Wednesday Journal_061026

W E D N E S D A Y

June 10, 2026 Vol. 46, No. 49 $2.00

@wednesdayjournalinc

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JOURNAL @oakpark

of Oak Park and River Forest

Your complete Wednesday Journal INSIDE

OPRF Class of 2026

TODD A. BANNOR

opening tuesdays starting may 19th through august

summer tuesdays scan for reservations

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

OAKPARK.COM

C Co oon nggrraaatttuuulllaaatttiiiooon n nss n Congratulations

Class of 2026

HONOR YOUR Y UR GRAD. YO FUND THE FUTURE. We are 94% of the way to meeting our commitment to Project 2. $ $0 0

$12,500,000 $ 12,500,000

94%

100% of donations will be matched up to $1M! Your gift today will help push us over the finish line for OPRF.

DONATE DONAT A E AT imagine-foundation.org

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

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Congratulations to the Class of 2026

T Produced in partnership with Oak Park and River Forest High School. Special thanks to Karin Sullivan General Manager Max Reinsdorf Senior Audience Manager Stacy Coleman Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial & Digital Design Lead Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls Marketing & Advertising Associate Emma Cullnan Contributing Photographer Todd Bannor Legal Notices Mary Ellen Nelligan Senior Advisor Dan Haley

HOW TO REACH US P.O. Box 6670 River Forest, IL 60305 Phone 708 524 8300 Online www.OakPark.com Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by Newswell. © 2026 Newswell

grow when we are stretched his year’s commencement beyond our comfort zones. is especially notable because you are the And that’s what I think of 150th graduating class of OPRF. with this class. I recall in-depth Over the past four years, I conversations with some of you have admired the extent to last year as you were struggling which this class has tried to find to shape your thinking about balance here: seeking strength AI for your junior paper. I in community while pushing recall our activities and clubs DR. GREG JOHNSON wrestling with hard realities. I yourselves toward curiosity, Superintendent discomfort, and understanding, recall the stunning AP Research showing that to safely learn projects that some of you have at OPRF doesn’t mean you are free from developed over the past year on topics that feeling uncomfortable. push knowledge at the cutting edge of In fact, that balance, I contend, is the deeper purpose of education. In my role recently, I often find myself returning to the ideas of psychologist Lev Vygotsky, who wrote about how real growth happens not when we stay entirely within what is comfortable or familiar, but when we are challenged to go beyond it, supported by others as we learn and develop. In short, we

Congratulations OPRF 2026 Graduates!

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the field. I recall jaw-dropping performances on our stages that push the limits of what high schools usually produce, none more impressive than RENT this past year. And I’ve seen first hand how our two senior delegates to our Board of Education engaged in

important conversations about everything from educational outcomes to our tax levy.

In all of these experiences, it is clear that an essential challenge for all of us, whether we seek them out or are unwittingly thrown into moments of dissonance and tension, is to transform them into something meaningful.

At its best, that is what public education strives to help us do. And at your best, that is what you have embodied at OPRF. I hope you know how rewarding it has been for all of us—the faculty, staff, administrators, and board—to be challenged by you, to work to understand you, and to grow alongside you. Because doing so has changed us, too.

Congrats 2026 OPRF Grads!

Dance For The Fun of It! Enroll in Summer Classes Today.

a non-profit newsroom

Donate now DeMaira Dance Studios, Inc. 1146 Chicago Ave. in Oak Park 708-386-1833 www.demaira-dance.com

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

A Kareem Eniola Abayomi Arwa Abouelfotouh Talia Marin Adams

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

OAKPARK.COM

Gabrielle Baffoah Asibe

Lily Bellmar

Jeanine Elizabeth Brennan

Caitlyn Bellagia Coates

Naima Soleil Axelrad

Zoey Benbrook

Rune Francis Brewer-Davis

Mackenzie Grace Cohen

B

Claire Elise Bennett

Joshua Bricio

Sanielle Cole

Elsa Jane Berg

Gracyn Brigham

Linnea Victoria Berg

Amontae Brinner

Jennifer Ann Berggren

Jason Bronson

Caleb Collins

Charles Vincent Beyer

Lucy Ann Brooker

Joseph Paul Colucci

Allyn Lily Bunuan Biag

Antonio Brown

Ella Marie Biag

Autumn Payton Brown

C

Laneal Derontay Conley

Tiana Alicia Bishop

Bella N Brown

Kevin Raul Cabrera

Malcolm Stephan Conyers, II

Jasmine A Bizzle

Cora Janae Brown

Francesca Cajina

Maxwell Edison Cook

Aniyah Kamari Blackwell

Jayda Marie Brown

Liam McKinzie Calvert

Ethan J Cooper

Remus Casey Bachner

OPRF2026 GRADUATES

Nicholas Austin Coligan Brendan Connor Collins

Alex Eli Adamski

Owen James Baffa

Penelope Jane Adamski

Kathryn Bailitz

Sander Aaron Adelstein

Jackson William Baker

Shae Livi Adelstein

Nicolas Michael Balesteri

Abigela Ago

Jack Baltazar

Natalia Lucia Aguilar-Ripley

Kaiden Alexander Banks

Benjamin John Ahring

Nile Michael Banks

Madeline Ainsworth

Jordyn Barham

Abd Rahman Al Zahabi

George Barkidjija

Jamya Blakely

Elianna Joy Brucato

Caliyah Campbell

Charles Andrew Coppelman

Eugene Allen

Anna Catherine Barnes

Fynn Johannes Block

Alessandra Carlina Bryan Johnson

Jahyda Carol Ann Campbell

Jude Charles Costello-Wollwage

Samantha Wynne Allen

Cameron Dana Barnes

Nerissa Diane Blue

Jonathan Michael Bullens

Jonathan Robert Campbell

Andrew Doyle Costello

Seamus Martin Allen

Londyn Barnes

Hailey W Boland

Aiden Riley Burch

Kyndall Rana Campbell

Payton Arthur Coulter

Bee Doll Allison

Elaina Shay Barnett

Adrian Bondartsov

Audrey V Burns

William Hunter Campbell

Tyler Michael Crabb

Nydia Anderson

Connor Mcmahon Barr

Peter Bondartsov

Ryan Joel Burns

Francesco Miles Canzona

Christian J Crape

Olaf Anderson

Gabriela Lucille Barriuso

Ari Xavier Bonney

Lemar Deion Burton

Meredith Anne Carmichael

Carolina Pilar Anello

Harper Viola Zavislak Barry

William Joseph Bonomo

Eleanor Elizabeth Buss

Keanna Lajuan Carney

Ben Angarone

Jayden Lavell Bassett

Collin Eleftherios Bornhorst

Famke Bahri Bussiere

Jamal Daniel Carson

Lariyah Chrishon Apollo

Sam Batra

Maxwell James Brackett

Isabella A Bustamante

Owen Charles Carstens

Tony Nevel Arnieri, Jr

Luc David Battoglia

Kiera Brankin

Francesco Pietro Buy

Finley Harlan Kovar Cascarino

Griffin Johannes Arnold

Simon Stuckey Beck

Grace Cahill Brennan

Tyson Delain Byrd

Audrey Cecilia Cass Elijah Casselle

TODD A. BANNOR

Ronald Khalil Conner

Brady Creel Carlos Jose Crespo Teresa Callahan Cronin Charlotte Crosby Evelyn Jane Cultra

D Noah David D’Agostino

Ana Sofia Castillo

Ryahn Jabrielle Dabney, Jr

Samuel Castro

Michael Daly

Kevin Kental Catchings , Jr

Gwyneth Lillian Dannenberg

Benjamin Maxwell Cazeau

Abigail Dardon

Daniel Jonathan Cespedes

Megan Nicole Dauphinee

Maison Blue Champaneri

Devin Davis

Rohan Anil Champaneri

Ryna-Sha Davis

Kaietan R Chapinski

Aisleigh Sharon Day

Jake Robert Chapleau

Alma De La Rosa

Sophia Isabella Chavez

Jerome Delaney

Delaney Olivia Cherikos

Sam Susan Delaney

Gabriella Chesney

Mariano Delgado

Ivy Childress

Simon Stanley Delgado

Sean Ching

Teresa Sofia Delgado

Mia Victoria Chinn

David Isaiah Diakite

Jamie Elizabeth Chrisman

Mark Carl Dickel

Owen Thomas Chung

Kaleb Jovan Dillard

Dylan Bridge Clark

Adam Matthew Dominowski

Jonell Kymberly Clark

Naima Love Dorsey

Isabella Clayton

Jayden Matthew Doukky

OAKPARK.COM

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026!

“Dream boldly, work diligently, and never underestimate the impact you can have on the lives of others.”

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OPRF CLASS OF 2026

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

TODD A. BANNOR

OAKPARK.COM

Ethan Michael Gettinger

Anaiah Chayil Hall

Kian Henry Gharavi

Matthew Fitzgerald Halper

Kai Lars Ghosh-Johnson

Leia Hammerschmidt

Sasha Raquel Giannotti

Isabel Maria Haneberg-Ruiz

Isaiah Gibson

Sarah Maria Haneberg-Ruiz

Avay Gilmore

Ryan James Hanson-Taruc

Anthony Charles Giorango

Isabella Maria Elizabe Hanson

Joshua J Glenn

Noah Joseph Hardy

Francis Robert Glinke

Sean Patrick Hargrove

John Tucker Henry

Georgia Isabella Godellas

Aaric Mackay Harmston

Margaret Grace Herman

Sophia Colette Godwin

Adrian Alejandro Haro

Jeremiah Hernandez

Zachary Owen Goldberg

Mateo Leon Haro

Sofia Hernandez

Sophia Milena Gonzalez

Lee Shaun Harper, Jr

Aaron Herrman

Grayson Loch Gordon

Katherine Marie Harris

Lillian Jade Hickman

Natalie Pauline Green

Roy Harris, Jr

Myles Antonio Hill

Sonya Kathleen Greenberg

Henry Theodore Harthorn

Chad Jayden Hillard

Grant Robert Greendyke

Adela Marie Harvath

Sebastian James Hilton Jade Kensington Hobby

OPRF2026 GRADUATES

Dylan Mclean Edgerto Elder

Thomas Andrew France

Rory Greene

Matthew Brennan Harvath

Eva Irene Sasha Elder

Taylor Francis

Malik Terrell Griffee

Aidan Michael Harvey

Maisie Jane Hoerster

Leila Pylin Ellis

John Ambrose Franklin

Javier Alejandro Grillo-Puentes

Cohen Tae Oh Harvey

Jack Holland

Nevene Elshareif

Myles H Franklin

Harrison Wesley Grove

Evelyn Anne Hasenbalg

Faye Anne Homrok

Consuelo R Emano-Garcia

Maxwell John Fransen

Lorenzo Guevara

Chelsey Hawkins

Reid Thomas Hope

William Enlow

Harrison Randall Frederick

Naomi Maria Gutierrez

Alouette Hays

Julian Andre House

Kaylee Ariel Epps

G

H

Brady Michael Hedges

Alexander Howard

Alexis Henderson

Jackson Daniel Howe

Miles Han Gabbett

Lucille Hahs

Julia Henderson

Thomas Jacob Howe

John Declan Gallagher

Matthew Casimir Hajduk

Luke Fair Henkes

Benjamin Patrick Hoyt

F

Liam Conor Gallogly

Kornelia Halicki

Iris Emmanuelle Henry

Otto Charles Huber, IV

Eduardo Nathan Farrera

Sorabh Gandhi

William Lyman Faust

Julian Ricardo Garcia Bariel

Harrison Fejes

Harriet Garcia

Sophia Lynn Fickenscher

Isabella Marie Garner

Alden Wissler Field

Matthew William Garner

Lyla Jane Fielding

Claire Emilie Garnett

Benjamin Noel Fields

John William Garnett

E

Grace Ann Fieser

Janila Garrett

Gabriel Marie Fiester

Andrew Garza

Molly Bridgid Condon Easton

Malaya Jayne Finn

Rachel Ellen Gaskill

Tyler C Edmondson

Sofia Carol Fitzgerald

Logan Lashawn Gathman

Darwin P Edwards

Jacinda Barbara E Fitzpatrick

Saadia Nj Gayton

Griffin Thomas Edwards

Colin Spencer Flannery

Clay Scott Gearhart

Owyn Edwards

Julia Clementine Fluecke

Benjamin Pippin George

Kaliyah Sanai Egwuekwe-Givens

John Kingston Flynn

Noah Spencer George

Roan John Ehart

Samuel Foltz

Benjamin Scott Gerbosi

Adam El Metennani

Jonas Alexander Forsell

Nathan Paul Gerou

Eric Faraj Ericson Devin Estrada Remke Johannes Douma-Wahlen Rose Kathryn Drab Makhiya Brielle Tiana Duke Zanya Dunlap Adalyn Alice Dunphey Jayda Angela Dunson Erin Elizabeth Dwyer Hugh Bergin Dwyer Luke William Dwyer Elias Robert Dysart

Saniyah Evans

Aya Melissa Gamal

TODD A. BANNOR

OAKPARK.COM

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

OAKPARK.COM

OPRF2026 GRADUATES

Kaschelle Mary Hughes, V Henry Hullinger Robert Humphrey Garrett Thomas Hunkele Francesca Hunter Aidan Hurley

I David Ikeemeka Kehinde Iribhogbe Gabriel Richard Ishimori Ayanna Ison Sara Heather Issel Grace Ann Iverson Adam James Iwanski

J Chloe Lolita Jablecka Braylon Keith Jackson

TODD A. BANNOR

OPRF High School 2026 Student Council President Rhiannon Singer gives welcoming remarks at the school’s graduation ceremony on Sunday May 31.

Brian Carter Jackson

K

Riley Louis Jackson

Jamie Kaegi

Andrew Robert Janssen

Eva Sadie Kantz

Matthew Jenkins

Nora Kazyak

Kathryn Juliette Kjarsgaard

Jose Angel Jimenez

Lorraine Fianna Kearney

Liliana Genevieve Kminek

James David Lallos-Harrell

Zaria Lei Johnson-Shackelford

Elina Ryan Kell

Keegan M Knight

Avery Mae Lane

Ameina Johnson

Andy Keller

Wesley Paul Kochendorfer

Griffin Lane

Emon Terell Johnson

Christian Charles Kellogg

Roy James Koerner

Jeremy Lane

Kailah Johnson

James Michael Kelly

Kyra Koertge

Makayla Kimberly Lane

Leah Rose Johnson

Juan’dre Kendall

Zev Koransky

Trevor Lane

Logan Douglas Johnson

Nora Carol Kent

Christopher Korrison

Jacob Lapat

Sheila Nicole Johnson

Amelia Samantha Kessel

Max Ross Koschmann

Maria Clara De Vilhena Gue Lau

Christian Jones

Isabella Aneta Kessel

Chloe Kozicki

Donovan Evergreen Laughlin

Hannah Hope Jones

Finn Macoy Kiefer

Michelle Afi Kpekpe

Taylor Jones

Sophia Leena Kim

Ava Narciss Jordan Owen Jozefczyk

Mia Renee King Mia Mehta Kircher Maggie Elinor Kitley

L Tyler Aiden Lacey Caitlin Jane Ladesich Matthew Bradford Ladesich

Matthew Christian Lee

Nathaniel Joaquin Lopez

Ava Rose Lega

Jillian Louie

Alexander Lema

April Love

August David Leman

Jacob Elijah Lubelchek

Aleks Lesny

Teagan Elizabeth Lucas

Adrian Levy

Zion Donte Lucas

Taniyla Mary Levy

Stella Ludwig

Soraya Alyse Lewis Arellano

Jack B Luke

Kelson Lewis

Lincon Lundak

Olivia Liebl

Finnegan Bruce Lutz

Zeke Lind Limberg Brook Sarah Lingenfelter

M

Lucy Mae Liskiewitz

Catherine Moira MacCarthy

Leo Lisnic

Morgan Sanice Darlene Mack

Darren Jayden Law

Kevin Eduardo Lizarazo

Fiona Nicole Macmillan

Dominic William Kramer

Emmett Pierce Lazarski

Samuel Llanes

Nolan Maddox

Yeowon Kim

Evan Michael Kreidler

Benjamin Owen Lazzara

Iris Adaline Lloyd

Madeleine Tate Magnuson

Acoya Izrael King

Maxine Kreiter

Armando Leal, III

Justin Lloyd

Aoife Katie Mahic

Bennett Ethan King

Saanvi Kumar

Alexander Li-Guang Lee

Jaquan Tyree Loggins

Max Robert Malcolm

Mason King

Liadain Renate Maureen Kurrle

Donovan Xavier Lee

Charlotte Rose Lopez

Liam Edward Maldonado-Cruz

JOURNAL GARNERS 14 AWARDS IN IPA BEST OF THE PRESS CONTEST page 9

W E D N E S D A Y

June 10, 2026 Vol. 46, No. 49

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JOURNAL @oakpark

of Oak Park and River Forest

D97 hands 8th-grade D.C. trip back to parents Focused on costs and equity, district steps aside

By BOB SKOLNIK

See D.C. TRIP on page 7

Drag queen Riley perfor at Out in the Burbs Pr celebration in downto Oak Park on June 7, 20 PHOTO BY TODD BA

Special Section Page B1

OPRF delays changes to tutoring, teaching supports Some D200 board members unhappy with pace of change

Contributing Reporter

Last week an administrator in Oak Park Elementary School District 97 told parents supporting an eighth-grade class trip to Washington, D.C. that any trip to D.C. next year will have to be parent sponsored, not district sponsored. The decision comes after months of meetings with parents and discussion at the last two school board meetings where a variety of views were expressed.

“Following an evaluation of participation data, operational considerations, and community feedback, the district will transition to an optional, parentor family-organized travel model for the Washington, D.C., trip beginning in the 2026–27 school year,” wrote Ebony Loften, the district’s learning and inno-

2026 2026

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

BOB SKOLNIK

Parent Lisa Peloquin advocates in favor of a district-sponsored 8th-grade class trip to Washington D.C. at the D97 school board meeting, May 26.

In the midst of calls for more tutoring and targeted instructional supports for struggling students at Oak Park and River Forest High School no major changes in instruction will take place at OPRF next year. Implementation of a new instructional coaching program and beefed up tutoring will have to wait until the 2027-28 school year.

That was one takeaway from a report presented by top OPRF academic administrators at the May 28 meeting of the OPRF District 200 Board of Education.

OPRF got rid of its previous instructional coaching program at the end of the 2024-25 school year after an evaluation determined that it provided no measurable improvements in student learning.

Jen Hester, assistant superintendent of student See TUTORING on page 16

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

WEDNESDAY

Join us for a community conversation and Q&A session about what this means for the future of journalism in our neighborhoods with Max Reinsdorf, General Manager NEWSWELL Chicago Carolyn Newberry Schwartz, Oak Parker and NEWSWELL Chicago Events Committee Chair, Steve Edwards, former journalist, Oak Parker and GCM Board Member With a forward from Wednesday Journal founder Dan Haley

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

Oak Park issues update on fatal police shooting

State’s Attorney will bring no charges against Oak Park officer who shot, killed man after struggle for concealed firearm with ‘defaced’ serial number

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park officials have released more information after an Oak Park Police Department officer fatally shot a man during a traffic stop — the first fatal shooting by an officer in the village in nearly 40 years.

An Oak Park officer fatally shot 38-year-old Christian Wallace of Chicago near the intersection of Austin Boulevard and Harrison Street on May 31. The officer shot Wallace four times after discovering that he was carrying a concealed firearm while performing a “protective pat down.”

A “struggle” over the firearm ensued, leading to the shooting, Oak Park Spokesperson Dan Yopchick told Wednesday Journal in a statement.

“During the stop, the driver was instructed by the officer to exit the vehicle,” Yopchick said. “The officer performed a protective pat down and, in doing so, discovered a firearm concealed on the driver’s person. A prolonged physical struggle over control of the firearm ensued between the officer and the driver.”

During that struggle, Wallace reportedly regained possession of his firearm before the officer fired his service weapon and shot the man, according to the village. A firearm with a defaced serial number was recovered by police at the scene, according to the village.

The village said the officer shot Wallace in the right flank, right forearm, right wrist and in the head. He was pronounced dead at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood at 9:59 p.m., according to the village.

The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force responded to the scene and is conducting an ongoing investigation. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office will not bring any charges against the Oak Park police officer, the village confirmed Tuesday afternoon.

Police stopped Wallace at approximately 9:10 p.m. Wallace was initially pulled over for a moving traffic violation and was not the subject of any warrant or a suspect in any case, the village said.

The incident is the first fatal police shoot-

TODD BANNOR

Oak Park Police SUV at the Shell Station at Austin and Harrison, scene of a policeinvolved shooting the previous night. ing in Oak Park since May 29, 1988, according to the village.

“Our officer responded to a situation that escalated rapidly and involved a concealed firearm,” Oak Park Police Chief Shatonya Johnson said in a statement to Wednesday Journal. “In keeping with our department’s commitment to transparency and accountability, I have ensured that the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force is leading the independent investigation into this incident. I am confident in that process and will not prejudge its findings.”

The Oak Park officer was also admitted to Loyola Medical Center Sunday night and was discharged early the following morning in “good condition,” according to the village.

“He is currently on leave as he recovers, and our thoughts remain with him and his family during this time,” Johnson said. “I also extend my condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Wallace. Every loss of life is a profound matter, and we do not take lightly the seriousness of what occurred on Sunday evening.”

Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman called the incident a “nightmare.”

“The events of Sunday are tragic and

every Village President’s nightmare,” Scaman said. “My immediate concern is the care of all involved, including the officer, family of the victim, and our community at large. I have every confidence that a thorough investigation will be conducted, and I appreciate the professionalism and responsive of our staff and Chief Johnson.”

Manager Kevin Jackson promised transparency with residents and cooperation with the state police’s investigation.

“Oak Park is a community where we are committed to building and sustaining trust, and we will not waver in our responsibility to honor our shared values,” Jackson said. “We are committed to supporting the officer, his family and the entirety of the department through this difficult time.

In the same ways, we remain committed to transparency with the residents of Oak Park as this investigation unfolds. The community expects and deserves a full and objective review of this incident.”

The shooting came as Oak Park police have increased their presence along Austin Boulevard, the village’s border with Chicago’s West Side. There’s been a string of “smash-and-grab” ATM burglaries on the street in recent weeks, including car-ramming burglaries at both the BP and Shell Gas Stations on either side of the Harrison and Austin intersection in late April and early May. “There has been a concerted effort to increase the presence of officers on areas of the village that have been affected by the business burglaries,” the village said of its strategy. “OPPD has monitored the growing trend of smash-and-grab ATM thefts targeting businesses on Austin Boulevard and elsewhere in Oak Park.”

An Oak Park internal investigation into the incident is also expected to take place.

“In addition to the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force’s investigation, OPPD maintains its own internal investigation,” the village said. “The Civilian Police Oversite Commission is aware of the incident, and it will proceed according to its rules and procedures.”

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

General Manager Max Reinsdorf Senior Audience Manager Stacy Coleman Staff Reporter Brendan Heffernan Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora Contributing Editor Donna Greene Columnists Marc Blesoff, Nicole Chavas, Jack Crowe, Vincent Gay, Mary Kay O’Grady, John Stanger, Josh VanderBerg Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial & Digital Design Lead Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls Marketing & Advertising Associate Emma Cullnan Legal Notices Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Operations Associate Susan Babin Social Media and Digital Coordinator Maribel Barrera Senior Advisor Dan Haley

H OW TO R E ACH US PO Box 6670, River Forest, IL 60305 ■ PHONE (708) 524-8300 ■ EMAIL dhaley@newswellchicago.org ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com

CIRCULATION Jill Wagner • jill@oakpark.com • (708) 613-3340 PRINT/DIGITAL ADVERTISING Lourdes Nicholls • lourdes@oakpark.com • Ext. 3329 Emma Cullnan • emma@oakpark.com • Ext. 3304 CALENDAR EVENTS calendar@wjinc.com Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by NEWSWELL. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $2.

A one-year subscription costs $65 within Cook County and $105 outside of Cook County. Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 10138). Postmaster, send address corrections to NEWSWELL, PO Box 6670, River Forest, IL 60305. © 2026 NEWSWELL

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

Goodbye for now Follow us on Instagram!

Top stories, local government, features, events, dining, art, and sports right at your fingertips!

@wednesdayjournal

I

Reporter Brendan Heffernan departing Wednesday Journal this week

have had the great privilege to cover Oak Park for Wednesday Journal full time since February of last year. Unfortunately, this will be my last issue as the paper’s staff reporter.

I have had such fun in this job, and it has been an honor to serve this audience. I’ve found people of Oak Park to be uncommonly passionate, engaged and insightful around the local issues I’ve been able to cover and I’ve been blown away by how many of you diligently support and encourage your local reporters.

In a state where so many community publications have shuttered, WJ’s continued success is fundamentally a testament to its readership.

I will be moving on to a can’t-miss opportunity on a technology beat covering the semiconductor chip industry for a publication called Semiconductor Engineering. A big change for me, but if someone starts expressing interest in building a chip fabrication plant on the old Mohr Concrete site, I will still make sure that WJ readers are in the know.

I’m proud to have covered so many key issues in my

time here, including the entirety of the “Broadview 6” case from the original indictment to its collapse, the community’s response to “Operation Midway Blitz,” the chaos and confusion surrounding the recent closure of West Suburban Medical Center, last year’s municipal elections and so many other fascinating Oak Park stories. I have zero doubt that Wednesday Journal will continue to deliver excellent hyper-local news coverage worthy of your support.

I have seen a lot of changes within the organization since I came on full-time. I started in the wake of a set of leadership changes, a few months later we left our physical offices of over 40 years and a few months after that we joined NEWSWELL, putting the paper under out-ofstate ownership for the first time.

I can say confidently that all of those changes have positioned the organization to better invest in its journalism and in the reporters who deliver it. I’m so excited to see what WJ does next, and you should be too.

BRENDAN HEFFERNAN

JOIN US! You are invited to tour Thrive’s newly renovated spaces and learn more about the organization’s continued growth and impact on community mental health care.

OPEN HOUSE AND RIBBON CUTTING Where? Thrive Counseling Center 120 S Marion St, Oak Park When? Sunday, June 28 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Open House and Tours 2:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting with Senator Don Harmon WHAT TO EXPECT:

Tour Thrive’s newly renovated spaces Learn about Thrive’s growth and impact on community mental health care Meet community leaders and the Thrive team

RSVP

GROUP ROOM

Recent improvements include group and community spaces, a new sensory room designed to support client comfort and regulation, and upgrades replacing aging infrastructure to better serve clients, families, and staff.

Don’t miss the 2:00 PM ribbon cutting with Senator Don Harmon, Village President Vicki Scaman, and other community leaders!

ADULT WAITING ROOM

YOUTH WAITING ROOM

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

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Life after ‘Broadview 6’ begins for Oak Park’s Brian Straw

Courage and community are lessons for village trustee after seven-month federal immigration protest prosecution

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park Trustee Brian Straw learned that he would not have to stand trial on federal criminal charges when U.S. Northern District of Illinois U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros walked into a courtroom and acknowledged that prosecutors had tainted his case in grand jury proceedings seven months prior.

Straw and his “Broadview 6” ICE protest codefendants addressed assembled members of the local and national media on the first floor of Downtown Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Courthouse in the immediate aftermath of the highly politicized case’s abrupt collapse Thursday, May 21. After months of headlines where the group found themselves at the center of questions of freedom of speech and protest rights protections amid the Trump administration’s Chicago mass deportation blitz, the group could now head off to enjoy a celebratory drink at a downtown bar.

While there, one of his co-defendants asked Straw and his wife, Shannon, how they planned to celebrate the dismissal.

But Straw already had plans for that evening: a date with the rest of Oak Park’s

finance committee for a meeting on the village’s strategic budget planning.

National attention didn’t trump his commitment to the municipal voters who elected him. And now, he has learned in new ways what it means to lead with courage and community.

“Courage isn’t a lack of fear, but what we do in the face of that fear,” Straw said.

“One of the biggest lessons I learned coming out of this is if I have the courage to do what I think needs to be done in a moment, my community is going to get behind me. I hope that is something that the rest of our community takes away from this as well.”

Straw had spent the last seven months balancing the weight of the case, which had threatened years in prison for a felony conspiracy charge, with the demands of his roles as father, husband, elected village trustee, small business owner and career civil litigator. There was also the challenge of fundraising to support his legal defense, with winning a federal criminal case proving to be a much more expensive proposition than winning a campaign for an Oak Park board seat.

The trial for Straw and his codefendants 45th ward Democratic committeeman Michael Rabbit, Katherine “Kat” Abughaza-

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Brian Straw at the Oak Park Democratic party meeting. leh, who fell four points shy of winning Illinois’ 9th district congressional primary in April, and Andre Martin, who worked on Abughazaleh’s campaign staff, had been set to begin May 26. The government had already abandoned prosecutions against two of the case’s original conspiracy defendants and downgraded the charges against the remaining four to misdemeanors earlier in May. The charges against the four remaining defendants were dismissed in total after U.S. Judge April Perry’s review of grand jury transcripts revealed that Assistant U.S. Attorneys had polluted the case by impermissibly “vouching” for the strength of evidence during the grand jury process,

Straw, Parente join WJ Conversation on June 25 Brian Straw and his attorney, Chris Parente, will join moderator Charlie Meyerson for a conversation about their Broadview 6 experience in an event hosted by Wednesday Journal.

The conversation will be held June 25 at 7 p.m. at the 19th Century Club, 178 N. Forest Ave. There is no charge for admission.

See BRIAN STRAW on page 6

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

C R I M E

Oak Park police arrest man for aggravated assault on officer

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park police arrested a Chicago man on multiple felony charges in connection with an alleged attack on an Oak Park officer.

Police arrested the 49-year-old shortly after 9:45 a.m. June 1 on charges of theft and aggravated assault on a peace officer, according to police records. The man’s victims were an Oak Park officer and an Oak Brook resident, according to police records.

BRIAN STRAW

Life after legal limbo from page 5 communicating with grand jurors outside of the sessions and dismissing grand jurors who dissented from the government’s narrative, according to defense attorneys.

Straw said his prosecution drove home the importance of striving for a “generational” impact, and insulating Oak Park from the impact of national uncertainty while providing protection for the village’s most vulnerable residents.

“It was really important to me because there are folks who like to say Oak Park village officials focus on what’s happening on the national stage’s not what’s happening here locally,” Straw said. “I’m employing generational thinking as opposed to just what matters for the next five years because I’m serving as a village trustee because I want a community that’s going to serve our kids.”

Straw gave an interview to Wednesday Journal in the courtyard of Spilt Milk, speaking over the noise of village construction crews doing the “generational” work of replacing the century-old pipes underneath Oak Park Avenue.

The charges against the group stemmed from allegations that the defendants were part of a crowd that had illegally blocked an ICE agent from driving into the federal immigration agency’s detention facility in Broadview last September. The agent’s van had sustained some light exterior damage from

Home invasion arrest

Property damage

Oak Park police arrested a man on home invasion charges in connection with multiple violent domestic incidents.

Police arrested the 28-year-old Skokie man in the 300 block of North Oak Park Avenue shortly before 3:40 a.m. May 30 on charges of aggravated domestic battery and home invasion, according to police records.

The man was charged in connection with an incident on May 30, as well as another domestic battery incident that occurred on Feb.22, according to police records.

Oak Park police are investigating a property damage incident from last week.

An unknown suspect reportedly caused thousands in damage to a car parked in the 200 block of South Boulevard the morning of June 1, according to police records.

The suspect reportedly used a brick to smash the Honda Accord’s windshield and driver’s side window. The offender also slashed all four of the vehicle’s tires, according to police records.

The total damage is estimated at $1,900,

protestors, but the government had never ac- First Amendment rights and about trying to silence political dissent,” Straw said. “There cused Straw or any of the other defendants of are so many ways in which I thought it was causing that damage themselves.

Still, they contended that Straw and the really important for us as defendants, to be other defendants had formed a “spontane- showing how this was being weaponized ous” criminal conspiracy on the ground against our community as a whole to silence in Broadview last fall. Straw said he didn’t political dissent, and to try to get people who speak with any of his fellow defendants un- were out there speaking out to stay home.”

Oak Park neighbors stepped til after their indictment and could only really begin getting up, too, helping with child care, to know them after the charges fundraising and anything else were dropped last month. that came up for Straw’s fam“I think all of us avoided anyily. Straw said he had Parente’s thing other than surface level number to call because of conversations,” he said. “The youth baseball in Oak Park. first question (Abughazaleh) “I am someone sometimes asked me was ‘what’re your deeply uncomfortable with three favorite preparations of asking for help,” he said. “But potato?’ Those were the types this community is going to of conversations I was able to jump up for you with abanhave with my co-defendants. don.”

But over the last two weeks But the strain on the family BRIAN STRAW we’ve been able to have more was extreme, Straw said. The Village trustee personal conversations and family had to move out of their have been able to talk with the home for a time shortly after only other people who have his indictment when Straw rehad this same experience.” ceived a death threat over the Straw said while looking for a plea deal phone. could’ve made some of the stress go away, he Nightmares for his children continued had full support from his family to pursue his after police cleared them to move back into defense. their house.

He made the time to watch his 11-year-old “My children are never going to get back to son blossom as a “utility player” on his trav- the level of innocence and trust in authority el baseball team this spring. He fought the that I think most kids in Oak Park have,” he charges with Shannon by his side at every said. downtown hearing and with his 6-year-old The fallout from the case’s collapse has daughter’s encouragement that he was being continued over the past several weeks, with an “upstander” not a “bystander.” the defense team pushing for an order for “The prosecution was about a disregard for the government to pay damages covering

“My children are never going to get back to the level of innocence and trust in authority that I think most kids in Oak Park have.”

according to police records.

These items were obtained from Oak Park’s Police Department reports dated June 1–7 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 a description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

the groups’ legal fees. The misconduct in the case has also been cited in several other highprofile federal cases seen as advocates as political retribution from Trump’s Department of Justice, including the cases against journalist Don Lemon and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

But the misconduct has also been cited by defendants less aligned with Straw’s politics and worldview, like ex-Loretto hospital executive Mahmood Sami Khan who faces federal fraud charges for his alleged role in a $800 million fraud scheme.

The misconduct uncovered in the Broadview 6 threatens the mission of the court, Straw said.

“I think one of the really difficult and painful things about this is the U.S. Attorney’s office performs a really important function and prosecuting public corruption and white collar crime in this moment is incredibly important,” Straw said. “Instead, those resources are being redirected to focusing on civil immigration issues and political prosecutions and that’s a real shame.”

Illinois’ U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth have jointly called on Boutros to resign. The original lead prosecutor in the case has already been fired from her new federal posting.

But now, sitting deeper in his values and commitments to Oak Park, Straw said he is still figuring out life after the Broadview 6.

“I think for all of us, this is going to be a defining moment in our lives, there will always be for us some, this is my life before the Broadview 6 case and this is my life after,” Straw said. “All of us are in the process of figuring out what that life after is.”

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

D.C. TRIP

No D97 sponsorship from page 1 vation officer, in an email dated June 3.

“This timeline reflects the district’s ability to plan thoughtfully and communicate changes in advance, while also recognizing the strong community efforts already underway. Additionally, this decision immediately allows the organizing committee to move forward with planning and fundraising efforts to finalize logistics for the Washington, D.C. trip.”

The school district will, however, sponsor an in-state class trip to a destination still to be chosen.

In a telephone interview with Wednesday Journal Lofton and Amanda Siegfried, district spokesperson, said the district cannot provide any direct cash support to an unofficial trip although it can provide some limited logistical help in helping parent organizers fundraise such as sharing parent directory information.

“We don’t have a viable pathway to provide funds to trips that are not sponsored by the district,” Lofton said. “However, we will support a number of different ways, in terms of what’s allowable.”

That decision disappointed Elise Coleman, the mother of a rising Brooks eighth grader who has been advocating for an eighth-grade class trip to Washington, D.C. She has been participating in meetings and discussions with Lofton about the eighthgrade class trip.

“They just gave in and threw in the towel when some parents were like ‘we think D.C. is the right way to go’ and they didn’t look at their own data very carefully,” Coleman said.

Prior to 2023 the Gwendolyn Brooks and Percy Julian Middle School PTO’s led the fundraising and organizing of what were popular but unofficial eighth grade trips to Washington, D.C. In 2023 District 97 took over the eighth-grade trips and sponsored trips to D.C. in 2023 and 2024 before pivoting to closer and less expensive trips to Springfield and St. Louis in 2026 and Nashville this year due to equity concerns.

Coleman said the fundraising infrastructure for the trips to D.C. now must be rebuilt.

“All of the (fundraising) infrastructure is now gone and it all needs to be rebuilt,” Coleman said.

The destination of next year’s eighth grade trip has yet to be determined but it

will be within Illinois. District officials will narrow the choice this summer and then present a couple of options that eighth graders will vote upon in the fall.

The parents pushing for a D.C. trip were hoping for a district sponsored trip but had begun fundraising to raise extra money for the trip that could be used to provide financial aid for families that found the trip to be prohibitively expensive. A trip to Washington D.C is projected to cost from $1,500 to $2,000 per student. The parent organizers have thus far raised around $5,000 for the trip but say that their fundraising efforts are just getting started.

“We have some bigger fundraising events planned,” Coleman said. “We’re hoping the community comes through.”

Coleman said she and others pushing for a D.C. trip want to make sure that any eighth grader who wants to go on the trip can do so but that will be more difficult without a financial contribution from the district.

The organizers of the trip say that they are committed in inclusivity and say that financial means should not determine who can go to Washington, D.C. “We want to make sure this is advertised to all,” Coleman said.

None of the eighth-grade class trips over the past four years have met the district’s goal of an 85 percent participation rate. The trip with the greatest participation was the 2024 trip to Washington, D.C. in which 55% of eighth graders signed on.

Just 52% of eighth graders went on the 2025 trip to Springfield and St. Louis, 45% went on the 2023 trip to Washington, D.C. and only 35% went on this year’s trip to Nashville.

District data shows that eighth graders from families who qualify for free and reduced lunch were underrepresented on the 2023 trip to D.C. making up 8% of the participants compared to 19% of district students overall but proportionally represented (19%) on the 2024 trip to D.C. and slightly overrepresented (22%) on the trips to Springfield and St. Louis and Nashville.

Lofton urged the parents pushing for a trip to Washington, D.C. to keep equity in mind.

“Our goal has always been, and continues to be, supporting a positive, meaningful, and memorable educational experience for our students,” Lofton wrote in her email. “We believe this pivot provides the necessary flexibility to make the trip a success. As trip organization moves forward, we encourage you to ensure that the district’s equity policy remains central to your planning.”

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

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OAKPARK.COM

Oak Park debuts AI chatbot tool on village site

Provided by village’s longtime digital media contractor as part of a new contract

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park’s village government has debuted its new artificial intelligence chatbot tool, an AI agent called the “Oak Parker.”

The tool launched months after Oak Park’s village board approved a new contract with its long-time digital media services provider Granicus. That new contract included funding for the new chat bot service designed to answer residents’ questions.

The chatbot now appears in the bottom right corner of the village’s website and is capable of using village data and resources to answer queries.

“Oak Park residents and businesses expect government information and services to be easy to access, easy to understand and available when they need them,” said Village Manager Kevin Jackson. “This new tool helps us better meet those expectations by providing clear, reliable answers around the clock while making village government even more transparent, responsive and accessible for everyone in our community.”

The new contract is worth over $162,000 in its first year, including about $45,000 in fees for installing and licensing the public-facing “GXA” chatbot. The company markets the AI tool as a way for municipalities to accurately answer resident questions without using staff ’s time.

“We’re proud to support the Village of Oak Park in delivering smarter, more responsive digital services,” said Luke Norris, a vice president at Granicus. “GXA is designed to meet the unique needs of government agencies and the communities they serve.”

The chat bot would only give residents an-

swers with information from “fine-tuned” village-provided sources. The GXA wouldn’t pull any information from the open web as AI Large Language Models like Chat GPT do, according to village staff.

“It only responds when its confidence score meets a conservatively set threshold, ensuring the information closely matches the user’s question,” Oak Park Chief Communications Officer Dan Yopchick wrote in a memo to the board in December. “This approach minimizes the risk of ‘hallucinations’ and ensures responses remain grounded in verified agency data. GXA’s hallucination rate — the chance of fabricating an answer — is effectively zero. It doesn’t invent information.

When errors occur, they usually stem from incomplete or outdated details in the source

content, which can lead to missing context for the user. We proactively address these issues during onboarding by reviewing and updating agency content.”

The rollout comes after substantial debate at Oak Park’s village board on whether the tool stood up as a worthwhile investment.

Two Oak Park’s trustees who have backgrounds as technology professionals — Derek Eder and Cory Wesley — were split on whether or not the tool’s a worthwhile investment.

Eder said he wasn’t convinced the AI tool would save staff ’s time and that he felt the feature conflicts with Oak Park’s environmental sustainability and community engagement goals.

“We have a goal in the Climate Ready Oak

Park Plan to invest in socially and environmentally responsible IT technology, so this is in direct conflict with that,” Eder said. “If you want to know why your energy bill is going up, its basically because of data centers.

That is such a concern that Springfield is debating what to do to regulate that right now, this is a real concern.”

“I want us to be a tech-forward community, but in this particular case an AI bot really goes against the values we espouse as a village around inclusion and being connected with one another. By putting a bot between our residents and our staff, we’re saying ‘I don’t want to talk to you.’”

Wesley said passing on the chatbot tool would not mean that Oak Park would be divested from data centers or their environmental impact, as most of the modern internet is run through largescale data centers. He also said that providing a chat bot service to residents wouldn’t stop residents who wish to communicate with a village staffer directly from doing so.

“If you use Amazon, Facebook, Dropbox you name it, anywhere on the internet you log in and get a service it is all being housed in a data center somewhere,” Wesley said. “I think the chatbot will serve those who aren’t looking to have that interaction with our staff. If you have a quick question, the chatbot will give you a quick answer if it can. If it can’t, then you can pick up the phone.”

The board voted to approve the contract 5-2, with Eder and Trustee Jenna Leving Jacobson dissenting. Before voting to approve the deal, Trustee Brian Straw said the village would collect metrics on residents’ satisfaction with the service and then have the option to get rid of the GXA after a year if it didn’t work out. He also said he’d like the village to monitor metrics related to the tool’s energy use and environmental impact.

“We have structured the contract in such a way that we could drop this chatbot in year two if the utility that residents are getting out of it doesn’t outweigh the environmental impact of the technology,” Straw said.

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

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Journal garners 14 awards in IPA Best of the Press contest One of 44 awards garnered by NEWSWELL Chicago flags

By DAN HALEY Interim Editor

Wednesday Journal won 14 editorial awards and took third place for General Excellence in the large circulation category of the annual Illinois Press Association Best of the Press contest. The Journal also took the top prize among weeklies for advertising and marketing efforts. And we have the gargantuan Sam Zito Award for Excellence trophy to prove it.

Winners were announced June 4 in East Peoria.

The Journal was recognized across all facets of its newsroom’s work. News reporting, feature writing, editorial section, special sections, website, design, photography and columns.

A long series of news articles covering Oak Park’s role in ICE protests in Broadview took second place in News Series.

Those articles were largely reported by Brendan Heffernan.

Freelancers Gregg Voss, Jessica Mackinnon and Bill Dwyer were recognized for feature writing and obituary tributes. Voss wrote a piece on Gina Orlando’s service at Ascension Church anticipating her journey toward death. As of the moment Gina remains among us. Mackinnon wrote the obituary for Mary Anne Brown, the iconic head of Hephzibah House. And Dwyer continued his long coverage of the Heather Mack murder case.

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor placed third for original column.

The Journal took 3rd and 4th place for

special sections for our Answer Book and our Election Guide. That category was topped by the Austin Weekly News, our sister pub, with its West Side magazine project.

The Forest Park Review, another of the four NEWSWELL Chicago flags, was named the state’s best small weekly for the second year running. That means the Kramer Trophy returns home again this year.

Overall NEWSWELL Chicago’s four flags brought home 44 editorial prizes from the IPA contest.

Max Reinsdorf, general manager of NEWSWELL Chicago, said the strong showing on both the editorial and advertising sections of the IPA contest reflected the hard work and talent of the staff.

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

Residents air Heritage House frustrations to manager Village no longer issues warnings, only citations for code violations

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

One by one, residents of Heritage House Apartments stood and directed their concerns about the building and living conditions across the meeting room, in one direction.

To a round table, where Jeffrey Richards, president and CEO of Pacific Management Inc., looked on contemplatively, wrote notes and occasionally responded to concerns verbally. He was flanked by Oak Park Village Trustee Jim Taglia. Tina Brown, Oak Park’s code compliance manager, sat across from Richards, taking her own notes.

Up front, Irma Baker, president of the residents’ council, calmed the 75-strong crowd when it seemed as if the discussion might stray from calm professionalism.

Behind her the Rev. Kenneth Holmes, who opened the meeting with prayer, looked as if he was still praying.

“For me personally, I live on the first floor,” resident Patty Davis said. “I’ve seen infestation of mice. It’s terrible. This past week, I had to live with the odor of dead mice in my kitchen.

“It’s chronic and it’s getting worse.”

Over the space of about an hour, the concerns rolled in from the elderly residents.

Filthy floors. Rats and bedbugs. Inadequate garbage dumpsters. Outsiders entering the building unfettered, with some sleeping in the hallways. Not enough maintenance personnel. Lax building security. Drug use.

And with all that, one common thread: Substandard management.

Taken together, it might seem as if those issues were unsurmountable for the 200unit, HUD subsidized building at 201 Lake St. Are they fixable?

“These are issues that I really have to ponder the best way to move forward with,” Richards said. “I think they are.”

Taglia thinks so too, but with a caveat.

“Everything is fixable with money,” he said. “This is a matter of how much money do they need to, and want to, invest? Everything in this building can be fixed.

“It’s a matter of how much you want to invest in this building.”

Substantial issues

Make no mistake, though. The issues, particularly related to personal safety, were glaring.

“I want to speak on security, and the lack thereof,” said resident Tera Brewer.

“Most of the time the security is gone at 9 a.m. and from nine to five, when you come in that front door, it’s always somebody pushing in past you.”

“We have one security guard that does his job. The rest just sit. They come in, they clock in, they go get their lunch, then they sit there and eat and look at their phone. And they don’t move until it’s time to get off work.”

Baker built on those sentiments.

“I can attest to what she’s saying,” she said. “That is true. When people come, if they buzz the people’s bell to get in, they buzz them, other people from the outside, they come past them in and go wherever.”

Resident Charles Smith moved to Heritage House in February after being on a four-year wait list.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve been disappointed in management,” Smith said. “The problem is, they’re not doing their job, number one. In the TODD BANNOR back, since this is a sePacific Management President Jeffrey Richards responds. nior building, there’s

TODD BANNOR

Heritage House resident Patty Davis speaks at tenant meeting on June 3. supposed to be a long dumpster out there, because people die, and they have to throw the trash out.

“Everything in this building is messed up. It’s the people you hired. So get it together.”

After about a half hour, Richards spoke.

“I understand this is everybody’s home.

I get it,” he said. “So what I can do is, hearing this, it gives me the ability to understand certain things better, from your perspective, and then to see how to address that.”

No more warnings; citations only Brown reassured the residents that Oak Park’s village government is doing everything it can to address the situation.

“I just wanted to let you guys know that we do hear you, and we serve as advocates for residents when property maintenance issues are not being resolved,” Brown said.

“We do regular properly maintenance inspections for multi-family buildings.”

That typically includes inspecting onethird of units plus the common areas, Brown said.

“A couple of years ago, we (inspected) this building but due to the number of complaints, we did not do a third, which would be

about 66; we did all the units,” she said, adding there were “about (400) to 500 violations.”

After those were addressed, she said, things quieted down for about a year, but then many of the same issues are now resurfacing and being brought to the village’s attention by Taglia among others.

“As a result of the number of complaints that we’re receiving now, we have issued citations,” she said. “We’ve issued seven citations.”

And more could be coming. Brown said from here on out the village will not issue warnings anymore, but citations that could include fines that range from $20 to $750.

Those amounts are determined by the village’s office of adjudication, and she invited residents to a July 23 open hearing where residents can speak on their behalf regarding those seven current citations.

For her part, Baker was proud of the contingent of residents that came out and spoke so frankly.

“There were people here who had never been to a meeting before,” she said.

Once again, are the issues at Heritage House fixable?

“I think so,” Baker said. “They are fixable problems. They could be done.

“And this building could be just as beautiful as it was when I first moved in.”

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

11

Equity health-care oversight laws advance in light of West Sub closure Legislation follows series of hospital shutdowns

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN

controlled by private equity and how it affects both care and access to it.”

Current West Sub operator Resilience Two pieces of legislation aimed to pro- Health, which acquired the embattled hosvide additional oversight to private equi- pital and it’s Chicago sister hospital Weiss ty involvement in health-care have made Memorial in late 2022, announced the closure of the century-old Oak Park hospital it to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk.

The new acts include HB5000, which back in March citing a prolonged failure strengthens oversight and transparency in the hospital’s electronic medical record billing system that resulted in requirements around healthas much as 90% of its work care transactions and ownergoing unbilled. Weiss Memoship changes, and HB4728, rial closed last August, as the legislation establishing new hospital lost its CMS accrediguardrails around private eqtation. uity ownership of intellectual In the months leading up and developmental disability to the closure, Wednesday service providers, according Journal reported on a varito the Private Equity Stakeety of financial issues at West holder Project. The legislation Sub and at Resilience Healthcomes in the wake of West care, including unpaid venSuburban Medical Center’s dors, the loss of the hospital’s closure in March, with the Oak GRACIELA GUZMAN once revered doctor residency Park safety-net hospital previState senator program and the millions ously brought to the brink owed in state and local taxes. bankruptcy by former owner Financial issues at West Sub Pipeline Health, a private eqhad intensified under Pipeuity-backed operator. line’s ownership, with watch HB5000 would require health dogs like the Private Equity care facilities and health care Stakeholder Project blaming provider organizations, which are parties to a transaction involving a the entity’s profit-minded decision making for putting patients at risk. merger or acquisition to provide notice of “Illinois lawmakers are responding to the transaction to the Office of the Attorney General. This includes parties to the problems communities across the state transaction that are not a health care fa- have already experienced firsthand,” said cility or provider organization but own or Chris Noble, policy director at the private control, directly or indirectly, one or more equity monitor. “From the collapse of of the two or more health care facilities or Pipeline Health hospitals in the Chicago provider organizations that will be under area to growing concerns around private common ownership, according to legisla- equity-backed disability service providers, Illinois is recognizing the risks that can tive Democrats.

The bill was authored by Sen. Graciela emerge when aggressive financial strategies enter essential care systems.”

Guzmán of Chicago.

“With these new laws, Illinois is becom“Health care is not a luxury to be profited off of, but a human right,” said Guzmán. ing a leading example for states seeking to “We have seen private equity take over por- protect vulnerable residents and patients tions of our economy and sell off whole in- from the risks that can accompany private dustries for parts. We need to understand equity ownership in health-care and dishow much of Illinois’ health care system is ability services.”

Staff Reporters

“Health care is not a luxury to be profited off of, but a human right.”

TODD BANNOR

Hospital activists want to see West Sub’s re-opening plan Ask CEO Prasad to attend upcoming meeting

By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter

Organizers who support re-opening West Suburban Medical Center will attend an upcoming Democratic Party of Oak Park (DPOP) meeting and request local party leaders to invite the hospital’s CEO to present his plans to re-open the hospital.

West Suburban closed in March following an issue with the hospital’s billing system. Following the closure, local organizers met with the hope of creating their own plan to reopen the hospital. Since then, organizers have been meeting in smaller working groups.

At an April press conference, hospital CEO Manoj Prasad told the community that the hospital could open as early as July, with money being the biggest obstacle, and has referenced this goal in other statements to the community.

Last week, following a lawsuit against Prasad filed by Ramco, the hospital’s

landlord and a co-owner of the hospital, Cook County Judge Patrick Stanton announced there was not enough evidence to remove Prasad from his position. The judge said he believed there was a plan to reopen the hospital, although it was still in progress.

But some community organizers are skeptical and want to hear Prasad’s plan to re-open the hospital. Members of the working group, which focuses on local policy and advocacy, met at the main branch of the Oak Park Public Library and agreed to attend the June 13 DPOP meeting to request to see Prasad’s plan.

Organizer Jenna Leving Jacobson, an Oak Park village trustee and liaison to the board of health, attended the June 3 meeting. She said there was a lack of clarity about the hospital’s future. The organizers said they hope this action will keep community members aware of the closure and provide some clarity on the hospital’s future.

12 Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

S P O N S O R E D

C O N T E N T

In the garden of eatin’ Pompei restaurant serves up their first summer in Elmwood Park

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

W

RISÉ SANDERSWEIR

Manager Lucian DiPofi with eggplant strudel

Eats Reporter

hen Pompei opened a new location in Elmwood Park last September at 22 W. Conti Parkway, it was a perfect match. Pompei has been a Taylor Street mainstay for decades and Elmwood Park appreciates good Italian food. Ten months in, the fast casual restaurant is thriving.

Lucian DiPofi is the manager and grandson of the originator, Ralph Davino.

For DiPofi, this was his first foray into being in charge of a location.

“Learning curve for sure,” DiPofi said.

“I’ve worked at the Taylor Street restaurant for years, but there things have been absolutely, absolutely steady for 26 years.”

His goal in Elmwood Park was to finetune the experience to fit the needs of local diners.

“We don’t have the identical menus now.

It’s a bigger dinner crowd out here, so we

PROVIDED

Peach burrata salad

added lemon chicken, more salad. We sell a lot of eggplant,” he said. “Out here it’s like I’m ordering more than ever before. It’s one of our most beloved meals eggplant with pasta, in a strudel or on a sandwich. People who are eggplant lovers come in and they say it’s the best eggplant they’ve had.”

The extensive menu offers up 10 housemade pasta options, six with imported pasta, three kinds of ravioli, along with weekly and daily specials. There are 11 salads to choose from and four types of pizza crust with 11 topping combo options, as well as a build-your-own slice. Strudels are a Pompei specialty. For the uninitiated: these are

PROVIDED

Saturday pasta special – lobster ravioli

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026 13

S P O N S O R E D

C O N T E N T

Pompei Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Pompei in Elmwood Park savory delights such as the so-called Poor Boy filled with ham, salami capicola, tomatoes and cheese wrapped in dough and baked until crispy. There are 10 varieties on the menu with the addition of a rotating special flavor.

This summer two dishes are here to savor the season. The first is a peach and burrata salad. Those are nestled on a bed of field green, sprinkled with pistachios and sunflower seeds.

“Then a balsamic glaze over the top,” DiPofi said. “It’s a very bright, vibrant salad, fresh peaches mixed with the burrata and then the tanginess from the vinegar. It’s one of my favorite salads.”

The second is lobster ravioli, which will be the Saturday pasta special through the warm months. It’s topped with a tomato cream sauce and garnished with red peppers and seasoned breadcrumbs.

At lunch time, you can walk through the order line and have your meal within minutes.

“My grandfather likes to say he was a pioneer of fast casual.” DiPofi said.

Choose from the wide display of savory strudels, sandwiches, soups and pizza by the slice, then you pay and sit down. Your selection is warmed and brought to your table.

“One of the biggest selling slices is a sun-dried ricotta slice,” he said. “It is a tomato pesto. We take dried tomatoes, blend them with olive oil, with basil, little parsley, bunch of garlic, and then a little bit of Parmesan cheese. It’s nut free. It’s on our thicker style crust. It’s like a double dough that we let rise a little more. And we put

mozzarella cheese and then dollops of our seasoned ricotta.”

While the restaurant doesn’t have a full bar, they do have four beers to choose from: Peroni, Coors Light, Sam Adam’s seasonal beers and Cruz Blanca. Red wines (chianti, pinot noir, merlot), sparkling rosé, and whites (chardonnay, pinot grigio) are offered by the bottle or by the glass. And there is a long list of cocktails in cans, including THC- infused options.

Don’t. Miss. Dessert.

“We hand make all of our desserts, from our biscotti to our lemonade crescent cookies, all the way through to our tiramisu, chocolate cake, brownies,” he said. “Our cheesecake, it’s one of my favorites. I’m not biased at all though.”

Catering is also part of the restaurant offerings.

“We offer great things like bite-sized strudels, pizzas. Our quality is great and our consistency is on point as well. Delivering for your catering needs is one of our special things,” he said.

Building out a new location is aways a leap of faith, but according to DiPofi the risk has been more than worth the reward.

“Being invited into the community like this has been nothing short of amazing,” he said. “We love our customers so much.

It’s like family. Come, sit down, enjoy.”

Get your own plateful: 22 W. Conti Parkway, Elmwood Park • pompeiusa.com Hours: Sunday – Tuesday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Wednesday – Saturday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

New Location!

1531 W Taylor St Chicago 312-421-5179

22 W Conti Parkway Elmwood Park 708-708-5179

Dine In • Carry Out • Delivery Gift Certificates • Catering • Private Party Rooms View menus at pompeiusa.com

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on OakPark.com

14

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

ART BEAT

My journey with Hemingway

By SCOTT SCHWAR

I

Contributing Author

wrote the book, My Journey with Hemingway, for a number of reasons. First for my family, second for the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park (EHFOP) and third for the Oak Park community to capture what volunteerism looks like and what can be done if you’re dedicated and committed to something near and dear to your heart. This book is a personal look at how it all began, how many wonderful people I met, and how many interesting experiences the journey created for me.

My journey with Hemingway formally began spending a college year abroad to discover Spain and Hemingway’s Europe after my high school reading of Ernest’s novel The Sun Also Rises, which is celebrating a century in print in 2026. But it truly began when I married Charlene Grandinetti Sisco and moved to Oak Park. Soon after, I

was privileged to serve as EHFOP chairman for 11 years and executive director for four additional years during the foundation’s exciting early growth years. I did this while also continuing a career in the Association Management field. Sending archival materials to Ernest’s Cuba home museum (Finca Vigia) and bringing a foundation-sponsored group to Cuba and France led to a career change where I joined MILA Tours, specializing in bringing medical personnel to Central and South America (and the new Cuba market). Eventually, that led to my own company The Committee on Illinois (dba CubaTours4U) with a U.S. license (later renewed) to legally bring travelers to Cuba (20 years in total).

When I joined the Hemingway Foundation within months of its founding, the press continually quoted Hemingway as describing his hometown as a place of “broad lawns and narrow minds,” as if Oak Park, and by extension Chicago were a place he disliked. News-

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paper writers and biographers often talked about his Michigan summers where he set many of his early short stories. But the family life, formal education and nature study in the other nine months of each year he spent at home were dismissed.

Subsequent research showed that he never made that infamous quote, although it may have succinctly summed up the attitude toward life in many U.S. small towns of the time. Ernest did say that he gave Oak Park a pass when it came to his writing, and that may have been correct as he often wrote stories using actual people, only changing their names late in the creative process.

So we had to work hard to bring attention to Hemingway’s time in Oak Park and eventually the information and insights gathered due to the foundation’s insistence were seen as major influencers in recognizing Oak Park’s importance in his growth as a person and artist.

Author and Oak Park native Ernest Hemingway is the most written about and studied 20th century American author with a regular stream of research papers, analysis, biographies, and literary travel pieces emanating monthly from the scholarly societies and print media. His stripped-down, verband-action writing style brought writers out of the Victorian age and generated a new way of creating literature, crime stories and even

business reporting. And his adventurous persona (bullfight aficionado, big-game hunter in Africa, deep-sea record-setting fisherman in the Caribbean and so on) made him an influencer and magazine rock star of his age and an enduring legendary figure. Previously considered overly masculine, a new wave of women researchers are now writing extensively on the gender issues in his work.

Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises spoke to me at different life stages so perhaps its theme of a healing pilgrimage struck home as I wrote My Journey with Hemingway, which will be the subject of an author talk at the Hemingway Birthplace (339 N. Oak Park Ave.) on Thursday, June 18 at 7 p.m. Admission is free with cash bar available. Ken Trainor, Viewpoints Editor for Wednesday Journal and author of the book Our Town Oak Park, will moderate. As an aside, when sitting at our local Hemmingway’s Bistro with Ken and owner Christopher Ala, both stated that they too had personal “Journeys with Hemingway.” Perhaps you do as well.

Feel free to share it with others that night.

Register your attendance at https://www. hemingwaybirthplace.com Free Ticket Link: https://events.ticketleap. com/tickets/hemingwayfoundation/authortalk-my-journey-with-hemingway-with-scottschwar.

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

15

OPRF through the lens of 6 foreign exchange students This year they were all boys

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Year in and year out Oak Park and River Forest High School hosts the most, or nearly the most, foreign exchange students of all high schools in the Chicago area and nationwide.

This year, like most years, OPRF hosted six foreign exchange students: Nico Pardo Fleming from Chile, Lorenzo Garavaglia from Italy, Amr Nassar from Egypt, Jonathan Schmidtke from Germany, Kazuma Suzuki from Japan and Morgan Tallec from France. One thing that was unusual this year is that all the foreign exchange students at OPRF were boys. No one could remember when that last happened.

The foreign exchange students enjoyed their year at OPRF although the size of the school took some getting used to.

“I would say people are much more open here,” Tallec said.

“When I came here it was very easy to make friends.”

The boys, all 17 or 18, said OPRF was a much more diverse school with far greater course offerings than what they experienced in their home countries.

“I feel like it’s nice, more opportunities,” said Suzuki, who said he has no choice in what classes to take in Japan.

The exchange students took a variety of classes, including Advanced Placement classes as well as courses in pottery, metal working and auto mechanics. For most of them the emphasis is on culture and experimentation, not just academics.

Some said that at school in their home country the same students spend all day together in the same classroom, while teachers for different subjects rotate into the classroom.

That, and the smaller size of his school in Chile, makes it easier to form close friendships at school Fleming said.

“I feel like in Chile you create deeper connections, stronger bonds and here it’s harder to achieve that,” Fleming said.

The exchange students said they found relationships with teachers at OPRF different, and closer, than what they were accustomed to at home.

“They care about you mentally and physically,” Nassar said of OPRF teachers. “Here you can reach out to your teacher about anything.”

Garavaglia and Schmidtke teamed up with two other OPRF students in a business incubator class to create an artificial intelligence based cooking app called Nutriax that is designed for people on weight loss drugs. The app generates recipes based on ingredients that you have at home that will

BOB SKOLNIK

(Left to right) Jonathan Schmidtke, Morgan Tallec, Kazuma Suzuki, Lorenzo Garavaglia and Amr Nassar. help you hit your weight loss goals. The app was recently selected as one of the top 25 student developed apps in Illinois.

Schmidtke, using AI, wrote the code for the app.

“You don’t have business classes in Germany so I feel like it was American spirited and a cool class,” Schmidtke said.

In an engineering class Garavaglia worked with two other OPRF students to develop an engineering system that prevents pipes from rusting.

Despite having never played the sports before Fleming, a rugby player in Chile, joined the OPRF football and wrestling teams, mostly competing on the JV level. Schmidtke joined the cross country team and Nassar, a swimmer in Egypt, was a diver on the OPRF swim team. Suzuki played Ultimate Frisbee. Many joined clubs with Nassar participating in the Middle Eastern and North American Students (MENA) club, Student Council, the Meds club, and Key Club.

Nassar also did a lot of volunteer work in the community.

Lorenzo played tennis, and joined the robotics, spoken word and adventure club.

The exchange students were struck by the ethnic diversity of OPRF. “I see people from all over the world and they’re all living in one place,” Nassar said.

It’s not easy to come into a high school as a junior or senior and break into established friend groups but all the foreign exchange students made friends although they often had to take the initiative.

“If you don’t talk to people, people don’t talk to you,” Fleming said.

Schmidtke and Suzuki lived together with the same host family but had different personalities.

“It turns out that they aren’t best of friends but like sib-

lings they get along just fine,” said Matt Goto, their host father. “In fact they’re better than most blood siblings because they don’t fight.”

Suzuki carried an electronic dictionary with him but didn’t have to use it much after his first weeks at OPRF. All had studied English for years and also learned English from watching television, movies and social media.

The exchange students definitely noticed some cultural differences between life in their home countries and life in Oak Park. Fleming was surprised at how car dependent American teenagers are.

“People literally drive everywhere; they cannot walk, it’s crazy,” Fleming said.

Fleming said he wasn’t impressed by the teenage parties he attended noting that many of them lacked the dancing that he was used to in Chile.

“Most of the time, like 95% of them, it’s like one or two friend groups together drinking in a basement, like super boring,” Fleming said.

Like for many teenage boys interacting with girls could sometimes be baffling, especially on social media.

“Girls here are just super weird, their social interactions are just weird,” said Fleming, who did attend the Homecoming Dance with a date and went to the prom with a group.

“You talk with them and it feels like interviewing them.”

Food was another adjustment. The exchange students said that American food was more processed than what they were used to in their home countries.

Fleming was the fifth foreign exchange student hosted by Tom Lesiowski and Mary Furman.

“For us it’s culturally enriching and it’s interesting,” Furman said. “They’re interesting kids.”

16

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

TUTORING

Slow pace of change from page 1 learning, who is just completing her first year at OPRF, told the school board that division heads have been exploring instructional coaching models and administrators will do more of that next year and then bring a proposal to the school board.

“We will be spending time learning about student centered coaching with our leaders next school year, presenting instructional coaching to the board in the winter/spring of ‘27 and then hopefully hiring and training coaches in the summer of ‘27 and then beginning the implementation of that model in the 2027-28 school year,” Hester said.

Significant changes to tutoring at OPRF will also not take place next year. Hester defended the tutoring programs OPRF already has in place.

“We have a lot of supports now, for literacy, for math, for executive functioning and for social and emotional learning,” Hester said.

Instead of specific plans and detailed benchmarks Hester, Principal Lynda Parker and Career and Technical Education Division Head Matt Prebble presented a report full of general aspirational goals to be achieved over a three-to-five year timeline.

“This is going to take up quite some time to implement,” Hester said.

Multiple school board members expressed some frustration with the pace of change in student supports.

The main academic goal was to “improve student learning at scale for all demographic groups.” Indicators of success would be increasing the number of students demonstrating grade level proficiency and increasing the number of students taking college prep and honors classes. There was no specific percentage increase specified as a goal. Hester conceded that the goals outlined are not so called SMART goals. SMART is an acronym standing for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time bound. Hester said SMART goals also have downsides. Hester said she is focused on getting teacher buy in.

“This goal is really written for the teacher, the collaborative team and the division and we are much more likely to have the motivation and the interest when teachers feel that they can directly impact the work and so if we were to write a SMART goal it would probably have a percentage of increase, as they typically do, and those types of goals very often steal the creativity and the innovation and they actually can drive a narrow focus on

FILE

standardized tests,” Hester said.

Some school board members seemed disappointed with the lack of specific plans to be implemented in the upcoming school year.

“I thought we were going to see targeted strategies,” said Josh Gertz, a school board member.

In a telephone interview after the meeting Gertz amplified his concerns about the presentation.

“I was very underwhelmed and disappointed,” Gertz said.

Gertz said he understood not rushing into new programs but had hoped that Hester would have had more specific plans in mind by this point.

“I appreciate that things that are rushed are often less than successful but if we’re still having this same conversation in two years it will be an abject failure on our part,” Gertz said. “This needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.”

School board member Graham Brisben, an advocate of more tutoring, was more diplomatic but pointed out the downside of delay.

“We only have a child here for a four year period,” Brisben said at the school board

meeting. “A child who misses out on receiving that benefit next year and graduates doesn’t get to have that same kind of attention that a child in the following class will.”

Brisben described the report as a guide to the future.

“I sort of see this as almost as a table of contents or a road map that’s going to play out over the next three to five years,” Brisben said.

Brisben also noted that change in an institution as large as OPRF takes time.

“We’re steering a battleship here,” Brisben said.

But board member Tim Brandhorst told the administrators the school board wants to see action on targeted tutoring sooner rather than later.

“I sure would like for us to do that tomorrow,” Brandhorst said noting that he wants implementation and not just study.

Hester said the administration needs to examine the tutoring that the school already provides and figure out how to move forward and build on what is now provided. Hester mentioned the possibility of putting specialists into a classroom to focus on students who

might need additional support. She suggested perhaps putting a reading specialist into a history classroom or putting a multilingual specialist into a core subject matter class.

Hester said she would like to explore putting specialists in college prep and even honors classes at OPRF. A recent report presented to the school board by two members of the OPRF Community Finance Committee recommended that OPRF increase targeted supports, interventions and high dosage tutoring. The Committee for Equity and Excellence in Education (CEEE) has also advocated for more targeted supports and high impact tutoring for struggling students.

Parker said the key to improving student learning, especially for students who are just not that into school, is to increase student engagement and for teachers to develop strong bonds with those students.

“I don’t necessarily see deficits in the building in the curriculum,” Parker said. “It is the ability to engage all kids in that curriculum which I don’t think is just taught to them. I think there has to be some type of engaging on a level that sees them in a different way.”

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

New neighbors run Thai Neighbor

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Six years ago, Champ Akkarapol took over the restaurant he renamed Thai Neighbor at 250 W. Chicago Ave. in Oak Park. Now, with the business transitioning to new owners, he felt the time was right to transition into a consultant for the restaurant industry, helping other owners understand what they need to do in order to sell their businesses.

“I want to be a voice,” Akkarapol said.

“Because a lot of time when I ran into other business owners, when I look at them eye to eye, I know that they’re thinking of it too. They just don’t know where to start.

There’s so many aspects that I can share.

From being a customer and now being a business owner and now that I’m being the next level where I help other people.”

He stressed that selling should not be thought of as a negative.

“We talk about flavors, we have talked about obstacles or challenges like construction, loss in traffic,” he said. “We talked about delicious food. we talked about customer favorites, but we barely talk about the real deal of business. Some people do restaurant business because of their passion of cooking. Maybe some people want to become an entrepreneur.”

Akkarapol has been an entrepreneur for 19 years. There are many reasons for a restaurant owner to make a transition.

“I want to remind owners and everybody in the community too that leaving the company is not failing,” he said. “It’s more like sometimes the trend comes and goes, right? Sometimes the flavor profile has become familiar. A lot of time, business owners feel stuck because the creativity run out. They just run out of ideas. So sometimes exit strategy not necessarily mean that they have to sell or get out, but maybe transform, recoup the idea and then make a new restaurant.”

Being organized from the start is the best way to prepare to exit, according to

17

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Thai Neighbor’s Champ Akkarapol Akkarapol.

“Food operators are so busy being an operator they are not being really an owner in businesses,” he said.

Those day-to-day operations can take most of an owner’s attention.

“Their bookkeeping is not organized.

That’s my number one concern,” he said.

“In order for restaurant owners to be able to execute the sale, or successfully transfer the asset, I do believe that they have to be somewhat between 25 to mid 30% in profitability. If restaurant owners who want to exit and they are not able to show 25% profitability, it’s going to be a little bit difficult.”

When Akkarapol takes off his chef hat and apron and leaves the kitchen, he wants to encourage others to organize their back office, so they can take advantage of opportunities that may come their way.

“I am moving on from this restaurant in the next few months,” he said. “I just want to share my success and be a change in the community where we think outside the box, think of possibilities. I just want to share my expertise.”

In the meantime, Thai Neighbor is open and still serving customers the food Akkarapol has hand-crafted over the past few years. He said that will continue, even after he is gone.

“Delicious food still here,” Akkarapol said. “Everything is the same. The recipe is the same. And I can give you the hint that the group of these people [new owners] are the same age as me. They have passion in becoming an entrepreneur. I was very selective of who will be continuing my legacy.”

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

The legacy of Forest Park’s Heritage Chef Sieger Bayer competes on ‘Top Chef,’ season 23

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

Once again, Forest Park has a connection to TV’s Top Chef. When Chef Sieger Bayer left The Heritage restaurant in Forest Park in 2019, he didn’t know his trajectory would include season 23 of the show. This spring he competed through to the final third on the competition show.

Bayer grew up mostly in Lake Zurich.

When he was contemplating what to do after high school, nothing caught his imagination. He considered being a jeweler, going into business law.

“My mom was like, ‘Well, why don’t you just go to culinary school? You love cooking at home,’” he said. “And I was like, ‘Well, sure.’”

He graduated from Kendall College and worked all over the city, then internationally.

After running several places, friends Mischa and Jacob DeHart suggested opening a spot together in Forest Park. That became The

Heritage at 7403 Madison St. (now NRebozo).

“The Heritage utilized all of the relationships and partnerships that I built as a cook, a sous, an executive sous, a chef de cuisine, an executive chef,” Bayer said. “The point was to have something super approachable, very seasonal. The goal was to bring all those farmers, makers, wine folks to Forest Park to give something you would find in Bucktown or a Wicker Park. A lot of people thought of us as a special occasion restaurant, but for us, we were pricing it so you could go there fairly regularly.”

After The Heritage, Bayer worked as chef du cuisine at The Publican. Fast forward a few more years and Bayer is currently co-owner of bar Berria in Logan Square. More on that later but first let’s talk about Top Chef.

“The want to go on Top Chef was always the belief that it was the pinnacle for culinary cooking shows,” he said. Though he’d appeared on Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay those were one-day commitments. “I didn’t

PROVIDED

Emily Abram and Sieger Bayer of bar Berria

PAUL CHENEY/BRAVO

Chef Sieger Bayer and ‘Top Chef ’ judges really know what to expect. It’s an experience that I wish I could explain, but unless you’ve lived it, it’s just so hard. You’re put into these crazy challenges with very short amount of time and you need to run through the Rolodex of ideas in your head extremely quickly because sometimes you’ve got 5 or 10 minutes to come up with an idea. Then the next thing you know, they throw you a curve ball.”

Of the 15 initial chefs, Bayer made it to the top five. His exit in episode 12 was fraught.

Let’s just say that he did not go gentle into that good night. Still, he said it was a good experience, and his fellow chefs became close.

“We’re all still good friends and we all text and stuff like that,” he said.

Being on the show can super-charge a chef ’s career, but for now Bayer is sticking with his current creation: bar Berria, a Logan Square pop-up that serves on the weekends.

“Bar Berria is a complete and utter creative outlet,” he said. “We change menus up pretty much every weekend. We have 24 seats.

There’s three employees, myself and two folks that were actually with me at the Heritage. We’re serving the food, we talk about the food after dinner, we’re able to hang out with guests and build a community.”

Along with his partner, Emily Abram, his

aim for the past two years has been to “do weird things” not necessarily optimize moneymaking, according to Bayer.

“We have a full lot in Logan Square where we have raised bed gardens,” he said. “A lot of that turns into fermented and preserved products that we use throughout the year.

Then we have chickens. They lay eggs for us, not enough to support a full restaurant, but we open up the coop and they’re able to run through the gardens and they take care of our bugs.”

Reservations are made through Tock. It’s BYOB, but with each menu the team gives wine suggestions.

“I’ve always wanted to make bar Berria something that’s approachable and fun and an escape from everything else,” Bayer said.

“I’ve gotten more joy from it than I’ve had from most things in my career. If someone wants to come and talk to me about investing and partnering and stuff like that, I’d love to hear it, but bar Berria is a unicorn situation that every chef wishes they had. Right now, I’m so happy.”

Bayer’s target is the human connection uniquely created through eating together.

That’s what he showed on Top Chef, that he is human – and a damn good cook.

NEED TO REACH US?

email: dhaley@newswellchicago.org

Homes

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

19

Wright Plus lures families to visit childhood homes, again Mark Keane was Oak Park’s first village manager. A dozen Keanes came home to visit this year

By LACEY SIKORA Real Estate Reporter

The Oscar and Nonie Balch House on Kenilworth Avenue in Oak Park was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1911. Its architectural provenance landed it a spot in this year’s Wright Plus line-up. Wright Plus researcher and Frank Lloyd Wright Trust volunteer Ken Simpson says there’s more than architectural history to the home.

Oak Park’s first Village Manager, Mark Keane, owned the home and lived there with his family from 1957 to 1962. Simpson notes that Keane made village history at the time with his hiring, as the village had never had a manager before.

When Mark Keane’s tenure in the village ended, the Keane family moved away, but they have returned more than once to the house in Oak Park where many of the family’s early memories were made.

Simpson interviewed many members of the Keane family, among them Dennis Keane. Dennis was nine years old when his family moved from Milwaukee to Oak Park. Mark and his wife Carolyn were the parents of five boys at the time.

Soon after they moved in, Carolyn gave birth to the lone Keane daughter. During their ensuing years in Oak Park, two more sons joined the family bringing the total number of children living in the home to eight. Dennis Keane recalls, “We moved in with fourand-a-half siblings, and we left with eight.”

Mark Keane’s mother had recently passed away when the family moved to Oak Park, so they brought his father to live with them as well and created a separate See BACK HOME on page 21

PROVIDED

A FLOCK OF KEANES: The family gathered — four siblings and their children and grandchildren — in front of their old home on Kenilworth Avenue during this spring’s Wright Plus.

COURTESY OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST/JAMES CAULFIELD

Oscar and Nonie Balch House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1911).

20

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

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PROVIDED

Mark Keane surveys the Eisenhower Expressway under construction in 1960.

BACK HOME

Elm disease hit the village. He instituted a parking sticker fee to pay for the forestry department.

In 2003, Mark Keane was invited back to Oak Park to be the grand marshal of from page 19 the Fourth of July parade. He brought along three sons and his daughter to see “apartment” for him out of what is now the former family home, at the time under the home’s primary bedroom. renovation. Dennis recalls, “There were Although the home still occupied its major changes going on with the kitchen original footprint — owners in 2003 added and family room addition. We got to meet a large kitchen and family room — to the the owners.” eight Keane kids, the home This year, the three brothlived large. ers and sister returned for Dennis recalls, “We were Wright Plus, bringing along coming from a smaller home, some of their kids and grandso this was a very big house kids. Altogether, 12 of them for us.” made the trip from around During the 1957 Sputnik the country. launch, the kids remember Simpson says families like taking advantage of Wright’s the Keanes make his research flat-roofed design to sit on for Wright Plus enjoyable. the roof and watch for the He heard plenty of stories Russian satellite in the night from them, from the grandDENNIS KEANE sky. The kids also recall their children of the second ownmother using a wringer to ers, and one previous owner hand-wash all of the family’s sent him a photo of the back laundry. of the house — a rare find.

Dennis Keane and his More recent inhabitants brothers were paper boys for also feel a draw to the home. the Oak Leaves, and Simpson The son of Tim and Charlene discovered a lot of information about their Pearson, who lived in the home from 1999 dad from old Oak Leaves articles. Mark Ke- to 2016, came back to the home to volunteer ane was quoted as saying one of his great- in the house during this year’s Wright Plus. est accomplishments as village manager Last year, Simpson researched Wright’s was saving the village trees when Dutch George Smith House, and was able to

21

PROVIDED

The full Keane family at home on Kenilworth in 1962. Seated were Mark Keane, Barry, Peter, Mary, Paul and Carolyn Keane. Standing left to right were Dan, Mark, Jr., Dennis and Brian.

Family gathers

“We were coming from a smaller home, so this was a very big house for us.”

PROVIDED

Mark Keane (center) and four of his children visited the home in 2003 when Mr. Keane was grand marshal of Oak Park’s 4th of July parade. The adult children were Peter, Mary, Brian and Dennis. meet the grandchildren of the first owner of the house when they came to tour it on Wright Plus.

“The thing I’ve found in contacting former residents and their surviving family members is that they’re so happy to hear from someone about the house,” he says.

Simpson says talking to the families and seeing the vintage photos they often share is a highlight of his time volunteering for the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. “All of these things make the house a living history. It’s not just a piece of architecture that’s been preserved.”

22 Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

Events

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DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M. Call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 Email: ktrainor@newswellchicago.org

VIEWPOINTS

The stealth conservatism of Oak Park

B

y any measure, Oak Park is a very progressive place. On most progressive litmus tests we clock left to far left, especially on race and “culture war” issues.

Here in our own little bubble, we live our progressive values unaccosted. There’s no battle to be fought, we’ve mostly “won.” This breeds a sort of complacency, the notion that our own house is in order, that it’s all those other folks who need to change, elsewhere.

But small “c” conservatism is just that: the idea that things, just as they are, are pretty good, and we don’t really need to change much.

My own internal title for this column is “Bikes, Bricks, and Boulevards.” I focus on transit, walkability, housing policy, and how these collide with that ineffable “character” of Oak Park.

In my column I beat the drum for change. I’d like to see a lot more bikes and bike lanes in Oak Park. I’d love to see more transit options in general. We need more, and more varied, housing and I believe Oak Park’s character is stuck in a nostalgia-tinted haze that ignores our present reality.

The resistance to change I’ve experienced is extreme.

People object to bike paint, to speed humps, to the little white posts on curbs. Letters to the editor warn of the horrors that will follow if a few dozen on-street parking spots are removed for a bike lane. The single-family home, we are told, is what holds Oak Park’s character together, and any threat to it is a threat to everything.

We Oak Parkers want to keep living just the way we do right now. Things are just fine. We don’t want to lose free parking, we don’t want to be slowed down in traffic. We don’t want to share the roads. We don’t want more people living in our neighborhoods. This is small “c” conservatism, and not just from big “C” Conservatives.

If you are progressive in Oak Park, even if you like bike lanes, you’ve got about a 50/50 shot of living in a historic district. Historic preservation is huge here. Mass historic preservation is also extremely conservative — on just about every measure. People believe they are preserving the architecture, or fighting for sustainability, or protecting equity. I don’t doubt they believe it. But when you preserve half the land area of a town, you have decided that nothing can change there, ever. That’s a conservative policy, whatever anyone believes about it.

People like myself can explain the social, cultural, economic, and sustainability benefits of reforming transit or housing policies until we are blue in the face, but we always run up against the crushing conservatism of Oak Park.

The same old arguments pop up again and again in defense of the status quo.

I get it. Change is hard. Oak Park is an extremely nice place to live, and nobody wants to see that change. I’d just like more people to be able to experience Oak Park and its benefits, and experience it like it was designed to be experienced: on foot, not in a car, walking through diverse neighborhoods packed with unique businesses and even more unique people.

That’s not change. It’s more bikes, more bricks, better boulevards. It’s the Oak Park we have today, just more of what we’ve always been.

JOSH VANDERBERG

B

23

Shrubtown

p. 25

School supply shopping: BYO paper towels?

ack in the day (my day, a very, very long time ago), shopping for school supplies was an annual event highlighted by the excitement and status of getting a fountain pen that came with an assortment of dark-blue, ink-filled cartridges that we inserted into a compartment. Sure, the pen leaked and smeared sometimes; but why, we wondered, would any self-respecting kid (or even adult) want a regular boring pen?

On the appointed day, my father would take us to a local toy store called Big Top, a mile from my home in suburban New York, for the coveted supplies. The pen was free if we spent the required $5 or $10 dollars on school items. (While in the store, we could also browse the Superman comics, priced at 10 cents apiece, or maybe buy, dad-willing, some bubblegum/baseball card packages for a nickel or Bazooka gum, one cent each.)

Second only to the pen, we wanted the “right” book covers. Yale? For sure. Harvard, yes. Something else? It depended on the college mascot depicted. And we figured we were really grown up when, by later grades, we bought three-ring hard blue notebooks and paper, instead of two-holed. And some of the erasers – especially the ones that somehow could get rid of pen marks – were prized. (We may also have bought a box of 64 new crayons with a built-in sharpener, but we would keep these at home in a safe location, which our younger siblings could not find.)

Picking out the “best” supplies was an annual ritual we looked forward to, even if, as we got older, we were less eager for summer to end.

Three decades later when it was time for me to shop for school supplies with my then-elementary-school children, the local Staple’s was

the place to go. It had everything we might need: lots of loose-leaf paper, various binders, reinforcements, BIC pens, maybe some glue, and narrow assignment pads. Despite the downside of a big-box store, going shopping for school supplies was still an event, a happening, a family adventure (at least in the early years). My children embraced the process, enjoyed picking out things, crossing items off the list provided by the school. I spent perhaps $35 on each child annually.

Fast forward to now. I am an Oak Park grandparent. My daughter’s daughter will be going to (I won’t name which) kindergarten in August. The list of required supplies provided by her school will mainly be collected, stored and used communally: My thoughts: ■ What happened to the days when kindergartners only had to bring a mat for rest time, a change of clothes (for “accidents”), an apron to protect clothes during finger-painting, the “right” lunch box and thermos and maybe a black-andwhite, speckled notebook?

■ Headphones (but not earbuds)? OK, OK. I get that times have changed. Will some of the kids be wearing the high-priced status ones (BEATs, Sony) or is a cheapo generic one OK since it will likely get lost or destroyed?

■ 22 Elmer glue sticks? What happened to the white paste we used to have in the jar with a stick, or the paste we made with flour and water?

■ Five Clorox EcoClean wipes? Apparently you must buy the right kind (plant-based) or your wrong ones may be confiscated. Also five?

How do they come up with that number? Or do they mean five containers?

DONNA GREENE One View

See DONNA GREENE on page 27

24

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

N

Tyler at the bat

ever in all of baseball lore has there been such a game.

The Mighty Cubs vs. the Lowly White Sox, Wheaton Park District, AA level, 11and 12-year-olds, the regular season drawing to a close and the White Sox yet to taste victory. The league created the White Sox to eke out a fourth team for scheduling purposes. Many players, reportedly, had never played organized ball. The coach never coached before. In his misguided idealism, he shuffled the players into positions like third base where the poor nominee couldn’t get a throw to first base in less than three bounces.

Tyler, my baseball-loving grandson, who has a rifle arm but spent years being overlooked by coaches whose sons got all the attention and playing time, suddenly found himself the elder statesman on a team of hapless beginners. Is it better to be overlooked on a team that wins or be one of the top players on a team that loses?

Yet ever-so-gradually, as the season groaned on, slaughter-rule defeat after defeat, the boys haltingly began to improve, as did the coaching. And the better teams, who wanted to rest their top pitchers, gave their less-experienced kids a chance on the mound against our team.

Which increased our on-base percentage, mostly through walks, but occasionally making contact with the bat when wayward pitches strayed over the plate. With more runners on base, run production increased. In the field, some players began catching the ball. Even catchers sometimes caught the third strike from time to time, preventing the long moonshot of a throw to first, which generally arrived after the runner did.

And our pitchers benefitted from all the extra practice, forced to strike out up to six batters in order to get out of an inning.

Now, in the season’s late stages, they were out to prove that practice never makes perfect but does make improvement.

Then came the overconfident Cubs, counting among their better players Tyler’s twin first cousins, eager for bragging rights.

The game began as if the Cubs expected a quick slaughter, dominating at the plate — but not on the mound. White Sox batters kept getting on, stealing bases, scoring runs. Spectators tried not to mention the obvious: we were keeping pace. Cheering too much might jinx things, but we kept exchanging furtive, knowing looks.

When the Sox actually took the lead, spectators shook their heads in disbelief. So did the Cubs.

Somehow, going into the next to last inning, we were up by 5 runs, and Tyler was sent in to pitch.

He struck out the first batter, who reached base when the pitch got past the catcher. The throw actually beat the runner, which so unnerved the first baseman, he fumbled the ball.

But Tyler was locked in and struck out the next two. The umpire had never called so many strikes in succession! He could hardly believe his eyes! And the catcher somehow gloved strike three!

The next batter hit a pop-up in the general vicinity of the second baseman, who froze, then at the last second lunged and made the most spectacular shoestring catch of an infield fly in the history of baseball, ending up sprawled in the dust dunes, holding up his prize. Even Pete Crow-Armstrong has never made such a catch.

Parents peered at their phones, disbelieving what the Game Changer app was telling them.

“We’re … winning?” Yes! In the bottom of the fifth, we load the bases and the kid who made the great catch connects and sends the ball into the vast beyond, clearing the bases. To the plate strides Tyler, who already has three hits and 5 RBIs. He cocks his elbow and regards the pitcher with steely resolve, a grizzled veteran at the age of 12.

Two strikes later, unperturbed, he readies and waits. The pitch evolves toward the plate!

He swings! Nothing but air! Mighty Tyler has struck out … but wait! The ball is trickling to the backstop! Tyler scampers up the first base line and beats the throw! He steals second! The next batter puts the ball in play and the throw to first is late! Casey Trainor rounds third, heading for home like an antelope in a WTTW Nature special! The first baseman throws a strike to the catcher! Tyler crumples into a heap in the dust, beneath which, somewhere, lies the plate! The umpire extrapolates! Safe! Game over! Slaughter Rule invoked!

Never before in the history of 12-year-olds has there been such a game. Parents and grandparents rise unsteadily from their lawn chairs, unaccustomed to having so much to cheer about, giving their ballers a Standing O, but the players are bounding like a herd of happy gazelles toward the left field grass for the post-game wrapup, where the coach confirms the unthinkable.

The larger number belongs to us! We won!

All is forgiven, every booted ball, every outfielder who can’t bring himself to throw the ball to the cutoff man, every passed ball third strike, all of it has come to fruition.

Finally … there is Joy in Dustville!

KEN

TRAINOR

I

Budget process & the finance committee

am not alleging any violation of Illinois law, nor suggesting that the village lacks the authority to utilize consultants, finance committee meetings, strategic planning sessions, or other public discussions as part of the budget process.

My question is about governance and transparency.

Under Oak Park’s council-manager form of government, the village manager is responsible for preparing and recommending the annual budget to the village board. The board then reviews, debates, modifies if necessary, and ultimately adopts that budget.

Based on recent public discussions, however, it appears that the Village Finance Committee is playing an increasingly significant role in shaping the village’s financial priorities before the manager’s formal budget recommendation is presented.

Public statements indicate that the committee is discussing long-term financial strategy, staffing levels, capital improvement planning, revenue assumptions, fees, and other matters that will influence future budgets. Trustee Derek Eder has noted that the Fiscal Year 2026 budget process involved 11 Finance Committee meetings and five full board meetings. More recently, village staff have described the committee as a forum for providing direction early in the budget cycle so that departments can plan for future staffing and financial needs.

There is nothing inherently improper about this. In fact, thoughtful financial discussion and long-range planning are important responsibilities of local government. Trustees should be engaged in setting priorities, and finance committees can play a valuable role in helping elected officials better understand complex fiscal issues.

The question is how much of the village’s budget direction and priorities are being shaped through the Finance Committee process before the Village Manager’s formal recommendation is

presented to the board, and has the village adequately explained that process to residents?

Residents understand that elected officials establish priorities and that professional staff prepare budgets. What is less clear is where the line currently exists between those functions and how the Finance Committee’s growing role fits within Oak Park’s traditional council-manager structure.

There is also a transparency issue.

As the Finance Committee assumes a larger role in discussing long-term financial planning, staffing levels, capital projects, revenue assumptions, and budget priorities, residents should be able to readily observe those discussions.

While committee meetings are publicly available through audio recordings, they are not presented in a video format, as village board meetings are.

In practice, this significantly limits public access and public awareness. Few residents are likely to listen to hours of audio recordings, and important discussions may never receive meaningful public attention.

If the Finance Committee is playing an increasingly influential role in shaping financial policy and budget priorities, the Village should consider providing video recordings of those meetings. Transparency is not merely about whether information is technically available; it is about whether residents can realistically follow and understand the discussions that influence public policy and spending decisions.

Oak Park residents deserve a clear explanation of how the Finance Committee, village staff, consultants, the village manager, and the village board interact during budget development, and whether that process has evolved in recent years.

A public explanation from the board, Village President Scaman, or village staff would help residents better understand not only the budget itself, but also the process by which budget priorities are established.

Robert Milstein is a former Oak Park village trustee.

BOB

MILSTEIN One View

V I E W P O I N T S S H R U B T O W N

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

by Marc Stopeck

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Viewpoints Guidelines

In support of ending single-family zoning

Many studies have shown that single-family zoning makes housing more expensive for everyone. Here’s one example, which found that relaxing density restrictions “is the most fruitful policy reform for increasing the housing supply and reducing multifamily rents and single-family-house prices.” (https://papers.ssrn.com/ sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4241563) While we can pull examples of specific homes that have been replaced by more expensive homes, overall up-zoning is a free and effective way to reduce housing costs and allow more people to live in our great little village.

Originally, single-family zoning was mostly implemented to maintain racial segregation and continues to perform that function. (https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w28351/w28351.pdf) This makes sense: singlefamily zoning makes it so that only the wealthiest people can afford to live here, and in our society, those are disproportionately white.

The typical home price in Oak Park has risen from about $350K to about $470K over the last six years. I support subsidized housing development and even sit on the Housing

Programs Advisory Board. But just building subsidized housing isn’t enough and isn’t going to have enough of an effect on overall housing costs. We’re a desirable community and it makes sense to build more homes here so more people can live here.

Lastly, a four-plex — or a six-plex like where I live (and which is the only reason I can afford to live in the village) — is not disruptive to the neighborhood. These are gently dense developments that often look similar to the neighborhood around them.

These developments already stud Oak Park because they were built before single-family zoning was implemented.

You probably don’t notice most of them.

Ending single-family zoning isn’t some moonshot policy: it’s a return to the development pattern that was present when most of the village was built. It is only in the years since that zoning laws were implemented to reduce the amount of housing that can be built, promote segregation, and raise housing prices by keeping supply artificially low.

Blaise Denton Oak Park

The goal of the Viewpoints section is to foster and facilitate a community conversation and respectful dialogue. Responsible community voices are vital to community journalism and we welcome them. Space is at a premium and readers’ attention is also limited, so we ask that Viewpoints submissions be brief. Our limit for letters to the editor is 350 words. For One View essays, the limit is 500 words. Shorter is better. If and when we have sufficient space, we print longer submissions, but when space is limited — as it often is — we may ask you to submit a shorter version or hold the piece until space allows us to print it.

We reserve the right to edit submissions. We do not have time to allow the writer to review changes before publication. We also do not have time to do more than superficial fact-checking, and because of our national epidemic of misinformation and conspiracy theories, when writers include statistical evidence to support their opinions, we require them to include the source of that information, such as credible websites, print publications, titles of articles and dates published, etc.

Be as specific as possible so that we and our readers have some way of assessing the credibility of your claims.

Links may also be included for the online version.

We follow the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics: seek the truth and report it and minimize harm.

As a result, we will do our best not to publish pieces that espouse doubtful or debunked theories, demonstrate harmful bias, or cross the line into incivility. While we will do our best not to engage in censorship, we also do not intend to be used as a platform for misinformation. Your sources for fact-checking are a critical step in keeping the discourse honest, decent and respectful.

All submissions must include your first and last name and the municipality in which you live, plus a phone number (for verification only). We do not publish anonymous letters. One View essays should include a sentence at the end about who you are.

If we receive your submission by 5 p.m. on Sunday, you can expect your opinion to be included in that week’s paper (and online), space permitting.

Pieces can be submitted through our online form at oakpark.com or directly to Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor, ktrainor@newswellchicago.org.

For the latter, we prefer attached Word files or plain text included in the email.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR ■ 350-word limit ■ Must include first and last

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

about yourself and/or your connection to the topic ■ Signature details as at left

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

Courts are holding housing progress hostage

C

ommunities across Illinois are working hard to address our statewide housing shortage, yet one barrier that largely exists outside of public view continues to hamper progress. Judicial delays in cases involving foreclosures and property abandonment often stall vital development projects for years. River Forest’s experience at the Lake & Lathrop site is an unfortunate and frustrating example of how prolonged litigation can undermine local efforts to add housing and revitalize key corridors.

For years, the village of River Forest has urged the parties in the Lake & Lathrop foreclosure case to resolve their disputes so that the long-promised redevelopment can finally move forward. Instead, repeated continuances, incomplete filings, and procedural maneuvering have halted progress and left a prominent corner in our community sitting idle.

Within its limited authority, the village has taken steps to move forward, including seeking demolition of deteriorating structures on the site, a request the court denied. Meanwhile, residents and businesses continue to shoulder the consequences of stagnation at one of the most visible sites along the Lake Street Corridor.

This situation is not unique to River Forest. Across Illinois, cities and villages striving to increase their housing supply often find themselves hamstrung by slow-moving court processes that allow private disputes to drag on indefinitely, with no regard for community need or public impact.

As the court process drags on, often for years, young professionals and newly married couples, looking to plant roots in welcoming, vibrant communities like River Forest and not yet in a position to buy a house, get frustrated by the lack of options. The same is true for empty-nesters who want to remain in our community, but who no longer want to deal with the upkeep of a house — or who may have accessibility issues and no longer can maneuver safely in a single-family home. We are working diligently to provide options, such as the proposed development on Madison at Ashland, one of the most walkable, transit-friendly locations in our community.

The proposed Madison & Ashland development is currently going through the review process; but one and done is not sufficient to meet housing need and demand. We need Lake & Lathrop moving forward too.

We all understand and embrace due process, but what we’re seeing is process being hijacked and morphing into paralysis. Courts must be empowered to enforce firm timelines in cases where prolonged inaction derails justice and stalls essential development.

Let’s begin with getting the part of our judicial system that deals with abandoned properties and foreclosures to get serious about solving court cases more expeditiously.

Illinois cannot afford for its housing future to be held hostage by years of avoidable delay.

Cathy Adduci is River Forest’s village president.

CATHY ADDUCI One View

V I E W P O I N T S

Assessment appeal deadline is approaching

June 18 is the last day to appeal the new property tax assessments that the county assessor’s office mailed to Oak Park property owners last month.

If you believe your new assessment is incorrect or unfair and want to appeal it, you should know that staffers at the Oak Park Township Assessor’s Office will be available to help Oak Park property owners prepare and file appeals through June 18. To set up an appeal appointment, you should call the township during regular business hours. The number is 708-383-8005.

Since we are now just a week before the deadline, I urge taxpayers in need of help to set up an appointment soon.

Ali ElSaffar

Oak Park Township assessor

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

More aesthetic traffic-calming

I would like to add to the pushback about the traffic-calming measures all around Oak Park. In particular, the sticks that keep popping up around the village. They make our community look like it is constantly under construction. I live on East Avenue, which has always been a problem when it comes to cars speeding down our street, especially since they are trying to catch the green light at Roosevelt.

The village has cul-de-sac’d most streets to the east of us and put speed bumps to the west of us. While these measures don’t bother me, they do increase the load that East Avenue has to carry from cars trying to avoid or go around them.

I’m all for speed bumps and would gladly welcome one on East Avenue. I believe it is the only way traffic will slow down. The sticks on Fillmore and East only make it harder to make a right turn, but once cars have done this, they speed down the rest of the street.

This isn’t a fight about driver’s rights over safety. I believe we can have both and add a little beauty in there as well. Get rid of the sticks and replace them with bumpouts.

Kathleen Paoli Oak Park

Zoning-change referendum?

While I am concerned about any change from the current single-family home zoning policy, I am even more concerned about the whole decision making citizen involvement an element of the proposal to eliminate single-family home zoning.

I have questions for our village board in this regard. Have they studied other cities to see if these programs were successful? Have they considered holding meetings throughout the village, involving all of the trustees, before voting on this measure? There is a common forum used to involve the citizen voters in the decision-making process in order to answer questions, explain why the board thinks this will work, and get input from the citizens of Oak Park. And given the enormity of this change, have they thought of presenting the proposal to the voters of the village of Oak Park for a binding referendum?

Terrie Rymer Oak Park

Senior moments or wisdom moments?

This year, the undersigned participated in a Yale research study for older adults residing in Forest Park. We’d like to share some insights from this experience.

Question: Who do you think forgets their jacket more often? Ten-year-olds or 70-year-olds? From approximately 1996 forward, one often hears the term “senior moments,” implying a state of decline or dementia. Recently on NBC, a weather reporter made an on-air mistake and, jokingly, said he had had a “senior moment.”

We now know from researchers who study cognitive processes that people vary greatly in brain function as they age.

The above-mentioned reporter was in his 40s and, clearly, is forgetful. Memory loss and forgetfulness can be due to many conditions other than aging, such as head trauma, infection, mental-health issues, lack of sleep or nutrients.

What if, instead, we were to incorporate “wisdom moments” into our nomenclature? Moments that affirm accumulated life skills and an ever-widening self-awareness and identity that only arrives as we grow older? It is way past time in American culture that we emphasize the positive contributions of older adults. Let’s reward and celebrate this journey toward becoming one’s true self.

“The years teach much which the days never knew” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Brooke McMillin , Charlie Childs, Delores Wheeler Active Community Engagement participants

V I E W P O I N T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

More than just a flag-raising

My name is Sheila Radford-Hill. I am the former chief diversity officer at Dominican University and a current adjunct professor who teaches at Dominican in the First Year Seminar and the Applied Social Justice PhD program. For the last five years, I’ve worked with the River Forest Juneteenth Committee to raise the Juneteenth flag in front of village hall and the library.

Our community hosts many celebrations of culture, heritage, and identities. It’s part of what makes us who we are. But at this time, the Juneteenth flag-raising is more than a “feel good” event. The celebration is evidence of our community’s determination to remember the sacrifices of those who came before us and who left a legacy of commitment for future generations.

The Juneteenth flag-raising is a partnership between the village of River Forest, the River Forest Public Library, women and minority-owned vendors, and people of goodwill. Its origin story and impact deserve to be shared throughout the OPRF communities. Juneteenth calls us to understand the need to educate neighbors to fortify our resistance to a divisive political culture.

As we celebrate 250 years of nationhood, events like Juneteenth remind us of who we really are as Americans and inspire our children to become leaders of America’s promise of liberty and justice for all.

I hope you will join us for the event.

Sheila Radford-Hill River Forest

DONNA GREENE from page 23 ■ And hand sanitizers? Really? In lieu of good old-fashion soap?

■ Bring your own Play-Doh? One container? What size? What color? OK. This will last about a day before the lids are off and it dries out.

What happened to the days when affluent school districts provided most of these supplies in exchange for a generous amount of tax dollars? (It should be noted that even this is not enough: School-based PTOs raise funds to supplement classroom supplies even further, and many teachers use their own funds for added supplies.

Separate from who should pay for what, is that the fun of shopping in person for

Zoning change & affordable housing

Our governor and our village president are endorsing a zoning change by adding multiunit homes in single-family blocks. The stated goal is to add affordable housing. While this may sound like a good idea, 2-, 3-, & 4-flats going up on village lots will increase the number of residents while ultimately changing the ambience of Oak Park.

And will it achieve affordable housing?

Several years ago we were told that we needed to add to our population. Up went high-rises: Albion, Emerson, ReNew, Eleven 33, Oak Park Place & Porter, along with the older 100 Forest Place. This certainly added to our population and also created a congested concrete jungle.

Consequently, we are living with looming high-rises and parking congestion.

Back to today and the latest push to add affordable housing to Oak Park. The multi-unit home. This change will modify our zoning ordinances, and we need to know the rules. Will we be giving up all control of future zoning, letting contractors decide what and where to build? Contractors/developers will build in response to the market. Will low- or middleincome properties give them the return they want? I think not. Also, how many 4-flats can one block absorb?

I vote no and hope our village board will do so, too.

Shelly Uslenghi

school supplies has been lost.

To make things easier for an adult who has to search out these supplies, the school happily offers a one-place buying option: School Tool Box. For $160.29 (plus tax?), they will ship the kindergarten supplies to your home (headphones not included; shipping free if you spend $85). This is not just a great convenience but presumably a bargain as well; on Amazon the supplies cost well over $225 (cheap headsets, free shipping on Prime).

The School Tool Box also doesn’t include a $5 requested donation. Or the $25 or $50 donation the site suggests, which are “available to donate to help purchase supplies for a student [sic] in need.”

The 5th grade box for this same school is a whopping $199.63. It includes items like latex-free eraser caps and rulers.

Oh and yes, you must send a roll of

Oak Park

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

27

Mental health care is accessible

When a young person in our community is struggling, families often don’t know where to turn. Long waitlists, insurance limitations, and cost can delay care at the very moment it’s needed most. Although Mental Health Awareness Month in May helped bring greater attention to the importance of seeking support, access to care is still not always equal.

At Oak Park Township, mental health support is available to residents at no cost. Through Youth and Family Services and Senior Services, individuals and families can connect with counseling, crisis support, and guidance without the barriers that too often stand in the way.

For youth ages 6–18, the Township’s Youth Engagement Program (YEP) offers short-term mental health services with no current waitlist. Support is designed to meet families where they are — whether that’s at school, in the community, or at the township — making it easier to get help early. Services are also available in Spanish, helping ensure support is accessible to more families throughout our community.

That flexibility can make a meaningful difference. When services are accessible and timely, young people are more likely to engage, and families are better supported through challenging moments.

Mental health needs don’t follow a schedule, and they don’t pause dur-

paper towels and two boxes of Ziploc bags. (Band-Aids and colored paper are optional add ons.)

The costs of boxes for other area schools seems to be less, but that may be deceptive. The $81 kindergarten box at another school does not include (the site says in a helpful pop-up ad), the required standard-size school backpack or bookbag. (It notes that smaller sizes are not acceptable.) Nor does it include the required art smock and change of clothes.

And by the way, you will need a “securetop water bottle” to label and bring daily.

Yet another local kindergarten box at $78.46 includes the warning: “Students may be asked to replenish supplies at the teacher’s request throughout the year.”

(Oh my! Maybe they will keep a credit card on file for automatic supply replenishment!)

All of this is distinct from something

ing the summer months. That’s why township clinicians continue working year-round, ensuring continuity of care for those who need it.

For older adults, mental health support is also available through Senior Services, offering connection and counseling that address isolation, life transitions, and aging-related challenges. Programs such as Thriving in Aging (TAP), Caregiver Resource Center (CRC), and the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) provide structured support for older adults experiencing depression, as well as guidance and relief for caregivers.

These services help individuals stay connected, maintain independence, and improve overall well-being.

While private practices play an important role in the broader mental health landscape, community-based services ensure that support is available to everyone, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay.

Mental health care should not be out of reach. In Oak Park and River Forest, there is a place to turn. To learn more about available services, visit oakparktownship.org or contact Youth and Family Services at (708) 445-2727 or Senior and Disability Services at (708) 383-8060.

Because when it comes to mental health, access matters — and so does community.

Stephanie Scaletta

Oak Park Township

called “student fees.” Here in Oak Park, that is $180 per child per year for the elementary schools – more for middle school. To me, it seems like just a way to get around raising more money via taxes.

Here are some ideas to raise even more.

The schools need to emulate the airlines.

How about “priority” lining up; no more doing it randomly or alphabetically or by height.

How about paying for seat selection?

Extra charge to be put in the back where you can’t be seen by the teacher or in the front for those who have vision or hearing challenges.

How about paying for unlimited use of a bathroom (and the paper towels you already generously paid for)?

You just can’t keep good ideas from spreading.

Donna Greene is a volunteer copy editor for Wednesday Journal/NewswellChicago.

28

O B I T U A R I E S

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

Mary Lou Anderson, 83 Teacher

Mary Lou Anderson, 83, of Lombard, formerly of Oak Park, died on April 20, 2026, with her family at her bedside.

Born at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis to Rev. Harry Ring and Theodora Caldemeyer Ring, she earned a degree in elementary education from Elmhurst College. After graduating in 1964, she returned to teach in O’Fallon, Missouri. She enjoyed the second-graders as it was during the space race and the children talked about what piece of the spacecraft their parents worked on at the McDonald-Douglas Plant in St. Louis.

Mary Lou taught at Berwyn District 98 for several years and then moved to Oak Park District 97 doing primarily long-term subbing, kindergarten through 5th grade.

She was married to Leland (Lee) Anderson for 60+ years. After the wedding on Sept. 4, 1965, they moved to Oak Park and raised two children, Michael and Barbra.

She was active in the Bell Choir at First United Church of Oak Park, taught Sunday school, served on various boards and committees of the church.

Mary Lou and Lee camped with their family starting with a tent, graduating over the years through pop-up campers, a travel trailer, and the last 17 years with a 5th wheel trailer. They covered 49 states and most of the provinces in Canada both with their children and in retirement.

A voracious reader, she enjoyed sitting on the deck with a cup of coffee at home and later on the balcony at Beacon Hill Continuous Care Retirement Community in Lombard. She also enjoyed sewing for the family, especially needlepoint and cross stitch.

Mary Lou was the mother of Michael (Jackie) Anderson and Barbra (Dave) Kopka, the grandmother of Parker (Meg) Anderson, Katherine Anderson and Emily and Grace Kopka; the great-grandmother of Eleanor and Porter Anderson; the sister of Lois (Bill) Schubert, Carolyn (David) Kniker and brother of Gordon (Kay) Ring; aunt of Tim (Julie) Schubert, Beth (Jim) Berringer, Kevin (Heather) Kniker, Karin (Joe) Terry, Chris (Jamie) Ring and Jen (Sam) Ring-Tietz; and many cousins and other family.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on June 27 at First United Church of Oak Park,

848 Lake St., Oak Park IL 60301. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Lou’s memory would be appreciated to Beyond Hunger (www.gobeyondhunger.org) at 848 Lake St., Oak Park, IL 60301 or a food pantry of your choosing.

Arrangements were handled by the Original Kuratko Family, Brian D. Kuratko - Director.

Deanna Nightengale, 75 Teacher

Deanna Nightengale, 75, died peacefully in her own bed on April 29, 2026, following complications from pancreatic cancer. Her life was defined by devotion, generosity, and joy. A longtime resident of Oak Park, she poured her heart into every role she embraced. Her family was her world and her students were an extension of it, touched by her patience, her kindness, and her belief in their potential.

Her dad, Eugene, was her hero and role model, shaping her sense of strength, humor, and compassion.

She found happiness in a good book, a thriving garden, and cheering — loudly and proudly (often at a distance) — for her favorite sports teams, especially when her children were on the field or in the pool.

Even after a stroke earlier in her life affected her communication and mobility, she continued to love, connect, and show up. She met challenges with strength, humor, and a determination that inspired. She taught by example — how to persevere, and how to find joy.

She leaves behind her husband, Brian; her children, Emily (Al), Mark (Reba), and Jane (Chris); her grandchildren, Ruby, Roxy, Sorin, Cody, Beau, Tate and Colin. She leaves behind a legacy of warmth, compassion, and love.

Her spirit will continue to bloom in the lives she shaped.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to pancan.org or https://seniorsresourcecenter.org/donate.

John Hosty, 71

Democratic committeeman John F. Hosty, 71, of River Forest, died on May 29, 2026. June 9, 1954, he was a former deputy assessor with Cook County and a longtime Democratic committeeman, represent-

ing River Forest. A huge White Sox fan, he loved his grandchildren, BBQ, spending time in Michigan and traveling with his wife, Lissa. He was a huge supporter of all things Fenwick High School and served as an assistant softball coach for the Friars.

John was the husband of Elizabeth “Lissa” (nee McAndrews) Hosty; the father of Caitlin (Hunter) Springate, the grandfather of John, Martin and Caroline Springate; the brother of P.J. (Kathy), Terry (Ellen), Della Hosty, the late Larry (Nancy), the late Thomas (Susan) Hosty III and the late Robert (the late Peggy) Hosty; the brother-in-law of the late Patrick McAndrews, Megan (Tom) McEnroe, Nancy McAndrews, Sheila (Tim) Toohey, and John (Katie) McAndrews; and the uncle of many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family and friends will be received at the Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester on June 9 from 3 until 8 p.m. with funeral Mass on June 10 at St. Luke Church in River Forest at 10 a.m. Inurnment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory would be appreciated to Misericordia Heart of Mercy or the Fenwick High School Fathers Club. Arrangements were handled by the Original Kuratko Family, Brian D. Kuratko - Director.

Bob Compton, 88 Welder, probation officer

Robert Compton, 88, died peacefully in his sleep on June 1, 2026 after being on dialysis for 14 years. Born on April 11, 1938 on a farm in South Louisiana, he worked hard at an early age doing farm chores.

He taught himself how to weld and became an expert when he came north to the Chicago area.

He graduated from Texas A&M as a sociology major and went through ROTC then joined the Air Force in the early 1960s. He was proud of his military service.

Meeting his wife, Judy, a native Oak Parker, gave him the stability he needed to finally settle and they built a life together in Oak Park for 42 years, where he unleashed his creativity and his prowess as a welder. While working as a probation officer in the federal courts, he

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM started building an addition to their house at age 50. Taking an early retirement, he joyfully worked hard on building.

In addition to his wife, Judy, he is survived by his sons, Bob Patton, Keith and Michael, along with grandchildren and even greatgrands, too.

A fall memorial service at Unity Temple is being planned. In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated toward the maintenance of Unity Temple, where he was a longtime member.

Mary Gerut, 94

Found joy in the written word Mary Ann E. Gerut, 94, of Oak Park, died peacefully in the early morning of May 9, 2026, in Hinsdale. Born in Evanston to John and Emma Creighton, she graduated from Notre Dame High School in Chicago. She married John Gerut, of Chicago, in May 1955. She loved Baroque, choral, and classical music. A prolific reader, she also found great joy in the written word, journaling, crafting short stories, and sharing her experiences through a pair of published articles.

She was an active member of the Unity Temple Unitarian Church and a founding member of the choir.

A single parent, she worked many jobs, including secretary at several legal firms and ad agencies. She taught at Alcuin Montessori, worked at the Hephzibah after-school program and later with developmentally disabled adults at Seguin. She was persistent, learning to drive in her late 40s, and graduating at 53 with a degree in education from Rosary College (now Dominican University). She taught English to seventh- and eighth-graders at area Catholic schools. A teacher at heart, she loved talking to her children’s friends and spending time with younger people. She was proud of her children and grandchildren.

A lover of animals and wildlife, she volunteered at Brookfield Zoo and gave when she could to nature and wildlife organizations. Her chocolate chip cookies were legendary.

Mary is survived by her children, Mary Kay Javors (Jeff), Graceann Foulkes (Fred), and John (Julie), and her grandchildren, Sarah Clare, Garrett, Creighton, Harris, Jackson and Leah.

A service will be held at Unity Temple on Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m. Contributions may be made to Hephzibah Children’s Association or Unity Temple.

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

29

SPORTS Fenwick softball finishes third in Class 3A Whether pitching or hitting, best friends Bigham and Kateeb come through

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

In softball, only eight teams out of the hundreds across the state over the course of a given season finish with a victory. This year, Fenwick was one of them.

The Friars secured third place, Saturday, in Class 3A with a 1-0 thriller over of downstate Dunlap at Peoria’s Louisville Slugger Sports Complex, behind a two-hitter from sophomore Sofia Kateeb, including a three up, three down seventh inning.

Her best friend, junior Bella Bigham, eked out the only run of the game in the top of the sixth inning with a speedy RBI. But it was the young Kateeb who pitched like an old pro, giving up just two hits and striking out a pair.

“I was just trying to throw to contact, because my defense was backing me up on every play, so I wanted to get through it quick,” she said. “We really wanted to finish with a win, and just wanted to end up playing and balling out.”

As for Bigham, a Bucknell recruit, she TOM JENNINGS/IMAGES BY TAJ

The Fenwick High School softball team with the IHSA Class 3A third-place trophy following a 1-0 victory over Dunlap, June 6.

COURTESY OF FENWICK HIGH SCHOOL

Fenwick pitcher Sofia Kateeb (center) is hugged by catcher Ellie Brady (left) as third baseman Alex Purta (right) gets ready to join in the celebration following the Friars’ 1-0 victory over Dunlap.

had full confidence in her best friend to slam the door on any Dunlap rally in the seventh, which she did.

“She got it,” Bigham said, “and she did it all by herself. She pitched great the whole weekend and, frankly, the whole season.”

Hear, hear, echoed coach Valeria Jisa, whose squad finished 23-12.

“She’s a force,” Jisa said of Kateeb. “I call her a tiger on a stage, pacing, doing her work. She is incredible. She is a fun pitcher to watch. She competes fiercely in everything she does.”

Not everything went exactly to plan at state, however. In a state semifinal Friday, a game the Friars lost 9-3 to defending champions Chatham Glenwood, it was Bigham who was the star, going 3-for-4 with a double, and three runs scored. Not bad, considering her future Bucknell coaches were tuned in online watching her.

“Being my shortstop and a captain on my team as a junior and going to state in 2024, it’s what you want from your players in a big game,” Jisa said. “It sparked and ignited the players. This is the time; leave

it all out there.”

Doubtless the Bucknell coaches were impressed with Bigham against Dunlap. In that crucial sixth inning, she reached on a fielding error and advanced to second, which drove in senior Sophia Leonardi.

“My only goal was to get Sophia to score,” Bigham said. “I took advantage of second base they had open.”

In the bottom of the seventh, it was up to Kateeb, who induced two flyouts before striking out sophomore Lexi Hohenbery to end it.

As with any high school team in any sport, Jisa, in her third season, will say goodbye to a solid group of seniors, including centerfielder Leonardi, a DePauw volleyball recruit, and second baseman Gianna Pascatore, along with reserve outfielders Mckenna Poszluszny and Marge Price.

But for Jisa and her returnees, the theme for next year has already been set.

“Third time’s a charm,” she said, referring to third-place finishes in 2026 and 2024. “I’ve never been so motivated by these players.”

30

S P O R T S

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

BILL STONE

The Huskies volleyball team poses with their second-place trophy.

OPRF boys volleyball finishes second in state Senior-led Huskies just miss ultimate goal of first state championship

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Oak Park and River Forest High School boys volleyball senior starters Matthew Proskey and Henry Ohlhoff live two houses apart and basically have known each other their entire lives. Their volleyball bond also goes a long way.

“I’ve never really played with setter other than Matthew. I’ve been on a team with him every single year, club or high school, five years in a row,” said Ohlhoff, who will attend Wisconsin. “We’ve got to go different paths eventually, but there’s no one I’d rather spend my career with. He’s a great setter and great person.”

They were just part of the Huskies’ large, talented senior class that nearly made history Saturday. Seeking the program’s first state championship, OPRF was edged 25-19, 22-25, 25-20 by longtime rival Glenbard West at Bolingbrook in their fourth meeting this season.

The second-place state finish for the Huskies (33-6) is their fourth, but first since 1998.

OPRF has finished third three times, including 2023, and fourth once.

Nine of the 10 Huskies who played in the championship were seniors besides stand-

out outside hitter Trayce Chrusfield.

“It’s been one hell of a run. I’m glad I did it with my entire team because everyone contributed. I’m very proud of everyone and glad that we got at least two (second) out of four,” said Proskey, who will play at McKendree University.

“I feel like (Glenbard West) just played a little better than we did. A few more digs for sure, that definitely got their momentum a lot higher. (But) everyone gave their all.”

Chrusfield had a match-high 18 kills, three service aces and eight digs. Other stat leaders were Proskey (39 assists, 4 kills), Wesley Kochendorfer (11 kills, 2 block assists), libero Gus Leman (9 digs, 6 assists), Henry Hullinger (7 kills), Ohlhoff (6 kills) and Rohan Champaneri and Alex Lima (6 digs each). Starter William Enlow and Javi Grillo also played.

Glenbard West (39-2) won its sixth state championship and sixth straight trophy with two more titles.

“This was an extremely special team.

Even from day one, this was their ultimate goal to get here. Unfortunately, we just fell short to a more experienced (state finals) team,” OPRF coach Justin Cousin said.

“We fought hard, worked hard and refused to quit. That’s all a coach could ask.

They won’t know how good they were until a few years from now. Then they realize how lucky you are to get to play in the state championship.”

OPRF led the third set 14-12 but the Hilltoppers scored the next four points and never trailed again.

Leman’s ace and a plane violation tied the set at 17-17. A service error and four kills put Glenbard West ahead 22-18. The Huskies closed to 22-20 on kills by Kochendorfer and Proskey but the Hilltoppers answered with two kills and captured match point on a double hit.

OPRF led 47-42 in kills but had a lower attack percentage (.261) with 17 errors versus eight by Glenbard West (.337). Glenbard West led 8-3 in blocks for points and 41-40 in digs. OPRF led 4-2 in aces but with nine errors.

“Pretty much everyone has been around volleyball on this team. It’s just that experience that was so beneficial to us and let us do great things,” said Kochendorfer, who will room with Champaneri at Illinois.

“That was definitely a high-level (title) match. I think they really played amazing defense. They were really good at stopping us and slowing us down. They were good at controlling the pace. I thought we played a

great game (too).”

Team captains were Kochendorfer and Leman and Proskey, who were 2023 state reserves. The Huskies lost in sectionals the past two seasons.

“This season’s been all I could ever ask for as a Huskie,” said Leman, who will attend Hope. “It sucked losing the past two years in the sectional final but that just kind of lit a fire in us. I’m so proud of the team, getting back here.”

The Huskies won the teams’ first meeting April 14 in winning the West Suburban Conference Silver Division but lost the next two at tournaments May 2 and 9 without Chrusfield, a member of the USA Volleyball Under-19 national team.

“It’s been beautiful. It’s been great playing with (our seniors) in general. Even in practice, it’s always competitive,” Chrusfield said.

In the semifinals, both teams needed three sets after losing the first set. OPRF rallied 1625, 25-17, 25-12 over third-place Marist (31-8), the other team that beat Glenbard West.

“I think what was special (this season) was the bond I made with my teammates.

We practice a lot but I might have spent more time hanging out with them outside of volleyball,” Champaneri said.

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026 31 HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI • Deadline: Monday at 5 p.m.

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PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD Notice of Public Hearing Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission June 25, 2026, at 7:00 PM

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD Notice of Public Hearing Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission June 25, 2026, at 7:00 PM

NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue Illinois for the purpose of considering a request from Alex Hosie and Jessica Landau for Variations from:

NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue Illinois for the purpose of considering a request from Andrew Dockweiler for Variations from:

Section 62.75 Bulk, Yard and Space requirements to allow an increase in the Maximum Building Coverage from 30% to 36 %

Section 62.75 Bulk, Yard and Space requirements to allow an increase in the Maximum Building Coverage from 30% to 32.27 %

to allow a detached garage for an existing single family home in an existing “A” Single Family Residential District for property located at 3734 Raymond Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513

to allow a new detached garage in an existing “A” Single Family Residential District for property located at 3741 Morton Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLNOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT, PROBATE DIVISION ESTATE OF Leslie Morris Golden, DECEASED. NO. 26 P 3596.

Notice is given of the death of the above named decedent. Letters of office were issued to Bruce P. Golden, 943 Forest Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302, as Independent Executor, whose attorney of record is David I Susman (9543), 6968 W. North Ave., CHICAGO, IL 60707 .

Notice to Heirs and Legatees Notice is given to Cheryl Balaban, Beth Balaban and Susan Balaban, who are heirs or legatees in the above proceeding to probate a will and whose names or addresses are not stated in the petition to admit the will to probate, that an order was entered by the court on 05/28/2026, admitting the will to probate.

Legal Description:

THE NORTH 60 FEET OF LOT 6 IN BLOCK 21 IN PORTIA MANOR, BEING FREDERICK H. BARTLETT’S SUBDIVISION IN THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 34, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

THE NORTH HALF OF THE SOUTH HALF OF LOT 4 IN BLOCK 20 IN PORTIA MANOR, BEING FREDERICK H. BARTLETT’S SUBDIVISION IN THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 34, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED FEBRUARY 8, 1915, AS DOCUMENT 5573274, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. (PIN 15-34-320-024-0000) The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/or written comments. Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Libby Popovic, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513, lpopovic@brookfieldil.gov, or 708485-1113. Oral or written testimony may be given during the public hearing. The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Please reference PZC Case 26-09. Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall. By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman.

Published in RB Landmark June 10, 2026

Legal Description:

(PIN 15-34-319-007-0000) The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/or written comments. Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Libby Popovic, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513, lpopovic@brookfieldil.gov, or 708485-1113. Oral or written testimony may be given during the public hearing. The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Please reference PZC Case 26-10. Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall. By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman.

Published in RB Landmark June 10, 2026

Within 42 days after the effective date of the original order of admission you may file a petition with the court to require proof of the will by testimony of the witnesses to the will in open court or other evidence, as provided in section 5/6-21 of the Probate Act of 1975 (Ill. Compiled Stat. 1992, Ch. 755, par. 5/6-21).

You also have the right under section 5/8-1 of the Probate Act (Ill. Compiled Stat. 1992, Ch. 755, par.

5/8-1) to contest the validity of the will by filing a petition with the court within 6 months after admission of the will to probate. The estate will be administered without court supervision, unless under section 5/28-4 of the Probate Act (Ill. Compiled Stat. 1992, Ch. 755, par. 5/28-4) any interested person terminates independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the clerk.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the clerk in Room 1202, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL, or with the representative, or both, on or before December 9, 2026, or, if mailing or delivery of a notice from the representative is required by section 5/18-3 of the Probate Act of 1975, the date stated in that notice. Any claim not filed on or before that date is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered by the claimant to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions. To e-file, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider. Visit http://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/service-providers.htm to learn more and to select a service provider. If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http://www. illinoiscourts.gov/FAQ/gethelp.asp.

Published in Wednesday Journal June 10, 17, 24, 2026

In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, this is to advise you that the Riverside Township Mental Health Board will hold the meetings below at the listed locations: Mental Health Board Meeting Notices RTMHB Meeting Wednesday, June 17th @ 6:30p.m.

Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Room 30, Riverside, Illinois If you have any questions, please contact Board President, Adam Wilt, at awilt.rtmhb@gmail.com or call Adam at 708-804-4400.

Published in RB Landmark June 10, 2026

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION CHARLES SCHWAB BANK, SSB Plaintiff, -v.EMILY RENO, BRIAN RENO, HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK S/B/M TO TCF NATIONAL BANK Defendants 2025 CH 09450 718 N. RIDGELAND AVE. OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 31, 2026, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 6, 2026, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 718 N. RIDGELAND AVE., OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-308009-0000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $108,824.02.

Sale terms: If sold to anyone other than the Plaintiff, 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation.

No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in ‘’AS IS’’ condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g) (4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 151701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650, Chicago, IL, 60602 (312) 5419710. Please refer to file number 25 1660.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc. com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650 Chicago IL, 60602 312-541-9710 E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com Attorney File No. 25 1660 Attorney Code. 40342 Case Number: 2025 CH 09450 TJSC#: 46-842 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2025 CH 09450 I3287974

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g) (4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 151701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact Alexander Potestivo, POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610, Chicago, IL, 60606 (312) 2630003. Please refer to file number 316583.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc. com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610 Chicago IL, 60606 312-263-0003 E-Mail: ilpleadings@potestivolaw. com Attorney File No. 316583 Attorney Code. 43932 Case Number: 2025 CH 08998 TJSC#: 46-1250 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2025 CH 08998 I3288451

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF CSMC 2021-RPL4 TRUST Plaintiff, -v.PATRICIA M. HOOKS F/K/A PATRICIA M. MELGAR, MARK A. HOOKS, WASHINGTON PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. Defendants 2025 CH 08998 715 WASHINGTON BLVD, APT. 1D OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 4, 2026, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 7, 2026, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 715 WASHINGTON BLVD, APT. 1D, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-07-418021-1004 The real estate is improved with a condominium.

The judgment amount was $162,819.52.

Sale terms: If sold to anyone other than the Plaintiff, 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation.

No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in ‘’AS IS’’ condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

32

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

STAY STRONG! YOU WILL GO FAR!

Assistant Majority Leader Camille Y. Lilly, 78th District 6937 W. North Ave, Oak Park 708-613-5939

Assistant Majority Leader Senate President

Camille Y. Lilly

Don Harmon

Senate President Don Harmon, 39th District 6941 W. North Ave, Oak Park 708-848-2002 www.donharmon.org

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

OAKPARK.COM Hannah Maureen Mangan

Fiona Maeve Mitchell

Jacob Rylan Marks

Raj Sulin Mitra

Michayla Eve Marks

Deasia Gabrielle Modacure

Kevin Marquina Finnegan John Marron Taria Martin Allen

OPRF2026 GRADUATES

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

Parker Grant Moen Trevor Grant Moen Tariq Khaled Khalidi Mohamed

Audrey Elizabeth Martin

Madeline Rayne Molise

Jalen Amir Martin

Delilah Therese Molony

Maria Jose Martinez Manon

Colby C McGee

Matthew Maximus Mondragon

Ana Paula Martinez Sanchez

Ian McKinney

Franco Charles Montero

Nicolas Martinez-Cordoba

Alexander McNeilly

Courtney Lynn Moore

Daniel Martinez

Hollyn Gwendolen Meadows

Ruth Olivia Moore

Isabela Martinez

Vladimir Andres Medrano

Jocelyn Gisselle Moran

Nitai Sebastian Meht Maser

Ayelet Rose Meir

Louis Morelli

Christopher Mason-Martinez

Alexa Fernanda Melendez Zuniga

Clare Sheehan Moroney

Adrien Mason

Ella Rebecca Mellman

Grace Kathleen Moroney

Taylor Mathias-Edwards

Jonah Mellman

Liam Sheehan Moroney

William L Matlock

Van Carter Melodia

Jonathan Joseph Morowczynski

Katherine Roma Mattes

Joffre Orlando Mendoza-Macias

Ana Sofia Mrotzek

Jayden Taron Matthews

Micah Charles Merrill

John Matz

TODD A. BANNOR

Lila Rose Valentine Ncho Allepot

Malik Ojikutu

Charles James Peterson

Shalimar Akhira Muhammad

John Wayne Nelson

Esai Oliveras-Gray

Lange Baker Peterson

Santino Messineo

Ishika Mundhra

Pierre Terrell Nelson

Victor Antonio Oliveras

Samuel James Phelan

Evan Yeonsu Max

Lucy Simone Mikos

Benjamin Munoz

Emilio Julian Nery

Fabrizzio S Olivo

Philippe Ronald Pierre

Julia Yeonah Max

Thomas Massouh Saul Milinovich

Ella Shaniya Murray

Quentin Nettles

Mena Marie Ollins

Alessandra Guadalupe Pina

Vivien Marie May

Boris Avery Miller

Madeline Murray

Theodore Paul Neuner

Alexander James Wisdom Olson

Mia Yamamoto Pinc

Kenneth McCaffrey

Isabella Annamarie Miller

Alexandra Spillane Ormond

Reyes Daniel Pineda-Rothstein

Aria Luna McCarthy

Jaida Symone Miller

N

Guinnevere Grace Neville Rowan Catherine Neville

Justin Ormsby

George Peter Ping

Jude Scott Kline Miller

Leena Sumati Nagaraj

Sofia Crawford Nicolosi

Amalia Eneida Ortuno

Cecilia Piper

Angelina McCracken

Bailey Simone Minish-Murray

Paloma Lucia Najera

Oliver Richard Nieslu Nielsen

Xavier Raymond Ostler-Still

Javonte Marcell Pittman

Madelyn Grace McCreary

Preeti Anika Mirmira

Alex Miguel Naranjo

Eliza Quinn Niewoehner

Aidan Rhys Owens

Lucia Quinlan Pohl

Owen Andrew McFadden

Ravi Cole Mitchell-Chablani

Sofia Bella Natale

Henry Thomas Niksch

P

Joshua Delos Pomerenk

Isa Simone McClendon

A9

Evelyn Margaret Nohalty James Zuiker Nolan Tarrell Ontario Noriega Max King Norling-Christensen Shavon A Norsworthy Ellyana Grace Nowinski Aiden John Noyes

Elio Pakulski Andrew Gerald Palmer Konstantin Vasilios Pantazopoulos Zoe Marie Panton Madden Parks Jacqueline Pearl Passariello

Nick Posey Sabrina Elise Povilaitis Nicholas Oliver Silveira Powell Sarah Ann Prestes Matthew Thomas Proskey Kento Marcus Przybysz Oliver Downey Puntillo

O

Ailey Quinn Patel

R

Niani Mali Patton

Elise Violet Raack

Katherine Aba Grace Obed

Lakshmi Sharadha Patwari

Madeline Louise Rabichow

Jacqueline Rose O’Brien

Martina Pehar

Yonatan Lea Rafter

Ayanna O’Connor

Siofra Marie Pellettieri

Sabrina Rahman

Laila O’Connor

Heidy Lucia Perez

Katelyn Audrey Raihle

David Josiah Ogunsanya

Starr Lashay Perry

Carolyn Toshiko Rainey

Henry Jay Ohlhoff

Kingston Isaiah Petersen

Susana Raisbeck

Juliana Nungaray

TODD A. BANNOR

Marco Padro

A10

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

Antonio Gabriel Ramirez

Penelope Jane Sanchez

Luciana Lourdes Johnson Ramirez

Audrey Sandahl

Roselina Marie Ramirez

Malia Imani Santiago

Lyla Ramos Sofia Angelie Ramos Nayeli Grace Rische Rashbrook

OPRF2026 GRADUATES

Ellias Ray

Robert Daniel Reid William Aaron Reinholdt Gianna C Reyes Sophie Charlotte Rietveld Ishita Corinne Ritchie Luke Roberts Sebastian Robinson Sydney Robinson

Dominique Giovannina Santos Maria Alexandra Saravia Elizabeth Osei Sarpey Naana Akuba Sarpey

Lauryn Olivia Reckamp Kali Parker Regan

OAKPARK.COM

Isabella Saylor Vanna Victoria Ross Adrienne Ruth Ruehle-May Isaiah Henri Ruehle-May Benjamin Ruess Sabina Ruff Avaa Sunaai Ruffer Jaylen Runnels Luka Martin John Rupp Sydney Rutkowski

David Alexander Schiff Natalie Grace Schiff Mora Rose Schigelone Violet Clare Schnizlein Jackson Bill Kim Schott Eleanor Marguerite Schultz Quincy Truman Schultz Leilani Elizabeth Seals Miya Lei Segawa

Liam Daniel Lambshe Roche

S

Daniel Adolfo Rodriguez-Bovio

Kinan Atef Said

Michael William Lee Serritella

Tess McNay Rodriguez

Hailee Salas

Walter Jerome Shannon

Yurij Andreevich Rogachev

Benjamin Salazar

Lilian Veronica Shaulis

Isaac Nathaniel Rompala

Dylan Chihiro Sameshima

Sanaa Elise Shaw

Vaughn Salvador Sekulich TODD A. BANNOR

OPRF High School Graduating senior Micah Merrill sings the National Anthem at the school’s graduation ceremony on Sunday May 31.

Eleanor Marie Shea

Paris Spencer

Ainsley Cecelia Teague

Graham Henry Shea

Julian Everett St Pierre

Olive Beulah Tepfer

Omar Shehada

Jaylen Stanley

Jayne Kunji Terretta

Samantha Elizabeth Shelton

Sebastian Jordan Stanton

Colin Thompson

Lucy Diana Shepherd

Ella Steffen

Yvette Angela Thrasher

Anika Haley Sherman

Seth Cameron Steiner

Bailey Tiffen

Charlie Gwendolyn Shindeldecker

Rowan Michael Steinman

Amari Tillis

Jonathan Sibley-Diggs

Evan Nathaniel Sterk

Jonah Cataldo Tocci

Omauri Isaiah Simmons

Genevieve Grace Stevens

Saryna Joli Torres

Zeta Simons

Owen William Stevens

Vitoria Tosin

Rhiannon Marie Singer

Cole Daniel Stewart

Nyah Amani Towne

Aliyah Margarita Siordia

Alex Stompor-Mendoza

Devyn Townsend

Van Strimaitis

Ruby Jean Tremper

Ally Sugita

Sabrina Tristano

Georgia Noren Sullivan

Arlo Adams Truett-Schriber

Zoe Swanson

Sienna Tulian

Julia Marie Sylvester

Damiah Turner

Oliwia Laura Slezak Ruby Irene Slocum Crystalyn Smith-Sudduth Brooklyn Nicole Smith Channing Jewel Smith

TODD A. BANNOR

Izaiah Zurike Smith

T

Stella Miriam Smith

Wilson Thomas Tanner

Emily Anne Smyth

Ari Ashanti Tate

Margaret Rose Smyth

Daniel Taylor

Rylan Soble

Isaiah Taylor

Kingston Isiah Turner

U Kordi Ukmata Jacob Tyler Ungureanu

Jewess Soway

Kaiden Myles Taylor

V

Henry Asher Spell

Marco Angel Taylor

Berend A Van Der Put

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

OAKPARK.COM Madeline Sophia Walski Alice Yuhan Wang

OPRF2026 GRADUATES

Emma Marie Ward Amaya Marie Warner Janiah Taylor Watson Gweneth G Watters Keldon Charles Weaver Caroline Terese Webb

Tate Van Duinen Nawasiri Max Vannopas Keilany Harmony Vasquez Tanzania Vaughns Ian Samuel Vazquez Henry Ulysses Mitche Vijuk Iliana Arcelia Villagomez Nyah Sofia Von Fischer Cyniya Cynae Voss

W

Katherine Weber Max Webster

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

A11

Y Owen Matthew Yang Micah Kaplan Yarbrough Quinn Tsouderos Yates Richard Allen Yipp Ada Quinn Young Matthew Jeffrey Young James Arnold Yount Laura Yutzy

Ryan Paulo Wells

Z

Brady Wernet

Lola Marie Hall Zarate

Korina White

Aurelius Ankhala R Zawadowski

Zahria Janae White

Margaret Caroline Zeigler

Breanna Nahla Williams

Grace Emily Zoloto

Kali Rose Williams

Jacob Lloyd Zort

Kennedy Williams Soren Jimmie Williams Jude Patrick Willoughby

Mya Leilani Wade-Wilson

Arabella Winsett

Lucinda Wagemann

Noelle Renee Wollert

Cael Francis Walicki

Cameron Preston Woods

Alyssa Grace Walker

Samaara Sunshine Woodyard

Astrid Sjoblom Wallichs

Lillian Rebekah Wright

Sofia Irma Wallin

Murphy Charles Wright

TODD A. BANNOR

A12

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

Oak Park and River Forest High School Graduating Scholars 2026 Naima Axelrad (Scholarship Cup), Grinnell College

George Barkidjija (Scholarship Cup), Amherst College

Anna Barnes

Lily Bellmar

Francesco Canzona

Ana Castillo

(Scholarship Cup), Vanderbilt University

(Scholarship Cup), The Ohio State University

(Scholarship Cup), Brown University

(Scholarship Cup), University of Chicago

Evelyn Cultra

Adalyn Dunphey

Sofia Fitzgerald

(Scholarship Cup), University of Chicago

(Scholarship Cup), Marquette University

(Scholarship Cup), Johns Hopkins University

Lucy Liskiewitz

Owen McFadden

(Scholarship Cup), Purdue University

(Scholarship Cup), West Lafayette

Ailey Patel

Sarah Prestes

(Scholarship Cup), University of Notre Dame

(Scholarship Cup), Bowdoin College

Delaney Cherikos

Gabriella Chesney

Tyler Crabb

(Scholarship Cup), Indiana University Kelley School of Business

(Scholarship Cup), Tulane University

(Scholarship Cup), Middlebury College

Luke Henkes

Zev Koransky

Dominic Kramer

(Scholarship Cup), American University

(Scholarship Cup), Johns Hopkins University

(Scholarship Cup), Auburn University

Jude Miller

Preeti Mirmira

David Ogunsanya

(Scholarship Cup), University of Tennessee in Knoxville

(Scholarship Cup), University of Minnesota—Twin Cities

(Scholarship Cup), Cornell University

Violet Schnizlein

Eleanor Shea

Sabrina Tristano

(Scholarship Cup), Boston College

(Scholarship Cup), Tulane University

Avaa Ruffer (Scholarship Cup), Northwestern University

(Scholarship Cup), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Alexander Lee (Scholarship Cup), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Konstantin Pantazopoulos (Scholarship Cup), Harvey Mudd College

NOTE: The Scholarship Cup is awarded to those students who have the highest grade point average at the end of their seventh semester using the high school’s weighted grade point index. To be eligible, students must have attended OPRFHS at least five of the previous seven semesters.

NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS

NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED

Francesco Canzona Tyler Crabb Adalyn Dunphey Margaret Herman Brook Lingenfelter Vivien May

Seamus Allen Peter Bondartsov Laura Brewer-Davis Liam Calvert Ana Castillo Rohan Champaneri

Jude Miller Liam Roche Eleanor Shea

NATIONAL MERIT SEMI-FINALIST Leah Johnson

Charles Coppelman Rosek Drab Dylan Elder Sofia Fitzgerald John Flynn Thomas France

Taylor Francis Anthony Giorango Jackson Howe Bennett King Maxine Kreiter Lucy Liskiewitz

Max NorlingChristensen Samuel Phelan Nicholas Powell Isaiah Ruehle-May Mora Schigelone

Violet Schnizlein Margaret Smyth Ally Sugita Jonah Tocci Ryan Wells Kali Williams

A14

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OAKPARK.COM

OAK PARK and RIVER FOREST HIGH SCHOOL 2025-2026 ILLINOIS STATE SCHOLARS

Based on a formula using ACT or SAT score and unweighted grade point average. Overall, approximately 10 percent of graduating seniors in Illinois qualify as State Scholars, compared to 25 percent at OPRFHS. Arwa Abouelfotouh Benjamin Ahring Madeline Ainsworth Abd Rahman Al Zahabi Samantha Allen Seamus Allen Carolina Anello Naima Axelrad Owen Baffa Kathryn Bailitz George Barkidjija Anna Barnes Connor Barr Simon Beck Lily Bellmar Elsa Berg Charles Beyer Allyn Biag Fynn Block Hailey Boland Adrian Bondartsov Peter Bondartsov

William Bonomo Rune Brewer-Davis Eleanor Buss Liam Calvert William Campbell Francesco Canzona Keagan Carey Meredith Carmichael Finley Cascarino Elijah Casselle Ana Castillo Benjamin Cazeau Maison Champaneri Rohan Champaneri Delaney Cherikos Gabriella Chesney Jamie Chrisman Owen Chung Mackenzie Cohen David Conroy Maxwell Cook Charles Coppelman

Tyler Crabb Brady Creel Evelyn Cultra Gwyneth Dannenberg Megan Dauphinee Mark Dickel Adam Dominowski Naima Dorsey Jayden Doukky Rose Drab Adalyn Dunphey Elias Dysart Molly Bridgid Easton Griffin Edwards Owyn Edwards Dylan Elder Eva Elder Leila Ellis William Enlow William Faust Harrison Fejes Benjamin Fields

Grace Fieser Sofia Fitzgerald John Flynn Thomas France Taylor Francis Claire Garnett John W. Garnett Clay S. Gearhart Sasha R. Giannotti Anthony C. Giorango Georgia I. Godellas Grant R. Greendyke Lorenzo Guevara Matthew Halper Leia Hammerschmidt Ryan Hanson-Taruc Aaric Harmston Mateo Haro Henry Harthorn Adela Harvath Evelyn Hasenbalg Julia Henderson

Luke Henkes Margaret Herman Jade Hobby Jackson Howe Grace Iverson Leah Johnson Jamie Kaegi Eva Kantz Nora Kazyak Elina Kell Andy Keller Christian Kellogg Amelia Kessel Isabella Kessel Bennett King Kathryn Kjarsgaard Wesley Kochendorfer Kyra Koertge Zev Koransky Chloe Kozicki Michelle Kpekpe Dominic Kramer

Maxine Kreiter James Lallos-Harrell Maria Clara Lau Benjamin Lazzara Alexander Lee Alexander Lema Aleks Lesny Brook Lingenfelter Lucy Liskiewitz Iris Lloyd Nathaniel Lopez Jillian Louie Jacob Lubelchek Stella Ludwig Finnegan Lutz Max Malcolm Hannah Mangan Michayla Marks Evan Max Julia Max Vivien May Isa McClendon

Owen McFadden Ayelet Meir Ella Mellman Van Melodia Thomas Milinovich Jude Miller Preeti Mirmira Ravi Mitchell-Chabla Parker Moen Trevor Moen Louis Morelli Clare Moroney Ana Sofia Mrotzek John Nelson Rowan Neville Henry Niksch Evelyn Nohalty Max NorlingChristensen Katherine Obed Ayanna O'Connor David Ogunsanya

Henry Ohlhoff Amalia Ortuno Konstantin Pantazopoulos Ailey Patel Lakshmi Patwari Samuel Phelan Mia Pinc Reyes Pineda-Rothstein Lucia Pohl Joshua Pomerenk Nicholas Powell Sarah Prestes Oliver Puntillo Elise Raack Sabrina Rahman Carolyn Rainey Liam Roche Yurij Rogachev Isaiah Ruehle-May Benjamin Ruess Avaa Ruffer

Natalie Schiff Mora Schigelone Violet Schnizlein Miya Segawa Walter Shannon Lilian Shaulis Eleanor Shea Graham Shea Lucy Shepherd Charlie Shindeldecker Emily Smyth Margaret Smyth Julian St. Pierre Ella Steffen Evan Sterk Ally Sugita Georgia Sullivan Olive Tepfer Jonah Tocci Ruby Tremper Sabrina Tristano Arlo Truett-Schriber

Nawasiri Vannopas Nyah Von Fischer Cael Walicki Sofia Wallin Alice Wang Amaya Warner Caroline Webb Katherine Weber Max Webster Ryan Wells Kali Williams Arabella Winsett Lillian R. Wright Owen Yang Quinn Yates Matthew Young Margaret Zeigler

CUM LAUDE SOCIETY Membership in the Cum Laude Society, OPRFHS’s honor society, represents a high scholastic honor. Juniors who rank in the top 5 percent of their class scholastically and seniors who rank in the top 15 percent of their class scholastically and who possess consistently high academic achievement are eligible for Cum Laude induction. Graduating members are: Arwa Abouelfotouh Shae Adelstein* Benjamin Ahring Madeline Ainsworth* Olaf Anderson Naima Axelrad* George Barkidjija* Anna Barnes* Lily Bellmar* Elsa Berg* Hailey Boland Adrian Bondartsov Peter Bondartsov Rune Brewer-Davis

Elianna Brucato* Liam Calvert William Campbell Francesco Canzona* Meredith Carmichael Ana Castillo* Maison Champaneri Delaney Cherikos* Gabriella Chesney* Charles Coppelman Tyler Crabb* Brady Creel Evelyn Cultra*

Abigail Dardon Megan Dauphinee Naima Dorsey Rose Drab* Adalyn Dunphey* Elias Dysart Leila Ellis William Faust Harrison Fejes Lyla Fielding Sofia Fitzgerald* Thomas France Taylor Francis*

Georgia Godellas Zachary Goldberg Leia Hammerschmidt* Ryan Hanson-Taruc Adela Harvath Evelyn Hasenbalg Julia Henderson* Luke Henkes* Margaret Herman Faye Homrok* Nora Kazyak Elina Kell Andy Keller*

Christian Kellogg Amelia Kessel Isabella Kessel Bennett King* Kathryn Kjarsgaard* Wesley Kochendorfer Kyra Koertge Zev Koransky* Dominic Kramer* Maxine Kreiter Jeremy Lane Maria Clara Lau Alexander Lee*

August Leman Aleks Lesny* Brook Lingenfelter* Lucy Liskiewitz* Nathaniel Lopez Jillian Louie Stella Ludwig Finnegan Lutz Michayla Marks Kevin Marquina Julia Max* Vivien May Kenneth McCaffrey

Isa McClendon Owen McFadden* Ayelet Meir Thomas Milinovich Jude Miller* Preeti Mirmira* Ravi Mitchell-Chablani Clare Moroney Grace Moroney Ana Sofia Mrotzek Evelyn Nohalty* Max NorlingChristensen Ayanna Oconnor

David Ogunsanya* Konstantin Pantazopoulos* Ailey Patel* Lakshmi Patwari Samuel Phelan Cecilia Piper Lucia Pohl Nicholas Powell Sarah Prestes* Oliver Puntillo Elise Raack* Sabrina Rahman* Carolyn Rainey

Liam Roche Avaa Ruffer* Isaiah Ruehle-May Natalie Schiff Mora Schigelone Violet Schnizlein* Eleanor Shea* Graham Shea* Sanaa Shaw Margaret Smyth* Ella Steffen* Ally Sugita* Olive Tepfer

Nyah Towne Sabrina Tristano* Nyah Von Fischer Cael Walicki* Alice Wang Amaya Warner Katherine Weber* Arabella Winsett Lillian Wright* Quinn Yates Aurelius Zawadowski* Margaret Zeigler

* Denotes members who were inducted their junior year.

2026 SCHOLARSHIP & AWARD RECIPIENTS Many graduating seniors in the Class of 2026 have received merit-based scholarships from their colleges and universities and from corporate programs, foundations, and other organizations, totaling more than $15,736,644. This includes renewable awards and those awarded locally through the generosity of the OPRFHS Scholarship Foundation, the Community Foundation of Oak Park and River Forest, and individual community, civic, and alumni groups. These scholarships have provided $420,250. Below is a list of scholarships reported to OPRF and verified.

19th Century Charitable Association Founders Memorial Scholarship Isabella Kessel, Ayanna O'Connor, Avaa Ruffer, Graham Shea 2026 A.P.P.L.E. S.E.E.D. Scholarship Malik Ojikutu 2026 Retired Professional Football Players of Chicago Scholarship Julia Henderson 360 Achievement Scholarship Janila Garrett, Laila O'Connor, Agnes Scott College - Agnes Scott Visionary Scholarship Grace Fieser Alison E. O'Hara, JD, OPRF '81 "Take the First Step" Scholarship - Promising Scholar Ivy Childress, Kaleb Dillard, Anika Sherman JD, OPRF '81 "Take the First Step" Scholarship Vocational Studies Paris Spencer, Ada Young American University - AU Trustee Award Luke Henkes American University - Dean's Scholarship Luke Henkes

Ann P. Bekermeier Scholarship

Jonathan Sibley-Diggs Ann R. Monaco Music Scholarship Roy Koerner APPLAUSE: Performing Arts Scholarship Tate Van Duinen Ariel Follett O'Hara '55 Family Scholarship Taniyla Levy Ball State University - Presidential Scholarship Francesca Hunter Beloit College - Eaton Scholarship Rylan Soble Berklee College of Music - World Tour Scholarship Roy Koerner Bernard "Duke" Gawne Scholarship Yurij Rogachev Bert I. Beverly, Jr. MD Memorial Science Award Isabella Kessel Black Lives Matter "Spoken Word" Scholarship William Campbell Bobbie Raymond Memorial Arts Scholarship Ally Sugita

Bradley University - University Scholarship Jalen Martin Brenda Schnede Grusecki Scholarship Aurelius Zawadowski Carbery Family Scholarship Fund Jeremiah Hernandez Carl Krafft Memorial Art Scholarship Sophia Chavez, Vaughn Sekulich, Ally Sugita Carl Krafft Memorial Music Scholarship Roy Koerner Carl Krafft Memorial Speech/Dance/TV Scholarship Mena Ollins Carol Shields (Class of ’53) Memorial Scholarship Nawasiri Vannopas Case Western Reserve University - University Scholarship Luciana Ramirez, Julian St. Pierre Catherine Deam Memorial Scholarship Jackson Baker

Catherine Devereux Brandstrader Scholarship Delaney Cherikos Charles N. "Laddie" Follett Memorial Scholarship Sofia Fitzgerald, Oliwia Slezak Chicago Bears Girls Flag Football Changemaker Award Elianna Brucato Chicago NFLPA Professional Athletes Foundation Chapter Scholarship Julia Henderson Clark University - Merit Scholarship Devin Davis Clemson University - Clemson University Scholarship Megan Dauphinee Clemson University - Out of State Scholarship Megan Dauphinee Coastal Carolina University - Coastal Scholar Ellyana Nowinski Colorado State University - Green and Gold Scholarship Madeline Murray, Sofia Nicolosi

Columbia College Chicago - Dean's Scholarship Joshua Bricio, Malcolm Conyers, Miles Gabbett, Colin Thompson Columbia College Chicago - Faculty Recognition Award Miles Gabbett Columbia College Chicago - Illinois Scholar Award Malcolm Conyers Columbia College Chicago - Incentive Scholarship Malcolm Conyers Concordia University Chicago - Leadership Scholarship Kevin Marquina Concordia University Chicago - Regents Scholarship Kevin Marquina Concordia University Chicago - Trailblazer Award Kevin Marquina Cornell University - Posse Scholar David Ogunsanya Creighton University - Labaj Award Christopher Korrison

Creighton University - University Award Christopher Korrison DePaul University - St. Vincent DePaul Scholarship Samuel Castro, Ava Lega DePaul University - Blue Demon Impact Award Brian Jackson, Amelia Kessel DePaul University - Dean's Scholarship Brian Jackson DePaul University - Presidential Scholarship Ari Bonney, Isabella Hanson, Amelia Kessel, Liam Maldonado-Cruz DePaul University - St. Vincent DePaul Scholarship Jacqueline Passariello, Jonah Tocci DePaul University - Vincentian Scholarship Aiden Burch DePauw University - Asbury Award Lilly Wright

continued on next page

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

OAKPARK.COM

2026 SCHOLARSHIP & AWARD RECIPIENTS • CONTINUED Many graduating seniors in the Class of 2026 have received merit-based scholarships from their colleges and universities and from corporate programs, foundations, and other organizations, totaling more than $15,736,644. This includes renewable awards and those awarded locally through the generosity of the OPRFHS Scholarship Foundation, the Community Foundation of Oak Park and River Forest, and individual community, civic, and alumni groups. These scholarships have provided $420,250. Below is a list of scholarships reported to OPRF and verified.

DePauw University - Presidential Award of Excellence Naima Dorsey, Lilly Wright Dominican University - Presidential Merit Scholarship Kornelia Halicki Don Deia "Heart of the Plate" Scholarship Isabella Saylor Donald and Mary Vogel Scholarship Elsa Berg Donohue Memorial Scholarship William Campbell Douglas Memorial Scholarship Delaney Cherikos Dr. Alexander Schmidt Memorial Scholarship Eleanor Shea Dr. Gerald L. Clay Memorial Scholarship Izaiah Smith Dr. Robert & Dorothy Brewer Scholarship Pierre Nelson Dwight Follett Memorial Scholarship Amelia Kessel, Yurij Rogachev Eastern Illinois University - Distinguished Merit Scholarship Sofia Ramos Eastern Illinois University - Residential Scholar Award Sofia Ramos Elmhurst University - Deans Scholarship Sophia Fickenscher Elmhurst University - Early Action Scholarship Sophia Fickenscher FACHEX Scholarship - Morrisey College of Arts and Sciences at Boston College Eleanor Shea Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Presidential Special Scholarship Mia King Fordham University - Loyola Scholarship Emily Smyth Garden Club of OP/RF Scholarship Andy Keller, Margaret Smyth, Ella Steffen Garth Follett Memorial Scholarship Isabella Kessel, Ayanna O'Connor Gary F. Olson Memorial Scholarship Otto Huber Georg Ann Zussman-Amato Memorial Scholarship Amelia Kessell George Washington University - Presidential Academic Scholarship Alexander Olson, Olive Tepfer Gerald L. Greer Memorial Scholarship Chloe Kozicki, Emily Smyth Golden Apple Scholar Gabriela Fiester, Cecilia Piper Grayson Adelstein Scholarship Matthew Young Grinnell College - Founders Scholarship Charles Coppelman, Benjamin Ahring, Benjamin Fields Grinnell College - Grinnell Choice Scholarship Naima Axelrad Hotchkiss Memorial Scholarship Sophia Kim, Ayanna O'Connor, Matthew Young Howard University - Opportunity Scholarship Izaiah Smith Huntley American Legion Charitable Foundation - Descendant's Scholarship Finley Cascarino Illinois Institute of Technology - Emerging Campus Leader Award Braylon Jackson Illinois Institute of Technology - Heald Scholarship Seamus Allen, Braylon Jackson Illinois Institute of Technology - Housing Scholarship Braylon Jackson Illinois Institute of Technology - Lewis College Scholarship Seamus Allen Illinois Institute of Technology - SCITECH Scholarship Braylon Jackson Illinois State University - AIM High Scholarship Madeline Walski Illinois State University - Redbird Academic Scholarship Audrey Cass, Julian House, Taniyla Levy, Madeline Walski Illinois Wesleyan University - Alumni Scholarship Elianna Brucato Indiana University - National Excellence Scholarship Delaney Cherikos, Zoe Panton, Joshua Pomerenk Indiana University Bloomington - National Excellence Scholarship Charles Beyer Ishma Stewart Memorial Scholarship Kali Williams Jack Tavolacci Memorial Scholarship Luka Rupp James and Yvonne Wood Scholarship Taniya Levy Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute - Premier Talent Scholarship Charles Peterson Josh Davis Memorial Scholarship Isabella Kessel Kate Long Marchetti Memorial Scholarship Olaf Anderson, Anaiah Hall

Kathleen Marian Garrigan Memorial Scholarship Avaa Ruffer Kathy McMahon Adams Scholarship Ayanna O'Connor Kiwanis Club of RFOP Scholarship Samuel Castro, Grant Greendyke, Garrett Hunkele, Ailey Patel, Ally Sugita Knox College - Trustees Scholarship Adam Dominowski Lafayette College - Marquis Fellow Thomas Milinovich Lake Forest College - Presidential Scholarship Eduardo Farrera, Grace Zoloto Lawrence University - Founders Scholarship Louis Morelli Lewis & Clark College - Fir Acres Award Rainey Kearney Lewis & Clark College - Oregon Maple Scholarship Rainey Kearney LLKA Scholarship in Honor of Andrew Cheeks Jeremiah Hernandez Lofgren Family Orchestra Scholarship Liam Maldonado-Cruz Lois Goldstein Memorial Scholarship Saanvia Kumar Louise Hay Memorial Scholarship Anna Barnes, Elsa Berg, Ailey Patel , Carolyn Rainey, Violet Schnizlein Loyola Marymount University - Presidential Scholarship Alexandra Ormond Loyola University Chicago - Damen Scholarship Saffron Kim Loyola University Chicago - Director's Award Nathaniel Lopez, Charlie Shindeldecker Loyola University Chicago - Presidential Scholarship David Conroy, Sonya Greenberg, Andrew Janssen, Nathaniel Lopez, Charlie Shindeldecker Loyola University Chicago - Regents Scholarship Colby McGee, Micah Merrill, Santino Messineo Macalester College - DeWitt Wallace Distinguished Scholarship Maison Champaneri, Lucy Pohl Maienza Family Legacy in Learning Scholarship Isabella Kessel Marquette University - Ignatian Distinction Scholarship William Bonomo, Adalyn Dunphey, Nayeli Rashbrook Marquette University - Père Marquette Scholarship William Bonomo, Adalyn Dunphey, Max Koschmann, Malik Ojikutu, Nayeli Rashbrook, Luke Roberts Maryland Institute College of Art - Excellence in Artistry Award Rune Brewer-Davis Maryland Institute College of Art - Trustee Merit Award Rune Brewer-Davis Miami University Ohio - RedHawk Excellence Scholarship Alex McNeily, Leo Lisnic, Max Malcolm,Henry Hullinger, Grace Moroney, Gwen Dannenberg Michael A. Campbell Scholarship Oliwia Slezak, Aurelius Zawadowski Michael J. Berg Memorial Scholarship Amalia Ortuno Michael S. Campbell Memorial Scholarship Izaiah Smith Michigan State University - President's Scholarship Talia Adams, Claire Garnett, John Garnett, Evan Sterk Michigan State University - Presidential Study Abroad Scholarship Talia Adams, Mariano Delgado, Claire Garnett, John Garnett, Katherine Harris, Evan Sterk Michigan State University - Provost's Scholarship Katherine Harris Michigan State University - Red Cedar Scholarship Talia Adams, Evan Sterk Michigan State University - Spartan Futures Award Tyler Lacey Miller/Cooke/Wood Scholarship Rowan Catherine Neville Muehrcke Family Foundation Scholar Athlete Award Abigela Ago Nell Behr Aquatics Scholarship Evelyn Hasenbalg North Shore Music Teachers' Association - Merle Hanson College Scholarship Award Yurij Rogachev Northern Illinois University - Merit Scholarship Lola Zarate

Nova Southeastern University (NSU Florida) - Dean's Scholarship Sophia Gonzalez Oak Park Area Arts Council Fine Arts Scholarship Saadia Najee Josephine Gayton, Vaughn Sekulich Oak Park Bank Scholarship Sofia Fitzgerald Oak Park Residence Corporation Scholarship Kaiden Banks, Aurelius Zawadowski Oberlin College - John F. Oberlin Scholarship Liam Calvert, Eva Kantz, Mora Schigelone Oberlin College - Midwest Merit Scholarship Liam Calvert, Eva Kantz, Mora Schigelone Occidental College - President's Scholarship Chloe Kozicki Offermann Scholarship for Excellence in English Iris Henry OPRF Ariel Follett O'Hara '55 Family Scholarship Taniyla Levy OPRF Hockey Scholarship Oliver Puntillo OPRF Rotary Club Community Service Award Delaney Cherikos OPRFHS Kate Long Marchetti Memorial Scholarship Anaiah Hall OPRFHS Retirees – ‘DOOPER’ Scholarship Ari Bonney, Aoife Mahic OPRFHS Scholarship Foundation Directors Scholarship Anthony Giorango, Sydney Rutkowski OPUS: Alumni Association Scholarship Walter Shannon Patrick Luby Memorial Scholarship Kornelia Halicki, Kathryn Kjarsgaard Pepperdine University - George Pepperdine Achievement Award Genevieve Stevens Pepperdine University - Malibu Seaver Award Genevieve Stevens Père Marquette Scholarship William Bonomo Proviso Teachers Union Scholarship Laila O'Connor R. J. Nielsen Scholarship Otto Huber IV Rhodes College - Bonner Service Scholarship Laila O'Connor Rhodes College - Founders Scholarship Laila O'Connor Richard Daniel Orchestra Scholarship Charles Peterson Robert Follett Memorial Scholarship Elsa Berg, Chloe Kozicki Robert Gauger Memorial Scholarship Ethan Cooper Robert M. Sadler Scholarship Laila O'Connor Roberta L Raymond Mathematics Scholarship David Ogunsanya, Reyes Pineda-Rothstein, Abd Al Zahabi Roberta L. Raymond Scholarship Yvette Thrasher Rochester Institute of Technology - Performing Arts Scholar Award William Faust Rochester Institute of Technology - Presidential Scholar Award William Faust Roosevelt University - Chicago College of Performing Arts Scholarship Tate Van Duinen Roosevelt University - Dean's Award Tate Van Duinen Roosevelt University - Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Scholarship Janila Garrett Roosevelt University - Mission Scholarship Aliyah Siordia Russell C. Lissuzzo Memorial Scholarship Alden Field Sarah Lawrence College - Sarah Lawrence Scholarship Mena Ollins Seabury Foundation First Generation to College Scholarship Sophia Gonzalez, Gianna Reyes, Jonathan Sibley-Diggs Seabury Foundation Scholarship David Ogunsanya, Avaa Ruffer, Amelia Kessel, Abd Al Zahabi Smith/Gorman-Smith Model UN Scholarship Graham Shea St. Olaf College - Buntrock Scholarship Andy Keller St. Olaf College - Campus Living Scholarship Andy Keller St. Olaf College - Christiansen Music Scholarship Andy Keller Syracuse University - Access Award Katelyn Raihle

Syracuse University - Orange Award Caitlin Coates, Jacinda Fitzpatrick, Theodore Neuner, Katelyn Raihle Syracuse University - Syracuse University Merit Scholarship Molly Bridgid Easton Temple University - Founders Merit Scholarship James Lallos-Harrell Temple University - University Tuition Merit Scholarship Nora Kent Tennessee State University - 1912 Heritage Scholarship Londyn Barnes Terri Race Educational Technology Scholarship Garrett Hunkele, Owen McFadden Texas Christian University - Dean's Scholarship Julia Henderson The Mrs. Wyanetta Johnson Memorial Scholarship Janila Garrett, David Ogunsanya The Ohio State University - Morrill Scholarship Program Distinction Scholarship Lily Bellmar The Ohio State University - National Buckeye Scholarship Matthew Halper The University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Scholarship Georgia Godellas, Jude Miller Thomas Ferguson Memorial Scholarship Nicholas Powell Thomas O. Miyata Memorial Scholarship Ryna-Sha Davis, Aidan Harvey, Taria Martin-Allen, Laila O'Connor, Naana Sarpey Tony Trofimuk Scholarship Taria Martin-Allen Triton College - Triton Scholar Jewess Soway, Ari Tate Triton College - Trustee Honors Scholarship Sydney Robinson Tuesday Night Hoops-Stephen A. Henry Scholarship Kaiden Banks Tulane University - Academic Recognition Award Ravi Cole Mitchell-Chablani Tulane University - Distinguished Scholars Award Gabriella Chesney Tulane University - Tuition Exchange Scholarship Alden Field University of Arizona - Arizona Scholarship Award Erin Dwyer University of Chicago - Viola Bower Scholarship Evelyn Cultra University of Cincinnati - Cincinnatus Century Scholarship Penelope Sanchez University of Cincinnati - National Outreach Award Penelope Sanchez University of Colorado Boulder - Chancellor's Achievement Scholarship Griffin Edwards University of Connecticut - Husky Achievement Award Jonathan Campbell University of Connecticut - Scholars Recognition Award Jonathan Campbell University of Dayton - Adele Scholarship Collin Bornhorst, Joshua Glenn Madeleine Magnuson, University of Dayton - Community Grant Garrett Thomas Hunkele University of Dayton - Deans' Merit Scholarship Collin Bornhorst University of Dayton - President's Merit Scholarship Madeleine Magnuson University of Dayton - Trustees' Merit Scholarship Joshua Glenn, Garrett Thomas Hunkele University of Guelph - Dean's International Scholarship Saanvi Kumar University of Guelph - President's International Entrance Scholarship Saanvi Kumar University of Guelph - University International Scholarship Saanvi Kumar University of Illinois at Chicago - Aspire Grant Reyes Pineda-Rothstein University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - AIM High Grant Ally Sugita University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Chancellor's Scholar Ally Sugita University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Grainger College of Engineering Freshman Scholarship Vivien May

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign-School of Art & Design Talented Student Scholarship Vaughn Sekulich University of Iowa - National Scholars Award Hannah Mangan University of Kansas - KU Distinction Scholarship Oliver Nielsen University of Kentucky - Bluegrass Spirit Scholarship Owen Jozefxzyk University of Leeds - International Excellence Scholarship Samantha Allen University of Massachusetts Amherst - Dean's Award Ruby Slocum University of Massachusetts Boston - Dean's Merit Scholarship Dylan Clark University of Massachusetts Boston - National Achievement Award Dylan Clark University of Miami - Frost School of Music President's Music Scholarship Sasha Giannotti University of Minnesota Twin Cities - College of Science and Engineering D & S Gorence Scholarship Owen Baffa University of Minnesota Twin Cities - College of Science and Engineering Lee S Whitson Scholarship Owen Baffa University of Minnesota Twin Cities - National Scholarship Owen Baffa, Preeti Mirmira, Elise Raack, Owen Stevens University of Missouri - Mizzou Nonresident Academic Enrichment Award Matthew Hajduk University of Oregon - Summitt Scholarship Finley Cascarino University of South Carolina - Academic Scholar Superlative Award Clare Moroney University of St. Francis Academic Achievement Scholarship Tyson Byrd

University of Wisconsin Madison - Posse Scholar Elijah Casselle University of Wisconsin Madison - School of Education Dean's Excellence Scholarship Kate Kjarsgaard University of Wisconsin Milwaukee - Black & Gold Scholarship Paloma Najera University of Wisconsin Milwaukee - Chancellor's Merit Scholarship Paloma Najera Univesity of Wisconsin Madison - Mead Witter School of Music Scholarship Yurij Rogachev Vanderbilt University - Crescere Aude Scholars Anna Barnes Virginia Moe Environmental Studies Award Lyla Ramos Virginia Tech - VT Scholars Courtney Moore Viterbo University - Baseball Scholarship Julian Garcia-Bariel Viterbo University - President's Scholarship Julian Garcia-Bariel West Towns Illinois Chapter of the Links, Incorporated Educational Scholarship Jackson Baker Western Golf Association/Evans Scholars Foundation - Chick Evans Scholarship for Caddies Michelle Kpekpe Willa Schaffer Memorial Scholarship Famke Bussiere William and Joyce Wartmann Scholarship Audrey Cass, Ava Jordan Wright State University - Athletic Scholarship John Nelson Wright State University - Green and Gold Scholarship John Nelson Xavier University of Louisiana - Xavier University Academic Scholarship Kali Williams

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

OAKPARK.COM

Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

The Language and Music School Established in Oak Park in 1994

P

rivate lessons and tutoring for all ages, taught by experienced educators and professional artists in a historic Oak Park setting.

We offer: • Music lessons: piano, guitar, drums, voice, strings, winds, and more • World languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, and more • Academic tutoring: Math, Language Arts, SAT/ACT preparation, Physics and Biology • Flexible scheduling for children, teens, and adults The school is also home to a K–12 microschool, offering a highly individualized educational environment, as featured on WGN Chicago’s Very Best.

Learn more at lmschool.com

CONGRATULATIONS to the members of the Class of 2026 on your graduation from Oak Park and River Forest High School You are now officially OPRF ALUMNI WELCOME to the OPRFHS Alumni Association

We hope you’ll keep in touch!

Sign-up on our website to receive our monthly e-mail bulletins: www.oprfalumni.com 1874 Oak Park River Forest graduates – the first OPRF alumni

1874 Oak Park River Forest graduates

Follow us on Facebook @facebook.com/oprfalumni

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Wednesday Journal, June 10, 2026

OPRF CLASS OF 2026

OAKPARK.COM

June 10, 2026

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2026 2026

Drag queen Riley performs at Out in the Burbs Pride celebration in downtown Oak Park on June 7, 2025.

PHOTO BY TODD BANNOR

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June 10, 2026

PRIDE 2026

Left to right: Left to right: Left to right: My Hanh La, Senior Universal Banker My HanhIsbeth La, Senior Universal Banker Saravia, Assistant Branch Manager My Hanh La, Senior Universal Banker DeniseIsbeth Warren, Branch Manager Isbeth Saravia, Assistant Branch Manager Saravia, Assistant Branch Manager Susie Goldschmidt, Market President Denise Warren, Branch Manager Denise Warren, Branch Manager Susie Goldschmidt, Market President Susie Goldschmidt, Market President

Committed to Oak Park Committed to Oak Park Committed to Oak Park and River Forest. and River Forest. and River Forest.

Whether you’re celebrating at a local Pride event or simply spending time in your Whethercommunity, you’re celebrating at ayou local Pride be event spending yourthat celebrates we believe should ableortosimply do your banking time with ainteam Whether you’re celebrating at a local Pride event or simply spending time in your youwe for believe who you are.

At Byline, we are proud stand alongside thethat LGBTQ+ community community, you should be able to do yourto banking with a team celebrates community, we believe you should be able to do your banking with a team that celebrates andyou are committed to we fostering Culture, Opportunity & Belonging—for our employees, you for who are. At Byline, are proud to stand alongside the LGBTQ+ community you for who you are.Culture, Atalike.

Byline, we are proud to stand alongside thewe LGBTQ+ customers, and neighbors Through our Employee Resource Groups, create community space and are committed to fostering Opportunity & Belonging—for our employees, and are committed to fostering Culture, Opportunity & Belonging—for our employees, for and connection, advocacy, and authentic expression, ensuring every can bring customers, neighbors alike. Through our Employee Resource Groups, weemployee create space customers, and neighbors alike.

Through our Employee Resource Groups, we create their full self to work.

We’re honored to support and uplift the communities we serve, and space for connection, advocacy, and authentic expression, ensuring every employee can bring for connection, advocacy, and authentic expression, ensuring every employee can bring we remain dedicated to building a moreand inclusive future—together. their full self to work.

We’re honored to support uplift the communities we serve, and their full self to work. aWe’re support and uplift the communities we serve, and we remain toabout building morehonored inclusiveto future—together.

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we remain dedicated to building a more inclusive future—together.

To learn more about our commitment, visit bylinebank.com/oprf To learn more about our commitment, visit bylinebank.com/oprf

©2026 Byline Bank. Member FDIC.

©2026 Byline Bank. Member FDIC.

©2026 Byline Bank. Member FDIC.

PRIDE 2026

June 10, 2026

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TaskForce launches free LGBTQ+ therapy program on West Side

Bilingual, barrier-free mental health services aim to expand culturally competent care for LGBTQ+ youth, adults, and families

By HECTOR CERVANTES

A

Contributing Reporter

fter hearing repeated requests from LGBTQ+ youth for an onsite therapist they could trust, TaskForce Prevention & Community Services, 9 N. Cicero Ave., has launched a free, bilingual therapy program on Chicago’s West Side, expanding access to mental health care for LGBTQ+ youth, adults, couples and families who often face financial, cultural and systemic barriers to treatment.

Mental health services will be led by Annette N. Sandoval, MA, LPC, CADC, a bilingual English and Spanish speaking therapist with extensive experience supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals and other marginalized communities.

The initiative was inspired by feedback from LGBTQ+ youth and community members served by the TaskForce organization, said Reyna Ortiz, the organization’s program director. Ortiz said participants repeatedly voiced a need for on-site therapy services, prompting the nonprofit to expand access to free mental health care on the West Side.

“The medical system is complicated. We all know that. If someone doesn’t have adequate insurance or the ability to navigate health care and depending on the identity, to be a young trans youth navigating particular spaces, not feeling comfortable within the space, we made sure that once we acquired the partnership that it was going to be a low barrier. Doesn’t matter if they have health insurance or not,” Ortiz said.

When asked why the launch of the LGBTQ+ affirming therapy program is especially meaningful during Pride Month and what message Ortiz hopes it sends to LGBTQ+ youth, young adults and adults on the West Side, Ortiz said Pride Month is about understanding the history of the LGBTQ+ community.

“People like Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson — trans women who helped lead the movement against the way society views transgender people, and LGBTQIA+ people

PROVIDED

TaskForce program director Reyna Ortiz, engaging with the students. more broadly, particularly Black, Latina, and Indigenous trans women played a vital role in that history. We wanted to begin Pride Month with a focus not only on celebration but also on healing,” Ortiz said.

“Our youth are still facing a tremendous number of social challenges. Pride is about celebration, but when the festivities are over, we still have to confront the realities that many LGBTQ+ people experience every day,” Ortiz said.

When it comes to receiving the therapy, participants can simply request an appointment and be connected with the therapist based on availability. While staff can assist individuals in obtaining health insurance for their broader medical needs, lack of in-

surance or being underinsured does not prevent anyone from receiving mental health services through the program.

“We heard from our participants that they wanted to build a relationship with their therapist. They wanted to see them around TaskForce and feel that they were part of our agency. We also serve a large population of trans youth, so we were looking for a therapist who is trans-identified. Finding a therapist who is a woman of color, a Latina, a licensed clinician and someone interested in working with our population was important to us,” Ortiz said.

The organization intentionally staffs its programs with Black and Brown LGBTQ+ individuals, allowing participants to see

themselves reflected in those providing resources and support. Leaders said this community-centered approach ensures that people with lived experience can build meaningful connections with youth and help guide them through the challenges and issues affecting their lives.

“Our youth are dealing with a tremendous amount of challenges. On our end as providers, we’re offering barrier-free therapy led by a trans woman of color. They’re going to have meaningful conversations about how we heal from trauma, how we understand the things that have been attacking us as trans people in society, and how we can learn from those experiences while beginning the healing process,” Ortiz said.

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June 10, 2026

PRIDE 2026

OPALGA+ remakes identity as Out With Purpose branding

Some pushback on name change but new signs of growth, say leaders

By ETHAN TUCKER

T OUT WITH PURPOSE/FACEBOOK

JUNE 11

Contributing Reporter

he Oak Park area’s pioneering local lesbian and gay association, OPALGA+, has sparked conversation within its community as the organization moves in the direction of rebranding. OPALGA+ has long been known for welcoming members of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, hosting monthly potlucks in members’ homes along with its

scholarship program and advocacy efforts.

For decades, the organization existed under names explicitly centered around lesbian and gay community members, giving many people a safe space to gather and connect. But as language, identity and allyship have evolved, some members began asking whether the organization’s name still reflected the broader community they wanted to represent.

The organization is now rebranding into “Out With Purpose,” with the intention of encouraging more people, including those who are not LGBTQ+, to feel welcomed into the community. For many members, the rebrand is not about abandoning history, but widening the circle and ensuring the organization remains welcoming and

4TH ANNUAL

NIGHT 5 TO 9 PM MARION ST.

June 10, 2026

PRIDE 2026 relevant for future generations.

“There has been some pushback from our members,” said Cas Scaman, co-chair of OPALGA. “Change is always going to be a little bit difficult, but we’ve felt a lot of support from a lot of our original and new members.”

Some longtime members had emotional attachments to the original name and expressed concerns about OPALGA turning into something that no longer aligns with the organization’s more than 35 years of identity and history.

“We’ve changed a lot just in the past few years,” said Scaman, “and we’re really trying to make sure that we’re becoming even more inclusive, but we don’t want to become something that’s unrecognizable.”

Leaders of the organization said they are looking to create solidarity across identities, while making people who may have previously felt excluded by the older terminology feel welcomed.

They also noted that some people were unsure whether they would fit directly into the organization’s model. With the changes in openness, OPALGA has already started seeing a positive response and an increase in new members.

“People are becoming members or starting to come to events for the first time because they feel more welcome with the new name,” Scaman said.

Co-chair Lynn Griffith said the rebrand is in-

tended to better reflect the broad spectrum of identities represented within today’s LGBTQ+ community.

“It only becomes a community when you actually know people in real life, when you actually connect with them, care about them and help them through things.” Griffith said.

Alongside its transition into “Out With Purpose,” the organization also plans to maintain its scholarship program. The program started in 2014 and has awarded $348,000 to students. Most recently, the organization voted to award $65,000 in scholarships to 13 students through $5,000 awards. The scholarships support students attending trade schools, two-year colleges, and fouryear universities, and are open to allies as well as LGBTQ+ students.

Leaders said the scholarship program reflects the organization’s broader goal of investing in future generations while maintaining the sense of community that has defined the group for decades. In addition to scholarship recipients, the organization includes members ranging from teenagers to individuals in their 80s and 90s, including some founding members who remain active today.

“Our mission is pretty simple,” Scaman said.

“We want to build connections and community among LGBTQIA+ individuals and their allies.”

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Sawa’s Old Warsaw Authentic Polish-American Smorgasbord

Restaurant • Lounge • Banquets • Dine In • Carry Out • Catering & Delivery

www.SawasOldWarsaw.com

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PROGRAM SUK Pohádka Chooi,(Fairytale) soloist SUK - Nikki Pohádka (Fairytale) BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 11 BRUCH ---Violin Concerto No. BRUCH Concerto No. ALEX GROESCH GROESCH - Piano Concerto No. 1 (World BRUCH - Violin Violin Concerto No. 11 Premiere) Nikki Chooi, soloist SUK - Pohádka (Fairytale) cert Conversation at 3:00 PM | Composer Free reception after concert Nikki Chooi, soloist Mio Nakamura, soloist Nikki Chooi, soloist Nikki Chooi, soloist

UNDAY, JUNE 14, 2026 at 4:00 PM ALEX GROESCH

BRUCH Violin Concerto GROESCH - Piano Concerto No. 1- (World Premiere)No. 1

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TICKETS CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHAPEL ALEX GROESCH GROESCH Piano Concerto No.Emerging 1 (WorldArtists Premiere) SUK - Pohádka (Fairytale) This concert is is underwritten

by S/OP&RF violinist-Dr. Marylou Witz and Chicago This S/OP&RF violinist Marylou Witz and Emerging Artists Chicago This concert concert is underwritten underwritten by S/OP&RFviolinist violinist Dr. Dr. Marylou Witz and Emerging Artists Chicago $30 through June 13 | $35 atEmerging the door Composer RIVER FOREST This concert is underwritten by by S/OP&RF Dr. Marylou Witz and Artists Chicago Mio Nakamura, soloist BRUCH - Violin Concerto 1 of parking garage exit) Free for students through college (ChapelNo. just west

TICKETS CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHAPEL CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHAPEL TICKETS Nikki Chooi, soloist This concert is underwritten by S/OP&RF violinist Dr. Marylou Witz and Emerging Artists Chicago TICKETS CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHAPEL CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHAPEL TICKETS $30 through June 13 $35 at $30 through June | $35 atdoor the door $30 June 13 ||13 $35 at the the door BUYthrough TICKETS & DONATE $30 through June 13 | college $35college at the door RIVER FOREST Free forfor students through college F (Chapel just west parking garage exit) Free students through Free for students through (Chapel just west ofof parking garage TICKETS CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHAPEL (Chapel just west of parking garage exit) exit) in garage located at ONLINE: Mio Nakamura, soloist Free for students through college (Chapel just1124 west of parking garage exit) N Bonnie Brae Place $30 through June 13 | $35 at the door RIVER FOREST s underwritten by S/OP&RF violinist Dr. Marylou Witz and Emerging Artists Chicago SymphonyOPRF.org Free for students through college exit)TICKETS FREE PARKING & FREE PARKING (Chapel just west of parking garageBUY BUY TICKETS & DONATE DONATE FREE PARKING BUY TICKETS & DONATE TheSymphonyOPRF@gmail.com | 708-218-2648 in garage Q U Elocated S T I at ONS? ONLINE: in garage located FREE PARKING BUY TICKETS & DONATE ONLINE: in garage located atat TICKETS UNIVERSITY CHAPEL ONLINE: 1124 N Bonnie Brae Place N through Bonnie Place in garage located atBrae SymphonyOPRF.org ONLINE: FREE PARKING BUY TICKETS & DONATE 11241124 N$30 Bonnie Brae Place June 13 | $35 at the door ST SymphonyOPRF.org SymphonyOPRF.org 1124 N Bonnie Place Free forBrae students through in garagecollege located at ONLINE: st of parking garage exit) SymphonyOPRF.org TheSymphonyOPRF@gmail.com || 708-218-2648 Q S Place TheSymphonyOPRF@gmail.com 708-218-2648 QU UE ES ST T II O ON N1124 S ??N Bonnie Brae

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$5 FREEEXPIRES PLAY COUPON 6/30/26 Must be 21 or older to game. No purchase necessary. Management reserves all rights. Redeem this coupon to receive $5 Free Play at the awarding establishment. Free Play is offered and provided exclusively by the awarding establishment. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) or text "GAMB" to 833234. Individuals can enroll in the IGB Self-Exclusion Program at all of the IGB offices located at all casinos. Additional information can be found on the Self-Exclusion Page at https://igb.illinois.gov/.

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June 10, 2026

PRIDE 2026

Celebrating Pride and amplifying local voices

FP Library Pride Month programming to honor LGBTQ community through books, artwork

By JACKIE PISANO

T

Contributing Reporter

hroughout Chicagoland, LGBTQ Pride Month is widely celebrated with parades and other types of vibrant performances and large community celebrations.

But at the Forest Park Public Library, staff and patrons are looking forward to commemorating the month on a more intimate, literary-focused scale.

All June, the library will feature a special Teen Pride Virtual Art Gallery, a teenfocused digital display in the Young Adult Lounge.

With artwork submitted by locals, the youthcentric exhibition will highlight personal themes of pride, from identity and resilience to healing and serenity.

“We wanted to encourage self-expression and creativity by providing a safe environment for display and give teens an outlet to share their art with other teens,” said Martha Sullivan, Young Adult Services manager at the library. “Teens can submit digital art, short prose or poetry, or digital photos of 3D media.”

Works, which will be both credited and anonymously displayed, will later be collected to create a print zine that teens can browse in the YA Lounge.

And on Saturday, June 14, Forest Park residents will take center stage at BABS Comedy Club (7316 Madison St.) as they participate in the library’s first-ever Pride Book Buzz from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Designed to celebrate the library’s di-

verse print and digital offerings highlighting LGBTQ themes, sensibilities or creators, the event will feature rapid-fire two- to three-minute-long recommendations, or “buzzes.” Adult Services librarian Dennis Raleigh, who describes themselves as a “queer glam clown,” will serve as emcee for the program.

“Forest Park Public Library is proud to help foster a space that embraces the full spectrum of its residents,” Raleigh said.

“Programs like this serve as an important reminder that no one is alone, and that support, understanding and acceptance can always be found.”

All adults are welcome at the Pride Book Buzz, regardless of whether they are Forest Park residents.

According to Skye Lavin, adult services manager, the library’s collaboration with the comedy club stems from owner Emily Ramirez’s continued support since opening her business two years ago.

“BABS Comedy Club has been a funky and wonderful library partner for many improv workshops,” Lavin said. “She was the first to volunteer to ‘buzz’ about her favorite book by David Sedaris (a prominent figure in LGBTQ literature).”

Lavin says the Book Buzz is an event in which guests will revel in the appreciation of all-things pride and experience appreciation for the library’s many offerings in the genre.

“What makes the act of reading so great is the opportunity to encounter and appreciate the manifold sensibilities within the human experience,” she said. “Reading

deeply supports thinking deeply, and connecting deeply with empathy for others and for ourselves. Reading, thinking and caring are needed for a community to truly flourish and carry on sustainably into the future.”

Overall, Lavin highlights the library’s Pride Month programming as an effort to inspire joy and enrich Forest Park’s deeprooted community spirit and support of

Pride traditions.

“Programs create opportunities for neighbors to become new friends, and feel authentically represented, respected and uplifted by the special sense of belonging alive in Forest Park,” Lavin said. “When we celebrate together, whether as part of the LGBTQ community or as an ally, friend or neighbor, we celebrate the beauty of a united and kind Forest Park.”

June 10, 2026

PRIDE 2026

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Proud to serve you in Springfield HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!

Assistant Majority Leader Senate President Camille Y. Lilly, 78th District 6937 W. North Ave, Oak Park 708-613-5939 staterepcamilleylilly@gmail.com

Camille Y. Lilly

Don Harmon

Don Harmon, 39th District 6941 W. North Ave, Oak Park 708-848-2002 www.donharmon.org harmon@senatedem.illinois.gov

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June 10, 2026

PRIDE 2026

Pride Fest sweeps into Forest Park Village celebrated pride June 5

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Drag queen Britney Taylor performs at Forest Park Pride Fest on June 5.

With Pride colors now refreshed along the medians on Madison Street and Pride banners attached to light poles along the street, Forest Park continues to lean in to celebrating Pride Month in the village.

Friday evening, June 5, the annual celebration returned to Constitution Court on Madison Street. On a lovely early summer evening, locals gathered to watch a variety of joyful drag queens perform, young dancers from Ovation Academy took the stage and local political folks including Mayor Rory Hoskins made remarks. There was he opportunity to make art. And, of course, local vendors provided the food and drink.

PHOTOS BY TODD BANNOR Community members paint signs of LGBTQ support.

Members of Ovation Academy perform a song and dance number.

Mayor Rory Hoskins speaks at the Pride Fest.

A mom and daughter take a selfie.

Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin at the Pride Fest.

PRIDE 2026

Drag queen Angel LeBare speaks at Forest Park Pride Fest.

Drag queen Venezia Sodi performs

Drag queen Fox E. Kim performs

June 10, 2026

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June 10, 2026

PRIDE 2026

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH! Audition for OPCC!

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PRIDE 2026

June 10, 2026

Confidence begins with being unapologetically yourself.

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Happy Pride Month from Oak Park Laser and Skin Clinic.

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June 10, 2026

PRIDE 2026