W E D N E S D A Y
May 17, 2017 Vol. 35, No. 39 ONE DOLLAR
@oakpark @wednesdayjournalinc
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
After fire, frustrated by permit process
Democratic candidate for Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker addresses attendees at the Oak Park Public Library forum last Saturday, along with fellow candidate Ameya Pawar. The event was sponsored by the Democratic Party of Oak Park. For the full story, turn to page 10.
By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
See PERMIT PROCESS on page 12
Sports, page 52
Pritzker’s plans
Plan to rebuild Oak Park house OK’d after multiple rejections An Oak Park family who lost their house to a fire in early December is breathing easy this week with the village of Oak Park’s recent approval for them to rebuild. But they say the last few months of navigating Oak Park’s “disjointed permit process” left them wondering if they would be stranded in temporary housing for months. “There is no consideration given to people who have lost their homes to a casualty loss,” said Miguel Zarate, whose home at 719 S. Humphrey Ave. remains a burned-out shell. Oak Park officials told Wednesday Journal they would consider a change in policy that might move permit applications for projects linked to fire loss to the front of the queue. It all began on Dec. 7, 2016 when Zarate’s family of four was displaced by an early morning fire. No one was injured in the
Fenwick sweeps sectional tourney
Photo by Paul Goyette
Youth football numbers drop amid injury fears Local club has seen player roster fall 50% in a decade By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
Oak Park-River Forest Youth Football, the nonprofit tackle football organization open to area children ages 6 to 14, is in the fight of its life. In the last decade, according to club officials, the number of children registered to play football with the organization has
dropped by around 50 percent — from a high of more than 300 registered participations roughly eight years ago to what officials project could be around 150 players this upcoming season. The $375 registration fee for each player per season accounts for the bulk of the nonprofit club’s revenue flow. That figure, along with a refundable $125 equipment deposit, has remained steady despite the stark registration drop-off, said the club’s treasurer, John Callahan. If the rate of decline among players continues at this pace, Callahan said, the program
may not be around for too many more seasons. Driving the decline, officials say, is widespread concern among parents about the safety of the sport, particularly the health risks related to frequent head trauma. The fear is national. Since 2009, the number of boys ages 6 to 12 who participate in tackle football in the United States has dropped by nearly 20 percent, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. In a recent interview, Oak Park-River Forest Youth Football President Dan Reinhardt See YOUTH FOOTBALL on page 13
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