This year ’s commencement is especially notable because you are the 150th graduating class of OPRF. Over the past four years, I have admired the ex tent to which this class has tried to balance here: seeking strength in community while pushing yourselves toward curiosit discomfort, and understanding, showing that to safely learn at OPRF doesn’t mean you are free from feeling uncomfortable.
DR. GREG JOHNSON Superintendent
In fact, that balance, I contend, is the deeper purpose of education. In my r ole recently, I often find myself returning to the ideas of psychologist Lev Vygotsk y, 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, suppor ted by others as we learn and develop. In shor t, we
grow when we are stretched beyond our comfort zones.
’s what I think of with this class. I recall in-depth conversations with some of you last year as you were struggling to shape your thinking about AI for your junior paper. I recall our activities and clubs wrestling with hard realities. I recall the stunning AP Research projects that some of you have developed over the past year on topics that owledge at the cutting edge of the field. I recall jaw-dropping per formances 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 wo rk to understand you, and to grow alongside you. Because doing so has changed us, too.
AKareem Eniola Abayomi
Arwa Abouelfotouh
Talia Marin Adams
Alex Eli Adamski
Penelope Jane Adamski
Sander Aaron Adelstein
Shae Livi Adelstein
Abigela Ago
Natalia Lucia Aguilar-Ripley
Benjamin John Ahring
Madeline Ainsworth
Abd Rahman Al Zahabi
Eugene Allen
Samantha Wynne Allen
Seamus Martin Allen
Bee Doll Allison
Nydia Anderson
Olaf Anderson
Carolina Pilar Anello
Ben Angarone
Lariyah Chrishon Apollo
Tony Nevel Arnieri, Jr
Griffin Johannes Arnold
Gabrielle Baffoah Asibe
Naima Soleil Axelrad
BRemus Casey Bachner
Owen James Baffa
Kathryn Bailitz
Jackson William Baker
Nicolas Michael Balesteri
Jack Baltazar
Kaiden Alexander Banks
Nile Michael Banks
Jordyn Barham
George Barkidjija
Anna Catherine Barnes
Cameron Dana Barnes
Londyn Barnes
Elaina Shay Barnett
Connor Mcmahon Barr
Gabriela Lucille Barriuso
Harper Viola Zavislak Barry
Jayden Lavell Bassett
Sam Batra
Luc David Battoglia
Simon Stuckey Beck
Lily Bellmar
Zoey Benbrook
Claire Elise Bennett
Elsa Jane Berg
Linnea Victoria Berg
Jennifer Ann Berggren
Charles Vincent Beyer
Allyn Lily Bunuan Biag
Ella Marie Biag
Tiana Alicia Bishop
Jasmine A Bizzle
Aniyah Kamari Blackwell
Jamya Blakely
Fynn Johannes Block
Nerissa Diane Blue
Hailey W Boland
Adrian Bondartsov
Peter Bondartsov
Ari Xavier Bonney
William Joseph Bonomo
Collin Eleftherios Bornhorst
Maxwell James Brackett
Kiera Brankin
Grace Cahill Brennan
Jeanine Elizabeth Brennan
Rune Francis Brewer-Davis
Joshua Bricio
Gracyn Brigham
Amontae Brinner
Jason Bronson
Lucy Ann Brooker
Antonio Brown
Autumn Payton Brown
Bella N Brown
Cora Janae Brown
Jayda Marie Brown
Elianna Joy Brucato
Alessandra Carlina Bryan Johnson
Jonathan Michael Bullens
Aiden Riley Burch
Audrey V Burns
Ryan Joel Burns
Lemar Deion Bur ton
Eleanor Elizabeth Buss
Famke Bahri Bussiere
Isabella A Bustamante
Francesco Pietro Buy
Tyson Delain Byrd
OPRF 2026 GRADUATES
CKevin Raul Cabrera
Francesca Cajina
Liam McKinzie Calvert
Caliyah Campbell
Jahyda Carol Ann Campbell
Jonathan Robert Campbell
Kyndall Rana Campbell
William Hunter Campbell
Francesco Miles Canzona
Meredith Anne Carmichael
Keanna Lajuan Carney
Jamal Daniel Carson
Owen Charles Carstens
Finley Harlan Kovar Cascarino
Audrey Cecilia Cass
Elijah Casselle
Ana Sofia Castillo
Samuel Castro
Kevin Kental Catchings , Jr
Benjamin Maxwell Cazeau
Daniel Jonathan Cespedes
Maison Blue Champaneri
Rohan Anil Champaneri
Kaietan R Chapinski
Jake Robert Chapleau
Sophia Isabella Chavez
Delaney Olivia Cherikos
Gabriella Chesney
Iv y Childress
Sean Ching
Mia Victoria Chinn
Jamie Elizabeth Chrisman
Owen Thomas Chung
Dylan Bridge Clark
Jonell Kymberly Clark
Isabella Clayton
Caitlyn Bellagia Coates
Mackenzie Grace Cohen
Sanielle Cole
Nicholas Austin Coligan
Brendan Connor Collins
Caleb Collins
Joseph Paul Colucci
Laneal Derontay Conley
Ronald Khalil Conner
Malcolm Stephan Conyers, II
Maxwell Edison Cook
Ethan J Cooper
Charles Andrew Coppelman
Jude Charles Costello-Wollwage
Andrew Doyle Costello
Payton Arthur Coulter
Tyler Michael Crabb
Christian J Crape
Brady Creel
Carlos Jose Crespo
Teresa Callahan Cronin
Charlotte Crosby
Evelyn Jane Cultra
DNoah David D’Agostino
Ryahn Jabrielle Dabney, Jr
Michael Daly
Gw yneth Lillian Dannenberg
Abigail Dardon
Megan Nicole Dauphinee
Devin Davis
Ryna-Sha Davis
Aisleigh Sharon Day
Alma De La Rosa
Jerome Delaney
Sam Susan Delaney
Mariano Delgado
Simon Stanley Delgado
Teresa Sofia Delgado
David Isaiah Diakite
Mark Carl Dickel
Kaleb Jovan Dillard
Adam Matthew Dominowski
Naima Love Dorsey
Jayden Matthew Doukky
TODD A. BANNOR
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026!
“Dream boldly, work diligently, and never underestimate the impact you can have on the lives of others.”
Remke Johannes Douma-Wahlen
Rose Kathr yn Drab
Makhiya Brielle Tiana Duke
Zanya D unlap
Adalyn Alice Dunphey
Jayda Angela Dunson
Erin Elizabeth Dwyer
Hugh Bergin Dw yer
Luke William Dw yer
Elias Robert Dysart
EMolly Bridgid Condon Easton
Tyler C Edmondson
Darwin P Edward s
Griffin Thomas Edward s
Ow yn Edward s
Kaliyah Sanai Egwuekwe-Givens
Roan John Ehart
Adam El Metennani
Dylan Mclean Edger to Elder
Eva Irene Sasha Elder
Leila Pylin Ellis
Nevene Elshareif
Consuelo R Emano-Garcia
William Enlow
Kaylee Ariel Epps
Eric Faraj Ericson
Devin Estrada
Saniyah Evans
Eduardo Nathan Farrera
William Lyman Faust
Harrison Fejes
Sophia Lynn Fickenscher
Alden Wissler Field
Lyla Jane Fielding
Benjamin Noel Fields
Grace Ann Fieser
Gabriel Marie Fiester
Malaya Jayne Finn
Sofia Carol Fitzgerald
Jacinda Barbara E Fitzpatrick
Colin Spencer Flannery
Julia Clementine Fluecke
John Kingston Flynn
Samuel Foltz
Jonas Alexander Forsell
Ethan Michael Gettinger
Kian Henr y Gharavi
Kai Lars Ghosh-Johnson
Sasha Raquel Giannotti
Isaiah Gibson
Avay Gilmore
Anthony Charles Giorango
Joshua J Glenn
Francis Robert Glinke
Georgia Isabella Godellas
Sophia Colette Godwin
Zachar y Owen Goldberg
Sophia Milena Gonzalez
Grayson Loch Gordon
Natalie Pauline Green
Sonya Kathleen Greenberg
Grant Robert Greendyke
Thomas Andrew France
Taylor Francis
John Ambrose Franklin
Myles H Franklin
Maxwell John Fransen
Harrison Randall Frederick
GMiles Han Gabbett
John Declan Gallagher
Liam Conor Gallogly
Aya Melissa Gamal
Sorabh Gandhi
Julian Ricardo Garcia Bariel
Harriet Garcia
Isabella Marie Garner
Matthew William Garner
Claire Emilie Garnett
John William Garnett
Janila Garrett
Andrew Garza
Rachel Ellen Gaskill
Logan Lashawn Gathman
Saadia Nj Gayton
Clay Scott Gearhart
Benjamin Pippin George
Noah Spencer George
Benjamin Scott Gerbosi
Nathan Paul Gerou
Anaiah Chayil Hall
Matthew Fitzgerald Halper
Leia Hammerschmidt
Isabel Maria Haneberg-Ruiz
Sarah Maria Haneberg-Ruiz
Ryan James Hanson-Taruc
Isabella Maria Elizabe Hanson
Noah Joseph Hardy
Sean Patrick Hargrove
Aaric Mackay Harmston
Adrian Alejandro Haro
Mateo Leon Haro
Lee Shaun Harper, Jr
Katherine Marie Harris
Roy Harris, Jr
Henry Theodore Harthorn
Adela Marie Har vath
Matthew Brennan Har vath
Rory Greene
Malik Terrell Griffee
Javier Alejandro Grillo -Puentes
Harrison Wesley Grove
Lorenzo Guevara
Naomi Maria Gutierrez
HLucille Hahs
Matthew Casimir Hajduk
Aidan Michael Har vey
Cohen Tae Oh Har vey
Evelyn Anne Hasenbalg
Chelsey Hawkins
Alouette Hays
Brady Michael Hedges
Alexis Henderson
Julia Henderson
Luke Fair Henkes
OPRF 2026 GRADUATES
John Tucker Henry
Margaret Grace Herman
Jeremiah Hernandez
Sofia Hernandez
Aaron Herrman
Lillian Jade Hickman
Myles Antonio Hill
Chad Jayden Hillard
Sebastian James Hilton
Jade Kensington Hobby
Maisie Jane Hoerster
Jack Holland
Faye Anne Homrok
Reid Thomas Hope
Julian Andre House
Alexander Howard
Jackson Daniel Howe
Thomas Jacob Howe
Benjamin Patrick Hoyt
TODD A. BANNOR
TODD A. BANNOR
OPRF 2026 GRADUATES
Kaschelle Mary Hughes, V
Henry Hullinger
Robert Humphrey
Garrett Thomas Hunkele
Francesca Hunter
Aidan Hurley
IDavid Ikeemeka
Kehinde Iribhogbe
Gabriel Richard Ishimori
Ayanna Ison
Sara Heather Issel
Grace Ann Iverson
Adam James Iwanski
JChloe Lolita Jablecka
Braylon Keith Jackson
Brian Carter Jackson
Riley Louis Jackson
Andrew Robert Janssen
Matthew Jenkins
Jose Angel Jimenez
Zaria Lei Johnson-Shackelford
Ameina Johnson
Emon Terell Johnson
Kailah Johnson
Leah Rose Johnson
Logan Douglas Johnson
Sheila Nicole Johnson
Christian Jones
Hannah Hope Jones
Taylor Jones
Ava Narciss Jordan
Owen Jozefczyk
KJamie Kaegi
Eva Sadie Kantz
Nora Kaz yak
Lorraine Fianna Kearney
Elina Ryan Kell
Andy Keller
Christian Charles Kellogg
James Michael Kelly
Juan’dre Kendall
Nora Carol Kent
Amelia Samantha Kessel
Isabella Aneta Kessel
Finn Macoy Kiefer
Sophia Leena Kim
Yeowon Kim
Acoya Izrael King
Bennett Ethan King
Mason King
Mia Renee King
Mia Mehta Kircher
Maggie Elinor Kitley
Kathryn Juliette Kjarsgaard
Liliana Genevieve Kminek
Keegan M Knight
Wesley Paul Kochendorfer
Roy James Koerner
Kyra Koer tge
Zev Koransky
Christopher Korrison
Max Ross Koschmann
Chloe Kozicki
Michelle Afi Kpekpe
Dominic William Kramer
Evan Michael Kreidler
Maxine Kreiter
Saanvi Kumar
Liadain Renate Maureen Kurrle
LTyler Aiden Lacey
Caitlin Jane Ladesich
Matthew Bradford Ladesich
James David Lallos-Harrell
Avery Mae Lane
Griffin Lane
Jeremy Lane
Makayla Kimberly Lane
Trevor Lane
Jacob Lapat
Maria Clara De Vilhena Gue Lau
Donovan Evergreen Laughlin
Darren Jayden Law
Emmett Pierce Lazarski
Benjamin Owen Lazzara
Armando Leal, III
Alexander Li-Guang Lee
Donovan Xavier Lee
Matthew Christian Lee
Ava Rose Lega
Alexander Lema
August David Leman
Aleks Lesny
Adrian Levy
Taniyla Mary Levy
Soraya Alyse Lewis Arellano
Kelson Lewis
Olivia Liebl
Zeke Lind Limberg
Brook Sarah Lingenfelter
Lucy Mae Liskiewitz
Leo Lisnic
Kevin Eduardo Lizarazo
Samuel Llanes
Iris Adaline Lloyd
Justin Lloyd
Jaquan Tyree Loggins
Charlotte Rose Lopez
Nathaniel Joaquin Lopez
Jillian Louie
April Love
Jacob Elijah Lubelchek
Teagan Elizabeth Lucas
Zion Donte Lucas
Stella Ludwig
Jack B Luke
Lincon Lundak
Finnegan Bruce Lutz
MCatherine Moira MacCarthy
Morgan Sanice Darlene Mack
Fiona Nicole Macmillan
Nolan Maddox
Madeleine Tate Magnuson
Aoife Katie Mahic
Max Robert Malcolm
Liam Edward Maldonado -Cruz
TODD A. BANNOR
OPRF High School 2026 Stude nt Council President Rhiannon Singer gives welcoming remarks at the school’s graduation ceremony on Sunday May 31.
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 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 two school board meetings where a ety of views were expressed.
“Following an evaluation of pa pation data, operational considerations, and community feedback, the district will transition to an optional, parentor family-org anized travel model the Washington, D.C., trip beginning in the 2026–27 school year,” wrote Ebony Loften, the district’s learning and inno-
BOB SKOLNIK
See D.C. TRIP on page 7
Parent Lisa Peloquin advocates in favor of a dist rict-sponsored 8th-grade class trip to Washington D.C. at the D97 school board meeting, May 26.
By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
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 re port 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
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
Oak Park issues update on fatal police shooting
State’s Attorney will bring no charges against Oak Park o cer who shot, killed man after struggle for concealed rearm 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-
llage President’s nightmare,” Scasaid. “My immediate concern is the care of all involved, including the officer, of the victim, and our community at I have every confidence that a thorough investigation will be conducted, and I appreciate the professionalism and responof our staf f and Chief Johnson.”
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 kee ping with our department’s commitment to transparency and accountability, I have ensured that the Illinois State Police Public Inte g rity Task Force is leading the inde pendent investigation into this incident. I am confident in that process and will not prejudge its findings.”
T he 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 occur red on Sunday evening.”
Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman called the incident a “nightmare.”
“The events of Sunday are tragic and
Manager Kevin Jackson promised transparency with residents and cooperation with the state police’s investigation. 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 ef fort 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 Integ rity 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.”
TODD BANNOR
Oak Park Police SUV at the Shell Station at Austin and Harrison, scene of a policeinvolved shooting the prev ious night.
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IGoodbye for now
have had the great privilege to cover Oak Park for Wednesday Journal full time since February oflast year. Unfortunately, this will be my last issue as the paper’s staf f re porter.
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, eng aged 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 re porters.
In a state where so many community publications have shuttered, WJ’s continued success is fundamentally a testament to its readership.
Repor ter Brendan He ernan depar ting Wednesday Journal this week BRENDAN HEFFERNAN
I will be moving on to a can’t-miss opportunity on a technology beat covering the semiconductor chip industry for a public ation called Semiconductor Engineering. A big change for me, but if someone star ts expressing interest in building a chip fabricatio n p lant on the old Mohr Concrete site, I will still make sure that WJ readers are in the know.
I’m proud to have cove red so many ke y 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 Mi dw ay Blitz,” the chaos and confusion sur rounding 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 Jour nal 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 jour nalism and in the re por ters who deliver it. I’m so excited to see what WJ does next, and you should be too
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.
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!
Life a er ‘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 ofthe local and national media on the first floor ofDowntown Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Courthouse in the immediate aftermath ofthe highly politicized case’s abrupt collapse Thursday, May 21. After months ofheadlines where the group found themselves at the center of questions offreedom ofspeech and protest rights protections amid the Trump administration’s Chicago mass deportation blitz, the group could now head of f to enjoy a celebratory drink at a downtown bar.
While there, one ofhis 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 ofOak 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 ofthat fear,” Straw said. “One ofthe biggest lessons I learned coming out ofthis is ifI 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 ofour community takes away from this as well.”
Straw had spent the last seven months balancing the weight ofthe 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-
set to begin May 26. The go
U.S. Judge April Perry’s review of grand jury transcripts revealed that Assistant U.S. Attorneys had polluted the case by imper missibly “vouching” for the strength of evidence during the grand jury process,
See BRIAN STRAW on page 6
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.
- Oak Par Boulevard for a missionat 607 Harvard Street , Park
Boulevard Presbyterian Church has space available for a missionaligned nonprofit organization at 607 Harvard Street, Oak Park.
Three rooms available (approx. 525 SF, 550 SF, and 365 SF) with shared access to kitchen, dining room, library, meeting space and restrooms. Occasional use of sanctuary may also be available. Rooms may be configured as classrooms, meeting space, office, etc. Additionally, a beautiful sanctuary is available Sunday afternoons for Gospel-centered services (ideal for a 4:00 PM service time).
Three rooms 525 with access to r ary estrooms of Rooms as a beautiful a 4:00 PM service time).
Preference Space usage must support
Preference for Christian nonprofits. Space usage must support nonprofit tax-exempt requirements.
Contact:TiffaniBoerio|tiffani@blvdpres.org
Contact: Tif fani Boerio | tif fani@blvdpres.org
Brian Straw at the Oak Park Democratic party meeting.
CRIME
Oak Park police arrest man for aggravated assault on o cer
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
Oak Park police arrested a Chicago man on multiple felony charges in connection with an alle ged 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 a er legal limbo
from page 5
communicating with grand jurors outside of the sessions and dismissing grand jurors who dissented from the gover nment’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
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.
protestors, but the gover nment had never accused Straw or any of the other defendants of causing that damage themselves.
Still, they contended that Straw and the other defendants had for med a “spontaneous” criminal conspiracy on the ground in Broadview last fall. Straw said he didn’t speak with any of his fellow defendants until after their indictment and could only really begin getting to know them after the charges were dropped last month.
“I think all of us avoided anything other than surface level conversations,” he said. “The first question (Abughazaleh) asked me was ‘what’re your three favorite preparations of potato?’ Those were the types of conversations I was able to have with my co-defendants. But over the last two weeks we’ve been able to have more personal conversations and have been able to talk with the only other people who have had this same experience.”
Proper ty damage
Oak Park police are investigating a proper ty damage incident from last week.
An unknown suspect re por tedly c aused thousands in d amage to a car pa rked in the 200 block of S outh Boulevard the morning of June 1, a ccording to p olice records.
T he suspect re por tedly used a brick to smash the Honda Accord ’s windshield and drive r’s s ide wind ow T he of f ender also slashed all four of the vehicle’s tire s, a ccording to police record s.
T he total d amage is estimated at $1,900,
First Amendment rights and about trying to silence political dissent,” Straw said. “There are so many ways in which I thought it was really important for us as defendants, to be showing how this was being weaponized against our community as a whole to silence political dissent, and to try to get people who were out there speaking out to stay home.”
“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.”
BRIAN STRAW Village trustee
Straw said while looking for a plea deal could’ve made some of the stress go away, he had full support from his family to pursue his defense.
He made the time to watch his 11-year-old son blossom as a “utility player” on his travel baseball team this spring. He fought the charges with Shannon by his side at every downtown hearing and with his 6-year-old daughter’s encouragement that he was being an “upstander” not a “bystander.”
“The prosecution was about a disregard for
Oak Park neighbors stepped up, too, helping with child care, fundraising and anything else that came up for Straw’s family. Straw said he had Parente’s number to call because of youth baseball in Oak Park.
“I am someone sometimes deeply uncomfortable with asking for help,” he said. “But this community is going to jump up for you with abandon.”
But the strain on the family was extreme, Straw said. The family had to move out of their home for a time shortly after his indictment when Straw received a death threat over the phone
Nightmares for his children continued after police cleared them to move back into their house.
“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,” he said.
The fallout from the case’s collapse has continued over the past several weeks, with the defense team pushing for an order for the gover nment to pay damages covering
a ccording to police record s.
These items we re o btained from Oak Pa rk ’s Po lice Department re ports date d June 1–7 and re present a portion of th e incidents to wh ich police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases ha ve not yet b een adjudicated. We re port the ra ce of a suspect only wh en a serious crim e has b een c ommitted, the suspect is still at la rge, and police ha ve provided us with a detailed a d escription of the suspect as th ey seek the public’s h elp 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.”
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 reco gnizing the strong community ef for ts already underway. Additionally, this decision immediately allows the organizing committee to move forward with planning and fundraising ef for ts 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 nar row 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 ar ound $5,000 for the trip but say that their fundraising ef for ts 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 org anizers 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 under re presented on the 2023 trip to D.C. making up 8% of the participants compared to 19% of district students overall but proportionally re presented (19%) on the 2024 trip to D.C. and slightly over re presented (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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Oak Park debuts AI chatbot tool on village site
Provided by village’s longtime digital media contractor as part of a new contract
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.
June marks Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month a time to raise awareness about the importance of brain health and support those impacted by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia
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.”
Maintaining brain health starts early. Below tips are all linked to reduced risk of cognitive decline and can help keep the brain sharp regular physical activity a balanced diet social engagement mental stimulation simple habits like walking daily, reading, or learning a new skill
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.
“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
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 ofdata 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.’”
It’s also important to recognize the early signs of memory loss These may include forgetting recently learned repeating questions difficulty managing finances struggling to follow conversations misplacing items experiencing changes in mood, personality, or judgment While occasional forgetfulness is normal with aging, consistent patterns of these symptoms may indicate something more serious.
The chatbot now appears in the bottom right corner ofthe village’s website and is capable ofusing village data and resources to answer queries.
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 ofthe 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 or a loved one are experiencing any of these signs, consult a healthcare professional Early detection can lead to better planning and improved quality of life
“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.”
content, which can lead to missing context for the user. We proactively address these issues during onboarding by reviewing and updating agency content.”
“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 ifit can. Ifit can’t, then you can pick up the phone.”
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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 ofgover nment agencies and the communities they serve.”
The chat bot would only give residents an-
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
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 g et rid ofthe GXA after a year ifit 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 ifthe utility that residents are getting out ofit doesn’t outweigh the environmental impact ofthe technology,” Straw said.
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.
“We’re committed to creating strong, independent and always locally focused news for our communities. We have great people, rooted in these neighborhoods. It is gratifying to see that work appreciated at the state level,” he said.
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Sam Zito Award for Excellence trophy
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 concer ns 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. T he rest just sit. T hey come in, they clock in, they go g et their lunch, then they sit there and eat and look at their phone. And they don’ t move until it’s time to get of f work.”
Baker built on those sentiments
“I can attest to what she’s saying,” she said. “That is true. When people ome, if they buzz the eople’s bell to g et in, they buzz them, other eople from the outside, they come past them in and go wherever.”
esident Charles Smith ved to Heritage House February after being on a four-year wait list. Since I’ve been here, been disappointed in management,” Smith said. “The problem is, they’re not doing their job, number one. In the back, since this is a senior building, there’s
supposed to be a long dumpster out ther e, 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 g et it tog ether.”
After about a half hour, Richards spoke.
“I understand this is everybody’s home. I g et 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 gover nment 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.”
TODD BANNOR
Heritage House resident Patty Davis speaks at tenant meeting on June 3.
TODD BANNOR
c Management President Je rey Richards responds.
Equity health-care oversight laws advance in light of West Sub closure
Legislation follows series of hospital shutdowns
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporters
Two pieces of legislation aimed to provide additional oversight to private equity involvement in health-care have made it to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk.
The new acts include HB5000, which strengthens oversight and transparency requirements around healthcare transactions and ownership changes, and HB4728, legislation establishing new guardrails around private equity ownership of intellectual and developmental disability service providers, according to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project. The legislation comes in the wake of West Suburban Medical Center’s closure in March, with the Oak Park safety-net hospital previously brought to the brink bankruptcy by for mer owner
Pipeline Health, a private equity-backed operator
controlled by private equity and how it af fects both care and access to it.”
Current West Sub operator Resilienc Health, which acquired the embattled hospital and it’s Chicago sister hospital We Memorial in late 2022, announced the sure of the century-old Oak Park hospital back in March citing a prolonged failur in the hospital’s electronic medical record billing system that resulted in as much as 90% of its going unbilled. Weiss Memorial closed last August, as the hospital lost its CMS accreditation.
“Health care is not a luxury to be pro ted o of, but a human right.”
GRACIELA GUZMAN State senator
HB5000 would require health care facilities and health care provider organizations, which are parties to a transaction involving a merger or acquisition to provide notice of the transaction to the Office of the Attorney General. This includes parties to the transaction that are not a health care facility or provider organization but own or control, directly or indirectly, one or more of the two or more health care facilities or provider organizations that will be under common ownership, according to legislative Democrats.
The bill was authored by Sen. Graciela Guzmán of Chicago.
“Health care is not a luxury to be profited off of, but a human right,” said Guzmán. “We have seen private equity take over portions of our economy and sell off whole industries for parts. We need to understand how much of Illinois’ health care system is
In the months leading up to the closure, Wednesday Journal reported on a variety of financial issues at West Sub and at Resilience Healthcare, including unpaid vendors, the loss of the hospital’s once revered doctor residency program and the millions owed in state and local taxes
Financial issues at West Sub had intensified under Pipeline’s ownership, with watch dogs like the Private Equity Stakeholder Project blaming the entity’s profit-minded decision making for putting patients at risk.
“Illinois lawmakers are responding to problems communities across the state have already experienced firsthand,” said Chris Noble, policy director at the private equity monitor. “From the collapse of Pipeline Health hospitals in the Chicago area to growing concerns around private equity-backed disability service providers, Illinois is recognizing the risks that can emerge when aggressive financial strategies enter essential care systems.”
“With these new laws, Illinois is becoming a leading example for states seeking to protect vulnerable residents and patients from the risks that can accompany private equity ownership in health-care and disability services.”
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 org anizers 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 ag reed to attend the June 13 DPOP meeting to request to see Prasad’s plan.
Org anizer 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 org anizers said they hope this action will keep community members aware of the closure and provide some clarity on the hospital’s future.
In the garden of eatin’
Pompei restaurant serves up their first summer in Elmwood Park
By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter
When 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
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
RISÉ SANDERSWEIR
Manager Lucian DiPo with eggplant strudel
Peach burrata salad
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 (chi anti, 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, in cluding THC- infused options.
Don’t. Miss. Dessert.
“We hand make all of our desserts, from our biscotti to our lemonade crescent cook ies, 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 of ferings.
“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.
Pompei in Elmwood Park
ART BEAT
My journey with Hemingway
By SCOT T SCHWAR Contributing Author
Iwrote the book, My Journey with Hemingway, for a number of reasons. First for my family, second for the Er nest 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, for mal 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
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
help you hit y
lected 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-
ther. “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.
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 Fur man.
“For us it’s culturally enriching and it’s interesting,” Furman said. “They’re interesting kids.”
BOB SKOLNIK
(Le to right) Jonathan Schmidtke , Morgan Tallec, Kazuma Suzuki, Lorenzo Garavaglia and Amr Nassar.
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 lear ning at scale for all demo graphic 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
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.”
New neighbors run ai Neighbor
Champ Akkarapol wants to educate other owners about selling too
By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter
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 ne gative
“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 transfor m, recoup the idea and then make a new restaurant.”
Being organized from the start is the best way to prepare to exit, according to
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 org anized. 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 of f his chef hat and apron and leaves the kitchen, he wants to encourage others to org anize 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. T he 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. T hey have passion in becoming an entrepreneur. I was very selective of who will be continuing my le gacy.”
FLOORS
ELECTRICAL
ELECTRIC
e 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.’”
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.”
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
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
PAUL CHENEY/B
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.
RAVO
Emily Abram and Sieger Bayer of bar Berria
Wright Plus lures families to visit childhood homes, again
Mark Keane was Oak Park’s rst 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 mad e. 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
A FLOCK OF KEANES: e 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 L LOYD WRIGHT TRUST/JAMES CA ULFIELD
Oscar and Nonie Balch House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1911).
PROVIDED
BACK HOME
Family gathers
from page 19
“apartment” for him out of what is now the home’s primary bedroom.
Although the home still occupied its original footprint — owners in 2003 added a large kitchen and family room — to the eight Keane kids, the home lived large.
Dennis recalls, “We were coming from a smaller home, so this was a very big house for us.”
During the 1957 Sputnik launch, the kids remember taking advantage of Wright’s flat-roofed design to sit on the roof and watch for the Russian satellite in the night sky. The kids also recall their mother using a wringer to hand-wash all of the family’s laundry.
1960.
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 the Fourth of July parade. He brought along three sons and his daughter to see the for mer f amily home, at the time under renovation. Dennis recalls, “There were major changes going on with the kitchen and f amily room addition. We got to meet the owners.”
“We were coming from a smaller home, so this was a very big house for us.”
DENNIS KEANE
Dennis Keane and his brothers were paper boys for the Oak Leaves, and Simpson discovered a lot of information about their dad from old Oak Leaves articles. Mark Keane was quoted as saying one of his greatest accomplishments as village manager was saving the village trees when Dutch
This year, the three brothers and sister returned fo Wright Plus, bringing along some of their kids and grand kids. Altogether, 12 of them made the trip from around the country.
Simpson says families like the Keanes make his research for Wright Plus enjoyable He heard plenty of storie from them, from the grand children of the second owners, and one previous owner sent him a photo of the back of the house — a rare find.
e full Keane family at home on Kenilworth in 1962. Seated were Mark Keane, Barry, Peter, Mar y, Paul and Carolyn Keane. Standing le to right were Dan,
Jr., Dennis and Brian.
Mark Keane (center) and four of his children v isited the home in 2003 when Mr. Keane was grand marshal of Oak Park’s 4th of July parade. e adult children were Peter, Mar y, Brian and Dennis.
More recent inhabitants also feel a draw to the home. The son of Tim and Charlene Pearson, who lived in the home from 1999 to 2016, came back to the home to volunteer in the house during this year’s Wright Plus. Last year, Simpson researched Wright’s George Smith House, and was able to
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 for mer 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.”
Mark,
Mark Keane surveys the Eisenhower E xpressway under construction in
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VIEWPOINTS
e stealth conservatism of Oak Park
By 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 just as they are, are pretty good, and we don’t eally need to change much.
My own internal title for this column is “Bikes, , and Boulevards.” I focus on transit, walkability, housing policy, and how these collide with that inefle “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 to see more transit options in general. We need and more varied, housing and I believe Oak character is stuck in a nostalgia-tinted haze that ignores our present reality he 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.
School supply shopping: BYO paper towels?
Back 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 re gular 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.)
One View
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
Second only to the pen, we wanted the “right” book covers. Yale? For sure. Harvard, yes. Something else? It depended on the colle ge 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 priz ed. (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 ea ger 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
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?
See DONNA GREENE on page 27
Shrubtow
DONNA GREENE
Never 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 re gular 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 pl reportedly, had never played org ball. The coach never coached before his misguided idealism, he shuf players into positions like third base where the poor nominee couldn’t get a throw to first base in less than three bounces.
Ty TRAINOR
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 kee ping 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, ho reached base when the pitch ot past the catcher. The throw actually beat the runner, which so unnerved the first baseman, he umbled the ball.
But Tyler was locked in and struck out the next two. The umpire had never called so many es in succession! He could hardly believe his eyes! And the catcher somehow gloved strike
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!
Iam 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
BOB MILSTEIN One View Budget process & the nance committee
presented to the board, and has the village adequately explained that process to residents?
My question is about gover nance and transparency.
Under Oak Park’s council-manager form of gover nment, 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 for mal 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 gover nment. Trustees should be engaged in setting priorities, and finance committees can play a valuable role in helping elected of ficials 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 for mal recommendation is
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.
SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck
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, wh ich found that relaxing density restrictions “is the most fr uitful policy reform for increasing the housing supply and reducing multifamily rents and single-family-house prices.” (https://papers.ssr n.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 perfor m 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-f amily 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
WEDNESD AY
of Oak Park and River Forest
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e 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 su cient space, we print longer submissions, but when space is limited — as it o en is — we may ask you to submit a shorter version or hold the piece until space allows us to print it.
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Courts are holding housing progress hostage
Communities 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.
One View
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.
Assessment appeal deadline is approaching
June 18 is the last day to appeal the new property tax assessments that the c ounty assessor ’s office mailed to Oak Pa rk property owners last month.
If you beli eve your new assessment is inco rrect or unfair and want to appeal it , you should know that staf fers at the Oak Pa rk Township Assessor ’s Office will be available to help Oak Park proper ty owners prep are and file appeals through June 18. To set up an appeal appointment, you should call the township du ring re g ular business hours. The number is 708-383-8005. Since we are now just a week before the deadline, I urge taxp ayers in need of help to set up an appointment soon.
Ali ElSa ar Oak Park Township assessor
Zoning-change referendum?
While I am concer ned about any change from the cu rrent single-family home zoning poli cy, I am even more concer ned about the whole decision making citizen involvement an element of the proposal to eliminate single-family home zoning
I have questions for our village boar d in this re ga rd. Have they studied other cities to see if these progr ams we re succ essful? Have they considered holdin g meetings throughout the village, involving all of the trustees, befo re voting on this measure? There is a common forum used to involve the citizen voters in the decision-making process in order to answe r questions, explain why the board thinks this will wo rk , and get input from the citizens of Oak Pa rk . And give n the enormity of this chang e, have they thought of presenting the proposal to the voters of the village of Oak Pa rk for a binding referendum?
Terrie
Rymer Oak Park
More aesthetic tra c-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.
T he 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
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 re porter 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 re porter 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 Enga gement participants
CATHY ADDUCI
More than just a ag-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 par tnership 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 of f 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 fur ther, and many teachers use their own funds for added supplies.
Se parate from who should pay for what, is that the fun of shopping in person for
Zoning change & a ordable housing
Our gover nor and our village president are endorsing a zoning change by adding multiunit homes in single-family blocks. The stated goal is to add af fordable 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 af fordable 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 Pa rk. 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 Oak Park
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 kindergar ten 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).
T he 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.”
T he 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
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.)
T he costs of boxes for other area schools seems to be less, but that may be deceptive. The $81 kinder gar ten 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 acce ptable.) 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 kindergar ten box at $78.46 includes the warning: “Students may be asked to re plenish 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 care givers 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
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 g et around raising more money via taxes
Here are some ideas to raise even more.
T he 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/NewswellChica go
Stephanie Sc aletta Oak Park Township
Mary Lou Anderson, 83 Teacher
Mary Lou Anderson, 83, of Lombard, for merly 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 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.
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
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
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
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,
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 she embraced. Her family 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 for mer deputy assessor with Cook County and a longtime Democratic committeeman, represent-
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 o cer
Robert Compton, 88, died peacefully in hi sleep on June 1, 2026 after being on dialysi for 14 years. Born on April 11, 1938 on a farm in South Louisiana, he worked hard at an ear age doing farm chores He taught himself ho to weld and became an expert when he came north to the Chicago area.
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 J cago, in May 1955. She love 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 Colge (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.
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
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.
SPORTS
Fenwick so ball nishes 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
TO M JENNINGS/IMAGES BY TA J
e Fenwick High School so ball team with the IHSA Class 3A third-place trophy following a 1-0 v ictor y over Dunlap, June 6.
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.”
“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 er ror 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.”
COURTESY OF FENWICK HIGH SCHOOL
Fenwick pitcher So a Kateeb (center) is hugged by catcher Ellie Brady (le ) as third baseman Alex Purta (right) gets ready to join in the celebration following the Friars’ 1-0 victory over Dunlap.
OPRF boys volleyball nishes second in state
Senior-led Huskies just miss ultimate goal of rst 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), Ohlhof f (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 er rors 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 er rors.
“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.
BILL STONE
e Huskies volleyball team poses with their second-place trophy.
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:
Section 62.75 Bulk, Yard and Space requirements to allow an increase in the Maximum Building Coverage from 30% to 36 % 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
Legal Description:
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
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 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 32.27 % to allow a new detached garage in an existing “A” Single Family Residential District for property located at 3741 Morton Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513
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
(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
PUBLIC NOTICE
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
Hannah Maureen Mangan
Jacob Rylan Marks
Michayla Eve Marks
Kevin Marquina
Finnegan John Marron
Taria Martin Allen
Audrey Elizabeth Martin
Jalen Amir Martin
Maria Jose Martinez Manon
Ana Paula Martinez Sanchez
Nicolas Martinez-Cordoba
Daniel Martinez
Isabela Martinez
Nitai Sebastian Meht Maser
Christopher Mason-Martinez
Adrien Mason
Taylor Mathias-Edwards
William L Matlock
Katherine Roma Mattes
Jayden Taron Matthews
John Matz
Evan Yeonsu Max
Julia Yeonah Max
Vivien Marie May
Kenneth McCaffrey
Aria Luna McCarthy
Isa Simone McClendon
Angelina McCracken
Madelyn Grace McCreary
Owen Andrew McFadden
OPRF 2026 GRADUATES
Colby C McGee
Ian McKinney
Alexander McNeilly
Hollyn Gwendolen Meadows
Vladimir Andres Medrano
Ayelet Rose Meir
Alexa Fernanda Melendez Zuniga
Ella Rebecca Mellman
Jonah Mellman
Van Carter Melodia
Joffre Orlando Mendoza-Macias
Micah Charles Merrill
Santino Messineo
Lucy Simone Mikos
Thomas Massouh Saul Milinovich
Boris Avery Miller
Isabella Annamarie Miller
Jaida Symone Miller
Jude Scott Kline Miller
Bailey Simone Minish-Murray
Preeti Anika Mirmira
Ravi Cole Mitchell-Chablani
OPRF CLASS OF 2026
Fiona Maeve Mitchell
Raj Sulin Mitra
Deasia Gabrielle Modacure
Parker Grant Moen
Trevor Grant Moen
Tariq Khaled Khalidi Mohamed
Madeline Rayne Molise
Delilah Therese Molony
Matthew Maximus Mondragon
Franco Charles Montero
Courtney Lynn Moore
Ruth Olivia Moore
Jocelyn Gisselle Moran
Louis Morelli
Clare Sheehan Moroney
Grace Kathleen Moroney
Liam Sheehan Moroney
Jonathan Joseph Morowczynski
Ana Sofia Mrotzek
Shalimar Akhira Muhammad
Ishika Mundhra
Benjamin Munoz
Ella Shaniya Murray
Madeline Murray
NLeena Sumati Nagaraj
Paloma Lucia Najera
Alex Miguel Naranjo
Sofia Bella Natale
Lila Rose Valentine Ncho Allepot
John Wayne Nelson
Pierre Terrell Nelson
Emilio Julian Nery
Quentin Nettles
Theodore Paul Neuner
Guinnevere Grace Neville
Rowan Catherine Neville
Sofia Crawford Nicolosi
Oliver Richard Nieslu Nielsen
Eliza Quinn Niewoehner
Henry Thomas Niksch
Evelyn Margaret Nohalty
James Zuiker Nolan
Tarrell Ontario Noriega
Max King Norling-Christensen
Shavon A Norsworthy
Ellyana Grace Nowinski
Aiden John Noyes
Juliana Nungaray
OKatherine Aba Grace Obed
Jacqueline Rose O’Brien
Ayanna O’Connor
Laila O’Connor
David Josiah Ogunsanya
Henry Jay Ohlhoff
Malik Ojikutu
Esai Oliveras-Gray
Victor Antonio Oliveras
Fabrizzio S Olivo
Mena Marie Ollins
Alexander James Wisdom Olson
Alexandra Spillane Ormond
Justin Ormsby
Amalia Eneida Ortuno
Xavier Raymond Ostler-Still
Aidan Rhys Owens
PMarco Padro
Elio Pakulski
Andrew Gerald Palmer
Konstantin Vasilios Pantazopoulos
Zoe Marie Panton
Madden Parks
Jacqueline Pearl Passariello
Ailey Quinn Patel
Niani Mali Patton
Lakshmi Sharadha Patwari
Martina Pehar
Siofra Marie Pellettieri
Heidy Lucia Perez
Starr Lashay Perry
Kingston Isaiah Petersen
Charles James Peterson
Lange Baker Peterson
Samuel James Phelan
Philippe Ronald Pierre
Alessandra Guadalupe Pina
Mia Yamamoto Pinc
Reyes Daniel Pineda-Rothstein
George Peter Ping
Cecilia Piper
Javonte Marcell Pittman
Lucia Quinlan Pohl
Joshua Delos Pomerenk
Nick Posey
Sabrina Elise Povilaitis
Nicholas Oliver Silveira Powell
Sarah Ann Prestes
Matthew Thomas Proskey
Kento Marcus Przybysz
Oliver Downey Puntillo
RElise Violet Raack
Madeline Louise Rabichow
Yonatan Lea Rafte r
Sabrina Rahman
Katelyn Audrey Raihle
Carolyn Toshiko Rainey
Susana Raisbeck
TODD A. BANNOR
TODD A. BANNOR
Antonio Gabriel Ramirez
Luciana Lourdes Johnson Ramirez
Roselina Marie Ramirez
Lyla Ramos
Sofia Angelie Ramos
Nayeli Grace Rische Rashbrook
Ellias Ray
Lauryn Olivia Reckamp
Kali Parker Regan
Robert Daniel Reid
William Aaron Reinholdt
Gianna C Reyes
Sophie Charlotte Rietveld
Ishita Corinne Ritchie
Luke Roberts
Sebastian Robinson
Sydney Robinson
Liam Daniel Lambshe Roche
Daniel Adolfo Rodriguez-Bovio
Tess McNay Rodriguez
Yurij Andreevich Rogachev
Isaac Nathaniel Rompala
OPRF 2026 GRADUATES
OPRF CLASS OF 2026
Penelope Jane Sanchez
Audrey Sandahl
Malia Imani Santiago
Dominique Giovannina Santos
Maria Alexandra Saravia
Elizabeth Osei Sarpey
Naana Akuba Sarpey
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
SKinan Atef Said
Hailee Salas
Benjamin Salazar
Dylan Chihiro Sameshima
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
Vaughn Salvador Sekulich
Michael William Lee Serritella
Walter Jerome Shannon
Lilian Veronica Shaulis
OPRF High School Graduating senior Micah Merrill sings the National Anthem at the school’s graduation ceremony on Sunday May 31.
Sanaa Elise Shaw Eleanor Marie Shea
Paris Spencer
Ainsley Cecelia Teague
Julian Everett St Pierre
Jaylen Stanley
Samantha Elizabeth Shelton
Sebastian Jordan Stanton
Ella Steffen
Seth Cameron Steiner
Rowan Michael Steinman
Charlie Gwendolyn Shindeldecker
Jonathan Sibley-Diggs
Omauri Isaiah Simmons
Rhiannon Marie Singer
Aliyah Margarita Siordia
ystalyn Smith-Sudduth
Henry Asher Spell
Evan Nathaniel Sterk
Genevieve Grace Stevens
Owen William Stevens
Cole Daniel Stewart
Alex Stompor-Mendoza
Van Strimaitis
Ally Sugita
Georgia Noren Sullivan
Zoe Swanson
Julia Marie Sylvester
TWilson Thomas Tanner
Ari Ashanti Tate
Daniel Taylor
Isaiah Taylor
Kaiden Myles Taylor
Marco Angel Taylor
Olive Beulah Tepfer
Jayne Kunji Terretta
Colin Thompson
Yvette Angela Thrasher
Bailey Tiffen
Amari Tillis
Jonah Cataldo Tocci
Sar yna Joli Torres
Vitoria Tosin
Nyah Amani Towne
Dev yn Townsend
Ruby Jean Tremper
Sabrina Tristano
Arlo Adams Truett-Schriber
Sienna Tulian
Damiah Turner
Kingston Isiah Turner
Kordi Ukmata
Jacob Tyler Ungureanu
TODD A. BANNOR
OPRF 2026 GRADUATES
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
Madeline Sophia Walski
Alice Yuhan Wang
Emma Marie Ward
Amaya Marie Warner
Janiah Taylor Watson
Gweneth G Watters
Keldon Charles Weaver
Caroline Terese Webb
Katherine Weber
Max Webster
Ryan Paulo Wells
Brady Wernet
Korina White
Zahria Janae White
Breanna Nahla Williams
Kali Rose Williams
Kennedy Williams
YOwen Matthew Yang
Micah Kaplan Yarbrough
Quinn Tsouderos Yates
Richard Allen Yipp
Ada Quinn Young
Matthew Jeffrey Young
James Arnold Yount
Laura Yutzy
ZLola Marie Hall Zarate
Aurelius Ankhala R Zawadowski
Margaret Caroline Zeigler
Grace Emily Zoloto
Jacob Lloyd Zort
Naima Axelrad (Scholarship Cup), Grinnell College
Delaney Cherikos (Scholarship Cup), Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Luke Henkes (Scholarship Cup), American University
Jude Miller (Scholarship Cup), University of Tennessee in Knoxville
Avaa Ruffer (Scholarship Cup), Northwestern University
NOTE:
Oak Park and River Forest High School Graduating Scholars 2026
George Barkidjija (Scholarship Cup), Amherst College
Gabriella Chesney (Scholarship Cup), Tulane University
Anna Barnes (Scholarship Cup), Vanderbilt University
Lily Bellmar (Scholarship Cup), The Ohio State University
Tyler Crabb (Scholarship Cup), Middlebury College
Zev Koransky (Scholarship Cup), Johns Hopkins University
NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS
Francesco Canzona
Tyler Crabb
Adalyn Dunphey
Margaret Herman
Brook Lingenfelter
Vivien May
Jude Miller
Liam Roche
Eleanor Shea
Dominic Kramer (Scholarship Cup), Auburn University
Evelyn Cultra (Scholarship Cup), University of Chicago
Alexander Lee (Scholarship Cup), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Francesco Canzona (Scholarship Cup), Brown University
Adalyn Dunphey (Scholarship Cup), Marquette University
Lucy Liskiewitz (Scholarship Cup), Purdue University
Preeti Mirmira (Scholarship Cup), University of Minnesota—Twin Cities
David Ogunsanya (Scholarship Cup), Cornell University
Konstantin Pantazopoulos (Scholarship Cup), Harvey Mudd College
Violet Schnizlein (Scholarship Cup), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Eleanor Shea (Scholarship Cup), Boston College
Sabrina Tristano (Scholarship Cup), Tulane University
NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED
Seamus Allen
Peter Bondartsov
Laura Brewer-Davis
Liam Calvert
Ana Castillo
Rohan Champaneri
NATIONAL MERIT SEMI-FINALIST
Leah Johnson
Owen McFadden (Scholarship Cup), West Lafayette
Patel
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
Ana Castillo (Scholarship Cup), University of Chicago
Sofia Fitzgerald (Scholarship Cup), Johns Hopkins University
Ailey
(Scholarship Cup), University of Notre Dame
Sarah Prestes (Scholarship Cup), Bowdoin College
2025-2026 ILLINOIS STATE SCHOLARS
Based
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
CUM LAUDE SOCIETY
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
OAK PARK and RIVER FOREST HIGH SCHOOL
10 percent of graduating seniors in Illinois qualify as State Scholars, compared to 25 percent at OPRFHS.
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
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*
* Denotes members who were inducted their junior year.
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*
2026 SCHOLARSHIP & AWARD RECIPIENTS
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
Many graduating seniors in the Class of 2026 have received merit-based scholarships from their colleges and universities and from corporate programs, foundations,
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" ScholarshipVocational 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
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
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
. Below is a list of scholarships reported to OPRF and verified.
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
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 UniversityPresidential 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
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-ChampaignChancellor'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
The Language and Music School
Established in Oak Park in 1994
Private 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
Drag queen Riley per forms at Out in the Burbs Pride celebration in downtown Oak Park on June 7, 2025.
PHOTO BY TODD BANNOR
, Senior Universal Banker
My Hanh La, Senior Universal Banker
Isbeth Saravia, Assistant Branch Manager
My Hanh La, Senior Universal Banker
Denise Warren, Branch Manager
Isbeth Saravia, Assistant Branch Manager
Isbeth Saravia, Assistant Branch Manager
Denise Warren, Branch Manager
Susie Goldschmidt, Market President
Denise Warren, Branch Manager
Susie Goldschmidt, Market President
Susie Goldschmidt, Market President
Committed to Oak Park and River Forest.
Committed to Oak Park and River Forest.
Whether you’re celebrating at a local Pride event or simply spending time in your community, we believe you should be able to do your banking with a team that celebrates you for who you are. At Byline, we are proud to stand alongside the LGBTQ+ community and are committed to fostering Culture, Opportunity & Belonging—for our employees, customers, and neighbors alike. Through our Employee Resource Groups, we create space for connection, advocacy, and authentic expression, ensuring every employee can bring their full self to work. We’re honored to support and uplift the communities we serve, and we remain dedicated to building a more inclusive future—together.
Committed to Oak Park and River Forest.
Whether you’re celebrating at a local Pride event or simply spending time in your community, we believe you should be able to do your banking with a team that celebrates you for who you are. At Byline, we are proud to stand alongside the LGBTQ+ community and are committed to fostering Culture, Opportunity & Belonging—for our employees, customers, and neighbors alike. Through our Employee Resource Groups, we create space for connection, advocacy, and authentic expression, ensuring every employee can bring their full self to work. We’re honored to support and uplift the communities we serve, and we remain dedicated to building a more inclusive future—together.
To learn more about our commitment, visit bylinebank.com/oprf
Whether you’re celebrating at a local Pride event or simply spending time in your community, we believe you should be able to do your banking with a team that celebrates you for who you are. At Byline, we are proud to stand alongside the LGBTQ+ community and are committed to fostering Culture, Opportunity & Belonging—for our employees, customers, and neighbors alike. Through our Employee Resource Groups, we create space for connection, advocacy, and authentic expression, ensuring every employee can bring their full self to work. We’re honored to support and uplift the communities we serve, and 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
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 Contributing Reporter
After hearing re peated 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
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.
PROVIDED
TaskForce program director Rey na Ortiz, engaging with the stude nts.
ALGA+ remakes y as Out With Purpose branding
Some pushback on name change but new signs of
area’s pioneering local y association, OPALersation
within its community as the organization moves in the direction of rebranding. OPALGA+ has long been known welcoming members ofthe LGBTQ+ community and its allies, hosting monthly potlucks in members’ homes along with its
scholarship program and advocacy ef forts.
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 re present.
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
JUNE 11
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 terminolo gy 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 re presented 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 colle ges, 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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FP Library Pride Month programming to honor LGBTQ community through books, ar twork
By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter
Throughout 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, staf f 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.
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.”
“We wanted to encourage self-expression and creativity by providing a safe environment for display and give teens an outlet to share their ar t with other teens,” said Martha Sullivan, Young Adult Services manager at the library. “Teens can submit digital art, shor t 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-
All adults are welcome at the Pride Book Buzz, re gardless 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 Ramire z’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 ef fort 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 re presented, 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.”
Pride Fest sweeps into Forest Park
Village celebrated pride June 5
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
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.
PHOTO S BY TODD BANNOR
Drag queen Britney Taylor performs at Forest Park Pr ide Fest on June 5.
Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogov in at the Pride Fest.
Mayor Rory Hoskins speaks at the Pride Fest.
Community members paint signs of LGBTQ suppor t.
A mom and daughter take a sel e.
Members of Ovation Academy perform a song and dance number.
Drag queen Angel LeBare speaks at Forest Park Pr ide Fest.
Drag queen Venezia Sodi performs
Drag queen Fox E. Kim performs
Confidence begins with being unapologetically yourself.
This Pride Month, we celebrate individuality, self-expression, and the courage to live authentically. We are proud to provide affirming, inclusive care for every member of our community.
Happy Pride Month from Oak Park Laser and Skin Clinic.
