Wednesday Journal 042022

W E D N E S D A Y

April 20, 2022 Vol. 42, No. 38 ONE DOLLAR @wednesdayjournalinc

@wednesdayjournal

JOURNAL @oakpark

of Oak Park and River Forest

Concordia protest Students raise concerns on diversity REPORT BY F. AMANDA TUGADE, PAGES 1618

Addis Café growing Page 10

Oak Park names interim police chief Deputy Chief Shatonya Johnson to take on top police position

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Already the highest-ranking female officer in the Oak Park Police Department’s history, Deputy Chief Shatonya Johnson’s star continues to rise.

The 22-year veteran of the department has been named interim police chief by Village Manager Kevin Jackson.

“I’m excited to continue to blaze the trail for other female officers and the department as a whole,” Johnson said.

Her appointment was announced April 14, one day before the retirement of Chief LaDon Reynolds, who awaits potential Senate confirmation of his nomination for U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois. The village of Oak Park is launching a nationwide search to find a permanent replacement for Reynolds. Johnson confirmed she plans to apply for the position.

“I’m very honored to be considered for this role,” she said.

Village President Vicki Scaman told Wednesday Journal she was pleased with Johnson’s appointALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

See POLICE CHIEF on page 13

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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NEW SEASON

with

: White Castle is modeled after what iconic Chicago Landmark?

Geoffrey Baer

THURSDAYS beginning APR 21 at 8:00 pm wttw.com/quiz #quizWTTW

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In the world of vultures, regular people with power don’t exist

A

mazon’s aggressive, yet stealthy push into the Chicago metropolitan region has been speedy, secretive and subsidized.

In this ever-expanding world, people like Howard Ray — who notice what’s happening before it happens, act on that information and demand to be recognized as human beings with political agency and not abstract extensions of a profit-and-loss statement — aren’t supposed to exist.

As WBEZ reported in 2020, when Amazon entered the south suburb of University Park, the developer of what at the time was being called Project Condor (appropriately named after a species of vulture) told village trustees that they had to “keep the identity of the company behind the project a secret, at least until the deal was sealed.

“Second, they had to promise more than $100 million in future tax revenues to help pay for it. And third, they had to ram through a vote on the deal to meet the project’s construction timeline, which put the first shovel in the ground just weeks later on April 1.”

I’m familiar with Amazon’s tendency to silently steamroll municipalities. In January 2020, I interviewed longtime Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico after news broke that Amazon was the tenant moving into a 623,000-square-foot warehouse facility on the site of the old Maywood Park racetrack in what was once unincorporated Cook County before Serpico annexed the property in 2018. That warehouse was completed about a year ago.

“In terms of Amazon, about several months ago it was mentioned that [the developer] was negotiating with the company, but Amazon has all these confidentiality agreements, so quite frankly, when it came to our attention it wasn’t really that long ago,” the mayor told me. “Maybe 60 to 90 days ago.”

The mayor acknowledged that there were no community meetings held with residents to address the distribution center’s potential impact on quality of life.

There were no discussions with would-be workers about warehouse conditions or wages. Residents were supposed to look up, suddenly notice the Amazon logo on a building, applaud the company’s mere presence and report for duty.

I call this the ‘Voila! Now shut the f— up’ effect.

In the words of British novelist Christo-

pher Priest, every great magic trick has three acts. In “The Pledge,” the magician “shows you something ordinary. … Perhaps he asks you to inspect it to see if it is indeed real, unaltered, normal. But of course … it probably isn’t.

“The second act is called ‘The Turn.’ The magician takes the ordinary and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you’re looking for the secret ... but you won’t find it, because of course you’re not really looking.

You don’t really want to know. You want to be fooled. But you wouldn’t clap yet. Because making something disappear isn’t enough; you have to bring it back. That’s why every magic trick has a third act, the hardest part, the part we call ‘The Prestige.’”

If Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s myopic founder, is the magician, Howard Ray is a one-man Penn & Teller.

Roughly a year ago, there were rumors that Amazon was looking to buy a 26-acre site in Chicago’s West Humboldt Park community.

The site was owned by Allied Metals, an alloy producer. Amazon would take the land and people’s tax money and their political agency and by the third act, turn all of that into thousands of jobs paying $16 an hour, property tax revenue, and more business development. The prestige.

But when Howard learned that Amazon had stealthily purchased property in his community and the company well into the second stage of its act, he rushed the stage and started asking questions.

How would the company be held accountable to its neighbors? Beyond the elusive promise of more jobs, how would people be treated once they were hired for them? Why wasn’t the company holding any public meetings to discuss its plans?

Why didn’t any city officials or the alderwoman let residents know about such a massive investment until well after the monopoly company bought the land?

Eventually, Howard formed the West Humboldt Park Community Coalition. The organization held community meetings of its own, some of which were attended by Amazon representatives. They canvassed the area, circulating informational material and gathering residents’ opinions.

The overwhelming neighborhood consensus, Howard told me, is that residents don’t mind Amazon coming into town, but they have some demands. They want a Commu-

MICHAEL ROMAIN

nity Benefits Agreement (CBA) that would at least nominally hold the company accountable and that would take into consideration the collateral effects and externalities of doing business. They’re pushing the company to do more robust community outreach, hire at least 60% of the hub’s workforce from the community and pay workers a $28.50 starting wage.

Regardless of whether or not one thinks these demands are realistic, it sounds like these community members want more than anything the power to force Amazon to recognize them as autonomous actors, as mature citizens responsible for their own lives and the lives of their neighbors — power that is vanishingly rare nowadays.

Howard also realized that Amazon’s planned warehouse, which is currently under construction, would be located inside of an Opportunity Zone, which means that the company would get a large tax break if it holds onto the newly constructed warehouse long enough. The Opportunity Zone program was pitched as a way to lure capital to distressed urban areas like the West Side.

If a property is held for at least 10 years, according to a Forbes contributor, the corporate “taxpayer can pay zero capital gains tax on the new investment […] I think that’s the real prize: if you hold your investment in some of these opportunity zones […] you essentially pay no tax on your returns, which could lead to a 30-40% increase in your annualized return. That’s what I want people to really understand: this isn’t a small tax benefit, it’s pretty massive.”

That may help explain the decision by Amazon, whose modus operandi is to aggressively eschew liability (for people, property, processes and even its products), to actually own the West Side property, instead of lease it from another owner, as it does in Melrose Park.

In his 2021 book, Only the Rich Can Play: How Washington Works in the New Gilded Age, Journalist David Wessel traces the genealogy of the Opportunity Zone to the mind of 30-something-year-old “Silicon Valley billionaire wunderkind” Sean Parker, the founder of Napster and Facebooks’s first president.

Parker spent about $11 million to lobby Democrats and Republicans in Washington D.C. before the proposal was “stealthily inserted in six pages of the 185-page Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, largely thanks to the determination of Sean Parker’s chief congressional ally, Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina, the first Black man to

be elected to the U.S. Senate from the South since Reconstruction.”

Parker is another magician, a master of “the prestige.” Here are millions of acres of blighted, undeveloped inner-city land (Manifest Destiny’s new frontier in certain respects), here is some rhetoric about publicprivate partnerships and socially responsible capitalism and helping the poor and the Blacks, here is the promise of jobs and future development and … Voila!

In Parker’s case, Wessel has rushed the stage to interrupt the trick. Wessel’s book opens with a scene at the Opportunity Zone Expo held May 2019 in Las Vegas.

“It’s clear why the OZ tax break unleashed a flurry of interest from the wealthy, investment funds, real estate developers, and conference organizers,” Wessel writes. “I’m here to witness tax-avoidance capitalism firsthand.”

Inside of the convention center, Wessel notices all kinds of people, “drawn together by the possibility of making money and reducing their taxes. But given that Opportunity Zones were sold as a way to steer investment toward left-behind communities, there are notable absences. I don’t come across, say, many heads of local economic-development groups or capital-starved entrepreneurs based in poor neighborhoods.”

On Monday, the Financial Times reported that Amazon had commissioned “an audit, led by former U.S. attorney general Loretta Lynch, to look into ‘disparate racial impacts’ from its employment practices on its U.S. frontline workforce.”

The decision comes after “pressure from shareholders who had accused the company of putting a disproportionate number of workers of colour in harm’s way in its warehouses, where injury rates are higher than the industry average.”

Cue the pledge, turn and prestige. Voila!

The Financial Times report doesn’t mention that the audit decision also comes a few weeks after a historic election at Amazon’s JFK8 fulfillment center in New York, where workers voted to unionize.

Now, to crash the stage, I predict that, in Lynch’s report (as with former attorney general Eric Holder’s “Civil Rights Assessments” of Starbucks, conducted over the last several years) the workers — as selfdetermining adults with sufficient political power to counteract union-busting Amazon’s seeming omnipotence — will be hard to find.

In this world of vultures, average people with political power don’t exist.

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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BIG WEEK April 20-27

Tea & Tour

Artist Talk With Jon Veal & Jordan Campbell of alt_ Saturday, April 23, 3-4:30 p.m., Main Library Veterans Room You are invited to a discussion with artists Jon Veal and Jordan Campbell, the collaborators of alt_, pronounced alt space, an artist-led, Chicago-based non-profit focused on neighborhood revitalization through arts and culture. Veal and Campbell have a special exhibit – in the Main Library’s Gallery – “To Part a Sea”, on view for the month of April. An audience Q&A will follow. Light refreshments will be served. Learn more at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Sunday, April 24, 2 p.m., Pleasant Home This historic landmark ushers in the spring season with a special spring high tea. In addition to a tour of the grounds, there will be traditional tea service, savories and sweets, and raffles. Please RSVP by email to info@pleasanthome.org with the number in your party and your preference of tour pre- or post-tea. Pre-tea tours will begin at 1 p.m.; you may arrive as early as 12:45 p.m. $50 admission, $40 for members. 217 Home Ave., Oak Park.

Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m.

Bryan Northup is a Chicago-based artist who uses single-use plastic as an art medium. The artist will be working throughout the day on Friday, April 22, from 10 a.m. on in his backyard, with a day-long demonstration. He will be using techniques that originated in his art practice, creating a themed installation and demonstrating for whoever wants to stop by and watch or join in creating. Spring Studio Sale runs both days, including finished art and sculpture, stained glass, tableware, art objects, plants and seeds available to purchase. On Saturday, a lineup of plant and garden-related workshops is offered. Find more information and sign up for a spot at www.bryannorthup.com/ workshops. 400 N. Humphrey, Oak Park.

The Monday Enrichment Series Presents: Contemporary Art In Ukraine

Al Scorch Saturday, April 23, 7 p.m., FitzGerald’s Here’s a musician on the local country scene who hasn’t been heard from in some time. Al Scorch made a splash some time back with a traditional sound pitched somewhere between bluegrass and old-timey mountain music (and yes, there is a difference). 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn.

Monday, April 25, 1:15 p.m., Nineteenth Century Charitable Association Situated on the eastern end of Europe, art in Ukraine often escapes attention in the United States. This is especially so for contemporary art, its robust landscape quickly changing in response to regular political unrest, economic challenges, and social issues. This presentation will showcase themes and issues in the work of the nation’s leading artists, such as Volodymyr Budnikov, Vlada Ralko, Nikita Kadan, Andriy Sahaidakovsky, among others. For more information visit: www.nineteenthcentury.org. $15 suggested donation, members free. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.

Ivan Singh

Earth Day Upcycle Crafts for Kids & Families Friday, April 22, 3:30-5 p.m., Main Library Storytime Room Turn trash into treasure and keep items, especially plastics, out of the landfills by upcycling them.

Make colorful jewelry from plastic bags, fun planters from plastic bottles, cool desk organizers from cardboard tubes, and nature-inspired refrigerator magnets from bottle caps. Bring your own items or use ours. For kids ages 7-12 and families. Register now at oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Bryan Northup/Earth Day Art Event

Ramadan Around the World Through April 30, Main Library Idea Box Throughout the month of Ramadan, view a beautiful collection of what brings together Muslims from different parts of the world on display in the Idea Box windows. Presented in collaboration with Dima Ali, community member and founder of Being Different. Learn more at oppl.org/calendar.

834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Friday, April 22, 9 p.m., FitzGerald’s If you like the “blues-rock” sounds of Joe Bonamassa or Gary Clark Jr., then Ivan Singh is right in that vein, sailing through familiar standards like “Rock Me Baby” and “Hoochie Coochie Man.” 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn.

Engaging for Affordable Housing in Oak Park Sunday, April 24, 9:45-10:45 a.m., First United Church, Centennial Hall As skyrocketing housing costs make it more difficult than ever for low-income families to secure stable housing, Oak Park community leaders are working to create a sustainable model for affordable housing.

Two adult education panels will explore the scope of the opportunity, obstacles to change, and the dimensions of local initiatives, including a current proposal for an Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Panelists: Tammie Grossman (Oak Park Customer Services); Ed Solan (formerly Oak Park Residence Corporation); Richard Wheelock (Legal Assistance Foundation).

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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Oak Park library features a new Percy Julian exhibit In honor of scientist’s April birthday

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Percy Julian is a familiar presence in Oak Park. A middle school is named in his honor and a bust of Julian sits outside the entrance of the library’s main branch, welcoming those who stop in. Yet not all are aware of the extent of Julian’s impact across multiple spheres — something the Oak Park Public Library’s special collection team is seeking to rectify.

From now until May 11, the library is stepping up its efforts to recognize the brilliant chemist and civil rights activist. Inhouse exhibits documenting Julian’s many accomplishments are on display at all three library locations. The special collections

team is sharing information about Julian on social media to educate those outside of Oak Park. Both the exhibits and social media campaign were launched April 11 in honor of Julian’s birthday. He was born in 1899, the same year as Ernest Hemingway.

“His story is still very inspirational,” said Kathleen Spale, manager of special collections at OPPL. “It’s a testament to what someone can achieve.”

One of the greatest scientists of the 20th century, Julian pushed the boundaries of medicine and discovered several ingenious uses for soybeans, including developing male and female hormones that would be used to prevent miscarriages and fight cancer. His revolutionary work in synthetic chemistry led to the wide-scale, lowcost production of steroids and hormones.

Julian was granted over 130 patents durSee PERCY JULIAN on page 12

PROVIDED

HISTORY MAKER: Percy Julian, an Oak Parker remembered as both a world famous scientist and civil rights pioneer, is honored this month by the Oak Park Public Library.

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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‘Our joy, our Edjuan’

Parents, friends of Edjuan ‘EJ’ Wilson remember his life

By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter

On a cold, rainy Wednesday afternoon, Helena Wilson sends a text to change the location for the interview with Wednesday Journal. The interview was initially set at the Oak Park Public Library, a place Helena called home for her and her children.

“Library is too open, too familiar,” she wrote.

For years she brought her children to the library. That included her son, Edjuan, who spent days on end wandering the aisles and book stacks or hunkered down in the computer lab. But with Edjuan Wilson, who among family and friends was known as EJ, now gone, the mother of four can’t bring herself to their favorite spot.

“You know how people hang out at the mall or hang out on the beach or hang out in the park?” asked Helena, who sat at a table inside the main library at Concordia University Chicago in nearby River Forest. Her eyes were hidden behind sunglasses, mouth covered by a black face mask, bearing her son’s initials – and rap name, A.I. – in red.

“I think we spent as much time – or more – in the [Oak Park] library than we did in the park, in the beach combined,” Helena said, her husband, Edwin, beside her.

Two months have passed since the couple lost their 21-year-old son. EJ, an Oak Park and River Forest High “EJ” WILSON School graduate, was gunned down in midFebruary after leaving a Subway in the city’s Austin neighborhood, immediately adjacent to Oak Park. Over the last few weeks, former classmates, community members and friends have rallied around the Wilson family. They held a vigil and created a GoFundMe campaign to aid in costs for funeral services. They also gathered late last month at the site of EJ’s death, canvassing the area for clues to help

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Helena Wilson, left, and Edwin Wilson hold up a photo of their son, Edjuan “EJ” Wilson. with the investigation.

“It’s just a tragedy,” Edwin said, his eyes watering. “It’s hard to deal with at this point. I try to stay focused, but it just gets overwhelming. He was a good kid.”

When Helena and Edwin talk about EJ, they remember his smile, athleticism, outgoing personality and love for music. Helena said her son had a “glow” about him that went beyond first impressions.

They said their son was a product of the Pop Warner Little Scholars youth football program and later played the same sport in high school. EJ, who graduated from OPRF in 2019, was also on the basketball team, but those closest to him knew about his dreams of becoming a musician. In recent years, EJ was tucked away in the studio, perfecting his songs, Helena and Edwin said.

“He was elevating, and what turned out to be what I thought was a hobby was actually his passion,” Helena said.

Helena told Wednesday Journal she and her son often complemented each other. She took on the role of “critiquer” when EJ shared his songs, while he always encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone whether it was through dancing or doing other things. EJ was, Helena

said, a mama’s boy.

Anthony Clark, a teacher at OPRF who sponsors the school’s hip hop club, recalled EJ as the student who sang in the hallways or stopped by his classroom to strike up conversations.

“He was so personable, had a great sense of humor and could communicate with anyone, could hold a conversation with anyone, make anyone laugh – annoy anyone in a good way,” said Clark, who met first met EJ in the hip hop club. “He was just a center of attention – and it was a good thing.”

“So many students looked up to him, followed him, whether it was in sports, in music, in life, he just drew you in. He just really drew you in,” said Clark who helped launch the GoFundMe campaign for the Wilson family.

Kevin Radzinski, director of the faith-based organization Young Life in Oak Park, echoed Clark and spoke about EJ’s ability to connect people together. Radzinski, who first met EJ when he was a high school sophomore, told Wednesday Journal a quick story about a young, “goofy” EJ and his friends at summer camp a few years ago.

Radzinski explained Young Life hosts an annual summer camping trip in Michigan and thought back to the

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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time when he was woken up in the middle in], meet up with some [other] girls in the of the night by EJ and his friends. Radzinski woods, but it was hard to get outside,” Gilsaid he could still picture the teenage boys bert said, laughing. “So, we were just talking huddled together, using his cellphone as a the whole night about how much we miss our girlfriends, how much time we got in life. flashlight in the dark cabin.

“They’re just scheming, having some fun,” That was my best friend for real.”

Throughout the interview, Gilbert continhe said, laughing. ued to share anecdotes about EJ. He spoke Radzinski said there was this other side of EJ that he and so many at Young Life saw. EJ about how his friend was naturally gifted, the type who “could pick up a was a leader who was unafraid skateboard and do a kick flip of opening up and sharing his without even knowing how to experiences as a Black teen, esskateboard.” Gilbert said EJ pecially in Oak Park. Radzinswas the one who taught him ki, who is white, said it was behow to box by showing him cause of EJ that the Young Life a couple moves, the one who chapter in Oak Park became taught him all the jokes and more inclusive and pulled in kept him up on the new slang. more young people of color “He was that person I to the organization, as well as thought I was going to grow old helped expand its mission to with,” said Gilbert, who to this serve the community. day says EJ was his first friend Helena said she was unin Oak Park, the first person aware of EJ’s role at Young who talked to him back in elLife and how instrumental he ementary school. was in shaping the group. It HELENA WILSON Back in the library at Conwas only after Helena attended EJ’s mother cordia, Helena and Edwin rethe vigil at First Presbyterian vealed more memories about Church in River Forest, where their son, with Edwin pausing Young Life members gather, every now and then, his eyes that she learned more about swelling up. her son.

“He knew he was somebody,” Helena said.

“You know how you don’t know certain things about your children? Well, that was “No matter what you told him. He knew that a little known fact to me,” she said about EJ he should walk around with his chin up.”

Hours after the interview, Helena sent and his impact on Radzinski and Young Life.

Keon Gilbert, EJ’s childhood friend, re- a lengthy text message, rounding out her membered those weeklong summer camping thoughts about her EJ and who he was as a trips. Gilbert, now 20 and a college junior, man, a son, a brother and a friend.

In a poem, she summed it up: “Our son, our said one time, he and EJ went on one of those trips, leaving their girlfriends at home. middle boy, our joy, our Edjuan. You glow …”

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“He knew he was somebody.

No matter what you told him.

He knew that he should walk around with his chin up.”

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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Aiding Ukraine Chris Hedrich (left), an OPRF senior and member of Future Philanthropists, asks for grocery donations for Ukrainians on Saturday, outside Pete’s Fresh Market on Lake Street. Charlie Roberts (above), a junior at OPRF, separates donated groceries.

PHOTOS BY ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

April is Alcohol Awareness Month MOST OAK PARK & RIVER FOREST TEENS CHOOSE NOT TO USE ALCOHOL Join the crowd that’s sober, safe & having fun!

Your Influence is a Super-Power!

Oak Park & River Forest Townships

OakParkTownship.org/Prevention-Services Positive Youth Development (+PYD) supports youth in making healthy choices to lead alcohol and drug-free lives.

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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Despite harassment, First United Church celebrates in-person Easter service ‘Fasting from whiteness’ Lenten theme highlights hope and forgiveness

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Those who grew up in Christian households know the importance the Bible places on forgiveness. Like resurrection, forgiveness is foundational to Christianity. On Easter Sunday, First United Church of Oak Park reversed course and celebrated in-person both the resurrection and the act of forgiveness itself.

“Forgiveness allows Christians to be morally brave,” said First United’s Rev. John Edgerton. “When I do make errors, forgiveness allows me the chance to do better, to grow in spirit and to grow in love. I would hope for forgiveness from others when I make errors, so I extend that to others in obedience to the golden rule.”

First United, 848 Lake St., came into the national spotlight for its chosen Lenten theme of “fasting from whiteness,” which involved using music composed by non-white individuals and depictions of major biblical figures with dark skin. The slogan “fasting from whiteness,” coined by Edgerton, was intended to welcome the liturgical accom-

plishments made by people of color into the predominately white church in an act of antiracism.

For these efforts, the church faced considerable backlash and even harassment for its Lenten theme after conservative media outlets caught wind of it. TheBlaze, The Washington Times and “Fox & Friends” all covered the church’s fast from whiteness. The church received angry and hateful messages online, in emails and over voicemail.

Edgerton shared with Wednesday Journal a particularly threatening voicemail, wherein the male caller asked to reserve a spot at the service, called those who attended the parish “out of your [expletive] minds” for participating in the Lenten theme and said he would bring some friends to the Palm Sunday service.

“We should all have a good time together,” the man concluded.

That call prompted Edgerton to cancel an in-person Easter service and move it online to prevent the possibility of violence. Oak Park police sent detectives to follow up with the man who made the call, according to Edgerton, who declined to share the man’s name.

Wednesday Journal awaits confirmation from the Oak Park Police Department. The police, Edgerton shared, told the church that the man regretted making the call.

“He acknowledged that he shouldn’t have done that, and he explained that he had been upset and did something in the moment,”

Edgerton relayed.

The man showed further remorse for his actions. A few days later, Westgate Flower & Plant Shop delivered an Easter lily to First United. Addressed to the church’s office staff, the attached card read, “Sorry for the inappropriate voicemail last week.” The man signed the card with a “God bless.”

When Edgerton called the man to tell him the flower had been received, he left a voicemail, offering the church’s forgiveness for the man’s previous behavior.

“I consider it to be a sincere apology,” Edgerton told Wednesday Journal. “And we accept that apology and extend him forgiveness.”

Edgerton believes perhaps there is a lesson to be learned from this small experience. He hopes that the man has come to think differently about his prejudices and welcome into his heart greater love for all of mankind.

As for “fasting from whiteness,” Edgerton said it was an “amazing” experience.

He noted the generosity of members of the Black community for providing “thoughtful, substantive and important” critiques of the church’s fast, offering food for thought on what it means to be anti-racist.

“I believe a little bit more than I did yesterday about the power of transformation and the power for something new to come out of something old,” he said. “I have more hope today than I did yesterday.”

First United: a friend in need; Oak Park Temple: a friend indeed

By TOM HOLMES

Contributing Reporter

In the midst of a Holy Week from hell, First United Church members experienced a moment of repentance and reconciliation.

With security concerns after backlash to its “Fasting from Whiteness” Lent theme went viral, the church, 848 Lake St., was looking for an alternative location to hold its Maundy Thursday service.

“It was a matter of coincidence,” explained a letter to members of Oak Park Temple, “or, as Rev. (John) Edgerton put it, ‘a small, or perhaps a medium-sized miracle’ that Rabbi (Daniel) Kirzane had a prearranged coffee date with the pastor

last week. During that conversation, we learned that security threats were causing them to look for an offsite location for their Maundy Thursday dinner and service – and despite the difficult history of this particular holiday and the Jewish community, Oak Park Temple offered to help.”

That help came in the form of Oak Park Temple, 1235 N. Harlem Ave., offering space in its synagogue to members of the beleaguered Christian church.

“Oak Park Temple,” the letter continued, “enjoys a strong partnership with First United Church, whose lead pastor, John Edgerton, is the president of the interfaith Community of Congregations.

That relationship strengthened this week

as we welcomed the church to celebrate Maundy Thursday in our synagogue.”

The members of Oak Park Temple who attended the Christian service used words like “haunting” and “beautiful” to describe their experience. Pauline Coffman, a member of First United who attended the service, pointed out the overlap between the Jewish and Christian holy days by saying, “I think the emphasis on Jesus’ concern and for care for those who are oppressed was the theme of the service, and we can all relate to that.”

A “blessed” coincidence of the act of hospitality is that the setting for the Maundy Thursday story is Jesus and his disciples sharing a meal prior to the celebration of Passover.

Jeff Levin: Our 1st Employee & 40 Years of Loyalty

We often talk about our decadeslong history serving the community.

However, we wouldn’t be so deeply rooted without the dedication and loyalty of our team members. In that light, we would like to offer our sincerest congratulations to JEFF LEVIN, who recently celebrated 40 YEARS with McAdam Landscaping.

Jeff has been with us since the beginning, and as the first employee to be hired by Rob and Scott, he exemplifies our core value of loyalty.

Each day, he brings a wealth of expertise and technical knowledge that are truly unrivaled and second to none.

Jeff, words will never be enough to thank you for everything you have brought to McAdam Landscaping.

We are sure many of you in the community have met or crossed paths with Jeff at some point over these many years, so please help us in congratulating this incredible milestone.

Jeff – we are honored to have you as a part of this team, and as you said, “Maybe I’ll try to be here for another 40 years.”

Congratulations and well-deserved!

-The entire team at McAdam Landscaping

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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Addis Café leaps Oak Park Ave. and plans dinner menu Van Buren home means Ethiopian meals are on the horizon

By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

In 2016, Kalkidan Tesfaye offered her homemade scones to the owner of the coffee shop at 818 S. Oak Park Ave. and he responded by offering her the entire shop. Figuring fate had intervened, Tesfaye accepted the offer and opened Addis Café. She has called the space home for the past six years and now the chef-owner and her co-owner-husband, Michael Kumela, are poised to move their café across the street to 801 Van Buren St. this week.

The passionate chef, known to most as Kalki, is clear that moving a matter of feet will create a wealth of opportunities for the community-minded coffee shop – including a regular menu of Ethiopian dinner fare. The space has passed all village of Oak Park inspections and, after taking a few days to get settled, Tesfaye expects the café to open in the new location on Friday, April 20.

Tesfaye wasn’t looking for a new space, but project managers with The Community Builders who oversaw the construction of “The 801” at the corner of Oak Park and Van Buren, encouraged her to move into the retail storefront on the lower level of the building MELISSA ELSMO/Food Editor offering high quality, yet affordable apartments.

EXPANDING: Kalki Tesfaye, joined by Addis Café barista Jereh Brown, anticipates “They would keep asking teaching employees to prepare Ethiopian fare at the new location. ‘what is it going to take to get you in here?’” said Tesfaye.

The new space is equipped In the meantime, customers are all very excited about the “They offered to build a full with a professional ventila- move and have offered to help in myriad ways. Four people kitchen to my specifications tion system and is ready to dropped off dollies to help facilitate the process and musiand that was too good to pass accommodate industrial cians offered to entertain as friends and family carried wellup.” cooking appliances allowing worn tables, local artwork and other familiar items across While Tesfaye is deeply atTesfaye to expand her café the street. The bright space benefits from a wall of windows tached to her café’s current menu to include Ethiopian and Tesfaye is excited to have patio seating on Van Buren. home, production has been “Coffee in Ethiopia is meant to be shared – one pot would dinner offerings. The chef limited without a full kitchen indicated she is going to take serve many people so friends, neighbors and sometimes even on site. Addis is known for some time to “introduce her- strangers would share a pot,” said Tesfaye. “My customers serving up top-quality cofself to the new space,” but ex- have spent time getting to know my customs and they have fee drinks, crispy waffles, pects dinner service to begin become like a family to me.”

MELISSA ELSMO/Food Editor and hearty breakfast sandEven though it is just across the street Tesfaye is concerned “sometime this summer.” wiches despite having a On Oak Park Avenue or Van Buren Street, comfort is a When the time comes, din- that her customers will need time to adjust to the new shop, cooking area outfitted with ners will likely be served but she is going the extra mile to make sure everyone feels scone with jam and cream from Addis Café. little more than an induction Thursday through Sunday. comfortable. burner.

“I have an elderly customer who comes here almost every She intends to keep her arseThe capable cook craves the freedom a full kitchen could of- nal of vegan dishes on the menu and plans to enhance the day, and she was very worried about the move,” said Tesfaye. fer her business. Prior to relocating to Oak Park and opening offerings with meat dishes. Diners can expect Dorowat, the “So, I took her by the arm and we walked over there together.

Addis Café, Tesfaye and her brother spent 11 years operating, national dish of Ethiopia, to appear on Addis’ menu. The She assured me that it wasn’t too far for her to walk.”

Addis Restaurant, an Ethiopian eatery located in Berkeley, spicy dish features berbere braised chicken and boiled eggs Despite the relocation, things will remain the same – the California. A native of Addis, Ethiopia, Tesfaye has periodi- served with spongey injera bread in lieu of utensils. The din- pour over coffee, waffles, and scones customers have come cally hosted pop-up dinners featuring her vegan Ethiopian ner menu embraces tradition and has been designed with the to love will be on the menu the moment they open. Tesfaye fare. After each successful pop-up calls for her to begin serv- intention of brining the community together over shared anticipates it will feel like “the old meeting the new” when ing regular dinners have grown louder.

Addis Café opens at 801 Van Buren. dishes.

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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Restaurants, 7 Generations partner for Earth Month

Takeout 25 and Downtown Oak Park support sustainability focused initiative

By MELISSA ELSMO Oak Park Eats Editor

During the days leading up to and following Earth Day on April 22, Seven Generations Ahead (SGA) has been encouraging supporters to “buy local and go green” for Earth Month. No matter if you are craving spring ramps, blue and green bagels, or a sip of sustainable wine, local restaurants are celebrating Earth Month by making donations to Seven Generations Ahead (SGA) through the sale of specialty products. In turn SGA is highlighting sustainability practices across the community via social media.

“We wanted to do something with a local focus to bring awareness and raise a little money to support the work we do,” said Liz Lukehart, SGA communications director.

The 20-year-old nonprofit organization, known for working to build more sustainable

communities, partnered with Takeout 25 and Downtown Oak Park to encourage local businesses to honor Earth Month by fundraising for SGA. More than 20 local restaurants are offering Earth Month themed products and menu specials to aid in amplifying SGA’s mission.

The fundraising concept was the brainchild of Karen Pauwels, SGA office administrator. As the former general manager of Sugar Fixe Patisserie, Pauwels was well connected in the business community and suggested partnering with Takeout 25 to bring awareness to SGA’s Earth Month plans.

“Sustainability is a Takeout 25 core value and an integral element of our mission,’ said Ravi Parakkat, Takeout 25 founder and an Oak Park village trustee. “To support our mission and to live our values, we are excited to partner with Seven Generations Ahead by raising funds for them while supporting local restaurants.”

Establishments are offering a vast array of Earth Day nibbles and sips. Proceeds from Brewpoint Craft’s Wildflower Matcha and Kribi Coffee’s Green River Matcha will go directly to SGA. A dollar from every sale of

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Buzz Café is whipping up “The Earth” cookies and The Daly Bagel is baking up blue and green bagels for the cause on Earth Day — April 22.

River Forest School House has created special Fried Rice Scavenger Hunt Meal Kits and Compost Cookie Kits for the cause — register at iloveschoolhouse.com by April 21 for pick up on April 22 or 23. Look for a sea green poster of a “happy earth” hanging in the window of participating restaurants or visit Takeout 25 or SGA on Facebook for updates.

“Through the PlanItGreen Initiative our community came together to create a 10-year sustainability plan involving all sectors,” said Gary Cuneen, founder and executive director of SGA. “The business community is a really big part of that plan, and it has been a while since we have worked this directly with them.”

Cuneen views SGA’s Earth Month collaboration as an opportunity to connect with local businesses and restaurants and hopes the community-wide efforts celebrate the importance of tackling climate change at the local level.

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

PERCY JULIAN from page 5 ing his career and developed treatments for glaucoma and rheumatoid arthritis. He also served as a mentor to many young Black scientists.

“It’s remarkable to know the history of him,” said Village Trustee Chibuike Enyia, who serves on the library’s anti-racism advisory team. “He employed tons and tons of Black scientists and really tried to make sure he broke barriers down so that other people could have opportunities.”

Julian, whose grandparents were enslaved, also defied racial terrorism and segregation.

Born in Montgomery, Alabama on April 11, 1899 — in the Jim Crow era — Julian overcame deeply entrenched racism and disenfranchisement. He was valedictorian of his class at DePauw University, despite starting as a probationary student, having not had the same educational opportunities afforded to white students. After completing his master’s degree at Harvard University, the institution denied Julian the customary teaching assistantship due to his skin color. He was offered a fellowship in Vienna, Austria, where his

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Back in the United States, after working as a chemist and research director for Glidden Paint Company, Julian started his own company. In 1950, the city of Chicago named him Chicagoan of the Year. That was the same year he moved his family to Oak Park. Their home was firebombed on Thanksgiving Day that year, but he refused to be run out of the village. Julian’s perseverance was inherited by his daughter, Faith, who still lives in that same house.

The special collections team has commemorated other notable historical figures from the Oak Park area in the past, including famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright and Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, but for this occasion that special collections is honoring Percy Julian. Along with Spale, the special collections team includes archivist Kheir Fakhreldin and digital archivist Linda Montalbano. Library spokesperson Jodi Kolo assisted in the accompanying social media campaign. Julian’s alma mater lent photographs.

“Percy Julian is another significant figure in Oak Park’s history whose achievements and story are very relevant to the community today and should be remembered, shared, and celebrated around the world,” said Kolo.

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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Will apply for post from page 1 ment and that she looks forward to working with the interim chief. Scaman also praised the former chief for encouraging the professional growth of those who worked under him.

“Chief Reynolds has prepared his entire command staff for leadership and I appreciate them all. I have no doubt they will work together with Village Manager Jackson to engage residents, so that the future of community safety in Oak Park will be a partnership endeavor where we all feel safe and respected,” Scaman said.

For her part, Johnson also is eager to work with Jackson, who only recently started as village manager of Oak Park.

“I look forward to working under his leadership [and] collaborating with him to make sure that we have excellent public service,” Johnson said. “I can’t emphasize that enough.”

Since her appointment was announced, Johnson shared she has received an influx of supportive emails and social media comments from members of the community for which she expressed gratitude.

The interim chief began her career with

COURTESY OF THE OAK PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT

the Oak Park police in September 2000 as a patrol officer. In the time since, she has served as a neighborhood resource officer, juvenile specialist, detective, sergeant of internal affairs and commander. She became the department’s first ever female deputy chief in 2020. At the time of her promotion to deputy chief, Reynolds called Johnson “one of the finest officers I have worked with during my law enforcement career.”

She is a graduate of the Public Safety Staff and Command School at Northwestern University and Senior Management Institute of Police in Boston. She holds master’s degree in organizational behavior and organization development from Benedictine University and a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement administration from Western Illinois University.

Johnson is one of the police department’s two deputy chiefs. She oversees field services, while Deputy Chief Joseph Moran supervises support services. Moran was promoted to deputy chief in 2019.

The police department is currently undergoing an independent review of its operations and policies by consulting firm BerryDunn. The firm’s final report is expected to be completed by late August. In the meantime, the interim chief has a clear objective for the police department.

“Right now, it’s just to make sure that we continue to provide excellent public service to our community.”

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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Encouraging intervention with fellow cops, RF adds training Would be first Illinois department to be certified

By ROBERT K. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

River Forest police officers will soon have another tool in their toolbox to potentially reduce unnecessary harm to residents and officers.

Police Chief Jim O’Shea said department officials are completing an application to become certified in the ABLE Project, a training initiative of the Center for Innovations in Community Safety at Georgetown Law. ABLE is an acronym for Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement. The goal of the project is to prepare officers to successfully intervene to prevent harm and create a law enforcement culture that supports peer intervention in high-stress, high-stakes decision settings.

O’Shea said River Forest would become the first agency in Illinois to be certified in the project.

In an overview of the project presented

at the April 11 village board meeting, officer Ben Ransom explained that bystandership is an important component of the initiative.

“We can’t just stand by,” he said. “We need to change the culture, which will promote officers’ health and wellbeing.”

He noted that the training will not only teach an officer how to intervene but also how to receive intervention from a fellow officer. O’Shea said Georgetown officials report improved relations with residents

to participating agencies.

According to the ABLE Project website, 240 agencies are certified in 40 states in the U.S. and three Canadian provinces.

ABLE training is provided at no cost to law enforcement agencies but, according to the project website, “Those agencies must commit to creating a culture of active bystandership and peer intervention through police, training, support and accountability.”

ABLE notes on its website that a culture of support and intervention is more the norm in healthcare, aviation and in college settings. “It is time to adopt these principles in law enforcement, so that the tools of active bystandership can help prevent unnecessary harm in this context as well.”

Once certified, River Forest will have access to the project’s train the trainer program and certification and training portals. In addition, implementation and technical assistance is provided.

O’Shea said he learned about the program through the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Support for the program followed.

“Nobody from the department saw any downside,” he noted, adding that village President Cathy Adduci “became very interested very quickly.”

The application process includes letters of support from community organizations and village government and a letter of intent from O’Shea to adopt the project’s 10 standards. O’Shea said letters of support have already been received from officials at Dominican University, District 90 and the Community Center and the letter from Adduci is being drafted.

The 10 standards include community support; meaningful training; dedicated coordination; program awareness; and accountability. Also, officer wellness; reporting; measuring officer perceptions; follow-through; and paying it forward.

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15

At long last, a Lake and Lathrop groundbreaking

16 of 22 condo units sold, concrete being poured

By ROBERT K. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

The optimism was as strong as the winds were gusty April 14 at a groundbreaking ceremony for the long-delayed condominium project at Lake and Lathrop in River Forest.

Putting behind the years of frustrating delays, Cory Robertson, director of developer services for Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, real estate agent for the residential project, exemplified that optimism when he said he was looking forward to a sellout celebration.

Variations of the project have been on the drawing board since before the River Forest village board approved in 2016 the proposal

by Lake Lathrop Partners LLC to build a four-story, mixed-use development containing 22 condominium units and 14,000 square feet of retail space. Permutations of the same project had lurched and lingered for a decade previously.

With 16 units sold, Robertson could be excused for his optimism.

“This is a big deal for us,” he said. “We couldn’t be more excited.

“The last few years have been challenging. Now it’s time to get people into their new homes.”

The original project included another story and eight more units but was scaled back.

Mark McKinney, project manager for

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

AT LAST: Officials break ground April 14, at the Lake and Lathrop groundbreaking ceremony for a new condo development in River Forest.

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Sedgwick Properties, a partner in Lake Lathrop Partners, said the project is currently in the concrete foundation phase with the superstructure phase to follow.

According to the village website, the superstructure phase is expected to begin next month and be completed by January.

Future phases include enclosure; interior buildout-rough; elevators; interior buildout-finishes; and closeout and punch list.

Completion is expected by July 2023.

In his remarks, Marty Paris, Sedgwick president, said he envisioned the project as “the cornerstone of the Lake Street corridor” and expressed pride that 100 percent of the demolition material had been recycled.

Village President Cathy Adduci said the project is “incredibly exciting” for the village and thanked developers for “staying

with us.” She was joined at the ceremony

by Trustees Bob O’Connell and Respicio Vazquez.

On the retail side, McKinney said after the ceremony that developers are in negotiations for a 4,000 square foot restaurant that would serve as an anchor. He said interest in the remaining 10,000 square feet is “very strong.” Developers said in October that a medical tenant has committed to taking 2,500 square feet of the retail space.

Keystone Ventures was an original partner in Lake Lathrop Partners before being bought out by Sedgwick in 2020.

The project experienced a series of delays over the years, including environmental cleanup from a dry cleaners formerly on the site and a lawsuit involving a tenant who did not want to move.

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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Following protest, Concordia president hosts town hall meeting

Russell Dawn says the university won’t tolerate racism

By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter

At an April 12 town hall meeting, more than 100 students and staff packed the pews of the chapel to listen to Concordia University Chicago President Russell Dawn answer questions and respond to their concerns of racism and discrimination on campus. The meeting, which lasted about an hour, was held shortly after the protest. Leaders of the Student Government Association helped moderate the event, using students’ submitted questions to guide a portion of the conversation.

Opening the conversation, the CUC president told students they are a “top priority” and that he would strive to serve them. He then provided a response to the ban issued against English professor Paul Stapleton.

Dawn informed staff and students that “employment information is confidential” and therefore he could not share details about banning Stapleton from the campus and teaching in person.

But, he noted, that bans are put in place when “an individual poses an unreasonable RUSSELL DAWN risk to one or more members of the community.”

“You might ask: Has he done that?” Dawn said of Stapleton, adding that brings him back to his first point – confidentiality. “I cannot talk to the specifics of the situation but understand we only ban when someone poses a risk to more and more individuals in the campus community.”

During the meeting, one student asked Dawn why CUC had changed its mission statement, choosing to drop the words “diverse,” “women” and “creativity.” Some

F. AMANDA TUGADE/Staff Reporter

POST-PROTEST: Student protesters gather in the Concordia University chapel to hear President Russell Dawn answer questions about racism on campus. students of color say losing those words have made them feel invisible on campus, “like they can’t be themselves,” while others claim it illustrates the university’s lack of commitment toward its liberal arts programs which were slashed in 2020.

In December 2020, university officials let go of 51 faculty and staff members and closed 15 academic programs, including the Women and Gender Studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences. The university reasoned that the cuts were part of

a prioritization process and a cost-saving measure to reallocate funds elsewhere.

Dawn, at the meeting, informed faculty, staff and students that the mission statement was revised before he became president. While the actual word “diverse” does not appear in CUC’s mission statement, Dawn said that word is still referenced, as the university acknowledges that students live in a “diverse world” and is committed to preparing them to live and serve that world.

When asked if Dawn could amend the mission statement, he replied “no” and explained that he did not have the sole authority to do so. But, he said, the Board of Regents does.

“Will I change it? No, because I’m not that important to change it,” Dawn said.

“But will I bring it to the Board of Regents for reconsideration? Absolutely.”

Eric Matanyi, the school’s communicaCONTINUED on next page

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM CONTINUED from previous page tions chief, reiterated to the Journal that the mission statement “is not connected with the president or the on-campus administration.

It is fully under the auspices of the Board of Regents.”

In the meeting, another student asked Dawn to explain why the university has taken down Black Lives Matter signs around campus, which were initially hung to show support for Black students and raise awareness of recent racial injustices.

“The only reason there is any discomfort with the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ has to do with the organization by that name that has specifically anti-Christian roots, at least some specifically. It’s true. You can look it up,” Dawn said, before the crowd erupted.

The Black Lives Matter movement began almost nine years ago, first as a social media hashtag in response to the killing of Trayvon Martin. In 2012, Martin, an unarmed Black teen from Florida, was fatally shot by neighborhood-watch volunteer George Zimmerman. On the Black Lives Matter site, the organization highlights its mission to end white supremacy and systematic oppression, affirm Black people’s humanity and contributions to society and continued calls

for “Black lives to matAnother student ter.” asked Dawn whether During the meeting, CUC would consider a handful of students creating a different worshared incidents of racship space for students ism they experienced by who are not Lutheran professors and coaches and belong to different and voiced concerns religious faiths. over the university’s “We welcome students use of an online portal from any religious faith where students are enor no religious faith at couraged to report those all, but that does not incidents. One student mean we are required said he submitted a to provide them a space complaint at least three to practice their religion RUSSELL DAWN times but felt ignored on this Christian camCUC president by university officials, pus,” Dawn said, adding while another said the other universities are university’s lack of dinot obligated to provide that space either. verse staff impacts stu“This is a Christian community based on dents of color who need mentorship.

Dawn said the university has a “zero tol- the Christian Scriptures, and we’re not proerance policy” on racism and discrimina- viding a space for worship other than Christion and maintained that the online portal tian worship,” he said. is not “meant to be a barrier” but rather a “pipeline” to better understand students’ Russell gives an update concerns.

“It’s not acceptable if racism is being perIn the days following the meeting, Dawn petuated in the classroom or anywhere else sent a schoolwide email recapping the that is notable,” he said.

April 12 town hall forum.

“The only reason there is any discomfort with the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ has to do with the organization by that name that has specifically anti-Christian roots.

THINK GREEN FOR EARTH DAY

17

“And let me be very clear: Your voices are heard, and we will do better,” he wrote in the lengthy email to staff and students.

Dawn reiterated that the university has a zero-tolerance policy for racism, discrimination, harassment and misconduct by students, faculty and staff and promises to “do everything in my power to ensure that every member of our university community feels welcomed and respected.”

In the email, the CUC president also encouraged students to continue sharing their issues and concerns using the school’s resources. That included the online portal that students at the rally and town hall forum were critical about. Dawn also said students have options for spiritual counseling and mental health services, which are provided on campus through the counseling center or through local mental health providers.

Dawn mentioned that a team of university officials has partnered with student leaders to develop a set of action steps, which will be shared in the coming weeks.

“As I made clear on Tuesday, ConcordiaChicago remains committed to serving our students – ALL of our students – faithfully within the Biblical worldview of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod,” Dawn wrote.

18

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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Concordia students protest against racism, discrimination on campus ‘We stand here as a community,’ one student says

By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter

Dozens of students gathered outside Concordia University Chicago last Tuesday, chanting in unison: “Change CUC.” With signs that read “Be not afraid!” and “Who do you serve?” students at the protest held April 12 claimed that the River Forest-based university has become unwelcoming toward those of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Some also voiced concerns over recent changes made to CUC’s mission statement, which they say no longer features the word “diverse” and saw the removal of that word as one of many “red flags” which reflect the way the university sees them.

“We need to end racism at this school.

Discrimination cannot be tolerated here anymore,” one student said. “Blacks, Browns – doesn’t matter. We do not need to take this any longer. We stand against racism, discrimination and sexism.”

According to university data, Latinx students make up 33% of CUC’s student population, making them the second largest racial group on campus, behind white students (about 47%). At least 10% of students are Black and 4% are Asians, data shows.

Students at the rally demanded the university offer more scholarship opportunities for students of color and those who practice other religious faiths apart from the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). Some students claimed they felt the university’s push for LCMS teachings has also contributed to an unwelcoming environment.

Concordia University Chicago is one of nine colleges and universities across the nation affiliated with LCMS; university data shows that 16% of students at CUC subscribed to LCMS, while about 25% are Catholic and almost 35% belong to other Christian faiths.

“We stand here as a community,” another student said at the rally.

Other students at the protest said they wanted the university to hire more diverse faculty and staff and invest in cultural competency training for employees.

They also sought more scholarship opportunities for students of color.

Professor speaks out Last Tuesday’s protest took place just a half hour before a town hall meeting in the university chapel and came on the heels of the banning of a CUC professor Paul Stapleton.

On April 11, Stapleton, an English professor, was arrested on campus for trespassing after violating a ban notice. He has since been charged with criminal trespass on land and obstructing a peace officer, said River Forest Police Chief Jim O’Shea.

O’Shea clarified Stapleton was not cooperating with police officers at the time of the arrest, which was why he was charged with the latter. O’Shea also told Wednesday Journal that the university Concordia filed the ban against Stapleton and sought for his arrest if he returned on the campus.

Stapleton is scheduled to appear in court May 20 at the Maywood Courthouse.

Stapleton told Wednesday Journal he was banned from the campus last week after he and his wife, another university professor, continued to raise concerns about the issues of racism toward faculty, staff and students. The university held a meeting April 12 as a way to address the concerns of faculty and students, including Stapleton.

Stapleton said he met with CUC officials April 8 and was informed he was barred from university property and any activities until further notice. Stapleton said he was also told he could only teach his classes via Zoom with another administrator present. But, he said, CUC officials failed to explain to him why he was banned at all.

F. AMANDA TUGADE/Staff Reporter

AIRING CONCERNS: Students at the rally demanded the university offer more scholarship opportunities for students of color and those who practice other religious faiths apart from the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS).

The university confirmed Stapleton has since been suspended with pay but remains an employee at CUC. Faculty members have stepped in to take on Stapleton’s classes, university spokesperson Eric Matanyi told the Journal.

“The ban seems very arbitrary,” Stapleton told the Journal. “I have no clue why I’ve been banned. No policy has been given to me – nothing. I just got banned, and I have no idea why.”

Barred by confidentiality, Matanyi told the Journal the university could not comment on the recent banning of Stapleton but briefly explained a ban would be issued when the university “believes there’s a risk of safety to other people on campus.”

The Journal obtained a video showing Stapleton and university Provost Erik Ankerberg April 8 in a heated conversation with Stapleton asking Ankerberg over Zoom why he was not allowed to return to campus and teach his students in person.

“For what reason will I not be able to teach my students in the classroom? For what reason?” Stapleton asked Ankerberg, his mouth agape, throwing his hands up in the air.

“This will be determined,” Ankerberg replied. “The university determines modality.”

“Do you have this in the handbook? Modality?” Stapleton questioned. “Where’s that in the handbook?”

As the conversation escalated and Stapleton asked Ankerberg to show him CUC’s

policy on what constitutes “modality,” Ankerberg repeated: “Modality is something that the university determines.” On the issue of why Stapleton was banned, Ankerberg, in the video, said the meeting was not “for me to answer your questions.”

During the nearly 16-minute-long conversation, Ankerberg told Stapleton that two bans were issued against him, one from CUC and the other from the Village of River Forest. Ankerberg also informed Stapleton he would be arrested if he came to campus.

“I am planning for you to teach on Monday via Zoom,” Ankerberg said. “The ban is in effect: You will not be on campus, and I’m assuming you will be setting up and teaching your students via Zoom on Monday.”

Immediately following his arrest, Stapleton shared a document with the Journal where CUC officials suspended him for “insubordination in that you failed to teach your classes as instructed.” In the email, officials asked Stapleton to acknowledge the memo.

Stapleton said he replied to the email with a quote: “An unjust law is no law.”

Though days have passed since the incidents on campus, Stapleton took a moment to reflect and told the Journal he was proud of the way students have responded.

“I thought, ‘OK, it’s not just my perception. This is touching a deep root. The students feel this, too,” Stapleton said. “They feel this.”

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

Coming April 27 to Wednesday Journal

Growing Green A special section dedicated to local sustainability, featuring stories about local people and organizations that are making an eco-difference in our community.

For more details or to reserve space, contact: Marc Stopeck

If you have a green business, sell green products, provide green services or support green initiatives, you should advertise in this section.

Growing Green will appear in print (on recycled newsprint) and online. Ad prices are discounted so you can support the section without spending a lot of green!

Ad Deadline: April 22 (Earth Day)

at 708.613.3330 or marc@oakpark.com

Lourdes Nicholls at 708.613.3329 or lourdes@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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C R I M E

Four people, one armed, rob 7-Eleven

The 7-Eleven convenience store at 661 South Boulevard was robbed by three men and one woman at 11:27 p.m., April 13. One man allegedly implied he had a weapon, and another brandished a firearm, before all four went behind the counter and took about $400 in cash from the register, as well as cigarettes, lottery tickets and an employee’s cell phone, which was later recovered in the 100 block of South Elmwood Avenue. The four offenders fled the scene in a dark Chevrolet sedan with no registration.

Aggravated use of firearm Someone discharged a firearm at Midas auto repair shop, 6249 North Ave., striking the front glass pane with one bullet and the side door with three at 2:57 a.m., April 16.

The estimated damage is unknown.

Unlawful use of weapon arrest Chadd C. Sutton, of the 6400 block of South King Drive, Chicago, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a stolen firearm, after he was stopped by Oak Park police for a traffic violation and found to be in possession of a stolen firearm at 2:03 a.m., April 13 in the 100 block of Madison Street. The 31-year-old also received a citation for the traffic violation.

Burglary Someone broke the victim’s vehicle window and removed a garage door opener from the vehicle, then used the garage door opener to open the victim’s garage, out of which a red Toro snow blower, an orange Black and Decker leaf blower and

HISTORIC BEAUTY!

an orange Black and Decker grass trimmer were taken, between 9 p.m., April 13 and 5:45 a.m., April 14 in the 1100 block of North Oak Park Avenue. The estimated loss is $1,015.

Motor vehicle theft ■ Someone

removed a red 2003 Hyundai Elantra that was parked on the street in the 400 block of South Humphrey Avenue at about 2:53 a.m., April 9. The estimated loss is $8,320.

■ A silver 2016 Toyota Corolla, which had a spare key in the middle console, was removed from fourth floor of a parking garage in the 100 block of Forest Place between 12:30 p.m., April 9 and 3:37 p.m., April 17. The estimated loss is $18,000.

Theft

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■ Someone cut the catalytic converter from a white 2005 Jeep Liberty parked in the 1100 block of Pleasant Street between 5:30 p.m., April 11 and 11:20 a.m., April 12.

■ The catalytic converter was cut from a white 2010 Mitsubishi parked in the 200 block of South Maple Avenue between 12:01 a.m. and 6 a.m., April 12.

■ A PlayStation 4 was stolen after the victim met the offender under the pretense of exchanging the gaming system for other electronic equipment. Once the PlayStation 4 was handed over, the male offender fled the scene on a bicycle at 10:35 p.m., April 13 in the 6100 block of Roosevelt Road. The estimated loss is $300.

■ The catalytic converter was cut from a 2012 Hyundai Tucson parked in the 100 block of North Humphrey Avenue between 7 a.m., April 12 and 6:30 a.m., April 14.

Criminal property damage Someone broke the driver’s side window of a grey 2013 Honda Civic parked in the 1100 block of Hayes Avenue between noon, April 10 and 6:33 p.m., April 11. The estimated damage is $200.

A man in a hooded sweatshirt was captured on video surveillance cameras throwing a brick through the glass front door of Walgreens, 6412 W. Roosevelt Rd., then fleeing the scene on foot at 11:31 p.m., April 13. The estimated damage is $3,000.

The front passenger’s side tire of a 2020 Jeep Compass was slashed while the vehicle was parked in the 1000 block of Lake Street between 12:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., April 16.

These items, obtained from the Oak Park Police Department, came from reports, April 12-18, 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 Stacey Sheridan

Homes Village announces Preservation and Cavalcade of Pride winners

NEED TO REACH US?

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

oakpark.com/real-estate editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 ktrainor@wjinc.com

21

Awards honor property stewardship, historically sensitive improvements

By LACEY SIKORA

T

Contributing Reporter

he pandemic might have wiped out Oak Park’s annual recognition of home and business owners in 2020, but in 2021, the Historic Preservation and Cavalcade of Pride Awards were back.

Announced on March 15, the 2021 winners include 16 homes, multifamily buildings, gardens and businesses which were awarded Cavalcade of Pride Awards by the Oak Park Community Design Commission. Eight homes and buildings were recognized by the Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission with Historic Preservation Awards.

Noel Weidner, chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, says the Historic Preservation Awards are a way to celebrate good stewardship and homeowners who take the time to do renovations accurately.

He says that many of the award winners put a lot of time into making sure they honor the history of their homes, by researching old photos of their homes or looking at homes of a similar era. Any home on the village is eligible for an award.

“It doesn’t have to be in a historic district,” Weidner said.

“We like to see historic preservation being appreciated village-wide. The selection committee looks at all areas of the village. This is not just for the historic districts or large mansions.”

The home at 631 N. Kenilworth Ave. was recognized for the rehabilitation of its exterior. The house had been altered significantly in the 1950s or 1960s.

“You could tell something was off,” Weidner said of the home prior to its renovation.

The house had been for sale for a long time before it was purchased, and Weidner points to the property as an interesting example of how property values and the value

PROVIDED

The house at 631 N. Kenilworth Ave. (above) was altered significantly during the 1950s or 1960s (inset). The present homeowners were recognized for their historically sensitive remodel of the entire exterior. to the community come together, saying the amount of renovation needed to bring make the house livable was extensive.

“It was one those properties that seemed like it was slipping away and trending downward to becoming a teardown,” Weidner said. “It’s nice to see it saved.”

Another home that pared back alterations to go back to a historic style is 303 N. Marion St. Weidner states that the 1890s-era home had been covered with asphalt siding for roughly 60 years.

See AWARD WINNERS on page 22

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

PROVIDED

The homeowners of 303 N. Marion St. removed the decades-old asphalt siding (left ) and reclad it with period-appropriate materials and decoration (right). They also pared back the overgrown landscaping to allow the newly remodeled exterior to shine.

AWARD WINNERS Nominations open from page 21 When the siding was removed, the contractor used details such as the brackets on a gable to reconstruct a more appropriate exterior for the house. Weidner calls the unveiling “exciting.”

Whirlwind Coffee at 513 Madison St. was also recognized with an award. Weidner notes that the coffee shop brought economic activity to the area while preserving the history of the building and says the adaptive reuse reinvigorated the block.

Weidner says the awards are an important part of recognizing and celebrating the time and money that many in the village invest in their historic properties.

“Generally, I think a lot of Oak Parkers take pride in their properties, and to recognize the care, the money and the time that is spent to do a sensitive restoration is something that should be celebrated and encouraged,” he said.

This year’s Historic Preservation Award winners will be given a sign to place in their yards, and Weidner hopes the visual recognition will spur more people to practice stewardship of their historic properties.

“So often preservation is thought of as

PROVIDED

Whirlwind Coffee at 513 Madison St. reactive. When there’s a threat, we act,” Weidner said. “This awards and sign program is proactive. It does something for how people view historic preservation.”

Village Planner Craig Failor says the Oak Park Community Design Committee has been recognizing Cavalcade of Pride winners since the 1970s to award property

owners who have done an exceptional job of maintaining and improving the exteriors of their homes and businesses.

The awards were intended to thank people for being models for their neighborhoods. Properties are nominated in one of several categories, including residential, multifamily, commercial, gardens and

special use.

Failor says some of the homes that won awards this year aren’t overwhelming projects but are just good examples of homeowners taking care of their properties. He points to 400 N. Lombard Ave. as a property where the homeowners upgraded their landscaping and the entry into the house.

“The house has always been well-maintained, but they went one step further,” Failor said.

Another home, 135 LeMoyne Parkway, also has a well-designed landscape that Failor says is pristinely maintained. A garden at 623 N. Euclid Ave., is just amazing according to Failor, and 801 S. Oak Park Ave. is an example of a multifamily building that Failor says was an architectural improvement to a site that formerly was home to a gas station.

Until this year, the awards had always been an effort of the Community Design Committee, who walk the community and look for properties to recognize. In 2022, community members will be able to nominate properties as well, which Failor says will broaden the reach of the awards. Nominations for Cavalcade of Pride Awards are open until July 15.

Community members can also nominate homes for Historic Preservation Awards at https://tinyurl.com/59ks9mcs.

Historic Preservation Award nominations are open until Sept. 30, 2022.

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

SPORTS Girls track anchor expects to finish strong

Catching up with Darnesha Fraley

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Senior Darnesha Fraley not only is a four-year varsity member of the Oak Park and River Forest girls track and field program, the standout sprinter also has multiple years of experience being the anchor for the Huskies’ state-caliber relays.

“I love anchor because I feel like if we’re ever behind, I’m that person to catch up,” Fraley said. “They’re always allowing me to catch up and I’ll work hard to finish.”

Fraley displayed her strong finishes during Saturday’s Hinsdale Central Devilette Invitational. Fraley took the Huskies from third to winning the 400-meter relay (52.72) and from third to second in the 800 relay

auc and junior Saniya Shotwell (1:50.68). Both lineups included (4:30.91). juniors Rhea Richard, ChristiFraley and lead leg Richards na Anthony and Alicia Gaylord. are the lone returnees from last In the 400 relay, the Huskies year’s Class 3A state-qualifying edged Loyola Academy (53.03) 800 relay (21st, 1:47.84). In Saturand Hinsdale Central, which day’s 800 relay, Fraley made up led before a disqualifying final significant ground but ran out baton handoff. of room to catch Hinsdale Cen“It was hard catching up, but tral (1:50.68).

I had to help my team get a first “Real close. I felt it, but it is and we all won together,” FralDARNESHA FRALEY what it is,” Fraley said. “We’re ey said. “When I got the baton, all training as a team and we I was just thinking not only about myself but my team. We have to win can all get better. I’m pretty sure we’ll make it to state.” together as a team.”

Tang is hoping for her first state berth The Huskies finished third (99 points).

Senior Lena Tang (10 feet in pole vault) after clearing the 10-3 state-qualifying and sophomore Lenny Sterritt (3,200 in standard multiple times indoors. She was a 12:21.10) also placed second. fourth-place 9-3 at the 2021 sectional.

Fraley was third in the 100 (14.01) and She often practices with a bungee cord anchored the third-place 1,600 relay with positioned at 10-3 or 10-6. senior Lucca Bibbey, freshman Bella Br“I try and put it higher than I actually

want to make,” Tang said. “I’m feeling very confident and very excited about state.”

At York, March 11, Tang cleared three successive personal bests indoors — 9-10, 10-4 and her current best of 10-10. After her final miss at 11-4, Tang came down feet first and actually snapped the measuring bar in half.

“The [York] coach told me, ‘I don’t want this sitting in the garage for seven years.’

So I took it home and now it’s mounted on my bedroom wall,” Tang said.

Bibbey (400 in 1:03.37), senior Olivia Rafia (4-8 in high jump), junior Teshell O’Neal (9.10m/29-10 1/4 in shot put), sophomores Katie Stabb (1,600 in 5:21.21) and Brianne Davis (31.80m/104-4 in discus) and Richards (200 in 27.67) were third.

The Huskies won the frosh-soph title (160 points). Sophomore Taylor Smith won triple jump (10.14m/33-3 1/4) with the invite’s best distance for both levels.

Cronin reaches her goal in Mundelein 16 times, in fact, as OPRF girls water polo takes 3 in a row

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Senior Rory Cronin had a huge afternoon, April 16, with a combined 16 goals for the Oak Park and River Forest High School girls’ water polo team as the Huskies (9-9) won all three of their matches at the Mundelein Quad Tournament.

In OPRF’s first match against Metea Valley, Cronin tallied eight goals in a 9-7 Huskies’ victory. Cali Weber added six saves.

In the next match, Cronin scored three goals and seniors Ava Massman and Ashby Steward-Nolan each added two as OPRF defeated the host Mustangs 8-3. Weber had 12 saves and Ella Homrock had eight.

In the final match against Fremd, Cronin had five goals, Steward-Nolan three, and senior Eliie Raidt two as the Huskies

prevailed 11-5. Homrock had seven saves and Weber six.

The Mundelein Quad capped a 5-0 week for OPRF, which also won matches at Neaqua Valley, April 11 (18-5), and at Hinsdale South, April 12 (14-0).

OPRF Baseball Patrick Carmody, Jack Chambers, and Jack Gooch each went 4-for-5 at the plate as OPRF baseball routed host Leyden Township 20-5, April 16.

Carmody had a double and a triple with four RBI, Chambers had a double to go with three RBI, and Gooch scored three runs as the Huskies (7-3) pounded out 23 hits against Eagles’ pitching.

OPRF also received notable contributions from Ethan Moore (three hits, two RBI) Ezra Moore (three hits, three RBI,

three runs scored), Mason Phillips (triple, three RBI), and Calvin Roe (three RBI).

Two days earlier, Calvin Proskey pitched a two-hit shutout as the Huskies defeated host Hinsdale Central 3-0. Proskey struck out 11 Red Devils and issued two walks, while Dan Michaud had two hits — including a triple — and one RBI.

OPRF girls soccer OPRF entered its home non-conference matchup, April 16, against one of the area’s top programs (Benet Academy) on a sevengame winning streak and having cracked Chicagoland Soccer’s Top 25 poll.

Julia Daun got the Huskies (7-2) off to a great start in the eighth minute with an unassisted goal. But the Redwings’ Mariana Pinto countered with two goals in a five-minute span later in the first half, and

despite dominating possession in the second half, OPRF couldn’t get the equalizer and fell 2-1.

Even with the loss, the Huskies actually rose in the Chicagoland Soccer poll. After debuting last week at #25, OPRF is now #18.

Trinity Lacrosse Junior Paige Smith scored 10 goals and added two assists as Trinity routed Resurrection 19-5 at Dominican University, April 12, in a Girls Catholic Athletic Conference matchup.

Smith’s outing gave her 39 goals in seven matches as she continued her impressive spring. The Blazers (3-4) also received valuable contributions from freshman Rian Smith (three goals, one assist) and senior Kylie Sullivan (two goals).

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S P O R T S

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

25

OPRF tennis contends with all-away schedule, again

OPRF has 3 seniors, Fenwick has 1, so youth will serve

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

For the second consecutive spring, the Oak Park and River Forest High School boys tennis team has all of its matches on the road due to continuing on-campus construction that has required the usage of the courts.

While it’s a situation that veteran head coach John Morlidge says his team has gotten used to, it’s still difficult.

“Having all away matches is a huge disadvantage, but it is the new norm,” said Morlidge, who has coached OPRF’s varsity since 1991. “It’s tragic for our upperclassmen that they haven’t been able to compete around their friends on their home turf.”

The Huskies return three players from last year’s sectional lineup: seniors Luka Lissuzzo, Dante Stukel, and Ezra Stukel.

“Luka is our #1 (singles) player and has a great all-around game,” Morlidge said.

“Dante and Ezra are an experienced doubles team with much firepower.”

Cameron Khaledan, Will Neumann, and Trevor Wilson also have varsity experience for OPRF. Newcomers to keep an eye on are freshman Manu Ragagopal, who is currently playing #2 singles for the Huskies, and freshmen Alex Dolipschi and Eli Stein, who make up the 3rd doubles pairing.

“I have an outstanding group of young men,” Morlidge said. “They work hard every day in practice and are very appreciative of what they have. Myself and our whole coaching staff feel blessed to be able to work with these guys.”

Hinsdale Central has long been a powerhouse in the West Suburban Silver, and the Red Devils figure to be once again difficult to beat out for the conference title. OPRF is hoping to finish second or third in the league.

The Huskies also hope to win their sectional and qualify for state. It’s something Morlidge would like to accomplish while continuing to grow the younger players.

“Sending qualifiers to state is huge. Last year was the first time we didn’t qualify any-

one,” he said. “Besides our three seniors, we are very young and want to develop for the next few years.”

Fenwick Veteran head coach Gerard Sullivan has had youthful varsity rosters at Fenwick High School the last two seasons.

Last spring, the Friars had just two seniors and one junior in the lineup. This year’s lineup has one senior and five juniors.

“This is a spirited and energized team that works hard in practice,” said Sullivan.

“They improve every day and will be ready to take what opportunities they get in the tough matches that lie ahead.”

Fenwick has posted a 2-2 record in dual meets this spring with wins over De La Salle and DePaul Prep and losses to St. Ignatius and Chicago University High. Among the Friars’ top players so far have been sophomore Jake Brecknock and junior Jack Harrison in #1 & #2 singles, respectively, and juniors Bobby Anzaldi and Colin

Crotty in doubles.

“Jack’s game has really developed since last season, and he’s had some good wins and close matches against some strong opponents,” Sullivan said. “Jake’s game will take a while to gel as he’s mostly concentrated on soccer since last spring, but it’s starting to come together.”

Other notable Fenwick contributors are juniors Matt Carmody and Marty Morrissey and freshman Dave Schubkegel, whom Sullivan believes has “a lot of potential.”

Loyola Academy and St. Ignatius are the teams to beat in the Chicago Catholic League, and the Friars hope to at least finish in the top three of the league. They’ll need to hold off Marmion Academy in order to accomplish this goal.

Fenwick is also hoping to get assigned to a much more favorable sectional this year.

“Last year we were in the ‘group of death’ with the eventual (IHSA Class 1A) state champ (Chicago Latin) and a number of other players and doubles teams that would make All-State,” Sullivan said.

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26

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

VIEWPOINTS

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M. Call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 ktrainor@wjinc.com

Vicki Scaman’s mea culpa

p. 33

Privacy is an issue that needs to be addressed

D

o you remember when we had personal telephone and address directories delivered to our homes?

When this practice ended, the reasons given were that our privacy was being invaded and that the project became too cumbersome for the telephone companies to continue, although the foremost reason for discontinuing the books was “privacy.” Now smart phones and Google searches are ever-present, whereby we can easily obtain phone numbers, addresses and, in some cases, even photographs as well as other personal information.

When I wrote the book, Reflections: A History of River Forest, I included the River Forest phone book that had been issued in 1907. The listings stated information as to residents’ marital status, their vocations, their phone numbers and addresses. An example is Mary Hanson, widow, butter and eggs, her phone number and address. Because of privacy and other concerns that practice was discontinued approximately five years later.

Here’s some perspective from our nation’s history (excerpted from Chapter 22, “Our Right to Privacy,” from the Annenberg Classroom): “The right of privacy, as Justice Louis Brandeis once defined it, is fundamental to our understanding of freedom, but nowhere does the Constitution mention it. When Congress submitted the Bill of Rights to the people for ratification in 1789, privacy was not listed as a liberty that required protection from government.”

Yet privacy is an issue addressed in subsequent Amendments to the Constitution.

Now computers, the internet, Facebook, and you name it, offer personal information about us. Is this what we really want? Is knowing unsolicited personal information about our neighbors, employers/employees, friends, etc. necessary? Is there no value placed on privacy? I believe that privacy is an essential value that relates to many issues.

HARRIET HAUSMAN One View

See HAUSMAN on page 34

Why do we tolerate gas-powered leaf blowers?

I

am writing to get the ball rolling to ban gas-powered leaf blowers in Oak Park and River Forest. Last November, columnist Ken Trainor wrote an excellent piece regarding the logic of banning gas-powered blowers. Given the mostly supportive follow-up letters to Ken’s column, as well as what I’ve heard in conversations with friends and neighbors in River Forest and Oak Park, I suspect there is a lot of support to stop the massive noise and air pollution that gas-powered blowers create in our neighborhoods.

Spring is here and we are hearing industrial-scale pollution coming from gas-powered blowers as lawn crews conduct spring clean-ups. I routinely walk, run and bike throughout Oak Park and River Forest and already I’m changing my course to avoid the din. In addition, like many people, I work from home most days, and I know that once the noise starts in the spring, I won’t be able to reliably escape it until around Thanksgiving.

Why do we tolerate machines that routinely crank out 80-90+ decibels of noise — well above the threshold for human health and safety — pollute the air, and destroy healthy pollinator habitat? We require cars to use mufflers and catalytic converters to reduce noise and air pollution, and yet we allow this noise and air pollution in our front yards?

Local ordinances banning gas-powered blowers are becoming increasingly common.

In the Chicago area, the towns of Wilmette, Glencoe, Evanston, and Winnetka have implemented bans, some going back years.

There is also a bill in the Illinois Legislature (Senate Bill 3313) currently sitting in assignment. Waiting for a statewide ban, however, could take years.

I know that we need to consider the impact of a ban on lawn care companies and their crews. As an entrepreneur myself, I’m sensitive to the needs of small businesses and believe we need to allow for a reasonable transition time for lawn companies to make a switch to battery-powered alternatives. I can also imagine allowing for gas-powered blowers to be used for a few weeks in spring when the ground is wet and in late fall when there are a lot of leaves. Some communities have even instituted financial rebates and incentives to help landscapers make the transition.

My plan is to hold meetings with folks who are interested, conduct additional research, get a petition going, and then present a formal proposal to each village’s board of trustees later this summer. If you would like to join me in this effort, please contact me at mattryan1965@yahoo.com.

Matt Gnabasik is a 22-year resident of River Forest.

MATTHEW GNABASIK One View

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

O U R

I

V I E W S

The barrel of hate

t was something of an Easter miracle that First United Church of Oak Park made it through four of the six weeks of Lent with its flowing outside banners proclaiming an aspiration of “Fasting from Whiteness” before right-wing media spun it up into another national sensation.

We feel nothing but pride and appreciation when a mainline Christian church on Lake Street addresses so directly its inevitable internal struggles with systemic racism. You don’t build that edifice, on that corner, in that last-century Oak Park moment, without a heaping helping of unexamined, unapologetic whiteness.

To its profound credit, First United — the blending of the straightlaced First Presbyterian and First Congregational congregations in 1975 — has always been an overwhelmingly white but consciously activist church. It would be a lengthy list of causes, battles and hospitality offered if you were to enumerate the church’s good works.

It is expressly for that reason that this intentionally liberal institution needed to, and wanted to, examine its white-to-thecore DNA, especially during the season of Lent just past. No criticism here of this next step in its growth toward recognition that liberal whites usually have a wide streak of racism, right there, just under the unblemished veneer.

Putting up the banners, though, was likely a strategic error.

An Oak Park liberal declaration that we are eating chocolate but giving up whiteness for Lent just begs for derision and a turn in right-wing media’s cynical, simplistic, skeered-forkicks barrel of hate.

And in this moment when demented social media connects us instantly through fears, ignorance and reinforcement, it took but a moment for this story to be wretched up from local news to Fox News. The spew of cowardly threats followed in an instant and led the church to pull back first, wisely, its banners and sadly some of its public, in-person Holy Week services.

We report this week on Oak Park Temple quietly opening its synagogue for First United’s Maundy Thursday services and the late decision to throw open the church doors on Easter morning.

Good for those willing to proclaim beliefs rooted in love, willing to put forward their failings and white-limited view of their world. And, yes, as part of that reckoning, good for a congregation to toss out the hymnals filled with only white composers and experience the joy of other glorious voices celebrating their deity.

Truth, though, is that much of the work of anti-racism needs to be internal to a person, to a congregation, to white people talking to white people about the plain truth that our skin-color luck has about run out. That delusional claims of superiority are plain racism. And to recognize that this brutality and inequity is baked into every institution we protect.

Opening that hard, painful work to caricature by haters won’t speed the effort; it only gives reinforcing cause to those who plan to squeeze another moment, another election cycle or news cycle from the sins of our founding, the sins of last week, and of yesterday morning.

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Finding her niche at 98

which is 28 years from now. arriet Hausman is now the eldest “I want Harriet to be 126 years young newspaper columnist in the country, possibly in the world. I when I’m 98. don’t know this for sure, but at “And I wouldn’t bet against her. the age of 98, there can’t be many “Happy birthday to my favorite unofcompetitors for the title. ficial Wednesday Journal columnist.

At her 98th birthday brunch at Maya “For your birthday present, I’m putting del Sol on April 9, I made the official anyour name in the staff box starting this nouncement. Harriet was born on April 9, week.

1924. Think about that. Think how much “With love and admiration, your edithe world has changed and everything tor.” she’s seen. Newspaper columnists are, I’m not sure we’ve ever had a River above all else, purveyors of perspective, Forest columnist, so it’s about time. and no one has as much perspective as a Granted, she doesn’t write about River 98-year-old, except maybe a 99-year-old, Forest all that often, but she is a staunch but we’ve already established (well, sort defender of democracy, which is imporof) that there are (likely) no 99-year-old tant because, as you may have noticed, it newspaper columnists in the U.S., possibly the world. is deeply endangered. Harriet has certainly noticed, Harriet has earned it. Her substantive, eminently but then she’s been a defender of democracy and civil reasonable and humane opinion pieces have run freliberties for decades through her membership in the quently in the Viewpoints section for years — almost ACLU, which stands for the American Civil Liberties weekly during the Trump administration, which Union, for those unfamiliar with the concept and/or really stirred her creative juices (and those who only support civil liberties for aroused her moral indignation). In fact, people who look like them and believe she wrote so often (longhand), I finally what they believe. asked her daughter Barbara if she would In which case I would only say, “Listen type the submissions and send them electo your elder, read Harriet’s column.” tronically. Now she is our most faithful We can all learn something from it. correspondent.

You’ll find her name in the staff box During the brunch, a microphone was on the facing page (if you’re reading in provided for those who felt inspired to print). Her column you’ll find on page talk about Harriet’s influence in their 27. lives. Harriet was the first to grab it.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a She introduced almost everyone in atcolumn about the difference between tendance, never blanking on a name. It patriotism and citizenship. For Harriet, was impressive to watch a nonagenarian there has never been any difference. She HARRIET HAUSMAN work the room … with her walker. is the most patriotic citizen I know. In A recent letter in Viewpoints by Pat fact, she ought to be the grand marshal Healey began, “When I grow up, I want to be like of the River Forest Memorial Day Parade whenever Harriet Hausman …”). When my turn came to speak, that tradition resumes. After all, she’s lived in the I continued that theme. village since 1954 and wrote the definitive book on the “When I’m 98,” I said, “I want to be as informed as town, Reflections – A History of River Forest.

Harriet Hausman.

In the Forward to that book, published in 1975 “I want to be as prolific a writer as Harriet. during the lead-up to our country’s bi-centennial, “I want to be as good a writer as Harriet. she wrote, “It is my hope that newcomers to River “I want to be as clear-headed as Harriet.

Forest, and children growing up here, can learn “I want to be as liberal as Harriet. from this story how our village was created. Per“I want to be able to express my outrage about those haps the new generation will renew the democratic who hurt America and harm Americans, but, like spirit that prevailed, and the vigor and vigilance in Harriet, I want to do it with as much grace and class maintaining a sense of community and a concern and humanity. and respect for all citizens that distinguished River “I want to be as devoid of cynicism as Harriet.

Forest’s beginnings.”

“I want to be as fierce a defender of democracy and If this year’s grand marshal has already been chocivil liberties as Harriet. sen, no matter. Harriet fully intends to be around two “I want to be as generous in spirit as Harriet. years from now for her centennial. Maybe she can be “I want to be as full of life and love and, yes, fire as grand marshal then.

Harriet.

More to the point, it will mark her second anniver“Harriet actually makes me want to live to be 98, sary as the eldest newspaper columnist in the country.

KEN

TRAINOR

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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Banning books and ideas in the classroom

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owerful forces are gathering to demand control over what is taught, what students read, and what can and cannot be spoken.

A recent report from PEN America called “Banned in the USA” reports an astonishing 1,586 book bans in 86 school districts and 26 states. Illinois is not one of these states.

Yet. Overwhelmingly, the majority of books being targeted explore issues of race, racism, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

“It is not just the number of books removed that is disturbing, but the processes — or lack thereof — through which such removals are being carried out,” the report states. “Objections and challenges to books available in school are nothing new, and parents and citizens are within their rights to voice concerns about the appropriateness and suitability of particular books. In order to protect the First Amendment rights of students in public schools, though, procedural safeguards have been designed to help ensure that districts follow transparent, unbiased, established procedures, particularly when it comes to the review of library holdings.”

The American Library Association, which has been tracking book challenges for 20 years, reports a surge the like of which they have never seen before. “What we’re seeing right now is an unprecedented campaign to remove books from school and public libraries that deal with the lives and experience of people from marginalized communities,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.

The struggle to control what students read seems to be driven by fear: parents’ fear that their children will

be brainwashed. They want to protect their babies. But keeping young people ignorant of reality, particularly when it’s harsh, won’t keep them safe. In fact, blinders can prevent children from understanding what they see in the world around them and what they feel within themselves. Not talking about Bruno won’t make him disappear.

The danger is silence. Classroom discussion is essential to educating tomorrow’s citizens. And teachers, in concert with their school communities, are in the best position to make decisions regarding what to teach and how to approach controversial subjects in ageappropriate ways. Controversial readings and topics always make for the most engaging classes and most engaged students. “Argue the point, not the person!” I reminded my charges again and again.

Teachers can be crippled by curricular caution, otherwise known as selfcensorship. I mean, with so many books out there, they think, why invite trouble with a title that might raise eyebrows?

Because it’s a slippery slope. As the Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller wrote: First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out — Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.

Carol Jago is a longtime English teacher and past president of the National Council of Teachers of English. She is also a regular reader of Wednesday Journal, a resident of Oak Park, and a loyal patron of the Oak Park Public Library.

CAROL JAGO

One View

A great player, now a coach I am delighted to learn that Ashleen Bracey will be coaching the UIC women’s basketball team. Although Ashleen had an outstanding career as a basketball player, many folks may not know that she was also a stellar softball player.

I know this because, during 1999, I had the honor and pleasure of coaching her when she led our youth softball team to the village championship.

For me as a coach, Ashleen was a once-in-a-lifetime ballplayer. She was

Oak Park

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Equity Editor/Ombudsman Michael Romain Digital Publishing and Technology Manager Briana Higgins Staff Reporters Stacey Sheridan, F. Amanda Tugade Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, Harriet Hausman, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Business Manager Joyce Minich Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Development & Sales Coordinator Stacy Coleman Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

About Viewpoints Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, fire you to action.

In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing.

Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay.

If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR ■ 250-word limit ■ Must include first and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)

a model teammate, a clutch hitter with tremendous opposite field power, lightning-quick lateral speed, an infallible glove, and unerringly threw the ball as if launched by a cannon.

UIC and all of Chicagoland are lucky to have Ashleen Bracey coaching the UIC Flames. As head coach of the Flames, she has come full circle. Our youth baseball team was the Oak Park Fire.

Jim Poznak

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY ■ 500-word limit ■ One-sentence footnote about yourself,

your connection to the topic ■ Signature details as at left

Email Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com or mail to Wednesday Journal, Viewpoints, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

H O W

T O

R E A C H

U S

ADDRESS 141 S Oak Park Ave., Oak ParkIL 60302 ■ PHONE 708-5248300 EMAIL Dan@OakPark.com ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com

ASHLEEN BRACEY

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Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 10138). Postmaster, send address corrections to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Il 60302. © 2022 Growing Community Media, NFP.

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

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Support upgrading OPRF athletic and PE facilities

his is an appeal to move beyond goading and vitriol and to instead focus on the benefits and improvements a rebuilt Physical Education (PE) wing at OPRF High School will provide all students, staff and our communities once it is completed.

The returns on this investment are sorely needed: modern, fully functional, safe and accessible physical education learning and support spaces built for our current moment and for the future. Currently known as Project 2, this is the next phase in a longer-term plan created in collaboration with 30 fellow community members spanning 15 months of research, interviews and engineering-architectural consultation.

In contrast to previous narrowly-focused studies, the full facilities master plan encompasses the whole of OPRF and provides a process for integrating improvements over time to maximize efficiencies in space, function and a logical order for implemen-

tation. There is no other comparable, comprehensive plan for addressing all of OPRF’s areas of need as thoughtfully or in as much carefully considered detail.

Indeed, Project 2 does contain a pool and here are the objective facts. The pool will be right-sized to fit OPRF’s PE curriculum, will provide improved air quality and full accessibility where that is woefully lacking, all while maximizing efficiencies and functions unachievable in the current footprints.

In contrast to undersized facilities some critics seem to prefer, with limited if any cost savings, the new space will expand opportunities for a greater number of students while offering excellent learning and extracurricular opportunities. In fact, Project 2’s pool is the same size and configuration as one of two recommended options in an often-cited and now-outdated “Stantec

PETER RYAN

One View

OPRF needs ‘the best’ now On behalf of some of the 3,400 students who circulate through the 100-year-old athletic buildings every day at OPRF, I implore the community and the District 200 Board of Education to support Project 2 of the Imagine Plan, which involves rebuilding the academic buildings that house various physical education classrooms, including the pool.

District 200 has a well-thought-out plan in place for this structure and the time to act is now. Right now, there is misinformation in the community that OPRF wants to build an Olympic-size pool. This is simply not true. The proposed replacement pool is conservative in size and completely appropriate for the number of students at OPRF. The currently existing poor facilities at OPRF impact the education of every student, and not just a small segment of extracurricular athletic teams.

We, as a school, have the resources and the ability to change these rundown conditions, yet for years the idea for a new academic building that just happens to house a pool has been cast away. Every student at Oak

Report,” a favorite resource for some in town.

Yet there is so much more.

Project 2 includes modern and multipurpose gyms without concrete pillars interfering with dance choreography or court dimensions that dangerously end inches from walls. There are updates to locker rooms and changing spaces, accommodating privacy needs for kids discovering and growing into their identities. An elevator will provide entry at all levels where none currently exists.

Imagine denying access to students, staff or visitors to places their peers routinely travel and the inherent inequity in that equation. This scenario exists now at OPRF and Project 2 corrects these ridiculous circumstances. The plan contains a modern weight room, additional storage spaces for performing arts and offices for PE and athletics staff.

Park and River Forest High School uses the pool; it is a part of the physical education program. The lack of locker room space both in PE class and during after-school sports means students simply must figure it out for themselves where to find a space to change. Additionally, there is simply no privacy. I cannot imagine the difficulties students with non-conforming gender identities have in this public and open space when it is time to change clothes.

This is not the time to criticize District 200 for how we got to this point or why things have not happened sooner. Rather, the time to act is now, as for decades this decision has been pushed along to the next board of education. Our community has already waited so long …

“Those Things That are Best” does not mean we will be the best in the future; it means the Oak Park and River Forest community and the District 200 school board must be the best now.

Brad Huseby

River Forest OPRF class of 2023

In summary, Project 2 is the first step in the renewal of classrooms and elements that no longer function or meet the needs of our kids and communities. Last and not least, Project 2 is designed for integration with future plans and revitalization of additional deserving needs in ways no narrowly focused surveys or band-aid solutions ever can.

How to pay for Project 2 will be a vitally important discussion and one our communities will certainly debate. But there is no debating the fact that the current PE and athletic facilities simply do not meet the curricular needs of our community or our kids, and they will not meet our needs in the future. I encourage you to reject the misleading narratives so frequently repeated by a small number of voices, and to support the D200 school board as it determines what improvements will be included in Project 2.

Peter Ryan is an Oak Park resident.

Looking for peace on a Friday afternoon

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “peace” as a state of tranquility or quiet, which includes freedom from civil disturbance, a state of security or order within a community, freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions, harmony in personal relations, and a state or period of mutual accord between governments. People also sometimes use the word “peace” to ask for silence or calm, or as a greeting or farewell.

Peace, presumably, is a desired state. But current news about the ravages of war, gun violence on our streets, hate crimes in our communities, bullying in our schools, domestic violence, or child abuse in families raise serious questions about how and whether we humans might find or make peace.

So here’s a question: What if we sat down faceto-face and explored the possibilities of building peace?

Mothers and Others for Peace, in coordination with the Oak Park Public Library, and sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Park/River Forest, invite you to try.

On Friday, May 6 at 2:30 (doors open), 2:45 (welcome), and 3 p.m., Circles begin.

Stephen Jackson, restorative justice practitioner and Oak Park Public Library director of Equity

and Anti-Racism, will facilitate an interactive introduction to the Circle process, a way of bringing people together to understand one another, strengthen bonds, and solve community problems.

Everyone who comes on May 6 will be able to take part in a circle, and all ages are welcome.

Mothers and Others For Peace (MOFP) is a group of local activists who work toward building a peaceful future. We are inspired by Julia Ward Howe’s 1870 rallying cry to women to stop wars after the terrible loss of life in the Civil War, and her call for women to gather together once a year on a “Mothers’ Day” to focus on ways to find peace. We work to support this message of peace in this 21st century, as we have for the past six years.

To learn more about us and our past Mothers’ Day events, go to facebook.com/MothersAndOthersForPeace. And please join us for The Circle Process: Creating Deep Conversations, Friday, May 6, 2:30-4 p.m., at the Oak Park Public Library Veterans Room, 834 Lake St., Oak Park. Registration at oppl.org/calendar is preferred for this free program.

Kathleen Perry

River Forest Member of Mothers and Others for Peace & League of Women Voters

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

Burning off the fog of history

n the middle of the 1960s, I joined the peace movement against the Vietnam War, or as it was commonly called by the Vietnamese, “the American War” or the “Resistance to America War.” It was a quick conversion, largely attributable to the fact that I faced the universal military draft when my college deferment ended. I had a pass, but the war came to my peers who did not go to college.

My escape was an illusion. I could not evade the pain and sorrow of war as my high school friends and neighbors died or returned home, never to be whole again.

I had gone to college, they had gone to war — the injustice was obvious but went unmentioned at the wakes and funerals I attended. I needed more time to act on these new awakenings.

My conversion hastened during my freshman year at Northern Illinois University when I joined a small peace rally in front of the college union on a crisp fall afternoon. A speaker read from President Eisenhower’s revealing memoir where he succinctly explains why the U.S. rejected the Geneva Peace Treaty ending the French colonial war to maintain their exploitation of Southeast Asia. The U.S. was the only global power that refused to sign the agreement ending a war that was mostly paid for by the U.S. Eisenhower claimed that if national elections prescribed in the treaty had been held in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, the nationalist and communist hero of Vietnam would have received 80% of the vote. Stating the obvious and not so obvious, he stressed that Vietnam would become a communist country, thereby ending American access to markets and raw materials so vital to U.S. interests.

Creating, funding, and arming South Vietnam became the American response.

Eventually, almost 3 million U.S. men and women would fight in Vietnam, 59 thousand would die, and over 3 million Vietnamese would perish in a war where the U.S. dropped more bombs than in all of human history until then.

Upon graduation, I commenced my career as a high school teacher of history at Proviso East. Vietnam, the war of my generation, demanded a special dedication. My mission — to help my students see through the fog of history, which predictably leads well-intentioned people over and over to

accept lies and distortions to justify the death war brings.

Much later, in 1992, I nervously visited the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. An educator friend with me remarked, “I had such contempt for these guys.” In tears I cried, “I loved these guys; they were my neighbors and friends.”

More shock followed. John Duffy is on the wall twice. As I related to my students every year, I was in the war, the war at home.

My name is on the wall but it was not me.

The proverbial “there but for good fortune” never would ring more true. My college deferment, so inequitably gained, lasted until I graduated in 1969. Then I got a high number in the first draft lottery, started to end the racial and class inequities of the Vietnam draft. More good fortune followed — I and my new wife Pat would not move to Manitoba.

My Vietnam Wall sojourn prompted a fuller understanding of a principle I learned from Vietnam veterans like the late Oak Park resident Bill Davis, a founder and leader of the anti-imperialist peace organization Vietnam Veterans Against the War: “Love the warrior, hate the war.”

It was a lesson Bill and other veterans instilled annually when they came to my classroom to help students see through the fog of history, to allow them to doubt, to have a chance to examine historical evidence that might create a dissonance to the too-frequent unquestioning support of war so dominant in our national psyche.

Unfortunately, once again, as in Vietnam, Iraq, and so many other wars, the dominant national media offers little help in critically understanding the historic roots of the indefensible death, destruction, and suffering in Ukraine we witness daily.

Instead, the “manufacturers of consent,” as Noam Chomsky aptly calls them, stand at attention. They unquestionably repeat the administration’s messaging with a mix of truth, lies, distortion, and hypocrisy, reducing Ukraine’s death and destruction to the psychotic, imperial aggression of Putin — in a war they insist the U.S. has no responsibility in bringing about.

The fog of history sadly continues.

John Duffy, a longtime Oak Park resident, taught at Proviso East, Hinsdale Central, National Louis University, and Northwestern University over his 49 year career in education.

JOHN DUFFY

One View

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Thanks to truth-telling by victims

Just wanted to thank your publication for the honest and courageous reporting and editorial opinions concerning the serious institutional problems at Fenwick.

Despite all the years of stories we have witnessed about the corruption in the church as the Boston Globe reported (the film Spotlight), Fenwick has remain untouched.

Finally, thanks to the courage of Helen Quinn-Pasin and others, we are seeing the truth come out about decades of violation and abuse.

Predictably, Fenwick may sacrifice one individual in an effort to save their reputation and funding streams. What I am most concerned about is the restorative justice

practices and policy changes that must be implemented to prevent any more harm being done to young people by that school.

Yes, it’s not in their DNA. So it will take continual truth-telling by survivors and reporting like the Globe did to maybe see some justice.

Some of my story is here: https://www. oakpark.com/2019/01/08/victims-of-formerfenwick-priest-tell-their-stories And here: https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/ religion/pennsylvania-report-catholicabuse-cases-draws-reactions-atlanta/JZMC2 e2i0vIK7hulF1x3FP/?outputType=amp

Paul McLennan

Decatur, Georgia

Have that conversation about end-of-life wishes

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s we look back over the past two years of the pandemic, the topic of death and dying has become something we’ve begun to face and discuss more than ever before. Last Saturday, April 16, was National Healthcare Decision Day, an opportunity to talk deeply and honestly about your endof-life wishes with those you love and with your doctor.

Most of us would rather not think about what the end of our lives will be like. Like having a baby, many people avoid thinking about the details and hope that doctors will take care of things when health crises arise.

After having my first child at a hospital, I learned that I had choices about childbirth.

I decided to have my other children at home (if all was going well) rather than in a medicalized environment. Being surrounded by family during the birth and recovery process was so much better for me, my family and my other children.

I have realized that my image of the end of life is also about being at home surrounded by loved ones rather than all alone in a sterile hospital setting. But as we have learned in the past two years, this separation is all too common in the midst of an epidemic, and many of those who are facing their final days do so in a medical setting.

The default is to “do everything possible” at the end of life. And yet when facing a

terminal illness, it is possible to make choices to maximize comfort and minimize medical interventions to allow people to live their best lives to the end. In conversations with my cousin, I learned that my dying uncle, who was suffering from vascular disease, would not have a leg amputated but would go into hospice and be able to be present to his children in his final days without trying to “recover” from invasive surgery during this time.

I have also talked with my brother about being at the side of a dear friend in hospice.

He and his friend live in a state with the option to make decisions to avoid unbearable suffering in their final days through medical aid in dying. The final celebration of this friend’s life, in the presence of his family and friends, was a gift to all those who were present and provided his friend with an option not to prolong suffering at the end of his life.

I hope you will take the time to have this important conversation about your choices at the end of life. Compassion & Choices, a nonprofit organization, has free online planning resources (https://candc.link/ plancare), including in the case of a dementia diagnosis. You can use these resources to make plans and share your end-of-life wishes with your loved ones.

Teresa Powell, a longtime Oak Park resident, is a former village clerk.

TERESA POWELL One View

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Thanks for mentioning our jam session We just finished reading Melissa Elsmo’s wonderful article on the closing of the Eastgate Café [Bittersweet closure for Eastgate Café, News, April 13], and want to thank her for crediting our part in its history. Although we suggested Eastgate sponsor a jam session, it couldn’t have happened or been so successful without the unfailing support of owners Olya and Pat Dailey. We would also like to add that without the band’s current leader, drummer John Scoville, bassist Steve Hart and, later, bassist Tony Morrison, the jam session — and Eastgate — would not have been able to continue after the pandemic started.

In March 2021, when COVID first hit,

Doug asked if John would be willing to take the leadership position in the band since Doug chose not to play in public.

John stepped in and not only kept the band going but brought in new talent as well. All through 2021, until and even after Doug returned in the fall, John engaged guest pianists, publicized the jam, called other musicians about sitting in and was the leading force behind the session.

We just want to make sure he gets the credit, and thanks, he deserves. By the way, besides being a great bandleader he’s also a helluva drummer!

Doug & Wendy Lalli

Oak Park

Scaman’s mea culpa

You’ve heard the expression “All politics is local”? How about all politics is loco? You know, nutso? Crazy. Vicky Scaman’s mea culpa for drawing a comparison regarding “Black and Brown people’s fear of being stopped by police” to women’s fear of sexual assault is a case study in political correctness gone bonkers.

Village President Scaman’s assertion evidently was “harmful and racist,” as she stated in her apology. In retrospect, Vicky can believe whatever she wants, but how her statement was racist strikes me as absurd. She is a woman, no? Women have been victims of sexual abuse for as long as the human race has existed.

Women of every color, ethnicity, or age group have been victimized.

How constant and common of an “oppression” is sexual assault? In the same

edition of the Journal is the story of Mr. Quinn of Fenwick High School and increasing accusations of sexual misconduct. We currently have two Supreme Court justices who have been accused of sexual misconduct. A certain former POTUS admitted to grabbing women by their private parts while a camera and microphone were capturing his confession! And they, like notorious police abuses, are usually not held to account.

How then does the comparison disparage Black or Brown people’s victimization by police? Women dare not walk alone after dark. Many carry mace in their purses, and for good reason. That includes those with Black and Brown skin, I do believe.

Joe Harrington Oak Park

Take a stand against theocracy A theocracy (rule by religion) is being foisted on our country by people who want their religion to control the government. They will control women’s bodies — no abortions, even for mother’s life, incest, rape. They will eliminate gay marriage. They will

control what we say — can’t say “gay.”

They will control what we can read — removing books on race or sex that make them feel “uncomfortable.”

Let’s stand against this theocracy.

Tom Ard

Oak Park

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Renew our churches, inner and outer

’ve come to think of it as my “inner church.”

It’s the place I go within to pray, meditate on God’s presence, listen to my soul or gain some insight into the spiritual journey I’ve been traveling over the past 68 years.

My inner church isn’t bound to one place: in fact, it moves with me. I’ll traverse a block in Oak Park, Berwyn or Forest Park, or amble along the lake, reciting a prayer acknowledging God as Father and Mother, and nodding to souls in the Kingdom, who are at hand. Doing so enlivens my sense of a spiritual energy emanating from the homes, parks, stores, or, in the case of the lake, rising from her waves.

St. Mary of Celle, on 15th and Wesley, in Berwyn, was the outer church in which I was raised. There’s a lot of her spirit in my inner church today. At St. Mary’s I learned the basic prayers that structured how I talk to God, Jesus and Mary. I also learned a kind of prayerfulness from the priests, nuns and teachers that provided a model for my own meditations.

For many years in my adult life, I went regularly to my inner church, but participated irregularly in nearby outer churches.

They seemed to be falling behind progressive changes in the world: the women’s movement and its critique of patriarchy, for example, or the push to allow gay people to marry.

My inner church was more open than the outer Church to such cultural changes in the world. The Jesus to whom I prayed was a liberator, protective of an expanding scope of human rights in the modern world. My inner sanctuary embraced the Holy Spirit as a feminine and masculine force. And my inner church incorporated the wisdom of other faiths, seeing how different people at different times in varied places encountered God through their divergent traditions and struggles. In this sense, my inner church became an evolving, ecumenical sanctuary, honoring other systems of belief, looking increasingly less like the outer church that had originally nurtured my faith.

But despite their differences, my inner Church and my outer Church kept up a dialogue. And now, while they remain distinctive, they seem to have formed new common ground.

The dialogue that never ended, even while I was “unchurched” in the outer world, was fed

by the outer church’s deep influence on me, even when I didn’t recognize it as such. For example, my Catholic faith instilled in me a hope about where God was leading me, my family, and our world. Its universal prayer, the Our Father, with its expectant words, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” implanted in me a belief in a better future, which heightened my expectations about being able to do something good in the world.

I realized over time that I had internalized more lessons, stories and beliefs from the outer church than I had appreciated. The inner church had been formed by it, and even sustained by it, even as I had been apart from it.

Over the last 20 years, I’ve come back gradually, through Ascension here in Oak Park, singing in the choir, participating in Mass, and more recently through other groups and ministry. My inner church is not in agreement with the outer church on certain important matters but knows that it would not be what it is without it. The outer church’s wisdom about God, its capacity for community building, and reverence for the family make it unique in the world. My inner church has come home to the outer church because it was formed in part by it.

Both of my outer churches, St. Mary’s and Ascension, are now facing change through the Renew My Church campaign. St. Mary’s will be combined with St. Frances of Rome. Ascension will form a new parish with St. Edmund.

All local Catholic churches, as well as many Protestant institutions, are contending with the strategic challenges posed by the drop-off in participation.

I wonder how many people are lonely in their inner churches, temples or sanctuaries, apart from the connections to community that the outer institutions of faith provide. There is value in the solitary path, but I found that mine drew considerable meaning from the communal experience, even when I had been away from it.

In turn, having been on that personal journey gives me more to offer the outer church in its time of need.

Our inner churches and outer churches need renewal, together.

Rich Kordesh grew up in Berwyn and is a longtime Oak Park resident.

RICH

KORDESH One View

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I

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

Putin’s madness is also a warning

n January, Russia’s president Putin amassed 190,000 troops on the border of Ukraine. Putin stated that he would not invade Ukraine, if he were guaranteed that Ukraine would never become a NATO member. He did not get his assurance. On Feb. 24, Putin launched an unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

In response to Putin’s incursion, President Biden imposed sanctions on Russia, while keeping America out of a military conflict.

Putin used his armies to assault Ukraine.

NATO allies and the United States used their economic and financial powers to counter Putin’s aggression.

In Ukraine, the question became whether the Ukrainians would run out of ammunition before Putin ran out of Russians. Arms were shipped to aid the Ukrainian military and civilian defenders. In the second week of his onslaught of Ukraine, Putin brought in volunteers from the Middle East to reinforce his troops. In the third week of the aggression, he requested China’s assistance, but China remained mute.

Russia, a great military power, was seeking assistance to conquer a smaller, outnumbered, and outgunned nation. Is that a glimmer of hope for Ukraine? I hope so! It’s evident Putin underestimated Ukraine’s zeal to be free.

In their valiant quest for freedom, Ukrainian forces scored a 10-to-1 kill ratio against the invaders. Columns of Russian tanks stretched out over tens of miles and showed their vulnerability; nearly out of fuel and low on supplies. In desperation, Putin directed his military’s fire power against defenseless Ukrainian civilians. For Putin, a dead Ukrainian is a dead Ukrainian, regardless whether he’s in uniform or in diapers.

Civilians often become collateral damage in warfare, but Putin’s deliberate targeting of civilians was unprecedented.

I recalled British and American fire-bombing of Dresden in Germany, during World War II. There was an estimate of about 40,000 German civilian casualties in three days and nights. Similar death tolls were inflicted in Kassel, Jena, Schweinfurt, and other industrial cities in Germany. Visions resurface in my mind of the red glow in the night sky at various locations of the horizon, after bombings.

The world is aghast with the images of Russia’s onslaught on the Ukrainian people. The question remains: “What motivates Putin’s ferocity?”

First, Putin intended to demonstrate the power and might of Russia’s military. But more than that, Putin is sending a message to the NATO alliance. In his rage, Putin is likely to expand his targeting of civilians to include American and Western travelers, journalists, and diplomats, worldwide.

American and other NATO alliance embassies may become imperiled

by Benghazi-like attacks. Russians demonstrated the long reach of their assassins in the murder of Leon Trotsky in Mexico, on Dec. 21, 1940.

It is his warning — a preview of what NATO member nations are to expect in a confrontation with Russia, as Putin wants to restore Russia’s glory with borders encompassing most of Eastern Europe.

Fred Natkevi was born in Lithuania, became a refugee from the Eastern front in WWII and emigrated to the U.S. after the war. He is a longtime resident of Oak Park.

FRED NATKEVI One View

V I E W P O I N T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

OPRF High School and the ‘cardiac test’

I

recently watched a documentary about a prominent Ivy League economist and educator who was questioning many of the recent changes in education. He was part of a panel and shared a story. The video segment of the panel discussion went like this: “It wasn’t until I got involved in education that I heard about the ‘cardiac test.’ You’d walk around the school, and they’d say we have a new program. And I’d say that’s great, does it work? And they would say. Yeah. And I would say, how do you know it works? You can feel it in your heart.”

The audience laughed uncomfortably. My guess is the audience of educators knew that such logic was also being used at their schools. The also realized such thinking could be detrimental to a generation of students and families.

The “cardiac test” is exactly what is being used inside OPRF High School more and more. Our kids already know it and now our community is waking up to it. In the past, our community always supported our schools because students were receiving a challenging education which was backed by data and various rankings. Remote learning, and our school leaders’ response has given parents a closer peek into OPRF. Some liked it, some questioned it.

The use of the “cardiac test” at OPRF may make the administration and school board feel good “in their hearts,” but the human impact will be felt by students and families for years to come and well after the current board and administration have moved on.

No better example of the “cardiac test” is OPRF’s new Singular Curriculum and Behavior Education Plan. The new curriculum plan was actually board approved without academic benchmark goals being agreed upon. I am guessing the

eventual metrics will include a lot of feelings, self-reflection, and internal “surveys” from those who really need this to appear that it is working for students. And in their hearts, the adults in the room will feel good.

It’s funny, or scary, how we don’t hear much about the achievement gap anymore from OPRF. The state is still tracking such a metric. OPRF leaders and communication teams can craft messages to our community all they want. However, in the long run, student achievement and behavior data will be shared by the state, tracked by college admission officers, and followed by young families looking for a place to raise their families.

Let’s ditch the cardiac test and focus on academics and accountability. Teachers should be allowed to use their own creativity and expertise to educate our children without being asked to over-engineer outcomes to please policy makers.

Let’s allow for increased challenge and opportunity for all.

I can “feel the joy in my heart” when I eat a beef sandwich from Johnnie’s. However, if that is my main diet for the next four years, my heart, along with my overall health, will be compromised and impacted for decades to come. Let’s hope the overall health, mind-body-spirit, of our Huskies can stay strong despite the sad use of the cardiac test by adults who should know better. Go Huskies.

If readers of this article want independent data as to what is actually occurring inside OPRF, and in public education in general, I suggest these related links: 5 Essentials, Illinois Youth Survey, Illinois Report Card, Nations Report Card.

Ross Lissuzzo is an Oak Park native and current River Forest resident.

HAUSMAN

choose what he/she wishes to read and what his/her children should learn. Again, I do not want elected officials to dictate information we have access to, based on their views of what is acceptable.

Whatever your view on confidentiality of personal information, you certainly must agree that our rights to privacy are being eroded. Perhaps it is my age, but I’m uncomfortable with the personal information that some folks have about me and my family. I certainly have nothing to hide, but I do object to this intrusion. I am truly disturbed by the rapidly growing lack of privacy in our lives.

Do you share my concern? If so, what can we do to safeguard the privacy rights we have and recapture that which we have lost?

Harriet Hausman has been a River Forest resident since 1954 and a longtime member of the ACLU. She is 98 years young.

ROSS

LISSUZZO One View

from page 27 For example, I believe abortion is a privacy issue.

What a women chooses for her body should be confidential. Our Supreme Court ruling and most of our states allow an individual the right to make his/her own decision. In my opinion, the life of the mother is just as important as is the life of the fetus. I believe that most people object to personal decisions being made by impersonal elected officials.

Another example has to do with what we read and, tangentially, the banning of books. Our public libraries have a vast range of books with all different types of information. I believe the reader has the right to

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Let’s practice peace on May 6 On this “Mothers’ Day” troublesome thoughts about its origins and its subsequent bastardization fill my mind ...

“To debase, to move from a higher to a lower intention,” from anti-war to epic consumerism ...

From a strong woman-citizen, Julia Ward Howe, in 1870, a statement and day and movement to mourn war’s carnage, and loss of sons ...

From the floral lobby and U.S. Congress in 1913, Mothers’ Day moved from June 2, significant to Memorial Day to second Sunday in May ...

Men in business and congress redefined women, not as citizen-activists, but as consumers for their families ...

Newly emergent advertising industry induced Americans to honor their mothers by shopping ...

My troublesome thoughts emerge as questions: What values from our mothers allow our sons to kill others’ sons?

Did we not learn about civility in the face of adversity, of “enough” when others are hungry and homeless?

Did we not learn conflict resolution in our families?

Is it not time to gather in protest of war and drones and consumerism for Mothers’ Day 2022?

Is it not time in this 21st century, if we have time, for women to cease shopping and to become the activists of the 19th century?

Mothers and Others For Peace has been active for several years now. This year’s event, May 6 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. will be Peace Circles with Stephen Jackson at the Oak Park Public Library. All are welcome and will be able participate in a circle. Let’s all practice civility and peace.

Thank you to the League of Women Voters of Oak Park/River Forest who keep supporting our efforts.

Mary Rose Lambke Oak Park

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O B I T U A R I E S

Larry Greene, 81

Curt Galloway, 81

Larry D. Greene, 81, of Melrose Park, formerly of Oak Park, died at home on April 14, 2022, with his wife, Aiko, by his side. He lived by his faith and an outward love for life. Attending Oak Park and River Forest High School, he graduated in 1959 before going on to serve as a helicopter mechanic in Germany during the Vietnam War from 1963 to 1965.

As fate would have it, he would soon meet a very special Japanese woman named Aiko Takada. With only two weeks together in Chicago, he made sure Aiko felt at home before moving back to Japan. His kind gesture helped foster a love that would withstand a distance of two years. After incredible patience, countless letters exchanged, and a surprise phone call proposal, he and Aiko reunited in Chicago where they were married on Dec. 16, 1978. Residing in Oak Park, he continued his work at Western Electric (AT&T) until he retired in 1990. They moved one last time to their final home in Melrose Park.

An avid fisherman, astute hunter, decorated bowler and diehard White Sox fan, he was a Sunday school volunteer and devoted member of Judson Church in Oak Park. He traveled the world with his wife by his side. He kept family close and his knack for casinos closer. His nieces and nephews had the privilege to grow up under his enthusiasm, love, and unrivaled clumsiness. A man of character and spontaneity, he served as a constant reminder that life’s most precious treasures can be found in the simplest moments. Every day with him was, in his own words, “a winner” — and because of that, we all hit the jackpot.

Larry Greene was the husband of Aiko Greene, brother of Tom (Jayne) Greene, Joann (late Louis) Cipparrone, and the late Darrill (Brenda) Greene, and the uncle to many.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 21 at Peterson-Bassi Funeral Home, 6938 W. North Ave., Chicago 60707, from 3-8 p.m.

Final viewing will take place on Friday, April 22 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the funeral home, followed by the funeral service at Judson Baptist Church, 1252 N. Austin Blvd., Oak Park 60302 at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Judson Baptist Church, https://judsonoakpark.com/give

Curtis Edward Galloway, 81, of Ottawa, formerly of Oak Park, died on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center with his family at his side. Born on March 13, 1941 in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Robert Russell and Virginia (Asher) Galloway, he married Sherry Hatfield on Oct. 15, 1960 in Wichita. He was raised in the Methodist church but chose to “live his faith” by being a kind, compassionate, generous man who served as a mentor to many. He was the “go-to uncle” for his nieces and nephews. He co-founded and served as treasurer for Family Credit Management Services from which he retired in 2017. An adventurous man who enjoyed boating and travel, he was an accomplished artist who created many beautiful sketches and watercolor paintings. He genuinely loved people, but treasured his family. His grandchildren held a very special place in his heart.

Curt is survived by Sherry, his wife of 61 years; his children, Lori (Ed) Bertrand and Scott (Cathy) Galloway; his grandchildren, Mark (Sarah) Rochacz, Robert (Tammy) Rochacz, Michael Galloway and Shannon Galloway; his greatgrandchildren, Samuel and Isabella Rochacz; and a sister Patsy (Mark Miller) Allen. His parents and a sister, Judy Floyd, preceded him in death.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 23 at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home with Pastor Kevin Hancock officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. till the time of service. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren, as well as James McEntee, Theresa McEntee-Smisor, Bryan Allen, Kirsten Hoekman, Kevin Floyd, Alison Forystek, Timothy Floyd, Jason Hatfield and Jamie Alvine.

Memorial contributions can be directed to the American Cancer Society. To share a memory, please visit www.gladfelter-roetker.com or Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home on Facebook.

Member of Judson Baptist Church

Artist, go-to uncle

Robert P. Gamboney Funeral Director I am there for you in your time of need.

All services handled with dignity and personalized care.

Cell: 708.420.5108 • Res: 708.848.5667 I am affiliated with Peterson-Bassi Chapels at 6938 W. North Ave, as well as other chapels throughout Chicagoland.

36

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

Growing Community Media

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

HELP WANTED COVID-19 RESPONSE INTERN

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED • NETWORK SPECIALIST Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class.

Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

DEFINITION To perform various network/system administration, computer support, and operational activities for the Village including computer system setup, configuration, and testing.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Reports directly to the Information Technology Services Director.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES: Essential and other important duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following: Essential duties and responsibilities 1. Ensure that best in class customer service is provided to both internal and external customers and also embrace, support, and promote the Village’s core values, beliefs and culture.

2. Configure, test, and deploy network systems, such as, firewalls, routers, switches, wireless equipment, network servers and storage arrays.

3. Configure, test, and deploy system servers, such as, file, print, Internet, e-mail, database, and application servers.

4. Configure, test, and monitor server and end-user systems for security, such as, user accounts, login scripts, file access privileges, and group policy management.

5. Configure, test, and deploy end-user systems, such as, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, printers, and software.

6. Test, configure, deploy, and support security systems, such as, facility access system, video & audio system.

7. Monitor and auditing of networks, systems, and user activities to ensure security and efficiency of systems. Create scripts and reports of detail activities for regular review.

8. Perform and participate in disaster recovery activities, such as, backup procedures, data recovery, and system recovery planning.

9. Assist end-users with computer problems or queries. Troubleshoot systems as needed and meet with users to analyze specific system needs.

10. Ensure the uniformity, reliability and security of system resources including network, hardware,

software and other forms of systems and data.

11. Prepare, create and update user/technical procedure documentations and provide computer training.

12. Assemble, test, and install network, telecommunication and data equipment and cabling.

13. Participate in research and recommendation of technology solutions.

Other important responsibilities and duties 1. Train users in the area of existing, new or modified computer systems and procedures.

2. Participate in the preparation of various activity reports.

3. Travel and support remote facilities and partner agencies.

4. Operate, administer and manage the Village and Public Safety computer systems, including E-911 center, in-vehicle computer systems.

5. Prepare clear and logical reports and program documentation of procedures, processes, and configurations.

6. Complete projects on a timely and efficient manner.

7. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

8. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

9. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: Principals and procedures of computer systems, such as, data communication, hierarchical structure, backups, testing and critical analysis.

Hardware and software configuration of. computers, servers and mobile devices, including computing environment of Windows Server and Desktop OS and applications, Unix/Linux OS, VMware, iOS/Android.

Network protocols, security, configuration and administration, including firewalls, routers, switches and wireless technology.

Cabling and wiring, including CAT5/6, fiber network, telephone, serial communication, termination, and punch-down.

Telecommunications theory and technology, including VoiP, serial communication, wireless protocols, PBX, analog, fax, voicemail and auto-attendant.

Principles and methods of computer programming, coding and testing, including power shell, command scripting, macros, and

VB scripts.

Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Technical writing, office productivity tools and database packages.

Ability to: Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following: - Walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time - Operating assigned equipment - Lift 50 pounds of equipment, supplies, and materials without assistance - Working in and around computer equipped vehicles Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for: - Making observations - Communicating with others - Reading and writing - Operating assigned equipment and vehicles Maintain mental capacity allowing for effective interaction and communication with others.

Maintain reasonable and predictable attendance.

Work overtime as operations require.

Experience and Training Guidelines Experience: Three years of network/system administration in the public or private sector, maintaining a minimum of 75 Client Workstation computers. AND Training: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in computer science or a related field. Certifications in Microsoft Server Administration, Networking, Applications and Cisco Networking.

Possession of a valid Illinois Driver License is required at the time of appointment.

Vaccination against COVID-19 strongly preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS Work in a computer environment; sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time; continuous exposure to computer screens; work in and around computerized vehicles outdoor and garage facility; lifting heavy equipment, communication cabling and wiring into walls and ceilings.

Project Coordinator sought by Roaming Networks Inc. in Alsip, Illinois.

The Project Coordinator will be managing major projects for 5G equipment upgrade on mobile telecommunications towers. Applicants must have a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and at least one year’s experience as a Project Coordinator or Engineer. Please send resume to ATTN: HR Roaming Networks Inc., 4820 W 129th St, Alsip, IL 60803.

PART-TIME CIVILIAN CALL TAKER

FOREST PARK, IL The Forest Park Police Department, seeks a Part-Time Civilian Information Management Call Taker. Eligible candidates will be required to pass an aptitude test and an extensive background check. Qualifications include high school diploma (or equivalent), good verbal and written skills, working knowledge of the computer and Windows, ability to type accurately, a good working knowledge of the English language, the ability to treat customers and co-workers in a polite manner and the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Data entry skills and experience answering telephones/operating a switchboard are preferred.

EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS ARE MANDATORY. Open until filled. $17.54/hour. Applications are available at Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Ave. and should be returned Attn: Vanessa Moritz, Village Clerk, Village of Forest Park, 517 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130. Email: vmoritz@forestpark.net

FINANCIAL ANALYST – PAYROLL

The Village of North Riverside is in search of a qualified candidate to serve as a Financial Analyst in the Finance Department. This position is an entry level accounting position providing bookkeeping and administrative support to residents and members of the public. Primary responsibilities include implementing, maintaining, and reviewing payroll processing systems to ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll transactions. More information on the position can be found on the Village’s website https://northriverside-il.org/. Email application, cover letter, resume and three (3) professional references to administration@ northriverside-il.org.

FLAT ROOFERS, TUCKPOINTERS AND LABORERS

Call 708-452-7900

BUDGET AND REVENUE ANALYST

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Budget and Revenue Analyst in the Development Customer Service Department. This position will Serve the public with professional administrative and analytical duties in the areas of budget preparation, purchasing, payroll, data analysis and process improvement. Provides, prepares and maintains records, and financial and statistical reports and analysis which assist in the Village’s ability to improve business processes and gain efficiencies through better use of technology. Budget duties include assisting in the development, analysis and application of performance measures with regard to Village services and resources; preparing, modifying, tracking and monitoring Village expenses and transfers; and conducting budget-related research and analysis. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Parking Enforcement Officer in the Police Department Field Services Division. This position will perform a variety of duties and responsibilities involved in the enforcement of Village parking regulations; and to provide general information and assistance to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

POLICE RECORDS CLERK

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Police Records Clerk in the Police Department. This position will perform a wide variety of specialized clerical duties in support of the Police Department including processing and maintaining documents, correspondence and coding reports; and to provide information and assistance to the public.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

FULL TIME DELIVERY DRIVER

Local company looking for full time driver. Must be drug free and have a valid IL DL. Must be able to lift 75lb. $14-16/hr Email resume: HR@sievertelectric. com

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of COVID-19 Response Intern in the Health Department. This position will perform a variety of responsible and complex professional COVID-19 response support, as well as routine documentation of related tasks in support of the Emergency Preparedness & Response Coordinator. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http:// www.oak-park.us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

COVID-19 RESPONSE COORDINATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of COVID-19 Response Coordinator in the Health Department. This position will perform a variety of responsible and complex professional COVID-19 response support, as well as routine documentation of related tasks in support of the Emergency Preparedness & Response Coordinator. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

SEASONAL FARMERS’ MARKET ASSISTANT

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmers’ Market Assistant in the Health Department. This position will provide administrative support to the Farmers’ Market Manager to allow growers and producers of food to sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This position requires work in inclement weather conditions; some heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds; walking or standing for sustained periods of time. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

EQUIPMENT OPERATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Equipment Operator in the Public Works Department. This position will operate construction and maintenance equipment in a variety of street activities including loading, hauling, and related operations. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications April 4, 2022.

CASHIER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Cashier in the Finance Department. This position will perform all clerical tasks related to the cash receipt function. Collect process and deposit payments made to the Village received directly from customers, via mail, or lockbox or from other internal departments. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

SANITARIAN

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Sanitarian in the Health Department. This position will perform a variety of duties including education and enforcement activities for the promotion and protection of the public health environment. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park. us/jobs.

PARKING RESTRICTION COORDINATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Parking Restriction Coordinator in the Development Customer Services Department. This position will plan and coordinate all activities and operations associated with the Village of Oak Park Parking Restrictions Program and provide assistance to the Parking & Mobility Services Manager and the Director of Development Customer Services in coordinating the provision of such services to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. This position is posted until filled.

GRANTS COORDINATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Grants Coordinator in the Development Customer Service Department.

This position will develop and coordinate CDBG and other grant-funded programs for the department; coordinates assigned activities with other departments and outside agencies; and to provide highly responsible and complex staff assistance to the Development Customer Services Neighborhood Services Division Manager and department director. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Executive Secretary in the Development Customer Service Department. The ideal candidate will have excellent customer service skills, strong writing skills as well as multi-tasking capabilities. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www. oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. This position is open until filled.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Public Health Nurse in the Health Department. This position will provide professional public health nursing services including health education and promotion which includes disseminating information, making referrals, and counseling as well as managing caseloads, and performing a variety of tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park. us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. This position is open until filled with first review of apps 2/2/22.

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

CLASSIFIED

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

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CARS WANTED

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Ferrari’s, James Jaguars,• 630-201-8122 Muscle Cars, Collector Mustang & Mopars

$$ Top $$& all makes, Etc. RENTALS REAL ESTATE CLASSICS WANTED Collector James

Restored or Unrestored SUBURBAN RENTALS 630-201-8122 Cars & Vintage STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3Motorcycles BR OAK PARK & Domestic / Import Cars: FOREST PARK Best Selection & Service Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, 708-386-7355 Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, MMpropMgmt.com Mustang & Mopars

HOME SERVICES

FLOORS

WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured.

Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

RUMMAGE SALE Oak Park

FREE RUMMAGE SALE JUDSON BAPTIST CHURCH 1252 N AUSTIN AVE SATURDAY, APRIL 23 11AM-2PM

LANDSCAPING

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N

708-243-0571

Small home appliances, clothing, furniture, and more! Everything is free! Event will take place outside in church parking lot.

SPACE FOR RENT

Ceiling Fans Installed

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est. Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

HANDYMAN Mike’s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

If Leave message, Include: Your Name, Phone Number and Type of Business.

708-296-2060

HANDYMAN Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

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You have jobs.

We have readers!

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Trustworthy, honest 20 yrs. Exp. 773-557-2781

FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848

Forest Park, IL 1,700 Sq. Ft. (END CAP) Excellent Condition. Recently Updated. *Heavy traffic area. Hospital across street.

SPACE FOR A DRIVE-THRU BUILD *Special Discounted Rate-Limited Time!

MATURE CAREGIVER

'5,9(:$<6 )281'$7,216 3$7,26 67(36 &85% *877(56 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7(

ELECTRICAL RENTALS & REAL ESTATE

CAREGIVER

“QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION” ESTABLISHED IN 1987

708.442.7720

NOVENAS

NEVER FAIL NOVENA May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored and glorified throughout the world, now and for-ever. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put my trust in you. Holy Mary Mother of Jesus, pray for me. St. Theresa child of Jesus, pray for me. St. Jude, helper of hopeless causes, pray for me and grant this favor I ask. Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days .R.B

MAGANA

COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL

1 SPACE FOR RENT IN STRIP MALL

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (NEVER KNOWN TO FAIL) Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth.

I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times).

Say this prayer for three consecutive days and publish; your request will be granted. R.B.

CEMENT

Spring Clean-Up Aerating, Slit Seeding Bush Trimming, Lawn Maintenance brucelawns.com

630-201-8122

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved & preserved throughout the world now & forever.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us.

St. Jude worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. By the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail .Publication must be promised. Thank you Jesus.

Thank You St . Jude. R.B.

CEMENT

BRUCE LAWN SERVICE

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc. OFFICE/RETAIL SUBURBAN Collector James FOR RENT RENTALS RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. * 1116 sq. ft. * 1400 sq. ft. Dental Office RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. * 960 sq. ft.

OAK PARK–6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. * 3 & 5 room office suites FOREST PARK–7736 Madison St. *2500 sq. ft. unit Strand & & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

37

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

Free estimates Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/ Plaster Repair Low Cost • 708.749.0011

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know In print • Online Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year • OakPark.com • RBLandmark.com • ForestParkReview.com • AustinWeeklyNews.com PublicNoticeIllinois.com

38

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

CLASSIFIED

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

Riverside Township Budget and Appropriation Ordinance and Public Hearing Notice is hereby given to the legal voters of Riverside Township that the Town Board has drafted a Tentative Budget and Appropriation Ordinance for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Copies of said budget and ordinance are available for inspection during regular business hours, Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m., to 4:00 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., in the Township Office at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL 60546. A hearing on the Budget and Ordinance will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at 6:45 p.m. in the Riverside Town Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL.

PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION FOR BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Mayor and the Council of the Village of Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be received for the following Improvement(s): 15th Street Sewer Separation Project from Circle Avenue to Marengo Avenue.

Michael C. Dropka Clerk, Riverside Township April 18, 2022 Published in RB Landmark April 20, 2022

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of Lynne Catherine Rogers, Petitioner and Julio Walter Funes-Merida, Respondent, Case No. 2022 D 002265.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before May 18, 2022, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal April 20, 27, May 4 2022

Said bids will be received up to the hour of 10:00 a.m. Central Daylight Savings Time, on the 27th day of April, 2022 at the Village Clerk’s Office in the Village Hall, 517 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, and will be publicly opened and read at that time.

The bidding forms and documents are available from Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd., at www. questcdn.com using login #8181404, upon payment of the sum of Thirty and 00/100 DOLLARS ($30.00), which is not refundable. Proposals must be submitted on the forms provided. No proposals will be issued to bidders after 10:00 a.m., on the 27th day of April, 2022.

Dated at Forest Park, Illinois this 13th day of April, 2022.

Mayor and Council Village of Forest Park By: Rory E. Hoskins, Mayor Attest: Vanessa Moritz Village Clerk Published in Forest Park Review April 13, 20, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Barbara Wynn Coughlin Case Number 20224001670.

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Barbara Wynn Coughlin to the new name of: Wynn Coughlin Robertson The court date will be held: On 06/07/2022 at 11am at 1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, Cook County in Courtroom #0112 Published in Wednesday Journal April 13, 20, 27, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Abdul Shahid Williams Case Number 20226002024.

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING The Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, located at 201 N. Scoville will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation Meeting which will take place remotely via video/telephone conference on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 3:00pm.

The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private/parochial schools and who are home schooled within the district for the 2022-23 school year. If you are the parent of a home-schooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability and you reside within the boundaries of Oak Park & River Forest High School District 200, you are urged to attend.

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) Crossing Guard Services Oak Park Elementary School District 97 will receive sealed Requests for Proposal (RFP) for Crossing Guard Services at the District’s Administrative Offices – 260 Madison Street – Oak Park, IL, 60302 until 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11, 2022.

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of GUILLERMINA SALGADO, Petitioner and JAVIER SALGADO, Respondent, Case No. 2022D001482.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before May 18, 2022, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal April 20, 27, May 4, 2022

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE: APPLICATION FOR PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PERMIT DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD, RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS Public notice is hereby given that on Thursday, May 5, 2022 in the First Floor Community Room at the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois, the Village of River Forest Development Review Board (DRB) will hold a public hearing on the following matter: Application #22-0013: Exterior Beautification Project Address: 615 North Lathrop Avenue, River Forest, Illinois. A legal description of the property/properties is provided later in this notice.

Applicant: River Forest Tennis Club All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing, the purpose of which is to take evidence on the application for the Development Review Board and Village board to consider. A copy of the application and meeting agenda is available to the public at www.vrf.us/meetings and www.vrf.us/ DevelopmentGuide.

The court date will be held: On May 20, 2022 at 9am at 16501 S Kedzie Pkwy, Markham, Cook County in Courtroom # 0207

P.I.N. 15-12-206-001 LEGAL DESCRIPTION: BLOCK 15 IN COUNTY CLERK’S DIVISION OF BLOCK 15 IN QUICK’S SUBDIVISION OF PART OF THE NORTHEAST ¼ OF SECTION 12, TOWNSHIP 36 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINICIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

Published in Wednesday Journal April 6, 13, 20, 2022

Published in Wednesday Journal April 20, 2022

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Abdul Shahid Williams to the new name of: Abdul Shahid

If you would like to join the meeting, please contact Marilyn Thivel at mthivel@oprfhs.org or call (708) 434-3706 to request the Zoom Link information.

Published in Wednesday Journal April 20, 27, 2022

Public Notice of Amended Budget Notice is hereby given by the Board of Education of Riverside School District No. 96 in the Cook County, State of Illinois, that an amended budget for said school district for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, will be on file and available for public inspection by appointment Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm starting the 12th day of April 2022, at the district’s administrative offices on 3340 South Harlem Avenue in Riverside Illinois.

To schedule an appointment please email fittonj@district96.org.

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of Lynne Catherine Rogers, Petitioner and Julio Walter Funes-Merida, Respondent, Case No. 2022 D 002265.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before May 18, 2022, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal April 20, 27, May 4 2022

The Request for Proposal (RFP) document may be obtained from the District 97 website https://www.op97. org under Departments & Business Office & Bids and Proposals or from Patrick King, Senior Director of Finance – 260 Madison Street – Oak Park, IL, 60302 – pking@op97.org, commencing Wednesday, April 20, 2022.

The services include providing, at a minimum, a total of twenty-eight (28) qualified crossing guards at twenty-eight (28) separate locations in the Village of Oak Park, IL during the school year at specified hours.

The contractor shall, if requested by the District, add or remove a crossing guard post as needed and provide a field supervisor to oversee all locations.

The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities, qualifications or irregularities, and/or reject any and all Requests for Proposal (RFP), when, in its opinion, such action will serve the best interest of the Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District 97.

Published in Wednesday Journal April 20, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE A revised Public Notice is hereby given that the Village of Oak Park Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee will be holding a meeting for applicant Presentations, a funding recommendations determination meeting and a Public Hearing on Program Year (PY) 2022 project proposals submitted to the Village for federal Community Development Block Grant Program funds. PY 2022 will run from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. All meetings will be held on Zoom and GoTo Meeting and are as follows: Presentations, 5:30 – 9:00pm on April 13, 2022 and April 27, 2022; Meeting to determine funding recommendations 5:30pm on May 3, 2022; and Public Hearing to receive public comments on proposed funding recommendations on May 10th, 2022. All meetings are open to the public and reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons, as needed. Meeting specifics are subject to change; please send a message to grants@oak-park.us to confirm details and/or receive the Zoom link.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Published in Wednesday Journal April 20, 2022

Notice is further given that a public hearing on said amended budget will be held at 7:00 o’clock p.m. on the 18th day of May 2022 followed immediately by the scheduled regular board meeting.

Board of Education Riverside School District No. 96 Cook County, Illinois By: Wesley Muirhead Board Secretary Published in RB Landmark April 20, 2022

RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208 TIMELY AND MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION FOR PARENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF PRIVATE AND HOME SCHOOLED CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES In accordance with the requirements of Section 612(a) (10) of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEA 2004”), Riverside Brookfield High School will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation on Friday, May 06, 2022, at 10:00 AM at Riverside Brookfield High School, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Il 60546--Due to the Pandemic this meeting will be held via Zoom. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how students with disabilities, who attend private schools or are homeschooled within the district boundaries, will be served by District 208 during the 2022-23 school year.

Parents and private school administrators who would like to attend should contact Kevin Baldus, Director of Special Education, at baldusk@rbhs208.net Zoom invitation will be forwarded prior to the meeting.

Published in RB Landmark April 20, 27, 2022

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Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice in • Austin Weekly News • Wednesday Journal • Forest Park Review • Riverside/Brookfield Landmark Call the Experts Before You Place Your Legal Ad! Call Stacy for details: 773/626-6332

Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

39

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Wednesday Journal, April 20, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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