WednesdayJournal_021126

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

RF schools still talking to teachers as some parents ask tough questions

District 90 decides to hold o on public posting of contrac t o

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

River Forest School District 90 has decided to hold of f on a public its most recent contract offer to teachers along with posting the latest response from the River Forest Education Association. The school district had said two weeks ago it would take those steps through the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board.

According to the district’s weekly update email on Feb. 6, it pa “sidebar mediation session” the RFEA and a mediator that it pe ceived as a “collaborative discussion.”

A sidebar ne gotiation a small group from the full ne teams and is used to explore possible compromises ahead of a or response, a district spokesperson said late Monday. She added that the RFEA requested the meeting to discuss the dis-

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Suburban Medical Center has not made any payments toward its $71 million debt to the State of Illinois, $2.6 million of ich the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services has recouped. Instead, West Suburban CEO Manoj Prasad said that, like other financially strapped safety net hospitals, West Sub is using its cash to care to the community, instead of pay assessments to the state.”

WEDNESD AY JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf Senior Audience Manager Stac y Coleman

Sta Repor ter Brendan He ernan

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Contributing Editor Donna Greene

Columnists Marc Bleso , Nicole Chavas, Jack Crowe, Vincent Gay, Mary Kay O’Grady, John Stanger, Josh VanderBerg

Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial & Digital Design Lead Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls

Marketing & Adver tising Associate Emma Cullnan

Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Operations Associate Susan Babin

Social Media and Digital Coordinator Maribel Barrera

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

Senior Advisor Dan Haley

OPRF’s Project 2 slightly behind schedule

Project manager says contractor intends to catch up for late-summer opening

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Project 2, the demolition and rebuilding of the southeastern portion of Oak Park and River Forest High School, is slightly behind schedule but the company managing the construction is still hopeful that it can meet the July 31 target for substantial completion of the 165,000 square foot project which includes a new swimming pool and third floor gym among other things. Project 2 is projected to cost nearly $102 million to complete.

“We are striving for July 31,” Jeremy Roling, project manager for Gilbane construction told the OPRF District 200 school board at its Jan. 29 meeting

Roling said the very cold winter weather as well as a delay caused when a steel installer subcontractor walked off the job has caused the Project 2 timeline to be delayed by a couple weeks.

He said that as of right now the new swimming pool should be completed by Aug. 6 and

the new third floor gym should be done by Aug. 12.

Teachers are scheduled to report to school for the 2026-27 school year on Aug. 20. The Huskie kickoff day is scheduled for Monday Aug. 24 and the first full day of school is set for Aug. 25.

Roling said that with workers working a five-day week Project 2 should be completed by Aug. 19 but he hopes that working overtime, including perhaps a six- or seven-day workweek when appropriate, will allow the construction to be finished by July 31.

“We are committed to getting back to July 31,” Roling told the school board.

Currently 80 to 100 workers are on site daily doing construction work at OPRF. That number is likely to increase as the weather warms up and pace of work increases in an attempt to get back on schedule.

Roling said the problem with the subcontractor doing steel installation caused a delay in the fall after the subcontractor walked off the job apparently underbidding the

work with the steel fabricator.

“There have been some challenges with that,” Roling said. “There was more left undone than what we first anticipated so we’re still working through some of those things.”

School board member Graham Brisben warned Gilbane officials to focus on safety, quality and coming in under budget and not to unduly rush.

“Those things are way more important than moving in by the 31st, or Aug. 20th or even Sept. 20th,” Brisben said. “You may not want to imagine this but, you know, we’ve lived with the inco nvenience of not having that corner of the building for two years. Even if we’ve went another month or two those other things are just way more impor tant.”

In addition to the new swimming pool and gym, Project 2 will include a new weight room, a new dance studio, new locker rooms, new physical education classroom space, a new Green Room for theater and an open staircase

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Eric Weinheimer | Treasurer Nile Wendor f Deb Abrahamson, Mary Cahillane, Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson Darnell Shields, Audra Wilson

A line of police depa rtment vehicles slowly moves down South Stony Island Avenue during the funeral procession for D et. Allan Reddins on Dec. 12, 2024.

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Several high-profile criminal cases tied to violence in Oak Park have been progressing through the Cook County court system.

According to county records, several people awaiting charges stemming from Oak Park murder and attempted murder investigations will appear in court in the coming weeks as their cases move along.

Jerrell Thomas

The fatal shooting of Oak Park Police Department Detective Allan Reddins

Oak Park major crimes moving through county courts

Oak

Park murder and attempted murder cases progress towards

trial in Cook County courts

shocked the Oak Park community in November 2024.

Reddins was killed in Downtown Oak Park while responding to re ports of an armed person at a local bank the morning of Nov. 29, 2024. Oak Park investigators identified Chicago man Jerell Thomas, 37, as the one responsible for the detective’s murder.

Thomas faces 56 total felony charges including first-de gree murder and multiple counts of attempted murder in connection with the killing, as Cook County prosecutors seek life-imprisonment for him.

Thomas had re por tedly stolen the gun used to kill Reddins from a family member a few days earlier.

Reddins was the first Oak Park police officer to die in the line of duty since 1938.

T homas received a cour t-ordered psychological evaluation a little over one month after his ar rest, but the court’s record shows several more mental fitness evaluations in recent months.

He is scheduled to be evaluated by a forensic psychiatrist from Northwester n Medicine on F riday, Feb. 6. He was last evaluated by psychiatrists on Dec. 15, 2025, according to cour t record s.

T he next status hearing in the case is set for the morning of Feb. 11 at the Cook County Criminal Division Court Building in Chicago.

Oak Park officials described T homas

at the time of his ar rest as “a habitual criminal.” He had been convicted of two counts of ag gravated battery against two Chicago police officers in connection with a 2019 incident. He was let out under supervised release after he pled guilty in 2022, given credit for 957 days served in county custody.

He’d also been ar rested in connection with several violent domestic incidents, including one in Oak Park in 2007.

Jabari McGee

Oak Park police took several suspects into custody when Corey Gates, a 54-yearold military veteran from South Holland,

SAM TUCKER

was shot and killed during an attempted carjacking in the 600 block of South Boulevard in Oak Park during the early morning hours of April 4.

One man, 20-year-old Jabari McGee, was ultimately charged with first-de gree murder for Gates’ killing. McGee had a pending drug trafficking charge at the time of his arrest, according to court records.

Gates has been in custody at Cook County Detention Lockup in Maywood since his arrest for Gates’ fatal shooting.

The next court date in his case is set for March 16.

Miles Brooks

T he third pending Oak Park first-degree murder case involves a man accused of killing his brother in a R idgeland Avenue apar tment building.

Oak Pa rk p olice responded to re po rt s of a shooting at a home in the 400 block of S outh R idgeland Avenue at approximately 1:47 p. m. S und ay, Nov. 2. Responding officers found 26-year- old A nthony Brooks unresponsive with a g unshot wound to the head before Oak Pa rk Fire Department paramedics pronounced hi m d ead at the scene shor tly after, accordin g to a village spokesperson.

Police took the victim’s brother Miles Brooks, 23, into custody at the scene. The c aller who re ported the shooting had told p olice that the younger Brooks had shot his brother in the head following an altercation i nside of their shared home, according to the village

Brooks has pled not guilty to his murder charges. He’s in custody at Cook County Detention Lockup in Maywood and will appear in cour t next on March 11.

Lisa Wolfe

An Oak Park woman’s attempted murder case ar rest will hinge on how much the judge values the defendant’s claim of self-defense, which could be supported by a series of previous domestic violence complaints

Police ar rested Lisa Wolfe, a 65-yearold Oak Park woman, on charges of attempted murder, domestic battery and ag gravated battery on Oct. 25, 2024 in connection with an incident that occurred roughly a month earlier, according to Oak Park police

On Sept. 23, 2024, Wolfe re por tedly called 911 and said that she’d been attacked in her apar tment and that “someone had been stabbed.” When Oak Park

police arrived on the scene, Wolfe allegedly confessed to stabbing a man with a kitchen knife, according to police re ports included in her Cook County case file.

As the victim was being taken out on a stretcher, Wolfe re por tedly yelled “I hope you die,” according to the police re port.

T he victim had previously been charged with domestic battery against Wolfe on multiple o ccasions, but each of those charges we re dropped shortly after the c ases we re filed, a ccording to C ook C ounty records. Wolfe’s attorney recently filed a motion asking that evidence from eight different d omestic battery c omplaints filed against the person she’d b een acc used of stabbing victim in recent year s be considered in the case.

Wolfe had re por tedly c alled Oak Pa rk p olice days before the stabbing and sai d that the man had threatened to kill her, a ccording to a previous filing by her attorney.

S he was gr anted pretrial release on the charges and will appear in c ourt next on Fe b. 18.

Kayla Harper

A Chicago woman accused of stabbing a man in the face at an Oak Park CTA station over the summer appeared in court earlier this week.

Kayla Harper, 31, is accused of stabbing a Chicago man in the face at the Oak Park Avenue Green Line station shortly before 11 p.m. the night of July 7, 2025. She appeared in court for a discovery hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 3 and remains in county custody in Maywood.

Lissette Chavez

Chicago homicide detectives ar rested a Galewood woman in Oak Park recently in connection with a year-old attempted murder case stemming from a shooting on the city’s Nor thwest side CPD investigators ar rested 23-year-old Lissette Chavez on charges of attempted first de gree murder after being identified as the suspect in the March 19, 2025 shooting of a 25-year-old woman 6100 block of North Karlov Avenue in Chicago. Chavez was brought into custody in the 200 block of Harlem Avenue in Oak Park last week on Jan. 27, not far from her home according to cour t record s.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026 – 4PM

Choral Concert

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY CHAPEL • RIVER FOREST

BRAHMS Tragic Overture

Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny)

Featuring The S/OP&RF Chorus, William Chin, choral director, plus the Heritage Chorale Wen Chin Liu-Young, artistsic director

MAHLER Songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Youth’s Magic Horn)

Nathalie Colas, soprano

COPLAND Quiet City An Outdoor Overture

Individual tickets $30 THROUGH 2/14/26, $35 on concert day.

Chavez was granted pretrial release at her first court appearance on Friday, Jan. 30. She’ll appear in court next on Feb. 20. 2025-2026 Our 94th Season!

Students through college always FREE to our River Forest concerts! Go to SymphonyOPRF.org to order tickets, and to DONATE. Questions: Email TheSymphonyOPRF@gmail or call (708) 218-2648

Follow us on Instagram!

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

Free parking in the garage located at 1124 N. Bonnie Brae Place (one block west of Harlem Avenue between Division and Thomas Streets) in River Forest. Chapel just west of garage exit.

Maurice Boyer, Conductor

Pre-concert Conversation with David Leehey at 3pm. Free reception after concert.

Nathalie Colas, Soprano

WEST SUB Debt unpaid

from page 1

In an email to Growing Community Media, Prasad added that many safety net hospitals financially struggle to provide for uninsured or under-insured patients.

“We are one such hospital and, if recall, were to be permanently December 2022 until we stepped in to sa it and keep it operational,”

“Now three years later, we welcome all patients from the community who we obser ve are sicker and more complex, due to not being able to af ford care early due to funding cuts and reimbursement cuts.”

December. As of Feb. 3, 2026, West Suburban owed $51.8 million to the department in assessment fees and late penalties.

In the 2023 fiscal year alone, West Sub inred $10.5 million of debt to the IDHFS not paying the monthly assessment fees, nearly $1 million of which were late penalties. The hospital racked up another $13.5 million in missed assessment fees the following fiscal year and $18.5 million in the 2025 fiscal year.

Visited by state public health department

Resilience Healthcare bought West Sub, along with its sister hospital Weiss Memorial in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, from Pipeline Health for $92 million in 2022. Before selling the hospitals, Pipeline filed for bankruptcy, re porting nearly $70 million of net losses between West Sub and Weiss from Aug. 2021 to 2022 alone.

According to documents provided to Growing Community Media by the Illinois

vices under a Freedom of Information Act request, in Jan. 2023, the department gave West Suburban a $20 million advance payment to help get Resilience Healthcare out of some of the debt it inherited, but the hospital hasn’t paid any of it back FOIA documents also show that West Sub hasn’t paid any assessment payments — which are state fees that help cover the cost of patients with Medicaid or who are uninsured — since August 2022. The state approved the sale to Resilience Healthcare that June and ownership officially changed

State has funded West Sub

In Jan. 2023, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services gave a $20 million advance payment to Resilience Healthcare for both West Suburban and Weiss.

Resilience requested the payment from the IDHFS after it bought the two hospitals from Pipeline Health. According to the payment plan ag reement, Pipeline accrued nearly $60 million of debt to vendors in 2022 alone, which Resilience inherited and needed help paying of f in order to make the hospital financially stable.

In the 18-month payment plan, Resilience was expected to pay $1.1 million monthly in 2024 and for half of 2025.

To date, the IDHFS has not received any scheduled advance payments and is establishing measures to ensure West Sub’s compliance with advance re payment ag reements.

According to the ag reement, if Resilience fails to pay, the IDHFS will immediately start taking collection action to recover the outstanding balance, including penalties. And Resilience wouldn’t be

able to get approval for another advance payment until it pays of f the first.

West Suburban has not been without financial assistance from the state, receiving about $19 million since 2022. The Illinois Department of Public Health (and some federal funding) has provided the following grant ag reements between the department and West Suburban:

■ $4.2 million, one-year grant starting July 2022

■ $4.8 million federal, one-year grant starting July 2022

■ $3.45 million, one-year grant starting July 2023

■ $4 million, one-year starting July 2024

■ $2.4 million, one-year grant starting July 2024

Prasad told GCM that each grant has requirements for what it must be spent on, like hiring more staf f or buying equipment.

“We are required to provide evidence of completing those actions or activities that we have consistently and timely done,” Prasad said.

The IDHFS told Prasad in October that it would enter into a payment plan ag reement of 36 monthly installments, Jan. 2026 through Dec. 2028. The hospital was instructed to pay $50,000 or $100,000 monththrough this year, $200,000 or $300,000 monthly next year, $600,000 monthly the first half of 2028, and over $5 million a month through the rest of the year. While on the payment plan, West Sub would still have to pay subsequent hospital assessment payments.

If West Sub doesn’t comply with the agreement, the IDHFS can either: deduct 25% of total payments to the hospital for services rendered from future payments; recoup the remaining amount of the outstanding assessment balance; or withhold increases in payment upon federal approval of updated hospital assessment payments beginning last year.

To date, the IDHFS has recouped $2,600,353 from West Sub in outstanding debt.

In December, Prasad submitted a request for an administrative hearing with the IDHFS. According to the request, Prasad is “challenging HFS’ recovery of unpaid assessments because it is against the public interest, more specifically, the public residing in the Austin and surrounding neighborhoods, for whom West Suburban Medical Center, a safety net hospital, provides critically needed acute healthcare services almost exclusively,” Prasad said in the request.

“HFS is aware that for the past eight months, West Suburban Medical Center has been struggling with a forced transition to a new Electronic Medical Record System that has crippled our billing and collection capabilities, forcing the hospital to survive on a small fraction of its normal revenues while continuing to provide needed services to the impoverished neighborhoods,” Prasad said in the request. “This enforced recovery, on top of severely diminished revenues, will most likely force the hospital to end services, creating a healthcare desert in the region, negatively impacting the community’s health, the very thing that HFS is charged with improving.”

During a press conference in August, Prasad said, since before Resilience

The last week of January, the Illinois Department of Public Health visited West Suburban Medical Center. An IDPH public information officer told Growing Community Media that the department’s visit to West Suburban last month “is a pending matter, and therefore we are unable to comment.” West Suburban CEO Manoj Prasad said the visit wasn’t unusual, and that the IDPH was at other hospitals in the area in prior weeks.

“They typically investigate complaints and monitor care delivery, which they also did for us,” Prasad told Growing Community Media. “There was nothing newsworthy that came out of it. We were pleased with their approval of our care delivery and operations that they reviewed at length.”

Phones back on at West Suburban

The phone lines at West Suburban Medical Center have been restored. After days in which calls to the hospital’s main line received a “The number you have reached is out of service” message calls are now answered by an automated attendant after a welcoming message

Dan Haley

Healthcare bought the two hospitals, they have averaged a loss of $20-50 million annually. The press conference was the same day Weiss closed, after the federal government cut its Medicare program because of violations relating to emergency protocols, nursing services and the hospital’s physical condition.

“HFS is aware that a number of hospitals are facing financial difficulties that will be exacerbated by changes implemented by HR 1,” or the Trump Administration’s Big Beautiful Bill, Melissa Kula, a media relations officer for the IDHFS, told Growing Community Media in an email. “HFS is currently considering steps to ensure a sustainable healthcare safety net for the State of Illinois.”

Spillane, Fenwick grad, makes Super Bowl despite injury

Questionable all week, Robert Spillane takes eld for losing Patriots

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Patriots’ linebacker and Fenwick High School alum Robert Spillane, Class of 2014, overcame an ankle injury to play in Super Bowl LX. He posted 2.5 tackles.

Spillane suffered an ankle injury during the New England Patriots’ 10-7 victory over Denver in the American Football Conference title game.

Spillane had said he was optimistic he’d make the Super Bowl. And Spillane’s name was mentioned frequently on the g ame’s national TV broadcast though it was a long, frustrating day for the Patriots as they lost to the Seattle Seahawks.

His Fenwick coach, Gene Nudo, said

last week, “He’s added so much to New England’s defense and everywhere he’s been, he’s added to the quality of the team with his leadership and hardnosed attitude about playing ball.”

Nudo appreciated Spillane’s football smarts, toughness and willingness to help the team.

Nazareth Academy alum Julian Love, Class of 2016, won back-to-back IHSA state football championships with the Roadrunners his junior and senior seasons. Almost 10 years after he graduated, Love once again experienced a championship feeling as he helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX over the Patriots 29-13 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, Feb. 8.

Love, a free safety, had one of the game’s biggest plays. His 38-yard interception return of a Drake Maye pass in the fourth quarter all but ended any hopes of a late New England rally. In addition to his interception, Love had 2.5 tackles for the Seahawks.

Oak Park police bring back neighb rhood beat cops

Community program comes back after police sta ers in back-half of 2025

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Police Department announced Monday tha it’s bringing back a program supporting department and community relations following a year-and-a-half hiatus

The department announced the launch of a new iteration of its residential beat officer program, which assigns officers to work as neighborhood liaisons. The program was suspended in August 2024 due to low officer staffing levels, according to the village

Officers Eric Locke, Raphael Murphy and Christine Simkus lead the program, with the village divided into eight beats that the three will share. In addition, veteran Foot Patrol Officer Michael Kelly will continue to suppo the Downtown Business District as a liaison to the business community, according to the village.

The officers will hold re gular meetings in the neighborhoods they serve to discuss issues, crime trends and answer questions, according to the village

“I’m pleased we can once again promote our excellent RBO/NRO program to the Oak Park community,” said Police Chie f Shatonya Johnson in a statement. “As a fo r-

mer beat officer myself, I know how important communication is for both residents and the department. The RBO progr am is an important tool that helps us eng ag e in the type of neighborhood outreach that helps our community thrive. ”

village is encouraging Oak Park residents to reach out to their neighborhood’s RBO to offer feedback or for evention advice.

The department’s officer recruiting ef for ts made the am’s retur n possible, village officials said. T he department finished 2025 with 92 sworn officers on staf f and is still eyeing 116 as a goal for the coming months, ccording to the village.

In 2019, the department had 109 sworn officers. Accordpolice department’s annual re port for 2025, 2024 brought the greatest amount of officer tur nover that the department’s seen in recent years. T he department hire d 19 new officers that year but lost 20 to either retirement or resignation, ending 2024 with 85 officers on staf f, esponse to the hiring deficit, Oak Park has changed ompensation and benefits to try and bring more recr uits into the fold, including salary increases, more g enerous f amily leave offerings, $4,000 sign on bonuses to recr uits who earn spots as patrol officers, retention bonuses and approved hiring for lateral transfers from other police de partments, Johnson said.

T he department will also operate with a larger budg et this year in part due to increased funding for recruiting.

FILE PHOTO

Robert Spillane during his football play ing days at Fenw ick.

RF hires PR rm for Madison development project

Making clear the importance River Forest village officials place on a proposed Madison Street development project, trustees Feb. 9 approved a contract with Jasculca Ter man of Chicago to perform strategic communications services related to the project.

In January officials announced the proposed development of a vacant village-owned parcel at 7620 W. Madison St. with a five-story, 72-unit mixed-use building. The development would feature high-end apartments and first-floor retail space, along with 87 parking spaces

The communications contract, approved unanimously, will pay Jasculca Ter man $10,000 per month through June 30 for a total of $60,000. Jasculca Ter man has been working on the project since December. The fir m was paid $3,688.13 for work that month. Expenses less than $20,000 do not require board approval.

The firm, headed by River Forest resident Rick Jasculca, previously provided similar

people working on the project. A lot of questions have been asked.”

He said communications to the public will be through the news media and social media, adding the effort “will evolve over the next four or five months.”

Jasculca said the major issues are traffic and parking but noted the developer would be undertaking a study of those issues

In a memo to Matt Walsh, village administrator, Jessica Spencer, assistant village administrator, said staff members identified the need for “a comprehensive and coordinated communications strategy” for the project.

“Staff engaged in preliminary discussions with Rick Jasculca and his team at Jasculca Ter man due to their demonstrated expertise in public-sector communications, community engagement and development-related messaging,” Spencer said in the memo. “The proposed agreement would allow staff to work collaboratively with Jasculca to proacti ly messaging, ddress

ect; support for project announcements and milestone communications, assistance with public input and engagement efforts; and communications support throughout the village review and approval processes.

While no agreements or approvals on a building project have been made, over the last year village officials considered seven development proposals, selecting two finalists before ultimately choosing Chicago-based Five Thirty-One Partners for the project. One of the firm’s principals is River Forest resident Viktor Jakovljevic

To obtain community input, officials held three open houses, two of which ran for four hours with the third running two hours.

Spencer said “almost 100 residents” attended the open houses and more than 70 residents have submitted feedback and questions

Some of the themes from residents include concerns about traffic on nearby streets; parking on the property for future tenants and uests of the ommercial space; and the

she hopes will be published by the end of the week.

In response to a question from Trustee Megan Keskitalo, Spencer said the rationale behind hiring Jasculca Ter man was the firm’s previous experience with the village. Spencer also said Jasculca Ter man’s social media efforts will not duplicate those of Vicarious Communications, which handles the village’s e-newsletters and other social media communications

Officials stressed that no final agreements or approvals have taken place and that the proposal is preliminary and subject to change as they and developer discuss project details and gather public input and the project moves through the for mal planned development process

The property once housed a Lutheran nonprofit before the village purchased it in 2018 and demolished it in 2023. The village also purchased residential homes north of the east-west alleyway with an eye on the futur

7TH DISTRIC T PRIMARY

Who should I vote for in the 7th D t congressional primar

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Ahead of March 17, Growing Community Media is profiling the 15 candidates running in the 7th congressional Democratic and Republican primary. Whoever wins the November election will succeed Rep. Danny Davis, who is retiring after nearly 30 years in the position.

To help constituents decide who to cast their vote for, Chicago’s Westside branch of the NAACP hosted a forum Jan. 27 at The Collins Academy STEAM High School in North Lawndale. Remel Terry — president of the NAACP’s Chicago Westside branch and of Chicago’s Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability — moderated the discussion.

A dozen candidates attended, including Democrats Richard Boykin, Anthony Driver Jr., Dr. Thomas Fisher, La Shawn Ford, Rory Hoskins, Anabel Mendoza, Jazmin Robinson, Reed Showalter, and Felix Tello. Republican candidates Chad Koppie and Patricia Easley were also present. Democrat Melissa Conyears-Ervin joined the forum during the second question, which she answered with her opening statement. Other candidates running include Democrats David Elrich and Jason Friedman.

Democrat Kina Collins was unable to attend the forum due to a previous engagement with voters, but submitted a comment: “My campaign is rooted in advancing equity and opportunity on the West Side, fighting for quality public schools, accessible and affordable healthcare, economic investment that creates good paying union jobs, and real public safety solutions that center dignity and justice.”

After opening statements, the forum’s participating candidates answered three questions. Candidates were seated randomly and responded in the same order for both questions

QUESTION 1

Remel Terry: What specific federal policies would you champion to improve economic opportunities for

Please be specific about programs and explain how you would track progress in closing disparities.

Jazmin Robinson (D)

Senior human resource professional who designs, builds and manages employee benefits and systems

Robinson is running on her HEAL Act that tackles the root causes of inequality by increasing funding for health care and education, amending access to government by banning PACs and lobbyists, and raising the living wage.

Robinson said every congressperson gets $10-20 million in community and project funding annually and suggested using this to re place lead pipes and invest in local libraries and schools in the neighborhoods of the 7th district that need it most. Robinson also named federal surplus personal property donations as a way to get laptops, furniture and vehicles that the federal government is no longer using into the 7th district. She said, in the bills that could

write earmarks that dictate that resources must go to those who need them most.

If elected to Congress, Robinson said she’d hire a grant director and coordinator to help small businesses and nonprofits apply for grants. She would also aim to unbundle multi-million-dollar government contracts that often go to one company, aiming to redistribute funds to smaller businesses.

Patricia Easley (R)

Host of the Black Excellence Hour, Fox News contributor

“I’m going to bring capitalism back to the district,” Easley said, stating the need for manufacturing to return to the West Side. She said that, when Sears was located in North Lawndale, it was one of the richest Black neighborhoods in the country. “When that manufacturing comes back, we’ll have opportunities to open up small businesses to support those manufacturing corporations, and that’s how we build wealth.”

come a social service economy: “We don’t want any more grants. We don’t need any grants,” Easley said. “I want to put my people back to work.…We are better than social working. We know how to work for ourselves. We know how to count our own money. We know how to balance our own checkbooks. We are not a charity. What we are is mismanaged.”

Reed Showalter (D)

Former attorney at the Federal Trade Commission, former senior policy advisor of National Economic Council, former work er on Cong ress’ Judiciary Committee Showalter also said there was a need to break up monopolies, which he said dismantled the manufacturing district Easley wants to bring back

“We had a whole lot of monopoly capitalism roll through and buy up, shutter and destroy the local businesses here,” Showalter said. “There’s a reason why

TODD BANNOR

Candidates at the 7th District Congressional Forum at Collins Academy High School

7TH DISTRIC T PRIMARY

FORUM

Questions & lots of answer

from page 9

our hospital systems, West Suburban Loretto, are struggling on the frontline because they keep g etting purchased sold.”

Showalter added that, instead of subsidizing government programs, we should be creating new opportunities in the 7th district. He said we could build homes in the district with union labor, rather than “hoping that if we give enough tax breaks to private developers, that they’ll ride in and they’ll save us.”

Richard Boykin (D)

Attorne y, former chief of staff for Cong. Danny Davis, former Cook County commissioner

Boykin said there’s a need for a concentrated, stateside strategy like the Marshall Plan, where the United States sponsored over $13 billion in recovery programs to Western Europe after World War II. He said economic development for a plan like this would create thousands of jobs on the West Side, ones that have been lost without the presence of major manufacturing companies.

Boykin said the West Side also needs an education plan, where young people are better prepared to go to colle ge, into a trade or employment after high school. And he advocated for comprehensive access to affordable, quality health care, adding that he would reverse cuts made by President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill and extend Obamacare subsidies.

La Shawn Ford (D)

Illinois State Representative for the 8th District

Ford also touted the need for better educational opportunities, like more funding for higher education and trade schools, in order to reduce the unemployment rate on the West Side. And he cited the need for federal funding to create jobs through large organizations in the district.

“We need to make sure that, when the government funds hospitals, those contracts and opportunities trickle down into the com-

munity, so that we can grow our businesses in the neighborhood, so that we can hire people,” Ford said. He cites Rush University Medical Center as an example, stating that the hospital could grant contracts with West Side businesses. The same with the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Cook County Jail, Chicago Public Schools and Chicago parks. “These are jobs that have to be transferred to the community. Jobs and contracts create low unemployment, and it also creates safer communities.”

“For the last 19 years, I’ve connected people to jobs every day,” Ford added. “There hasn’t been a day in our office where we haven’t connected people to a job.”

Felix Tello (D)

Executive engineer at Siemens Tello founded and leads the Community Justice and Equity Movement, which helps communities across the county to fight for re parations — something he said the Congressional Black Caucus has been advocating for years.

“The Black community has had centuries of this crap. The Black wealth is onetenth that of the white wealth in this country, and it’s really a shame,” Tello said. He added that his organization is learning from existing communities with re para-

cally around I-294. Hoskins was a founding member of the I-290 Blue Line Coalition, which advocates for reconstruction of the Eisenhower, the CTA rails that run along it, and surrounding streets. Hoskins said more funding for projects around the expressway would create jobs and new space for businesses

Hoskins also wants federal forgiveness of student loans and public service loans, and for federal tax credits to incentivize hiring people in vulnerable communities.

Anabel Mendoza (D)

Immigrant rights organizer, youngest candidate

Mendoza said three main things could help improve this economic opportunity. First, she wants to invest in local entrepreneurs and small businesses, rather than large corporations, which don’t know what communities need or want.

tions, like Evanston, “building on successes, addressing challenges and investing in justice, equity and opportunity for all.”

Chad Koppie (R)

Retired airline pilot, farmer, octogenarian

“I am well aware of the crisis in the Black community that’s gone on for hundreds of years,” Koppie said, citing the millions of people who came to the United States and were sold into slavery.

“There’s another issue, the abor tion issue, that is very much akin to the slavery issue. They were both approved by the Supreme Court in the United States. The slavery issue was resolved with the Civil War, which was an awesome situation. We all know about the 600,000 people who were killed. Since the abor tion thing became legal in the United States, there’s something like 75-to-100 million dead Americans. And the ratio of abor tion in the Black community is much higher than it is in the white community.”

Rory Hoskins (D)

Mayor of Forest Park, attorney, former village commissioner Hoskins said that funding public works would improve economic oppor tunities for Black Chicagoans in his district, specifi-

“That’s the obligation of the federal government to bring those dollars back into our communities to make those small businesses a reality for these entrepreneurs,” Mendoza said. She added that Congress needs to raise the federal minimum wage, from $7.25 an hour to closer to $30, and advocate harder for reparations.

“We need to make sure that re parations drive direct cash payments to close that racial and opportunity wealth gap, so that people are able to invest in their communities the way that others have been able to for decades,” Mendo za said.

Thomas Fisher (D)

Emergenc y room doctor at University of Chicago Medicine

Fisher also said he wants deeper federal investments in post-high school education, like trade school and community colle ge And for more investment in local entrepreneurs and small businesses, which create jobs across communities.

He also would advocate for better infrastructure, like federal funding for updates to CTA trains lines and stations. Infrastructure projects create jobs, and legislators can embed sections into bills that require investment in low-income communities, Fisher said.

Anthony Driver Jr. (D)

Former executive director of SEIU IL, former president of CCPSA, where he now

TODD BANNOR

State Representative La Shaw n K. Ford gives opening remarks at the 7th District Congressional Candidate Forum at Collins Acadamy High School on Jan. 27

serves as commissioner under Remel Terry If elected to Congress, Driver would support legislation where “every single person who wants a job should be guaranteed a job by the federal government,” one where they make at least $20 an hour and have universal health care. Driver said one of the things he’s most proud of in life is leading SEIU’s fight to raise Illinois’ minimum wage to $15 an hour, though that’s not enough. He said there needs to be more funding and legislation specifically for Black people.

“I also watched how, when we raised the minimum wage, Black people were the first to lose their jobs. You hear people talk about Medicare for all, but you won’t hear people talk about the Black maternal health crisis where black women die at three times the rate. What are you doing if you get Medicare for all, but you don’t specifically address the Black maternal health crisis? You’ re expanding access to inequality,” Driver said. “You hear people talk about community colle ge for all, but they won’t say anything about HBCUs,” said Driver, who went to Howard University.

Driver said the federal government should also subsidize the removal of lead pipes — which added are more abundant in Cook County than anywhere else in the country — and prioritize hiring people

7TH DISTRIC T PRIMARY

from impacted communities to do the job.

“This one single issue — we remove the lead service lines in Chicago — can solve a lot of these economic issues. This is the issue of political will. You have people up here talking about ‘I’ve been there. I’ve been around this whole time.’ Why do things still look the same way?”

QUESTION 2

Remel Terry: One of the leading causes of personal bankruptcy is medical debt. Federal public health and healthcare utilization data shows that Black people experience poorer health outcomes and higher exposure to medical debt than other groups. What federal policy levers fall within your authority to address this disparity?

Felix Tello

Tello is for universal health care. He said Congress needs to appropriate money for health care by restoring Trump’s cuts to the Af fordable Care Act

“We need to focus on appropriating money, not just for Black folks, but everybody who’s at a disadvantaged level. It just takes one little trip to the emergency room and

they’ re screwed, so we need to cover everybody,” Tello said.

Chad Koppie

Koppie said, “We’ve got to stop the fraud In other words, the hospitals, the doctors, the insurance companies are looting the system. If we could just have truth to the matter and stop the fraud, that would be my answer.”

Rory Hoskins

Hoskins supports Medicare for all. He also cites a program where Cook County used Covid-era relief funds to buy medical debt and suggests a broader program that would allow for the purchase of medical debt incur red by vulnerable families.

Anabel Mendoza

“I absolutely support Medicare for all, but I want to go a little deeper,” Mendoza said, adding that the federal government should forgive all medical debt. “I think of someone like my mom, who was recently diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo a very invasive surgery. I can’t imagine having come out of that surgery, and now she has to worry about losing her home on top of that. That’s unacce ptable.”

Mendoza said housing is intrinsically linked with medical debt. In Congress, she’d create legislation that provides emergency funding to ensure homeowners who are in crisis, including medical debt, don’t lose their homes.

Thomas Fisher

Fisher also advocates for Medicare for all or other universal coverage, and for restoring the Af fordable Care Act and Medicaid.

“The No. 1 predictor of whether or not people survive cancer right now is whether or not they’ re driven into bankruptcy in the course of their treatment. That’s immoral. That is not right,” Fisher said. But he added that access to health care isn’t the primary indicator of health.

“The reason there’s a 20-year life expectancy gap between West Garfield Park and Streeterville has nothing to do with health care,” Fisher said. “Do Black folks have the housing that we deserve, the jobs, the food, security? Until we do that, health care is not the primary issue.”

See FORUM on page 12

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TODD BANNOR

Anabel Mendoza gives speaks at the 7th District Congressional Candidate Forum.

7TH DISTRIC T PRIMARY

FORUM

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from page 11

Anthony Driver Jr.

Driver also believes in free health care, but ag rees that Congress needs to take it a step further by writing legislation that respects and protects Black people.

“What is Medicare for all if you don’t have culturally competent doctors? What is Medicare for all if you struggle to find a vein when you draw blood from Black people?” Driver said. He added that he’d work to ban those working in the health insurance industry from contributing to political campaigns.

“People don’t talk about why we don’t have universal healthcare. It’s because our politicians are bought and paid for. They’re not accountable to the people, they’re accountable to these industries,” Driver said.

Jazmin Robinson

Robinson ag reed that health insurance companies should be banned from contributing to campaigns, along with all PACs and lobbyists

“We need to ban them completely because they buy our Cong ress re presentatives. Every single one of them are sold,” Robinson said.

According to her fair tax plan, Robinson said removing people who buy Congress could finance free, high-quality health care

Because medical debt can be sold to a debt collector for pennies on the dollar, Robinson suggests partnering with nonprofits who could buy medical debt to fight corporations. A $50,000 investment from nonprofits could wipe out $5 million of medical debt, Robinson said.

Patricia Easley

Easley wants to re-legislate Medicaid, making it so that the federal gover nment pays 100%, instead of 60-to-70% of the to-

tal cost. She also wants to restrict banks from participating in the health care business and to improve safety net hospitals Safety net hospitals like West Suburba n and Loretto don’ t have access to credit, “which means that they do not have the money to give people charity for their medical bills like a Rush, like a Northwestern. If you don’ t have the money to function, you cannot do it. And that is legislative,” Easley said. “If you are a private institute insurance holder and you go to a safety net institution, you are going to pay more because that institution does not have the cushion to absorb the health care costs.”

Reed Showalter

Showalter also supports Medicare for all, but added that Congress needs to restructure the health care system.

“We need to wipe out the possibility of medical debt, but you don’t get to do that unless you take on the structure of the medical system in the first place,” Showalter said. He said that means making it so

for-profit companies can’t own hospitals and capping the price of pharmaceuticals.

Richard Boyki n

When Boykin was a Cook County commissioner, the county started buying medical debt from residents. But he said Congress needs to take it a step further with universal health care coverage. Boykin said, if elected, he would cut 10% of the Department of Defense’s budget and funnel the $88 billion into health care.

“They found money for the illegal migrants who came here, and we can find money for citizens, so that they don’t have to wor ry about being bankrupted for medical debt,” Boykin said.

La Shawn Ford

In addition to restoring the Af fordable Care Act, if elected to Congress, Ford would prioritize more federal funding for safety net hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers. These would provide more accessible care that prevents reentry

into hospitals, which often causes medical debt.

Ford also stresses the need for culturally competent doctors and funding for HBCUs “because Black people need culturally sensitive doctors in our communities.”

QUESTION 3

Remel Terry: What do you see as a key challenge facing the 7th district and how would you solve it?

La

Shawn Ford

Ford said unity is a big challenge, as the 7th district covers part of Chicago and the suburbs, the city’s financial district and medical district.

“The biggest problem that we have in this district right now is the disparities in education, health care and opportunities,” Ford said. “We must do better by making sure we spread and share the wealth in this district.”

Felix Tello

When he was canvassing, Tello said he heard that constituents’ main priorities are democracy and the economy.

“We have got to get jobs back into our community. There’s nothing else but the economic engine to bring back prosperity to the community,” Tello said.

Chad Koppie

Koppie said the 7th district has “skyrocketing crime, unaf fordable housing, an unmanageable migrant crisis and crushing cost of living.”

He added that he would restore public safety by re pealing the Safe-T Act — which allows someone arrested for a nonviolent offense to be cited and released, rather than waiting to post bond — and making sure law enforcement holds violent criminals accountable.

Rory Hoskins

Hoskins said a key challenge is poor infrastructure, like roads, local transit systems and af fordable housing. If elected, he’d want to extend the CTA Blue Line further west, since much of the district’s wealth is concentrated around the Loop.

“There are opportunities in the west suburbs through the enterprise zone pro-

7TH DISTRIC T PRIMARY

structure and areas with dense poverty. third is a federal grant that provides medically impoverished neighborhoods with a free nonprofit clinic.

Patricia Easley

Easley said housing is the district’s largest problem. She said she worked with Conessman Davis and Boykin to bring someone from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to tour the 7th district “and let them see what federal housing mismanagement looks li ke.”

Reed Showalter

Showalter said the federal government needs to take bigger swings to better invest in the 7th district. That includes funding to new hospitals and clinics, af fordable housing and grocery stores in every part of the district.

grams, through colleges like Triton Colle ge and Morton Colle ge We have to invest in jobs and housing,” Hoskins said.

Anabel Mendoza

Mendoza said there are two key issues in the 7th district: housing and unity. She said Congress needs to expand the Department of Urban Development’s Section 8 voucher program to allow for more first-time homebuyers.

“In the United States, we know that owning property is what allows any community to grow wealth,” Mendoza said. She added, “We need to unite. We’re going to keep losing if we do not unite.”

Thomas Fisher

“Nothing matters more than the length and quality of our lives,” Fisher said. “You do not g et to take advantage of Social Security if you die before you’ re eligible, but you paid into it your entire life.”

To help address the death gap, Fisher said we need a gover nment that funds food for the hungry and medicine for the sick

“We need to breathe life back into our federal gover nment that bases its deci-

sions in a moral foundation that takes care of each other,” Fisher said.

Anthony Driver Jr.

Driver also stressed the life expectancy gap because it touches every single issue in the 7th district. And he mentioned affordability at a time when people are being priced out of their homes with high costs of property taxes, g as and health care, while wages aren’t kee ping up

“If we want to keep this district healthy, happy and thriving, people have to be able to af ford to stay here,” Driver said. “And with the life expectancy gap, we need a North Star that says every five years we need to close this life expectancy gap by a wide margin, so 10, 20 years from now it doesn’t exist.”

Jazmin Robinson

Robinson said equity was the biggest issue facing the district, and that Congress could fix it by enacting three things. One is the Housing Urban Development Act that mandates 30% of new hires for federal programs must come from low-income districts. Another is amending the for mula of federal grants to prioritize aging infra-

“The reason why it is difficult to go to a grocery store and find af fordable food is because we are not investing at a federal level in the way that the federal government is exclusively equipped to do, in building new supply chains and allowing people to start new businesses and grocery and restaurants,” Showalter said. “These are the types of big swings that we need to ask from our federal re presentatives. And if we don’t do that, then we’re going to be stuck with the issues we’ve heard about.”

Melissa Conyears-Er vin

Chica go city treasurer

Conyears-Ervin said affordability is one of the district’s biggest challenges, and that the role of a congressperson is to bring back money to their district.

“As city treasurer, I made it my business to boycott Donald Trump so tha t our money would not go to Washington D.C. for him to turn around and hurt us,” Conyears-Ervin said.

Richard Boykin

Boykin called access and affordability of health care the district’s main issues

“We have more hospitals, more health care resources in the 7th district than anybody else in the country, but those resources don’t go to work for folks on the West Side nor on the South Side,” Boykin said. He would aim to close health disparities and increase access to mental health services

TODD BANNOR

omas Fisher at the 7th District Congressional Candidate Forum.

A Guide to Valentine Shopping & Gifting

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D90 CONTRAC T

No

details released from page 1

trict’s latest economic package proposal, which was submitted in response to the RFEA’s specific requests to revise the Nov. 10 tentative ag reement that was not approved by its membership.

But the core issues remain for some District 90 parents like Kelly Abcarian, which is why she spent time poring through district financial records on its website and posed questions directly to superintendent Dr. Edward Condon and chief operations officer Anthony Cozzi in a sit-down-style meeting.

“I didn’t walk away with more clarity, that’s for sure,” Abcarian said. “Instead of clear, direct answers, I encountered select use of data. That’s what led me into district financial re ports.

“I have an accounting degree,” she said. “There are several parents who I am working alongside of that do accounting for a living. I felt that instead I was met with prepared narratives and numbers that didn’t add up.”

“The generosity has to be measured against reality and real numbers,” she said. “Even today after the 18 percent increase, teachers would earn less in real dollars than they did 10 years ago. It would take roughly 20 percent to get them back to where they should be right now.”

Then there is the issue of administrator salaries. According to the Illinois Re port Card, the district’s average administrator salary is $159,000; the state average is $124,000.

“Administrators have ke pt up with inflation,” she said. “Teachers have not.”

Another parent, Berit O’Connor, said despite the contract ne gotiations, teachers remain focused on students

“From what I see as a parent, classrooms feel normal and kids are being protected from the stress of all this,” O’Connor said. “I am grateful for that. At the same time, I know the process is weighing on the adults in the building and it’s hard not to worry about the longterm impact if we start losing great teachers.”

“Instead of clear, direct answers, I encountered select use of data. That’s what led me into district nancial reports.”

KELLY ABC ARIAN D90 parent

For example, she said, District 90 held $34,345,850 in unassigned general fund reserves, according to its Annual Comprehensive Financial Re port for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2025.

Her question is simple: Why – and why isn’t there a district reserve policy, according to Condon and Cozzi? Especially when district teachers currently average $77,000 in salary, according to the annual Illinois Re port Card for 2024-25 which compares to $69,410 in the 2014-15 school year. Adjusted for inflation, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index data, she said that amount should be about $92,000.

“Teachers are about $15,000 behind today’s inflation,” Abcarian said. “For myself as a parent in District 90, our teachers are the lifeblood of our schools, but if they are demoralized, students are impacted.”

In its Friday email, the district noted that its of fer that was tentatively ag reed upon by RFEA in November included a greater than 7% increase in teacher salaries the first year, and an average 18% minimum salary increase over the four-year contract.

That’s not enough, Abcarian said.

But like Abcarian, O’Connor has questions, particularly in the interest of transparency.

“As a parent, I have found it hard to follow the district’s financial claims because the detailed math hasn’t really been shared publicly,” she said. “We are hearing broad statements about what’s affordable or not, but not the models or assumptions behind those statements. That leaves parents trying to piece things together on our own.

“The information that is publicly available – like state salary data – shows our teachers are paid below the state average and have fallen behind inflation. I would simply like to see clearer, more open explanations from the district about how they are reaching their conclusions.”

In its Friday email, District 90 said it is steadfast in striking a balance in the negotiations.

“The district remains committed to negotiating contract terms in partnership with our teachers that compensate them fairly while demonstrating financial stewardship, supporting both the current and future success of our students and school community,” it said.

RFEA leadership confirmed that the next ne gotiation session has not been scheduled.

Harmon condemns college Republicans’ pro-ICE, violent post

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Illinois State Senate President Don Harmon condemned a recent social media post shared by a conservative student group at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign calling Alex Pretti and Renee Good “traitors” that featured violent imager y.

UIUC student political group Illini Re publicans shared a post last week in support of the Department of Homeland Security agency’s mass deportation operations featuring a graphic illustration depicting a masked federal agent holding a gun to the head of a kneeling man alongside the caption “Only traitors help invaders.”

T he group has since removed the graphic from the post, which reads in part “traitors such as Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole

Good had voided their liberties the moment they decided they were above the law and the popular opinion.”

T he post received strong backlash from students online who said the post glorified Pretti and Good’s recent killings. It is now the subject of an investigation by the University’s Title VI Office, which handles civil rights complaints, according to The Daily Illini, U of I’s student newspaper Oak Park’s Harmon joined the calls for the club to be sanctioned by the university earlier this week.

DON HARMON

“The imagery and message posted by colle ge Re publicans at the University of Illinois is vile and bigoted,” Harmon said in a statement. “It glorifies violence, de-

humanizes immigrants and echoes some of the darkest moments in our history. It has no place in our society

“All students — especially immigrant and international students — deserve to feel safe and respected. I support the university’s immediate review, and I urge campus leadership to treat this incident with the seriousness it war rants. Free expression is not a shield for hate. Illinois will always stand for dignity and reject bigotry and the toxic politics of dehumanization.”

T he graphic included in the original post appears to be based directly of f a still image from bystander video of Pretti’s killing in Minneapolis on Jan. 23, according to a review done by The Daily Illini

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Oak Park police arrest man wanted for aggravated assault

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park police arrested an area man wanted for aggravated assault over the weekend.

On Feb. 5 police arrested a 70-year-old Markham man after a name check revealed that he had an active Cook County warrant for aggravated assault, according to police. Police transported the man to the station, processed him and held him for bond hearings, according to police.

The man was later arrested by Oak Park for violating a protective order on Feb. 8, according to police.

Battery arrests

Oak Park police arrested several people on battery charges over the last week.

Avenue, according to police.

A 38-year-old Oak Park woman was also arrested on domestic battery charges in connection with an incident in the 200 block of S. Maple Avenue, according to police.

Steak theft

Oak Park police are investigating re ports of a man stealing hundreds of dollars’ worth of steaks from a local grocery store.

On the morning of Feb. 4, a man re portedly stole Four Australian Wagyu beef tomahawk steaks from the Wild Fork Foods grocery store in the 400 block of Harlem Avenue, according to police.

The steaks are valued at a combined $380, according to police.

These items were obtained from Oak Park’s Police Department reports dated Feb. present a portion of the incidents ich police responded. Anyone named with

ce of a suspect only en a serious crime has been committed, ve

provided us with a detailed a description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in

Child injured in West Side shooting transported to hospital by Oak Park ambulance

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park first responders were called into action to assist a child injured in a shooting in Chicago’s Austin community Tuesday night.

At approximately 7 p.m. Feb. 3, Oak Park police were dispatched to the vicinity of Oak Park Avenue and Augusta Avenue to assist Chicago police with its response to a shooting that had occurred in the 900 block of N. Leamington on Chicago’s West Side, village officials said. The Chicago Police Department was already on scene when OPPD arrived.

Upon arrival, OPPD officers made contact with the victim and their family, observing that the 12-year-old was suffering from a laceration to their head due to

either a bullet graze, or from glass from a broken rear windshield. The victim was awake and breathing and transported to Loyola Hospital in Maywood by the Oak Park Fire Department, according to the village.

The victim’s father had driven away from the shooting and had called for medical attention after crossing into Oak Park, village of ficials said.

An infant was also inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting. No injuries were observed and no additional medical attention was required for the infant or the victim’s father, according to village officials.

Chicago police have arrested two persons of interest in connection with the shooting, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Oak Park trustee’s federal conspiracy trial will start on May 26

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Nearly four months after his federal indictment, there’s a date set for Oak Park Trustee Brian Straw’s trial.

U.S. Judge April Perry set Monday, May 26 as the trial start date in the federal conspiracy case that emerged from Straw and his five co-defendants participation in a protest at the Broadview ICE Detention Facility last fall. The jury trial in the case is expected to last at least a week, attorneys said in court last month.

Straw is one of several progressive political figures facing a felony conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer charge in connection with a confrontation between anti-ICE protestors and a vehicle driven by a federal law enforcement agent during an early mor ning protest outside the Broadview ICE Detention Facility last September, according to U.S. Northern District of Illinois court documents. Straw’s co-defendants in the case are 9th District U.S. Congressional candidate Katherine “Kat” Abughazaleh, Chicago alderman staffer Catherine “Cat” Sharp, 45th ward Democratic committeeman Michael Rabbit, musician Joselyn Walsh and Andre Martin, who works on Abughazaleh’s campaign staff.

The indictment alleged that Straw and his co-defendants were among a crowd of protestors who blocked, pushed against and banged on a vehicle being driven by a federal agent into ICE’s Broadview Detention Facility the morning of Sept. 26. The prosecution said a side mirror and a windshield wiper on the agent’s vehicle was damaged in the incident and the car was vandalized, but none of the indicted individuals are alleged to have directly caused the damage themselves

The so-called “Broadview Six” are among 32 known defendants to have been charged with nonimmigration crimes tied to Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago’s federal court, according to the Chicago Sun-Times Joshua Herman, attorney for Abughazaleh, said last month that the defense has pushed for as quick a trial date as possible with the hopes of giving their clients as quick a return to their regular lives and work as

possible. Sharp recently dropped her bid for a Cook County board seat, citing the mounting stress of the case.

The defense said they are also seeking speedy trial in light of the tense climate rounding federal immigration agents’ inter actions with protestors and activists, intensi fied by the recent killings of activists Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents Minneapolis last month, Herman said.

“We want to bring this case to trial sooner because of everything happening in our country right now with DHS,” Herman said. “What this case would ultimately do is expose one more overreach: the misuse of this conspiracy statute against demonstrators exercising their first amendment rights. We’re all on the same page of if we can’t get this case dismissed, which we think it should be, we’re going to take it to trial.”

Straw’s attorney Chris Parente told reporters after a hearing in January that the prosecution is a waste of the Justice Department’s time and that the gover nment is trying to invent a criminal conspiracy case out of people simply taking part in the same protest without prior coordination.

“That is an attempt by this administration, and potentially this U.S. Attorney’s office, to silence legitimate peaceful protest,” said Parente, who is an Oak Park resident. “The gover nment will acknowledge that none of the six people charged did any of the damage they’re claiming. There’s no allegation against these six, it was other people at the protest.”

Attorneys for the defense also invoked the unrest playing out in Minneapolis as reason why the case materials are of significant public interest.

“You don’t have to look farther than the past two-and-a-half weeks of news to know that this is important to the public,” said Terence Campbell, the attorney for Martin. “How federal law enforcement officers, from ICE and Homeland Security, are behaving and acting and whether they are instigators.”.

Defense attorneys are still expected to file motions ahead of the trial in attempts to get the case dismissed ahead of this spring’s trial date on first amendment and selective pros-

grounds.

Salerno’s Pizza turns 60

It takes generations of good Italian food to hit that milestone

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

This year Salerno’s Pizza is celebrating its sixth decade, serving the best of foods from southern Italy and modern favorites. For the Salerno family, it’s been about treating diners like extended family all along.

To mark the occasion, you can get a slice and soda for the throw-back price of $6, among other deals.

The full Salerno’s experience requires you to take a seat, relax and soak in all the history that built the local chain that currently extends to four locations. The Oak Park location is at 7128 Roosevelt Road.

“You had such an influx of Italians in the 1900s,” Emilio Morrone, manager of the Oak Park location said. “Most of Italian cuisine and culture you think of is from Rome south. That’s where there was no economy and people were poor. So when you think pizza and pasta and things like that, it’s actually southern Italian cuisine is what we know as Italian cuisine.”

Tavern customers were soon asking the brothers to offer even more tastes of home.

Back in 1957, the Salerno family reunited in Chicago. Brothers Vincenzo and Arnaldo had left Calabria, Italy a few years earlier. Now that the family was back together, the food traditions flowed again.

In 1966 Vincenzo, Arnaldo and their brother Joeseph purchased Berwyn Tavern on 16th Street in Berwyn. Shortly afterwards they began to dabble with serving food.

“We became known for pizza,” Maria

“Back in the day, my mom [Maria Salerno] and my aunts, they were the ones who actually made all the pasta, the lasagna, the ravioli, the cavatelli, the gnocchi,” Connie Zotta, restaurant co-owner, said. “Those are all recipes that they brought from their hometown in Calabria.”

Later the flagship restaurant moved from 16th Street to Roosevelt Avenue, then in 2007 it moved again to its current location on the Oak Park side of Roosevelt.

While the menu has grown, it has also ke pt its roots according to Emilio Morrone, whose father joined the Salernos in the restaurant business in the late 1990s.

PIZZ A

“Our lasagna sheets are still made from

PIZZ A

scratch. Our manicotti, same thing, we make those from scratch. Ravioli made from scratch,” Morrone said. “There’s not too many places that maintain those traditions. Nothing’s brought in frozen.”

Chicken Francaise is a house specialty. Battered and fried chicken breast paired with a tangy lemon sauce and served with pasta tossed in the same sauce.

Some dishes have faded from current cravings, but they come back as specials.

“There’s certain things that we’ve phased out of the menu, but that people still come looking for like tripe,” Morrone said. “My generation, we’re not going out for tripe, but people of an older generation that are like, do you guys have tripe back? So, we’ll bring it back to keep our tried-and-true customers happy. That’s our dedication of food quality and service.”

Though the brothers who started the restaurant have passed away, the business is

PROVIDED/SALERNO’S PIZZ A

still family owned and operated. For them, the family-feeling extends to the customers as well.

“You get like grandma and grandpa come in and they had their first date at Saler no’s on 16th Street,” Morrone said. “And then mom and dad are there. And then the grandkids are there. So, you see what this place means to people, bringing everybody together over a good meal.”

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Generations at Salerno’s

PROVIDED/SALERNO’S

PROVIDED/SALERNO’S

Chicken Francaise

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

ree kinds of croissants: chocolate, raspberry cream, plain

3Fold is laminated love

New bakery in town focuses on one type of pastr y

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

In baking, a 3-fold, also called a letter fold, is a technique used to “laminate” or make layers in pastry. The process sandwiches butter between each layer as it’s rolled and folded again and again. Croissant dough can end up with 55 or more layers. This is what creates the sought-after flaky texture.

At “3Fold. A bakery” the focus is solely on this type of dough and all the permutations of delights that can be made from it.

A mar riage, a move to Oak Park, three kids and the couple was ready for a new venture. Sara, who worked at Sugar Fixé in times past, was on the hunt for a location that could fulfil her vision. She landed on the for mer Pieritz Bros. Office Supply space in the newly renovated building at 401 South Blvd. in Oak Park.

“We wanted to do one product, and we wanted to make sure we did it really well,” co-owner Sara Fayard said.

Dimitri and Sara Fayard met when Sara decided to focus her culinary career on pastry. Dimitri was teaching at the French Pastry School of Chicago, when Sara enrolled. Dimitri is a 2008 World Pastry Championship winner.

“Once we found this space, we knew that it was gonna be much larger than I personally was anticipating,” Sara Fayard said. “With Dimitri commuting to the city, we wanted something closer that we could both have the flexibility to say, ‘Oh, you can pick up the kids today.’ We said, ‘We’re going to open a bakery so we have more time with our family,’ which everyone kind of chuckles at. We’re chuckling now.”

When the bakery soft-opened during the 2025 winter holidays, they were immediately swarmed by residents hungry for a business like this on the eastern side of Oak Park. Lines have been out the door at times.

“People tell us, we are so glad you guys are busy. They don’t mind waiting 10 minutes,” Dimitri Fayard said. “We’ re still scrambling to meet demand. We could not be happier, but it’s been a little overwhelming.”

A big hit so far has been their raspberry and cream-filled croissant.

“We planned on that being just on rotation,” Sara Fayard said. “Like we would change the fruit or change the filling. But

Get in the dough know:

Website: 3foldabakery.com

Address: 401 South Blvd., Oak Park Hours: Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. Sat.-Sun., 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

yeah, I think that one’s gonna stay.”

The cases are filled daily with variations on laminated dough: plain, almond, chocolate, lemon meringue croissants; cinnamon, fritters and pain perdu rolls. A hazelnut cruffin is striking. There are savory items too: quiche, ham and cheese croissants and on weekends a cro-dog.

“Which is just a hot dog wrapped in croissant dough,” Sara Fayard said. “It has this really delicious, like sweet, spicy mustard glaze, which I think really makes it.”

The Fayards plan to add more savory offerings and ultimately extend their hours further into the afternoon. Currently, the bakery opens at 7 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends. Closing time is 2 p.m. everyday

For now, the Fayards are more than pleased with how things are rolling out.

“It’s a team ef fort – Sarah and I, our baker as well as our front of the house – everything is successful because of the people that are behind us,” Dimitri Fayard said.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Cinnamon roll and hazelnut cru n

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

3Fold owners Dimitri & Sarah Fayard

Homes

A new wrinkle for home renovations

A personal account of how tari s bring headaches (and added costs) to remodeling and redecorating

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

It all started with Etsy. I bought a small rug from Turkey from the on-line retail site this fall. The rug was advertised as having free shipping, and I eagerly tracked its progress to my home. When it hit the United States, I got a surprise email from UPS stating that I owed an extra $42 in duties. I paid the fees and forgot about it.

A few weeks later, Etsy drew me in again, and I placed an order for a row of bamboo hooks from a vintage store in France. Two days later, the owner contacted me and said she could no longer ship to the United States. Due to the new tariffs on international sales, she said it no longer made business sense to sell her wares here.

Duties for my $100 order would have added significantly to the cost of shipping.

I began to wonder, if I was seeing these small changes in purchases for my home, what were interior design professionals seeing in their muc larger projects? I asked a few local designers about the changes they’ve seen.

Christine Baumbach, an Oak Park-based interior designer, says that what I experienced on Etsy were due to new tariffs on items valued under $800.

Also based in Oak Park, Robin Schwadron, of R. Titus Designs, is helping me with some design projects in my own house. Titus said my experience is the nor m for her fir m. She sees a lot of the increased costs associated with tariffs being passed on in shipping. It’s not unusual for her to pay one fee for shipping to a client only to be hit with a bill a month later for additional tarif fs.

Schwadron and Baumbach noted that the higher prices aren’t always readily apparent, as they are for shipping fees. Those hidden price increases might need more explanation for clients.

Clients involved in large construction projects might not realize that components like lumber or electrical parts are manufactured in other countries, which can result in higher prices.

When tariffs were first imposed, Baumbach said, it resulted in short supplies and things being out of stock. “Customers might buy a great induction stove but then couldn’t get the pieces needed to install it,” she said.

Initially, Baumbach said that just the announcement of future tariffs had retailers stockpiling some goods but “now, that inventory is sold through, so it’s starting to impact prices.”

“It’s frustrating for manufacturers as well,” Baumbach said. She said that it’s normal to receive apolo g etic emails from her trusted vendors about having to raise prices to keep up with tarif fs Schwadron estimated that tariffs are affecting about 25% of her firm’s purchases She sees the price increases most strongly in fabrics and wallpaper manufactured in Europe Most of the upholstered fu niture she sources is made in the U.S., which has been help ing keep prices more stabl

In some cases, the newfound costs have changed how Baumbach approaches a project, and she is re-using or reupholstering more of clients’ existing items

“Reconfiguring takes little more imagination. It’s way easier to r un to the Mart with a credit card,” she said.

“Items under $800 used to sail through customs, and the Trump administratio n changed the r ules, and now everything is subject to tariffs,” she said. “It comes under the category of ‘it’s a big mess.’ It’s really thrown a wrench into just about everything.”

Another way tariffs hit homeowners is in longer lead times for imported items.

While some furniture makers are trying to manufacture more items domestically, they are grappling with the issue that many of their components come from other countries.

money in to maintain their homes.”

Baumbach also thinks the current political times adjust people’s emphasis on what is important in life. “People here very much realize that there’s no use fussing over which toilet to choose when many of their neighbors are wor ried about making rent because a family member is gone People react with grace.”

Baumbach said that she’s very lucky that her level of business has not changed and that clients are very understanding about the price increases and delays.

She pointed to a few reasons for the continued interest in updating homes here.

“In an area like Oak Park, most of our housing stock is old. It’s a semi-continuous investment. For tunately for our whole community, people are willing to put the

She added: “More than anything, things are in flux, and homeowners are flexible. My client experience is people are incredibly gracious and they adapt and adjust.”

Schwadron said her clireco gnize that the charges are a part of the process these days. She walks her clients through increased tarif f costs before making purchases While no one loves to see higher prices, they understand. It doesn’t mean they like it, but they also want their house finished.

Looking ahead, Schwadron said, there is still some uncertainty with tariffs. “We are starting to see lawsuits po p up,” she said, noting that some vendor s are suing the gove r nment. “That means they’ve b een t rying to cove r the tariffs, and are probably in trouble. So, pricin g will go up.”

ROBIN SCHWADRON R. Titus Designs

CHRISTINE BAUMBACH Interior designer

The following property transfers were re ported by the Cook County Clerk from October 2025. Where addresses appear incomplete, for instance where a unit number appears missing, that information was not provided by the clerk.

OA K P ARK

ADDRESS PRICE SELLER BUYER

237 S. Elmwood Ave., Oak Park

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor

Ken Trainor at 613-3310

ktrainor@wjinc.com

Our suburban country club

The headlines are flush with large new projects. The Park District of Oak Park is asking for $40 million for a new pool, projected to increase taxes $160/yr on a median home [1]. OPRF’s $100 million “Project 2” has so depleted reserves that Projects 3-5 will require referendums in the coming years [2]. Replacing village hall and the police department is projected to cost $87M$169M [3]. D97 recently unveiled a 10-year, $86 million facilities master plan [4].

Though the park district says “only $160/year,” collectively these projects will stack up, likely adding thousands of dollars to our property tax bills in the coming years.

JOSH

VANDERBERG

Our total property tax levy has already grown significantly in the last five years, from $201M to $238M, nearly a 20% increase. On a $12,000/year tax bill, that’s roughly $2,000 more than five years ago [5]. These new projects look to continue, if not amplify that trend

A major driver of this tax growth is our schools. Seventy percent of our tax bill goes to education [6], and OPRF D200 spends a stunning $26,340 per pupil [7]. Let’s put what we spend in the context of some of our peer school districts

Evanston Township H.S. spends an eye watering $30,189 per student [8]. Morton High School District, serving Berwyn, Cicero, and Stickney, spends only $19,224 per pupil [9]. Three public high school districts in the same county, separated by a few miles, with an $11,000/student gap from the top to the bottom. How does this happen? OPRF is 79% locally funded by property taxes, ETHS is 86%. Morton is only funded 35% by local taxes. The state backfills 41% through its Evidence-Based Funding for mula [10]. The wealthy districts are essentially self-funding private-caliber schools through the property tax system. The state tries to equalize, but can’t stop wealthy districts from outspending their working-class neighbors

But there’s no state equalization outside of education. Oak Park spends $1,057/ household on parks and libraries per year. Cicero spends $234 [11]. That’s a 4x difference in funding for essential public services. Oak Park’s library alone ($505/ hh) outspends Cicero’s parks and library combined ($234/hh) by a factor of two.

The average affluent suburban family pays thousands of dollars more per year for their schools, parks, libraries and other amenities, compared to their more blue-collar suburban neighbors. These tax levels don’t just buy better services, they enforce membership. River Forest’s $14,496/household annual levy is a price of admission that most Cook County families cannot afford [12]. The median household income in Cicero is $68,548. In River Forest it’s $148,711 [13]. The taxes sort the population.

Evanston, Oak Park, and River Forest are all communities that pride themselves on their progressive values. They pass equity resolutions, support the unions, and champion public institutions. But the entire enterprise is funded by a financial model that’s exclusionary by design. The “public” pool, the “public” library, the “public” school are all gated by a tax levy that’s functionally a membership fee. A membership fee most union members, ironically, can’t afford

We’ve built a country club where the dues are our tax bill, creating a virtual wall around our affluent communities. In the coming years, when you are asked to approve that next $200/year referendum, the question isn’t just “Do we want a nice pool?” It’s “How high do we want that wall?”

Sources listed online at oakpark.com

e future begins right here, with us

The following statement was delivered by Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman at the Jan. 8 Vigil for Solidarity with the People of Minneapolis, held outside First United Church of Oak Park:

You have brought us together today, with an intentional message of solidarity because something is deeply wrong, and Oak Park refuses to look away

Our federal gover nment has murdered people in broad daylight for the sole purpose to silence and intimidate those of us who choose love over hate. Beautiful people who believed in a better world. Our gover nment has tor n families apart in the dead of night, left children without parents, and deported neighbors for seeking the same dignity and stability every human being deserves. Our gover nment suggests these actions are to keep America safe. This is not abstract policy. This is lived terror. This is trauma that echoes through generations. We must resist. When deportation is used as a weapon instead of due process, it is state violence.

And we reject the lie that this cruelty keeps anyone safe.

We are here because we believe something simple and powerful: everyone deserves safety, dignity, and a place to belong. Not some of us. Not only when it’s convenient. All of us. Especially when it’s hard.

We are living in a moment that asks us to choose between fear and courage, between isolation and solidarity, between looking away and showing up

And we are choosing to show up

It does not make our communities stronger to rip parents from children. It does not make us safer to criminalize poverty, migration, or survival. It does not honor our values to turn suffering into bureaucracy

We are here because we believe in a different moral center

We believe that no human being is illegal. We believe that borders should never matter more than lives. We believe that dignity is not

TARA DULL

Suppor ters gathered outside First United Church of Oak Park, Sunday a ernoon, to send a message of solidarity to the people of Minneapolis.

VICKI SC AMAN

One View

OUR VIEWS

West Sub’s debt to the state

There’s good news and bad news this week out of the beleaguered West Suburban Medical Center.

First the good news: The phones have been turned back on after several days when callers to West Sub’s main number were told, “T he number you have reached is not in service.”

The bad news is that the amount of money West Sub and its owners at Resilience Healthcare owe the state of Illinois has now ballooned to $71 million. And the state has be gun to claw back a small portion — $2.6 million so far — of that amount by siphoning of f some funding that would otherwise go to the hospital.

Manoj Prasad, CEO of Resilience, told Growing Community Media last week in an email exchange that West Sub has chosen not to make any payments to the state government. Instead, he said, the hospital will “provide care to the community instead of pay assessments to the state.”

Sounds almost high-minded. Prasad said West Sub is not alone among safety-net hospitals in Illinois that are not paying their debt or the growing interest on that debt. There is no doubt a range of challenges facing these critical institutions, and many of them came at the hands of the Trump administrations and its squee ze on Medicaid and Medicare funding.

However, the state offered West Sub a payment plan last October, which started at just $50,000 per month and has been ignored by West Sub.

That’s not good faith. Or it is an indication that a hospital that can’t keep its phones on also doesn’t have $50,000 in cash flow to pay back taxpayers.

Inspectors for the Illinois Department of Public Health were at West Sub two weeks ago for multiple days. When asked by GCM the results of that inspection, the department said it was a “pending matter” and would not comment. Prasad said it was routine, that IDPH was in the neighborhood inspecting other hospitals.

“We were pleased with their approval of our care delivery and operations that they reviewed at length,” Prasad said.

A day in the life of Donald Trump

It isn’t easy taking over a planet destroying a democracy that has been a shining example on the inter national stage for 250 years — and desecrating its Constitution, which used to be the envy of the world. Not everyone appreciates how much hard work goes into be coming the Supreme Ass**** but ma we the rabble should give him his du We may never know exactly wh does with his time, but he is very busy. Recently, a small cluster of email commiserators tried to imagine how he fills his days.

Time will tell. TRAINOR

One friend speculated, “Trump’s waking hours are spent managing conflicting objectives. First and foremost, he has to keep Putin happy by tearing down our constitutional re public. Otherwise, he will expose Trump’s secrets, which would lead to imprisonment. Once he has satisfied his daily Putin obligations, there’s the matter of vengeance: retributions, threats, spreading lies about his enemies.”

It takes real coordination to keep all his plates spinning on their poles, some loaded with spaghetti, which he occasionally flings against the walls in a fit of pique. And who wouldn’t be frustrated? His entire life has been one long battle after another. Conducting the war on immigration is how he keeps his base fired up. Plus he has to find time to finesse the Epstein files, figuring out how to minimize his own exposure while overblowing the involvement of any Democrat. It gets complicated. Some of his time is devoted to overseeing the destruction of various wings of the White House and remodeling them, ala Liberace.

He also has to coordinate rigging the midterm elections, his only chance of keeping Congress under Re publican control. Without them, he is nothing. With him, they are nothing. And every morning he has to remember to take some elaborate drug cocktail that makes his rapidly deteriorating brain marginally functional — while also managing its troubling side effects.

Another friend reminded, “Don’t forget about watching Fox News!” That must consume at least a couple of hours — not to mention monitoring how his “enemies” are “libeling” him, which leads to furious posts and re-posts on his beloved social media platforms, including racist memes (like the recent imaging of the Obamas as apes), plus his favorite activity: filing lawsuits.

He can’t be sleeping much what with roaming the halls in the middle of the night, plotting how to take over Greenland (or is it Iceland?), Canada, and Minneapolis. That must be why he’s always

nodding of f during important meetings. ’t know how he finds time to do it all — blowing boats out of the Caribbean, kidnapping the president of Venezuela and deporting him (to the S.!), murdering U.S. citizens on our streets (even white people!), turning Gaza into the Las Ve gas of the Middle East, threatening to slap Denmark with tariffs if they don’t tur n over the keys to their giant iceberg (he has a thing about ice).

But taking a page from mainstream media, maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge. It isn’t easy steering the ship of state with no understanding of history, trying to con people who are way better educated and infor med, coming up with myriad lies on the spur of the moment, day after day. How does he keep track of them all? It’s a juggler’s nightmare.

There aren’t enough hours in a day for the allimportant suck-up infusions from his coterie of administration ass-kissers, who praise him profusely during cabinet meetings (and with straight faces!). Imaginary wars he alle gedly ended need to be claimed, as well as lodging complaints about peace prizes un-awarded, and airports un-named for him. A great man can’t be great if he isn’t constantly reminded of his greatness. And it’s distracting to keep coming up with distractions to divert the public’s attention from the unintended consequences of living in the real world.

Chaos creation requires sustained effort — devising novel ways to wreck other people’s lives, ripping families apar t, and inventing phony justifications for it. T hen there is massive wealth to be leveraged by exploiting his high office. One estimate now puts the figure at $4 billion.

By the end of every day he must be utterly exhausted, yet he’s expected to pull all this of f with panache — and while wearing no clothes!

So a smidge of sympathy might be welcome. He was never loved growing up, so he needs a ton of compensatory adoration. Show some heart for the heartless. Is that too much to ask? It’s no wonder he resorts to his resort to play so much golf, where someone keeps score for him, a welcome respite from those long hours in the Oval Office, scheming to settle scores and posing for photos with grimacing leaders of ungrateful nations.

How can we not feel sor ry for someone who spends so much time feeling sorry for himself? Every day a pity party for the petty

So let’s cut the old fart some slack. Hell, he turns 80 come June!

SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck

River Forest’s proposed development

I want to thank the residents of River Forest for their interest in the proposed development at 7620 Madison St. Nearly 100 residents attended our open houses and over 70 residents have submitted feedback and questions. The village will continue to collect public input throughout the review process Residents should visit vrf us/Madison to review available information, including an updated list of FAQs

While information will continue to be shared through village communications, I want to respond to a few of the most common questions we’ve received.

Why is this development important? How does it benefit the village?

The village board is in unanimous agreement on the need to develop this parcel and directed Five Thirty-One Partners through the planned development review process for this project.

One of the village’s guiding principles is stabilizing property taxes. The development site includes a parcel that has been tax-exempt for decades, contributing no revenue to the village, schools or park district. This proposal will convert the property into a taxpaying site, projected to generate approximately $600,000 annually in property taxes. Expanding the tax base helps fund essential services like public safety, education and infrastructure without increasing the burden on existing taxpayers.

Who is the developer, Five Thirty-One Partners?

Five Thirty-One Partners is a real estate holding company owned by Chuck Westphal and Viktor Jakovljevic. Chuck Westphal owns Stark Holdings, a rental property management firm, and Viktor Jakvoljevic owns V3 Development Group, a general construction company. In short, V3 builds and Stark manages. They’ve recently completed successful projects in Chicago, including 3951 N. Wayne and 6700 W. North Ave. in Galewood.

How will the development impact traffic? What can be done to alleviate the impact?

As part of the planned development process, the developer must hire an independent traffic engineer to complete a traffic study. Residents’ questions and feedback will be shared with the traffic engineer. The study will evaluate current conditions, including traffic counts and accidents, and estimate additional traffic from the proposed development. It will also recommend traffic-calming measures where applicable.

The study and its recommendations will be completed and shared with the public before public hearings are conducted this spring.

Again, thank you for your continued interest in the project and please continue to follow the project at vrf us/Madison and sign up for the village newsletter at vrf us/Enews.

Matt Walsh

Village administrator River Forest

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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When silence becomes the story

Iam writing as a River Forest taxpayer and District 90 parent because the school board is advancing a final teacher contract offer without publicly explaining the financial math behind it, and repeated requests for that clarity have gone unanswered. Recent reporting shows mediation has ended and both sides have moved into the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board public posting process, even as teachers continue working without a contract. That makes transparency more important than ever.

KELLY ABCARIAN

One View

Growth makes this more urgent. In 2022, the board commissioned a demographic and enrollment projections study showing future enrollment varies significantly by housing type and density. At the same time, new residential development is advancing in TIF districts, where incremental property tax revenue does not flow to schools for years, even as enrollment and costs increase immediately.

Light and dark on Valentine’s Day

Certain expressions of love come naturally, especially when we’re little. Mom told me many times about how, when I was just lear ning to talk, I would call out from my stroller into neighbors’ homes as we passed them on our block in Brookfield: “I la lu!”

KORDESH

Today, when she’s feeling affectionate, my 2-year-old granddaughter finds it easy to say to us: “Wayu Beepa” or “Wayu Mama.”

D90 is not facing a financial crisis.

According to the district’s FY2025 financial report, it holds $34.3 million in unrestricted, unassigned reserves, nearly a full year of operating expenses and roughly 460 days of cash on hand, compared with the 180 days typically recommended for Illinois school districts. Since 2018, the district’s property tax levy has grown 24.7%, reflecting consistent maximum levies paid by this community

Against that backdrop, the board is calling a $1.3-$1.6 million annual increase in teacher compensation “fair and generous.” In reality, that amount represents just 4-5% of reserves, roughly two weeks of available operating cash. It is the minimum needed to slow erosion from inflation, rising insurance costs, and competition from neighboring districts. But it does not restore competitiveness or protect against turnover.

Turnover is expensive, if this impasse leads to even 15% attrition, about 22 teachers out of a 145-teacher workforce, even before accounting for vacancies, substitutes, larger class sizes, and lost instructional continuity. The teachers most likely to leave are not the weakest ones; they are the experienced, effective educators who built and sustained the academic excellence this district now depends on.

This matters because school quality is one of the strongest drivers of property values in communities like River Forest. Even a modest 2-3% decline in school reputation could erase tens of millions of dollars in community wealth, far more than the cost of paying teachers competitively.

If the board is confident in its position, it should provide four answers, publicly and clearly, to D90 parents and all River Forest taxpayers:

• Show the math explaining how the current teacher contract request creates a deficit, given existing reserves and tax base growth.

• Publish the district’s reserve policy and explain why reserves are held far above accepted standards.

• Present a concrete, multi-year plan for maintaining competitive teacher compensation that supports recruitment, retention, and academic excellence.

• Explain what actions are being taken to protect school funding from TIFsupported development that increases enrollment without providing funding.

Fiscal responsibility does not mean shifting risk onto teachers and families Leadership is measured by whether resources are used to protect the academic excellence our teachers and this community have worked so hard to build.

Sources:

• River Forest School District 90, FY2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and budget documents

• River Forest School District 90, Demographic Trends and Enrollment Projections (GeoLytics, Inc., October 2022), as cited in the District 90 Kindergarten Program Review Committee report

• Gover nment Finance Officers Association (GFOA), Fund Balance Guidelines for the General Fund

• Learning Policy Institute, What’s the Cost of Teacher Turnover? (2024)

• Figlio & Lucas, “What’s in a Grade? School Report Cards and the Housing Market,” American Economic Review; National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No. 11347

However, while “I love you” can show up in many situations and innocent utterances, there is only one day in the year, Valentine’s Day, when it’s something we are all invited to express. In fact, calling someone “my Valentine,” even without using the L word, conveys an affection that might not be shared on any other day.

But despite its innocence, Valentine’s Day’s origins weren’t so benign.

While its history is somewhat murky, legend has it that St. Valentine died honoring marital love: as a Catholic cleric around 270 AD, he was caught secretly performing marriages for young men who had not yet completed their military service. Emperor Claudius II had forbidden such unions, holding that single men made better soldiers He ordered that Valentine be beaten and beheaded for violating his edict. Father, or possibly Bishop, Valentine was martyred and then buried on the Via Flaminia, an ancient Roman Road, on Feb. 14. The Feast of St. Valentine was later established by Pope Gelasius I in 496.

OK, that was then. Flash forward to my grade-school class at St. Mary of Celle in Berwyn at 15th and Wesley, far from Via Flaminia. Sister Mary Fortunata is overseeing our exchange of Valentine’s cards; sweet articulations of affection and friendship, even for the kids we didn’t like. But a darker history lurked even there: Little did I know

at the time that St. Fortunata, whose name our nun had taken, had herself been martyred in 303 AD for refusing to renounce her faith and accept a proposal of marriage from Emperor Diocletian’s son.

Over the centuries, love’s dark roots have influenced even its kindest representations Take, for example, the red rose, often a symbol of love bought and brought on Valentine’s Day. Its taproot extends deep into the dirt. Certain kinds of roses grow thor ns. I’ve pricked my fingers on them a few times, drawing blood. Nevertheless, the intensity of the red in the overlapping layers of its petals has long evoked love, passion and beauty

The dark and the bright powers in love in fact feed off one another, even if in a particular card only the light stream is active Had St. Valentine not put himself in har m’s way to propagate sacramental marriage, we wouldn’t have the day we have today with its many manifestations of affection, appreciation, passion and endear ment.

Marriage itself is endemically mixed with love and darker emotions such as hurt, longing and disappointment. Loving that one person over many years makes it like no other relationship, as the love gets richer, due in part to having worked through difficult, sometimes wounding passages.

Maureen and I are in our 41st year of marriage. I still remember what I said after our first kiss in 1983: “You just got prettier.” That brief, simple, physical act opened me to rose energy. Our love was taking root. Over the decades we’ve negotiated many phases of change, culling, joy, suffering and growth. We lived in a variety of neighborhoods. We gardened. We raised four kids. We now enjoy theirs.

I’ ll close with a note to my Valentine:

“I la lu, Maureen.”

Rich Kordesh is an Oak Park resident.

In the Feb. 4 Viewpoints section, Patrick Dailey noted that millions of people are suf fering from Trump Derangement Syndrome. This is a serious issue. I would also like to ask why more people aren’t talking about all of those arson victims suf fering from Arsonist Derangement Syndrome Come on people, stop pretending that you don’ t see all of the good that those arsonists have done for you.

Daniel Mokrauer-Madden Oak Park

Why this down-ballot race matters

Local democracy doesn’t begin in Washington or Springfield. It begins closer to home — in positions most voters only notice at the bottom of the ballot. One of these is Democratic State Central Committeeperson.

It’s not a flashy role, but it’s an important one. Committeepersons help connect neighbors to the Democratic Party, organize locally, recruit future candidates, and make sure community voices don’t get lost once elections are over. When leadership vacancies arise, they help decide who steps in. That’s real influence — and it should reflect the values of the people who live here.

That’s why I’m supporting Tim Thomas for Democratic Committeeperson in Illinois’ 7th Congressional District.

I first met Tim in 2016, volunteering together on the Bernie Sanders campaign. Even then, what stood out wasn’t just his politics, but how seriously he took people — listening, organizing, and showing up

consistently. That same approach guides his work here in Oak Park, including his service as Oak Park Township Supervisor

Watching Tim engage locally helped inspire me to take a similar step — to run for the Oak Park Public Library Board and commit more deeply to public service. That path, from neighbor to volunteer to elected official, is one of Oak Park’s quiet strengths

At a moment when many residents feel disconnected from politics, this role matters more than ever. A Democratic committeeperson should be someone who builds participation between elections, not just during them. It’s the only way Democrats can build an enduring legacy.

For Oak Park and the broader 7th District, Tim Thomas brings that spirit. And our local democracy will be better for it

Colin Bird-Martinez Oak Park

Showalter’s false humility

On Jan. 28, we attended a candidate forum for the Illinois 7th Congressional District candidates hosted at Oak Park Temple with Rabbi Max Weiss, moderator Toward the end of the two-hour forum, the 10 candidates were each asked to define Zionism. Many did so but also expounded on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and endorsed a two-state solution to resolve it.

One candidate, Reed Showalter, did not. Instead, he pivoted to prepared remarks on how horrendous crimes have been and are being committed in the name of Zionism by the Netanyahu gover nment, conflating Jewish self-deter mination with a “right wing project.” He concluded that as a person of “clear conscience,” America should return to a “position of humility” while calling for “the people” to determine “where and how they will live.”

His response seemed surprising at the time, especially given the synagogue audience would be unlikely to agree with him. What we did not anticipate was that our sacred space would be exploited by Reed Showalter for an appalling campaign ad

A week later, Showalter’s campaign made a digital ad using clips it filmed during the forum of the “Define Zionism” question. [1] The ad began with Jason Friedman’s answer which identified Zionism as the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in a portion of their Biblical and ancestral homeland. Reed’s campaign overlaid this with an Intercept article headline tarring Friedman, the only Jewish candidate, as the AIPAC-backed candidate, though he has not received an endorsement or funding from AIPAC. [2] The remaining candidates’ answers were clipped to the parts where they endorsed a two-state solution, and finally Reed’s answer was aired in full.

Reed’s message implied that his opponents who backed a two-state solution were naïve, in the wrong, or lacked his “humility” on this issue. Showalter’s ad is all the more insulting since in an interview with the Jewish United Fund published this month he explicitly said: “I support a two-state solution and I also denounce Hamas.” [3] So, which is it? Can voters trust him?

Perhaps Mr. Showalter should show some true humility. Instead of using a Jewish community forum as a setting to score points off his opponents for clicks, he could talk to Jews and Israelis living in the district he hopes to represent. He would find that many have first-hand experience and long histories with the land and the people living in Israel. And that many of us don’t support Netanyahu. He would lear n that a two-state solution is the preferred solution to the conflict among Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs as found in polls as recently as 2020, with both preferring it to a one-state solution by a ratio of 4 to 1. [4] There is nothing naïve or ignorant about two states for two peoples We hope our next Congressperson recognizes that as well.

Sources:

[1] Reed Showalter ad: https://www.facebook.com/ share/v/1AeUYcyka9/

[2] https://jcf4democracy.netlify.app/pages/ toolkit-aipac

[3] https://www.juf.org/govt_affairs/CandidateQuestionnaires-2026.aspx

[4] The Palestine/Israel Pulse, a Joint Poll Summary Report | PCPSR, https://www.pcpsr.org/en/ node/823 (August 2020)

Michael Zmora, Phyllis Rubin

Warming families in need

OPRF Infant Welfare Society (IWS) would like to thank the eight groups, listed below, who generously donated coats, hats, scarves, mittens to support our ongoing mission of meeting the needs of all children. Their kindness and community spirit made a meaningful difference, and we are grateful for their willingness to give and support our work. This cold winter season, because of the generosity of these groups, we were able to provide over 140 coats to families in need.

Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church

Needle Arts Friend, Nineteenth Century Charitable Organization

Huskie Helpers

Chicago A Capella

Oak Leaf Academy

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church

River Forest Youth Soccer

HUB International Gives

No more business as usual

In fall 2024, the village of River Forest spent approximately $20,000 to conduct a series of “Neighborhood Dialogues” intended to gather public input on future development (particularly of the vacant land at Ashland and Madison) and quality-of-life priorities.

My husband and I hosted one of those focus groups. As a communication professional myself, I’ve facilitated many such gatherings, preparing detailed reports of the proceedings and articulating recommendations based on participant feedback

When I read the village’s Neighborhood Dialogues report, I was pleased to see that, by and large, details of the meeting we hosted were accurately represented. But when I lear ned about the development the village is now proposing at Ashland and Madison, I was more than a little surprised. A multi-story, 72-unit apartment building in that space — that somehow provides parking for all — bears virtually no resemblance to the expressed concerns of folks who attended those gatherings.

The Neighborhood Dialogues report shows residents calling for development that fits River Forest’s character: low-profile buildings, thoughtful design, adequate parking, minimal traffic impacts, and uses that serve the community, such as restaurants or neighborhood-scale amenities. Many participants were adamant in holding the village accountable, no matter what project is ultimately proposed for the Ashland-Madison site — this in light of the abject mismanagement of the failed Lake-Lathrop project, which stands today as River Forest’s own morality tale.

Time and again, village residents voice strong opposition to high-rise buildings where green space is an afterthought. We express concerns about congestion and parking. We want projects that enhance our community and use our admittedly limited space wisely.

What’s more, we want transparency and accountability from our local gover nment. When I lear ned the village had engaged JLL to identify a developer for the Ashland-Madison site, I was hopeful it was a step in the right direction. But when the village’s letter to residents provided virtually no information about Five Thirty One Partners (and it was invisible on the web), the signal was loud and clear: business as usual at 400 Park Ave.

Cam Niederman, Susan Shields

Kathryn Jandeska River Forest

Honesty and transparency

This debate about development at Ashland and Madison is not abstract to me. My husband was born and raised in River Forest and we have built our family here. Placing a large, high-density building on Madison and Ashland — streets never designed for this scale — would threaten safety, congestion, and the character of our neighborhoods. An updated, objective traffic study is essential before any approvals. For years, residents have raised concerns about intentional blighting, unsafe conditions including open asbestos exposure, and zoning standards being treated as flexible suggestions rather than rules. We have been told that everything is handled, funded, and fine — even when information about school impacts, taxes, or financing later proved incomplete or inconsistent. When residents question height, density, or financial claims, we are often framed as anti-development. That is not accurate. We are pro-transparency. We are pro-safety. We are pro-following the zoning code that exists to protect residential neighborhoods.

The project sits in a TIF district, yet residents have not been provided clear, documented evidence showing measurable tax relief for homeowners. Claims of financial benefit must be transparent, verifiable, and fact-based. Oversight, honesty, and adherence to code are not optional — they are the responsibility of elected leaders. Village of ficials were chosen to uphold rules, protect neighborhoods, and do what is right — not because they were hand-picked or owe loyalty to a developer. Their job is to unify the community, safeguard trust, and make decisions that benefit all residents. We are asking for accountability, transparency, and facts. Development can strengthen River Forest, but only if it respects our streets, neighborhoods, and the families who live here. Our leaders’ choices will be remembered long after the dust has settled and the developer has moved on. The community deserves nothing less.

Annette & Michael Madden River Forest

Supporting Driver for Congress

I’m a progressive voter who lives in Oak Park, and I believe the 7th Congressional District should be a national leader — on progressive policy, on accountability, and on delivering real results for working people. That’s why in this crowded primary race, I’m supporting Anthony Driver Jr. Anthony understands how to turn progressive values into action. He’s worked at the city, state, and federal levels, giving him the experience to build coalitions, navig ate disagreement, and actually get things done without compromising his values.

As a leader with SEIU Illinois, one of the state’s largest, most diverse unions, he helped secure a $15 minimum wage in Chicago and played a key role in creating the city’s first Civilian Oversight Board for the police department. As president of that board, he led the effort to end the Chicago Gang Database, an important step toward fairness and trust,

High-rise gamble on South Boulevard

so important as we see ICE targeting Black and Brown communities around Chicago and the country.

What I think sets Anthony apart is his authenticity. He doesn’t overpromise. He’s clear about what’s possible, and he works creatively to make meaningful progress. He frames disag reements around policy — not people — and focuses on solutions that improve lives. That’s the kind of leadership progressives need right now, and that the country needs to restore trust in politicians.

Born and raised on the South Side in a union family, Anthony knows the 7th District because he comes from it. I believe he has the vision and credibility to help our district lead the state — and the nation — in progressive action.

That’s why I’m proud to support Anthony Driver Jr.

Morgan Benson Oak Park

The promise of a new high-rise tucked behind the Boulevard Arcade building at 1033 South Boulevard might sound like progress, but as someone who spent 50 years in the construction trenches – from downtown Chicago skyscrapers to O’Hare ter minals – I detect a dangerous miscalculation. At a community meeting on Dec. 3, project architect John Schiess made a bold claim: he plans to stage materials and operate a crane on South Boulevard while traf fic and life continue as usual. In the world of heavy steel and high-rise

gravity, that isn’t just optimistic; it’s unrealistic. The plan to carry tons of materials over a pedestrian walkway and 85 feet across the roof of the Boulevard Arcade to a back-alley construction site defies logic. This stretch of South Boulevard is a major thoroughfare, bustling with buses, emergency vehicles, commuter cars, and walkers headed to the Metra and Green Line stations

Industry standards and the Chicago Municipal Code are clear: you do not swing crane loads over occupied streets

or active sidewalks Period. Safe construction requires barricading the entire swing radius of the crane, restricting public access beneath any suspended loads – including the shops and offices below – and protecting crane bases with concrete barriers to separate them from traffic. A crane with this range will be massive, and these requirements are not “optional” suggestions; they are the fundamental rules for protecting the public

When a developer claims a project of this scale won’t impact street access, it raises a

red flag about their understanding of safety protocols. This isn’t about resisting development; it’s about realism. I urge Oak Park staff and Plan commissioners to scrutinize the actual construction plan (now available online and at village hall) and verify that realistic details are in place before endorsing this proposal. When the Plan Commission reviews this project at its Feb. 19 hearing, public safety must be the priority, not a secondary thought.

Disrespectful tone of park pool opponents

I attended the Jan. 22 information session on the pool referendum and left with two clear impressions: I was well infor med by the park district staf f and board, and I was concerned by the tone and attitudes expressed by some attendees. Before going further, I want to be transparent that I plan to vote against the referendum. I share this to make clear that my concerns are not about disagreement over the outcome, but about how we eng age

with one another in the process.

Two things stood out: First, several attendees expressed deep skepticism about the park district’s use of survey data, particularly the number of respondents and the validity of the 2019 and 2023 surveys.

A review of those surveys shows that they followed standard, widely acce pted survey methodologies.

Second, some comments directed at park district staf f and board members went

beyond critical questioning and veered into disrespect, implying intentional deception, lack of preparation, or deliberate omission of infor mation. While scrutiny of public decisions is essential, accusations made without evidence do little to advance understanding or trust.

Oak Park has a long tradition of civic eng agement and thoughtful public discourse. It was disappointing to see that tradition strained in this setting. We can

disagree, strongly, while still eng aging in good faith and treating public servants and one another with respect.

I hope a strong share of eligible voters will participate in the March 17 primary election and make their voices heard on this and other local issues. Robust participation, paired with respectful dialogue, is what ke eps our local democracy healthy. Deborah Levine Oak Park

Michael Michalik Oak Park

Where is immigration reform?

Like many Americans I am outraged by the mayhem and violence that has been wrought on many Democraticled cities and states. Are we to believe that no “immigration enforcement” is required in Republican-led cities and states?

Let me get to the point: We’ve been told for years by both Democratic and Republican administrations that our immigration system is broken. It is so broken that the current administration has armed, masked militia men roaming the streets of selected cities

terrorizing, inflicting physical and psychological damage, even death on citizens and non-citizen alike. Is the only solution to our “broken” immigration system to round up, imprison and deport Black and Brown people no matter their citizenship status? Really!?

So … we all agree, the system is broken. What is Cong ress doing to create a solution to this vexing, complex problem? It is their job, their responsibility to create solutions to the problems and challenges that face our nation. I think that many people

Iagree that the current actions taken by ICE do not represent a solution. These actions are designed to intimidate and spread fear. Where is immigration reform?

Congress, get of f your collective, lazy duffs and create a humane solution to immigration — one that protects our borders and respects the dignity and humanity of all people, those here and those who desire to enter our country.

Eileen Dw yer Formerly of Oak Park

Beliefs about the life force

n response to Ken Trainor’s column, “You never know” [Viewpoints, Jan. 28]:

We live in an exciting time where science and spirit are again coming together. The Cartesian split (when Descartes made a deal with the Pope to separate science and religion) was the result of politics, patriarchy and abuse of power. This artificial split continues to create a lot of unnecessary pain and confusion with spiritual issues. The scientific method may help: Is there a divine force in the universe? Do we have a soul? Does the soul go somewhere when we die? The key aspects of the scientific method are observation, skepticism, creating and testing a hypothesis through inductive reasoning, testing it through experiments, and looking at the diverse data. Inductive reasoning is not about deductive certainty, but having some degree of probability.

Ken, we have been friends and spiritual seekers for decades. With a lot of similar input and data, we have come up with opposite beliefs about the spirited life force of the universe (some

call God), our soul, and what happens to us when we die. How interesting! But have you possibly thrown the baby out with the bath water?

GINA ORLANDO

One View

Part of the difference seems to be that you are focused on us as physical, logical beings rather than as complex beings of life-force energy, the same energy that also spins the planets. Our soul seems to be part of our energetic fingerprint. The search for truth and meaning goes beyond the left brain and physical plane

To discern if we have a soul, an energetic signature that moves on somewhere after we die, we can search the complex and vast terrain of the world spiritual traditions and other places for clues for this hypothesis. Some are:

• Billions and billions of Hindus (and others) believe in reincarnation and kar ma, and it infor ms their lives.

• The near-death experiences of so many people are remarkably similar — going to the Love-filled Light.

• Mystics of all traditions have a

direct connection to “that which is greater.”

• Amidst the study of spirituality and its complexity, intuition and “remembering” are valid and important ways of inner knowing, of “innerstanding.” These are more feminine abilities. We all have the feminine within. And the feminine and divine feminine are re-emerging strongly now, to be in healthy partnership with a healed masculine energy. Logic doesn’t seem a good match in this discussion of spirituality, god, soul and afterlife

A law of physics says that energy can’t be created or destroyed. Our soul seems to be a form of our unique energy that moves into a space where many describe it as light (a form of energy) and per meated by the highenergy frequency of Love. What and where is that energy dimension that our soul moves to when we let go of our physical body in a given life?

Maybe we’ll meet on the other side Imagine our great discussion about that experienced mystery!

A retractable pool roof ?

Regarding the destruction of our beautiful Ridgeland Pool. I will leave aside the deceptively biased referendum question as well as a host of logistical and other questions that the board has not adequately addressed. At the Feb. 4 meeting, Parks Executive Director

Jan Arnold indicated that she learned a retractable roof would cost $3 to $6 million. That plus the $10 million is far cheaper than the planned $40 million for the exclusively indoor, smaller pool. Assume it costs $10 million. We still save $20 million while preserving our mag-

nificent outdoor one. It seems like a win for all parties. Will that be part of the March referendum? What are you doing to communicate that to residents? Good stewardship should require you to do so.

Frank Hughes Oak Park

VICKI SCAMA N

We all belong from page 27

something you earn — it is something you are born with.

Solidarity means more than outrage. It means showing up when our neighbors are targeted. It means defending each other in courtrooms, in schools, in churches, in workplaces, and in the streets. It means mutual aid, rapid response, sanctuary, and relentless pressure for change.

Oak Park is committed to change. I am committed to service where all people have a place to belong and needs met so that all can thrive, with dignity. I am committed to fighting back against our federal gover nment and am grateful for the support and expertise of my colleagues and community. We make Oak Park better. May we honor the dead by fighting for the living. May we turn remembrance into resolve. And may we build the future they deserved. History will tell their story as fighting and dying for what is right.

So let us embrace today and every day: courage over comfort, solidarity over fear, humanity over hate. Remembering those who were killed is not only an act of mour ning, it is an act of responsibility. Their lives call us to action. They demand that we organize, protect one another, show up and refuse to let fear define our future. We show up for immigrants and asylum seekers, for Black and Brown communities, for LGBTQ+ people, for our trans community, our neighbors and youth who are told to shrink themselves to survive

Let us say this clearly together: an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. Solidarity is not a slogan. It is a practice. It is checking on your neighbor. It is lear ning each other’s names. It is sharing resources. It is taking care of each other and refusing to let anyone be disappeared into silence.

Resistance does not always look loud. Sometimes it looks like care. Sometimes it looks like mutual aid. Sometimes it looks like setting boundaries and saying, “Not here. Not in our community.”

We reject the lie that there isn’t enough to go around. There is enough love, enough safety, enough justice. Our power lives in our relationships, in our willingness to listen across our differences, in our courage to confront injustice without losing our humanity, in our commitment to nonviolence — not as passivity, but as a fierce and disciplined love for life

So when they try to divide us, we link ar ms. When they try to intimidate us, we stand taller. When they try to tell us who belongs, we answer: we all do. Let this community be known as a place of refuge and resistance, a place where neighbors are protected, not policed, where care is shared, not criminalized, where solidarity is sustained. We will keep loving. We will keep each other safe.

Because the future we are fighting for is one where no one is left behind — and that future begins right here, with us.

Bob Roach, 85

Grew up in Oak Park

Robert J. Roach, 85, of Hinsdale, for mer longtime resident of LaGrange Park and Oak Park, died on Feb. 2, 2026, surrounded by his family Bor n on Jan. 4, 1941 at St. Anne Hospital, he loved growing up in South Oak Park, and had many fine childhood memories and friendships that endured.

A proud graduate of Ascension School’s class of 1954, he graduated a proud Friar from Fenwick High School in 1958 and from Loyola University in 1962.

He was larger than life in stature, humor, and wit. He held court on the sideline or bleachers. If he was at a game you knew it. He played golf courses around the world, loved reading, dressed impeccably and was the best storyteller. He impacted many lives as Coach Roach.

For 55 years he was proudly employed in the Chicago paper industry. He was vice president of sales for 48 years at Bradner Smith and Company and for seven years at Lindenmeyer-Monroe, a division of Central National Gottesman Corporation. He served as governor of the Board of Directors of the Western Golf Association-Chick Evans Scholarship, president and director of the board of La Grange Country Club, life trustee of the Board of Directors of Fenwick High School, president of the Chicago Graphics Arts Club, chairman of the La Grange Park Caucus, and numerous other boards and clubs over the years.

Bob was the husband of Patricia (nee Hayes), his wife of 61 years; father of Robert (Heather) Roach, Michael Roach and Kathleen (Brian) McLaughlin; proud Bop of Chance Roach and Charles, Edward and William McLaughlin; son of the late Robert and late Mary (McCormick) Roach; brother of the late Kathleen (late George) Hyland; brother-in-law of the late Thomas (late Carole) Hayes; uncle of many Huf f, Hyland and Hayes nieces and nephews; and a dear friend to almost every person he met or encountered in life.

Visitation will be held at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester on Feb. 15 from 2 to 7 p.m. All will gather on Feb. 16 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 124 N. Spring Ave., LaGrange, for an 11 a.m. funeral Mass. Interment private

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the We Thrive Annual School Fund of St. Francis Xavier Parish School, 145 N. Waiola Ave., La Grange, IL 60525, or the Western Golf Association, Evans Scholar Foundation, 2501 Patriot Boulevard, Glenview, IL 60026, are deeply appreciated.

Arrangements were handled by Peter B. Kennedy & Co. Funeral Directors.

Bob Hart, 60 Cared about the underdogs

bert Fredrick “Bob” Hart, 60, of Scottsdale, Arizona, died peacefully on Feb. 1, 2026 in the company of his family. He approached his nearly six-year battle with cancer with fearlessness, grace and strength, inspiring many. He made friends easily and was known for his infectious laugh, warmth, and generosity. He cared deeply for underdo gs and those in need and gave freely of his time and support.

Born on Oct. 9, 1965, to Leo J. Hart and Mary V. Hart, he grew up in Oak Pa rk, one of eight siblings in a large extended family. He graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1983, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track, and later earned a business de gree from Arizona State University.

He beg an working at a young age on paper routes, painting crews, and retail staf f. He went on to build a successful, selfmade career in sales across print, retail displays, and medical equipment.

Bob’s most important role was as a father, son, brother, and uncle. He loved his four children –– above all else and was deeply devoted to his family throughout his life.

He is survived by his children, Jacqueline, Sean, Georgia, and Madeleine and their mother, Stephanie Sammon; his mother, Mary V. Hart; his uncles Daniel J. Dowd and John M. Dowd; his siblings, Paul (Chris) Hart, Tom (Amy) Har t, Molly (Pat) Cor rigan, Marty (K-leen) Hart, Meg (Marty) White, Amy (Jon) Tomaso, and Janet (Jim) Carson; and many nieces and ne phews. He was preceded in death by his father, Leo J. Hart, and several grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The Har t family is especially grateful that Bob found love, peace and unconditional support from Sheila Merrell. Sheila’s care of and devotion to Bob were

incomparable.

Memorial services in Phoenix are pending. A memorial Mass will be held at St. Ber nardine Church, Forest Park, on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. Donations in Bob’s name may be made to Hospice of the Valley or Oak Park Youth Baseball and Softball.

Clare Leavitt, 69 Migrant Ministry clothing coordinator

Clare Marie Leavitt, 69, of Oak Park, died peacefully on Dec. 22, 2025, after

She had a passion for design, sewing, and tailoring, loved music, dogs, time with family and friends, quiet moments shared over simple meals, a good laugh, and vacations spent at the beach.

Clare is survived by her mother, Elizabeth Canty Leavitt; her sister Ann Evans (Charles), and brothers Tom (Beth), John, Paul, and Mark (Erin); eight nieces and nephews, Kendra Evans, Julie Leavitt Jorgenson (Michael), Madeline Leavitt, Kira Leavitt, Nick Leavitt, Austin Leavitt, Cory Evans (Kathryn), and Graham Leavitt; great-aunt to Parker Jorgenson; and was preceded in death by her older sister, Jean Frances Leavitt and her father, Thomas William Leavitt.

spent her childhood li ent states ability and warmth that would characteriz her life

At the age of Type 1 diabetes, a challenge she met with disciplin ment to caring for herself carried that same strength into of her life

She gr School in Madison, Connecticut, and ear a Bachelor of Science de Merchandising and Apparel Design from Virginia

retail management with Rich Store in Atlanta, Georgia before joinin Georgia-Pacific, where she rose to the role of Business Development Manager and Business Analyst. A work assignment brought her to Chicago, a city she quickly grew to love and where she made her home

After leaving the corporate world, she served as a clothing consultant with Doncaster & Tanner, became the first manager of the 10,000 Villages store in Oak Park, and later worked as a transition advocate with Caring Transitions of Chicago, helping families navigate major life changes. She also worked part-time for Elmhurst.

She was active at St. Edmund Catholic Church, served for many years on her condominium association board, and most recently coordinated the clothing warehouse for the Migrant Ministry of the Catholic Parishes of Oak Park, where her organizational skill and generosity left a lasting impact

Riccardo Muti. She also sang at Ravinia, the Lyric Opera House, and locally with the Heritage Chorale. She taught voice lessons in her home, at Downers Grove High School, at Trinity Christian College in Tinley Park, and other institutions around Chicagoland

A devoted member of the Oak Park community, she volunteered for many years at the Economy Shop and enjoyed gardening at Cheney Mansion. She was known for her war mth, humor, and the kindness, which she extended to everyone. She will be deeply missed.

Gail is survived by her husband, Bill Friesema; her son, Dave Friesema; her daughter, Katie Friesema; and many other family members and dear friends.

An infor mal memorial gathering will be held at Peterson-Bassi Funeral Home, 6938 W. North Ave., Chicago on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SPORTS

OPRF Cheerleading makes rst state nals

Huskies, Fenwick represent area downstate

By MELVIN TATE

Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School varsity cheerleading team made history this season, becoming the first to qualify for the IHSA competitive cheerleading state finals, Feb. 6-7, in Bloomington. The Huskies did not make the second day, but still put for th a solid ef fort, finishing 25th in Class 3A with a score of 81.38 points. “[It’s] a rank we’ve never had, so ex-

junior varsity coach Kamarie Bostic in 2013, and freshman coach Melody Brown in 1994. Brown was the Huskies’ varsity head coach from 2012 through 2023.

This year’s OPRF roster includes seniors Katherine Harris, Chelsey Hawkins, Kali Re gan, Vitoria Tosin, and Iliana Villagomez; juniors Jada Clay, Sylvia Hardy, Stefanie James, Sierra Johnson, and Maya Ungureanu; sophomore Nylah Smith; and freshmen Elise MacMillan and Cameron Strolman.

team to qualify for state made me so proud, and knowing how badly we all wanted it made the moment even more special. Being part of this history is something I’ll forever hold close to my hear t.”

Burton said the team’s commitment and dedication produced this year’s success

sectionals llagomez, a to of the first OPRF cheer

“They have sacrificed time, poured in maximum ef fort, and fought relentlessly for their cheer family,” she said. “In moments when quitting may have felt like the easier option, they chose instead to persevere for the person standing across from them on the mat, a true reflection of the deep bond they share.

“Every day, we close practice with the words, “Family on me, family on three.” It’s a simple phrase, but a powerful reminder that nothing we accomplish is done alone. Everything we do, we do together as a family and for our family.”

James has been on OPRF’s varsity all three years and is eager to help build upon the momentum created this season.

“We set the standard and an expectation for ourselves next year,” she said. “This isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning. We only go up from here and we will not only grow in skills but the family that we will have. This year’s success is inspiration to make state an expectation for OPRF cheer.”

Fenwick

At the Class 2A finals in Bloomington last weekend, Fenwick finished 23rd with 85.5 points. Despite not getting to the second day, the Friars deemed the season a success. It was their second consecutive downstate appearance.

“This team’s success is not only a product of their experience or talents. It’s a product of their heart,” said Fenwick head coach Carlotta Fleming, a 2013 graduate who is in her fifth season. “Each girl knows her own strongest points as well as their own weakest points. They pick up each other’s slack, they pick each other up when they’ re down, and they constantly support

Juniors

each other no matter what. Our success would not be possible without the love they have for the shield [school logo] and the love they have for each other.”

Team members are seniors Johanna Giuffre, Nicole Jasinski, and Ella Mindak; juniors Simone Black, Giada DeCola, Amanda Imburgia, and Gracie Mindak; sophomore Amiyah Buford; and freshmen Derianna Bass and Penelope Black.

Ella Mindak was one of eight returning cheerleaders who went downstate last year and enjoyed her return trip.

“I feel like I wanted to qualify for state even more this year. The whole team had so much fun when we went last year so we were all super-excited to be going a second time,” she said. “I think the biggest reason for the success we have had in the last two years has been the bond we have as a team. I consider all of the girls some of my closest friends and I believe that the energy and enjoyment we compete with has been a big part in our team’s success.”

COURTESY OF BRIANNA BURTON

OPRF High School 2025-26 cheerleading squad. Top row (L-R): Katherine Harris, Kali Regan, Jada Clay, Nylah Smith. Middle row: Sylv ia Hardy, Maya Ungureanu, Stefanie James, Iliana Villagomez. Chelsey Hawkins. Bottom row: Vitoria Tosin, Sierra Johnson, Cameron Strolman. Elise MacMillan.

PROVIDED

Giada DiCola (le ), Simone Black and freshman Penelope Black, all from Riverside.

OPRF boys wrestling heads back to state for team nals

Fenwick

gets rst girls sectional quali er, OPRF girls advance

four

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Usually, IHSA dual-team boys wrestling sectionals are hard-fought and competitive, with the outcomes often not decided until the final match or two.

The Class 3A dual-team sectional at Oak Park and River Forest High School, Feb. 5, was an aber ration. Against Conant, the Huskies won their first 12 matches en route to an impressive 63-6 victory that punched their ticket to the dual-team state finals.

“I’m really proud of the team,” said OPRF coach Jason Renteria. “The growth of the boys this year is really big.”

The dual with Conant started with the 215-pound weight class. Lucas Albrecht got things rolling for OPRF with a victory via fall in 1:48 over Jaden Thorney. Pierre Nelson followed up at 285 by pinning Evan Mueller at 3:13. Jordan Dezara notched a technical fall victory at 106 over Jax Bryson,

then Michael Rundell pinned Brian Hoffman in just 16 seconds at 113.

“It’s good to see the boys not only dominant, but also get pins,” Renteria said. “For the most part, we don’t pin a lot of people So to see them pick up on the dual format of getting six [points] instead of five, those little differences are what it’s going to take to get a team trophy.”

At 120, junior Zach Chasson got a 10-7 sudden victory in overtime over Andres Justicia. Next, Jamiel Castleberry won at 126 via fall (1:48) over Connor Willis. At 132, Alex Cohen defeated Emmett Arens 9-2. Isaiah Gibson got a technical fall victory at 138 over Oscar Luberda. Zev Koransky pinned Jake Gizel in 70 seconds to win his match at 144. At 150, Jack Skoglund got a technical fall win over Elliott Kang, and David Ogunsanya made really short work of Jaewon Willhite at 157, notching a pin in just seven seconds.

Jeremiah Hernandez pinned Sultan Imanaliev (1:33) at 165 to extend OPRF’s winning streak to twelve matches. But the Huskies fell just short of a sweep as Zach Michaud (175) and Daniel Solano (190) dropped close decisions in the final two matches

“Things didn’t end the way I’d have liked,” Renteria said. “But the efforts from Michaud

and Solano were good.”

OPRF now turns its attention to the Class 3A individual sectional. The Huskies’ 13 qualifiers will compete at Conant, Feb. 13-14. The top four placers in each weight class advance to the state finals in Champaign

Girls wrestling

The Fenwick High School girls wrestling program is just 2 years old. But the Friars made history at the Rickover Regional, Feb. 7, as senior Valerie Franco became the program’s first IHSA sectional qualifier. Franco (16-4) defeated OPRF sophomore Eliana Martinez in the third-place match at 190 on a fall at :53.

“I was so pumped for Valerie,” said Fenwick coach Seth Gamino. “She had a tough match in the semis, losing by a last-second takedown, but bounced back well in the wrestlebacks. Then she took third place and she was so happy, smiling from ear to ear.”

Gamino added that Franco’s approach to the sectional will be no different – one match at a time

“Wrestle our best, take every match as your first or last,” he said. “Prepare and execute on the mat and good things will come our way.”

Despite losing to Franco, Martinez (1616) also qualified for the sectional as OPRF advanced four wrestlers to the Phillips Sectional, Feb. 13. The top four regional placers in each weight move on.

brera of Phoenix Military Academy at 3:50 in the 140-pound final.

Senior Caliyah Campbell (20-6) finished second at 170, losing to Sara Martinez Lopera of Kelly via fall (1:12) in the final. And senior Michelle Kpekpe (24-15) placed third

Senior Isabella Miller qualified for her second consecutive sectional. She improved her record to 22-3 by pinning America Ca-

Fenwick High School senior Valerie Franco gets her hand raised in victory at the IHSA Rickover Girls Wrestling Regional, Feb. 7. Franco became the Friars’ rst-ever state sectional quali er in the sport as she placed third at 190 pounds.

STEVE JOHNSTON

OPRF’s Michael Rundell turns and pins Conant’s Brian Ho man in the 113-pound bout during the Class 3A OPRF Team Sectional, Feb. 5, in Oak Park.

STEVE JOHNSTON

OPRF’s Jamiel Castleberry tries to turn Conant’s Connor Willis in the 126-pound bout.

COURTESY OF SETH GAMIN O

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: M26001329 on February 3, 2026 Under the Assumed Business Name of PIZZA DOM with the business located at: 905 S. LOM BARD AVE. UNIT 2, OAK PARK, IL 60304. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: DOMI NIC VALLONE 617 WILLOW GLEN ST. ADDISON, IL 60101, USA

Published in Wednesday Journal

February 11, 18, 25, 2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT 97 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Notice is hereby given that Oak Park Elementary School District 97 is soliciting proposals from qualified providers for turn-key installation of a rooftop solar photovoltaic project pursuant to Section 19b of the Illinois School Code, 105 ILCS 5/19b-1 et. Seq. Sealed proposals shall be received at the district office, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 no later than 12PM local time on March 27, 2026. Mandatory site walkthroughs will begin at Beye Elementary School, 230 North Cuyler Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302 at 10AM local time on February 25, 2026. All firms wishing to respond to this Request for Proposals must be present at the mandatory site walkthroughs. Direct questions regarding this Request for Proposals to Michael Arensdorff, Chief Operations & Technology Officer, marensdorff@op97.org and John Pahlman, Senior Director of Buildings & Grounds, jpahlman@ op97.org.

Published in wednesday Journal February 11, 2026

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:

2026 Sewer Lining Improvements (Various Locations)

This project consists of the installation of approximately 2,220 lineal feet of Cured-in-Place Piping (CIPP) as a sewer lining as well as other miscellaneous work required to install the aforementioned CIPP, including some manhole bench repairs, and point repairs.

The bidding documents are available for download starting Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at: www.vrf.us/bids

Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at:

Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305

The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.

No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.

The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.

Published in Wednesday Journal February 11, 2026

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER� 06�26�Z

HEARING DATE� March 4, 2026

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park— Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60302—will receive PDF proposals via email, at Christopher.Welch@oakpark.us, until 4�00 P.M. on Friday, February 27, 2026, for the following: Phase I/II Engineering Services for the Chicago Avenue Projects. The Village is in need of Phase I/ II Engineering Services for projects located on Chicago Avenue between Kenilworth Avenue and Austin Boulevard. These projects were identified in the Villages Vision Zero Action Plan, Bike Plan Update and preliminary design of a streetscape honoring Dr. Percy Julian. The project will also consist of the replacement of sections of watermain within the Chicago Avenue right-ofway.

The Request for Qualifications may be obtained from the Village’s website at https://www.oak-park.us/ Building-Business/Requestfor-Proposals starting on Wednesday February 11, 2026. For questions, please email Christopher Welch, Assistant Village Engineer, at Christopher.Welch@oak-park. us.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer

Published in Wednesday Journal February 11, 2026

TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Sikander Keshwani, seeking a variance from Section 7�7� 15�D��1)(b) of the Oak Park Sign Code, in order to allow a second wall sign on the south wall of the building, at 6820 Roosevelt Road, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�18�329�032� 0000 �“Subject Property”), in the Roosevelt Road Form-Based District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal, February 11, 2026

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER� 05�26�Z

HEARING DATE� March 4, 2026

TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, William Scholtens, seeking a variance from Section 10.1�A��1� of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, in order to allow a seasonal reduction of two parking spaces to accommodate an outdoor dining area, at 401 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�07�405�008�0000 (“Subject Property”), in the NC Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

CALENDAR NUMBER� 07�26�Z

HEARING DATE� March 4, 2026

TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicants, Andrew Lang and Maribeth Smerz, seeking a variance from Section 9.3�A� �5)(c) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, in order to reduce the rear yard accessory structure setback from 4 feet to 1.93 feet, at 226 North Taylor Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�08�116�003�0000 (“Subject Property”), in the R�2 Single-Family Residential Zoning District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER� 10�26�Z

HEARING DATE� March 4, 2026

TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Kit Shah, seeking a variance from Section 4.3, Table 4�1� Residential Districts Dimensional Standards of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, in order to reduce the rear yard setback from 14.484 feet to 11 inches for an attached garage located at 817 Carpenter Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�18�132�027�0000 (“Subject Property”), in the R�3� 35 Single-Family Residential Zoning District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER� 09�26�Z

HEARING DATE� March 4, 2026

TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Greg Sorg �Sorg Speed, Inc.), seeking a special use permit for a drive-through component of a proposed coffee roastery/shop, pursuant to Section 8.3 �Table 8�1� Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the property located at 7 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�08�127�015�0000 (“Subject Property”), in the NC Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal, February 11, 2026

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER� 08�26�Z

HEARING DATE� March 4, 2026

TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Greg Sorg �Sorg Speed, Inc.), seeking a special use permit for a specialty food service facility (a coffee roastery), pursuant to Section 8.3 �Table 8�1� Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the property located at 7 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�08�127�015�0000 (“Subject Property”), in the NC Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal, February 11, 2026

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