WednesdayJournal_043025 by Wednesday Journal

April 30, 2025 Vol. 45, No. 43

of Oak Park and River Forest

Julian streetscape takes shape

Design consultants debut concepts for Perc y Julian streetscape project

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park’s plan to honor the le gacy of trailblazing scientist Percy Julian with an installation on Chicago Avenue is beginning to come together.

Oak Parkers were asked to give feedback on design concepts for the Percy Julian streetscape project, a corridor along Chicago Avenue from East Avenue to Austin Boulevard. The project will include artwork and installations paying tribute to Julian, a groundbreaking chemist whose accomplishments include first-of-its-kind soybean research that pioneered bioplastics, hormonebased medications and cortisone treatments. One of the most successful African American scientists of all time, Julian obtained over 130 chemical patents over the course of his career.

Residents provided feedback on the concepts at a village hall open house on April 22, voting on what elements of the proposals most appealed to them.

The corridor will stretch along Chicago Avenue from Austin Boulevard to the Julian home on East Avenue, with different sections of the street dedicated to different aspects of Julian’s life. The project will also involve elements of Oak Park’s “Vision Zero” traffic safety plan, including by widening pedestrian crossings on the street.

Architectural design firm Planning Resources Incorporated, real estate firm Prescott Group and engineering group TERRA Engineering are all serving as village consultants on the project.

See PERCY JULIAN on pa ge 8

More vetting, no voting on village hall

When it is presented this summer, expect three proposals at three price points

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

There has been another delay in presenting architectural and financing plans for a new Oak Park police station and the large-scale renovation of village hall.

This delay, likely until well into the summer, will push the discussion past the term of the currently constituted village board and leave it to the next village board (beginning the first week of May) to evaluate and decide.

Plans had been for the current board, which has been working on this project for two years, to have an opportunity to discuss the latest incarnation of the work before they leave office. With that goal in mind, a meeting was set for March 18, which was delayed until April 30. Around the time residents expected to be able to view that meeting’s agenda last Friday afternoon, the village announced that the meeting had been cancelled and that the pro-

See VILLAGE HALL on pa ge 14

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Oak Park’s natural gas ban faces federal lawsuit

Village government’s electri cation ordinance is the target of legal action by natural gas and construction interest groups

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

The Village of Oak Park will have to defend its progressive electrification policy in federal court.

A coalition of natural gas and construction interest groups say the village broke federal law when it adopted a building code ordinance requiring all new construction to be all-electric structures built without any natural gas hookups. The parties are arguing the village doesn’t have the authority to enforce the ban.

Village officials declined to comment on the litigation.

The electrification policy is a corner stone of Oak Park’s ambitious “Climate Ready Oak Park” sustainability plan, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the village by 60% by 2030 and have Oak Park fully carbon neutral by 2050. Carbon emissions from residential and commercial buildings had been found to account for 70% of Oak Park’s total emissions, according to the village’s sustainability office.

The electrification ordinance passed the village board unanimously on June 20, 2023.

According to the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Oak Park was the first municipality in the Midwest to approve an electrification ordinance.

Several village leaders have already said it’s unlikely that Oak Park reaches its 60% emissions reduction target by 2030, but potentially losing the ability to enforce the electrification provision in its building code may make hitting the mark even more difficult.

The plaintiffs in the suit include natural gas advocacy group the Clean Energy Choice Coalition, operating engineers’ union IUOE Local 150, the National Association of Home Builders and NPL Construction, a nationwide construction fir m with locations on Chicago’s West Side and in Naperville

“This ordinance deprives residents and businesses of the freedom to choose natural gas, the most af fordable and reliable energy source,” said CECC representative Lissa Druss in a statement to Wednesday

Journal. “Eliminating this choice in new construction risks significantly increasing taxpayer energy costs, undermining energy equity, and permanently blocking the use of future innovative energy solutions that could leverage existing natural gas infrastructure.”

The CECC was re gistered as a non-profit earlier this week on April 21, naming local home-building firm owner Pat Cardoni as its president. Druss, a one-time River Forest trustee candidate and a seasoned Chicago public relations professional, is listed as one of the group’s directors alongside Allen Drews, another Chicagoland homebuilding fir m owner.

Much of the content on the organization’s website promotes opposition to bans on natural gas in new constructions, particularly the ban Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson unsuccessfully tried to push past city council last year

The coalition brings together both labor and management groups from the construction industry in opposition to the Oak Park ordinance.

“Natural gas is essential for keeping a balanced and reliable energy system, serving as a vital link between traditional and renewable energy sources,” James M. Sweeney, president and business manager of IUOE Local 150, said in a statement. “With thousands of Oak Park residents utilizing natural gas for cooking and heating, the village has unnecessarily put at risk the dependability of these energy sources. The failure to eliminate ordinances focused on shortsighted measures hinders any efforts to actively pursue sustainability and ultimately threatens our workforce’s livelihood.”

In addition to leading IUOE Local 150, which represents skilled construction machinery operators in northern Illinois, northern Indiana and several counties in Iowa, Sweeney also chairs one of the best funded political action committees in Illinois — The Chicagoland Operators Joint Labor-Management PAC.

The PAC has been friendly to Oak Park politicians recently, giving $5,000 to Village President Vicki Scaman’s campaign shortly before April 1’s municipal election and donating over $1.4 million to Illinois Senate President Don Harmon last year, according to state records.

The suit alleges that the blanket ban on natural gas hookups is ille gal because it conflicts with federal guidelines, namely the Energy Policy and Conservation Act which limits how state and local governments can manage the use of federally re g-

ulated energy sources.

While some exceptions to the federal statute exist, the plaintiffs argued in their complaint that municipalities must display “an unusual and compelling local interest,” for local municipalities to be allowed to restrict federally regulated energy sources. The plaintiffs argued that Oak Park does not meet the standards for any of those exceptions

The suit comes after Berkeley, California’s first-of-its-kind natural gas ban was struck down by a U.S. circuit court decision last year following a challenge from California restauranters. The decision invalidated natural gas bans in cities across the western United States, including bans in more than 70 California cities who’d followed the example Berkeley set in 2019.

Oak Park’s natural gas ban does leave an exemption for commercial kitchens

Since the city’s ban was overtur ned, Berkley has looked to impose a high tax on large buildings that use natural gas, according to environmental publication Canary Media

Natural gas typically consists of 70% to 90% methane. While scientists beli eve that carbon dioxide emissions have a longerlasting impact on the planet’s temperature, methane emissions have a much more powerful short-term warming impact. Scientists estimate that as much as 30% of recorded global warming since the industrial revolution has been result of methane emissions, according to NASA.

Some of the largest sources of methane emissions include pipeline-leaks, livestock management and landfill waste, according to the United Nations’ Environmental Programme. While the UN identified reducing methane emissions within the agriculture, energy and waste disposal sectors as the most impactful targets in its 2021 report on methane emissions, it also recommended that government and industry leaders work to “improve the energy efficiency of household appliances, buildings and lighting” as a secondary goal.

The methane emissions impact of household appliances like gas stoves have not been studied as extensively as emissions in other sectors. In 2022 climate researchers from Stanford University published a first-of-its-kind study on emissions from natural gas stoves, finding that that yearly emissions caused by methane leaks from natural gas stoves in the U.S. is equal to the emissions released by half-a-million gasoline-powered cars every year, according to Time Magazine.

WEDNESD

AY JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf

Digital Manager Stac y Coleman

Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan

Sta Repor ter Brendan He ernan

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Contributing Editor Donna Greene

Columnists Marc Bleso , Jack Crowe, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger

Shrubtown Cartoonist Marc Stopeck

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Marketing & Adver tising Associate Ben Stumpe

Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls

Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Operations Associate Susan Babin

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

Senior Advisor Dan Haley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

Dan@oakpark.com

First United Church celebrates a golden anniversary

Merger

of two congregations took place in 1975

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

The consolidation of First Cong re gational Church of Oak Park and First Presbyterian Church of Oak Park begs can be compared to a wedding.

First Cong re gational moved into its building at 848 Lake St. in 1874 and what was then known as the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Park moved into its building at 931 Lake St. in 1901. Living virtually across the street from each other, the two faith commu-

nities were neighbors for 73 years.

The two congregations eventually came to realize they had much in common. The Congregational Church had its doctrinal roots in the Protestant theology of Swiss refor mer John Calvin, as did the Presbyterians which meant that both congregations fit nicely into the WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) world view that dominated the spiritual culture of Oak Park until the 1970s

More important than doctrine, perhaps, both cong re gations shared a passion for outreach and mission. The history of what became First United Church indicates that the congre gations discovered they were involved in many of the same kinds of mission — outreach to community and needs

First Congregational Church, c. 1920, rebuilt a er re destroyed the steeple

outside the walls of their church buildings, and that led to what might be called the “dating” stage of the relationship.

While many church mergers come about because of loss of membership, leading to financial challenges, First United was born out of a desire to do mission better.

Dave Hanson, now a retired lawyer, was a member of the Presbyterian Church at the time of the consolidation.

“The two congregations,” he said, “became increasingly involved in community outreach. “Fred Momenthy, the lead pastor of the Congregational church and Bill Killam, the lead pastor of the Presbyterian congregation, believed their two churches could be more efficient, and therefore more effective, if they had a less duplicative relationship.”

In 1973 the two faith communities created a Joint Exploration Committee, of which Hansen was a member, to look at three different options for common ministry, the most committed being complete consolidation, and in June of 1974 the committee unanimously recommended a complete merger.

First came a decision about the name

— choose one of the existing names, a hyphenated name, or keeping their own names. The committee recommended a completely new name: First United Church of Oak Park.

THE HISTORICAL SOCIET Y OF OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST

COURTESY OF FIRST UNITED CHURCH OF OA K PARK

First United Church of Oak Park

THE HISTORICAL SOCIET Y OF OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST

First Presby terian Church, c. 1910

Madison Street Bible Church, 1928, which housed the Calvar y Memorial congregation until re destroyed it.

50th Anniversary celebration

May 4:

■ 10:30 Procession from for mer South Center (now Calvary Memorial)

■ 11:00 Celebration worship with handbells and choirs at First United

■ 6:00 Celebration dinner (by invitation only)

The next hurdle was a challenging legal issue. Hanson explained that Illinois law makes merging two independent nonprofits complicated, but with some creative lawyering that obstacle was hurdled.

There’s a joke that when two people get married, the two become one — the question is, which one. The issue was resolved by a decision to be neither, or at the same time both: a third entity to be called First United Church, and the members would hold “dual citizenship,” i.e. they would simultaneously be members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ.

“Nobody wanted to give up their building, where they got married and had their kids baptized,” recalled Priscilla Sibley, a member of First United for the last halfcentury and part of the team planning the anniversary celebration on May 4.

Celebrate the

Uniting was a process. The first step was to begin calling the buildings the North Center and the South Center. They would hold services at the Nor th Center.

“By the end of the year most people were saying, ‘We don’t care, pick one,” said Sibley with a laugh. Getting used to each other took longer. “We had to figure out how to live together and we knew it couldn’t be a top-down decision.”

The North Center became the building in which the cong re gation worshiped and the South Center was used for mission which included a holistic health center, a senior drop-in center, a nursery school and a meeting place for a Boy Scout troop.

In 1979 the South Center was sold for $4.3 million to the Calvary Memorial cong regation, whose building on Madison Street had been destroyed by fire.

Both partners in the newly for med congregation had a strong sense of mission before the “marriage” so, true to their values, funds from the sale were placed in a Special Mission Endowment Fund (SMEF), the money from which could only be used for mission projects

Beyond Hunger, the food pantry, is a prime example. According to ProPublica, in 2024 the expenses were, coincidentally, $4.3 million.

When asked why the church “marriage” has not only survived but thrived, Sibley said simply, “We have a lot of grownups in the cong re gation.”

50th Season of the Oak Park Farmers’ Market!

Place an ad in this special section!

Wednesday Journal is planning a special section featuring stories of the market’s history, vendors, musicians, donuts, volunteers from Pilgrim Church, and local nonproﬁts. This section will be in the Wednesday Journal on May 14 with extra copies passed out to Farmers’ Market attendees throughout the whole season.

Ad Reservation Deadline: Friday, May 2

Ad Materials Due: Wednesday, May 7

Publication Date: Wednesday, May 14

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

Spring it on! New food ventures await

Ice cream, subs, chicken, falafel and dandelion wine

Were you planning to go to Egypt?

Even if that’s not in your summer travel plans, you can still get a taste of Egyptian street food at North enue Falafel, 6814 W. North Ave., Chicago. According to owner Youssef Salama and baker Amr Hassan, theirs is the first restaurant to offer these dishes in the Chicago area. Take your pick from a range of savory to sweet.

Bailey Sullivan, scion of Goldyburgers and executive chef at Chicago’s Monteverde, is still in the running for Top Chef on season 22 of Bravo’s TV show.

Take home freshly made pasta from Ciro , 1048 Pleasant St., Oak Park. Owner Ciro Parlato says his new machin e, which cuts dough using a bronze die, gives a pleasant roughness to the exterior. Once cooked that surface grabs sauce, unlike commercial pasta which is slick on the outside

s a notice on the front of Old World Pizza North Ave., Elmwood . It reads: same great rec, new great family. “When eople ask us why we bought tell them we loved it so much we didn’t want to risk anybody changing the ,” said long-time local and store runner Danielle Michelon.

Ice cream season is upon us. In Oak Pa rk Three Spoons Ice Crea m , 133 R idgeland Ave.; Hole in th Wa ll , 901 S. Oak Pa rk Ave. ; and C ourag e ous Cone s , 736 La ke St.; have all resumed soft serving. Pe tersen’s , 1100 Chicago Ave., is scooping, too.

New take-out restaurant Crown’s Fish and Chicken opens its doors at 420 N. Austin Blvd., Oak Park, on May 1.

The next day, May 2, is set for the opening of Brooklyn’s Berwyn Subs, 7001 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn. “This is a neighborhood deli, named after my daughter Brooklyn. We’re trying to bring simple, good deli sandwiches to the neighborhood,” said co-owner Samantha Munley.

Feteer meshaltet at North Avenue Falafel

veyors The Wolf plans to open their new Oak Park location, 132 N. Oak Park Ave., by the middle of May.

Wise Cup’s new, expanded seating area is open at 1018 Lake St., Oak Park. May 3 will be a grand opening with specials and live music.

Also on May 3, Café Cubano, 113 N. Oak Park Ave., celebrates its one-year anniversary in Oak Park with giveaways and live music. While you are there order a cocktail collaboration with local liquor Catan Pisco. “Catalina, the owner of Catan Pisco stopped by,” said Mayra Fernandez, owner of Café Cubano. “We did a tasting and loved her product. We put it on the menu and there is such a demand for it!”

The Oak Park Farmers Market debuts its 50th season on May 17. Produce, meat, pastries, honey, eggs, donuts, oh my! All in the Pilgrim Church parking lot, 460 Lake St

The recent opening of Dandelion Bookshop got me thinking about the book Dandelion Wine by fame d science fiction writer Ray Bradbury

The Meat Counter at 7406 Madison St., Forest Park, is open with a grand opening set for May 8. The retail butcher shop, focusing on Midwest far ms and artisanal producers will also have a hot food menu. North Riverside boba tea and coffee pur-

T he 12-year-old main character is based on Bradbury’s own childhood in Waukeg an. And that got me wondering whether anyone has actually made dandelion wine? If so, drop me a line. Or if you’ve made wine before and would like to collaborate on making a batch with those love/hate yellow pompoms of spring, I’m g ame

Got news, questions or ideas for this column? Email them to us at Eats@oakparkeats.com.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Ciro Parlato showcases his fresh pasta

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Catan Pisco sour at Café Cubano

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

From cozy mysteries to YA, this Forest Parker solves life’s riddles

Manansala combines food, Filipino culture, with oh-so-many murders

By JESSICA MACKINNON Contributing Reporter

Mia Manansala has gained critical acclaim and legions of fans for her series of Tita Rosie’s Kitchen cozy mysteries. Combining crime, humor, family and food — with a heavy emphasis on the joy of eating — Manansala’s books focus on amateur sleuth Lila Macapagal’s ef for ts to solve murders occurring in her small town of Shady Palms, Illinois.

Lucky for readers, folks there have been dropping like flies since 2021, when Manansala debuted the series with Arsenic and Adobo.

Like many cozy mysteries, or “Hallmark movies for dead bodies,” as she affectionately refers to them, Manansala’s books revolve around a young woman who left town to pursue her dream — and returned when that dream went awry, only to be confronted with a shocking murder she is hell-bent on solving. But unlike many authors of the cozy genre, Manansala is a woman of color.

Manansala grew up in a large multi-generational Filipino-American family on Chicago’s northwest side. Her home served as a way station for immigrants — relatives, by blood or family connection — settling in the U.S. The kitchen table was the epicenter of family gatherings, with her father serving as cook, and food provided an essential connection to her Filipino heritage

She now lives in Forest Park

As a child, Manansala was a voracious reader —mysteries were her family’s favorites. She watched Matlock and Perry Mason and Murder She Wrote with her grandparents and was the eager recipient of her mother’s passed-down Mary Higgins Clark mysteries.

“Whatever book was in the house was fair game, not just books for kids ,” Manansala said. “My mom and I buddy-read the

Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluk which combined our two favorite things — mystery and food.”

Manansala decided to try her hand writing mysteries in 2015, after returning home from teaching English in South rea for several years.

“I had my quarter-life crisis — I was almost 30 years old, living at home with parents again and suffering their inter gations every time I left the house,” Manansala said, laughing.

Remembering how much she lo write as a kid, she enrolled in a one-day mystery-writing workshop led by winning crime fiction author Lori Rader-Day The idea for her first book, Death Comes to Comic Con, was sparked during the workshop. And, while Rader-Day, who was president of the Midwest chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, proclaimed her a natural mystery writer, and the finished book received some positive buzz, it was ultimately rejected by publishers.

Manansala believes some of that rejection was due to racial bias and discrimination.

“One publisher said that I had a great voice but no one was going to read me. Another said that the traditional mystery was for older white women and suggested I write young adult books because there was more diversity in that genre,” Manansala said.

Manansala persevered, building a writing community by attending professional meetings and connecting with writers who had established careers and those, like her, who were just starting their writing journeys. During this process, she met Kellye Garrett, multiple award-winning writer of the Detective by Day series, co-founder of Crime Writers of Color and for mer board member for Sisters in Crime. Garrett became an invaluable mentor.

“Because I had this community behind me, I wasn’t deter red by rejections. I met people who didn’t owe me anything but took the time to cheer me on, to read and critique my work and give me advice. Their encouragement ke pt me going,” Manansala said.

She hit it out of the ballpark with her

next book, Arsenic and Adobo, which sprang from an idea she had while riding the Blue Line to work. The book, which was published in 2021, rece ived the Agatha Award for Best First Novel, the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) Award and star red reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Perhaps most importantly, it earned her a three-book contract from Berkley/Penguin Random House and became the first of her Tita Rosie’s Kitchen series.

Four more books came in quick succession, Homicide and Halo-Halo, Blackmail and Bibingka, Murder and Mamon, and Guilt and Ginataan in 2024. Each of the books includes a glossary of Filipino words as well as recipes for delicacies mentioned in the novel.

Alas, the series is coming to an end later this year, with the publication of Death and Dinuguan in November. The book revolves around a series of attacks on women-owned businesses — this time the dead body is found inside the Choco-Noir chocolate shop However, fret not, dear readers — Manansala has tried her hand at the Young Adult (YA) genre. Death in the Cards will be released on May 13. The book focuses on a teenage tarot card reader and amateur sleuth and the impact an ominous reading may have had (or not) on a classmate who

disappears shortly after the reading.

“I want to pursue ideas other than cozy mysteries — without deadlines. I will never be like the money doesn’t matter, because I need to pay the bills like anyone else, but I want to write what I want to write,” Manansala said.

Surprisingly, the YA genre is typically darker than co zy mysteries. Think Hunger Games. Titles explore coming-of-age themes such as identity, self-discovery and intense relationships. Manansala said that she enjoyed being able to include some swear words.

“I’m not trying to sound like a teenager because, at 39, I would sound ridiculous. I don’t want to be an old person trying to sound young. Besides, the slang would be outdated by the time the book came out. But it’s important to give the reader the feeling of what it’s like to be a teen, when everything is so heightened and personal and you feel so misunderstood,” she said. Manansala will be reading from and signing Death in the Cards on Thursday, June 19 at 6 p.m. at The Pile Bookstore, 7117 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn. The event is co-sponsored by the Forest Park Public Library, where Manansala once worked in the youth services department. Word on the street is there will be Filipino snacks and tarot card reading.

TODD BANNOR

Author Mia Manansala with some of her books at the Pile Bookstore on April 18.

PERC Y JULIAN

Higher pro le for lauded scientist

from page 1

“Despite his boundary-breaking accomplishments, Dr. Percy L. Julian is largely unrecognized,” PRI said of the project in materials shared with residents. “The Dr. Percy Julian Streetscape project seeks to honor his le gacy, provide a brand and identity for the district, and facilitate economic development to build meaningful capacity around organizations of the district.”

The corridor will likely include a variety of different artistic elements including sculpture, street murals, digital artwork, archways and storytelling installations outlining Julian’s life and accomplishments. Possible themes for sections of the corridor include Julian’s family history, his activism, his scientific accomplishments and his perseverance, according to PRI’s design concepts.

T he corridor will also be re presented by a branded identity, wh ich will feature a logo that includes b oth an image of Julian and artwork i nspired by his scient ific discove rie s.

PRI consulted with Faith Julian and with Oak Park River Forest Museum Executive Director Frank Lipo on what aspects of Julian’s time in Oak Park would be best to highlight.

“These exhibits, ranging from signage to public art, will inte grate into Oak Park’s thriving business district along Chicago Avenue to create a cohesive identity for the area,” PRI said of the project in materials shared with residents.

Following last week’s open house, the project is now moving into the final phase

Design elements for the proposed Percy Julian streetscape project

of the design process, according to PRI.

Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman said the village hopes to establish the corridor as a tribute to Julian’s scientific contributions to the world, a boost to businesses in the area and an honest reckoning with the hardship the family experienced after they moved to the village.

“The streetscape is infrastructure, it’s supporting small business, and at the same time telling it’s the story,” Scaman said. “We’ re creating the infrastructure for that sor t of oppor tunity.”

Oak Park’s village board has also allocated funds to preserve the Julian home itself, putting $1 million towards that goal as part of the 2025 fiscal year budg et.

Plans for what those preservation ef forts will look like are still undefined, Scaman said. But figuring out how Oak Park can best maintain the structure in line with Faith Julian’s wishes will be a goal for the new board of trustees that will be seated next week.

“It’s an investment that’s going to bring significant tourism value as well as historical value to the village of Oak Park,” Scaman said. “It would be tragic and irresponsible to let anything else happen to that home.”

Last year, an anonymous benefactor covered more than $30,000 in unpaid property taxes for the home to prevent the home from going to a tax sale.

The village’s ef for ts to preserve the home run alongside a proposal by U.S. Re p. Danny Davis who introduced legislation that would make the home a federally recognized historic site

“I’m very optimistic that we’re going to be able to restore the building and grounds,” Davis said in December. “We’re also going to be able to protect and keep articulating the value of what the good doctor and his wife did.”

Julian moved his family from Maywood to Oak Park, settling into a home near the corner of Chicago Avenue and East Avenue when Oak Park only had a few Black residents. The family’s home, where Julian’s daughter Faith Julian still lives today, was twice targeted in racial ter ror attacks trying to intimidate the Julian’s to leave Oak Park.

In addition to his scientific accomplishments, he was an influential advocate for a variety of human rights causes, including helping lead a push to pass Oak Park’s fair housing ordinance in 1968.

Julian will join Ernest Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright as figures honored with historic districts in Oak Park. The corridor will also share Chicago Avenue with several developing cultural districts on Chicago’s West Side, including Austin’s Soul City Corridor and Humboldt Park’s Invest South/West Humboldt Park Chicago Avenue Streetscape Project.

ROT! Another change in state tax law impacts River Forest budget

Administrator says overall nances are strong

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

For the second year in a row, tax changes at the state level are overshadowing the River Forest village budget.

A year ago, it was the threat of losing sales tax revenue with the elimination of the 1% state sales tax on groceries. This year, it’s the impact of a change to the classification of sales taxes on goods purchased out of state.

State officials eventually eliminated the grocery sales tax last year but allowed individual municipalities to institute a local grocery tax that will offset the loss. River Forest officials approved the local grocery tax April 14.

The five trustees present voted unanimously at the April 28 village board meeting to adopt the FY2026 general fund budget. The balanced budget, which was adopted without discussion as part of the consent agenda, was presented at a special committee of the whole meeting April 14.

Trustee Lisa Gillis did not attend April 28. The April 14 presentation was followed by a public hearing at which no member of the public spoke.

Covering non-recur ring expenditures with cash reserves for the third year in a row balanced the budget.

Estimated total revenues for FY2026 are $21,046,487, up from $20,505,784 in FY2025. Estimated total expenditures for FY2026 are $21,207,948, up from $20,922,908 in FY2025. A deficit of $161,461 is due to $173,725 in nonrecurring expenditures that will be covered by reserves. The budget shows a surplus of $12,264.

The fiscal year starts May 1 and ends April 30, 2026.

Revenue projections for Fiscal Year 2026 will be impacted by a change made by the state re garding classification of sales taxes collected on goods purchased out of state for use or consumption in Illinois, a change that will impact all municipal govern-

ments but will differ by community. This tax for merly was distributed per capita but now it is being determined by the jurisdiction where the item is shipped or delivered.

Beginning Jan. 1 all retail sales originating from outside of Illinois and made to Illinois customers by retailers with physical presence nexus with Illinois are subject to destination-based Retailers’ Occupation Tax (ROT) rather than Use Tax, according to the Illinois Municipal League. Previously, Use Tax was collected statewide and allocated to local governments based on population, re gardless of the shopping habits of residents. Now, ROT (sales tax) collections and allocations are determined by the jurisdiction where the item is shipped or delivered or at which possession is taken by the purchaser.

Revenues are received in arrears with the state distributing revenues three months after they are collected. This regulation was put into effect in January but municipalities did not receive their first payments until April

“We were aware of the change and adjustments were made to future revenue projections, but we are uncertain if the projections will need further review,” said Rosemary McAdams, finance director. “We will review after we see future collection amounts.”

Use taxes are a form of sales taxes that a purchaser owes on goods purchased out of state for use or consumption in Illinois, according to the Illinois Municipal League. If a seller does not collect the use tax, the purchaser is required to pay the tax to the state, which then distributes the revenue to counties, municipal governments and other governmental agencies after keeping a percentage for the state.

Matt Walsh, village administrator, who presented the budget with McAdams, said the village finances “overall are in a strong position.”

“I applaud all,” said Cathy Adduci, village president. “I thank Matt, Rosie and everybody for doing this hard work.”

British

Cantata/The British Home

Cantata/The British Home Celebrates its 100th Anniversary!

Celebrates

its 100th Anniversary! Cantata/The

Home Celebrates its 100th Anniversary!

Cantata/The British Home Celebrates its 100th Anniversary!

This year marks the 100th year of Cantata Adult Life Services (formerly, The British Home) providing campus

This year marks the 100th year of Cantata Adult Life Services (formerly, The British Home) providing campus living and at home services for local seniors and their families in Brookfield and the surrounding area. Cantata’s founders were the Daughters of the British Empire (DBE), a group of women dedicated to honoring their British heritage and traditions in the United States.

and at home services for local seniors and their families in Brookfield and the surrounding area. Cantata’s founders were the Daughters of the British Empire (DBE), a group of women dedicated to honoring their British heritage and traditions in the United States.

Yes, another story on the old phone company building on Lake Stre et

E.E. Rober ts designed the original, and much nicer, version back in 1915

By DAN HALEY Interim Editor

In the early 1920’s, DBE members established a not-for-profit nursing home on Cantata’s current campus in Brookfield, after receiving a donation of land from Samuel Insull, the CEO of Commonwealth Edison at the time. They welcomed their first residents in 1925, and named their endeavor “The British Old People’s Home”. This name was subsequently changed to “The British Home for Retired Men and Women” in the 1950’s, and then to the more contemporary “Cantata Adult Life Services” in 2012. In the early 1970’s, The British Home broadened its mission to serve people of all nationalities and ethnicities.

A couple of weeks back, the Journal reported on the sale of the old Illinois Bell building on Lake Street near Euclid. It went for $5.8 million and was purchased, along with 74 other now AT&T buildings across America, by Reign Capital, a real estate developer in Manhattan.

We described the building as nondescript and were saddened to learn its new owners would not implode it and start from scratch. Instead, it seems likely to remain a data center filled with, we suppose, data and the technology to contain such information.

Since its establishment 100 years ago, Cantata/The British Home has served tens of thousands of seniors and their families in the Chicago area, largely in the western suburbs of Chicago. In 2025, Cantata/The British Home will host and sponsor many activities and events throughout the year to commemorate and celebrate its century of exceptional service to seniors, their families, and our local community.

Got us thinking about how it all got started when 110 years ago the Chicago Telephone Company needed a building to house its operators to connect all the calls coming through the local exchanges.

Frank Lipo, the lead fellow at the Oak Park River Forest Museum, shared our curiosity and has the archives to back up any

714 Lake St. It was designed by E.E. Roberts, these days a noted architect in Oak Park history, though he did not get a mention in the Oak Leaves story.

Instead, the newspaper noted the building was designed to carry an additional o stories at some future date

But in 1915 it was large enough at 280,000 cubic feet to accommodate switchboards and operators enough to manage an anticipated 10,500 telephones in Oak Park, River rest and Forest Park.

It wasn’t until 1949 tha t the building was expanded by two floors and its exterior was fully remade into the dull monstrosity we see today. Notable that the phone company spent $5.5 million on the expansion, not quite as much as the data warehouse sold for recently. That update included converting all of the Euclid, Village and Forest exchanges to a full dial system.

Yes, those were the days when your phone number started with letters.

Art teacher’s ad background spurs creativity

For Willard School students

‘mistakes are just new ideas saying hi’

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

Once upon a time, Dana Parker used her vast art skills to help design major campaigns for an advertising agency, including for clients like McDonald’s.

She did that for 20-plus years and then decided to pivot.

She acquired her teaching certification and also a master’s degree in education from Dominican University.

In time, she became an art teacher at Willard Elementary School in River Forest, and if you want gauge her success in inspiring her students, all you have to do is visit the River Forest Public Library before May 5.

There, you’ll see boards upon boards of student artwork from youngsters spanning kindergarten through fourth grade.

“It was worth it,” said Parker, in her sixth year at Willard School, of her big pivot. “Both of my parents were teachers, and when you’re in advertising and you’re a director, you’re teaching those younger artists what to do.”

Now she’s got really young artists, like Evelyn, a first grader that has a multimedia piece on display at the library.

Evelyn created her masterpiece by dipping pieces of string into glue with water in it, then mixed it around and made squares and rectangles, before painting them with watercolors.

“I really like drawing,” Evelyn said. “We learn different techniques about art that we didn’t know about before, like weaving.”

There is a wide range of art at the show, all orchestrated by Parker. Many are flat and two-dimensional, like drawings and paintings. But consider what the third graders accomplished: A three-dimensional topical map with more than meets the eye.

The kids set a goal that they want to achieve in life, like perhaps growing up to be a professional soccer player. Every layer essentially shows the elevation of a mountain, and each layer represents a step they need to reach the top.

“They are choosing their goal and what

kind of shapes and what they are building with,” Parker said, adding she has a special philosophy with re gard to rules

There are none

“They are going to make mistakes,” she said. “Mistakes are just new ideas saying hi “Kids have a ton of anxiety these days,” she said. “I think they are more anxious than 10 years ago, and they need to be problem solvers. We have a lot of fun in here, and the kids know this hour they are with me is a safe space.”

Fran Arnold, who heads up marketing

and public relations for the library, said the art display was part of a strategic planning goal launched in 2019.

“It extends our reach and it brings families upstairs when they might not normally, because our children’s location is on the main level,” Arnold said. “So a lot of times people will come up (and say), ‘Wow, this is so cool.’ They get a broader sense of what our offerings are.”

Owen, another first grader, has a painting of a heart in the show. Even for someone so young, plenty of thought went into his creation, made with pencils and paint br ushes

His inspiration was patterns, not unlike those you find in life

“I tried a heart upways, and then I tried one down,” he said. “I kept doing it like that, with some to the side and some down.”

Parker is also an inspiration for Owen and her students, along with artists she introduces to them, like Paul Klee and Piet Mondrian. And what’s really interesting is that there are probably some future agency ad designers in her classes

“There is a fourth grader (who said), ‘Can we do more graphic design work?’” she said. “He knows he is passionate about it. I just have to feed it to him a little more.”

Ed Condon, the District 90 superintendent, is pleased with what he’s seeing.

“I am glad that the community (has) the opportunity to enjoy the superb artwork created by District 90 students,” Condon said. “Thank you to all the artists, to Dana Parker, and to the River Forest Public Library for making this special show possible.”

Local tourism e ort moves ‘beyond’ Oak Park with new name

Visit Oak Park becomes Explore Oak Park

and Beyond

Long hemmed in by its nar row name as it worked to expand its geography and become a re gional tourism brand, Visit Oak Park is rebranding itself as “Explore Oak Park and Beyond.”

A change has been long considered as the agency re presents 19 distinct communities in the near western suburbs. In addition to Oak Park, the entity works to build visitors and revenues for Riverside, Brookfield,

Forest Park, LaGrange as well as more farflung villages including Northlake, Schiller Park, Berkeley and River Grove.

Annie Coakley, executive director of the tourism organization, said in a statement that “this name change is more than just cosmetic – it’s about inclusivity and regional storytelling. Each community offers something distinct and together they create a destination experience that’s greater

than the sum of its parts.”

The goal of growing tourism is supported by funding from both local gover nments and the state of Illinois. Oak Park supports its Wright- and Hemingway-centric local tourism efforts, largely through a local tax on hotels and other over night accommodations

The agency said its goal is to attract more visitors and to extend their stays.

— Dan Haley

PROVIDED

Willard Elementary School art teacher Dana Parker, center, explains the ner points of an ar t project to her rst-graders on April 28.

Is Cheney Mansion haunted? Maybe

A hands- on experience with The Other Side Investigations

By HECTOR CERVANTES Contributing Reporter

After their debut investigation at Pleasant Home last October, The Other Side Investigations team returned last week for a second public investigation, this time inviting participants to join them in exploring another Park District of Oak Park owned site, the historic Cheney Mansion. There have long been stories about various apparitions at the block-long Cheney home and garden at 220 N. Euclid Ave. So this event was overdue.

After hearing the history of the mansion, the group of participants split into three different teams to begin their investigations. Each team started in one of the designated rooms — the parlor, the library or the master bedroom — and spent time exploring and gathering information. Af-

ter their initial investigation, the teams rotated so that everyone had the chance to investigate each of the three rooms.

Equipped with devices provided The Other Side Investigations team, they searched for signs of paranormal activity, guided them through the experience explaining the equipment used to detect paranormal activity, such as the REM ghost box, and K2 meters.

Demi Kedrowski took her friend Melissa Graves as a birthday gift to the Cheney Mansion investigation.

Kedrowski and Graves b dosing rod asking yes and no to try and communicate with the When they were using the ing questions, the rods were moving wild ly at first, but then the activity settled down.

The rods are used to respond to yes or no questions by moving in different directions. If they cross, it indicates “yes,” and if they open wide, it signifies “no.” They can also point in specific directions.

Does Cheney Mansion have an “other side”?

Kedrowski and Graves said they enjoyed getting to use ghost-hunting tools on their own and guide the investigation. They liked that it felt hands-on and personal and said the energy in the room seemed to make the spirits more willing to interact.

“I’ve been on so many haunted tours and had no experiences, so I just assumed we’d go up there, and the whole time they’d say, ‘Oh, nothing’s happening.’ So, the fact that we got responses was really exciting to me,” Graves said.

In a Halloween themed story in the Journal in 2018, Kelli Kline, a past president of the Oak Park River Forest Historical Society, said, “Cheney Mansion is big haunted. They’ve had all sorts of weird stuf f going on.” She described caretakers closing up with all the lights turned of f and an employee opening in the morning with all lights blazing. Re ports of a woman in white on a stair landing have also been reported, she said.

Last week David Kaletta, a team member with The Other Side Investigations, explained some of the equipment participants used in the investigation. Kaletta has worked with dials and rods for about 15 years, explaining that these metaphysical tools are not scientific or electronic but instead operate using spirit energy. He notes that rods tend to be more effective in rooms with high energ y.

“The first two groups had the most activity in the parlor. By the time the third group got in here, we noticed that it kind of

died down. The rods weren’ t as active. Most of the REM pod wasn’t active. We even felt the energy in the room different as it was before the first two groups came in. It felt, you can feel kind of the electricity in the room,” Kaletta said.

Noelle Combs, Cheney Mansion’s special events coordinator, provided a brief history of the mansion prior to the groups splitting up and investigating the rooms. She traced its ownership and major changes over the years.

Combs explained how Charles E. White designed the house in 1913 for the Sharp family, who had lived in a Victorian home on the same property before tearing it down.

“Mrs. Sharp was disabled and in a wheelchair, so this house was equipped with an elevator. Mrs. Shar p, unfortunately, passed away in 1915, shortly after the house was completed. The Sharp family lived there until 1921, and their son, Nathan, married Marie Walsh in the mansion. In 1922, Andrew and Mary Hooker Dole purchased the home,” Combs said.

Andrew and Mary Dole added the solarium. The Doles eventually willed the property to the Park District of Oak Park, and their niece Elizabeth Cheney inherited it, living there until her death in 1985. Cheney collected over 200 rare books, and a set from the house’s library is now in the Smithsonian.

HECTOR CERVANTES

hours?

$300K stolen in Austin Boulevard bank truck mishap

Oak Park police are investigating after an armored vehicle’s back door swung open, leading to hundreds of thousands in cash being stolen

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

Oak Park police are investigating after hundreds of thousands of dollars flew out onto the street when the back door of an armored truck came open, according to police activity re ports.

The truck was traveling south bound on Austin Boulevard shortly after 5 p.m., April 22, near its intersection with Jackson Boulevard when its “backdoor opened by unknown means and three bags full of United States currency fell out,” according to the police re port.

When the re presentative from the truck company contacted police, he said that he’d observed “50 to 100” people picking up money from the scene, according to police. The estimated loss from the incident was $300,000, according to police.

Assault and battery arrests

Oak Park police made arrests in connection with several violent incidents over the last week.

A 67-year-old Oak Park man was arrested on assault charges in connection with an incident that happened in July 2024. The man was arrested after police responded to an animal complaint against him, and learned he had been re ported for assault, according to police.

Oak Park police arrested a 24-year-old Chicago woman on aggravated battery charges on April 25, according to police.

The woman had re por tedly punched an Oak Park resident re peatedly in the face before slamming the victim’s head into the curb of the sidewalk, according to police.

On April 23, police arrested a female juvenile on charges of aggravated domestic battery, according to police.

Firearm investigation

Oak Park police are investigating a port of ag gravated unlawful firearm use at a g as station on April 27. A man re po edly threatened a village of Streamwood resident with a firearm during an argu ment over a parking spot before fleeing the scene in a white pickup truck, accord ing to police

Art theft

On April 22, a woman re por tedly stole a painting of flowers from an Oak Park store valued at more than $1,000, according to police. The woman removed the painting from the wall and left without paying, according to police.

These items were obtained from Oak Pa Police Department re ports dated April 22-28 and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police ha provided us with a detailed a description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Man dies a er falling onto train tracks at Oak P

Oak Park’s police and re departments responded to the incident shortly after midnight Friday morning

By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter

A man was electrocuted and died after falling on the tracks at the CTA’s Oak Park Avenue Green Line station shortly after midnight on April 25.

Oak Park police and fire department personnel were dispatched to the CTA station for a call of a person who was observed to be unresponsive on the tracks at 12:08 a.m., the Village of Oak Park announced.

The deceased man has not been identified at this time.

Video from the CTA station re por tedly showed an unknown man exiting a westbound train, sitting briefly on a platform bench before falling of f. The on-duty atten-

VILLAGE HALL

Presentation delayed

from page 1

posal won’t come up for board review for multiple months.

What has been learned in back-and-forth vetting of the work of architectural firm JLK with village staf f, is that when plans are eventually presented, the board will see three different proposals for the police station and village hall, all with different price tags.

According to Village President Vicki Scaman, the least expensive proposal will likely end up projected around $75 million, a mid-level option projected at about $100 million, and the costliest option at roughly $120 million.

The final project will likely include elements from all three proposals, she said.

Village Manager Kevin Jackson said village staf f is still working with JLK to get a final proposal that reflects the village’s priorities for the project, both in terms of financial and design concepts.

“It’s not a linear process where the consultants do the work and we just take it and say, ‘Here you go board.’ That’s why you have experts here on staf f — to evaluate, opine and adjust,” Jackson told Wednesday Journal. “Our staf f of experts are do-

dant observed the incident on camera and went to the platform to speak with him.

The man re por tedly appeared intoxicated and indicated at the time that they were not in need of any assistance. The attendant then left the platform to make proper notification to CTA Control, according to the village.

When the attendant returned to the platform approximately three minutes later, they observed that the subject had fallen onto the tracks, where investigators believe that they made contact with the electrified third rail, according to the village.

Power was temporarily shut of f as the man was removed from the tracks by the Oak Park fire department. There were no other travelers on the platfo rm at the time, according to the village

ing our due diligence on the analysis of the work produced so far by our consultant. They’ve done admirable, yeoman’s work; it’s just that we work together as a team. We’ve asked them to do certain things in terms of scope of work and then we go back-and-forth as we analyze it until we get a complete product.”

A gap in analysis over how the different proposals would impact taxes in the village was a key factor that delayed the March 18 meeting, he said.

“We were working on an accelerated schedule to try to get back with preliminary design options,” Jackson said. “There was a specific question re garding the property tax levy so we were taking a look at that as well in the context of finalizing the work around the options.”

able to serve our residents in the way that they expect.”

Issues long expected to be addressed by the architect’s proposals include how will village hall be made more accessible to people with disabilities, how will parking at the facility be impacted, to what extent will the building be renovated as opposed to reconstructed, and how can the village balance modernizing village hall while preserving its historical character.

“We’re really looking forward to what c reative solutions come out of this, de ning this idea of what open government looks like here for the next 50 years.”

VICKI SC AMA N Oak Park village president

“We’re really looking forward to what creative solutions come out of this, defining this idea of what open government looks like here for the next 50 years,” she said. “The issues on which they’re trying to creatively problemsolve haven’t really changed — they’ve been big problems.

pictures of what the construction project would cost the village Scaman held through the campaign that it’s been her priority and the will of the entire board that the total cost of the project, including both police station and village hall renovation, be ke pt as close to $100 million as possible. Sitting trustee Parakkat contended that the project would balloon to at least $140 million if continued under Scaman’s leadership.

Parakkat said Tuesday that he was surprised to learn he wouldn’t get the chance to vote on the project’s future but hopes the village will proceed with the project responsibly.

“I was more surprised than disappointed. We’ve all spent a lot of time to having this discussion, so it would’ve been good for the community to have that discussion with this board,” he said. “The process has already been delayed for two years and now it looks like it’ll be delayed until the summer. I just hope that we get to the right decision.”

Scaman said it is for the best that the meeting wasn’t rushed, and that the board evaluates a set of proposals that have been properly vetted by the village staf f.

“Nothing has changed about where we’re going,” she said. “We’re looking for a solution that’s going to be sustainable, that won’t just be a Band-Aid, that is financially responsible for our residents and that is

“I trust that the seven members of the board are going to take what are continuing to be ingenious, creative ideas to solve that problem.”

Debates over the funding and scope of the village hall project became a central issue in the village presidential election this spring, as Scaman and challenger Ravi Parakkat presented dramatically different

Scaman said she wants the board to approve a plan that reflects the expertise of the architects and the village’s staf f, and the wishes of residents.

“I’m actually quite proud of how closely they’re listening and responding to the diversity of voices that they’ve heard on the project,” she said. “They’re making sure we’re not going to have a meeting just to have a meeting.”

Oak Park CTA Green Line station

Homes

Local real estate agent becomes her own client

Purchases a house she showed rst to other prospects, then sells her own house

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

Laura Maychruk is known for her work in the Oak Park Arts District, her previous career running the Buzz Café and her work as a real estate agent in River Forest and Oak Park. This spring, she became her own client, listing her River Forest home for sale for a new opportunity in Oak Park.

“It’s been interesting to be in the shoes of my clients,” she said.

Like all local Realtors, Maychruk has seen the real estate market achieve new heights in 2025. Her listings have drawn multiple offers and high prices.

“It’s been going on since January,” she said. “I was talking to my husband about how this market is just nuts.”

But it was not originally her attention to sell her

own home and buy a new one

About a month ago, a house on Columbian Avenue in Oak Park hit the market. She showed it to three clients. “It was awesome. A solid house. It needed a new kitchen and baths, but it was such a great house,” she recalled. “By Sunday afternoon, all three had texted me that they weren’ t interested. I told my husband that we should go take a look.”

With the youngest of their four children about to graduate from OPRF High School, Maychruk was feeling a call to make a change. She and her husband put in a bid and soon became the new owners of a fixer-upper.

The Maychruks have been in their River Forest home at 210 Gale for roughly 20 years. When they purchased it, their eldest child was five, and their youngest hadn’t yet made an appearance. Built in 1895, the house was a true renovation special. The Victorian home had been turned into a three-flat and covered in stucco. The couple retur ned it to a single-family home, rehabilitating both the exterior and interior. They earned two historic preservation awards for their work on the house.

PHOTO S PROVIDED

LAURA MAY CHRUK

LOVELY TO LOOK AT: Over 20 years, Laura Maychruk brought her River Forest home back to life. Airy and open with attention to preservation.

210 GALE

from page 15

As Maychruk recounted, “My house has been a labor of love. Everything is completely done. I’m looking forward to doing that again.”

She said that the fast-moving market was a catalyst that pushed her to move on from the home where she happily raised her family

Even though she’s an experienced real estate agent with her own firm, Maychruk said she had to make herself become the client when it came to marketing her own home.

“I told my stager to pretend it’s not me. Tell me what do,” she said.

Her stager recommended she get rid of anything painted yellow and re paint the walls a neutral white color. The stager also rearranged items and streamlined the house. Maychruk said that she realized she was just like her seller clients, “When you love a house, you don’t see it.”

It wasn’t always an easy message to hear, she said. “It’s painful to hear someone doesn’t like your style or how you use a room. Bottom line, she was right. The house looks great now.”

Maychruk did all of her own showings on her house noting that no one else knows her house like she does. “Of course, I disclose I’m the owner. I want to share so much minute details that it’s hard for me to shut up about it all

and just let them see the house,” she laughs.

The six-bedroom, three and one-half-bathroom home hit the market asking $1,349,000 on a Monday, and Maychruk was requesting that all of fers be in on Friday April 18, letting her have time to enjoy the Easter weekend with her family. As of press time, the house is under contract. While the kids have mixed emotions about leaving their childhood home, Maychruk emphasizes that the new place has plenty of room for them. She’s looking forward to bringing the 1927-era home back and hopefully winning some new historic preservation awards in the process.

PROVIDED BEFORE: What’s to say?

PHOTO S PROVIDED

Fane, Agent

Monday & Friday 9am-5pm Tues/Wed/Thurs 9am-7pm

Looking for a way to give back to your community?

Beyond Hunger’sCAN DO Community Challenge is a local hunger relief campaign during the month of April designed to heighten awareness about local food and nutrition security. The Challenge encourages schools, organizations, businesses, and individuals to become more involved with Beyond Hunger by participating in a fun, community-wide competition.

You can drop off canned food at our of ce April 1-30 for Beyond Hunger.

Learn more at gobeyondhunger.org/CanDoCommunity

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

Shrubtown: Grants on hold p. 21

Survival guide for a bully world

When I was in fourth grade, there was a boy who chased me home from school every day. Sometimes he would call my name, laughing. Sometimes he would try to hit me with little rocks as I ran full speed toward the safety of home. I would run through the door crying and out of breath and my mom and dad would call the boy’s parents who would swear that the boy really liked me, but promised that they would talk to him and get him to stop torturing me … but it ke pt on for months.

JULIANNE WOOD

One View

Until summer vacation, when I heaved a sigh of relief at hearing that the boy was transferring schools, hoping it was military school or a boarding school very far away . There have always been bullies in the world, and there always will be. Those small-minded insecure people with the big egos looking for someplace to vent, and someone to blame. Sadly, that’s just the way the world works, and it doesn’t always end in high school.

So how do you deal with bullies as an adult when you are no longer a 9-year-old child who can ask their parents to “fix it”? Those grade-school bullies have grown into adult bullies who now run the country and oversee pretty much every aspect of our daily lives.

According to the Anti-Bullying Alliance, 31% of Americans have been bullied as an adult, levels similar to adolescents, and 43% say the ne gative behavior to harm or intimidate has become more accepted over the past few years.

“Bullying is a coping strategy used to assert control when faced with personal limitations, whether intellectual, physical or otherwise,” says Charles Sophy, a Los Angeles-based psychiatrist and medical director “A bully gains power in a relationship by reducing another’s and shows little re gard for the consequences to a victim’s health or well-being.”

In a 2017 biography compiled by Washington Post journalists who talked to dozens of people who knew Donald Trump as a child, he was described as a loudmouth bully. At 5 years old, he leaned over his back yard fence to throw rocks at the neighbor’s toddler in a playpen. He beat up smaller classmates. He called the police because someone accidentally bounced a ball in his yard. And at age 8 he gave his music teacher a black

It’s time to

dream

In the Feb. 19 Viewpoints section, we published the first half of Re v. Lydia Mulk ey’s recent sermon, “Imagining a better world,” at First United Church of Oak Park where she is an assistant pastor. Because of the crush of election letters, we postponed printing the second half. Here it is:

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. could have preached “segregation is wrong and needs to stop.” He could have said, “Those people are evil and they’re making our lives harder.” He could have said, “Are you not outraged? What is wrong with you?” All of that would have been true and right, but that’s not what we remember him saying. What did he say that we can all quote in our slee p? What did he say that touched the heart of this nation? He said, “I have a dream.” He said, in essence, “Let me paint you a picture of what we ’re going to create together.”

At the time, the dream he shared seemed farfetched. In that moment, there was every indication that it was going to get worse before it got better. It would have made perfect sense to say, “Before we dream up a better nation, we’d better focus on just stopping some of this evil.” It would have made sense to say, “This is going to be a gradual process, so let’s be patient.”

But that is not what he said. In fact, King talked about the “tranquilizing drug of gradualism” in that same speech. He was not having that. He was not going to be patient and take it slow. He said he knew some were “in the midst of trials and tribulations.” He said, “Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the wounds of police brutality.”

What would you say in that moment? If you were asked to speak to that crowd, who were deep in the trenches of oppression and injustice? My instinct might be to comfort. It might be to name evil and call it out. I don’t know. But I know it wouldn’t have been what he said. It takes a prophet who has come close to God to say what he said.

He said, “Even though we face the difficulties of

today and tomor row, I still have a dream.” In the midst of active harm, this man said, “I have a dream.” And then he laid it out. A dream that Mississippi would be “an oasis of freedom and justice” (That seemed unlikely). A dream that black children and white children would join hands down in Alabama (Alabama?). A dream that black and white, Jew and gentile, protestant and Catholic, would join hands and sing together, “Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty we are free at last.” He didn’t dream that up when it was nearly tr ue. He imagined that hoped-for reality even as the exact opposite was happening. As people were beat up and thrown into jail in Mississippi; as dogs were released to attack in Alabama. That is when he dreamed. Things are not good right now. People are in danger. ICE is prowling around Oak Park There is an order calling for the elimination of government diversity programs. Military personnel who refused to be vaccinated for the good of society in the midst of a pandemic have been reinstated while those who are trans are in danger of being kicked out. Federal grants were paused that impact education, health care, housing, disaster relief, and more. There is an order to withdraw from the Paris climate ag reement and the World Health Organization even as we are dealing with bird flu. A Christian pastor was vilified for preaching mercy while a politician wrongly said that Christianity demands putting “us” before “them.” Billionaires are getting richer and gaining power while the poor get poorer, and the price of necessities goes up. Things are not good right now. My first instinct is to get angry or to cry.

So I think it must be time to dream. I think it’s time to imagine a world made whole. Not because we’re almost there, but because we’re not. It is not enough to complain about what’s wrong with the world. We need to dream. We need to imagine together

It’s one thing to fight against something. It’s another

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Rev. Martin Luther King on the Capi tol Mall in 1963.

LYDIA MULKE Y One View

OUR VIEWS

Francis was the real thing Questions on village hall

The next major reveal of architects’ plans for a new Oak Park police station and the substantive renovation of village hall was supposed to happen before the April 1 local elections. A village board meeting was scheduled. And then it was cancelled.

The vague reason was that the plans had been delivered to village staf f but that Village Manager Kevin Jackson said his staf f needed more time to evaluate the plans, maybe specifically the financing options.

That was embar rassing to incumbent Village President Vicki Scaman as her reelection campaign against sitting Trustee Ravi Parakkat had come down to conflicting views on how much this project would cost.

Scaman went on to win reelection by a more than comfortable margin. And she then rightly said that the current village board, which has been debating this topic for multiple years, would get the first look at the revised and staff-vetted plan before some members left of fice. A special village board meeting was scheduled hard against the date that the new board would take over.

And then, last Friday as the meeting agenda was to be released publicly for the meeting scheduled for April 30, that meeting, too, was cancelled.

A press release was issued.

The manager was quoted saying, “We remain committed to ensuring that any decisions regarding the Police Department and Village Hall operations are well-infor med and in the best interest of the community. We look forward to continuing this important conversation later in this summer.”

Happy that the release specified “this summer.”

President Scaman was quoted as saying, “We look forward to re-engaging the community when we have more complete information to share.” And, of course, she said it would be a “transparent and inclusive process.”

So far, this process has been both transparent and muddy. A fair amount of discussion but not much clarity in terms of priorities and costs.

The next phase under a newly constituted village board will need to be sharper if this project is ever to move forward and the hard and creative decisions necessary are to be made. How much will this cost? How will it be paid for? Can these two projects be staggered? What does a village hall actually need to look like in the decades to come?

Interesting to hear as Scaman talked to the Journal this week that the public should expect to see three distinct proposals from the architects this summer. Three different price points ranging from $75 million to $120 million.

She said the final plan will likely blend options from all three proposals.

There is lots to be done. And the next phase needs to be more focused

In the spring of 2013, I was putting finishing touches on a book titled, Unfinished Pentecost, about men and women who studied in Rome in the 1960s during the Second Vatican Council and how it changed their lives. I thought the book was done. T hen Pope Benedict retired, and the ensuing conclave chose a relatively obscure cardinal from Argentina to succeed him. So I added an e pilogue to my book.

Twelve years later, with Pope Francis’ death and another conclave soon to begin, I decided to revisit what I wrote back then about the pope who tur ned out to be the true successor to John XXIII:

KEN TRAINOR

Oh my. What have we here? Do we dare get our hopes up?

When Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina, the newly elected pontiff, announced he was taking the name Francis, hearts leaped. There’s a reason no pope before him has dared to take that name. It raises the bar — considerably. Calling yourself Francis is a commitment. Francis of Assisi is to Catholicism as Lincoln is to the U.S. presidency — the standard. The Gospel (aka “the good ne ws”) tells the story of an itinerant visionary who preached a radical messa ge of love and merc y, and Francis of Assisi, more than any other saint in the Catholic pantheon, li ved that messa ge. He famously said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” So this new Francis has some serious shoes to fill — presuming Francis of Assisi ev en wore shoes, which I doubt.

Re portedly, Bergoglio was sitting next to Cardinal Hummes, archbishop emeritus of Sao Paolo, Brazil, when he learned he had been elected pope. Hummes told him, “Don’t forget the poor.”

“Right away,” the new pope later told the media, “thinking of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi. … For me he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation. These days, we don’ t have a very good relationship with creation, do we?”

He described Francis of Assisi as “the poor man who wanted a poor Church.” Then he said th e words that many of us thought we would ne ver hear from a pope: “How I would love a Church that is poor and for the poor.” That prob ably doesn’t mean he’s going to sell of f the Vatican treasures and redistribute the wealth. What it means is … well, we’ll see what it means.

The new pope also had some remarkable things to say to the media. Journalism, he said, “demands a particular concern for what is true, good and beautiful. This is something we have in common since the Church exists to communicate precisely this. It should be apparent that all of us are called, not to

communicate ourselv es, but this existential triad made up of truth, beauty and goodness.”

At President Obama’s second inauguration, Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who co-chaired the ceremony, briefly addressed the assembled multitude, beginning with: “The novelist Alex Haley li ved by six words: Find the good and praise it.”

Good words to govern a Church by also. The last pope to live by those six words was John XXIII, the last pope who had a sense of humor and didn’t take himself too seriously, the last pope who was genuinely a “man of the people.”

“Find the good and praise it” also captures the tone of the Second Vatican Council, which Pope John XXIII called and, contrary to what its detractors and dismissives seem to belie ve, will ev entually save this Church.

By beginning humbly, Pope Francis has already raised the bar of expectations high. Can he sustain this? Can he return a corrupt Church to holiness? You can bet the unholy conni vers in the Curia (the Vatican bureaucracy) and elsewhere are already sharpening their knives.

Can the new pope reform a change-resistant institution?

If Pope Francis is the real deal, he will grow and de velop and evolve as a leader. Like Lincoln, like his namesake from Assisi, he’ll have the humility to learn from experience and from listening to others.

Do we dare to hope again?

So far, so good …

Pope Francis succeeded. He helped me believe the Catholic Church could be relevant again — for the first time since Vatican II. Here’s what he said about the Second Vatican Council in one of his early homilies:

The Holy Spirit annoys us. It moves us, makes us walk, pushes the Church to move forward. … The Council was a beautiful work of the Holy Spirit. But after 50 years, have we done ev erything the Holy Spirit in the Council told us to do? No.

We celebrate the anni versary, but we do n’ t want it to upset us. We don’t want to change and, what’s more, there are those who wish to turn the clock back. This is called stubbornness and wanting to tame the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the strength of God. It’s what gi ves us the strength to go forwar d, but many prefer the comfort of the familiar

Pope Francis’ papacy was a great beginning, but there must be a succession of Francises. No one pope can do it alone. His le gacy will live on only if the cardinals are wise enough to choose a successor from the same mold, who can guide the Church further along the path of necessary change.

Recalling the First United Church merger

The ’60s, to some of us, is a metaphor for a time of protests, violence and assassinations. Public expressions of concer n over civil rights and the war in Vietnam were ever present with marches that included friends and neighbors and that were the subject of varying concer n by churches

Among these churches were Oak Park’s neighboring cong re gations, First Presbyterian Church and First Congregational Church, where members became directly and indirectly involved, resulting in questions of the role of the Church in our society. While civil in nature, a consequence of such interest was lower membership.

The two churches, suffering the loss of those uncomfortable with such activities while maintaining large church buildings — expenses to maintain them, as well as staf f to serve their membership — sought a practical solution. In 1970 the idea of a merger of the two struggling churches into one stronger congre gation, involving not only traditional worship but also continued involvement in, and service to, the wider community beyond Oak Park’s borders, was discussed and approved.

To be resolved: Who will be the pastor of the combined church and which building would be used?

Which building to use was solved, for an extended period, by services alternating between the two buildings until it was apparent which building provided the most useful space and which facili-

ties’ long-term expenses would cost less.

A major issue was the 100-plus years of family history and physical involvement in the respective buildings. Only the passage of time would resolve this.

As one building would be sold. It was readily agreed that the sale proceeds would be exclusively used for the merged church’s ongoing and expanded mission to the greater local, national, and international community.

The resulting sale funds, upwards of 2-3 million dollars, exists today as the Special Mission Endowment Fund (SMEF).

It was further covertly ag reed that the two strong and highly re garded preachers (William Killem and Fred Momenthy) would alternate services every six weeks and facilitate a harmonious mixing of the congregations until they were functioning as one unified body with a common orientation to the future of the United Church

At that point, both ministers would leave about the same time for other positions in their respective denominations, resulting in the new First United Church of Oak Park to select its own minister.

This was done with great success with the selection of Rev. Edward Bergstraesser. So successful that First United is now celebrating the 50th anniversary of that merger.

Bob Downs First United Church member Oak Park

e coming gas-powered leaf blower ban

I would like to know how the village plans to roll out and implement the June 1 gas-powered leaf blower ban in Oak Park. It’s just about a month away.

As I’m sure you know, the village board passed an ordinance in 2023 and put in place a 2-year transition so landscape contractors could get used to the idea and the village could conduct outreach. It would be helpful for residents to

know what has transpired over those last two years, how ban will be enforced, and what citiz ens can do to help spread the word.

I am all in favor of this ban and switching to electric but am worried there will be a lot of resistance by landscaping contractors.

Karen Heller

Oak Park

A call to protect services for the aging

I have worked in the aging services sector for nearly five decades, and I have never encountered a moment as challenging and concerning as the one we face now.

On April 1, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cut half of the staf f at the Administration for Community Living (ACL) — the agency responsible for implementing the Older Americans Act (OAA). These shifts disr upt the agency’s functions, with its responsibilities possibly being redistributed across other HHS departments.

The ACL has a small staf f responsible for distributing funding for essential services, including home-delivered meals, transportation to medical appointments, fall prevention education, and respite for caregivers.

Last year, Illinois agencies funded under the OAA assisted 478,113 older adults and caregivers. The services delay or prevent nursing home placements, reduce emergency room visits and hospital admissions and ultimately save money by avoiding more costly care.

At AgeOptions, we see the impact that funding delays can have on our community. We collaborate and fund over 70 community-based providers to meet the needs of older adults. We don’t just serve them; we stand beside them. We see clearly how critical federal support is in addressing these needs.

Older adults are not an afterthought. They are parents, neighbors, mentors, and, in the future, many of us. They deserve more than silence in the face of significant policy decisions that impact their well-being.

For 49 years, I have worked to help ensure that this system remains strong. I can say with certainty that these cuts are not just shortsighted, they are deeply concerning. The erosion of ACL will destabilize a network that has taken decades to develop. This is an issue that must be addressed and has profound implications for the wellbeing of older adults across our nation.

Diane Slezak AgeOptions president and CEO Oak Park

Be part of the celebration

We have been Celebrating Seniors (older adults) in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park for 15 years. It started as an idea to raise public awareness around issues related to older adults, to promote senior groups and org anizations, to help seniors with emergency needs, and to foster cooperation between the organizations that serve older adults.

Since then it has become a source of community connection, giving older adults, and the organizations that serve them, the spotlight for one short week. We celebrate past achievements, and we create opportunities for socialization that help forge lasting friendships.

Celebrating Seniors Week (May 8-15 this year) reminds me that seasons may change but not the need to recognize the contributions that older adults make to our community We honor and celebrate because we have a lot to be thankful fo r.

This year we are hosting what we think will be the world’s largest intergenerational spaghetti dinner. The free dinner will be hosted at three sites from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 9: the Oak Pa rk Ar ms and American House Oak Pa rk, and the Howard Mohr Community Center in Forest Park. We are bringing young and old to g ether to share a meal and conversation, plus play SINGO — a cross between Bingo and Name That Tune It will take both young and old to win the prizes. Whether you consider yourself young, old or somewhere in between, here’s your invitation to join us

For more information, including details about over 20 other events throughout the week, please visit www.celebratingseniors.net.

Jim Flanagan

Chairman,

Celebrating Seniors Coalition

SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck

Balanced budget and top-notch services

Tomor row, May 1, signifies the beginning of a new budget year for the village of River Forest. I am proud to announce that our budget, which was adopted Monday night, is once again balanced — a designation we have maintained for the past 13 years.

Our award-winning budget document (available at //vrf. us/finance) is packed with useful information and resources on village projects, priorities and financial trends.

I want to highlight page 182, which shows the village’s property tax rate has actually decreased over the past 10 years. No easy task! This demonstrates that our village board takes its guiding principles seriously, especially when seeking to stabilize our property taxes.

Although the cost of providing high-level services keeps rising, I am proud to see this goal continues to be achieved, which makes our village one of the more highly desirable communities around Chicagoland.

That’s our second guiding principle: strengthening our property values through high customer service. You can look around town and see your tax dollars hard at work. Throughout the village, our crews are repairing curbs, resurfacing roads and replacing sidewalk ramps. Although construc-

tion season can be messy (please pardon our dust), we start early to get competitive pricing and ensure our projects are complete before summer begins

Aside from the construction you see, you may have noticed the installation of skinny orange or yellow cones, called delineators, along our major streets. These are strategically placed to help calm traffic patterns, particularly where excessive speeding or traffic accidents have been common. This decision was the result of thoughtful discussions by the village board and the Traffic & Safety Commission in response to public concer ns. Speeding has decreased along these streets, making our community safer for our pedestrians and drivers

Top-notch services from the village, and our ongoing priority to ensure River Forest is as safe as possible, is why we have attracted or retained small businesses such as Hub Kitchen, Black Fodder Coffee, and MJ Floral Design. We’ve also been able to attract national brands such as CAVA, J Crew Factory and First Watch Restaurant — all of which contribute to our overall vibrancy.

I am excited to keep this positive momentum going. Cathy Adduci, Village president, River Forest

WEDNESD AY

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Viewpoints Guidelines

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

We reser ve the right to edit submissions. We do not have time to allow the writer to review changes before publication. We also do not have time to do more than super cial fact-checking, and because of our national epidemic of misinformation and conspiracy theories, when writers include statistical evidence to support their opinions, we require them to include the source of that information, such as credible websites, print publications, titles of articles and dates published, etc. Be as speci c as possible so that we and our readers have some way of assessing the credibility of your claims. Links may also be included for the online version. We follow the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics: seek the truth and report it and minimize harm. As a result, we will do our best not to publish pieces that espouse doubtful or debunked theories, demonstrate harmful bias, or cross the line into incivility. While we will do our best not to engage in censorship, we also do not intend to be used as a platform for misinformation. Your sources for fact-checking are a critical step in keeping the discourse honest, decent and respectful.

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

Pieces can be submitted through our online form at oakpark.com or directly to Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor, ktrainor@wjinc.com. For the latter, we prefer attached Word les or plain tex t included in the email.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

■ 350-word limit

■ Must include rst and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for veri cation only)

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

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■ Signature details as at left

e Oak Park-area birding group

We’re at it again, we birders. The Oak Park Migration Bird Walk group began its spring 2025 season on Friday, April 18, at Thatcher Woods. Fifteen of our 100 members walked near Trailside Museum, where we saw a Barred Owl, which we decided was in the area to visit its caged compatriot being cared for by the museum.

As usual, we walked across Chicago Avenue to see what was happening in the woods along the driveway to the Pavilion parking lot and around the great meadow to the west of the lot.

All in all, we had a very good first day, seeing 30 species of birds, including Purple Finches, a Norther n Harrier, a Yellowbellied Sapsucker, a Her mit Thrush and a Yellow-rumped Warbler, commonly the first warbler of spring.

We continued the next day at Columbus

LYDIA MULKE Y

from page 18

thing to fight for a world made whole. Both are important, but to just work against what we hate without building what we love would leave us with nothing. The absence of violence is not peace. The absence of greed is not equity. The absence of abuse is not justice What can we imagine together? Can you imagine our neighbors who are seeking refuge and asylum being loved and protected? Can you imagine a way to celebrate diversity and inclusion? Can you imagine clean energy? Can you imagine food on every table,

Park (report not in yet) and will have 13 more outings, ending on May 30, by which time a large proportion of our spring birds will be at their breeding grounds in the boreal (norther n) forests of the U.S. and souther n Canada. Many species stay around, of course, making warm weather birding a continuously satisfying activity.

August sees the reverse migration be ginning, and we go out again starting toward the end of that month to see the birds heading south, many of them in different plumage. The fall mi gration continues into November and even December, with the Sandhill Cranes flying over us in large numbers. But we end our fall migration walks in mid-October, since most of the migration has occurred by then. Our group is open to birders who would like to join us, no matter your level of

health and wholeness free of charge, shared blessings? Can you imagine the world as God dreams it? Can you imagine going out in joy and being led back in peace? Things so good even the mountains seem to sing and the trees seem to applaud God’s goodness? Just imagine!

I hope that together we can cast a vision worth working for, worth showing up for, worth giving generously to. I hope we’ ll see this as a holy opportunity. I hope we’ ll imagine new ways to steward our resources that lead us toward a world made whole

Maybe it’s time to dream a new dream.

Maybe it’s time to imagine together.

JULIANNE WOOD

from page 18

eye and told the teacher he didn’t know anything about music.

“When I look at myself in first grade, I’m basically the same,” Trump once told a bio grapher. “The temperament is not that different.” No kidding.

experience. If you’re a be ginner, we’ll help you get the hang of it. We suggest that you come with binoculars. Bor row a pair from a friend or relative to start. Once you’ve decided that birding is for you, we can recommend what binoculars to get for yourself.

If you’re interested in walking with us, contact Ed McDevitt at mcdevitt.ed@ gmail.com. You’ll get information on where to show up and how to get there. You’ll become part of our group messaging that will report on our outings and bring you news of interest to the group. Even if you don’t want to join us, go spend a bit of time just looking up and around. You might be sur prised at seeing birds that you’ve never noticed!

Ed McDevitt Ri ver Forest

A great week to be a neighbor

If you’ve been meaning to get more involved in the community but aren’t sure where to start, I’ve got a suggestion: Celebrating Seniors Week, hosted by the Celebrating Seniors Coalition.

This is one of those local gems that reminds me why I, as a gerontologist, chose to live and work here. There’s something beautiful about seeing intergenerational living at its finest — kids, teens, middle-aged people,

And now, as the 47th President of the United States, he stands with his finger just inches from the nuclear trigger. To say it is terrifying is an understatement. A ristotle once said: “Give me the chil d until he is seven and I will show you the man. ”

Many years later at a school reunion, I r an into the man who was once the little boy that chased me home from school. I told him how miserable he made my fourth gr ad e. He said he was sorry and swore he doesn’t remember ever doin g

Voices set us free

Aging is beautiful

Let go of dutiful

Allow to be seen

All that you’ve been

Etched on your skin

Loss, fail and win

With the heart of a child

And memories wild

Midst the chaos of life

Of change and strife

One thing holds true

Inside, it’s still you

So risk being seen

Go wild and careen

Light your fire

Come sing in our choir

So we all can see

How your voice sets us free.

and older adults all engaging in shared spaces, learning from each other. Whether it’s trivia, a nature walk, or just chatting over pasta, it’s a reminder of how vibrant life can be when we don’t silo ourselves by age — we integrate rather than segregate! I’ll be at the one of spaghetti dinners on May 9, and the Pet Pals Parade on Saturday, May 10th. I’ll catch several free workshops as well. But mostly, I’ll be there to listen — and to connect. I hope others do the same. The full list of free events is at celebratingseniors.net/events. Let’s make this a week that truly celebrates what it means to be neighbors.

Lydia Manning, PhD Gerontologist Resident of River Forest

that to me. He said, “I always really li ke d you. ”

I nodded, smiled and walked away, knowing that I had turned out just fine in spite of the bullying — or maybe because of it. That grade-school experience, and many more to follow, have taught me to not only stand up for myself, but to stand up for those around me who were unable, or too afraid, to stand up for themselves. Times have not changed all that much I suppose. I am still doing that today. My parents taught me to be kind, stand my

The Oak Pa rk/River Forest Sounds Good Choir “Broadway” Concert takes place at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 2, at Pilgrim Cong re gational Church, 460 Lake St. in Oak Park.

Val Gee

Oak Park

Village needs a leaf blower buyback plan

Infor mation has been circulating about the gas-powered leaf blower ban for a while now, starting June 1. But, we haven’t heard anything about a buy-back program for those who can’t af ford to go out and spend $300+ on a battery-operated blower. If Oak Park is truly concerned, why hasn’t this been implemented?

Steve Williams, Oak Park

ground, and try to remember that everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Strong people stand up for themselves, but the strongest people stand up for others.

It doesn’t matter how big your house is or how many rounds of golf you play or how much money you have. The boy that bullies the neighborhood has the potential to become the man who bullies the world.

Julianne Wood, a longtime resident of Oak Park and River Forest, now resides in Elmwood Park

VIEWPOINT S

Bring native plants to the Ike parkways

It was encouraging to see that Oak Park is now officially approving native gardens in the parkways in front of residences. An overlooked place ripe for native plantings is the parkway outside both sides of the Eisenhower. Right now it’s just weedy grass that the village has to mow all the time and is so nar row it can’ t be used for

recreation. Put in native plants and the butterflies and pollinating insects will reappear With more native plants in Oak Park, we will also get more exotic birds instead of just spar rows and robins. On top of all that, native plants are easier and cheaper to maintain.

Steven Olderr, Oak

Park

An intergenerational celebration

A couple of years ago, I attended some Celebrating Seniors Week events out of mild curiosity. I left with a full heart and a new “cookie lady” to use for special events. That’s the magic of this weeklong series.

Events like “Love, Loss, and Lifelong Lear ning” or “Pet Pals in the Park” might sound small, but they open doors to real connection and shared stories. This year, I’m especially excited about the digital resilience workshop as I can use more technology assistance. I am also looking forward to singing along with a fun entertainer.

We all benefit from stronger intergenerational ties. Whether you’re a senior, a caregiver, or just someone who believes in a more connected community, this is your invitation.

Take an hour. Bring a neighbor. Try a trivia night or a community lunch. You just might come away feeling better about the world.

Full event listings are at celebratingseniors.net/events.

Maureen Rafa Forest Park

Wishful thinking or patent ploy ?

Re garding contention around Oak Park Village Hall and an addendum to comments made by for mer Village President Anan Abu-Taleb in his March 18 letter to the editor, Anan outlined his dismay at President Scaman’s proposition to fund the ballooning budget of village hall renovations through situation of a coffee shop on the proposed campus.

The “benefit of the doubt,” assessment of this statement yields the takeaway that President Scaman woefully misunderstands the financial burden that the (by many accounts low) $100 million budget, would place on us villagers for decades to come. My skeptical side recalls a snippet of information relating to revenue bonds and Illinois Municipal Code (See ch.65 sec/5). Projects with a revenue generation element circumvent voter referendum requirements established by Illinois State Law. I can’t help but ask whether the lighthearted suggestion of the coffee shop will merely lay the groundwork for another “Leaf-gate.”

We just had an election, in which the

cost of this project was damn near the forefront, and President Scaman was victorious. She dismissed claims, mine included, when I ask what architectural elements, if any, influenced the previous change in direction on the project (see minute 87 on of the March 18 Council Meeting available on the village website.

The answer I received was, in my opinion, without adequate substance, given the millions and countless hours spent on the project in committees. With benefit of the doubt in mind, however, her answer was respectful and closed with a “Thank you for eng aging in your local government.”

On April 1 there were many more pressing issues on peoples’ minds, given our cur rent political climate, however my point is as follows: A “Vote for Vicky” was not necessarily, and should not be understood as, a vote to surrender our input toward the fate of our village hall. A work of art, this one explicitly belongs to the collective in which it resides.

Frank Lloyd Wright said, “You have to go wholeheartedly into anything in order

Lynn Winikates, 83

Ac tive volunteer

Lynn C. Winikates, 83, wife of James Winikates and sister of Sharon Johnston, died on April 23, 2025 of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. A resident of River Forest, Illinois,

A graduate of DePaul University, she was employed as a medical technologist upon graduation until relocating with her husband to Greenwich, Connecticut, where she became a stay-at-home mother with the arrival of their second child. After moving to River Forest, she was very active in several nonprofit organizations in the Oak Park and River Forest community, including the Women’s Auxiliary of West Suburban hospital, the Art Associates, Infant Welfare Society, and the Nineteenth Century Club, often serving in a leadership

role. She was also very active socially, playing golf, mahjong, and bridge, where she made many friends. In fact, if someone needed a good friend at a time in their life, they wanted to know Lynn because she would be there. She was also a very avid traveler, visiting over 50 countries and many places in the United States, sometimes with her husband and sometimes without.

Lynn was the mother of Maribeth Cavanaugh, James Louis (Jimmy) Winikates (deceased), and David Winikates, and the grandmother of Maeve Cavanaugh, and Dylan, Logan, and Drew Winikates Visitation will be held at St. Luke Church, 7600 Lake St., in River Forest at 10 a.m. on May 2, followed by Mass at 11 a.m.

Mary Lou Moran, 83

Life of the par ty

Mary Lou Moran (nee Andro), 83, of Elmwood Park, for merly a longtime resident of River Forest, died on April 26, 2025. Bor n on Dec. 3, 1941, she was an avid shopper and always the life of the party.

Mary Lou was the spouse of Bob Armbrust; the mother of Molly (Darrell) Kays, Kelly (Joseph) Spillane, Maura (Tom) Doyle and Dan Moran; the Grammie of Matthew, Tommy, Shannon, Danny, Maeve, Jeremy and Maddisen; great-Grammie of Zeke, Etta, Wyatt, Norah, Wrigley and Maeve; sister of Nan-

cy (late Bob) Svoboda and the late Billy (late Phyllis) Andro; the aunt of many and friend of countless others.

A visitation will be held on Friday, May, 2 at St. Bernardine Church, 801 Elgin Ave., Forest Park from 10 a.m. until the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org).

Arrangements were handled by ConboyWestchester Funeral Home

to achieve anything worth having.” Or in our case, keeping.

We must demand a standing commitment from President Scaman that our input as constituents will be honored in good faith, re gardless of bylaws set for th by state statute as it pertains to the chosen method of financing.

Works cited:

1. https://www.oakpark. com/2025/03/18/the-leader-we-need (Anan’s March 18 Viewpoints letter) 2. https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/

ilcs4.asp?DocName=&ActID=802&Chapt erID=14&SeqStart=215600000&SeqEnd=2 18000000&Print=True (Illinois Municipal Code surrounding bond issuance)

3. https://oak-park.granicus.com/ player/clip/2737?view_id=2&redirect=true (My public comment, made March 18 to the village board)

4. https://www.oakpark. com/2024/04/11/oak-park-village-hallremodel-cost (Speaks to money spent up until this point)

Aidan Sullivan, Oak Park

SPORTS

Lowery, Purta lead Fenwick so ball past Providence

Baseball, girls soccer look for a turnaround

By MELVIN TATE

Contributing Reporter

Alex Purta went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Leah Lowery went the distance in the circle as the Fenwick High School varsity softball team defeated host Providence Catholic 7-4, April 26.

Lowery allowed two earned runs and struck out three in seven innings, while adding an RBI single at the plate. Kailey Janda and Sofia Kateeb each had two hits for the Friars (5-4).

On April 24, Fenwick scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure a 10-0 run-rule victory against visiting Lincoln Park. Gianna Pescatore allowed just one hit and struck out eight in six innings, and Kateeb and Lowery had two hits apiece.

Fenwick baseball

After notching a huge Chicago Catholic League victory against visiting St. Ignatius, April 22, the Fenwick varsity baseball team hoped to build on it the following

day at Riverside-Brookfield. But the host Bulldogs had other ideas and defeated the F riars 5-4 in walk-of f f ashion as Damian Noa’s one-out single plated Ethan Smith with the game-winning run.

Anthony Henderson, Ben Jar necke, and Bryan Tunison Jr. each had RBI singles for Fenwick (7-9-1).

At the Priory in River Forest against Andrean (IN), April 26, JJ Obaldo went 2-for-3 and Tunison, Connor Davis, and Luca Ponzio each drove in a r un. But the F riars fell to the 49ers 15-5.

Fenwick has key Catholic League series this week with Marmion Academy (May 1, 3) and Leo (May 5-6). T he F riars also have the annual East Avenue Showdown with Oak Park and River High School at Triton Colle ge, May 2, at 6 p.m.

Fenwick girls soccer

The varsity girls soccer team hit a rough patch, suffering three consecutive shutout defeats. The latest loss took place in the Naperville Invitational, April 26, as the Friars

(5-7-1) fell 1-0 to New Trier. But Fenwick coach Craig Blazer has a good explanation for the Friars’ slump.

“We have some injuries and have missed girls due to the state math competition,” he said. “The group is still good and fared well against top competition; New T rier is the defending (IHSA Class 3A) champion. The week was a positive.”

Mia Carvalho and Jackie Keller shared

girls water polo get hot, too

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

After losing four consecutive games, the Oak Park and River Forest High School varsity softball team is on a seven-game winning streak, with the latest victory coming on Senior Day, April 26, in a 12-0 crushing

of visiting Amundsen in five innings. Maura Carmody (3-for-4) ended things via the run rule with a three-run homer.

“We lost to four teams that have been in the top 10 this year. Those were tough games,” said OPRF coach J.P. Coughlin of the brief slump, “[but] this group isn’t going to stop and let adversity destroy them. They

figured it out, and we’ve been playing really good defense this week, which helps.”

Molly Chambers got the win in the circle for the Huskies (18-4), allowing just two hits in five innings. Sofia Ayala went 2-for-3 and had two RBI, and Gloria Hronek and Charlie Terry also drove in two runs apiece.

“We’re averaging just under 12 runs per

goalkeeping duties against New T rier. Carvalho made four saves and Keller five. In a bright development that bodes well for Fenwick’s future, three freshmen – Lila Gaddipati (team-high 10), Quinn Sansone (six), and Keira Magee (four) – have combined for 20 of the team’s 26 goals this season. T he F riars resume play in the Naperville Invitational at Naperville North, May 1.

game,” Coughlin said. “I don’t think there are many in the state who can say that, especially with our schedule and the type of pitching we’ve faced. If our defense can hold solid and with Anna’s (Topel) return on the horizon, we’re going to be pretty

Continued on next pa ge

STEVE JOHNSTON

Fenwick’s Alondra Avila (22) works past Hinsdale Central’s Peyton Rohn (11) during the Ed Watson Naperville Invitational at Downers Grove North, April 25.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Ramel rising for Trinity soccer

The junior has 70 goals in her career

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Starting this week Wednesday Journal will feature at least one local high school student-athlete, spotlighting not only his or her accomplishments in athletics, but their interests.

Our first Athlete of the Week is Trinity High School junior soccer forward Grace Ramel. She’s already tallied 70 goals in her career, including 24 this spring, and she gives credit to her parents for her success. “Throughout my soccer career I have had ups and downs, but the constant support and encouragement from my parents has truly been what drives me to want to not only better myself but help lift the girls on my team as well,” Ramel said. “Whether a game is bad or good, I know I can turn to my parents to tell me what to work on and still reassure me that one bad game doesn’t define me and that the success I have had on the field and the determination to not lose rather than win is what drives my success.”

Here are some more thoughts from Ramel:

On how Trinity has adjusted to new

tough down the stretch.”

OPRF travels to Glenbard West for a key West Suburban Silver showdown, April 30, then hosts Proviso West on May 2.

OPRF baseball

After a 3-5 start to the season, the OPRF varsity baseball team has won 10 of its past 11 games.

“Everyone starts clicking at a different time,” said OPRF coach Kevin Campbell, “and we’re starting to click. I don’t think we have met our peak yet, but I’m loving the way we’re playing right now.”

On April 26, Brady Green had three hits, including a two-run homer, and drove in

co-head coaches Fabio Duque and Chris Rutili: “I think my teammates and I ha adjusted very well. Our new coaches ha taken the reins and shifted the soccer program in the right direction. The coaches have worked diligently to bring us together on and of f the pitch by including more fun and team-bonding activities.”

On how the season is going: “Personally I think my season has gone great. I walked onto the pitch for the first game of the season not expecting to score more than a goal and ended up scoring four, bringing me to 50 [career] goals. As a team, I could not be more proud of my squad. These girls have grown on the field so much over the past few years.”

Trinity junior soccer forward Grace Ramel (#24 in blue) has possession of the ball in a game earlier this year. She has a team-high 24 goals for the Blazers.

Hobbies and interests: “I love to cook and bake. I made it to state one year for my lemon cheesecake as a Girl Scout. I also enjoy spending time with my friends, whether we’re going out to get food or just being [with] one another. I’m a very big lover of movies as well, especially the horror g enre.”

Favorite thing to eat: “Definitely steak with mashed potatoes and broccoli, and mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert.”

Famous person Ramel wants to meet:

four runs as the Huskies (13-6) rolled to an 11-1 victory over host Hinsdale South in five innings. Ethan Moore, whom Campbell said is drawing interest from Major League Baseball scouts, went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, Timmy Leark 2-for-2 with two runs scored, and Joseph Leshnock drove in two runs.

“Guys who came of f the bench had really good games, whether it was defensively, on the mound, or at the plat e,” Campbell said. “We feel the depth of this team makes it special. Nobody can take a play of f or feel too comfortable because there’s a guy right behind him who can get the job done as well.”

OPRF has a busy week ahead with three

“Hope Solo. She has been my favorite [U.S. Women’s National Team] player since I was a little girl. I used to be a goalkeeper and she was my role model for the longest time, and still is. She’s herself unapologetically, and I admire how much of a leader she is, both when she played for the USWNT and in her fight for equal pay for women in sports, as well as gender equality and rights for women.”

On her colle ge recruiting process: “I would like to say it’s going well. I am looking for a school that will support the student aspect of student-athletes. I would

WSC Silver games and three non-conference games, including the annual East Avenue Showdown against Fenwick at Triton Colle ge, May 2, at 6 p.m.

“Even if I wanted to forget about it, no one lets me,” Campbell said of the meeting with the Friars. “Everyone’s excited.”

OPRF girls water polo

The OPRF varsity girls water polo team won the Homewood-Flossmoor Quad, April 26, in impressive fashion, taking all three matches.

In the opener with Argo, Jada Noyes and Lucy Vander Griend each scored three goals and Ellen Claud added two as the

like to major in pre-medicine and minor in biolo gy. I would love to pursue a career in colle ge, but I wouldn’t play at a level higher than that because I want to one day open my own practice.”

Goals for the rest of the season: “I believe and have set myself to achieve the goal of reaching 75 [career] goals by the end of the season. I think that’s highly achievable as I am at 70 goals now, and my teammates and I have such a great dynamic. I expect this team to be a real force to be reckoned with and hold their own against even fierce competition.”

Huskies (13-7) rolled to a 13-3 victory. Abi Ago made five saves in goal while Zoie Segbawu added three saves.

In OPRF’s second match, Maeve Gibbs and Claire McFarlin had three goals apiece and Noyes two in a 14-5 victory over Chicago University High. Segbawu made 10 saves, playing all but two minutes, as Ago left with an injury.

In the finale of the round-robin format, McFarlin and Vander Griend each scored four goals and Noyes tallied two more as the Huskies routed host H-F 12-2. Segbawu had seven saves, and Ago returned to make four saves.

OPRF travels to Hudsonville, Michig an, for the Hudsonville Invitational, May 2-3.

COURTESY OF CHRIS RUTILI PHOTO CREDIT

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING

Plaintiff,

-v.-

JOSE G. ROMERO, GEMA A. ROMERO, BYLINE BANK, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO COMMUNITY BANK OF OAK PARK RIVER FOREST, CROWN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC, LVNV FUNDING, LLC Defendants 2023 CH 02946

812 HUGH MUIR LN MAYWOOD, IL 60153

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on June 10, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 13, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 812 HUGH MUIR LN, MAYWOOD, IL 60153 Property Index No. 15-02-322016-0000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $183,864.65.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation.

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

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

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSES-

SION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 151701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact CHAD LEWIS, ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ

SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 205 N. MICHIGAN SUITE 810, CHICAGO, IL, 60601 (561) 241-6901. Please refer to file number 22-087686. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc. com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CHAD LEWIS ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ

SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC

205 N. MICHIGAN SUITE 810 CHICAGO IL, 60601 561-241-6901

E-Mail: ILMAIL@RASLG.COM

Attorney File No. 22-087686

Attorney ARDC No. 6306439

Attorney Code. 65582

Case Number: 2023 CH 02946 TJSC#: 45-910

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2023 CH 02946 I3264296

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

U S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR CITIGROUP MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST INC., MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-WF1, Plaintiff, -v.ERICA TWYMAN; PRESCOTT SQUARE TOWNHOME ASSOCIATION, Defendants. 17 CH 05787

11448 PRESCOTT LANE, WESTCHESTER, IL 60154 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on 11/14/2024, an agent of Auction.com, LLC will conduct the auction in person at 12:00 PM on June 4, 2025 located at 100 N LaSalle St., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60602, and will sell at public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate.

Commonly known as 11448 PRESCOTT LANE, WESTCHESTER, IL 60154

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Property Index No. 15-30-204010-0000

The real estate is improved with a Multi-Family. The judgment amount was $523,431.11 Sale Terms: 20% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to Auction. com, LLC, No third party checks will be accepted. All registered bidders need to provide a photo ID in order to bid. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. (relief fee not required) The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a certificate of sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property, prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by the Condominium property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9 (g)(l) and (g)(4).

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 151701 (C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

For information, contact Plaintiffs attorney: McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC (312) 346-9088 please refer to file number 20-06140IL. Auction.com, LLC 100 N LaSalle St., Suite 1400 Chicago, IL 60602 - 872-225-4985 You can also visit www.auction.com.

Attorney File No. 20-06140IL Case Number: 17 CH 05787

NOTE: PURSUANT TO THE FAIR

DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT, YOU ARE ADVISED THAT PLAINTIFF’S ATTORNEY IS DEEMED TO BE A DEBT COLLECTOR ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. I3265352

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES LLC

Plaintiff,

-v.-

ROBERT JONES JR., BERNICE L.

DAVIS JONES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - COMMISSIONER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVEL-

OPMENT

Defendants 2024 CH 08540 3519 MONROE ST BELLWOOD, IL 60104

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on February 28, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 30, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 3519 MONROE ST, BELLWOOD, IL 60104

Property Index No. 15-16-103029-0000

The real estate is improved with a residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc. com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-24-05347

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2024 CH 08540

TJSC#: 45-674

Case # 2024 CH 08540 I3265368

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. GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday 19 May 2025, at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, the Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing to consider a conditional use permit and site plan review to allow the construction of a self-serve vacuum facility in the B-2 Community Shopping District on the following described properties(s):

Parcel 1:

Lot 15 (except that part described as follows: beginning at the Southeast corner of said Lot; thence South 89 Degrees 11 Minutes 56 Seconds West (assumed) 5.00 feet along the Southerly line of said Lot; thence North 44 Degrees 11 Minutes 47 Seconds East 7.07 feet to the Easterly line of said Lot, said Easterly line being also the Westerly right of way of Harlem Avenue; thence South 00 Degrees 48 Minutes 23 Seconds East 5.00 Feet along said right of way to the point of beginning) in Block 1 in South Addition to Harlem, being a Subdivision of the East 1/2 of the West 1/2 of the South East 1/4 of Section 13, Township 39 North, Range 12 East of the Third Principal Meridian, in Cook County, Illinois.

Parcel 2:

Lot 16 in Block 1 in South Addition to Harlem in Section 13, Township 39 North, Range 12 East of the Third Principal Meridian, in Cook County, Illinois.

Commonly known as 7201 Lexington Street, Forest Park, IL

PINs: 15-13-407-026-0000, 1513-407-034-0000

The applicant is Lex 7201, LLC dba Crystal Car Wash

Signed: Marsha East, Chair Planning and Zoning Commission

Published in Forest Park Review April 30, 2025

Notice of Public Meeting

Proviso Township High School (PTHS) District 209, located at 8601 N. Roosevelt Rd, Forest Park, IL, will hold a “timely and meaningful consultation” virtual public meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private or parochial schools or are homeschooled within the district for the 2025-2026 school year. Parents of homeschooled students residing within the boundaries of PTHS District 209 who have been or may be identified with a disability are encouraged to attend. This meeting is being conducted in compliance with Illinois State Board of Education regulations. To receive a Microsoft TEAMS invitation to participate in the meeting, please email rfleming@ pths209.org. For questions or additional information, please contact: Ms. Ramonda Fleming, Ed.S District Coordinator (708) 497-4650

Published in Forest Park Review April 9, 16, 23, 30 and May 7, 2025

Advertisement for Bid 2024 or 2025 Pick Up Truck

Forest Park Schools District #91 will be accepting sealed bids for a 2024 or 2025 Pick-Up Truck with a plow.

Sealed bids will be publicly opened and read at 12:00 P.M., on May 14, 2025 (Wednesday), at the District Office, 424 DesPlaines Avenue, Forest Park, IL in the Board Room. Bids received after this time and date will not be considered.

Specifications can be obtained by contacting Mr. Bob Laudadio, Supt. of Buildings and Grounds at 708-366-5700 x3313 or at blaudadio@fpsd91.org.

Published in Forest Park Review April 30, 2025

Submit events and see full calendar at oakpark.com/events

Your News. Your Community.

Growing Green

Want to play to your strengths? Get composting

Oak Park’s composting e or ts reach new heights

By MARTHA BRENNAN Contributing Reporter

The sun is shining, birds are singing, and the warmth is upon us, which means one thing: it’s composting season. Well, this may be the case in any other town. But in Oak Park, it’s always composting season.

In 2024, the village won the Pathfinder Award from the Illinois Recycling Foundation. Erica Helms, environmental services manager in Oak Park’s public works de par tment, said the award praised Oak Park’s “successful year-round residential food scrap collection.”

T he award noted Oak Park’s ef for ts provide “excellent guidance for other communities.”

But how does Oak Park do it? It goes back 12 years.

The village has demonstrated its ability to unite in protecting the Ear th since 2013, when Oak Park implemented a “villagewide” composting ef fort, according to the Chicago Tribune The program provided par ticipants – who pay a monthly fee that be gan at $14 and now sits at $16.31 in 2025 – with a 96-gallon container to be placed adjacent to trash and recycling bins.

Twelve years later, the program still stands. Only now, in 2025, there are fewer obstacles than in previous years, making the composting process easier than ever

This is thanks to the construction of Whole Ear th Compost, a facility whose existence allows for certainty that all of Oak Park’s compost has a final destination, where it can then be tur ned into soil.

The facility is located on Chicago’s

COMPOSTING on pa ge B4

Organic Lawn Care Since 2007

Compost tea soil feedings

Natural techniques for pest control

Biochar & microbiological soil amendments

Yard Drainage Solutions

Sustainable Landscaping

Native Pollinator Gardens

Vegetable Gardens

We are the ONLY Green Shield Certified

Growing Green 2025

OPRF’s geothermal system to be completed this summer

$12.5 million heating and cooling system, under the football eld, expected to save the distric and reduce carbon emissions

By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter

The installation of a geother mal heating system under the football field at Oak Pa Forest High School is expected to be c summer, in advance of the start of football practic

“The status of the project is actually going considering the cold winter that we had,” said mann, OPRF’s director of construction.

Geother mal heating and cooling systems earth’s stable temperature to ef ficiently heat buildings. The system will provide 100% of cooling, and ventilation for the high school’s education facilities, known as Imagine OPRF new facilities are currently being built in wing of the building.

An analysis comparing the geother mal system to a more traditional boiler-and-chiller system found that geothermal will save the district roughly $385,000 per year while reducing CO2 emissions by an amount equivalent to driving an average passenger car 504,984 miles

“There are big savings in the utility costs,” Bergmann said.

The $12.5 million geother mal project began in November 2024, with the removal of the turf. Since then, the instillation of 240 geother mal wells, each descending 500 feet into the earth, has been underway.

There are only 25 wells left to drill, according to Bergmann, so that portion of the project will be completed by the first week of May, with expectations that the system will be

UNDERGROUND: e geothermal system draws energy from 500 feet below ground.

fully installed in July.

The system is being installed by Veregy, a self-described provider of energy-efficient solutions Once the wells are complete, the contractors will start working on horizonal piping that will connect the wells.

Once the project is completed, the 240 geother mal wells will all contain fluid. Electric pumps will circulate that fluid in and out of the school. In the summer, heat from the

school will be transferred into the ground. During the winter, heat will be extracted from the ground and transferred nto school.

Project 2, which is part of a long-ter m capital projects lan, includes a new pool, multi-use gyms, locker rooms, PE classrooms and a weight room. The expected completion date of Project 2 is summer 2026.

“The geother mal field that we’re installing now is only designed to heat and cool Project 2,” Bergmann said.

Of the $12.5 million cost of the project, approximately $10.5 million is being spent on the actual installation, while the remaining $2 million will go toward replacing the drainage and the turf on the field. However, this cost does not inlude what are expected to be significant federal rebates.

The geother mal system aligns with District 200’s ambitious Sustainability Policy, which includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 45% of 2012 levels by 2030 and 100% by 2050. Geother mal is more ef ficient than gas or electric heat and emits no greenhouse gases.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to do another project like this in the future for a different part of the building,” Bergmann said.

The final part of the system’s installation will entail putting the turf back on the field, which Bergmann said will take three or four weeks.

“That’s anticipated to be a big project,” Bergmann said. Since the football team begins practice at the beginning of August, Bergmann said it’s important that construction of the geother mal system is complete by the July deadline.

“We should be in great shape at the end of July for when the kids come back and football practices start,” he said.

Growing Green 2025

COMPOSTING

southeast side and is built on top of a for mer landfill. conclude the composting process, the facility processes composted items that have been collected by Lakeshor Recycling Systems and transfer red to a transfer station in Maywood.

Once compost arrives at the facility, it gets divided i two categories: “green” and “brown.” The “brown” category includes yard waste and “dry material”, while “green” primarily includes “wet” items, such as food scraps Helms explained the positive impact this facility on Oak Pa rk’s composting ventures

“In the past, it has been that there weren’ t that many places to take composting, but now there’s been a lot of funding and legislation that supports that,” she said.

This bodes well for the future of Oak Park’s composting ef forts.

“We’ re able to expand our progr ams and then make sure it gets composted,” said Helms.

Oak Park’s compost successes owe to the village’s multiple drop-off sites. These sites allow residents to avoid paying the $16.31 compost pick-up fee and still take part in the community’s composting ef forts.

Currently, there are five drop-off locations, but Helms is

optimistic about adding more. They are located at 1010 N. Ridgeland Ave., 1125 Ontario St., 720 North Blvd., 102 N. Lombard Ave., and 207 Garfield St.

Helms said the village is also wo rk ing on holding future partnerships with the two school districts, D97 and D200, to encourage students to c ollaborate in an ef fo rt to “beautify” the drop-off sites in order to increase c omp osting pa rt icipation.

Oak Park will celebrate International Compost Awareness Week, which runs from May 4-10. This will most likely be highlighted the following week at the village’s board meeting on Tuesday, May 13, according to the village clerk’s office.

Composting harvests tremendous environmental benefits, such as its contribution to reducing methane emissions, one of the most harmful greenhouse gases.

“When your trash goes to the landfill, it all just gets, like, compacted down and into an anaerobic environment that causes more methane to be released,” said Helms. “If you divert your compost to a facility that aerates it, it breaks down properly. There is much, much, much less methane coming of f of it.”

Helms made a call to action.

“The more people we get signed up and the more compost we divert from the landfill, the less methane will be released,” she said.

For information on how to get involved, and updates on Oak Park’s composting journey, visit https://www oak-park us/ Services-Parking/Waste-Recycling/Compostable-Program

Earth Day,

more than a day but a way of life

Re ections on protecting our world all year round, and advice to check out OP’s many sustainability events

ell before most scientists about climom was onserving water, ring the thermostat, the amount of plastic rything from her make-

he was a registered nurse and an avid , but in another life, she could have ved lear n-

ry episode of the PBS documentary with the intensity of a bio major cramming

PROVIDED

Germaine Caprio’s mom understood the fragility of the earth well before others paid attention. She’s seen here with Germaine’s brothers.

sneak into the kitchen to remind us not to run the water. “Kids, don’t use clean water to rinse dirty dishes,” she’d say. “Someday water will be a pricey commodity and we’ ll be fighting to save it.” Then she’d grab one of the dirty pots, place it in the sink, fill it with water and swish the dirty dishes and silverware through it before loading them into the dishwasher.

Running the faucet was no longer an option, and it still isn’t in my house

I am too young to remember the first Earth Day in 1970, but as the years went on, I remember my mom saying, “It’s great they created one day to honor our Earth, but we need to take care of it every day. They should declare an Earth Month and take more time to educate people on what’s happenrld.”

she was stealthily schooling us on preserving ecosystems and saving endangered species before we even knew what Ear th Day was “Kids,” she always started that way, “did you know they’re leveling a beautiful prairie just west of the city to build some awful strip mall?” We’d shrug our shoulders and scoop another spoonful of Cheerios. “Where will all the creatures tha live there go? All the butterflies, bumble bees and frogs, not to mention the birds, foxes and other wildlife that called that field home?”

We’d never thought about them before...but to this day, I can’t pass a construction site without thinking the same thing. After dinner, we’d stack the dishes in the sink when she’d

I’m pretty sure my mom would be thrilled to w that’s exactly what the Village of Oak ’s Sustainability Office and its local tners are doing. Over this month and in celebration of Earth Month, there have been at least nine nearby events to teach and inspire all of us to take care of our planet.

They have included an Eco-Extravaganza at the Oak Park Public Library to a Clean Energy Open House. The Trailside Museum showed people how to create pollinator pockets in their own yard by making a seed bomb. Currently, the One Ear th Film Festival is underway with films on how to reform school lunches and many other topics. w my mom would have been at every one of these events, urging us to go with her, because she knew by protecting our planet, she protected the ones she loved.

Come join us, bring your kids and become their stealthy science teacher, because these are the lessons that will stay with them forever.

Spring Prep Alert

As you are well aware, we experienced a very unseasonable winter: total snowfall of 16 inches, coupled with large variations in warm and cold temperatures.

To add insult to injury, spring has gotten off to a cold start. Because of this, here are some things to be on the lookout for:

Perennials – the cold start has delayed emergence of many perennials and ornamental grasses. It will take time and warmth to encourage them to begin their spring growth. Be patient before assuming they did not survive the winter.

Groundcover – we have seen significant dieback to groundcover, especially those that are evergreen/semi-evergreen, due to the lack of snow cover and multiple freeze/thaw events.

Turf – even with little snow cover, there has been evidence to suggest that winter fungal diseases have caused damage, dependent on conditions. Shady, less-ventilated areas may be showing more signs of damage. Insects – we anticipate more insect pests for the upcoming growing season due to lack of extended cold and longduration freeze. Be on the lookout for pest damage on plants and turf.

Unfortunately, we are at the weather’s mercy, so paying close attention to your landscape will help ensure you recognize problems early and take proper action so your landscape can thrive in 2025.

Scott McAdam Jr.

ese pins show gardens/landscapes that feature native plants and suppor t w ildlife on the West Side and near west suburbs.

Wildlife corridor stretches from the Des Plaines to West Side

Native plants bring bees and butter ies, woodpeckers and warblers

wildlife corridor is a strip of habitat that wildlife can use to get from one natural area to annonprofit West Cook Wild Ones decided to create a wildlife corridor bes West Side and the Des Plaines

A decade later, more than 200 people throughout rest and Forest Park have gardens as part of that

in a heavily urban environment with a lot of ildings and roads, so it would a continuous strip of green ve steppingstones,” said Laura Hartwell-Berlin, president of the group. “It’s like bitat patches between the West Side of r.”

is one composed of plants which are raphic re gion. These plants

have evolved to thrive in the local climate, soil, and wildlife interactions, creating a diverse and self-sustaining ecosystem. Locally, West Cook Wild Ones promotes native gardening through education and advocacy

According to Hartwell-Berlin, the reason it’s important to plant native plants as opposed to non-native plants is because native plants and native insects have evolved together for thousands of years. As a result, they have a close relationship. In many instances, native insects that eat plants can only use native species as their host plants.

“Most insects that eat plants don’t reco gnize non-native plants as a food source, which I know seems bizar re, but it’s true,” said Hartwell-Berlin. “So native plants help feed the native insects and then the native insects feed the rest of wildlife, like birds, small mammals and amphibians.”

Hartwell-Berlin said the Wildlife Corridor project is mainly focused on flying creatures, since they need to be able to get from one patch to the next.

“Unfortunately, this is not a very friendly environment for amphibians,” she said.

Examples of plants that are native to the area and help wild-

CREDIT: WILD ONES WEST COOK

Growing

WALK THIS WAY: A front yard native garden in Oak Park attracts bees and butte

life thrive are Purple Coneflowers, Browneyed Susans, Wild Bergamots, Milkweed and Prairie Dropseed. A native tree, the Bur Oak, is a great start for providing a

Stephanie Walquist, a founding member of West Cook Wild Ones, didn bees or butterflies when she first mo Oak Park in 2011, so she set out to do somewildlife corridors so decided to create this corridor linking oods to Columbus Pa

7443 Madison St, Forest Park (708) 657-4230

Wild Ones adds the addresses of the new participant to the organization’s Wildlife Corridor map.

“Our mission as an organization is to have thriving native plant communities surrounding us,” Hartwell-Berlin said.

A decade later, Walquist oflant gardens and parkways that een turned into refug es throughout the com-

I see lots of different kinds

Walquist said. “Over seemed to be a

Specific creatures she has of since the project monarch butterfl

vity and making a difference,” Walquist said “You can see, on the map, how your individual patch makes an impact. It’s kind of empowe

To learn more about the Wildlife Corridors project and to view their map, westcook.wildones.org/wildlife-corridor/

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