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Proviso East culinary students ‘Think Big’ with the help of alum
Residents request safety test, public input on new soccer field
PROVIDED BY ISIAH BRANDON.
Students will now have opportunity for a culinary internship at five-star resort
By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Contributing Reporter
It is all about the big picture for Proviso East High School culinary students who recently participated in the inaugural “Think Big” initiative launched to in-
Special section
spire students to dream outside their high school walls. The brain child of Isiah Brandon, 2006 Proviso East alum and current village of Maywood trustee, “Think Big” was cre-
Park district plans to update the field whether it gets a grant to redo the surrounding area or not By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
The park district is looking to renovate its soccer field and main playground on Harrison Street.
See THINK BIG on page 11
See SOCCER FIELD on page 10
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
A look back in time: News from Harlem, December 1898
Tom Holmes: Have yourself a melancholy Christmas?
Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
PAGE 15
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IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 THIS ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
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Forest Park Review, December 24, 2025
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Forest Park Review, December 24, 2025
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Top 10 stories of the year in Forest Park
The most-viewed stories on our website cover the No Kings protests, police reports and the end of an era for two beloved local businesses By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
As the year winds down, often along with the local news cycle, our newsroom is reflecting on what we reported in 2025. Throughout the year, the Forest Park Review posted 665 stories that got over 482,000 pageviews. While there’s no way to tell which articles our print readers liked best, below are the top 10 stories written this year that got the most pageviews online.
1. No Kings in Forest Park — 8,824 page views During the first national No Kings protest in June, people across the country gathered in their communities to defy authoritarianism on President Donald Trump’s birthday. In Forest Park, Tom Holmes, a longtime columnist for the Review, coordinated a rally at Constitution Court.
2. Death at Harlem Blue Line station — 8,738 page views Every week, I write a roundup of police activity in the village using reports that the Forest Park Police Department sends me. Sometimes if there’s a death, or police arrest a dangerous suspect, I’ll write a separate article on that. In this case, police found a man who was unresponsive on the train at the Forest Park Blue Line station in February. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
3. Rat outbreak in Forest Park — 6,769 page views While the village sees an uptick in rats every fall, this year was particularly bad. Steve Glinke, who runs the village’s building and public safety department, told me multiple times about how the number of rats was the worst he’d ever seen this year.
4. Celebrating the Fourth in Forest Park — 5,490 page views Most every year, the Park District of Forest Park has a firework show on the lawn at 7501 Harrison St. This year was no different, and the pool was open for swimming during regular hours. Though the village doesn’t have a 4th of July parade, surrounding municipalities typically do. Those schedules were laid out in this article.
5. Brown Cow’s legacy — 4,310 page views Over the summer, I reported an article about what properties were for sale along Madison Street and Roosevelt Road. Among them was Brown Cow. The ice cream store’s owner, Connie Brown, was looking to sell both the business and the building. This editorial lauds Brown and her store’s legacy in Forest Park. Brown Cow got new owners in November.
6. Nearly 200 locals attend No Kings Rally in Forest Park — 4,193 page views
The Review is taking a week off Dear readers, A heads up that the Forest Park Review will not publish on Dec. 31. Yes, we are taking the final week of the year off, sending our dedicated colleagues home for the holidays, and getting recharged for all that is ahead in 2026. If major news breaks we will be there online. Meanwhile, our deep thanks for reading and supporting our work. Hope your holidays are wonderful.
TODD BANNOR
No Kings Rally in Constitution Court on June 14.
9. Six indicted following intercepted coke delivery in Forest Park — 3,873 page views
After writing the brief announcing the No Kings rally in June, of course I had to draft something about the protest itself. Our photographer, Todd Bannor, attended the gathering and took several photos of the crowd. About 200 locals showed up to Constitution Court with signs against Trump and authoritarianism.
This article was written by our freelancer Bill Dwyer. Last November, police intercepted one-and-a-half kilos of cocaine that were being delivered to a Forest Park residence. In July, Dwyer reported that six people involved were indicted on drug conspiracy charges.
7. Woman shatters Walmart door with hammer — 4,094 page views
10. One last hurrah for McGaffer’s Saloon? — 3,754 page views
This article contains a weeks-worth of crime in Forest Park in February. I’m honestly surprised more of these weekly roundup reports didn’t end up on this list. Week to week, police blotters like these usually get the most pageviews out of the stories across all four of Growing Community Media’s newspapers.
Last October, J.P. Malone, owner of McGaffer’s Saloon on Madison Street, was injured on the property and temporarily closed the bar. In March, Dwyer reported that McGaffer’s would not reopen. Two months later, the village installed an honorary street sign just east of the business.
8. River Forest couple with expired visas deported to Slovakia — 3,926 page views
Page views help us know what you want to read, as the people who we’re reporting this news for. Are there any of these articles that you want me to do a deeper dive into? Or do you have any stories you’d like to see me pursue in the new year? Email me your thoughts at jessica@forestparkreview.com.
My editor, Dan Haley, reported this story in September after two River Forest residents were deported. Agents from an unidentified federal agency showed up at their apartment to detain them.
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Forest Park Review, December 24, 2025
Light the menorah!
Locals gathered in Forest Park to celebrate the start of Hanukkah By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Every Hanukkah, celebrants of the Jewish holiday light a new candle on their menorahs every day for eight days. Locals celebrated the tradition with their own menorah lighting at Constitution Court in Forest Park.
Originally scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 14, the first night of Hanukkah, the Village of Forest Park rescheduled its menorah lighting on Dec. 16 because of freezing temperatures. That Tuesday evening, about a dozen people gathered on Madison Street to watch Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins help officials from Chabad of Oak Park-River Forest to light a large menorah in Constitution Court. “This event is always a meaningful tradition for our community, and it reflects the diversity and sense of togetherness that make Forest Park such a wonderful place to live,” Village Administrator Rachell Entler said in the village newsletter.
TODD BANNOR
Rabbi Yitzchok Bergstein of Chabad of Oak Park River Forest prepares menorah in Constitution Court for lighting.
TODD BANNOR
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News report: West Sub owners in legal dispute with Pipeline, a previous owner Pipeline alleges Resilience Health is in default on $67M loan
By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter
The future of West Suburban Medical Center is looking more uncertain than ever in light of a lawsuit reported by a Chicago real estate news website. In a Dec. 22 article, The Real Deal Real Estate News’ Emma Whalen reports that affiliates of West Sub’s former owners, Pipeline Health, have sued West Sub’s current corporate parent, New Jerseybased Resilience Healthcare, for failing to pay $67 million allegedly owed to the Pipeline entities. West Sub CEO Manoj Prasad told media outlets in early 2023 that the deal for West Sub and Weiss Memorial Hospital on Chicago’s North Side was worth $92 million.
The Real Deal reports that sale was funded in part by a $22 million loan from California-based First Credit Bank and a $67 million loan note from Pipeline with a December 2024 maturity date. Last December Resilience failed to pay back the $67 million owed to the Pipeline entities, The Real Deal reports. Attorneys for Pipeline and representatives of Resilience, they said, did not respond to requests for comment. Last June, six months after Resilience Healthcare allegedly defaulted on the $67 million loan, the federal Center for Medicare Services terminated Weiss Memorial’s participation in Medicaid reimbursement after the hospital’s air conditioning failed. With Weiss reportedly relying on Medicare and Medicaid for 87 percent of
its revenue, Resilience Healthcare made the decision to close the hospital on Aug. 8. Some medical services continue to be offered on the Weiss campus. “Due to a catastrophic HVAC failure, all inpatient units were evacuated on June 18,” Weiss Memorial said on its website. “The Emergency Department remained opened until Aug. 8, 2025 but also had to be closed pursuant to a loss of Medicare and Medicaid funding.” The Real Deal reports that the alleged $67 million debt default referenced in Pipeline’s lawsuit “is listed in public records as a subordinate mortgage, meaning Resilience is likely on the hook to cover the $22 million CMBS debt before making the lenders of the larger debt whole.” In the course of negotiating the sale of
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West Sub and Weiss to the newly created Resilience Healthcare, Pipeline entered bankruptcy. At the time the Journal reported that Pipeline blamed its financial woes entirely on growing losses at its two Chicago hospitals. “For now, the tangled legal mess leaves West Suburban Hospital in a precarious situation and puts a heavier burden on Weiss Memorial Hospital’s potential to reopen,” The Real Deal reports. That set of circumstances likely places West Suburban Medical Center in serious jeopardy. Last summer Prasad told a press conference that West Sub’s future was uncertain and that the hospital made decisions on what bills to pay based on what cash was received on a given day.
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Forest Park Review, December 24, 2025
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Locals protest Thorntons for serving ICE Federal agents shopped at the gas station Dec. 16, the day they were seen back in the Chicagoland area By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
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United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are once again active in the Chicagoland area after withdrawing their presence in mid-November.
The day after Bovino was spotted in Forest Park, residents gathered outside Thorntons to speak out against the gas station for selling snacks and gas to ICE agents. About a dozen people stood outside Thorntons from 4 to 5 p.m. after a post on the Activate Oak Park Facebook
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On Dec. 16, federal agents were reported in suburban Cicero and on the southwest side of Chicago, where they arrested at least 15 people. That same day, Customs and Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino and immigration enforcement agents were seen at Thorntons gas station on Harlem Avenue in Forest Park. As local judges question the legality of ICE’s arrest tactics, citizens continue to protest the agents’ presence in their communities.
page shared the location and time of the event. Many cars honked their horns in support of the protesters as they passed the corner of Harlem and Jackson. There were also Forest Park police officers present in a squad car in the gas station lot. Forest Park Police Chief Ken Gross told the Review that his department was aware of the potential protest and had a security plan in place. He added that police were in contact with Thorntons and a protest organizer.
Forest Park Review, December 24, 2025
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Arthur Kistenbroker, early village president with fans and foes
n the Nov. 19, 1926 edition of the Forest Park Review, there is a short biography of Arthur Kistenbroker IV, one of the early presidents of the village of Harlem (now Forest Park). There was a lot to say about this gentleman (1857-1935) who contended with an epidemic (diphtheria) in town, who covered payroll when village funds ran short and who specified what the first sidewalks in town had to look like. The article reported that Arthur’s father, John, had the first Christmas tree in Chicago. A quick search throws some doubt on this claim, as soldiers at Fort Dearborn were said to have decorated a tree for Christmas in 1804. Still, as German immigrants coming to America in 1847, it’s safe to say that the Kistenbroker family had one of the earliest Christmas trees in the area. Shortly after Arthur was born, the family moved to what was then called Harlem where his father raised cattle. Arthur was one of four surviving children in the Kistenbroker family -- nine of his siblings died in infancy. Early in his career, Arthur was a musician, playing the flute in several orchestras but by the time he was 27, he owned a marble and granite business across the street from Forest Home Cemetery (location is everything) which he ran until he retired in 1918. Arthur served as the Village of Harlem’s president for five terms (1888, 1889, 1890, 1892 and 1900.) He was one of the first presidents as Harlem was incorporated in 1884. Arthur oversaw incredible changes in the village that were not without controversy.
AMY BINNS-CALVEY
In 1892, Harlem experienced a devastating diphtheria epidemic. Dozens of people died, schools were closed, and signs were posted on “dangerous” houses. Arthur came to loggerheads with the head of the State Board of Health. The state said Harlem had “impure water due to imperfect sewers” causing the spread of the disease. The state official also accused Arthur of not understanding the role of the State Board of Health, reporting that Arthur had said, “… the State Board of Health had sums of money appropriated for sanitary purposes, and that if they wanted to do anything they could go ahead and do it. That the present state of affairs was a blessing to the town, for then they would be anxious for the sewerage which he had tried to obtain for the town; that the very people whose families were sick and dying had opposed him in the matter and that such sacrifices were necessary to obtain what he wanted.” It sounds as though Arthur had trouble convincing residents that improvements to the sanitation system were necessary. There seems to be a several years break in his serving as village president, but Arthur returned in 1900 which turned out to be another consequential year. He oversaw an ordinance specifying how sidewalks were to be constructed. He also had to offer to pay police officers and village employees out of his own pocket because the village did not have the funds to cover paychecks. And in 1900, there was a dispute over what firm would provide gas to the village. Arthur refused to sign an ordinance giving the 50-year gas franchise to a company that the village trustees had chosen. The Chi-
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cago Tribune predicted that the upcoming board meeting to discuss the matter would be a “lively session.” (In the end, Arthur’s veto was overturned by the board.) The Kistenbroker family is buried in Forest Home Cemetery. And while they might not have had the very first Christmas tree in Chicago, we can thank the Kistenbrokers, and other German immigrants, for bringing the brightly lit symbol of the yuletide to Forest Park. References: Forest Park Review, Franzosenbuschheritageproject.org, The Inter Ocean, The Chicago Tribune, Harlem Post, Encyclopedia of Chicago
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Forest Park Review, December 24, 2025
Dear Forest Park Review Readers, When our kids were young and throughout their high school years, we turned to the Forest Park Review’s sister publication, the Wednesday Journal, and its sports section to catch up on and to celebrate the achievements of our community sports programs and teams. We will never forget one story in particular, from February 2009. Our son John was an avid basketball player, and despite various injuries and setbacks, he persevered. In a crucial matchup against Lyons Township in his junior year at OPRF, John played the game of his life. According to the Wednesday Journal, “along with a clutch three-pointer and a free throw, Weinheimer made the play of the game on a critical three-point play inside to put the Huskies up.” The excitement of that game was unforgettable. The following week, the Wednesday Journal’s lead sports story was titled “Weinheimer Who?” That headline didn’t just celebrate a game -- it celebrated resilience and community, and it highlighted the power of local journalism. Friends and neighbors reached out with congratulations, and that recognition gave John a much-needed boost of confidence. The article still hangs framed in his childhood bedroom -- a reminder of what one can achieve with perseverance and community support. This is what community journalism does. It doesn’t just report facts -- it connects us. It shines a light on the stories, big and small, that are important to the community, and it reminds us that we are important members of that community. This kind of journalism only exists because of people like you, our community. Your support of Growing Community Media ensures these stories continue to be told -- stories that inspire, unite, make us proud, and strengthen the bonds that make this community truly ours. As GCM’s Board Chair, I am excited to share that between now and the end of the year, the Board of Directors is matching all donations up to $10,000 and challenging our community to meet that match. Your gift today will go twice as far in sustaining the kind of community journalism that shows up for our kids, our neighbors, and our shared moments. Any amount helps keep these stories being told -- stories that reflect who we are, celebrate what we accomplish together, and strengthen the ties that bind this community. Thank you, Eric Weinheimer Board Chair Growing Community Media
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Forest Park Review, December 24, 2025
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C R I M E
Armed robberies on arteries By JESSICA MORDACQ
Growing Community Media staff and supporters at a community event.
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2025 was a year for the books Day in and day out, Growing Community Media and its four community news titles showed up for our readers, telling the stories that mattered most and helping our villages stay informed and connected. Our small but mighty newsroom produced more than 2,000 original articles over the course of this busy year, covering everything from ICE activity and No Kings protests to local elections, our school boards and everyday life that binds our communities together. We also printed more than 400,000 newspapers across our four flags, representing 11 million pages, and delivered them directly to you or to a business nearby. For subscribers, that comes out to roughly a dollar per issue. Laid end to end, those pages would stretch over 1,000 miles, enough to cover every single street in the communities we serve. That feels fitting. Every page is hand designed by our staff, with every story placement and advertisement thoughtfully considered. But this work is not just about volume. It is about quality. This year, our publications earned dozens of honors from the Illinois Press Association. Our Forest Park Review was awarded the Kramer Trophy for best small newspaper in Illinois, one of the highest recognitions in our field. These awards reflect the care, rigor, and integrity our team brings to its work every day. Our impact extends beyond the page. Our dedicated sales team helped spotlight nearly 700 local businesses this year, connecting readers with the people and services that make our neighborhoods thrive. And just this week, as we rolled out a new digital strategy, our combined newsletter subscriptions surpassed 20,000 readers, representing a 40 percent increase over last year. We do this work because we believe in it. We live in these communities. We shop at these businesses. Our kids attend these
schools. Local news is not a particularly lucrative business these days, and the challenges facing nonprofit publishers continue to grow. Still, we show up. For you. For our neighbors. For our communities. As we head toward the end of the year, we are asking you, our reader, to show up for us. If you have never given before, now is the time. If you supported us in the past but have not in a while, we need you now. And if you have already contributed, thank you. Your generosity matters more than ever. These community institutions are not guaranteed to last forever. They survive only when the people who value them step forward to sustain them. Right now, your support is essential. To make this moment even more meaningful, a generous gift from our Board of Directors will match all donations now through the end of the year, doubling your impact on every dollar raised. All dollars raised up to $10,000 dollars will be matched, doubling the impact of your gift and helping sustain this work into the year ahead. From all of us here at GCM, happy holidays. Thank you for reading, for caring about your community, and for supporting local news. If you would like to see this work continue, we hope you will consider making a contribution today. With gratitude, Max Reinsdorf Interim Executive Director
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Staff Reporter
Around 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 16, police were dispatched to the 1000 block of Harlem Avenue for an armed robbery. Dispatch told police that two men stopped a man on the street, took his bag and fled. The victim said the men came out of a residence wearing all black with hoods covering most of their faces. One had a knife and told the man to drop his Verizon shopping bag. The man gave them his bag, which had four cell phones in it that he’d bought earlier that day. The offenders could not be located. Around 8 p.m. on Dec. 18, police were dispatched to the 7700 block of Roosevelt Road for an armed robbery. The offender had a Glock and was seen driving west on Roosevelt in a white sedan. Police made contact with the victim and his girlfriend, who sells goods on Facebook marketplace and earlier that day agreed to meet someone who wanted to buy a pair of shoes from her. They met in a parking lot, where a man got out of the white sedan and approached the car. When the victim got out of the car to get the shoes, the offender pulled out a handgun and pointed it at him, demanding the shoes or he’d shoot. The suspect took the shoes, forced the man back in his car, then went to the white sedan and drove off. The man said he’d sign complaints if the offender was located.
Dog at large Police responded to the 7700 block of Taylor Street on Dec. 15, where a man said that a neighbor hadn’t been picking up her dog’s poop and regularly leaves it in his lawn. The woman told police that she recently had eye surgery and is sometimes unable to see where her dog poops. Police reported that the woman’s dog was off leash. The woman was cited with having a dog at large.
Aggravated battery At about 3 a.m. on Dec. 18, police were dispatched to the 200 block of Harlem Avenue to remove a subject who was banging on the door of a business. Police made contact with the man and told him to leave the
property. He refused, mumbled and continued trying to get close to the officer. When backup arrived, the man got into a fighting stance, threatened to kill the officer and tried to punch police but missed. After the man ignored several police commands, officers tased him and he was placed into custody, but not before he spit in an officer’s face. The man was charged with criminal trespassing, aggravated battery of a police officer, aggravated assault of a police officer, and three counts of resisting police.
Motor vehicle theft On Dec. 19, Berwyn police contacted Forest Park police to say they were with a possibly stolen vehicle that had its ownership registered to a Harrison Street address in Forest Park. The car was in the 7100 block of Cermak, had hit a pole and was inoperable. Forest Park police asked the woman who owned the car if she knew where it was, and she said it was parked behind her residence. But when she went to check, the vehicle was missing.
Battery On Dec. 19, a man told police that on Dec. 15, he was on the CTA Blue Line when two men and one woman walked by him on a train car as his phone slid off his lap and he caught it. One of the men said he wasn’t going to steal his phone, then the three people started threatening him. When he got off the train and on the Forest Park platform, the three started threatening him again and one man sprayed him with pepper spray. The man was not able to describe the subjects for police, according to the police report. ‘These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated Dec. 15 - 19 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
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Forest Park Review, December 24, 2025
SOCCER FIELD Redo is coming from page 1 In August, the park district held a community meeting to get input on potential updates. Over a dozen Forest Park residents and their children attended. More recently, residents are speaking up at park board meetings to request more transparency and communication about the updates, specifically around the soccer field. Youth and adult soccer leagues use the field, along with Forest Park Middle School’s soccer teams. At the Dec. 18 Park District of Forest Park’s board meeting, resident Hannah Dallmann asked the board if the field would be safe to play on come spring. She also asked for safety testing that went beyond a visual inspection, in the form of G-MAX impact testing and infill depth measurements to better understand the field’s condition. “I really hope our turf field is still usable, but we won’t know unless we have real data to back that up,” Dallmann, a coach for the Forest Park Youth Soccer Association, said during public comment. “And if it isn’t usable, then we need time to figure out where to play until the field is replaced.” Jackie Iovinelli, the park district’s execu-
TODD BANNOR
Forest Park Little Kickers Division 1 youth soccer game at Veterans Field.
tive director, told the Review that the Park District of Forest Park used G-MAX testing while building its new pocket parks and said it’s standard procedure for installing new surfaces. “It’s a pretty expensive endeavor. We are satisfied with the testing that we have completed,” Iovinelli said, adding that the fields will be ready to be played on come spring, though there may be some areas of raised turf and loose pieces of rubber. “The field is safe to play on, it just doesn’t look as pretty as we want it to,” Iovinelli said. Because the field is over a decade old, the park district has someone come out and inspect it, once in the spring and again in the fall. This fall, a Synthetic Turf of Illinois employee surveyed every section of the field on his hands and knees. Iovinelli said Synthetic Turf of Illinois will inspect the surface again after winter to make sure it doesn’t need any repairs before the spring soccer season. Otherwise, Synthetic Turf said the field has at least another year or two of use before it needs to be replaced.
The OSLAD grant On Dec. 18, the park board unanimously approved a proposal from Hitchcock Design Architect Services for $137,000 for the group to undergo data gathering, design, development and construction documentation. The approval is contingent on the park district getting a grant from Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development, a grant program financed by Illinois’ real estate transfer tax that funds local government agencies developing parks and open space. To finance the soccer field renovation, the park district is applying for a $600,000 matching OSLAD grant. Hitchcock Design Group — which designed the park district’s pocket parks — has accessed OSLAD funding with previous projects in Forest Park and understands the grant process, park officials said. Recipients will be awarded in January, and Harrison Street construction could start as soon as the fall. Iovinelli said that, even if the park district doesn’t get the grant, it will still redo the soccer field. Replacing the soccer field surface is estimated to cost $750,000. The rest of the main playground updates would be put on hold until the park district can apply for another grant to help finance them. “That’s always kind of been the driving force,” Iovinelli said of the soccer field, which inspired updates to the surrounding area, too. During her public comment, Dallmann — and three other Forest Park residents who
JESSICA MORDACQ
Looking the worse for wear. said at the park board meeting that they supported her comments — said locals should also be more engaged in the grant proposal process. “If it goes through, it will shape the park for the next 10 to 20 years. And the people who use this park the most haven’t been meaningfully consulted. Instead, the process feels reversed — plans first, public second,” Dallmann said, “When safety concerns go unheard, it’s hard to trust that our voices will matter when decisions are made about other projects.” The park district needed to hold a community meeting in order to apply for an OSLAD grant, but many interested residents were unable to attend the Aug. 26 meeting because it was the same day as the first practice of the season for the Forest Park Youth Soccer Association league. In September, over 100 locals signed a letter to the park board asking to prioritize redoing the field so that children have a safe place to play and build community. At the park board meeting, Iovinelli said Hitchcock doesn’t officially start the design process until the park district gets the OSLAD grant. She added that, in order to receive the grant, the park must include certain aspects, like a rain garden and a space for an outdoor classroom. “But that’s not the end of the design. Hitchcock comes in and tells us what we can fit based on our space, based on safety regulations, based on a number of different things,”
Iovinelli said. “They sent us the proposal early because we let them know that our residents are eager and they’re interested in getting the ball rolling. So instead of waiting until January, after we found out about the grant, we wanted to approve it at this meeting to get it going.” If the park district gets the grant, architects will have another community meeting to gather input and walk residents through the process. “I want to make sure people know we are redoing the sports field but also understand that a lot of the timelines are not in our hands,” Iovinelli told the Review. “But know, they can count on that and that we are working very diligently on making sure that happens.” She added that she’ll share a timeline with the public once she gets it. After talking about it over the last year, the park board is also looking for a consultant to write up a strategic plan for the Park District of Forest Park. Iovinelli said that, since the Covid-19 pandemic, the park district has been trying to get everything up to standard, including redoing all of the pocket parks. “We’re finally at a point where we feel like it’s a good time to start engaging a consultant, to start working on a five-year strategic plan,” Iovinelli said.
Forest Park Review, December 24, 2025
THINK BIG
Culinary internships from page 1 ated to inspire students to think about “who they are, who they can become and what they can achieve.” Selected students traveled for a weekend to the Salamander Resort, a five-star resort and spa in Middleburg, Virginia, to immerse themselves and observe first-class knowledge from East alum Sheila Crump Johnson, cofounder of Black Entertainment Television and the CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts. “With her being from Maywood and from Proviso, we specifically thought it would be a great idea to connect students to her,” Brandon said. “In the culinary art sector already it just made sense they get connected to her and what she is doing on a huge level.” Brandon said he had the idea to connect culinary art students with Johnson to help get the initiative off the ground and bring it to fruition – with help from Superintended Krish Mohip, who he said was onboard right away. Brandon said students were greeted by
Johnson herself and the Proviso East fight song, a moment he called “amazing.” At the resort, Brandon said students were treated with a full VIP experience, getting to try fine dining full-course meals. The six selected students who traveled to Middleburg were engaged in a “hands-on” kitchen experience including food demonstrations, etiquette classes and a fun scavenger hunt. According to Brandon, Johnson was there every step of the way to provide continuous encouragement to students. “The students had certainly never experienced something like that at that level ever,” Brandon said, adding teachers also enjoyed participation. “Everyone who was on the trip was in awe of the experience that was provided.” The merger between education and handson experience, combined with seeing the success of a Proviso East alum in Johnson, created an amazing experience for students, Brandon said. “I believe it would get their minds to think higher of what they can achieve, just through that experience,” he told Forest Park Review. Brandon said further internship opportunities have also been for future students through the continuation of the initiative funded by Johnson.
11
PROVIDED BY ISIAH BRANDON.
Proviso East students, along with Maywood Village Trustee Isiah Brandon, meet with staff at the Salamander Middleburg Resort and Spa as part of the first ‘Think Big’ initiative. “It’s the doors that it has opened for Proviso students to be able to experience this level of excellence, I think it is amazing,” Brandon said. “I am looking forward to this partnership we have created from this one experience.” Nicholas Owen, director of food and beverage at Salamander Middleburg, said they
“truly enjoyed” having the students visit. “Welcoming these students and sharing a day in the life of hospitality reminded me that the future of our industry is bright,” Owen said. “This career has given me purpose, connection, and opportunity. Again I’m grateful to see this inspire the next generation.”
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‘A Huskie in his heart,’ Griff joins OPRF community Golden Retriever has become high school’s first facility dog By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter
“Is he here?” A dozen students filed into OPRF’s Student Activity Center during fifth period lunch, more excited than usual. “Where is Griff ?” OPRF’s newest huskie is not a huskie at all, but a golden retriever. Griff, 1.5 years old, had his first day as OPRF’s facility dog on Dec. 3. Throughout the month, students have been able to meet Griff during their lunch periods. Griff and handler Ginger Bencola, prevention and wellness coordinator at OPRF, made their way through the crowd and settled into Griff ’s enclosure within the student center. A group of students filed in behind the pair, immediately sitting on the floor next to the dog. Griff flipped over onto his back, belly in the air. Four students rubbed his belly at once. He stuck one paw up in the air. His face had a smile. Shortly before the COVID pandemic, Bencola began coordinating therapy dog visits to the school during finals week and lunch periods for “de-stress with dogs” sessions. This was always popular with students. Bencola said a line of students would snake down the hall and around the corner. “We should do this more often,” students would tell Bencola. Last year, Bencola partnered with special education teachers Lauren Conway and Claire Downs, and the group wrote a proposal to get the school its very own facility dog. OPRF then applied with Paws Giving Independence (PGI), a nonprofit that trains facility and service dogs in Illinois. Eventually, Griff matched with OPRF, and PGI donated him to the school. Bencola, who earned a graduate certificate in animal-assisted social work from Slippery Rock University in 2024, has been attending weekly training sessions with Griff on Tuesday nights. “We needed a very outgoing, friendly, affectionate dog. And I don’t think we could
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Students welcome Griff to his post as ‘therapy dog.’
have a better fit than Griff,” said Bencola. “He never seems to get tired of meeting more of our students. His tail is always wagging. He rolls over for belly rubs with everyone.” Not many schools have facility dogs, but there are a few in Illinois that have implemented similar programs. Black labrador retriever Pippin is at Lyons Township, goldendoodle Krieger works at Meadowbrook, and Riverside Brookfield just welcomed golden retriever Harley to its team. In preparation for Griff, D200 leaders reached out to other schools about their experiences with facility dogs. “It was all really positive feedback,” said Kris Johnson, director of student services. Griff lives with Bencola, and as the two of them walk towards the building every morning, Griff ’s tail wags more and more. When Griff wags his tail, his whole body moves. Walking through the hallways at OPRF with Griff, Bencola sees students turn and smile. Students “flock to him,” said Johnson. “He’s Mr. Popularity.”
“You can truly see joy on their faces when they see him, when they interact with him,” said Bencola. “Students have shared with me how much this has brightened their day, changed their experience at school. Students are already saying we should have another dog. In the future, Griff will visit classrooms by teacher request, and he will be available for students in crisis for “comfort visits.” Johnson said he will also be a great help in
special education classrooms, and at Community Integrated Transition Education (CITE), OPRF’s transitional program for students in special education. In December, Griff already visited one student who had recently experienced a significant loss. Griff immediately went into “comfort mode,” said Bencola. When the student visited, Griff lay at the student’s feet and put its head in their hand. Griff had a gentle, calming presence, and the student told Bencola that Griff had helped a lot. “All dogs have that intuitive sense,” said Bencola. “But certainly Griff has been trained to know when somebody might need that extra type of support.” Conway said that she sees students relax and become calmer when they visit Griff. “I have seen such excitement and happiness in this building at a time when we all need it,” said Conway. “He’s an absolute joy.” Conway tries to visit Griff at least once a day. Sitting in Griff ’s enclosure in the Student Activity Center, one student threw a yellow ball in the air. Another squished a neon green alligator toy, making it squeak. Griff still remained on his back, smiling. “He’s part huskie,” said Bencola, kneeling on the floor next to Griff. “A Huskie in his heart.”
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Forest Park Review, December 24, 2025
O U R
V I E W
Mayoral leadership
T
he year ends with the same frustrations over local zoning and code issues that have played out across 2025. Forest Park Village Council members have now tabled two notable initiatives to both update and untangle the mess of zoning and code regs that have bedeviled this village over decades. There had been progress on zoning in recent years. But this year, with a hard-to-explain failure of leadership from Mayor Rory Hoskins, it has all ground to a halt. Seemingly stuck in limbo are the Planning and Zoning commission-recommended, consultant-vetted recommendations on residential zoning changes. Two commissioners are stuck over concerns about building density and stormwater management. They also have questions about how the recommendations were informed and want more public outreach. The matter got tabled months ago and has now disappeared from view. Where is the mayor in working to resolve these issues? He never speaks at the village council table when this issue comes up. What is he doing in one-on-one discussions with commissioners and staff to get this done? When will this issue be raised again and put to a final vote? We just don’t know. Now there are the building code updates. This is more straightforward. Consultants have again made recommendations to match Forest Park’s building codes to current standards. Routine. But when the proposal reached the council table on Dec. 15 the same two commissioners said they hadn’t yet had time to fully review the proposal. So it was tabled. That issue supposedly will come back to the council in January for a vote. We will believe it when we see it. Meanwhile, our question remains. Where is Mayor Hoskins in all this?
New soccer turf coming
The Park District of Forest Park has now committed to replacing the turf of the soccer field on Harrison Street in the next year or two, acknowledging the field has reached the end of its unnatural, rubberized life. This is no inexpensive project. The district estimates it will cost upward of $750,000 to replace this intensely used field. The news out of the park district this month is its commitment to make the upgrade, whether or not it manages to win a $600,000 grant from the state’s OSLAD fund. While the Forest Park parks have done exceptionally well in earning this state support in the past, it is not yet certain that this funding will come through. That’s why the promise that it will find the funding and undertake the project in short order is notable. The park board, at its last meeting, agreed to spend $137,000 on data gathering, design development and construction documentation to advance the project. There has been some public pressure from parents and other users of the field to make this upgrade happen. Good for the park district in hearing those concerns.
OPINION
T
Have yourself a melancholy Christmas?
he holidays often act like emotional amplifiers. If you are relatively happy with your life and relationships, the holiday season will make you even happier. For most kids living in Forest Park the holidays create a wonderful fantasy land — lights twinkling on the tree in the living room during the longest nights of the year transform the home space. And day by day the number of presents under the tree in colorful wrappings steadily grows. We hear Nate King Cole’s mellow baritone singing “The Christmas Song”: Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe Helps to make the season bright Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow Will find it hard to sleep tonight They know that Santa’s on his way He’s loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh And every mother’s child is gonna spy To see if reindeer really know how to fly. Or Andy Williams: It’s the most wonderful time of the year With the kids jingle belling And everyone telling you be of good cheer It’s the most wonderful time of the year. For adults it’s an occasion to conjure up happy childhood memories. Although we no longer believe in Santa, we love to repeat the story to our young ones, and bring them to the Forest Park Bank to tell the jolly old elf what they want for Christmas. Local teenagers have outgrown fantasy and haven’t lived long enough to be sentimental, so they relate more to Brenda Lee’s 1958 hit: Rockin’ around the Christmas tree At the Christmas party hop Mistletoe hung where you can see Every couple tries to stop Rockin’ around the Christmas tree Let the Christmas spirit ring. Rockin’ around the Christmas tree Have a happy holiday Everyone dancin’ merrily In the new old-fashioned way. Bottom line — it’s the hap-happiest time of the year. On the other hand, if you’re feeling depressed, the holidays can make you feel even worse. If you’ve just gone through a divorce, Christmas can feel like a time “to get through” rather than an event to look forward to. You’ve just lost someone you once loved — maybe still do — and the children might be at the home of your ex on Christmas Eve. Not the hap-happiest time of the year. Getting laid off, getting sick, having a loved one die — all of these are losses and the normal way to respond to loss is to grieve. Grief may include sadness, depression, confu-
sion, anxiety, numbness, anger or feeling overwhelmed I was 22 when my father died, and the last thing I wanted to do was rock around the Christmas tree. A survey by the American Psychological Association found that 38% of people felt their stress levels increased during the holiday season. “Stress can lead to an increased risk of illness, substance misuse, and higher rates of anxiety and depression. Feeling depressed during the holidays is very real.” What makes Christmas an amplifier is that when a neighbor greets you with “Merry Christmas,” and if you respond in kind, you might be faking it. Everywhere you look — from Christmas Cards to TV commercials — everyone seems happy. And all of those encounters can serve to amplify how bad you feel because by comparison you don’t feel that way. In Norman Rockwell’s painting titled “Freedom from Want,” the matriarch of an extended family is setting a big freshly cooked turkey on a table while three generations smile as they anticipate enjoying the feast and each other. At times in my life that painting made me feel warm inside. Rockwell skillfully painted a scene portraying life the way I want life to be, and I had enough of the elements in the painting to resonate with it. But at other times, like after my father died or after my divorces, looking at the painting was painful because it reminded me of what I had lost. It amplified how I was feeling. “The holidays are a stereotypically cheerful time,” the website Mind explains, “when everyone is meant to be surrounded by loved ones and enjoying every second of the season. But when someone isn’t feeling happy or cheerful, or if they can’t be near their loved ones, the apparent cheer surrounding them can make them feel even more down, and often alone with their feelings – which deepens symptoms of depression.” The website WebMD lists tips for coping with holiday stress and depression: Make realistic expectations. Set realistic goals for yourself. Pace yourself. Keep track of your holiday spending. Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment and sadness by comparing today with the good old days of the past. If you are lonely, try volunteering some time to help others. Limit your drinking, since excessive drinking will only increase your feelings of depression. Try something new. Spend time with supportive and caring people. Let others share the responsibilities of holiday tasks. Make time for yourself !
TOM HOLMES
Forest Park Review, December 24, 2025
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F O R E S T PA R K
REVIEW Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf Staff Reporter Jessica Mordacq Senior Audience Manager Stacy Coleman Contributing Editor Donna Greene Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, Robert J. Lifka Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls Marketing & Advertising Associate Emma Cullnan Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Operations Associate Susan Babin
News from Harlem, December 1898
T
he Harlem Post was a local weekly newspaper printed in German for the local German population. Its first edition was published on Sept. 12, 1895. In the paper’s Dec. 1, 1898 edition, the Harlem Gymnastics Club, or Turnverein, announced their big Christmas celebration scheduled for Dec. 25. It was going to include a gymnastics show, Christmas presents for gymnastics students, and a ball, with no cover charge for students and members of the ladies auxiliary. There was also an ad for Jacob’s Pharmacy, a German drug store, located at 197 Madison St. near Desplaines Avenue in Harlem.
Translated by Uli Leib
Social Media and Digital Coordinator Maribel Barrera Special Projects Manager Susan Walker Senior Advisor Dan Haley
O B I T U A R Y
Janet Berka, 50
Special education teacher Janet (nee Leber) Berka, 50, formerly of Forest Park, died on Dec. 12, 2025 in South Carolina. She attended Garfield School, and graduated from Forest Park Middle School, then IHM High School in Westchester. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Sound Engineering, she continued her education, earning a master’s degree in Special Education from Northeastern Illinois University. She taught special education in Chicago and Greenville, South Carolina.
For over six years, she bravely fought breast cancer going through numerous operations, chemo and radiation treatments. Throughout her treatments, she continued giving her children meaningful experiences they will always remember. She began a running program for elementary-school boys and girls at her children’s school in Greenville. The “Run Hard” program became so popular, a waiting list to join was necessary. Throughout her years of cancer treatments, she ran numerous 5K, 10K and half marathons. In 2024, she completed a full 25K marathon in Jacksonville, Florida. She was an inspiration to all. Janet is survived by her husband, John Berka; her children, Alden and Claire; her parents Clifford and Joanne (nee Lambke) Leber of Forest Park; her brother Brian Leber; and her father-in-law and motherin-law, Richard and Sue Berka. A memorial service will be held at a later date in South Carolina.
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CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
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CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
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2025 holiday services at
Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation 875 Lake Street, Oak Park IL Winter Solstice Celebration Sunday, December 21
6pm In-Person Only Christmas Eve Services Wednesday, December 24
3pm Christmas Pageant & Worship for All Ages 7pm Choir & Candlelight Service New Year’s Eve Sangha Wednesday, December 31
5-7pm Community Center 1019 S. Blvd, Oak Park IL Services will be both in-person and live streamed with the exception of the Winter Solstice Celebration which is in-person only. To learn more go to: www.unitytemple.org
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4:30 pm • Kid-Friendly Christmas Eve Service 9 pm • Christmas Eve Choral Eucharist
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Epiphany, Sunday, January 11th 10 am • Epiphany Pageant
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Episcopal Church stmas 4:45pm MusicGrace - Concert of Christmas Music Grace Episcopal Church 924 Lake St. Oak Park, IL harist 5:00pm - Holy Eucharist 924 Lake St. Oak Park, IL Christmas Eve istmas 10:30pm Music- Concert of Christmas Music Christmas Eve 4:45pm - Concert of Christmas Music 4:45pm - Concert ofEucharist Christmas Music charist 11:00pm - Holy 5:00pm - Holy Eucharist 5:00pm - Holy Eucharist 10:30pm - Concert of Christmas Music 10:30pm - Concert of Christmas Music 11:00pm - Holy Eucharist 11:00pm - HolyDay Eucharist Christmas
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ALL ARE WELCOME 924 Lake St.WELCOME Oak Park, IL ALL ARE ALL ARE WELCOME
Evening Compline Service
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, Sunday, December 14, 9pm and on earth peace among those Enjoywhom thirty minutes of beauty and stillness he favors!” Luke 2:14 sung service. Take time during this entirely
and spiritual reflection by Joinfor usmeditation to celebrate Christmas!
candlelight as the music washes over you in Grace’s historic, gothic-revival sanctuary.
Christmas Eve
Children's Services: 4:15 and 6 p.m. Both services are led by the students FREE AND OPEN TO ALL of Grace Lutheran Church and School Traditional Service: 8 p.m. Candlelight Service: 10:45 p.m. Prelude starts at 10:30 p.m.
Christmas Day Worship: 10 a.m.
7300 Division St, River Forest IL 60305 graceriverforest.org/708-366-6900
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CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE
Merry Christmas, West Cook Friends From Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church South Euclid Ave and Washington Blvd, Oak Park
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Pageant–Dec. 21,10:30 Christmas Eve-5:00
Services @ Euclid Christmas Week: Sunday, Dec 21, 10:30am Advent Four Worship 11:30am Movie: The Shepherd
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Wed, Dec 24, 4pm Family Worship w/ Las Posadas 7pm Candlelight Service w/ Choir
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You are invited! Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Wednesday, December 24 | 5:00 PM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF OAK PARK 820 ONTARIO ST OAK PARK, IL 60302 www.FBCOAKPARK.org
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Christmas SERVICES
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CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES OF OAK PARK AND NEIGHBORS Ascension and St. Edmund Parish St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish
SOLEMNITY of the NATIVITY of the LORD Christmas Eve, Wednesday 12/24
Our Savior is Born !
3:00 PM Mass at St. Giles with the Children’s Presentation of the Gospel 3:30 PM Mass at Ascension with Ascension Schola 4:30 PM Mass at St. Edmund with St. Edmund Choir 5:00 PM Mass at St. Giles with Young Adult Choir 5:30 PM Family-focused Mass at Ascension with Ascension Choristers & String Ensemble 7:30 PM Family Mass Community Mass in the St. Giles School Gym Carols begin at 7 PM Adult and Children’s Choir; Children’s Presentation of the Gospel
10:30 PM Mass at St. Giles Carols begin at 10:00 PM with St Catherine of Siena-St Lucy and St. Giles Choir 11:00 PM Mass at Ascension Carols begin at 10:30 PM with Ascension Choir
Christmas Day, Thursday 12/25 8:30 AM Mass at St. Giles
9:00 AM Mass at Ascension with organ, instruments and cantor
10:30 AM Mass at St. Giles
11:00 AM Mass at St. Edmund with organ, instruments and cantor
SOLEMNITY of MARY, MOTHER of GOD World Day of Prayer for Peace Wednesday 12/31 5:00 PM Mass at St. Edmund (Mass of anticipation) Thursday 1/1 9:00 AM Mass at Ascension 10:00 AM Mass at St. Giles 7:30 PM Taizé Prayer for Peace at Ascension
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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST Plaintiff vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF WILLIE G. HENRY; FLORENCETTA HENRY; TCF NATIONAL BANK; ANITA HENRY; COURTNEY HENRY; EBONEE HENRY; MERCEDES HENRY; TIARA HENRY; JACK LYDON, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF WILLIE G. HENRY; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF FLORENCETTA HENRY, IF ANY; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendant 17 CH 13529 Calendar 61 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on January 13, 2026, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell, in person, to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-09-315-063-0000. Commonly known as 635 Rice Avenue, Bellwood, IL 60104. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: If sold to anyone other than the plaintiff, 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition. IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER THE ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701¬© OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Codilis
& Associates, P.C., 15W030 North Frontage Road, Suite 100, Burr Ridge, IL 60527. (630) 794-5300. 14-23-01315 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3277542
of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g) (4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 151701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 601 E. William St., DECATUR, IL, 62523 (217) 4221719. Please refer to file number 2044189. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc. com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC 601 E. William St. DECATUR IL, 62523 217-422-1719 Fax #: 217-422-1754 E-Mail: CookPleadings@hsbattys. com Attorney File No. 2044189 Attorney Code. 40387 Case Number: 25 CH 04295 TJSC#: 45-2279 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 25 CH 04295 I3277709
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.CHARLES S TRNKA, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF GEORGIANA M. TRNKA, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF GEORGIANA M. TRNKA, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF GEORGIANA M. TRNKA, DECEASED, SUSAN R WEAVER, SHERYL L TRNKA, ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, CARY ROSENTHAL, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF GEORGIANA M. TRNKA, DECEASED Defendants 25 CH 04295 1811 DOWNING AVE. WESTCHESTER, IL 60154 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on September 5, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 6, 2026, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1811 DOWNING AVE., WESTCHESTER, IL 60154 Property Index No. 15-20-403016-0000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $206,676.20. Sale terms: If sold to anyone other than the Plaintiff, 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in ‘’AS IS’’ condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the DOCKET NUMBER� PC 26�01 � Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment Subject Property located at 6549 and PC 26�02 � Special Use Permit North Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�06� HEARING DATE� January 15, 2026 204�005�0000, in the NA � North TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon Avenue Zoning District. The Plan thereafter as the agenda permits Commission may also consider LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 any related and additional relief � Council Chambers, Village of Oak that may be discovered during the Park, 123 Madison Street Oak Park, review of this docket. Illinois 60302 A copy of the applications and each PETITIONER/APPLICANT� TAT3 of the applicable documents for Chicago, Inc. the proposed text amendment and OWNER OF RECORD� Iron Mountain the special use permit are on file Prop, 5816 Laurel Avenue, La and available for inspection at the Grange Highlands, IL 60525 Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, SUBJECT PROPERTY ADDRESS� Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during 6549 North Avenue, Oak Park, IL regular business hours, Monday 60302 through Friday, between 9�00 a.m. ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT and 5�00 p.m. The Plan Commission AMENDMENT may continue the hearing to REQUEST� The Petitioner, TAT3 another date without further notice Chicago, Inc., seeks a text by public announcement at the amendment to the Oak Park Zoning hearing setting forth the time and Ordinance Amending Article 8 place thereof. (“Uses”) � Table 8�1 �“Use Matrix”) Persons with disabilities planning by adding “Body Modification Establishment” as a special use to attend and needing special in the NA � North Avenue Zoning accommodations, should contact District. the Village Clerk’s Office at 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois SPECIAL USE FOR 60302, or call �708� 358�5670. BODY MODIFICATION ALL PERSONS INTERESTED ESTABLISHMENT IN THESE PROCEEDINGS ARE REQUEST� The Petitioner also INVITED TO BE HEARD. seeks Village approval of a Michael Sturino, Chairperson special use permit to operate a OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION, body modification establishment Sitting as a Zoning Commission pursuant to Article 8 �“Uses”) – Table 8�1 �“Use Matrix”) of the Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal, December 24, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for: 2026 Street Improvement Program This project includes the replacement of curb and gutter, sidewalk and driveway aprons, hotmix asphalt surface removal, frame/ lid adjustment, resurfacing, and other associated work. The bidding documents are available for download starting Wednesday, December 24, 2025 at: www.vrf.us/bids Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at: Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305 The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work. No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening. Bidders shall be prequalified by IDOT for: HMA Paving The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids. Published in Wednesday Journal December 24, 2025, January 7, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDDING Request bids for Geothermal HVAC System at Cheney Mansion. Owner: Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302 The Park District of Oak Park will accept sealed bids for the Cheney Geothermal HVAC System Rebid Project at 220 N. Euclid Av. in Oak Park. The project consists of the full installation of all HVAC equipment, necessary ductwork, electrical work, existing geothermal well manifold hookups and components. The Park District of Oak Park will receive individual sealed Bids until 10:00 a.m. (Central Daylight time) on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026, at 218 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois. Copies of the bidding documents and requirements will be available at 12pm, Monday, December 29th, 2025, via the Demand Star website at: pdop.org/rfps-bids A non-mandatory Pre-bid walk-thru is scheduled for Friday, January 9th, at 10:00 a.m. (Central Daylight time) at Cheney Manion, 220 N. Euclid Av., Oak Park, IL 60302. For additional information, contact Bill Hamilton at bill.hamilton@ pdop.org or 708-725-2052. Bid bonds will be required by bidding contractors. Th is contract bid must adhere to the Prevailing Wage Act of 2025. Minority and Women Owned businesses are strongly encouraged. Park District of Oak Park By: Sandy Lentz, Secretary Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St. Oak Park, Il. 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal December 24, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, VILLAGE OF OAK PARK NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE SCHEDULE OF REGULAR MEETING DATES OF THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK AND ITS BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEESIS AS FOLLOWS FOR THE YEAR 2026 Community Relations Commission, Village Board Regular Meetings, 3rd Wednesday, 6�00 pm Tuesdays, 7�00 pm Disability Access Commission*, Village Board Special Meetings, 4th Wednesday, 6�00 pm Irregular, Notice Posted 48 Hrs. Before Mtg. Environment & Energy Commission, 1st Tuesday, 7�00 pm Finance Committee Of The Board, Irregular, Notice Posted 48 Hrs. Farmers’ Market Commission, Before Mtg. 2nd Wednesday, 7�00 pm Personnel Committee Of The Fire & Police Commission, Irregular, Board, Irregular, Notice Posted Notice Posted 48 Hrs. Before Mtg. 48 Hrs. Before Mtg. Firefighter Pension Board, Irregular, Reinventing Government Notice Posted 48 Hrs. Before Mtg. Committee Of The Board, Irregular, Historic Preservation Commission, Notice Posted 48 Hrs. Before Mtg. 2nd Thursday, 7�30 pm Aging In Communities Commission, Architectural Review Committee, 2nd Thursday, 6�00 pm 4th Wednesday, 7�30 pm Board Of Health, 2nd Thursday, Housing Programs Advisory 6�00 pm Committee, 3rd Wednesday, Building Codes Advisory 7�00 pm Commission, 3rd Thursday, Liquor Control Review Board, 5�30 pm 4th Tuesday, 7�30 pm Citizen Involvement Commission, Plan Commission, 1st Thursday, 1st Wednesday, 6�30 pm 7�00 pm Citizens Police Oversight Police Officer Pension Board, Committee, 3rd Monday, 7�00 pm Irregular, Notice Posted Civic Information Systems 48 Hrs. Before Mtg. Commission, 3rd Thursday, Transportation Commission, 7�00 pm 2nd Monday, 7�00 pm Community Development Citizens Zoning Board Of Appeals Advisory Committee, 2nd 1st Wednesday, 7�00 pm Thursday, 6�00 pm *********************************
Unless Otherwise Designated, Meetings Above Are Scheduled At Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park, Il. � For Additional Information Call �708� 358�5670 * Locations Vary, Per the Illinois Open Meetings Act, no public meeting may occur on an election day. In 2026, election days are February 3, March 17, and November 3. As such, any regularly scheduled meeting which would occur on an election day will not be held. If you require assistance to participate in any Village program or activity, contact the ADA Coordinator at 708.358.5430 or e-mail adacoordinator@oak-park.us at least 48 hours before the scheduled activity. Published in Wednesday Journal, December 24, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE The Village of Oak Park intends to request approval of legislation by the Illinois General Assembly that will authorize the Village of Oak Park to acquire the real property described below by eminent domain using “quick-take” authority under the Illinois Eminent Domain Act, 735 ILCS 30/20�5�5 et seq, for a public building and facility or other legitimate public use or public purpose. The Village of Oak Park will hold a public hearing on the question of the acquisition of the property described herein below by eminent domain using “quick-take” authority in the Oak Park Village Hall Council Chambers at 123 Madison Street, Room 201, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 at 7�00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The public is invited. The following property is subject of the public hearing: Legal description: LOTS 1 THROUGH 10 ALL INCLUSIVE, IN WILSON’S AUSTIN BOU� LEVARD AND MADISON STREET SUBDIVISION IN THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 17, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THERE� OF FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OF TITLES OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, AS DOCUMENT NUMBER 91638. AND LOTS 1, 2 AND 3 IN HOLTON’S SUBDIVISION OF THE EAST HALF OF LOT 2 OF HENRY C. WILSON’S SUBDIVISION OF THE NORTH HALF OF THE EAST 10 ACRES OF THE WEST HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER AND THE NORTH HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 17, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, �EXCEPT THE EAST 337 FEET THEREOF� IN COOK COUN� TY, ILLINOIS. Street address: 3�31 Madison Street and 509 S. Humphrey Avenue (sometimes known as 11 Madison Street), Oak Park, Illinois P.I.Ns.� 16�17�107�035�0000, 16�17�107�034�0000, 16�17�107�004� 0000, 16�17�107�003�0000, 16�17�107�002�0000, 16�17�107�001� 0000, 16�17�106�017�0000, and 16�17�106�018�0000 Published in Wednesday Journal, December 24, 2025
Forest Park Review, December 24, 2025
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