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Wednesday Journal, February 21, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Chicago’s police scanners could be reopened to news media under new bill Rep. La Shawn Ford’s statewide measure would give media renewed access to scanners that have been publicly blocked and delayed for 30 minutes

By ERIKA HOBBS

criminals who are also gonna get access, listen in and adjust their criminal behavior in response to the information that’s being communicated.”

A new bill from state Rep. La Shawn Ford But Ford disagreed. would give back police-scanner access to “Media’s been doing it that way since the news media across Illinois. the beginning of time in radio and now all His House bill amends the Public Reof a sudden it’s a safety issue?” Ford said. cords Act, a law that regulates how the pub“There are bad actors and we should root lic accesses government information, to them out, but never in our history has it require any law enforcement agency that put police in danger.” encrypts scanners to give real-time access “You know,” he added, “when I think to FCC-licensed broadcasters and accredited about the fact that the police support newspapers. That could be by license, digital ShotSpotter because it’s real time for them key or other means. and they want to know real time so they can “Police don’t have the ability to get the help fight crime – this is an opportunity word out on their own,” Ford, a Democrat for the press to know from the 8th Disin real time crime is trict, said. “They happening to get the need the press, and word out for safety the press needs refor both the commual-time information nity and police. It just to do that.” makes sense.”

Media members ShotSpotter was could long listen Chicago’s beleato the scanners as SCREENSHOT guered surveillance activity happened. system for real-time And for some An error message showing how a police scanner item was not sent to archives. gun activity that has groups, such as been heavily critiviolence-prevention organizations or hospitals, scanners are were fired. The getaway car escaped on the cized for being ineffective, inaccurate and biased. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson critical tools. Violence interrupters use them Bishop Ford Freeway just blocks away.

Because the police scanner information campaigned on promises to end that relationto try to arrive on a scene to diffuse a violent situation, which can save lives. Trauma-level was on the 30-minute delay, Mandell said, ship and to restore public access to scanners. hospitals also use them to supplement infor- “the news media had no way of alerting Last week, he announced he was extending the ShotSpotter contract through September mation from paramedics to prepare for emer- the immediate danger to the hundreds of people inside the area or the thousands in with a phase-out period. His office did not gency arrivals. respond to a request for comment about enIn 2022, under former Chicago Mayor Lori the expressway.”

During those 30 minutes, Mandell added, crypted police scanners.

Lightfoot, the Emergency Management The problems don’t have to be as traumatic and Communications department encrypt- police can also edit the transmission, like ed police and fire scanners across the city an email forwarded to him recently that as a shooting, said Don Craven, president of after they switched from an analog to digi- showed the Chicago Lawn district disabled the Illinois Press Association. Blocked access tal format. The transmissions are archived the archive feed so no one could access it. impeded the ability to get any fire- or policeon Broadcastify, a live, public online plat- So, in some cases, events may not make it related activity to the public.

“For instance,” he said, “if there is an acform. That creates a 30-minute delay to ac- to the public at all. cident on a street and traffic is blocked, the At the time, Lightfoot and defenders of cess the information.

“Even though in the George Floyd case, it the move said that the lack of encryption longer it takes to get the information out, wasn’t reporters filming, can you imagine could allow criminals to access communi- the bigger backlog of traffic there will be.”

Ford’s legislation would apply across the what would have happened 30 minutes after cations, putting officers in danger.

“It’s about officer safety,” ABC7 reported state, not just Chicago. Several suburban citizens were listening? You wouldn’t see the bad s--- going on,” said Steven Mandell, an at- Lightfoot saying. “If it’s unencrypted and and downstate police departments also entorney with Chicago-based Mandell Menkes. there’s access, there’s no way to control crypt their transmissions.

Editor

“Or what if there is a case that involves a shooting on the expressway, they drive off a ramp and into a neighborhood. If a scanner signal is not available, the media wouldn’t be able to report to the neighborhood to tell everyone what’s going on.”

A similar incident happened in November 2022, according to anecdotes Mandell has collected. A Chicago TV news station reported that police were investigating a shooting near 111th Street and Ellis Avenue in the Pullman neighborhood when the gunman sprayed fire across from the nearby Cook County Circuit Court, Branch 38 and 35.

Witnesses reported more than 40 shots

“Police don’t have the ability to get the word out on their own.

They need the press.”

REP. LA SHAWN FORD 8th District

Nearby Oak Park’s scanners are not encrypted. Neither are Forest Park’s. Chief Ken Gross said the village is part of the West Suburban Consolidated Dispatch Center, a 911 hub responsible for more than one municipality.

“Our radio dispatches are currently analog and are not encrypted,” he said. “If they were encrypted, they would still be available to the public and the media via the Freedom of Information Act, but the encrypted transmission could not be listened to via a scanner or scanner application in real time.”

Proponents say that open-access scanners do cause more problems than one might guess, and increasing numbers of cities are locking down their transmissions: New York City; Denver, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada and Baltimore, Maryland all encrypt police and fire scanners.

Minneapolis, Minnesota will begin next year. In an interview with The New York Times, police Chief Brian O’Hara pointed to two incidents that he said argued for encryption: a murder-suspect search was tracked and relayed on social media in real time, and a false report of an abducted college student went viral, stirring panic among students.

But those incidents do not involve the press. Ford said the Illinois model is similar to one the city of Las Vegas began in 2018, when it gave media access to its encrypted channels. The city of Decatur, too, gives the news media access to its encrypted channels, Mandell said.

“It’s working,” Ford added.

Wednesday Journal, February 21, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

13

River Forest to install second flagpole The move permits the flying of commemorative flags

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

A second flagpole will be installed in front of River Forest Village Hall to allow flying of commemorative flags after the village board approved the measure Feb. 12.

Adding a second flagpole was first discussed in May. In June, the matter was brought back to the village board but tabled until specifics regarding cost of the project and details on height and location were provided.

The five trustees present Feb. 12 voted unanimously to purchase a 25-foot flagpole from Michigan-based Flagpoles Etc. for $4,236.37. Trustee Lisa Gillis did not attend.

Flagpoles Inc.’s bid was the lower of two received. The cost includes installation.

The second flagpole will be 25 feet high, lower than the 30-foot height of the current flagpole and will accommodate three flags.

Village administrator Matt Walsh said

he expects delivery of the flagpole to happen by mid-May, based on expected lead times. The installation should take one day, he added.

In related action, officials adopted a revised flag policy, updating a policy adopted in 2021 that was created to help navigate the “Public Forum” doctrine contained in the First Amendment when flying commemorative flags on the village flagpole.

The updated policy includes specific references to the second pole and the placement of commemorative flags. The policy states that the village board can specify locations with each respective resolution.

According to the policy, commemorative flags will be displayed only if authorized by a resolution adopted by the village board and only if the request is made by a member of the village board at least 60 days in advance unless shortened by the village board.

Officials were told in 2021 that a village flagpole flying only the United States flag is

considered a nonpublic forum as opposed to a traditional public forum or limited or designated public forum.

“The village’s flag poles are not intended to serve as, nor serve as, a forum for free expression by the public. The village shall display commemorative flags only if authorized by the village board through a commemorative or honorary resolution adopted by the village board, as an expression of the village’s official sentiments,” the policy reads.

According to the policy, commemorative flags shall be displayed for a period of time that is reasonable or customary for the subject that is to be commemorated, but no longer than 31 continuous days.

Annual commemorations shall be considered on an annual basis. Commemorative flags shall only be displayed on the second flagpole and shall be displayed in the last position of honor, beneath the village of River Forest flag. Commemorative flags

FILE

The River Forest fire department raises the Ukrainian flag in 2022, during a rally in support of Ukraine outside of village hall in River Forest. also must be the same size or smaller than the United States and State of Illinois flags that are flown.

Since adoption of the policy, flags flown on the single village hall flagpole have included the Ukrainian national flag and a flag commemorating Pride Month.

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Wednesday Journal, February 21, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

St. Edmund School selected as asylumseekers’ shelter

‘We will be an abject failure if in June there are still 100 people there,’ an operator says

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

In a two-part vote, a split Oak Park Village Board of Trustees approved separate agreements to provide a new shelter space at St. Edmund School for asylum seekers.

The new shelter will be operational from Feb. 26 until June 30, according to the village. Migrants staying at the West Cook YMCA and The Carleton of Oak Park Hotel will be able to transition to St. Edmund between Feb. 26 and Feb. 29.

The school, located at 200 S. Oak Park Ave., has most recently been the site of the Catholic Parishes of Oak Park’s Migrant Ministry. The ministry has been providing clothes, snacks and other necessities.

As part of the $1.9 million Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services grant, roughly $1.24 million has been allocated for operating this temporary shelter. The village board’s special meeting Feb. 15 was held to determine an operating and a lease agreement to facilitate shelter at St. Edmund.

The operating agreement is with West Side Service Connector, doing business as the Oak Park Family Transitional Shelter, which will manage the $1.24 million. The West Side Service Connector is an Illinois nonprofit organization that operates the new OPFTS. According to the village, OPFTS submitted a proposal in November to operate a temporary shelter at St. Edmund.

OPFTS will manage day-to-day operations of the shelter, according to the village. The $1.24 million will fund personnel, food, supplies, security, translation, travel and telecommunications, according to the village.

A bulk of the budget, $440,000, will be spent on food, according to the OPFTS proposal. The next highest categories are contractual services such as translation and security, personnel at $194,240, and shelter supplies.

“The shelter will foster a supportive environment where residents are encouraged to take ownership of their journey towards stability, and will hold residents accountable for their path to permanent housing and employment,” OPFTS said in its proposal.

JAVIER GOVEA

St. Edmund School, 200 S. Oak Park Ave. It’s unclear whether the shelter would operate beyond June 30, said Jack Crowe, executive director of OPFTS. If all the migrants are able to move out early, the shelter will close. Crowe said the OPFTS will work with the Oak Park Resettlement Task Force, an organization supported by the Community of Congregations that’s working to find the asylum-seekers stable housing.

“We will be an abject failure if in June there are still 100 people there,” he said.

St. Edmund was selected as a shelter because of its ability to house between 80 and 120 individuals. Rev. Carl Morello has said the ministry would need to acquire bedding arrangements and a way to provide showers to host the asylum seekers.

According to the OPFTS proposal, classrooms at St. Edmund will be fitted with cots or sleeping mats. A shower truck will be provided at the back of the school, and residents will be given hygiene products, according to the proposal.

The OPFTS proposal also includes requirements residents must follow to stay there. For example, they must sign in and out between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Residents also must attend shelter English language classes for at least five hours a week, in addition to other rules.

The board approved the operating agreement in a 4-3

vote, with trustees Lucia Robinson, Cory Wesley and Ravi Parakkat voting against it.

The lease agreement for the shelter is with the Catholic Bishop of Chicago, a nonprofit arm of the Archdiocese of Chicago. The $1.24 million will also cover the CBC’s self-insured property insurance premium and utilities, according to the village. The village will not have to pay the CBC for the shelter space, excluding the monthly insurance premium.

Robinson, Wesley and Parakkat voted against the lease agreement, but it still passed in a 4-3 vote.

At the Feb. 15 meeting, the village board also approved, in the same 4-3 vote, an amendment to the SMASS grant application, asking for an additional $126,750. If approved, that brings the $1.9 million grant to roughly $2.07 million.

The additional funds would allow the village to hire and train three full-time temporary employees to oversee shelter operations, according to the village. Human Resources Director Kira Tchang said the three employees would allow for a 24-hour presence.

Funds from the SMASS grant are restricted to meeting asylum-seeker needs and can only be spent through June 30.

“This seems to be a both/and response, not an either/or response,” Trustee Brian Straw said.

Wednesday Journal, February 21, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

MIGRANTS

More funding, less unity from page 1 $300,000 from a Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services grant to the Community of Congregations for migrant rental assistance. That state-funded grant awarded Oak Park $1.9 million earlier this month to assist with related migrant services.

In an attempt to mediate tensions, trustees sidestepped another issue dividing the board that involved forming a direct partnership with the Oak Park Resettlement Task Force. Earlier this month, the potential alliance raised heated questions from trustees Lucia Robinson and Cory Wesley, who asked why the task force was chosen as a potential partner and whether other the month. After that, the asylum seekers organizations had been considered. may be able to stay at St. Edmund School, The task force includes volunteers from Housing Forward, West Cook YMCA and pending the finalization of a few agreethe Community of Congregations, all ments, until June 30.

The new funding is intended to help miknown and respected organizations the vilgrants find more stable housing beyond lage frequently partners with. So far, the task force has connected 12 families, or 52 temporary shelters. The $300,000 from the individuals, with housing, said Rev. Colin SMASS grant, however, can only be spent until June 30, and can’t be used Knapp, president of Commuto pre-pay rent for months afnity of Congregations. ter that.

On Feb. 13, the board instead “We have relationship with made the Community of Conthe migrants,” Knapp said. “We gregations the sole fiscal agent know their names, we know for the $300,000, all of which their stories; we’ve spent time will be used for short-term with them. We have a certain rental assistance for asylum level of trust.” seekers. All board members The task force is bringing voted in favor of that arrangelandlords to the table by offerment, with the exception of ing a fully paid, 12-month lease, Wesley, who abstained.

LUCIA ROBINSON Knapp said. Those apartments While the task force may may or may not be in Oak Park. connect asylum seekers with housing, according to the village, those The 12-month period will give the migrants individuals will sign their own leases and enough time to establish themselves, get the Community of Congregations will is- work permits, find jobs and save up money, sue the funding to the housing provider Knapp said.

“We believe that the resettlement efforts directly. The Community of Congregations will not be finding available apartments di- are best value for the money,” Knapp said.

“We also believe that the stability we prorectly, Knapp said.

“I am a minister of the gospel, not a real vide in a 12-month lease is designed to creestate agent,” he said in response to a trust- ate self-sufficiency.”

The task force has estimated it will take ee’s question. about $900,000 to resettle the individuals who are staying at the hotel and YMCA.

Future housing needs

According to the officials, 132 asylum seekers remain in the village’s temporary shelter program at the West Cook YMCA and The Carleton of Oak Park Hotel and will likely continue to do so until the end of

Tense discussions During discussions on Feb. 13, as Robinson called for an open bid or request-forproposal process to select a partner for the

FILE

short-term rental funds, she also said she’d like to see staff potentially set up a department to meet those needs.

“The concerns around perpetuating an inequitable allocation of resources to one smaller group of individuals is one concern that’s been raised by trustee Wesley at this board table and echoed in other communities of color,” she said. “It’s a concern that I have as well.”

Village manager Kevin Jackson clarified that setting up a department to work on resettlement efforts could take months, potentially pushing them out of the June 30 window that restricts some of the funds.

The entirety of funding allocated to Community of Congregations will go toward rental assistance, Knapp said, rather than paying a staff because the task force is all volunteer.

Wesley echoed concerns that the migrant response has been inequiCORY WESLEY table, with certain groups, such as the migrants staying at Grace Episcopal Church, finding themselves left out of efforts like the resettlement task force. The task force is willing to take those individuals under their wing, Knapp said, but it would likely require additional funding.

In contrast to Robinson and Wesley, trustees Chibuike Enyia and Brian Straw brought a motion forward to provide an additional $150,000 on top of the SMASS grant

15

to assist the Community of Congregations, bringing the total to $450,000. Straw said he saw the task force’s efforts as an “offramp” -- which trustees called for in December.

“This is the only plan, truly, that is before us that puts this migrant population in a stable situation,” Straw said. “This is by far the most efficient use of resources we have seen through this entire crisis.”

About 20 of the asylum-seekers attended the board meeting, listening with the help of translation devices. One woman asked the board to approve the additional aid and not make the migrants go back to a shelter, where illnesses abound.

One man, who said the migrants are wise, strong and independent, asked Robinson what she sees when she looks at the migrants.

“I see my family,” Robinson said. “This issue hits in a particularly sensitive spot to me.”

Robinson, the only Latina on the board, explained that the decisions before the board were particularly painful for her when her responsibilities as a trustee to protect the community does not line up with her desire to support migrants.

Straw addressed BRIAN STRAW speculation about conflicts of interest, acknowledging that one volunteer member of the resettlement effort had donated a small amount to his political campaign. Enyia also said that same volunteer had worked on his political campaign. Robinson said those facts should have been disclosed sooner.

Several board members also expressed a desire to use the migrant resettlement efforts as a reminder that the village should do more to address housing issues in Oak Park in general.

The board approved the additional amount of $150,000, with trustee Ravi Parakkat, Wesley and Robinson voting against it. Robinson and Parakkat both expressed their distaste for using taxpayer dollars to fund migrant aid.

At a special meeting Thursday, the board will discuss a lease agreement to operate St. Edmund School as a temporary shelter space for migrants. The lease would run through June 30 if approved.

Roughly $1.24 million from the SMASS grant is intended to operate this temporary shelter.

16

Wednesday Journal, February 21, 2024

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Oak Park resident’s 2007 Nissan Altima with a large rock or brick. The incident, which occurred between Feb. 15 and Feb. 16 at the 400 block of North Austin Boulevard, resulted in an unknown amount of damage.

■ Someone broke the rear window of an Oak Park resident’s 2007 Lexus with a large rock or brick. The incident, which occurred on Feb. 16 at the 400 block of North Austin Boulevard, resulted in an unknown amount of damage.

Theft A man stole a Cicero resident’s iPhone 15 Feb. 14 at the 6200 block of West Roosevelt Road. The victim left her phone by a cash register. The man concealed the iPhone in a black bag and left the store.

He was last seen getting on a westbound bus on Roosevelt Road. The phone was last tracked to the 4200 block of West Jackson Boulevard in Chicago. The estimated loss is $1,099.

Catalytic converter theft Someone stole the catalytic converter from an Oak Park resident’s 2012 Toyota Prius. The incident, which occurred between Feb. 14 and Feb. 15 at the 200 block of South Oak Park Avenue, resulted in an estimated loss of $1,000.

Motor vehicle theft ■ Someone stole an Oak Park resident’s silver 2017 Nissan Pathfinder while it was parked at the 1100 block of South Taylor Avenue. The incident, which occurred between Feb. 11 and Feb. 12, resulted in an

estimated loss of $20,000.

■ Someone broke the window to get into a Des Plaines resident’s white 2019 Kia Optima. The incident, which occurred Feb. 15 at the 1100 block of South Humphrey Avenue, resulted in an estimated loss of $20,000.

Domestic battery arrest A man from the 400 block of North Austin Boulevard was arrested for domestic battery against a Chicago resident on Feb. 12. He was processed and held for bond hearings.

Criminal trespass arrest A Chicago man was arrested Feb. 13 at the 100 block of North Oak Park Avenue for criminal trespass to property. He was held for bond hearings.

Outside warrant arrest ■ A woman from Batavia was arrested Feb. 13 at the 400 block of South Taylor Avenue for an active Batavia warrant. She was turned over to Batavia police.

■ A Chicago man was involved in a fight Feb. 15 at the 900 block of Lake Street. The man was found to have an active Lake County Sheriff ’s Office warrant for felony theft and was held in lieu of bond.

■ An Oak Park man was arrested Feb. 15 at the 800 block of Washington Boulevard for an active Cicero warrant. He was turned over to Cicero police.

These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department reports, dated Feb. 12-19, 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.

Compiled by Luzane Draughon

Wednesday Journal, February 21, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

17

OPRF sets African American students up for success with parent dinner

The National African American Parent Involvement Dinner will be held Feb. 27

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 are inviting all parents, especially parents of color, to their annual National African American Parent Involvement Dinner at the end of this month.

The dinner will be held at OPRF’s south cafeteria Feb. 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Parents can register online at the school’s website.

Tyrone Garland, community outreach coordinator and football and track & field coach at OPRF, said the dinner is a way for the high school to reach parents of color to promote and educate on the importance of their child’s first year of high school.

“I am really big on students understanding their options and understanding why their freshman year in high school is so important academically,” Garland said. “Just to build their GPA. I touch on that a lot.”

OPRF LOCKDOWN No charges from page 3 school suspension and/or recommendation for expulsion.

According to Yopchick, the high school and police department are always in constant communication, not just regarding incidents.

“When an event does occur obviously the communication becomes frequent and regular and I think it helps, especially now, that there have been great heads of security at the high school in the past, but now with

Garland, who came to OPRF with more than 10 years of experience working in college admissions through Northwestern University and Northern Illinois University, said he is open with students about the struggles he endured as a teenager trying to navigate his way to college.

And a big part of that is a parent’s involvement in their student’s academic career.

“I let a lot of kids know that my journey was extremely rough,” Garland said. “Both of my parents did not go to college. So, I didn’t always have all the advice. They did the best they could. But I didn’t have all the birds-eye advice that I wish I did have.”

Garland said he used a sport as a vehicle to get a better education at Michigan State with a full scholarship.

This year’s event will feature keynote speaker Pamela Ellis, CEO and founder of Compass College Advisory, a firm that offers “individualized college preparation experiences” for students.

According to Compass College Advisory, the ideal time for students to begin thinking about college admissions is during their freshman and sophomore years of high school. The firm has in-person centers in Chicago as well as Columbus, Ohio but they also work with students nationwide.

Ellis holds a doctorate degree from Stan-

ford University School of Education.

“I couldn’t have found a better speaker with Dr. Pamela Ellis,” Garland said. “Why not bring this woman in and see if we can hit home with parents about the importance of grades, of setting your kids up for success, the importance of having options academically to help pay for schools. A lot of these things is what the keynote speaking will be talking about.”

While last year’s event was well attended, Garland hopes to keep increasing attendance

for the dinner each year.

To help aid in that goal, he said he will be reaching out to the feeder schools in hopes of bringing in middle school parents who want to learn more about how to help their incoming freshman succeed at OPRF. “Everyone is welcome, all we ask is that you sign up ahead of time,” Garland said. “I would love a decent amount of middle school parents, especially middle school parents of color, so they can understand the expectations for once their kid gets here.”

Traccye Love, who is a former sergeant in the Oak Park Police Department, the lines of communication are even stronger than they have been in the past,” Yopchick said.

Yopchick said the police department will not present charges against an individual unless there is “a law broken or criminal activity.”

When asked if the incident that occurred at OPRF on Feb.14 was considered criminal activity, Yopchick said “not at this time, no.”

Despite students being told to head toward their seventh period class, many, including Jade, left for the day and were picked up by concerned parents who had already begun gathering outside the high school in an attempt to communicate with their children.

One group of parents were huddled together hoping to get information from a police officer seen leaving the building. They asked questions, including how many exits there were in case students had to run out.

Police responded that there wasn’t enough information to relay at that time.

Others were questioning the response from the district, expressing their disapproval in how information was being communicated.

The village sent an email alerting parents and the community about the event. The district has an update on its website.

Many parents who were able to get their kids on the phone told them to leave for the day.

“Their lack of communication is irresponsible,” said Melissa, who asked not

to have her last name included. “It is not acceptable. Not when it comes to our children… Also, take social media threats seriously. We don’t want to find out the hard way.”

“We know that receiving notice of a ‘Secure and Teach’ can be extremely alarming, and that the time between updates may seem excruciatingly long,” Parker said. “Our priority is always the safety of our students and staff. While we are investigating to determine the facts of a situation, we are not able to respond immediately to emails and calls from parents.”

Parker added that once the district has the accurate information, they communicate it to the school community as quickly as they can.

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18

Wednesday Journal, February 21, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Publican Quality Bread opens in Oak Park PQB, opening Sunday, is the new loaf in town

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

The heavenly scent of freshly baked bread will soon start wafting through the Arts District. With it comes the joy that only a warm crusty loaf can bring: Publican Quality Bread is coming to town.

Baguettes, ciabattas, and traditional sourdough loaves will be on sale when it opens Sunday.

The knead lead is Greg Wade, who won the 2019 James Beard Award for “Outstanding Baker.”

I love everything about it,” the self-described bread head said. “I like the smell of fresh dough as you’re mixing the flour and water together, the kind of ritual of taking care of the starter and feeding it.”

Wade and PQB, the quick version of their name, get deeply involved long before dough meets oven.

“The really important thing for me is, when you’re talking about relationships, it’s trust, and also and being able to do something bigger than what you’re able to do alone. For example, our farmer, he

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Greg Wade and I talk before every growing season,” Wade said.

Illinois farmers Marty and Will Travis of Spence Farm provide as much of the grain as possible for the organization. They also mill the grain.

“They find really special, unique varieties and grows them in a very particular way – all organic and without chemicals or anything like that,” Wade said.

Back in the kitchen Wade’s team relies on wild yeast for their long fermentation process, which extends up to 30 hours.

“It’s the tastiest way, the best way to make bread. But there’s a whole slew of health benefits that come along with it. The long fermentation process makes it much easier for us to digest. It’s breaking down those complex sugars in a way that doesn’t spike your blood sugar, and it makes all of the nutrients in the whole stone-milled, wholegrain flour bio available to us.”

Oak Park is the first suburban foray for PQB, which is a part of the One Off Hospitality Group. Other restaurants in the group include Avec, Big Star and Dove’s Luncheonette. Its other restaurant, The Publican, inspired Publican Quality Meats and later expanded into breads.

While PQB might have a new footprint

in Oak Park, it has a long history here. Its breads have been sold at farmers’ markets, Sugar Beet, and even in the previous incarnation of the Harrison Street location.

Elizabeth Madden, owner of Rare Bird Preserves, brought them into the space.

“Elizabeth was very supportive in getting us connected to the landlord as she was making her decision to close her business and finding somebody to pass the torch on to,” said Donnie Madia, partner in One Off Hospitality and PQB.

What’s on the menu?

When doors open daily at 7 a.m. pastries like lemon meringue croissants and pistachio and Amarena cherry-filled maritozzi, or brioche-like buns, will get mouths watering.

“I try to use the appropriate grain for the appropriate products. For example, we’ve got a wonderful whole wheat croissant.

Our Danish is made with a heritage cornmeal, so it tastes wonderfully of corn, but also really buttery,” Wade said.

La Columbe is the coffee bean provider.

“We believe that their coffee pairs really well,” Madia said. “It is sweeter and not bitter. They don’t over roast. And I think that’s a really good partnership for Greg’s baking.”

When lunch comes around, Big Sandwich is a PQB staple – a Roman-style bread split and filled with ingredients that change with the seasons. Open faced Tar-

tines and Jambon-Beurre are also on offer.

From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the menu shifts to center around five core pizzas.

Wade explains the crust: “It is going to be crisp, but it’s also going to be light and airy.

And really have a good rich flavor to it.”

The pizzas will be served “al taglio” (sliced and sold by weight) at the counter.

Whole pies will be available for pickup and delivery. Veggie sides and salads will round out the food offerings, and a selection of Chicago craft beers and globally sourced wines will be available, as well.

Of course, there are desserts. One that will require a double take is tiramisu served in a house-made waffle cone…a walking dessert you didn’t know you needed until now.

This location is a homecoming of sorts.

Founding partner Donnie Madia and CEO Karen Browne are both Oak Park residents and Greg Wade lives nearby in Berwyn.

“It’s a really big deal for us,” Madia said.

“We want to act as a supplement to all the other great pastries, bakeries and businesses in in Oak Park. We want to add to what Oak Park already has.”

Restaurant Address: 211 Harrison Street, Oak Park Website: www.publicanqualitybread.com Hours: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily

Special Advertising Section

Comedy Plex Comedy Club

February 21, 2024 19

SPRING PERFORMING ARTS

Dominican Performing Arts

Concordia University Chicago

2024

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Oak Park Festival Theatre

Performing Arts Guide

20 February 21, 2024

SPRING PERFORMING ARTS

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Special Advertising Section

re you looking for your next weekend adventure or something to do in your spare time? The Wednesday Journal’s Spring Performing Arts section is a guide for you to find upcoming performances to attend or new performing arts groups to explore!

Are you a theatre kid at heart? Oak Park Festival Theatre is presenting their Winter Readings starting this weekend with The Droll, or a StagePlay about the END of Theatre by Meg Miroshnik. You can also watch Forest Park Theatre’s reading series that focuses on American and British female playwrights, or you can sign up for one of Ovation Academy’s performing arts programs (students of all ages are welcome)!

Do you want to hear some music this spring? Downtown Oak Park’s Jazz Thaw is coming up in March where you can listen to free live music inside 13 local restaurants.

You can also attend a band, choral, or orchestral concert at Concordia University in River Forest or live music at the new Robert’s Westside in Forest Park!

Are you interested in all types of live events? Check out Dominican University Performing Arts Center’s lineup of artists or the Kehrein Center for the Arts in Austin.

We hope this new section immerses you into the local performing arts scene and allows you to discover new artists, shows, and events in Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, and the surrounding communities.

Enjoy, Lourdes Nicholls & Ben Stumpe Wednesday Journal Advertising

2024

Spring

Performing

Arts Guide