There was unanimous agreement on the that “every person on that LaShawn K. Ford, attorney and former “prepared to effectively policy advisor on the National Economic question of healthcare for transgender board hired (Ahmed),” and represent the 7th Congresthat he was on picket lines at people, though with some sional district, to build cothe hospital twice. quibbling. alitions and to engage the Ford responded later, say“Going back to the noentire district.” tion of shared humanity, ing, “I stood with the unions Boykin noted that he’s RICHARD BOYKIN care for the transgender in everything. … I stood with lived throughout the 7th community is just health- the workers every time, to protect safety at Loretto Hoscare,” said Fisher. District, having been raised in Englewood “This is a civil right,” pital.” and lived in Austin and then Oak Park. “We The evening’s concluding remarks were have two Americas, one for the wealthy, Ford said. “It’s not our filled with both frustration with current one for the poor,” he said. Noting his exbusiness, it’s a right.” “Gender affirming care circumstances and hope for future chang- perience as Davis’s one-time chief of staff, is healthcare, full stop,” es. he said, “I know how to get things done in “We deserve better. I can stop the bleedsaid Showalter. “We have Washington.” a healthcare system that ing at the trauma center, I can prescribe Showalter reiterated his criticism of doesn’t recognize human antibiotics, but I can’t shape the policies in predatory corporations placing profits the emergency department that shape our dignity.” ANTHONY DRIVER REED SHOWALTER over people, and said he’d work to make lives,” Fisher said. “I’m tired of being in an “The president is attacking transgender people,” emergency room where I can’t give people constituent’s lives more affordable. “We need someone in Congress who’s going to what they need.” Council, Reed Showalter, and community Hoskins said. “We’re not going to sign off “Our democracy is under attack,” said take the chance to re-establish government organizer Kina Collins. on it.” Ford. “The work that has been done over for regular people,” he said, “and not for All agreed the healthcare system is deBoykin expressed support for full healthsigned more to enrich corporately owned care for transgender people but concluded the years, this administration is trying to giant corporations and for people who are hospitals and private insurers than to with “we have to support our brothers and roll it back.” Noting his 17 years in the Il- trying to get rich off the rest of us.”
Eyes on the prize
Clarification: Alcea Gallery offers new display of art in Forest Park A story in last week’s paper described Alcea Gallery as the only space dedicated to showing art in the village. Studio of Art next door also has a gallery, as well as painting and mixed media classes. The Review apologizes for the error.
Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
L E T T E R
A letter to Governor Pritzker: Independent living liberation is not optional, it’s survival! My good friend, mentor, and nationally recognized independent living advocate Larry Biondi wrote those principles one day during a trip we and some friends took on the train to Springfield to advocate for the rights of the disability community. Sadly, Larry passed away in 2021, but his legacy reminds us of an American ethic which is Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Think about that for a moment. It’s not Death, Pity, and the Glorification of Eugenics. The value in that brief statement of autonomy is even more true today. Another non-negotiable American principle, written in the preamble of our Constitution, is that we the people vow to promote the general welfare. This is especially true for the disability community, which according to the U.S. census, is approximately 80 million people strong. One of the most disappointing aspects of the way that legislation is so commonly considered and crafted, is that when people with disabilities are directly impacted by it, politicians, for whatever reason, fail to go directly to their loyal constituents and listen to us, in order to form a complex understanding of the issues that we and our loved ones face every day. What more do we have to do to help the status quo finally get it? How do we help the status quo understand the uphill battles people with disabilities must endure to receive just a sliver of the respect, opportunity, self-determination and therefore a better likelihood of living on our own foundation, built by our own individual choices, which is ordinarily afforded to most others. Sadly, once again, misinformation, smoke and mirrors, promised shortcuts, and out-
T O
E D I T O R
Veto physician-assisted suicide
right manufactured lies and contrived panics have been spread by special interests who do not consider the quality of life of people with disabilities in Illinois to be a priority and make our communities into fully cultivating places of access for all, what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. referred to as “The Beloved Community.” You have a dangerously anti-American/ alarmingly anti-freedom bill on your desk today, Governor J.B. Pritzker. SB 1950. If you listen to us, we are certain that you will know why this wrecking ball of a bill could very easily be titled “Death is now Springfield’s go-to solution for all of us who the economy, the housing market, the health-care industry, the employment scene, the educational system, the financial industry, health and human services, the infrastructural landscape, the transportation spectrum, the retirement prospects, the legislatures, and the corporate sector have most failed in this bill.” My dear mother, Linda Barton, studied at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Nursing College and then worked almost her entire career as a nurse in Illinois, at Edward Hospital, Westlake Hospital, and Oak Park Hospital. She worked as much overtime hours as she could get in order to support my brother (a proud engineer who found his calling at the University of Illinois), and myself (a disability rights advocate who survived a traumatic brain injury at 4 months old), and she never complained about the long cold winters, or the exhausting hoops that a single mother has to go through to maintain her mental focus, as an independent female skillfully managing and overcoming the aggravating disability of
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multiple sclerosis, who countless others drew resolve from when she tirelessly cared for them in their times of greatest doubt and challenging anxiety, worrying about uncertain future days, when they might have otherwise decided that life’s just not worth the hassle anymore, and surrender to the myths peddled by the forces of coercion, control, bias, paternalism, and cruelty who wrote this bill, always lurking in the shadows, often when we are at our most vulnerable. Her clients, patients and friends instead were, in those trying times, empowered by something that we call the will to live. We inherently know it. No matter who you are, or where you’re from. We are here to care for each other, to help one another get through the difficulties together, to be one. SB 1950 promotes a lie as old as history, that when we are faced with a fork in the road to either adapt or perish, then the most reasonable thing we can do is take dinosaur ancient advice from those who know nothing about our struggles. We as members of the most fragile part of our collective social safety net are to follow special interest groups who are even less aware about our work to nurture a deeper understanding and build new opportunities to reinvent what it means to be a great engine of renewal for what is lacking in the will of powerful men, and as a result, delight in the “democracy” of the death cure. Out of necessity, we demand our rightful place in society. And it isn’t a coffin. We the disability community are ready to make you proud, J.B. Goals that not too long ago were deemed impossible to exist on Earth for those who have as complex daily needs as us to be our best, now are not just dreamable. They are realistically attainable. SB 1950 is a fraud masked as a remedy for those who never asked for a cure to our identity. This grim reaper is not a bill that you want your legacy to be affiliated with, Governor Pritzker. We, as Illinoisans, tearfully remember that we have so many groundbreaking hearts and minds who left us before their greatest accomplishments were reached, souls who changed the state, the country, and the world to reach higher ground, pondering what a rare blessing it is to be here at the center of the greatest country on Earth, gazing at that fiery blue / orange / gold / pink / crimson / silvery sunset over endless acres of a country field in the summertime. The kind Linda
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and I watched out our backyard porch when I was just a little kid growing up listening to the brilliant music of John Prine and rooting for the Cubs to finally win the World Series. You don’t want to be remembered as a public official who chose the easy answers to these issues of concern. That is not a bill that meets our standards for excellence. The truth is that SB 1950 is a reckless forfeit of imagination, a lack of spirit of the worst kind, a mirage of shockingly obvious oversimplifications, pretending to be a quick-fix solution for what we all are talking about: The need to finally start the era of long overdue universal health care, and mass expansion / prioritization / improvement / full-funding for long term services and supports for Illinoisans, who surely have earned the human right to live where we have the same quality of life as people do in any other place on the globe. Labor knows that it will be a boom for small businesses and large industries. It’s an opportunity that rarely arrives in many generations, when a legislature can witness, in real time, the change that occurs when wisdom prevails, prompting you to utilize the true knowhow of everyday people instead of being lulled to sleep again by the lost lobbyists. The inclusion of the vision that is in our minds will create real long term jobs and act as a catalyst to unlock our strengths to bloom a fresh start when neighbors know all our neighbors again. Seniors. Veterans. People with disabilities. Retirees. Students. Workers. Immigrants. Families. Patriots. No longer torn apart by the sirens of division, hatred and ignorance. We’ve gotten enough of that noise in 2025 already! Make this your proudest vote ever, J.B. We the people who oppose SB 1950 will be forever thankful if you do. And when you bravely veto this terribly ill-conceived train wreck of a “food sanitation bill,” we the people, all over the proud Land of Lincoln, will join together to remember the masses of united people who spoke up loud and clear for freedom. We will have reminded each other what it really means when Larry wrote those essential words: It’s not optional, it’s survival! He was powerfully articulating the next chapter of our legacy as a people. To form a more perfect union. And a Better Day. A New Deal. A Liveable Life. Veto SB 1950 Jonathan Barton is a community organizer for Progress Center for Independent Living in Forest Park, progresscil.org.
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Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter
Last Friday Gov. Pritzker signed into law SB1950, the Illinois End of Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act that allows “mentally capable, terminally ill adults (6 months or less to live) to request physician-prescribed medication to end their suffering.” The response to the bill by local groups leading up to the signing has been intensely emotional. In a recent letter to Gov. Pritzker, Jonathan Barton, a community organizer with the Progress Center for Independent Living on Madison Street in Forest Park, wrote, “Veto the physician-assisted suicide bill SB1950. Independent Living Liberation Is Not Optional, It’s Survival! It reminds us [the disability community] of an American ethic which is Life , Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Now think about that just for a moment. It’s not Death, Pity, and the Glorification of Eugenics.” A week ago Clark Craig, who until recently worked as an advocate for the Progress Center, issued a call to action which read [in
End-of-life options, pro and con
part], “On Thursday, Dec. 11 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. please join me in attending a very urgent Assisted Suicide Protest/Die-in Vigil at the Governor’s Office. The governor is threatening to sign SB 1950 into law, which would legalize assisted suicide in Illinois, thereby presenting extreme danger to people with disabilities who face bias and unequal treatment in the medical system.” Craig noted that Progress Center advocates quickly mobilized and joined other advocates sending some of the 700+ total letters that have been sent to the governor “opposing the legalization of assisted suicide.” Tiffany Johson is a professional death doula (providing non-medical, holistic support to individuals and families during the dying process) and the action team leader for the Oak Park End of Life Options Group (OPELOG). She and other members of OPELOG have been lobbying the legislature in Springfield to pass the bill and then for the governor to sign it. “Accuracy matters,” she said in an interview with GCM. “Illinois did not legalize euthanasia or ‘assisted suicide.’ The new law, also known as Deb’s Law, establishes medi-
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On Dec. 10, Marty Colchamiro, an Oak Park resident, wrote a letter to the governor urging him to sign the bill, saying, “For me, this issue is one of human rights. For those facing a difficult final chapter in their lives, this bill gives them options of medical aid in dying. There are so many safeguards within the legislation that was passed that make it impossible to abuse the intent of this bill. “Please support the legislators who have tirelessly researched the pros and cons and then voted to pass medical aid in dying and send it to your desk for signature.” Marty uses the term “medical aid in dying” instead of “physician-assisted suicide.” The website LEGISCAN summarizes SB1950 this way: “Authorizes a qualified patient with a terminal disease to request that a physician prescribe aid-in-dying medication that will allow the patient to end the patient’s life in a peaceful manner.” Key Provisions of SB 1950: Eligibility: Illinois residents 18+, with a terminal illness confirmed by two physicians to cause death within six months. See END-OF-LIFE on page 7
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cal aid in dying (MAID) for a narrow group of terminally ill, mentally capable adults. By statute, the medication must be self-administered by the patient; no one else may administer it. “The law also states that deaths under the act are attributed to the underlying terminal illness and are not classified as suicide or homicide on the death certificate. “It does not apply to people who are disabled but not terminally ill, and the law explicitly says no one qualifies solely because of age, disability, or a mental health condition. Eligibility requires two clinicians, documented decision-making capacity, multiple requests, informed discussion of hospice and palliative care, and the right to withdraw at any time; there are penalties for coercion and strong conscience protections for clinicians and institutions.” Johnson concluded, “We can hold two truths at once, protect vulnerable people and also allow dying adults — under strict safeguards — to decide how to meet suffering at the very end of life. That’s the balance Deb’s Law tries to strike, and that’s why I support it.”
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Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
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C R I M E
2 charged with battery after punching man in Walmart By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Police responded to Walmart on Dec. 5, when a man said he was in the self-checkout and two other men started filming him. He said one approached him in an aggressive manner and tried to take his phone before both men held him on the ground and punched him. The victim said the men got inside a car in the parking lot, where police found them and took them into custody. Video provided by Walmart confirms the interaction. The men were each charged with one count of battery.
Burglary from motor vehicle On Dec. 5, police were dispatched to Circle Avenue for a stolen phone. A man told them that an unknown offender broke his work van window and stole his phone from the center console. The man tracked his phone to a building near where the van was parked. The man said he’d sign complaints if the offender was located. On Dec. 13, a man came to the police department to report a burglary to his work vehicle earlier that day. The man said he parked the work van on Elgin Avenue and locked the vehicle before completing his job. He added that, when it’s cold, sometimes the lock on the sliding passenger door doesn’t fully lock and he found several tools missing, totaling over $5,700.
END-OF-LIFE
Proper safeguards? from page 6 Process: Requires documented proof of mental capacity and both oral and written requests for aid-in-dying medication. Physician’s role: Physicians can prescribe medication, but the patient self-administers it. On Oct. 10, the Catholic Conference of Bishops issued the following statement: “With the passage of legislation to legalize assisted suicide in Illinois, the Illinois Gen-
In-state warrant Police were dispatched to 601 S. Harlem on Dec. 10 for a retail theft. While on route, police saw a subject matching the description of the offender running down the street and into the Harlem Blue Line station. Police caught the man, who repeatedly gave them a fake name. He stole three packages of gummy worms, and the caller said they only wanted the money back, not to sign complaints. The man was charged with two in-state warrants that were outstanding.
and the man appeared to be homeless.
Police reported the smell of alcohol on the driver, suspected vomit on the car door and his chin, and that the driver had glassy eyes and slurred speech. Because of negative temperatures, police took the man to the police department to continue a DUI investigation. After completing field sobriety tests at the station, police concluded that he was intoxicated. His BAC was 0.194, so he was charged with one count of a DUI and another for BAC being over 0.08, plus improper lighting and improper lane usage.
Death investigation
Possession controlled substance
A woman called police on Dec. 11 to report that her father was unconscious and not breathing. When police arrived at the residence, they found the man slumped on the couch. Police reported that the man had no pulse but was still warm to the touch. The man’s wife said she last spoke to him about 20 minutes prior, at 2:45 a.m., and he didn’t want to get off the couch because he didn’t feel well. Police reported that the man started breathing heavily before becoming unresponsive. The family also reported he had cancer. Police were dispatched to the CTA Blue Line Forest Park station for an unconscious man in a train car who wasn’t breathing. Police delivered sternum rubs and Narcan to the man with negative results. Forest Park police and fire, plus River Forest police, confirmed rigor mortis was starting. According to the police report, there were no signs of foul play
Police were dispatched to the alley in the 200 block of Harlem Avenue for a person down. Police reported that a man was laying in the middle of the alley but said he was OK and didn’t want medical attention. When the man stood up, police reported that they saw four bags of suspected heroin on the ground, which he later told them was fentanyl for personal use. He was placed into custody and was found to have two serviceable warrants for his arrest, which he was charged with along with possession of a controlled substance.
While patrolling Des Plaines Avenue around 5 p.m. on Dec. 14, police saw a car driving without headlights or taillights. As police followed the car, it crossed the lane into oncoming traffic, so cops pulled it over.
‘These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated Dec. 4 - 14 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.
eral Assembly has put our state on a slippery path that jeopardizes the well-being of the poor and marginalized, especially those in the disability community and have foreseeable tragic consequences. Key Catholic objections & arguments: Sanctity of Life: The Church teaches that life is sacred from conception to natural death, making intentionally ending a life, even a suffering one, morally unacceptable. Physician’s role: It goes against the traditional role of physicians. Better alternatives: The focus should be on improving palliative and hospice care. The bishops agree with the disabilities community in that the law puts people with disabilities at risk of abuse.
Protection of the vulnerable: “Opponents fear coercion and abuse, especially for the elderly, disabled, and marginalized, who might feel pressured into choosing death over life.” The fear is based on historical precedent, according to a statement from the National Disability Rights Network: “The thought of doctors and parents, together, deciding to remove the body parts and stunt the growth of a child based on assumptions about their awareness and quality of life is shocking and disgusting. In one case that stunningly illustrates the assumptions made about these “burdensome” people, a jury in Oregon awarded parents $3 million because their child was born with Down syn-
drome after pre-natal testing failed to identify the disability. It was called a wrongful birth.” Supporters of SB1950 focus on consensual adults who are able to articulate their wishes for the end of life and have the means to put them in writing in a way that will stand up in court. Tiffany Johnson said, “Eligibility requires two clinicians, documented decisionmaking capacity, multiple requests, informed discussion of hospice and palliative care, and the right to withdraw at any time; Opponents, in the words of the Catholic bishops, “fear coercion and abuse, especially for the elderly, disabled, and marginalized, who might feel pressured into choosing death over life.”
DUI
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Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
Tech learners celebrate library’s hands-on training
25 locals, many older, gain tech confidence and know-how By JILL WAGNER Contributing Reporter
After two cohorts of digital learners, the Forest Park Library hosted a Digital Resilience Celebration on a recent Sunday afternoon. Not only was this an opportunity to reconnect learners, it was a way to share the powerful impact it had with community leaders from Forest Park’s village hall and the library. The Cook County Digital Equity IMPACTS Small Grants Program has concluded and 25 learners in Forest Park benefited from the partnership between Growing Community Media, publisher of the Review, the Forest Park Public Library, and Wright to Learn which enabled people to “learn and earn” laptops by the end of the course. Along the way, the Forest Park Review reported on the progress and told the stories of the adult learners. The effort to build up digital access, confidence, safety and the infrastructure to sustain inclusion is prioritized throughout Cook County. To encourage community participation and ‘micro-plans’ for growth for county wide equitable digital growth,
this small grant program encouraged the network of resources and ecosystems that already are available in neighborhoods to collectively tackle some of these challenges. These inaugural year grants have already had a ripple effect in communities it has touched. This program showed “what is possible when we invest in models that equip our communities for the digital age and center the human stories that make digital access and knowledge real in our daily lives,” said Tyra Bosnic, a grants and partnerships manager at City Bureau, which co-sponsored the grants program throughout Cook County. “By sharing our knowledge with others it helps the information spread,” and “seeing how learners have shared their stories, so their communities know why supporting everyone’s ability to access technology matters.” Through the library, Tech Empowerment classes and Wright to Learn’s Digital Resilience workshops, learners had the opportunity to gain more than tech skills, it utilized a digital resilience learning model. This approach encourages participants to have three foundational leaning tools: emotional awareness, safety awareness and pattern recognition. Since technology is ever changing, building confidence in experimenting with technology and being open to new experiences is key for successful ongoing learning that can then spread to friends and family.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Xandi Wright instructor from Wright to Learn, leads the discussion using a similar style of presenting as they did in the classroom.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Participants explain how the class built confidence skills as community members including Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin listen to the experiences. Several students came to the celebration and shared examples of the many skills they took away from the experience. These included connecting to a remote Wifi network; how to use a laptop in a remote location; being less afraid or anxious about experimenting with technology; patterns to help identify scams; creating passwords that are memorable, unique and safe; whether two factor authentication is safe; and the pros and cons of biometric authentication. Skye Lavin, Forest Park’s adult services librarian, said the library will continue to provide classes, support services, and have a new resource called Northstar literacy which will springboard into more classes. In addition, the library enables connectivity, offers digital hotspots to check out and will be offering some information to help people find the best and most affordable networks they can connect to in their area among their services. Community leaders also attended the event and framed prioritizing digital literacy and its importance in communication throughout Forest Park and the region. Rachell Entler, village administrator, identified that technology is becoming more integrated into the daily lives of our community. “One of the things the village is working on is our parking pay machines -- which are
very expensive to maintain and we are moving to a more app based payment. We have both right now,” but she has heard some resistance to using an app for parking and “restaurants not having menus that someone can look at and hold rather than having to scan a QR code.” Recognizing the challenges of adopting new technology, Enter said, “it falls on both ends -- teaching the older generation to use and feel comfortable with the QR codes and with online work and those of us in the online world having more compassion.” Cecily Rowland was in one of the digital cohorts and has since made a video for family. She also uses the Spothero Parking app when parking downtown. She added that she has been keeping up the habit of getting on a computer. “Coming here helped build up your confidence again, even though I’m not a dummy, I can still get on this computer and do something.” Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series of stories about the Forest Park Public Library’s digital inclusion efforts. The series is underwritten by a grant from the Cook County Digital Equity IMPACT Small Grants program. The grant is a shared effort between Wright to Learn, the library and Growing Community Media, publisher of the Forest Park Review.
Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
O U R
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Q U I E T E S T
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N E I G H B O R S
Yes, inventor of headwalking is buried in Forest Park
ith over 800,000 people buried in Forest Park, you can be assured that a fair number of them are celebrities. Resting here is a Governor, a few Congressmen, labor leaders, singers, movie stars, authors, radio personalities – but did you know that the “great inventor of the art of headwalking” was buried in Forest Park?
Faded by time, AMY a tall, unique marker BINNS-CALVEY grave in Jewish Waldheim reads: In Memory of the Great Inventor of the Art of Headwalking Baptiste Louis Goldkette Born June 28, 1880 Died June 22, 1920 Beloved Brother And Uncle Baptiste Louise Goldkette was an equilibrist, acrobat, and dancer. There is some confusion about the year of his birth as it is also recorded as 1879 and 1883, but the Goldkette family seems to have been rath-
er casual about those kinds of details. For generations, the Goldkettes were magicians, trick riders, clowns, singers, dancers and “artistes.” They moved many times, claiming various nationalities (Danish, French, Scandinavian, Swiss, English) and used several different surnames. In fact, the name “Goldkette” is thought to be a stage name as it translates to “gold chain,” which could either refer to one of their acts where performers were linked together, or to a gift given to them by royalty. The Goldkette family was said to have been the “oldest show family” with appearances before royal courts dating from 1741 when Baptiste’s great-great-grandfather walked on a tightrope at Maria-Theresa’s coronation as the Queen of Hungary. The family was even said to have been performing in a theater as it was torn down by a Parisian mob during the Reign of Terror at the time of the French Revolution. Continuing in the family tradition, Baptiste performed in a balancing act with his brother, Franconi. Baptiste said that they started performing, “almost from the cradle.” Baptiste came to the U.S. in 1907 along with Franconi and his two sisters who were also performers. Once in America, the siblings traveled the continent, as they had done in Europe. Baptiste and Franconi even performed in Cuba while the sisters settled in New York. At one point, Baptiste and Franconi were based out of La Paz, Indiana, where it was cheaper to board animals than in Chicago.
One advertisement for Baptiste and Franconi featured their aerobatic skills with a photo of Baptiste standing on his brother’s shoulders holding either a monkey or a dog. Another promotional flyer showed Baptiste balanced on his head, arms and legs spread wide, traveling down a busy sidewalk, proclaiming that he was the “creator of a new sport – head walker!” The Goldkette family continued in the entertainment industry into the 1960s, Baptiste’s nephew, Jean Goldkette was a well-known figure in the world of jazz and was also a classical musician. While the life of an acrobat can be dangerous, Baptiste said he never suffered a serious mishap while performing except when he “…suffered a slight injury once in walking on my head down the nine marble steps of the Paris Opera House on a wager, the marble steps being a bit too hard for my skull, but I accomplished the feat and won my wager.” Baptiste died in Columbus Hospital in Chicago at the age of 40. His death certificate states that he died of “acute dilation of the heart, edema of the lungs.” It’s probably safe to say that modern-day break dancers do not know that their “headspin” move was invented by a man born in the 1880s. References used: St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper, Under Every Stone website, Vintage Jazz Mart magazine. Amy Binns-Calvey is a volunteer with the Historical Society of Forest Park and the author of More Dead Than Alive: Stories of Forest Park’s Quietest Neighbors.
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Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
ZONING
Change is hard from page 1 of homes into conformance with the village code. Commissioners tabled code updates at a council meeting that October due to concerns about density and stormwater. And this May, commissioners voted to 2-2 with one abstention on the amendments, leaving updates to the code stalled. Commissioners at the Dec. 15 council meeting similarly postponed a vote, tabling an ordinance amending the section of the municipal code regarding building-related codes. These include incorporating the latest editions of international, national and state building codes, residential codes, mechanical codes, fuel gas codes, fire codes and property maintenance codes. Commissioners will vote on the ordinance again during the second meeting in January. The village staff recommended that the council approve the building code updates, which reflect modern construction practices and safety standards. The building codes haven’t been updated in over 16 years.
“It’s something that is a necessary process here in the Village of Forest Park, something that’s long overdue,” said Ryan Nero, commissioner of public health and safety, at the Dec. 15 council meeting. Steve Glinke, director of the department of public health and safety, sent a 40-page memo to commissioners on Friday outlining the building code changes. Nero thanked commissioners for asking questions about the memo. “I don’t have a lot of expertise, but one of the questions that I had was our building codes should be usable and easy to use,” said Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin. “Not all of us had a chance to take a look, but I did my best.” Melin-Rogovin moved to table the ordinance amending the building code so that all commissioners had ample time to review the proposed changes. Nero responded that the village already spent $10,000 for professionals to review and update the building codes. “This is something that’s done in municipalities across the state regularly to maintain those codes to the highest standards. What I’ve suggested is that we hire these companies on behalf of the village to put forth a product that keeps us consistent and com-
petitive,” said Nero. Both Melin-Rogovin and Commissioner Jessica Voogd said they understood the process. “We obviously are contracting with professionals to provide us with information so that we can then do our job, which is to make sure that we are crafting appropriate policy,” Voogd said. “I need to read all this and ask questions and make sure I’m clear on something before I vote on it. I’m not comfortable having someone to say, ‘Don’t worry about it, it’s all good. Let’s just move on.’” Voogd seconded Melin-Rogovin’s motion to table the vote and requested that commissioners get at least a few weeks to review the memo. Commissioner Maria Maxham also voted to table the ordinance, albeit reluctantly, in order to give her peers more time to review the memo on the building code updates. She did the same during the vote to table the residential zoning code. “I’ve been in this place before, also with zoning before, where I always want to give my colleagues time to deliberate things if they feel like they haven’t had time,” Maxham said. “The last time I did this, though, the other zoning code amendments got put on hold for I don’t even know how long it’s been now. So I will honor, once again, people’s need for more time, but I am concerned about the same thing happening again.”
Residential zoning code changes
For around two years now, the village has also been looking to update the residential zoning portion of its municipal code. The residential zoning updates aim to better align the code with existing conditions in Forest Park, decrease the number of nonconforming properties and streamline the building review process. Last week, Glinke also sent an eight-page memo outlining the amendments to residential districts in the village zoning code and No Entrance Fee, Amazing Amenities, Utilitiesrequesting Included,that the code changes be put on a Full Social Program, and Short-Term Stays the agenda at an upcoming council meeting. They were not on the agenda for the Dec. 15 Call (708) 386-4040 to schedule an appointment. meeting. A Sensible Approach to Maintenance-Free Senior Living During her administrator’s report at the A Sensible Approach to Maintenance-Free Senior Living end of the meeting, Village Administrator 408 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302 • www.oakparkarms.com Rachell Entler discussed the residential zonRent starts at just $2,000 a month OPA_Ad_10x525.indd 1 3/22/24 7:18 AM ing code updates. No Entrance Fee, Amazing Amenities, Utilities Included, Entrance Fee, Amazing Amenities, Included, “Staff worked really hard the last several a No Full Social Program, and Short-Term StaysUtilities No Entrance Fee, Amazing Amenities, Utilities Included, a Full Social Program, and Short-Term Stays months, along with our planning consultant, a Full 386-4040 Social Program, and Short-Term Stays Call (708) to schedule an appointment. to put together a memo that addresses some Fee, Amazing Amenities, Utilities Included, Call (708) 386-4040 to schedule an appointment. of the changes in the zoning code,” Entler 408 S. Oak 386-4040 Park Avenue, Oak to Park,schedule IL 60302 • www.oakparkarms.com ocial Program, and Short-Term Stays Call (708) an appointment. said. “In order for us to bring this back to the 408 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302 • www.oakparkarms.com council, we do have to go through the PZC 408 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302 • www.oakparkarms.com (planning and zoning commission) process.” She requested that commissioners get any A_Ad_10x525.indd 1 3/22/24 7:18 AM questions about the residential zoning changnue, Oak Park, IL 60302 • www.oakparkarms.com
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es memo to her in the next couple of weeks. As at past council meetings, Nero advocated for the residential zoning updates on Dec. 15. “Why do we do this? We want to continue to make Forest Park attractive for many different demographics and range of incomes,” Nero said. He added that, according to the memo, the village saw a 3.4% population loss from 2020 to 2024. And that, this year, the planning commission has seen only one case, whereas it usually sees about a dozen cases annually. “Five residents specifically have been unable to improve their non-conforming properties for over eight months, and one has just decided to leave town,” Nero said. “That’s not what we want. We want people coming to Forest Park.” Since commissioners tabled the residential zoning changes last year, Voogd said she’s had questions about what information and data was used to inform these recommendations and requested more public outreach. “Folks keep implying that there hasn’t been a vote on it because of the folks who tabled it. I know that I have shared examples of proper community outreach and proper zoning update protocols that other villages have used, that we could look to as an example. I know that I’ve shared my concerns. I’ve shared my questions,” Voogd said. “I would love to know what you have been doing and why it has been stalled because none of that has been addressed.” “In the R3 [zoning district] you’re going from a 40 or 50% coverage to an 80% coverage with zero setbacks. How does the community feel about that? How does the community feel about these large structures going up, covering 80% of the land right up to the sidewalk?” Voogd added. “I have asked for the data, I’ve asked for the audits, I’ve asked for the information and what informed these recommendations, and I haven’t received them. This memo reiterates your position as written. It doesn’t address the concerns or the questions or the community outreach that we desperately need for changes as dramatic as these.” Glinke included in the residential zoning memo that, in July 2023, village staff, the village attorney and a planning consultant from Muse sat down to prioritize redoing sections of the village code, auditing current code regulations and doing peer research. The code has been amended periodically but hasn’t been fully reviewed in decades. With the residential changes, the planning commission held public workshops to present drafts and gather feedback in February and March 2024, then held a public hearing to take official action that April. The memo outlines the planning commission’s edits to the code.
Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
H U M A N S
O F
F O R E S T
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P A R K
What an attorney learned bussing tables Kelli (Found at Espresso Café)
H
ow long have you lived in Forest Park? Six years.
What brought you to Forest Park? I like it much better than Oak Park. As I describe it to friends, Forest Park is like a small town in the middle of a big city. I also think more people should know about the Golden Steer. I only recently discovered it. I’ve taken my father there for his birthdays. It’s great. The smell from the grill is amazing. What has been the goofiest or oddest job you’ve ever had? I don’t think I’ve ever had a goofy job or an odd job. I think the craziest job I’ve ever had was bussing tables. Bussing tables at an all-you-can-eat-seafood restaurant years
ago. It was a madhouse. One night, I had to step in to work the crab steamers on a night when we served 1,000 dinners. I was never so gross and full of sweat. The crab station was a mess -- I’m hauling boxes of frozen crab, unpacking it, running either two or three steamers at a time, rotating the product, getting it out as quickly as possible. I went on to become a waiter at that restaurant, but really, the bussing and the cleaning – hauling garbage bags full of fish, leaky trash, and getting it all over me, and then continuing to work through the night made the job crazy. But there was also great camaraderie.
how to work with a lot of different people and different personalities, and how to work hard. Everyone should do it. I think most people don’t know what it’s like to work hard and I think most people don’t know what it’s like to work with many different people from many different backgrounds that have many different attitudes – to get the same job done. And most importantly, it’s absolutely necessary to work with the public. It makes you better able to appreciate how hard people in customer service work and what they have to deal with on a daily basis -- so you can have more empathy and be nicer to people and cut people some slack sometimes.
AMY BINNS-CALVEY
Did you come away with any life lessons from this job? Many and valuable lessons – first of all,
How about a job you’ve been proud of ? I’m an attorney – being able to solve prob-
lems for people. I’ve been an attorney for over 10 years. What skill set do you need to be an attorney? The same ones [as a busboy]. Without revealing specifics, what kinds of problems have you been able to solve, or knots you’ve untangled? I think I’ve been able to untie any knot I’ve run into. Sometimes, though, the situation is what it is and there’s only so much you can do. But otherwise, there’s always a workable solution at the end of the day. It might not be the ideal one the client wants. However, it may be the only one, and the way to make sense of things. If you were going to give advice to someone, what would that be? Wait tables at a restaurant. Amy Binns-Calvey is an author and occasional contributor to the Forest Park Review.
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n 2024, the state passed the Illinois Gives Tax Credit Act, granting a sizable tax credit to donors contributing to endowed funds at qualified charitable community foundations with national accreditation. The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is proudly eligible for the tax credit program, which took effect January 1, 2025. Donors who make gifts to eligible permanent endowment funds with the Foundation receive a 25% state income tax credit. Funds that qualify include permanently endowed scholarships, nonprofit agency funds, designated funds, and field of interest funds; gifts to donor advised funds are not eligible. “Permanent endowment funds at community foundations are an important layer of financial stability for our nonprofit sector; they offer a vital and reliable source of funding for operational needs, capital
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“Permanent endowment funds at community foundations are an important layer of financial stability for our nonprofit sector; they offer a vital and reliable source of funding for operational needs, capital funding, and ongoing programs,” - Carrie Summy, president and CEO of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation.
12
Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
Thinking about a career in local government? The Village of Oak Park has job opportunities available. Please visit www.oak-park.us or scan the QR code
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CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
December 17, 2025 13
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CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
Christmas SERVICES
December 17, 2025 15
CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES OF OAK PARK AND NEIGHBORS Ascension and St. Edmund Parish St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish
SOLEMNITY of the NATIVITY of the LORD Christmas Eve, Wednesday 12/24
Our Savior is Born !
3:00 PM Mass at St. Giles with the Children’s Presentation of the Gospel 3:30 PM Mass at Ascension with Ascension Schola 4:30 PM Mass at St. Edmund with St. Edmund Choir 5:00 PM Mass at St. Giles with Young Adult Choir 5:30 PM Family-focused Mass at Ascension with Ascension Choristers & String Ensemble 7:30 PM Family Mass Community Mass in the St. Giles School Gym Carols begin at 7 PM Adult and Children’s Choir; Children’s Presentation of the Gospel
10:30 PM Mass at St. Giles Carols begin at 10:00 PM with St Catherine of Siena-St Lucy and St. Giles Choir 11:00 PM Mass at Ascension Carols begin at 10:30 PM with Ascension Choir
Christmas Day, Thursday 12/25 8:30 AM Mass at St. Giles
9:00 AM Mass at Ascension with organ, instruments and cantor
10:30 AM Mass at St. Giles
11:00 AM Mass at St. Edmund with organ, instruments and cantor
SOLEMNITY of MARY, MOTHER of GOD World Day of Prayer for Peace Wednesday 12/31 5:00 PM Mass at St. Edmund (Mass of anticipation) Thursday 1/1 9:00 AM Mass at Ascension 10:00 AM Mass at St. Giles 7:30 PM Taizé Prayer for Peace at Ascension
For more information about the Christmas season services, scan the code:
Park, IL 924 Lake St. Oak Park, IL
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Christmas Eve
CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
Episcopal Church stmas 4:45pm MusicGrace - Concert of Christmas Music Grace Episcopal Church 924 Lake St. Oak Park, IL harist 5:00pm - Holy Eucharist 924 Lake St. Oak Park, IL Christmas Eve istmas 10:30pm Music- Concert of Christmas Music Christmas Eve 4:45pm - Concert of Christmas Music 4:45pm - Concert ofEucharist Christmas Music harist 11:00pm - Holy 5:00pm - Holy Eucharist 5:00pm - Holy Eucharist 10:30pm - Concert of Christmas Music 10:30pm - Concert of Christmas Music 11:00pm - Holy Eucharist 11:00pm - HolyDay Eucharist Christmas
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10:30am Christmas - Holy Eucharist Day Christmas Day
10:30am - Holy Eucharist 10:30am - Holy Eucharist Grace Episcopal Church
ALL ARE WELCOME 924 Lake St.WELCOME Oak Park, IL ALL ARE ALL ARE WELCOME
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“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” Luke 2:14
Join us to celebrate Christmas! Christmas Eve Children's Services: 4:15 and 6 p.m. Both services are led by the students of Grace Lutheran Church and School Traditional Service: 8 p.m. Candlelight Service: 10:45 p.m. Prelude starts at 10:30 p.m.
Christmas Day Worship: 10 a.m.
7300 Division St, River Forest IL 60305 graceriverforest.org/708-366-6900
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CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
December 17, 2025 17
Merry Christmas, West Cook Friends From Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church South Euclid Ave and Washington Blvd, Oak Park
Services @ Euclid Christmas Week: Sunday, Dec 21, 10:30am Advent Four Worship 11:30am Movie: The Shepherd Wed, Dec 24, 4pm Family Worship w/ Las Posadas 7pm Candlelight Service w/ Choir
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You are invited!
2025 holiday services at
Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Festival of Lessons & Carols
875 Lake Street, Oak Park IL
Sunday, December 21 | 10:00 AM
Winter Solstice Celebration Sunday, December 21
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
6pm In-Person Only
Wednesday, December 24 | 5:00 PM
Christmas Eve Services Wednesday, December 24
3pm Christmas Pageant & Worship for All Ages
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF OAK PARK 820 ONTARIO ST OAK PARK, IL 60302
7pm Choir & Candlelight Service New Year’s Eve Sangha Wednesday, December 31
5-7pm Community Center 1019 S. Blvd, Oak Park IL
www.FBCOAKPARK.org
Services will be both in-person and live streamed with the exception of the Winter Solstice Celebration which is in-person only. To learn more go to: www.unitytemple.org
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CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
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Join us for
Holiday Services at St. C’s! Sunday, December 21st 5 pm • Blue Christmas
Wednesday, December 24th (Christmas Eve) 4:30 pm • Kid-Friendly Christmas Eve Service 9 pm • Christmas Eve Choral Eucharist
Thursday, December 25th (Christmas Day)
10 am • Rite II Spoken Christmas Day Service
Sunday, January 11th
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324 N. Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL
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CHRISTMAS SERVICE CHRISTMAS EVE EVE SERVICE Wednesday, December 24 6:00 p.m. CHRISTMAS EVE24 SERVICE Wednesday, December atat 6:00 p.m.
person and livestream In In person and livestream Wednesday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m. Scripture, Carols,Bells, Bells, Organ, Organ, and Communion Scripture, Carols, and Communion In person and livestream ~ O Carols, come let usBells, adore Organ, him... EVERY SUNDAY ~ Scripture, and Communion ~ O come let us adore him... EVERY SUNDAY ~
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Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
OPINION
The argument for a manger in Constitution Court
’d like to put up a Christmas manger scene in Constitution Court with 3-foot-high plastic figures of Mary and Joseph and a baby. For some, this is a no-brainer while for others it is controversial, so the following is my argument for doing so: Funding My church and others in town would pay for it. No taxpayer funds would be used. The reason for the season Arguably there would be no winter holiday known as Christmas if the biblical stories in Luke 2 and Matthew 1-2 were not firmly embedded in Western Culture. In Thailand which is 95% Buddhist, Christians who comprise 1% of the population have to go to great lengths to explain who Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men are. Not so in Forest Park. Even residents who don’t believe in God agree that it’s a charming story and don’t need footnotes at the bottom of the page to fill in the details. Santa Claus The jolly old elf with a white beard (and white skin) is a relative newcomer to the Christmas scene. Apparently there was a third century bishop — St. Nicholas of Myra — who gave gifts to children but a sled pulled by reindeer is a much later addition to the narrative. Check out The Night Before Christmas (1822) by Clement Clark Moore who described Santa as a “jolly old elf ” with a “little round belly,” riding a sleigh with reindeer. Separation of church and state Let’s use an AI summary of the First Amendment Establishment Clause to clarify the government relationship outlined in the Constitution The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the U.S. government from establishing or endorsing a religion … by forbidding government-sponsored churches, aiding one religion over others, or forcing financial support for religion. Key principles & tests “No Establishment”: The government cannot create a church, favor one religion,
or aid all religions. Lemon Test: A threepronged test from Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) asks if a law has a secular purpose, its primary effect neither advances nor inhibits religion, and avoids excessive government entanglement with religion. Endorsement Test: Government action shouldn’t convey a message that non-adherents are outsiders or that the state endorses religion. Coercion Test: The government must not coerce individ-
TOM HOLMES
tional place of religion at an appropriate time of the year. Freedom of religious expression The First Amendment goes on to declare, “Congress shall make no law … prohibiting the free exercise thereof [religion]; or abridging the freedom of speech. Google “freedom of religious expression and you’ll find things like: The Supreme Court’s recent decisions, particularly under the current conservative majority, have significantly shift-
ADOBE STOCK IMAGE
uals into religious activities, especially in public schools. Setting up a manger scene next to the 22-foot-high Christmas tree (which is not a Christian symbol) in Constitution Court would not be government sponsorship of religion, especially since my proposal requires no taxpayer money. It’s simply a way of recognizing the legitimate and constitu-
ed interpretations of the Establishment Clause, often prioritizing Free Exercise rights, leading to rulings that allow more government funding or support for religious activities. While earlier landmark cases like Everson v. Board of Education (1947) established a strong “wall of separation,” recent rulings tend to view government neutrality as requiring accom-
modation for religion, rather than strict separation. Would a manger scene impose religion? No. The recent Pew Research Center survey of 36,908 U.S. adults revealed that 63% of U.S. adults now identify as Christian compared to 78% in 2007. If secular humanists worry that setting up a manger scene in Constitution Court creates a slippery slope — give ’em an inch and they’ll take a mile — they haven’t been paying attention to the direction cultural winds are blowing: St. Peter’s Lutheran Church — closed St. Paul’s Lutheran Church — closed The Presbyterian Church — closed The Methodist Church — closed St. John School — closed St. Bernardine School — closed It’s almost funny. If anyone needs to worry about slippery slopes, it’s the Christians in town! In the latest village newsletter, our Village Administrator Rachell Entler wrote, “We want to remind everyone that the annual Menorah Lighting will take place on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 5 p.m. in Constitution Court. This event is always a meaningful tradition for our community, and it reflects the diversity and sense of togetherness that make Forest Park such a wonderful place to live. Amen. A manger scene would do the same What I’m asking for is giving credit where credit is due, especially when no one protested when a menorah was set up by the tree last year. Again, a Christmas tree is not Christian symbol. I read a one minute prayer before the meal at the monthly Chamber of Commerce luncheon, a practice that acknowledges the majority and respects the minority. The U.S. Congress (both the House and Senate) opens its daily sessions with a prayer, led by their official chaplain or guest chaplains, a tradition dating back to the First Continental Congress in 1774. Common sense does not require a wall of separation.
Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
A
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L O O K
B A C K
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T I M E
The dollmaker
n December 1986 Karen Rozmus was featured in the Hometown section of the Forest Park Review, for her dollmaking. “Dolls. There are hundreds of porcelain dolls everywhere you look ...” is the opening line of the article. What started as a home hobby blossomed into an enchanting almost full-time career. She made 800 dolls that year and sold them all over the country including Carson Pirie Scott & Co. With dolls it started after a visit to her great-aunt Hazel Maule in Oklahoma City who showed her the process. It included pouring the liquid porcelain into doll molds, drying them in open air, cleaning and polishing the pieces, firing them in a kiln, painting the faces with oil paint, firing again at a lower temperature, then final painting and sewing the doll parts onto the cloth body. The last step was creating dresses for the dolls and her favorite was the late Victorian period (1867 to 1898).
Jill Wagner
Dec. 10, 1986 Forest Park Review by D.D. Picken. Karen Rozmus began creating dolls in her Forest Park basement six years ago. Now she sells them across the country.
H S E FR OCAL L & NEWS
Call Jill at (708) 524-8300 or visit ForestParkReview.com/subscribe
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F O R E S T PA R K
REVIEW Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf Staff Reporter Jessica Mordacq Senior Audience Manager Stacy Coleman Contributing Editor Donna Greene Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, Robert J. Lifka Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls Marketing & Advertising Associate Emma Cullnan Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Operations Associate Susan Babin Social Media and Digital Coordinator Maribel Barrera Special Projects Manager Susan Walker Senior Advisor Dan Haley
Board of Directors Chair Eric Weinheimer Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Mary Cahillane Steve Edwards, Judy Greffin, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson, Darnell Shields, Audra Wilson HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS: PO Box 6670, River Forest, IL 6035 PHONE: (708) 366-0600 EMAIL: forestpark@wjinc.com CIRCULATION: Jill@oakpark.com ONLINE: ForestParkReview.com Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Forest Park Review, PO Box 6670, River Forest, IL 60305. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS No 0205-160) In-county subscriptions: $48 per year. $88 for two years, $118 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $82 per year. Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2025 Growing Community Media NFP.
22 Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025 HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI • Deadline: Monday at 5 p.m.
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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 US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST Plaintiff vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF WILLIE G. HENRY; FLORENCETTA HENRY; TCF NATIONAL BANK; ANITA HENRY; COURTNEY HENRY; EBONEE HENRY; MERCEDES HENRY; TIARA HENRY; JACK LYDON, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF WILLIE G. HENRY; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF FLORENCETTA HENRY, IF ANY; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendant 17 CH 13529 Calendar 61 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on January 13, 2026, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell, in person, to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-09-315-063-0000. Commonly known as 635 Rice Avenue, Bellwood, IL 60104. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. 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 Intercounty 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. IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER THE ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701¬© OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Codilis
& Associates, P.C., 15W030 North Frontage Road, Suite 100, Burr Ridge, IL 60527. (630) 794-5300. 14-23-01315 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3277542
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) 4221719. Please refer to file number 2044189. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc. com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC 601 E. William St. DECATUR IL, 62523 217-422-1719 Fax #: 217-422-1754 E-Mail: CookPleadings@hsbattys. com Attorney File No. 2044189 Attorney Code. 40387 Case Number: 25 CH 04295 TJSC#: 45-2279 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 # 25 CH 04295 I3277709
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.CHARLES S TRNKA, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF GEORGIANA M. TRNKA, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF GEORGIANA M. TRNKA, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF GEORGIANA M. TRNKA, DECEASED, SUSAN R WEAVER, SHERYL L TRNKA, ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, CARY ROSENTHAL, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF GEORGIANA M. TRNKA, DECEASED Defendants 25 CH 04295 1811 DOWNING AVE. WESTCHESTER, IL 60154 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on September 5, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 6, 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 1811 DOWNING AVE., WESTCHESTER, IL 60154 Property Index No. 15-20-403016-0000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $206,676.20. 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
LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified vendors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7�30 a.m. to 3�00 p.m. local time until 3�00 p.m. on Friday, January 9, 2026 for the following: Village of Oak Park 2026 Street Lighting & Traffic Control Materials Pricing Bid Number: 26�104 Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at �708� 358�5700 during the above hours. Published in Wednesday Journal December 17, 2025
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CALENDAR NUMBER� 01�26�Z HEARING DATE� January 7, 2026 TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302 APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Azim Hemani, seeking a variance from Section 7�7�15�E��2� of the Oak Park Sign Code, in order to allow a canopy above the entrance to be one foot from the curb line, rather than the required two feet, at 1140 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�07�119�014� 0000 �“Subject Property”), in the DT�1 Downtown Zoning District �Downtown Central SubDistrict).
A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing. 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 17, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park ��Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302�� will receive electronic proposals until 11�00 A.M. on Friday, January 2, 2026, for the following: 25�10 Sewer Cleaning and Inspection. Proposals can be sent electronically to eavgoustakis@oak-park.us. In general, the contract will require the following work: light cleaning of sewer segments to be inspected, inspecting sewer segments by means of closed-circuit television �CCTV�, and providing reports of CCTV inspections at locations shown, and all appurtenant work thereto. All CCTV inspections shall be performed in accordance with NASSCO’s pipeline assessment certification program �PACP� standards. Proposal forms may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www. oak-park.us/bid starting on Thursday, Decemeber 18. For questions, please call or email Elaine Avgoustakis, �708� 358� 5726, eavgoustakis@oak-park. us The work to be performed pursuant to this Proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq. THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer Published in Wednesday Journal December 17, 2025
The Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District #97 will receive sealed copier equipment and the installation of said equipment RFPs at the Administrative Office located at 260 Madison Street – Oak Park, IL, 60302, until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Copies of specifications may be secured at the Oak Park Elementary School District #97 District Office, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, but only able to be picked up by emailing Michael Arensdorff (marensdorff@ op97.org), to schedule a time. Responses mailed or delivered shall be marked to the attention of: Oak Park School District 97 Attn. Mr. Michael Arensdorff 260 Madison Street Oak Park, Illinois 60302 The front of the envelope should be clearly marked “District 97 Copier RFP”. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Mr. Michael Arensdorff at (708) 5243015 or marensdorff@op97.org. Faxed or electronically submitted RFPs will not be accepted. Responses Due Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 3:00 P.M. Only those responses complying with the provision and specification of the response will be considered. The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities, qualification or irregularities and/or reject any or all responses, when in its opinion, such action will serve the best interest of the Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District 97. Lonya Boose, Board Secretary Published in Wednesday Journal December 17, 2025
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
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All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA
Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
Events
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Forest Park Review, December 17, 2025
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