Wednesday Journal 051524

Hospital’s residents say a lack of resources and worsening patient care led them to demand a new contract for

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

About two dozen resident doctors at West Suburban Medical Center demonstrated in early May against what they said are worsening conditions and a lack of resources since Dr. Manoj Prasad took ownership of the hospital in December 2022.

And in what residents call an unprecedented move, the hospital’s teaching faculty have called on an accrediting agency to investigate whether the residency program is good enough to continue operating.

ERICA BENSON

DOUBLE YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR LOCAL NEWS

Growing Community Media’s Spring Fund Drive is under way. Help us raise $130,000 by June 30.

Generous long-time GCM supporters have put up $10,000 as our first match of the drive. We can double those dollars with your investment in our nonprofit newsroom. We need you and we need you now.

No other newsroom covers the Greater West Side – Austin to Oak Park to Forest Park to Brookfield – like the reporters and editors at GCM. We tell the stories that unite and empower our communities. Help us grow stronger, more connected neighborhoods.

Police-improv

Recommendations come from a repor t emphasizing fair and impar tial policing practices

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

The Oak Park Police Department has implemented a little more than a quarter of the recommendations a study published in 2022 said would help move the department toward equitable, fair and impartial policing.

The BerryDunn Community Safety study came amid national discussions around the 2020 death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by white officer Derek Chauvin. The case motived police departments, including Oak Park’s, around the country to examine practices.

The study listed 42 recommendations, falling broadly under six themes:

■ Staffing (recruiting, hiring and retention)

■ Personnel development

■ Policies and procedures

■ Impartial policing and transparency

■ Technology utilization

■ Training

At the May 7 meeting, Police Chief Shatonya Johnson told the village board that the police department has implemented 26% of the BerryDunn recommendations thus far.

Michele Weinzetl, a senior manager and law enforcement consultant at BerryDunn, said the consulting firm has also already conducted on-site training for police and village executive staf f that included information on implementing these recommendations, change management, critical thinking and problem solving.

Since the study was published in November 2022, there’s been a gap between then and this second phase of implementation. Johnson said the police have met with Weinzetl every other week for about the past year to discuss the recommendations.

“During that time, to their credit, the police department did not stand still,” Weinzetl said. “They were already looking at and working on dif ferent recommendations.”

In this second phase of implementation, the village will retain support from BerryDunn, who will help provide leadership training for police and village executive staf f and develop a five-year strategic plan.

In this phase, the six themes from the original re port were collapsed into four to focus on first:

■ Community safety

■ Staffing, training and personnel development

■ Operations and call for service response

■ Community eng agement, impartial policing and transparency

After this five-year strategic plan, Johnson said the police intend to create a new one about every three years. The plans will include short-, mid- and long-ter m goals for the department.

“Strategic plans, they are supposed to be a guiding document,” Weinzetl said at the board meeting. “They are considered fluid, something that really is expected to be revisited and adjusted over time.”

Johnson said the department expects to complete 35% of the BerryDunn recommendations in 2024. Part of the reason they can’t complete more this year is because of a lack of an RMS, or records management system, required to meet some of the technology recommendations in the BerryDunn re port. The department expects to hear proposals from vendors for a new RMS in June and hopes to implement it by the end of 2024.

Among the goals the department is working on is creating strategies that emphasize constitutional policing That includes researching best practices in policing and developing a new policy for the department re garding proactive policing

“We p olice c onstitutionally, ” Johnson said. “We do it, definitely, from a lens of procedural j ustice, wh ich means fair ness, allowing our c ommunity to have a vo ic e and actually p olice the way that the c ommunity wants to be policed. ”

Another goal focuses on staffing, training and personnel development, and includes establishing a plan for recruiting, hiring and retaining personnel.

Th at ’s c ritical because nearly 30% of the budg eted officer p ositions are now vacant, and more c ould be leaving soon.

The Oak Park Police Department is now down 35 offi-

cers, Johnson said, three more than in early February. By the end of 2024, she said she’s hoping the department has around 95 officers. The OPPD is budgeted for 118 of ficers.

“We do have a couple of officers preparing to transition to other police departments as well as a couple that will be retiring in the next couple of months,” she said. “I anticipate a dip before we actually see an increase.”

Another goal is investigating how an alternative response plan can be implemented for calls that can be handled by non-sworn officers. Sworn officers have a gun and arrest power. Non-sworn officers have neither, such as a community service officer, criminal analyst or other nonsworn personnel in a police department.

Village staf f presented a model for a pilot program for alternative response to calls for service to the village board at the April 30 board meeting. But trustees sent the plans back for review to evaluate concerns about dividing the response for mental health cries and low-level emergency calls between village-employed mental health professionals and Thrive Counseling Center.

A goal associated with community eng agement, impartial policing and transparency is to establish a practice for sharing information. Objectives include establishing what information police share with stakeholders and the public and developing a citizen dashboard for impartial police data to increase transparency.

T he f ull strat eg ic p lan c an be viewe d on the village ’s we bsit e.

“We are working on a lot of those recommendations at the same time, and some of them overlap,” Johnson said.

T he village b oard will g et periodic u pdates on the p lan’s implementation, a ccording to Vi llage Manage r Kevin Jackson.

JAVIER GOVEA

BIG WEEK

May 15-22

What ’s Blooming on Harrison Street

Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.,

Oak Park Arts District – Harrison Street Arts

Free admission event. This family-friendly event has highlighted the Oak Park Ar ts District since 1999 with an art fair, children’s carnival, music stage, food, beer garden, makers booths and more. 149 Harrison St., Oak Park

Movies in the Park:

‘The Little Mermaid’

Friday, May 17, Dusk, Scoville Park

Join us on May 17 for a screening of the live action version of The Little Mermaid. Bring your blankets and snacks (no alcohol permitted) and get swept away into Ariel’s world of sh friends, sea witches, and a dashing prince. This is a free event, and no registration is required. 800 Lake St., Oak Park

Drinks and Dialogue

Thursday, May 16, 6:30 p.m., Friendly Tap

Join us for a free in-person informative evening. We will delve into the thought-provoking topic of the National Popular Vote for Presidential Elections. 6731 Roosevelt Road, Berw yn

Bowmanville Band

Friday, May 17, 7:30 p.m., Encore! By Little Gem

Join Mason Jiller and Ethan Adelsman at this intimate venue for a memorable evening of music, food, and beverages. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/ EncoreTicket 187 N. Marion St., Oak Park

Reading Readiness

Monday, May 20, 7-8:30 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

Caregivers oft en want to know what they can do to help their children reach developmental milestones of reading readiness. Learn about the seven ways to build early literacy skills, how to suppor t children to become readers for the fun of it, and what the library can offer families on this journey. In partnership with First United Nursery School and the Collaboration for Early Childhood. Childcare will be pro vided in the Stor ytime Room by the C ollaboration. Presented in person and online via Zoom. 834 La ke St., Oak Park

Teen Trip: Escape the Room!

Saturday, May 18, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.,  Fox Park Community Center

Join us for this month’s Teen Trip to Escape the Room in Oak Brook. Come ready to solve puzzles and nd clues that can get the group out in 60 minutes. 624 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park

Girls in STEM: Mary Anning

Saturday, May 18, 2 - 3 p.m., Austin Gardens

Learn about a famous female paleontologist from the 1800s, Mary Anning. We’ll follow in Mar y’s footsteps by looking at fossils and determining where these prehistoric animals lived. This program is for ages 4-9 plus one adult. 167 Forest Ave., Oak Park

Guitarist Stephane Wrembel

Sunday, May 19, 7-9 p.m., Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum

Guitarist Stephane Wrembel, returns for an intimate house concert. Stephane is best known for writing the theme song “Bistro Fada” for the Grammy-winning soundtrack to Woody Allen’s 2011 Oscar-winning lm Midnight in Paris, and acclaimed for his innovative musical interpretations of Gypsy legend Django Reinhardt. For more information and to purchase tickets go to: https://www.hemingwaybirthplace. com/programs-events, 339 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park

Soup & Bread West

Tuesday, May 21, 6 - 9 p.m., Rober t’s Westside

Pay what you can – eat what you want. Come out and enjoy a meal of hear ty soups, bread and desserts provided by local community chefs from Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park, all while listening to the tunes of the Szurko Trio. The Soup & Bread Community Fundraiser Meal is raising funds for A House in Austin (www.ahouseinaustin.org), providing family support for young families on Chicago’s West Side. We will also be collecting personal care, diapers and household supplies. 7327 Madison, Forest Park

We want to hear from you

The Wednesday Journal is looking to invigorate its coverage of arts, food and enter tainment. We want to hear from you! Please take this short survey to help us learn what you want when you’re looking for things to do. Please submit your answers by May 26. https://forms.gle/yss7eCACoXW49jqNA

Oak Park to celebrate new kindergartners with family event

The second annual

‘Blast O to Kindergar ten’ event will be held May 19

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Oak Park is g etting ready to celebrate all the kiddos making the move from preschool to kindergar ten with the return of “Blast Of f to Kindergar ten” this month.

The event will take place Sunday, May 19 at Rehm Park on Scoville Avenue, starting at 10 a.m. It is open to all children and families who will be starting kindergarten in any Oak Park school this fall.

Now in i ts second year, “Blast Of f to Kinder ga rten” was d esigned to not only c elebrate the upcoming kinder ga r ten class, bu t also create c onnections between parents, care give rs and parent organizations to provide the “solar system of support” to help ensure a smooth transition.

serves as a “shining example” of the community’s commitment to supporting students and families “at every stage of their educational journey.”

Homing in on the space theme, f amilies will be directed to make the “Collaboration Space Station” their first stop of the day to receive a map of the event along with an explorer card for their future kindergar ten students.

A special souvenir can also be picked up at the space station before f amilies leave the event.

The event will also feature a “Galactic Foam Galaxy” by the Park District, the Oak Park Public Library’s Book Bike, and a postcard station where the littles can decorate a “thank-you” postcard to their early learning programs, which will be mailed in the “intergalactic mailbox.”

“Blast O to Kindergarten is a perfect example of a productive and positive collaboration across organizations.”

VICKI

SCAMA N Village president

“Oak Park is at its very best when we all work together,” said Village President Vicki Scaman. “Blast Of f to Kindergarten is a perfect example of a productive and positive collaboration across organizations to connect with families at this exciting time of transition so they feel supported and confident for that first day of school.”

The event will feature information on a variety of early learning programs, after-school programs, parent-teacher organizations, and local PTO’s. School administrators and staf f from local private kindergarten programs will also be in attendance.

D97 Supt. Ushma Shah said the event

There will also be a “Planetary Photo” courtesy of Byline Bank.

“So much of a child’s development happens before kindergarten and there are so many people who have played a part in preparing our children for this special moment,” said Mary Reynolds, executive director of the Collaboration for Early Childhood. “We here at the Collaboration for Early Childhood are delighted to bring our community together to acknowledge and highlight how far our little ones have come in a super fun, positive way.”

The event is a collaboration between Oak Park Elementary School District 97, the Park District of Oak Park, the Collaboration for Early Childhood, the Village of Oak Park, and the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200.

The event is weather permitting. Re gistration is not required to attend but

encouraged.

Oak Park hires rm to revise the village’s bike plan

The cost to draft an update is $92,800

work plans and ways to work on a bike

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Bikers in Oak Park eager for improved biking networks and bike-sharing capabilities can expect an update to Oak Park’s Bicycle Plan to be drafted in about six months.

After that, it will have to be reviewed by the transportation commission and approved by Oak Park’s Village Board of Trustees. At its May 7 meeting, the board approved an ag reement with Sam Schwartz Consulting, D.P.C, to find ways to update the existing and future bike net-

sharing system in the village

The cost of this work is $92,800, which is more than originally budgeted. But village officials said savings from other projects will cover the cost.

Oak Park’s Bicycle Plan was adopted in 2008. The goal of this plan was to increase bike use and make the village more bike friendly. In 2015, Oak Park started focusing on the Neighborhood Greenways and bike sharing, a project focused on implementing greenways on low-traffic residential streets and creating bike sharing infrastructure. Because the overarching bike plan is about 16 years old, the village wants to review it and

look for opportunities for new or improved bike facilities, including bike lanes. The village is considering a new bike lane on Ridgeland Avenue. Some residents said they love the idea, but others are strongly opposed

Only $50,000 was included in the fiscal year 2024 budg et to research updates to the bike plan, but that’s not enough for services that include parking utilization surveys and community eng agement, according to the village. T he additional funds will come from the deferred “Cap the Ike” study, which was an idea to buil d landscaped deck over portions of the Eisenhower Expressway.

T he work to draft an update the plan,

which will take about six months, will include gathering public input from meetings, the village’s website, talks with stakeholders and hosting focus groups, according to village officials. T he update will be reviewed by the transportation commission and finally presented to the village board for approval.

The village board also proclaimed May as National Bike Month at its May 7 meeting

“Creating a bicycling-friendly community has been shown to improve citizens’ health, well-being, and quality of life, improving traffic safety, and reducing pollution, congestion, and wear and tear on our streets,” the proclamation reads.

Oak Park hires rm to design new Home Avenue bridge

The rst design phase is expected to not exceed $1.8 million

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Home Avenue pedestrian bridge, built in the late 1950s over the Eisenhower Expressway, is going to get a makeover.

Oak Park trustees approved an engineering services ag reement with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., to do the preliminary redesign on the bridge in an amount not exceeding $1,812,191, according to village of ficials

The bridge will be re placed along with the Interstate 290 reconstruction. Design work could start as soon as fall 2024 and will take about 16 months.

According to village officials, federal funds will pay for about 80% of the design. Village Engineer Bill McKenna told Wednesday Journal the other 20% will come from Oak Park’s capital improvement funds.

The fiscal year 2024 budget has $300,000 set aside for this project. The village will pay costs upfront and be reimbursed by Illinois later, according to village officials.

In January, the village asked engineering firms to submit their qualifications to plan and design the new bridge. Eleven firms applied; the village interviewed three and chose Stantec.

Stantec has an architectural subconsultant, Rosales + Par tners, and together they have designed several pedestrian and bicycle bridges over highways and railroads, according to village officials, contributing to their hire.

The first phase of the project, the preliminary design, will encompass Stantec cre-

ating five renderings for the re placement bridge. The consultants will come up with a low-cost option, two medium-cost options and two higher-cost options for the re placement bridge.

“The conceptual designs will also include various options for enlarged and enhanced entryways on both sides of the bridge to

improve accessibility, safety, and the user experience,” village of ficials wrote.

Residents will be able to give feedback during this phase through public open houses and through Eng age Oak Park. Stantec’s subconsultant, Images, Inc., will also eng age with stakeholders including District 97, the Park District of Oak Park, Chicago Transit Authority and the Illinois Department of Transportation. Commissions including transportation, plan, community design and disability access will also be asked for input.

Village staf f are also working to get input from marginalized and minority communities during this process, according to village of ficials.

T he five designs will be reviewed by a steering committee made up of architects, engineers and other professionals T heir recommendation will come to the village board.

The village board will choose a design after examining that recommendation and cost estimates for each of the five designs. Then, IDOT will have to approve it, too. McKenna has said he thinks it will take roughly three years for the final design to be approved. The design will dictate how long construction might take and how expensive the project will be.

Oak Park’s e orts to aid migrants total almost $2.5M

The village anticipates reimbursement for about $2.1 million in expenses so far

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

From November 2023 to June 2024, Oak Park will have spent $2.489 million on its migrant response, and the village has, or expects to be, reimbursed for all but about $352,000 of those expenditures.

The village has spent $2.276 million on its asylum seeker response up until now, and anticipates another $213,000 to be expensed from grant money through June. Those costs are associated with legal services, resettlement costs and administrative services.

All of the migrants in Oak Park’s care have been resettled into stable housing since early April. Community of Cong regations housed 201 migrants since the village started providing support in late October 2023.

Records show that trustees designated or were granted funds for asylum-seeker response ef for ts from local, state and county funds.

Local funds came from unspent American Rescue Plan Act dollars and the village’s general fund. The village allocated $650,000 in local funds for migrant response, the last of which was to resettle 17 migrants at Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church

Of that $650,000, $450,000 was used to fund resettlement ef for ts through a contract with the Community of Cong re gations. The State of Illinois committed to reimburse Oak Park for $200,000 in fiscal year 2025.

Village staf f have not yet identified a reimbursement opportunity for the other $250,000 spent on resettlement, but will continue to pursue options, according to a memorandum from Kira Tchang, the village’s human resources director. The goal is to return any unspent funds from that $650,000 to the general fund, Tchang told Wednesday Journal.

“There is, I think, some confusion in the community that … every single penny will be reimbursed,” Trustee Lucia Robinson said at the April 30 board meeting. “We’ re

not even close to being reimbursed for every penny.”

State funds include two Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services grants. Cook County funds come from Disaster Response and Recovery Fund dollars. If the latest application is approved, additional DRRF funds would allow Oak Park to be reimbursed for some migrant services including food and shelter at the Oak Park Family Transitional Shelter at St. Edmund School. The combined total of state and county grants is $2,836,011.59, according to the memorandum, excluding the latest DRRF application. Not all of that money was spent.

Oak Pa rk was gr anted $2,070,750 to provide le g al services, temporary shelter through the Oak Pa rk Family Transitional S helter, short-term rental assistanc e and administrat ive services through the second SMASS gr ant. This is included in the more than $2.8 million total fo r gr ants. T he village only spent about $761,000 of that gr ant before all the migr ants we re resettled.

The village’s temporary shelter program, which existed at The Carleton of Oak Park Hotel, the West Cook YMCA and Grace Episcopal Church, cost a total of $964,443.41. Out of that total, all but about $102,000 has been reimbursed either through the state or county.

That amount, about $102,000, was spent in November 2023, before the Cook County’s fiscal year started on Dec. 1. So, it was not eligible for reimbursement from the county or state, Tchang said. That, plus the $250,000 in local funds that have not had a reimbursement source identified, totals about $352,000 that the village has not been reimbursed for in its asylum seeker response.

The village will submit additional expenses for reimbursement through May and June, Tchang said, including for legal services and administrative services. Any funds not expensed in this process will remain with the state, she said.

“With that $352,000 [not reimbursed], we’ve been able to provide temporary shelter for a period of five months and then resettle a significant population of migrants for the period of a year,” Trustee Brian Straw said. “That seems to be an incredible achievement.”

1 HOUR A DAY

Magical Minds Studio in Oak Park is looking for an experienced driver for their 14 passenger bus. No special license is required.

21 or older with a good driving record. $30/hour, $150 a week:

OPRF board keeps racial equity as top priority in strategic plan

The plan was approved with a vote of 5-1

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Despite a push from one board member of the Oak Park and River Forest High School Board of Education to broaden the equity goal, the board approved maintaining racial equity as the number one priority for the district.

The board approved the strategic plan by a vote of 5-1, with board member Mary Anne Mohanraj voting against the plan.

During an earlier April meeting, Mohanraj expressed concern that focusing primarily on race under Priority 1 outlined in the Strategic Plan 2023-2028 was too narrow. Mohanraj maintained that p osition during the April 25 meeting

“I don’t see it as deprioritizing,” Mohanraj said. “I think racial equity absolutely has to be a priority. I also think gender equity has to be a priority. I think disability equity and honestly, I would throw in class, I would throw in a couple of things. When you elevate one over the others what happens is that ends up driving what data gets collected and what gets presented and what administration works on.”

Mohanraj expressed her concern over the lack of attention given to intersectionality because other data, such as for students identifying as LGBTQ and other indicators, is not being collected.

“It is often the matter of being aware of many intersecting concerns and weighing them and I just feel like by stating racial equity at the beginning it skews the weight,” she said. “And I think it has affected things in a ne gative way and I would like to see that changed.”

Board member Audrey Williams-Lee disag reed.

“When you look at where we are in this country and what the issues are, it is always about race,” Williams-Lee said. “It is always about particularly Black people.”

T he approved strategic plan is similar to previous ones, as it still includes “transformative leadership” and “transformative education.” Equity has moved up higher in priority.

In a previous plan, adopted in 2017, equity

was listed as the second goal for the district, with “Holistic Community Education” listed as the first goal.

Since that adoption, equity has changed to “racial equity” as shown in the cu rrent ve rsion.

Regarding intersectionality, Williams-Lee said that she is a woman who is Black but often she would be described as a Black woman.

“The issues that we have in this school all tend to be, primarily, racially driven,” she said.

Putting racial equity as the priority sets it up so the district does not lose sight of the predominant issue, Williams-Lee said. To properly address any of the other issues, the systemic racism needs to be addressed, she said. Taking race out of the equation would be a big mistake.

Board member Fred Arkin echoed that sentiment, saying that just because the district focuses on race it doesn’t mean neglecting other factors.

“Keeping the name racial equity keeps it in front of the important work that we need to continue because we are not there yet and we still have a long road to go,” Arkin said.

Board member Jonathan Livingston said that “showcasing and prioritizing” race acknowledges the importance of racial equity in this country.

Priority 1

With racial equity being the priority listed on the strategic plan, the district will work to “eliminate race, socioeconomic status, and other social factors as predictors of students’ academic achievement and social emotional growth.”

To achieve this goal by June 2028, the district will “implement a comprehensive set of strategies focused on ensuring that students have access to opportunities and resources, using specific metrics such as graduation rates, reduced achievement gaps, increased access to honors and advanced courses, and enhanced student and family satisfaction with school experiences.”

They also commit to implementing “datadriven Resource Allocation Plan to equitably distribute resources,” including funding,

staff, and educational pr includes “increases student performance in areas where there is an achi improved access to suppo risk students.”

Mohanraj declined to provide additional comments.

The new plan lists the top five priorities the district is committing itself to for the upcoming years.

Priority 2

Under this area, Transformative Education, the district is to “take a holistic, supportive, and transformative approach to providing eng aging, equitable learning experiences.”

Goals include increasing the number of Black students who are meeting growth targets by 10% and increasing the number of Hispanic students meeting growth targets by 4% by June 2025, along with increasing by 2% “the number of students overall who meet growth targets on the PSAT/SAT Math test.”

Additionally, they plan to add two more approved endorsements to their Colle ge and Career Pathway Endorsement opportunities by August 2026.

Priority 3

Labeled “Transformative Leadership,” this priority will guide the district to “hold leaders to high expectations in responsibilities, policies, practices, and professional development, and create opportunities that support effective teaching, lear ning, and leadership.”

According to Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Roxana Sanders, an example of “transformative leadership” would be “holding leaders responsible for selecting and hiring highly qualified diverse candidates.”

“Our leaders participate in recruitment events, must eng age in implicit bias training prior to being part of a hiring committee, and follow standardized hiring protocols to make the best hiring decisions,” Sanders said.

The district also plans to increase work-

According to the 2023 Illinois Re port Card, 75.4% of teachers at OPRF are white, 9.4% Black and 9.2% Hispanic. According to the re port card, 52.5% of students at OPRF are white, 19.8% are Black, and 14.6% are Hispanic.

Board member Graham Brisben said this goal is a “kicking the can down the road” because it’s the same goal the district has had for the past five years.

“I would put the administration on notice that I am really going to be asking for, as you led into your personnel reporting in the fall, what are the specific strategies and tactics that we are doing to try to actually close the 20-basis point gap between our students of color and our faculty of color,” Brisben said. “I just for one will be super interested in detail for that one.”

Priority 4

In “Operations, Facilities, and Finances” the district intends to “make fiscally responsible, student-centered decisions that allocate resources to ensure excellence and equity for all.”

One of the four goals includes creating a long-term technology plan to meet the needs of all learners by June 2025.

Priority 5

In terms of communications, officials aim “support the district’s mission and goals by facilitating effective, timely, transparent, and two-way communication with internal and external audiences.”

By June 2026, the district aims to have most parents of color and non-English speaking parents report they are satisfied with communications on surveys, and by June 2027, have the number of community stakeholders who rate the communications “excellent or above average” increase from 35% to at least 50%.

Local pharmacists say Walgreens needs Rx for pay, working conditions

The pharmacists union wants salary increases, better sta ng and no telepharmacy services

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

More than a dozen Walgreens pharmacists and supporters gathered outside stores in the area in late April and ear May to draw attention to what they said is inadequate pay and working conditions.

At the Walgreens in Forest Park at 7200 Roosevelt Road May 3, they stood in front of a large inflatable rat as a truck with a video screen on its side displayed “We <3 Walgreens Pharmacy Staf f!” while it drov around the block.

Phar macists also demonstrated in front of the Walgreens at 4748 W. North Ave. in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on April 25.

These actions came as a part of the Phed Up Pharmacists Tour, where Walgreens pharmacists who had the day of f visited 46 Chicagoland Walgreens. They aimed to raise awareness for inadequate pay and working conditions for the company’s pharmacists, who have been working without a contract for the last nine months, according to the National Pharmacists Association-Laborers’ International Union of North America, which re presents nearly 900 phar macists at 400 Chicagoland Walg reens locations

Walgreens pharmacists on the Phed Up Pharmacists Tour outside 7200 Roosevelt Road in Forest Park, May 3.

lot of uncertainty, stress and worry.” Walgreens pharmacists are also worried about tele pharmacy.

leski said Walgreens plans to add harmacy services in Illinois stores , he said, would change processes so that only technicians operate physical pharmacy locations, while Walgreens pharmacists pertasks remotely, speaking to a patient through a screen when required. According PhA-LIUNA, telepharmacists aren’t required to be located or licensed in Illinois. leski said tele pharmacy would harm individualized care and relationships with patients

“I don’t know many pharmacists who went to pharmacy school to just talk to somebody who they don’t even know or any history with on a screen,” Kobleski said. “I don’t think it’s good for business, and I don’t think it’s good for the patient.”

Chicagoland Walgreens pharmacists aren’t on strike and are in the process of ne gotiating their union contract with Walgreens, asking for a pay raise, job security and checks on telepharmacy

“We’ re hoping that this will help to move the needle, showing some of the discontent and getting the word out to the public about what’s going on,” said Robert Kobleski, a pharmacist at a Walgreens on the Northwest side of Chicago and secretary of NPhA-LIUNA’s executive board.

Walgreens pharmacists have received a 2% pay raise in the last seven years, NPhALIUNA officials said in a statement, which doesn’t adequately acknowledge pharmacists for their work. Officials added that, last year, 74% of Walgreens sales occurred at pharmacies, while only 26% was from retail. Re presentatives from Walgreens did not respond to requests for comment.

“We have a really dedicated group of

pharmacists who really care about their patients and who are willing to stick around at a job, though they have basically been losing money for the past seven years,” said Kobleski, who has worked for Walgreens for nearly 25 years and participated in the Phed Up Pharmacists tour.

Walgreens has tried meeting with NPhALIUNA, but the union has not accepted an invitation since last fall, officials said in an email from Walgreens.

“Our leaders are in our pharmacies regularly, listening to concerns and responding to feedback,” Walgreens officials said. “We have taken steps over the last two years to improve pharmacists’ experience, advance the profession and enable them to provide the high value care they were trained to do.”

Pharmacist demands

In addition to a pay raise, union Walgreens pharmacists are also calling for improved scheduling in their contracts. Rather than

hire more pharmacy staff, Walgreens has cut pharmacy hours and closed stores, according to the NPhA-LIUNA

Walgreens announced last summer that it would close 150 locations in the United States. At that time, Walgreens had implemented reduced hours at over 1,000 locations, the Chicago Sun-Times re ported.

Although Kobleski’s store on the Northwest side of Chicago is open 24 hours and one of the busiest in the Chicagoland area, he said that wasn’t the case at the previous Walgreens he worked at. Kobleski lives in Naperville and was a pharmacist at a 24hour location in the Chicago suburb, along with at a 24-hour Walgreens in Berwyn. But when Walgreens cut both of those locations’ hours, Kobleski started working at his current Chicago location.

“It’s displacing a lot of full-time pharmacists and forcing them to either be part-time or to float from store to store,” Kobleski said. “It’s definitely causing a lot of turmoil amongst the pharmacists and a

“Plain and simple, the point of telepharis to increase Walgreens’ profits by cutting the number of pharmacists while increasing the workload of the few remaining,” said Joe Pignataro, NPhA-LIUNA’s president and a full-time Walgreens pharmacist, in a statement. “Recent decisions at other corporations have taught us that outsourcing, de-skilling and ignoring experts — putting profits over people — is not a sustainable business model.”

Despite these qualms, pharmacists like Kobleski and Pignataro have stayed with Walgreens to improve pay and working conditions for their peers.

“We’re proud to be Walgreens pharmacists,” Kobleski said. “We’ve always been highly regarded in the retail industry. We feel like the best pharmacists come out of Walgreens.”

But Kobleski would like Walgreens to listen to their pharmacists’ demands, and have his contract reflect that.

“You have to do something to step up, to maintain the integrity of this company into the future,” Kobleski said of Walgreens. “You need to do something to retain this excellent staf f that you’ re taking for granted.”

Kobleski said the union’s next contract ne gotiation with Walgreens will take place June 6.

JESSICA MOR DACQ

WEST SUB

Resident doctors’ unrest

from page 1

The 26 resident doctors at the West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park unionized in November, the first time that medical staf f there had done so. After struggling to meet with Prasad, the Residents United at West Suburban union started contract ne gotiations in February, requesting investment in their education and better patient safety at the for-profit hospital where a majority of patients are on Medicaid, according to medical residents.

“During these meetings, Dr. Prasad has made it very clear that he does not care about our request to impr ove patient safety, re garding the stripping of the resources of this hospital, resident education and having absolutely no budg et,” said Maryam Farooqui, a first-year resident at West Suburban and one of three residents bargaining with Prasad’s lawyers for the union contract.

As contract ne gotiations continue, West Suburban faculty who teach residents in the hospital’s family medicine program have requested that the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education return to West Suburban to analyze what they say is a substandard and underfunded program. That’s an unprecedented action by hospital faculty, according to residents.

“After the faculty announced that they had sent the letter to the ACGME, there was just so much apathy and desolation amongst the residents because we were like, ‘We’ re going to go on probation again, and the residency might get shut down,’” said Lauren Lucas, a first-year resident who’s also on the union’s bargaining team. “We have the ability to do something and say something about what’s happening, and this was the result.”

Resident doctors said they have asked Prasad to meet to discuss their issues with patient care, but he has refused, saying the only way he’d meet was with resident doctors’ lawyers.

“The residents have chosen to exercise their rights to unionize and bargain collectively through lawyers,” Prasad said in an email to Growing Community Media. “Respecting that process, I do not feet that it is appropriate for me to directly deal with the residents on matters dealing with wages, hours and terms and other conditions of employment.”

At the start of 2022, the ACGME with-

drew accreditation from the hospital’s internal medicine residency program.

The ACGME also gave West Suburban’s family medicine residency program probationary accreditation. Although the program is no longer on probation and is now the hospital’s only program for medical residents, the call to bring the ACGME back inspired residents’ recent “unity break,” or demonstration, to fight against the underfunded program.

“Every resident in the United States gets federal funding from Medicare,” hundreds of thousands of dollars per resident, according to Clarissa O’Conor, a third-year resident and member of the union’s bargaining team. “Since Prasad has taken over, he has refused to allocate any money to the residency program.”

When asked how much funding goes toward the residency program, Prasad told Growing Community Media that the program is funded with federal money tied to patient volume and other metrics.

Underfunded programs like this not only affect the quality of training residents receive, but also impact morale at work, residents said.

“The quality of care given to patients is dependent on the wellbeing of our residents,” said Emily Goodlin, a second-year resident, at the demonstration.

Patient safety

“Working at our hospital has become an insurmountable task. The lack of resources makes it almost impossible to provide the most basic services,” said Iris Marin, a third-year resident.

Second-year resident Nkiru Osefo ag reed.

“In the last two years I’ve been here in my residency, I’ve seen a dramatic shift in patient care, staf f safety and education that all would say are more than disgraceful and disrespectful,” Osefo said.

Medical residents said West Suburba n’s building has f allen into disre pair, and its resources have followed, affecting the care they give to patients. T hey said they experience daily environmental hazards, including air conditioners and elevators that don’ t work re gularly and r usty drinking water

“We’ve had to do procedures, which are supposed to be sterile, with drops of sweat running down our face because of the AC in the hospital not working. Patients deliver babies that then have to stay in a hot nursery because the chillers are, once again, down,” Marin said. “Patients are not able to attend appointments because the elevators are out of service and they cannot

go up six flights of stairs.”

Residents said their clinics have shut down several times because of overheating. Residents bought fans with their own money to cool their lounge, where the lights are often of f to keep the room cooler and the water cooler — a source of non-rusty drinking water — was recently removed because of budget cuts, according to residents Prasad said these claims are inaccurate

The hospital, he said, doesn’t have rusty water, uses faucet filters, and the Village of Oak Park re gularly tests the water.

Prasad said the building did recently experience a failure in its dated cooling system, leading to repairs that are still inprocess He added that West Suburban installed an 8,000-ton cooling unit that should last for decades. Six of the hospital’s 24 elevators are out-of-service due to abuse by users, Prasad said. Repairs to fix bent elevator doors are underway.

“We inherited a 100-year-old building that had not been ad equately maintained due to frequent ownership changes,” Prasad said.

Because of these conditions several staf f members have worked at West Suburban for years quit within the last year since Prasad hasn dressed their concerns, acco ing to residents

“I did not send any such notice. We have invested in a new incident reporting system and [are] designing new incident evaluation processes with a limited number of individuals,” Prasad said. “Until that gets established to become an impactful safety tool, participation has been limited to certain members of our staf f.”

‘I don’t want to send anybody I love here’

Residents said Prasad ’s b ehavior is all the more frustrating because, when he took over the hospital at the end of 2022, he promised to save it from b ankruptcy and continue caring for the community.

In October 2022, P ipeline Health filed for bankr uptcy, then sold West Suburba n to Resilience Healthcare, where Prasad is CEO

“Our specialists have quit, and many services are no longer available or are only available on a very limited basis,” Marin said.

Access to services like surgery and psychiatry have dwindled. Farooqui said nurses no longer have transport staf f on weekends to help them move patients from floor-to-floor

“Like any other hospital, we have many who have left and many colleagues who have joined us, and more importantly, some who left us have come back to us,” Prasad said. “We continue to offer services in the safest way possible and services have not diminished.”

“The hospital, which was teetering and tottering on the verge of closure at one time, is now stabilized, functioning and slowly growing.”

M ANOJ PRASAD CEO of Resilience Healthcare

According to residents, Prasad also barred resident doctors from attending re gular hospital patient safety meetings, where three resident doctors are on the committee. Residents said Prasad sent a notice to faculty and residents that they were no longer welcomed at that meeting.

Prasad, however, denied this.

Prasad previously told the ournal that Resilience Healthcare acquired West iss Memorial which included their real estate and ipeline’s ing with Pipeline, these venture capitalists in California who really eroded the integrity of the ca re to prothirdyear resident. “Dr. Prasad started his first day of work in the auditorium in front of a hospital full of employees promising change, big change,” he added. “Dr. Prasad said that he would bring more transparency and accessibility than employees have ever experienced.”

When Prasad took over West Suburban, he said his goal was to first financially stabilize a hospital experiencing crumbling infrastructure and a lack of equipment and supplies. While he works to get the hospital out of debt, he said West Suburban has not missed or been late in paying any of its 1,800 employees.

“We always obtain and provide supplies on time, every time, to provide safe services. We have added and re placed a lot of medical equipment, re paired and stabilized the infrastructure and [are] continuing to do so,” Prasad said. “The hospital, which was teetering and tottering on the

Funny is Female: Comedy Plex starts new stand-up class for women

The next round of weekly classes starts May 28 and June 1

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

When Marta Segal Block took her first stand-up class at Comedy Plex, her and another woman were joined by about 10 men to lear n about writing jokes and stage presence.

At the comedy venue and training facility, which opened at 1128 Lake St. in Oak Park in January and just wrapped its first six-week intro-to-stand-up classes, one of the first jokes Segal Block performed at her weekly Wednesday class was about when she had breast cancer, and the second was about menopause.

“I don’t know if nobody’s laughing because this isn’t funny or because they have no idea what I’m talking about,” Segal Block said of the other students’ reaction after telling her jokes.

So Segal Block asked Comedy Plex’s founders — Oak Parkers Christopher Bell, Paul Cary, Sherman Edwards and Marz Timms — if she could start a stand-up class for women so that she could get feedback from those who are more like her.

“What we find funny is based on our experiences, and we’re so conditioned to view the male experience as the norm that what men joke about is supposed to be funny to everybody,” Segal Block said. “But what women joke about is only funny maybe to women because we’re the only ones with those experiences.”

The next round of weekly intro-to-stand-up classes start May 28 and June 1. And on Tuesday, May 27, Comedy Plex will offer a third weekly intro-to-stand-up class, just for women: Funny is Female: A Stand-Up Comedy Class For Women.

Segal Block, a resident of Oak Park for more than 20 years, reached out to women around town and through Oak Park Facebook groups to ask what days and times worked best for those who were interested in Funny is Female.

“We’ re all part of the community, so we try to reach out and find out what the community feels is best for things like this so that we can make sure we can get the most people in those classes,” Timms said.

Like the intro to stand-up classes that just wrapped, taught by Timms and Angie McMahon, the classes for women will cover topics like character act outs, observational humor, one liners, crowd work and misdirection.

Every week, McMahon will give women feedback after they get up on stage twice, once for an exercise and once to practice three minutes of new material.

“It’s important to make space for people,” said McMahon, who lives in Chicago, has taught at The Second City for 11 years and stand-up for five years. “No one is going to feel like they want to walk into that room if they don’t see themselves in the room.”

Building con dence

Although Se g al Block had a brief career as a comedy writer in the ‘90s, she has since worked in publishing and marketing. And though she doesn’t aim to star t a stand-up career, others in the new stand-up class for women might be

“I am looking for new ways to express myself, and I am looking for new skills to bring to the work I already do,” Segal Block said. “I’m sure everyone coming in has their own goal,” whether it’s their first-time doing comedy, they’re looking to expand their stand-up experience or just seeking a like-minded group to run ideas by. Segal Block also said she hopes participants gain confidence from the class

“A lot of people who take these classes are lawyers and accountants, and they’ve never stood on stage,” McMahon said. The first time they get on stage and hold the microphone, she added, “a lot of them are shaking. A lot of them are near tears, they’re worried.”

But, by the end of the class, they are more self-assured.

“They start becoming more confident in their writing,” McMahon said. “They start becoming more confident in front of the microphone.”

“It’s not as easy as you think it is,” Timms said about stand-up. “Being relatable to a group of strangers is com-

pletely different from being relatable with people that you’ve been around all your life.”

This is all the more reason Segal Block is grateful that Comedy Plex’s co-founders accepted her suggestion to start a stand-up class just for women.

“The fact that Comedy Plex is here at all is a great resource, but the fact that they’re so flexible,” Segal Block said, “I think that really says something about their willingness to be part of the community.”

Timms and Comedy Plex’s other co-owners plan to expand the comedy club’s offerings. They hope to start standup classes for kids and, this summer, add improv workshops and classes to their lineup of comedy training.

“We’ve had some good weekends, we’ve had some great weekends,” Timms said of business so far. “We’ re just looking to continue and build upon that success.”

Those who sign up for a class at Comedy Plex get free tickets to all shows, including those from several nationally touring comedians, plus discounts at local businesses and free Comedy Plex merchandise.

Funny is Female will take place Tuesdays, starting May 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. The class is six weeks long and costs $250. Sign up or buy a ticket to see upcoming comics visiting Comedy Plex at https://www.comedyplex.com/.

Angie McMahon w ill teach Comedy Plex’s new intro-to-stand-up

photo cour tesy of Comedy Plex

chicago13point1.com/ volunteer

VOLUNTEER WITH US

Roosevelt Middle School celebrates 100 years

The celebration will be Sunday, May 19

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

T he Rive r Fo rest School District 90 c ommunity will be celebrating large thi s S und ay as Roosevelt M iddle School turns 100 years old .

T he bash will be held Sunday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will include an open house, displays of historic photos and live music.

Construction began for the middle school in November 1923, with a cornerstone laid at the corner of Oak and Jackson. The school opened in 1924, serving grades K-5 and 8 before becoming junior high, and then a 5th through 8th grade middle school in 1979.

When it opened, Roosevelt had eight classrooms, Memorial Hall – which is now the old gym – a superintendent’s office, library, kitchen, teacher’s restrooms, and student washrooms, said Stephanie Rath, director of communications and community relations for D90.

The school also employed 12 teachers; one for each kindergarten to seventh grade class and four for eighth grade.

Today, according to the Illinois Report Card, the school has 672 students

Roosevelt also has 71 teachers with a total staff of 104, including aides, techs, custodians, and other support staff.

Margaret Schulz-Tafilaw, 81, is a Roosevelt graduate of the class of 1957.

After moving to River Forest, SchulzTafilaw attended Roosevelt from fourth to eighth grade.

“It must have been pretty good, because I really liked my fourth, fifth and sixth grade teachers and I decided at the end of sixth grade that I wanted to become a teacher,” Schulz-Tafilaw said.

Schulz-Tafilaw has been a substitute teacher at Roosevelt since her son was in eighth grade.

She still subs at the school.

Being at the school for over “half her life,” Schulz-Tafilaw said she recalls participating in the very first school play ever produced, “The Wizard of Oz,” in the new auditorium when she was in seventh grade.

Still an active member of the Roosevelt community, she said she has been able to see

things come “full circle.”

“The k ids in Roosevelt in the eighth gr ade are doing stuf f that I did as a junior in high school,” she said. “It is really advanced if you c ompare it to year s going back.”

Har rison “Sonny” Mann, a math teacher at Roosevelt, has also spent a lot of his life at the school, being part of the 1993 graduating class. He has been teaching at Roosevelt for 18 years.

For him, Roosevelt has always been a place he looked forward to attending, whether as a student or as a teacher

“Many teachers I had during my time there are the reason why I became a teacher,” Mann said.

Part of the reason Mann loves teaching at the middle school: the involvement of the parents

“It makes the world of a difference having partners and allies at home on this journey with us” he said. “I know not every district is like that. That was a huge reason why I wanted to come back to Roosevelt.”

Mann also said he appreciates the diversity found within the community and the halls of the school, he said.

“This is a p lace that welcomes p eople for who they are, ” Mann said. “Fro m wh at I have gathered here, it is an inclusive community.”

Roosevelt is also a source of pride for the community, said Mann.

Part of that pride comes from the generations of families who have attended the middle school, said principal Larry Garstki, who has been at the school for 23 years.

“So many families here have grandparents and even great grandparents who have gone through Roosevelt and to look at schools is to look at society and societal changes,” Mann said. “Roosevelt school is a really special one because it is kinda self-contained in our small community.”

The school has also been a “time capsule” for change, he said.

While still housed in the original building, the school has seen renovations both in the interior and exterior to keep up with growing population as well as the needs of students

Those changes have also been academically as well as societal, as in-classroom devices have transitioned over the years to personal tablets. Roosevelt has been keeping up with the times while preserving its small community feel.

D97 halts proposed sta ng changes for the next school year

The district will keep all out-of-classroom positions the same

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

A plan that proposed basing staffing levels next year on D97’s enrollment figures was put on hold after some community members complained that they were concerned that schools would be losing positions and increasing classroom sizes.

“This is an opportunity here to pause and reflect so that we can better understand ourselves as an Oak Park community,” said Supt. Ushma Shah in an email addressing concerns sent to district families on May 4.

While no changes will be implemented for the upcoming year, district officials said that staffing numbers nevertheless need to be revisited each year.

“The annual staffing process ensures that financial resources-in the form of staf f salaries- are invested based on enrollment data,” officials said in a statement published on the district’s website. “In District 97, however, we had not been making annual staffing adjustments based on enrollments and were rolling over the same staf f re gardless of enrollment projections. This has resulted in fiscal inef ficiencies.”

The district had planned to reallocate the positions based on enrollment data, which according to district figures, has been on the decline. Allocations would have been adjusted to each school, with positions cut at some schools, while others would have maintained staf fing, a district report showed.

The proposed changes also included an increase overall in out-of-classroom positions both on a school-wide and district-wide level. According to the district, five additional district-wide out-of-classroom positions would have been added, increasing the number from 11 to 16.

Officials proposed plan suggested changes in two areas: classroom section positions and out-of-classroom positions. The latter are teachers who work with small groups of students. That could be an interventionist or a reading coach. They are not daily classroom teachers.

In her May 4 email to D97 families, Supt. Ushma Shah said the goal was to “strategically allocate resources. ” That included:

■ Aligning with elementary school improvement plans

■ Addressing underinvestment in middle schools

■ Providing new leadership opportunities for teachers

The proposal was made with recommendations from principals about their schools’ needs, and on what kind of out-of-classroom positions would better support the school’s “focus on core instruction. ”

Shah pointed to the board’s Equity Policy 7:12, which

says “the superintendent shall develop and recommend the Board both a viable long-term plan for funding, staffing, and implementing activities and initiatives to achi the equity objectives as well as annual updates.”

But that hasn’t been done.

“Right now, we don’t have a strateg y for how the out-ofclassroom positions are allocated at schools,” Shah said. “There is not a data strateg y. We have some positions this school. One position at this school. There are just kind of le gacy positions, but we can’t really describe how they are linked or aligned with what that school is trying to do or what we are trying to do as a district.”

“In order to get to different outcomes,” Shah added, “We are going to have to change the way we use our resources so that we support what is really going well already and be much more strat egic about how everything lines up for universal success.”

According to the district, although Brooks Middle School and Julian Middle School are the largest schools, there isn’t a proportional number of out-of-classroom teacher positions allocated to them.

However, after receiving ne gative feedback, officials changed the proposal.

Maintaining sta ng levels

Molly Greenwood-Whalen, president of the Beye Elementary School PTO, expressed concern over the possibility of Beye losing key positions at the school.

“What this means for Beye is that we will lose specialized staf f that our students need to thrive, while other schools will maintain those specialist positions,” Greenwood-Whalen said in a letter addressing Beye families.

“We understand that ‘fair’ doesn’t mean that everyone gets the same thing, but rather that everyone gets what they need to success,” Greenwood-Whalen said. “... However, we believe that resource allocation needs to be equitable across the district’s elementary schools, as well as between elementary and middle schools.”

Greenwood-Whalen said she supported keeping positions such as an enrichment specialist, a role she said is crucial because it meets with every Beye student from first through fifth grade for critical-thinking skills work, while also offering math and other enrichment opportunities to students.

“We believe his [Mark Bulger] role positively impacts and encourages students to be empowered problem solvers, no matter what their MAP score might be,” she said.

Although parents complained – many on social media –that class sizes would increase if the changes were implemented, the district said class sizes would not do so in a way that would ne gatively impact students

Projections so far show that grades K-2 would increase by one student per classroom, going from 19 to 20, and grades 3-5 would remain the same at 20 students.

At the middle school level, the average section size is expected to stay the same.

Now, a ccording to officials, out-of-classroom p ositions will remain the same next year, and the proposed new teacher- leadership o pportunities will no longer be availabl e.

“We determined that implementing this plan with tight alignment between central office and across schools would require more time,” Shah said in the email the May 4 email to families.

According to the district, the only changes being made are to classroom sections.

Based on trends in student enrollment, data projects indicate a reduction from 212 sections in school year 2024 to 209 in school year 2025, with each school being “impacted differently.”

“There may be differences in section sizes across and within schools due to varying overall enrollment and special populations in each grade-level at each school,” district officials said.

Making changes would ensure alignment with the goal of the district, which is to “support high levels of student learning and eng agement at all schools.”

As the district works on its highly anticipated “Portrait of an 8th Grade Graduate,” this could also be a way to redesign positions and figure out various ways to prepare the district for the future.

“We are very glad that as of Saturday night, Dr. Shah has decided to revisit that timeline and to keep the positions in place for next year,” Greenwood-Whalen said. “But we still have concerns about what happens after this coming year. I am hoping that the longer timeline is going to lead to more transparency and more stakeholder involvement.”

The next D97 board meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. in the district’s main office.

District 97 administration buildin g

MO THERS FOR CEASEFIRE

(Above) Pauline Co man of Oak Park participates in the Let Rafah Live Mother’s Day walk to show suppor t for mothers and children in Gaza, May 12.

Oak Park residents Fatimah Mohammed (above) and Trevor Parker (le ) participate in the Mother’s Day walk along Lake Street.

WEST SUB

from page 10

verge of closure at one time, is now stabilized, functioning and slowly growing.”

But residents said Prasad hasn’t listened to their feedback to improve patient safety and want him to follow through on his promises to invest in the hospital.

“I don’t want to send anybody I love here,”

said first-year resident Anna Petersen during the unity break. “We are some of the best doctors I’ve ever met. We’re brand new, but these people here care so much, and the fact that we can’t provide good medical care to the people who need it the most is devastating.”

“We care about our patients, but do you care about them, too?” first-year resident Jamie Chan rhetorically asked Prasad at the unity break. “We hope that you will finally put patients first, over profit, on your agenda.”

In the most recent bargaining session for their contract May 8, Prasad’s lawyers offered residents no raise over the next three years and declined to increase funding for educational conferences and supplies, like textbooks and stethoscopes, according to O’Conor. The work phones residents are required to carry have been malfunctioning for months, O’Conor added, and Prasad keeps crossing out “functioning” in the contract proposals for improved phones.

“Like other small community hospitals,

our hospital is not immune from the challenges of increasing costs and shrinking reimbursements, but we feel confident that we can overcome,” Prasad said. “Our goal is to remain a dependable and robust hospital serving the needs of our community.”

PHOTO S BY ERIC A BENSON

Laila Chojnacki of Oak Park rallies to support the people of Gaza at Scov ille Park. e rally included a walk along Lake Street a er the demonstration held at the park.

celebrating

what’s blooming on harrison blooming on harrison

saturday, may 18 | 11am-7pm | on harrison street, humphrey to highland

art fair | live music | carnival rides

Amanda Brodie Stenlund

Original paintings of Chicago landscapes and floral still-lifes instagram.com/imabrodie amandabrodiestenlund.com

A sampling of the 70+ artists showcasing their work this weekend at “What’s Blooming on Harrison”

W8M Jewelry by Pinny

Contemporary jewelry designer and maker with hand-hammered unique pieces instagram.com/pinny_w8m

Ball

is by Designs by Sandra Dee, Greeting cards are by Koko. www.purplesunarts.com

Ann Viernes | Purple Sun Arts

Pickle

Jewelry

A sampling of the 70+ artists showcasing their work this weekend at “What’s Blooming on Harrison”

what’s blooming on harrison

Manos de Maya Cooperative

Empowering women and girls

Handwoven up-cycled Guatemalan textiles Fair Trade, San Antonio Aguas Calientes, Sacatepequez, Guatemala FB: manosdemaya • www.manosdemaya.com

Come join us for a round of Jenga and win some fun prizes and more!

We are looking forward to seeing everyone again this year.

Oak Park Residence has been providing quality rental housing at affordable rates for over 57 years. Our 28 pet-friendly buildings offer a variety of studio, one, two, and three bedroom units with historic features and modern amenities - all within easy walking distance to public transportation, parks, libraries, schools, markets, shops, galleries, and restaurants.

Our amenities include hardwood floors, laundry facilities, parking, 24-hour emergency maintenance service, electronic key entry, online rent payment, online resident portal, and more. Our highly professional staff is attentive, responsive, and easy to reach. For more information, please visit our website at www.oakparkrc.com or call us at (708) 386-6061

Mael Cabarrus

"Genuine leather earrings and reintroducing a limited number of art pieces" www.maeldesigns.com

100% hand poured soy candles, clean & safe scents, eco-friendly products www.maplewoodavenuecandles.com • @maplewoodavenuecandles

A sampling of the 70+ artists showcasing their work this weekend at “What’s Blooming on Harrison”

A sampling of the 70+ artists showcasing their work this weekend at “What’s Blooming on Harrison”

Kiera Pohl, Kiera P Handmade Jewelry

Metalsmithed pieces that are simple sophisticated inspired by Art Deco & geometry @kierapjewelry on Instagram and Facebook • kierapjewelry.etsy.com

Woodley

Natural skincare solutions for various skin issues, crafted with expertise. awrightcreation.co • Instagram.com/awrightcreation

Deanna

A sampling of the 70+ artists showcasing their work this weekend at “What’s Blooming on Harrison”

Lemah Creek Naturals CBD Oil

CBD: Say Goodbye to pain, HELLO to rapid relief. www.lemahcreeknaturals.com

Instagram:lemahcreeknaturals

Facebook: LemahCreekNaturals

Lemah Creek Naturals

CBD: A Natural Way To Calm and Comfort your Pets. www.lemahcreeknaturals.com www.instagram.com/lemahcreeknaturals www.facebook.com/lemahcreeknaturals

WRIGHTPLUS 2 024 Wright

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

right Plus retur ns to Oak Park Saturday.

The housewalk opens eight Oak Park private homes, as well as Wright’s Home and Studio, to a sold-out crowd.

Celebrating its 50th year in the community, Wright Plus is a long-time draw for inter national visitors, as well as local architecture buffs.

JAMES CAULFIELD/FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST

William G. Fricke House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1901)

from page 23

Proceeds of the walk support the restoration, preservation and education programs of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. Walk co-chairs Joan Pantsios and Debbie Crouch said that over 1,000 visitors are expected to take part in the walk.

This year’s walk includes three Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes

The William G. Fricke home was commissioned in 1901. The stucco house showcases Wright’s Prairie Style with its horizontal banding and overhanging roof eaves. The house was designed during Wright’s short partnership with architect Webster Tomlinson. William Fricke was a partner in a school supply firm.

Wright’s Harry S. Adams House, designed in 1913, is Wright’s last Oak Park design. The brick Prairie Style

home features a low-hipped roof and a broad, central chimney. It is the only Wright design in Oak Park to include a carport.

The Emma and Peter A. Beachy House, was a renovation of a Gothic cottage in 1906. Wright’s remodeling saved little more than the original home’s foundation. The house features gabled roofs and red brick on the first story, with stucco on the second.

Emma and Peter A. Beachy House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1906)

JAMES CAULFIELD/FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST

Foyer, Emma and Peter A. Beachy House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1906)

Three E.E. Rober ts homes are on the walk this year

The Simpson Dunlop House and Joseph K. Dunlop were designed in 1896 and 1897 for brothers who were the grandsons of Oak Park founder Joseph Kettlestrings.

Both homes have been featured on Wright Plus previously, but the Simpson Dunlop house has not been featured since 1985.

“They homes were built one year apar t. It will be really interesting to compare the two the day of the walk,” Pantsios said.

The E.W. Pratt House, designed in 1909 by Roberts is on Wright Plus for the first time. Crouch says the house was moved from its original location on Oak Park Avenue.

“It’s pretty impressive they would move a whole house, but the idea then was that you didn’t spend a lot of money building a new house when you could just move one.”

WRIGHT PL US 2024

The Ashley C. Smith House was designed in 1908. The stucco home boasts stunning, original leaded glass windows. Visitors to the house will see radiator cove by the homeowner. Rumor has it that the Smith House is haunted, so visitors can as well.

The Cl House is also new to Wright Plus. Designed in 1922 Dunning, the Tudor home is one of two Dunning designs in Oak Pa search about Dunning with architect he died. Both group of arts supporters known as the Clif f tified Frank livan’s death.

See WRIGHT PLUS on pa ge 26

Gagliardo Group, which includes 4 generations of realtors, has over 20 licensed realtors, who are highly recognized and respected in the Oak Park, River Forest and greater Chicagoland area. They are among the most knowledgeable real estate agents in the field with personal roots in the communities they serve, giving them an “at-home”

Gagliardo Group, which includes 4 generations of realtors, has over 20 licensed realtors, who are highly recognized and respected in the Oak Park, River Forest and greater Chicagoland area. They are among the most knowledgeable real estate agents in the field with personal roots in the communities they serve, giving them an “at-home” advantage.

Gagliardo Group, which includes 4 generations of realtors, has over 20 licensed realtors, who are highly recognized and respected in the Oak Park, River Forest and greater Chicagoland area. They are among the most knowledgeable real estate agents in the field with personal roots in the communities they serve, giving them an “at-home” advantage. We

We are now part of an innovative real estate

Gagliardogrp.com

JAMES CAULFIELD/FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST

Simpson Dunlop House (E.E. Roberts, 1896)

WRIGHT PL US 2024

WRIGHT PLUS

from page 25

Volunteers of utmost importance

Pantsios and Crouch said that Wright Plus would not be possible without the help of almost 350 volunteers.

“What really sets this walk apar t is how well-trained the volunteers are and the research they do. I don’t know of any other walk with this level of research into the history of the homes and owners and the architecture,” Pantsios said.

Some volunteers are locals who regularly give time to the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, and others come in from around the country just to take part in Wright Plus. This year, one of the volunteers at the Beachy House will be a for mer resident of the home.

This year’s volunteers will be wearing shirts emblazoned with the number 50 for the 50th anniversary of the walk. In addition to the Trust-provided training, volunteers also get to take part in Preview Night, in which they get to tour the homes on the walk the night before with a guest. After the walk has ended on Saturday, the volunteers are treated to an after-party with food, drink and raffles.

“We understand it’s a lot of work They’re making a big sacrifice for us that weekend. We want our volunteers to have a wonderful time. The way they come together is pretty remarkable,” Crouch said.

Plan ahead

Wright Plus 2024 is sold out, but this year’s co-chairs said it’s a good time to pencil in the dates for Wright Plus 2025. Wright Plus is typically held the third weekend in May.

JAMES CAULFIELD/FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST

Clyde E. and Elizabeth Shorey House (Max Dunning, 1922)

JAMES CAULFIELD/FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST

Ashley C. Smith House (Tallmadge and Watson, 1908)

Homeowners honor history in rehabs featured on Wright Plus

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

Wright Plus Co-Chairs Joan Pantsios and Debbie Crouch said that participants in this year’s Wright Plus will get a chance to see how the homes have been remodeled over the years.

“People are doing very sympathetic work. The homeowners are really taking care of the houses,” Pantsios said.

At the Harry S. Adams house, she said visitors should be on the lookout for a large urn when they go up the stairs. The urn was falling apar t when the owners purchased the home, and they were going to have a new one made. After a conversation with the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, she said they were able to restore the original ur n rather than replace it.

At the E. W. Pratt House, homeowners used the original art glass windows to inspire the

design of a new front door, and at the Ashley C. Smith House, the fence in the front of the home replicates the design of the original leaded glass windows.

Pantsios pointed out that the Beachy House recently underwent a roof restoration project and that the owners found a box of original roof tiles and were pleased to discover just how much their restoration resembled the original roof.

Crouch said that while all the homeowners

are wonderful stewards of their homes, it’s important to note the homes are not museums and are used for day-to-day living. Some of the fun of the housewalk is seeing how homeowners have made historic homes livable for more moder n times.

She pointed out that the two adjacent Dunlop Houses have more modern kitchens that are charming. One of them also

Harr y S. Adams House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1913)

JAMES CAULFIELD/FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST

E.W. Pratt House (E.E. Roberts, 1909)

WRIGHT PL US 2024

WRIGHT PLUS

from page 29

ts a pool in the backyard.

“The kitchens and the bathrooms are the first things to ,” Pantsios said. “In the days these houses were you had a cook, who was probably the only one using the kitchen. Nowadays, people live in their kitchens.”

According to Pantsios, a lot of recent homeowners have expanded the footprint of the kitchen by incorporating for maids. Many homeowners have also added family rooms to their houses.

berts’ E. W. Pratt House, there was originally a maid to use. In 2009, later owners reto remodel the first floor and created a one of the bedrooms on the second floor in the space where the rear staircase once stood.

Crouch said that most homes on Wright Plus will permit visitors to tour two floors, but some homes will have three for touring. Commonly, the third-floor once used as ballrooms but have since been conyday uses.

“You can still see that they used to be ballrooms. People used to entertain big groups in the past,” she said. “It’s really charming and wonderful to imagine.”

JAMES CAULFIELD/FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST

Joseph K. Dunlop

Oak Park home sells for $950,000

The following property transfers were re ported by the Cook County Clerk from January and February 2024. Where addresses appear incomplete, for instance where a unit number appears missing, that information was not provided by the clerk.

OA K P ARK

Baudino Todd Busey Bk Tr

Sadler Carl Buford Vanessa

Ontario St

Thompson Candace L Salah Lynn Z

Doherty Karen Tr Dhirenkumar Patel

Breyer Noah Breyer Richard

Fanning Jamarcus L Snyder Samyntha 1156 S Cuyler Ave

$316,000 Butts James W Brenneman-Fullwood Laura 830 Woodbine Ave

$325,000 Kroll Gregory Tr Muszynski Jerzy 53 Chicago Ave

$329,000 Tvc Fundg Iv Reo Llc 53 Chicago Llc 934 S Grove Ave

$345,000 Hutson Charles A Whisler Gunnar 1201 N Marion St $355,000 Wambach William L Tr 1201 N Marion Llc 1120 N Lombard Ave $370,000 Jimenez Manuel Fang Eileen 641 S Taylor Ave $380,000 Ondrla Joseph T Charette Connor

Forest Ave

S Maple Ave

Kowalczyk Andrew W Drew Candice

Thompson Domenica M Matherly Katie

Williams Bryan L Smith Michael 1140 S Maple Ave

Ostrovsky Neal Cessna Duncan 739 N Cuyler Ave $475,000 Dmitruk Svetlana Rojas Hope M 1123 Wenonah Ave $485,000 Howder Elizabeth Tr 151505 Sunga Lee 833 Carpenter Ave $502,500 Pych Daniel J Trevino

716 S Euclid Ave., Oak Park

July

July

July

July

August

OA K P ARK

ADDRESS PRICE SELLER BUYER

FOREST P ARK

1301 Elgin Ave., Forest Park

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor

Ken Trainor at 613-3310

ktrainor@wjinc.com

Keep the cameras

Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) are motion-activated cameras widely used by law enforcement nationwide to address crime (https://transparency.flocksafety.com/oak-park-il-pd)

VIEWPOINTS

Shrubtown: A leafbagging resolution

In 2022, current trustees Susan Buchanan and Chibuike Enyia voted no to a request from the Oak Park Police Department (OPPD) for 20 ALPRs; fortunately, eight were approved despite their votes and remain in use.

Recently, the village board voted 6-1 to permit the owner of a parking lot to install ALPRs to control access to and use of its lot.

Interestingly, Buchanan and Enyia voted yes to ALPRs for mere parking, but no for addressing crime; the board’s highest priority is public safety

The village board will soon decide whether to retain the existing 8 ALPRs, a technology the OPPD highly recommends as especially effective, a racially unbiased investigative tool with aspects of deterrence and an ability to address some crime in real time.

Critics of the cameras use specious reasoning to falsely assert that ALPRs “cause harm” to Black people and other minorities; they are working hard to have them eliminated. Our well respected, highly-educated and -trained Black female police chief is emphatic that these ALPRs cause no racially skewed results. One Black patrol officer told me, “We need these cameras,” noting that he wouldn’t support anything that was racially biased.

The Oak Park Police Department is about 30% understaf fed. At the patrol level, full staffing is 70, with upcoming resignations and retirements, staffing will likely be under 40. Resident Beat Officer (RBO) positions are all vacant; personnel have been reassigned to shore-up patrols

Why is staffing down? Reasons include: national anti-police mood in recent years, Oak Park activists persist in making false accusations against OPPD, the terrible workspace for OPPD in the basement of village hall, cops see our board discussing a major rehab of adequate village hall office space and no discussion addressing the terrible OPPD workspace. These affect recruitment, retention, and morale.

We have a shorthanded OPPD under diverse leadership asking to retain, possibly expand, use of a racially neutral technology with demonstrable investigative, deterrent and proactive value in enhancing public safety

We have local activists who start with a conclusion about policing that is perhaps accurate elsewhere, but not in Oak Park, then work backward to cherry-pick some statistics, omit others, and conflate unrelated issues in asserting, falsely, that ALPRs are racially detrimental to minorities.

ALPRs are no more big brother than the cellphone in your pocket, tracking your every move, Ring doorbells, home and retail security cameras, iPass transponders, redlight cameras, speed cameras. They are not detrimental to minorities. They are detrimental to criminals. They are beneficial to Oak Park residents of all backgrounds.

Please email our trustees at board@oak-park us that if ALPRs are good for parking lot control, they are even better for public safety, no matter what color any of us are.

Jack Powe rs is a longtime resident of Oak Park and a member of CPOC. These views are my own and not to be construed as being on behalf of CPOC or any other member.

When driving on South and North boulevards in Oak Park, have you noticed swirls of color on the otherwise decaying concrete railroad retaining walls? Me too

Walking the same route, I see a combination of murals by different artists with different themes. Who are these artists? What do these small murals signify and why are they on the railroad concrete retaining walls?

Jonathan Franklin‘s name is at the bottom of a number of these murals, and I reached out to him to find some answers

Jonathan painted his first mural when he was 20 years old while working as a volunteer in Israel at Kibbutz Kissufim, on the border with the Gaza Strip. Sadly, that kibbutz was attacked on Oct. 7. Jonathan knew some of the hostages and people killed and injured.

His next murals were painted at Irving School in Oak Park, where his children were students in the 1990s

Given that this monthly series of articles is called “Favorite Things,” I asked Jonathan about

his favorite mural. He doesn’t have one. Maybe that’s like asking a parent to name their favorite child. From 2000 to 2003, he led summer art programs at Hephzibah Home, 946 North Blvd., which, according to their website, “serves some of the youngest victims of severe abuse, neglect and trauma and children in need of behavioral intervention, ages 3-11 in Illinois.” Over the course of three summers, he and the children painted a series of murals on the railroad viaducts across North Boulevard from Hephzibah Home. Most of those murals eventually deteriorated due to weather and efflorescence, the buildup of lime deposits that leach out of concrete cracks. So he painted his newest mural on the same space in 2023. It’s called “Joie de Vivre” (Joy of Life).

As we stood facing the mural, Jonathan told me it “is literally a joy to paint.” His initial plan was to paint children frolicking in a garden but as he reworked the sketch, the garden disappeared and what remained was “a night sky filled with stars

Le : Jonathan painting ‘Joie de Vivre’ (Joy of Life). Right: In front of his mural ‘Brush O ’

JACK POWERS

One View

West Sub falters in silence

In an email exchange last week with a Wednesday Jour nal re porter, the largely silent and invisible owner of West Suburban Medical Center, Dr. Manoj Prasad finally responded to growing wor ries about West Sub, an institution critical to Oak Park and the West Side.

He found his voice as the Journal beg an re porting on a protest held last week by medical residents at the Austin Boulevard hospital. T he residents, a group of about two do zen, chose to unionize late last year in response, they say, to worsening patient safety concer ns and the continuing deterioration of medical facilities and equipment.

The residents group also claims that medical faculty who teach the residents as part of the hospital’s family medicine program have asked the accreditation council which monitors the program to revisit West Sub to evaluate what they re portedly call a substandard and underfunded program.

This is a lot.

In 2022 Prasad for med a new corporation, Resilience Healthcare, to purchase West Sub and Weiss Memorial in the city from the bankrupt Pipeline Health out of California. Prasad’s Resilience became the seventh owner of West Sub in the past 28 years.

That parade of failed owners left what is now a safety net health care provider in perilous shape. This is no sur prise. A hospital cannot be ping-ponged to a new owner on average every four years for three decades and have any stable direction or finances. Pipeline, Vanguard, Tenet, Resur rection, Loyola and the rest did not bail because things were going well. And all of this during an era of endless and profound change in how America’s broken health care system operates.

When he arrived at West Sub, Prasad spoke to a lobby filled with staf f, suppor ters and re por ters from this newspaper. He promised full transparency, an open door, reinvestment. It seems clear that the hospital he took over was in far worse shape than he could have expected. Of course it was.

His response has been to hunker down and avoid eng agement with his staf f and his communities. That is not a strateg y. West Sub needs support from Austin and Oak Park people if it is to have a purpose and a path. Prasad would do well to level with these communities, with his staf f about the challenges West Sub faces, his priorities to address them, ways others might help, and what the timeline looks like to salvage this essential institution.

Cop shortage grows

Included in a report last week on progress being made in the Oak Pa rk police department was a focus on recruiting, hiring and retaining officers. That’s good since the department is currently 30% below its budgeted number of sworn officers. And four more officers are about to decamp. That means the department is 35 to 40 officers short of a budgeted 118 officers.

Beyond retirements why are Oak Park officers leaving for other de partments? What is the plan to recruit and retain? And what are the immediate consequences of this personnel shortfall on patrols, on overtime budgets?

Mid-May morning recital

Early light invades my bedroom. It’s mid-May and light rules. I wake to the insistent recital of a robin perched somewhere outside my window — on the adjacent leafy maple perhaps or maybe the black locust across the street, its bark waiting to be bathed by the rising sun, its branches on the verge of flowering with heavenly fragrance.

With unplugged ears, I follow the cadence and lilt of your musical phrases, as you perch somewhere nearby, solitary, waiting for no audience to arrive, rising each morning like a monk to sing your pre-dawn psalms, your daily devotions.

A few questions, if I may:

KEN TRAINOR

Is this tune croon inspired or hard-wired?

Is it a hymn of praise to the great sky-light’s return after the dark night of your soul, presuming you have a soul?

Do you roost in dread and despair each night because, creature of the eternal now, you’ve forgotten all the nights that you endured before?

Do you mourn the dying light each evening and rise ecstatic over the sun’s return?

Are you filled with something resembling peace, like the calm I bask in, eavesdropping on your performance?

Does it come easily, this thrilling trilling, or is it demanding, exhausting ef fort?

Is it pleasurable or does it merely vent some pent-up longing that provides temporary relief?

If pleasure, is it your one and only or do you also enjoy the squirming of not-yet-dead quarry, writhing in your gut after a fine day of slurping tiny serpents of the soil?

Do you listen to the songs of other birds with interest — something approaching appreciation, or even envy?

Are you ever tempted to mimic the cardinal’s call instead, or are you locked in on these lyrical modulations of robin rendition?

Do you consider your song superior or inferior, or the equal of any other bird?

Are you acquainted with beauty?

Do you feel it in your solar plexus or in your pipes as you project?

Do you wonder whether your voice is heard and heeded?

Is there a message in your sweet vocalise or is this just necessary expression, an outpouring that cannot be contained?

Does it come from wonder, from joy, from

some desire to connect with a suspected higher being?

Is it a remedy for solitude or are you calling to let your mate know you’ re close by?

Or are you inviting someone you haven’t met yet?

Is all of this a requisite ritual before commencing the day’s worm quest?

Is it a prayer to discern their subterranean locations so you can latch on and begin the life-anddeath tug-of-war that ends with your prey losing its grip on the protective underworld?

Do you lure them to the surface with your siren song and coax them to surrender for the sake of the common good — yielding to the great interconnected food chain of which you are both a part?

Or is this some song of thanks for yesterday’s harvest, directed toward whatever gracious and generous entity provides the daily bounty that seems neverending?

As you occupy your lofty perch, do you taunt the cats below, showing your wings to these prowling predators with paws and claws, lording over them as last night’s hunting comes to its conclusion?

Do you dream and wake refreshed, orangebreasted with optimism, saluting another day?

And how do you not fall of f your branch as you sleep?

When your song finally concludes, what urgency sends you on your way? Fear? Hunger? Uncertainty? Unrest? The desire to fulfill some unrealized potential?

Is there one irresistible question you simply must answer: “How is it I can fly when others can’t?”

Do you depart when g arbage trucks rumble and groan nearby, a harsher song that drowns yours out, the hissing of tires on pavement and car horns driving you away?

Or do you flee because the day is just too enticing to stay in one place for long?

And when you retur n at day’s end, do you sing of what you discovered?

Does all of this find its way into your song, which sounds like some epic narrative, directed to welcoming ears?

Does it ever occur to you that someone might be listening?

And that we need your song more than you’ll ever know?

SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck

Hunger Walkathon West a success

Sunday, May 5

marked the 41st Hunger Walkathon West, and better weather couldn’t have been planned. Over 200 participants, including groups from 13 local churches, walked the course in Oak Park and raised over $70,000 (and counting) to fight hunger locally, and around the world.

Twenty-five percent of the money raised will go to six participating agencies in this area: Beyond Hunger, Migrant Ministry, First Baptist Church of Melrose Park Food Pantry, Proviso Food Pantry, Pine Avenue Church Food Pantry, and Community Fridge. Seventyfive percent will be used by Church World Service to provide immediate food aid and relocation assistance to families and children starving because of wars in places like Gaza and Ukraine and instability in places like Venezuela, and to build infrastructure such as wells in Paraguay and refugee camp vegetable gardens in

Tanzania.

The organizing committee would like to thank all those who made the event possible — from the folks who helped set up and attend the registration tent and the children’s activities to the folks who collected food from generous local grocers and had it ready for walkers, the crossing guards, the musicians, our Grand Marshal, our business sponsors, walkers, and donors, but especially the team captains, who are really the ones that make this event work

Over its 41 years, the local walk has collected over $2 million to support efforts to fight world hunger. Donations are still being accepted at www.hwwcrop.org, and we are already planning our next walk, for the first Sunday in May 2025.

Nick Menninga

Hunger Walkathon West coordinator

WEDNESD AY

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor Erika Hobbs

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Sta Repor ter Amaris E. Rodriguez, Luzane Draughon

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan

Columnists Marc Bleso , Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, 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 Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe

Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

Publisher Dan Haley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Judy Gre n Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

About Viewpoints

Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, re you to action.

In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for ling.

Please understand our veri cation process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that veri cation, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot con rm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay.

If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com.

Poorly timed lights

Oh my! Someone changed the timing of the traffic lights and made big mistakes. One can turn into Lake Street from Forest going west, but only a few cars can move because the next light is red. It used to be green and traffic flowed.

At a minimum the lights should be tur ned back to the previous setting.

Thank you for your assistance.

Alice Rose Oak Park

Oak Park solves a non-problem

Whoever changed the synchronization of the traffic lights at Forest and Lake should go in to work tomorrow and offer to resign. It is an unmitigated disaster.

Don Anderson Oak Park

Two words for the board on bagging

To the Oak Park Board of Trustees, who have made it their lofty business to save the world by compelling the plebs to bag leaves: Stuff it

Noah Sullivan Oak Park

Oak Park board handled this badly

I am appalled by the Oak Park Village Board’s April 30 decision to require fall leaf bagging, starting in November. This hasty decision disregards citizens’ inquiries and concer ns about necessity, feasibility and cost. The village says it will save thousands by having residents bag fall leaves, and I find it hard to balance that amount with the inconvenience and hardship/cost to our citizens.

The most distressing factor in this whole matter is that for all who wrote letters to Wednesday Jour nal and spoke up at the board meeting on April 30, the matter was a fait accompli. All our input and questions were for naught. If our village board wants citizen buy-in on their projects, they need to convince us of the need, not demand acquiescence after the fact.

Shelly Uslenghi Oak Park

Bag this short-sighted change

I’d like to express my frustration over the Oak Park Village Board’s recent decision, with what appears to be limited public input, to force residents to ba g their own leaves. Here is a picture of my son helping me push leaves into the street under the old model. The photo does not represent an entire season of leaf collection, but one week’s worth of what is usually a five-week endeavor. I cannot fathom how many hours it will take residents to bend over, pick up and insert leaves into bags and have yet to find an efficient way of stuffing just one 30-gallon paper bag, not to mention dozens of them.

The decision seems not only to be short-sighted, but also justified by a misguided rationale. I’m told children

play in the leaf piles in the street. That seems like a parenting issue. I’m told cars start fires when they park over leaf piles. That seems like a driver issue

I’m told we should let the leaves lay and naturally compost in our yards to allow the nutrients to enter the soil. However, I presently have several leave in my yard that fell late last season. They’ve accumulated, are fully intact, and have not righteously decomposed as some have suggested I would ask the village board to get more feedback from the community before making a final decision on this matter, but would settle for something any reasonable person would request — time. Implementing this change in mere months does not allow residents to a progr ed for y Heck, gas-powered leaf blowers got a two-year grace period; can’t we get the same?

What is the recourse?

Village gover nment officials are supposed to enact the will of those they re present. Right now I imagine all the decision-makers are patting themselves on the back that an initiative of theirs will help enhance our cardiovascular health. Let’s all get out there with our rakes and get some exercise and fresh autumn air! Bag your own leaves and then hop on your bike, which according to “renowned endoscopic spine surgeon Kaixuan Liu, MD, PhD,” might not be the best idea for, I suspect, more than just a few of us

He states: “Leaf-raking is a re petitive exercise that will stress muscles

and spinal discs, especially in the neck and lumbar [lower] re gion of the back. This is particularly true if the job is done too vigorously, performed with poor body mechanics, or conducted too long without a break,” says Dr Liu, founder and medical director of the Atlantic Spine Center, based in New Jersey and New York. “Most at risk are persons who have sustained a previous back or neck trauma, elderly individuals whose spinal discs have become dry and brittle due to nor mal aging, and those unaccustomed to regular, strenuous activity.” (Perhaps the yoga forward bend pose as we bag the leaves will help those dry and

brittle disks?)

Do a little research to estimate how many leaves fall on your property that will need to be bagged. The number is staggering. Is there any recourse to this terrible decision before the leaves fall? I suspect, after performing my own local poll of friends, that if an advisory referendum on leaf-bagging were scheduled, two things would happen: there would be a hugely interested turnout deciding the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” question and the bag-your-own-leaves option and its proponents would be resoundingly defeated

WJ’s consistent excellence

My name is Rashad, and I am writing this letter as part of my volunteer hours. I want to take this opportunity to express my genuine appreciation for Wednesday Jour nal. In an age where quality jour nalism is increasingly rare, I find the Jour nal to be a refreshing and exemplary publication. One of the aspects that truly sets it apart is its commitment to local news coverage. The in-depth reporting on community events, local businesses, and issues affecting residents showcases a deep understanding of the area and its people. This localized focus not only

keeps readers informed but also fosters a sense of connection and engagement within the community.

I also appreciate the diversity of topics covered in the paper. From insightful opinion pieces to comprehensive coverage of cultural events and developments, there is something for every reader. The writing is consistently high-quality, engagingly providing both information and perspective.

The Jour nal excels in its visual presentation as well. The layout is clean and easy to navigate, enhancing the overall reading experience. The inclu-

sion of photographs and illustrations further enriches the content, bringing stories to life in a compelling way. Wednesday Jour nal stands out as a beacon of excellence in journalism. Its dedication to local news, diverse content, and thoughtful presentation make it a valuable resource for the community. I look forward to each issue with anticipation and commend you and your team for your outstanding work

Thank you for your commitment to delivering exceptional jour nalism. Rashad Mahone Student, OPRF High School

Ken Zimmer Oak Park

Lynn Grogan Oak Park

Free preschool would boost early learning

When I graduated from Hawthorne Grade School in 1951, Time magazine named the Top 10 high schools in the country and Oak Park and River Forest High School was on that list.

Fast forward to 1991-92 and both Wednesday Journal and the Forest Leaves were very critical of the high school. I was positive they might have had some misinformation. Two of my daughters graduated from OPRF and did very well.

I went over to OPRF and of fered to be a volunteer wherever they could use me. They seemed to have a very solid program and I was assigned a very pleasant, well-mannered freshman who was having trouble with history. He had a job at the Oak Park Arms after school and was a B-C student at Brooks. We discovered almost immediately that he was a fifth-grade reader and Wester n European History was like Greek to him. His mother was very upset at the school because he received B’s

and C’s in middle school. This same problem was all through the high school.

As I was volunteering at the high school, the administration decided to create a school within a school. They outfitted two classrooms with new computers and programs to help the students increase their reading level. The instructor in charge of this ef fort did not have any experience or interest in this class.

JACK FLYNN One View

After a few years, I realized I should be volunteering at the elementary school level. I decided on Irving in 1994. After working in the classroom for two years, the reading specialist, Mary O’Brien, got the school to open up 30 minutes early so we could work with the first-, second- and third-graders who were having trouble reaching the reading levels in their classrooms. Mary and I each brought 4-5 friends from our early Mass groups and of f we went.

Support safety, not surveillance

Se parate reports, published by the Citizen Police Oversight Committee and Freedom to Thrive Oak Park, show that there are racial disparities in traffic stops initiated because of Oak Park’s Flock surveillance license plate reader cameras. More than three-quarters of the drivers stopped by Oak Park police because of the Flock cameras were Black. Additionally, numerous Flock-initiated traffic stops in Oak Park were made in er ror because of outdated data. Black drivers and passengers were re presented in all of these erroneous stops except one, for which police did not re port the driver’s race.

The Flock cameras are not making Oak Park safer and they are having a disproportionately negative impact on our Black community members. As Oak Park community members, we call on the village to embody its commitment to equity, cancel its Flock contract, and invest these dollars into community-led supports for safety.

Adam Paradis, Alex Weber, Alice Desai, Alicia Chastain, Amanda Jenkins, amisha patel, Andrea Lee, Andy Swindler, Ann Titus, Arti Walker-Ped-

dakotla, Asra Syed, Autumn Hamer, Bob Rourke, Candice Campbell, Caren Van Slyke, Cate Lujan Readling, Chloe Leach, Christian Brandt, Colette Morrow, Connie Meade, Cynthia Brito, Dan Foran, Daniel J Lang, Daniel Rutan, David Bates, David Gilbert, Derek Eder, Elizabeth JarpeRatner, Ellen Edwards, Emily Neumann, Erica & Ricardo Garcia, Eva Baldinger, Gabriela ZapataAlma, Hannah Rand, Jacquelyn Rodriguez, James P uecke, Jane Baldinger, Jenna Leving Jacobson, Jim Schwar tz, John Du y, Kari McCarthy, Katherine Thompson, Kelly, Kim Jackewicz, Kris Stokes, Krissy Baker, L. Marthaler, laura derks, Liz Lukehart, Margaret Fulkerson, Maria Pyra, Mar y Dungy, Meghan Paulas, Melisa Alabsy, Michael Persoon, Michelle Major, Mollie Her tel, Molly Besta, Molly Dula-Weber, Molly Sackler, Nancy Alexander, Naomi T Bishop, nikhil trivedi, Patricia Tucker-Ladd, Patrick Durgin, Patrick O’Shaughnessey, Paul Goyette, Peju O, Rachel Foran, Rachel Wright, Ranga Bodla, Reshma Desai, Rob Breymaier, Sarah Sarhan, Shannon Vogel, Stephanie Ciupk a, Steve Krasinsky, Sue Foran, Sunil Peddakotla, Sydney Jackson, Tracey M, Trac y Brunette, Trevor Parker, Yoko Terretta Oak Park

Shortly thereafter, John Hodge was named principal. He was very supportive. Irving slowly moved up from the lowest-rated elementary school to number four and maybe even number three one year.

The PTO took over the volunteer program, which is going very strong. Nick Sakellaris, a fifth-grade teacher, has been running the program for over 10 years.

There is a privacy law that prevents the elementary school district from telling the high school of the performance of their students. In one situation that I uncovered, a young man had a very high absenteeism rate and never received anything higher than a D in middle school. Unaware of this, the high school sent out a congratulatory letter on his graduation on June 6 and welcoming him to the high school on Aug. 25. Don Offermann, superintendent of OPRF at the time, told me that in only three states is the superintendent of the

MURALS

Embankment gallery

from page 35

that emanated from the beating drum of one of the dancers.”

He spent about 80 hours over 10 days painting it. Initially, the figures were just yellow figures, unador ned. But “word had it that, to some impressionable minds who lived across the street, the figures looked … naked. So I remedied that and added red stripes, which I think in the end were a good solution.”

Jonathan said the Oak Park Area Arts Council introduced the Mini-Mural Project in 2010. His first Mini-Mural was completed in 2011. It is located on the east side of Marion Street and South Blvd and called “Brush Off.” When I asked about the disconnected ears and blue lips, he told me he is “greatly influenced by Picasso, Chagall, Matisse and elements of

high school not the superintendent of K through 12.

The elementary school has a very difficult time with young children who have not been prepared for school in any way. It is often impossible to get their parent or parents to come to the school for a meeting. Young children need encouragement, not harsh discipline. Maybe some grades come from the heart and from hope. However, by high school, there can’t be any sugarcoating. The majority of all the criticism falls on the high school.

Our entire country has an education crisis. One small, but hopefully powerful tool to prepare them for elementary school would be free preschool for those who can’t afford it. Oak Pa rk has the potential to get back to the top spot, but the whole community needs to see the potential. We need to help each other succeed.

Jack Flynn is a resident of River Forest.

Cubism, which by its nature conveys a sense of tension and dissonance. That is why the eyes may not align, the ears are detached, and anatomy is often distorted.”

Jonathan recently applied to paint another Mini-Mural through the Oak Park Area Arts Council’s Mini-Mural Program. Artists in our community who are interested in participating can get more information at https://www oak-park.us/news/artists-sought-minimural-project-1, where applications will be accepted through June 7, 2024. To see more about the Mini-Murals project, readers can go to https://oakparkareaartscouncil.org/mini-murals. Thank you, Jonathan Franklin, and all the concrete railroad embankment artists for giving our community vibrant colors and stories.

Joy Aaronson is an Oak Park resident who wrote a series of stories about Oak Park Farmers Market in 2023. Previously, she contributed to Chicago Parent and wrote the Kids’ World column for the former Logan Square Free Press

Killing innocents is horri c

James Joyce’s much studied novel, Ulysses, was banned in 1918 even before he finished it. It was “liberated” by a U.S. court in 1933. Its initial banishment was due to content thought to be obscene, as in depicting acts of sexual intercourse Shocking! Sex is a natural biological act. Birds do it, bees do it. Even educated fleas do it, as the song reminds us. Regardless, the prudes are always ready to voice outrage as far as acknowledging it exists The hypocrisy of such protests, huh? It’s how we all got here, I do believe.

Banning books is a creepy symptom of that saying about history repeating itself. The history of especially the last 10 years has been, for reasonable people — to paraphrase a passage from Joyce’s tome — a nightmare from which they want to wake up. But our national descent into up is down, wrong is right, and might makes right, is ongoing

In a very similar fashion, the last seven-plus months have been a particular nightmare for reasonable people. Both national parties has succumbed to an upside-down discourse on what is acceptable and what is not. As in, don’ t ask for

Kevin McCole, 64 Community leader

Kevin McCole, 64, died on May 4, 2024, after bravely battling brain cancer since 2006. Born in Mt. Vernon, Illinois to Carol and Pat McCole, he graduated from Mt. Ver non High School in 1977, and from the University of Illinois in 1981, with a degree in finance. He worked for Amherst Associates before ear ning his Master of Management degree from Northwester n University. He traveled all over the U.S., working for several health care companies, selling decisionsupport software.

He always liked serving other people. In high school, he was involved in the Kiwanis Key Club He served as Key Club Gover nor of Illinois and was also the student council president. In college, he was president of the Interfraternity Council, and a member of TKE Frater nity Locally, he served as the Community Chest President, which became the Community Foundation. He served on

a ceasefire on the part of Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza. To invoke such a seemingly humanitarian desire is somehow a sign of antisemitism. Does writing that last line make me antisemitic?

The court of inter national law considers the attacks on a huge civilian population a human rights violation. Oct. 7 is now a convenient retort to why the assault must continue. Nonsense! And now Oak Park’s trustees are struggling to find the backbone to officially support a ceasefire. Why should such a proclamation even be debatable? Sex is a natural act, but killing innocents — including thousands of children, and bombing hospitals and schools — absolutely is not. It is horrific. Our current gover nment is shamefully succumbing to a foreign country’s crimes against humanity. The dissenting segment of our country, even our Oak Park community, who yell “antisemite!” are complicit in this ongoing nightmare. Will these naysayers demand that future pro-Palestinian books be banned? Right now, I’d say, no doubt.

Joe Harrington Oak Park

Celebrating academic achievement

The donor reception event held by the Oak Park and River Forest High School Scholarship Foundation on May 1 was a poignant celebration of student potential and community dedication. The event, attended by students, parents, faculty, staff, donors, and board members, showcased the profound impact of donor and community support: 127 scholarships were awarded, 92 scholarships totaling $222,150 by the OPRFHS Scholarship Foundation. The Community Foundation contributed 30 scholarships totaling $103,000, and OPAAC (Oak Park Area Arts Council) provided five fine arts scholarships totaling $12,500, amounting to a total of $337,650, showcasing the community’s commitment to fostering educational opportunities for Oak Park students.

President James Keleher welcomed attendees, highlighting the shared goal of advancing education. Among the highlights was the introduction of four new scholarships, each with a unique vision and backstory:

Oak Park Bank Scholarship: Sponsored by Oak Park Bank, this scholarship supports students who excel academically and demonstrate involvement in extracurricular and community activities.

Thomas O. Miyata Memorial Scholarship: Honoring the legacy of Thomas O. Miyata, this

OBITUARIES

the board of United Lutheran Church and as the treasurer of the River Forest Tennis Club He loved all sports, and coached his sons in baseball. He came full circle and served in his final leadership role as the president of the River Forest-Oak Park Chapter of Kiwanis. After he could no longer serve, the local Kiwanis chapter created a scholarship in his name for high school students who demonstrate leadership skills

He was proud of the fact that he had visited all 50 states. Now his kids are following in his footsteps, trying to visit them all. He was a good friend, and cherished his friends from high school, college, the RFTC, and the River Forest Gour met Group

Kevin McCole was the husband of Jane (nee Finn); the father of Christopher (Mar guerite), Tim (Ellen), and Kate (Andy) Gor don; the grandfather of Maren and Gray; the brother of Patrick; and the uncle of many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and sister Mi chelle.

A memorial service will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 19 at United Lu theran Church, 409 Greenfield, Oak Park Livestream at https://us02web.zoom. us/j/83386322654 Meeting ID: 833 8632 2654

In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates memorials to two programs that Kevin

scholarship supports five graduating seniors committed to higher education, reflecting Miyata’s belief in education’s transformative power.

Follett Educational Foundation Take the First Step Scholarship: Established in memory of Alison E. O’Hara, this scholarship supports five students taking their first significant steps toward higher education.

Nell Behr Aquatic Scholarship: Created in memory of Nell Behr, a 2019 OPRF student, killed by a drunk driver in 2023 just nine days after graduating college, This scholarship supports students involved in aquatic sports, reflecting Nell’s passion. Behr’s family was present to award the inaugural scholarship.

The evening was a display of gratitude and forward-looking enthusiasm. Keleher expressed appreciation for the collective effort in making the scholarships possible, acknowledging students, parents, faculty, staff, donors, the Community Foundation, and board members. The event not only celebrated academic and personal achievements but also strengthened community ties, serving as a bridge toward future educational and professional endeavors for many young individuals

Christine Baissac Managing director, easyenglish4all.com

dearly loved: The Kevin James McCole Scholarship of the Kiwanis Club of River Forest-Oak Park Fund, managed by the OPRF Community Foundation. Please visit their website, www.oprfcf.org. And United Lutheran Church, 409 Greenfield St., Oak Park, IL 60302, where Kevin was a longtime member.

Arrangements were handled by PetersonBassi Chapels.

John Hayley, 77 Animal protector, youth mentor

ohn Y. Hayley, 77, Oak Park, died eacefully on March 2024. Bor n on 1946, in Chihe was a man wn for his highpirited personality, and unwavercommitments animals, community, professional jouras Oak Park’s Animal Control supervisor, where his com-

passion for animals and commitment to public safety were evident to all, whether personally or through his informative and entertaining column “Waggin’ Tails.” Upon his retirement in 2005, he moved to Paducah, Kentucky leaving behind an indelible mark on the village of Oak Park.

Beyond his professional endeavors, his true passion lay on the baseball fields of Oak Park, where he generously shared his love for the sport. As a volunteer coach for OPRF PONY baseball, he mentored countless young players, instilling in them not only the skills of the game but also the values of teamwork and perseverance.

Even in his later years, John’s enthusiasm for baseball never waned. He continued to play well into his 60s, participating in senior baseball leagues and inspiring others with his vitality and spirit

He will be remembered fondly for his kind heart, infectious smile, and as a full-out player in the game of life as in baseball. He leaves behind cherished memories and a legacy of professionalism and steadfast service.

He is survived by his loving family, friends and the countless lives he touched throughout his remarkable life.

A private memorial will be held on June 7. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Animal Care League.

SPORTS

Stone is dual threat for Fenwick so ball

Senior stars at the plate and in the circle for Friars

FBy MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

enwick High School senior Sophie Stone’s favorite softball memory came in a big spot during her sophomore year.

“In our [IHSA Class 3A] re gional final against Trinity, we were losing by five in the top of the seventh inning,” she said. “We came back to tie and the game went to extra innings. In the top of the tenth, I hit a home run that won us the game. Nothing will ever top that for me.”

Stone also star red in the circle that day for the Friars, getting the victory in relief, pitching five scoreless innings.

This year, Stone has played an inte gral role in helping first-year head coach Valerie Jisa achieve moderate success as Fenwick enters this week with a 12-8 record. She has a .273 batting average with 12 RBI. In the circle, she’s 3-1 with a 2.32 earned-run average and has 92 strikeouts for the season.

“I feel the season’s been going all right; there are definitely some things to be worked on,” Stone said. “But compared to the last few years, I think this one is both a lot more competitive and enjoyable for everyone. We really just need to tighten up our play and get our offense in good shape to face some faster, more competitive pitching.”

On Senior Day May 11 against visiting Ridgewood, Stone had an outstanding performance in preparation for the upcoming postseason. She hit a first-inning grand slam and pitched a five-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts as Fenwick rolled to a 7-0 victory.

Here’s what else Stone, this week’s Student in the Spotlight, had to say:

Why Fenwick: “My parents wanted to give me the best oppor tunity for my future. Out of the schools I considered

— Fenwick, Nazareth, and Trinity — Fenwick seemed to have the best opportunities, and I knew the most people going in.”

Transitioning to Coach Jisa: “I just think as a team our playing style meshes better with Coach Jisa’s coaching style. It’s been an enjoyable experience thus far, and all of the players have taken the switch very well.”

Colle ge plans: “I’m attending Oberlin Colle ge in the fall and, yes, I’m playing softball there. I don’t know yet what my major is, but I’m considering something like biolo gy or marine biolo gy.”

In her free time: “I enjoy writing, watching movies, making art, and listening to music.”

Favorite food: “Specific food would probably be blueberry pie. If we’re talking about cuisine, I’m a fan of Chinese food.”

Favorite music/TV show: “I like all sorts of music, but I’m particularly a fan of musical theater and show tunes, as well as indie/folk. TV show currently would probably be Good Omens or Our Flag Means Death.”

Famous person she’d like to meet: “I think I’d like to meet Barack Obama. He just seems so down-to-earth, especially considering the intensity of politics now, so I feel he would be someone very interesting to meet and have a conversation with.”

Biggest issue facing teenagers: “Despite the fact that mental health awareness is on an uptick, I would say that it’s the continued denial and ignoring of obvious problems … parents and adults seem continually ignorant of a lot of the problems plaguing kids, often blaming it on cellphone usage or something that becomes our fault. Problems are problems, and they can benefit from health, not blame.”

Three words that describe her: “Creative, unique, and passionate.”

Fenw ick pitcher Sophie Stone delivers during a so ball game, May 11, against Ridgewood. e senior tossed seven scoreless innings in the Friars’ 7-0 v ictory.

Fenwick girls water polo comes up short

Close loss to York ends season

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Trailing by four goals heading into the final quarter of the IHSA sectional final

against visiting York, May 11, it was now or never for the Fenwick girls water polo team. In those final seven minutes, the Friars played stout defense and pulled within one. But they were unable to complete the rally and fell 10-9 to the Dukes, who advanced to this week’s state finals at Stevenson.

“It could’ve been easy to give up being

down 10-6,” said Fenwick coach Elizabeth Timmons. “But they didn’t. What’s impressed me over the course of the season is that they have figured out how to work with each other. When you have a team of different personalities, it’s sometimes difficult, but they’ve figured out a way to communicate and not give up on each other.”

Timmons felt Fenwick (12-16) recently

played their best water polo of the season and credited her seniors, Audrey Mason and Xiomara Trejo, for their leadership. “They’ve done a really nice job getting everyone excited and on the same page,” she said. “They’re the backbone of what we’ve been doing.”

See WATER POLO on pa ge 42

COURTESY OF VALERIE JISA

WATER POLO

Season-ending thriller

from page 41

Things we re n’ t looking g ood for Fenwick as Yo rk scored four c onsecutive g oals in the third q uarter to open up a 10-5 lead. But Trejo scored with : 18 lef t to give the F riars hope entering the final seven minutes.

Fenwick’s Ava Gelau scored with 4:13 to play, making the score 10-7. Then Noelanie Gutierrez and Trejo scored 47 apart, pulling the Friars within a goal at the 1:29 mark as the Fenwick fans went wild.Unfortunately, the scoreboard malfunctioned and caused a short delay. Did it stall Fenwick’s momentum?

“No, we honestly used it as a time to rest,” Trejo said. “I think it benefitted us because it gave us time to talk and re group.”

Fenwick committed a penalty not long after play resumed, giving York a man-up advantage for 20 seconds. But sophomore goalie Regan McDonald stopped the Dukes’ shot, giving the Friars a chance to tie the game.

“This is Re gan’s first year playing wa-

LOCATION OF HEARING:

Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicants, Emily and Mathew McNulty, seeking variances from Section 9.3 (N)(2)(b) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance

ter polo, and she’s so good,” Trejo said. “She definitely has the most grit on the team and she’s a hard worker. I love her.”

Fenwick pushed forward and Gutierre z had a good look from the left side of the pool. But her shot with less than 30 seconds left was stopped by York goalie Kira Caputo, and the Dukes ran out the clock to secure victory.

“I honestly think it was a great last game,” Trejo said. “We played hard and started and finished strong. Some things didn’t go our way, but I have no re grets.”

Trejo finished with five goals and two assists. Shaira Stoner and Violet Szczeblowski each scored a goal, and McDonald posted six saves.

In a sectional semifinal, May 10, Trejo had five goals and Gelau and Gutier re z three apiece in Fenwick’s 12-6 victory over Oak Park and River Forest. Phyllis Kreiter and Jada Noyes each scored twice for the Huskies (11-12).

“We we re playing a man down a lot, ” said OPRF c oach Beth Pe re z. “We t rie d hard, but [Fenwick] scored down low a bit too much for us We had our ups and downs, but we ended up c oming to g ether as a team and improved by the end of the season. ”

requiring that a detached garage is only permitted in the front and interior side yard and not the corner side yard to construct a garage 3.5 feet from the corner lot line within the required nine (9’) foot corner side yard setback along Division Street at the premises commonly known as 850 Linden, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-06-402001-0000.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through

Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

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

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

CALENDAR NUMBER: 09-24-Z

HEARING DATE: June 5, 2024

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

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

APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, 427 Madison, LLC, seeking a special use permit from Section 8.3 (Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Zoning Ordinance of

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

the Village of Oak Park to construct a six (6) unit, 3-story plus penthouse townhouse, development facing Madison Street at the premises commonly known as 427 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-18-206-0140000 (“Subject Property”) in the NC Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District.

In addition, the Applicant seeks three (3) variances from Section 5.3 (Table 5-1:Commercial Districts Dimensional Standards) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance (“Zoning Ordinance”), for: 1) a reduction of the rear yard setback from a required 25 feet to 15’-8”, inclusive of

the alley, along the west lot line and 2) a reduction of the side yard setback from a required five (5’) feet to zero (0’) feet along the south lot line and 3) an increase in height from a required 35 feet to 42’-6’ at the premises commonly known as 427 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Numbers 16-18-206-0140000 (“Subject Property”) in the NC Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday

through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

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

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

NOTICE ON PUBLIC HEARING ON RIVER FOREST TOWNSHIP BUDGET

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a tentative Budget and Appropriations Ordinance for the Township of River Forest, in the County of Cook, State of Illinois, for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2024 and ending March 31, 2025 will be on file and conveniently available to public inspection at the River Forest Civic Center Authority Building, 8020 Madison St., River Forest, at the River Forest Public Library, 735 Lathrop Ave., River Forest from Friday, May 17, 2024 as well on the Township website at www.RiverForestTownship.org.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN HEREBY that a public hearing on said Budget and Appropriations Ordinance will be held at 6:00 PM, Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at the River Forest Township regular meeting at 8020 Madison St., River Forest and final hearing and action on the ordinance will be taken at the regular meeting held on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 6:00PM.

Dated the 10th of April, 2024, John Becvar, Township Clerk

Published in Wednesday Journal May 15, 2024

STEVE JOHNSTON

Fenw ick’s Ava Gelau (13) tries to get a shot o against York’s Grace Hudson (6) during the Sectional Championship at Fenwick Saturday, May 11, 2024 in Oak Park.

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

The Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District #97 will receive sealed audio visual equipment and the installation of said equipment bids at various District 97 schools located in Oak Park, IL, 60302, until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. At this time sealed responses will be publicly opened and read at the meeting at 4:00 p.m.

Copies of specifications may be secured at the Oak Park Elementary School District #97 District Office, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, but only able to be picked up by emailing Michael Arensdorff (marensdorff@op97.org), to schedule a time. Cut-off datefor receiving scope of services is 4:00 pm, Friday, May 24, 2024.

Responses mailed or delivered shall be marked to the attention of: Oak Park School District 97 Attn.

Mr. Michael Arensdorff 260 Madison Street Oak Park, Illinois 60302

The front of the envelope should be clearly marked “Audio Visual Bids -District 97 Schools”. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Mr. Michael Arensdorff at (708) 524-3015 or marensdorff@ op97.org. Faxed or electronically submitted bids will not be accepted. Any faxed or electronically submitted bid will disqualifyvendors.

Responses Due Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 4:00 P.M.

Only those responses complying with the provision and specification of the response will be considered. The Board of Education reserves theright to waive any informalities, qualification or irregularities and/or reject any or all responses, when in its opinion, such action willserve the best interest of the Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District 97.

Lonya Boose, Board Secretary

Published in Wednesday Journal May 15, 2024

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

The Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District #97 will receive sealed electrical work for audio visual equipment bids at the various schools in District 97 located in Oak Park, IL, 60302, until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. At this time sealed responses will be publicly opened and read at the meeting at 4:00 p.m.

Copies of specifications may be secured at the Oak Park Elementary School District #97 District Office, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, but only able to be picked up by emailing Michael Arensdorff (marensdorff@op97.org), to schedule a time. Cut-off date for receiving scope of services is 4:00 pm, Friday, May 24, 2024.

Responses mailed or delivered shall be marked to the attention of:

Oak Park School District 97 Attn.

Mr. Michael Arensdorff 260 Madison Street Oak Park, Illinois 60302

The front of the envelope should be clearly marked “Electrical for Audio Visual Equipment -District 97 Schools”. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Mr. Michael Arensdorff at (708) 524-3015 or marensdorff@ op97.org. Faxed or electronically submitted bids will not be accepted. Any faxed or electronically submitted bid will disqualify vendors.

Responses Due Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 4:00 P.M.

Only those responses complying with the provision and specification of the response will be considered.

The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities, qualification or irregularities and/or reject any or all responses, when in its opinion, such action will serve the best interest of the Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District 97.

Lonya Boose, Board Secretary

Published in Wednesday Journal May 15, 2024

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

CALENDAR NUMBER: 10-24-Z

HEARING DATE: June 5, 2024

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

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

APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on a special use permit application filed by the Applicant, Dish Wireless, to install wireless telecommunications antennas pursuant to Section 8.3 (Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the property located at 715 Lake Street, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-07-224-004-0000

(“Subject Property”).

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection

at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

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

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

Published in Wednesday Journal, May 15, 2024

In accordance with the requirements of Section 612(a) (10) of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEA 2004”), Riverside Brookfield High School will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Riverside Brookfield High School, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Il 60546 The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how students with disabilities, who attend private schools or are homeschooled within the district boundaries, will be served by District 208 during the 2024-25 school year. Parents and private school administrators who would like to attend should contact Kevin Baldus, Director of Special Education, at baldusk@rbhs208.net

Published in RB Landmark May 8, 15, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR TIERED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

Date of Publication: May 15, 2024

The Village of Oak Park 123 Madison St. Oak Park, Illinois 60302 (708) 358-5416

On or after May 23, 2024 the Village of Oak Park will submit a request to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the release of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under Title 1 of the of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (PL93383), to undertake the following project:

Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: PY 2023 through 2027 Water Lines

Purpose: CDBG eligible homeowners will receive private-side lead water-line replacements as an ongoing effort to get rid of all Village of Oak Park lead water lines.

Location: The project will take place at several addresses throughout Oak Park.

Project/Program Description: The improvements shall include installing a new continuous one-inch Type K copper water service line on the owner side of the water service from the curb stop/B-box into the house to the water meter. Work shall include a new meter setting including full-port ball valves before and after the meter with a boiler drain valve after the meter. A new water meter is optional to the homeowner and if selected, will be delivered to the jobsite. New meter connectors will be furnished, if necessary, by the Village.

Tier 2 site specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known.

Level of Environmental Review Citation: Acquisition, repair, improvement, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of public facilities and improvements (other than buildings) when the facilities and improvements are in place and will be retained in the same use without change in size or capacity of more than 20 percent (e.g., replacement of water or sewer lines, reconstruction of curbs and sidewalks, repaving of streets): 24 CFR Part 58.35(a)(1).

Tier 2 Site Specific Review: The site-specific reviews will cover the following laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review: Contamination and Toxic Substances; Endangered Species; Historic Preservation; Wetlands Protection; Environmental Justice. Mitigation Measures/Conditions/

Permits (if any): Contamination and Toxic Substances: The Responsible Entity (RE) will assess all addresses for Contamination and Toxic Substances and provide an assessment for each. In doing so, the RE will use data from the following resources to ensure to noted hazardous materials, contamination, toxic chemicals and gases, and radioactive substances, where a hazard could affect the health and safety of occupants or conflict with the intended utilization of the sites: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory and Toxic Substances Control Act Facilities, Illinois EPA Agency Facility Inventory and Information Search System and Landfills, Illinois State Fire Marshall Underground Storage Tanks and National EPA Assist; Endangered Species: each site will be assessed by the RE to establish if any suitable habitats will be affected; Historic Preservation: the Village of Oak Park has a Programmatic Agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office that covers work being done in this project. However, on an annual basis throughout the duration of this project, the RE will contact all Tribal Historic Preservation Offices that have an interest in ground disturbances occurring in Cook County; Wetlands Protection: the RE will review all properties and evaluate if the land is on or adjacent to land that is designated as Wetlands and provide an assessment for each. All zones will be mapped using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Wetlands Mapper and proper zone boundaries will be identified; Environmental Justice: pending approval and no findings of Contamination and Toxic Substances, Suitable Habitats, THPO concerns, or Wetlands, all sites will comply with Environmental Justice [Executive Order 12898].

Estimated 5-year Project Cost: $500,000

The activity/activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements per 24 CFR Part 58.35(a)(1). An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 and may be examined or copied weekdays 9:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M. or at https://www.hudexchange.info/ programs/environmental-review/ environmental-review-records/.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Village of Oak Park office of Development Customer Service. All comments received by May 23, 2024 will be considered by the Village of Oak Park prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The Village of Oak Park certifies to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that Ahmad M. Zayyad, Certifying Officer, in their capacity as Deputy Village Manager/Interim Neighborhood Services Director, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Village of Oak Park Public Works Department to use HUD program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF

FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of fund and the Village of Oak Park’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the Village of Oak Park; (b) the Village of Oak Park has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to HUD administration office at 77 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago, Illinois 60604. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Ahmad M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager, Certifying Officer

Published in Wednesday Journal, May 15, 2024

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Riveredge Hospital is here to help any member of your family.

This month, make your mental health a priority. We offer specialized inpatient and outpatient services for children, teens and adults.

Did you know? The average delay between the onset of symptoms of a mental health issue and the start of treatment is 11 years.

- National Library of Medicine