Thousands ofprotesters poured into Oak Park to demonagainst President Donald Trump once again on Saturday.
The crowd ofprotesters gathered in Scoville Park for speeches and protest songs and then marched in a loop from Oak Park
Avenue to Harlem Avenue along Lake Street chanting slogans and carrying signs referencing Trump’s mass deportation campaign, the war with Iran, Trump’s relationship with the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, federal budget cuts and other grievances. The Oak Park “No
BANNOR
Financial Literacy
Byline believes in the importance of financial literacy and has partnered with organizations such as Oak Park River Forest High School, Learning Edge Tutoring, YEMBA, Way Back Inn, and Housing Forward to offer financial literacy workshops.
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Left to right:
My Hanh La, Senior Universal Banker; Isbeth Saravia, Assistant Branch Manager; Denise Warren, Branch Manager; Susie Goldschmidt, Market President
Oak Park renews waste hauling deal with vendor for two ye ars
Trustees voted 6-1 to renew waste management deal without going out to bid
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
Oak Park has renewed its deal with La shore Recycling Systems to keep the Chicagoland-based garbage collector as the village’s waste management contractor for two more years.
T
he Oak Park village board voted 6-1 to sign the extension, as trustees felt tha the offer the company put on the table was strong enough to make it wor th skippin an open bidding process.
Incentives the company of fered ed increasing leaf collection from six to eight weeks without an additional committing to re placing “le gacy” ga carts over the summer and increased customer service through an online “resident request por tal.”
The contract to manage trash, recy composting and yard waste for Oak will be wor th $3.8 million for 2027.
The vote came after village trustees had given LRS less than a resounding endorsement when LRS Area Vice President George Strom came before the board to gi a presentation at a meeting in Januar
One board member who changed his position on the contract was trustee Brian Straw. In January Straw said he wanted to see a “competitive bid process” village’s waste hauling deal. Straw cited surging oil prices caused by the U.S. and Israel’s month-old war with Iran as a significant factor in him changing his vote
“I still think that, g enerally speaking, going through competitive bidding processes is what you want to do, but I think in this current environment I am likely to support the two-year extension of the current ag reement, and that’s for a couple of reasons,” Straw said. “If we’re going to be going out to bid in a cost climate that’s going to factor in those increases in fuel costs when fuel and labor are the two driving costs, I think that we’re going to see much higher bids this summer, unless something real surprising happens in the Strait of Hormuz. So, I think that for me is one of the biggest factors that has me tending towards this agreement.”
LRS has been Oak Park’s waste hauler since 2022, when the company was the only hauler to bid for the contract besides Waste Management, who’d held Oak Park’s garbage hauling contract for more than 20 years by that point. At the time, Waste Management was seeking a rate increase for Oak Park customers while LRS was not looking to increase rates.
Trustee Jim Taglia was the only trustee to oppose accepting LRS’ offer of a contract extension. More residents complain about LRS’ service than complained about Waste Management, he said.
“I think we need to look at these, look at the market, test the market, see what’s out there, because we have a lot of complaints that continue to come in,” Taglia said.
Village staf f had also encouraged the board to extend the contract to 2028 because that is when the deal governing Oak Park’s membership in the West Cook County re gional disposal project expires. If the village were to seek a new waste hauler, it’d be easier to do so as the deal expires, according to Public Works Director Rob Sproule
“That relationship is up for renewal in 2028 and we think that that’s an excellent time to review our current hauling contract,” Sproule said. “There may be opportunities at that time to step away from that re gional hauling contract and actually sign with disposal provided by a hauler at that time that may actually be advantageous for the village.”
IN MEMORIA M
‘She was always thinking about other people’
Faith Julian, daughter of Dr. Perc y and Dr. Anna Roselle Julian, dies at 82
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
For Kathy Julian, the most remarkable thing about her Aunt Faith was her care for others, even in her final months.
Julian visited her aunt, the daughter of Dr. Percy Julian and Dr. Anna Roselle Julian, in the hospital in February, making the long trek from the San Francisco Bay area, where she lives.
“One of the things when I was there, ‘Can you call this person? It was their birthday three weeks ago, and I didn’t send them a card,’” she said.
A lifelong resident of Oak Park and a graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School, Faith Roselle Julian died March 25, 2026. She was 82.
“Oak Park is a better, more honest, and more just community because of Faith and the Julian from the village debted to Faith when it was needed the most, and patience with us as we worked to honor what her sacrificed and contributed her sure, that wo continue.
“Faith will always be remembered her intelligence, tireless work and passion family and the entire community.”
Oak Park is cu rently planning a streetscape project on Chicago which will focus the contributions of the Julian to the village and Chicago
Of course, Kathy Julian about her Aunt course of her life. Every other summer, with her grandmother, Anna, and her aunt she would attend the annual convention of the sorority Delta Sigma Theta. One year
in the mid-1970s, the convention was held in Atlanta.
“Faith sent me a seven-page letter,” she recalled. “Jimmy Carter was president at the time. She sent a letter that said, ‘We’ re going to Jimmy Carter’s home state,’ and she was excited about getting ready to go.
“I think she had a playful aspect to her and really understood children and had a child’s hear t at her core.”
Chicago resident Anthony Thomas was Faith Julian’s best friend for decades, talking to her virtually every day. How they met is a story unto itself.
Thomas is blind, and he met her when he was in law school and she was a volunteer at the Blind Service Association.
“She was assigned to me as a reader and she stayed and volunteered in law school and bar studies,” Thomas said. “She read to me, she typed papers, she sat in on a classes. She became my best friend and I became her best friend.”
Julian’s caring for others spanned not just across the Chicago area but the nation.
Thomas recalled a time when a blind young woman she knew was taken to Alabama.
“Faith found out she was there, (and) they said we can’t release her,” Thomas said, noting that the girl couldn’t be released because she had nowhere to
“Faith said, ‘You can put her on a plane and send her to me,’” he said.
“Faith took her for about four months and found her a place to live. She ry generous spirit. She to a lot of people.” tough times for Faith J ulian. When she and her parents moved to Oak Park in the early 1950s, they weren’ t greeted with open arms. In fact, their house on East Avenue – where she lived her en-
tire life – was attacked on a couple of occasions. Once, Thomas said, a bomb was thrown at the house, “right under Faith’s window and might have killed her.”
James Taglia, an Oak Park village trustee, was close to Faith Julian as well, and said she not only cared about others, but also about the Julian family le gacy in Oak Park.
In 2018, she gave a dedication speech for a new mural of her father at Percy Julian Middle School in Oak Park
“She handwrote this whole thing, and at the beginning, the kids were running around, and then it got silent, and then everyone was crying,” Taglia said. “She has this wonderful story, and it’s a lot of history, but it’s good and bad.
“She certainly held up the le gacy. She certainly felt it was an important part of her life, to carry on the story of her parents and she would also look to understand what they went through as a family and the obstacles they overcame.”
Another village trustee who was close to Faith Julian is Chibuike Enyia.
“She won’t be forgotten because of the tremendous amount of resiliency which was passed down from her father and mother,” he said. “She was a battler and that I think is something everybody wants to aspire to.”
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. April 6 at Peterson-Bassi Chapels at 6938 W. North Ave., Chicago, with a service to follow.
TODD BANNOR
Back row from le to right: Percy Julian Jr., Percy Julian, Faith Julian and Leon Ellis; front row Anna Julian.
Faith Julian
D97 cuts two administrators plans for 23 fe wer teachers
Response to enrollment drop and tightening nances
By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
Staffing at Oak Park Elementary School District 97 will be somew hat leaner next year. The school board voted 6-0 last week to eliminate the positions of two administrators and to lay of f, at least for now, eight teachers. In addition, four teachers are leaving for what are described in a board document as personal reasons and one other teacher is not being rehired for what could be performance reasons.
tions, Dr. Luis Fernando De Leon and Lony Boose respectively, will not be employed District 97 as of July 1.
Both positions are of fairly recent origin.
The administrative positions being eliminated are the Assistant Superintendent for Middle Schools and the position of Director ofHuman Experience. The two administrators who held those posi-
The middle school position was created by fo mer superintendent Ushma Shah in 2023 when she hired De Leon, her for mer colleague from Elgin District U-46. Boose has work for the district for 21 years. After starting out in lower level administrative positions she was serving as the executive assistant to the superintendent when she was named to the newly created post of Director ofHuman Experience position in 2025. Boose also served as the secretary to the board of education.
See D97 CUTS on pa ge 18
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Sat, May 2 at 10:30a Oak Park Arms, Oak Park
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LUIS FERNANDO DE LEON
West Sub closes, reopening teased, investigation possible
Owner in talks with possible operator, all patients discharged, sta furloughed
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN and JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporters
Suburban Medical Center closed its doors to all patients on March 27 with its CEO blaming chronic payment collection a financial crisis that led the hospital to furlough its 600-some employees. Since, all patients have been discharged or red to a dif ferent medical facility
Meanwhile, the owner of the hospital’s real estate and a minority investor in the hospital said he’s working with Insight Hospital & Medical Center to potentially reopen and operate West Sub. And State
La Shawn Ford, a long-time supporter of the hospital, said there needs to be an tion of the hospital’s finances.
The hospital’s closing was disclosed in an email to staf f on March 25. Obtained by
Wednesday Journal and the Austin Weekly News, the email from Manoj Prasad, the CEO of Resilience Health, said the hospital was able to make only one last payroll.
In a statement Monday, a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Public Health, said, “Our top priority remains ensuring continuity of care for community residents and patients who have been impacted by the suspension of service. We are actively working with various healthcare providers, community partners, and sister state agencies on a roadmap that will provide local residents with a stable and accessible healthcare option during this transitional period.”
Under state health regulations, the temporary closing of a hospital requires written notification to the state’s Health Facilities and Service Review Board. It also requires the shuttered hospital to provide status up-
dates every 30 days
If the conversations with a new hospital operator move forward, state regulations require that any new ownership would need a state permit and would have to work through the state licensing process.
State Rep. La Shawn Ford, who recently won the Democratic primary for Congress in the 7th congressional district, previously told reporters: “Today’s closure of patient care services at West Suburban is a devastating blow to our community, which is already underserved in healthcare facilities. We cannot afford to lose vital services when so many depend on them.”
Ford also said a full investigation of West Sub’s finances will be necessary.
Prasad said last Wednesday that the closing was only temporary and that the hospi-
TODD BANNOR
West Suburban Hospital sign with ‘Emergenc y’ taped over on March 26.
So ware company responds a er blame for West Suburban closure
West Sub leader says records system led to work going unbilled
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
West Suburban Medical Center closed patient operations last week, with leadership citing a financial “crisis” driven by major issues with its records and billing software.
Resilience Healthcare CEO Manoj Prasad told West Suburban staff last week that the hospital was closing indefinitely as it didn’t have the money to cover payroll expenses Prasad put the blame for the financial shortfall on the hospital’s Electronic Medical Record system, which he said had failed to keep up with patient service. He said anywhere from half to 90% of the hospital’s work hadn’t been getting billed properly
over the last year, according to the internal email obtained by Wednesday Journal.
“The numbers indicate that at least half of our work was not getting billed, but nobody could understand why,” Prasad wrote to staff. “The EMR vendor’s team with numerous consultants and experts could not understand what the problem was and how to fix it. As a result, for the past year, our hospital has survived on around 10% to 15% of our normal income. To put things in perspective, imagine if your family’s monthly income fell by 90% for a full year: that is how we’ve been feeling.”
In the email, Prasad said that the hospital transitioned to new record keeping software a year ago. Wednesday Journal has learned that the program in question was Paragon Denali, a records system built by Altera Digital Health with rural and community hospitals in mind .
The company addressed West Sub’s closure in a statement to Wednesday Journal.
“Altera Digital Health is devastated to learn of the decision to suspend operations at West Suburban Medical Center, a longstanding pillar of the Oak Park community,” the company said. “Since the implementation of our software at its facilities in mid-2025, we have collaborated closely with Resilience Healthcare and have taken steps to help address the significant operational and financial challenges it has faced. Paragon’s dozens of clients nationwide successfully use our software for revenue cycle operations, and we aim to explore options that could support West Suburban Medical Center in resuming its vital services to the
community as soon as possible.”
Company officials did not answer followup questions about the matter.
“We are not providing additional statements on the matter at this time,” a company spokesperson said.
Paragon Denali was made available to the market in late 2024, according to a company press release from Feb. 2025. That press release said that Pipeline Health, the entity that owned West Sub and the nowshuttered Weiss Memorial Hospital until Resilience took over the embattled hospitals in 2022, also uses the software in its Los Angeles hospitals.
Over the last year, Wednesday Journal has re ported on a variety of financial and other issues at West Sub and at Resilience Healthcare. Those issues include a lawsuit alleging that Resilience Healthcare owes entities associated with Pipeline Health $67 million for the transfer of the hospitals.
West Suburban property owner calls for new management
Rathnaker Reddy is looking for hospital systems or health-care organizations interested in reopening the hospital
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporters
After West Suburban Medical Center announced last week that all patient services would be shuttered, the person who owns the real estate said he is looking for a new entity to reopen and operate the hospital. While Resilience Healthcare owns West Suburban — and Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, which closed last summer — Ramco Healthcare Holdings bought the hospital properties and leases them to Resilience Healthcare. Rathnaker Reddy, owner of Ramco, said in statement that, in response to West Suburban’s closure, he’s reached out to Insight Hospital & Medical Center. Previously Mercy Hospital, Insight bought the strug-
gling South Side institution in 2021, when it was hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.
Reddy said Insight is willing to engage with West Sub.
“Insight is able to support preserving healthcare services at West Suburban Hospital, similar to the role we played in maintaining Mercy Hospital,” said Insight CEO Atif Bawahab in a statement. “Our mission is to step into complex situations and maintain continuity of care for the sake of the community.”
Reddy was not available for additional comment, but his public relations representative said Reddy’s “only interest is in seeing the hospital continue to operate and serve the community. He’s evaluating all legal options to ensure that happens and is hopeful that Dr Prasad will not be an obstacle in that effort.”
Manoj Prasad has been the CEO of Resilience Healthcare for the past three years. Reddy said in his statement that he’s also open to engaging other hospital systems and healthcare organizations which might want to take over management and clinical operations at the hospital.
“West Suburban has long served as an essential safety net institution for residents on Chicago’s West Side and in the surrounding west suburban communities,” Reddy said in his statement. “The loss of services, particularly in such a timely manner, will have a profound and lasting impact on access to care and community health outcomes. ... Our shared goal must be to prevent the permanent loss of critical clinical services and to protect the health and well-being of the communities we serve.”
When West Suburban announced its closure to staff the morning of March 25, Prasad sent employees an email that said, over the last year, the West Suburban’s Electronic Medical Record system has failed to bill for over half of the hospital’s services, resulting in a financial crisis and inability to pay employees. While many employees will be furloughed, Prasad said patient services will be reinstated once the billing system starts working.
In 2022, Reddy told Austin Weekly News that he was considering expanding his hospital holdings when Prasad asked him to be involved in the purchase
“I’m very interested in being [involved] in American hospitals, because I think healthcare is a human right,” he said. “I won’t say basic [right], but a human right.”
WEST SUBURBAN MEDICAL CENTER CLOSURE
Oak Park, West Side leaders respon d to ‘frightening’ news about West Sub
Village president comments after safety net hospital shuts down inde nitely, stops accepting ambulances
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN & JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Oak Park leaders have responded with worry to the news that West Suburban Medical Center will close its patient operations indefinitely, putting the safety-net hospital’s future and hundreds of local jobs into question.
The hospital will halt patient care this week and “furlough many colleagues” as the system doesn’t have the money to cover its payroll, according to an email sent by Resilience Health CEO Manoj Prasad to the health system’s staff Wednesday morning. Prasad cited persistent issues with the hospital’s electronic billing and records system as causing a 90% loss in revenue for the hospital.
As of Wednesday, there were 70 patients at the hospital who needed to be transferred elsewhere by the end of the business day on Friday, according to the village.
Oak Park leaders responded to the news of the closure Wednesday after noon.
“My heart goes out to every patient, family member and employee affected by this news,” Village President Vicki Scaman said. “Losing access to a hospital, even temporarily, is frightening and we recognize that for many in our community ‘West Sub’ wasn’t just the closest option, it was their only option. The village of Oak Park stands with all of those impacted and we will continue to do everything within our power to support them through this uncertainty.”
The village said that firefighters had been on the campus
WEST SUB
from page 6
tal’s emergency department would close at 4 p.m. that day while all patients within the hospital would be transferred by March 27.
The closure of West Sub includes both its Oak Park campus on Austin Boulevard and its office campus on Lake Street in River Forest. The medical office building on the main campus will remain open, Prasad said. West Sub’s Electronic Medical Record system has failed to keep up with patient billing over the last year, resulting in “at least half” of the hospital’s work not getting billed,
of West Sub Wednesday when they were told that the hospital would no longer be accepting ambulances. A Wednesd Jour nal inquiry last year found that just 7% of Oak Park bulance rides went to West Sub’s emergency room, compared to the more than 80% that went to Rush Oak Park.
“From an operational standpoint, our immediate priorities are the continuity of care of Oak Park residents and af fected patients, as well as the employment status for the man dedicated workers impacted by this suspension” said Vi Manager Kevin Jackson. “As a longstanding Oak Park institution, West Suburban Medical Center has certainly been a line for our residents and neighbors across the community This interruption of services is not easy for anyone to navigate, and the village will do what it can within its purview to minimize disruptions for those affected by the suspension.”
Illinois Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park and State Rep, Camille Lilly also provided comment to Wednesday Journal on the closure, saying that they’ve been in contact with state agencies in an effort to find solutions for West Sub patients
“Our first priority is getting the patients safely relocated to other facilities,” Harmon said. “Representative Lilly and I are doing everything we can to make sure that we retain a significant health care facility that serves the community’s needs. While West Suburban’s problems have been well documented, I was surprised by the sudden announcement. We’d been working to try to prevent this very situation. I’ve been in touch with state agency leaders and the gover nor’s office about next steps for the patients, the good folks who work at the hospital and overall community. West Suburban has long been a mainstay in our community. Our youngest daughter was born there, and I made more than a few visits to the ER when I was a boy. This is a sad day.”
“This closure puts critical healthcare out of reach for many families and places extra pressure on nearby hospitals and healthcare workers who are already operating at full ca-
according to the internal email obtained by the Journal and Austin Weekly last week.
“While you have been focused on healing the sick, several of us have been focused on a different crisis that started exactly one year ago when we transitioned to the new EMR,” Prasad wrote to staff. “The EMR vendor’s team with numerous consultants and experts could not understand what the problem was and how to fix it. As a result, for the past year, our hospital has survived on around 10% to 15% of our normal income.”
Prasad said in an email to the Journal and Austin Weekly that for 11 months, he knew the system wasn’t accurately billing for the hospital’s work When asked what could have been done differently to prevent this situation, Prasad said “I do not want to finger point.”
In his email to staf f, Prasad said that hospital leader-
pacity,” Lilly said in a statement. “Every resident deserves timely, reliable, and equitable access to healthcare. I remain committed to advocating for the services, resources, and policies that ensure our community’s health and well-being are protected.”
State Rep. La Shawn Ford, who recently won the Democratic primary for Congress in the 7th congressional district, told Wednesday Journal: “Today’s closure of patient care services at West Suburban is a devastating blow to our community, which is already underserved in healthcare facilities. We cannot afford to lose vital services when so many depend on them.”
Ford also said a full investigation of West Sub’s finances will be necessary.
Ford said he and other electeds have worked to engage local partners and advocated for more support for West Suburban at a state level.
“It is critical that the state steps in to bolster Loretto Hospital to handle the increased demand and protect the health and wellbeing of our community,” Ford added. “The impact of this closure could mean the difference between life and death for those in need of immediate care.”
ship was employing “two strategies” to catch up on the uncontrolled billing, but that the process would likely take months.
“It is a manual and tedious process, but it is starting to show results,” he wrote. “However, it will take months of focused hard work to get there. In the meanwhile, we have been trying to obtain grants or advances to keep paying our hefty payroll costs till we again become self-sufficient but have not been successful.”
Over the last year, the Journal and Austin Weekly have re ported on a variety of financial and other issues at the safety net hospital and its parent company, including reportedly millions in unpaid taxes, failed safety inspections, the loss of its residency program’s accreditation and the closure of West Sub’s sister hospital Weiss Memorial.
TODD BANNOR
West Suburban Hospital
Oak Park native Croke wins Dem primar y for state comptro ller
By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
State Re p Margaret Croke, who grew up in Oak Pa rk, has won a nar row victory in the hotly contested Democratic primary race for State Comptroller. T he 33-yearold Croke, (D-Chicago) who now lives in Lincoln Park has re presented a north side district in the Illinois General Assembly since 2021.
Croke edged out State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago), who was endorsed by State Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and the Democratic Party ofOak Park, by almost 27,000 votes. With just over 92% ofthe expected vote counted Croke has received 391,450 votes (34.6%) compared to 364,523 for Villa (32.3%). Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim has 275,560 votes (24.4%) and State Re p. Stephanie Kifowit has 98,745 (8.7%).
Incumbent Susana Mendoza did not run for another ter m and is expected to run for mayor of Chicago next year.
While Villa ran ahead ofCroke in the city of Chicago as well as in DuPage and Kane counties Croke’s victory was forged in suburban Cook County where she received 38,558 more votes than Villa. Croke was the endorsed candidate ofthe Cook County Democratic Party and was also strongly supported by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
But Harmon strongly supported and worked hard for Villa. Villa carried Croke’s hometown ofOak Park by 1,351 votes winning 44.52% ofthe vote in Oak Park compared to 35.61% percent for Croke. Harmon accompanied Villa to Croke’s for mer elementary school, Mann School, on the afternoon of primary day.
“President Harmon has been a champion from the very beginning,” Villa told Wednesday Journal on Election Day. “Oak Park is so lucky to have him and we are so lucky to have him as a leader in the state senate.
Villa had characterized herselfas the most progressive candidate in the race and
COURTESY OF DEMOCRATIC PA RT Y OF OAK PA Rk
Margaret Croke
WEST SUBURBAN EYE ASSOCIATES
David
•
River Forest, cops quickly agree on 3-year pact
Just two bargaining sessions needed to reach agreement
By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter
As was the case three years ago, it only took two bargaining sessions for River Forest village officials and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 46 to reach agreement on a new three-year contract.
Village board members ratified the contract by unanimous vote at their March 23 meeting. The action was approved as part of the consent agenda with no discussion. The FOP membership approved the contract March 18.
he said. “Our command staff of chief, deputy chief and commander make a point to have regular conversations and meetings with union officials to ensure that there are no pressing, serious issues that may carry over to negatively impact negotiations or, more importantly, day to day operations.”
The contract also includes compressing steps from nine to eight and three longevity steps.
Under the new contract, will take effect May 1, the 28 FOP members each will 3.25% salary increase in eac of the three years. The increase was the same under the expirin three-year deal. Health ance contributions will unchanged from the previous contract.
In a memo to Matt W lage administrator, Trish Ivansek, human resources director, said staff members surveyed 15 villages to compare River Forest’s contract to the union’s proposed contract.
Walsh said there are two main reasons for the successful and quick negotiations.
“The village board is committed to attracting and retaining our public safety officers and recognizes the need to be competitive,”
“Compressing the steps allows officers to reach top pay in one fewer year,” Walsh said. “The longevity steps provide an increase to officers beyond those initial steps. Officers receive an increase when they reach 10 service, another at 15 service then again at 20 service. This helps retain our veteran officers.”
Trustee Bob O’Connell ed Ivansek for her work on the contract.
President Cathy Adeed
“We need to keep in mind how important these things are,” she said.
The deal keeps all three unions re presenting village employees under contract.
The village’s contract with River Forest Firefighters Local 2391 expires in 2027 and the contract with Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, which represents the public works employees, expired in 2028.
MATT WALSH
Property developer Greg Sorg is pondering what’s next at 7 La ke St.
By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter
At their meeting on Tuesday, March 24, Oak Park’s president and trustees consented to the 7 Lake St. building being used as a drive-through coffee shop. It’s a transformation for the property that owner and developer Greg Sorg purchased in 2015. Initially, his plan was to continue operating the long existing Minit Car Wash.
“We just were bleeding money,” Sorg said.
He shut the operation down and started searching for a new tenant. One possibility was a distillery. Another was a coffee shop. Sorg’s goal was to increase the foot traffic and the business community at the east end of Lake Street, but years passed.
Sorg also owns the building next door at the southwest corner of Lake and Austin, the home of One Lake Brewing. When it came time to renew their five-year lease, he also took stock of the 7 Lake St. building that was sitting empty and unused.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s been 5 years.’ I was like, I’m the problem,” he said. “Me holding out for someone else to fill the space has unintentionally challenged One Lake and not helped fulfill my goal for the block.”
With no tenants for thcoming, Sorg started to imagine what he’d like to see in the space, which has a bow truss roof and therefore is an open wall-to-wall space.
“The goal is to get something vibrant,” he said. His idea: in the a.m. hours operate a drive-through cof-
Drive-thru co ee on Lake? BREAKING
Greg Sorg in front of 7 Lake St reet
fee shop, literally driving through the building, using the overhead doors on Lake Street and North Boulevard.
“[Customers] can come in and just drive through and grab it and go,” he said. “And it’s going to be good quality coffee. And then after that, this would become a more open space. You could have a stage for entertainment and nighttime stuf f. You could have tables. It could almost be kind of like a food court or dining hall sort of area. I’m still toying with the idea of, like, pets. You could almost have like a dog
park, like mini dog park in here.”
Sorg’s plan doesn’t include building out a full kitchen. He’s talking with One Lake Brewing about a collaboration. There are other ideas floating around in his mind.
“It’s not just a coffee place,” he said. “I think it’ll be a cool space. We’ll leave it all open. It’ll be nice and bright. We just gotta figure out exactly. It’ll be a little bit of a destination, hopefully, and that hangout component. I think we’ll come up with something good.”
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
YourBestLife
ThisSpring YOUR BEST LIFE withLisaCapone
Oak Park bank’s ATM robbed of over $55,000
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
Your Best Life This Spring with t Lisa Capone
Oak Park police are investigating an incident in which a group of robbers stole tens ofthousands of dollars by targeting a local bank while a staffer was doing maintenance on an ATM.
Shots red incident
Oak Park police are also investigating after re ports ofa late-night shots fired incident on the village’s eastern edge last week.
Police arrested the 28-year-old on charges ofdriving under the influence in the 1100 block of South Kenilworth Avenue shortly before 10 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, according to police.
As the days grow longer and the air turns warmer, spring is the perfect time for seniors to refresh their routines and refocus on overall wellness This season brings renewed energ y, blooming surroundings, and new opportuni ties to stay active, social, and engaged. Taking a proactive approach to wellness can support your well-being and help you feel your best and enjoy all that spring has to offer
An employee at the Chase bank location in the 900 block ofMadison Street was servicing an ATM with the machine’s door open when three men stepped out of a new white Nissan Ro gue with paper re gistration and removed five ATM cassettes containing stacks of cash. The suspects then fled south in the Nissan on Clinton Avenue, according to police.
The suspects re por tedly made of f with $55,568 in cash, according to police.
Police believe that a man stepped outside the passenger side ofa sedan in the first block of Harvard Street and fired several shots into the air just after 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday March 25, before fleeing east into Chicago, according to police.
Police recovered four shell casings at the scene.
DUI arrest
Oak Park police arrested a Chicago man for driving under the influence in the village last week.
These items were obtained from Oak Park’s Police Department re ports dated March 24–30 and re present a portion ofthe incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases ha ve not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race ofa suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed a description ofthe suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
Spend time outdoors to enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and the beauty of the season
By embracing these simple habi ts, you can make the most of the season while supporting your health and vi tali ty. Spring is a time of renewal making i t the perfect opportuni ty to reset, refresh, and continue living your best life ever y day.
The cause ofthe fire that bur ned down a derelict apar tment building in Oak Park last month is still under investigation, village of ficials said this week.
Visit Cantata org for more senior living advice or call 708) 387-1030.
The three-story apar tment building at the intersection ofNorth and Taylor avenues bur ned for more than 10 hours beginning the evening of Feb. 17. The major fire came after years ofdocumented Oak Park fire code violations and other health and safety issues as the village tried over multiple lawsuits to hold building management accountable through the county court system.
A two-day investigation by the Oak Park Fire Department, Illinois Fire Marshal and the federal Bureau ofAlcohol, Firearms, Tabacco and Explosives into the fire has not identified what specifically started the blaze, according to the village.
“The cause ofthe fire has been classified as ‘undetermined,’ and the investigation remains open pending further technical
analysis,” the village said in a statement. “The building had been vacant and secured prior to the incident, with gas and most electrical services inactive. Investigators noted that a circuit serving first-floor public lighting and emergency systems remained active and was found in a tripped position following the fire.”
“The fire’s rapid and extensive spread has been attributed to a critical structural feature: an open, unrated central staircase that acted as a vertical flue, channeling fire from the first floor up through to the roof. The early burn through ofa for mer skylight above the staircase further accelerated this effect, ultimately resulting in the complete loss of the roof assembly and severe damage across all three floors ofthe building.”
A K-9 investigative unit had been brought in to look for evidence of arson, the village said.
“An accelerant-detection K-9 was deployed on both days ofthe investigation and gave no alerts for the presence ofignitable liquids,” the village said. “Despite a
Oak Park police and other village officials had only cleared and sealed of f the building two weeks before it bur ned down. Building owner Sameer Chhabria told Wednesday Journal last month that persistent squatting at the property had been to blame for much ofthe financial and property standards issues that plagued the building.
“It got out of hand,” he said.
Re pair crews had been on site the day of the fire, he said.
Investigators found evidence that someone had gained entry to the building through a window before the fire.
“A window in the apar tment nearest to the origin ofthe fire was found to be breached prior to the arrival offire crews,” the village said.
Legal records related to the village’s inspections ofthe property paint a picture of blatant safety violations and squalid conditions that fly in the face ofOak Park’s re putation for idyllic suburban living. Safety violations found at the property before the fire included leaking sewage, exposed wiring, open electrical boxes, an unmaintained water boiler and an exterior door that couldn’t be locked and allowed free access to the building.
Chhabria owed at least $40,000 in village fines in connection with code violations at the property, according to a February filing by Oak Park attorneys.
A Place for Families, A Place for All 924 Lake St. Oak Park, IL graceoakpark.org
EasterSunday------April5,10:30AM
Great Vigil------------April 4, 7:30PM
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Easter Sunday------April 5, 10:30AM
9:30a.m.and11:00a.m.|St.LukeMass Easterblessingsfrom JOIN US for Holy Week Worship Services
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Egg Hunt Following Easter Service
March 29-Palm Sunday 10:30 April 3-Good Friday 7;00 April 5-Potluck/Egg Hunt-9:30 April 5- Easter Sunday –10:30
Easter Day, Sunday, April 5th
8 am•Rite I Spoken Eucharist 9:30 am•Rite III Wiggle Worship 11 am•Rite II Choral Eucharist
Easter egg hunts after the 9:30 and 11:00 services!
THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES OF OAK PARK
Holy Week and Easter Sunday 2026
* On Holy Saturday, 4:30 PM Mass at St. Giles and 5:00 PM Mass at St. Edmund will NOT be celebrated.
** On Easter Sunday, the Catholic Communities of Oak Park Sunday Night Mass at St. Edmund will NOT be celebrated.
ASCENSION and ST. EDMUND PARISH
HOLY THURSDAY APRIL 2
7:30 PM Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Ascension Chiurch
11:45 PM Night Prayer, Ascension Church
GOOD FRIDAY APRIL 3
9:00 AM Morning Prayer, Ascension Church
12:00 PM Family Prayers around the Cross, St. Edmund Church
3:00 PM Taizé Prayer around the Cross, Ascension Church
7:30 PM Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, St. Edmund Church
HOLY SATURDAY* APRIL 4
9:00 AM Morning Prayer, Ascension Church
11:00 AM Blessing of Easter Foods, St. Edmund, Murphy Hall
7:30 PM Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter, St. Giles Church
EASTER SUNDAY** APRIL5
8:00 AM Easter Sunday Mass, Ascension Church
9:15 AM Easter Sunday Mass, St. Edmund Church
10:30 AM Easter Sunday Mass, Ascension Church
11:00 AM Easter Sunday Mass, St. Edmund Church
ST. CATHERINE of SIENA–ST. LUCY and ST. GILES PARISH
HOLY THURSDAY APRIL 2
8:30 AM Morning Prayer, St. Giles Church
7:30 PM Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, St. Giles Church Adoration until midnight
11:45 PM Night Prayer, St. Giles Church
GOOD FRIDAY APRIL 3
8:30 AM Morning Prayer, St. Giles Church
3:00 PM Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, St. Giles Church
7:30 PM Living Stations of the Cross, St. Giles Church
7:30 PM Family Mass Community Good Friday
Prayer Service with Silent Passion, St. Giles School Gym
HOLY SATURDAY* APRIL 4
8:30 AM Morning Prayer, St. Giles Church
11:00 AM Blessing of Easter Foods, St. Giles Church
7:30 PM Easter Vigil in the Holy Night of Easter, St. Giles Church
EASTER SUNDAY** APRIL5
6:00 AM Easter Sunday Sunrise Mass, St. Giles Courtyard (in the courtyard, weather permitting; otherwise in the Church)
8:00 AM Easter Sunday Mass, St. Giles Church
10:00 AM Easter Sunday Family Mass Community–Mass, St. Giles School Gym
10:30 AM Easter Sunday Mass, St. Giles Church
D97 CUTS
from page 5
“I have dedicated over 20 years to serving the students, staf f, and families of District 97, and I am incredibly proud of the work we have done together to support strong systems, equity-centered practices, and a positive experience for our community,” Boose said in a statement emailed to Wednesday Journal.
“While I am currently reviewing the board’s recent action and have not yet received full documentation re garding the decision, my focus remains on maintaining professionalism and honoring the work and relationships I have built throughout my time in the district.
“I have always approached my role with inte g rity, and I remain deeply committed to the values of equity and service that have guided my work.”
De Leon did not reply to an email requesting comment on the board’s action to eliminate his position.
student ratio slightly above the state average at one administrator for every 134 students compared to the state average of one administrator for every 136 students. River Forest District 90, a much smaller district, has an administrator to student ratio of one administrator for every 146 students District 97 is also cutting teachers as it plans to reduce its teaching staf f by 23.5 positions for the next school year. At the March 24 meeting the school board also voted 6-0 to lay of f eight teachers in what is called a reduction in force. Some of these teachers may be recalled as the new school year approaches if circumstances necessitate that.
RIFs are common in many school districts although District 97 had not RIF’ed any teachers in more than a decade. All teachers who are RIF’ed are “honorably discharged” and are eligible to be rehired according to provisions outlined in the state school code
“Teachers are placed into groups based on performance evaluation ratings and seniority (length of service as part of the Oak Park Teachers’ Association). This information is used to determine which staf f might be subject to a RI F,” Siegfried said in an email.
Another administrator hired by Shah in 2023, Luis Rodriguez, named to a newly created position of chief le gal and equity officer, resigned from his position last October shorty after Shah abruptly resigned in August just before the start of the school year Rodriguez, a lawyer, has not been replaced. It is unusual for a school district the size of District 97 to have an attorney on staf f.
“The process helps ensure that staf fing decisions are consistent, transparent, and based on state law and collective bargaining ag reements — not individual preference. If positions later become available, qualified staf f who were honorably dismissed may be of fered those positions through a recall process, typically in reverse order of dismissal.”
The “honorable discharge” of De Leon and Boose came shortly after for mer cointerim superintendent Grif f Powell completed evaluations of all District 97 central of fice staf f. They also come as new superintendent Ter ri Bresnahan prepares to take over on July 1 and as the district’s financial position going forward is worsening
“The administrative changes are part of the same annual staffing plan process,” said Amanda Siegfried, the district’s spokesperson. “In addition to aligning staffing with enrollment and programming, the district also reviews its leadership structure to ensure it reflects current priorities and how we best support schools. These decisions were made as part of that broader organizational review.”
Eliminating the positions of De Leon and Boose will save the district nearly $300,000 annually. De Leon is making $177,108 this year while Boose is making $112,875 plus an additional $15,000 stipend to serve as board secretary.
According to the Illinois School Report Card District 97 has an administrator to
School board president Cheree Moore said all the discharges were hard decisions.
“These decisions are about aligning the staffing,” Moore said before the personnel votes at the March 24 school board meeting. “And so it’s very common amongst districts, it’s the first time we’ve done it in many, many years, though we try to have most of this happen through attrition, we had to make decisions based on enrollment and a lot of the data that we had in order to support the district. Just wanted to share that these decisions are never taken lightly, it’s always a complicated, hard discussion.”
District 97 hopes to ultimately cut as many as 23.5 teaching positions to bring its staffing in line with somewhat lower enrollment and curriculum changes.
Next year the district is projecting five fewer class sections at its elementary schools. Schools that are projected to lose at least one grade level section are Mann, Holmes, Lincoln and Irving.
SMALL BITES
It’s April. Can outdoor dining be far o ?
Publican Bread makes plans for the great outdoors
Asparagus, rhubar lettuces are pushing their way toward the sun through Illinois soil, then towards the end of the month the crowning achievement of spring (in my opinion): strawberrie Far mers market openings are still a month away, but mouths are watering now.
While you are dreaming of the return of dining al fresco, make a mental note that Publican Quality Bread, 211 Harrison St. in Oak Park, has received the consent of the Oak Park president and board of trustees to use the alley just west of their location for open-air dining from May 4 – Oct. 31.
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
The landlord for 3 Fold a bakery, 401 South Blvd. in Oak Park, is asking the zoning board for permission to use nearby parking spaces for outdoor dining as well.
News broke recently about Chicago’s Half Acre and Maplewood breweries combining forces. The merger is meant to help weather changes in an oversaturated craft brewing industry. Locally Casa Humilde
Kinslahger Brewing Company, 6806 Roosoad in Oak Park, is celebrating 10 years. Back Steve Loranz, Neal Armstrong and Keith Huizinga followed their dreams. They threw an anniversary ty on March 10, but the celebration continues. They currently are pouring a special beer called “Ein beer 10.5” to commemorate not only 10 years in business, but also five years of brewing the house beer for Babygold BBQ.
“I like to think of the beer as a special one-time variant of Babygold ColdBeer,” owner Keith Huizinga said. “It’s a little stronger. It’s a little maltier and it’s dry hopped with a variety called Loral that brings a wonderful floral aroma to
We hope you’ll come visit us in the taproom. These stools don’t get them-
Taproom
Cerveceria & Cocina, 7700 Madison St. in Forest Park, closed on March 1. Funkytown Brewery, which recently received a grant to open their own brewery and restaurant at 1923-29 W. Lake St. in Chicago, says that its plans are still on track.
Blackberry with other locations in Glen Ellyn, La Grange, Naperville and Oak Brook, has signed a lease to move into the for mer Buzz Café space at 905 S. Lombard in Oak Park. Lots of internet buzz from customers excited to have an outpost nearby.
Not exactly food news, but I consider movie theater popcorn to be an essential nutrient. The Lake Theatre, 1022 Lake St.
in Oak Park, is celebrating its 90 years in business on April 22 at 12:30 p.m. You get birthday cake from Sugar Fixé.
Want to write for Eats? We are looking for food-oriented, word-loving writers to help cover the tasty happenings in Aus-
tin, Brookfield, Forest Park, Oak Park, and Riverside. Email us at the address below to find out more.
Got news, questions or ideas for this column? Email them to us at Eats@oakparkeats.com.
Kinslahger
Harmon said the state Democratic ticket needed more versity.
In a tele Croke said that she totally understood Harmon supported league and said there and that the two general election campaign and bey “I get it because it running, I mean he’s got to suppo bers of his caucus first and Croke said. “I think that also sets a really important precedent that when, you kno a member of his caucus decides to run higher office that he’s going to suppo them. But I’ tor Harmon.
someone I really respect, someone that I hold in about making sure we work together, that I’m back out at the Democratic Party of Oak Park, like next month. He knows that
and River Forest High School before heading off to the University of Michigan. Her parents, Bill Cox and Mary Noble, recently
University of Michigan Croke, who was then thinking of attending law school, got a job as a project assistant at the prestigious law firm of Sidley Austin. That’s where she really learned about politics and met her husband Patrick Croke who had worked as a lawyer for the Obama presidential campaign.
After a year at Sidley Austin, Croke starting working in politics first with a program aimed at getting women involved in politics alled Off the Sidelines. She then worked on the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential ampaign and then for then Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel. In 2017 she worked on Pritzker’s first campaign for gover nor and stayed through the election. After the election Croke worked for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity until being elected State Rep in 2020.
In the November general election Croke will face Republican Bryan Drew. For now she is reflecting on her victory and reintroducing herself to her children.
ested in politics after being involved in mock trial at OPRF under for mer OPRF teacher Michael Soffer. After graduating from the
“I’m really honored that so many people are putting their trust in me to represent them in the state of Illinois,” Croke said. “While it is a moment of celebration I have a fire in me to make sure that one, I obviously win the general (election), but then, if I am successful in the general, to do the job well.”
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COURTESY OF DEMOCRATIC PA RT Y OF OAK PA Rk
Margaret Croke addresses an audience at the Democratic Party of Oak Park HQ
NO KINGS
Largest rally ye from page 1
Kings” protest was one of more than 30 interconnected demonstrations in the Chicago area and one of roughly 3,000 nationwide on Saturday, March 28, according to protest organizers
There have been several Trump demonstrations on La the president took office last y Illinois Senate President Don Harmon was among the crowd on the sunny Satur day morning. Harmon spoke to Journal while standing a few Oak Park Village President Vi
“I wish we had more tools to tackle these problems but in the interim, this is what we need to do,” said Harmon. “There’s such a long list of grievances and threats to our democracy. What I’ve sensed today though is a sense of community, that being together with people who’re similarly situated really does help the soul. I’ve seen more smiles than you’d expect, just because people are with each other and fighting the fight.”
Some protesters said that participating in the march was an uplifting experience that made them feel less isolated.
“We need our democracy back,” said Scarlett Evans of Chicago, who came to the protest with a friend from church. “We have to fight to get it back, everybody has to come out and show that it’s very important.”
The crowd in the village often straddled a line between Midwestern friendliness and deep feelings of political rage and dread, as Oak Parkers smiled and waved at neighbors while holding signs comparing the president and his allies to the leaders of Nazi Germany.
Frank, an Oak Park resident who wished to remain anonymous, said that outrage over ICE’s local deportation efforts and Trump’s push for a bill that would require proof of citizenship in order to vote were among the issues that brought him to the protest. He
carried a sign that read “Nuremberg Reckoning,” a reference to the Nuremberg military tribunals held for Nazi leadership after World War II.
“There needs to be a reckoning for the crimes that are happening now,” he said. “ICE are no different than the Brown shirts, or the slave catchers. They and the rest of the Trump administration need to be held accountable.”
Naomi, another Oak Parker at the protest who wished to remain anonymous, said her life’s work had been directly impacted by
the president taking office. A counselor for a domestic violence support organization, she said she’d seen federal funding cuts and fear of deportation make it more difficult for her group to serve people impacted by domestic violence in the area.
Worse still, Trump’s presidency has normalized abuse, she said.
“I recognize abusers and Trump is one of them, he has the textbook qualities of an abuser and he represents the things we want to end,” she said, while holding a sign referencing Trump’s ties to Epstein.
TODD BANNOR
Rev. Abby Holcombe of River Forest United Methodist Church rallies the crowd.
TODD BANNOR
A sea of signs
TODD BANNOR
Marching down Lake St reet
TODD BANNOR
e Oak Park Raging Grannies at the No Kings III protest in Scov ille Park
NEED
email: dhaley@newswellchicago.org
Just call him the ‘door man’
With second career as a furniture re nisher, Lyle Zimbler is restoring Oak Park one door at a time
By LACEY SIKORA Real Estate Reporter
In 2017, Lyle Zimbler was a hobbyist woodworker when his wife’s response to a Facebook post on Oak Park Working Moms provided an outlet to a new career. A woman posted looking for recommendations for table refinishing, and Betsy Zimbler recommended her husband
After landing his first paying job with the help of Facebook and Betsy, he got to work rebuilding the table. He recalls, “After I rebuilt the base, I called the owners to talk about the stain color for the top, and discovered the wife grew up in our house on Home Avenue, which was a neat connection. It sent a flare up in my head: this is a legitimate thing that I can do.”
Those moments of connection between customers and their wood furniture and doors that need refinishing has been keeping Zimbler going for almost 10 years, through two moves, both within Oak Park and to the family’s last landing spot in South Bend.
“What’s cool is seeing people’s jobs -- whether it’s a door or table – come back to life. One customer, her dad was at her house when we delivered the table, and it was his dad’s table. T here were tears flowing. T he history of the project tells the connection story of the family.”
moved the studio for Zimbler Furniture Refinishing to South Bend, Zimbler is back in Oak Park regularly. He and Betsy lived in Oak Park for over 25 years, raising their two kids in town.
Today, he makes re gular house calls to Oak Park and River Forest to pick up interior doors and furniture to refinish in his South Bend studio. During the warmer months, he refinishes exterior doors onsite.
It’s a multi-step process: he takes the door of f, refinishes and re pairs it, then rehangs the door. He comes back the second day for a coat of stain and a third day to finish the process.
Working on doors gives him a good amount of job satisfaction. “It’s about not wanting to see a good piece of wood go into the dumpster These doors and other pieces were geared to last, unlike today’s stuff which is made of veneer and cheaper materials.”
His website: https://www.zimblerfurniturerefinishing.com/ has a page of testimonials of pleased customers, one of whom touts the historic preservation principles behind refinishing doors rather than buying new.
Zimbler has been helping Oak Park Realtor Laura Maychruk by refinishing all of the
More than just a door
interior doors on her new home, which she details in her You Tube series: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=jHE3WkCrjrI
Zimbler has finished 12 of Maychruk’s 20 original doors, and due to a stroke of luck, narrowly avoided disaster. Last fall, the garage that Zimbler used for a studio caught on fire. He was able to save Maychruk’s doors, but the garage was a total loss. He’s since procured a commercial space for his refinishing work and says he and his loyal doodle Molly can be found there most days working on projects
Proving the power of a good teacher, Zimbler credits his junior high shop teacher with his love of woodworking. “Mr. Nelson at East Prairie in Skokie really taught me He praised my work, and it sunk in my head Later, I took some classes in Chicago, and some of this is self-taught.”
Once the business started building up, he says it really became about how much equipment he could buy without it taking over his house. Along the way, Betsy has been his biggest cheerleader, but he notes, she prefers not to ride in his car anymore due to all the
wood dust.
Zimbler sees his side career as something he will continue even as he and Betsy plan their empty nest years around a new RV purchase and trips with Molly.
He calls woodworking a good retirement job and says, “I love meeting people and hearing their stories. I love seeing items come back to life. When I first started, people thought this was a niche business, but to me, the real headline is that people from Oak Park and River Forest really care about their old houses.”
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.
Call Viewpoints editor
Ken Trainor at 613-3310
Email: ktrainor@newswellchicago.org
Loss vs oppor tunity
IVIEWPOINTS
grew up right next to Boston. That means I’m a Boston Celtics fan. Lifelong
Last year, Celtics star player Jayson Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon during a playoff game. This was a devastating injury, for Tatum and for the whole team. At the time, it was unknown whether Tatum would even get to play at all this year.
MARC BLESOFF
Three weeks ago, Tatum’s status was upgraded, putting him in position to make his season debut. How he would be able to perform was a different question. My Boston friend Marty immediately texted, “Great news. Let’s hope he doesn’t re-injure himself.” Then mutual friend Frank texted, “Agree I’m worried.”
My text response was, “AND, let’s picture a big smile on his face whenever he takes the floor and at the end of the game because of an impressive and joyous experience.”
Loss vs. Opportunity. Glass half empty or glass half full? Actually, it’s both at the same time
Can our attitude impact our getting old? Science says Yes. Last week I read a CNN website headline, “When It Comes To Aging Well, Attitude Is Everything.” The article went on to say that despite the stereotype that the body and brain automatically decline as people get older, research shows that almost 50% of people improve with age. This fact is documented in the new study by Yale’s Dr. Becca Levy, published this month in the journal Geriatrics. The study followed more than 11,000 oldsters for about a decade. Dr. Levy points to long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad, who, on her fourth try, finally succeeded in making a 53-hour, 110-mile, world-record swim from Cuba to Florida at the age of 64.
The secret isn’t a special supplement or a complicated diet. What seems to really matter is a positive attitude about aging. Three or four years ago I might have thought that’s an overstatement. That was my first reaction to the subtitle of Dr. Levy’s book Breaking The Age Code - How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long & How Well You Live. After reading her book and working with Dr. Levy for the past two years, I’m now a firm believer
It’s not genetics, it’s attitude. And it’s true there are things we cannot control — life is change and the changes can be difficult, sometimes very difficult. At the same time, people who believe that aging is both loss and possibility live an average of 7½ years longer and are less likely to manifest dementia than people who believe life peaks in middle age and then it’s all downhill after that.
Most all of us have learned throughout our lives that old is bad, young is good. Nursery rhymes, movies, advertisements, birthday cards — old people are frail, over-the-hill and invisible. We’re taught to apologize for being old and to feel ashamed for being alive. As I wrote recently, it’s OK to wear glasses or hearing aids, but if you use a cane or have gray hair or wrinkles, then you appear to be damaged goods.
It’s not too late to change our attitudes about getting old — and that change will help us to live better and live longer. Also, we have a responsibility to change our beliefs about aging so we can start helping the next generations, so we can be role models and so we can live our legacy, not just leave our legacy.
With the closing of The Book Table in January 2025 after 22 years, many in Oak Park were deeply saddened. Fortunately, two independent bookstores have recently opened: The Book Loft at 1047 Lake St., www thebookloftoakpark.com, is located in part of The Book Table’s for mer storefront, and the Dandelion Bookshop at 139 S. Oak Park Ave., www.dandelionbookshop com.
When I walked into The Book Loft, I was impressed with how artfully the space was decorated. It turns out that co-owner, Sophie Schauer Eldred, is an experienced interior designer. She opened the store in August 2025 with her best friend, Heather Nelson, who worked in travel and hospitality for many years. These Oak Parkers told me they are “110% about customer service and creating a space for discovery with a welcoming, elevated and safe space to do it in.”
The Book Loft has a children’s area with white bookshelves and kids’ furniture and an adult sec-
tion with dark wooden bookshelves There are comfortable armchairs and books displayed on wooden tables and shelves throughout the store.
Since this column is called “Favorite Things,” I asked Sophie and Heather about their favorite things about The Book Loft. They told me, “Our customers, whether a local resident or someone from out of town, we love meeting them and hearing what’s special to them about reading or a favorite author or just what’s happening in their life. We love our business neighbors and the welcoming support and collaboration so many of them have shared with us. And lastly, we continue to learn: learn about the book industry and learn about the diverse requests of our community.”
Dandelion Bookshop opened in January 2025. The owners are Oak Parkers Jamie and Kurt Erikson and their “Junior Manager and Book Tester,” 10-year-old son Teddy. Jamie is a former copy editor for Restoration
A change on our editorial page
Well, here’s a change at Wednesday Journal that we’ve talked about for a couple of years and is now going to happen as we’ve moved into the NEWSWELL orbit. After 45 years, we’re ending the practice of running unsigned editorials on this page. Those editorials have really been one of our defining missions from the start. Our goal back in 1980 was to create a ly and civil soapbox for Oak Park and rest to debate and congratulate, argue and persuade. The conversasaw it, started with a clearly rded local editorial. Always about a local matter, always with a clear point of And then we opened the pages to eryone in town.
succeeded. To this day the Journal runs more reader letters, One Views and local columnists than any other community paper I’ve ever seen. It is a big point pride for all of us and a key point of engagement both in print and digitally. er those decades a fair number of people have taken a turn writing the editorials in the Journal and in our Forest Park Review and Riverside-Brookfield Landmark. When we were a bigger newsroom there was a more legitimate editorial board that conferred on Monday mor nings about topics and positions we’d take up.
There was a “we.”
In recent years though as our staf f became smaller, writing the editorials has come back to me. And while over the decades we’ve never ke pt it a secret who was writing the edits at that moment in time, we did stand behind the tradition of the institutional “we.”
But no more.
It is a worthy conceit that no longer adds value.
And so instead of “we” our edit page is reverting back to “me.” Going forward my resurrected column will appear in this space. It will stick to local issues. You won’t walk away wondering what I was trying to say, as the goal is to be plain spoken. It’ll be somewhat more personal, as a column ought to be.
For instance, the “institutional we” never found a way to mention it had become a grandfather for the first time and that life was ever changed and made better. Dear Nayeli’s name is certain to turn up from time to time.
Mainly though I’ll write about the issues our strong reporters are taking up, topics I hear about in the neighborhood, issues I think need driving into the conversation. And while these columns won’t re present the views of the newspaper as an institution, they will offer the context of a fellow who has been immersed in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park for decades, who loves these villages and still sees the war ts and blind spots And when you disagree, then write us a letter.
The conversation continues.
Last Saturday’s “No Kings” rally was the best yet, the first ing following a long winter. It was deeply gratifying to see so many people who still care about this country and what it stands for, which was splashed all ov protest signs:
“Law is King, Trump is Not”
“What a Faux-King Joke”
“No Kings in America Since 1776”
“America Means No Kings”
“Here’s the Thing: No King
“Fire the Mad King”
His crowning hievements
Claiming to Be Christians (whom esus would have cast out of the temple).
he King of Unintended TragiComic Consequences (no sense of , doesn’t get the joke, even on pril Fools’ Day).
TRAINOR
“No Crown for the Orange Clown”
“People Rise, ICE Melts, Kings Fall”
“We Want No King, No War, No More”
“No King No, Hey Chicago, Whadda Ya Say, Trump Has Got to Go Today” (sung with gusto by a cluster of Cubs fans with a nod to the late, great Steve Goodman, who would have had a thing or two to say, or sing, about Donald Wannabe)
And the one that really caught my eye: “King of Lies, Greed, Cruelty, Incompetence” which sparked a revelation: Trump really is King. In so many ways
He’s the King of Tantrums, of Treason, of Insur rection.
The King of Infantile Behavior and No Impulse Control.
The King of Thieves, Bribery, Braggadacio, Historical Ignorance.
AND THE KING OF ALL CAPS!!!
Trump is, indeed and in deeds, the King of Cruelty, Resentment, Massive Insecurity, Payback.
The King of Conniving, Weaseling, Exploitation, Bullying, Ruthlessness, Shamelessness. The King of Stalling, Litigation and Lawsuits, Sexual Assault, Unbridled Exaggeration.
He’s the King of Liars and Corrupt Lawyers and Unjust Judges, the King of Naming Rights (and Wrongs), the King of Bankruptcy (Financial, Intellectual, Emotional, and Moral).
The King of Queens (Beauty Pageant variety and Borough of New York, where he never “g rew up” and probably couldn’t be elected do g-catcher).
Trump is the King of MAGA (Many A Groveling Asswipe) Billionaires. And MAGA (Monstrous Adults Groping Adolescents). And MAGA (Making America Greedy Ag ain).
He is King of the Run-on Sentence and Overlong Incoherent Oratory, the King of Hypocrites
King of the Inconsolable and Disuntled, of Dictator Jock Snif fers, KKK, Bir thers, Flat-Ear thers, John s, Luddites, America-First Isolationists, Re placement Theorists, Border Closers, White Supremacists, New Secessionists, Survivalists, Q Anon Conspiracists, Alt-Right Wing Nuts
King of Monarchists, Elon Muskivites, Apocalyptics, Miso gynistics, Seditionists, Transphobes, Same-Sex Hysterics.
He’s the King of Darkness, the King of Nihilism, the King of Making it Up, the King of Patriarchy, the King of Put-Downs (and kicking people when they’re down), the King of Humiliation, the King of Feathering his Nest at Others’ Expense.
The King of Power with No Responsibility, No Accountability, and above all, Above the Law.
The King of Uncontrolled Burns and ScorchedEar th Politics, Non-Creative Destruction, Constitutional Destitution with No Restitution.
The King of Id, Bloated Ego and no trace of Supere go (imagine Freud’s field day).
He’s the King of Evasion (truth, taxes, criminal investigations, paying his bills).
The King of Long Ties and Tiny … Humanity. King Kong Ding Dong with Fay Wray wrapped in his grimy mitt. He’s King of the KKKK (Krazy Klown Kar Kabinet).
King of Sedition and Duty Dereliction, the Oath-Free King, the King of Executive Orders and Declaring War.
King of Radioactive Reactivity, Power-Tripping and Blown Fuses.
The Anti-Mar tin Luther King.
He’s the Re g al Eagle of the Ille g al, 34 felonies and counting, and all things Dishuman, King of the Lesser Angels of our Nature.
Donald J. (Jackass?) Trump the Second (time around), Self-Obsessed, Self-Aggrandizing, SelfApplauding, Self-Pardoning, Self-Crowned King of Renown, Self-Ordained Pain in the Patoot, Self-Incriminating King for Life (unless we find a way to dethrone him).
Or as one of the signs last Saturday so pithily put it (above a photo of a different kind of throne):
“Royal Flush.”
SHRUB TO WN
by Marc Stopeck
‘Concern’ about West Sub is not enough
The sudden closure of West Suburban Medical Center is being discussed largely as a billing system failure. That description is incomplete. Technology failures do not close hospitals by themselves. Leadership failures do If a hospital’s revenue stream was disrupted for months because of billing problems severe enough to threaten operations, that raises obvious questions about executive oversight, internal controls, and contingency planning. These are not technical questions. These are gover nance questions. At some point the issue stops being about software and is about leadership responsibility.
That is why the public discussion must include the role of hospital leadership, including CEO Manoj Prasad and the broader management structure responsible for ensuring operational stability at a critical safety-net institution. Communities can withstand operational problems. What they cannot withstand is the absence of visible, proactive leadership when problems emerge.
I was particularly struck by State Senator Don Harmon’s comments expressing sur prise at the announcement. Respectfully, when problems are described as longstanding or well documented, surprise should not be the reaction. Urgency should be. The more troubling issue is not that elected officials expressed concern after the fact,
but whether suf ficient scrutiny and eng agement existed before the situation reached a breaking point.
The public response from local and state officials has emphasized concern and the seriousness of the situation. That concer n is appropriate. But concern alone is not leadership. Concern with a lack of urgency risks becoming commentary rather than action.
Moments like this call for visible urgency, hard questions, and clear accountability. When a major health-care provider serving vulnerable populations closes abruptly, the response should include immediate demands for operational transparency, review of re gulatory oversight, and clear explanations of how warning signs were addressed. These are not unreasonable expectations. They are the basic responsibilities of public leadership. This is not simply about one hospital. It is about whether our institutions are being monitored closely enough to prevent predictable crises. Oak Park and the surrounding communities deserve more than expressions of concer n after the fact. They deserve leadership that treats institutional warning signs with the urgency they require before they become emerg encies.
Concern is necessary. But it is not sufficient.
Robert Milstein Oak Park
WEDNESD AY
of Oak Park and River Forest
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Adduci responds to questions
Dear River Forest residents,
The Madison-Ashland development is very important to the entire River Forest Village Board. The village board has spent time carefully evaluating and considering what would be a good fit for this site. The village board unanimously agreed to move forward with Five Thirty-One Partners to begin the application and planned development process
Phyllis Rubin wrote an op-ed titled, “A troubling developer” [Viewpoints, March 25] and made assertions that I must respectfully address:
The developer for the Madison and Ashland site was chosen to proceed to the application process by the full board.
Yes, I support the board’s decision to proceed with this developer. But I did not do this alone or in isolation. Additionally, the developer selection process was guided by globallyrespected real estate services firm, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), with finalists vetted by Ryan Group LLC. This is their day job, which they have done for myriad communities and development projects
The involvement by Mr. Jakovljevic as an investor in the Cigar Oasis issue was a concern for some trustees who wanted further discussion of this issue.
I respected their concern and requested further information from Mr. Jakovljevic; and, as
village president, I asked the proposed Madison and Ashland developer to come before our board to directly address trustees’ questions. Nobody who served on the board in 2019 and continues to serve now “conveniently forgot” anything. To the contrary, to promote full transparency, Mr. Jakovljevic was invited to be responsive to the issues and concerns that had been raised and quickly agreed to attend out of respect for the trustees and residents
The village is doing everything it can to ensure that questions which have been raised about the proposed developer and their plans for the Madison and Ashland site — at the three Open Houses, Neighbor Meeting, online and through other means — are fully addressed Answers to questions raised by residents may be found at (https://www vrf us/uploads/ cms/documents/guides/madison_faq_march_2026.pdf ). These are constantly being updated as new questions arise, and so we encourage residents to check out this online resource throughout the proposed development review process
Please continue to share your questions This will allow us to be transparent with our community and ensure that the proposed development at Madison and Ashland is high quality and successful.
Cathy Adduci River Forest Village President
Police-stop data demands more
How suspicion is defined and applied in Oak Park: Is living while Black considered suspicious in Oak Park? The 2025 Field Contact Card re port raises that question in ways local officials should address directly.
Oak Park police recorded 569 field contact stops in 2025. Roughly 74% of the individuals stopped were Black. The re port also shows that only 101 of those encounters led to arrests. That means more than 82% of stops produced no arrest.
That fact alone does not prove the stops were unjustified. But it raises an obvious question the re port does not answer: What tri ggered these stops, and did they make Oak Park any safer?
The re port provides little context. It does not clearly explain what behaviors led to the stops, how “suspicious” is defined, or what outcomes these encounters produced beyond arrests. Suspicion is not a crime. It is a judgment. Yet in Oak Park, that judgment remains undefined for the public Standing on a corner, sitting in a parked car, or walking through a neighborhood more than once can all be interpreted as suspicious, depend-
Strongest choice for Ashland-Madison
There have been questions raised about 531 Par tners and their qualifications to develop the Madison and Ashland property in River Forest. At this time, I believe 531 Par tners is the strongest choice to develop the property based on information gleaned from the developer selection process used by the village of River Forest (VRF) in combination with the ongoing VRF Planned Development Process
This conclusion is infor med by discussion in executive session about the seven proposals received, the two finalist presentations to the village board, site visits to properties built by the two finalists, attendance at a Community Open House, review of the exterior of a 531 Par tners building in Galewood, and their initial presentation to the Development Review Board.
Several factors shape this perspective:
• Construction quality. 531 Par tners uses a “brick on block” masonry approach, which produces durable, long-lasting
buildings. While more expensive than alternative methods, it offers clear benefits: structural longevity, reduced noise transfer, and enhanced resident privacy
This reflects a commitment to quality that aligns with the long-term interests of the village.
• Thoughtful design and problem-solving. Their discourse revealed a penchant for innovative thinking, including an approach to building the underground stor m water system and construction methods designed to minimize disruption to neighbors. Design choices — such as placing the rooftop deck along Madison and situating larger units on Ashland — reflect an effort to balance tenant and neighborhood needs.
• Landscaping. Observations of two completed projects show the incorporation of ve getation in ways that both enhance aesthetics and buffer residents from surrounding activity.
• Financing approach. 531 Partners’ plan
ing on who makes the judgment. When suspicion is defined loosely enough, difference itself can begin to look like a public-safety concern.
Suspicion should not replace evidence.
This pattern is not new. Publicly available data shows similar racial disparities in pedestrian stops dating back nearly a decade. If those patterns have existed for years, the issue is not simply the quality of this year’s re port. It suggests village leadership has never seriously examined what these numbers mean.
Oak Park prides itself on being a welcoming and equitable community. If that commitment is to mean something, public re ports, especially where race is concerned, must provide complete information and context needed to understand police actions. The public should not be left guessing.
The deeper question raised by this re port is how suspicion is defined and applied in Oak Park. Oak Park’s elected officials should answer it clearly and publicly.
Kevin Barnhart
Oak Park
to invest significant upfront equity before securing additional financing reduces reliance on extended pre-construction lending. This streamlines timelines and lowers the risk of delays — an important consideration for both residents and the village.
• Proven track record. With 100+ buildings completed across Chicagoland over three decades, principal Viktor Jakovljevic has demonstrated the ability to deliver projects on time and at a high standard of quality. That experience provides confidence in execution.
• Long-term ownership mindset. Unlike developers who build to sell, 531 Par tners focuses on long-ter m ownership and management. This creates strong incentives to maintain quality, attract stable tenants, and ensure a positive living environment over time — all things that affect the broader community
• Commitment to public eng agement. 531 Par tners has already participated in
VRF board meetings, community open houses, and a DRB meeting, with Planned Development still in process. And they have committed to participating in future board meetings. Thus far, they have demonstrated a willingness to listen, respond, and refine their plans.
Development at Madison and Ashland will shape the character of the area for decades, and it is critical to select a developer who understands both the opportunity and the obligation that comes with the role.
In my view, 531 Par tners meets those requirements. They bring a combination of quality construction, innovative thinking, financial readiness, and long-ter m commitment that aligns with village goals They have also demonstrated respect for the community with full participation in our selection protocol and beyond
Lisa Gillis River Forest Trustee
When we arrived in River Forest, the village board was dominated by a village president who had reigned from 1993-2009. An inter re gnum of four years ensued, followed by the current board president, in place since 2013.
Ours is a small town next to a large town. River Forest has about 12,000 residents. Our neighbor to the east, Oak Park is home to about 54,000 people.
We pay attention to Oak Park’s political goings-on with great interest for several reasons, a major one being the very different Oak Park style of governance. Each village has a seven-member board and a separately elected president, but in recent times, Oak Park has not had the sort of presidential dynasties that River Forest has endured. Oak Park’s village board is, by comparison, far more dynamic and not beholden to the president.
In River Forest, three members of the village board are independent of the village president. The rest of the board votes almost always as a bloc with the president, who votes only to break ties, which is fairly common on controversial items, given the 3-3 split. Decisions on most controversial issues have, at least implicitly, been decided upon ahead of time, no matter the opposing view from the three non-adherents or from citizens.
While the process seems orderly and well-oiled, it has led to some truly unfortunate, even maddening, things.
e art of small-town politics
One of them is the longongoing project on the parcel abutting our condo building’s property, “in development” for the better part of a decade. It’s smack in the center of our village, and could have been a signature building. It’s not. After several years of sometimes risible, probably fraudulent developer activity, the project was closed down by the village and, more importantly, by the bank. What’s left is a shoddy concrete platform and some cinder block columns.
One View
T
standing insider ethos. You’d probably guess that, given the long tenures of the aforementioned village president (16 years) and current president (13 years). On the surface, it’s very difficult to discern why someone would want to hold onto such unpaid jobs. It’s the pinnacle of an old-line network that exists for its own purposes.
bruising, and the village board often goes its own way. But there is give and take and it helps guide that village’s af fairs. This variety of democratic activity does not exist in our village to the west.
In short, an eyesore. Over time, several citizens expressed outrage about the village president persistently extending project deadlines for an incompetent, almost totally unfunded developer. He was required again and again to show “activity” on the site. In one memorable instance, as he came up against another “drop-dead” date, he managed to “bor row” a very large piece of construction equipment, placing it on the site for one day, then once the deadline passed, sending it back to its original location. We who view the site from above frequently observed two workers (for long stretches, the entire construction crew) “moving dirt,” using a small front-loader to relocate a large pile of dirt, then back again. We really don’t know how the “developer” got away with it for so long, but he is the son of a for mer village president.
River Forest’s government has a long-
A new police HQ will help
In response to “Oak Park is driving police officers away by retired police chief Tom Weitzel [Viewpoints, March 17], thank you, chief, for bringing this serious matter to light, and thank you, WJ, for printing it.
Having over 20 openings within our police department is very concerning because the needs of our police officers are not decreasing, but increasing.
Another concern is that our community is in need of a new police headquarters; the new facility needs to be able to progress with the times, so it can support the growing needs of our community. Other communities have updated buildings; we are very behind.
Our Oak Park police of ficers receive extensive training, and they need the support of our community and the support of our village hall. Moving forward, I feel we will see positions within the police department gradually filled.
Robin Dunn
Oak Park
Power in towns like River Forest is closely guarded by the old network. And it has teeth. When the current president was last challenged, at the end of the election cycle a vicious and grossly fabricated advertising mailer appeared in our mailboxes, alleging the challenger’s hidden agenda: to tur n housing along a main street into “Section 8” apartments. This mailer was not only a lie, but a racist war ning that our village would become a refuge for “them,” ruining our pristine housing stock. Such fears are an undercurrent in this small town, one that rises to the surface any time such ideas as multi-unit apartment buildings are proposed.
Meanwhile, in Oak Park, citizen input is, in many ways, an indoor sport. People speak up, their opinions printed in detail in the local newspaper, and the Oak Park Village Board (not to mention the two school boards) pays at least some attention to the input. The give and take in Oak Park can be quite rough-hewn and
Sadly, in River Forest a new construction development is in the works. The village government’s shepherding of this project eerily echoes that of the prior failed development. The citizens are very gun-shy about this project and are not reassured by the blandishments of the River Forest board majority or its staff. The “don’t worry your little heads; we know what we ’re doing, so butt out” mentality, while hidden behind “open forums” to listen to citizen input, prevails. It’s the village way.
A growing contingent of River Forest’s people have become quite attuned to the insularity, tone-deafness and insidethe-fortress dealings of current village government. They speak out and are persistent. That single candidate who a few years back ran a courageous campaign for village president, only to discover the power of the entrenched few, would likely find more suppor t this time.
Not that the knives wouldn’t come out again. They would. But she, or any good candidate, would have a shield wall upfront and a stronger force behind. A stable of inde pendent-minded candidates for the board wouldn’t hurt, creating a majority acting as a check on the village president. We can hope.
West Sub’s tragic failure
& grand history
The history of West Suburban Hospital is grand, making its failure all the more tragic!
The hospital was founded by Northwestern physicians who realized that many of their well-endowed Chicago patients would prefer to be cared for in the pleasant suburb of Oak Park, rather than the tumultuous Chicago of a century ago.
For years after its founding, the attending physicians on Sunday rounds all wore full tuxedos, to attend to Marshall Field and other fabulous families!
At the beginning of the Second World War, the entire medical staf f volunteered, but many were judged too old, and only the younger physicians were taken.
Many of those veterans, upon discharge, came back, and for med the corps of the hospital. Therein lies a tale too complicated to address here, but the history of the place should not be forgotten!
I would hope that a renaissance is possible, but it looks unlikely.
I hope some talented writer undertakes to write a good historically cor rect ar ticle about the hospital, but it is probably unlikely.
Boone Brackett President of the West Sub medical staff for many years and the site of his orthopedic practice
What’s
I was disappointed, but unfortunately not surprised, to see the tone deaf response from Jan Arnold after the pool referendum was voted down. Despite weeks of hearing from the community that yes, we wanted an indoor pool, but no, we don’t want to lose Ridgeland’s outdoor pool, she dismissed the loss as “nostalgia.”
Couldn’t possibly be that people still enjoy using that pool, must be all the old folks who don’t even have young children anymore. As if Oak Park doesn’t currently have any young families?
I’m also fascinated by her statement that there are no other possible sites for an indoor pool. So that means she’s investigated all of them? Which ones? The
next for the park district?
plan that had been communicated to the community about the CRC is no longer feasible, I guess, because they accepted an energy-related grant. This, despite the fact that the grant-giving agency no longer exists. More importantly, no one ever communicated to the community that accepting the grant would mean the pool couldn’t be built there.
I’m interested in hearing all the alter nate sites they investigated because I saw a number of possibilities raised by community members. Maybe none of them are feasible, which is truly hard to believe.
But the most frustrating thing is there has been absolutely no recognition about how messed up this entire process
has been. The lack of communication, and steamrolling ahead with the referendum when it should have been clear to everyone it would never pass is stunning.
Now they have an opportunity to apologize for all this and make a serious effort to investigate alter natives. The question is, does the park district have the capacity to admit that they were wrong and make a serious effort to engage in a process, with the community, to see what is possible?
Sadly, I don’t see that happening, but I remain hopeful that some reflection will take the PDOP down a better path.
Ruth Lazarus Oak Park
Pool nixed, but what about dog parks?
I appreciate that the pool referendum did not pass, as I believe it may not have been necessary and could have resulted in inefficient spending. Additionally, there seems to be insufficient collaboration with OPRF High School re garding shared use of the indoor pool currently under construction. If the Park District of Oak Park (PDOP) aims to address community recreation needs as stated, it would be beneficial to further engage taxpayers in these decisions I would like to propose that PDOP consider expanding the number of dog parks throughout the village. Over the
past 32 years, I have visited every park in Oak Park, both with and without my dogs, and frequently observe of f-leash dogs. This situation can pose risks, as unleashed dogs may unintentionally cause discomfort or safety concer ns for children, runners, those who are fearful of dogs, or other pets. Even welltrained dogs may behave unpredictably when startled or excited, placing responsibility on their owners.
From a safety perspective, additional dog parks would provide an appropriate space for residents and their pets, especially since the existing two
designated areas do not serve those living in the north, southeast, and west central parts of the village. There appears to be adequate space at Mills Park, Lindberg Park, Taylor Park, and Longfellow Park to accommodate these needs, thereby improving accessibility for residents.
Investing in additional dog parks would likely address a significant community concern and ensure resources are directed toward enhancing public welfare.
Mark Schlosser Oak Park
3- ats sound OK
My fellow constituents have made excellent points re garding the elimination of single-family zoning. I agree that this is a complex issue and a lack of faith in the village’s ability to navigate this is warranted. We should be less focused, as a village, on the monetary benefit of such change and should absolutely be concerned about how this impacts the village on a dayto-day or month-to-month basis.
I’ll put words in the mouth of every Oak Park resident and say that we want to make this place more af fordable and accessible to the masses while retaining the charm and approachability we have all enjoyed.
I don’t believe any current resident is looking for a high-rise next door, but a 3-flat with renters isn’t the apocalypse that has been hypothesized in the doomsday op-eds written weeks prior.
Instead of folks faking addresses to get their children into OPRF High School, why don’t we welcome them with open arms? Let’s be honest with ourselves — an Oak Park 3-flat is more li kely to be occupied by a single mother with three kids than a 22-year-old for mer frat kid looking to throw 3 a.m. parties. Nick Gotz Oak Park
JOY AARONSON
Bookstores
are back from page 25
Hardware. She is an author of books for middlegrade readers (ages 8-10) and co-representative of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
When I asked Jamie about her favorite things about Dandelion, she told me that “it is the community that has grown since we first opened just over a year ago. I love to see both familiar and new faces walk through the door, knowing we’ll get to chat together about what we’ve just read and what’s next on our lists. I also love the atmosphere of Dandelion. There’s a feeling of magic when I walk through the door each morning and spend the day surrounded by our green shelves full of books. One of our customers calls her Wednesday morning visits her weekly ‘book bathing.’ She says it’s her favorite part of the week, and I agree!” I wondered why they named the store Dandelion, which is often considered a garden weed Jamie said, “Dandelions represent hope and resilience, we make wishes when we scatter their seeds, and they’re also stubborn and hard to get rid of — a good model for a small business!” She wants readers to know that even though there is utility work impacting traffic on Oak Park Avenue, the store will remain open during the project. People can park at the nearby Avenue Garage. Customers can also order online and get books delivered.
Both Dandelion Bookshop and The Book Loft have book signings, author readings, and community events that can be found on their websites. Community members have expressed concern about the opening of the new Barnes & Noble on Lake Street. When I asked these two independent bookstore owners what they thought about this, they were both positive
Jamie Erikson from Dandelion said, “There was a time when Oak Park had four bookstores all thriving at once, and this is still such a literary community full of readers of all ages. Indie bookstores each have their own personality to offer and a direct connection to their community, and we’ll continue to provide that for our customers.”
Heather and Sophie from The Book Loft said, “As Oak Parkers, we are happy that the building at Lake and Harlem is getting new life. We will be business neighbors, but we will offer a very differentiated experience. Plus, between Oak Park and our neighboring communities, there will be plenty of readers for us both.”
Happy reading, everyone!
Joy Aaronson is an Oak Park resident who contributed to Chicago Parent magazine and wrote the Kids’ World column for the former Logan Square Free Press.
Judy Steed, 75 Mosaic artist, singer and volunteer
When Judith Steed (nee McGreevy), 75, of Oak Park, died on March 19, 2026, the world lost a caring mother, grandmother and wife, a talented artist, fierce friend, and all-around lover of life. Born on Feb. 15, 1951, she was born and raised in Oak Park and attended Oak Park and River Forest High School where, at age 15, she met her future husband, Bob, to whom she would be happily married for over 52 years. At Northern Illinois University, she earned a de gree in Early Childhood Education, and worked as a preschool teacher at First United Nursery School for 24 years. She earned the nickname “the singing teacher” for her tendency to break into song. She raised two daughters, parenting with whimsy and curiosity in River Forest, where they moved in 1981.
In 2004, Judy took a glass mosaic class and embarked on a second career that lasted 22 years, resulting in the creation of hundreds of pieces. She donated the majority of her profits to charities, in particular the Alzheimer’s Association, having lost her mother, Marilyn, to the disease. She joined the Walk to End Alzheimer’s nearly every year since 2012, volunteered as a docent at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio for over a decade, and before her death, was a re gular volunteer at the Economy Shop and the Migrant Ministry.
A passionate singer, she was a member of the Sounds Good Choir and the St. Giles Family Mass Women’s Choir, which she founded. An active member of the Family Mass Community since the mid-1970s, she also founded the annual St. Giles Holiday Ar t Fair, which remains an annual event to this day.
Judy was pre-deceased by her mother, Marilyn Tyznik (Anthony Tyznik); her father, Alan McGreevy; and her brother, James McGreevy.
She is survived by husband, Robert Steed; her daughters, Bridget and Kathryn Steed (Daniel Hellebuyck); and her granddaughter, Jet Hellebuyck Services will be held at St. Giles Catholic Church in Oak Park on May 31.
Visitation will be gin at 3 p.m., followed by a Mass and celebration of life at 4:30 p.m.
Carl Nauert, 70 Clarinetist, First United Church member
Carl H. Nauert III, 70, of Forest Park, for merly of River Forest, known affectionately to his family as Herb, died on Feb. 21, 2026. Born on July 29, 1955, in Evansville, Indiana, his family moved to Homewood when he was in second grade and after graduating from Homewood Flossmoor High School in 1973, he he earned a bachelor’s de gree in business management in 1977 from Purdue University.
His love of music was nur tured from an early age by both of his parents. He learned to play clarinet and joined the Homewood F lossmoor High School march ing band. While in colle ge he played clarinet in the Purdue Orchestra Band.
He began his professional journey with IBM as a systems engineer, demonstrating his remarkable talent and work ethic from the very start. He was a mentor to many sharing his knowledge and experience with grace and humility. He retired from IBM as a systems engineering manager after 30 years of service.
his nephews, Greg, Zack (Hannah), Jim (Crystal), Alex (Jeannette) and Andrew (Cody); his great-niece and nephews, Brayton, Kennedy, Landon, Jensen, Theo and Nico; his aunt, Barbara; his cousins, Carla (Mike), Gayle (Tom), Dawn (Tim), Greg (Marcia), Helen, Susie (Tim) and Charley (Randi). He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister in-law Donna, her husband Mark, and his nephew, Joshua.
A memorial service to celebrate Carl’s life will take place at First United Church of Oak Park sometime in late May or early June.
In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree in his memory or donating to one of the charities that were impor tant to him.
Mar y Morrison, 93
Microbiologist and musician
Mary Morrison, 93, died on SaturMarch 14, 2026, following a period of illness, lovingly accompanied in her last days by her children, Ian and Leila Morrison, her daughter-inJules Eckersley, and her grandchildren, Amelia and Jasper Mor rison.
she joined the Unity Temple Choir and was an active member for several years. She and her husband traveled the world extensively, including living in India for two lengthy stints for Charles’ fieldwork in anthropology. After the kids left home, Mary learned sailing and navig ation. She and Charles raced a Flying Scot on Portage Lake and explored the Great Lakes. She was kind, generous, curious, creative, and devoted and will be greatly missed.
Details on a celebration of life are forthcoming.
Paul Kurzeja, 75 Oak Park resident
His favorite pastimes included playing golf with his buddies on the weekends, playing his clarinet in a woodwind quintet at church, and enjoying camping trips with his wife, Julie, more recently traveling in their RV to visit many of our National and State parks and watching Cubs and Bears games. He enjoyed crossword puzzles and playing computer games.
He and Julie joined First United Church of Oak Park in 1994 and over the years played an impor tant role in the church, generously serving on numerous committees and supporting his fellow members as well as the wider community in many ways. His compassion and cheerful nature will be greatly missed.
Carl met his wife, Julie, at IBM, and they were mar ried on May 24, 1981. He is also survived by his brothers, Robert (Heidi) and Michael (Margo); his brother-in-law John (Debbie); his niece, Katie (Bryan);
Born in Wichita, Kansas on Dec. 17, 1932, she grew up in nearby McPherson. She graduated from McPherson College with a bachelor of science and moved to Ohio, where she taught at Lake Erie Colle ge. Her education continued at Ohio State University, where she earned a master’s de gree in microbiology. With encouragement from her professors, she enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Chicago. At the International House in Hyde Park, she met Charles Morrison, an anthropology graduate student, whom she married in 1962.
They started married life in Rochester, New York, where their children were born. The family then settled in East Lansing, Michigan, which was home for 36 years. Mary continued to work in scientific research at Michigan State University and contributed to scholarship in microbiolo gy, immunolo gy, and surgery
In retirement, the lure of grandchildren brought them to Oak Park in 2006. A lifelong musician who had played the violin, French horn, piano, organ, and carillon,
Paul L Kurzeja, 75, of Oak Park, for merly of Elmhurst, died on March 23, 2026. Born on May 16, 1950, he was the husband of Jacqueline (nee Erickson); son of the late Louis and the late Alice Kurzeja (nee Razniewski); brother of Carol (David) Sims, Robert (Carolyn) Kurzeja, Matthew (Zoriana) Kurzeja, and the late Kenneth (Pauline) Kurzeja; and the uncle and grand-uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held on March 27 at Steuerle Chapel, 15 W. Park Blvd., Villa Park, IL 60181, followed by a funeral service on March 28 at the funeral home Interment private.
omas Poulson, 91
Biologist & D97 Global Village scientist
Dr. Thomas L. Poulson, 91, died at his home in Jupiter, F lorida on March 16, 2026. The family lived in Oak Park for 30 years while he taught in the Biolo gy Depar tment at the University of Illinois Chicago. He was also active as a contributing scientist in the District 97 Global Village Scientist program.
He is survived by his wife, Liz, of 65 years; and his daughter, Karen. His son, Eric, predeceased him.
SPORTS
OPRF boys track seeks same high standards with new faces
All-state high jumper Gri ee leads Huskies’ numerous state returnees
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Like many Oak Park and River Forest High School boys track and field athletes, senior Jonathan Sibley-Diggs knows how to rise to the occasion.
At the Illinois Indoor Championships Saturday in Chicago, SibleyDiggs took second with a distance of 17.18 meters/56 feet-4 1/2 inches and led under the second-to-last throw
“I haven’t thrown a 17-meter (in shot) in about a year,” Sibley-Diggs said. “My throw was really amazing. I focused on turning back, making sure I can full rotation whenever I glided and everything just popped out.”
that experience (indoors) and we have two more months to train. We’re only going to grow.”
Seniors Malik Griffee, SibleyDiggs, Brian Jackson, Connor Harmon and Kelson Lewis and juniors Emmet Freedman and Julian St. Pier re return from last year’s state lineup.
Griffee was an all-state sixth in high jump (1.99m/6-6 1/4). He’s among a trio this season who have cleared the state-qualifying standard.
Sibley-Diggs was 11th in the discus finals (50.49m/165-7) and 17th in shot (16.21 m/53-2 1/4).
Oak Park and River Forest’s Oliw ia Slezak throws the discus during the WSC Silver Girls Outdoor Championship, May 9, 2025 in Downers Grove.
kutu, Espinosa and Brian Jackson (3:28.06) was first. Sibley-Diggs was second in shot (16.77m/55-0 1/4).
(17th, 9:31.81) and senior Claire Kozicki from the 4x400 (30th, 4:03.96). All four competed at state in the same events in 2024.
Outdoors, the Huskies tied for sixth in Class 3A last year (26 points) and were the 2024 state team co-champions. They’ve won eight consecutive West Suburban Conference Silver Division titles.
At the indoor Silver Meet March 20, the Huskies had their lengthy streak of titles ended with a fourth-place finish (90 points), one point from third.
“The way (the seniors) reacted to the results, they wanted more for the team and for us (as coaches),” OPRF coach Tim Hasso said. “We’ve lost a ton over the past two years but now the kids got through
Freedman was 25th in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles (41.25), and Jackson was 24th in 400 (50.59) and part of the 4x400 relay (23rd, 3:24.81). Also back from state relays are Harmon and St. Pier re from the 4x800 relay (15th, 8:00.50) and Lewis from the 4x100 (21st, 42.45).
At the indoor Silver Meet, Jackson (50.16) and sophomore Moses Espinosa (50.71) went 1-2 in the 400-meter dash and junior Addis Wilson (1.97m/6-5 1/2) and Griffee (1.92m/6-3 1/2) went 1-2 in high jump.
Senior Riley Jackson, a 2024 state qualifier in triple jump, won that event (13.54m/44-5 1/4) and the 4x400 relay of junior Keyante Johnson, senior Malik Oji-
Other standouts include seniors Ben Cazeau, Ron Conner, Brady Creel, Matthew Garner, Braylon Jackson, transfer Jaylen Runnels, Yonny Rafter and David Schiff, juniors Mike Degnan and Josh Pe ppers and sophomore Keldon Jones, promoted for the indoor Silver Meet.
“Everybody’s got some work to do,” Hasso said. “(Indoor Silver was) the reality of where were March 20 but that’s not the truth in May so we’ve just got to get better.”
OPRF girls track and eld
The Huskies graduated everyone from their six 2025 3A all-state performances but several experienced state returnees are poised to contend for top-nine, all-state honors.
“We’re looking to capitalize on the areas we did well at last year,” said OPRF head coach and throws coach Nick Michalek.
Senior Oliwia Slezak was 15th at state in discus (36.63m/120-2). Returning from relays are senior Violet Schnizlein and juniors Lucy Stein and Lilly Harmon from the 4x800
Senior high jumper Alexis Henderson, who was injured last season, reached the 2024 state finals (17th, 1.55m/5-1). She was third at the indoor Silver Meet March 20 at Proviso West (1.52m/4-11 3/4).
As a team, the Huskies were fifth (61 points). Slezak won shot put (11.55m/37-10 3/4) and Schnizlein was third in the 1,600 (5:23.63) after taking fourth in the 3,200 (11:23.07).
Other standouts include seniors Claire Garnett, Sheila Johnson, Soraya Lewis-Arellano, Niani Patton, Luciana Ramirez and Damiah Turner, juniors Isabella Crowe, Haliyat Fadipe, Jaida Garland, Jaelyn Hammersley, Selah Sarai Backeberg, sophomore Eileen Easton and freshmen Rose Super, Maya Davis and Kiara Murphy.
STEVE JOHNSTON
CHLOE KOZICKI
JONATHAN SIBLE Y
ADDIS WILSON
RILE Y JACKSON
Fenwick’s Williams primed for track season
Fenwick girls are looking solid
By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
Last year, Fenwick High School senior Aiden Williams returned quickly from an ACL injury suffered during football season to take sixth place in the 110 hurdles at the IHSA Class 2A boys’ track and field state meet and gained All-State honors for the second consecutive season.
This year, Williams, a Valparaiso University commit, is looking to make his final campaign with the Friars his best. If the indoor season is any indication, he is well on his way to achieving that goal. At the Chicago Catholic League Indoor Championships, March 20, he won the 60 meter hurdles in a personal-best 7.97 seconds. Also at the CCL meet, where Fenwick placed eighth with 39 points, senior Matt Simon won the 400 meters in a time of 50.21.
Other notable performances came from junior Adrien Dubois in the 400 meters (fifth, 52.44) and senior Cameron Garrett in the 60 meters (sixth, personal-best 7.10).
“Outdoor is looking good for us and we are excited to see how the season plays out,” said Fenwick coach David Rill. “Our guys are all training hard and performing well. The success of our top runners has trickled down to the younger guys.”
AIDEN WILLIAMS
Sophomore Landon Johnson, who was a part of last year’s state-qualifying 4 x 400 relay, retur ns as well.
“Since we have two of the top sprinters in 2A, Matt and Aiden, our goal is to get a good number of guys qualified for state and see what we can do down there,” Rill said.
Back at the Worrill Center in Chicago, Saturday, for the Illinois Indoor Championships, Williams ended up seventh in the 60 meter hurdles finals (8.95) after clipping an early hurdle with his left knee
It’s the only Illinois 60 hurdles race this indoor season in which Williams didn’t fin-
ish first.
“[The clip] messed up everything for me,” he said. “I wanted to win this race. It’s OK I’m coming back outdoor season.”
For the 300 intermediate hurdles outdoors, Williams was a 2A all-state sixth in 2024 (school-record 39.86) and 12th last year (40.05).
“I’m back healthy. I want to win (state) in both (110s and 300s),” he said. “It feels like I can actually run (this year), nothing holding me back. I’m faster, stronger, bigger. I’m better in almost every way.”
Fenwick girls
At the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, March 19, Fenwick placed sixth with 41.5 points. Junior Maeve Bondakar won the shot put for the Friars, while sophomore Bridget Brunick and junior Juliana Gamboa finished two-three in the 3200 meters.
Other highlights were provided by junior Mia Bagato, who took fourth in the 800; sophomore Avani Williams, who tied for fourth in the high jump and placed sixth in the 400; and the 4 x 400 relay of Gamboa, Brunick, sopho-
more Alana Jezierski, and Bagato, who took fifth.
“With the exception of (graduated) Mia Menendez, basically all our top athletes are back,” said Fenwick coach Latoya ZubowiczHill.
That includes Gamboa, who has qualified for state in each of her first two seasons
“She’s still a stellar teammate and amazing performer,” Zubowicz-Hill said. “I keep reminding her every meet, you’re not going to (get personal records). To see her perform at this week’s Illinois indoor championships and look really strong and confident is a really good sign.”
Bondakar, Williams, sophomore Molly Madden (discus) and junior Teresa Urso (part of 4 x 400 relay) are other returning state qualifiers
“Maeve has really come into her own as a teammate,” Zubowicz-Hill said. “She jumps into different events, not necessarily to do them, but to build relationships with the girls. She’s turning out to be a huge leader on the team.”
Fenwick opens the outdoor season April 11 at Ridgewood
OPRF, Fenwick boys tennis are back in court
By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
The Oak Park and River Forest High School varsity boys tennis squad is of f to an impressive start this spring, sweeping East Avenue neighbor Fenwick 8-0 and Evanston Township 6-2 at the OPRF Triangular, March 21.
Sophomore Alek Rekucki won both of his #1 singles matches, defeating junior Ryan Hiller of Fenwick 6-2, 6-1 and Owen Keyser of Evanston 4-6, 6-0, 10-3. Freshman Sam Hronek spilt his #2 matches, defeating David Sawicki of Fenwick 6-0, 6-0, but losing to Evanston’s Noah Polansky 2-6, 0-6.
The wins over Evanston and Fenwick give veteran head coach John Morlidge reason for optimism about the Huskies, who finished second behind longtime powerhouse Hinsdale Central in the West Suburban Silver last season.
“We have a very deep team and high, high aspirations for the season,” he said. Morlidge calls Rekucki, sophomore
Naveen Rajagopal, and junior Nicky Vizzone his top returnees. All were part of last year’s sectional lineup, and Rekucki and Vizzone won two doubles’ matches at the state finals.
OPRF’s other returnees are seniors Jackson Baker, Nick Balestri, George Barkidijija, and Baz Hilton, along with sophomores Charlie Bruce and Zach Glennie. Newcomers include Hronek, juniors Matias Carlstrom-Arteaga, Harry Pearson, and Nate Wellner, and seniors Tyler Crabb, Sam Folz, and Matthew Ladesich
Notable invitationals this year are at Prospect, April 18, the Jay Kramer at Hinsdale Central, April 25, and at Hersey, May 2. With most of the state’s top programs participating, the tournaments should serve as good preparation for the sectional and state tournament.
According to Morlidge, figuring out the most efficient pairings in doubles is the key to success this season.
“My biggest challenge will be pairing doubles teams to get the most out of them,” he said. “We have many strong players who are not tournament (experienced), so to get them
to compete at the state level is challenging.”
Following a week off for spring break, OPRF returns to action at Glenbrook South, April 6.
Fenwick
The Friars, who lost to both OPRF and Evanston (7-1) at the OPRF Triangular, got their first win of the season, March 24, defeating Brother Rice 6-1 at Moraine Valley Sophomore Michael Doherty, a state qualifier in singles last spring, won his season debut 6-1, 6-0 over Brother Rice’s Nathan Miller.
“Michael finished in the top eight in singles at state,” said Fenwick coach Ron Rogala. “He’s put in a lot of work and been working on his conditioning. He’s doing very well, as is Ryan, who finished third in the (Chicago Catholic League) last year. I have two solid singles players who have a chance to compete with anyone in the state.”
Like OPRF, trying to piece together effective doubles’ teams will be important for Fenwick this season. Rogala has plenty of options, including seniors Ryan Brennan,
Mack Hamilton, Scott Holliday, Kevin Johnson, Cooper Jones, Bonaparte Mendoza, Alex Vanaria, and Marshall Waysok, along with juniors Frank Lynch and Ronan Morrissey.
“The question is finding a combination of kids who mesh and will develop into a team and be successful,” Rogala said. “My goal is to help the boys develop their skill and teamwork so they can use their strengths in developing their doubles skills. If we can improve on our teamwork and understanding tactics and strategies, we’ll have good doubles teams and that will translate into wins for the kids and the team.”
Once again, the Catholic League title race should be a fierce battle, with Fenwick, DePaul Prep, Loyola Academy, St. Ignatius, and Wheaton St. Francis as the top contenders. The Friars finished fifth at last year’s conference tour nament.
“It will be a challenge,” Rogala said. “The boys can compete with most squads. We’ll see how it goes.”
Fenwick competes at the Ottawa Invitational, April 4.
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: M26001443 on March 10, 2026 Under the Assumed Business Name of 6700 SSD 17D with the business located at: 6700 S SOUTH SHORE DRIVE #17D, CHICAGO, IL 60649. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is:
EDWARD MATTHEWS 322 WEST 52ND STREET #323 NEW YORK, NY 10019, USA.
Published in Wednesday Journal March 25, April 1, 8, 2026
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET
The Village of River Forest will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in the 1st floor Community Room of the Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois concerning the Village of River Forest proposed budget for the fiscal period starting May 1, 2026 and ending April 30, 2027.
A copy of the proposed budget is available for public inspection at the Village Hall during regular business hours or on the Village’s website at www.vrf.us. For more information, please contact Finance Director Rosemary McAdams at 708-366-8500.
Published in Wednesday Journal April 1, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
SECTION 00 11 16
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Notice is hereby given that the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education is accepting sealed bids for the Julian Middle School Roof Replacement located in Oak Park, Illinois.
Lump Sum Bids will be received, publicly opened, and read at the District Administration Office, 260 W Madison, Oak Park, IL 60302, at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026. Bids received after the designated time and date of bid opening will not be considered. Bidders must comply with all of the requirements set forth in the Project Manual.
Bidding Documents will be available on April 3, 2026. To view and obtain bidding documents, please visit Best Imaging Solutions planroom at http:// www.bestimagingplanroom.com/ jobs/public.
Bidders are strongly encouraged to schedule an on-site visit at Julian Middle School, located at 416 S. Ridgeland Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302. Please contact either Michael Arensdorff(708-524-3015; marensdorff@op97.org) or John Pahlman (708-524-3125; jpahlman@op97.org) to schedule the visit.
All Contracts for the Construction of Public Works are subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/1-12)
Board of Education Oak Park Elementary School District 97
Published in Wednesday Journal April 1, 2026
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of North Riverside, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for: Concrete and Sidewalk Proposals
PUBLIC NOTICE
SECTION 00 11 16
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Notice is hereby given that the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education is accepting sealed bids for the Mann ES Parking Lot Improvements project located in Oak Park, Illinois.
Lump Sum Bids will be received, publicly opened, and read at the District Administration Office, 260 W Madison, Oak Park, IL 60302, at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026. Bids received after the designated time and date of bid opening will not be considered. Bidders must comply with all of the requirements set forth in the Project Manual.
Bidding Documents will be available on March 30, 2026. To view and obtain bidding documents, please visit Best Imaging Solutions planroom at http://www.bestimagingplanroom. com/jobs/public.
Bidders are strongly encouraged to attend a pre-bid conference on April 6, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., at Mann Elementary School, located at 921 N Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302. Site inspections will immediately follow the pre-bid conference.
All Contracts for the Construction of Public Works are subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/1-12)
Board of Education Oak Park Elementary School District 97
Published in Wednesday Journal April 1, 2026
This project consists of concrete replacement and removal in an as needed capacity on work ranging from sidewalk removal and replacement, curb removal and replacement, and driveway apron removal and replacement.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at: https://www.northriverside-il.org/ Bids.aspx
Bids must be submitted by Friday, April 10, 2026, at 3pm CDT at: 2401 S Desplaines Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois, 60546
Or
Emailed to the following e-mail address: administration@northriverside-il.org
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.
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals or to waive technicalities, or to accept any item of any proposal.
Published in RB Landmark April 1, 2026
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of North Riverside, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for: Water and Sewer Repair Proposals
This project consists of water and sewer repairs in an as needed capacity on water mains ranging from 4” to 18” ductile iron, residential and commercial service line repairs and replacement, water valve replacement and removal, fire hydrant replacement, fire hydrant removal, new installation of fire hydrants, catch basin removal and replacement, sewer line repair ranging from 6” to 33”, and high pressure cleaning of main sewer lines.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at: https://www.northriverside-il.org/ Bids.aspx
Bids must be submitted by Friday, April 10, 2026, at 3pm CDT at: 2401 S Desplaines Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois, 60546 Or
Emailed to the following e-mail address: administration@northriverside-il.org
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.
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals or to waive technicalities, or to accept any item of any proposal.
Published in RB Landmark April 1, 2026
LEGAL NOTICE
Village of Oak Park
NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the Village of Oak Park will hold a Public Information Meeting #1 in an open house format welcoming all community members to learn about the Bridging the Ike study and participate in the planning process. During the meeting, officials will discuss opportunities for expanded bridge decking over I-290, which could yield new development, public plazas and park spaces over the expressway.
Date: Tuesday April 7, 2026 Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m. Location: Oak Park Conservatory, Rubinstein Community Room, 615 Garfield St, Oak Park, Illinois.
The Bridging the Ike study aims to examine community needs including safety, roadway improvements, mobility and connectivity and the best uses for any newly created spaces on expanded bridge decks. This initial meeting serves as an opportunity to introduce the project and solicit resident feedback to understand the important issues that will help develop and refine the improvement opportunities at these bridges. For more information about the public information meeting and ways residents can share their priorities for future bridge crossing improvements, visit https://engageoakpark.com/
Published in Wednesday Journal April 1, 2026
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.
The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.
This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. -- WJ/FPR/RB LANDMARK --
Submit events and see full calendar at oakpark.com/events
