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REVIEW F O R E S T PA R K

DECEMBER 23, 2020

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Community of Caring Barber leaves town after 54 years

PAGE 12

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State audit of D209 supt.’s last district shows ‘widespread problems’ ‘Comparatively and objectively, it’s bad,’ says Mississippi audit rep By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

A Dec. 14 press release from the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor, Shad White, listed problems with the annual audit of the Holmes County School Department, where District 209’s new superintendent, James Henderson, worked just prior to making the move to Illinois. The audit was “for the year ended June 30, 2020,” which covered the time during which Henderson was employed by the Holmes County Consolidated School District. In the release, White said, “This audit reveals widespread problems. The public school students of Holmes County and the taxpayers are the victims here. As a product of public schools myself, my office remains committed to uncovering and stopping this sort of misspending.” Logan Reeves, media relations spokesperson for the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor, spoke to the See HENDERSON on page 13

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

SEASON OF GIVING

Marie Beckman organizes toys donated during the annual Mayor’s Toy Drive, held via drive-by this year on Dec. 18 at the American Legon on Circle Avenue.

Altenheim grant specifies mixed use of site Grant will demolish buildings, open path for development proposals By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

An intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the village of Forest Park, which must be signed before the

IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 THIS Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

$750,000 grant money is released for the demolition of several decrepit buildings on the Altenheim property, is being reviewed by the village attorney and engineer. It will go to the village council for approval at the Jan. 11 meeting. The agreement relates to the 11 acres of village owned property south of Mad-

Domestic violence on the rise PAGE 5

ison Street. According to Village Administrator Tim Gillian, the IGA is a “fairly voluminous document,” including sections about the demolition that the village engineer, Christopher B. Burke EngineerSee ALTENHEIM on page 5

Chamber president finishes 3-year term PAGE 8

Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

Green infrastructure grant comes through Village hall employee parking lot to be redone with permeable pavers

Gillian also plans to make the project specifications available for future projects. “We’re hopeful that more and more developers will start moving this way” in terms of green infrastructure, he said. The total budget for the project is $345,600,

and the MWRD will pay $288,000 of that. The village will pay the remainder. The description in the original application explained that this project will help prevent flooding during heavy rainfall. “The proposed Permeable Paver Parking

Lot Project will significantly decrease the volume of stormwater entering the village’s combined sewers … Permeable or green pavements allow 97% of rainwater to infiltrate into the ground,” reads the application.

By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

The village of Forest Park recently received word that a green infrastructure grant applied for in July 2019 will be awarded. At the Dec. 14 village council meeting, Village Administrator Tim Gillian announced that the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) will provide funds for the village to construct a permeable paver parking lot at 510 Desplaines Ave., across from village hall, where the employee lot is located. “I’m happy to say we got it,” Gillian said during the meeting. “It’s been approved, and there were more than 30 applicants. We were one of 10 villages who will receive money.” When completed, said Gillian, the parking lot will retain as much as 40,000 gallons of rainwater during a storm.

GREENER OPTION: An MWRD grant will allow the village to install permeable pavers in the employee parking lot at 510 Desplaines Ave.

Maria Maxham

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Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

Priscilla’s Pandemic Christmas

riscilla Prentice gazed sadly out the window of her shop on Madison Street. She had opened Sniff the year before and sales of scented candles had been brisk. Now, due to the effects of COVID, sales were slow. An angry customer had just returned her Yankee candle claiming she couldn’t catch a whiff of cinnamon. Business was so bad, Priscilla had to remotely return to working part-time in human resources at a downtown law firm. She resumed her work routine, dressing professionally every morning. She even put on makeup for Zoom meetings and to conduct job interviews. She also wrote her name on her container of yogurt before placing it in the fridge. But this didn’t keep her evil twin sister, Naomi, from stealing it. Being stuck home with Naomi 24/7 was the most difficult aspect of the pandemic. It had started in January, when Naomi was placed on house arrest after she was caught shoplifting at Walmart. Now they were closing in on a year of uncomfortable closeness. Priscilla sat with her laptop at the kitchen table, trying to conduct an interview, while Naomi loudly dried her hair in the background. They had a bitter sibling rivalry. Naomi was four minutes older and was always lording it over her “little sister.” Last Christmas had been so different. She had reunited with Dusty, her childhood love. He had also saved her life, while plowing sidewalks for Public Works. Dusty was still happy in his job. He loved working outdoors and didn’t complain about having to wear a mask. He had gotten pretty down, though, when the No Gloves softball tournament was canceled. Plus, he couldn’t hang out at Barfy’s anymore. Sitting inside was prohibited and it was way too cold to drink in the beer garden. Worst of all, he and Priscilla had to postpone the lavish wedding they had planned. The reception was going to be at the VFW and catered by Parky’s. Like many engaged couples, they were in limbo. Dusty lived alone on the first floor of their two-flat and tried to ignore the upstairs

racket from Priscilla and Naomi. Priscilla was also sensitive to noise and found Naomi to be annoyingly loud. If she wasn’t mixing Margaritas in the blender, she was yakking on the phone with her friends. Priscilla endured listening to Naomi repeat the same stories over and over again. Meanwhile, Priscilla used her time to try and improve her mind. Thanks to her computer being hacked, Priscilla had become fluent in Russian. She also mastered French cooking and was putting the finishing touches on a 500-foot tapestry she had woven. Priscilla also partnered with her sister on some projects. It took them 11 days to assemble a jigsaw puzzle because Naomi had “misplaced” three of the pieces. They nearly came to blows doing a paintby-number because Naomi wouldn’t stay inside the lines. Her most annoying habit was watching movies on channels that had commercials. It took them three days to get through “Castaway.” It was a blessing to get away from Naomi and walk to her shop but Priscilla didn’t know how much longer she could keep the doors open. She heard the tinkle of the bell above the front door and instinctively reached for her mask. Dusty had made it for her. He had learned embroidery during his spare time. The mask bore Dusty’s pet name for her, “Cilla,” with a big red heart. Strangers would ask her if it was the name of a new vaccine. “I love how your mask accents your deep brown eyes,” Dusty gushed. “Yes, but don’t you miss seeing my full lips?” Priscilla asked sweetly. Dusty took Priscilla in his arms and they lowered their masks for a long kiss. Suddenly, his face clouded, “Looks like caroling is canceled, like everything else,” he complained. “We don’t need to sing,” Priscilla said brightly, “You can serenade people with your guitar.” Dusty nodded. He not only played Christmas songs, he had learned six Bach concertos. “Isn’t it time to close up?” Dusty asked, “I want to take you out for dinner.” Priscilla

JOHN RICE

frowned, “I am not sitting in a tent in December. The last time my soup froze. Let’s just pick something up and leave a generous tip.” “OK, but I want to take you on a real date. How about on Saturday night we walk around CVS again?” They strolled hand-inhand down Madison and picked up pulled pork sandwiches. After dinner, Priscilla went upstairs and was shocked to find that Naomi wasn’t home. Suddenly, there was a sharp knock on the door. “There’s a disturbance at your shop,” the Forest Park Police officer said gruffly. “You better come with me.” Priscilla was fearing the worst but spotted a long line of masked, socially-distanced, customers outside Sniff. Priscilla saw half the faces of her neighbors and other friendly folks from Forest Park. They were clutching cash, because Priscilla had stopped accepting credit cards. When she entered the shop, she spotted Naomi behind the counter. Naomi felt the need to explain why she was no longer evil. “Remember when we were doing the jigsaw puzzle, and I found the three missing pieces under my bed?” Naomi recalled, “I also found our birth certificates. The doctor got us mixed up. You were born four minutes before me. I felt like I no longer had to be the evil big sister. I violated house arrest to pass out invitations to your store all over town.” The crowd purchased every candle in the shop, along with gift certificates for their friends and family. But instead of rushing home with their treasures, they placed their scented candles 6 feet apart, on both sides of Madison Street. After they lit the candles, block after block of Madison Street was bathed in the soft light of the luminarias. As Priscilla and Dusty walked hand-inhand toward home, Priscilla confessed, “Dusty, I’m so glad you bought ‘Litter Box.’ You really do love me.” ■ 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

F O R E S T PA R K

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

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Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

Three more COVID deaths in Forest Park Aperion still operating COVID recovery wing By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office has reported three more Forest Park COVID-19 deaths: a 78-year-old female who passed away from COVID-19 on Dec. 19; a 74-year-old man who died on Dec. 12; and a 100-year-old woman who died on Dec. 8. All three were residents of Aperion Forest Park, 8200 Roosevelt Rd. This brings Forest Park’s COVID-19 death total to 24 since the beginning of the pandemic. Eleven of the total deaths have happened since Nov. 19, and eight in December alone. Fourteen were among residents of Aperion. Long-term care facilities have been hit hard by COVID-19, and Aperion Forest Park has experienced two outbreaks so far.

COVID-19 vaccines coming soon to Aperion

But Aperion also has a COVID recovery wing, established not long after the COVID pandemic began, to help alleviate the burden of hospitals. In an email interview in May 2020, media relations from Aperion told the Review, “We are assisting local hospitals to ease their bed capacity for patients who no longer qualify for hospital stays but are not yet well enough to go home.” Current media relations director for Aperion, Fred Frankel, said in an interview on Dec. 18 that part of the reason for COVID deaths at their facility is specifically because they take in recovering COVID patients from local hospitals, and recovery isn’t always a straight-forward path. “Any loss is a terrible thing,” Frankel said. But looking at the total number of COVID patients the facility has accepted and the number of recoveries helps complete the story. Frankel said he will share this information with the Review in the next few days. See maps.cookcountyil.gov/medexamcovid19/ for more information on Forest Park COVID-19 deaths.

L O O K

Staff ’s shots will be staggered in event of side effects By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

In Illinois, the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations has begun, with some health care workers receiving their first round of shots last week. At the Aperion nursing facility in Forest Park no date has been set for beginning vaccinations of staff and residents. Fred Frankel, media relations for Aperion, said Dec. 18 there was no schedule in place yet for vaccinations at the local facility. The timeline, he said, is being set by the government, and the facility will be notified when it’s their turn for residents and staff to get the shot. “We’re waiting like everyone else,” Frankel said. “I hope it’s soon,” he added. Aperion Forest Park has approximately 195 residents and between 175 and 185 staff members, according to Frankel. Vaccinations for staff will be staggered to ensure continuance of care if side effects of the vaccine are experienced. During a Dec. 16 press briefing, Illinois Department of Health (IDPH) director Dr. Ngozi

B A C K

I N

T I M E . . .

HOME ALONE IN FOREST PARK Amber and Sam Alonzo, Jr. were selected to become extras in “Home Alone 2, Lost in New York” in 1992. Amber was a second grader at Betsy Ross. Sam, a sixth grader at Forest Park Middle School, even cut his fashionable rattail for the role, which he was paid an additional $25 to do. Macauley Culkin provided comic relief between takes and even autographed the sheet music used on set.

–Jill Wagner

Amber (left) and Sam Alonzo Jr. with Mccauley Culkin (well, actually, a cardboard cutout). The Alonzos were extras on the set of “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” which was filmed in 1992. Photo by Frank Pinc.

Ezike discussed the COVID-19 vaccination program, mentioning that long-term care facility employees and residents may begin receiving the vaccine beginning on Dec. 28. Both health care personnel and long-term care facility residents will be administered COVID-19 vaccines as part of the IDPH’s Phase 1a plan of distribution. According to the IDPH website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with pharmacies, such as Walgreens and CVS, to establish a system of distribution to residents and staff of long-term care facilities, such as Aperion Forest Park, 8200 Roosevelt Rd. But even with the vaccine coming soon, Frankel said he still has a “healthy fear” of what the future will be in healthcare and long-term care facilities like Aperion. “We won’t be going back to how it was before,” Frankel said, adding that masks will still be worn after vaccinations, for example. For how long? Nobody knows right now. “The vaccines are a positive thing; don’t get me wrong,” Frankel said. But he wants to make sure focus is kept on being safe even after most people have received the shot. There will still be, said Frankel, a lot of “wait and see” in terms of how protocols will change, if at all, and on what timeline, post vaccine.

Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

“It’s common, in a town like Forest Park, which is a sought-after location, to leave it to the markets to determine what’s feasible,” Hoskins said. “We can let the markets determine the use and come to us with a fair offer.” The RFP can specify what percentage of the land the village wants developed and can contain requirements about keeping spaces green or developing community outdoor use. The village has begun talking to its contracted planner about developing an RFP. Hoskins said he plans to ask the four commissioners for a list of amenities they’d like to see on the Altenheim space. “A sledding hill has been mentioned before,” Hoskins said. And he himself likes the idea of a Peace Garden, similar to the one in Chicago’s Lincoln Park. “We could have a pond, stocked with decorative goldfish. There are a lot of possibilities,” Hoskins said. On Dec. 16, notice of the demolition project was listed in construction trade magazines, said Gillian. Bids will be opened and read on Jan. 13. The project will be awarded to the lowest bidder at the Jan. 25 village council meeting. It was able to go out to bid so quickly after the IGA arrived because, at a June 22 village council meeting, the mayor and commissioners voted unanimously to approve project specifications and contract documents in order to authorize advertising of bids as soon FILE as funds were available. COMING DOWN: The derelict buildings on the village owned Altenheim property are one step closer to demolition, since an agreement between Gillian also said he’s heard word the state and village is undergoing review. about another potential freeze on grants from the state. “We’re hopapproximately five acres of the 11-acre propHe reiterated the fact that he has never ing that doesn’t happen,” he said. erty green, while considering development pushed for and certainly doesn’t want to see of the rest, would be ideal. the entire 11 acres developed. The $750,000 state grant was the result of “I’m open to compromise,” Hoskins said. initial conversations between Hoskins and “It doesn’t have to be all developed. That’s from page 1 legislators in Springfield with whom he crazy.” spoke not long after his election about the Like Gillian, Hoskins said language in the neering, needs to look at. An attorney’s eyes on the document are also important, said village’s need to demolish the derelict build- IGA doesn’t specify what acreage should or ings. These individuals included Illinois must be developed. And the term “prepare Gillian. A group called Save the Forest Park Green Within the document is a section referring State Rep. Chris Welch, Acting Director of the site” means simply removing all debris, the DCEO Erin Guthrie, Illinois State Sen. grading and seeding it, said Steve Glinke, Space is collecting survey results to present to future use of the land post-demolition, to the village council at its Jan. 11 meeting. which states that the village “will prepare Kimberly Lightford and members of Sen. head of the Department of Public Health and To participate, visit tinyurl.com/ycjav3fu. Safety. the site for a future mix-use that will consist Don Harmon’s staff. The Facebook group for Save the Forest He impressed upon them that the buildContingencies on use of land in exchange of residential, commercial, and green space, Park Green Space is located at facebook. ings pose a safety hazard. But he also disfor grant money aren’t unusual. In fact, a to be paid via other funding sources.” com/groups/638622567037967. cussed the possibility of future economic 2018 Community Development Block Grant But there is no stipulation regarding how The survey is short, just seven questions, much acreage must be allocated on any of development on a part of the property. He Capital Improvement/Demolition grant apput forth the idea of a Transit Oriented plication, submitted under former Mayor and easy to fill out but seems to reflect the those aforementioned uses. perspective of the survey’s organizers. “Nothing binds us to any certain use for Development (TOD), which could include Tony Calderone’s administration but ultiany percentage of the land,” Gillian said. residential and commercial uses and would mately not awarded, was made by the vilFor example, only a yes/no response is al“If the village leaders determine through potentially generate property tax revenue, lage for demolition of the chapel on the Allowed for the questions “Do you support whatever mechanism they use that it will be increase traffic to existing businesses and tenheim property. In that grant application, saving the Forest Park Green Space for a 75 percent green space, for example, that’s restaurants during construction, create the safety concerns are cited first, but plans community park or recreation area?” and jobs, and further expand Forest Park’s eco- for future development are mentioned. what it will be.” “Are you in favor of developing Forest Park’s Hoskins said he wants to release a request Mayor Rory Hoskins has supported de- nomic base. last open green space (South Altenheim) “This is an economic development grant,” for proposal (RFP), providing developers velopment of at least a part of the property with condominiums, townhouses or apartsince he ran for office, stating during the Hoskins said this week. “The state does ex- the opportunity to come up with plans the ments?” village can accept or reject. mayoral campaign that he thought keeping pect some job creation.”

ALTENHEIM

Land use debated

Local group asks for resident input on Altenheim

Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

Drunk driver evades police till he runs out of gas

Police responded to reports of a “slumper” in a car at Roosevelt Road and Desplaines Avenue on Dec. 15 at 6:51 a.m. The car was not moving. The fire department parked a vehicle in front of the car, and the police parked behind it. The officer opened the driver’s door and told him to put the vehicle in park and get out of the car. The driver, described as having glassy eyes and slurred speech and smelling of alcohol, did not cooperate. Instead, he drove away “at a high rate of speed,” according to the police report, running a red light. The car was observed again by Forest Park police at Cermak and Desplaines with the driver again slumped over the wheel. The offender took off again when he saw the police. A Chicago police helicopter later spotted the vehicle stalled on I-290 around 25th Avenue. A male reportedly exited the vehicle and was running away from it.

Police took the man into custody and brought him to the station, where he said, “I would’ve gotten away if my car didn’t run out of gas,” according to the police report. He was charged with the felonies of aggravated fleeing/eluding a police officer and aggravated DUI.

Gun found in repossessed car An employee of Greater Chicago Finance, 8331 Roosevelt Road, called police on Dec. 15 at 11:33 a.m. when she was alerted that a car that had just been repossessed had a gun in the back seat. The black and silver handgun was in a black Gucci purse on the floor in the back seat. It was loaded, with one bullet in the chamber and 13 in the magazine. Another loaded magazine was found in the purse.

Catalytic converter stolen A man on the 7300 block of Madison Street called police on Dec. 17 at 7:24 p.m. when he

turned on his car, noticed it sounded louder than normal, and discovered his catalytic converter had been stolen.

Cars damaged overnight A man on the 300 block of Circle Avenue called police on Dec. 19 at 12:16 a.m. when he discovered extensive damage had been done to his car. Police observed a large scratch and a broken windshield, most likely caused by a brick thrown at it. There was also damage to the hood. The victim said the trunk was open when he initially observed the damage, but he did not notice anything missing. The back window of a car was smashed out and a piece of concrete lay near the back bumper on the 7700 block of Harvard Street on Dec. 19. Police were called, on Dec. 20 at 9:54 a.m., to investigate

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Dec. 14-20, 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. These cases have not been adjudicated.

Compiled by Maria Maxham

D209 implements ‘No Zero’ grading policy Change gives students ‘a chance to crawl back’ By MICHAEL ROMAIN Contributing Reporter

Starting Jan. 4, the lowest grade teachers in District 209 will be able to give students on any assignment or test is 50 percent, district officials announced last week. The D209 school board voted unanimously on the new policy at a Dec. 14 special meeting. Board member Claudia Medina was absent. Dan Johnson, the district’s director of Student and Family Services, told board members on Dec. 14 that students will still receive F’s — they just won’t receive percentages lower than 50 percent.

Although the district “upholds the expectation that students complete assignments,” extremely low percentages may penalize some students unnecessarily, Johnson said. “What we see from grading experts is this idea that when you have a grading scale that goes from 0 to 59 for an F, 60 to 69 for a D, 70 to 79 for a C and so forth, you have about a 60 percentage point gap to describe the grade of an F,” he said. “For our students who unfortunately are not completing their assignments or haven’t done their absolute best on it, we see the devastating impact of that zero or low grade on their overall grade.” Johnson said that putting a 50 percent floor on grading gives students “a chance to crawl back, to regain some ground lost without having to overcome a significant mathematical disadvantage of doing so.” Johnson said while teachers determine the grades students receive, the new policy

g n a H e r e h in t k r a P t s e For

indicates that the superintendent “shall establish a system of grading and that system is what is being modified through this board policy.” In a statement released Dec. 14, D209 Supt. James Henderson explained that “a letter grade is not the end all, be all for determining whether our students have an understanding of the material,” Henderson added that administrators “know this year has presented a multitude of challenges. Our children are overwhelmed. Our parents are overwhelmed. The last thing we need is for them to bear the weight of a failing grade when they have tried so hard to adjust to this new way of learning.” “This is the type of innovation and thought process that we have to have as adults moving forward,” said D209 Board President Rodney Alexander during the

Dec. 14 meeting. “The expectation is that kids will do their assignments and, for the most part that’s what happens,” said board member Ned Wagner. “I think [when] the student isn’t doing their assignment, then something is going on socially or emotionally; maybe something is going on in the family. Why punish them for that?” In the Dec. 14 statement, D209 officials said that the new policy “does not change the district’s promotion policy,” adding that the “decision to promote a student to the next level will still be based on successful completion of the curriculum, attendance, and participation in required state assignments. Students will not be promoted based on their age or any other social factors not related to academic performance.”

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Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

Food for Veterans The Greater Chicago Food Depository in partnership with Hines VA Hospital and AmeriCorps is providing food for those who served. Visit the on-site food pantry that provides nutritious and healthy food for Veterans. Every Thursday, including Dec. 23 and 30, from 10 a.m. until noon. Veterans will be asked to provide identification (examples include:VA ID card, DD214 & photo ID, VA appointment slip & photo ID). Location is 5000 S. 5th Ave., Hines, IL. Call 707-202-8387 for more information.

Musical Hits of the 60s

Winter Break Camp at the Park

The Forest Park Library is hosting on online event on Dec. 30 from 6 to 7 p.m. featuring accomplished performers Matt and Cynthia Gruel, who will bring you a live cabaret performance of inspiring and joyful songs of the 60s. This musical and storytelling cabaret includes songs from such artists as James Brown, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Neil Diamond and more! Join the event at https://youtu.be/ jJzXKQcQwNM

The Park District is hosting a winter break camp for kids. Register at http://bit.ly/ WinterBreakCamp2, which runs from Dec. 28 to 20. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the cost is $90 for residents and $120 for nonresidents. Kids will patriciate in sports, crafts and more.

Dec. 23 – 30

BIG WEEK

Song-for-Song with Two Great Songwriters FitzGerald’s is closing out their 12 Streams of Christmas with a Song-For-Song series featuring James McMurtry and Pat MacDonald, two great songwriters sharing a live stream. It’s a split-screen experience where they’ll trade a song for a song, chat a bit, and share the spotlight. A link to the live stream will be emailed at 7 p.m. on Dec. 23. Tune in via FitzGerald’s Facebook page or via YouTube. The show will be live on Dec. 23 at 8 p.m. Visit fitzgeraldsnightclub.com/ for more information and to sign up for this free event.

Virtual Social Work Sessions In September 2020, the library welcomed social work intern Lizzy Marks from Loyola University School of Social Work. During her time with the Library, Lizzy works with the public for basic needs assessment, resource referral, or simply friendly conversation as well as being a resource to staff. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be offering virtual social work sessions with Lizzy. If you are interested, please email socialworkintern@fppl.org to set up a Zoom session.

Emotional Support Text Line The Illinois Department of Human Services’ Mental Health Division has launched a free-of-charge emotional support text line, Call4Calm, for Illinois residents experiencing stress and mental health issues related to COVID-19. Individuals who would like to speak with a mental health professional can text “TALK” to 5-5-2-0-2-0, or for Spanish, “HABLAR” to the same number: 5-5-2-0-2-0. Call4Calm is free to use, and individuals will remain anonymous. Once a resident sends a text to the hotline, within 24 hours they will receive a call from a counselor employed by a local community mental health center to provide support.

Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

CALL FOR HELP: Sarah’s Inn is one of the local agencies providing help for people suffering from domestic abuse. Sarah’s Inn has 24-hour phone and text crisis lines: 708-3864225 (phone) / 708-792-3120 (text) File photo

Domestic abuse during the holidays Help can be a phone call away

obtained 626 orders of protection • 250 children who witnessed violence received free counseling Counterintuitively, statistics reveal that calls to emergency hotlines do not spike durBy TOM HOLMES ing the holidays. Contributing Reporter “Domestic violence does not stop during the holidays,” said Carol Gall, director of What emotions do you associate with the Sarah’s Inn. “Like with any family having holidays? issues, the holidays are a time when we can For children it’s often excitement. If you see a lull in people reaching out for help, as have recently lost a loved one, sadness may they want to get through the holidays, espedominate. Unfortunately, the dominant feel- cially if they have children.” ing for too many Forest Park women will be “Immediately following the holidays,” fear because they are victims of domestic however, “we tend to see an uptick in the violence. number of calls and people reaching out.” The sad reality is that millions of AmeriThe National Institutes of Health notes cans are affected by abuse from people they that domestic violence is all about power. live with. According to the National Coali- Constance Morris House, which keeps the tion Against Domestic Violence, “On aver- location of its shelter “undisclosed,” is the age, nearly 20 people per minute are physi- other agency in our area that serves the cally abused by an intimate partner in the needs of survivors. The Constance Morris United States. During one year, this equates website states, “Domestic violence is a patto more than 10 million women and men. tern of coercive behavior that one person Sarah’s Inn, an agency headquartered in exercises over another to gain power and Forest Park, serves the needs of victims, control.” often referred to as survivors, of domestic Gall noted that this imbalance of power violence. Their statistics regarding services might also explain a victim’s resistance to provided for 2016 — the most recent year re- reaching out. “Perpetrators of abuse use verferred to on their website — reveal the ex- bal abuse, manipulation, and threats to exert tent of the problem in our area: their power and control over their partner, • 1,450 survivors received counseling breaking down their self-esteem and self• 605 survivors, helped by legal advocates, worth, and making them feel as if they have no other options.” Money is another way abusers try to control If you are being abused, call 911 if it is an emergency, or one of victims. “One family,” the following hotlines for support, referrals and information: Gall recalled, “came to 708-386-4225 Sarah’s Inn us after years of experi708-485-5254 Constance Morris House encing verbal and emotional abuse from their 800-799-SAFE (7233) National Domestic Violence Hotline spouse, afraid that they

Who to call

would lose everything financially if they left their abusive partner and were not be able to provide for their children, and Sarah’s Inn helped them with emergency financial support for first and last month’s rent and provided food and toiletries from our pantry.” A list of signs of abuse included on the Constance Morris website says that perpetrators are often extremely jealous and possessive, attempt to isolate their victims from friends and family, and destroy personal property. Gall told the story of “another victim who arrived at our front door with a car that had been vandalized by their abusive partner so that they could not leave and Sarah’s Inn provided them with emergency financial support, towing their car and having it fixed so they could have safe transportation to their job.” Lauren Pagan, director of Domestic Violence Advocacy at Constance Morris House, speculated that the lower-than-expected number of emergency hotline calls may be due to the fact that leaving a relationship, even if it is abusive, is often experienced as a loss to be grieved. The experience at Morris House, she added, is that use of their legal services tends to increase after the holidays when survivors seek orders of protection. The police are often the first responders to come on the scene in cases of domestic violence. “One family,” Gall said, “was linked to us through a local police department after the victim experienced severe physical injuries that landed them in the hospital and we supported them in finding safe housing while they healed physically and began their emotional healing journey.” Forest Park Deputy Chief of Police Ken Gross noted that dealing with domestic violence takes an emotional toll on his offi-

cers. And the existence of four cribs at the Constance Morris emergency shelter is a reminder that abuse affects children as well as adults. “Acts of domestic violence taking place in the presence of children,” said Gross, “are particularly upsetting for our officers, along with the awareness that witnessing these events is possibly teaching children a pattern of abuse that they may carry on or accept in relationships as they mature.” Regarding legal action, or the lack of it, Gross said, “I think the greatest frustration that officers feel is when a domestic violence arrest is made and the victim does not follow through with court proceedings. It also is upsetting to repeatedly go to an address where domestic violence is reported with no solution to the ongoing troubles.” UN Women, the United Nations organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, attempts to help women in abusive relationships by reminding them that they are often not completely helpless. Their website says, “If you think you are being abused, seek help.” These tips provide guidance on how to find safety and support: • Consider sharing your concerns with a trusted friend, family member or neighbor • Develop an escape strategy • If possible, keep your telephone always charged • Talk with someone who has been trained to help by calling a local helpline. • Try to identify patterns in your partner’s use and level of violence. Both Sarah’s Inn and Constance Morris House have extensive programs and trained staff which are available to women, and sometimes men, who are caught in abusive relationships. In addition, Morris House has an emergency shelter with 20 beds and four cribs.

Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

Holiday crime prevention tips from police Keep packages, vehicles and your family safe By MARIA MAXHAM Editor

The Forest Park Police Department has put out a list of holiday crime prevention tips. “The holiday season is a time of celebration, but unfortunately, can create a rich environment for certain types of crimes, thefts, and scams,” reads the informational guide put out for residents. As follows are some of the tips recommended by the police department. Mail and package theft Choose a delivery option that allows for you to be home to receive the packages. If this isn’t possible, have packages delivered to your work (check with your employer first), delivered to the home of a trusted friend or relative, or held at the local Post Office for pick up. You can also look into ship-to-store options, where you can pick items up at the store from which you’re ordering. Another option is having items delivered to one of Amazon’s lockers. Request that your package require signa-

ture confirmation on delivery. Track your package. Consider installing a security camera doorbell; footage can be very helpful in prosecution of package theft offenders. Burglary to Vehicles When storing items purchased at stores, place them out of sight. The best place is in a locked trunk. Do not leave your purse, wallet or phone in plain view. Keep all car doors locked and windows closed while in or out of your car. Set your alarm or use an anti-theft device. If you must shop at night, park in a welllighted area. Park as close as you can to your destination and take notice of where you parked. Never leave your car unoccupied with the motor running or with children inside. Even though it’s cold and the impulse to warm up the car strong, unoccupied and running vehicles provide a temptation for potential thieves. Phone Scams According to the Forest Park Police Department, the two most common phone scams involve someone calling to say you owe money or you’ve won money. In both scenarios, the caller may attempt to get you to send money (or gift cards) or divulge banking information. Don’t be fooled, and don’t give out any information. The IRS never announces audits via phone calls. Legitimate businesses won’t threaten to involve police or use profanity. Make it a rule to ask advice of a knowledgeable relative, friend, financial advisor or attorney before investing your money. Beware of unfamiliar individuals or firms calling from out of state offering fantastic or irresistible bargains. Remember, when dealing with telemarketing solicitations, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Questions can be directed to the Forest Park Police Department at 708-615-6254. Suspicious activity or an emergency warrant a call to 9-1-1.

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Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

FORESTPARKREVIEW.COM

C R I M E

Special Advertising Section

Christmas These items were obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, XXX, 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.

â€”Compiled by Devin Rose

2020

A GUIDE TO AREA CHURCH SERVICES

www.unitytemple.org holiday services at

Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation Christmas Eve Services Thursday, December 24, 2020 4pm Christmas Pageant & Worship for All Ages 7:30pm Musical Prelude 8pm Candlelight Service with Choir, Carols and Readings

May the blessings of a healthy and joyous Christmas be yours!

CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE

FORESTPARKREVIEW.COM

Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

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.

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH During the pandemic members of Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest have gathered for live-streamed 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-year-old 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.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:5

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.

Christmas worship at Grace River Forest on YouTube Children’s Service of Lessons and Carols Premieres at 4:15pm on December 24 on the Grace River Forest channel on YouTube. A 70-year tradition in a new video format.

Live-stream services December 24, 7pm Special music and candlelight singing of “Silent Night”

December 25, 10am Hymns, scripture and preaching 7300 Division St.▪︎ River Forest ▪︎ 708-366-6900 ▪︎ GraceRiverForest.org

“Peace on earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day.” – Helen Steiner Rice

Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

After 54 years, barber leaves Forest Park John Di Pinto now works in Elmwood Park By JOHN RICE Contributing Reporter

John Di Pinto, 78, operated a barber shop on the northwest corner of Desplaines & Madison for 54 years. Recently, he closed his shop and his revolving barber’s pole was taken down. Di Pinto, though, is grateful for all the loyal customers who flocked to his shop over the years. “They are like family. I worked hard to make them feel good and look good,” he said. Di Pinto still speaks with a strong Italian accent. That’s because he didn’t come to the United States until he was 16. His family came from the mountainous region of Abruzzi. That is where Di Pinto first learned his trade at the age of 14. There is a long tradition of Italian men becoming barbers, going back to ancient Rome. His parents, though, did not see much future for him in Italy, so they immigrated to

America. His dad, Vincenzo, couldn’t speak English but was able to find work. His mom, Nunzio, was a housewife. He had one brother, Joe, who also became a barber. They worked together at the Forest Park shop for 13 years. Di Pinto opened the shop in 1967. The barber’s union had assigned him there and he liked the location so much, he took out a loan to buy it. “I had been looking for my own shop,” he recalled. “Forest Park was a beautiful town. The customers are super people.” He also liked working alongside his brother. They not only cut hair together but also bought three buildings in Berwyn and rehabbed them. Di Pinto had a home in Berwyn, where he and his wife Diane raised two sons, Benton and Joseph. In 1980, Joe bought his own shop in Burbank. He was replaced by Di Pinto’s longtime partner, Lee Rijor. The shop had almost a party atmosphere. It was the kind of old-school place where socializing was as important as getting a good haircut. “I got to love the people,” Di Pinto said. “I couldn’t please them all but I had to try. I still love them. I didn’t want to leave.” Last year, Rijor left to work at a barber

shop in Rockford. Di Pinto found himself working alone for the first time. He and Diane moved to Chicago to be closer to their four grandsons. The couple has now been married for 56 years. The end finally came for the little shop on Madison Street. Di Pinto took it hard. “It was more than a business; it was like my home.” But he found a new home at another old-school shop called Frank’s Barber Salon, founded in 1926. Di Pinto is now cutting hair

at 7308 W. Grand in Elmwood Park. The proprietor, Frank Shemitraku, emigrated from Albania. His shop has a classic feel and his customers pay cash. Di Pinto is hoping some of his old customers follow him to Frank’s. He encourages them to call him at 708-366-9822. They can reconnect with a sweet man who never complains and who will address you “young man” regardless of your age.

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The Wright House, owned by Shelley Wright, is hosting a pop-up art gallery at the old Hallmark store, 7443 Madison St. The last two days are Dec. 23 and 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit thewrighthouse.net for more information. In this photo, Brad Hindsley of Chicago gets ready to retrieve art from the wall at Art Pop Shop.

Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

HENDERSON

said. “Maybe they overlooked something.”

Moving expenses

Holmes County audit issues

Henderson and/or the board were also asked to reimburse the district for $8,000 in moving expenses that he was overpaid by the district, which puts a $1,000 cap on moving expenses. He was given $9,000. In the audit report, the district referred to a 2018 attorney general opinion stating that an agency can pay moving expenses “as long as the original contract of employment included those expenses as part of the compensation package.” The district pointed out that Henderson’s contract specifically provided for $9,000 in expenses to move to the district. State auditors, however, said that applies only to state employees and not to the district’s superintendent. Anderson said the contract negotiation was handled by district attorney Ben Piazza. “Maybe he wasn’t paying attention,” Anderson said. “We were given the contract, and we voted to approve it.”

from page 1 Review on Dec. 21 about the audit. Reeves said the very fact that the auditor’s office sent out a press release is significant. “These are really bad business practices,” said Reeves. “Comparatively and objectively, it’s bad.” He added these are “not routine findings.” The press release listed what the auditors considered “notable findings,” including the following: ■ The district paying more than $4,200 for a party to celebrate passage of a bond issue ultimately not passed by voters in Holmes County. The party was described as a celebration for parents, an “adults only” event to which people were invited to bring their own alcoholic beverage of choice. ■ Meeting minutes revealed that the board voted to give Henderson a salary of $160,000. However, he was paid $170,000 annually and reimbursed for relocation expenses in excess of legal limits. ■ Payments for purchases totaling $14,000 were made to companies owned by Henderson’s relatives without proper disclosure to the board. This matter will be further investigated by the Mississippi Ethics Commission.

On Dec. 15, the Review spoke about the audit with Henderson.

The ‘BYOB’ party In regard to the $4,200 party, Henderson said the party was in “celebration” of the passage of a bond issue. This was an $18.4 million bond issue to rebuild three schools and implement necessary infrastructure repairs, put to referendum and ultimately not passed during the election on Nov. 5, 2019. The party was on Nov. 2. Henderson later said it said it was a “get-out-the-vote” celebration, and an additional community engagement movie night for students was provided as well. The flyer itself says it’s an event “Celebrating Passage of the 2019 School Bond Referendum.” The $4,200 mentioned in the audit, Henderson said, was spent on food for the community. Half of the $4,200 was paid with funds raised by the community and half was paid for by the district. The audit report mentioned only the total amount, however, calling it a “misappropriation of public funds” due to “inadequate controls surrounding the district’s expenses.” It was, suggested the report, the responsibility of the superintendent, since, according to the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, the “School Board assigns all executive and administrative duties to the Superintendent, who is properly licensed and chosen in the matter prescribed by law.” Henderson said he was bothered by the phrase “bring your own bottle,” which was how the state auditor, he said, described the event. “And it’s how they painted that,” Henderson said in an interview. “And this was not the news reporters in Mississippi; this was the state auditor. You know, and so yes, I had a problem with that.” “BYOB was not on the flyer,” Henderson said emphatically. “We did create a flyer, but we did not have ‘bring your own bottle.’ He sent the Review a copy of the flyer. It reads, “Bring lawn chairs and your preferred beverage.” In a Dec. 15 Facebook post, Shad White, the Mississippi state auditor, said the audit “showed the administration of a poor school district spent thousands on a BYOY ‘adults only’ party.” And in an interview with the Review when

Contracts given to family members

Photo provided

HAUNTED BY HOLMES COUNTY? Issues at his former school district have recently put District 209 Superintendent James Henderson in the spotlight again. he first got the position in D209, Henderson himself said Holmes County is the “poorest county in the poorest state in America.” Rev. Anthony Anderson, president of the Holmes County Consolidated School District, told the Review on Dec. 21 that the board never approved anything for purchase or any amount to be spent in regard to the party. They also never approved the flyer, Anderson said. “Henderson informed the board about the celebration,” Anderson said.

Contract amount disparity Henderson said his contract was in the amount of $170,000 for both years he was employed by the district, and he had no explanation for why the board voted on $160,000 but the contract was in a different amount. He provided the Review with a photocopy of his contract showing the $170,000 salary. The auditor’s report recommended that the school district ensure all salaries are paid according to contracts approved by the board. Additionally, the state audit report recommends that Henderson repay the district $20,000 within 30 days for the additional amount he received that was never approved by the board. Henderson said, however, that since his contract was in the amount of $170,000, he did nothing wrong and there is nothing for him to repay to the district. According to Reeves, “It’s a great question” why meeting minutes showed one amount and the contract another. “Boards and commissions speak through their minutes,” Reeves said. “For whatever reason, the contract was different. As far as the audit was concerned, the minutes said something and the contract something else. There is very clearly a problem with the business practices.” Anderson, however, said that during a meeting, a motion was made for a contract in the amount of $160,000 for Henderson’s salary. Holmes County School Board attorneys, who had been in negotiation with Henderson over the final amount, brought a new salary back to the board. That final number was voted on in closed session. Anderson acknowledged that the minutes from the closed session were included in the minutes received by state auditors. “But maybe they were on separate pages,” Anderson

Auditors noted that Henderson’s relatives “were not disclosed on his related party questionnaire or within the District’s Board minutes.” District purchases totaling $8,000 were made to Henderson’s sister’s catering business, and $6,000 to his brother-in-law’s charter bus services. “Their relationship was not disclosed to the Board,” reads the audit report, with the matter being turned over to the Mississippi Department of Ethics for review. In its official response to this finding, the district said it “acknowledges this finding and will implement procedures to ensure that compliance is met on a timely basis.” Additional training will be provided to board and staff members on nepotism and ethics. When the Review asked Henderson if contracts had been awarded to family members, he said, “That is true. That is true.” But he added that there are only two restaurants in Holmes County, Mississippi. “It’s a small city … so everybody knows everybody.” His sister’s restaurant, which provided monthly meals for the board meetings, was one of the two restaurants in town. Henderson said he takes issue with the audit saying the board didn’t know it was his sister’s business. “Everyone knows the Henderson family,” he said. “Because we’re the second largest family in the area.” Additionally, said Henderson, “The president of the board told the auditors, ‘Oh no, we all know this family. We know his parents and his siblings.’ Yet, [the auditors] published what they published.” Anderson expressed a similar sentiment. “Everybody knows everybody in Holmes County. We don’t meet strangers,” Anderson said in an interview. Anderson said during lengthy work sessions, it wasn’t uncommon for the board to order food. Usually, he said, it had been Subway sandwiches. When Henderson became superintendent, he brought in some free food and asked the board what they thought of it. “We liked it fine,” said Anderson, at which point Henderson revealed it was food from his sister’s restaurant. “Henderson said he can’t just eat anyone’s cooking,” Anderson said. So arrangements were made to order food from his sister’s place for future meetings. The district’s official response, provided on the final audit report, states that, “The District acknowledges this finding and will implement procedures to ensure that compliance is met on a timely basis.” Additionally, nepotism and ethics statute training for the board and financial staff will take place. The full auditor’s report is available online at tinyurl. com/y74v7o3c.

Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

OPINION O U R

V I E W

An audit in Holmes County

hen we first met James Henderson, the new superintendent of Proviso Township High School District 209, he was quick to tell us that his previous job, in his home county in Mississippi, “was the poorest county in the poorest state in America.” He didn’t happen to mention it might also have been among the most poorly run school districts in America. That’s the reasonable conclusion one would reach when reading the audit report on the Holmes County School Department, produced this month by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. The audit covers the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. It is extremely harsh. “This audit reveals widespread problems. The public school students of Holmes County and the taxpayers are the victims here,” reads the press release from Shad White, who heads that office. The audit reports a wide array of failings on the part of the school administration and its school board. Our reporting today focuses on the district spending $4,200 for a pre-celebration of a bond referendum that did not actually receive voters’ OK. There is the conflict between district board minutes, which report that Henderson would be paid $160,000 while under a signed contract, when he was actually paid $170,000. Then there is the $14,000 that was paid to two local businesses, each owned by a Henderson sibling. “These are really bad business practices,” a spokesman for the auditor told the Review. “Comparatively and objectively, it’s bad. [These are] not routine findings.” The superintendent has his explanations and those are reported in our news coverage. We find his explanations lacking. We find these documented faults in Mississippi consistent with questions that have been raised about his performance in other districts as he has hopscotched his way toward our fragile school district. The Proviso High Schools have made a genuine comeback in recent years, having fallen into dismal circumstances in academics, in finances, in upkeep of aging facilities, in a pervasive culture of failure. The comeback came through strong leadership by a reformminded school board, under the leadership of a now departed superintendent. Further progress is not assured. An unraveling of key accomplishments is entirely possible. Honestly, we do not see what this school board saw in Dr. James Henderson. Please prove us wrong. Meanwhile, it is our intention to keep a sharp eye on both this superintendent and this school board.

Open space comes first at Altenheim It still seems backwards. The village of Forest Park is about ready to issue a Request for Proposals to see just what it is that the real estate market would like to build on the 11 publicly-owned acres at the Altenheim. We’ve made peace with the idea that a portion of that site will be sold off for development. But it ought to be the village, with active input from citizens, that spells out what portion — and which portion of the Altenheim must be preserved as open recreational space. We are still waiting for that open, honest discussion.

The stories we tell ourselves at Christmas

hat stories have you been telling your grandchildren this holiday season? What kinds of stories have you been telling yourself? People throughout recorded history seem to have always loved good stories because they entertain or provide an escape from reality or maybe even help both storytellers and hearers look at what they are experiencing in different ways. Arguably the most popular story at this time of year is what I’ll call the Santa Narrative. You know how it goes. There’s a guy who is kind of a classic grandfather who lives at the North Pole and who somehow knows everything you’ve done — good and bad — this past year. If you’ve been good, he’ll load lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh, which is pulled by flying reindeer, land on the roof of your house while you are sleeping, slide down the chimney, and place your presents under the Christmas tree and/or in the stocking you’ve hung on the fireplace mantel. Another popular story is the It’s All About Family Narrative. It’s like the Norman Rockwell painting titled, “Freedom From Want,” in which three generations of a family are seated around a long table and grandma is proudly presenting the turkey she has lovingly prepared. Everyone present is happy because that’s how family, at its best, makes you feel. A third narrative is romantic. Look at what we do. Right at the time of year when the nights are the longest and the temperature can approach zero, we transform the darkness by stringing lights on the trees and bushes in front of our homes, holding candlelight services in church on Christmas Eve, watching little girls in white dresses repeat the angels’ greeting “be not afwaid” to little shepherd boys dressed in bathrobes, and listening to Nate King Cole sing, “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.” Everybody knows it’s the best time of the year to give her a diamond ring and pop the question. Everyone, it seems, tries to create an alternative reality in which every story has a happy ending. So if you have enough cash in your checking account to supplement what Santa puts under your tree, be with family, and have someone to kiss under the mistletoe, then you can join Burl Ives and sing: Have a holly, jolly Christmas, It’s the best time of the year. Oh, ho the mistletoe Hung where you can see.

Somebody waits for you, Kiss her once for me. But if you’ve lost — someone to COVID, a marriage through divorce, the ability to be with family on Christmas Eve, a job, or a business — then Christmas 2020 might be the worst time of the year because “what used to be” seems to amplify the pain that is present in you right now. The song that fits your mood, instead of “Joy to the World,” might be one The Emotions came out with way back in 1977: ‘Tis the season to be jolly But how can I be when I have nobody. The yuletide carol doesn’t make it better Knowing that we won’t be together. What do the lonely do at Christmas? Oh, what do the lonely do at Christmas time? The Christmases — after my father died at 50 years old and then 17 years later after my divorce became final — were dark, despairing days for me. No light at the end of the tunnel. No rockin’ around the Christmas tree. My only option seemed to be “fake it till I make it.” The only story that helped was the one about a young woman getting pregnant before she was married, and when she tried to explain that “God did it,” her friends snickered and said, “Yeah, right, and Santa is skinny enough to slide down your chimney.” In that story a lot of things go wrong — no room at the inn and fleeing to Egypt as refugees to escape a paranoid, ruthless ruler. But a lot of unexpected good things happened as well: shepherds telling an unbelievable story about an angel bearing good news and the three wise men on camels following a star. Hallmark and Disney always want to turn the story into a romantic fantasy in which tragic story lines are instantly transformed by the arrival of the cavalry or Spiderman or a politician who promises to make everything right again. No, this story is about real life — no instant gratification, no simple solutions — and what is transformed is not a polarized, broken world but the souls of those few who trust the messengers enough to live the narrative they have been told. So which story are you telling yourself, and your children and your grandchildren, this Christmas? All of them are good and meaningful when told at the right time and in the right place. The question seems to be: “Do we need an escape from — or strength and courage to deal with — reality?” Maybe it’s a generous portion of both.

TOM

HOLMES

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Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

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What’s all the fuss about? What’s with this fuss about a sign [Bridge mural vandal finally caught, News, Dec. 9] in the village? The sentence “No Human Is Illegal” does not make sense, semantically. It is obvious and self-evident that no human is illegal. However, it only makes sense if this is a response to immigration laws that dictate when persons are living illegally in a nation without necessary papers, against the law, then by a stretch, it make some sense. Immigration laws are disobeyed worldwide, so in that sense, millions of humans are illegally residing in nations, including America. I think federal immigration laws should be enforced. Of course, a person may do illegal things, but you cannot say that the person is illegal. That should be obvious.

Merlla Malone

Forest Park

To run an obituary Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com or fax: 708/524-0447 before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.

Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

We are OPEN Christmas Eve!

RESIDENTIAL — COMMERCIAL — RETAIL — CHURCHES — SCHOOLS

RibFest Every Day! Mickey’s is the place!

Mickey’s Rib Special

B.B.Q. RIBS & CHICKEN BURGERS & HOT DOGS

1/2 Slab Dinner

$11.99

Full Slab Dinner

$17.99

includes fries or baked potato, coleslaw and garlic bread

525 N Harlem Ave, Oak Park (708) 848-3333 11am - 9pm Daily

3 Vienna Hot Dogs w/ Fries $ .49

Italian Beef Sandwich w/ Fries $ .49

Wednesday

Gyros Plate Dinner 1 lb meat, 2 pita breads, fries & 3 cups sauce $10.99

Every day Special!

Gyros with fries $7.99

1/4 Lb Double Cheeseburger

Big Mickey! $ .99

Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home

Since 1880

SERVING OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST SINCE 1976

Welcome Our New Dermatologist Dr. Regina O’Brien

Family Owned & Operated

Dr. O’Brien is now accepting patients at IDI Oak Park.

Charles Williams, Owner/Funeral Director 203 S. Marion St. Oak Park 60302 708/383-3191

719 South Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60302 Schedule your appointment. Call (708) 419-3216

IDI PRINT AD.indd 1

11/23/20 4:52 PM

Forest Park Review, December 23, 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 PART TIME HELP WANTED

SUBURBAN RENTALS

SPOTLESS CARWASH at 7343 Roosevelt and 7802 Madison St in Forest Park is in need of an attendant. We are looking for someone who likes to be outside and is friendly and likes people.

OAK PARK: ROOSEVELT/ OAK PARK AVE. CORRIDOR 2BR 4RMS close to blue line. On site laundry, parking, heat & water incl. $1200/ month 708-383-9223

The duties are to meet and greet customers, spray their wheels and perimeter of the car with soap, wipe the windshield with the sponge on a handle to prep a car before entering the automatic bay. Make change, sell tokens, automatic and self serve wash instructions, keep the lot, equipment room, and perimeter clean, and empty garbage cans.

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT

HELP WANTED

Pay is $11.00 per hour. The hours an attendant is on duty are 9-5 on weekdays 9-4 on Saturday and Sunday. If you can ﬁt any of these hours on a part time basis we can work with you. Please come to 7343 Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park to pick up anapplication. 708-771-2945. Thank you

SUBURBAN RENTALS

RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. *1116 sq. ft. suite *569 sq. ft. with patio OAK PARK–1053 Lake St. *Entire 3rd Floor, 1275 sq. ft. OAK PARK– 6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. *3 and 5 room office suites Strand& & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

ITEMS FOR SALE 10 FT CHRISTMAS TREE In box. 708-447-1762

FOREST PARK 2BR 2nd ﬂoor, 5 large rooms, 2 bedroom w/ 1 car garage. Stove, refrig & water included. Walk to transportation. No Pets. Tenant pays own heat & electric. 1 mo. security. $1100. Avail. now. 630-279-8111

Buying? Selling? Renting? Hiring? Wednesday Classified 708-613-3333

SUBURBAN RENTALS

POOL TABLE Complete setup pool table 708-447-1762

M&M

property management, inc.

708-386-7355 • www.mmpropmgt.com 649 Madison Street, Oak Park Contact us for a complete list of available rentals throughout Oak Park and Forest Park.

Apartment listings updated daily at:

AUTOS FOR SALE 2013 CHEVY CAMARO 3000 certified miles. 708-447-1762 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430 10,000 miles. 708-447-1762

WANTED TO BUY WANTED VINTAGE FISHING WANTED Vintage wooden fishing lures, vintage lure boxes, empty or full, vintage tackle boxes, vintage fishing rods and reels, minnow buckets, even vintage hooks, sinkers EVERYTHING. Email CJ cnewton@seologic.com 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 While you’re away, your pets are okay . . . at home

cat calls

Oak Park’s Original Pet Care Service – Since 1986

Daily dog exercising Complete pet care in your home )PVTF TJUUJOH t 1MBOU DBSF Bonded References

524-1030

FIREWOOD

FIREWOOD UNLIMITED

Fast Delivery MIXED HARDWOODS CBH & MIX 100% OAK CHERRY OR HICKORY 100% BIRCH Seasoned 2 years Stacking Available

847-888-9999 Order online:

www. suregreen landscape.com

Credit Cards Accepted

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue. Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood ﬂooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-ﬁnishing, staining. Low prices, insured. Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

You have jobs. We have readers! Find the best employees with Wednesday Classified!

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

ELECTRICAL

PUBLIC NOTICES

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est.

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

HANDYMAN Mike’s Home Repair

HEATING/ AIR CONDITIONING

708-296-2060

HEATING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT

Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

HANDYMAN

Furnaces, Boilers and Space Heaters Refrigerators Ranges • Ovens Washer • Dryers Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

773-637-0692

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

HAULING

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates Ask for John

BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery. 708-848-9404

HAUL AWAY

JUNK

Clean out your basement, garage or attic.

773-637-0692

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Monday December 28th, at 4:00 p.m. Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oak-park.us/yourgovernment/budget-purchasing/ requests-proposals or at www. questcdn.com under login using QuestCDN number 7441108 for a non-refundable charge of $30.00. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. No bid documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening. All prospective bidders must prove they are pre-qualified by the Illinois Department of Transportation before receiving bid documents. 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 23, 2020

708.749.0011

Ask for John

PLASTERING

Attention! Homeimprovement pros!

McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Reach the people making decisions - your target demographic. Advertise in Wednesday Classified. Call 708/613-3342

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park --Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302-- will receive electronic proposals until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday January 21, 2021 for Project: 21-19, Oak Park Avenue Water and Sewer Main Improvements- South Contract. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, the improvements consist of the installation of ductile iron water main, including valves, domestic service lines, fire hydrants, a private lead water service replacement option, and precast valve vaults; installation of sewer main, Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP) lining of combined sewer main, precast manholes, drainage structures, and sewer services; pavement patches at utility excavations, curb and gutter, sidewalks, restoration of landscaped parkway areas; brick parkway removal and replacement; and all appurtenant work thereto.

Small & big work. Free estimates. Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

Items for Sale ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-3342

Starting a new business in 2021? Call the Experts! Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice in Wednesday Classified. Call 708/613-3342 to advertise.

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park --Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302-- will receive electronic proposals until 10:00 a.m. on Monday January 18, 2021 for Project: 21-20, Oak Park Avenue Water and Sewer Main Improvements- North Contract. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, the improvements consist of the installation of ductile iron water main, including valves, domestic service lines, fire hydrants, a private lead water service replacement option, and precast valve vaults; installation of sewer main, precast manholes, drainage structures, and sewer services; pavement patches at utility excavations, curb and gutter, sidewalks, restoration of landscaped parkway areas, implementation of a detour; and all appurtenant work thereto. Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Monday December 28th, at 4:00 p.m. Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oak-park.us/yourgovernment/budget-purchasing/ requests-proposals or at www. questcdn.com under login using QuestCDN number 7441090 for a non-refundable charge of $30.00. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. No bid documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening. All prospective bidders must prove they are pre-qualified by the Illinois Department of Transportation before receiving bid documents. 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 23, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certiﬁcation was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y20005443 on December 14, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of ARISE LIFESTYLE & FITNESS with the business located at: 1135 HANNAH AVE 2, FOREST PARK, IL 60130. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: IYIOLA ADEBAJO 1135 HANNAH AVE 2 FORST PARK, IL 60130, USA Published Forest Park Review 12/23, 12/30/2020, 1/6/2021

Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

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

PUBLIC NOTICES

oak-park.us. SUBJECT PROPERTY ADDRESSES: 640 - 728 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 ZONING DISTRICT: MS Madison Street Zoning District LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Parcel 1: LOTS 13 TO 27 IN BLOCK 4 IN OGDEN AND JONES’ SUBDIVISION OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Parcel 2: LOTS 1 TO 14, BOTH INCLUSIVE, IN JAMES B. MUIR’S RESUBDIVISION OF LOTS 1 TO 14, BOTH INCLUSIVE, IN THE RESUBDIVISION OF LOTS 8 TO 15, BOTH INCLUSIVE IN F. E. BALLARDS SUBDIVISION OF BLOCK 5 IN ODGEN AND JONES’ SUBDIVISION OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP 39, NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. PINs: 16-07-418-014, 16-07-418017, 16-07-418-018, 16-07-418020, 16-07-419-017, 16-07-419018, 16-07-419-019, 16-07-419020, 16-07-419-021, 16-07-419-022 and 16-07-419-023. PROPERTY OWNER: JD Real Estate, Inc., 4333 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60632 and Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 PETITIONER: Pete’s Market, Inc. – Stephanie Dremonas, 4333 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60632 REQUEST: The Petitioner is requesting a planned development for an approximately 50,000 square feet retail grocery and related parking, landscaping and other improvements, with the following Zoning Ordinance allowances: Article 5: Commercial Districts -Table 5-1: Required Setbacks – Street Setback which states that a build-to zone of 5-15 feet setback along Oak Park Avenue is required, while the application proposes a distance of 408 feet; Article 5: Commercial Districts -Table 5-1: Required Setbacks – Rear Setback states that a rear yard setback along the north side of the abutting alley is required to be 25 feet (inclusive of any alley), the application requests a reduction to 15 feet (the width of the alley); Article 10: Off-Street Parking and Loading, Subsection 10.2: Location of OffStreet Parking Spaces (B)(4) states that parking areas shall be located to

the rear of the principal structure, the application proposes a surface parking in the front of the principal structure, not the rear; Article 7: Design Guidelines, Subsection 7.4 Building Design Standards (A)(1) states that a building wall that faces a street must not have a blank uninterrupted length exceeding 30 feet, while the application proposes an eastern building wall does not comply, with a proposed blank uninterrupted length of approximately 200 feet; Article 7: Design Guidelines, Subsection 7.4 Building Design Standards (A) (4)(b) states all ground floor front building facades must include display windows at ground level and must cover 60% of the ground floor building façade facing the public way (except alleys), while the application proposes a ground floor front building façade having approximately 0% of display windows; Article 11: Landscaping, Subsection 11.7 Required Parking Lot Interior Landscape (A) states that one parking lot island must be provided between every 10 parking spaces, while the application proposes a reduction of 8 islands, resulting in 4 parking lot islands, and Subsection 11.7 Parking Lot Interior Landscape (B) states that the minimum total landscape area of a parking lot must be 10% of the total parking lot area, while the application proposes a total landscape area of the parking lot at 6.2%.

In addition, the applicant is requesting a Street Vacation for a portion of Euclid Avenue between Madison Street and the northern abutting east-west alley. They are also requesting a partial Street Vacation for a five-foot-wide strip of Madison Street between Oak Park Avenue and Wesley Avenue. A copy of the application and each of the applicable documents are on the Village Website at www. oak-park.us and also on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during current business hours, Monday through Thursday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof. ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION Oak Park, Illinois 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal December 23, 2020

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

Wednesday Classified 3 Great Papers, 6 Communities To Place Your Ad, Call: 708/613-3333

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 follow-

ing 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 tax-

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION DOCKET NUMBER: PC 20-04 HEARING DATE: January 7, 2021 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING: The Plan Commission 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 Uverse 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 inperson 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. Written testimony or comments regarding the application may be provided prior to the public hearing by email to planning@oak-park.us. The individual’s name and a reasonable part of 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. If email is not an option, written testimony or comment can be dropped off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the south entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 7, 2021. All written testimony and comments will be distributed to the Plan Commission and made a part of the official hearing record. Those wishing to provide public testimony at the hearing shall contact the Village Planner at planning@oakpark.us for instructions on attending the live Zoom meeting by 5:00 PM the day of the hearing. Interested persons may also participate in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by emailing the cross-examination form to clerk@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. Questions regarding written testimony or comment can be directed to 708-358.5420 or email to planning@

PUBLIC NOTICES

DOCKET NUMBER: PC 20-03 HEARING DATE: January 7, 2021 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING: The Plan Commission 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 Uverse 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 inperson 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. Written testimony or comments regarding the application may be provided prior to the public hearing by email to planning@oak-park. us. The individual’s name and a reasonable part of 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. If email is not an option, written testimony or comment can be dropped off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the south entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 7, 2021. All written testimony and comments will be distributed to the Plan Commission and made a part of the official hearing record. Those wishing to provide public testimony at the hearing shall contact the Village Planner at planning@oak-park.us for instructions on attending the live Zoom meeting by 5:00 PM the day of the hearing. Interested persons may also participate in the hearing to cross examine the applicant

and its witnesses by emailing the cross-examination form to clerk@ 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 webconference means or by phone. Questions regarding written testimony or comment can be directed to 708-358.5420 or email to planning@oak-park.us. SUBJECT PROPERTY ADDRESSES: 601-603 Maple Avenue, 605 Maple Avenue, 609 Maple Avenue, and 613-615 Maple Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois SUBJECT PROPERTY LEGAL DESCRIPTION: 613-615 MAPLE AVENUE: LOT 4 IN BLOCK 5 IN WILSON’S ADDITION TO OAK PARK, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF LOT 1 EXCEPT THE EAST 40 ACRES THEREOF IN THE SUBDIVISION OF SECTION 18, (EXCEPT THE WEST HALF OF THE SOUTH WEST QUARTER THEREOF) IN SECTION 18, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 601-603 MAPLE AVENUE: LOT 1 IN BLOCK 5 IN W.J. WILSON’S ADDITION TO OAK PARK, A SUBDIVISION OF PART OF LOT 1 IN B.F. JERVIS SUBDIVISION OF THE WEST 1/2 OF THE NORTH WEST 1/4 OF SECTION 18, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, EXCEPTING THEREFROM THAT PART DEEDED TO THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BY INSTRUMENT RECORDED AS DOCUMENT 95403125, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 605 MAPLE AVENUE: THE NORTH 40 FEET OF LOT 2 IN BLOCK 5 IN W.J. WILSON’S ADDIDON TO OAK PARK, A SUBDMSION OF PART OF LOT 1IN B.F. JERVIS’ SUBDIVISION OF SECTION 18, TOWNSHIP 39

NORTH, RANGE 13, (EXCEPT THE WEST HALF OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER), EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILUNOIS. 609 MAPLE AVENUE: LOT 3 AND LOT 2 (EXCEPT THE NORTH 40 FEET THEREOF) IN BLOCK 5 IN W.J. WILSON’S ADDITION TO OAK PARK, BEING A SUBDIVION OF LOT 1 (EXCEPT THE EAST 40 ACRES THEREOF) IN THE SUBDIVION OF SECTION 18 (EXCEPT THE WEST ONE-HALF OF THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER THEREOF) IN TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. SUBJECT PROPERTY PIN’S: 1618-109-001, 16-18-109-002, 16-18109-003, and 16-18-109-004 SUBJECT PROPERTY OWNER/ PETITIONER: Rush Oak Park Hospital, an Illinois Corporation, 520 South Maple Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois 60304 REQUEST: The Petitioner is requesting a Zoning Map Amendment to reclassify the subject property from the R-7 Multiple Family Residential Zoning District to the H Hospital Zoning District. A copy of the application and each of the applicable documents are on the Village Website at www. oak-park.us and also on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during current business hours, Monday through Thursday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof. ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION Oak Park, Illinois 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal December 23, 2020

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

es, 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 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) 236SALE 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 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

Public Notice: Your right to know • In print • Online • Available to you 24/7/365

PublicNotice Illinois.com REAL ESTATE FOR SALE 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 & 16-18428-043-1064. 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) 3609455. W18-0641 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3161076

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY 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. Wednesday Journal Forest Park Review Riverside Brookfield Landmark

Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

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Forest Park Review, December 23, 2020

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Community of Our year of resilience and generosity

s 2020 draws to a close, we join together to mark a year that has brought unexpected adversity, and celebrate the great generosity of our communities in the face of great challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed so much of the strength of our character and the resiliency of our communities. It has also brought into relief the inequities which always have undergirded our systems but play out now, and more obviously, in the deeper impact of this virus on our neighbors of color and those of lesser means. This year our Community of Caring section reflects on the powerful work of an array of the non-profits that serve Oak Park and River Forest but also our neighbors in Austin, Berwyn and Proviso Township. We turned to the leaders of these organizations and asked what this year had taught, what was the impact on the people they serve, and how these neighborhoods have risen to support them. The stories are about reinvention on the run, innovations which will outlast the pandemic, the inspiring resilience of people in need who have been clobbered by COVID

and the repeated outpouring of support â€“ financial support, volunteer support â€“ in a year when it felt as if the pins were being knocked out from under these virtuous enterprises. The non-profits of western Cook County accomplished so much for our friends and neighbors in this most difficult of years, and they have been able to do so thanks to the generosity of the people who call this region home. This section is once again produced in a partnership between the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation and Wednesday Journal, now itself part of a newly formed non-profit called Growing Community Media. We hope that even as we celebrate a little differently this holiday season, you will read the stories that follow and be inspired, before the year closes, to offer your support to the worthy and essential non-profits included in this Joyful Giving Catalog.

Antonio Martinez, Jr., President and CEO OPRF Community Foundation

Dan Haley Editor and Publisher Growing Community Media

F O R E S T PA R K

JOURNAL REVIEW W E D N E S D A Y

December 23, 2020

Community of Caring

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your Community your Foundation Please, give to the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation's Annual Fund today.

OA K PAR K-R I V ER F OR E ST

Community Foundation

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is a unique and vital part of the fabric of our community. With leadership, advocacy, and perseverance, the Foundation has mobilized essential resources to help those most in need in our neighborhood and beyond. Our service to our local organizations, donors, and scholars has continued without interruption, pushing for a more just and socially equitable community.

Together, we can create a brighter future for all. Donate today at oprfcf.org or call 708-848-1560

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December 23, 2020

Community of Caring

COVID pushes Housing Forward into a new model With overnight shelters unsafe, nonprofit reinvents its service

‘I

t’s hard to think of a silver lining in this global disaster,” says Lynda Schueler, for 22 years the executive director of Housing Forward. “But this has pushed us to a limit I never thought I’d see.” The limit was the immediate and stunning realization that in the COVID-19 pandemic, with an airborne virus, that a rotating series of overnight homeless shelters in church basements had to be shut down and replaced with something else entirely. Those shelters had been Housing Forward’s model for decades, the pride of welcoming congregations, the shared work of hundreds of volunteers. The nonprofit had rethought and expanded its mission over the past decade layering on a series of case management and support services, adding specialized housing options, negotiating apartment leases intended to transition people from the shelter into more permanent housing. But since the early days when it was called West Suburban PADS, the foundation of that more ambitious mission was always the overnight shelters – 12-hours a day, nine months of the year, with dinner and breakfast served up by volunteers.

But with COVID-19 all too real by March, Housing Forward pivoted finding empty hotel rooms in Oak Park and nearby for its clients. That was the start of the broader reimagining of its services and quick conclusion that it would never go back to its church shelter model. “In March, no one had a plan. There was no off the shelf solution. It was from the hip decision-making. There was a bit of panic,” says Schueler. “Keep everyone safe. That’s what we knew. Staff. Clients. Volunteers.” In a pandemic hotel rooms were readily available and the model solved so many intractable problems. They provided 24-hour housing for clients. They no longer needed to exit a shelter in the early winter mornings and then bounce from the library to a Starbucks to the el to stay warm all day long. “Hotel room space provided so many solutions,” says Schueler. “Our population is already traumatized by being homeless. The hotel rooms offer our clients their own feeling of stability. It allows them to really focus on their goals. They have a place to keep their belongings and not have to stuff them behind bushes. It allows them and us to see beyond their immediate crisis.” This new model, heavily underwritten

with federal dollars from the CARES act and much of it funneled through the village of Oak Park, resulted in the bold step of Housing Forward signing a one-year lease for the all the rooms at the pandemic shuttered Write Inn on Oak Park Avenue. “It’s a huge, huge deal,” says Schueler. And it was reinforced in August when the Housing Forward board voted to adopt the 24/7 interim housing model as its principal means of housing the homeless. Can it be sustained? Schueler says there “is a big question mark.” And that is whether the federal government chooses to support this model of care for the homeless, a model focused on active and timely transition into work and independence. “This year we have learned a lot. Like wow. A lot,” says Schueler. “What we are doing is really making a difference.”

File photo

Kim and Anthony, long homeless and often found on the Eisenhower ramp at Harlem, are making the positive but challenging transition to new jobs and their own apartment thanks to Housing Forward.

THROUGH DECEMBER 15

THROUGH DECEMBER 31

DONATE A WISH LIST ITEM

MATCHED GIVING

We are currently collecting gifts for children living at Hephzibah Home and in our foster homes, and for families receiving our services. You can find our wish list at hephzibahhome.org/donate/wishlist

Make a contribution online by December 31 and your gift will be matched by generous benefactors through our annual Hephzibah Holiday Challenge. Double your gift today at hephzibahhome.org

Your donation will impact a child's life.

December 23, 2020

Community of Caring

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Round 4 COVID grants focus on arts, culture groups Community Foundation grants 24 nonprofits total of $172,500

For 20 years, L’Arche Chicago has opened doors ~ providing lifelong homes for people with intellectual disabilities, building communities of mutuality and belonging, and revealing the many gifts of people with disabilities. With the high, state wide demand for community integrated living spaces and the growing accessibility needs of our aging members, L’Arche Chicago plans to acquire a fully accessible home for adults with intellectual disabilities. A new home provides opportunities for existing members to thrive in an adaptive environment as well as creating room for new members, who seek the same thriving community. Join this effort and make a needed impact by donating towards a home for life!

Go to: www.larchechicago.org/opendoors

Support your local animal shelter this holiday season! Acting as a safe haven for pets in our community since 1973.

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation (OPRFCF) has announced its fourth round of Rapid Response and Recovery Fund grants, totaling $172,500 for 24 nonprofits in the western Cook County region. Eight of the grants will deliver muchneeded funding to organizations providing basic human needs and services during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the remaining 16 are microgrants intended to help local arts, cultural and business organizations continue to operate until the pandemic has lifted. “Although the release of a vaccine has given us a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, we are not in the clear yet, and help will continue to be needed,” said Tony Martinez, Jr., president and CEO of the OPRFCF. “In addition to supporting organizations that are providing relief to at-risk populations, the foundation felt it was also important to aid the arts and cultural institutions so important to the richness of our community so they are still there when we are finally able to visit them again.” The following organizations were awarded grants in the latest round. Those marked with an asterisk are first-time Rapid Response and Recovery Fund grant recipients: ■ Bethel New Life ■ Chicago West Community Music Center ■ Echo Theater Collective ■ Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park ■ Frank Lloyd Wright Trust ■ Hephzibah Children’s Association

Make a donation, view adoptable pets, learn about our foster program, and view volunteer and job opportunities at AnimalCareLeague.org Animal Care League is committed to providing shelter, medical care, and comfort to animals in need; reducing animal overpopulation; and acting as a community resource, thus promoting the human/animal bond. Animal Care League acts as the stray holding facility for Oak Park, Forest Park, River Forest, Northlake, North Riverside, Melrose Park & Elmwood Park.

1011 Garfield, Oak Park, IL. 708-848-8155

Pro Musica Youth Chorus

■ Historical Society of

OPRF

■ Hunger Walkathon West Crop Walk ■ IWS Children’s Clinic ■ L’Arche Chicago ■ Lawrence Hall ■ Madison Street Theater ■ Maywood Fine Arts Association ■ MOMENTA ■ Oak Park Art

League

■ Oak Park Festival Theatre ■ Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce ■ Open Door Repertory Company ■ Pleasant Home Foundation ■ Providing Instruments for The Next Generation (PING!) ■ Pro Musica Youth Chorus ■ The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest ■ WonderWorks ■ West Cook YMCA The organizations receiving grants in the latest round are primarily based in Oak Park-River Forest but serve the greater western Cook County area. Twenty-one are receiving Rapid Response and Recovery Fund grants from the foundation for the first time. The Rapid Response and Recovery Fund has received a total of $1.1 million in donations since it was launched in mid-March with a seed investment of $50,000 from the foundation. The foundation then matched dollar to dollar the first $100,000 in donations, and the fund received $250,000 from the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund. In May, longtime Oak Parkers Ken and Patty Hunt offered a challenge to match donations, dollar for dollar up to $250,000. Individual, family and corporate donors rose to this challenge, donating an additional $270,000 toward this vital effort — including $30,000 raised by the 700 Block of Bonnie Brae’s LemonAid charity drive, which selected the fund as its beneficiary this year. To date, more than 600 gifts totaling over $604,000 have come from the community. “We want to once again thank the Hunts for their generosity, as well as the hundreds of donors who have shown their support as the foundation responds to the local demands of this global health crisis,” Martinez said. “As residents of Oak Park and River Forest make their end-of-year charitable decisions, we want to encourage them to consider donating to this vital effort.” To support the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation and its work on behalf of the community visit oprfcf.org or call 708-8481560. Organizations interested in learning more about the Rapid Response and Recovery grants should contact program director Elizabeth Chadri at echadri@ oprfcf.org.

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December 23, 2020

Community of Caring

As hunger grows, need reaches middle class neighbors Beyond Hunger’s biggest challenge is the stigma of seeking help

‘E

verything has changed. Every aspect of our operation,” says Michele Zurakowski, executive director of Beyond Hunger, about her agency’s response to the impact of COVID-19. “What it has driven home to us is the disparate impact the virus is having on our Black clients and on the Hispanic immigrant community,” says Zurakowski. Since COVID hit in March, Beyond Hunger has seen a 250 percent increase in demand for its services at the same moment it had to remake how it delivered its services. “We’ve seen a major drop in older Black clients from Austin” coming to the Oak Park location to pick up food, said Zurakowski. “They don’t want to take the bus. There’s no more car pooling outside of immediate family.” In response Beyond Hunger has found ways to deliver food to clients in Austin. They made 300 deliveries in April alone. “We’ve seen a huge influx in Latino immigrants from Berwyn in particular,” said Zurakowski. The specific challenge with this group is their reluctance to take part in traditional food distribution that comes via funds with ties to the federal government and which require some amount of data collection – names, addresses, birthdates. Beyond Hunger’s solution here has been to find a local philanthropist to fund a new program teamed with a social worker who interacts with recipients. The private funding largely eliminates data collection. The agency has also found partners in Berwyn to help serve the 150 families in

the program through pop-up distribution days. We hope with the new (federal) administration that the fear among immigrants will diminish. But it is going to take time,” said Zurakowski. Beyond Hunger has taken pride in recent years with a distribution model at its facility inside First United Church on Lake Street which allowed clients to roam aisles and select their own food. It was intended to replicate a supermarket and offer more independent choice. That, of course, does not work in a pandemic where social distancing is the rule. And so the agency invented a drive-through model (with a pedestrian walk-up option for clients without cars) at its Lake Street location. It is an innovation, says Zurakowski, which may outlast the immediate safety demands of the pandemic because driving up in a car, never leaving the car, never entering the facility offers not just safety but a level of privacy. Privacy is a ratcheted-up concern as people who have never before needed a food pantry – many of them Oak Parkers – now find themselves turning to Beyond Hunger. Zurakowski started at the old Oak Park Food Pantry in 2008, just ahead of the Great Recession. She sees comparisons between these two devasting events. “People don’t want to go to a food pantry. They will work through every resource they have before they do come. It takes a lot of courage on behalf of their families to make that choice,” said Zurakowski. “We are a middle-income

Connecting your child to everything they need.

community. It is hard to ask for help. It is much easier to give.” As in 2008, Zurakowski believes the financial impact of the pandemic will last far longer than the successful rollout of vaccines. “After 2008, demands for our services did not peak until 2012. We need to build our resources.” As always, Beyond Hunger relies heavily on volunteers. In training now volunteers hear the advice about what to do when a client in the drive-through turns out to be the parent you knew from T-ball or ballet lessons. It is a balance, said Zurakowski between absolutely acknowledging that connection without probing the immediate circumstance. “We love the drive-through because it cuts down on the stigma,” she says. Like many local non-profits, Beyond Hunger has had to invent new ways of fundraising as traditional galas and other face-to-face events are not possible now. “People have been incredibly generous,” she says. And creative. “We had a local photographer who took family portraits on front porches and donated the proceeds to us. We’ve had kids rake leaves and send us the money.” The images are seared in peoples’ minds of TV news with miles long lines of cars waiting for a box of food, she says. “Hunger is easy to understand. It is visceral. We’ve all felt hunger. And people have responded. Way more people are giving. People who have never given before. People who have been donors are giving more.”

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Mentor

Therapist T

JOHN 14:27

Family Counselor

Case Manager Crisis Worker Outreach Worker Care Coordinator

Concordia University Chicago wishes you the blessings of the

Prevention Specialist

Christ Child this Christmas and throughout the New Year.

In-person counseling and telehealth services available. Donate at www.yos.org/donate or call 773-777-7112.

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December 23, 2020

Community of Caring

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At desperate moment, offering direct help to neighbors

s the pandemic took hold early in 2020, the needs of some were immediate and painful. Before aid from the federal government arrived, or when that help was not accessible due to worries over immigration status there were shared efforts made to funnel cash and other necessities of life directly to families and individuals. In Berwyn, a community with a large immigrant population, Awake, a small nonprofit with a focus on adding educational resources and building civic engagement, quickly changed gears. Lisa Polderman, vice president of Awake’s board, said that when the first mandated closures came that her organization reached out to the local families who were receiving educational services. “We anticipated they would be hit hard,” she said. Many of Awake’s families are wary of government help in the first place due to current policies on immigration. The impact of lost jobs – many of their clients work in restaurants and hospitality where jobs were immediately closed – translated into rent which could not be paid, groceries which quickly dwindled. Awake took $5,000 from its small reserves with the intention of giving $500 directly to its families. It was always a flat $500. There were no strings or demands on how it should be spent. The organization then turned to its Berwyn neighbors to raise more. This sort of spontaneous giving is not the tradition in Berwyn but it was in the face of COVID. Awake raised $40,000 from 735 small donors, many of them from Berwyn, but also from Cicero, Chicago and Oak Park. Public

Local donors step up to make generous gifts possible

“I’ve seen the first-hand impact on my neighbors. And I’ve seen the ripple effects as jobs were eliminated, incomes were greatly reduced. Food, rent, utilities unpaid.” JASON FRANKENA

school teachers turned to their networks to raise cash that would benefit their school students. The Berwyn Running Club held a Virtual 5K to raise money for Awake. And with that grassroots backing, two local foundations took note and made grants. The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation contributed $15,000 from its quickly launched COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund. The Logan Foundation added $10,000. All told Awake raised over $70,000 last spring which all went out the door to families in need. “It blew out of the water any previous efforts we’d made,” said Polderman. “People really felt the need to give and to do it locally.” Find out more at berwynsawake.org. Meanwhile in Oak Park and River Forest, communities with much more structured and aligned non-profits, the same need for immediate and direct help was seen by a small group of neighbors. They quickly launched Oak Park Mutual Aid with a goal of direct giving to those impacted by CO-

File photo

NEW SKILLS: African American Christian Foundation in Oak Park helps young people with job and life skills.

VID. From the start there was also the goal of offering the practical and mundane help necessary when all routines are quickly disrupted. So grocery shopping and delivery became part of the service, picking up prescriptions for those quarantined, actively connecting people with existing social services and government agencies which could help but which individuals had never needed to think about before. Evelyn Antwi-Mensah heads the Oak Park-based African American Christian Foundation. Started by her father 35 years ago, AACF offers job training and placement, job readiness and high school completion options for younger people. “My father was all about education, about creating a nurturing environment,” said Antwi-Mensah of her dad, Kwadwo AntwiMensah. When the pandemic hit, AACF was hit, too, with multiple challenges and a sudden surge in demand for its services. The agency closed its North Avenue headquarters for two weeks while it figured out how to shift all of its training to online virtual learning. Active participants in the program have leapt to nearly 300 as “people lost their jobs due to COVID,” said Antwi-Mensah. Now people who worked in hard hit industries such as restaurants and working “to get skills that allow them to find work, to earn more.” The non-profit focuses on people from 16-24, most are low income, and says Antwi-Mensah face “additional barriers” including being young parents, ex-offenders, mental health challenges, homelessness or aging out of the state’s foster care system. AACF supports its clients with the full range of support services including tuition, transit and driving lessons. AACF also benefitted from a COVID Rapid Relief Fund grant from the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation last spring. Find out more at aacfworks.org. Jason Frankena is an Oak Parker – a South East Oak Parker he makes clear – who saw his work as a project manager in commercial real estate construction “grinding to a halt” with the pandemic. With his wife still working and their immediate needs protected, Jason said, “I had time on my hands. I had the opportunity to help.” He read about the early efforts of Oak Park Mutual Aid – it had come together in a hurry early in the pandemic – on social media sites and he reached out.

File photo

FILLING A NEED: The Hunt family were among the founders of Oak Park Mutual Aid. They also made a notable donation to the COVID Rapid Response and Recovery Fund at the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation. “I’ve seen the first-hand impact on my neighbors. And I’ve seen the ripple effects as jobs were eliminated, incomes were greatly reduced. Food, rent, utilities unpaid,” he said. “We’re not trained social workers. We’re not social workers,” he said of the dozens of local people who have come together through Oak Park Mutual Aid. Frankena said people with needs and with the ability to help come to the organization through the website at oakparkmutualaid. com. Donations of cash can be made at the site, offers to volunteer are also welcomed. Neighbors looking for help can fill out a simple form spelling out what they need. Responses are made within 48 hours, he says. So far, the nascent non-profit is making small direct cash gifts to get an electric bill paid or toward rent. And then it offers to help navigate “a social service network that is scattered and not logical,” he says. Frankena says he likes the grassroots nature of Oak Park Mutual Aid. It has an organic appeal as they work to help neighbors, families they know from their kids’ school, from around the village. Oak Park Mutual Aid is currently organizing to become a 501(c)3 non-profit. “We don’t see the need ending anytime soon,” he says of the completely volunteer organization.

OAKPARK.COM | FORESTPARKREVIEW.COM

December 23, 2020

Community of Caring

At Hephzibah everything is different but still the same Keeping hands on connections even during the pandemic

‘A

lot, a lot has changed,” says Merry Beth Sheets, executive director of the Hephzibah Children’s Association, as she looks back at the nine months of the COVID-19 pandem-

ic. While the losses are real and profound, Sheets says, “even during the pandemic we can still move forward.” She said that in Hephzibah’s three top programs that changes and growth have taken place since COVID hit in late winter. The Intact Family Services program has doubled its case load since the state expanded the project on July 1. Hephzibah social workers are now working 94 cases across metro Chicago with families where there is worry about abuse and neglect. The virus has changed the program but agency staff is still face-to-face with each family at least monthly with virtual visits in between. “The current situation only adds stressors for these families,” says Sheets. But Hephzibah staff is able to add support services for these fragile families while protecting the children. “Some of these visits may take place on the front porch” due to the pandem-

ic, she says, but the personal contact can never be fully replicated on Zoom. Hephzibah, which for decades has partnered with the District 97 elementary schools to provide before and after school care for the kids of working parents, has pivoted this year to add daily in-person support for students during e-learning. The program is live in three D97 schools where there are a combined 215 students being supported in virtual classes as their parents – all essential workers – head to their jobs. Hephzibah had to double its staff to pull this off and added midday hours since the program also continues to offer before and after school care. Meanwhile there is the group home on North Boulevard near downtown Oak Park. This is home for 26 children – ages 3-11 – who are assigned to Hephzibah by the state having been deemed to have suffered the “most severe trauma” within their families of any abused children in Illinois. Building stability and connection is essential to the program and the pandemic has closed several of those routes even as the staff has been expanded and technology

brought to bear to foster those virtues. “We haven’t had those interactions since March,” says Sheets. Gone for now is the one-on-one mentoring volunteers provided weekly through the Heart Mates program. Also missing are small but valued efforts such as employees of the Park District of Oak Park who arrive to custom decorate the bedroom doors of each new arrival. In normal times, the children in the residence also attend school at either a D97 facility or a therapeutic day school. Now with all schooling virtual they have lost connections to school friends. Mandated in person visitations with siblings and parents have also disappeared though Sheets reports that Zoom visits with family members have been more regularly attended than the sometimes logistically challenging in-person visits. Sheets also said the kids in the residence have each other, a giant extended family. And that, she said, might be better than an only child in a family home who faces greater isolation. To get the children beyond the four walls of the group home, Sheets says staff

will sometimes gather a handful, load them into the van and just go for a drive, maybe stopping by a Forest Preserve to run around. Like many of the social agency leaders interviewed for this project, Sheets pointed to the resilience of the children in Hephzibah’s care. “It was a shock to all of us at the beginning. Ten months in we have a strong plan on COVID.” Speaking of the children in the residence, Sheets says, “I hope for a minimal impact. They’ve had challenges beyond belief. But they’re fortunate to be here with all this support. They live in a social situation. I hope they make it up along the way. These kids are resilient.” Sheets also lauded her staff. “They’ve had to work in a real scary time. I can’t speak enough about our staff. They are heroes.” And Hephzibah’s legendary volunteers are still at it, making Christmas for the kids. “Our Wish List has gone online for children in the foster program and the group home. We will be bringing in everything that is on those lists.”

Success Knows

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December 23, 2020

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Community of Caring

Resilience the unexpected gift at Thrive Counseling

Clients, staff, community demonstrate determination, commitment

any things have surprised John Meister, the executive director of Thrive Counseling Center, during this pandemic year. But whether he is talking about the clients served at Thrive, the professional staff there or the wide community which benefits from its services, he keeps coming back to resilience. “The resilience of our clients has just amazed,” he says. Their ability to adapt quickly to the loss of in person therapy sessions has surprised everyone. Back in March when COVID first became real, Meister said a March 13 staff meet-

ing reflected the fears and the clear sense of the unknown everyone was feeling. By March 16 all face-to-face sessions were cancelled and the agency hustled to move to telephone sessions. Patient sessions dropped sharply in March. But to the surprise of all, by April there was a large rebound and the percentage of “kept appointments” actually rose as homebound clients called in to their therapists. There were no issues finding transportation and the other logistics that could keep appointments from being dropped. Meister and his team learned a lot in the first weeks about how to do phone therapy an exhausting 5 to 8 hours a day. They found that it was more successful converting a client who had started with in-person sessions into a worthwhile phone therapy sessions. Launching a new client only virtually has been more problematic. “There is an element of trust between a client and their therapist. There are subtle cues that you don’t get over the phone,” he says based on the observations of his staff. “But telephone therapy is better than no therapy.” Meister spends a lot of hours trying to figure out the future of how insurance companies and the government agencies which subsidize mental health treatment will pay for this care once the pandemic is eventually over. “A hybrid model – in person and virtual – will become the new normal,” he says. What exactly it looks like it is too soon to tell. Meister said that back in March he thought COVID’s impact would blow a hole in Thrive’s tight budget of between

“A hybrid model – in person and virtual – will become the new normal. What exactly it looks like it is too soon to tell.” JOHN MEISTER

Executive director, Thrive Counseling Center

$300,000 and $500,000. How to begin to replace the $200,000 raised in its annual gala seemed unfathomable. Now he says, with the work of his board, Thrive is “bowled over by the response from the community.” Their virtual fundraisers cleared more than $200,000 and Meister said they discovered “the community really values what we do.” That has been a gratifying realization for Meister and other nonprofit leaders interviewed for this project. Now as the year closes, Meister has decided to close the agency down between Christmas and New Year’s so the staff can get an actual break. “Of course, no one can travel. But it gives us time to take stock to spend time on things which bring us joy.” And then, he says, it will back to at least six more months of therapy by phone.

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Thank you to all of our readers Dear Readers, We’re excited to share that we met our NewsMatch goal, our Board Match goal, and now our Match Maker goal! These funds are absolutely critical to maintaining our Independent community newsrooms and will enable us to continue reporting across our seven neighborhoods. To all of you who have already contributed: YOU made this happen and we are so grateful. To those who have not yet given: There is still time to help out -- we’re not done yet! We’re introducing a stretch goal of $10,000, which will: • Cover costs of reporting this spring’s local elections, school and business re-openings, vaccine rollouts, and more across our Austin Weekly News, Forest Park Review, Riverside-Brookfield Landmark and Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest • Sustain our hyperlocal reporting as our local businesses recover from the effects of COVID-19 • Help us launch in early 2021 new, reader-friendly websites and newsletters to better serve readers in our seven communities We’re excited about our 2021 plans and know that, with your help, we can make them happen. Here’s how: We challenge you to ask just one friend — someone who values journalism like ours — to match the donation you made to the Weekly, the Journal, the Review and the Landmark! Ask them to go to [flag specific donation link] or give them the donation envelope in this week’s paper. But don’t delay: we have until Dec. 31 to meet this goal! We thank all of you. We wish you all safe and joyful holidays. And join us with hope and optimism for the New Year! With deep gratitude, Dan Haley Editor and Publisher Growing Community Media

To donate, visit www.growingcommunitymedia.com/donate

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Community of Caring

The Joyful Giving Catalog

Everything you need for a better world: • More Art

• More Food

• More Compassion

• More Health

• More Education

• More Housing

• More Equity

• More Peace

Browse, read, share with your children. Give Locally – Give Joyfully!

Each of the organizations listed in this catalog paid a fee to participate. If you run a nonprofit and you would like to be listed here, or if you would like to sponsor a nonprofit to be listed here, please contact Lourdes Nicholls (Lourdes@oakpark.com) or Marc Stopeck (Marc@oakpark.com). African American Christian Foundation (AACF) AACF empowers young adults trapped by extreme poverty to spearhead them through education to become leaders in their communities. These are young people who persist and cope with immense traumatic hurdles as they strive to build a better future. Founded in 1985, AACF takes a holistic approach focused on positive youth development, goal setting, and opportunity. We encourage youth to take control of their potential through mentoring, enrichment and reinforcing life skills. Youth are engaged in internships, employment, secondary education, vocational training, and provided with supportive services that encourage achievement in all their endeavors. Youth enduring severe poverty face tremendous challenges, we need and count on supporters like you to join us to help them succeed. For more information, or to make a donation, please visit us at aacfworks.org\

Animal Care League Animal Care League offers a safe haven for pets in need. Rooted in the community since 1973, Animal Care League takes a proactive approach to animal care and adoption as well as preventative measures to help reduce the number of homeless animals in our communities. With over 1000 pets coming to our doors each year, Animal Care League counts on supporters to ensure that we can provide what is needed from routine vaccinations to life saving surgery. Make a difference in the life of a homeless animal by visiting animalcareleague. org where you can sign up to volunteer, make a donation, view our adoptable pets, and learn about upcoming events.

Arbor West Neighbors Arbor West Neighbors is a grassroots organization of neighbors connecting to empower adults to thrive as we age in community. We support the residents of Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park and Austin as we age in homes of our choice. We envision multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and economically diverse communities where all older adults are valued, age with dignity, and enjoy opportunities for growth and engagement. Do you want to age with a purpose? Join us to share your collective talents, experiences and passion to broaden the image of aging. Learn more at: Arborwestneighbors.org

Beyond Hunger When the pandemic hit, we revamped our service model to keep everybody safe. Instead of inviting people to shop inside our food pantry, we now prepack boxes with nearly 80 pounds of groceries and pop them into car trunks or shopping carts for participants. We’ve added more home delivery recipients knowing that elderly and disabled individuals are more at risk for COVID-19. The contents of each box is tailored to meet the needs of our community. Along with food, we include toilet paper, toothpaste, and reusable washable masks. With your support, we can make sure no one in our community goes hungry this winter. Even a little goes a long way: every $1 donated can feed a neighbor for an entire day.

youth escape gangs and violence to become positive leaders in their communities. These young people face enormous obstacles and trauma, and so we surround them with the counseling, mentoring, training, and opportunities they need to build a future and succeed. We engage youth at every stage, with specialized teams dedicated to street violence interventions, gang detachments, creative after-school programming, academic school and college support, mental health care, community violence crisis response, and enrichment activities ranging from art and music to sports, podcasting, engineering and gardening. Potential doesn’t discriminate, neither should opportunity.

To learn more or to donate, visit clustertutoring.org.

The Collaboration for Early Childhood

Join us in BUILDing a better future. Visit and donate at buildchicago.org/

Celebrating Seniors Coalition Since our inception a decade ago, the Celebrating Seniors Coalition has been passionate about dispelling outdated and inaccurate myths about what it is to be a senior in our society. At the same time, the Coalition has raised funds to help meet the basic needs of daily living for dozens of elders in our community. As we get to the “other side” of the pandemic and embark on our second decade, join us in Celebrating Seniors—those people 60 and over in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park. Learn how you can join honor and support these esteemed elders at our updated website: www.CelebratingSeniors.net.

Cluster Tutoring

To donate, visit GoBeyondHunger.org or send checks payable to Beyond Hunger, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301

BUILD Since 1969, BUILD has helped Chicago’s most vulnerable

other homework to prepare the student for a successful academic career. When Cluster started nearly 30 years ago, fewer than half of Chicago Public Schools graduated from high school. Now, all of Cluster’s seniors not only graduate but are accepted at colleges and other post-graduation programs. Donations go toward materials that help students learn.

Cluster Tutoring is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides free one-to-one tutoring to students in grades K through 12 from Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Tutor-student pairs work together during the school year on reading, math, and

Support young children this giving season. For over 15 years, the Collaboration for Early Childhood has embraced the vision that all children should arrive at kindergarten safe, healthy, and ready to thrive. This year we sharpened our equity focus and responded to the needs of our community members affected by the health pandemic and national events of racist violence. We launched Ready, Set, Kindergarten! a virtual support system for 30 families whose children transitioned to kindergarten in the midst of COVID-19. We distributed 175 ‘Activity Kits’ to families of children with disabilities to enhance their at-home learning. We supplied 62 families in need with essential items, and the work continues. For more information, or to make a donation, please visit us at www.collab4kids. org or follow us on Facebook.

Concordia University Chicago Concordia University Chicago is a liberal arts, Christ-centered, Lutheran university where truth, freedom, and vocation form students for lives of influence and service for the common good. Founded in 1864, the University is located on 40 acres in River Forest, Illinois. Historically a college for teachers, it now offers more than 100 areas of

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The Joyful Giving Catalog study through traditional, blended or online classes. Students can earn a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees through one of four colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Education and the College of Graduate Studies. Professors are passionate about teaching, learning and preparing students for success in their chosen vocations. Beyond academics, Concordia offers NCAA Division III athletic teams, intramural sports, touring music ensembles and numerous student clubs and organizations focused on service, recreation, spiritual life and more. Currently, more than 6,400 students are enrolled. To learn more, please visit CUChicago.edu or CUChicago.edu/GiveNow to support our students.

The Day Nursery

Since 1912, The Day Nursery has provided exceptional early childhood education in an environment that welcomes all children, enhances individual strengths, and fosters the academic, social-emotional, and physical development that leads to school readiness. You can help lay the foundation today for successful adults tomorrow. To learn more about us and to donate, visit www.thedaynursery.org Randolph St, Oak Park, IL 60302 The1139 Friends the Oak Park 708.383.8211of - Fax: 708.383.0692 Email: info@thedaynursery.org www.thedaynursery.org Conservatory A United Way Community Partner/NAEYC Accredited

The Oak Park Conservatory began as a community effort to house exotic plants residents collected during their travels abroad. Completed in 1929, it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Free to the public with 50,000 visitors annually, the Conservatory offers a rich atmosphere throughout three indoor showrooms featuring more than 3,000 plants. The Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory offers programs focused on enriching the visitor experience at the Conservatory. Toddlers through adults can participate in year-round educational and recreational programs, volunteer opportunities and special events. To learn more or to join, visit fopcon.org.

Growing Community Media Growing Community Media is dedicated to building community through independent, non-partisan local journalism. We believe that high quality community journalism preserves and strengthens the fabric of our democracy. Independent community journalism holds local governments to account. It connects neighbors. It is the credible source when social media goes haywire, and it allows a community to debate and celebrate. Through Austin Weekly News, Wednesday Journal, Forest Park Review and Riverside-Brookfield Landmark, Growing Community Media reports local news and tells compelling local stories across many platforms. Our mission calls us to build fact-based accountability and connection, conversation and civility, diversity and a sense of belonging. Join our mission by donating at growingcommunitymedia.org or contacting dhaley@wjinc.com

Hephzibah Children’s Association Hephzibah is making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and struggling families. Oak Park’s oldest social service agency, Hephzibah is the only program in Illinois designated to care for the most severe cases of abuse and neglect of young children ages 3-11. Hephzibah Home provides comprehensive, therapeutic care for traumatized young children. Our Family Based Program supports more than 100 foster care children and stabilizes 150 families in crisis. Our Day Care Program delivers quality, affordable day care and summer camp programming for elementary school children in Oak Park. Make a difference with us at hephzibahhome.org.

Historical Society Forest Park The Historical Society Forest Park was founded in 1975 for the purposes of “collecting and preserving the rich heritage of Forest Park.” The historical society offers tours of Haymarket Martyr’s Monument in Forest Home Cemetery every Saturday in the summer, collect oral histories of Forest Park Veterans of Military service, hosts several historical events a year and celebrates Forest Park. For more information about the Society, its events and programs, or to donate visit forestparkhistory.org or mail us: Historical Society of Forest Park, PO Box 311, Forest Park IL 60130

Sedrick finds growth and opportunity at BUILD

edrick, fifteen, came to BUILD in elementary school, already angry, quiet, and unwilling to talk about traumas in his past. Now in high school, he has transformed into a thoughtful young man who seeks avenues of growth and uses the mistakes of his past as examples to help him make better choices. His phenomenal growth evolved from the support of his dedicated BUILD mentor, his own determination, and a lot of fun, too! “Sedrick is now giving himself opportunities to learn from his challenges and his youth,” notes Jeremy Mercado, Sedrick’s mentor, and Career Readiness Coordinator at BUILD. In the beginning, Sedrick signed up for activities: playing basketball, softball, and working in the garden. Eventually, to everyone’s surprise he got involved with BUILD Radio, where a microphone helped him find his voice! He continues to engage in My Brother’s Keeper and other BUILD programs including Strong Bodies, Iris Garden’s Summer Program and more. Now, Sedrick is one of BUILD’s best advocates! Famous for his laugh and his spotless Air Jordans, he’s training to

Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest We are the community’s story tellers and our new facility is an 1898 Oak Park Landmark at Lake and Lombard called Oak Park River Forest Museum, selected by Illinois Association of Museums as Small Museum of the Year. We invested $1 million in private funds to create a welcoming space in a former firehouse. Come and check out featured exhibit “Open House: The Legacy of Fair Housing,” before it closes in 2021. We are not supported by tax dollars and a gift of any amount funds our 2021 schedule of programs, our research center, and our knowledgeable staff. Learn more and donate at oprfmuseum.org or 708-848-6755

Sedrick be an Apprentice Mentor and recruits other young people to BUILD - most recently, his own little brother Philip, twelve. Sedrick’s mentor Jeremy couldn’t be prouder. “Sedrick’s willing to grow from anything life brings him now, big or small,” he says. “His future is going to shine bright.” You can help BUILD a better future for Chicago’s most vulnerable youth. Visit and donate at buildchicago.org/

Housing Forward Housing Forward is passionately focused on one vision – ending homelessness. We believe in bold, comprehensive approaches to prevent homelessness whenever possible, respond to housing crises, and stabilize individuals and families through permanent housing. With offices in Maywood and Oak Park, we offer wraparound services including case management, housing, outreach, employment, and emergency assistance. Last year, we served over 2,000 adults and families across 20+ communities. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our emergency shelter and supportive services programs consolidated into a 24/7 Interim Housing model for clients on a path to permanent housing—including medical respite. This site joins Sojourner House

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For UCP Seguin, Giving Is A Family Affair

been able to work in a gainful, productive, meaningful job. As his father gratefully affirms, “Richard wouldn’t be who he is today without UCP Seguin.”

Since then Richard has been an active participant in everything the world has to offer. Rose and Rich ensured that he had a good education, while providing opportunities for him to participate in sports and enjoy social and recreational activities in the community. Through employment services provided by UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago, Richard has

Throughout their many years of involvement with the organization, the Smiths have been faithful financial donors in support of UCP Seguin’s programs for people with developmental disabilities. In addition to monetary gifts, Rich and Rose gave of their time and talent, helping to form a local special recreation association to provide fun activities for individuals with disabilities in the west suburbs. Even as his wife Rose passed away, Rich carried on her legacy of generosity. Rich has acted as the Moonlighters DJ for many years

hen Richard “Rick” Smith Jr. was born with Down syndrome 53 years ago, his parents Rose and Rich were determined to make the life of their only child the best it could be. They arranged for him to attend the original Seguin School, where he was offered the chance to develop, learn and grow.

and Ohana House in assisting individuals and families, plus two new housing programs focused on youth and veterans. To learn more, volunteer, or donate, visit housingforward.org, email giving@housingforward.org or call 708.338.1724 ext. 262.

IWS Children’s Clinic Help us champion childhood health! The OPRF Infant Welfare Society and our Children’s Clinic have continuously been there for at-risk children and families since the start of the pandemic. We serve the dynamic whole health needs of children: sick visits, critical vaccines at well child check-ups, integrated behavioral health services, and preventive and restorative dental care, including for children with special needs. Together, we are ensuring the health and well-being of children in our community, including Oak Park, Chicago’s West side, Berwyn, Cicero and beyond. IWS Children’s Clinic serves 3,400 children each year, and your generosity is key as our costs of providing care have increased substantially due to COVID-19. A gift of $50 pays for two essential vaccines. A gift of $150 provides specialized dental services. Champion Childhood Health – Give Today! www.oprfiws.org/donate or 708-4068661.

L’Arche Chicago L’Arche Chicago provides high quality care in community-integrated homes for adults with intellectual disabilities in the OPRF area. Our mission is lived through daily life shared in mutuality: afternoon walks to the park, doctor’s appointments, and dinner parties. Moreover, L’Arche is committed to life together in a way that welcomes difference. As our society seems increasingly fearful of difference, L’Arche offers a counter story: that the differences so often keeping people apart can become the substance of joyful and transformative relationships. Make a needed local impact through our people and mission at www.larchechicago. org/opendoors

Maywood Youth Mentoring Program Organized in 1993 as a 501c3, the Maywood Youth Mentoring Program has served hundreds of middle to highschool youth providing a variety of programs, workshops, field trips, and experiences designed to increase academic potential and instill cultural pride. Since 2008, the program has hosted free monthly youth breakfasts with topics ranging from anger management/and conflict resolution,

Rose and Rich Smith, with their son Ric so all the people with disabilities could rock the night away with friends during their Saturday nights out. Buoyed by his son’s successes, his wife’s memory, and his own zest for life, Rich Smith personifies the spirit of philanthropy, a spirit that that continues to make UCP Seguin a preeminent

etiquette, police/community interactions, sexual health, drug and alcohol avoidance, and academic excellence. Youths practice critical thinking skills to encourage positive life choices. Volunteer mentors interact with youth providing positive role models for college and career choices. Funds are needed to continuously provide free services and incentives for participation. To volunteer, or to donate, visit us at maywoodyouthmentoring.org, or contact Barbara Cole, founder/CEO at 708-3443577.

New Moms

New Moms believes in the strength, skills, and potential of all families and communities to achieve audacious possibilities for their futures. At New Moms, young moms take powerful first steps towards economic mobility and family well-being. Our 2-Generation Approach puts families experiencing poverty in control of their goals and unleashes their potential. We partner with families to construct the foundations of well-being by strengthening core life skills, incorporating early childhood development supports, building pathways to and preparation for education and employment, and expanding positive social networks and access to community resources. Learn more and donate at newmoms.org.

organization serving people with disabilities. You can join Rich Smith and help to provide life without limits for people with disabilities. Donate online at ucpseguin.org or send gifts to UCP Seguin, 332 Harrison Street, Oak Park IL 60304

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association strengthens our community through learning, giving, and sharing our landmark building through space grants to local non-profits (80% of its usage is non-profit). During COVID-19 our building has been largely closed, but we have been connecting with our community with weekly Monday Enrichment Zoom programs. We are also providing community outreach to food pantries, shelters and first responders. We need your help keeping our ‘doors’ open. If you would like information about donating, please contact us at 708-386-2729 x 3 or epayton@nineteenthcentury.org. You can also make a donation at nineteenthcentury.org.

Oak Park Art League Celebrating its centennial in 2021, the Oak Park Art League (OPAL) is one of the longest, continually running non-profit arts organizations in Illinois. OPAL is a vibrant cultural center where the invitation and challenge to use art as a medium for personal and community growth is made available to people of all ages. Since 1921, OPAL has brought arts education, appreciation, exhibitions, and the spirit of artistic inquiry to the surrounding community. OPAL is committed to meaningful community

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outreach to the population that makes up our greater community through partnerships and on-site art and programming with local social service agencies through our “Family stARTs” program. For more information about membership, volunteering, or to make a donation, please contact Executive Director, Jill Kramer Goldstein at 708-386-9853 or director@ oakparkartleague.org. The Oak Park Art League is located at 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center For more than four decades, the Oak Park Regional Housing Center (OPRHC) has been an advocate for fair housing. Our mission is to achieve vibrant communities and promote intentional and stable residential integration throughout Oak Park. The OPRHC is the only non-profit in Oak Park and the Greater Westside Region that encourages pro-integrative housing options. Our work is at the heart of why Oak Park is such a wonderful, diverse, and vibrant community, welcoming to everyone. Support our work with a donation at oprhc. org/donate. To learn more about the OPRHC call 708.848.7150, inforequest@ liveinoakpark.com, 1041 South Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60302.

Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is based on a powerful promise: to create an enduring institution where people can come together and pool their resources to meet our community’s most pressing needs — not just now, but forever. For sixty years, generations of thoughtful and caring donors and residents have empowered the Foundation’s work to safeguard and advance the community in which we live, raise our families and work. From helping donors with legacy gift planning, to managing donor advised funds, to strengthening local non-profits, we connect. Visit oprfcf.org or call Rhea Yap at 708-848-1560 to start a fund, discuss your charitable estate plans, or make a donation today.

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Community of Caring Oak Park and River Forest High School Alumni Association Through its Bobbie Raymond Summer Enrichment grant program, the Oak Park and River Forest High School Alumni Association helps current OPRFHS students experience life-changing experiential learning opportunities that advance their interests and knowledge in preparation for higher education and future career goals. All freshman through juniors are eligible to apply for awards, though students from under-resourced families receive greater consideration. For more than 20 years, students have traveled to destinations throughout the U.S. and the world, taking part in cultural exchanges, camps, and enrichment opportunities. The future outlook of these life-changing opportunities, and their accessibility for students most in need depends on your support today. Donate at https://tinyurl.com/oprfalumnidonate

OPRF High School Scholarship Foundation In May 2020, the Oak Park and River Forest High School Scholarship Foundation granted $140,000 in scholarships to 63 graduating seniors. Since 1924, the Scholarship Foundation has been an important and growing partner in the community, providing much-needed financial assistance to OPRFHS students as college tuition and expenses continue to increase. Please visit our website at www.scholarships4oprfhs.org. and make a gift to our General Fund to help increase the number and amount of scholarships we offer or to the College Knowledge Project (CKP) Scholars Fund that supports our CKP alumni, many of whom are first generation college students. We hope you will join us by investing in the future of OPRFHS students today and make a tax-deductible donation. Contact scholarshipsoprfhs@ gmail.com to learn more.

The Joyful Giving Catalog

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Service to the community is a longstanding and integral part of Concordia-Chicago’s identity

Teacher and students in Concordia University Chicago’s Early Childhood Education Center.

he Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) is a treasured institution within Concordia University Chicago and the surrounding community. As the ECEC celebrates its 45th anniversary, our teachers reflect on how they inspire lifelong learning as a centerpiece of the educational experience. “What has helped the ECEC endure for 45 years is its unwavering commitment to best educational practices rooted in the most current research and theory, as well as the Gospel,” says Bogusia RyndakMazur, assistant director. “Our exceptional teachers foster children’s natural curiosity about the world and support a lifelong love of learning through guided play and project-based learning.” Ryndak-Mazur has been working at the ECEC since 2001, when it was still housed in the basement of Lindemann Hall. In 2002, the ECEC moved into the brandnew Christopher Center building, where Ryndak-Mazur taught younger full-day preschool, gaining the experience that led to her promotion to assistant director in December 2019. “As part of the University, the ECEC always inspired me, personally, to continue my education,” she says. “I came to the Center with a master’s degree, but working with University students, professors and families who have high expectations of us motivated me to pursue further education. I went on to earn a Professional Teacher License and am currently in my third year of a PhD program in early childhood education. My educational journey is far from over.” The connection between the ECEC and the College of Education was the idea of Professor Emerita Dr. Shirley Morgenthaler, and it continues to this day. “The curriculum framework we use is based off Shirley’s original framework,” says Cathy Gruenwald BA ’88, ECEC

director. “Over the years, the ECEC staff have taken her framework and expanded it as the basis of our emergent and project-based curriculum.” Teacher Kim Keane BA ’11 explains that the Early Childhood Education Center has multiple layers of learning built into it: the children, the lab students and the teachers. “The ECEC has a significant impact on the learning and growth of every person involved, from the infants all the way up to the administration,” she says. Through the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became even more apparent how valued the ECEC is by the local community. After temporarily closing in March in observance of Illinois pandemic regulations, the ECEC reopened in June with a lower capacity, amended operations and strict safety measures in place. “Over these past several months I have been struck repeatedly by how blessed I am to be part of this community. Everyone has approached the work that we do with such grace, compassion and commitment,” Keane says. “The teachers have worked hard to provide safe and positive environments for their students. The administration advocated for us. While we were closed, the families even got together to fundraise in our support. God is so good!” “The ECEC has been an invaluable asset to Concordia-Chicago and the community for the last 45 years,” says Ryndak-Mazur. “I am confident we will continue to share the Christian faith with others while also providing the best early childhood environment and experiences for many years to come.” Learn more about the Early Childhood Education Center at CUChicago.edu/ECEC and to read the full edition of the recent Forester magazine visit CUChicago.edu/ Forester.

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Community of Caring

It Takes A Village To Create A Happy Holiday Season at Hephzibah

hen asked what he wanted for Christmas this year, Hephzibah’s newest resident 6-year-old Nate replied, “I don’t believe in Santa Claus. Last year, I asked for love and I didn’t get it.” This year, the holidays will be different for Nate and all the children in Hephzibah’s care, because love is abundant, and our generous supporters help ensure that it is a holiday season filled with excitement and joy. It takes months of work and an entire community of elves to bring holiday cheer to the hundreds of children and families in Hephzibah’s care. And, while the pandemic has forced the cancellation of the many traditional celebrations and events, the holidays will still be joyous and

Oak Park Mutual Aid Oak Park Mutual Aid (OPMA) is a coalition of neighbors dedicated to directly caring for one another and those around us in greatest need. We provide direct community support including food, clothing and limited financial assistance. Our website and volunteer responders also share a collection of resources that can help support those living in Oak Park and the surrounding area during this difficult time. To date, we have raised more than $47,000 in donations and assisted hundreds of area residents. As the situation will remain difficult for the foreseeable future, we need your help through donations and volunteering! https://oakparkmutualaid.com/

fun-filled this year. Thanks to generous foundation, corporate and individual donors, and imaginative Hephzibah staff, this year children living at Hephzibah Home will enjoy festive light displays in the neighborhood, special holiday meals, and open gifts purchased specially for them from a personal wish list. The hundreds of children and families in Hephzibah’s foster care program and receiving services through our Intact Family program, will receive gifts, gift cards and holiday meals all provided by donors to Hephzibah and from several corporate partners and their supporters. “There is still much to celebrate this season,” says Juliet Yera, director

One Earth Film Festival By taking care of each other, we take care of ourselves. That’s the lesson that the COVID19 pandemic and the growing social & environmental justice movements are teaching us. And that’s the Power of We! The One Earth Film Festival continues to grow and expand our circle of engagement. Save the date for our exciting 10th anniversary One Earth Film Fest, March 5-14, 2021. The Festival was born in Oak Park, and this year, we will be screening virtually to a national audience. Join us for quality films, engaging discussion, meaningful action opportunities and community-building. Memberships start at $25 ($15 for students / seniors). For more information and to donate, visit oneearthfilmfest.org/give.

of development. “Though 2020 has been an especially challenging, difficult year for our children and families, we are so fortunate to have a generous community embracing the

spirit of the season.” Visit the Hephzibah Wish List at hephzibahhome.org/donate/holidaywish-list/ to help make a child’s holiday dream come true.

Opportunity Knocks Opportunity Knocks is dedicated to enriching life and community for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) as they live, work, learn, grow and connect within their community. We use a dynamic, person-centered and community-based approach to programming that serves to engage the voice of our participants, foster interdependent connections, encourage exploration, promote holistic wellness and healthy relationships. We are 95% privately funded so your support is more important than ever this year in keeping our mission moving forward. To join us in creating a more dynamic and inclusive community for all, visit opportunityknocksnow.org, 8020 Madison Street, River Forest, IL 60305.

The Parks Foundation of Oak Park

The Joyful Giving Catalog

The Parks Foundation of Oak Park promotes giving opportunities to support initiatives for the Park District. Our mission is to collaborate with residents, community groups and partner organizations to support exceptional projects that enhance and enrich our parks and community life. We believe a commitment to equity and diversity is what makes our community strong. Our fundraising efforts enhance scholarship funding to make it possible for all community members to participate in Park District programs. Last year over 200 scholarships were provided to enable individuals and families to

participate in park district programs. To learn more, and make a donation, visit parksfoundationop.org

PING! Providing equitable access to instrumental music for students in grades 4 through 12 in Oak Park and River Forest public schools has been the mission of PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation) for more than 20 years. PING! loans band and orchestra instruments to students in need, and provides music enrichment through workshops; mentoring; and scholarships for summer music camps, school music trips, and private instruction. In this challenging year of COVID, PING! is adapting these enrichment programs to fit the needs of our students learning at home. Community support for our PING! students this year is more important than ever. For more information, or to make a donation, please visit our new website at pingoprf.org. If you have an instrument to donate, send us an email at pingoprf@gmail. com.

Pro Bono Network We believe access to justice should not depend upon your ability to afford an attorney. There are simply not enough legal aid lawyers to help people in dire need of civil legal aid. These include issues of safety from an abuser, adequate housing, critical care documents, and more. Pro Bono Network has enabled 400+ attorneys to give more than 24,000 hours of free legal assistance to over 4,300 clients

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The Joyful Giving Catalog whose lives were meaningfully changed. To get involved or donate, visit pro-bononetwork.org. Your support will make an impact the lives of many!

River Forest Public Library Foundation

Proviso Partners for Health

Young students in The Day Nursery playground.

The Day Nursery Difference

t the heart of The Day Nursery’s mission is the belief that all children have the right to a quality early childhood education regardless of their ability to pay. COVID-19 has resulted in an unemployment rate not seen since the Great Depression. Many who still have jobs have seen their hours cut. That recently happened to a Day Nursery family who had been in attendance for almost two years. The parents experienced a reduction of hours as well as required furlough days. They asked The Day Nursery if they could somehow reduce their child’s attendance temporarily to make ends meet during this challenging time. At The Day Nursery, we understand that for children, consistency and continuity are vitally important, especially in early childhood. So, The Day Nursery worked with the parents, recalculating their new income, and was able to provide them with a reasonable fee level, that

considered their new circumstances. Utilizing our internal financial assistance, The Day Nursery could give the family an opportunity for their child to continue to attend the program 5 days a week, providing the child the consistency needed to thrive and the parents some piece of mind. Everyone - The Day Nursery, the child, and the parents – were thrilled to create a solution that worked for all. That’s The Day Nursery Difference. Thanks to our generous donors whose gifts can provide support to families when they may need it the most and ensure that we can continue our mission to provide exceptional early childhood education in an environment that welcomes all children, enhances individual strengths, and fosters the academic, social-emotional, and physical development that leads to school readiness. To learn more about us and to donate, visit www.thedaynursery.org

Proviso Partners for Health (PP4H) is a community-led coalition to advance racial and economic pathways toward justice, community health, and well-being. COVID-19 disproportionately affects people of color and highlights the unmet mental health needs that Black/African American and Latinx residents have experienced for generations. In response, PP4H launched True You, a virtual series that gives voice to the historical and current racial trauma and promotes racial healing. The series recognizes the power and strength of self-discovery through peer support among people of color. Support our vision and expansion of this work by donating and visiting www. provisopartners.com/

Race Conscious Dialogues RACE CONSCIOUS DIALOGUES The Race Conscious Dialogues are designed for people who are white to deepen their awareness of identity, power and privilege, then develop tools for anti-racism work. The foundational workshop series consists of 4 sessions, 3 hours each, with light readings to be done in preparation. This volunteer-based nonprofit was intentionally created for our community of Oak Park and surrounding areas. All discussions, readings and activities are framed around unpacking and understanding Whiteness - our own racial identities, the historical and current harm being caused by Whiteness, and guided discovery of how we show up and work collectively to eradicate racism.

River Forest Public Library connects our community with information and entertainment, with each other and the world. RFPL Foundation works to enhance the Library today and for the future through fundraising and advocacy. The Foundation fully funded major updates in the Children’s Room in 2019. We have provided support for the Lobby/ Circulation renovation, Summer and Adult Reading Programs, special programming, and the Anne Smedinghoff Memorial Garden. Help ensure a strong community and a bright future for River Forest Public Library with your gift. We gratefully accept cash, credit/debit, securities and bequests. Visit RFPLFoundation.org/donate.

SisterHouse Founded in 1982 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame, SisterHouse educates and empowers women to lead sober and fulfilling lives by providing a safe and structured spiritual living community. Each successful and resilient woman is reaching towards her full potential by growing in self-awareness, self-respect and forgiveness, learning to embrace self and others, while building healthy relationships. She learns not only how to maintain sobriety, internalizing the 12 steps and building a support system, but also how to thrive in life. Each SisterHouse woman secures quality employment and stable housing. She makes plans for her future and acquires the skills, knowledge, and abilities to realize her dreams. For more information or to donate go to sisterhousechicago.org.

We invite your participation! Donations are appreciated as well www. raceconsciousdialogues.org/donate

g n a H e r e h in t k r a P Oak

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December 23, 2020

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Community of Caring

The Joyful Giving Catalog

Equitable Access in Instrumental Music

or one Oak Park middle schooler, playing the double bass for the first time in 4th grade – an instrument taller than he was at the time – became more than just adding music to his life. It increased Braden’s confidence, his fine motor skills and helps him be a more well-rounded student, according to his mom, Jennifer.

something new.

PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation) not only provides Braden, and other peers who need assistance, with their instruments, but other opportunities to these young musicians in Oak Park and River Forest public schools, such as pairing mentors from OPRF High School with PING! students in grades 5 through 8.

“He started expressing interest in music very early on,” she said. “I think if we waited until we were at a place where we could afford all the extra things with music, we would have missed that window in supporting him in his interests. We’re really grateful we didn’t have to forego that very long because of all the resources that PING! has provided.”

Braden began meeting his mentor virtually this fall as PING! has adapted to keep students safe and engaged. In their first session, Braden learned

St. Angela School St. Angela School has walked with the families of Chicago’s west side for one hundred years— walked with a deep commitment to enriching the lives, and the futures, of their children. We have a rich and varied history – and a future of great promise. We provide our children with a safe and loving environment and challenging academics; we help them explore paths that lead to meaningful and rewarding careers; and we teach them, above all, to believe in themselves. As we prepare for our next hundred years, we’re proud to reaffirm our commitment to love and serve all those who choose to be part of our community. Learn more about St. Angela School at saintangela.org or call us at (773) 6262655

“He taught me some holding positions of the double bass and some tips to play better,” Braden said. After he made those adjustments, Braden said, “It sounds way better than I used to play.” Jennifer believes it would have been a missed opportunity for Braden if not for PING!.

Learn more/donate: pingoprf.org/ donate.

Sweet Rest If you are curious about how to shift to an anti-racism, anti-white supremacist way of being, while considering what a world that accepts and supports Black women broadly and widely looks like, we invite you to join our community. The Sweet Rest subscription is designed as a set of 12 monthly emails that build on each other and invite the reader on a journey. The content is geared toward a white audience ready to change from within. The coaching emails, complete with monthly action items that compel readers to act without further traumatizing people of color, will deepen the justice walk of white people without further burdening the lives of people of color. Your monthly subscription dollars are used to create rest opportunities for Black women. This is the kind of restorative framework that we hope will move us toward a more equitable way of being. To learn more or to subscribe please visit www. sweetrest.net

Braden and his bass.

UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago UCP Seguin believes that all people, regardless of ability, deserve to achieve their potential, advance their independence and act as full members of the community. So we stop at nothing to provide life skills training, assistive technology, meaningful employment and a place to call home for people with disabilities, as well as specialized foster care for children. Our goal: life without limits for people with disabilities. Make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Donate online at ucpseguin. org or send gifts to UCP Seguin, 332 Harrison Street, Oak Park IL 60304

West Suburban Special Recreation Association West Suburban Special Recreation Association provides recreational programming for individuals with disabilities who reside in Oak Park, River Forest & nine other surrounding communities.

Join us for our Virtual Celebration Benefiting the Stars of WSSRA. Auction opens 9:00am November 30. View Auction Items or make a donation at https://one.bidpal.net/ wssrastars2020

Youth Outreach Services Youth Outreach Services supports youth ages 12 to 21 and their families, by providing free programs that offer skill development, therapeutic interventions, and mentorship to improve their safety and well-being. Through the past 60 years, YOS has offered outpatient, community-based behavioral health and substance abuse treatment, after school mentoring and outreach, family therapy, crisis intervention services, case management, foster care, transitional living and housing services, in-school prevention curricula, and juvenile justice programs. Help youth flourish by donating at www.yos. org/donate or text @YOSCARES to 52014. Or help empower youth to reach their goals, by calling 773-777-7112 to refer them for services.